at the moment, i am preparing to move overseas. for the second time. and it takes a lot of work and preparation! it means paring down what i own .. trying to look realistically at what i have, what i actually use, what i need, and what i can give away to people who will actually use it. and, as always .. i have 'rediscovered' that books are heavy! especially if you have a lot of them. with two colleagues who left the country before me, i had quite the little library. well over half of those books have now been given away. probably more like two thirds. and mostly, i have been glad to share!
but the books that i wanted to keep .. how to get them across the ocean? last week i went to send a small package of books in a shoebox, and was told that it would be rather expensive. when i asked if there was another way to send books, the worker at the post office said that there was another option. if the package is under 2 kilograms, they can do the slower, more inexpensive version. so i bought a couple of large padded envelopes, filled them with books, and began. in the last 10 days, i have been to the post office 4 times, each time sending between 2 and 4 packages. in the process, i have become a familiar face to all of the workers in the office (it's not a big office .. 7 people work there, i believe), and have been able to tell them why i came to romania and that it is a beautiful country with good people. sometimes romanians need to hear this .. to be encouraged!
all told.. i sent just over 48 lbs of books for just under $95. basically .. two dollars a pound. which is a fantastic price! and it certainly makes packing easier .. hopefully it is now possible for my suitcases to be underweight and not overweight! now, comes the waiting .. hoping that all the packages do actually arrive. this makes me smile .. hopefully it makes you smile too!
Showing posts with label simple pleasures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label simple pleasures. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, July 08, 2011
in season!
a few days ago i went to the farmer's market, which is about a ten-minute walk from my house. and i was so excited to see all the fresh produce available .. so many colors! mounds of fruit and vegetables giving off heady odors of summer. after wandering through to see what was available and what the various prices were, i stopped at a stand to get tomatoes and cucumbers. they are in season! which means that i got 1 kilo of each (2.2 lbs each) for just over $1. sweet!!
that night i thought i would have one friend over for dinner, but it turned out to be two friends, so we ate fresh cucumber and tomato salad with grilled cheese sandwiches. so tasty! and a gift to be able to share with friends, and have a nice conversation around the table. i become more and more convinced that the food can be quite simple .. but it is the relationships and people sitting around the table that matter! sometimes i like to make things a bit more complicated or that take a bit more time .. but mostly the conversation and being able to simply be present with those in my home is what i enjoy. and sometimes .. simple foods, like two fresh vegetables chopped and eaten together, is perfect!
that night i thought i would have one friend over for dinner, but it turned out to be two friends, so we ate fresh cucumber and tomato salad with grilled cheese sandwiches. so tasty! and a gift to be able to share with friends, and have a nice conversation around the table. i become more and more convinced that the food can be quite simple .. but it is the relationships and people sitting around the table that matter! sometimes i like to make things a bit more complicated or that take a bit more time .. but mostly the conversation and being able to simply be present with those in my home is what i enjoy. and sometimes .. simple foods, like two fresh vegetables chopped and eaten together, is perfect!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
the end of the birds
a month ago i wrote about the birds who had made their nest just outside my window. at few weeks ago, the 'baby bird' which had grown quickly into a regular-sized bird, began moving his wings a bit. one afternoon, i was making coffee with a friend and we watched him hop up to the top of the metal window box, flex his wings a few times, and then fly away. and he hasn't been back since!
but i have been grateful to see the nest there each day. a nice reminder. and sometimes other birds come to investigate, so i get to enjoy their curious chirping as they wander around and look in the window. sometimes they even try the nest on for size, hoping into the middle of it and turning around and then settling down for a few seconds. one of my favorite moments was when one small bird had been hanging out while i was fixing lunch. i looked over, and i saw that he was scratching his ear! this is a movement i've often seen among dogs. and once, i saw a cow scratch her ear with her hind leg. but seeing a young bird reach up with his foot and scratch his ear put a big grin on my face. there truly are so many things in which we can take delight .. if only we pay attention!
