Just so this post doesn't sound terribly apathetic, I want to say that the hurricane that just passes through New Orleans is truly a tradgedy. I pray that things are able to be straightened out from it eventually, even though it will take years.
That being said... Why do UnitedStatesicans continue to act invincible, and/or like our country has everything all figured out and that we should play God to all other nations? We've participated in wars in other countries, and assisted after terrorist attack around the world, but never thought that any of that would ever come here. Well, four years ago, that was proved false, although we've since forgotten that we aren't invincible. We see the Tsunami in south east asia, earthquakes in Japan, huricanes in Central America, and brag about how well we've built all our structures so that natural disasters don't affect us much. Ok, so look at New Orleans, now what do you say? Don't worry, in about a year, most of the country will revert to being prideful about our superoir structures and superior way of living, etc.
I'm not saying that we should immediately go help every needy country and use all our resources for that. Actually, I'm thinking we'd get a lot more international relief accomplished if we'd actually pay attention to what the needs of hurting countries REALLY are, instead of "helping" in the ways that WE THINK they should be helped.
But we continue to be incredibly prideful about our way of life and the way things opperate in the U.S. We won't admit that we don't have everything together, that there are things that the United States doesn't know how to deal with. If we have a problem, we'll get it fixed STAT. I almost wish that something would happen that would take the pride away.
Last night (I can't believe I'm admitting this) I was watching the crassly disgusting cartoon "South Park." As crass as it was, that particular episode hit a chord with me. It was about the kids going on a rain forest tour in Costa Rica. One of the little boys (the super fat one) kept saying stuff like, "It smells like butt out here!" "Ooh, look, there's people's underware hanging outside, hahaha!!" "Sick, the bathroom is a hole in the ground!" But that is sooo what people from here say or at least think. We're so rude. We're so selfish and greedy. I HATE that when I'm in another country, people know where I'm from without having to ask, because I'm tall, large, and light colored. I'm embarassed to be UnitedStatesican. That's sad, but true. But do YOU want to be associated with the gringo mission team in Pizza Hut in Tegus that started a food fight and left it for the Pizza Hut employees to clean up? Do YOU want your good friends' non-Christian dad to not like you anymore because other Christian gringos disrespected him and his culture?? And that now he associates gringo Christians with being mean, rude, and self-centered? These are only two experiences of mine from Honduras and El Salvador respectively, that I have had.
So, I think that it's good that we experience tragedies, maybe we will be more humbled. Or maybe it will just serve to give people more bragging rights because we can recover from disasters quickly. WE don't have earthquake damaged streets and buildings 4 and a half years after the earthquake. WE don't have people living in now-permenant evacuee camps 7 years after a huricane. WE make a big bajillion dollar monument where terrorists hit OUR country. Wow, there are some things to be proud of (insert sarcasm here).
Call me unpatriotic, or whatever you want, but I am glad to have been born in the U.S. But I will never cease to be totally embarassed by the image we portray to other countries.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Mi Niño
My beautiful new nephew, Carlitos Daniel, born on July 5. So, who says only children can't have nephews!? Karlita says I can! hehe! Now, I just have to wait to actually SEE Carlito in person until December...
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Bendiciones de Lejos
God continues to provide. I prayed, like a year ago, that God would provide someone who could help me financially for Mexico by giving $5,000. I thought that was a huge request, but I believed God could and would provide, even a whole $5,000! He did. The car that I was given, it sold for $5,000. Stuff like that is cool!
So, yesterday, Marlia come to visit. She brought stuff for me from my Honduran family and the Fonsecas. Among the things that the Delgados sent were six small handmade purses. Six!? Wow, I'll never run out of little purses! Me and Marlia laughed! So today, I actually read the letter that Suyapa had sent, and she said that she sent me the purses to sell so I can raise money for Mexico. Wow! It's amazing how people who believe in me, believe in the ministry, and believe that this is all God's will, do all they can to help this come to pass! Mami can't send a check for me, but she was able to send some purses. And, I believe the purses were made by Carolina, a super-sweet lady from Germania church. It's just amazing to know that people, even outside my country, are behind me in this! Even though I'm going to MEXICO, the relationship between CentralAmericans and Mexicans is similar to that between UnitedStatesicans and the French. Except not as sarcastic. It's interesting to see both sides of that relationship as an outsider - I see Honduran & Salvadoran attitudes about Mexicans, and Mexican attitudes about CentralAmericans.
