I did it again.

Another 5k today. :)

And, it's less than 24 hours until we leave for the airport (I should start packing, hey?) and just under 30 until we take off!

Wahoo!!!!!

Another accomplishment

I have not kept up a regular yoga practice in quite some time- years in fact. Long gone are the days, in China, when my regular routine was leave work at 5:15, catch a cab (and a nap) to the bumper to bumper car packed corner of Fuxing Xi Lu and Huashan Lu, where I would jump out of the cab, run inside, and make a 6:00 Flow class every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (I went on Saturdays or Sundays too, but that was a different routine). I have not since experienced the commitment, the zen, the flexibility or the yoga butt that I had at that time. Lord do I miss all four. In Latvia I went to several different classes and studios, but never found a place where I really felt at home, and therefore, never found a regular practice.

Since being in Angola, I have pulled out a yoga dvd (and done it!) a handful of times- not a lot. But, since I started going to the gym more regularly, I also added in one of my very favorite asanas (poses). The good ole headstand, as pictured above (and yes, I do my headstands close to a wall, in case I need the support, but, the whole time I am up in the headstand, I am unsupported by the wall- I am freely standing on my head/arms). It's good for lots of things- including but not limited to (according to yogajournal.com):

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
• Stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands
• Strengthens the arms, legs, and spine
• Strengthens the lungs
• Tones the abdominal organs
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Therapeutic for asthma, infertility, insomnia, and sinusitis

When I read the list of benefits, it's crystal clear to me right away, why I like the pose so much. Relieves my depression, aids my weak guts, and helps me have babies? I'm in love!

I read recently in one of the daily (or weekly?) yoga emails I receive that in order to receive the benefits of headstand, you must stay in it for 3 minutes. Since I go to the gym alone, I don't have a watch with a timer, nor a clock that I can see when I stand on my head, I don't know how long I stay up there.

Luckily, recently, I have been in the gym at the same time as the colleague of mine who's been supportive of my running. So I've asked her to time me. She lets me know each minute that passes, and then I come out of headstand at 3 minutes.

Today though, I felt strong, and after my 5k on Sunday (and 4k yesterday), I was ready to push for more. So, when my colleague told me three minutes had passed, I told her I was just going to see how much longer I could go. I actually muttered some incomplete phrase at her, using some of the words I wanted- because when you're as focused as you need to be to be safely in a headstand, talking is not a thing you want to do. Anyway, next I knew she was telling me it was 4 minutes, and then it was 5. My legs were starting to sway at that point (a sign of fatigue, when you can no longer hold yourself steady), so I decided to lower myself down.

I'm doing good with 5's these days.... 5k run on the treadmill, 5 minutes in headstand...hmm...5 um, ok, well, that's all. But I think both are cool.

10 minute headstands, here I come!

For the record...

I got up this morning, ON A SUNDAY MORNING, at 6am, to go for a run! And I ran....wait for it, wait for it....

5k!

We're going to the beach today, and I knew that if I didn't go run before, it wouldn't happen today...but I already didn't run Friday and Saturday, so I really wanted to go today. So I did it.

Now I have to get Joel out of bed and get us ready for the beach, because the boy ain't getting up!

P.S. Mere, I know that they say that the intervals are more effective for calorie burn- here is my problem. When I run on a treadmill, it doesn't count my real calories, it counts only according to its own gadgets. So, when I run, I don't see as big a number at the end of the interval run as I do at the end of the straight runs. Also, I will say that the interval runs feel easier than the straight runs. So, right now, everything is conspiring against me to make me think that straight running is more work, and therefore more calories. Clearly, what I need is a good heart-rate monitor, so I can actually know what I am doing calorie wise. Maybe a certain someone who told me last night that he doesn't know what to get me for Christmas, *coughJoelcough*, might read this, and surprise me with one. :)

Christmas Party Round-up

Our staff Christmas party was last night. I won't say too much about it, but it started off a little weird, because the whole thing took place in the cafeteria. The full fluorescent overhead lights were on, and everyone was sitting at tables all around the edge of the place eating and staring at each other. Bit weird. We went in, got some drinks, some food, and sat down with some friends. It didn't take too long for the music to get so loud that our silverware was actually vibrating to the beat against the plate on the table. Thankfully, the lights got turned off eventually, and I think some colored spots were turned on to provide "mood lighting". Anyway, the locals were impressing and intimidating with their dance moves, and it was too loud to have a conversation in the room, so, a lot of people started grabbing drinks and moving outside the caf. A bunch of the girls did eventually get up and dance, and I got dragged out there as well. After a couple songs I snuck outside though. And look what I got then:

