July 8, 4:35 pm
I haven't had time to even sit down with my journal today.
This morning I showered but didn't wash my hair, because dirty hair discourages lice and we have adult evangelism tonight. I am still very not-tanned.
After breakfast (French toast - Destiny was excited) Ms. Hildebrand braided my hair, so it's been in French braids all day. When I was wearing an apron and hairnet to work in the kitchen Nathan said I looked like a Hutterite. [Thanks Nathan. Same to you :D]
Yesterday morning Bob wrote down my name for working in the kitchen today, so that was where I went after Sala. (I sat with little Nancy from the nursery and she was very good and quiet, for the most part.) I was with two of the girls from Washington, Amber and Megan, and the first thing we did was wash the kitchen floor with Manuel and the four guys assigned to help him.
It was a lot of fun. We moved everything that was moveable and sloshed buckets of soapy water all over the floor. I'd changed into my runners and left my sandals, which was a good plan. It was wet. We swept all the water all over with brooms and then squeegeed it toward the drains. I have some pictures, taken by Everett, of me with a squeegee. Some people mopped and I Hung Around Awkwardly (we did a lot of that) until it was time to move stuff back.
After that the boys and Manuel left, and Amber and Megan and I made attempts at communication with the kitchen ladies (all Mexican) until they gave us hairnets, aprons and jobs.
We chopped very many juicy, huge tomatoes. My knife was mediocre and one of the ladies noticed and gave me a big white cleaver-ish one with somewhat of a knowing smile.
We chopped tomatoes and lettuce until they had enough for lunch, then washed our dishes (and some others) and wiped down some of the huge white bins where they keep ingredients in bulk. (Skim milk powder, flour, sugar, etc.) Amber and Megan washed the lids. All this washing was with bleach, which meant our hands felt icky and dry after.
On break at 11, they sold donuts and I downed two in about three minutes and made my last visit to the gift shop. Last, I promise. I have bought 5 different kinds of nuts, a ring and a bracelet. I don't really need any more necklaces or earrings, and I didn't love any of the ones they had.
Destiny, Jordan, Carissa ad I were on lunch prep and cleanup, so we took the chairs off the tables and served all the food. Once we were done there was also some fun chatting with Manuel and Uriel. Apparently Manual is now 'Mickey Mouse Manuel', according to Uriel. I missed the first part of that conversation but was still rather amused.
Lunch was salad (hence the lettuce and tomatoes), spaghetti with sauce, and garlic toast. Very North American. (Supper was a letdown. Buns with refried beans and cheese. Oh boy.) I swept and mopped the floor after and contemplated FFHM and the ministry they have here. It's such a little Mexican oasis. I think I would like to come back. Life is so SIMPLE here. So much less worrying, about anything, and when I do it turns out fine. I don't even really miss anyone that much, though I might if I stayed here longer.
After lunch I meant to journal but Nathan was walking by and asked if I wanted to visit the babies in the nursery and I experienced a split second of indecision but went with the babies, figuring journaling could wait. One of them wasn't into being piggybacked around and chased, but Carelli quite enjoyed it. That felt idyllic too.
We met at the firepit at 2:10 for child evangelism and I slathered on sunscreen (though I might have burned a bit more today anyway) and edged closer to Bryan when Uriel wanted to send one person from our group with a different one. No thanks. He sent Everett instead. So Bryan and Loree and Carissa and I left with Adrienna, who leads one of the child evangelisms. She gave Bryan some haphazard directions, and I think listened to her ipod most of the ride.
We got to the neighborhood and drove around while Adrienna announced the kids' Bible class from a loudspeaker out the window of the van. We parked eventually, and went into a little fenced yard with a locked shed and one tree. Initially only 6 or 7 kids showed up but the group kept gradually growing while we sang songs and stuff, and probably topped out at about 30.
Adrienna led the songs and we pretended to know them, and greeted arriving kids. At one point in a song, out of the blue for us since she was speaking all in Spanish, everyone pointed to each helper (us) and shouted, "Como te llamas!" in turn. ("What's your name") I was first and forgot my name for a second because I was that surprised.
After a Bible story (I poked a few boys and told them to be quiet, but Adrienna completely ignored them so I don't know if she cared) we gave out milk and peanut butter. Carissa and I had the peanut butter and Loree had the milk, and that part was fun. There was enough left over to give out seconds and thirds, and after that they all trickled out pretty fast. [One kid just kept on lining up for peanut butter despite having three or four uneaten spoonfuls already. We were amused.] Adrienna gave the remains of the peanut butter jar to an older boy.
Bryan had discovered when we stopped that milk had spilled in the back of the van, so he said he was thinking of that the whole time, worrying that we wouldn't have enough for all the kids, and that we wouldn't be able to clean it up before it started to stink up the van.
So we headed back and did that right away. We used towels from the visitors' lounge, and facecloths from the same cupboard, and soapy water. The milk had pooled in the patterned holes on the floor matting, which was tricky, but we soaked it up and Bryan took out the back bench to clean the seat where the milk had spilled. We also cleaned up all the snack wrappers, which will be nice on the way back.
I attempted to journal before dinner, but mostly chatted.
Dinner, as I mentioned, was buns with refried beans and cheese, and the general sentiment was, "...is this all?" I had 3. Some people had none. The non-fans of refried beans.
I also tried journaling after dinner, sitting on the low wall across from the visitors' centre. [Note: clearly it is not 4:35 pm any more. I think I switched at some point and just didn't note it.] Bryan walked past and offered in jest the 'nice, damp' seat from the back of the van. Ha ha. Then he sat on it to read his book :P
Anyway, Ms. Hildebrand walked past and mentioned we were meeting in 10 minutes and to get ready, so that was that.
We discussed low points and high points, I received advice on fixing the bandana I borrowed from Loree (yay more Hutterite. I wanted my hair to be mostly covered), and we discussed who's speaking in Sala tomorrow, when the visitors have a chance to share. Loree and Everett. I am not - I don't feel that I can adequately express my thoughts yet.
We prayed and talked some with the larger group before leaving for Adult Evangelism, and Bob warned us about things like the kids being 'wild' and that this particular camp was 'under disciplinary measures' and spooked us a little. Me, anyway.
I must record the outfit I wore. Running shoes, ankle socks, jeans, black skirt over jeans, t-shirt, other t-shirt over the first one, Canada hoody, bandana (with french braids pinned up and hairsprayed to death). It was not attractive. But, as Debra says, "We know who's NOT getting raped tonight."
On the drive I journaled and nearly caught up. Nathan talked some about going to these places, these migrant camps, until the protection of the Spirit, and being unafraid. I appreciated it after Bob's talk. I prayed when we got closer. (Nathan also shared more university dorm pranks.)
We pulled into a flat dirt field with a bunch of guys playing soccer. There were no girls in sight. We backed into a parking spot and got out, and kinda huddled in a group until the kids began to appear.
Loree wanted to play soccer, but according to Bob, Mexican guys don't appreciate girls playing with them. Bryan stood guard over our vans for the entire time, to prevent anyone letting the air out of our tires (an actual previous occurrence, according to Bob) or breaking the windows or something. Laurent and Nathan and Joel (who attracts little boys magnetically) rolled around with the kids. I gave a lot of piggybacks and spun around a lot of kids. More older kids this time.
One girl, 8, in a grey Adidas hoody (Nati, I think she said her name was) seemed to just want to hang around me. I'm unsure why. I'm not sure it was because she liked me more than anyone else, but I piggybacked her around for a decent stretch of time. She was a gorgeous little girl. I was reminded of Selena Gomez, actually. Only a lot younger :P
Another pair of them wandered around with me for a while while I pointed out things - the sky, the ground, a shoe - and said, "English, sky. Espanol - ?" and they told me the words. They seemed to think that was fun. There were more kids this time that tittered at my "No entiendo" and "No hablo espanol."
The picture-taking team (whom most of our group consider not especially useful) were there, but they didn't attempt to herd all the kids into lines this time.
When the movie started I stood back with Carissa and prayed for some of the people, but it kind of turned into a prayer for me. I just want to hear God. I'll go, anywhere he says, but I want to KNOW. I want him to TELL me.
27 July 2010
18 July 2010
Mexico, Day 5
July 7, 7:35 am
Sitting in the courtyard with Carissa and Michelle.
Lots of the girls were sore this morning after all the carrying and piggybacking we did last night, but I'm not. I tried to wash my blue hoody in the sink but it's still wet and sodden so I don't know if it's going to be dry even by Friday. I'm planning on buying one today when the gift shop is open. [I didn't.]
Anyway. Adult Evangelism was shockingly eye-opening. I sort of wonder if the reason they take us out there is so we can actually see the poverty for ourselves. They have little houses, and playgrounds and a basketball court, but they LOOK poor, and the kids are all tiny and wild. [This, we learned later, was a fairly high-end work camp, as work camps go.] One girl, as tall as me but younger, was only wearing a tank-top-like shirt and asked for my hoody by tugging at it. I said no but I wished I could, that I didn't need it, and that it wasn't unfair to give it to just one when we didn't have hoodies for all of them. I also had a granola bar in the pouch of my hoody, which a couple kids noticed, and then when we got in the van I realized it was gone.
I forgot about praying for the kids for the most part, they were in and out so fast, but I did for a few right at the end.
In the van on the way back I asked Nathan about Ambrose meal plans and he proved quite helpful. He said most girls don't actually use up all of their meal plan. He also told funny stories of dorm pranks. :P
We laughed a lot about random things, most of which I barely remember, and my caesar salad from Sunday, which I forgot in the van, got spilled on the floor. Eww. I may go back to make sure I got all the bits that spilled when I cleaned it up, cause it was dark.
It was weird, I wasn't happy with the ridiculous skirt getup, but once we got there it stopped mattering. The kids don't care. It was nice to change out of it, though. All our hair looked hilarious after we pulled it out of ponytails and whatnot, because of the hairspray we put in to discourage lice.
I journaled as far as I could last night and fell asleep probably seconds after the light went out.
This morning I woke up and dozed off again until 6:30, when I stumbled over to the bathroom for a cold, wimpy-water-pressured shower. My hair is still damp and I need to hunt up some bobby pins before we go out to work assignments.
We got toast and peanut butter and oatmeal for breakfast, and I tried the milk, which Carissa says tastes like melted ice cream. It doesn't, quite, but almost. Also had more awesome coffee, though 15 minutes is not long enough to properly enjoy a cup of coffee.
Destiny just about started breaking in through the wrong window, when we went back to our room and no one had a key. I believe she wanted a calling card to call her mom. She was really homesick initially, but I think she's feeling better. [Yay for Destiny! I hope you were feeling better.]
[A bit later]
Carissa and I sat in the courtyard for a while with our journals, before the nursery was open for us to take babies.
At breakfast Bob came up and picked Loree and Dionne to watch the kids in the nursery during Sala. I wanted to be picked to go in the nursery, no fair :P He didn't even ask for volunteers. Whatever. I'll get over it. Maybe he just noticed they've been playing with the kids a lot. I TRY, but I just feel...awkward. Shy? I feel like I don't know how to be a fun person with kids, or something. Which is stupid, of course I do. I dunno.
