The bare necessities!
I am packed and ready to go to the rain forest. But what should I bring? My suede jacket is definitely in my bag. I will be gone for 8 days without access to a computer. If i meet Mogley or Balou, I will let you all know. Then again, doesn't that story take place in India? Never mind, I am still going to look for him. He is probably like 62 and still wearing the same pair of red underpants.
When I left my room this morning, I realized that I am surrounded by the Andes mountians. They are incredible! I feel like God wanted some Cheerios so he made this huge bowl out of mountains. That stands up theologically. Cheerios! The choice of God! New slogan? I think so.
I asked a stockboy in an Equatorian grocery store today where I could find some peanut butter. He promptly brought me to a small jar that was striped with Jelly and margarine. Unique. Instead of buying this, I asked another gentleman. he brought me to the peanut butter, where I paid $ 7.93 for a medium sized jar of Peanut butter. I genuinely feel like peanut butter is an investment. I count it as one of my assets. When the economy is down, it is ok. Because I have three jars of smooth, and one crunchy. Including selections from both JIF and Peter pan.
Time to go to bed. I miss you all.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Lessons in Man
Q: What is manly?
A: Chest hair, Rambo movies 1, 3 and 4, and melting one piece of metal to another.
That’s right, I know how to weld! I was taught by the world famous Harrison, and excellent gentleman and welding expert. Welding is in fact one of the manliest things that one can do, besides applying chapstick in secret. It all starts with cold hard metal, then add one dose of awesome and the metal is together. Using an electrode to generate an electric current that will melt the two pieces together. Myself and 5 girls learned how to do this because we are going to Palora, Ecuador tomorrow and will be doing some construction. In case anyone is unfamiliar with local Ecuadorian geography, Palora is in the Amazon. As in the Amazon jungle, as in that videogame that every child played in the mid 90’s. The one that was not quite as good as the Oregon trail.
Next question- What is both manly yet defies traditional gender roles?
Answer- A me.
When we went on the tour of the seminary, they showed us these fancy new clothes washing machines. They kind of look like a big sink, which is because they are. I washed my own clothes…wait for it…by hand! Sweet! After about 10 minutes of scrubbing my clothes with an oversized detergent bar, my hands were in pain. Still my clothes are hanging up outside. I brought my underwear in my room after hearing several laughs throughout the day though. I understand Spanish laughter pretty well.
Other slightly less manly things:
Being a little sad when your roommate goes home for a few days. I refuse to tell anyone that I am lonely at night now, because it sounds weird. Besides, I am not lonely anyway.
Hearing the dogs bark and wanting to go rush to pet them all. I do not understand many things, including how I can watch a movie like 300 and see endless men killed brutally. But when you turn on Air Bud, I bite my tongue in order to not cry. Isn’t this true for most people. If I see a man die, I think, “How unfortunate”. But when I watched Bambi, I cried like a baby…I mean, I was unaffected emotionally…and it made me hungry.
A: Chest hair, Rambo movies 1, 3 and 4, and melting one piece of metal to another.
That’s right, I know how to weld! I was taught by the world famous Harrison, and excellent gentleman and welding expert. Welding is in fact one of the manliest things that one can do, besides applying chapstick in secret. It all starts with cold hard metal, then add one dose of awesome and the metal is together. Using an electrode to generate an electric current that will melt the two pieces together. Myself and 5 girls learned how to do this because we are going to Palora, Ecuador tomorrow and will be doing some construction. In case anyone is unfamiliar with local Ecuadorian geography, Palora is in the Amazon. As in the Amazon jungle, as in that videogame that every child played in the mid 90’s. The one that was not quite as good as the Oregon trail.
Next question- What is both manly yet defies traditional gender roles?
Answer- A me.
When we went on the tour of the seminary, they showed us these fancy new clothes washing machines. They kind of look like a big sink, which is because they are. I washed my own clothes…wait for it…by hand! Sweet! After about 10 minutes of scrubbing my clothes with an oversized detergent bar, my hands were in pain. Still my clothes are hanging up outside. I brought my underwear in my room after hearing several laughs throughout the day though. I understand Spanish laughter pretty well.