but i have been grateful to see the nest there each day. a nice reminder. and sometimes other birds come to investigate, so i get to enjoy their curious chirping as they wander around and look in the window. sometimes they even try the nest on for size, hoping into the middle of it and turning around and then settling down for a few seconds. one of my favorite moments was when one small bird had been hanging out while i was fixing lunch. i looked over, and i saw that he was scratching his ear! this is a movement i've often seen among dogs. and once, i saw a cow scratch her ear with her hind leg. but seeing a young bird reach up with his foot and scratch his ear put a big grin on my face. there truly are so many things in which we can take delight .. if only we pay attention!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
feeding time..
this morning, while i was fixing breakfast and waiting for my french press coffee to be ready, i had a few minutes to look out the window. and my timing was a gift! i saw one pigeon fly up, and greet the one sitting on the nest. then the fresh one came close and they did a quick switcheroo. the one who had been sitting on the nest flew off to eat something tasty, and the other proceeded to share a bit of food with the young pigeon sitting underneath him! it didn't last very long, but i got to see what baby pigeons look like .. with fluff that is yellow and black, and a hungry beak! not sure how long this stage of life lasts for them, but i'm still amazed that they set up house just outside my window!
Monday, April 19, 2010
good bacteria!
one thing i have been doing regularly, for at least four or five months now, is making yogurt. it's actually a very simple process .. heat milk until it almost boils, let it cool down a bit, add 2 big spoons of yogurt, then wrap it up in towels and wait. the bacteria does the work. six hours later (or so) i unwrap it and put it directly in the fridge. the next morning .. yummy yogurt!
i like this process for a few reasons. one of them is that it tastes very good! another is that i know what is in the yogurt. and it's a bit cheaper. (not much, but still..) but i also value the picture! feels like a good image of what happens so often in our spiritual lives. God puts is in the right atmosphere (i would say .. some challenges, but not so many that we break) .. and then keeps us there while He builds up our character. or while He sands away sinful habits. or while He deepens our roots. or while He hollows out more space inside us so that His Spirit can fill us even more. whatever He may be doing .. it is His work! and we are changed, not through our own efforts .. but through His grace! so. yogurt is good to eat. and it reminds me that we have a God who is always, always working!
i like this process for a few reasons. one of them is that it tastes very good! another is that i know what is in the yogurt. and it's a bit cheaper. (not much, but still..) but i also value the picture! feels like a good image of what happens so often in our spiritual lives. God puts is in the right atmosphere (i would say .. some challenges, but not so many that we break) .. and then keeps us there while He builds up our character. or while He sands away sinful habits. or while He deepens our roots. or while He hollows out more space inside us so that His Spirit can fill us even more. whatever He may be doing .. it is His work! and we are changed, not through our own efforts .. but through His grace! so. yogurt is good to eat. and it reminds me that we have a God who is always, always working!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
it's marvelous to be warm!
HURRAH!!
the weather here has been cold for more than a week. but typically, there is a wait of at least four days to see that the weather will stay cold, so that money isn't needlessly spent on heating. but it has stayed cold. temps in the 40s and 30s most days. making for lots of tea drinking, layering, and warm blankets. i arrived home this evening, heard a strange sound .. and when i felt one of the pipes in the hallway .. it was finally warm!!
we have heat!!
Thanks, God!
Friday, October 09, 2009
a good morning
this morning i curled up in my comfy armchair with three wonderful things..
1 -- a bowl filled with homemade granola, homemade yogurt, and a kiwi
2 -- a mug of strong black coffee, ground yesterday, made in a french press
3 -- the Word of God, which my Friend always uses to speak truth to me!
what better way to start the day?
1 -- a bowl filled with homemade granola, homemade yogurt, and a kiwi
2 -- a mug of strong black coffee, ground yesterday, made in a french press
3 -- the Word of God, which my Friend always uses to speak truth to me!
what better way to start the day?
