We have had record heat for a week now. Kept the a/c on overnight a couple of times---something we don't do often, because usually it cools by 40 degrees or so.
Anyway, the heat sort of prevents a whole lot of activity. However, we do keep moving and have plans.
I have had the opportunity to engage in Spanish conversation with my friend Sherry. I hope our schedules will allow this regularly. I get so excited when I'm in the midst of it. Realizing I DO understand, and I AM understood is so awesome!! I get teary eyed with gratitude and do not want to lose what I have gained. Sherry is teaching basic Spanish to a small group from our church that will be going to Honduras (Mission Trip) this fall---I'll be attending the class tonight just for the exposure to Spanish. Keeping my ears tuned.
Daniel is working hard at Shelter One (Jim and Donna's business) coming home hot, dirty, and tired. Dinner, shower, a bit o' time online, and bed is about all you can expect from him Mon - Thur. Crystal & I joined forces last Friday, to help Daniel with the shopping for George Fox. He moves into the dorm August 27th. Our list is covered in checkmarks---we're nearly ready. He even found jeans that fit (31/34)--3 pairs!! None of us really enjoy shopping, so to get so much accomplished in one day was a blessing and miracle! He saw the dentist yesterday (2 cavities---need to floss!) Has an eye appointment in 2 weeks, and will make a trip to the Health Dept for a meningitus shot---maybe swine flu too---I'm trying to decide. I'm hoping to do a drawer by drawer, shelf by shelf, clean and purge in his room---that won't happen for a few more weeks.
Crystal has been relaxing at home. The change from Roma to Medford has been greater than anticipated, but she is doing well. We love having her laughter in the house. She found a women's soccer team to play on---scored the winning goal last week!!--
She is making a quilt out of old jeans and cords for Daniel to take to college. This is a tradition. My niece Karrie, made the first one. Then Crystal made one for herself and later for Jon when he was leaving for OIT. Daniel's is mostly denim blues with some hunter green, brown and tan corduroy added in for color and interest. It will be very handsome. She did find and buy a cute little car last week---a Hyundai Accent. Just what she was looking for and the right price. She will probably head to Portland around the 12th to job search in person. Please keep this in your prayers.
Doug has built a patio out of pavers in the side yard--just outside the Master Bedroom. We acquired a hot tub last spring, so now it is in a proper setting. This is one if the projects to finish before we put this house up for sale. (We've purchased a smaller house in Jacksonville with the plan to downsize and simplify---it's being rented right now) The patio is a very nice addition, the pavers compliment the rock garden wall well. That's alot of rocks to carry up our sloped walkway---the 109 heat didn't help--except, his back hasn't bothered him---hmmmm! He has earned a relaxing weekend away!!
Providentially, my first cousin's (my mother's niece) daughter is getting married at the McMenimins Edgefield in Troutdale this weekend. The wedding has become the venue for what has been dubbed the "Cousin Fest". Many of our first cousins from the mid-west are coming out West. All my siblings and their spouses are going. Crystal will share a room with my sister Karen. (Daniel will be hanging out with my Brother Lee's kiddos--his close in age cousins). We all have the Eurpeon style (bathroom down the hall) rooms. Normally I wouldn't choose this arrangement, but the rooms are sold out. I think it will be fun to run into cousins in the hall at night. From the hotel website, it looks like there'll be a celebration of Jerry Garcia's birthday this weekend as well---tie dye is in order---I don't think we'll go there.
The next weekend, we plan to camp at beloved Union Creek Campground. We're hoping Doug's brother Phil and family will join us. After that Crystal and Daniel will be moving on to other people, places, and things. Doug and I will try to do a bit of that too!
The day we take Daniel to GFU, Doug and I are boarding a plane for Oahu. He had some "use 'em or lose 'em" airmiles we cashed in for 2 tickets and a rental car. Our good friends Bob and Cindy Sharp now live there and have invited us to stay with them---too good to turn down.
In the meantime, I will turn fresh applications into the 3 nearby school districts with a resume showcasing my recent attendance at Language School---and the SIOP training I attended last summer. This is a tough year, but, jobs only come to those who throw their hats into the ring. If nothing comes from that, I will sub as before. Which I do love anyway.
Before we know it, the days will shorten and mornings will be crisp and cold with leaves starting to color. It is a wonder how quickly change happens. I am trying to practice the discipline of Thanksgiving each day.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Going with the Flow
I've been taking time to recover. When I got home from Puebla, I was not only tired but a little ill.