Yay! There was a baby. The baby belongs to one of the computer tech guys. Just 4 months old, and teething like it's going out of style. He was styling a little Bozo style 'do, and was about as placid as a little kid could be, being passed from one set of strange arms to another. We all (girls) took turns holding him- I got him at an especially wet time- his drool slimed all the way down my arm and dripped on my foot. Not that I minded, but his dad did try to clean me up, because he could see what was going on. So anyway, all of us girls were standing one circle passing and cooing over the baby, and all the guys were standing in another circle trying to pretend they couldn't see us. Between all the newlyweds and couples getting married next summer, there are more than a few women on campus getting clucky, and more than a few men who, like it or not (although I know that most of them secretly really do like it) know what's in their future.

Of course, since I'm such a baby freak, and not hiding it at all, I made Joel take pictures.
Cute!

So, that was basically the highlight of the Christmas party. We did go back in and dance a bit more after the baby-holding. And then we had had enough of the music and went off to a porch for more quiet drinks. It was a Friday night though, and usually, on a Friday night I'm asleep at around 9pm, passed out on the couch, so, by the time 12:30 rolled around I was beyond tired, and headed home to sleep.

Can't say it felt like a Christmas or holiday party. There were no holiday decorations, no Secret Santa or anything, no, well, nothing. And between the heat and wearing the dress I wore in the summer to DB's wedding, and the swimming that some girls did around 11pm, well, it's confusing for me to try to get into the holiday spirit. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again- I'm just not sure how this whole Christmas in the heat thing is going to go over for me- but I'm willing to see. :)

Learning to run...

I've gotten back on the exercise wagon- my sticker chart is up to 35 stickers now- 20 of which have yet to be redeemed. I think I'll be getting a mani/pedi in Oz; maybe just before our party. :)

Anyway- last week, when I decided to head back to the gym, something got me on the treadmill, running, not walking. Don't know what it was, and I don't know why- but I found myself running, and enjoying it!

I started that first day setting the timer for 20 minutes- and I warmed up for 5 of those and cooled down for 2. I used a "run 2 minutes/walk 1" pattern to get started. That first day, those first 20 minutes seemed ok. It wasn't too hard, but felt like exercise that was actually accomplishing something.

I went back the next day and tried again. I ran a little faster, but kept to the 2/1 intervals.

On the weekend, I went back to gym again, and decided to push myself. I upped my time to 25 minutes. I did it again the next day.

I had heard of a program called "Couch to 5K"- a running guide to get basically anyone off the couch, and eventually, running a 5km distance. Sounded good. After enjoying the few previous runs, I started thinking about doing a program like the C25K one. I also mentioned my interest to a fellow teacher, who is a real runner (one marathon in her past, she's training for the next). I also started to, for the first time, watch the distance counter on the treadmill (instead of the time, or the calories burned).

My previously mentioned colleague stopped by on Monday and handed me some papers- a beginners running program that she had printed for me. I glanced at the first week, and saw that in the first week a couple 3K runs and at least one 5k run were included! I thanked her, but also said that I thought I might need a beginner beginners program if this one included 3 and 5ks in the first week!

But then I went to the gym. I decided to push myself some more. Still using the 2/1 intervals, I selected 25 minutes again, and upped my speeds. I surprised the crap out of myself that day by running 3.3km. Who knew I could do that?!?

All of a sudden, that 5k didn't seem that far off!

Over the last two days, I upped my time to 30 minutes on the treadmill, and upped my speeds. Yesterday I ran 3.9km, and today, 4.1km. Oh, and, today, I didn't run/walk in intervals. I just kept running, telling myself that if I felt pain, got a cramp, felt too out of breath, I would walk. I ran for 25 minutes only taking one 1-minute walking interval in that time.

I'll do a 5k next week.

I'm not really sure what I'm doing when it comes to this running thing. I'm not following a program, and maybe I should. Maybe I should do some reading on the Internet and just take note of some pointers.

