Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
In the land of the Pony Express
Dinner last night consisted of sitting in a famous Portland eatery (the name of which has escaped me at the moment) watching old and new friends down some chicken wings. The conversation had a slight lull, during which time Bri and I were looking at Kevin's photos ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/pattersonminx/ ) on his iphone. As I've noticed seems to be the case, once one iphone gets pulled out, other magically appear. Before I could blink - or flip open my old nokia flip-phone - four iphones had appeared on the table. Now, I realize I was with a group of artsy-fartsy photographer people (discussing iStock over dinner), which is, of course, the gang that Apple caters to, but good grief, when did I become so obsolete? Not only that, but the discussion soon turned to TV, internet, phone lines, all of which I had to admit I don't have. I think I might be the only person in the Western US without internet in my home! I got plenty of heckling about still using the Pony Express for communication and depending on telegraphs for news, but I present that radio is the modern convenience of this age! Despite the fact that, for me, I have to roll down my car window and put my finger on top of the broken off antenae in order to get any reception.
I went to the beach yesterday with Bri and our friend Nate (check out: http://nathanwatkinsphotography.com/services/ ). We met some guys from India who work for Nike, they asked us to pose in a "snap" with them. We also met some Chinese folks who also work for Nike. I wish I had a freer schedule - I'd love to just meet international folks and invite them over for dinner! The whole time in lived in Italy, I only went into one Italian family's home. Odd, isn't it? How many people come to the US and never get to go inside a USers home?
Which brings me to a conference I attended this last weekend with Bri. The nature of which might be considered a bit secure and confidential, but in general terms, it got me thinking about reaching out to people who are visiting us from other cultures. If they're going to come to the US with the opportunity to have an open view of it, I'd like them to get a positive impression! It's the least I can do while I'm here. And us USers don't always live up to the hospitality other countries offer - I'd like to see that change! Moroccans are SO hospitable! As followers of Jesus and learners of God - who is the BEST host there ever has been or will be - we should be beating everyone out there when it comes to hospitality, hands down!
Because I'm tired and home at my folks' (aka: the land of wifi), I'll upload a couple photos from recent times... Enjoy!
I went to the beach yesterday with Bri and our friend Nate (check out: http://nathanwatkinsphotography.com/services/ ). We met some guys from India who work for Nike, they asked us to pose in a "snap" with them. We also met some Chinese folks who also work for Nike. I wish I had a freer schedule - I'd love to just meet international folks and invite them over for dinner! The whole time in lived in Italy, I only went into one Italian family's home. Odd, isn't it? How many people come to the US and never get to go inside a USers home?
Which brings me to a conference I attended this last weekend with Bri. The nature of which might be considered a bit secure and confidential, but in general terms, it got me thinking about reaching out to people who are visiting us from other cultures. If they're going to come to the US with the opportunity to have an open view of it, I'd like them to get a positive impression! It's the least I can do while I'm here. And us USers don't always live up to the hospitality other countries offer - I'd like to see that change! Moroccans are SO hospitable! As followers of Jesus and learners of God - who is the BEST host there ever has been or will be - we should be beating everyone out there when it comes to hospitality, hands down!
Because I'm tired and home at my folks' (aka: the land of wifi), I'll upload a couple photos from recent times... Enjoy!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Falling into fall...
Hi faithful fans!
Just a quick update here, because it's 9:15PM and I'm still at the library and I'm hungry and tired and have a headache... I've settled into my little apartment and am getting into the routine of school work again. It's been a bit of a hectic start, I've yet to actually BE at my apartment for more than 4 or 5 days since every weekend I've headed one direction or another, but hopefully after the next 2 weekends that will slow down some. It's a bit challenging to get used to studying and writing among the craziness of the family when I have the solitude of my own place during the week.
My landlords are fantastic, as is the location of my apartment, as is the apartment itself. I have SO much to be thankful for! God is good - and he's especially good to me!
My sister and I are hosting an "International Night" tomorrow night, inviting people to bring potluck foods from international locations, and requiring the donning of costumes. I'm not letting them in the door unless they can show me something foreign... or so I said on the email invite at least! For me, I'm wearing my jilaba and need to practice my tea-pouring skills!
Saturday will be a friend's wedding - they seem to be coming fast and furious this summer - and then Sunday is the b-day party for 3 of my siblings. Monday my beloved friend Bri arrives, and the week is going to be crazy with 2 essays and a presentation due, and leaving for Seattle next Thursday night after my night class... Ii-yi-yi! I'm tired just thinking about all that!
For now, though, I'm heading out and will be attempting to tackle the to-do list on my whiteboard before heading home tomorrow - lots of reading and writing and cleaning! Here I go!
Cheers!
