Thinking Pensive Thoughts

So many thoughts... so little time. I can't even get them organized in my head, so good luck trying to make sense of what I type here.

I've got the trave bug a bit right now. Let's see, I've been to Canada, all over Australia, Chile, and many of the 50 states (this pic is from the car window in Maui). But I'm itching to go to Greece, Spain, and the rest of the Mediterranean. So there's that...

Then I start thinking about all the friends and family I'd love to go visit all around the States and across the world. Ash is in Korea; Al and Shep are in Australia; Mel and Brian are in Texas--about to move to Germany; Jenn and Garrett are in DC; Katy is in Virginia; all sorts of people are in Chile; then there's everyone in Portland; the list goes on... Today was a pretty good day at school and volleyball practice, but most days I'd rather be anywhere else than Tacoma. I better start saving up again. No more shoes=More trips to see people.

Then, speaking of friends... I cherish them. I need more hours in a day to spend with family and friends. Mom and Dad came over yesterday after church and lunch (both of which, all seven of us got to spend together; that always makes me happy) to help me put together my futon. I love a Sunday spent with family. Dad and I were 8 washers short though in putting it together, so after they left I had to go to Home Depot and buy more--along with a socket wrench set. So I got into the car and got all worked up: I hate going to hardware stores by myself. My inner feminist arouses from her slumber every time I walk into one. "No, old man, I do not need your help; and please don't call me darling. I can find whatever I'm looking for on my own." Then the realist in my fights back because she knows it could take 45 minutes to find it by myself. So instead I say, "Yes, sir. Thank you kindly for your help," and walk out of there in under 10 minutes. Ugh.

That gets me to thinking about all the little pieces of my character and personality. Some of them conflict, while others work pretty well together. I'm sure the feminist part of me was pissed that I accepted help from three different people with a sweet smile, whilst playing dumb. But the realist was glad to be out of there quickly and on my way home to finish the futon. On the other hand, the competitive piece of me (which is quite aggressive and likes to take over when uninvited) doesn't get along so well with the part of me that likes to be a team player when others take the lead.


Changing the subject completely... I was kinda missing my hair today. I'd like to be able to get it into a ponytail for practice. Speaking of... Olivia and I played with our girls tonight and it was fun. My knee is still killing me; I can't all-out run yet. So that sucks, but it was fun to play none-the-less. I knocked my knee a couple of times going after a ball... feels good. :)

Must be time to grow it out again! A few of my students tell me about once a week that they wish I still had long hair. I think they're trying to compliment me/tell me how pretty my hair is long... but it comes out the wrong way--like, "Wow, your hair looks weird short. You should grow it out again." Thanks a lot, jerks. :) They do that often. I feel like I'm teaching a class on manners and tact more than English, reading, and writing. Oh well. I'm not really there to make sure they know a lot about Shakespeare anyway. I'm just trying to make them better people one day, one lesson, one thought at a time. It's not really working... yet. Oh, freshman.

Ok, bedtime. I get to proctor the HSPE tomorrow... yipee!!!!

Maybe I should get back into this blogging thing...

It's a (relatively) beautiful Sunday afternoon in Tacoma, and I'm sitting here on my couch wishing like mad that I could be back in Lautaro... that I could be sitting on the dock behind the church looking at this picturesque lagoon and broken down, but precious boat.

I'm so thankful for having had the opportunity to travel down there and get to know the Chileans and help in whatever I could to improve the church building.

These last few weeks have been an interesting transition back to "real life" here in the States. I have a hard time adjusting back to this culture in which each of us seem to only care about our own needs and desires. I'm uncomfortable in a society in which the needs of others are not placed before our own. (Then again, I'm often influenced by this schema and struggle to follow my own convictions when it comes to helping others before helping myself.) I feel as though I need to make a lifestyle change--but I don't know where to start.

I need to get my finances in order so I can financially help those who need it. There are missionaries who need the support of people like me (who tend to spend their money on new shoes rather than compassion and ministry) to do the work of the Lord. So I guess that's step one: no more new shoes, more money to help serve.