I got a little girl out of the nursery, Leah, for Sala, but she started squirming as soon as I sat down and I took her back (thankfully today I sat close to the door). I wish she'd gone to sleep on my shoulder, she looked like she might for a bit and it's so sweet when kids do that.
We're sitting in Sala now and one of the house parents is sharing about the medical problems his 'son' (one of the orphans) Oscar is having, and how Oscar has to leave and live in Tijuana. [Poor Oscar. He has AIDS and they live too far away from Tijuana for him to get blood tests and stuff as often as he needs. He shared, too, and just about started to cry before he even started talking.]
1:35 pm
We're sitting in the sun outside the visitors' centre, enjoying it. Destiny showed us she can fake being pregnant. Now she's lying in the sun. Laurent and Loree are over playing with some of the disabled kids from the day home.
According to Ms. Hildebrand, there's a little autistic girl who lives here with two caretakers. She came right to me to tell me. I'd like to meet her, I think - I feel a little apprehensive at the idea. It's not like I really know much about autism. I do work with Jaden, but autism is so DIFFERENT with every individual. [I never did get to meet her. I kind of wish I had.]
4:15 pm
To carry on from where I stopped just then, I ran over to take pictures of Laurent and Loree and Nathan with the disabled kids and ended up semi-playing with them until 2 when we received afternoon work assignments. Incidentally, the grassy sward where we played is SO lovely and soft and green in the sun. [I like the phrase 'grassy sward' and since it sounded about right for this particular area I just kept on using it. It makes me feel wordy. It means 'an expanse of short grass'. From Old English.]
Anyway, we congregated right outside the visitors' centre and Bob started out by listing the places that needed help in the afternoon - weeding, raking, lawnmowing, help in the day home. I expected the day home to get snatched up right away because it involves playing with kids, which everyone loves, but it didn't. Two people volunteered for sweeping first.
So I put up my hand and said I'd do the day home, and then sort of discovered/remembered that that means the disabled kids, not the daycare kids. The mission takes on the disabled kids during the day. Also, they only needed ONE helper.
I was okay with being with the disabled kids. Not AS okay as with the daycare kids, but whatever. Even though I work with Jaden, that still intimidates me, and I'm guessing that's why other people didn't volunteer right off the bat. ALONE, though?
Anyway, couldn't back down, so I headed over. (Also, Bob gave vague directions, and though I did actually find the right door, they weren't inside.) Anyway, I found them eventually, having a birthday party picnic. By the grassy sward, incidentally.
The really pretty British girl, Katie, was there briefly. I felt out of place initially, but the kids were really friendly. One of the boys with Down Syndrome wanted a picture with me. We played a game with a parachute and I helped a boy with either spina bifida or muscular dystrophy (don't remember) sit up so he could play.
I couldn't understand them at all, of course, except one girl (12 or 13) who spoke English. It didn't really matter, though.
After the birthday party and the game we went back to their room behind the clinic. I pushed a boy in a wheelchair to get there.
Inside, two of the boys were playing with toy cars, so I sat down at the same table. One of the ladies commented that it would be great if I would play with them, which gave me a bit more confidence.
I pulled out my camera at that point (always a crowd-pleaser) and one of the boys, Martin, wanted to play with it, which consisted of him pointing it nowhere and pressing the button. That was fairly entertaining for a bit, until the boy across the table wanted to use it. And he did, for a long time, taking pictures almost exclusively of the bottoms of his toy cars. Later on he took some dubious shots of kids playing in the toy kitchen. I have ten million pictures of the bottoms of toy cars. I was iffy on entrusting my camera to a motor-skills-challenged kid, but he did really well. Another boy in a wheelchair, who spoke English, used it briefly as well, and very politely gave it back when my two were being restless.
Right at the end I played with two of the last kids to leave, trying to take pictures of them while they hid. They thought this was hilarious.
The lady in charge thanked me at the end and offered that if I wanted to go on the bus that took them all home, I could, but I would have missed dinner, so I said no. It might have been fun, though.
About 3:30, they were all gone. So I was going to head over to where some others were working and see if they needed help, but Bob accosted me on the way with a trolley full of shoeboxes.
Perhaps Bob is a bit dyslexic? Anyway, he doesn't come across real clearly, so initially I thought he wanted me to visit all the Casas (houses) with this trolley of shoeboxes, to see if any of the orphans wanted one for their personal belongings. I was a bit intimidated by this. (See: Not speaking a word of Spanish.) But then he just started following along in his bike. He told me 'free boxes' was 'cahas gratis', so I said that a few times to various kids. We got rid of all the boxes, though mostly to one of the ladies who organizes clothes. Then he told me I could stop for the afternoon!
So I did.
9:55 pm
After I stopped journaling I was feeling wonderful because it was sunny and warm and I was off work early and I was in MEXICO. So I grabbed my journal and was sitting outside and writing , on the low walltop by the road. It felt pretty cool. There was a time when I would have felt self-conscious, sitting on a random wall journaling while people walked by, but not now.
Nathan and Loree and Everett dropped by after a bit. I commented that I might actually be getting a tan. Nathan put on his sunglasses because it was 'a bit bright over there'. Ha ha. Loree told us the woes of the tiny lawnmower. Everett gave me a tiny orange that ended up being super sour, and a practical joke that they were handing out to the girls in general. [I did not eat it after the first taste, despite their earnest assertions that "you're supposed to eat it whole".] I believe the boys went to the orchard in the afternoon.
Then I sat and half-journaled and half-chatted until dinner. I don't remember what we ate for dinner (oh yeah, it was rice and beans) but someone commented that a lot of the food LOOKS disgusting but after you've been working you really don't care.
Wednesday nights are church at the mission, so we walked there, and Loree and I read the copper plates in the sidewalk. They're names of events in the Bible, chronologically as you get closer to the church, in Spanish. Pretty cool.
I wasn't expecting such a big church or such a wealthy one. They gave us headsets, for English speakers, for translation. We ended up not using them.
There were also a lot of white people. Near the end numbers from the nursery flashed on the screen a few times. Kids getting fussy and their parents being paged.
The worship team was GREAT. They had a really energetic sound and sang a few songs in Spanish that I know in English, so I sang the English. That felt cool.
Dionne sang and Joel drummed in a really neat song that they put together with some people from the other groups. Awesome harmony, and they built to a great crescendo. Impressive, for the very little practice they seemed to do.
At one point I looked up at the one uncovered window on the west side of the church and there was BLINDING sunlight streaming through. How's THAT for an image of God? Sunlight in a huge white airy church. THAT was cool.
The service, despite being long and ponderous due to translation, was strangely refreshing. I just enjoyed the feeling of being in CHURCH, and the peaceful walk back. I chatted with Bryan and Loree.
I did a quick sweep of the van to make sure the lettuce spilled from the unfortunate caesar salad was all cleaned up and not bug-infested, and pilfered a granola bar, and went up to the visitors' lounge for a team meeting.
We got really off-track, but it was a good off-track, funny stories and commiseration about shared issues. A lot of people don't like Bob :P
What touched me the most was when Bryan shared his high point of the day. He said that someone at church asked who was the Southgate leader, anyway, and it made him think of what a good team we all are and how proud he is of us. Bryan very seldom says stuff like that so it means a lot when he does.
After a bit more sharing, some from the Washington group came in for a 'peanut butter run', we prayed to end the meeting, and then things got a little crazy, fun at first. We ate peanut butter toast and straight peanut butter off spoons and Michelle and I made tea (Earl Grey!).
Then the Americans introduced us to a slightly violent game [I hadn't heard of it. "I sit. In the grass. With my friend..." and it's somewhat full-contact. Maybe you have], so Bryan and the adults on our team decided that wasn't really their thing (I think) and went off to bed. I didn't really feel inclined to hang around except that someone still needed to clean up, and Joel was kind enough to help me. He's been great on this trip. Mature, great with kids, GREAT attitude about everything.
I grabbed my hoody, which is just about dry (W00T!) off the clothesline, where I hung it this morning. Carissa borrowed my new bracelet from San Diego, so I put that and my new ring from the gift shop in the jewelry bag I brought. It's getting full. [This is a cool little leather bag that they shipped my sterling silver replica of the One Ring in.]
I also bought nuts today. Mac Roca and Vanilla Brittle and some normal roasted. I may go back for more.
I don't think I wrote about orchard-weeding this morning. Carissa and Debra played Guess the Movie Line, and we got a lot done. The guy in charge spoke no English, but we actually communicated really well through gestures and Debra's 'un poquito' Spanish.
It was a better experience weeding in the morning. Cooler.
Also, I am sunburnt. And not happy. I thought I might tan while sitting outside journaling, but not BURN. My face and neck and arms. It is not terribly attractive. Loree did give me some face cream, which I think helped. Meh.
The girls want to turn off the lights, so really fast, I went out to see the stars with Carissa and they weren't as impressive as I thought they might be. We came back in and discussed middle names and I got some echinacea from Debra because...echinacea is always good.
Tomorrow, I think I will buy more nuts, perhaps a pair of earrings, and whatever snack is at break. Was burritos again today!
Okay really now. Good night.
[Okay, I know, a bit PG-13. In reference to Destiny's skirt getup.]
"Well, we know who's NOT getting raped tonight." - Debra
Sitting in the courtyard with Carissa and Michelle.
Lots of the girls were sore this morning after all the carrying and piggybacking we did last night, but I'm not. I tried to wash my blue hoody in the sink but it's still wet and sodden so I don't know if it's going to be dry even by Friday. I'm planning on buying one today when the gift shop is open. [I didn't.]
Anyway. Adult Evangelism was shockingly eye-opening. I sort of wonder if the reason they take us out there is so we can actually see the poverty for ourselves. They have little houses, and playgrounds and a basketball court, but they LOOK poor, and the kids are all tiny and wild. [This, we learned later, was a fairly high-end work camp, as work camps go.] One girl, as tall as me but younger, was only wearing a tank-top-like shirt and asked for my hoody by tugging at it. I said no but I wished I could, that I didn't need it, and that it wasn't unfair to give it to just one when we didn't have hoodies for all of them. I also had a granola bar in the pouch of my hoody, which a couple kids noticed, and then when we got in the van I realized it was gone.
I forgot about praying for the kids for the most part, they were in and out so fast, but I did for a few right at the end.
In the van on the way back I asked Nathan about Ambrose meal plans and he proved quite helpful. He said most girls don't actually use up all of their meal plan. He also told funny stories of dorm pranks. :P
We laughed a lot about random things, most of which I barely remember, and my caesar salad from Sunday, which I forgot in the van, got spilled on the floor. Eww. I may go back to make sure I got all the bits that spilled when I cleaned it up, cause it was dark.
It was weird, I wasn't happy with the ridiculous skirt getup, but once we got there it stopped mattering. The kids don't care. It was nice to change out of it, though. All our hair looked hilarious after we pulled it out of ponytails and whatnot, because of the hairspray we put in to discourage lice.
I journaled as far as I could last night and fell asleep probably seconds after the light went out.
This morning I woke up and dozed off again until 6:30, when I stumbled over to the bathroom for a cold, wimpy-water-pressured shower. My hair is still damp and I need to hunt up some bobby pins before we go out to work assignments.
