some of you may know how hard this year has been, and one area of which has been the stretching experience of renting a room from an elderly lady. from the teeth sitting around the house, to the dirty bathroom and kitchen, to the mystery meat stinking up the house, to the yelling (because she's deaf, not angry)...yes, it has been an experience. and now it is soon to be over.
but today i was reminded that we see not as He sees. today as yesterday, doña teresa insisted on my sharing lunch with her (which was fried fishies--spines, heads, fins and all--and rice dishes) and today as the conversation wove its way through doctrinal thoughts and family issues it happened upon extraterrestrial life (bear with me here) and as she affirmed that there must be life in "otro mundo" i said, "pues, cuando usted llegue al cielo, pueda preguntar a Dios" to which she replied that she wasn't going to the cielo, to the infierno maybe but not the cielo because she wasn't a perfect person.
at this point i had the opportunity to share that it is by faith, not buenas obras that we are saved and if we believe in Jesucristo's death and resurrection, His blood for us, we can indeed go to the cielo. well, a bit later she said if that were so then yes, she was going. in humility i almost cried. here a catholic raised to fear Dios and yet confident that the same Dios in whom she believed would calmly send her to the infierno has come--i trust--to know that grace has triumphed over judgment. and Dios used me, in spite of my frustrations and failings to share this hope.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. --Tolkien
28 May 2008
19 May 2008
going to the beach...in Spain
growing up i went to the beach a lot...but it meant something different in oregon. in oregon the beach is a place to walk, maybe swim if it's really hot, but not really the sunbathing capital of the world. we enjoyed nice bonfires and beautiful sunsets.
here, in spain, it's a whole different story. this weekend i experienced "el cabo de gata" in almería province, where the beaches are the draw (since the landscape is semi-arid, looking a whole lot like eastern oregon but without any trees). and the people that frequent the beaches have a rare form of terrets syndrome which makes them take off all their clothes at the sight of blue water and unforgiving sunrays. yeah, it was not a family-friendly experience. i enjoyed seeing the area but i could definitely have lived happily without the extensive nudity. and i definitely miss the green of oregon. i did get to walk on the very same beach that harrison ford and sean connery used in _the last crusade_ when he said "let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds of the air"...monsul, beautiful (would be better without the nudes).
here, in spain, it's a whole different story. this weekend i experienced "el cabo de gata" in almería province, where the beaches are the draw (since the landscape is semi-arid, looking a whole lot like eastern oregon but without any trees). and the people that frequent the beaches have a rare form of terrets syndrome which makes them take off all their clothes at the sight of blue water and unforgiving sunrays. yeah, it was not a family-friendly experience. i enjoyed seeing the area but i could definitely have lived happily without the extensive nudity. and i definitely miss the green of oregon. i did get to walk on the very same beach that harrison ford and sean connery used in _the last crusade_ when he said "let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds of the air"...monsul, beautiful (would be better without the nudes).
06 May 2008
what i have to work with...
i think i've mentioned the complete laziness of many of the students here in spain. so today i give you exhibit a, an example of what i'm talking about. M is a student in my 3ºeso class, the 3rd year of secondary school which normally hits about 14-15 years of age, the second-to-the-last required year. M is 18 and still in 3ºeso and refuses to study, being what we call a bench-warmer i suppose. his parents insist that he attends. he doesn't even try to participate and when questioned about his interests he dislikes movies and tv and music, and only lives to drive his moto illegally (he still doesn't have a permit--even though after 14 he can get a moto permit and after 18 a regular driving permit). he doesn't ever plan on working, saying that his parents will support him and after they're gone he'll get the house and the government will support him (which is true). sigh. so you can imagine the only english ability he has after so many years is purely by accident. sigh.
22 April 2008
pushing in for the home stretch...
life never gets easier, have you noticed? working through a bunch of stuff, struggling to enjoy my last weeks here in vélez, looking forward to traveling with my dad. life keeps moving, always stretching us to the limit.
two songs from the david crowder band are encouraging me this week. note these lyrics:
You're everythingI could want / That I could need / If I could see / You want me / Could I believe? / 'Cause You're perfectly / All I want, all I need / If I could just feel / Your touch / Could I be free? / Why do You shine so? / Can a blind man see? / Why do You call? / Why do You beckon me? / Can the deaf hear the voice of love? / Would You have me come? / Can the cripple run? / Are You the one?
