So I thought that coming home and finding a job would be one of the biggest wake up calls - turns out it is nothing compared to the ugly monster of boredom. Tomorrow, I will have been home for a month had I not already fit a week of travel to Mexico in. But the remaining 19-odd days of not working and being home are what I blame for any "reverse culture shock," the disappointment of not still being in South America, and the near "homesickness" to a place I only lived for 4 months. Now, don't get me wrong - I still miss it. But I needed a solution to those bouts of sadness that would arise when I had nothing better to do in my day but reminisce. The last thing I expected to keep me interested was a job.
But it looks like I've found my solution. Maybe it's just beginners optimism, seeing as how it was my first day, new place, different people. But nonetheless, it has some big potential. I am working at a certain bakery which happens to be in the cake and cupcake business. It stays busy, the employees are nice enough, and the customers are happy. There's even a cuban who works there that I was able to chat with a bit. And best of all - it's a bakery. This will be bakery number 3 for me, and I haven't lost my love for food - and sweet food at that - yet.
So, long story short, I'm getting back into things here. It definitely lacks the excitement of a huge city; the ease of public transportation, the laden down dog walkers, non-stop traffic, and eclectic people. But for now it fits the bill. I have a good job, I've still got a bit of summer left to enjoy, and I'm hanging out with my friends and family. I'm saving up for more travel, and soon enough - hopefully within the year - I'll be back on track for some longer-term travel. But I'm starting to understand the importance of consistency, and having a place to come back to no matter where you've been. But I guess the better question I should be asking myself is simply,
What's next?
¡Bienvenido a mi vida!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
A little bit of chicken fried
The youngest ones skip the mulling around, wondering who you are and are not related to, and by which side, how many "greats" to add before the apropriate title of aunt, uncle, or otherwise.
None of this matters to the 6-and-unders...by some gravitational pull a small herd forms upon the opening of van doors. And off they go - for the rest of the afternoon they will be a passing blur of screams, laughter, and questions.
But for the adults, the mulling about and apropriate hugs with the apropriate people become a bit more casual as soon as the appetizers and homeade alcohol appear. It would't be a family get together in E Town without Rips most recent concoction - this year its mojito mango and based on the steadily lowering mark on the mason jar, it's a keeper.
As the room fills, the personalities filter through the house. The two 20-something year olds sit in the corner by the piano sipping lemonade reminiscing about travels abroad. Their mixed conversation about spanish accents and ski conditions in the french alps is backdropped by great great aunt Norma's talk of a great neice's success in the latest miss Kentucky pageant. Next year she says, next year she will win. Just a little more work on the talent portion, and she'll be golden. Another cousin sits in the living room, stationary due to a recently - and mysteriously broken foot. The stories range from an enraged public fight, to a simple slip down the stairs but nothing is certain. A little family humor is mandatory when a casted foot is present.
As the evening slips on, burgers, brats, and charred hot dogs lose some heat waiting on the solitary vegitarians veggie burgers. A great aunt with an eye for photography - her work in photo archives and restoration as well as her travels to Tibet and beyond - provides more than the typcal small talk, but it's her jade jewelry that draws the cousins eye.
The has-been-in-progess-for-the-past-year koi pond is as big of a conversation starter and point of envy as is the neighbors new pool (heated by the graceful waterfall flowing from the raised hot tub - how intelligent!)
Conversations regarding UKs football season and the decline of USA's golf future without Tiger blend with the Zac Brown Band playing in the background. Rennie's famous pea salad dwindles. The squash casserole is almost gone too, now completely stripped of its bread crumb topping - the best part. Gani's benadictine is present to - but with the disclaimer that this particular one could never live up to the real thing when she used to make it. And of course the competing baked beans, from the light and spicy to Kim's bacon and brown sugar version.
