I am verifiably in certified countdown mode. How many sleeps until I get to see Nolan at 11pm ish on Tuesday, April 1st? The number is getting smaller and smaller, but not fast enough for my liking. Time is moving sloooowwwwllly like molasses in January. It will make coming home all that much sweeter I guess.
I actually had a great blog entry typed up but I hit some random button and it left. I despise random buttons. It's more interesting when random buttons are things like ejection seats or are the 'on' button for a siren or something, but as an erase button on the computer? Lame, very disappointing actually and extremely annoying.
So...today is a rather sunny day not unlike many of the days that I have had since being here. i don't think the temperature has dipped lower than maybe 21 degrees during the day. I know just the other night when I went to bed at 11pm it was still 21 degrees out. Actually yesterday after coming home from the beach (where I was chaperoning two 4 year olds) it started to cloud over and I was jumping on my bike to come home and it started to spit. Hanna joked and wish me a good ride home. Well...my ride home was not in the spitting rain but it was in the torrential rain! It was nice! It was still really warm out, the raindrops were so large that it seemed as though it would only take 5 raindrops to effectively soak you. I was drenched by the time I got home (a 10 minute bike ride), and I had a huge grin on my face!
Anyhow, it is a gorgeous day outside right now and I am going to Pacifica Fest just down the road. I can actually hear it from here. Drums are beating and it's catching. It is a celebration of Pacific Island cultures and it is going to be fun! I am going to take my camera (that I still don't know how to use properly) and take some pics and I am going to hope I don't get a sunburn and stupid tan lines.
I hope that tomorrow is as nice as today because I am going to head off to R.......Island which used to be a volcano and hike up it and check out the crater and take more pictures.
When will I actually do my homework? Maybe just for once it will do itself.
Maybe.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I caught part of a korero (talk) given by my neighbour Sam at the last Te Haerenga. We talked about all sorts of things, but Sam was always able to relate the scripture or topics to culture identity, being Maori (or Irish, or First Nations, Sri Lankan, Hebrew...) and to the ministry of home.
I am not even sure where to begin...on top of listening to him talk at the marae, I'm in a Bible study with him every week too...I should have been taking notes...hindsight is always 20/20. Anyhow...we're looking at Nehemiah...it was kind of chosen by default. Hanna (Sam's daughter and one of my other next door neighbours) asked a question about Nehemiah because she was reading something and it became our focus. There you go. Anyhow...Nehemiah is about rebuilding and that's what the Maori are doing in some many ways; rebuilding their cultural identity, rebuilding their language, their homes, their whanuas, and their values. It's hard work to rebuild especially when there is opposition like there was in Nehemiah.
So...why Nehemiah? Sam asked us that question and then said because he had vision. Vision. I feel as though I have met so many visionary people and that I had a pretty good idea what it meant to be visionary. Sam shed some light on the meaning of the word vision. He referred to the scripture that had the word vision in it (I forgot which one) and said that it referred to a scroll being unrolled and its contents being revealed and it meant (in this scripture...something about people being without vision....anyone?), "The unfolding of the mind, will and purpose of God". I like that. I want vision.
NEXT.
Then he was talking about when a couple of John's disciples asked him where he was staying and instead of saying, "oh, I live with my mom and dad over there and my dad and I have a carpentry shop", he said, "Come with me" and he took them there. Sam's purpose of pointing out this little tidbit was to share how important home is as a place (if not THE place) for ministry. Then he pointed out that a number of things Jesus did were in homes too...water into wine, healing the paralytic, meals etc. Home. Create a place where he can dwell and people want to come and spend time in your home. Not just the power of home but a sense of family and how it can heal people to see and live in and be in a sense of family.
Where do you live?
The next thing was about the shakers, feelers and insiders.
Shakers don't get to close to you, they may not even look at you, but just shake you a bit and then make their best guesses as to what you are like and what you need etc (gov't, sometimes the church, researchers). How would that make you feel?
Feelers still won't look at you, but they will get close enough to touch and poke, maybe ask a few good intentioned questions (that serve their own purposes of defining who you are rather than letting you tell them who you are or taking the time to actually get to know you). Maybe even be friendly just to get those answers too, and then leave.
Insiders are the people that actually take the time to have a relationship, get to know you, see and experience your life. YOU...are an insider...you know yourself. You know best (well God knows best, but you usually have a pretty good idea what you need etc. and what your life is really like).
I kept thinking of ministering to people in the world and wondering how often Christians have been shakers and feelers rather than insiders. Jesus was most definitely an insider. I hate to admit that I have been both a shaker and a feeler. I have stereotyped, judged, and misunderstood people.
What are you?
This was such a random post. Sorry. Random thoughts just have to come out sometimes.
What other random thoughts have I been having you ask? Well, I can't stop thinking about how many sleeps it is until I get to see Nolan (19) and I have thought about weaving and whether or not Canadian customs will let me keep the things I have made (it's plant material) and I keep wondering what the heck I am going to do for a 6 hour layover in San Fransisco after a 15 hour flight from Auckland. Yep. That's it for now.
I am not even sure where to begin...on top of listening to him talk at the marae, I'm in a Bible study with him every week too...I should have been taking notes...hindsight is always 20/20. Anyhow...we're looking at Nehemiah...it was kind of chosen by default. Hanna (Sam's daughter and one of my other next door neighbours) asked a question about Nehemiah because she was reading something and it became our focus. There you go. Anyhow...Nehemiah is about rebuilding and that's what the Maori are doing in some many ways; rebuilding their cultural identity, rebuilding their language, their homes, their whanuas, and their values. It's hard work to rebuild especially when there is opposition like there was in Nehemiah.
So...why Nehemiah? Sam asked us that question and then said because he had vision. Vision. I feel as though I have met so many visionary people and that I had a pretty good idea what it meant to be visionary. Sam shed some light on the meaning of the word vision. He referred to the scripture that had the word vision in it (I forgot which one) and said that it referred to a scroll being unrolled and its contents being revealed and it meant (in this scripture...something about people being without vision....anyone?), "The unfolding of the mind, will and purpose of God". I like that. I want vision.
NEXT.
Then he was talking about when a couple of John's disciples asked him where he was staying and instead of saying, "oh, I live with my mom and dad over there and my dad and I have a carpentry shop", he said, "Come with me" and he took them there. Sam's purpose of pointing out this little tidbit was to share how important home is as a place (if not THE place) for ministry. Then he pointed out that a number of things Jesus did were in homes too...water into wine, healing the paralytic, meals etc. Home. Create a place where he can dwell and people want to come and spend time in your home. Not just the power of home but a sense of family and how it can heal people to see and live in and be in a sense of family.
Where do you live?
The next thing was about the shakers, feelers and insiders.
Shakers don't get to close to you, they may not even look at you, but just shake you a bit and then make their best guesses as to what you are like and what you need etc (gov't, sometimes the church, researchers). How would that make you feel?
Feelers still won't look at you, but they will get close enough to touch and poke, maybe ask a few good intentioned questions (that serve their own purposes of defining who you are rather than letting you tell them who you are or taking the time to actually get to know you). Maybe even be friendly just to get those answers too, and then leave.
Insiders are the people that actually take the time to have a relationship, get to know you, see and experience your life. YOU...are an insider...you know yourself. You know best (well God knows best, but you usually have a pretty good idea what you need etc. and what your life is really like).
I kept thinking of ministering to people in the world and wondering how often Christians have been shakers and feelers rather than insiders. Jesus was most definitely an insider. I hate to admit that I have been both a shaker and a feeler. I have stereotyped, judged, and misunderstood people.
What are you?
This was such a random post. Sorry. Random thoughts just have to come out sometimes.
What other random thoughts have I been having you ask? Well, I can't stop thinking about how many sleeps it is until I get to see Nolan (19) and I have thought about weaving and whether or not Canadian customs will let me keep the things I have made (it's plant material) and I keep wondering what the heck I am going to do for a 6 hour layover in San Fransisco after a 15 hour flight from Auckland. Yep. That's it for now.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Chapman Whanau, Marae Waipapa and Clandon
I wrote this on Feb. 18th...
I am presently sitting in my third unique community setting since having arrived in New Zealand. I've already described the first, so let me move on to the second.
Marae Waipapa is in Kawhia ('wh' is like 'ph' and makes an 'f ' sound). A marae (mah- rye) is the Maori traditional extended family community home. Tania and I went to stay at Marae Waipapa this past weekend for the beginning of Te Haerenga (te hiringa pronounced with
a soft 'g' sound), which means "The Journey". Te Haerenga is a discipleship training series of weekends put on by Maori for Maori through the ministry of Island Breeze (a part of ywam). Back a number of years ago they did a world impact tour to evangelize the Maori, but in a Maori way. BUT...to follow up had no way to show them how to be followers of Jesus as Maori, only by stuff them into church culture. So began Te Haerenga.
The weekend began on Friday night as we sat in the parking lot outside the marae waiting. We were waiting for everyone to arrive (it was kind of like Indian time-Pam you know what I mean). Once everyone was there, we would be called onto the marae. That was the only way to come into someone else's marae. And so it began. The women walked in front of the men and a woman sang a song in Maori that called us into their home. A woman in our group responded in song as we entered and made our way to benches across from where the whanau (pronounced fan-oh, meaning family)were seated. The men on the front benches and the women behind. The men each had the opportunity to speak greetings and welcomes and such. Tania said it could last for hours. For us...it lasted about 10 minutes and then we walked to where the whanau were seated and greeted them each by pressing noses together in order to breathe the same breath...which would then make us in a sense family too.
After we had a late dinner we all gathered in the whare nui (fahd-eh new-ee, big house) for korero (koh-dee-doh, speaking, talk, sharing, anytime you talk). It was a time for introductions and EVERYONE was given the floor for really as long as they wanted to introduce themselves and say whatever they wanted to say. Oh...the layout of the whare nui...a HUGE long one room house with mattresses (foamies) lines up around the entire outside wall (with a HUGE stack still left in the corner of the room). There were must have been at least 60-70 mattresses!! And we all slept in the same room; men, women, youth, children, babies...everyone.