The thing I am doing is listening to my body. I'm not pushing myself further or faster than I can go. But, at the same time, I am pushing myself when it feels easy, when it feels like I can do more- and look, turns out I can do more!

What surprises me is that before, any time I tried to run, it was always the breathing that got me. I would have to stop because I would get a cramp in my side, because I couldn't breathe. My legs never felt that tired, they always felt like I could keep going, but I couldn't breathe. This time, I'm not having this problem. I mean, the 25 minutes today blew me away, because that was a long time running, without any problem breathing! I found myself wondering if possibly, I'm not just that much further from the abuse I used to inflict on my lungs (it's been nearly a year and a half since I quit smoking now).

So, I'm learning to run. I'm enjoying it. I'm still aware that I am running measly distances compared to most real "runners". I remember my brother heading out for a run in high school- I think he'd head out and do 10 miles in an afternoon. Yeah, I'm still a ways off that! And, I am running 1-2 kph slower than my running colleague. But she even said that for a beginner, I'm moving at a good pace.

I've started tracking my runs- because I think it'll be fun to watch my progress. So far, the progress is pretty impressive. I'm excited to keep going, and see what I can achieve.

Love/hate relationship

Quick rant.

I love technology. I don't know where I would be without my computer, without the internet, without tv, without my mobile phone, etc, etc. I love technology.

But I hate technology when it doesn't work. And when it has to be so freaking complicated as to why it's not working.

For instance- what idiot made the clock gadget I have on this blog? It shows the wrong time for basically every place I have on there. I just had to readjust the Luanda time and the Michigan time- even though, I'm sure that at one point, they were right.

So, will someone tell me- is the time right for Latvia, the mountains, Medan and Melbourne?

Grrr... technology- I love you, but I hate you!

And for the record- I do remember a time before all this technology- even though I was born in the year that makes me a "digital native" according to some sources. But, I do remember knowing a whole lot of phone numbers- in fact, I still know a lot of phone numbers of people who live in the States (right, Ang?) that I dial only once or twice a year. But, yeah, it is easier to just have it in your cell phone isn't it?

Camping on the beach...

Once a month we have "early close Friday" at school. Schools ends at 13:20 instead of 15:00, so everyone gets a nice slightly extended weekend. Many of us at school take advantage of the situation to head to the beach on a Friday instead of Saturday and spend the night. By the time we get there it's about 16:00/16:30- which gives us enough time to set up the tents in the light, and have a swim or a surf. So that is what we did. Then we all dried off, had some drinks, some snacks. Eventually (in the dark- its getting dark these days around 18:30/19:00), we made a fire, cooked dinner on the grill (Joel and I warmed up alfoil wrapped packets of Thanksgiving dinner) and ate in the way you do when you can't really see your plate. :) It was just a little cloudy, so we saw some amazing stars.

I have never slept on a beach before- and I have to say that 1) sand can be really hard and really uncomfortable and 2) the sound of the waves all night is really, really soothing. I told Joel that next time we go we have to spend some time actually making sure that we level out the sand below our tent, because the amount of lumps and bumps digging into me was just not cool. Otherwise though, it was a nice sleep for me.

The best part of spending the night at the beach is, of course, already being at the beach come morning. :) Joel had set his alarm for dawn to see if there were any waves that early. He got up, but there weren't, so we went back to sleep. We ended up getting up around 7 and enjoying the sunshine. Joel eventually got to surfing, although there were very few waves today. I laid around in the sun reading and went for the odd dip in the water. It was lovely. Finally, around 11:30 we set off to home. It's great because now, it's still Saturday afternoon- but we feel like we've already had a full weekend in a way. It really is lovely. :)

Here's some photo evidence...

Early morning chillin on the beach- after our first swim

Can you see the crab? This beach is littered with crabs- when you walk they literally scatter in all directions with every step. You have to make sure you zip your tent at night, cause I've heard stories that they get in otherwise. Also they don't disappear at night- as you walk you can *just* see them- and you just hope that they can see you better than you can see them...

not cute

cute

super cute

contemplative (actually, he's probably thinking- "Can I surf that wave? Are they getting bigger? Maybe they are...I should get out there....")