We got toast and peanut butter and oatmeal for breakfast, and I tried the milk, which Carissa says tastes like melted ice cream. It doesn't, quite, but almost. Also had more awesome coffee, though 15 minutes is not long enough to properly enjoy a cup of coffee.
Destiny just about started breaking in through the wrong window, when we went back to our room and no one had a key. I believe she wanted a calling card to call her mom. She was really homesick initially, but I think she's feeling better. [Yay for Destiny! I hope you were feeling better.]
[A bit later]
Carissa and I sat in the courtyard for a while with our journals, before the nursery was open for us to take babies.
At breakfast Bob came up and picked Loree and Dionne to watch the kids in the nursery during Sala. I wanted to be picked to go in the nursery, no fair :P He didn't even ask for volunteers. Whatever. I'll get over it. Maybe he just noticed they've been playing with the kids a lot. I TRY, but I just feel...awkward. Shy? I feel like I don't know how to be a fun person with kids, or something. Which is stupid, of course I do. I dunno.
I got a little girl out of the nursery, Leah, for Sala, but she started squirming as soon as I sat down and I took her back (thankfully today I sat close to the door). I wish she'd gone to sleep on my shoulder, she looked like she might for a bit and it's so sweet when kids do that.
We're sitting in Sala now and one of the house parents is sharing about the medical problems his 'son' (one of the orphans) Oscar is having, and how Oscar has to leave and live in Tijuana. [Poor Oscar. He has AIDS and they live too far away from Tijuana for him to get blood tests and stuff as often as he needs. He shared, too, and just about started to cry before he even started talking.]
1:35 pm
We're sitting in the sun outside the visitors' centre, enjoying it. Destiny showed us she can fake being pregnant. Now she's lying in the sun. Laurent and Loree are over playing with some of the disabled kids from the day home.
According to Ms. Hildebrand, there's a little autistic girl who lives here with two caretakers. She came right to me to tell me. I'd like to meet her, I think - I feel a little apprehensive at the idea. It's not like I really know much about autism. I do work with Jaden, but autism is so DIFFERENT with every individual. [I never did get to meet her. I kind of wish I had.]
4:15 pm
To carry on from where I stopped just then, I ran over to take pictures of Laurent and Loree and Nathan with the disabled kids and ended up semi-playing with them until 2 when we received afternoon work assignments. Incidentally, the grassy sward where we played is SO lovely and soft and green in the sun. [I like the phrase 'grassy sward' and since it sounded about right for this particular area I just kept on using it. It makes me feel wordy. It means 'an expanse of short grass'. From Old English.]
Anyway, we congregated right outside the visitors' centre and Bob started out by listing the places that needed help in the afternoon - weeding, raking, lawnmowing, help in the day home. I expected the day home to get snatched up right away because it involves playing with kids, which everyone loves, but it didn't. Two people volunteered for sweeping first.
So I put up my hand and said I'd do the day home, and then sort of discovered/remembered that that means the disabled kids, not the daycare kids. The mission takes on the disabled kids during the day. Also, they only needed ONE helper.
I was okay with being with the disabled kids. Not AS okay as with the daycare kids, but whatever. Even though I work with Jaden, that still intimidates me, and I'm guessing that's why other people didn't volunteer right off the bat. ALONE, though?
Anyway, couldn't back down, so I headed over. (Also, Bob gave vague directions, and though I did actually find the right door, they weren't inside.) Anyway, I found them eventually, having a birthday party picnic. By the grassy sward, incidentally.
The really pretty British girl, Katie, was there briefly. I felt out of place initially, but the kids were really friendly. One of the boys with Down Syndrome wanted a picture with me. We played a game with a parachute and I helped a boy with either spina bifida or muscular dystrophy (don't remember) sit up so he could play.
I couldn't understand them at all, of course, except one girl (12 or 13) who spoke English. It didn't really matter, though.
After the birthday party and the game we went back to their room behind the clinic. I pushed a boy in a wheelchair to get there.
Inside, two of the boys were playing with toy cars, so I sat down at the same table. One of the ladies commented that it would be great if I would play with them, which gave me a bit more confidence.
I pulled out my camera at that point (always a crowd-pleaser) and one of the boys, Martin, wanted to play with it, which consisted of him pointing it nowhere and pressing the button. That was fairly entertaining for a bit, until the boy across the table wanted to use it. And he did, for a long time, taking pictures almost exclusively of the bottoms of his toy cars. Later on he took some dubious shots of kids playing in the toy kitchen. I have ten million pictures of the bottoms of toy cars. I was iffy on entrusting my camera to a motor-skills-challenged kid, but he did really well. Another boy in a wheelchair, who spoke English, used it briefly as well, and very politely gave it back when my two were being restless.
Right at the end I played with two of the last kids to leave, trying to take pictures of them while they hid. They thought this was hilarious.
The lady in charge thanked me at the end and offered that if I wanted to go on the bus that took them all home, I could, but I would have missed dinner, so I said no. It might have been fun, though.
About 3:30, they were all gone. So I was going to head over to where some others were working and see if they needed help, but Bob accosted me on the way with a trolley full of shoeboxes.
Perhaps Bob is a bit dyslexic? Anyway, he doesn't come across real clearly, so initially I thought he wanted me to visit all the Casas (houses) with this trolley of shoeboxes, to see if any of the orphans wanted one for their personal belongings. I was a bit intimidated by this. (See: Not speaking a word of Spanish.) But then he just started following along in his bike. He told me 'free boxes' was 'cahas gratis', so I said that a few times to various kids. We got rid of all the boxes, though mostly to one of the ladies who organizes clothes. Then he told me I could stop for the afternoon!
So I did.
9:55 pm
After I stopped journaling I was feeling wonderful because it was sunny and warm and I was off work early and I was in MEXICO. So I grabbed my journal and was sitting outside and writing , on the low walltop by the road. It felt pretty cool. There was a time when I would have felt self-conscious, sitting on a random wall journaling while people walked by, but not now.
Nathan and Loree and Everett dropped by after a bit. I commented that I might actually be getting a tan. Nathan put on his sunglasses because it was 'a bit bright over there'. Ha ha. Loree told us the woes of the tiny lawnmower. Everett gave me a tiny orange that ended up being super sour, and a practical joke that they were handing out to the girls in general. [I did not eat it after the first taste, despite their earnest assertions that "you're supposed to eat it whole".] I believe the boys went to the orchard in the afternoon.
Then I sat and half-journaled and half-chatted until dinner. I don't remember what we ate for dinner (oh yeah, it was rice and beans) but someone commented that a lot of the food LOOKS disgusting but after you've been working you really don't care.
Wednesday nights are church at the mission, so we walked there, and Loree and I read the copper plates in the sidewalk. They're names of events in the Bible, chronologically as you get closer to the church, in Spanish. Pretty cool.
I wasn't expecting such a big church or such a wealthy one. They gave us headsets, for English speakers, for translation. We ended up not using them.
There were also a lot of white people. Near the end numbers from the nursery flashed on the screen a few times. Kids getting fussy and their parents being paged.
The worship team was GREAT. They had a really energetic sound and sang a few songs in Spanish that I know in English, so I sang the English. That felt cool.
Dionne sang and Joel drummed in a really neat song that they put together with some people from the other groups. Awesome harmony, and they built to a great crescendo. Impressive, for the very little practice they seemed to do.
At one point I looked up at the one uncovered window on the west side of the church and there was BLINDING sunlight streaming through. How's THAT for an image of God? Sunlight in a huge white airy church. THAT was cool.
The service, despite being long and ponderous due to translation, was strangely refreshing. I just enjoyed the feeling of being in CHURCH, and the peaceful walk back. I chatted with Bryan and Loree.
I did a quick sweep of the van to make sure the lettuce spilled from the unfortunate caesar salad was all cleaned up and not bug-infested, and pilfered a granola bar, and went up to the visitors' lounge for a team meeting.
We got really off-track, but it was a good off-track, funny stories and commiseration about shared issues. A lot of people don't like Bob :P
What touched me the most was when Bryan shared his high point of the day. He said that someone at church asked who was the Southgate leader, anyway, and it made him think of what a good team we all are and how proud he is of us. Bryan very seldom says stuff like that so it means a lot when he does.
After a bit more sharing, some from the Washington group came in for a 'peanut butter run', we prayed to end the meeting, and then things got a little crazy, fun at first. We ate peanut butter toast and straight peanut butter off spoons and Michelle and I made tea (Earl Grey!).
Then the Americans introduced us to a slightly violent game [I hadn't heard of it. "I sit. In the grass. With my friend..." and it's somewhat full-contact. Maybe you have], so Bryan and the adults on our team decided that wasn't really their thing (I think) and went off to bed. I didn't really feel inclined to hang around except that someone still needed to clean up, and Joel was kind enough to help me. He's been great on this trip. Mature, great with kids, GREAT attitude about everything.
I grabbed my hoody, which is just about dry (W00T!) off the clothesline, where I hung it this morning. Carissa borrowed my new bracelet from San Diego, so I put that and my new ring from the gift shop in the jewelry bag I brought. It's getting full. [This is a cool little leather bag that they shipped my sterling silver replica of the One Ring in.]
I also bought nuts today. Mac Roca and Vanilla Brittle and some normal roasted. I may go back for more.
I don't think I wrote about orchard-weeding this morning. Carissa and Debra played Guess the Movie Line, and we got a lot done. The guy in charge spoke no English, but we actually communicated really well through gestures and Debra's 'un poquito' Spanish.
It was a better experience weeding in the morning. Cooler.
Also, I am sunburnt. And not happy. I thought I might tan while sitting outside journaling, but not BURN. My face and neck and arms. It is not terribly attractive. Loree did give me some face cream, which I think helped. Meh.
The girls want to turn off the lights, so really fast, I went out to see the stars with Carissa and they weren't as impressive as I thought they might be. We came back in and discussed middle names and I got some echinacea from Debra because...echinacea is always good.
Tomorrow, I think I will buy more nuts, perhaps a pair of earrings, and whatever snack is at break. Was burritos again today!
Okay really now. Good night.
[Okay, I know, a bit PG-13. In reference to Destiny's skirt getup.]
"Well, we know who's NOT getting raped tonight." - Debra
14 July 2010
Mexico, Day 4
July 6, 12:45 pm
I'm alone in our room and it's just about lunchtime.
I don't remember falling asleep last night. I woke up and it was dark and I was disoriented, so I think the light must still have been on when I fell asleep.
Before breakfast I ran and had a very quick shivery shower. The bobby pins have been trying to escape from my braid all morning.
Breakfast was scrambled eggs with something red in them, refried beans, and flour tortillas that some of the girls sold us. $8 for 4 dozen. And I found where the coffee is! I like it. It tastes like a cinnamon dolce latte, Destiny says.
Before Sala and after breakfast I went with Destiny and Michelle and Carissa to get babies from the nursery. The others got little girls, but mine was a little boy and he was SUPER cute. [This was Elias, Nancy's brother.] He was playing with may camera and figured out how to turn it on, set it to camera, and take about 10 pictures.
Brb lunch.
Back (1:20 now). Anyway, I managed to turn off the flash so it wasn't disruptive , though he did get squirmy so I had to take him back to the nursery. The guy in charge of work assignments [Uriel] advised us to sit near the door when we have babies so that it's not so disruptive when we leave with them, which made me feel kinda...eheh oops. I have pretty cute pictures with the little boy, though.
