Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Fourth National Flower Festival

So maybe it was a contest, or a show, or something, but I'm really growing fond of alliteration. And...it seemed more like a festival to me because it was way more than just flowers. I mean, there were:

Beautiful, prize winning flowers...




fruits and vegetables...

plants and trees....

pots for sale...

picnics...

ice cream...

monkeys in the trees....

I mean..people having fun

roasted corn...

coconuts(who knew there are so many kinds!)....

vegetable men...

rocks and a temple...



things to buy...


friends...

sleeping babies...

gossip....

fountains...

families...

police...

bikes...
the REALLY HUGE tree!...

and movie stars...wait, that's just me, and my roomie, and one of the many people who followed us around throughout the day trying to take our picture/be in a picture with us/generally, just stalk us.

And then, as we were leaving.....my roomie fell into the swamps of despair. Well, ok, it was a mud puddle...but it ate her shoe and she had to dig it out. Gross. and Hilarious.

Burqa Babes


So apparently my headcovering was slipping off. I'm obviously not very experienced at wearing this yet. Good thing I was just at home. And...I did say babes, plural. I'm just not posting a picture of the other babe. If you know my roomie and want to ask her, then you can see the other.

Goodbyes

Goodbyes are hard to say. Several friends just finished their terms and have landed on American soil. Some more goodbyes will come later. Hopefully these recent goodbyes were only see you laters....I think goodbyes have been the hardest thing for me these past 2 years.

Jurassic Park

A couple weeks back I went to my friends' house around the corner. It was a Saturday afternoon, and everyone was wanting to get out of the house. Auntie suggested we go to JP Park, and then she said, "Jurassic Park." and laughed. Little did I know what the park was like! :)


One of about 19 million photo stops. I was kinda getting frustrated because Ananya, the little girl, was tired of getting her photo taken and would just scream while everyone tried to make her look at the camera and pose for a picture. I really wanted just to play with her on the playground :( I'm really glad that Ananya moved here from the capital in April. She's only a couple weeks older than my neice, Briahna, that I left in America. I love teaching her new things and playing with her. Sometimes I just get annoyed at the way she is disciplined (or not)....and I hate that she doesn't wear diapers and isn't potty trained.....these things all equal BAD news!

Statues in the park... of people

of monkeys

another ananya photo


the girls

Hero

tigers....

fellow park goers

lions...

babies....or are they pygmy warriors? Some of them were naked.

bullocks

:)

hard worker....

again with all his animals...



more hard workers

another bull

women workers...
happy people that never leave or stop smiling

happy helmet fun

weddings, waterfalls, and a wonderful visit :)

After Thailand, I worked on another project and some reports and such. Then I went to the capital to sweat. Actually I went there to collect some books and info., but I believe that I sweated more than anything. For those of you who live in the capital, or in similar heat, I understand your suffering and I pray for you! NEXT.......I took a 16 hour bus ride one way (if you're wondering why...go back to the title of this post, or keep reading/looking at the photos!--yes, I took some photos, but a few are stolen from a friend)
The one and only...teal suit...haha, just kidding, kind of. The one and only, Laura Beth!! I was so excited for Laura Beth to come! Word on the street is that we'll be residing together soon.

Joyce, oh Joyce. This was an unknown overnight guest. She stayed with Laura Beth and I the night before the weddings. My Hindi was taken to new levels this night...I've never listened, answered so many questions, and translated this much!

The wedding guests, over 1000! Craziness!

The groomsmen...hey..Laura Beth, is someone missing? I'm thinking that I don't have the whole wedding party.

The bridesmaids

The ring bearers and flower girls

Bride and Groom #1....yes, there is a #2.....I did say weddings

Bride and Groom #2

The cake....I think only the top part is real!

Cutting the cake!

some wedding guests :)

hairs all made to look and smell beautiful

what a happy day!

Women's side....this was so fun....really one of my favorite things!

The men's side

The monsoon started the day before.....the water was amazing!

Main Falls

More

I can't get enough!

Again.

The waterfall crew

Again.

Baby Hannah, one of about 60 orphans.....all so sweet....what a wonderful visit!

and then, July ended just like it started.

Where did the time go?