*Note: In dealing with the aftermath of the shattering earthquake in Chile, the church and ministry with whom I was so blessed to work is in need of donations to put teams together to go into places that have yet to receive aid. They're bringing food and water to families that have not had food/water/electricity/etc for these last weeks after the quake. They could use our help. Follow this link to learn more and donate: http://www.iamweb.org/ If you can't donate, please at least pray for the people who are in need as well as the teams that are giving their time to help.

This is the church building that we worked on during our time in Lautaro. Part of it collapsed during the quake, but everyone is safe, thank God. The church members have rallied together to piece back together the section of brick wall that crumbled as well as the pieces of siding that flew off the building.

My favorite parts of the trip always had something to do with people-either from the mission team or the Chilenos. I knew my Boys & Girls Club job skills would come in handy at some point later in life :) I taught the little girls how to play "slide." I haven't giggled that hard in a long time. In doing this, I realized that there are so many things that don't need translation. The laughter of a child gets to my heart in any language.

Anyway, the trip was well worth depleting my savings account. I had an incredible time and can't really put into words the feeling that I'm left with after having experienced the people and culture of Chile. I miss it.

news to me

I've recently decided that I don't want to leave Portland.

taking a momentary break from Australia...

I feel ashamed that I just realized today is 9/11.  How does someone just forget such a thing?  Ouch.

