To give a little bit of back ground: I just got back from Peru last week and was pretty sick and unfortunately as of today I'm still not any better. When I don't eat I feel O.K. but then that has it's problems too. So at the project this morning, after not eating or sleeping much for 4 days in a row, I started to feel pretty tired, dizzy and couldn't see to well. I felt like a useless blob there because I just sat around for like 5 hours doing nothing. So finally I got my test results back so I could get some medicine for whatever it is. And as I was having the family translate it for me they simply said "oh, it's nothing." Well I can tell you all for a fact that it's not "nothing" and hearing that made me reply (spoiler warning: this gets pretty graphic), "but I think I might at least have worms!" to which was replied, "oh that's normal here, everyone has that." And fuming words not to be re-uttered under my breath, I almost replied "WELL! In The United States of America WE DON'T have worms!" Luckily, I thought about how ridicuals that statement sounded and didn't say it. I was given a medicine for the second time this week that I'm even sure what it is or if it'll work, don't think I'll die from them but don't be surprised if I come back home with an extra toe and side burns. Then the person who was to take me to the class I was waiting all day to teach (the only reason I even stayed at the school) was late (not a surprise, just annoying). So he decided that we wouldn't go. But I had had it and asked if we could go anyways. We did. I taught and got out two hours later than I should have but I just couldn't take not being on schedule today. I just couldn't be flexible!!! I just wanted to fly home for the day. Because in America "WE DON'T have worms!"!!! So what did I do? I went to MacDonald's and bought a Big Mac so I could take my mystery pills. I hate Big Mac's. In fact, I don't really care for MacDonald's either. Any hoo, I'm sure I'll be back to being more agreeable tomorrow, I was just really over it all today! :)
(And don't feel bad for me, I'm laughing at this all now).
This story is a a testament of how much I've been adapting to living here. I mean I would never in my right mind share in a large group anything pertaining to my intestines... but I think once you become a missionary down here it becomes dinner conversation. And I'm not even kidding!
In all seriousness, I am doing so much better than I have been (besides being sick)! I really see that God has been helping me with my attitude internally and I have gotten a chance to practice being thankful in situations you wouldn't think to be thankful in. I think God's amazing because there is no way I'd ever be able to pull positive out of the situations that I normally get frustrated about (even today I was able to praise God for things in an "off day" but it made a better story to leave them out!). God is really blessing me and sending me rest and stuff to look forward to. Example, I'm getting more days off this week for Easter (Semana Santa) than I first thought!!! Also, I'm understanding way more Spanish. I finally feel like I'm warming up to people and that I'm starting to get my personality back with them. Even today when I was feeling so useless I got to just hug my adorable little girls. Perhaps that's what they really needed, but I think that's what I really needed today. So thank you God for rest, little kids, having to be dependant because I don't know anything, and even for being sick (because I realize how lucky I am normally).
I'll try to spell check this with an "English speaking" computer so it's easier to read, but no promises, just love me for the bad writer and speller I is. ;)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Peru
So I just got back from Peru yesterday. Extreme Response took a team from Canada to another Remanso in Trujillo and we helped construct part of an unfinished church there. The place was called New Jerusalem and we were building on sand, which was challenging. We did a lot of work but mostly pouring foundation and it kinda looked worse once we left than when we started! LOL. But it was the hardest part so hopefully they'll (the church members in Peru) be able to do the rest before the group comes back to finish it next year. They almost finished to roof, so all in all it was a successful week.
I've been sick for the last four days, but what else is new?
I've been doing a lot of praying and soul searching to see exactly what God wants me to do here with the challenges I'm facing while teaching English. So far I haven't gotten any answers, so I'm just hanging in there and looking for ways to use gifts I do have and incorporated them into my teaching. So hopefully I'll have peace or direction. I pray I can at least make it the rest of the new quarter with out going insane, just three more months!
Other than that life goes on the same here, lots of adjustments. Getting use to doing things illogically or the slow way... well I don't know if I ever will really get used to it, but I try to be patient at least. And I still hate 5:30 a.m. LOL.
I've been sick for the last four days, but what else is new?
