29.4.06

reflections of an ipod

On our way home from the capital yesterday, I had plenty of time on the train to listen to my iPod, and I realized what a mix is on my own playlist.

Cousin - It was fun to listen to He Reigns by the Newsboys on the train. "The sound of Asian believers, filled with *'s Holy Fire/ It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation, A love song born of a grateful choir..." I loved looking around the train at all the different tribes, tongues and maybe even nations represented there. It became kinda like moneywalking for me! Chris Tomlin, Joy Williams, and our office's choir, among others, brought me back again and again to the boss's throne.

Country - From Rascal Flatts, to George Strait, to Toby Keith, I love country. The real country, not the crossover kind. I was raised on such music as the Oakridge Boys (noboby beats that bass singer!) and thought "Redneck Girl" was a song about me. (to my credit, I was 3, and had red hair...I thought they were singing Redhead Girl, and I did love to cruise in Daddy's pick up truck). I just know I'll be listening to Asleep at the Wheel's "Boogie Back to..." on repeat during the plane ride back to the States.

Rap - (I know, I know) But as my mom once said, "You can take the girl out of Nimitz, but you can't take the Nimitz out of the girl." Plus, what's more fun than old school rap? Play on, playa.

Disco - Feel free to scratch your head. I'm not a big disco fan at all, hence I only have one song from that era, but I can't get enough of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." (who I read recently that she has since become a cousin) That song helped me get over many guys back in the day. So if the 70s have to be represented on my iPod, who better than the First Lady of Disco?

Sinatra - The last minute of Theme from New York, New York, makes me want to hook up in a cancan line and do flex kicks.

Bollywood - Without which no playlist would be complete. These are actually the songs I look forward to the most! You just never know what's going to show up in a South Asian song: a very American instrument, like a saxophone; a cheesy rap ("She's so cool, She's so fine. Out of 10, I give her 9!" is one of my fave lines); or best of all, a gospel choir. It's also fun to pretend I know the words. And I figure the more I'm familiar with the music, the better prepared I'll be for when I'm an extra in a Bollywood movie. :)

So if my iPod could speak (maybe one day, they will...) it would say, "I love me some crazy roadtrip mixes!"

26.4.06

training

Today husband and I had an awesome opportunity - we were invited to help with a training for national cousins. There were about 45 men there, dedicated to learning about CPM. (multiplying of offices) We trained them about money-walking, and then helped out with storying and observed a lot as well. What an opportunity it was, and I got to experience a few "firsts" as well. Not to belittle this great group of men, but training them reminded me a little of teaching my 6th grade SS girls. We get so used to a certain method of learning in the West (or really in any culture) that when another method comes along, it confuses us a bit. So they were about at the same level of American style learning as my girls were. Not that they giggled to each other or passed notes; it was more like they struggled with concepts, such as passing out paper. As you read these, keep in mind that this was a group of grown men...

* First time to use a translator
* First time of hearing the words "We chased a sparrow" being uttered when referring to what they did during money-walking
* First time to hear students say they couldn't answer any more questions because it was past their tea time
* First time in several months to see such wholehearted p&w
* First time I had such a hard time explaining "break into 10 groups"
* First time I've seen people so excited to be facing a 9 hour training session
* First time I spent the entire day without A/C in 100+ Fahrenheit weather

23.4.06

Well our friends are gone. They flew out this morning around 4am. It was sad to see them leave, but we'll be seeing them again in August, so it's not too bad. We girls had so much fun shopping. My friend was the live embodiment of the phrase "Shop til you drop." If shopping were a sport, she'd be the star player.

Husband and I will be in the capital city for the rest of this week taking care of business. Yesterday, it was up to 106 degrees here, and it's only April. I've heard that by June, it can be up to 120! But man, I love this city, sweat and all. I've come to realize that I am most definitely a city girl. Kinda strange, considering out of all the mega-cities we could have lived in South Asia, our city is less than 200,000 people. Our boss has a sense of humor, and I also think it goes to show how much he likes us to rely on him to get through. And why not, since without him, it would be beyond impossible.

12.4.06

update

So I'm alive, just not up to date on my blogging. We have finished with the Subject That Shall Not Be Named, thank goodness. Now we're just resting up before heading to the capital this weekend. We can't wait because our friends from Tanzania are coming to town! We'll be picking them up early Tuesday morning, and I'm dying to see them. I can't wait for the late night card games, tons of sharing stories, and just seeing our great friends will be such a blessing! After all this travelling we've been doing, it'll be so good to de-stress with our friends!

3.4.06

blog is the new motorhome

My family was RV'ing before RV'ing was cool. First, it was the cab-over that my dad would put over the old green truck that somehow our family of 4 could sleep in. Then when I was about 6, they bought the pre-pre-pre owned Shasta travel trailer, with the oh-so contemporary orange and brown interior. When I was in high school, they traded in the Shasta for another trailer. Family vacations were never spent in motels or hotels...they always began with Mom directing Dad through the mirrors towards the trailer hitch, included the big van pulling the Shasta (and sometimes the boat would be hitched to the trailer!) on all sorts of roads, and campsites with everything from ants to wolves. All of this is to say that for as long as I can remember, I've seen those stickers on the side of motorhomes and travel trailers with the states that they had been to highlighted. Bad grammar? Sorry. I've always wanted one of those, but of course, I've never had my own motorhome. So my blog is where I'll be sticking my long awaited map: (thanks, kim, for the link!)



create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

I also did one with the countries I've been to. I always thought I was doing good, travel wise, until I saw that I've only been to 2% of the countries in the world. (6 countries) 2% sounds so measly. I need to get out more!