I´ve been in South America for 4 weeks. Some are naming this day our ¨first month¨I think I´ll say I´ve been here a month on the 24th.
So today we gave our presentations and mine went well. My teacher said some encouraging words which gave me some sunshine in my heart and a little more confidence in myself.
My topic was over bilingual edu. so there wasn´t much discussion, but another girl Anna, gave her presentation on the differences between family in the USA and Ecuador. It was really interesting because Anna is from Brasil, but has been studying in the US for the past 5 years and is now in Ecuador, a country and culture a little more similar to her own.
We discussed what is ¨family¨in each country and how that word means different things. She brought up how in the US sometimes families don´t really even KNOW the other members in their own family, which to me is horribly sad. The USA´s obsession with individualism and ¨personal space¨sometimes gets in the way of bringing families together. I know I´ve definitely been guilty of just wanting ¨kimbo time¨and so instead of hanging out with the family, I´ve gone off by myself. I´m not trying to say that this is always wrong, just that it´s very different for Latin American families.
She also brought up what the definition of ¨family¨actually is in each country. In the US, when someone asks you who your family is, you tell them about your mom, dad, and siblings. On the other hand in Ecuador your ¨familia¨here is the entire family. Everyone aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents= todos!
I´ve experienced this way of life while I´m here. A couple times I´ve come home from school to find my mom´s granddaughter and daughter at our house. Her other daughter and son-in-law live directly above us for crying out loud. And every day for lunch 2 of their granddaughters take their lunch breaks at their house.
So we talked about the pros and cons and I guess I´ve decided that I just want to thank my family for being who they are. I know that sometimes we´re everywhere and I do fall into the US category of liking my own ¨personal space¨, but I feel like Mom and Dad did a really good job of concentrating on closeness as well.
So mom and dad, I love you. family... I love you too!
We also talked about homosexuality in Ecuador, but this topic is too big to jump into right now.
Hasta luego
kimbo
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Come on... keep going...
I had my final vocab and grammar test today for my month long class. I think it was ok.
Tomorrow we were supposed to have our final essay due and then our presentation over our essay was due on Friday, but today she decided to tell us that BOTH are due tomorrow. Not so happy news, but something I have to live with.
So after 4 hours in the computer lab, I think I´m done with my first draft of the essay. It´s 5pm. I need to go home before it gets dark and then I´m not supposed to be on the buses. Tomorrow at this time all will be well. Actually, today at this time all is still well... I´m just spoiled and am not used to working hard.
The end.
ps. the jungle was indescribable. more news on this later.
Tomorrow we were supposed to have our final essay due and then our presentation over our essay was due on Friday, but today she decided to tell us that BOTH are due tomorrow. Not so happy news, but something I have to live with.
So after 4 hours in the computer lab, I think I´m done with my first draft of the essay. It´s 5pm. I need to go home before it gets dark and then I´m not supposed to be on the buses. Tomorrow at this time all will be well. Actually, today at this time all is still well... I´m just spoiled and am not used to working hard.
The end.
ps. the jungle was indescribable. more news on this later.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
For all you fellow Princesses...
Today I walked into the university´s bathroom and almost ran into Cinderella.
Several 8-12 year old girls were fixing their hair and gowns to get ready for a play in their class. I guess they´re going to act out the story of Cinderella (probably in English, since they are taking English classes now as a summer class). It was precious. They were all jittery and excited and worried about their ribbons and bows and I just wanted to hug every one of them.
Every girl needs to feel like a princess sometimes.
I´m off to the Amazon to be a...umm.. Tarzanian Princess??? That´s possible right?? :-)
Several 8-12 year old girls were fixing their hair and gowns to get ready for a play in their class. I guess they´re going to act out the story of Cinderella (probably in English, since they are taking English classes now as a summer class). It was precious. They were all jittery and excited and worried about their ribbons and bows and I just wanted to hug every one of them.
Every girl needs to feel like a princess sometimes.
I´m off to the Amazon to be a...umm.. Tarzanian Princess??? That´s possible right?? :-)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A Little Like Home
Although there are so many differences between Ecuador and my life in the states, sometimes the little similarities pop through.
Last week, I was jogging in the park and I saw a (what seemed to be Ecuadorian) guy running the opposite directions with an OSU hoody. Surprisingly, not football (I think it was basketball). Regardless, this was a small part of home that I cherished for those brief seconds in passing.