Then they gave out work assignments. Bob talked some about how it's important to be willing to dp anything, which made me feel guilty for not volunteering to clean toilets. I did go to the kitchen with Bryan and Joel and Zack, and a short Hispanic man named Manuel gave us stuff to do. We figured he must understand English pretty well, just not speak it, because we managed to communicate decently (right at the end he told us to go wash the car in the kitchen, which was perplexing, but he thought it was hilarious and showed us where the car actually was. BEHIND the kitchen). We washed a bunch of dishes, big ones, and put dishes away, and cleaned tile and wiped down all the tables and chairs with water and bleach.
At break the gift shop was open and I gave in and bought a bracelet. I'll be back there later, to buy tons of macadamia nuts, because they are SO good.
Also, they were selling sticky buns, with nuts, which were AWESOME. [On the trip back through Ensenada and Tijuana, July 10, we had more sticky buns. They were not as epic cold as they were hot, but Laurent still ate, like, four or something.] I bought M&Ms, two granola bars, two bottles of lemonade, and gum for $2.85. It was a happy thing.
After break we washed the van behind (not in) the kitchen, which Manuel thanked us for profusely. He kept saying, "New car!"
Joel and I headed back for the Connect 4 tournament, but no kids were signed up, so instead we swept a bunch of the paths until lunch, and I discussed Mayans and Aztecs with Joel and Zack.
I'm annoyed that I didn't bring more hoodies. I have my blue American Eagle one and my Canada one, but the Canada one isn't as warm and the sleeves aren't long enough. What annoys me more is that I was warned to bring more and ignored it. I wonder if it's stupid to pay $30 for one from the gift shop.
Oh, Debra enlightened me on last night. Apparently I was out like a light. I'm amused.
Going to the Sala for more work assignment now.
10:40 pm
I got to go to the Nuthouse kitchen! It was fun - I made Lemon Loaf mix, and doubled an already huge recipe, which was nerve-wracking since I kept losing count of things. [24 eggs in that thing! And 18 cups of flour!] Also, I attempted to make roses with icing. They turned out semi-okay, though Dorothy (the cook) made way better ones. I wish I'd gotten a picture of me making them, for Mom.
Dorothy intrigued me. She came here as a non-Christian, after her husband died, and was told she could stay if she came to Sala every morning. She eventually converted. She runs the kitchen almost like a drill seargent but at moments she's almost startlingly kind. I think I like her. There was a girl helping her, a guest who's here for the wedding this weekend, who's from England and had an AWESOME accent. She kept to herself, mostly. [This was Katie.] She's REALLY pretty.
When they were giving out assignments Dionne mentioned how much she enjoyed working at the Nuthouse in the morning and Bob told her she could go back with two others, so I jumped in the air waving my hand :P. But it worked! I was thrilled.
I was fairly intimidated about Adult Evangelism this evening. Supper was idyllic, sunny and happy, but I kind of felt the evening looming. (Re the sun: Chelsea, in the gift shop this afternoon, said it's freakishly cold in the Baja right now. Should be 30C.)
The drive there was a good 50 minutes. First we changed into (hysterical) skirt-pant-runner-hat get-ups, and there was a lot of giggling, and boys commented that they felt lucky. Ha ha. [We were supposed to wear skirts below the knee, have our hair covered as much as possible in case of lice, and wear long pants under the skirts and hoodies because it got cold. Is not an attractive combo.] Then we stood in a circle and prayed.
Anyway, the drive was fun. At once point I told Debra that I didn't feel like I wanted to go home, and she said she had moments like that too, but also GET ME OUT OF HERE moments. I concur.
When we drove into the work camp, kids swarmed the vans. SWARMED. They climbed onto the back and the sides and held on to the bumper while it was still moving, and at one point a boy opened the side door from outside and climbed in going, "Hola!"
That was intimidating, but it was okay once we got out. Little kids don't much care about language - I used "Hola", "Como te llamas", "Dios te bendiga", and they grinned and some gave me high-fives [some of them I had to teach how a high-five worked] and a lot demanded piggybacks right off the bat.
Being there with this swarm of kids was overwhelming. I want to remember this while it's still fresh in my mind, before I move too far away from the emotional impact of it.
These kids had clothes, but lots had very dirty shoes, or bare feet, or dirty clothes. There were also runny noses and a few kids I saw crying. They were also TINY. Near the end I held a little girl, 3 or 4 years old, for a long time, and she hardly weighed anything. It might not all be malnutrition, it might be that these kids are just smaller, but it still shocked me.
I walked around visiting briefly with kids for a while. Some were very shy, but one (Rosa) would NOT leave me alone and was constantly wanting a piggyback. They got a little crazy when they lined up for the picture-taking team and one girl got pushed around a lot. I gave her a hug.
When it got dark they turned on a movie (The Prodigal Son, in a weird animation-style interpretation) and the one little girl sat on my lap/got a piggyback ride for a long time until a boy I think was her brother came to get her. [Her name was something that sounded like Amalinda. A lot of the time I gave up trying to understand them when they said their names.]
I felt really sad. Have to go to bed - will finish about this evening tomorrow. The girls want to turn the lights off.
[On the topic of the mission, and how when their cup overflows they give out to the community]
"When my cup overflows, I buy a bigger cup, and put the old one in my garage, and then three years later I sell it for 25 cents at a garage sale, and someone gives me 10 cents for it." - Nathan
I'm alone in our room and it's just about lunchtime.
I don't remember falling asleep last night. I woke up and it was dark and I was disoriented, so I think the light must still have been on when I fell asleep.
Before breakfast I ran and had a very quick shivery shower. The bobby pins have been trying to escape from my braid all morning.
Breakfast was scrambled eggs with something red in them, refried beans, and flour tortillas that some of the girls sold us. $8 for 4 dozen. And I found where the coffee is! I like it. It tastes like a cinnamon dolce latte, Destiny says.
Before Sala and after breakfast I went with Destiny and Michelle and Carissa to get babies from the nursery. The others got little girls, but mine was a little boy and he was SUPER cute. [This was Elias, Nancy's brother.] He was playing with may camera and figured out how to turn it on, set it to camera, and take about 10 pictures.
Brb lunch.
Back (1:20 now). Anyway, I managed to turn off the flash so it wasn't disruptive , though he did get squirmy so I had to take him back to the nursery. The guy in charge of work assignments [Uriel] advised us to sit near the door when we have babies so that it's not so disruptive when we leave with them, which made me feel kinda...eheh oops. I have pretty cute pictures with the little boy, though.
Then they gave out work assignments. Bob talked some about how it's important to be willing to dp anything, which made me feel guilty for not volunteering to clean toilets. I did go to the kitchen with Bryan and Joel and Zack, and a short Hispanic man named Manuel gave us stuff to do. We figured he must understand English pretty well, just not speak it, because we managed to communicate decently (right at the end he told us to go wash the car in the kitchen, which was perplexing, but he thought it was hilarious and showed us where the car actually was. BEHIND the kitchen). We washed a bunch of dishes, big ones, and put dishes away, and cleaned tile and wiped down all the tables and chairs with water and bleach.
At break the gift shop was open and I gave in and bought a bracelet. I'll be back there later, to buy tons of macadamia nuts, because they are SO good.
Also, they were selling sticky buns, with nuts, which were AWESOME. [On the trip back through Ensenada and Tijuana, July 10, we had more sticky buns. They were not as epic cold as they were hot, but Laurent still ate, like, four or something.] I bought M&Ms, two granola bars, two bottles of lemonade, and gum for $2.85. It was a happy thing.
After break we washed the van behind (not in) the kitchen, which Manuel thanked us for profusely. He kept saying, "New car!"
Joel and I headed back for the Connect 4 tournament, but no kids were signed up, so instead we swept a bunch of the paths until lunch, and I discussed Mayans and Aztecs with Joel and Zack.
I'm annoyed that I didn't bring more hoodies. I have my blue American Eagle one and my Canada one, but the Canada one isn't as warm and the sleeves aren't long enough. What annoys me more is that I was warned to bring more and ignored it. I wonder if it's stupid to pay $30 for one from the gift shop.
Oh, Debra enlightened me on last night. Apparently I was out like a light. I'm amused.
Going to the Sala for more work assignment now.
10:40 pm
I got to go to the Nuthouse kitchen! It was fun - I made Lemon Loaf mix, and doubled an already huge recipe, which was nerve-wracking since I kept losing count of things. [24 eggs in that thing! And 18 cups of flour!] Also, I attempted to make roses with icing. They turned out semi-okay, though Dorothy (the cook) made way better ones. I wish I'd gotten a picture of me making them, for Mom.
Dorothy intrigued me. She came here as a non-Christian, after her husband died, and was told she could stay if she came to Sala every morning. She eventually converted. She runs the kitchen almost like a drill seargent but at moments she's almost startlingly kind. I think I like her. There was a girl helping her, a guest who's here for the wedding this weekend, who's from England and had an AWESOME accent. She kept to herself, mostly. [This was Katie.] She's REALLY pretty.
When they were giving out assignments Dionne mentioned how much she enjoyed working at the Nuthouse in the morning and Bob told her she could go back with two others, so I jumped in the air waving my hand :P. But it worked! I was thrilled.
I was fairly intimidated about Adult Evangelism this evening. Supper was idyllic, sunny and happy, but I kind of felt the evening looming. (Re the sun: Chelsea, in the gift shop this afternoon, said it's freakishly cold in the Baja right now. Should be 30C.)
The drive there was a good 50 minutes. First we changed into (hysterical) skirt-pant-runner-hat get-ups, and there was a lot of giggling, and boys commented that they felt lucky. Ha ha. [We were supposed to wear skirts below the knee, have our hair covered as much as possible in case of lice, and wear long pants under the skirts and hoodies because it got cold. Is not an attractive combo.] Then we stood in a circle and prayed.
Anyway, the drive was fun. At once point I told Debra that I didn't feel like I wanted to go home, and she said she had moments like that too, but also GET ME OUT OF HERE moments. I concur.
When we drove into the work camp, kids swarmed the vans. SWARMED. They climbed onto the back and the sides and held on to the bumper while it was still moving, and at one point a boy opened the side door from outside and climbed in going, "Hola!"
That was intimidating, but it was okay once we got out. Little kids don't much care about language - I used "Hola", "Como te llamas", "Dios te bendiga", and they grinned and some gave me high-fives [some of them I had to teach how a high-five worked] and a lot demanded piggybacks right off the bat.
Being there with this swarm of kids was overwhelming. I want to remember this while it's still fresh in my mind, before I move too far away from the emotional impact of it.
These kids had clothes, but lots had very dirty shoes, or bare feet, or dirty clothes. There were also runny noses and a few kids I saw crying. They were also TINY. Near the end I held a little girl, 3 or 4 years old, for a long time, and she hardly weighed anything. It might not all be malnutrition, it might be that these kids are just smaller, but it still shocked me.
I walked around visiting briefly with kids for a while. Some were very shy, but one (Rosa) would NOT leave me alone and was constantly wanting a piggyback. They got a little crazy when they lined up for the picture-taking team and one girl got pushed around a lot. I gave her a hug.