It's only day two and I could die happy right now

August 13, 2007

Woo-wee. What a day! I met A.Al in the lobby at 8am and we headed back over to Circular Quay to the Rocks to take pictures with Cedric... Then we went to breakfast at the same restaurant as yesterday out on the back patio. I had this feta tomato basil turkish bread thing that was to die for and a chai latte. delish. So after we eat she asks me where I think we're headed or what we're doing. I said I figured we'd either be walking across the bridge or going up the OZ tower thing. So then she says we're not just walking across the bridge but climbing over it!!! I was giddy like a little kid on Christmas morning when their grandpa rolls out a new cherry red Schwinn Bike with bells and a basket. It was a silly sight, I'm sure--me sitting there on the patio clapping my hands unable to stop grinning! We had a little over an hour before our appointment so we walked around and went to a couple cute shops in the rocks. We got to the Bridge Climb place and sat in the little waiting area for about ten minutes.
There were quite a few people waiting and one lady was asleep on her significant other's shoulder--apparently not as excited as I was to climb the bridge. so they call out our appt time and about ten of us file into a room where we fill out a form and take a breathalyzer test. You can't be over 0.05 to walk the bridge. So I wonder how many times they had drunk people climb before they brought in the breathalyzers. So while we're putting on our incredibly fashionable grey and blue jumpsuits, we go around and introduce ourselves. There are four from England--a cute little blond family: the mom and her two teenage sons looked like a surfer family. Then an older woman from South Africa with her son and his wife. A lady from Germany I think and a couple that joined late. So we have to put all our stuff in lockers. No cameras, loose jewelry or basically anything is allowed to go up with you. Bummer. Ok, so then we walk through the metal detector--as they're apparently quite serious about this no camera thing--and meet our climb guide. Oh Lord. He's quite gorgeous (though it may just be the accent--it does me in every time).
How am I supposed to climb all those stairs when my knees go weak? He's tall, strawberry blond, handsome, fit, and has that damn accent. I'm done for. My very own Heath Ledger. Couldn't ask for more. So he takes us through the rest of the prep and practice, gets us our gear and takes us off. So I'm the last one in line and as we're all in line helping the person in front of us attach all their gear, he comes and does mine. Anyway, we get a headset so we can hear him give instructions and give the commentary as we go. We head out and the first bit is under the bridge on these pretty narrow catwalk things with a mesh, see through floor. It's pretty frightening and fantastic at the same time. Then we have to climb these ladders to get up on top of the bridge. I was a little out of breath and the top ha ha. It's pretty freakin’ high up. Our guide tells us that sixteen men lost their lives out of the 1600 (or something close to 1600) who built the bridge. Only one of the 16 fell from the top. wow. Once we get to the top part of the bridge, it is stairs all the way to the summit. We stop once for individual photo ops in front of the Opera House. Then again at the top for group photos. Then he tells us we'll have three more photo spots. So A.Al is like, "you should have him get in the picture with you, Meg. We can send it home to your mom." Oh dear. As much as I want to, there's no way. So we reach the top and stand there for probably fifteen minutes just enjoying the view. It's seriously spectacular.
A boat goes under the bridge towing a little dingy just after we all do our "we've reached the top" celebratory cheer. Our guide says something about the dingy in the back, and A.Al turns to me and asks, "what'd you do?" I said, "nothing..." She thought he was calling me a dingy :( Anyway, after we cross to the other side of the bridge we have another photo op with the city in the background and A.Al says, "hey, get in the photo with us!!" He's like, "Oh... am I allowed?" then jumps in. Then she says to him that we're going to send a copy home to my mom. groan... I was only slightly mortified and wanted to jump over the edge right then and there. Now I'm terribly embarrassed but at the same time glad he took the photo with us. So we finish out the descent and get back to take all our gear off. But before we do, we all get back in line and give a shoulder rub to the person in front of us... and as I'm the last person, he comes and rubs mine. ha ha. We're clearly meant to be together ;) Then we have to fill out a survey about the experience and A.Al puts down her phone number and writes, "Meghan's Aunt" next to it. Oh Lord. She shows me quickly before I can protest too much and puts it in the bin. A large part of me was thoroughly embarrassed, but a small bit thought, eh... it doesn't matter. We then went and bought a couple of the photos and a sticker that says BRIDGE CLIMB 2007! I CLIMBED IT! Then went to an Irish pub down the road for a celebratory beer.
Afterward, we took the subway over to Sydney tower to see if we wanted to climb it. On the train there was this incredibly creepy old man in all black and leather with like a do-rag and cowboy hat on. He was wearing reflective shades so we couldn't tell what he was looking at, but he was in the corner facing us the whole time and it totally gave us the heebie jeebies. Anyway, we get to Sydney Tower and decide we don't have the time or energy left. So we go back to the motel for a little rest before we go to Bondi Junction for dinner and Harry Potter! We take the subway again and only get a little confused. By now it actually feels like winter. Its 17C (17x2=34+30=64-1=63F), but the wind chill makes it feel like 45F. We get there and find a Mexican Restaurant... U.Shep explains to me that Mexican food here is very rare and expensive. So we open the menu and an enchilada goes for $19. Yikes. My chimichanga was $23. It was nuts and rather than refried beans and rice it was like mashed kumquat squash and rice. (P.S. they call all squashes pumpkin here.) It was actually really delicious though. So after dinner we walk up the street to the mall that has the cinema and we go into Borders to pass the time. It's nuts. First of all, Father's Day is coming up here in Australia so there are all these "Great gifts for dad" booths. And secondly, paperbacks cost anywhere from $25-$30. Another thing or two... you not only drive on the left but you walk on the lift. With light switches, up is off and down is on. Weird. There are usually two options when flushing a toilet too; one uses less water and is for #1 and the other is a regular flush for #2. Brilliant! Oh and the up escalator is on the left. That throws me off every time. Anyway, we're off to see Harry Potter and they bought these GoldStar tickets for this separate theater that has huge, plush recliners (that recline electrically and lay nearly flat). You order real food like ice cream sundaes (A.Al and I both had one--fantastic). Then they bring it out to you when the movie starts. It's absolutely fabulous. I never want to go back to a regular theater. The chars almost rivaled climbing the Bridge in magnificence. It was great! So then they hand me another poem on the way home and it reads,
"Fuzzy and soft are some so you'll say,
Some wet and scaly,
Others slither away.
By this day's end you'll shout 'Crikey! Get out of my way!'"
Be ready by 830am, comfy shoes."
Hooray! Another surprise!!!!

Finally! I'm in friggin' Australia!