Saturday was good...we started learning a song...hard for me because I didn't know how to pronounce everything I was reading. Here's the song and it's based on Psalm 29.
I am presently sitting in my third unique community setting since having arrived in New Zealand. I've already described the first, so let me move on to the second.
Marae Waipapa is in Kawhia ('wh' is like 'ph' and makes an 'f ' sound). A marae (mah- rye) is the Maori traditional extended family community home. Tania and I went to stay at Marae Waipapa this past weekend for the beginning of Te Haerenga (te hiringa pronounced with
a soft 'g' sound), which means "The Journey". Te Haerenga is a discipleship training series of weekends put on by Maori for Maori through the ministry of Island Breeze (a part of ywam). Back a number of years ago they did a world impact tour to evangelize the Maori, but in a Maori way. BUT...to follow up had no way to show them how to be followers of Jesus as Maori, only by stuff them into church culture. So began Te Haerenga.The weekend began on Friday night as we sat in the parking lot outside the marae waiting. We were waiting for everyone to arrive (it was kind of like Indian time-Pam you know what I mean). Once everyone was there, we would be called onto the marae. That was the only way to come into someone else's marae. And so it began. The women walked in front of the men and a woman sang a song in Maori that called us into their home. A woman in our group responded in song as we entered and made our way to benches across from where the whanau (pronounced fan-oh, meaning family)were seated. The men on the front benches and the women behind. The men each had the opportunity to speak greetings and welcomes and such. Tania said it could last for hours. For us...it lasted about 10 minutes and then we walked to where the whanau were seated and greeted them each by pressing noses together in order to breathe the same breath...which would then make us in a sense family too.
After we had a late dinner we all gathered in the whare nui (fahd-eh new-ee, big house) for korero (koh-dee-doh, speaking, talk, sharing, anytime you talk). It was a time for introductions and EVERYONE was given the floor for really as long as they wanted to introduce themselves and say whatever they wanted to say. Oh...the layout of the whare nui...a HUGE long one room house with mattresses (foamies) lines up around the entire outside wall (with a HUGE stack still left in the corner of the room). There were must have been at least 60-70 mattresses!! And we all slept in the same room; men, women, youth, children, babies...everyone.
Saturday was good...we started learning a song...hard for me because I didn't know how to pronounce everything I was reading. Here's the song and it's based on Psalm 29.
Hoatu ki a Ihowa
E nga tama o te hunga nunui
Hoatu ki a Ihowa
te korokia me t koha
Hoatu ki a Ihowa
te kororia e rite an mo tona ingoa
koropiko ki a Ihowa
I roto i te atahua o te tapu
kei runga te reo o Ihowa i nga wai
e pap ana te whatitiri o te atua
e te kororia
kei runga a Ihowa i nga waimaha
kaha tonu te reo o Ihowa
kororia tonu te reo o Ihowa
whanau ana nga hata i te reo o Ihowa
tihorea ana nga kia tahanga
I tona temepara ko te kupu a te katoa
kororia ka homai e Ihowa
he kaha ki tana Ihowa manaki mo tanga hunga
E nga tama o te hunga nunui
Hoatu ki a Ihowa
te korokia me t koha
Hoatu ki a Ihowa
te kororia e rite an mo tona ingoa
koropiko ki a Ihowa
I roto i te atahua o te tapu
kei runga te reo o Ihowa i nga wai
e pap ana te whatitiri o te atua
e te kororia
kei runga a Ihowa i nga waimaha
kaha tonu te reo o Ihowa
kororia tonu te reo o Ihowa
whanau ana nga hata i te reo o Ihowa
tihorea ana nga kia tahanga
I tona temepara ko te kupu a te katoa
kororia ka homai e Ihowa
he kaha ki tana Ihowa manaki mo tanga hunga
So...I did my best. Later on we learned raenga (weaving) from harvest to finish for a simple basket that would be used at a meal. It was neat! AND the thing is...that back in the day if your mother, aunty or grandmother were teaching you something like this, you would never JUST be learning to weave, you would learn the lessons of life and spirit woven into the day to day skills you learned. SO we learned that if God was Maori...he would have been a weaver (instead of a potter) and we would have been the flax (that's what we were weaving) and he would weave us into whatever thing, in whatever pattern he wanted to. AND as flax in the hands of God the master weaver, we would be softened and prepared and dyed and...and...(it is apparently a long process to prepare flax to weave). I love God and that He is as much Maori as he is Sto:lo Sitel, and Ojibwe etc. It was a great lesson to remember what God is like while learning how to weave.
On Sunday morning after breakfast we had korero and people had the opportunity to share thoughts on the weekend. I felt like I wanted to say something but I hesitated and let others speak. At the end(ish) Ray picked up his guitar and said, "Anyone else?" and seemed to look right at me. I nodded my head and stood up and could tell that I was going to be fighting tears. So...I joked! I was hoping to get past the urge to cry. Why I felt like crying I don't know. I only knew that God was doing something in me. So...I paused hoping again that the tears would pass, but God apparently wanted me to cry in front of everyone. So I told everyone that I cry when God moves in my spirit and that I have a hard time talking and crying, to which Karen Bishop (one of the marae whanau) said..."You just cry then, we'll wait and then you can talk". Essentially what came out of my mouth was that I felt strongly that God had me here to learn about community and family. He used a teaching practicum to get me here and show me more of His beautiful ways that community is expressed. It was more than just that though...I was in awe and in a way jealous of a culture that seemed so much more intact than mine in many ways. It was fantastic to see Maori's being MAORI Jesus followers, not Maori copying church Christian culture type Christians, but following Jesus within the context of their culture and their way of being which we know glorifies God as He created all cultures in His image and we glorify Him when we are being ourselves.
Instead of coming straight home when the weekend was over, Tania took me with her to go and visit a good friend of hers who was home front Thailand for a bit and staying with mutual friends, living in Clandon Community. Community numero 3. 25 years ago, 6 families from Auckland sold their homes, put the money in a trust, the trust got a loan from the bank, the trust had land donated to them and they built a community. They built in clusters and made 3 of them. In each cluster are 2 attached homes with garages and attached on the other side of each garage are smaller units meant to be used by people who need them; a family hard up on luck, a single trying to go clean, missionaries on furlough...whatever they are needed for. They have a shared laundry room in each cluster and either a games room or a quiet room in the corner of each cluster in between where the two homes meet. They have a swimming pool and they share things like lawn mowers and sporting equipment etc. The whole community, everyone from all 3 clusters of homes get together once every week to eat together potluck style. They pray, worship or
This week as we've talked more about community around the kitchen table here back in Auckland, God reminded me that He is the quintessential community; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. MMmmmmm. Something good to mull over in the mind and spirit. What does that picture pf community hold for us to learn from?
So...community...what is your definition of it?
On Sunday morning after breakfast we had korero and people had the opportunity to share thoughts on the weekend. I felt like I wanted to say something but I hesitated and let others speak. At the end(ish) Ray picked up his guitar and said, "Anyone else?" and seemed to look right at me. I nodded my head and stood up and could tell that I was going to be fighting tears. So...I joked! I was hoping to get past the urge to cry. Why I felt like crying I don't know. I only knew that God was doing something in me. So...I paused hoping again that the tears would pass, but God apparently wanted me to cry in front of everyone. So I told everyone that I cry when God moves in my spirit and that I have a hard time talking and crying, to which Karen Bishop (one of the marae whanau) said..."You just cry then, we'll wait and then you can talk". Essentially what came out of my mouth was that I felt strongly that God had me here to learn about community and family. He used a teaching practicum to get me here and show me more of His beautiful ways that community is expressed. It was more than just that though...I was in awe and in a way jealous of a culture that seemed so much more intact than mine in many ways. It was fantastic to see Maori's being MAORI Jesus followers, not Maori copying church Christian culture type Christians, but following Jesus within the context of their culture and their way of being which we know glorifies God as He created all cultures in His image and we glorify Him when we are being ourselves.
Instead of coming straight home when the weekend was over, Tania took me with her to go and visit a good friend of hers who was home front Thailand for a bit and staying with mutual friends, living in Clandon Community. Community numero 3. 25 years ago, 6 families from Auckland sold their homes, put the money in a trust, the trust got a loan from the bank, the trust had land donated to them and they built a community. They built in clusters and made 3 of them. In each cluster are 2 attached homes with garages and attached on the other side of each garage are smaller units meant to be used by people who need them; a family hard up on luck, a single trying to go clean, missionaries on furlough...whatever they are needed for. They have a shared laundry room in each cluster and either a games room or a quiet room in the corner of each cluster in between where the two homes meet. They have a swimming pool and they share things like lawn mowers and sporting equipment etc. The whole community, everyone from all 3 clusters of homes get together once every week to eat together potluck style. They pray, worship or
This week as we've talked more about community around the kitchen table here back in Auckland, God reminded me that He is the quintessential community; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. MMmmmmm. Something good to mull over in the mind and spirit. What does that picture pf community hold for us to learn from?
So...community...what is your definition of it?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The times and the faces
Well...I have been in Auckland a week now and it feels like it has been at least 2 weeks. I have been doing homework, making friends and attended a funeral in the extended family Maori community I am living in.
Yes...I am living in a really neat community here. The Chapman family has revived the traditional Maori value of living in extended family communities and they've done it in an urban, poor community area. What they've managed to do has inspired me and I really, honestly haven't heard the half of it yet.