Sunday, May 31, 2009
a good evening
tonight was pretty wonderful. i got to be at church tonight. that's a good start. we have church in the evening instead of the mornings, and because i'm part of the worship team, that means that most sundays i'm at church from around 4.30 to 8.30 or 9. getting to be with, to worship with, to enjoy my Family. pretty marvelous.
for the last sunday each month this year, one of the people in our church shares part of their story. however they desire to do so. the pastor doesn't preach, and someone talks about who God is in their lives. this month our theme has been worship, so in addition to one of the guys sharing, 3 of us made some art. and we talked about it - how we had created it, what we see it in, that sort of thing. and we sang 3 good songs tonight. (the last one is a new song, and the last section of said song feels very jazzy. not necessarily the rhythm or speed, but the style. in that there is a very simply theme that gets repeated, motifed, transformed, played with, improvised around. and .. it's different every time we play it. sweet!)
after church is over, people stick around and talk, eat cookies, drink pop. tonight we pulled out the ping pong table and played doubles so that more people could play (including people who don't have lots of practice .. just playing because it's fun!). and 4 of us improvised a 'basketball court' so that we could play. hadn't done that in a while .. it was 2 guys vs. 2 girls, with both of the guys being around 6' and neither of the girls. but the other girl plays well, so it was somewhat evenly matched.
and to add to enjoyment of the evening, i got to play with the pastor's two older kids. the oldest is a boy who is about 7, and the middle child is a girl about 4. i got to pick her up, to spin her around, to swing her, to make her laugh, to imitate her movements, and to have her grab my hand and pull me to see a few things.
life is a gift. thanks, Abba!
for the last sunday each month this year, one of the people in our church shares part of their story. however they desire to do so. the pastor doesn't preach, and someone talks about who God is in their lives. this month our theme has been worship, so in addition to one of the guys sharing, 3 of us made some art. and we talked about it - how we had created it, what we see it in, that sort of thing. and we sang 3 good songs tonight. (the last one is a new song, and the last section of said song feels very jazzy. not necessarily the rhythm or speed, but the style. in that there is a very simply theme that gets repeated, motifed, transformed, played with, improvised around. and .. it's different every time we play it. sweet!)
after church is over, people stick around and talk, eat cookies, drink pop. tonight we pulled out the ping pong table and played doubles so that more people could play (including people who don't have lots of practice .. just playing because it's fun!). and 4 of us improvised a 'basketball court' so that we could play. hadn't done that in a while .. it was 2 guys vs. 2 girls, with both of the guys being around 6' and neither of the girls. but the other girl plays well, so it was somewhat evenly matched.
and to add to enjoyment of the evening, i got to play with the pastor's two older kids. the oldest is a boy who is about 7, and the middle child is a girl about 4. i got to pick her up, to spin her around, to swing her, to make her laugh, to imitate her movements, and to have her grab my hand and pull me to see a few things.
life is a gift. thanks, Abba!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
"i'd like to thank..."
'i'm winning, i'm winning!' (recognize the quote? anyone?)
i (and another woman who was given this award by amy) "write thought-provoking posts that challenge me to reassess my own understanding of my world, my faith, and my relationships. Thank you, ladies. You inspire me."
that's enough to make anybody smile!
and not i'm supposed to give it to someone else, i think. there are a number of blogs that i follow .. but one i've been enjoying recently is sarah she's a friend who happens to be living in india at the moment. so there are some interesting cultural insights and comments, as well as thoughts that i identify with easily because i'm also living in another culture.
i (and another woman who was given this award by amy) "write thought-provoking posts that challenge me to reassess my own understanding of my world, my faith, and my relationships. Thank you, ladies. You inspire me."
that's enough to make anybody smile!
and not i'm supposed to give it to someone else, i think. there are a number of blogs that i follow .. but one i've been enjoying recently is sarah she's a friend who happens to be living in india at the moment. so there are some interesting cultural insights and comments, as well as thoughts that i identify with easily because i'm also living in another culture.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
an awaited visitor!
today the sun appeared.
he's been on vacation for a week and half
at least.
so i haven't felt sun on my face
since i arrived in romania.
but today i did.
ah, such sweetness!
a gift.. not to be taken lightly
a few hours without socks
or a sweater.
grateful for warmth
thanks, Papa.
he's been on vacation for a week and half
at least.
so i haven't felt sun on my face
since i arrived in romania.
but today i did.
ah, such sweetness!
a gift.. not to be taken lightly
a few hours without socks
or a sweater.
grateful for warmth
thanks, Papa.