Somehow, my last post was May 31st (unless you count the 3 liner I wrote last night). I don't really know how 2 1/2 months passed by and thinking about it is kind of crazy. Sheley and I finished up some projects in June, and parted ways on June 25th. :( She went to Indonesia, and is loving her time there (visit her site to keep up with what she's doing :) www.frmglory2glory.blogspot.com ) As Sheley went to Indonesia, I went to Thailand for about 2 weeks for some meetings/training, to renew the visa, and for some fellowship/worship time with some really awesome people. Amidst all of the fun and great food (namely Miguel's for Mexican and Burger King for Burger King burgers) I forgot to even take my camera out of my room. Yep, it sat on the bench next to the tv the entire 2 weeks.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Patience

Patience (and warning)....

2 1/2 months worth of non-blogging to be made up for in the very near future.

Coming to a computer near you...

Saturday, May 31, 2008

it's raining cats and dogs!

For a while now I've been working on the same project...there's not much to update you on, except that it's really great to have Shels here helping me and having fun with me!

In other news, in January I started counting down the days (59-63 to be exact) when the female street dog (Lady) was going to have her puppies. The day I left for vacation, she still hadn't had them yet, but I knew it was going to be any day. When I returned, the puppies should've been about 2 weeks old, but I couldn't find them anywhere. I looked and looked for about 2 weeks. One day, I was picking up my laundry from the man who irons my clothes (it's really great...you give him the clothes and pick them up at the end of the day nice and crisp and pay about $1.00). While I was waiting for the last piece, a young guy (I think he's the driver for someone on my street.....he's really nice....and always says hi) started talking to me. Lady came walking up and I started to pet her. The young guy excitedly said, "6 small babies!" I immediately replied, "WHERE!!! Show me!!" He showed me where they were, but I couldn't see them because it was the heat of the day and they were asleep. The next day, I saw them!!! So cute. The young guy came over while I was looking at them and said, "5 members!" It was really funny.

About a week later, someone took the puppies ....and Lady away. I was so sad! Especially about Lady.....she was my replacement for Rebekah (my black lab that I left at home that ran away last summer) Anyways, she came back a few days ago. I think someone got her fixed, but she looks so pitiful!

Moving on....
Today, Shels and I went out in the evening to purchase a birthday gift and then to someone's house for dinner. However, when we got out of our auto to get the gift, the skies opened up and dumped a lot of water on us! We had to walk the rest of the way in a torrential down pour! Here's some pictures from the adventure!





All this rain makes me think of a song...
"When I think about rain, I think about singing. When I think about singing, It's a heavenly tune. When I think about heaven, then I think about angels. When I think about angels, I think about you."

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Where to go?