As the afternoon draws to an end, to go plates are filled with brownies and left over potatoe salad. The loud chorus of crickets and frogs and the blinking of lightning bugs might be alarming if the family was coming from a quieter setting, but go unnoticed for now. Young cousins cry as they drive away from their "new friends" and goodbye hugs between family members that won't meet for another 6 months - till Christmas - are cut a little short by the heat and humidity of the summer night air. The collective group breaks into individual families packed tight in their vans and get ready for the journey home.
And as the country roads melt into the highway and a faded afternoon glow, a certain 20 year old sits in between 3 arguing 6 year olds, humming Chicken Fried, and can't help but think - It sure is good to be home.
None of this matters to the 6-and-unders...by some gravitational pull a small herd forms upon the opening of van doors. And off they go - for the rest of the afternoon they will be a passing blur of screams, laughter, and questions.
But for the adults, the mulling about and apropriate hugs with the apropriate people become a bit more casual as soon as the appetizers and homeade alcohol appear. It would't be a family get together in E Town without Rips most recent concoction - this year its mojito mango and based on the steadily lowering mark on the mason jar, it's a keeper.
As the room fills, the personalities filter through the house. The two 20-something year olds sit in the corner by the piano sipping lemonade reminiscing about travels abroad. Their mixed conversation about spanish accents and ski conditions in the french alps is backdropped by great great aunt Norma's talk of a great neice's success in the latest miss Kentucky pageant. Next year she says, next year she will win. Just a little more work on the talent portion, and she'll be golden. Another cousin sits in the living room, stationary due to a recently - and mysteriously broken foot. The stories range from an enraged public fight, to a simple slip down the stairs but nothing is certain. A little family humor is mandatory when a casted foot is present.
As the evening slips on, burgers, brats, and charred hot dogs lose some heat waiting on the solitary vegitarians veggie burgers. A great aunt with an eye for photography - her work in photo archives and restoration as well as her travels to Tibet and beyond - provides more than the typcal small talk, but it's her jade jewelry that draws the cousins eye.
The has-been-in-progess-for-the-past-year koi pond is as big of a conversation starter and point of envy as is the neighbors new pool (heated by the graceful waterfall flowing from the raised hot tub - how intelligent!)
Conversations regarding UKs football season and the decline of USA's golf future without Tiger blend with the Zac Brown Band playing in the background. Rennie's famous pea salad dwindles. The squash casserole is almost gone too, now completely stripped of its bread crumb topping - the best part. Gani's benadictine is present to - but with the disclaimer that this particular one could never live up to the real thing when she used to make it. And of course the competing baked beans, from the light and spicy to Kim's bacon and brown sugar version.
As the afternoon draws to an end, to go plates are filled with brownies and left over potatoe salad. The loud chorus of crickets and frogs and the blinking of lightning bugs might be alarming if the family was coming from a quieter setting, but go unnoticed for now. Young cousins cry as they drive away from their "new friends" and goodbye hugs between family members that won't meet for another 6 months - till Christmas - are cut a little short by the heat and humidity of the summer night air. The collective group breaks into individual families packed tight in their vans and get ready for the journey home.
And as the country roads melt into the highway and a faded afternoon glow, a certain 20 year old sits in between 3 arguing 6 year olds, humming Chicken Fried, and can't help but think - It sure is good to be home.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Reverse Culture Shock...AKA
- getting uncomfortably close to everyone before remembering here, we don't kiss everyone
- understanding conversations. All of them.
- phones that work, and almost wishing they didn't
- toilet paper that feels like egyptian cotton...no really
- peanut butter.
- driving...and wondering why I missed it so much?
- fast internet. definitely a shock
- people you knew, and still know. Besides the million little things that have changed
- speaking spanglish, and refusing to say "bye"..chau is still acceptable right?
- trying to remember that a yellow traffic light means slow down, not speed up (technically)
- forgetting the world cup is still happening due to the lack of celebration
- adjusting to the reality that full cama, unlimited drinks, movies, and comfy sleep is not an option for cross country travel
- missing a place as if it were home while sitting in your real one...but loving that one equally
- adjusting to real people's sleep schedules
- and eating habits
- understanding conversations. All of them.