Friday, July 11, 2008
reasons i'm grateful today
i have no plans until 6pm tonight! (in contrast with most of the days in recent past and days to come in the near future)
there is a beach and beautiful lake just a short four blocks away
the number of amazing people who i've been able to meet with in the past week, be encouraged by, share stories (and often food!) with, reconnect with
the fact that i don't have to commute everyday to work (because my typical 'commute' includes a 5-10 minute walk :)
having friends who lent me a vehicle for a week .. no questions asked, no worried phone calls .. just keys and 'see you in a week'
experiencing chicago traffic (plus construction plus rush-hour) .. and being oh so grateful that when i go somewhere and expect it to take an hour, it usually does .. not the three hours that such a 'one-hour' drive took yesterday
my God really does provide all that i need.
stories stories stories!
that the friends i'm staying with let me do their dishes. (really. it took a bit of convincing .. but somehow i relate being able to do dishes with whether or not i'm a 'guest' or can really feel at home.)
having friends who let me hug them and who hug me back
a new journal with pages and pages of white waiting to be filled and written on and drawn on in any and every direction in a variety of colors (and perhaps a couple of languages?!)
a breakfast of yogurt and granola and blueberries and two mugs of coffee
did i say friends yet? :)
there is a beach and beautiful lake just a short four blocks away
the number of amazing people who i've been able to meet with in the past week, be encouraged by, share stories (and often food!) with, reconnect with
the fact that i don't have to commute everyday to work (because my typical 'commute' includes a 5-10 minute walk :)
having friends who lent me a vehicle for a week .. no questions asked, no worried phone calls .. just keys and 'see you in a week'
experiencing chicago traffic (plus construction plus rush-hour) .. and being oh so grateful that when i go somewhere and expect it to take an hour, it usually does .. not the three hours that such a 'one-hour' drive took yesterday
my God really does provide all that i need.
stories stories stories!
that the friends i'm staying with let me do their dishes. (really. it took a bit of convincing .. but somehow i relate being able to do dishes with whether or not i'm a 'guest' or can really feel at home.)
having friends who let me hug them and who hug me back
a new journal with pages and pages of white waiting to be filled and written on and drawn on in any and every direction in a variety of colors (and perhaps a couple of languages?!)
a breakfast of yogurt and granola and blueberries and two mugs of coffee
did i say friends yet? :)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
yesterday was a good day
things i enjoyed yesterday:
waking up before my alarm went off
drinking good coffee while still in my comfy pajamas
getting a surprise call from a friend in the States
a brisk walk to and from the grocery store
finding zucchini at the grocery store
reading a good chunk of a book
making a new dish, and it actually turning out alright
having the team over for dinner together
eating something both healthy and tasty
sharing fresh cookies with the team
praying together .. listening to God together
warm tea on a chilly night
a surprise call from my family
wearing a bright green new-ish shirt
waking up before my alarm went off
drinking good coffee while still in my comfy pajamas
getting a surprise call from a friend in the States
a brisk walk to and from the grocery store
finding zucchini at the grocery store
reading a good chunk of a book
making a new dish, and it actually turning out alright
having the team over for dinner together
eating something both healthy and tasty
sharing fresh cookies with the team
praying together .. listening to God together
warm tea on a chilly night
a surprise call from my family
wearing a bright green new-ish shirt
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
oh Asia, how loved by your true self company is
In honor of my last night in Cambodia, I thought I'd write a brief post about what I find most amusing here: memorable use of the English language on signs and merchandise. Up the road from us there's a sign for the "organization to help the miserable corpses." None of our friends know exactly what they do, but it sounds quite compassionate. We shared a good chuckle in a stationary store today, taking in the array of notebooks and journals. I picked up a few...