What can I do with my obsession / With the things I cannot see / Is there madness in my being / Is it the wind that moves the trees? / Sometimes You're further than the moon / Sometimes You're closer than my skin / And You surround me like a winter fog / You've come and burned me with a kiss
Chorus And my heart burns for You / And my heart burns...for You
And I'm so filthy with my sin / I carry pride like a disease / You know I'm stubborn, Lord, and I'm longing to be close / You burn me deeper than I know / And I feel lonely without hope / And I feel desperate / Without vision / You wrap around me like a winter coat / You come and free me like bird
if you're reading, say a prayer for your friends far away...they need it.
two songs from the david crowder band are encouraging me this week. note these lyrics:
You're everythingI could want / That I could need / If I could see / You want me / Could I believe? / 'Cause You're perfectly / All I want, all I need / If I could just feel / Your touch / Could I be free? / Why do You shine so? / Can a blind man see? / Why do You call? / Why do You beckon me? / Can the deaf hear the voice of love? / Would You have me come? / Can the cripple run? / Are You the one?
What can I do with my obsession / With the things I cannot see / Is there madness in my being / Is it the wind that moves the trees? / Sometimes You're further than the moon / Sometimes You're closer than my skin / And You surround me like a winter fog / You've come and burned me with a kiss
Chorus And my heart burns for You / And my heart burns...for You
And I'm so filthy with my sin / I carry pride like a disease / You know I'm stubborn, Lord, and I'm longing to be close / You burn me deeper than I know / And I feel lonely without hope / And I feel desperate / Without vision / You wrap around me like a winter coat / You come and free me like bird
if you're reading, say a prayer for your friends far away...they need it.
01 April 2008
no foolin'
had to put that because it's april fool's...even though they don't celebrate here!
had a good vacation with my cousin and since i have discovered that a few of you still occasionally read this, i thought i would update how it all went. plus, i am excited that only 9 weeks remain of teaching! yipee! and then i'm off to new adventures (yeah, same old same old with me...lol).
anyway, highlights:
Tangier, Morocco--just a 2-hour ferry ride from europe and it's a major culture change. beggars, bartering, etc. found out i was pretty good at bartering in spanish--better than my mexican-american friend who went! enjoyed the sweet mint tea and the picturesque coastal village (assilah) they take the tourists to, as well as the crowded market and the many scarves, costumes, and scents. didn't enjoy not being able to drink the water (since i drink a lot of water) and the extra attention from the guys (my cousin even got a marriage proposal!).
Cadiz--historic town on an isthmus (say the name like you have a lisp at the end and you sound like a native). my cousin and i got drenched first by a rainstorm and later by the tumultuous sea as we ran to see a castle. but the neat winding streets were very picturesque.
Gibraltar--highlight climbing up to the top of the rock, seeing the views and imagining what it would have been like to explore the caves during WW2...bummed they didn't give me free access to explore now. ripped off by the exhorbitant exchange rate if you go to a restaurant and try to pay in euros--worse than anything ever tried in morocco ironically. sigh. monkeys are entertaining--think they were winning 10 to 2 against the stupid tourists when we left.
Frigilliana--maybe i've already mentioned this pueblo, but i took my cousin there since it is my favorite (and my fourth time there). beautiful warm white cobbled streets, lovely vino dulce and views of the rolling greenish hills and the sea in the distance...if only i could afford a cottage...
Torremolinos--spent an evening here annoyed by the insane number of tourists, including the idiotic drunk (at 8pm on a monday) british tourists who claimed to love the american accent (yeah, and i have a tower of london to sell you...).
Granada--ah, the crumbling remains of the moorish empire, also known as the Alhambra. the place you must see, or so they say. the buildings were ok--except we had to share it with some 3200 other tourists. but the gardens were by far the best. the sultaness had quite the prison in Generalife, with beautiful wisteria and lovely redwoods among trickling fountains and cool shrubbery. the albayzin was also interesting, with it's climbing walkways and breathtaking views of the alhambra with the sierra nevadas peaking out of the haze in the distance. had a nice hike on the last day above the alhambra by myself, finding secret ruins surrounded by a fence conveniently downed by a tree in one section. of course i explored it, what else would i do?
now i'm getting back to the grind, trying not to count the days and trying to figure out what to do friday to celebrate by myself...maybe a nice walk on the beach since i'm under a budget crunch!
hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are!
had a good vacation with my cousin and since i have discovered that a few of you still occasionally read this, i thought i would update how it all went. plus, i am excited that only 9 weeks remain of teaching! yipee! and then i'm off to new adventures (yeah, same old same old with me...lol).
anyway, highlights:
Tangier, Morocco--just a 2-hour ferry ride from europe and it's a major culture change. beggars, bartering, etc. found out i was pretty good at bartering in spanish--better than my mexican-american friend who went! enjoyed the sweet mint tea and the picturesque coastal village (assilah) they take the tourists to, as well as the crowded market and the many scarves, costumes, and scents. didn't enjoy not being able to drink the water (since i drink a lot of water) and the extra attention from the guys (my cousin even got a marriage proposal!).
Cadiz--historic town on an isthmus (say the name like you have a lisp at the end and you sound like a native). my cousin and i got drenched first by a rainstorm and later by the tumultuous sea as we ran to see a castle. but the neat winding streets were very picturesque.