I've been doing a lot of praying and soul searching to see exactly what God wants me to do here with the challenges I'm facing while teaching English. So far I haven't gotten any answers, so I'm just hanging in there and looking for ways to use gifts I do have and incorporated them into my teaching. So hopefully I'll have peace or direction. I pray I can at least make it the rest of the new quarter with out going insane, just three more months!
Other than that life goes on the same here, lots of adjustments. Getting use to doing things illogically or the slow way... well I don't know if I ever will really get used to it, but I try to be patient at least. And I still hate 5:30 a.m. LOL.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A day in the life of...
Just some thoughts I've had and things that have happened to me on any givin' day here and I thought I should make note of them...
The other day while waiting for the bus I got hit in the face with water. They have a Holiday here called Carnival, right before Lent and for two days there are waters wars. Except people start early so it's most of the month. I guess I should count my lucky stars because in some places they throw flour and eggs. A friend of mine in France informed me the other day that they have the same Holiday but they feast and make pancakes. So I was thinking maybe people here really just want to make pancakes (although he could have been teasing me knowing I love pancakes, so I'm not sure how trust worthy the info is)!!!
After being hit by water I got on the bus and was sitting next to a lady whose hands were covered in dried blood. I stared at them. I didn't feel rude because people like to stare here. Maybe it's a combination of culture + me being white. So she slowly hid them behind her purse. I'll never know why washing blood off wasn't a priority to her but I still can't help but wonder.
Yesterday, I was on my way to my first Spanish lesson in the north of Quito. I had my big ol' backpack and was carrying a purse too (I had my day off so I had spent the night in the north, thus the reason I had all that junk with me). I got on the trolley. It soon became packed with people so I moved to the corner to try and keep from being robbed. Well I got kinda pushed over and only had my back to the window. Two women were practically on top of me. For some reason I felt my purse move in front of me so I moved it over and heard my stop and got off. Then I realized it wasn't my stop after all! So as I waited for the next trolley I discovered the hole in the side of my purse!!! I investigated and found nothing of importance missing! Praise God! But still rather unnerving. Then I continued on my way to my lessons with my "map" in hand. Well the directions weren't... uh how do I say this... correct (or I really can't read street signs). Either way I knew something wasn't right so I called and was told I was going the right way but had to keep on going on a bit. Well that was after 20 mins of what should have been 10 or less, and I was telling myself the whole time... "I'm sure it's just a few blocks more." So 45 mins later I got a taxi, to the wrong address and then had them come out and find me! My conclusion is I'm taking a stinkin' taxi from here on out!!!
So I've also come to the conclusion that children are like alcoholic beverages, best in small quantities if at all. Working with the boys I had last year changed my idea on having not ever having kids (I love them soooo much!) but I have to say working with mass amounts of children now has won me back over to the dark side. I don't know, maybe I'm just tired out from my "day of rest" yesterday.
I hate having to yell so that I can be heard in a room full of only 5 or 6 kids.
I hate when people tell me to be clam, because more than likely I wasn't really upset only wanted to know something with my usual fervor... but once they say that THEN I start getting upset. Not sure why the word "clam" tends to have the opposite effect on me.
I'm just going to start telling the taxi drivers I'm married, it's just easier that way.
I got told I was going on a date the other day, not asked. He didn't call though, told me that he didn't have mins on his phone. I hope that's always the case. Or else I'm always going to have to wash my hair or be extremely tired on the weekends for the next year.
The other day while waiting for the bus I got hit in the face with water. They have a Holiday here called Carnival, right before Lent and for two days there are waters wars. Except people start early so it's most of the month. I guess I should count my lucky stars because in some places they throw flour and eggs. A friend of mine in France informed me the other day that they have the same Holiday but they feast and make pancakes. So I was thinking maybe people here really just want to make pancakes (although he could have been teasing me knowing I love pancakes, so I'm not sure how trust worthy the info is)!!!
After being hit by water I got on the bus and was sitting next to a lady whose hands were covered in dried blood. I stared at them. I didn't feel rude because people like to stare here. Maybe it's a combination of culture + me being white. So she slowly hid them behind her purse. I'll never know why washing blood off wasn't a priority to her but I still can't help but wonder.