Crab friend

Mon and Don hanging on the beach- do you like that custom beach chair?

Our camping business on the beach...

In other exciting, but totally unrelated news- there is a new blog! 4 windows is a collaborative project fueled by my soon to be sister in law Mook- but 4 windows isn't just about her- it's about all of us- "us" being Joel and his 3 brothers and the women and children who make up their families. You can find the link to the blog at the top of my "Blogs I like to read" list on the left. We've posted our first post- "the families"- this is who's participating. We'll post pictures once a week- just one picture from each family, from each corner of the world- pictures will fit a theme- and we're guessing that eventually we'll all see that even though we in 4 different corners of the world, our lives don't look that different. Or maybe they do. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The table looks a little sparse- both food and people wise, but, alas, it was a "best-we-could-do" type Thanksgiving- whatever I could come up with food wise, and just the two of us. That however, in and of itself, is a lot to be thankful for.

(If you're wondering, Joel had a piece of marinated, baked chicken, and I had a veggie meat thing. We also had mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, roast pumpkin, corn and stuffing. The stuffing turned out fantastic. The rest was good. We'll both have leftovers tomorrow.)

((Oh, and also- yes, Joel is sporting a mustache. He has been since November 1st, in honor of Movember. A bunch of the men on campus took part this year actually. He started off with a porno style handlebar thing again, but I guess last week he shaved the sides off, and has been sporting the regular old creepy mustache ever since. I'm REALLY happy December 1st is Monday, and that will be the end of Movember.))

(((And as a third side-note, I made this dinner on a school night, when I had also exercised. It was only when I got to the table at 8pm that I realized I hadn't made broccoli or salad- so there was nothing green. I was horrified, and then I got over it and ate. It was too late as it was.)))

One of those days....

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days when you end up hating living abroad.

I have to admit, I don't have these days very often- but, when they hit, they are bad, usually especially because you don't really realize what's going on- you just know you're in a bad mood.

So, what happened for me happened in stages.

First, after a fairly good school day, I came home and tried to Skype with my mom and little brother. My little brother is home for Thanksgiving (tomorrow). Now for those of you that don't know- if I haven't mentioned it since LAST Thanksgiving; Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love it because you always get together with family (for me it was usually family that I don't see that often), you eat fabulous food (goodness I love the autumnal harvest feast!) and there are no presents. Don't get me wrong, I love giving (and certainly receiving) presents, but I find things like Christmas very stressful. I get VERY happy when I find presents that I know someone will really like, and that I am happy to give- but I'm really not into obligatory gift giving. Anyway, that is another tangent...

So I tried to Skype with my mom and brother. It was funny because they could hear me really well, but on my end it was all crackly, in and out and hard to hear. So they kept laughing when I couldn't hear them, or when I mis-heard what they were saying. Anyway, it was nice, but didn't last long because Joel and I had to go grocery shopping (when you have a bus booked, you have to go!).

When I got off the phone though- it hit me, they are there together, I'm here, not with them, or with anyone who is going to celebrate Thanksgiving and that all sucked just a bit.

So then we were in the store and I walked around the produce section for a long time, hoping to see something, well, fresh. I picked up some potatoes and some apples. I looked at the zucchini, cucumbers, squash, and really lots of other things- but honestly, it's not just that it's not the pretty, pretty produce we're used to in the States, its that it looks (and is!) old, and wrinkly and just well, not good. Hmph. So then I went to the frozen food aisle, and was thankfully able to pick up some broccoli and some of the good brand of spinach (one of em just tastes fishy, bleh!).

Then we walked up and down all the other aisles picking up this and that, but when we got to the end, I realized that, of the shopping list of ingredients for Thanksgiving foods I had, I hadn't been able to buy all of the ingredients for a single thing that I would have wanted to make on Thursday for dinner. I made Joel walk up and down the aisles one more time, just in case I missed something- but, I had done well the first time, and there was nothing to add to our cart. I got in line and just teared up. Suddenly, not being with family, and not being able to buy the food I wanted was all just too much. I swallowed my tears, but, just felt pooey.

I came home, in a bad mood, made and ate dinner (the frozen broccoli was nice) and was generally miserable for the rest of the night. This is what happens- when you're having a day like this, it sets you off, and then every next thing just makes you more cranky- suddenly the couch isn't big enough, there aren't enough tvs, it's too hot and then too cold- you get the idea.