Sunday, I went to a new church that ended up being the same denomination (Christian Missionary Alliance) as the church I go to in Grantham. Actually, I´m pretty sure I found the home church of the spanish pastor at my church in Grantham. (He´s originally from Quito...small world)
Yesterday, while enjoying (ok, maybe I´m lying there) my hour bus ride home from school, thunder clouds rolled in. Now, I LOVE thunderstorms. love love. love! but I figured that nothing would happen since I´m in the mountains and whatnot. Well, as I got on my second bus, the rain started. And then it was pouring... and then it was hailing!! Actually visible hail, like the size of you pinky fingernail. It was GREAT!!
So I stayed on my bus, face plastered to the window the rest of the way home. and then I got off at my stop, but still had a 5-10 min. walk home. Every other Ecuadorian was hurrying in to find shelter under the store front covers or ducking inside a restaurant, but not me! I pulled up my OSU hoody, and stepped out into the sidewalk. There was water everywhere... since it doesn´t really storm that much the drainage systems aren´t used to a lot of water at once, so the puddles were huge, the rain drops mixed with hail were coming down hard, and very quickly I was very wet. I can´t explain what JOY this cold, wet, gray, walk gave me. I was like the only one on the street. People from the inside of the stores were watching me with dumbfounded looks on their faces. ¨Why is that gringa out in the rain, and why is she smiling¨. The truth was that as the rain and hail came smacking down all around me, so did my nerves, my discomfort, my frustrations in language comprehension, everything washed away, and I was left living a memory of the times when I had so much fun being completely soaked at Messiah.
When I got home, my mom and maids and daddy were of course surprised at my well.. wettness. And made sure that I changed into warm clothes PRONTO. But all was well in Kimbo´s world. For a brief 10 min. I was back with my friends at messiah and not caring about silly things like clothes, homework, schedules, or future... just being joyful jumping in the puddles.
And so, when I feel like I´m in another world here, God sends me a thunderstorm, and I am thankful.
Thanks for reading,
Kimbo
Another Thing: I´m going to jog (maybe run a bit) in a 10k here on the 31st of Aug. check it out if you wish:
www.nikeplus.com
Last week, I was jogging in the park and I saw a (what seemed to be Ecuadorian) guy running the opposite directions with an OSU hoody. Surprisingly, not football (I think it was basketball). Regardless, this was a small part of home that I cherished for those brief seconds in passing.
Sunday, I went to a new church that ended up being the same denomination (Christian Missionary Alliance) as the church I go to in Grantham. Actually, I´m pretty sure I found the home church of the spanish pastor at my church in Grantham. (He´s originally from Quito...small world)
Yesterday, while enjoying (ok, maybe I´m lying there) my hour bus ride home from school, thunder clouds rolled in. Now, I LOVE thunderstorms. love love. love! but I figured that nothing would happen since I´m in the mountains and whatnot. Well, as I got on my second bus, the rain started. And then it was pouring... and then it was hailing!! Actually visible hail, like the size of you pinky fingernail. It was GREAT!!
So I stayed on my bus, face plastered to the window the rest of the way home. and then I got off at my stop, but still had a 5-10 min. walk home. Every other Ecuadorian was hurrying in to find shelter under the store front covers or ducking inside a restaurant, but not me! I pulled up my OSU hoody, and stepped out into the sidewalk. There was water everywhere... since it doesn´t really storm that much the drainage systems aren´t used to a lot of water at once, so the puddles were huge, the rain drops mixed with hail were coming down hard, and very quickly I was very wet. I can´t explain what JOY this cold, wet, gray, walk gave me. I was like the only one on the street. People from the inside of the stores were watching me with dumbfounded looks on their faces. ¨Why is that gringa out in the rain, and why is she smiling¨. The truth was that as the rain and hail came smacking down all around me, so did my nerves, my discomfort, my frustrations in language comprehension, everything washed away, and I was left living a memory of the times when I had so much fun being completely soaked at Messiah.
When I got home, my mom and maids and daddy were of course surprised at my well.. wettness. And made sure that I changed into warm clothes PRONTO. But all was well in Kimbo´s world. For a brief 10 min. I was back with my friends at messiah and not caring about silly things like clothes, homework, schedules, or future... just being joyful jumping in the puddles.
And so, when I feel like I´m in another world here, God sends me a thunderstorm, and I am thankful.