Just a quick update here, because it's 9:15PM and I'm still at the library and I'm hungry and tired and have a headache... I've settled into my little apartment and am getting into the routine of school work again. It's been a bit of a hectic start, I've yet to actually BE at my apartment for more than 4 or 5 days since every weekend I've headed one direction or another, but hopefully after the next 2 weekends that will slow down some. It's a bit challenging to get used to studying and writing among the craziness of the family when I have the solitude of my own place during the week.
My landlords are fantastic, as is the location of my apartment, as is the apartment itself. I have SO much to be thankful for! God is good - and he's especially good to me!
My sister and I are hosting an "International Night" tomorrow night, inviting people to bring potluck foods from international locations, and requiring the donning of costumes. I'm not letting them in the door unless they can show me something foreign... or so I said on the email invite at least! For me, I'm wearing my jilaba and need to practice my tea-pouring skills!
Saturday will be a friend's wedding - they seem to be coming fast and furious this summer - and then Sunday is the b-day party for 3 of my siblings. Monday my beloved friend Bri arrives, and the week is going to be crazy with 2 essays and a presentation due, and leaving for Seattle next Thursday night after my night class... Ii-yi-yi! I'm tired just thinking about all that!
For now, though, I'm heading out and will be attempting to tackle the to-do list on my whiteboard before heading home tomorrow - lots of reading and writing and cleaning! Here I go!
Cheers!
Monday, September 01, 2008
Catchup Tleta
For the weekend we took off for a city between Fes and Tangier. We had a lovely dinner with a Moroccan family, then got up the next day and took off for some sightseeing in Tangier. We walked ALL over the city, then ended up at the beach to relax for a couple minutes. I got to haul around Eba, the little Moroccan girl who went with us, while she was napping. Thank goodness for scarves! I have to admit, I felt pretty "African" with her slung around me! The guys later told me they'd been planning how they were going to catch either her or me or both of us if I tripped going up or down the multitude of stairs and hills we traversed. They never needed to, though!
The train rides on our little jaunt turned out to be amusing. Once again we managed to miss out on AC trains (I think they're actually just an illusion), but since we were in second class, I just pushed open a door and sat myself in the doorway while we drove along. It was the most comfortable of any train ride I took, temperature-wise, because the cool breeze was in my face. It also was another very "Africa" moment, with my feet dangling off the train, waving to the shepherds and small towns we passed. It was also on these train rides that I decided I would, indeed, plan on going skydiving someday, since one of the guys regularly jumps out of airplanes for his job. Of course, I think he's the only one I'll ever consider going with, so if we never meet up again I won't, but with a track record of 1300 safe jumps, I'll risk it with him!
We also decided that sugar is not really all that sweet until the sugar factories hire one of the girls on the team to walk through the factory where the sugar is produced, and then her sweetness rubs off on all the sugar and the rest of the world can enjoy it...
When we got back to where we had to get off for our hotel, our team leader accidently directed a bunch of the crew to get off at the little stop on the outskirts of the city. So several of us eagerly obedient teammembers ended up having to walk a ways to get to the next station. I'll never forget the looks on the faces of the people still on the train when they realized we had gotten off and they were still stuck - I don't think sheer terror describes it, but something along those lines!
Once back in Fes we settled in for our last week of classes. We were able to slip in some time running around the medina (I gave a tour, thanks to my previous knowledge of the city), and even took an "adventure hike" out into the hills behind Fes. Our hike ended up turning into a lot more of a taxi ride with just a little hiking, but we met this guy who is building an organic-style resort. I might have to go back someday, just because he seemed pretty cool! And the views of the city couldn't be beat either.
We took the train back to Casa after classes finished up, were we began the painful process of wishing "adieu" to people. I hate goodbyes, and it was sad to have the gang slowly dissolve - I'd actually rather BE the one leaving, because then I can just rush off! As it was, I was the last person left in Casa because my bus up north didn't leave until 5 hours after the last flight out. I was able to fill my time with reading and journaling and rescuing some American guys with my cell phone and skype account at an internet cafe. They'd been stranded by Royal AirMaroc, so they had to communicate and get new flights and such. Speaking neither French or Arabic made their trial that much more difficult. My very LITTLE French and Arabic sure impressed them! (hahaha!)
After a 12 hour bus ride north, and refusing multiple coffee invites or snack invites or marriage proposals from the guy next to me (all in Arabic, so I can't be sure always what he was saying to me), I finally got into town. I had accidently left my lunch/dinner in the taxi I took to the bus station (I had been distracted by the taxi driver's invite to go home, get married, and come back to Morocco to live), so by the time I got into the house up north I was ready to break my 24 hour fast. Unfortunately everyone had the flu so food was the last thing on anyone's mind.
My friend T returned from his quick jaunt to Fes with the team he was with, so it was great to see him and catch up again. I'd spent a couple days in England over spring break visiting him, but being back in the original-meeting-place was great. Another few days building houses provided ample opportunity to practice my arabic and serve as a "translator" of sorts, before I caught a taxi with T and two of the boys on his team back out to the port to ride the overnight ferry to Malaga. After taking the ferry several times last year, I was better prepared with warm socks and clothes, which provided a much more comfortable night than my last experience. T directed us through the port and to the bus to get to the airport (WAYYYYY cheaper than a taxi - good to know how to do this!), and then we parted ways once Tom and the boys were checked in. I had a few hours to wait for my plane to Rome.