The thing is when you choose to live like we do, a vital part of the arrangement is that you see, experience and enjoy where you are- but you also make sure you get out and spend some time in "normalcy" (normalcy of course being defined as what you are used to- which makes it a very subjective concept) as well. Usually you would do this during vacations. If you're really lucky, you might even get sent on some professional development trip to some place "normal".

In Latvia a trip to the UK or just across the Baltic sea to Sweden or Finland would count for this bit of normalcy. Of course summer breaks are the ultimate chance to get out and have your normal. How often you get out can really depend on where you are- and how far from "normal" the place where you are is - in Latvia it was enough to leave once a year, in China I left more often. Here in Angola, I have a feeling we might need a dose of normal more often than we did in Latvia. A hefty dose of fresh produce, nice shopping, and normal driving would all do me well.

When your "normal" reserves are full, you can really enjoy all that is wonderful about a place- but it gets harder the more depleted your normal reserves get- and obviously, the full 4+ months that we will have spent in Angola before we leave, is just a little too long without refueling the normal.

So...one of those days... thankfully it's over now... and I am aware, that I don't actually hate Angola or living abroad, I just need some normal. 17 days til Australia! :) (But, how normal will THAT be?)





(Oh, I'm just kidding all you Aussies!)

Spazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzm

My thumb - involuntarily jerks back and forth - randomly. I have developed a spasm. I don't know if it's stress related, or due to over-use or mis-use. Either way, whether I'm sitting doing nothing, working at school, on the computer or whatever, my thumb just keeps moving on its own. Right now it's not painful, and I hope it remains that way.

And God forbid that my spasm is use-related. It would be connected to the computer use if anything, and if someone said I had to use it less, well, I don't know what I would do.

More importantly, I am having fun planning wedding stuff, and I would like to concentrate on that rather than work. (No, I'm not at work now, I'm just saying, in general, I'd rather be thinking about my wedding than work...) It's report time right now, and although the reports I have to write this year are the shortest, easiest of my career, I still find myself moving slowly through them, choosing to check and re-check my RSVP mailbox. Ah well, I have 8 paragraphs left to write for my reports to be complete, and I have until Friday. I think I'll make it.

Also, on a very happy note- I found out today that I have lost 4kg/9lbs in about a month! I've been getting comments from lots of people around here and there that I'm looking good/better- or as one mother of a student said, "You are getting the skinny!" It's nice to hear, but I didn't have a way to measure my success- now I do. It's inspiring and motivating! Makes me want to get back to my exercising, which is so easy to not do, and see more results!

Finally, it's just before 11pm and I am sitting on the couch kind of sweaty. Oh, and it's the end of November. Yeah. OK, our air con unit in the living room is busted, and if it wasn't, I wouldn't be sweaty, but still. A lot of my friends who live in colder climes have been blogging/writing/posting pictures of the snow and cold they are experiencing in their lives right now. I've never not been where it's snowing. Did I already say, that it's not really real to me that finally, FINALLY I get to have a winter without snow? I know, technically, where I am it's summer, but, for 28 years winter has been November-February (or Sept/October to March/April while I lived in Latvia) so, it's hard to think of this any other way, than winter without snow. Goodness I love it. Although, I am somewhat anxiously anticipating experiencing Christmas without snow, because that will be different. Not sure what it will be like- but, like I told a friend I wrote an email to- I'm willing to learn to get used to it. :)

Bed time...me and my spazzoid thumb need to sleep.

An unexpected and truly wonderful surprise

The following email just popped up in my inbox a second ago... unexpected, and truly wonderful... (details have been changed to preserve anonymity)

Dear Mara,
Mitch is in Advanced Language Arts this year. As an assignment they needed to write a letter to a person who has influenced them. Naturally, YOU were selected!!! ...I have to admit, I am a tad bit JEALOUS!!! (hee hee).

I will type you what Mitchell wrote...

"Dear Mrs. Putelis, (yes, MRS....)

You will be a teacher that I will remember for a long time. You are important to me because you were my first teacher. I was nervous on the first day of school but when you said my name, I felt better. After that day I wasn't nervous at all.