- phones that work, and almost wishing they didn't
- toilet paper that feels like egyptian cotton...no really
- peanut butter.
- driving...and wondering why I missed it so much?
- fast internet. definitely a shock
- people you knew, and still know. Besides the million little things that have changed
- speaking spanglish, and refusing to say "bye"..chau is still acceptable right?
- trying to remember that a yellow traffic light means slow down, not speed up (technically)
- forgetting the world cup is still happening due to the lack of celebration
- adjusting to the reality that full cama, unlimited drinks, movies, and comfy sleep is not an option for cross country travel
- missing a place as if it were home while sitting in your real one...but loving that one equally
- adjusting to real people's sleep schedules
- and eating habits
Friday, July 2, 2010
I believe in a thing called LOVE
...just thumpin' to the rhythm of a heart...
no, but besides the ever-catchy song, something else has been stuck in my head lately. Something just as catchy, but a little bigger in my book. I've been talking lately, more than usual, about the "big topics." You know, gay marriage, abortion, all that. And I have some big opinions on those, but I don't need to write about them. If you want to know, let's chat. Because I'd like to know your opinions on it too.
But besides legalities, I have also been in the situation a few times to explain to strangers exactly what I believe. I feel like this one comes up a lot travelling, and it is equally out of interest as a way to categorize. It's trendy to have certain beliefs in a group travelling, and from my experiences, being a white, middle class, Christian girl from the south is not one of them. In fact, I think it might be the quickest way to be excluded from any sort of spiritual or "open-minded" conversation.
But funny thing with this question is that it is both:
1. my favorite question upon meeting a person
2. my least favorite question when meeting someone
I'll explain the first reason after, but why and when it is my least favorite:
When people want a quick answer. Think about it, when you ask what someone believes, you are asking what they base their personality, pursuit, moral code, their life on. Sure you can give the short answer, but I'm not willing to give it unless you want to know why.
When they aren't willing to listen. I understand being set in your beliefs, in knowing where you stand. But that doesn't mean you can't listen. It's quite the contrary actually - in being set in your beliefs you should be capable of listening even more actively without the fear of being swayed. And if that person does have something big enough, powerful enough to actually sway you even the - maybe listening was the best thing you ever did.
When it's asked to prove a [negative] point. This is the same as generalizing, stereotyping, name-calling.
The reasons for why it is also my favorite question are basically the opposites of the reasons above. But more than anything, it is because it's the fastest, scariest, most honest way to really get to know someone. And because the more you talk it out, the more you start to get it yourself. This one might just be me, but I find talking about my beliefs outside of the safe area of my church helps me solidify and grow in my beliefs just as much. (How boring, and easy, would it be if we believed something our entire life and never had something to compare it to?) The saying "knowledge is power" comes to mind here. It would be pretty ignorant to live for something without knowing what else is out there....because actually choosing to follow a certain path is half the battle. Dedicating your life to something shouldn't come easy; it should take some big thought.
But before getting into too many of my own beliefs (I am just as confused and mistaken as anyone else in this race for something bigger) , I want to share the basis of it all. I am a Christian. That is the path I have chosen. And the book I choose to follow, the Bible, has a lot of cool parts to it. But here's the one I'm focusing on right now: 1 Corinthians 13.
I think it's important to read the whole chapter, because we have heard it broken up into its many powerful pieces, but the pieces not so often quoted make a lot of sense too. But the main points can be very briefly stated as a.) God created love, so therefore he is love b.) we were created in love, so everyone is capable of loving c.) because we were created in the image of love, we are meant to love others in the same way. Or we could break it down even further to God = Love.
So, if you ask what I believe and you're searching for the short answer …that might just be it. Love. Because even if I don't agree with you, believe the same things, get caught up on some technicalities - some wordings, or translations, or just ideas. Even if I am stuck wondering if the book and path I have chosen to model my life on are in fact the ones i want, I am comforted with that thought. Because I can't think of anything better to live for. Because when it all comes down to it, loving my neighbor, my enemies, and myself equally doesn't sound like to bad of a thing to strive for.