On the Sunday after I arrived we had a potluck dinner/bb-q here and I sat with Sam Chapman and asked him a few questions about this community and he told me about reading books like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Quadrant economics" (something like that). He told me how it changed his thinking in regards to finances. He asked me what the first thing paid out of my pay is. TAX. He asked me what the first thing paid out of the revenues a business makes....expenses(bills) and then tax. So in essence you pay less tax and he says that through little things like that (and beleive me...lots in this community is business related...their whole life is ministry business so even the cost of having dogs (security expense) and cats(pest control) is paid for before taxes are. They bought one home and eventually leased it to a Family Trust (not sure how this all works, I am just going from memory and this information is not pieced together very well) and they don't pay the mortgage...the Trust/business does because their home is their ministry...to the poor, to gang members, to people who need to live in a family and remember what it's like to be loved, to laugh with people you can trust and to hold small children in your lap (there are lots of those here). They also have started a pre-school type place that really loves children and does good stuff. There is something else that I have heard whisperings of but i haven't yet figured out what it is.
Anyhow...after a number of years and owning some really small business ventures on top of the big ones, they have managed to buy about 6-8 homes(I haven't quite figured out exactly how many) right beside each other and they've knocked down fences and they literally live with open doors. I really want to figure it out...it will come. I will go and sit with Sam and pick his brain and take notes.
In the meantime..I thought I would share 
with you some of the faces of my new community. These 3 are the children of Leon (who calls me sis)and Hannah who live next door. Their names are (from oldest to youngest), Canaan, Josiah and Psalm. Psalm came over and she kept chatting to me but I could not understand a word she said...it was all in Maori. Then she kept grabbing fruit and eating bites out
of them and then grabbing new ones. I found Josiah after the memorial service, sitting on our back steps in his togs (swim shorts), pouting. When I asked him what was the matter, he said something about everyone else next door having lollies (candy). Obviously he didn't get any. I asked him if he wanted to be big and strong when he grew up and he nodded. I told him that lollies don't make him big and strong. You could see him thinking about that. With a really serious face he looked at me and asked, "Do lollies make you strong?" Nope I told him that meat and veggies and fruit would make him strong. He considered an answer for a moment and then it looked like he was okay with being strong when he grows up and not eating lollies at the moment and he ran back to swim with his cousins. yep.
This weekend I am off with Tania my flatmate to head off somewhere on the island to go to a Discipleship training thing that is designed specifically for Maori. I will get to experience some culture and learn and make new friends! YAY. And someday I will start teaching.
Someday.
Yes...I am living in a really neat community here. The Chapman family has revived the traditional Maori value of living in extended family communities and they've done it in an urban, poor community area. What they've managed to do has inspired me and I really, honestly haven't heard the half of it yet.
On the Sunday after I arrived we had a potluck dinner/bb-q here and I sat with Sam Chapman and asked him a few questions about this community and he told me about reading books like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Quadrant economics" (something like that). He told me how it changed his thinking in regards to finances. He asked me what the first thing paid out of my pay is. TAX. He asked me what the first thing paid out of the revenues a business makes....expenses(bills) and then tax. So in essence you pay less tax and he says that through little things like that (and beleive me...lots in this community is business related...their whole life is ministry business so even the cost of having dogs (security expense) and cats(pest control) is paid for before taxes are. They bought one home and eventually leased it to a Family Trust (not sure how this all works, I am just going from memory and this information is not pieced together very well) and they don't pay the mortgage...the Trust/business does because their home is their ministry...to the poor, to gang members, to people who need to live in a family and remember what it's like to be loved, to laugh with people you can trust and to hold small children in your lap (there are lots of those here). They also have started a pre-school type place that really loves children and does good stuff. There is something else that I have heard whisperings of but i haven't yet figured out what it is.
Anyhow...after a number of years and owning some really small business ventures on top of the big ones, they have managed to buy about 6-8 homes(I haven't quite figured out exactly how many) right beside each other and they've knocked down fences and they literally live with open doors. I really want to figure it out...it will come. I will go and sit with Sam and pick his brain and take notes.
In the meantime..I thought I would share 
with you some of the faces of my new community. These 3 are the children of Leon (who calls me sis)and Hannah who live next door. Their names are (from oldest to youngest), Canaan, Josiah and Psalm. Psalm came over and she kept chatting to me but I could not understand a word she said...it was all in Maori. Then she kept grabbing fruit and eating bites out
of them and then grabbing new ones. I found Josiah after the memorial service, sitting on our back steps in his togs (swim shorts), pouting. When I asked him what was the matter, he said something about everyone else next door having lollies (candy). Obviously he didn't get any. I asked him if he wanted to be big and strong when he grew up and he nodded. I told him that lollies don't make him big and strong. You could see him thinking about that. With a really serious face he looked at me and asked, "Do lollies make you strong?" Nope I told him that meat and veggies and fruit would make him strong. He considered an answer for a moment and then it looked like he was okay with being strong when he grows up and not eating lollies at the moment and he ran back to swim with his cousins. yep.This weekend I am off with Tania my flatmate to head off somewhere on the island to go to a Discipleship training thing that is designed specifically for Maori. I will get to experience some culture and learn and make new friends! YAY. And someday I will start teaching.
Someday.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Stingray
Why oh why would I call this post stingray? Well let me tell you.
The day began with me waking up FAR, FAR too early in the morning for someone who just flew and was in transit for a ridiculous amount of time!!! 6:30 am...what?!? I dozed for a few hours and then dragged myself out of bed. We chatted as roomies in the living room for a while and Tabitha invited me to go to Goat Island with her and her boyfriend and another Sherry from Canada who is a teacher and her boyfriend. I thought no, I won't go I will be too tired. Tania invited me to go with her to a pool party that night and in the end I opted to go with Tabitha after all because you only live once and it is the end of summer and who knows what the weather will do later on!
So we hopped in the car and drove about an hour and a half outside of Auckland to go to Goat Island and snorkel. The guy at the rentals gave us a deal because we promised to get our gear back in by a certain time so he wouldn't be late for his next job that was somewhere else. It was cheap as!! (as they say here in NZland). So off we went with our wet suits and snorkels. There were tons of fish! It was great. Once while I was off on my own for a wee bit (which made me a bit nervous), I was kicking my fins and low and behold swimming along on the bottom was a STINGRAY!!! It was HUGE and freaky!! So I quickly backed up and watched it float along from a distance.
We then drove back into the city to have gourmet burgers and hit up a chocolate cafe. Yum. I must say that after eating some food I was ready for bed!! I came home and checked the email and hit the hay. I had a choppy, broken up sleep however because it was so hot and muggy!! Today is the same...hot 27 degrees and 100% humidity for sure!
So tonight we're having a community potluck and I will get to meet everyone hereabouts. good stuff.
On another note, I learned that the community area that I am living in is not the best area in regards to safety etc., so please pray. I am not quite sure how to go out for a run around here! So pray. I am glad to be here nonetheless. The more I have chatted with Tania about community living, I think I am here more for the community aspect rather than for teaching. We'll see what God has up his sleeve!
The day began with me waking up FAR, FAR too early in the morning for someone who just flew and was in transit for a ridiculous amount of time!!! 6:30 am...what?!? I dozed for a few hours and then dragged myself out of bed. We chatted as roomies in the living room for a while and Tabitha invited me to go to Goat Island with her and her boyfriend and another Sherry from Canada who is a teacher and her boyfriend. I thought no, I won't go I will be too tired. Tania invited me to go with her to a pool party that night and in the end I opted to go with Tabitha after all because you only live once and it is the end of summer and who knows what the weather will do later on!
So we hopped in the car and drove about an hour and a half outside of Auckland to go to Goat Island and snorkel. The guy at the rentals gave us a deal because we promised to get our gear back in by a certain time so he wouldn't be late for his next job that was somewhere else. It was cheap as!! (as they say here in NZland). So off we went with our wet suits and snorkels. There were tons of fish! It was great. Once while I was off on my own for a wee bit (which made me a bit nervous), I was kicking my fins and low and behold swimming along on the bottom was a STINGRAY!!! It was HUGE and freaky!! So I quickly backed up and watched it float along from a distance.
We then drove back into the city to have gourmet burgers and hit up a chocolate cafe. Yum. I must say that after eating some food I was ready for bed!! I came home and checked the email and hit the hay. I had a choppy, broken up sleep however because it was so hot and muggy!! Today is the same...hot 27 degrees and 100% humidity for sure!
So tonight we're having a community potluck and I will get to meet everyone hereabouts. good stuff.
On another note, I learned that the community area that I am living in is not the best area in regards to safety etc., so please pray. I am not quite sure how to go out for a run around here! So pray. I am glad to be here nonetheless. The more I have chatted with Tania about community living, I think I am here more for the community aspect rather than for teaching. We'll see what God has up his sleeve!
Birthdays and a Home away from Home
I arrived here in Auckland, New Zealand on Feb. 8th, my birthday. It was 25 degrees celsius and it was a glorious and beautiful day. I was so tired that I left my gray cardigan and Nolan's novel "Scarlet" on the baggage cart after I loaded up the car with all my luggage. Some nice Kiwis flagged us down and told me that I left the sweater in the cart. I ran out of the car bar footed and grabbed the sweater, but failed to see that I had left the book in the cart as well. It's unfortunate because I only had about 1 or 2 chapters left to read until I was finished it. It was also unfortunate because it was a gift from Melanie to Nolan for Christmas. I feel bad, but it was just a book and thankfully not a camera. Things can go missing when you are tired like that after traveling.The airport as I have discovered is not very far away. While trying to sleep last night I heard very large planes flying overhead and I wished I had better earplugs. Anyhow,
Tania drove me "home" to 8 Atawere Rd. in Manukau, Auckland (far right window is my bedroom ). They had prepared a room for me, newly wall papered (floor still somewhat wet from some spilled water), a comfy bed with a down comforter (not sure why down...it's stinkin' hot to sleep with that!), a desk (for homework or procrastinating), and a shelfy thing for clothes and such. Tania also added a bit of a feminine touch by putting some beautiful tropical flowers in a really cool vase and a welcome card by my bed. Oh and we can't forget the incense set for a lovely smelling room.