When it got dark they turned on a movie (The Prodigal Son, in a weird animation-style interpretation) and the one little girl sat on my lap/got a piggyback ride for a long time until a boy I think was her brother came to get her. [Her name was something that sounded like Amalinda. A lot of the time I gave up trying to understand them when they said their names.]
I felt really sad. Have to go to bed - will finish about this evening tomorrow. The girls want to turn the lights off.
[On the topic of the mission, and how when their cup overflows they give out to the community]
"When my cup overflows, I buy a bigger cup, and put the old one in my garage, and then three years later I sell it for 25 cents at a garage sale, and someone gives me 10 cents for it." - Nathan
13 July 2010
Mexico, Day 3
July 5, 7:50 am
I think I may be under spiritual attack.
It feels like everyone knows more than me, has better judgment, is more worth listening to, is more spiritual. My reaction to any kind of advice or admonition seems to be annoyance.
8:15 am
We're sitting in Sala now. Just sang 3 songs, about half English and Spanish each. Now there's a man talking, via a girl translating into English. He's sharing about the teenage boys he lives with [he's a house parent].
From Deuteronomy 11:13 and 18-24. He says, "Teach your children these things again and again and again. Love the Lord your God. If you obey, you won't lack anything."
1:35 pm
Back in our room after lunch.
The morning was actually great. One of the staff here, Chelsea, showed us the entire missions. They do a TON here. Special needs kids, elementary school, special needs babies, nursery, daycare, printing shop, clinic, and orchard. We sampled the macadamia nuts, which was YUM. The tiny babies are super cute. There's a six-month-old in the nursery named Lucy and she has HUGE eyes.
I asked what kind of special needs kids they have, but it sounds like no autistic kids. Down Syndrome, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and then a few generally mentally disabled.
I'm a bit excited for this afternoon. There's tons of jobs, like clothes and the newsletter mailing and the nut processing and I'm sure tons of other stuff. Right now I'm on a bottom bunk with Carissa after lunch, having changed into capris and runners. My feet got VERY dirty, along with my work sandals, but I'm okay with it. I'm only working 4 more weeks.
Between 11 and 11:20 there was break, and the fire department was selling burritos for a fundraiser. I had 3 - nice and filling after the single pancake I had for breakfast. It was a fun little interlude. Joel taught us a key trick in which you snap your fingers on your lanyard and the key springs up [theoretically. I did not succeed at this much] into your hand.
Chelsea is really pretty. [I really wondered if she had a hard time of it in Mexico, being pretty and blonde, with getting rude comments from men.] I don't like having to have my hair up and back all the time, but I'll get over it.
I loved sampling the flavors of nuts. I really want to buy a whole bunch, for gifts and for myself. The gift shop is apparently only open Tuesday-Friday 11-11:20. [It was also open 1:30-2.]
My mood is a bit more upbeat now. I just about fell asleep in Sala this morning but the tour woke me up. I think I'll leave some of the clothes I brought here, since they are clearly able to put them to good use. They were saying earlier that if anyone wanted to donate their grad dress, that would be great.
(Random: I got salad dressing on my striped capris yesterday at lunch. Go me. Hope it washes out.)
4:40 pm
Just back from shoveling out weeds at the orchard. My feet and legs are super dirty and my shoes are all full of sandy dirt. [Baja California is SO SANDY. Dirt got in EVERYTHING.] It was hot, but it surprised me that we only worked for a little under 2 hours. 2:30-almost 4:30.
I'm still struggling a little with resentment when given unasked-for advice.
Dinner in 10 min. I'm already tired, but I can't believe Monday is nearly over. Tonight we'll babysit some of the kids and then crash again.
It seems like we're all still a little uncertain of what to do here. I'm looking forward to when we can all relax a little and goof around a bit more.
9:35
Some goofy giggling now! We're all fairly overtired.
Tonight we babysat the kids in each 'house' of the orphanage. There are between 9 and 12 kids in each, and ours was House 5. I was with Destiny, but otherwise no one from Southgate.
When we walked in they were all sitting there, shy, and then one lady pulled out two recorders and they thought that was pretty cool. There was also a couple with a printer for taking pictures of the kids and printing them right there, which the kids also liked.
And then - high point! - I sat down on the floor and patted it and the three older girls - 12, 12 and 13 - sat down and I taught them Stella Ella Ola [clapping game], just by gesturing. It was FUN. The girl were named Rosa, Yiria, Ana Maria. [Every time I said her name I thought of Anamaria from PotC.] One of the other ladies called me 'wonderful' for getting them out of their shells.
Then...they all escaped.
Originally they were on the playground (and I was playing with little boys and one of them accidentally conked me in the nose with his head. I got a brief nosebleed) but then...they scattered. I had no idea which kids were ours and of course we can't communicate with them. We got it figured out eventually, but it felt like a gong show. The boys, teens, from house 7, were playing soccer with other people, and the kids were baiting a random tied-up dog. I just watched them for a while to make sure they didn't go anywhere else, and SOMEHOW we rounded them all up and ended with the right number of the right kids.
After that we watched a movie with them (Mary-Kate and Ashley. In English. I don't think they understood a word) and the little kids climbed all over Destiny. I sat by Yiria, who was very quiet and clearly wanted to watch. I let her scroll through the pictures on my camera until it died. The other kids took TONS of pictures on Destiny's and another girl's [Alyssa's] camera.
We sent them to bed around 8:30, and the house parents got home at 9. Yiria gave me a hug before we left. I got Destiny to take a picture of us. All the kids thought she was hilarious. [She is :D]
Now we're back and all giddy and tired. Apparently I look 'doe-eyed' with no glasses on. We have also eaten the last of the pretzels from the car ride, and we didn't meet as a team because it was too late. Michelle and Destiny are doing the splits again. I believe we are about to turn off the lights.
Today felt like a big success. I chatted some with the Americans and managed to be a little outgoing and not quite so don't-talk-to-me introverted. It felt good.
Quote: "I know why they don't use vacuum cleaners around here. Some day someone's going to start vacuuming the dust and just never stop and the entirety of Baja California will disappear." - Liz, from Michigan
I think I may be under spiritual attack.
It feels like everyone knows more than me, has better judgment, is more worth listening to, is more spiritual. My reaction to any kind of advice or admonition seems to be annoyance.
8:15 am
We're sitting in Sala now. Just sang 3 songs, about half English and Spanish each. Now there's a man talking, via a girl translating into English. He's sharing about the teenage boys he lives with [he's a house parent].
From Deuteronomy 11:13 and 18-24. He says, "Teach your children these things again and again and again. Love the Lord your God. If you obey, you won't lack anything."
1:35 pm
Back in our room after lunch.
The morning was actually great. One of the staff here, Chelsea, showed us the entire missions. They do a TON here. Special needs kids, elementary school, special needs babies, nursery, daycare, printing shop, clinic, and orchard. We sampled the macadamia nuts, which was YUM. The tiny babies are super cute. There's a six-month-old in the nursery named Lucy and she has HUGE eyes.
I asked what kind of special needs kids they have, but it sounds like no autistic kids. Down Syndrome, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and then a few generally mentally disabled.
I'm a bit excited for this afternoon. There's tons of jobs, like clothes and the newsletter mailing and the nut processing and I'm sure tons of other stuff. Right now I'm on a bottom bunk with Carissa after lunch, having changed into capris and runners. My feet got VERY dirty, along with my work sandals, but I'm okay with it. I'm only working 4 more weeks.
Between 11 and 11:20 there was break, and the fire department was selling burritos for a fundraiser. I had 3 - nice and filling after the single pancake I had for breakfast. It was a fun little interlude. Joel taught us a key trick in which you snap your fingers on your lanyard and the key springs up [theoretically. I did not succeed at this much] into your hand.
Chelsea is really pretty. [I really wondered if she had a hard time of it in Mexico, being pretty and blonde, with getting rude comments from men.] I don't like having to have my hair up and back all the time, but I'll get over it.
I loved sampling the flavors of nuts. I really want to buy a whole bunch, for gifts and for myself. The gift shop is apparently only open Tuesday-Friday 11-11:20. [It was also open 1:30-2.]
My mood is a bit more upbeat now. I just about fell asleep in Sala this morning but the tour woke me up. I think I'll leave some of the clothes I brought here, since they are clearly able to put them to good use. They were saying earlier that if anyone wanted to donate their grad dress, that would be great.
(Random: I got salad dressing on my striped capris yesterday at lunch. Go me. Hope it washes out.)
4:40 pm
Just back from shoveling out weeds at the orchard. My feet and legs are super dirty and my shoes are all full of sandy dirt. [Baja California is SO SANDY. Dirt got in EVERYTHING.] It was hot, but it surprised me that we only worked for a little under 2 hours. 2:30-almost 4:30.
I'm still struggling a little with resentment when given unasked-for advice.
Dinner in 10 min. I'm already tired, but I can't believe Monday is nearly over. Tonight we'll babysit some of the kids and then crash again.
It seems like we're all still a little uncertain of what to do here. I'm looking forward to when we can all relax a little and goof around a bit more.
9:35
Some goofy giggling now! We're all fairly overtired.
Tonight we babysat the kids in each 'house' of the orphanage. There are between 9 and 12 kids in each, and ours was House 5. I was with Destiny, but otherwise no one from Southgate.
When we walked in they were all sitting there, shy, and then one lady pulled out two recorders and they thought that was pretty cool. There was also a couple with a printer for taking pictures of the kids and printing them right there, which the kids also liked.
And then - high point! - I sat down on the floor and patted it and the three older girls - 12, 12 and 13 - sat down and I taught them Stella Ella Ola [clapping game], just by gesturing. It was FUN. The girl were named Rosa, Yiria, Ana Maria. [Every time I said her name I thought of Anamaria from PotC.] One of the other ladies called me 'wonderful' for getting them out of their shells.
Then...they all escaped.
Originally they were on the playground (and I was playing with little boys and one of them accidentally conked me in the nose with his head. I got a brief nosebleed) but then...they scattered. I had no idea which kids were ours and of course we can't communicate with them. We got it figured out eventually, but it felt like a gong show. The boys, teens, from house 7, were playing soccer with other people, and the kids were baiting a random tied-up dog. I just watched them for a while to make sure they didn't go anywhere else, and SOMEHOW we rounded them all up and ended with the right number of the right kids.
After that we watched a movie with them (Mary-Kate and Ashley. In English. I don't think they understood a word) and the little kids climbed all over Destiny. I sat by Yiria, who was very quiet and clearly wanted to watch. I let her scroll through the pictures on my camera until it died. The other kids took TONS of pictures on Destiny's and another girl's [Alyssa's] camera.
We sent them to bed around 8:30, and the house parents got home at 9. Yiria gave me a hug before we left. I got Destiny to take a picture of us. All the kids thought she was hilarious. [She is :D]
Now we're back and all giddy and tired. Apparently I look 'doe-eyed' with no glasses on. We have also eaten the last of the pretzels from the car ride, and we didn't meet as a team because it was too late. Michelle and Destiny are doing the splits again. I believe we are about to turn off the lights.
Today felt like a big success. I chatted some with the Americans and managed to be a little outgoing and not quite so don't-talk-to-me introverted. It felt good.