I did a lot of sleeping last week. Towards the end of the week, I started cleaning and organizing the upstairs bedrooms to prepare for Crystal. Crystal is home from Italy! She taught at AOSR for 3 years, can you believe it? What a wonderful experience she has had.
She does not yet have a job for the fall, nor are there any prospects at this point. We'll see what comes next.
Daniel will be leaving for George Fox University August 27th---just 6 weeks. We made our shopping list last night. Friday is his next day off--let the accumulations begin!!
I did a lot of sleeping last week. Towards the end of the week, I started cleaning and organizing the upstairs bedrooms to prepare for Crystal. Crystal is home from Italy! She taught at AOSR for 3 years, can you believe it? What a wonderful experience she has had.
She does not yet have a job for the fall, nor are there any prospects at this point. We'll see what comes next.
Daniel will be leaving for George Fox University August 27th---just 6 weeks. We made our shopping list last night. Friday is his next day off--let the accumulations begin!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Short timer
I have 2 more class days togo. I´ll be at the bus station bound for the airport at Mexico City Saturday morning. I´m very ready to be home.
This has been a worthwhile experience, I´ve learned alot. At times, I am thinking in Spanish, so that´s cool--and very surreal when you realize it. I am really tired though---and really glad I´m not staying for the whole course (4 weeks).
It is quiet here this week, 5 students left last weekend and we only got 2 new. There has also been alot of people sick---I blame the street food. Martin, from Denmark got samonella, and had to get an antibiotic shot.
I´ve been on 4 excursions, Chulula, Tlaxcala, Teutihucan/Mexico City, Cacaxatl. The words you can´t pronounce are in Naguatl, the Aztec language. The places are all very interesting. Similar, yet different. The famous one, atTehutihacan is actually a complex of 3 pyramids and several altars. It was not only a center for the religion, but commerce and military too. The original buildings date before Christ, the Aztecs occupied from about 200 - 700 ad. Their remodels are what you actually see and climb.
I´ve been to several museums and churches, of course. I´ve begun to get a general idea of Mexico´s History. Our Guia for each tour uses Spanish only---so you listen really hard and hope you´re understanding correctly.
Last Sunday, our guia, Carlos, failed to wear distinctive clothing. I lost sight of him a couple of times in El Bosque de Ciudad de Mexico (equivalent to Central Park). He is hard to pick out wearing a plain beige shirt in a sea of morenos (dark haired/skinned) people. Then, at El Castillo, 3 of us got separated while we were taking photos----the man walks way fast. Poyon, Malcolm and I had no idea where they went, and he hadn´t really given us an itinerary or timeline. So we sat by the exit gate for a little while. Then Poyon asked the guard if he´d seen our group leave, and he insisted they had. Anyway, the dilemma---
stay together and head down the hill?--or stay put like mama always told you to.
I opted to stay with them. They both appear Mexican, and Malcolm is a big guy. We walked the only path down the hill. At the bottom, still no sign of our group, so we bought water, and sat on the steps near the walkway for 20 minutes or so. Poyon decided to jog back up hill and double check. While she was gone, Malcolm and I discussed the ¨what if´s¨. Between us we had 20 pesos (less than $20), no credit cards, no phone, 2 cameras---Carlos had told us to leave everything nonessential on the bus. Mexico City is 3 hours from Puebla. Not the best of scenarios. We agreed not to get worried for at least 2 hours, and Malcolm said he thought he had friends in the city we could stay with.
It wasn´t long though that Poyon came running back with thumbs up. We didn´t miss much. The group was herded through the Museo at walking pace, no time to read any of the postings next to the artwork, so I don´t feel too bad. We did tell Carlos though, he really needs to dress more conspicuously, and tell people where he expected to go, and for how long. And we should done what mama always said.
Mexico City is a big city. Very crowded on a Sunday. The Zocolo is very European looking ( it was built by Spaniards) We only had 2 hours there, we weren´t interested in shopping, so we quickly took a peek in the Cathedral, then headed across the Zocolo to a rooftop restaurant for cervezas and cenar (beer and an evening meal/snack) The view was beautiful. It was election Sunday. All alcohol sales were stopped on Friday at midnite until after the polls were closed at 6pm on Sunday. We ordered at 5:15 pm and were finally served at 5:55 pm. I wonder if this custom really helps people to be soberminded as they vote?
Please pray for smooth transitions and travels on Saturday. I´ll take the bus at 10 am, should be at the airport about noon, my flight leaves at 2:55pm, layover and customs in LA., in Medford at 9:55 pm, Lord willing.
I will post my pictures when I get home.