I'll never forget when we danced in the class to the Numa Numa song. You would play the song from the internet and we would dance all around the classroom. I told the other class and they danced, too. It was a fun time.

I especially liked when you let us have inside recess. The room that we got to play in was fun because it had a ball pit. We also played in the tubes that you can climb in. I had a fun time and I'm glad you took us there.

I'm in the fourth grade in Small Town, Ohio. I still remember my kindergarten class in China.

I just want to thank you for being a great kindergarten teacher.

Sincerely,
Mitchell"


...They had to write this letter in cursive. I must admit he has great penmanship!! He wanted to mail it to you, but then thought that this would be the best way for you to get it!

I KNOW he would LOVE to hear from you, if you have time to drop him an email!!! We think of you every time we see your name on MSN pop up. Mitch is too scared to type to you on it... Hope you are well and will enjoy the letter and upcoming Holidays!!!

Fondly,
Mitch's Mom and Mitch


One of the kids in the following picture may be Mitchell as I remember him- but I won't tell you which one. ;)


Some school years are tougher than others. I have to admit, I've had a run of pretty trying ones since I left Shanghai. The two classes I had there were really spectacular, and while I loved every single one of my students as individuals, as far as classes go, the ones I had in Latvia really made me work for my money. This year is tough for all sorts of reasons- but of course, there are still plenty of kids I'd like to stuff in my pocket and take home with me.

It's nice to know, sometimes even long after the fact, that you've touched a life; that you're remembered. My time in Shanghai was all kinds of things- but generally speaking, at school it was good. I'll remember Mitch and his classmates for a long time too. :)

Oh, and if you're wondering what the Numa Numa song is... have a listen and a watch here.

Planning, planning, planning...

We've been doing a lot of planning lately... it's kind of exciting! We've booked all our flights for the next 9 months. It's pretty crazy- but it has to be done that way, because for one thing all the flights in and out of Luanda can get booked very quickly- as in, when we were looking at the flights for August (when we will come back to Luanda after the summer) there were several flights right around when we want to come back that were already sold out! What I'm most excited to know is that on June 21st we'll fly into Kalamazoo (after spending a week in NYC-which should certainly be exciting!). It's just fun to know when I'll be home again.

We've also booked the flights for Mexico. :) Yay!

We also planned, and ordered, our wedding bands. Wheeeee!!!! I'm very excited about them- they will be beautiful, and just exactly what we want.

Invitations are picked out, but, not ordered just yet. Party favors (personalized matchbooks! So cheesy, but so cute! And we might still get something else too...) and personalized napkins have been ordered and delivered. My mom is the lucky person who gets to open, look at, and then store all of these packages for now. I envy her. :)

Oh, and yeah, we've booked our flights for our honeymoon as well. Even when I put the poll up, we had mostly already decided- we're going to Mauritius. It should have the perfect blend of beaches, surfing, wonderful weather, culture and nature to suit both of us. :) The other destinations were all possibilities at one point or another- and will remain on our list of places to visit.

Other than all this planning, I haven't been doing much. My job is getting the best of me, er, all of me, right now. It's kind of a long story, and things aren't that good for me right now, so I am just REALLY looking forward to the holidays coming up soon- as you can see from the ticker on the left- only 23 days to go! :) But, of course, being stressed out would be helped by exercising again- it's a matter of just doing it, isn't it? Maybe tomorrow... :)

Happy to see the participation on the polls... new ones coming up soon!

Look, new stuff!

Hey! I added cool stuff to my blog! See my new poll? You have to answer it (even if you want to pick the third answer- you have to answer it!).

And see my new clocks? I hate always having to think about what time it is everywhere- when my computer is on, I always have my blog up- so now, when I want to know if it's too early to call the States- boom, there is the time! Now the only problem, right now, is that it is actually showing the wrong time for Angola. We're an hour behind what it says there. Apparently, the rest of the world thinks we had a time change- but we didn't.

I'm excited about my new blog stuff.