Thanks for reading,
Kimbo
Another Thing: I´m going to jog (maybe run a bit) in a 10k here on the 31st of Aug. check it out if you wish:
www.nikeplus.com
Monday, August 11, 2008
Taco Salad
Through a misinterpretation of my poor spanish speaking skills, my mom thought that I wanted to cook supper for the family.
What I had tried to ask was to help Rosa cook the food and learn the Ecuadorian Way of spices, food, and whatnot, but what ended up happening was me agreeing to making a //American dish// called taco salad for my family katie´s family since we eat Sunday supper together. I had really been missing fresh vegetables, and taco salad seemed like a simple first attempt at cooking abroad, so I was excited.
My mom had almost everything I needed for this feast of feasts. All that was left to buy was the taco seasoning, doritos (my family crushes them up for our taco salad), and then perhaps some salsa and chips.
I entered SuperMaxi (Ecuador´s equivalent of a superWalmart) with high hopes, but after looking down the aisles, could not find a single taco seasoning packet. Discouraged, I tried to think what my Dad(USA), the spice king, would put into the meat. I actually even attempted to call home through skype to get his spice recipe, but alas... no one picked up. (I was later informed that they were at the lake enjoying themselves, yay!)
So I went back to SuperMaxi and found something called Salsa Jaliso that had a picture of tacos on the front. I asked an employee if it was good to make tacos and he said yes. So I grabbed it. I also found some salsa and figured that could work with the salad and the tortilla chips (which were limited but I did find some). Paying for expensive imported salsa was tough knowing my family back home will have jars and jars of homemade salsa very soon... BUT I did it and went back home ready to try my best.
Now one thing you must know, my Mom here--- she´s very in charge all the time. She helps Rosita and Aurora with all the meal preparations and she just likes to run the show. So when I entered the kitchen she of course wanted to know what to do and then Rosa helped and soon, all I was really doing was just saying what needed to be done. I cooked up the hamburger and tasted the //salsa jalisco//, but it was spicy... and I knew that my Mom did NOT like spicy food. So I had her try it and sure enough... she started yelping and made the cutest disgusted face ever. !!
I decided the best thing to do would just be to have the regular salsa and this other hot sauce thing out on the table and people could just put in what they wanted. Sounds good right??
Well, my mom couldn´t really comprehend that we were just going to have hamburger with a little onion cooked in set out on the table without some sort of sauce on it. So she starts whipping out all the //salsas// she has. First she brings me some Chinese soy sauce type stuff... then it was another Salsa americana= Teriyaki Sauce = no thanks... Then she whips out //salsa de tomate//= ketchup... and finally a different salsa de tomate = barbeque. So after trying my hardest to politely turn down each of her salsas and explain that it wouldn´t be mexicano o the flavors I was looking for she eventually was ok with this strange idea.
Next, we took all of the salad toppings (carrots, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, beans,crushed up doritos, and salsa) and put them in serving bowls/plates and set them on the table. Now you have to understand, in Ecuador, you don´t eat family style. Your plate comes to you with the food already on it.. there´s no serving or deciding at the table, so all this was new, and the table was absolutely FULL of colorful dishes. My mom was so impressed with //que atractivo// the table was.
I also decided last minute to make nachos, so I put those on two plates and got them ready for the microwave. It was so cute, my mom was so excited for everything that was going to happen. Rosa, God bless her, was just amused at my inability to cook and the fact that mom was letting me cause chaos in HER kitchen. And Aurorita, didn´t even show up to help until right before we sat down to eat.
So eventually my mom, dad, Katie, and her mom all sat down to this big table full of options. Dad was overwhelmed and didn´t know what to do, so of course mom served up his plate. Katie and I, comfortable with everything that was going on, were really happy to have lettuce and fresh veggies for the first time! At first, Dad didn´t know where his fork was so he was eating his entire salad with a spoon and knife. so funny.
In the end I found out that Mom and Dad both don´t really like fresh vegetables... what a bummer. They ate a lot of everything, minus their lettuce. It was hillarious. But everyone was pretty happy (at least they told me they were) I was happy and I got my taco salad, so all was well. I guess my first attempt at cooking for my family was a success, although there was such a fiasco for so simple a meal. This cross-cultural clash made me smile inside.
For my next cooking adventure... I want to challenge myself to make homemade pizza. I´m worried about the yeast and the change in altitude, but hopefully my family will be just as happy as they were this time. I also saw Karo syrup in Supermaxi, so this means I can make scotcheroos here too! YAY!