In my attempt to stay awake, I unpacked while Tania went to the grocery store to grab some things for dinner. She cooked dinner and she texted the next door neighbours while cooking to tell them that it was my birthday. Thelma and Sam Chapman came over and gave me big hugs of welcome and birthday wishes and stayed to dinner. It was nice and they sang happy birthday to me in Maori. There is a first time for everything. I met the new roomies Tabitha and Kirsten along with other friends who dropped by and shared a Kiwi desert with us for my birthday!! Pavlova...it was yummy, but very sweet.
I lasted until about 9:20pm and then excused myself from the festivities to go to bed. Sleep is always so sweet after such a long trip and I was looking forward to a deep and long sleep. I climbed into bed and was drifting off to sleep when somewhere in my brain I heard knocking on my door. Low and behold it was NOLAN!!!! He called to wish me a happy birthday! I love him sooo much!! It made my day to hear his voice. It made me feel somewhat homesick but it made me feel so much better about being in a new place and sort of by myself. I felt loved even from afar and not so alone. After a short conversation ( I was trying so hard not to fall asleep!) we said goodbye and I slept. Mmmmmm...sweet sleep.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Planes, planes and more planes
As I looked up and realized what the digital words and numbers read, my stomach dropped and I began to sweat. Los Angeles, gate C25, flight 287. Hey, wait a cotton pickin' minute!! My boarding pass says-San Fransisco, gate C25, flight 728!! AND...boarding was technically supposed to be 45 minutes ago. I quickly packed up my lap top (I was actually working on my homework) and quickly made my way to the agent desk to make some panicky inquiries. As I stood at the desk and waited I began to picture the scenario in my head. I must have gotten so wrapped up in my homework that I missed the boarding call and missed my flight!! How could I have missed my flight when they never even opened the glass doors into gate C25!?!? I mean, we were all sitting at a different gate looking through the glass at the gate that our flight was supposed to board from. When I did ask the airline employee I was quickly calmed as he stated that I was in the right spot and I hadn't missed my plane. I was so relieved!! I have to admit I wondered for a moment if God's plans had changed and I needed to stay in Calgary. Things that make you go hmmmm.
Anyhow...So that flight left late and when we landed in San Fransisco, I immediately boarded the next plane to Sydney Australia. Once seated I met my row mate, a girl named Kathleen, but I was to call her Kat. She was going on a 3 week vacation to NZ all on her own! We had some good chats. After eating dinner at what was about 12:30am my time, I took a sleep-eze, felt sick for about an hour and then drifted in and out of sleep for a while. SLEEP!!! I actually slept on a plane!!! It was miraculous!! So by the time I arrived in Sydney, I didn't feel completely like garbage, I still felt mostly human being.
Anyhow...So that flight left late and when we landed in San Fransisco, I immediately boarded the next plane to Sydney Australia. Once seated I met my row mate, a girl named Kathleen, but I was to call her Kat. She was going on a 3 week vacation to NZ all on her own! We had some good chats. After eating dinner at what was about 12:30am my time, I took a sleep-eze, felt sick for about an hour and then drifted in and out of sleep for a while. SLEEP!!! I actually slept on a plane!!! It was miraculous!! So by the time I arrived in Sydney, I didn't feel completely like garbage, I still felt mostly human being.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Cardboard Dopplegangers
Well, I did it! I made a cardboard cut out of myself to give to my mom. Why? You ask why I might give my mom such a gift? Well we live a 10 hour drive away from each other, in different provinces. My mom misses me. I have lived away from my parents for the past 7 years and my mom now regularly asks me when I am going to move home. I have no clue when or if I would be moving home. I need God to give me the direction to move back so in the meantime, I will pursue a job and life where I reside now and my mom will be the laughing recipient of a cardboard doppleganger.
I got the idea from Nolan's friend Trevor who made one of his girlfriend for a Christmas party last year because she lived 3 hours away and couldn't come. So...I thought it would be a good laugh for my mom. I did make a boo boo though. I had 2 of me printed out because it turned out that the first one was about 2-4 inches shorter than I actually am. Well, that's the one I cut out. Oops! I am sure my mom won't mind and maybe the other me will get cut out in the future and come to good use for a practical joke or something (muah ha ha!!).
I got the idea from Nolan's friend Trevor who made one of his girlfriend for a Christmas party last year because she lived 3 hours away and couldn't come. So...I thought it would be a good laugh for my mom. I did make a boo boo though. I had 2 of me printed out because it turned out that the first one was about 2-4 inches shorter than I actually am. Well, that's the one I cut out. Oops! I am sure my mom won't mind and maybe the other me will get cut out in the future and come to good use for a practical joke or something (muah ha ha!!).
Thursday, December 27, 2007
How do you spell motivation?
W-E-D-D-I-N-G D-R-E-S-S!!
I think that there are other ways to spell it as well, but at the moment, this is my way to spell it.
I am getting MARRIED in May!! It is exciting and I am sure it will go by in a flash and I can't wait!! If you can believe it, I ordered a dress from China off E-bay. Yep. Risky I know, but if it works out, then I got a steal of a deal on a dress!!! If not...no huge loss and I still have time to order a disgustingly overpriced dress from some retail shop here in Canada that probably buys their dresses for the same price I paid for mine on E-bay! It's sick really how much wedding dresses cost considering it is a wear once type of item. Insane in the membrane.
What else? Oh yeah... I need to fit that dress and look like a seriously hot ticket item. I am sure Nolan already thinks I am the hot ticket item, but the muffin top that I am sporting at the moment makes me feel like I need to hit the gym and start eating better. Of course I am talking about losing some weight, but also I love to be fit!! I like to look good and be able to play a full soccer game or go for a run without feeling like I am going to lose my lungs. I like to feel strong and flexible and healthy. I can't really say that I feel like I fit into any of those categories at the moment, but I will.
I know it sounds like I am making a New Year's resolution but I am not. I am simply making a decision that is wedding and health related that just happens to be around the New Year. The gym is going to be full! Good thing I have a free membership right now at the University that I can take advantage of!! IF only we could find the power cord to the treadmill that lives in our house as well...that would be a bonus! I think I might jump in and sign up for the spinning class that I used to go to twice a week at the university...that class kicked my butt into shape a few years back!
Anyhow...just in case you missed it...I am getting married!!
I think that there are other ways to spell it as well, but at the moment, this is my way to spell it.
I am getting MARRIED in May!! It is exciting and I am sure it will go by in a flash and I can't wait!! If you can believe it, I ordered a dress from China off E-bay. Yep. Risky I know, but if it works out, then I got a steal of a deal on a dress!!! If not...no huge loss and I still have time to order a disgustingly overpriced dress from some retail shop here in Canada that probably buys their dresses for the same price I paid for mine on E-bay! It's sick really how much wedding dresses cost considering it is a wear once type of item. Insane in the membrane.
What else? Oh yeah... I need to fit that dress and look like a seriously hot ticket item. I am sure Nolan already thinks I am the hot ticket item, but the muffin top that I am sporting at the moment makes me feel like I need to hit the gym and start eating better. Of course I am talking about losing some weight, but also I love to be fit!! I like to look good and be able to play a full soccer game or go for a run without feeling like I am going to lose my lungs. I like to feel strong and flexible and healthy. I can't really say that I feel like I fit into any of those categories at the moment, but I will.
I know it sounds like I am making a New Year's resolution but I am not. I am simply making a decision that is wedding and health related that just happens to be around the New Year. The gym is going to be full! Good thing I have a free membership right now at the University that I can take advantage of!! IF only we could find the power cord to the treadmill that lives in our house as well...that would be a bonus! I think I might jump in and sign up for the spinning class that I used to go to twice a week at the university...that class kicked my butt into shape a few years back!
Anyhow...just in case you missed it...I am getting married!!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
muah ha ha ha!!!
Just for fun. I just needed to laugh like that because I wanted to.
I was at a wedding yesterday and boy oh boy...really gets the mind on marriage and you know...wanting to get married and all that jazz. I of course observed the wedding with a close eye and developed ideas of my own for future reference. I might need to start writing things down.
I must say it was a fun wedding and they are going to have some kick ass pictures of the wedding!! They had a number of friends who brought a whole bunch of their gear and took tons of pics...candid and otherwise, but I can't wait to see them!! I definitely want those guys taking pics at my wedding!!!
As for school, the other part of my life; it is busier than freaky busy now. It's just wacko. I think teachers are crazy people who do too much work. Or at least too much work considering how much they are paid. I get about 6 emails each weekend if not more from my partner teacher which give me the distinct impression that she spends the majority of her weekend doing school related work. I went to a wedding this weekend and haven't done much. I did some marking and compiled marks for report cards. I need prep time. Tonight will be prep time for sure. I will hang out with Janice, my fellow grade 2 student teacher friend and we will plan and do our prep together. I love that girl!! Even if we aren't in the same school next year, but if we have the same grade...I still want to do brainstorming and planning with her. They say that 2 minds are better than 1!!
I have been doing what I previously had thought was the impossible. You will never believe it (that is if you know me well and know that I am NOT a morning person). I am getting up a half hour earlier every morning in order to read the Bible with my lover boy. Yep it's true. I have been late a couple of times (no later than 10 minutes), but we are working are way chronologically through the Bible and it's good. He reads out loud to me and I listen with my eyes open or closed(and yes, I am indeed listening and I make a point of making comments on things that stand out to me just so he knows I AM listening and not falling asleep again).
Anyhow....this is life. AND by the way, just in case anyone is curious what I might be giving my mom for Christmas....I am thinking of a lifesize cutout of myself. She misses me lots since I have lived away from home for 7 years now and I thought it would be creative and funny to give ME to her. Even more fun, is the jokes I can play with it when I AM home to visit. muah ha ha ha!!
I was at a wedding yesterday and boy oh boy...really gets the mind on marriage and you know...wanting to get married and all that jazz. I of course observed the wedding with a close eye and developed ideas of my own for future reference. I might need to start writing things down.