Other slightly less manly things:
Being a little sad when your roommate goes home for a few days. I refuse to tell anyone that I am lonely at night now, because it sounds weird. Besides, I am not lonely anyway.
Hearing the dogs bark and wanting to go rush to pet them all. I do not understand many things, including how I can watch a movie like 300 and see endless men killed brutally. But when you turn on Air Bud, I bite my tongue in order to not cry. Isn’t this true for most people. If I see a man die, I think, “How unfortunate”. But when I watched Bambi, I cried like a baby…I mean, I was unaffected emotionally…and it made me hungry.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Of all things
Good news! I picked up exercising. And when I say exercising, I mean getting tired while doing simple tasks. The altitude here makes it hard to believe. Fact, scientists say that it is harder to breathe in Quito, Ecuador, than it is under water. Fact, my last fact was made up. I did however complete my first daily run today. Maybe it will be a monthly run, I don’t know. A close friend and I ran up and down the “colina” three times. A “colina” is a steep hill. Every time that we were running up it, I thought I was going to die. Then on the way down I thought, this isn’t so bad, lets do it again. Shortly afterwards, I had to go buy a new lung.
It just so happens that when I run, I do two other things. I hum “they’re coming to America” and I think about things. Todays topic was the phrase “I love you”. How nice it is to hear those words, especially from someone that you feel the same way about. I was thinking about the first time it was said. I bet it was really akward. The receiver probably did not know the rule that you should say it back…so they just stood there…loving…and being loved. Then I thought, it probably wasn’t spoken in my normal language. It was probably spoken in the language that Jesus spoke- King James English! Verily I Lovest thou. Still akward. Then again, maybe it was first spoken by cavemen. But they did not have the same connection between love and the heart. Maybe their symbol for love was more like a goat. Then, when they go visit a neighboring village, like stick or rock(Both bustling metropolises of the cave world), they would buy a shirt that said “I Goat rock”. If they were really ambitious and they wanted to tell a woman that they cared, maybe they would give them a sheep? Either way, I imagine this caveman telling this cavewoman how cool her beard was.
People have known for thousands of years about this love thing. They did not always know what it was. Kind of how, we still don’t know what it is. But they did know that it came from deep inside. Very deep to them. In the same way that we say, “I love you with all of my heart” biblically they say, “I love you with all of my bowels”. How sweet? The bowels or the guts. This is akin to saying, “I love you with all of my being, more than myself”. It is actually a very high compliment. And will probably catch on.
When I arrived in quito, I was wearing a tie. This has earned me the nick name “El Mormon”. Yesterday I went to the Mitad del mundo. The middle of the world. And quite literally, I straddled the equator. How cool? I also poured water down a drain in the northern and southern hemispheres. It flows in opposite directions! Directly on the equator itself, it goes straight down. Things are going quite well here. I read a lovely letter from my fiancé. One of many that she wrote me before I left. I am going to breakfast in 2 minutes.
But remember, I goat you all, with all of my bowels.
It just so happens that when I run, I do two other things. I hum “they’re coming to America” and I think about things. Todays topic was the phrase “I love you”. How nice it is to hear those words, especially from someone that you feel the same way about. I was thinking about the first time it was said. I bet it was really akward. The receiver probably did not know the rule that you should say it back…so they just stood there…loving…and being loved. Then I thought, it probably wasn’t spoken in my normal language. It was probably spoken in the language that Jesus spoke- King James English! Verily I Lovest thou. Still akward. Then again, maybe it was first spoken by cavemen. But they did not have the same connection between love and the heart. Maybe their symbol for love was more like a goat. Then, when they go visit a neighboring village, like stick or rock(Both bustling metropolises of the cave world), they would buy a shirt that said “I Goat rock”. If they were really ambitious and they wanted to tell a woman that they cared, maybe they would give them a sheep? Either way, I imagine this caveman telling this cavewoman how cool her beard was.