After supper, I was talking with Mom and Rosa and finally got my original request across about learning/helping cook with Rosa. I think we´re going to cook together this week. Oh, the adventures in Ecuador!
And with that, I end my (terribly long) story of the TACO SALAD!!
hasta luego,
What I had tried to ask was to help Rosa cook the food and learn the Ecuadorian Way of spices, food, and whatnot, but what ended up happening was me agreeing to making a //American dish// called taco salad for my family katie´s family since we eat Sunday supper together. I had really been missing fresh vegetables, and taco salad seemed like a simple first attempt at cooking abroad, so I was excited.
My mom had almost everything I needed for this feast of feasts. All that was left to buy was the taco seasoning, doritos (my family crushes them up for our taco salad), and then perhaps some salsa and chips.
I entered SuperMaxi (Ecuador´s equivalent of a superWalmart) with high hopes, but after looking down the aisles, could not find a single taco seasoning packet. Discouraged, I tried to think what my Dad(USA), the spice king, would put into the meat. I actually even attempted to call home through skype to get his spice recipe, but alas... no one picked up. (I was later informed that they were at the lake enjoying themselves, yay!)
So I went back to SuperMaxi and found something called Salsa Jaliso that had a picture of tacos on the front. I asked an employee if it was good to make tacos and he said yes. So I grabbed it. I also found some salsa and figured that could work with the salad and the tortilla chips (which were limited but I did find some). Paying for expensive imported salsa was tough knowing my family back home will have jars and jars of homemade salsa very soon... BUT I did it and went back home ready to try my best.
Now one thing you must know, my Mom here--- she´s very in charge all the time. She helps Rosita and Aurora with all the meal preparations and she just likes to run the show. So when I entered the kitchen she of course wanted to know what to do and then Rosa helped and soon, all I was really doing was just saying what needed to be done. I cooked up the hamburger and tasted the //salsa jalisco//, but it was spicy... and I knew that my Mom did NOT like spicy food. So I had her try it and sure enough... she started yelping and made the cutest disgusted face ever. !!
I decided the best thing to do would just be to have the regular salsa and this other hot sauce thing out on the table and people could just put in what they wanted. Sounds good right??
Well, my mom couldn´t really comprehend that we were just going to have hamburger with a little onion cooked in set out on the table without some sort of sauce on it. So she starts whipping out all the //salsas// she has. First she brings me some Chinese soy sauce type stuff... then it was another Salsa americana= Teriyaki Sauce = no thanks... Then she whips out //salsa de tomate//= ketchup... and finally a different salsa de tomate = barbeque. So after trying my hardest to politely turn down each of her salsas and explain that it wouldn´t be mexicano o the flavors I was looking for she eventually was ok with this strange idea.
Next, we took all of the salad toppings (carrots, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, beans,crushed up doritos, and salsa) and put them in serving bowls/plates and set them on the table. Now you have to understand, in Ecuador, you don´t eat family style. Your plate comes to you with the food already on it.. there´s no serving or deciding at the table, so all this was new, and the table was absolutely FULL of colorful dishes. My mom was so impressed with //que atractivo// the table was.
I also decided last minute to make nachos, so I put those on two plates and got them ready for the microwave. It was so cute, my mom was so excited for everything that was going to happen. Rosa, God bless her, was just amused at my inability to cook and the fact that mom was letting me cause chaos in HER kitchen. And Aurorita, didn´t even show up to help until right before we sat down to eat.
So eventually my mom, dad, Katie, and her mom all sat down to this big table full of options. Dad was overwhelmed and didn´t know what to do, so of course mom served up his plate. Katie and I, comfortable with everything that was going on, were really happy to have lettuce and fresh veggies for the first time! At first, Dad didn´t know where his fork was so he was eating his entire salad with a spoon and knife. so funny.
In the end I found out that Mom and Dad both don´t really like fresh vegetables... what a bummer. They ate a lot of everything, minus their lettuce. It was hillarious. But everyone was pretty happy (at least they told me they were) I was happy and I got my taco salad, so all was well. I guess my first attempt at cooking for my family was a success, although there was such a fiasco for so simple a meal. This cross-cultural clash made me smile inside.
For my next cooking adventure... I want to challenge myself to make homemade pizza. I´m worried about the yeast and the change in altitude, but hopefully my family will be just as happy as they were this time. I also saw Karo syrup in Supermaxi, so this means I can make scotcheroos here too! YAY!