Yesterday, I was on my way to my first Spanish lesson in the north of Quito. I had my big ol' backpack and was carrying a purse too (I had my day off so I had spent the night in the north, thus the reason I had all that junk with me). I got on the trolley. It soon became packed with people so I moved to the corner to try and keep from being robbed. Well I got kinda pushed over and only had my back to the window. Two women were practically on top of me. For some reason I felt my purse move in front of me so I moved it over and heard my stop and got off. Then I realized it wasn't my stop after all! So as I waited for the next trolley I discovered the hole in the side of my purse!!! I investigated and found nothing of importance missing! Praise God! But still rather unnerving. Then I continued on my way to my lessons with my "map" in hand. Well the directions weren't... uh how do I say this... correct (or I really can't read street signs). Either way I knew something wasn't right so I called and was told I was going the right way but had to keep on going on a bit. Well that was after 20 mins of what should have been 10 or less, and I was telling myself the whole time... "I'm sure it's just a few blocks more." So 45 mins later I got a taxi, to the wrong address and then had them come out and find me! My conclusion is I'm taking a stinkin' taxi from here on out!!!
So I've also come to the conclusion that children are like alcoholic beverages, best in small quantities if at all. Working with the boys I had last year changed my idea on having not ever having kids (I love them soooo much!) but I have to say working with mass amounts of children now has won me back over to the dark side. I don't know, maybe I'm just tired out from my "day of rest" yesterday.
I hate having to yell so that I can be heard in a room full of only 5 or 6 kids.
I hate when people tell me to be clam, because more than likely I wasn't really upset only wanted to know something with my usual fervor... but once they say that THEN I start getting upset. Not sure why the word "clam" tends to have the opposite effect on me.
I'm just going to start telling the taxi drivers I'm married, it's just easier that way.
I got told I was going on a date the other day, not asked. He didn't call though, told me that he didn't have mins on his phone. I hope that's always the case. Or else I'm always going to have to wash my hair or be extremely tired on the weekends for the next year.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Good news, Bad news
These last two weeks have been up and down. I have gone from being excited to see a good firend (Nick) to crying my eyes out for a few hours over huge miscomunications. I don´t know how much I´ll share on here but it´s been interesting to say the least!
Good news:
Last week I started house visits. I really enjoyed it. As I walked along the highway to meet the woman I´d be accompaning, my guide and I spied two blue hearts on the road. You see, there are a lot of people who get killed walking on the roadways here and the blue hearts are like the little crosses you`d see in the U.S. Pedestrians don´t have the right of way here, but there aren´t many safe places for them to walk and the drivers are just plain awful! Any ways, so as we crossed over the hearts, and I´m not over exagerating, a huge simi-truck wizzed passed with in a few inches of us!!! But I´m glad to report I´m not a blue heart and we continued on to the houses. Some of the houses I vistited were really dark and dank, similar to what you would think a dungon would look like. Often the only piece of furnature was the bed which we sat on to do the Bible study and play with the kid or kids. Some where nicer but for the most part where all made up of sement. Because I don´t speak English I just played with the kids so the moms could do the Bible study. It was a nice break from teaching English and I acctually felt like I was doing something useful (instead of spending an hour at a time stuggling with kids to get them to sit down and listen). I came home smelling like mold and who knows what else, I can´t imagin having to live like that. Really makes you check yourself and appricate what you have.
Bad news:
Not to scare anyone but a teacher at the school got hit by a car this week on his way to work, luckily he servived. I had trouble understanding the exactly what happend but I know he was hopitalized and is either at home or in jail (it´s illigal here to cross the street if there is a bridge, so aparently the driver that hit him is pressing charges). Also there has been a lot of miscomunication from a lot of ends and has caused me some major and needless grief. Then there are other situations that are completely out of my hands and out of control which are hard to stand by and watch. That´s all I can say but it´s for sure not good.