August 12, 2007

    It's Sunday here but really my Saturday. It's about 5pm here which means that it's midnight at home. A.Al and U.Shep keep telling me that I'm going to crash but i don't feel it yet. We'll see. Anyway, to pick up where I left off, yesterday when I got on the plane in Portland, I ended up sitting right next to the cute boy with whom I'd locked eyes in the waiting area. woohoo! But... then we didn't talk. ha ha.
Sad, but it was funny... what's it they say? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? hmmm... it's something like that. Well, I cracked my back and two seconds later, he did. I looked out the window, he copied. It was humorous. After awhile I'd look around for no reason just to see if he'd copy. And he would. So just when I got up the courage to start a conversation (mind you, this is like an hour into the flight) I saw he had on a wedding ring. Can't believe he'd managed to hide it for so long. Damn. Scratch that. So I never started the convo. Then as we were getting off teh plane he kept kind of looking back to check if I was still following. It was cute. But I had to stop and ask for directions so he lost me. Oh well.
      So I find out that United is in Terminal 3. So I have to leave security to get to the other terminals. But things don't seem like they're marked that well. So I, of course, get lost. I find myself in the parking garage on the verge of tears and mumbling expletives under my breath. I turn around, say a prayer and make it to Terminal 3--though it takes me about ten minutes to walk there. It's HUGE! So I find the United desk and the man is very friendly, but his expression while looking up my info on the computer told me something was wrong... again. He says he can't check me in but takes me over to another agent. So my heart starts racing, almost panicking when she says, "okay, all we've got to do is check your e-visa. Yep. You're good to go." Thank God! She gave me directions to the International Terminal and I was on my way.
          I got through security no big deal, though some poor woman with her babe in arms was put through the puffer. Her other child--about 3yo started screaming when it made the loud puffs... likely frightened for his mother's life. It's very traumatic, that machine. I find my way to the gate and still have about 15 minutes until I'll be boarding, so I go to get a sandwich (as I haven't eaten since around 2pm and it's now 10pm). But... I hear my name paged before I even have a chance to pay. So I put my food back and rush to the gate. They check my passport and tell me to take a seat--starving. I pop a dramamine and a "no-jet-lag" pill and wait patiently.
Finally it's my turn to board. So I get on the HUGE 747 and file all the way to the back. Row 57! Good luck! Then some girl asks me to switch so she can sit with her friend. Bummer. Row 56... not good luck. But good karma, maybe? Not sure about that cause the baby behind me kept kicking my seat this morning. Not cool. Anyway, the flight wasn't bad. They served a meal about an hour in. No vegetarian dishes--so I ate chicken I was that hungry. I don't really even regret it. It almost even tasted good.
           Then they announce some lame Sci-Fi movie will be playing first then it'll be Premonition and Shrek 3 then some others I didn't recognize. I was excited for Premonition and Shrek 3. But halfway through the lame one I passed out. Missed both the good movies--figures. Oh well, at least I got some sleep. It was so interesting though, the number of languages and accents surrounding me. I felt so alone yet so excited. So we arrive at the Sydney airport about 14 hours after takeoff. Oh, but another cool thing is that every once in a while they'd show you the progress of the plane up on the big screen. How many miles we'd gone... where in relation to Cali, hawaii, or Australia the plane was. It was pretty neat.
         Anyway, I got off the plane, peed, and got in line for customs. They took my almonds and threw them out. sad. but it was a quick process thank God. I came around the corner and A.Al and U.Shep were right there, easy to spot. She was holding an iced soy caramel macchiato. It was a beautiful sight. What's funny is when I took a first sip I could tell that they don't use silk soy milk. I think I drink too much starbucks. We got a taxi (driving on teh wrong side of teh road--weird). They took me to their hotel--gah! motel... hotel means pub here. I took a quick shower, we checked out and called a station wagon cab to take us down twon to the WorldMark. It's a good thing we got a station wagon; the back was full to he brim with luggage! We dropped off all the bags in my studio room on the 12th floor, rode the"lift" up. You have to put your key in this slot by the door to turn on the electricity in your room. It's pretty cool--energy efficient. We decided to go to the Rocks for breakfast. We walked a couple blocks and they had to explain that even when you're walking, you go on teh left. It's hard to get used to. Even the escalators are backwards.