After supper, I was talking with Mom and Rosa and finally got my original request across about learning/helping cook with Rosa. I think we´re going to cook together this week. Oh, the adventures in Ecuador!
And with that, I end my (terribly long) story of the TACO SALAD!!
hasta luego,
Friday, August 8, 2008
10 Things that Make me happy
1. I can get my email at school now. Sad that this is the first happy thing on my list, but still. So thankful.
2. I got my hair cut yesterday and have a very unique story to go with it. New experiences around every corner. Ask, if you care to know.
3. It´s the weekend and it´s Ecuador´s equivalence of Fourth of July.
4. I´m going to be in the Amazon Jungle a week from today
5. It´s beautiful outside
6. I get to go to a big park tomorrow and see large trees.
7. Ecuador´s most prized Olympic Athlete is there speedwalker : Jefferson Perez.. watch out for this guy, he´s gotten gold before (the only gold metal Ecuador has ever gotten)
8. My Ecua-daddy: He makes me laugh.
9. letters from Mom and Dad, and emails from brothers
10. My great grandma is singing songs with Jesus right now.
2. I got my hair cut yesterday and have a very unique story to go with it. New experiences around every corner. Ask, if you care to know.
3. It´s the weekend and it´s Ecuador´s equivalence of Fourth of July.
4. I´m going to be in the Amazon Jungle a week from today
5. It´s beautiful outside
6. I get to go to a big park tomorrow and see large trees.
7. Ecuador´s most prized Olympic Athlete is there speedwalker : Jefferson Perez.. watch out for this guy, he´s gotten gold before (the only gold metal Ecuador has ever gotten)
8. My Ecua-daddy: He makes me laugh.
9. letters from Mom and Dad, and emails from brothers
10. My great grandma is singing songs with Jesus right now.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sex, y las diferencias entre mujeres y hombres
***Warning... may include a Kimbo rant ***
I know I just wrote yesterday, but I've gotta say something about today's class speaker and then my following Spanish class' discussion: all revolving around sex.
Please don't be offended, I'm not trying to. It was just really interesting.
In Ecuador and S. America, there's just differences you can't ignore. This culture is so masculine with a MACHO dominance: the man is everything- the woman is nothing. Prostitution is legal and actually helped by the government. My heart hearts for these young girls/women who give themselves away completely. Where is love going to?
We discussed how Ecuadorian men see three types of women: 1. Good 2. Easy and 3. Prostitutes. Since I am from the States, their first preconceived judgment of me is that I belong in the 2nd group and the speaker gave us reasons as to why this is so:
She has done surveys between folks from Ecuador and the States asking them when it would be considered OK to have sex after starting to date some one: in other words... when is that person having sex with you not "easy" but "good" (referencing the three types of women)
The average time from those in Ecuador was 6 months! (I was surprised at this.. but then I heard the following)
Those from the states' average was ONE MONTH!!!! ???? are you kidding me?
Where have our values gone? How can we even attempt to complain and question why we "gringas" are viewed as easy when obviously our culture states that this can be so.
I don't consider myself a feminist, but I do think that there's got to be pride in yourself to want to keep something so high in value until it's the right time (which I propose is after your married).
And the women in the Ecuadorian culture just let themselves be content with growing up to be mothers. Our professor shared how her mom would always make sure she was helping with everything in order to learn how to be a housewife, while her brothers were allowed to chill around the house and the only request her mom had for them was to make sure they had plenty of "novias" (girlfriends).
It just comes down to shared respect. No, I don't think that God wanted women to rule the world, nor do I think he wanted men. I think he wants all of us to use our own abilities and gifts in the way he's given us. Within a relationship/marriage there's a shared respect. Yes, wives submit to their husbands, but there's probably times when the husbands do the same.
It was just a really great class and discussion and because of it, we did hardly anything in my Spanish class but discuss.
A good day.
I'm off to Salsa dance away my emotions.
chao,
I know I just wrote yesterday, but I've gotta say something about today's class speaker and then my following Spanish class' discussion: all revolving around sex.
Please don't be offended, I'm not trying to. It was just really interesting.
In Ecuador and S. America, there's just differences you can't ignore. This culture is so masculine with a MACHO dominance: the man is everything- the woman is nothing. Prostitution is legal and actually helped by the government. My heart hearts for these young girls/women who give themselves away completely. Where is love going to?