I have been embarrassed of myself and of other "Christians" for our representation of what we stand for, of a lifestyle we claim in calling ourselves Christians. I have disagreed with entire church opinions. I have definitely failed at times, and gone entire periods of my life without a thought of God. But for all of these transgressions, for all of the smaller things I have had to think out,
I take comfort in knowing
that according to my book.....
Love rules.
no, but besides the ever-catchy song, something else has been stuck in my head lately. Something just as catchy, but a little bigger in my book. I've been talking lately, more than usual, about the "big topics." You know, gay marriage, abortion, all that. And I have some big opinions on those, but I don't need to write about them. If you want to know, let's chat. Because I'd like to know your opinions on it too.
But besides legalities, I have also been in the situation a few times to explain to strangers exactly what I believe. I feel like this one comes up a lot travelling, and it is equally out of interest as a way to categorize. It's trendy to have certain beliefs in a group travelling, and from my experiences, being a white, middle class, Christian girl from the south is not one of them. In fact, I think it might be the quickest way to be excluded from any sort of spiritual or "open-minded" conversation.
But funny thing with this question is that it is both:
1. my favorite question upon meeting a person
2. my least favorite question when meeting someone
I'll explain the first reason after, but why and when it is my least favorite:
When people want a quick answer. Think about it, when you ask what someone believes, you are asking what they base their personality, pursuit, moral code, their life on. Sure you can give the short answer, but I'm not willing to give it unless you want to know why.
When they aren't willing to listen. I understand being set in your beliefs, in knowing where you stand. But that doesn't mean you can't listen. It's quite the contrary actually - in being set in your beliefs you should be capable of listening even more actively without the fear of being swayed. And if that person does have something big enough, powerful enough to actually sway you even the - maybe listening was the best thing you ever did.
When it's asked to prove a [negative] point. This is the same as generalizing, stereotyping, name-calling.
The reasons for why it is also my favorite question are basically the opposites of the reasons above. But more than anything, it is because it's the fastest, scariest, most honest way to really get to know someone. And because the more you talk it out, the more you start to get it yourself. This one might just be me, but I find talking about my beliefs outside of the safe area of my church helps me solidify and grow in my beliefs just as much. (How boring, and easy, would it be if we believed something our entire life and never had something to compare it to?) The saying "knowledge is power" comes to mind here. It would be pretty ignorant to live for something without knowing what else is out there....because actually choosing to follow a certain path is half the battle. Dedicating your life to something shouldn't come easy; it should take some big thought.
But before getting into too many of my own beliefs (I am just as confused and mistaken as anyone else in this race for something bigger) , I want to share the basis of it all. I am a Christian. That is the path I have chosen. And the book I choose to follow, the Bible, has a lot of cool parts to it. But here's the one I'm focusing on right now: 1 Corinthians 13.
I think it's important to read the whole chapter, because we have heard it broken up into its many powerful pieces, but the pieces not so often quoted make a lot of sense too. But the main points can be very briefly stated as a.) God created love, so therefore he is love b.) we were created in love, so everyone is capable of loving c.) because we were created in the image of love, we are meant to love others in the same way. Or we could break it down even further to God = Love.
So, if you ask what I believe and you're searching for the short answer …that might just be it. Love. Because even if I don't agree with you, believe the same things, get caught up on some technicalities - some wordings, or translations, or just ideas. Even if I am stuck wondering if the book and path I have chosen to model my life on are in fact the ones i want, I am comforted with that thought. Because I can't think of anything better to live for. Because when it all comes down to it, loving my neighbor, my enemies, and myself equally doesn't sound like to bad of a thing to strive for.
I have been embarrassed of myself and of other "Christians" for our representation of what we stand for, of a lifestyle we claim in calling ourselves Christians. I have disagreed with entire church opinions. I have definitely failed at times, and gone entire periods of my life without a thought of God. But for all of these transgressions, for all of the smaller things I have had to think out,
I take comfort in knowing
that according to my book.....
Love rules.
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