           We took the underground train--or subway (another thing to check off my "things-to-do-before-I-die" list/"Firsts" list) to Circular Quay (pronounced Key) where we ate breakfast. I had french toast with rhubarb apple sauce stuff. It was delicious. We all got a cup of coffee too. Apparently every cup of coffee is made singly. It was the best cup of coffee I've had in my life--no joke! After breakfast, we walked around the Rocks market--like the Saturday Market in Portland or Pike Place, but in Australia... so it's cooler. ha ha. I bought this beautiful necklace. Hooray, my first souvenir. Then we walked over and took pictures of teh Opera House from across Circular Quay. I kept saying I can't believe I'm seeing this in person. It's real! We then walked around the Quay to the Opera House. It's so magnificent! What a lame word. It's hard to describe... no words I can come up with do it justice. I had to walk up and touch it before I believed it. That sounds so silly but this is all so surreeal. The whole thing is tiled. It looks like a bathroom floor from close up. It's beautiful.
        U.Shep wasn't feeling well so he went back to the motel. So A.Al and I crossed another first off my list and got some gelato. MMMM delish. Then we went and bought two tickets to Captain Cook's Cruise around Sydney Harbour. captain Cook "discovered" the harbor but passed it something like three times thinking it was nothing. We got off at Watson's bay and ate at a famous seafood restaurant called Doyle's. I ordered fish and chips for $40. Our total bill was $102. NUTS!!! I guess it's a once in a lifetime thing, eh? When we were done with lunch we took a little hike up a cement path to see the entrance from teh Pacific to Sydney Harbor. The water was the most electrifying teal. I can't believe it's winer here! It was about 21C which is (21x2=42+30=72-2=70) 70F. HOT! It's as hot as summer in Portland! We caught the next ferry with four tipsy 40something women (who were contagiously giggling the whole time) to Darling Harbour--a cute touristy/shopping area. There were ibis--like the egyptian heiroglyph--walking and flying around everywhere! they're like pigeons begging for bread. They're amazing creatures, though. Nothing like what we have here!!! We have such boring birds in comparison! Though I'm sure they think the same. We came upon theserows of huge photographs called Earth from Above. They were amazing, powerful, and moving. There was one called the tree of life. I think I'm going to go back and at least buy the postcard. There was one of the Twin Towers pre 9/11 and one of Indonesia post Tsunami. Breathtaking. After we looked at a couple of those, we found this aboriginal artwork store (one of many). I bought some postcards and a sweet bag with aboriginal art on it that I'll likely use for school.
          We stopped at a buzzing starbucks to rest before going back to the motel. After waiting a good ten minutes for my coffee, i sad down. It felt fantastic to relieve my legs for a few minutes. Moments after sitting, I looked up to see a chickadee on the chair across from me. I didn't get my camera out in time, but It was only a few moments before he was back with a pigeon friend. It was refreshing and brought a smile to my face. On our walk back, we turned a corner and there was the huge tower thing--the Sydney version of teh Space needle, only bigger. It was framed perfectly by teh buildings only blocks away. It's one of my favorite things to turn a corner and have your breath taken by something outstanding. It was so cool. A little further and A.Al spotted an intricate gothic church squeezed between two modern-ish buildings. Had to get a picture of that... I'm obsessed with old churches. I love steeples. Ahh... We got back and took about an hour and a half rest. I knew if I fell asleep I wouldn't wake up till tomorrow, so I just journaled.
         We walked to dinner at this quaint hole-in-the-wall place full of Spanish delicacies. we ate eggplant, artichoke hearts, calamari, potatoes, and they had prawns and octopus. I was going to taste the octopus but U.Shep said it wasn't as good as it could be so he wouldn't let me try it. If I was going to have my first octopus, it had to be GOOD. then they took me a half block to a little mini-mart were we got Magnums. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. They're just little ice cream bars and I don't know if they're really any better than an American ice cream bar or a Dairy Queen Dillybar, but it doesn't matter... they're Australian, and they're good. Then, lastly, on the way back, A.Al handed me a tiny little envelope that I thought was for my room key, but it was a little poem that said:
"It's not in the fridge,
nor up on a ridge,
from where you'll be standing,
I'll look like a midge!
Be ready at 8am Good walking shoes!"
      I'm excited! VERY CLEVER! I love little games like this! HOORAY! How thoughtful of them to do this! YIPEE!!!