We discussed how Ecuadorian men see three types of women: 1. Good 2. Easy and 3. Prostitutes. Since I am from the States, their first preconceived judgment of me is that I belong in the 2nd group and the speaker gave us reasons as to why this is so:
She has done surveys between folks from Ecuador and the States asking them when it would be considered OK to have sex after starting to date some one: in other words... when is that person having sex with you not "easy" but "good" (referencing the three types of women)
The average time from those in Ecuador was 6 months! (I was surprised at this.. but then I heard the following)
Those from the states' average was ONE MONTH!!!! ???? are you kidding me?
Where have our values gone? How can we even attempt to complain and question why we "gringas" are viewed as easy when obviously our culture states that this can be so.
I don't consider myself a feminist, but I do think that there's got to be pride in yourself to want to keep something so high in value until it's the right time (which I propose is after your married).
And the women in the Ecuadorian culture just let themselves be content with growing up to be mothers. Our professor shared how her mom would always make sure she was helping with everything in order to learn how to be a housewife, while her brothers were allowed to chill around the house and the only request her mom had for them was to make sure they had plenty of "novias" (girlfriends).
It just comes down to shared respect. No, I don't think that God wanted women to rule the world, nor do I think he wanted men. I think he wants all of us to use our own abilities and gifts in the way he's given us. Within a relationship/marriage there's a shared respect. Yes, wives submit to their husbands, but there's probably times when the husbands do the same.
It was just a really great class and discussion and because of it, we did hardly anything in my Spanish class but discuss.
A good day.
I'm off to Salsa dance away my emotions.
chao,
Monday, August 4, 2008
At Peace
I went on a trip to Otavalo this weekend. It´s one of the biggest markets in the world. It was a bit overwhelming. So much of the same, yet different. Bargaining is fun, and I´m not scared to just walk away. I also bought a gift for myself. In Ecuador, there are these mini guitars, kind of like a euchalalie (sp?) but a little different. Anyway, i´m going to have fun learning how to play it while I´m here. yay!
My favorite part of the weekend was the chance to get out of the city and see more of the country. I missed my trees, but definitely got recharged when we walked through a mainly eucalyptus forest and then hiked/climbed up a waterfall. SO much fun! Then we took off our sock ans shoes, rolled up the pants and walked around in the rocks next to the waterfall. Of course, some of us decided that it was necessary to actually completely drench ourselves and go under the waterfall. It was a great experience. Today in class our indigenous guest speaker spoke of how at different parts of the year, the people go and bath in the cascades to cleanse their entire body, soul, mind. I think that my ¨waterfall dunk¨cleansed me more than I knew. I felt more at peace and ready for what lay ahead.
We got back last night around 7:30 and after eating supper with my family and Katie´s family, I decided to go to the internet cafe. I got to talk to my parents and it was last night that I found out my Great Grandma Bessie had died early Sat. morning in her sleep. This is the same great grandma I had just visited in July, the same wonderful, humble, beautiful woman of God that was blessed with 102 years of life, as she had just celebrated her 102nd on July 27th. I will not be able, for obvious reasons, to attend the funeral, but I am completely at peace. I thank God that I was able to visit her so soon to her death and will always remember her as my hero.
And so for now, at peace with where I´m at, I´ll sign off.
My favorite part of the weekend was the chance to get out of the city and see more of the country. I missed my trees, but definitely got recharged when we walked through a mainly eucalyptus forest and then hiked/climbed up a waterfall. SO much fun! Then we took off our sock ans shoes, rolled up the pants and walked around in the rocks next to the waterfall. Of course, some of us decided that it was necessary to actually completely drench ourselves and go under the waterfall. It was a great experience. Today in class our indigenous guest speaker spoke of how at different parts of the year, the people go and bath in the cascades to cleanse their entire body, soul, mind. I think that my ¨waterfall dunk¨cleansed me more than I knew. I felt more at peace and ready for what lay ahead.
We got back last night around 7:30 and after eating supper with my family and Katie´s family, I decided to go to the internet cafe. I got to talk to my parents and it was last night that I found out my Great Grandma Bessie had died early Sat. morning in her sleep. This is the same great grandma I had just visited in July, the same wonderful, humble, beautiful woman of God that was blessed with 102 years of life, as she had just celebrated her 102nd on July 27th. I will not be able, for obvious reasons, to attend the funeral, but I am completely at peace. I thank God that I was able to visit her so soon to her death and will always remember her as my hero.
And so for now, at peace with where I´m at, I´ll sign off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)