I must say it was a fun wedding and they are going to have some kick ass pictures of the wedding!! They had a number of friends who brought a whole bunch of their gear and took tons of pics...candid and otherwise, but I can't wait to see them!! I definitely want those guys taking pics at my wedding!!!
As for school, the other part of my life; it is busier than freaky busy now. It's just wacko. I think teachers are crazy people who do too much work. Or at least too much work considering how much they are paid. I get about 6 emails each weekend if not more from my partner teacher which give me the distinct impression that she spends the majority of her weekend doing school related work. I went to a wedding this weekend and haven't done much. I did some marking and compiled marks for report cards. I need prep time. Tonight will be prep time for sure. I will hang out with Janice, my fellow grade 2 student teacher friend and we will plan and do our prep together. I love that girl!! Even if we aren't in the same school next year, but if we have the same grade...I still want to do brainstorming and planning with her. They say that 2 minds are better than 1!!
I have been doing what I previously had thought was the impossible. You will never believe it (that is if you know me well and know that I am NOT a morning person). I am getting up a half hour earlier every morning in order to read the Bible with my lover boy. Yep it's true. I have been late a couple of times (no later than 10 minutes), but we are working are way chronologically through the Bible and it's good. He reads out loud to me and I listen with my eyes open or closed(and yes, I am indeed listening and I make a point of making comments on things that stand out to me just so he knows I AM listening and not falling asleep again).
Anyhow....this is life. AND by the way, just in case anyone is curious what I might be giving my mom for Christmas....I am thinking of a lifesize cutout of myself. She misses me lots since I have lived away from home for 7 years now and I thought it would be creative and funny to give ME to her. Even more fun, is the jokes I can play with it when I AM home to visit. muah ha ha ha!!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Life is Good
Well I am surviving all this teaching stuff even though it's freaky busy!! The teachers that I work with don't seem to take down time very often and me and my friend Janice who are working with them of course feel somewhat obligated to match their work ethics and pace. Wowsers! When I made a comment about it to my partner teacher, she said, "At least we get summers off". YEah...but they are unpaid. When you are getting paid does that mean you have to work 12-14 hours a day all the time? insane in the membrane.
So...I think I am going to go to New Zealand for my practicum next semester. I have made contact with some good peeps there and just need to firm things up and make some agreements and all that jazz and figure out how I am going to pay for it. Maybe I will put in a proposal to my reserve. They might want me to come back and work for them though. I am not ready to move back to BC anytime soon.
Nolan is fantastic. We have talked about the "M" word if you catch my drift (that was for you Heidi).
right now...i am tired and sore. something quacky has been going on with my neck and shoulders and back. I am going to go. bye
So...I think I am going to go to New Zealand for my practicum next semester. I have made contact with some good peeps there and just need to firm things up and make some agreements and all that jazz and figure out how I am going to pay for it. Maybe I will put in a proposal to my reserve. They might want me to come back and work for them though. I am not ready to move back to BC anytime soon.
Nolan is fantastic. We have talked about the "M" word if you catch my drift (that was for you Heidi).
right now...i am tired and sore. something quacky has been going on with my neck and shoulders and back. I am going to go. bye
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
No One Ever reads this...
...so I why do I come and write here? Because it is kind of fun just to write. I can be a blithering idiot, a brilliant philosopher; I can wax poetic here or write in horrible slang and say "like" all the time.
Anyhow...on to better things. I am in love!! Did you know that!? Yep it's true and I can't help but think how freaking amazing God is that he orchestrates these things because He certainly knows that I would not have orchestrated this but....yep. My ways and His ways...not the same thing and He does know better and He chooses better and what I am trying to say is...that I could not possibly have a better guy!! He is the bestest!
So anyhow...I should be preparing for science class tomorrow. Love unfortunately doesn't stop time or make homework,work and things you don't really want to do go away. I wish it did. I also wish that love could make it so you don't need as much sleep because I am stupid and will not sleep in order to hang out with Nolan. You would think that I didn't see him everyday but the fact is...I can't seem to get enough of him. Can you get enough of a good thing? Well...I guess you can sometimes, especially if the good thing is crinkle cut french fries with seasoning salt. If you keep eating them, you will get VERY full and you may have a sore spot on your tongue from too much seasoning salt and you might get really thirsty. So you get enough of the good thing (fries) until it is time to have them again. In my case with Nolan...can't get enough. I love to hang out with him and talk and laugh and pray and yes...cry (you all know what a cry baby I am, especially when I pray), and hike, bike, climb and such things as these.
We haven't really had a disagreement yet...like-minded or rose coloured glasses? Maybe when we finally do it will be a real biggie and maybe that will make it fun instead of just mad or something...you know...like one of those big blowouts when both people wave their fists, yell really, really dumb things, stamp their feet, huff and then start laughing because they've made idiots of themselves over something that was really little in the first place. I think he would just make me laugh...or he would shush me with a kiss. Tell me now...who wouldn't like to be shushed with a kiss? I apparently have been already and didn't even know it. I just like being kissed who am I kidding!
Bye No one!
Anyhow...on to better things. I am in love!! Did you know that!? Yep it's true and I can't help but think how freaking amazing God is that he orchestrates these things because He certainly knows that I would not have orchestrated this but....yep. My ways and His ways...not the same thing and He does know better and He chooses better and what I am trying to say is...that I could not possibly have a better guy!! He is the bestest!
So anyhow...I should be preparing for science class tomorrow. Love unfortunately doesn't stop time or make homework,work and things you don't really want to do go away. I wish it did. I also wish that love could make it so you don't need as much sleep because I am stupid and will not sleep in order to hang out with Nolan. You would think that I didn't see him everyday but the fact is...I can't seem to get enough of him. Can you get enough of a good thing? Well...I guess you can sometimes, especially if the good thing is crinkle cut french fries with seasoning salt. If you keep eating them, you will get VERY full and you may have a sore spot on your tongue from too much seasoning salt and you might get really thirsty. So you get enough of the good thing (fries) until it is time to have them again. In my case with Nolan...can't get enough. I love to hang out with him and talk and laugh and pray and yes...cry (you all know what a cry baby I am, especially when I pray), and hike, bike, climb and such things as these.
We haven't really had a disagreement yet...like-minded or rose coloured glasses? Maybe when we finally do it will be a real biggie and maybe that will make it fun instead of just mad or something...you know...like one of those big blowouts when both people wave their fists, yell really, really dumb things, stamp their feet, huff and then start laughing because they've made idiots of themselves over something that was really little in the first place. I think he would just make me laugh...or he would shush me with a kiss. Tell me now...who wouldn't like to be shushed with a kiss? I apparently have been already and didn't even know it. I just like being kissed who am I kidding!
Bye No one!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
"A Sporting Chance"
Did I ever mention that I am a tad bit competitive? Yes, it's true, I am. Whether it is a simple little things like a card game, Boggle or bigger things like soccer games, rock climbing or WATER FIGHTS.
This particular day began with fun on the trampoline avec Nolan. I must admit that I was a bit hesitant because I am scared of being double bounced because I usually think that I am going to fly out of control and off of the trampoline. So I did my best to control being bounced and of course took breaks and let Nolan jump. Eventually we were lying in the sun on the tramp talking and as per usual Nolan gets quiet and simply looks at me. And of course, as per usual, my curiosity kills me and I HAVE to ask him what he's thinking. We go through this routine on a very regular basis. However, Nolan simply smiled at whatever thought was lurking in his head. Of course I almost always ask him what he is smiling about, but he beat me to it and asked me if I wanted him to show me what he was thinking about. I foolishly said yes.
Well...he jumped off the trampoline and proceeded to turn on the outdoor faucet. Okay, I thought, a bit of water from the sprinkler while on the trampoline...that's fine. As he walked back toward the tramp, he stopped and pulled the sprinkler to himself and started to unattach it. uh oh! I got a soaking! I tried to get away and then I thought maybe he would stop after a bit. Nope. So what can you do? He's bigger, he's stronger, he's faster...you grab the hose and you fold it in half to stop the water. Respite. Of course then it turned into a bit of a wrestling match. I was too nice I have decided. Had he been my brother I am sure I would have tried to kick him and trip him and thrown a few punches, but with Nolan, I didn't. Anyhow...I got more soaking and I did at one point get the hose away from him but was not fast enough to retaliate before he got the hose back. The best way to make it stop...change the subject. We did have to go to the Sun and Salsa Festival...and I did have to use up some free money before we went. So off we went our separate ways.
I promptly went into the house and grabbed a 4 gallon bucket and began to fill it with water. My plan was to hide around the corner of the house and douse him when he was on his way inside. I could hear him covering the trampoline and then I thought of the things he left on the lawn: his wallet, his keys and his cell phone. Hmmm...would water wreck his cell phone? Or his car alarm thing? Maybe I shouldn't throw water at him. Hmmmm. I went back inside and put the bucket down. I picked it up again and went outside and then returned inside again and put it back down and stood by the door waiting for him to come in.
"You were covering the trampoline?" I asked innocently.
"Yes", he replied.
"Did you pick up your things off the grass?"
"Yes"
"Did you have your cell phone with you too?"
"Yes"
I am sure he thought my line of questioning was silly or dumb or random.
"Oh...your cell phone saved your life", I told him in a voice that told him just how lucky he was.
"from the bucket of water behind you?", he asked me. Of course from the bucket of water and I expained to him how I was going to douse him but didn't want to get his cell phone. He said he would have done it anyway. He then asked me if I didn't need to get going to Shopper's Drugmart. I replied in a sassy voice saying,"I am not walking away from this bucket of water until you do". We both stood and looked at each other for a moment before he bent over and picked up both me and the bucket of water and proceeded toward the bathroom, in which I surmised he planned to give me yet another thorough dousing. I used my limbs to prevent our entry into the bathroom. I propped my feet against the door frame and pushed us away, I used my hands, my knees. Nolan changed angles, pulled at my hands and feet in attempts to disconnect my body from the door frame but it was to no avail. He then put the bucket of water on the counter in order to subdue my limbs and we thus entered the washroom. As we entered, oh how handy!! A bucket of water was sitting on the counter at just the right height that I could grab it and dump it on the mostly dry Nolan Archer. ha! ha! retaliation complete! I was satisfied and left with a grin on my face.