Gibraltar--highlight climbing up to the top of the rock, seeing the views and imagining what it would have been like to explore the caves during WW2...bummed they didn't give me free access to explore now. ripped off by the exhorbitant exchange rate if you go to a restaurant and try to pay in euros--worse than anything ever tried in morocco ironically. sigh. monkeys are entertaining--think they were winning 10 to 2 against the stupid tourists when we left.
Frigilliana--maybe i've already mentioned this pueblo, but i took my cousin there since it is my favorite (and my fourth time there). beautiful warm white cobbled streets, lovely vino dulce and views of the rolling greenish hills and the sea in the distance...if only i could afford a cottage...
Torremolinos--spent an evening here annoyed by the insane number of tourists, including the idiotic drunk (at 8pm on a monday) british tourists who claimed to love the american accent (yeah, and i have a tower of london to sell you...).
Granada--ah, the crumbling remains of the moorish empire, also known as the Alhambra. the place you must see, or so they say. the buildings were ok--except we had to share it with some 3200 other tourists. but the gardens were by far the best. the sultaness had quite the prison in Generalife, with beautiful wisteria and lovely redwoods among trickling fountains and cool shrubbery. the albayzin was also interesting, with it's climbing walkways and breathtaking views of the alhambra with the sierra nevadas peaking out of the haze in the distance. had a nice hike on the last day above the alhambra by myself, finding secret ruins surrounded by a fence conveniently downed by a tree in one section. of course i explored it, what else would i do?
now i'm getting back to the grind, trying not to count the days and trying to figure out what to do friday to celebrate by myself...maybe a nice walk on the beach since i'm under a budget crunch!
hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are!
11 March 2008
getting ready for vacation
next week is semana santa, holy week for those spanish illiterate. my cousin comes to visit and we are going to see the sights and the sites. since my cousin is a planner, i have worked hard to get ready, only to find today that the one major feature (in Granada) the Alhambra was almost sold out! fortunately, i got the last 2 tickets available during the entire time we will be there. otherwise, we would have had to stand in a long line and maybe not get in.
teaching is hard when vacation is around the corner. the students don't want to learn, and somehow they know you really don't want to teach either. i end up giving up often and just letting them chat. otherwise, it's like pulling teeth to get them to participate.
having a lot of time on my hands this week so here i am blogging. in some ways i can't wait to be done here and go...well, i don't know where...but back to the states. but what will i miss? i try to focus on that so that i don't focus on what i won't miss (which is more readily available to my mind). i will miss the sun (even though it burns). i will miss the way i can walk almost anywhere easily in my town...and it is common! i will miss the abundance of fruit, and the markets where i buy it. the fresh avocados, the mangos, the chirimoyo...oh, and the smell of fresh bread as well as the taste. i might even miss the besos...at least, it's nice knowing how you great someone instead of an awkward "do i shake his hand or...". i will miss a bit of the pace of life (although right now i am a bit bored)...sitting in a cafe in the sunlight sipping a nice cafe con leche...having a tinto de verano while chatting away...never being bothered about the check until you say la cuenta por favor. and of course, how the sun makes memories of the white-washed houses with the blue-speckled tiles glistening in the lazy heat. the cries of "hola guapa" and the piropos...it's nice to be looked at sometimes.
life in spain. it's a lazy adventure.
teaching is hard when vacation is around the corner. the students don't want to learn, and somehow they know you really don't want to teach either. i end up giving up often and just letting them chat. otherwise, it's like pulling teeth to get them to participate.
having a lot of time on my hands this week so here i am blogging. in some ways i can't wait to be done here and go...well, i don't know where...but back to the states. but what will i miss? i try to focus on that so that i don't focus on what i won't miss (which is more readily available to my mind). i will miss the sun (even though it burns). i will miss the way i can walk almost anywhere easily in my town...and it is common! i will miss the abundance of fruit, and the markets where i buy it. the fresh avocados, the mangos, the chirimoyo...oh, and the smell of fresh bread as well as the taste. i might even miss the besos...at least, it's nice knowing how you great someone instead of an awkward "do i shake his hand or...". i will miss a bit of the pace of life (although right now i am a bit bored)...sitting in a cafe in the sunlight sipping a nice cafe con leche...having a tinto de verano while chatting away...never being bothered about the check until you say la cuenta por favor. and of course, how the sun makes memories of the white-washed houses with the blue-speckled tiles glistening in the lazy heat. the cries of "hola guapa" and the piropos...it's nice to be looked at sometimes.
life in spain. it's a lazy adventure.
04 March 2008
spring in Cordoba...
less than 48 hours spent in the warm sun and cool shady streets of an ancient tranquil city. winding streets with tempting open doorways to gated patios resplendent with lush green plants and softly trickling fountains. enjoying the cherry blossoms, reminiscent of spring in the pacific northwest. savoring the cool, slightly muskily-scented vastness of the Mezquita, the mixing of two religions. nice to get out of town...
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