Good news:
God´s still in heaven. Also, I might be figuring out a better schedule so I can a least have a couple days off a month (because my "day off" is only a half day and I´m mostlikely going to have Spanish class for a few hours that day). And hopefully I will get to go to a church and possibly have a Bible study with the Extreme Response (ER) people. I got to visit centeral Quito yesterday with a few of the girls from ER. I had a blast! A rude lady wouldn´t let us see the basillica towers that we paid for, even though we had 10 mins to climb up. So we went down and snuck back up another way... I´ve never ran up so many flights of stairs in my life! She tried chasing us, but gave up being older and well... fat. We made it to the top at the exact moment the bell chimed!!! It was beautiful! We took our vitcory picture and climbed down. You should have seen her face! When then looked at some other cathidrils and went to the Rotunda (spelling?) street in Quito, which is beautiful at night, so quaint it could almost be out of a movie. I got to see the middle of the world with Nick which was pretty cool (I´ll try to put pictures on FB, I´m not really sure how to post them on here). And I took a nap today after an emotionally haggerign week, thank God for naps and being able to stay at the very quiet ER building one night a week!
Bad news:
Just found out that you shouldn´t put any comerical value on things that are sent to me because I´ll have to pay huge fines to get it. And worst of all... I´m writing with a Spanish keyboard and the spell check isn´t working, so this post is probably not going to be readable!
Good news:
Last week I started house visits. I really enjoyed it. As I walked along the highway to meet the woman I´d be accompaning, my guide and I spied two blue hearts on the road. You see, there are a lot of people who get killed walking on the roadways here and the blue hearts are like the little crosses you`d see in the U.S. Pedestrians don´t have the right of way here, but there aren´t many safe places for them to walk and the drivers are just plain awful! Any ways, so as we crossed over the hearts, and I´m not over exagerating, a huge simi-truck wizzed passed with in a few inches of us!!! But I´m glad to report I´m not a blue heart and we continued on to the houses. Some of the houses I vistited were really dark and dank, similar to what you would think a dungon would look like. Often the only piece of furnature was the bed which we sat on to do the Bible study and play with the kid or kids. Some where nicer but for the most part where all made up of sement. Because I don´t speak English I just played with the kids so the moms could do the Bible study. It was a nice break from teaching English and I acctually felt like I was doing something useful (instead of spending an hour at a time stuggling with kids to get them to sit down and listen). I came home smelling like mold and who knows what else, I can´t imagin having to live like that. Really makes you check yourself and appricate what you have.
Bad news:
Not to scare anyone but a teacher at the school got hit by a car this week on his way to work, luckily he servived. I had trouble understanding the exactly what happend but I know he was hopitalized and is either at home or in jail (it´s illigal here to cross the street if there is a bridge, so aparently the driver that hit him is pressing charges). Also there has been a lot of miscomunication from a lot of ends and has caused me some major and needless grief. Then there are other situations that are completely out of my hands and out of control which are hard to stand by and watch. That´s all I can say but it´s for sure not good.
Good news:
God´s still in heaven. Also, I might be figuring out a better schedule so I can a least have a couple days off a month (because my "day off" is only a half day and I´m mostlikely going to have Spanish class for a few hours that day). And hopefully I will get to go to a church and possibly have a Bible study with the Extreme Response (ER) people. I got to visit centeral Quito yesterday with a few of the girls from ER. I had a blast! A rude lady wouldn´t let us see the basillica towers that we paid for, even though we had 10 mins to climb up. So we went down and snuck back up another way... I´ve never ran up so many flights of stairs in my life! She tried chasing us, but gave up being older and well... fat. We made it to the top at the exact moment the bell chimed!!! It was beautiful! We took our vitcory picture and climbed down. You should have seen her face! When then looked at some other cathidrils and went to the Rotunda (spelling?) street in Quito, which is beautiful at night, so quaint it could almost be out of a movie. I got to see the middle of the world with Nick which was pretty cool (I´ll try to put pictures on FB, I´m not really sure how to post them on here). And I took a nap today after an emotionally haggerign week, thank God for naps and being able to stay at the very quiet ER building one night a week!