However, I learned later that Nolan had given me a "Sporting Chance" and so that leads me to believe that his placement of the bucket onto the counter as opposed to setting it on the floor was intentional. Hmmmm. Not sure what I think.
Growing up as a Tomboy, I had to fight to be an equal with the boys. Bike tag wasn't for sissies, if you got knocked over you didn't cry out, "Hey! You can't puch that hard, I'm a girl!!". you simply got up and started chasing because you were it and you would push just as hard when you were tagging. You caught frogs with the best of them and would even catch garter snakes. In soccer, you learned to hit (by hit I mean shoulder check) hard, you know, take a good run at it, get some good speed to hit with because you had to make up for being a small light weight. So...competitive, you bet!! Need to win at everything? nope. you gotta know when to just have fun and when to try and kick someone's butt. I am sure some day I will have an equal opportunity moment to kick Nolan's butt at something...I might have to employ tactics other than speed and strength, but I can make up for it with my wiley ways and sneak tactics.
But hey...thanks for the sporting chance!
This particular day began with fun on the trampoline avec Nolan. I must admit that I was a bit hesitant because I am scared of being double bounced because I usually think that I am going to fly out of control and off of the trampoline. So I did my best to control being bounced and of course took breaks and let Nolan jump. Eventually we were lying in the sun on the tramp talking and as per usual Nolan gets quiet and simply looks at me. And of course, as per usual, my curiosity kills me and I HAVE to ask him what he's thinking. We go through this routine on a very regular basis. However, Nolan simply smiled at whatever thought was lurking in his head. Of course I almost always ask him what he is smiling about, but he beat me to it and asked me if I wanted him to show me what he was thinking about. I foolishly said yes.
Well...he jumped off the trampoline and proceeded to turn on the outdoor faucet. Okay, I thought, a bit of water from the sprinkler while on the trampoline...that's fine. As he walked back toward the tramp, he stopped and pulled the sprinkler to himself and started to unattach it. uh oh! I got a soaking! I tried to get away and then I thought maybe he would stop after a bit. Nope. So what can you do? He's bigger, he's stronger, he's faster...you grab the hose and you fold it in half to stop the water. Respite. Of course then it turned into a bit of a wrestling match. I was too nice I have decided. Had he been my brother I am sure I would have tried to kick him and trip him and thrown a few punches, but with Nolan, I didn't. Anyhow...I got more soaking and I did at one point get the hose away from him but was not fast enough to retaliate before he got the hose back. The best way to make it stop...change the subject. We did have to go to the Sun and Salsa Festival...and I did have to use up some free money before we went. So off we went our separate ways.
I promptly went into the house and grabbed a 4 gallon bucket and began to fill it with water. My plan was to hide around the corner of the house and douse him when he was on his way inside. I could hear him covering the trampoline and then I thought of the things he left on the lawn: his wallet, his keys and his cell phone. Hmmm...would water wreck his cell phone? Or his car alarm thing? Maybe I shouldn't throw water at him. Hmmmm. I went back inside and put the bucket down. I picked it up again and went outside and then returned inside again and put it back down and stood by the door waiting for him to come in.
"You were covering the trampoline?" I asked innocently.
"Yes", he replied.
"Did you pick up your things off the grass?"
"Yes"
"Did you have your cell phone with you too?"
"Yes"
I am sure he thought my line of questioning was silly or dumb or random.
"Oh...your cell phone saved your life", I told him in a voice that told him just how lucky he was.
"from the bucket of water behind you?", he asked me. Of course from the bucket of water and I expained to him how I was going to douse him but didn't want to get his cell phone. He said he would have done it anyway. He then asked me if I didn't need to get going to Shopper's Drugmart. I replied in a sassy voice saying,"I am not walking away from this bucket of water until you do". We both stood and looked at each other for a moment before he bent over and picked up both me and the bucket of water and proceeded toward the bathroom, in which I surmised he planned to give me yet another thorough dousing. I used my limbs to prevent our entry into the bathroom. I propped my feet against the door frame and pushed us away, I used my hands, my knees. Nolan changed angles, pulled at my hands and feet in attempts to disconnect my body from the door frame but it was to no avail. He then put the bucket of water on the counter in order to subdue my limbs and we thus entered the washroom. As we entered, oh how handy!! A bucket of water was sitting on the counter at just the right height that I could grab it and dump it on the mostly dry Nolan Archer. ha! ha! retaliation complete! I was satisfied and left with a grin on my face.
However, I learned later that Nolan had given me a "Sporting Chance" and so that leads me to believe that his placement of the bucket onto the counter as opposed to setting it on the floor was intentional. Hmmmm. Not sure what I think.
Growing up as a Tomboy, I had to fight to be an equal with the boys. Bike tag wasn't for sissies, if you got knocked over you didn't cry out, "Hey! You can't puch that hard, I'm a girl!!". you simply got up and started chasing because you were it and you would push just as hard when you were tagging. You caught frogs with the best of them and would even catch garter snakes. In soccer, you learned to hit (by hit I mean shoulder check) hard, you know, take a good run at it, get some good speed to hit with because you had to make up for being a small light weight. So...competitive, you bet!! Need to win at everything? nope. you gotta know when to just have fun and when to try and kick someone's butt. I am sure some day I will have an equal opportunity moment to kick Nolan's butt at something...I might have to employ tactics other than speed and strength, but I can make up for it with my wiley ways and sneak tactics.
But hey...thanks for the sporting chance!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Chez Moi
I am home and have been here for almost 3 weeks now and although travelling, adventuring and learning things in new places is fun and exciting, it is sweet to be home. Home is the place that allows me to experience REAL rest. When I am away I get enough sleep and I enjoy myself, but it is here at home that I can once again feel like I don't have to move, I can be 100% myself (not just 99.9% and the 0.01% actually tires you out as you unconciously or conciously seek to protect yourself from the unknown parts of all the new people you meet...at least until you trust them).
I love home, I love my "family" here and despite all of our ups and downs over this past year I have cherished this home and the people. We are changing though and it makes me sad in some ways. I look forward to the new things and people with a scared, wary type of anticipation (it still includes the exciting, "what is coming next" type of anticipation too...you know the type that you have before opening a gift).
I think I love home because I love just BEING and I can do that here. Even when I have things to do, like filing (filing schmiling...it can wait), or organizing all my cd's (that can wait too....I am more important than my cd's), or practicing french, practicing guitar, trying to find all the book keeping stuff....things I need to do, should do...will get done, but right now....I will BE. I love it. even if I was working full time this summer...I would most certainly not fill my evenings with organizing cd's...I would relax, read a book, try tennis, lie in the hammock and let the world just be the world and for a time (an hour maybe more), let it just pass me by. And in my mind, talk to God, drift into a peaceful, dozy, sort of, maybe sleep, but can still kinda hear the world around me.
But...then comes September and then the time to BE becomes overshadowed by school assignmments (okay...it's not so much the assignment as it is the accompanying stress that does the overshadowing). Stress...I need YOU God to help me deal with stress better. I hate being a stress ball, it changes how I act, feel, percieve and all that jazz. Help me to BE in the middle of busyness.
And what does the future look like? here, there? You, me, them? Daily practical thingamajiggers (I forget what they are called, but I know what I mean). I am curious to see what Chez Moi will look like in a month and a half from now. I will let you reveal it God.
I love home, I love my "family" here and despite all of our ups and downs over this past year I have cherished this home and the people. We are changing though and it makes me sad in some ways. I look forward to the new things and people with a scared, wary type of anticipation (it still includes the exciting, "what is coming next" type of anticipation too...you know the type that you have before opening a gift).
I think I love home because I love just BEING and I can do that here. Even when I have things to do, like filing (filing schmiling...it can wait), or organizing all my cd's (that can wait too....I am more important than my cd's), or practicing french, practicing guitar, trying to find all the book keeping stuff....things I need to do, should do...will get done, but right now....I will BE. I love it. even if I was working full time this summer...I would most certainly not fill my evenings with organizing cd's...I would relax, read a book, try tennis, lie in the hammock and let the world just be the world and for a time (an hour maybe more), let it just pass me by. And in my mind, talk to God, drift into a peaceful, dozy, sort of, maybe sleep, but can still kinda hear the world around me.
But...then comes September and then the time to BE becomes overshadowed by school assignmments (okay...it's not so much the assignment as it is the accompanying stress that does the overshadowing). Stress...I need YOU God to help me deal with stress better. I hate being a stress ball, it changes how I act, feel, percieve and all that jazz. Help me to BE in the middle of busyness.
And what does the future look like? here, there? You, me, them? Daily practical thingamajiggers (I forget what they are called, but I know what I mean). I am curious to see what Chez Moi will look like in a month and a half from now. I will let you reveal it God.
Monday, June 25, 2007
In Contention...
I think the actual longest day of my life was when Nolan and I missed the plane home from Gatwick in the UK, but Thursday, June 21st is now in the running for being one of the longest days of my life. Here is an extract from my journal that I wrote while driving...I HAD to start writing otherwise I would have jumped out of the car while laughing hysterically and since NO DYING is rule #1 I instead had to write and laugh hysterically.
Today was potentially the longest day of my life. I am told thought that one day driving through Ontario is likely to rival today and any other day that sits on my "longest day of my life" list.