Love and thanks to everyone
A funny: many times during class, Irma (the teacher) will sort of laugh at things said (incorrectly) and say ¨chistoso¨ and often it is Malcolm who has last spoken. So, yesterday he asked her, why are you always saying ¨cheese toast?¨ Irma laughed until tears ran down her face. Chistoso means funny, or you´re teasing! We giggled about it for quite awhile. It was good to laugh hard.
This has been a worthwhile experience, I´ve learned alot. At times, I am thinking in Spanish, so that´s cool--and very surreal when you realize it. I am really tired though---and really glad I´m not staying for the whole course (4 weeks).
It is quiet here this week, 5 students left last weekend and we only got 2 new. There has also been alot of people sick---I blame the street food. Martin, from Denmark got samonella, and had to get an antibiotic shot.
I´ve been on 4 excursions, Chulula, Tlaxcala, Teutihucan/Mexico City, Cacaxatl. The words you can´t pronounce are in Naguatl, the Aztec language. The places are all very interesting. Similar, yet different. The famous one, atTehutihacan is actually a complex of 3 pyramids and several altars. It was not only a center for the religion, but commerce and military too. The original buildings date before Christ, the Aztecs occupied from about 200 - 700 ad. Their remodels are what you actually see and climb.
I´ve been to several museums and churches, of course. I´ve begun to get a general idea of Mexico´s History. Our Guia for each tour uses Spanish only---so you listen really hard and hope you´re understanding correctly.
Last Sunday, our guia, Carlos, failed to wear distinctive clothing. I lost sight of him a couple of times in El Bosque de Ciudad de Mexico (equivalent to Central Park). He is hard to pick out wearing a plain beige shirt in a sea of morenos (dark haired/skinned) people. Then, at El Castillo, 3 of us got separated while we were taking photos----the man walks way fast. Poyon, Malcolm and I had no idea where they went, and he hadn´t really given us an itinerary or timeline. So we sat by the exit gate for a little while. Then Poyon asked the guard if he´d seen our group leave, and he insisted they had. Anyway, the dilemma---
stay together and head down the hill?--or stay put like mama always told you to.
I opted to stay with them. They both appear Mexican, and Malcolm is a big guy. We walked the only path down the hill. At the bottom, still no sign of our group, so we bought water, and sat on the steps near the walkway for 20 minutes or so. Poyon decided to jog back up hill and double check. While she was gone, Malcolm and I discussed the ¨what if´s¨. Between us we had 20 pesos (less than $20), no credit cards, no phone, 2 cameras---Carlos had told us to leave everything nonessential on the bus. Mexico City is 3 hours from Puebla. Not the best of scenarios. We agreed not to get worried for at least 2 hours, and Malcolm said he thought he had friends in the city we could stay with.
It wasn´t long though that Poyon came running back with thumbs up. We didn´t miss much. The group was herded through the Museo at walking pace, no time to read any of the postings next to the artwork, so I don´t feel too bad. We did tell Carlos though, he really needs to dress more conspicuously, and tell people where he expected to go, and for how long. And we should done what mama always said.
Mexico City is a big city. Very crowded on a Sunday. The Zocolo is very European looking ( it was built by Spaniards) We only had 2 hours there, we weren´t interested in shopping, so we quickly took a peek in the Cathedral, then headed across the Zocolo to a rooftop restaurant for cervezas and cenar (beer and an evening meal/snack) The view was beautiful. It was election Sunday. All alcohol sales were stopped on Friday at midnite until after the polls were closed at 6pm on Sunday. We ordered at 5:15 pm and were finally served at 5:55 pm. I wonder if this custom really helps people to be soberminded as they vote?
Please pray for smooth transitions and travels on Saturday. I´ll take the bus at 10 am, should be at the airport about noon, my flight leaves at 2:55pm, layover and customs in LA., in Medford at 9:55 pm, Lord willing.
I will post my pictures when I get home.
Love and thanks to everyone
A funny: many times during class, Irma (the teacher) will sort of laugh at things said (incorrectly) and say ¨chistoso¨ and often it is Malcolm who has last spoken. So, yesterday he asked her, why are you always saying ¨cheese toast?¨ Irma laughed until tears ran down her face. Chistoso means funny, or you´re teasing! We giggled about it for quite awhile. It was good to laugh hard.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Mis Alumnos
I should tell you something about my class. We meet in Aula 8, a very small classroom. Our teacher is Irma, she is from Puebla and I think she´s about 30. She is very animated and encouraging and manages the class well. Not too stuck on following an exact curriculum, but still maintaining a direction for us.