Bad news:
Just found out that you shouldn´t put any comerical value on things that are sent to me because I´ll have to pay huge fines to get it. And worst of all... I´m writing with a Spanish keyboard and the spell check isn´t working, so this post is probably not going to be readable!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Small things
Good news! I have a schedule worked out now. I'll be working at the school 3 days a week teaching English, 3 days at Compassion International after school program, 2 to 3 days helping teach English at a few different seminaries, one day of house visits to single moms, and helping out with Sunday school at the church. I must confess, with some hesitation at being judged, that God's been showing me my selfishness, because I'm battling the thoughts of having no time and getting really burnt out (which happens a lot, I'm told). I know I'm here to serve, but I wonder just how much can one person do in a week? Any ways, I do have Mondays off, so on Sundays I'll go to the Extreme building (about an hour away by bus) and spend the night so I can sleep in at least until 8:00. Then I'll hopefully get Spanish lessons and maybe meet with a mentor on Mondays.
Getting up at 5:30 everyday can be really exhausting, especially to a person who generally thinks getting up at 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday is unreasonable and/or unheard of. So with that said, I was extremely tired by about 12:30 yesterday and truly felt like I couldn't make it through the rest of the program. I had no idea what classroom I was to help with (and I now know I was also fighting off being sick). In tears I locked myself in the bathroom at the school praying and trying to pull myself together. Finally I left but once outside no one seemed to be around and I started panicking again. Then out of no where one of the girls in the preschool class beckoned me upstairs, told me to sit down and just watch the kids play while she went to do something and I understood all of it! Small as it may have been, it was an answer to my desperate prayer to be able to get through the rest of the day. And that's how I'm taking things now day by day which is probably a better way to do it any how!
Getting up at 5:30 everyday can be really exhausting, especially to a person who generally thinks getting up at 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday is unreasonable and/or unheard of. So with that said, I was extremely tired by about 12:30 yesterday and truly felt like I couldn't make it through the rest of the program. I had no idea what classroom I was to help with (and I now know I was also fighting off being sick). In tears I locked myself in the bathroom at the school praying and trying to pull myself together. Finally I left but once outside no one seemed to be around and I started panicking again. Then out of no where one of the girls in the preschool class beckoned me upstairs, told me to sit down and just watch the kids play while she went to do something and I understood all of it! Small as it may have been, it was an answer to my desperate prayer to be able to get through the rest of the day. And that's how I'm taking things now day by day which is probably a better way to do it any how!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Out of Control
So have you ever had that feeling like the fact that you are completely uncomfortable is a complete waste? I have. I mean I know that it's not, but that's how I feel. Still not quiet sure what I'm doing on a day to day basis. I'm currently not helping with house visits like I first thought, although that could still change. I'm really hoping I'll be able to do it if it's God's will... I think it'd be much more fun than teaching (but then again I have no idea).
The little girls here are my saving grace. They are so affectionate and just hugging them sometimes gives me something to do when I'm unsure of my place or what to do. A few of them have really taken to me and it's just been great.
I really love the food here. There's only been a few things I haven't liked. I'm totally going to get fat! I'm not going to have my own kitchen like I first thought so it's a lot of soup, rice and potatoes for me! They really love to drink hot thick drinks here. They have one called "quacker" which is basically Quaker oatmeal ground up! Most of them are good, just have to be prepared for texture. The other day I was hot from being out in the sun for a few hours and saw that they were serving kool-aid or punch of some sort. When I went to drink it I got a surprise, it was more like jello instead of fruit punch!
I took a taxi all by myself today. I have to say I'm a bit proud. All I did is some shopping at the mall and then back home again. It's funny to have the sales people talk to me, I have no idea what they are saying. Sometimes I pretend to understand.
The little girls here are my saving grace. They are so affectionate and just hugging them sometimes gives me something to do when I'm unsure of my place or what to do. A few of them have really taken to me and it's just been great.
I really love the food here. There's only been a few things I haven't liked. I'm totally going to get fat! I'm not going to have my own kitchen like I first thought so it's a lot of soup, rice and potatoes for me! They really love to drink hot thick drinks here. They have one called "quacker" which is basically Quaker oatmeal ground up! Most of them are good, just have to be prepared for texture. The other day I was hot from being out in the sun for a few hours and saw that they were serving kool-aid or punch of some sort. When I went to drink it I got a surprise, it was more like jello instead of fruit punch!