People have known for thousands of years about this love thing. They did not always know what it was. Kind of how, we still don’t know what it is. But they did know that it came from deep inside. Very deep to them. In the same way that we say, “I love you with all of my heart” biblically they say, “I love you with all of my bowels”. How sweet? The bowels or the guts. This is akin to saying, “I love you with all of my being, more than myself”. It is actually a very high compliment. And will probably catch on.
When I arrived in quito, I was wearing a tie. This has earned me the nick name “El Mormon”. Yesterday I went to the Mitad del mundo. The middle of the world. And quite literally, I straddled the equator. How cool? I also poured water down a drain in the northern and southern hemispheres. It flows in opposite directions! Directly on the equator itself, it goes straight down. Things are going quite well here. I read a lovely letter from my fiancé. One of many that she wrote me before I left. I am going to breakfast in 2 minutes.
But remember, I goat you all, with all of my bowels.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday
Today was a very unique saturday for me. Usually I wake up early and have very productive days. False!
Today I found out how exactly to get hot water in the shower. If I turn on the handle with a blue dot one whole turn, and the one with a red dot only a tiny bit. The interesting thing is the way that I found this out. I dreampt it! Then when I got into the shower I remembered my dream. I can cleanse myself without catching pneumonia. I think that someone was a little confused when the building was built. After breakfast, I helped paint a new house on the seminary campus. Every time I paint, I remember that it is not one of my gifts. I think my arms are crooked because I can not paint in a straight line. It was excellent however to have Danielle, a wisened four year old teach me how to paint. "Arriba y abajo, arriba y abajo." "Up and down, up and down". If only, we could return to the simplicities of life, I feel like things would be better. After all it is biblical to become like little children. Mostly, this is my excuse to act like a 5 year old. I am following the Bible!
This afternoon we went into the small village near the campus. What an interesting place. The main draw there is the shopping. There are tons of stores that sell whatever you would like. My mission is to find a soccer ball. I found sunglasses for 2 dollars. LaCoste shirts for 14 dollars and the best smelling food in the world. I am certain that I will retur to the "panateria" the bakery many many times. There is just something satisfying about eating an Ecuadorian do-nut.
At dinner, I tasted a very interesting chicken. It was a rabbit.
The altitude makes it hard to breathe. I would not consider myself to be in great shape, but am certainly healthy. Today I was slowly making my way up a hill, when a native Ecuadorian ran past me with a smile on his face. I took off after him, but could not keep up. Que triste.
It has been such a pleasure to meet the people that I have met, and smile and pretend that I understand everything that is said. I am probably in culture shock, but am having too good of a time to know it.
Today I found out how exactly to get hot water in the shower. If I turn on the handle with a blue dot one whole turn, and the one with a red dot only a tiny bit. The interesting thing is the way that I found this out. I dreampt it! Then when I got into the shower I remembered my dream. I can cleanse myself without catching pneumonia. I think that someone was a little confused when the building was built. After breakfast, I helped paint a new house on the seminary campus. Every time I paint, I remember that it is not one of my gifts. I think my arms are crooked because I can not paint in a straight line. It was excellent however to have Danielle, a wisened four year old teach me how to paint. "Arriba y abajo, arriba y abajo." "Up and down, up and down". If only, we could return to the simplicities of life, I feel like things would be better. After all it is biblical to become like little children. Mostly, this is my excuse to act like a 5 year old. I am following the Bible!
This afternoon we went into the small village near the campus. What an interesting place. The main draw there is the shopping. There are tons of stores that sell whatever you would like. My mission is to find a soccer ball. I found sunglasses for 2 dollars. LaCoste shirts for 14 dollars and the best smelling food in the world. I am certain that I will retur to the "panateria" the bakery many many times. There is just something satisfying about eating an Ecuadorian do-nut.
At dinner, I tasted a very interesting chicken. It was a rabbit.
The altitude makes it hard to breathe. I would not consider myself to be in great shape, but am certainly healthy. Today I was slowly making my way up a hill, when a native Ecuadorian ran past me with a smile on his face. I took off after him, but could not keep up. Que triste.