Trendy journal #1 says (A little like 2 Peter 1:5-7 but without the divine inspiration):
"If the change in heart, with
your attitude change;
Attitudes change, and you
change with the habit;
Habits change, and you
change with the character;
Personality changes your
life with change; In good
times Thanksgiving, in the
face of adversity still feel joy,
seriously live in the present."
The second journal has bubbly anime-like characters on the cover.
"Hello!
How beautiful
you are
my beloved,
how beautiful!
Your eyes are
soft like doves
My fair one,
and come away
I'm in love
with you
We can have fun in this woods!"
Song of Solomon, anyone?
(aside by abi .. if shelly's current life plans don't work out, there is always the option of writing ads and inspirational poems such as these. also .. there's always karaoke...)
Easily amused as always and forever, fill your souls soul with good thots and dreams,
Shelly
(Another thing we love here: bubble tea... mmm...)
Trendy journal #1 says (A little like 2 Peter 1:5-7 but without the divine inspiration):
"If the change in heart, with
your attitude change;
Attitudes change, and you
change with the habit;
Habits change, and you
change with the character;
Personality changes your
life with change; In good
times Thanksgiving, in the
face of adversity still feel joy,
seriously live in the present."
The second journal has bubbly anime-like characters on the cover.
"Hello!
How beautiful
you are
my beloved,
how beautiful!
Your eyes are
soft like doves
My fair one,
and come away
I'm in love
with you
We can have fun in this woods!"
Song of Solomon, anyone?
(aside by abi .. if shelly's current life plans don't work out, there is always the option of writing ads and inspirational poems such as these. also .. there's always karaoke...)
Easily amused as always and forever, fill your souls soul with good thots and dreams,
Shelly
(Another thing we love here: bubble tea... mmm...)
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
photos and more
for two days we stayed in a very poor part of the city. it's on the edge of a lake and most (if not all?) of the houses are built over the lake. this lake looks somewhat swamp-like in places because there are lots of plants in it, as well as a wide variety of garbage. most of the people seem to use it for their dump. which isn't horrible .. except that during the rainy season, the water level rises so much that to get to their houses people must walk through the water .. and with all the garbage and small living things mixed in, that isn't a very healthy thing for them or their feet. they have a word for it, in fact, translating to "water eats feet". being in our friend's house, the floor was built directly over the water. it was a bit surreal to walk around and see water moving beneath us. but we didn't fall through!
This is a view from the porch at our friend's house. He has a nice porch, maybe 12 feet by 6 feet? Both nights we stayed in his neighborhood, we ate dinner with our host family (who are also his landlords and live next door to him) on the porch, with thin pillows to sit on, bamboo mats under us, and yummy cambodian food. It has been rather warm during the days, but in the morning and evening, it is marvelous! With a gentle breeze off the lake and the sun setting it's just about perfect. In this neighborhood poverty is very present, so there are a number of things that are harder to look at and to see. But there are also beautiful things -- colorful sunsets, children with welcoming smiles, people who really care about their neighbors, hardworking and resourceful women, chubby men shamelessly bathing in the streets (wearing a skirt, of course!).
one wonderful thing about cambodia .. the food! last night we were treated to a meal with a family of eight that live and work here. the mother does a wonderful job of taking care of her six kids, including cooking healthy food for them. we got to help cut up vegetables, including carrots, cucumber, tomato, onion, green onion, mushroom, garlic and eggplant. there was also meat, of course! the final product was just the right way to end our day together. some common things in cambodian food are rice, garlic, fish sauce, and wide variety of vegetables. with the warm weather they have fresh produce all year round (i think) .. which is reflected in their stir fry and "amok" (yes. that is one of the kind of dishes they serve here. seriously.) and loc lak. mmm... everything so far is tasty. the best new fruit that we've eaten is called "dragon fruit". it is a kind of purple pink color, on the inside it's white with lots of seeds, with the same consistency as a kiwi and a similar flavor, although not quite as strong. very very good!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
a bit of sunshine
i've been surprised lately at how important sunshine can be. i returned from my trip to a week of cloudly, chilly days, and by the end of it my spirits were rather down. and it took lots of energy to get of bed in the mornings. then one day there were blue skies. it was amazing! i got out of bed a bit more easily, i could breathe more easily, i looked up periodically .. i felt refreshed somehow. it's been alternating the past couple of weeks .. some days there's bright sunshine and blue skies, and other days it's cloudy without any sun to be seen. i've been enjoying the sunshine whenever it makes an appearance.