I took a taxi all by myself today. I have to say I'm a bit proud. All I did is some shopping at the mall and then back home again. It's funny to have the sales people talk to me, I have no idea what they are saying. Sometimes I pretend to understand.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sick Day
So I'm at the house sick today which is giving me a chance to update this.
Life here has been constant changes, so it's hard to fall into a grove. I have my school/teaching schedule but it is probably going to change over the next few weeks because of possible house visits which I'm currently not doing. I have a lot of gaps in the schedule and I'm not sure what to do with all that time during the school days. My living situation has been kind of up in the air... I was initially supposed to have my own room in a flat in the first floor but I'm living in the study and the other northern American girl living here gave up her bed to me and is sleeping in the little girls room at the house. They are building on another room for us to share, but not quite sure when that's going to to be finished.
The culture is very different from the U.S. especially when it comes to personal space and privacy. There isn't much. They also greet each other with one kiss on the cheek, which I really like because makes me feel welcome, being an outsider and not speaking the language makes me feel really awkward a lot of the time. I'm hoping and praying for Spanish lessons so I can start communicating better. Most of you wouldn't know me here, I'm so shy and quiet because even if I had something to say I'm unsure of how to say it. I try not to take to heart the giggles at my horrible Spanish, but I've got to be honest it doesn't encourage me to keep trying. The other night I had people practically yelling and repeating words and phrases to me and I have no idea why... it was really frustrating but now it's kinda comical. Sometimes I've got to repeat "don't cry" over and over, but I'm told that feeling is just part of the culture shock.
It's really beautiful here! I haven't had my camera with me on the really clear days but it's amazing! Volcanoes and mountains all around with a lot of eucalyptus trees and a few pine-types as well. I live in the south which is considered the poorer area but can still be really beautiful.
I feel like I'm kind of crazy for doing this, but then I have to remember that I'm really in love with Jesus and that's the driving force behind this. I'm really truely excited to find out how he's going grow me and use me in others lives.
Thanks for the prayers guys, I really need it! I welcome any emails or letters too, I haven't had a chance to get home sick yet but I know it's just a matter of time.
Prayer:
Spanish lessons and conprehention of the language
Getting over the sickness I currently have
That the room situation would come together soon or whatever God's will is for it
Until next time...
Life here has been constant changes, so it's hard to fall into a grove. I have my school/teaching schedule but it is probably going to change over the next few weeks because of possible house visits which I'm currently not doing. I have a lot of gaps in the schedule and I'm not sure what to do with all that time during the school days. My living situation has been kind of up in the air... I was initially supposed to have my own room in a flat in the first floor but I'm living in the study and the other northern American girl living here gave up her bed to me and is sleeping in the little girls room at the house. They are building on another room for us to share, but not quite sure when that's going to to be finished.
The culture is very different from the U.S. especially when it comes to personal space and privacy. There isn't much. They also greet each other with one kiss on the cheek, which I really like because makes me feel welcome, being an outsider and not speaking the language makes me feel really awkward a lot of the time. I'm hoping and praying for Spanish lessons so I can start communicating better. Most of you wouldn't know me here, I'm so shy and quiet because even if I had something to say I'm unsure of how to say it. I try not to take to heart the giggles at my horrible Spanish, but I've got to be honest it doesn't encourage me to keep trying. The other night I had people practically yelling and repeating words and phrases to me and I have no idea why... it was really frustrating but now it's kinda comical. Sometimes I've got to repeat "don't cry" over and over, but I'm told that feeling is just part of the culture shock.
It's really beautiful here! I haven't had my camera with me on the really clear days but it's amazing! Volcanoes and mountains all around with a lot of eucalyptus trees and a few pine-types as well. I live in the south which is considered the poorer area but can still be really beautiful.
I feel like I'm kind of crazy for doing this, but then I have to remember that I'm really in love with Jesus and that's the driving force behind this. I'm really truely excited to find out how he's going grow me and use me in others lives.
Thanks for the prayers guys, I really need it! I welcome any emails or letters too, I haven't had a chance to get home sick yet but I know it's just a matter of time.
Prayer:
Spanish lessons and conprehention of the language
Getting over the sickness I currently have
That the room situation would come together soon or whatever God's will is for it
Until next time...
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