Quote: "I know why they don't use vacuum cleaners around here. Some day someone's going to start vacuuming the dust and just never stop and the entirety of Baja California will disappear." - Liz, from Michigan
12 July 2010
Mexico, Day 2
July 4, 8:40 am
Slept pretty much the whole night through. Destiny said she kicked and stuff but I never felt it. So that was a good 10 hours of sleep, much needed after the nothing I got the night before.
Loree woke me up at 7:30 and I showered, groggily, and went down for the hotel continental breakfast. (Why is it called 'continental'?)
The hotel. There's a permit in the elevator, which SQUEALED when we tried it, that expired a year ago. There were beetles in the bathroom last night. Breakfast was meager and suspicious, and according to some our room smells like weed. Not to mention that according to Nathan and Bryan, we got a lot of grief trying to check in.
I don't know how they do any business on Hotel Circle. All the other hotels, I'm sure, are better.
Now I'm packed up. Nearly forgot Sir Marshmallow (would NOT have been good) but I think I have everything now. My hair doesn't look awesome but I'll deal. With bobby pins and a hairband.
We're sitting and talking now. Carissa is telling us about her job-hunting experiences.
12:20 pm
Bryan configured a meetup with a group from Washington who are going to the same place, thinking it would be easier because they've been down here before and know where they're going.
Now that we've spent two hours looking for somewhere to buy our FMT tourist cards because Harv (the youth pastor of the other group) didn't remember we needed them, I'm somewhat wondering if it was not such a good plan. We crossed the border just fine, was easier than we thought, but we just could not find the place we were looking for.
Two hours of driving around Tijuana later, trying not to lose any of our four-van convoy, after Laurent, Nathan and Harv went looking for the Migracion office while we parked in what we thought was right but wasn't, we've decided to plead ignorance and just keep going. It wasn't fun, waiting for them to get back, and I actually had the thought that I want to go home.
Tijuana is not tourist Mexico. There are whole hillsides with houses made of cardboard and plywood and plastic bags. I feel a little numb to the poverty. It's unsettling to be unable to read the Spanish signs.
It also looks like it's an election day, so there are tons of police [with CRAZY BAZOOKA RIFLES] out.
Now we're back on the highway. Our van is first in the convoy. Harv took a wrong turn so he's going to meet us in Ensenada.
1:10 pm
Finally on the highway (after an erroneous trip to somewhere else) to Ensenada, right next to the ocean. There are shadowy islands out silhouetted against the sky.
6:05 pm
Still driving.
We stopped, after a long drive through Ensenada and some doubt about the location of where we were going, at Costco, and at lunch. Also, there's a HUGE Mexican flag in Ensenada.
Lunch was sold in a LOUD, crowded, semi-open-air add-on to Costco. I got a caesar salad and a churro (twisty roll with cinnamon).
Our van has been fun. The boys are entertaining, especially after our stop for gas just now. Joel and Everett had issues with coke bottle caps and Jordan got a gigantic bottle of Fanta. [2.5 liters]
We're supposedly quite close to Vicente Guerrero. I can't decide if I feel excitement of trepidation.
8:20 pm
Sitting in the Sala (chapel) at the mission, waiting for orientation to begin.
We arrived in Vicente Guerrero and found the mission without difficulty. A guy (Bob?) meet us right away and got us into rooms. For some reason he thought we were 'Steve M's group'. All the girls but Dionne (who is with Laurent) are in the same room, with black metal bunk beds. There were fitted sheets already on the mattresses (mine was yellow and flowery) so I didn't really need mine, though I put it on anyway.
We went to a little taco stand, a canopy over dirt by the side of the road, for dinner. Bryan ordered us all tacos, 2 each, that came out to $40 USD for 30 tacos. One guy wandered around talking to us a bit (he kept saying "Taco de mice!" to me) but I didn't understand anything. I think Carissa's been getting some whistles, and he called Destiny 'benita'. Nothing on me yet :P
We've seen several mangy dogs. Michelle thinks they're super cute. One was hanging around while we ate tacos.
Then we came back and settled in a little more, and I discovered I didn't actually bring a belt. [Loree lent me one. Thanks Loree :)] Now we're sitting in the chapel, which is actually fairly large, and I'm half-listening to Bob, the leader, explain a couple of things. He was discussing a Connect 4 tournament for the kids just now. He's starting to talk to all of us.
[Notes from orientation]
1 group from Washington (14)
1 group from Michigan/Florida (21)
Bob came here when he was 52, has been here for 7 years, and is married to a Mexican lady with a son. It sounds like God definitely switched up the plans he had for himself.
No toilet paper in the toilets.
Water's supposedly safe to drink.
Report any leaks in our buildings.
Dress code: No short shorts, no midriff showing, no tank tops. Guys need shirts at all times.
Babies can be signed out of the nursery at 7:50 every morning but if they get fussy/start laughing too loud, take them back. No kissing babies on the lips. [People DID that?]
No shorts in Sala, and no food in Sala.
Keep the visitors' lounge clean.
Don't move furniture without asking.
Hang towels on clothesline, not railings. Pegs are under the stairs.
Go into town in groups, with a male escort if you're female.
Wash your hands a lot.
We're responsible for clearing our table at meals. Breakfast at 7, lunch at 1, dinner 5. 15 minutes per meal.
Quiet time 10 pm.
11 pm lights out.
Optional tour of the mens' shelter Friday afternoon.
Showers no longer than 3 minutes.
There are all kinds of jobs - orchard tending, groundskeeping, kids, kitchen...
I'm on lunch prep on Thursday.
10:00 pm
After orientation we had a brief group meeting about how we're feeling about the trip and stuff. I'm not feeling super emotional about anything, though I think some others are. Spiritual inadequacy is coming back to haunt me a bit. Should I be feeling something?
I also feel a little inadequate in general. (It's after 10 and people are wanting to go to bed so I'll go fast.) I'm pretty sure my hair will look awful this week. I really enjoy when Bryan shares in our meetings because he's always so humble. I'm tempted to think I'm failing because I'm not praying or reading my Bible as much as some, or my journal entries aren't spiritual enough, or enough about God. I don't know. I WANT to be a servant, and I'm ready for God to use me, but I can pretend spirituality I don't feel. Should I feel it? Faith first, then facts, then feelings, I guess.
I'm writing in circles, a bit. I want to read my book but maybe I should read my Bible.
Quote: "It's a Mexican cricket. It might steal your wallet." - Nathan
Slept pretty much the whole night through. Destiny said she kicked and stuff but I never felt it. So that was a good 10 hours of sleep, much needed after the nothing I got the night before.
Loree woke me up at 7:30 and I showered, groggily, and went down for the hotel continental breakfast. (Why is it called 'continental'?)
The hotel. There's a permit in the elevator, which SQUEALED when we tried it, that expired a year ago. There were beetles in the bathroom last night. Breakfast was meager and suspicious, and according to some our room smells like weed. Not to mention that according to Nathan and Bryan, we got a lot of grief trying to check in.
I don't know how they do any business on Hotel Circle. All the other hotels, I'm sure, are better.
Now I'm packed up. Nearly forgot Sir Marshmallow (would NOT have been good) but I think I have everything now. My hair doesn't look awesome but I'll deal. With bobby pins and a hairband.
We're sitting and talking now. Carissa is telling us about her job-hunting experiences.
12:20 pm
Bryan configured a meetup with a group from Washington who are going to the same place, thinking it would be easier because they've been down here before and know where they're going.
Now that we've spent two hours looking for somewhere to buy our FMT tourist cards because Harv (the youth pastor of the other group) didn't remember we needed them, I'm somewhat wondering if it was not such a good plan. We crossed the border just fine, was easier than we thought, but we just could not find the place we were looking for.
Two hours of driving around Tijuana later, trying not to lose any of our four-van convoy, after Laurent, Nathan and Harv went looking for the Migracion office while we parked in what we thought was right but wasn't, we've decided to plead ignorance and just keep going. It wasn't fun, waiting for them to get back, and I actually had the thought that I want to go home.
Tijuana is not tourist Mexico. There are whole hillsides with houses made of cardboard and plywood and plastic bags. I feel a little numb to the poverty. It's unsettling to be unable to read the Spanish signs.
It also looks like it's an election day, so there are tons of police [with CRAZY BAZOOKA RIFLES] out.
Now we're back on the highway. Our van is first in the convoy. Harv took a wrong turn so he's going to meet us in Ensenada.
1:10 pm
Finally on the highway (after an erroneous trip to somewhere else) to Ensenada, right next to the ocean. There are shadowy islands out silhouetted against the sky.
6:05 pm
Still driving.
We stopped, after a long drive through Ensenada and some doubt about the location of where we were going, at Costco, and at lunch. Also, there's a HUGE Mexican flag in Ensenada.
Lunch was sold in a LOUD, crowded, semi-open-air add-on to Costco. I got a caesar salad and a churro (twisty roll with cinnamon).
Our van has been fun. The boys are entertaining, especially after our stop for gas just now. Joel and Everett had issues with coke bottle caps and Jordan got a gigantic bottle of Fanta. [2.5 liters]
We're supposedly quite close to Vicente Guerrero. I can't decide if I feel excitement of trepidation.
8:20 pm
Sitting in the Sala (chapel) at the mission, waiting for orientation to begin.
We arrived in Vicente Guerrero and found the mission without difficulty. A guy (Bob?) meet us right away and got us into rooms. For some reason he thought we were 'Steve M's group'. All the girls but Dionne (who is with Laurent) are in the same room, with black metal bunk beds. There were fitted sheets already on the mattresses (mine was yellow and flowery) so I didn't really need mine, though I put it on anyway.
We went to a little taco stand, a canopy over dirt by the side of the road, for dinner. Bryan ordered us all tacos, 2 each, that came out to $40 USD for 30 tacos. One guy wandered around talking to us a bit (he kept saying "Taco de mice!" to me) but I didn't understand anything. I think Carissa's been getting some whistles, and he called Destiny 'benita'. Nothing on me yet :P
We've seen several mangy dogs. Michelle thinks they're super cute. One was hanging around while we ate tacos.
Then we came back and settled in a little more, and I discovered I didn't actually bring a belt. [Loree lent me one. Thanks Loree :)] Now we're sitting in the chapel, which is actually fairly large, and I'm half-listening to Bob, the leader, explain a couple of things. He was discussing a Connect 4 tournament for the kids just now. He's starting to talk to all of us.
[Notes from orientation]
1 group from Washington (14)
1 group from Michigan/Florida (21)
Bob came here when he was 52, has been here for 7 years, and is married to a Mexican lady with a son. It sounds like God definitely switched up the plans he had for himself.
No toilet paper in the toilets.
Water's supposedly safe to drink.
Report any leaks in our buildings.
Dress code: No short shorts, no midriff showing, no tank tops. Guys need shirts at all times.
Babies can be signed out of the nursery at 7:50 every morning but if they get fussy/start laughing too loud, take them back. No kissing babies on the lips. [People DID that?]
No shorts in Sala, and no food in Sala.
Keep the visitors' lounge clean.
Don't move furniture without asking.
Hang towels on clothesline, not railings. Pegs are under the stairs.
Go into town in groups, with a male escort if you're female.
Wash your hands a lot.