Anybody want to buy a purse?? They're made out of this sting/twine material that kind of reminds me of a plastic Safeway bag stretched into string. It's pretty cool material. The purses are very small, but cute!
Marlia and I talked, basically the entire time she was here, about stuff about Honduras. Her trip, her team, our mutual friends in Honduras. It was great to hear about my catracho buddies, and to continue to learn about Honduran culture, and interactions between them and us gringos.
So, yesterday, Marlia come to visit. She brought stuff for me from my Honduran family and the Fonsecas. Among the things that the Delgados sent were six small handmade purses. Six!? Wow, I'll never run out of little purses! Me and Marlia laughed! So today, I actually read the letter that Suyapa had sent, and she said that she sent me the purses to sell so I can raise money for Mexico. Wow! It's amazing how people who believe in me, believe in the ministry, and believe that this is all God's will, do all they can to help this come to pass! Mami can't send a check for me, but she was able to send some purses. And, I believe the purses were made by Carolina, a super-sweet lady from Germania church. It's just amazing to know that people, even outside my country, are behind me in this! Even though I'm going to MEXICO, the relationship between CentralAmericans and Mexicans is similar to that between UnitedStatesicans and the French. Except not as sarcastic. It's interesting to see both sides of that relationship as an outsider - I see Honduran & Salvadoran attitudes about Mexicans, and Mexican attitudes about CentralAmericans.
Anybody want to buy a purse?? They're made out of this sting/twine material that kind of reminds me of a plastic Safeway bag stretched into string. It's pretty cool material. The purses are very small, but cute!
Marlia and I talked, basically the entire time she was here, about stuff about Honduras. Her trip, her team, our mutual friends in Honduras. It was great to hear about my catracho buddies, and to continue to learn about Honduran culture, and interactions between them and us gringos.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Emité Gas!
I was able to fart this weekend.
Pretty crass, you think? Well, let me explain...
My friend Joana from Simpson was in the area this week, staying with my friend Jen in Silverton. Unfortunately, with several people being on vacation from work this week, I was not able to have a day off to hang out with them. But we got together after work Friday and today. Yesterday, I went out to Jen's house and the three of us hung out a talked forever, then went to Jen's relatives' small lake where they had a tent and camping area set up. We roasted hot dogs and marshmellows, and paddled around in a small boat in the lake. It was great to be outside and with two good friends! The whole time we were talking in the house, I really needed to let gas, but, not wanting to be offensive, I just let my abdomen swell and growl. So, when we got out to the lake, I let loose, and boy was it loud. I appologized. And both Jen and Joana laughed and were like, you don't have to appologize for that! Remember at school?! We all farted all the time. Well, times have changed, and, with the exception of my parents, there isn't anyone in Salem who I can fart in front of. The three of us decided that you know you've arrived at the close friends stage when you can fart and burp in front of your friends. Sounds nasty, I know, but think about it... It's so true! Although the same does not go for latino friends - Last summer I went to a church picnic with Germania in Honduras, and I was standing around with Franklin and Vivian, and Vivi went to talk to someone else for a minute. I felt a huge "too much warm pop" burp building up, so I motioned over to Fran like I was going to whisper something to him, and I let out the burp in his ear. He's my brother for-cryin-out-loud. Most close guy friends would make a comment about burping in his ear being gross, but Fran was offended! He didn't laugh, he just backed away with this horrified look on his face like he couldn't believe I would let something like that come out of me! So I won't be doing that again...
But as for UnitedStatesican friends, you know you're good friends when you can emit toxic gasses in front of each other, and not be embarassed. It was good to spend the weekend with my fartty friends! I've missed that!
Jen and Joana in the lake
Pretty crass, you think? Well, let me explain...