to add insult to injury (meant in a not mad way), when i talked with my sister on sunday, she commented that her legs hurt. i asked why .. because she and her husband participated in an ultimate frisbee game the day before and she got sunburned on her neck and shoulders and back of her legs. somehow.. i didn't feel sorry for her. it's gonna be a while before i get a sunburn again. many many moons. ah well. there are things to enjoy here too .. like warm blankets and hot tea in the evenings and radiators that work and fun hats and scarves and wool sweaters and squash soup.
to add insult to injury (meant in a not mad way), when i talked with my sister on sunday, she commented that her legs hurt. i asked why .. because she and her husband participated in an ultimate frisbee game the day before and she got sunburned on her neck and shoulders and back of her legs. somehow.. i didn't feel sorry for her. it's gonna be a while before i get a sunburn again. many many moons. ah well. there are things to enjoy here too .. like warm blankets and hot tea in the evenings and radiators that work and fun hats and scarves and wool sweaters and squash soup.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
whoa .. people actually read this!?!
did you notice that there have been over a thousand visitors?
(granted some of them are the same four or five who visit to check and see if i've actually written anything recently .. )
but still. that's kinda cool!
just wanted you to notice that.
and to say 'thanks' for reading!
(granted some of them are the same four or five who visit to check and see if i've actually written anything recently .. )
but still. that's kinda cool!
just wanted you to notice that.
and to say 'thanks' for reading!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
signs of summer
i'm told it will keep getting hotter, and be above 40* during parts of july and august, but the weather recently has been plenty warm. (40*C is about 104*F!!) there are signs everywhere that it truly is the season ..
the 'z' on my feet caused by wearing my chaco sandals often. the way the straps are made, the part of my feet which does not see the sandals makes a nice white 'z' on each foot (although on my left foot it's backwards..)
i wore long sleeves and pants this morning to church because it was a cool 70* and i didn't want to get cold (especially if it rained... which it didn't)
i've seen more varieties of tank tops in the last two weeks than i thought possible (you can take you pick of which parts of your skin you'd like to show .. shoulders, back, belly, cleavage.. a large variety!)
the most common thing i see people eating as i'm walking around is not pretzels or sunflower seeds (as is usually the case) .. but ice cream, which can be found in at least half the stores here
sometimes at night, even a sheet is too warm to sleep under
the kids finished school this past friday, and there was an excitement in the air that afternoon .. there are more kids out and about, and the college students are getting ready to leave so their part of town is suddenly becoming very empty
it stays light until about ten in the evening. i'm sure it gets light early too .. but i haven't been up early enough to see it. when i wake up, the sun is always awake. (and i'm not confessing what time i usually wake up .. suffice it to say, there is no worm-getting :)
my favorite foods as of late have been fresh fruits and vegetables that require no heating or baking, so the apartment doesn't get any hotter than it needs to
before our 'cool weather' today, i hadn't even looked at my long-sleeved shirts for almost a month
yup. that's about all i can think of for the moment. i'm trying to enjoy summer and not wish for any other seasons, but simply be glad that God planned each of the seasons for their times.
the 'z' on my feet caused by wearing my chaco sandals often. the way the straps are made, the part of my feet which does not see the sandals makes a nice white 'z' on each foot (although on my left foot it's backwards..)
i wore long sleeves and pants this morning to church because it was a cool 70* and i didn't want to get cold (especially if it rained... which it didn't)
i've seen more varieties of tank tops in the last two weeks than i thought possible (you can take you pick of which parts of your skin you'd like to show .. shoulders, back, belly, cleavage.. a large variety!)