We're responsible for clearing our table at meals. Breakfast at 7, lunch at 1, dinner 5. 15 minutes per meal.
Quiet time 10 pm.
11 pm lights out.
Optional tour of the mens' shelter Friday afternoon.
Showers no longer than 3 minutes.
There are all kinds of jobs - orchard tending, groundskeeping, kids, kitchen...
I'm on lunch prep on Thursday.
10:00 pm
After orientation we had a brief group meeting about how we're feeling about the trip and stuff. I'm not feeling super emotional about anything, though I think some others are. Spiritual inadequacy is coming back to haunt me a bit. Should I be feeling something?
I also feel a little inadequate in general. (It's after 10 and people are wanting to go to bed so I'll go fast.) I'm pretty sure my hair will look awful this week. I really enjoy when Bryan shares in our meetings because he's always so humble. I'm tempted to think I'm failing because I'm not praying or reading my Bible as much as some, or my journal entries aren't spiritual enough, or enough about God. I don't know. I WANT to be a servant, and I'm ready for God to use me, but I can pretend spirituality I don't feel. Should I feel it? Faith first, then facts, then feelings, I guess.
I'm writing in circles, a bit. I want to read my book but maybe I should read my Bible.
Quote: "It's a Mexican cricket. It might steal your wallet." - Nathan
11 July 2010
Home! and Mexico, day 1.
I got home tonight at about 8 pm after a long day of flying. I have a cold and my ears still hurt from the taking off/landing of the planes, but I'm otherwise a happy camper. Keep going if you want excerpts (lightly edited, with editorial notes in brackets] from my journal of day 1 of the Mexico Missions Trip 2010.
July 3, 2010, 5:40 am
Sitting watching the line of shadow where the sun comes up over the airport. My family's gone--Susie and Grace got up when we left at 3:45 am and came to say goodbye with my parents. We're through security now. So far, Laurent's had to throw out a mini-knife that belonged to Dionne's grandma, Dionne got searched because of the decorating nails in her wallet, and I've paid way too much for some yogurt-covered almonds. Sitting by Destiny on the plane. That will be fun. [Editorial comment: love you, Destiny :D]
6:50 am
We took off 20 minutes ago.
I didn't sleep much last night. My grand plans to alter my sleep pattern the week before we left fizzled and died. Dad suggested we watch 24, so we did, and then I said goodbye to Jamie and then I went to bed.
[switch to pencil] My pen just died. My little green pen. :( Guess I'll have to steal one from the hotel.
Anyway, I rolled around a bunch and got up once to put plastic bags for laundry in my suitcase. I must have slept, because I woke up when my alarm went.
Came with parents and girls to the airport. I saw the gang as soon as I walked in, and Bryan and Nathan arrived last (Nathan's fault). Before boarding we hit Tim Hortons and the bathrooms in our airport clusters. [the groups we made for making sure we had everyone in the airports.]
I'm in seat 28A and the clouds are obstructing any view of the Rockies we're crossing. I did get some cool shots of the early morning sun out the plane window.
So far, I am cautiously optimistic. Haven't forgotten/misplaced anything. Am getting along well. I started watching How to Train Your Dragon in the seatback TV but I think I'll read my book now.
Nearly 9 am (PST now)
Dude, is it seriously not even 9 am? It feels like it should be at least noon.
Just came through a whirlwind stopover in Vancouver, characterized by a lot of following the US flag symbol. We cleared customs fine and made it to the departure gate as they were boarding, in plenty of time.
Now there is bright sun through the window and Destiny is sleeping beside me. I'm listening to XM classical radio. [Did some sudoku, too.] Also considering maybe some sleep myself, if possible. [Didn't work. I'm too tall to lean over and rest my head on the folding tray. Airplanes are awkward to sleep on.]
Sarah came to see us off, earlier. She gave me a nice long hug and I told her to please pray that I don't get too wrapped up in ME. [thanks, Sarah!] Dad also said that they wouldn't watch any 24 without me.
Just passed a gorgeous snow-crusted mountain poking above the clouds. Flying into Vancouver was nearly surreal because of the scenery. I got a wonderful picture of the islands in the fog. It's so awesome it's inspiring.
These mountains are incredible. All is indistinct blue and clouds, and then all of a sudden one of these monsters looms up. I wish I could better tell how big they are - a sense of scale is hard to have from an airplane window. Oh, it's Mt. St. Helens! They just announced over the intercom along with an update on the world cup.
Just after 9 now. Today might just last eternity.
3:20 pm
It feels like evening. We're in our Super 8 room after an interminable wait in the hot sun while Bryan and Nathan figured out reservation difficulties. Destiny is talking about how she hasn't slept in 48 hours. Michelle is unpacking EVERYTHING at once. I finally got my hair up and out of my face.
We ate lunch after waiting for some issues with the rental vans to be worked out [also played Guess the Movie Line while waiting], at Jack in the Box. [GROSS. GREASY. Not doing that again except for the American iced tea which I like.] Afterward we went to the grocery store briefly for some snacks for tomorrow. Pretzels, pretzel twists [Bryan really likes pretzels], fruit snacks, granola bars, water.
I think we're going out soon. I was pretty tired earlier but A/C and water splashed on my face feel better.
10:10 pm
I just saw the most epic set of fireworks I have witnessed in my entire life.
We were visiting a beach by a hotel on a whim and someone had heard from someone else that fireworks were going to be set off in the harbor. [The place was called Mission Bay.] We hung around until after it got dark, but nothing happened apart from a couple of errant firecrackers and I was fairly certain nothing was going to happen.
And then it DID. In a BIG WAY.
They lasted 22 minutes. 3 or 4 times we thought they'd ended and people applauded, but then there was an unbelieveable unmistakeable explosive ending. I have never seen so many so big all at once - and it's not even on July 4 yet! They were shaped like chandeliers, fireflies, planets, hearts, a happy face - I was mesmerized. It was awesome. I have a few pictures but they fail to capture it.
This afternoon we shopped in the tourist area of San Diego. I got a really pretty bracelet that looks similar to the Pandora ones, with blue beads, and even haggled the seller down to $20 from $24.
Also there was A. TON. of jewelry. SO MUCH. I could easily spend the entirety of my spending cash on jewelry. I almost bought a blue cross pendant, too. Did buy a mini tin of raspberry lemonade powder. Yum.
Some of the group lost interest in shopping [and walking]. I could have continued further, but we'd agreed to meet and go for dinner at 6.
We ate at a place called Fred's. Free chips + salsa + refills on American iced tea. I LOVE American iced tea. I ate about half of my actual meal. Nathan was daring people to walk up to a random stranger sitting in the restaurant, dip a chip in their salsa and say, "Eugh, this has cilantro." Loree did, but only to Jordan. I laughed a lot. Dinner was lovely. I really enjoy being with everyone.
Afterward we headed to the waterfront, and you know the rest.
Now I'm sitting in bed (sharing w/ Destiny) after jamming things into my suitcase in a slightly reconfigured manner to account for pulling out things for tomorrow morning. [This evening Michelle also killed four bugs in the bathroom. The Super 8 wasn't top-notch.] Waking at 7:30 because we need to make the hotel breakfast. We're meeting a group from Washington to convoy.
Tomorrow evening, the missions part of the trip begins. I hope the awesomeness doesn't stop.
(A quote from Bryan, at 8:45 pm while waiting for fireworks and watching the lame ones people across the harbor were setting off in their back yards: "Oh! I saw some Roman Candles. NOW we're partying.")
July 3, 2010, 5:40 am
Sitting watching the line of shadow where the sun comes up over the airport. My family's gone--Susie and Grace got up when we left at 3:45 am and came to say goodbye with my parents. We're through security now. So far, Laurent's had to throw out a mini-knife that belonged to Dionne's grandma, Dionne got searched because of the decorating nails in her wallet, and I've paid way too much for some yogurt-covered almonds. Sitting by Destiny on the plane. That will be fun. [Editorial comment: love you, Destiny :D]
6:50 am
We took off 20 minutes ago.
I didn't sleep much last night. My grand plans to alter my sleep pattern the week before we left fizzled and died. Dad suggested we watch 24, so we did, and then I said goodbye to Jamie and then I went to bed.
[switch to pencil] My pen just died. My little green pen. :( Guess I'll have to steal one from the hotel.
Anyway, I rolled around a bunch and got up once to put plastic bags for laundry in my suitcase. I must have slept, because I woke up when my alarm went.
Came with parents and girls to the airport. I saw the gang as soon as I walked in, and Bryan and Nathan arrived last (Nathan's fault). Before boarding we hit Tim Hortons and the bathrooms in our airport clusters. [the groups we made for making sure we had everyone in the airports.]
I'm in seat 28A and the clouds are obstructing any view of the Rockies we're crossing. I did get some cool shots of the early morning sun out the plane window.
So far, I am cautiously optimistic. Haven't forgotten/misplaced anything. Am getting along well. I started watching How to Train Your Dragon in the seatback TV but I think I'll read my book now.
Nearly 9 am (PST now)
Dude, is it seriously not even 9 am? It feels like it should be at least noon.
Just came through a whirlwind stopover in Vancouver, characterized by a lot of following the US flag symbol. We cleared customs fine and made it to the departure gate as they were boarding, in plenty of time.
Now there is bright sun through the window and Destiny is sleeping beside me. I'm listening to XM classical radio. [Did some sudoku, too.] Also considering maybe some sleep myself, if possible. [Didn't work. I'm too tall to lean over and rest my head on the folding tray. Airplanes are awkward to sleep on.]
Sarah came to see us off, earlier. She gave me a nice long hug and I told her to please pray that I don't get too wrapped up in ME. [thanks, Sarah!] Dad also said that they wouldn't watch any 24 without me.
Just passed a gorgeous snow-crusted mountain poking above the clouds. Flying into Vancouver was nearly surreal because of the scenery. I got a wonderful picture of the islands in the fog. It's so awesome it's inspiring.
These mountains are incredible. All is indistinct blue and clouds, and then all of a sudden one of these monsters looms up. I wish I could better tell how big they are - a sense of scale is hard to have from an airplane window. Oh, it's Mt. St. Helens! They just announced over the intercom along with an update on the world cup.
Just after 9 now. Today might just last eternity.
3:20 pm
It feels like evening. We're in our Super 8 room after an interminable wait in the hot sun while Bryan and Nathan figured out reservation difficulties. Destiny is talking about how she hasn't slept in 48 hours. Michelle is unpacking EVERYTHING at once. I finally got my hair up and out of my face.
We ate lunch after waiting for some issues with the rental vans to be worked out [also played Guess the Movie Line while waiting], at Jack in the Box. [GROSS. GREASY. Not doing that again except for the American iced tea which I like.] Afterward we went to the grocery store briefly for some snacks for tomorrow. Pretzels, pretzel twists [Bryan really likes pretzels], fruit snacks, granola bars, water.
I think we're going out soon. I was pretty tired earlier but A/C and water splashed on my face feel better.
10:10 pm
I just saw the most epic set of fireworks I have witnessed in my entire life.
We were visiting a beach by a hotel on a whim and someone had heard from someone else that fireworks were going to be set off in the harbor. [The place was called Mission Bay.] We hung around until after it got dark, but nothing happened apart from a couple of errant firecrackers and I was fairly certain nothing was going to happen.