My friend Joana from Simpson was in the area this week, staying with my friend Jen in Silverton. Unfortunately, with several people being on vacation from work this week, I was not able to have a day off to hang out with them. But we got together after work Friday and today. Yesterday, I went out to Jen's house and the three of us hung out a talked forever, then went to Jen's relatives' small lake where they had a tent and camping area set up. We roasted hot dogs and marshmellows, and paddled around in a small boat in the lake. It was great to be outside and with two good friends! The whole time we were talking in the house, I really needed to let gas, but, not wanting to be offensive, I just let my abdomen swell and growl. So, when we got out to the lake, I let loose, and boy was it loud. I appologized. And both Jen and Joana laughed and were like, you don't have to appologize for that! Remember at school?! We all farted all the time. Well, times have changed, and, with the exception of my parents, there isn't anyone in Salem who I can fart in front of. The three of us decided that you know you've arrived at the close friends stage when you can fart and burp in front of your friends. Sounds nasty, I know, but think about it... It's so true! Although the same does not go for latino friends - Last summer I went to a church picnic with Germania in Honduras, and I was standing around with Franklin and Vivian, and Vivi went to talk to someone else for a minute. I felt a huge "too much warm pop" burp building up, so I motioned over to Fran like I was going to whisper something to him, and I let out the burp in his ear. He's my brother for-cryin-out-loud. Most close guy friends would make a comment about burping in his ear being gross, but Fran was offended! He didn't laugh, he just backed away with this horrified look on his face like he couldn't believe I would let something like that come out of me! So I won't be doing that again...
But as for UnitedStatesican friends, you know you're good friends when you can emit toxic gasses in front of each other, and not be embarassed. It was good to spend the weekend with my fartty friends! I've missed that!
Jen and Joana in the lake
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Bye Abuelita... Y la Maldita Cruise Line
When I picked up parents 1 and 3 at the airport on Sunday, Dan and Karen kept asking me if anything happened while they were gone. No, no, nothing exciting, bad, good, or weird happened while they were gone.
So I saw them tonight...... Uh, HECK YES, stuff happened when they were gone, and I'm a little perturbed to only have found out about it all tonight. Apparently, Grandma Lane died two days after they left for the cruise. Andira called the ship's emergency number to get ahold of them, but it wouldn't go through. So she called Norweigen Cruise headquarters a few times, and she was never even able to get ahold of anyone on the boat ever! The funeral was last friday, and Dan and Karen didn't know about any of this until sunday! I have a few words for that cruise line... A close family death is an emergency if I ever heard one, and it's totally rediculous to not find out about it until a week and a half later. I'm suprised and sad also that Andira never told me about Grandma Lane.
Also, Danny got in a bad car wreck during this time, and broke his arm or hand or something, and got staples in his head.
So, the cruise line can shove it, and I'm now nervous that some day I'll be un-contactable in some foreign country somewhere as my parents are dying, or something else bad happens. But probably not. But, at least that would be more my fault for being gout of reach of communication, and not somebody else's stupid fault for not having an emergency system set up that actually WORKS. Huy.
So I saw them tonight...... Uh, HECK YES, stuff happened when they were gone, and I'm a little perturbed to only have found out about it all tonight. Apparently, Grandma Lane died two days after they left for the cruise. Andira called the ship's emergency number to get ahold of them, but it wouldn't go through. So she called Norweigen Cruise headquarters a few times, and she was never even able to get ahold of anyone on the boat ever! The funeral was last friday, and Dan and Karen didn't know about any of this until sunday! I have a few words for that cruise line... A close family death is an emergency if I ever heard one, and it's totally rediculous to not find out about it until a week and a half later. I'm suprised and sad also that Andira never told me about Grandma Lane.
Also, Danny got in a bad car wreck during this time, and broke his arm or hand or something, and got staples in his head.
So, the cruise line can shove it, and I'm now nervous that some day I'll be un-contactable in some foreign country somewhere as my parents are dying, or something else bad happens. But probably not. But, at least that would be more my fault for being gout of reach of communication, and not somebody else's stupid fault for not having an emergency system set up that actually WORKS. Huy.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Atras al Futuro - Fue Como Mi Niñéz
So, yesterday, of course, I spent most of the day with hermanos from Iglesia de Cristo.