There are 6 of us in class:
Malcolm is from Singapore, he will be working in Monterey, Mexico beginning in September. We works for a company with offices world wide. He is a business and finance manager, Spanish is his 4th langauge. He is in his 20´s, an only child, and a gentle giant of a man. He likes to play rugby.
Poyon (pooh-yawn) is an ESL and English teacher at a middle school in Indianapolis, IN. Her family is Persian, and farsi is her first langage. She is in her early 30´s. She has studied other languages as well and is well traveled. Indianapolis is the town she grew up in.
Erica is applying to complete her Doctorate in some sort of Social Work. One of the schools she has applied to is in Venezuela. She is from California, LA, I think. She has done a whole lot of traveling since she turned 18, and is 24 now, living off of student loans she says. Her parents are Chinese.
Adam is 20, he is from Texas. His 16 yr old brother, Graff, is here with him. They are staying with family friends in Chalula. Adam is a Christian, loves rock climbing, and has an eclectic sense of preferences in music and movies. I think he would have alot in common with Daniel and his friends.
Mackie is from Arizona, she has been here for more than one term, and will be staying longer. She is 22 I think, and from a close family. Her mom will be coming to visit and attend the Institute soon.
Everyone other than me will be staying the whole term (4 weeks). I understand there is an awesome dinner party at the end---sort of a gradation, that I will miss. I´m sure my choice of 3 weeks is the right one. I am learning about as much as I can digest, and I will be ready to come home July 11th.
We are all quite different, but seem to be a cohesive group. I am 20 years older than everyone, and the only one married---and by far the least comfortable with travel, etc. But they are all kind and encouraging to me. We do laugh quite a bit.
Today we were working on Reflexive verbs, it was frustrating for all of us. It doesn´t really translate into English, so it is difficult to make sense of it and apply the pronouns correctly. We wound up playing a game of Memory using Verbs as the cards---then conjugating the matches into the Preterite form (past tense) Doesn´t that sound like fun? It actually broke the tension and was a good break from the struggle.
Each week we have a guia (guide) for the conversational part of our schooling. Last week I had Miriam, and this week Eli, both are University students and Poblanas (natives of Puebla) with great creativity to keep conversations going with a gringa of limited abilities. I´ve enjoyed working with them both and very grateful for their help---tho I really have no idea where we´ve gone about town. When I´m concentration on listening, comprehending and speaking, not much else gets noticed!!
There are 6 of us in class:
Malcolm is from Singapore, he will be working in Monterey, Mexico beginning in September. We works for a company with offices world wide. He is a business and finance manager, Spanish is his 4th langauge. He is in his 20´s, an only child, and a gentle giant of a man. He likes to play rugby.
Poyon (pooh-yawn) is an ESL and English teacher at a middle school in Indianapolis, IN. Her family is Persian, and farsi is her first langage. She is in her early 30´s. She has studied other languages as well and is well traveled. Indianapolis is the town she grew up in.
Erica is applying to complete her Doctorate in some sort of Social Work. One of the schools she has applied to is in Venezuela. She is from California, LA, I think. She has done a whole lot of traveling since she turned 18, and is 24 now, living off of student loans she says. Her parents are Chinese.
Adam is 20, he is from Texas. His 16 yr old brother, Graff, is here with him. They are staying with family friends in Chalula. Adam is a Christian, loves rock climbing, and has an eclectic sense of preferences in music and movies. I think he would have alot in common with Daniel and his friends.
Mackie is from Arizona, she has been here for more than one term, and will be staying longer. She is 22 I think, and from a close family. Her mom will be coming to visit and attend the Institute soon.
Everyone other than me will be staying the whole term (4 weeks). I understand there is an awesome dinner party at the end---sort of a gradation, that I will miss. I´m sure my choice of 3 weeks is the right one. I am learning about as much as I can digest, and I will be ready to come home July 11th.
We are all quite different, but seem to be a cohesive group. I am 20 years older than everyone, and the only one married---and by far the least comfortable with travel, etc. But they are all kind and encouraging to me. We do laugh quite a bit.
Today we were working on Reflexive verbs, it was frustrating for all of us. It doesn´t really translate into English, so it is difficult to make sense of it and apply the pronouns correctly. We wound up playing a game of Memory using Verbs as the cards---then conjugating the matches into the Preterite form (past tense) Doesn´t that sound like fun? It actually broke the tension and was a good break from the struggle.