And then it DID. In a BIG WAY.
They lasted 22 minutes. 3 or 4 times we thought they'd ended and people applauded, but then there was an unbelieveable unmistakeable explosive ending. I have never seen so many so big all at once - and it's not even on July 4 yet! They were shaped like chandeliers, fireflies, planets, hearts, a happy face - I was mesmerized. It was awesome. I have a few pictures but they fail to capture it.
This afternoon we shopped in the tourist area of San Diego. I got a really pretty bracelet that looks similar to the Pandora ones, with blue beads, and even haggled the seller down to $20 from $24.
Also there was A. TON. of jewelry. SO MUCH. I could easily spend the entirety of my spending cash on jewelry. I almost bought a blue cross pendant, too. Did buy a mini tin of raspberry lemonade powder. Yum.
Some of the group lost interest in shopping [and walking]. I could have continued further, but we'd agreed to meet and go for dinner at 6.
We ate at a place called Fred's. Free chips + salsa + refills on American iced tea. I LOVE American iced tea. I ate about half of my actual meal. Nathan was daring people to walk up to a random stranger sitting in the restaurant, dip a chip in their salsa and say, "Eugh, this has cilantro." Loree did, but only to Jordan. I laughed a lot. Dinner was lovely. I really enjoy being with everyone.
Afterward we headed to the waterfront, and you know the rest.
Now I'm sitting in bed (sharing w/ Destiny) after jamming things into my suitcase in a slightly reconfigured manner to account for pulling out things for tomorrow morning. [This evening Michelle also killed four bugs in the bathroom. The Super 8 wasn't top-notch.] Waking at 7:30 because we need to make the hotel breakfast. We're meeting a group from Washington to convoy.
Tomorrow evening, the missions part of the trip begins. I hope the awesomeness doesn't stop.
(A quote from Bryan, at 8:45 pm while waiting for fireworks and watching the lame ones people across the harbor were setting off in their back yards: "Oh! I saw some Roman Candles. NOW we're partying.")
02 July 2010
Quick Review: The Last Airbender
This afternoon I went with (all) my siblings to see The Last Airbender.
I've never seen any of the TV show, though my younger siblings watch it, so I was going into the movie knowing nothing but what they told me. And OH BOY DID THEY DO A BUNCH OF TELLING. The movie starts with telling. Katara, who is a teenage girl from a Water elemental village, is all, "Blah blah blah my mother's dead my father's away my brother's not a very good hunter," cut to Sokka, who is indeed the caricature of a bad hunter. (Pause here to wonder why the movie couldn't have shown us this with a couple seconds of him failing to stab a small animal or something.)
Katara and Sokka find a random globe of ice that Katara manages to break, and it reveals an oversized beaver-like animal that can levitate (it reminded me of a Pokemon) and an unconscious boy. With tattoos. Cut to Katara and Sokka back at the village, evil people show up and demand to have the boy, the boy goes.
Strike #2: Katara goes, "He's our responsibility we have to save him!" Okay, you spoke about three words to this boy, he went of his own free will, and if your brother is actually as bad a hunter as you say he is, you have other things to be worried about. But nope, off they go on the levitating beaver to save the boy, Aang.
This was about the first fifteen minutes. It didn't get much better.
My biggest complaint was the clunky dialogue. Some of these characters might actually have, I dunno, some individuality, but it was all eclipsed by the awkward script. Best (worst) line: "It's time to show the Fire Nation that we believe in our beliefs as much as they believe in theirs." No, really?
The characterization--and this might be the fault of the script--was also not up to par. Aang, the Avatar, came across as a completely humorless, weirdly mature 12-year-old boy. He never cracked a smile once. Sokka was overdone, always saying things like, "Get behind me!" and never succeeding at really doing much. Katara had a teeny bit of character growth, but her devotion to Aang was still bizarre and contrived. The rest of the characters were almost completely flat and predictable.
Visually, The Last Airbender did score a few points. At a few junctures it was pretty obvious that they used a green screen, but the elemental effects were cool (even if the fantasy author in me was wondering how the element-benders manage to stay alive in a war when someone could just come up from behind and stab them while they were executing those fancy kung-fu moves) and the costumes were well done. I found the various ethnicities of the different nations intriguing, as well as the overall imagery used for each, like the cast-iron-looking ships of the Fire Nation. The levitating beaver, though, I dunno whose idea that was but it was odd.
Things that would improve the next movie (which I hear Shyamalan is working on now--PLEASE let him pay someone ELSE to write the script): 1) A few laughs. Honestly, hardly anyone cracks a smile and there were maybe two lines that were even meant to be wry or lighthearted. ("You never asked. Only your grandmother did." might have been better if it didn't come right at the end of a very contrived 'romance' scene.) 2) Some dialogue that flows naturally without being obviously meant to instruct the viewer. Also, no dramatic pauses, please, or limit them to one every few sentences, not every few words. And 3) No more voiceover narration! Lose the voiceover narration! I will mail you cookies!
If I were giving it stars out of five, The Last Airbender would get one. My younger siblings seemed to enjoy it, though, so perhaps familiarity with the TV show breeds appreciation.
I did have fun mimicking Potter Puppet Pals outside afterward, however. (I was Hermione.)
I've never seen any of the TV show, though my younger siblings watch it, so I was going into the movie knowing nothing but what they told me. And OH BOY DID THEY DO A BUNCH OF TELLING. The movie starts with telling. Katara, who is a teenage girl from a Water elemental village, is all, "Blah blah blah my mother's dead my father's away my brother's not a very good hunter," cut to Sokka, who is indeed the caricature of a bad hunter. (Pause here to wonder why the movie couldn't have shown us this with a couple seconds of him failing to stab a small animal or something.)
Katara and Sokka find a random globe of ice that Katara manages to break, and it reveals an oversized beaver-like animal that can levitate (it reminded me of a Pokemon) and an unconscious boy. With tattoos. Cut to Katara and Sokka back at the village, evil people show up and demand to have the boy, the boy goes.
Strike #2: Katara goes, "He's our responsibility we have to save him!" Okay, you spoke about three words to this boy, he went of his own free will, and if your brother is actually as bad a hunter as you say he is, you have other things to be worried about. But nope, off they go on the levitating beaver to save the boy, Aang.
This was about the first fifteen minutes. It didn't get much better.
My biggest complaint was the clunky dialogue. Some of these characters might actually have, I dunno, some individuality, but it was all eclipsed by the awkward script. Best (worst) line: "It's time to show the Fire Nation that we believe in our beliefs as much as they believe in theirs." No, really?
The characterization--and this might be the fault of the script--was also not up to par. Aang, the Avatar, came across as a completely humorless, weirdly mature 12-year-old boy. He never cracked a smile once. Sokka was overdone, always saying things like, "Get behind me!" and never succeeding at really doing much. Katara had a teeny bit of character growth, but her devotion to Aang was still bizarre and contrived. The rest of the characters were almost completely flat and predictable.
Visually, The Last Airbender did score a few points. At a few junctures it was pretty obvious that they used a green screen, but the elemental effects were cool (even if the fantasy author in me was wondering how the element-benders manage to stay alive in a war when someone could just come up from behind and stab them while they were executing those fancy kung-fu moves) and the costumes were well done. I found the various ethnicities of the different nations intriguing, as well as the overall imagery used for each, like the cast-iron-looking ships of the Fire Nation. The levitating beaver, though, I dunno whose idea that was but it was odd.
Things that would improve the next movie (which I hear Shyamalan is working on now--PLEASE let him pay someone ELSE to write the script): 1) A few laughs. Honestly, hardly anyone cracks a smile and there were maybe two lines that were even meant to be wry or lighthearted. ("You never asked. Only your grandmother did." might have been better if it didn't come right at the end of a very contrived 'romance' scene.) 2) Some dialogue that flows naturally without being obviously meant to instruct the viewer. Also, no dramatic pauses, please, or limit them to one every few sentences, not every few words. And 3) No more voiceover narration! Lose the voiceover narration! I will mail you cookies!
If I were giving it stars out of five, The Last Airbender would get one. My younger siblings seemed to enjoy it, though, so perhaps familiarity with the TV show breeds appreciation.
I did have fun mimicking Potter Puppet Pals outside afterward, however. (I was Hermione.)
01 July 2010
Counting
On April 1st, 2010, I wrote numbers of days on my calendar to help me get through the next three months. March had just ended and I remember feeling like I was on the home stretch...just the very, very beginning of the home stretch.
And now it's July 1st.
This year so far, I've done a lot of wishing time would pass. If I'm on a seven-hour shift at work it's how long until lunch, how long until coffee break, how long until I can go home. During the week it's how long until the weekend. I'm shocked that it's July 1st and I'm leaving for Mexico in two days, and that it's actually the summer. I never thought it would get here, when I was mired the depths of February.
There are still numbers written on my calendar. I'm counting the number of weeks left that I work, and the number of days until my Texan comes to see me, and I'm tempted to start counting the days until my residence move-in, which is September 5.
But I also feel a little like I need to stop counting. Maybe I need to stop looking at the clock or the calendar at all. Because things are happening now, every day, that I don't want to miss. (Sentimentality aside, however, how exactly does one 'savor a moment'? I've tried. Usually it amounts to a slightly panicky feeling of "oh no, it's leaving!") I clue in now, when I wake up in the morning not looking forward to something, that it's going to be over really fast, and every night when I go to bed I marvel at how short a time it was since I was last getting ready for bed.
The home stretch is going to end. I'm going to Mexico. I'm coming back and working for four weeks, spending a week with my Texan, spending three weeks getting ready for Ambrose, and then it'll be here. HERE. And I'LL be THERE.
I always thought that story about the boy with the ball of golden string who could pull on it a little and make time pass faster was, of fairy stories, significantly more obnoxious than the others. But it is inescapably true.
And now it's July 1st.
This year so far, I've done a lot of wishing time would pass. If I'm on a seven-hour shift at work it's how long until lunch, how long until coffee break, how long until I can go home. During the week it's how long until the weekend. I'm shocked that it's July 1st and I'm leaving for Mexico in two days, and that it's actually the summer. I never thought it would get here, when I was mired the depths of February.
There are still numbers written on my calendar. I'm counting the number of weeks left that I work, and the number of days until my Texan comes to see me, and I'm tempted to start counting the days until my residence move-in, which is September 5.
But I also feel a little like I need to stop counting. Maybe I need to stop looking at the clock or the calendar at all. Because things are happening now, every day, that I don't want to miss. (Sentimentality aside, however, how exactly does one 'savor a moment'? I've tried. Usually it amounts to a slightly panicky feeling of "oh no, it's leaving!") I clue in now, when I wake up in the morning not looking forward to something, that it's going to be over really fast, and every night when I go to bed I marvel at how short a time it was since I was last getting ready for bed.
The home stretch is going to end. I'm going to Mexico. I'm coming back and working for four weeks, spending a week with my Texan, spending three weeks getting ready for Ambrose, and then it'll be here. HERE. And I'LL be THERE.
I always thought that story about the boy with the ball of golden string who could pull on it a little and make time pass faster was, of fairy stories, significantly more obnoxious than the others. But it is inescapably true.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)