After lunch and volleyball, we headed off to donuts on lancaster. I was super tired from having picked up my parents in Portland in the morning (ha! I slept in and was half an hour late!) so I was starting to doze off in the donut shop. Some of the girls and David were sitting outside, and there was a possum or some other rodent out there and the girls screamed and ran inside, and David came in laughing behind them. So, about 10pm, I was ready to leave, when the girls came in wide-eyed again, and we thought the possum had come back. But David came in, pulled the door shut hard behind them, and they were all like, "Whoa! Look out there!!"
Out the window, we could see some guys duking it out, a car speed away in a cloud of burning tires, and a police car zoom into the parking lot. (This is in the Don Pedro parking lot). The guys outside who had been fighting were yelling, and were really angry, and our girls said that this guy had driven up to some guys sitting outside the pool hall and threw something through their car window. That's when the fight broke out. And somehow, a police car had been in the vicinity.
Then, we heard brakes squeallin on Lancaster, and two cars stopped right outside the donut place, and I thought a guy wass pulling out a gun (my face went white and I was ready to dive under the table) but it was just his arm coming out the window motioning to the other car, which apparently was the guy who broke a car window. They sped off down the road dodging other traffic.
North Lancaster after dark. What a party. Sometimes I'm glad I grew up in the neighborhood that I did, so things like this are fathomable - like my childhood.
After lunch and volleyball, we headed off to donuts on lancaster. I was super tired from having picked up my parents in Portland in the morning (ha! I slept in and was half an hour late!) so I was starting to doze off in the donut shop. Some of the girls and David were sitting outside, and there was a possum or some other rodent out there and the girls screamed and ran inside, and David came in laughing behind them. So, about 10pm, I was ready to leave, when the girls came in wide-eyed again, and we thought the possum had come back. But David came in, pulled the door shut hard behind them, and they were all like, "Whoa! Look out there!!"
Out the window, we could see some guys duking it out, a car speed away in a cloud of burning tires, and a police car zoom into the parking lot. (This is in the Don Pedro parking lot). The guys outside who had been fighting were yelling, and were really angry, and our girls said that this guy had driven up to some guys sitting outside the pool hall and threw something through their car window. That's when the fight broke out. And somehow, a police car had been in the vicinity.
Then, we heard brakes squeallin on Lancaster, and two cars stopped right outside the donut place, and I thought a guy wass pulling out a gun (my face went white and I was ready to dive under the table) but it was just his arm coming out the window motioning to the other car, which apparently was the guy who broke a car window. They sped off down the road dodging other traffic.
North Lancaster after dark. What a party. Sometimes I'm glad I grew up in the neighborhood that I did, so things like this are fathomable - like my childhood.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Dedicado a Mis Queridos Hermanos
You are so special to me.
You bring so much joy to my life.
I can't imagine what it would be like if you were not around.
Only by the grace of God can I enjoy your precious friendship.
How was I so blessed?
How am I so blessed?
You mean more than the world to me.
You've shown me there is more to life than greed
Through all you've given me.
I'll try my best to always be there for you.
That's what you've done for me.
It won't always be easy. Sometimes it's give and take.
But I'll do my best to take less than I give.
From Slick Shoes' Wake Up Screaming album.
Les Kiero mucho - Moco, Peloncito, y Lalito!
You bring so much joy to my life.
I can't imagine what it would be like if you were not around.
Only by the grace of God can I enjoy your precious friendship.
How was I so blessed?
How am I so blessed?
You mean more than the world to me.
You've shown me there is more to life than greed
Through all you've given me.
I'll try my best to always be there for you.
That's what you've done for me.
It won't always be easy. Sometimes it's give and take.
But I'll do my best to take less than I give.
From Slick Shoes' Wake Up Screaming album.
Les Kiero mucho - Moco, Peloncito, y Lalito!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
El Porque del Porque
I can't fix everything. I can't even fix a lot of stuff in my own life, so I think I should quit trying to fix stuff in other peoples' lives. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to quit that, but it is. Maybe someday I will get a less-compassionate heart. That might be bad, but it would be easier for me. Haha, I suppose that's not what it's all about though - going for what's easiest for me! Just some thoughts for the day about the previous week in my life.