Today would never have made the list, however, a number of small details that manad\ged to all happen in the surrounding 24 hours pushed this day into contention. It's funny how small details can change a whole day. For example, the weird french lady who came into the hostel room at 3am, snored all night long and switched beds at her leisure...she changed the whole night. Extrememly squeaky bedsprings, another small detail that doesn't promote a good night's sleep. Neither does a window that doesn't close when a pub is 2 doors down the road and people never really know how loud they are when they are drunk. Alcohol must effect our auditory system and cause temporary hearling loss, thus requiring everyone to yell- much to my chagrin and sleeplessness.
Of course it doesn't help matters when one chooses to stay out late, drink beverages and practice your french with Quebecois people all the while a very loud band is playing Irish folk tunes and dancing fools spill their beers down your back.
As you sit inthe moment of decision, I find that often enjoying the moment; living in the now, winds over what some might call common sense. I say you only live once and sometimes you need to make the non-sensical decision and seize the day (or the night as it was).
Small detail, let's call it #6...drinking a second beverage and being the owner of a small bladder...bad news because it means less sleep. Getting into the car at 8am knowing you've made a prior decision to drive 1100-ish kilometres seems extremely painful and of course it is going to be a long day. #8-leaving without breakfast. Tired and hungry, not a combination that I am especially good at. #9...forgetting to call Moncton friends to tell them you need to get into their house to pick up your belongings and they work so....will the door be open or locked? Dear Lord, favour please, let the door be open. It also helps if MAYBE, just maybe the navigator and the driver discuss the route of choice for travelling westward. If the driver has one route in mind, but the navigator thinks we"re going a different way the...the lefts and rights we take, just might be the long way! oops...tired minds don't operate at 100%.
So 12.5 hours later we are still driving and we are in good spirits despite the fact we are running on very little sleep, 3 bowls of fruit loops, 1 bottle of gatorade, 1 shared powerbar, 1 side of friens and chicken nuggets, 2 lifesavers, 2 oranges and a bit of trail mix that desperately needs more chocolate in it. OH! and 1 cup of coffee and 1 iced cap...neccessito today!
We have laughed hysterically (I was actually beginning to think that Kim was losing her mind), we've attempted to believe our own lies ("It will only feel like 1/2 hour"), we've worshipped God, listened to good music and cursed Ontario drivers (who were actually driving the speed limit in Quebec which no good Quebecois ever does!) All in all it was a good long day. All I can think about now it a real meal, a real bed and a real shower and seeing some really good friends tomorrow.
Today was potentially the longest day of my life. I am told thought that one day driving through Ontario is likely to rival today and any other day that sits on my "longest day of my life" list.
Today would never have made the list, however, a number of small details that manad\ged to all happen in the surrounding 24 hours pushed this day into contention. It's funny how small details can change a whole day. For example, the weird french lady who came into the hostel room at 3am, snored all night long and switched beds at her leisure...she changed the whole night. Extrememly squeaky bedsprings, another small detail that doesn't promote a good night's sleep. Neither does a window that doesn't close when a pub is 2 doors down the road and people never really know how loud they are when they are drunk. Alcohol must effect our auditory system and cause temporary hearling loss, thus requiring everyone to yell- much to my chagrin and sleeplessness.
Of course it doesn't help matters when one chooses to stay out late, drink beverages and practice your french with Quebecois people all the while a very loud band is playing Irish folk tunes and dancing fools spill their beers down your back.
As you sit inthe moment of decision, I find that often enjoying the moment; living in the now, winds over what some might call common sense. I say you only live once and sometimes you need to make the non-sensical decision and seize the day (or the night as it was).
Small detail, let's call it #6...drinking a second beverage and being the owner of a small bladder...bad news because it means less sleep. Getting into the car at 8am knowing you've made a prior decision to drive 1100-ish kilometres seems extremely painful and of course it is going to be a long day. #8-leaving without breakfast. Tired and hungry, not a combination that I am especially good at. #9...forgetting to call Moncton friends to tell them you need to get into their house to pick up your belongings and they work so....will the door be open or locked? Dear Lord, favour please, let the door be open. It also helps if MAYBE, just maybe the navigator and the driver discuss the route of choice for travelling westward. If the driver has one route in mind, but the navigator thinks we"re going a different way the...the lefts and rights we take, just might be the long way! oops...tired minds don't operate at 100%.
So 12.5 hours later we are still driving and we are in good spirits despite the fact we are running on very little sleep, 3 bowls of fruit loops, 1 bottle of gatorade, 1 shared powerbar, 1 side of friens and chicken nuggets, 2 lifesavers, 2 oranges and a bit of trail mix that desperately needs more chocolate in it. OH! and 1 cup of coffee and 1 iced cap...neccessito today!
We have laughed hysterically (I was actually beginning to think that Kim was losing her mind), we've attempted to believe our own lies ("It will only feel like 1/2 hour"), we've worshipped God, listened to good music and cursed Ontario drivers (who were actually driving the speed limit in Quebec which no good Quebecois ever does!) All in all it was a good long day. All I can think about now it a real meal, a real bed and a real shower and seeing some really good friends tomorrow.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Painful things...
So...last week we had to do this thing that I wasn`t looking forward to. We had worked on a legend...creating a legend based on a photo of sometype of landmark here in Riviere-du-Loup. Once we were finished the legend, we had to make preparations for decorating a kiosk type thing because we would be performing our legend for the fine folks of RDL!! yep. Speaking a ton of french at one time to a heck of a lot of Francphones. J'ai été très nerveuse! I ended up being assigned the storyteller. Gee what a surprise!! I wrote most of the story and I was the most familiar with the storyline, so when I read it, I was animated, knew when to stress certain words etc...so...I read a 3 minute story about 10 -13 times really loudly for many, many people. I must admit prior to completing this evening of legend-telling I was an extremely reluctant to participate. Mostly because it made me feel like an elementary school kid who was putting together something for a science fair that everyones parents were going to come and check out and then it would be judged by someone. I rebelled against the who school kid thing. I had a rotten attitude. About an hour before we began, I thought...this could be painful and annoying or I can just decide to have fun. I decided to have fun. I was still really nervous though. Before I began the first run, I actually told our listeners that I was really nervous and they all smiled friendly, welcoming smiles and so I began. It was fun. I became more and more animated, and storyteller-like as we went along. I raised my voice, waved my hands, changed my tone, used different facial expressions...it was great! I also thought that I might lose my voice, but I didn`t. At the end of the night I found out we were actually being judged. I did notice a number of our instructors stopping and listening to many of the stories, but thought they just wanted to check it out. Anyhow...the long and short of the story...my group won for the best french and pronunciation!! YAY!! we got a gift certifcate for a great restaurant here in town. anyhow...
Tomorrow is my #2 on the list of Painful things...a debate about whether canada has a culture or not....in french. I hate formal debates in english and gee...sounds like fun to try and do one in french. We'll see...maybe I will decide to have fun.
I have to go study...I have tons of stuff to know for my 2 exams coming up and not enough time to actually get a good study in because they keep filling our time with stuff. Good stuff...like a weekend trip to Quebec city...good stuff. More on that later!!
out like trout.
Tomorrow is my #2 on the list of Painful things...a debate about whether canada has a culture or not....in french. I hate formal debates in english and gee...sounds like fun to try and do one in french. We'll see...maybe I will decide to have fun.
I have to go study...I have tons of stuff to know for my 2 exams coming up and not enough time to actually get a good study in because they keep filling our time with stuff. Good stuff...like a weekend trip to Quebec city...good stuff. More on that later!!
out like trout.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
The end is coming
The end is always coming, that is simply the way that time works. Life begins and it ends. A day begins and it ends. L'École Français begins and it will end. At the beginning when the first few days felt incredibly long due the the absolutely massive amounts of new information (that's immersion for you!), my brain was tired, my body was tired and I thought the end would never come. As time went by, the days began to pass more quickly due to the fact that my working knowledge of french improved and I didn`t feel quite as overwhelmed at I had the first few days. From this moment, I look forward and the end seems to be a bit too close and time passing a bit too quickly for my liking. I have learning a lot and am so happy to be here right now and wish my french was better (but we did speak a lot of english when no one was listening {by no one I mean the instructors} and so it didn`t feel like a total, total immersion, just a "mostly" immersion). Anyhow...I only have 4 or 5 days left of classes (that includes the classes that I am simply sitting and writing my exams in). Well as they say, "Time flies when you`re having fun!"
This weekend we are heading to Québec city. I am excited to go and check things out again. I have heard some excited whispers that I hope amount to more than wishful thinking, that Circe du Soleil is performing for free somewhere in Québec city. If this is indeed the truth, we must track it down!
Oh...so what else is new...I got my midterm marks back and passed with some pretty flying colours!! I am a happy camper!
I am really, vraiment, vraiment looking forward to driving around the Martimes with Kim, mais elle pense que elle ne peut pas parce que elle n'ai pas l'argent maintenant. hmmmm. I just cancelled my flights last night and jeepers, this would just through a wrench in my plans (I learned the french equivalent for this saying yesterday but I forget. Something like, jamming a stick in someone's wheel{like a bike wheel and sending them flying}). Anyhow...
I haven`t made myself laugh really really hard lately because I haven`t said anything so incrediblly silly or walked into the wrong bathroom or anything. Jamie a guy in my class makes me laugh all the time though. He has sense of humour and a funny laugh that makes me laugh at silly things. For example...we had to make up an invention the other day and create an advertisement for it, which used imperatives. We invented the Bandeau de téléphone. It was great!! Jamie was our cheesy salesman. He side slicked his hair and cut out a tie from construction paper and stapled it to his shirt for our presentation. How can you not laugh at that! Anyhow...
Like I said before...the end is coming. BUT...I want to keep learning and practicing french.
This weekend we are heading to Québec city. I am excited to go and check things out again. I have heard some excited whispers that I hope amount to more than wishful thinking, that Circe du Soleil is performing for free somewhere in Québec city. If this is indeed the truth, we must track it down!
Oh...so what else is new...I got my midterm marks back and passed with some pretty flying colours!! I am a happy camper!