the most common thing i see people eating as i'm walking around is not pretzels or sunflower seeds (as is usually the case) .. but ice cream, which can be found in at least half the stores here
sometimes at night, even a sheet is too warm to sleep under
the kids finished school this past friday, and there was an excitement in the air that afternoon .. there are more kids out and about, and the college students are getting ready to leave so their part of town is suddenly becoming very empty
it stays light until about ten in the evening. i'm sure it gets light early too .. but i haven't been up early enough to see it. when i wake up, the sun is always awake. (and i'm not confessing what time i usually wake up .. suffice it to say, there is no worm-getting :)
my favorite foods as of late have been fresh fruits and vegetables that require no heating or baking, so the apartment doesn't get any hotter than it needs to
before our 'cool weather' today, i hadn't even looked at my long-sleeved shirts for almost a month
yup. that's about all i can think of for the moment. i'm trying to enjoy summer and not wish for any other seasons, but simply be glad that God planned each of the seasons for their times.
Monday, April 02, 2007
out & about
the weather here has been rather marvelous. like 14- 16 degrees. celsius. which translates to high-fifties - low sixties. which is definitely spring weather. and in spring (and summer and fall) it's nice to be outside, and people don't call you crazy for walking. (when it's winter and cold outside, people give all sorts of funny looks. anyway .. )
walking. at the moment (for another week or two), the places i visit most often are a bit spread out. where i live to the office .. 30 minutes by bus or 50 minutes on foot. one teammate's place .. 30 minutes on foot. another teammate's place .. 60 minutes on foot. and it's nice weather, and i'm not generally pressed for time, so i've been enjoying walking. as i walked home today i did a bit of calculating.
60 minutes to language lesson (a bit past the office)
60 minutes home
30 minutes to second teammate's place (shortened because i rode a bus partway)
60 minutes home
these are approximate figures, and i'm not speed walking at these rates .. but that means that i was walking about 3.5 hours today. and my feet and legs aren't even sore. apparently i've been doing a bit of walking so i'm in shape to do this. it's nice. to be outside. to breathe fresh air. to use my body. to observe spring and people and buses and practice sounding out romanian words. to
process events of the day. to pray for those i pass, for the places i walk through, for the emotions i see in the eyes of some i pass, praising God for the beauty of what He has created. pretty good times. maybe i'm not "accomplishing much" during my walks. but they feel right and 'useful' to me. and maybe it's more about the process than the product.
walking. at the moment (for another week or two), the places i visit most often are a bit spread out. where i live to the office .. 30 minutes by bus or 50 minutes on foot. one teammate's place .. 30 minutes on foot. another teammate's place .. 60 minutes on foot. and it's nice weather, and i'm not generally pressed for time, so i've been enjoying walking. as i walked home today i did a bit of calculating.
60 minutes to language lesson (a bit past the office)
60 minutes home
30 minutes to second teammate's place (shortened because i rode a bus partway)
60 minutes home
these are approximate figures, and i'm not speed walking at these rates .. but that means that i was walking about 3.5 hours today. and my feet and legs aren't even sore. apparently i've been doing a bit of walking so i'm in shape to do this. it's nice. to be outside. to breathe fresh air. to use my body. to observe spring and people and buses and practice sounding out romanian words. to
process events of the day. to pray for those i pass, for the places i walk through, for the emotions i see in the eyes of some i pass, praising God for the beauty of what He has created. pretty good times. maybe i'm not "accomplishing much" during my walks. but they feel right and 'useful' to me. and maybe it's more about the process than the product.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
smiles today
one thing that has become more integral to my life in the past six months has been enjoying simple pleasures. taking delight in small things. searching for beauty. savoring life and vitality when and where i see them. so i'm taking time to share a few things that made me smile today.