If I ever move to Central America, I think I want to try to get a job at Pollo Campero and be the Pollo during the lunch hour. (See picture on previous post). TACA Airlines has special deoderizers that are pumped into the planes, specifically formulated to combat the chicken smell because everyone and their pet rocks travelling from C.A. to the States goes to Campero 2 hours before the plane leaves and brings a 50-pack of chicken for their relatives in the States. I don't remember who told me that, but that's just awesome.
If I ever move to Central America, I think I want to try to get a job at Pollo Campero and be the Pollo during the lunch hour. (See picture on previous post). TACA Airlines has special deoderizers that are pumped into the planes, specifically formulated to combat the chicken smell because everyone and their pet rocks travelling from C.A. to the States goes to Campero 2 hours before the plane leaves and brings a 50-pack of chicken for their relatives in the States. I don't remember who told me that, but that's just awesome.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Campero Rico
Everybody needs a good picture of El Pollo from Pollo Campero. This one is from El Salvador.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
La Emabjada... Puchica.
So yeah, I went to the Mexican Consulate today after dropping off the parents at PDX. I had talked to this guy at the consulate on the phone TWICE before coming, and both times I told him which kind of visa I need, and asked if I can apply for it in Portland. Both times he told me yes, I should come to Portland. So, when I got there today, this SAME guy laughed and told me they don't do visas for estadounidences in Portland, I'll have to get in in Mexico City. So... why couldn't he have just told me that over the phone?! I have a feeling this is the first of many frustrating experiences in the visa process. I wonder how many times I'll go to Mexico City only to find that for some reason I'll have to come back another day... Patience, right?
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Mis Queridos Padres Jubilados
It's kind of nice to have a day off work in the middle of the week, I don't work tomorrow. However, in this case, that doesn't merrit sleeping in - We are leaving at 5am to go to PDX to dump parents 1 and 3 off so they can go cruise through the Hawaiian islands. Retirement is rough, no?! Then it is off to the Mexican Consulate (for me, not my parents!).
Do you know that I have 5 sets of parents? Hence "dump parents 1 and 3 off..." Yep. Rick and Barb - my biological parents for the past, well 25 years since they've been there since conception! - are parents 1. Dan and Kathy - adopted parents since Apryl and I became friends about 23 years ago - are parents 2. Dan and Karen - they've been around forever too - are parents 3. Dallas and Cindy - just 'cuz they're cool - are parents 4 for the past several years. Delmer and Suyapa - my catracho parents since 2003 - are parents 5.
Back to work... I am getting really sick of work. That sounds terrible. Pero asi es. I keep thinking that I need a vacation, crud, some customers at work have even been telling me I am at work everytime they come in so I need a vacation. But I am not taking one because I keep thinking that I'll be leaving anytime now for Mexico. I hope to take a vacation like the week before going to Mexico. Although I want to have stuff to DO or else I'll be bored out of my mind and I'll start getting sad about leaving or something. Today Karl bought us early morning people breakfast from next door, so that was nice. Does it seem weird to order oatmeal from a restaurant when we have oats, milk, every type of dried fruit imaginable, and about 60 pounds of brown sugar right there in the bakery?!? I just laugh.
Do you know that I have 5 sets of parents? Hence "dump parents 1 and 3 off..." Yep. Rick and Barb - my biological parents for the past, well 25 years since they've been there since conception! - are parents 1. Dan and Kathy - adopted parents since Apryl and I became friends about 23 years ago - are parents 2. Dan and Karen - they've been around forever too - are parents 3. Dallas and Cindy - just 'cuz they're cool - are parents 4 for the past several years. Delmer and Suyapa - my catracho parents since 2003 - are parents 5.
Back to work... I am getting really sick of work. That sounds terrible. Pero asi es. I keep thinking that I need a vacation, crud, some customers at work have even been telling me I am at work everytime they come in so I need a vacation. But I am not taking one because I keep thinking that I'll be leaving anytime now for Mexico. I hope to take a vacation like the week before going to Mexico. Although I want to have stuff to DO or else I'll be bored out of my mind and I'll start getting sad about leaving or something. Today Karl bought us early morning people breakfast from next door, so that was nice. Does it seem weird to order oatmeal from a restaurant when we have oats, milk, every type of dried fruit imaginable, and about 60 pounds of brown sugar right there in the bakery?!? I just laugh.
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