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
13 July 2010
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.
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