-- the gentle sound of raindrops on the hood of my raincoat as i walked to our office
-- a young boy with super-curly light brown hair and a smile under his umbrella
-- a girl (high school? college?) with bright green rain boots on -- green with a giraffe (or duck?) painted on the outside of each boot
-- being told i must have been born in alaska since i actually enjoy cool (some might say cold!) weather
-- a piece of a cappuccino chocolate bar
-- walking home, and for one small section there is a short wall beside the sidewalk, where i walk whenever i have the chance, even though it's a bit 'odd'
-- more space on the sidewalks because of the rain and people staying inside
-- knowing how to judge the speed of cars so that i can slow down just enough that they pass me without hitting me and then i can walk right behind them (maybe sounds dangerous? it's rather normal over here and doesn't really feel dangerous to me anymore .. which might not be all that healthy?)
-- a long drink of yummy water after walking up the hill to the office
-- the gentle sound of raindrops on the hood of my raincoat as i walked to our office
-- a young boy with super-curly light brown hair and a smile under his umbrella
-- a girl (high school? college?) with bright green rain boots on -- green with a giraffe (or duck?) painted on the outside of each boot
-- being told i must have been born in alaska since i actually enjoy cool (some might say cold!) weather
-- a piece of a cappuccino chocolate bar
-- walking home, and for one small section there is a short wall beside the sidewalk, where i walk whenever i have the chance, even though it's a bit 'odd'
-- more space on the sidewalks because of the rain and people staying inside
-- knowing how to judge the speed of cars so that i can slow down just enough that they pass me without hitting me and then i can walk right behind them (maybe sounds dangerous? it's rather normal over here and doesn't really feel dangerous to me anymore .. which might not be all that healthy?)
-- a long drink of yummy water after walking up the hill to the office
Saturday, February 17, 2007
small victories
so it's important to enjoy little things, to find pleasure in simplicity. here are a few examples from the past week.
-- wednesday i finally got up the courage to go into a music shop i'd noticed in my second week here. i don't walk past it often, and it's usually closed when i do .. but this time it was open and i went in. and i asked to look at and play a violin. so i did .. tuned it, played a scale, and then played 'tis a gift to be simple. talked to the lady about how much it cost (and the difference between a cheap one and a really nice old one..!?!), and then walked out with a big grin on my face.
-- friday we played a romanian version of "will you smile for me?" where the goal is not to smile or to laugh. i've never been very good at this game. but this time i was able to keep a straight face every time i was asked (which was often, since i was a 'tough target'). whoa! i must be growing up or getting more mature. or something..
-- thursday i went to house church even though i didn't want to. and it was good to be there. hard and frustrating and challenging, but good.
-- friday i started reading the booklet i have about retirement funds. i'm not particularly interested, but it is something i want to (and am supposed to) do, and i'm finally starting that process.
-- thursday i didn't wear a coat. two long-sleeve shirts with a wool sweater, a scarf, and a hat. but no coat. it wasn't all that cold, so i was plenty warm. and i didn't care that people (especially older women) stared at me like i would catch cold on the spot.
-- wednesday i finally got up the courage to go into a music shop i'd noticed in my second week here. i don't walk past it often, and it's usually closed when i do .. but this time it was open and i went in. and i asked to look at and play a violin. so i did .. tuned it, played a scale, and then played 'tis a gift to be simple. talked to the lady about how much it cost (and the difference between a cheap one and a really nice old one..!?!), and then walked out with a big grin on my face.
-- friday we played a romanian version of "will you smile for me?" where the goal is not to smile or to laugh. i've never been very good at this game. but this time i was able to keep a straight face every time i was asked (which was often, since i was a 'tough target'). whoa! i must be growing up or getting more mature. or something..
-- thursday i went to house church even though i didn't want to. and it was good to be there. hard and frustrating and challenging, but good.
-- friday i started reading the booklet i have about retirement funds. i'm not particularly interested, but it is something i want to (and am supposed to) do, and i'm finally starting that process.
-- thursday i didn't wear a coat. two long-sleeve shirts with a wool sweater, a scarf, and a hat. but no coat. it wasn't all that cold, so i was plenty warm. and i didn't care that people (especially older women) stared at me like i would catch cold on the spot.
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