Once back in Rome I got back to L & J's and worked on repacking my stuff. I headed to the water park for the 4th of July with a gang of folks, had dinner with my roomies, and then almost overslept and missed my train to get to the airport for my flight to London. Fortunately L knocked on the door and I had all of 3 minutes to get out and down to the station hauling a backpack and my suitcase. I made it, though, and the rest of the flight was rather uneventful, other than being long. With layovers in both London AND Denver, it seemed slower than usual, but then again it's nice to break things up a bit. My folks were on hand in Portland to pick up my stinky, exhausted self and head straight home!
The train rides on our little jaunt turned out to be amusing. Once again we managed to miss out on AC trains (I think they're actually just an illusion), but since we were in second class, I just pushed open a door and sat myself in the doorway while we drove along. It was the most comfortable of any train ride I took, temperature-wise, because the cool breeze was in my face. It also was another very "Africa" moment, with my feet dangling off the train, waving to the shepherds and small towns we passed. It was also on these train rides that I decided I would, indeed, plan on going skydiving someday, since one of the guys regularly jumps out of airplanes for his job. Of course, I think he's the only one I'll ever consider going with, so if we never meet up again I won't, but with a track record of 1300 safe jumps, I'll risk it with him!
We also decided that sugar is not really all that sweet until the sugar factories hire one of the girls on the team to walk through the factory where the sugar is produced, and then her sweetness rubs off on all the sugar and the rest of the world can enjoy it...
When we got back to where we had to get off for our hotel, our team leader accidently directed a bunch of the crew to get off at the little stop on the outskirts of the city. So several of us eagerly obedient teammembers ended up having to walk a ways to get to the next station. I'll never forget the looks on the faces of the people still on the train when they realized we had gotten off and they were still stuck - I don't think sheer terror describes it, but something along those lines!
Once back in Fes we settled in for our last week of classes. We were able to slip in some time running around the medina (I gave a tour, thanks to my previous knowledge of the city), and even took an "adventure hike" out into the hills behind Fes. Our hike ended up turning into a lot more of a taxi ride with just a little hiking, but we met this guy who is building an organic-style resort. I might have to go back someday, just because he seemed pretty cool! And the views of the city couldn't be beat either.
We took the train back to Casa after classes finished up, were we began the painful process of wishing "adieu" to people. I hate goodbyes, and it was sad to have the gang slowly dissolve - I'd actually rather BE the one leaving, because then I can just rush off! As it was, I was the last person left in Casa because my bus up north didn't leave until 5 hours after the last flight out. I was able to fill my time with reading and journaling and rescuing some American guys with my cell phone and skype account at an internet cafe. They'd been stranded by Royal AirMaroc, so they had to communicate and get new flights and such. Speaking neither French or Arabic made their trial that much more difficult. My very LITTLE French and Arabic sure impressed them! (hahaha!)
After a 12 hour bus ride north, and refusing multiple coffee invites or snack invites or marriage proposals from the guy next to me (all in Arabic, so I can't be sure always what he was saying to me), I finally got into town. I had accidently left my lunch/dinner in the taxi I took to the bus station (I had been distracted by the taxi driver's invite to go home, get married, and come back to Morocco to live), so by the time I got into the house up north I was ready to break my 24 hour fast. Unfortunately everyone had the flu so food was the last thing on anyone's mind.
My friend T returned from his quick jaunt to Fes with the team he was with, so it was great to see him and catch up again. I'd spent a couple days in England over spring break visiting him, but being back in the original-meeting-place was great. Another few days building houses provided ample opportunity to practice my arabic and serve as a "translator" of sorts, before I caught a taxi with T and two of the boys on his team back out to the port to ride the overnight ferry to Malaga. After taking the ferry several times last year, I was better prepared with warm socks and clothes, which provided a much more comfortable night than my last experience. T directed us through the port and to the bus to get to the airport (WAYYYYY cheaper than a taxi - good to know how to do this!), and then we parted ways once Tom and the boys were checked in. I had a few hours to wait for my plane to Rome.
Once back in Rome I got back to L & J's and worked on repacking my stuff. I headed to the water park for the 4th of July with a gang of folks, had dinner with my roomies, and then almost overslept and missed my train to get to the airport for my flight to London. Fortunately L knocked on the door and I had all of 3 minutes to get out and down to the station hauling a backpack and my suitcase. I made it, though, and the rest of the flight was rather uneventful, other than being long. With layovers in both London AND Denver, it seemed slower than usual, but then again it's nice to break things up a bit. My folks were on hand in Portland to pick up my stinky, exhausted self and head straight home!
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