I am really, vraiment, vraiment looking forward to driving around the Martimes with Kim, mais elle pense que elle ne peut pas parce que elle n'ai pas l'argent maintenant. hmmmm. I just cancelled my flights last night and jeepers, this would just through a wrench in my plans (I learned the french equivalent for this saying yesterday but I forget. Something like, jamming a stick in someone's wheel{like a bike wheel and sending them flying}). Anyhow...
I haven`t made myself laugh really really hard lately because I haven`t said anything so incrediblly silly or walked into the wrong bathroom or anything. Jamie a guy in my class makes me laugh all the time though. He has sense of humour and a funny laugh that makes me laugh at silly things. For example...we had to make up an invention the other day and create an advertisement for it, which used imperatives. We invented the Bandeau de téléphone. It was great!! Jamie was our cheesy salesman. He side slicked his hair and cut out a tie from construction paper and stapled it to his shirt for our presentation. How can you not laugh at that! Anyhow...
Like I said before...the end is coming. BUT...I want to keep learning and practicing french.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sherry in English now...
I have no idea how that happened, but somehow my blog ended up being translated into Hindi which was an option on here I couldn`t figure out how to change it back into english so...here is somewhat of a shorter version of what I said in the last post. I said...I am that person. The one who is learning english and doesn`t yet know how to speak in correct tenses and says things like, " I am went to the store (using the word that means a grocery store) tomorrow to bought a shoe me for". Yep..I am Manon (the incredible french woman I am living with) finds me really, really , really funny with all the mistakes I make when I open my mouth to speak french. I called her yesterday from Quebec city because we were going to be late coming home and I was elected to phone home and speak french. Yep...I am sure the conversation went something like this:
M: Bonjour!
S: Bonjour Manon, cèst Sherry
M: Oui, allo Sherry!!
S: Nous avons en tard (We are late)
M: (silent pause)
S: uhm...Nous avons dan Quebec maintenant (we are in Quebec right now)
M: ...she finishes the sentence for me, gettingmy drift that we are gonig to be late...
S: Maintenant cèst 4:30 et...
Manon finishes the sentence again...laughing. ok.
So...I laugh. And the other day I tried to tell her that she is welcome in Calgary anytime and instead I told her she is welcome in Calgay sometimes...like maybe only on sundays!?! we laughed so hard once eveyone at the dinner table let me figure out what I had actually said and everyone knew what I meant to say and we laughed and laughed and laughed until our tummies hurt and we coudln`t breathe. And then we laughed some more until I almost peed my pants! Oh it was great.
Yesterday was Manon`s b-day!! It was great to spend the evening with her, but I wish we had spent the day with her and planned fun things and decorated the house and had gone all out for her. Last night she told us how important it was to her that we were there with her. Her and her significant other broke it off last summer (I think he was cheating) and holidays etc. being alone has been hard for her and she cried a number of times, touched by our words and actions.
Last night we all sat in the hot tub and we sang songs together (french and english) and told Manon what an amazing woman we think she is. She is such a doll. I wish I had a better vocabulary in french so I could really tell her how much I like her and appreciate her.
Anyhow...I have a test this week...2 actually, midterms, one oral one written...oooohhhh! I am nervous! But my instructor is a sweetheart so no reason to be nervous and I am not doing this french school for credit, but for myself so what does it matter!?
AND...I might be able to travel after the school is over!! MIGHT. My friend Kim has a car here and wants to visit the Maritimes and needs to return to Alberta after for work so...perhaps a bit of a tour and then a drive home!!?? Who knows. WE`ll see what happens.
M: Bonjour!
S: Bonjour Manon, cèst Sherry
M: Oui, allo Sherry!!
S: Nous avons en tard (We are late)
M: (silent pause)
S: uhm...Nous avons dan Quebec maintenant (we are in Quebec right now)
M: ...she finishes the sentence for me, gettingmy drift that we are gonig to be late...
S: Maintenant cèst 4:30 et...
Manon finishes the sentence again...laughing. ok.
So...I laugh. And the other day I tried to tell her that she is welcome in Calgary anytime and instead I told her she is welcome in Calgay sometimes...like maybe only on sundays!?! we laughed so hard once eveyone at the dinner table let me figure out what I had actually said and everyone knew what I meant to say and we laughed and laughed and laughed until our tummies hurt and we coudln`t breathe. And then we laughed some more until I almost peed my pants! Oh it was great.
Yesterday was Manon`s b-day!! It was great to spend the evening with her, but I wish we had spent the day with her and planned fun things and decorated the house and had gone all out for her. Last night she told us how important it was to her that we were there with her. Her and her significant other broke it off last summer (I think he was cheating) and holidays etc. being alone has been hard for her and she cried a number of times, touched by our words and actions.
Last night we all sat in the hot tub and we sang songs together (french and english) and told Manon what an amazing woman we think she is. She is such a doll. I wish I had a better vocabulary in french so I could really tell her how much I like her and appreciate her.
Anyhow...I have a test this week...2 actually, midterms, one oral one written...oooohhhh! I am nervous! But my instructor is a sweetheart so no reason to be nervous and I am not doing this french school for credit, but for myself so what does it matter!?
AND...I might be able to travel after the school is over!! MIGHT. My friend Kim has a car here and wants to visit the Maritimes and needs to return to Alberta after for work so...perhaps a bit of a tour and then a drive home!!?? Who knows. WE`ll see what happens.
ई ऍम ठाट परसों...यू क्नोव थे वन...
ओकय रंदोम...एवेर्य्थिंग ई टाईप इस चंगिंग इन्तो अ दिफ्फेरेंत लंगुअगे ओं थे स्क्रीन राईट बेफोरे मय एयेस ऎंड ई डॉन`त क्नोव वहत लंगुअगे इत इस...इत लूकस लिके सोम इंडियन लंगुअगे पेर्हप्स?? ई ऍम नॉट सुर इफ मय ब्लोग विल कॉम आउट इन इंग्लिश ओर सोमेथिंग फॉरेन तो उस अल। होऊ बॉय! वी`रे इन फ़ॉर अ सुर्प्रिसे पुएत इतर। ई वास जुस्त गोइंग तो सय ठाट ई ऍम थे परसों ठाट वी हवे अल लेंकोउत्नेरेड इन कनाडा व्हो इस लीर्निंग इंग्लिश। थे वन व्हो डेसं`त येत हवे अल ओफ्ठे तेंसेस कोर्रेच्त ऎंड सय्स थिंग्स लिके, "ई ऍम वेंत तो थे स्टोर (उसिंग थे वर्ड ठाट मांस अ ग्रोसर्य स्टोर) येस्तेर्दय फ़ॉर तो बौघ्त शोए मे फ़ॉर"... ओर सोमेतिंग लिके ठाट!! ई हवे सैद सोम प्रेत्त्य फुन्न्य थीं जस ई ऍम प्रेत्त्य दर्नेद सुर। ई वास त्र्यिंग तो तेल मय फ्रेंच "मॉम" व्हो इस अ ३७ येअर ओल्ड होत, चिक, कूल वूमन, ठाट शे इस वेल्कोमे तो कॉम तो काल्गार्य अन्य्तिमे!! वहत ई इंदेद उप सयिंग वास ठाट शे इस वेल्कोमे सोमेतिमेस। नॉट अन्य्तिमे...जुस्त सोमेतिमेस...लिके पेर्हप्स ओनली ओं सुन्दय्स। अन्य्होव...वी अल लौघेद उन्तिल वी कोउल्दं`त ब्रेअठे ऎंड थें सोम मोरे। मोरे लिके उन्तिल ई अल्मोस्त पेड मय पंट्स। सो फुन्न्य। बुत....नेच्सस्सितो!!! अन्य्होव...ई`म आउट लिके त्रौत। लेटर स्कतेर्स.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
le mauvais salle de bain
Today I went into the wrong bathroom. It was soooooo drôle!!! I didn`t notice when I went in that it was the mens' room because I immediately turned towards the stalls and the urinals went entirely unnoticed. Of course when I exited the stall, I noticed the urinals and started to laugh like crazy!! Thankfully there were no guys at any of the urinals when I came out, otherwise that would have been awkward and embarrassing. On my way out the the bathroom, one of the other students was on his way in and he looked surprised for just one small moment and then he started to laugh as well. I walked all the way back to my classroom laughing at myself.
I have been laughing at myself a lot! A lot, a lot. What can you do when you say the wrong thing in french because you inserted one wrong word that changed the entire meaning of your phrase?? Laugh until your stomach hurts, let others laugh with and at you and then once you've calmed down start laughing again until you almost pee your pants and can`t breathe. Yep...true story. I love laughing and I have been laughing tons here and I am sure it has kept me from losing my mind. If I was unable to laugh at myself, I would indeed be incredibly frustated and probably grumpy. By the way, I saw a t-shirt yesterday that had Oscar the grouch on it that said "grouchy guys are cool" and I wanted to buy it, but then I thought I don`t need to buy a t-shirt that will justify grumpiness, I just need to get over it when I am grumpy, change my attitude and persepctive. Anyhow...I should go and eat my lunch and be sociable and talk poor french with other peeps who know more than me.
à bientôt!
I have been laughing at myself a lot! A lot, a lot. What can you do when you say the wrong thing in french because you inserted one wrong word that changed the entire meaning of your phrase?? Laugh until your stomach hurts, let others laugh with and at you and then once you've calmed down start laughing again until you almost pee your pants and can`t breathe. Yep...true story. I love laughing and I have been laughing tons here and I am sure it has kept me from losing my mind. If I was unable to laugh at myself, I would indeed be incredibly frustated and probably grumpy. By the way, I saw a t-shirt yesterday that had Oscar the grouch on it that said "grouchy guys are cool" and I wanted to buy it, but then I thought I don`t need to buy a t-shirt that will justify grumpiness, I just need to get over it when I am grumpy, change my attitude and persepctive. Anyhow...I should go and eat my lunch and be sociable and talk poor french with other peeps who know more than me.
à bientôt!
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