Each week we have a guia (guide) for the conversational part of our schooling. Last week I had Miriam, and this week Eli, both are University students and Poblanas (natives of Puebla) with great creativity to keep conversations going with a gringa of limited abilities. I´ve enjoyed working with them both and very grateful for their help---tho I really have no idea where we´ve gone about town. When I´m concentration on listening, comprehending and speaking, not much else gets noticed!!
I´ve officially given up
I´ve given up trying to post pictures, it just is not easy from here. So when I get home, I´ll put together and album of sorts. In the meantime. I hope you all can get by with word pictures.
TLAXCALA
yesterday´s field trip was to Tlaxcala, the capitol of the State of Tlaxcala. It is a beautiful town, the size of Ashland perhaps, sort of artsy. Very clean and inviting with trees, flowers and fountains in the plazas. Again, Spanish Colonial architecture. The churches are decorated with a baroque influence. The bull ring is there, it is surprisingly small. Those that have gone say it is a pretty bloody sight, so I think I´ll pass.
We toured the Governor´s palace. In side the foyer and up the stairs is a beautiful mural depicting the history of Mexico. It was recently finished, and was the life´s work of one man---his name escapes me, I´ll have to look it up. He used a fresco technique and it is super detailed, with much symbolism, the vibrant colors take your breath away.
We also went into a natural history museum. It was very well laid out and comprehensive for the region. The temporary exhibit displayed torture implements imported from Europe with the Dominicans as a way of insuring converts----very sobering to think people are capable on such inventions. Los muchahos really liked this exhibit.
After that we walked across the plaza to partake of the local fermented beverage, pulque. It is made from the heart of a plant cousin to an agave. There were 3 choices of flavors; oat, piñon, or nut. When you raise your glass to your nose, the oder is similar to vomit---hence, I can´t say anyone enjoyed it. We quickly switched to beer. The puebla custom is to serve beer in a Michelada style, which is in a salt rimmed mug that has about a 1/2 inch of lime juice in it. Some times the salt is mixed with ground dried pequin chili---it is very good like that!
We returned to the Instituto around 6:30pm just as the rain began. A group of us were going to cenar (dinner) but the rain caused us to remain close. The restaurant around the corner was suprisingly beautiful inside, and we all enjoyed local cuisine. I ordered stuffed squash blossom quesadillas. They were fabulous. My friend, Martha, unwittingly ordered a whole bottle of wine instead of just a glass. So 3 of us helped her with that. We sort of fussed that the place was expensive, but once you calculate the exchange rate to dollars, it´s really not. The 25 peso bottle of Spanish wine was a bout $2 US, my 52 peso dinner was less than $5.
TLAXCALA
yesterday´s field trip was to Tlaxcala, the capitol of the State of Tlaxcala. It is a beautiful town, the size of Ashland perhaps, sort of artsy. Very clean and inviting with trees, flowers and fountains in the plazas. Again, Spanish Colonial architecture. The churches are decorated with a baroque influence. The bull ring is there, it is surprisingly small. Those that have gone say it is a pretty bloody sight, so I think I´ll pass.
We toured the Governor´s palace. In side the foyer and up the stairs is a beautiful mural depicting the history of Mexico. It was recently finished, and was the life´s work of one man---his name escapes me, I´ll have to look it up. He used a fresco technique and it is super detailed, with much symbolism, the vibrant colors take your breath away.
We also went into a natural history museum. It was very well laid out and comprehensive for the region. The temporary exhibit displayed torture implements imported from Europe with the Dominicans as a way of insuring converts----very sobering to think people are capable on such inventions. Los muchahos really liked this exhibit.
After that we walked across the plaza to partake of the local fermented beverage, pulque. It is made from the heart of a plant cousin to an agave. There were 3 choices of flavors; oat, piñon, or nut. When you raise your glass to your nose, the oder is similar to vomit---hence, I can´t say anyone enjoyed it. We quickly switched to beer. The puebla custom is to serve beer in a Michelada style, which is in a salt rimmed mug that has about a 1/2 inch of lime juice in it. Some times the salt is mixed with ground dried pequin chili---it is very good like that!
We returned to the Instituto around 6:30pm just as the rain began. A group of us were going to cenar (dinner) but the rain caused us to remain close. The restaurant around the corner was suprisingly beautiful inside, and we all enjoyed local cuisine. I ordered stuffed squash blossom quesadillas. They were fabulous. My friend, Martha, unwittingly ordered a whole bottle of wine instead of just a glass. So 3 of us helped her with that. We sort of fussed that the place was expensive, but once you calculate the exchange rate to dollars, it´s really not. The 25 peso bottle of Spanish wine was a bout $2 US, my 52 peso dinner was less than $5.
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