So, I have a little less than 6 months left in this far away land. People want to know what's next in my life. My answer is, "I have no idea." I'm not sure where I'll live, or what I'll do. Only Father knows as of this moment. This morning, I read my cousin's blog, where she posted about Find Your Spot. From this website, you take a quiz, and based upon your answers, you are given the top 24 places that best fit you. Mine are:
1.Greenville, South Carolina. The Rising Star of the South. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts presents theater and concerts in this South Carolina city's rejuvenated downtown.
Interesting. I lived here when I went to university. I'll definitely visit, but I'm not too sure about living here.
2.Tulsa, Oklahoma. A Blend of the Best. This technologically important Oklahoma city hosts a low-tech Blue Grass and Chili Festival each year.
I do like blue grass. And, I eat chilies almost every day in some dish. Actually, I just realized that they may be talking about the dish called chili. Either way.
3.Clarksville, Tennessee. The New South. This Tennessee city calls itself the "Gateway to the New South."
The "New South"...what's that supposed to mean?
4.Chattanooga, Tennessee. City of Vision. The beautiful former depot of this town's famous Choo-Choo is now a unique vacation complex.
I don't think I want to live near a vacation complex.
5.Hickory, North Carolina. Blue Ridge Mountain Home. This area in North Carolina is known as the nation's furniture manufacturing capital.
I do like the mountains, but is there really mountains in Hickory? And, who cares about furniture?
6.Asheville, North Carolina. Land of the Sky. This Blue Ridge town's annual "Shindig on the Green" is an evening of informal, impromptu bluegrass jam sessions.
This city is VERY near to my home and my family, but I will NEVER live here.
7.Johnson City-Kingsport, Tennessee. Two Natural Wonders. This Tennessee city's lively annual Springfest includes a JazzNite, golf tournaments, a chili cookoff and a beach party.
None of these things are things I care about.
8.Knoxville, Tennessee. Gateway to the Smoky Mountains. In the shadow of the Great Smoky and Cumberland Mountains, this spot served as Tennessee's capital from 1796 to 1812.
I could do the Smoky Mountains.
9.Jackson, Mississippi. Old Capital of the South. This historic Mississippi city is the home of the largest planetarium in the Southeast.
Someone just told me to never live in Mississippi. It is fun to spell though.
10.Athens, Georgia. The Classic City. The world's only double-barreled cannon rests in this Georgia town; it was "a spectacular failure" in tests in 1864.
I've thought about Georgia.
11. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Big Apple of the South. This important city on Alabama's Black Warrior river is home to Stillman College and the University of Alabama.
Alabama, sure!
12.Gainesville, Georgia. Gateway to the Appalachians. Resting on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier, the state's largest man-made lake, this spot hosted 1996 Olympic competitions for kayaking and rowing.
Again, I have thought about Georgia, and a lake at the gateway to the Appalachians is very tempting.
13.Charlotte, North Carolina. The Queen City. Home to First Union and Bank of America, this spot is renowned as a financial center.
I don't really care to live in Charlotte, but I could get a season pass to Carowinds!
14.Paris, Tennessee. A Hidden Lakeshore Treasure. This Tennessee town hosts the World's Biggest Fish Fry each April.
This sounds inviting! Angie, isn't this where you're from? I do like to eat fish!
15.Raleigh, North Carolina. City of Oaks. This technologically savvy state capital is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the country.
This could be an option. But are there really oaks in this city?
16.Maryville, Tennessee. Heart of the Smoky Mountains. Located only 20 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this spot boasts some of the region's best fishing and water sports.
I'm not really an expert fisherwoman, but maybe if I lived here I could be! Also, in the mountains!
17. Bryan-College Station, Texas. The Heart of Texas. Home to a major university, this spot claims to have the friendliest residents in the world.
I don't mind visiting Texas, but I'm not too sure I'd want to live there.
18. Little Rock, Arkansas. Where America Comes Together. All Maybelline products distributed in the U.S. are made in this fashion-conscious spot.
I'm definitely not fashion-conscious. In fact, some of you in the America might want to nominate me for What Not To Wear! Plus, I think I'd just be singing that Reba McEntire song all the time if I lived here.
19.Durham, North Carolina. City of Medicine. Ladies' Home Journal recently named this North Carolina city its #1 Healthy Town for Women.
I am a woman...and healthy is good.
20.Chapel Hill, North Carolina. First in Education. This North Carolina town is the home of the nation's first state university.
hmm...who cares?
21. Oxford, Mississippi. Heart of Ole Miss. This college spot has been home to literary legend William Faulkner as well as contemporary novelist John Grisham.
I do like John Grisham, but again, someone told me never to live in Mississippi.
22. Hot Springs-Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. America’s Natural Spa. The world's largest documentary film festival is held in this Arkansas vacation spot each October.
Probably not.
23.Fayetteville, Arkansas. Light of the Ozarks. Near the University of Arkansas campus, this town's Dickson Street is filled with lively bistros, night clubs and galleries.
Night clubs and galleries...just where I've always dreamed of spending my life! Not!
24.Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Friendliest Place in Kentucky. This Kentucky spot's annual Dogwood Festival features the trees' beautiful blooms, plus band concerts, quilt shows and a baking contest.
I like friendly. And, I'd like to learn to quilt. I'm saving some pieces of fabric. Maybe I can be a taste-tester at the baking contest!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

What?

Generally, it's really loud here. Interactions of humans with other humans comes in at least 7 different languages in this city. Car horns, cars that play music when they are in reverse, dogs, firecrackers, jamming music, politicians on loud speakers, loud ceiling fans, kids, etc. You can't listen to everything. Otherwise, you would go crazy. But to what do you listen? I have found my self more often than not saying, "What? I wasn't listening to you, can you repeat what you said?" I also think that I'm losing my hearing. Many times this week I've caught myself saying, "What? I didn't hear you. Can you say that again?" Now, even today (actually it could have happened yesterday), my speakers on my computer aren't working. At first I thought it was me...either my hearing, or my listening. Nope. Broken. Dead. I don't know if I'll be able to talk on Skype anymore. It's a good thing the warranty on this computer is for 3 years. Do you think the computer store will just give me a new computer?