It has been such a pleasure to meet the people that I have met, and smile and pretend that I understand everything that is said. I am probably in culture shock, but am having too good of a time to know it.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Ecuador
I am here in Ecuador! What an amazing day yesterday, switching from one country to another. It truly was a carthasis of experience that I guess my body just could not handle. It culminated in me losing my lunch out of a taxi window. More to come later about my roomate Victor and everyone here.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Dont we all carry baggage?
I am glad that there is no restriction on baggage in relationships. Or maybe there is. Each person chooses whether or not to allow people in their life based on the amount of baggage that they carry. I know that at times I have responded in ways that inhibits people from sharing their baggage. I think that if I tried to hide my bag under my shirt as I walk through security tomorrow, i would probably be found out. Each different airline has their own rules and regulations on personal luggage. People really do the same thing. I am trying to avoid the oversized baggage fees, with limited success. I am blessed that people in my life did not restrict the size or amount of my baggage. metaphor!
Either way, putting a few things in your bag that you will live out of really makes you decide your priorities. I barely have room for clothes, next to the Oreos that I am bringing. What can I say? There is good stuff in the middle. I feel like my whole bag is already double stuffed any way(Pun). To borrow a quote from a friend, "A well placed pun, is like a mediocre joke."
I leave in a few hours. I am excited. I miss my fiance, parents, roomates, and America I miss you. But not enough to stay! See you in a few months
Either way, putting a few things in your bag that you will live out of really makes you decide your priorities. I barely have room for clothes, next to the Oreos that I am bringing. What can I say? There is good stuff in the middle. I feel like my whole bag is already double stuffed any way(Pun). To borrow a quote from a friend, "A well placed pun, is like a mediocre joke."
I leave in a few hours. I am excited. I miss my fiance, parents, roomates, and America I miss you. But not enough to stay! See you in a few months
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Days to come
Every few minutes, I realize that I am going to another country within the next few days. When I remember this, my heart jumps a little. I then feel the effects of adrenaline surging through my body. I feel like I need to go jump off of something or climb a tree.
In the same way, I feel like my scooter, "Raoul". My scooter will start up and run for a minute, but when I squeeze the throttle, it dies. I feel like an idling scooter that just can't quite go anywhere yet. The result is that by the end of the day, I am emotionally tired. I am not usually physically tired, so I find myself watching classic American cinema. For example, last night I pondered the underlying themes of Robin Hood: Men In Tights, for far too long. I came to the conclusion that, masculinity is more than just strength. Masculinity is the ability to do good things, while wearing uncomfortable and unsightly pants. I think it is time for me to go to Ecuador.
I have officially moved into my new apartment. This is an exciting thing for me. I tried to give my fiance a tour via skype, unfortunately the internet is not yet functioning. I am pretty excited that this is the apartment that I will start my marriage in. I am tempted to paint it all sorts of colors and design hidden rooms and a bat cave. I feel like I am not allowed to do any actual construction in my apartment though. We'll see.
I am off to buy tights.
In the same way, I feel like my scooter, "Raoul". My scooter will start up and run for a minute, but when I squeeze the throttle, it dies. I feel like an idling scooter that just can't quite go anywhere yet. The result is that by the end of the day, I am emotionally tired. I am not usually physically tired, so I find myself watching classic American cinema. For example, last night I pondered the underlying themes of Robin Hood: Men In Tights, for far too long. I came to the conclusion that, masculinity is more than just strength. Masculinity is the ability to do good things, while wearing uncomfortable and unsightly pants. I think it is time for me to go to Ecuador.
I have officially moved into my new apartment. This is an exciting thing for me. I tried to give my fiance a tour via skype, unfortunately the internet is not yet functioning. I am pretty excited that this is the apartment that I will start my marriage in. I am tempted to paint it all sorts of colors and design hidden rooms and a bat cave. I feel like I am not allowed to do any actual construction in my apartment though. We'll see.
I am off to buy tights.
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