Oh, and also, did you see that today, it's exactly ONE MONTH until we go to Australia?!? I am so excited!!! I get to meet my friend M for the first time, I get to shop, I get to eat yummy food, I get to shop, I get to WEDDING DRESS SHOP!!!, I get to go to a party (for us!), I get to meet the rest of Joel's family! I am just so excited about this trip. Oh, and wait, also, I GET TO GO TO AUSTRALIA! :) That's exciting enough as it is! :)

Now I have to go back to class, because my lunch break is over (I do love being able to come home and eat lunch at my table, sit on my couch, watch my tv, read my book- all during my work day! It's great.).

Answer my poll!

Explanation necessary?

I pondered leaving this picture without any explanation.... but, you know I can't not write something! :) So, for those of you who may not know, that is Australia's flag on my arm.

Why do I have a tattooed Australian flag on my arm? Fear not, it's not real!

Yesterday (oh man, am I allowed to talk about this?) was International Day at our school. It's a big, big event ALL ORGANIZED BY PARENTS (that's the kind of events we like!). It started with a parade of nations- kids, parents, and guests all dressed in patriotic clothing, whether national costumes, football jerseys, or gaudy t-shirts and sunglasses, walked a loop for the rest of us to ooh and aah over. I love it when my kids (that is my students) see me out of our normal situation- their eyes get big, they get really shy and hide behind their mom's/dad's legs, and just smile really big.

After the parade there were performances on a stage set up in the middle of the outdoor basketball court. It was great until it got REALLY sunny, and hot. But, well, I actually still wasn't complaining. :) Mostly the performances were either fashion shows or dancing. It was pretty cool to see performances from countries that have never been represented in schools where I have worked previously. The Angolans did a tribal dance (amazing how similar it was to what I remember from high school dances- it's obvious where African Americans get their inspiration!), the Nigerians did a very impressive fashion show, the South Africans did a very cool gum-boot-footed miner's dance. The Colombians and Brazilians also danced- hmmm, who else? I don't remember, but, they were all great. :)

After the shows, the stalls opened. All the countries that were there (not all our school's countries were represented) had elaborate stalls including information about their countries, pictures, knick-knacks and FOOD. Oh yum, the food. :) I am trying to keep to a pre-wedding detox/weight loss diet (and doing REALLY well, if I don't say so myself!), but I had my first splurge in two weeks. I had a custard tart from Portugal, a deep fried milk ball from Bangladesh, one bite of a New Zealand cookie and some falafel and hummus from Israel. YUM! I had to down a bunch of water after that though, because, since my recent diet has been sugar and carb free, those four bits of food sent my blood sugar soaring- I had an amazing buzz on!

At the same time as the stalls were open there was a silent auction on. Each country put together baskets of goodies from their country- food, toys, wine, booze, books, sporting equipment and lots more. The bids on the baskets started at $50 or $100. They looked good, but, um, yeah, we passed. :)

All the proceeds from the international day go to charity- I think to an orphanage (and those baskets went for as much as $500 each!). So, I think the money raised is going to be a nice contribution to the kids who will get it. :)

So, the tattoo then- obviously gotten at the Australian stall- Joel applied them (I have a matching one on the other arm) himself. Apparently I expended all the patriotism I have on election day- because I showed up yesterday in jeans and a black top- and then ended up with Australian tattoos on my arms. :) Joel just kept saying, "You're marrying one, you'll practically be one!" I went with the flow. :)

So, yeah, this is me today, with the tattoos still on my arms, which I think Joel thought looked funny with my "wife-beater" tank top. And if you're wondering, well, you're right- I haven't showered today- I've spent the whole day on the couch, reading, surfing the net, watching tv and getting up only to do laundry. :) Good day. :)

Look what came in the mail today!

You can't say I didn't try. You can say I didn't try hard enough. But you can't say I didn't try.


Thanks goodness Obama won- because I already cried about not voting before the election, and the entire day of the election. If he had lost, I would have felt personally responsible.

Proud to be American

I don't think I've ever uttered these words before.

This morning, when my alarm rang, I'll admit, it was a little tough to pull myself out of bed. But, when I finally did, I remembered there was a good reason for me to get out in the living room, and turn the tv on. I was very excited to check the election results. My heart started pounding as I reached for the remote, pressed the button, and started flipping from the sports channel the tv was left on last night by Joel, to a news station. Any station. I think I arrived at BBC News first- who were running banners and announcing, "Obama has done it!"

I had taped all the election coverage on CNN, and before I went to work, I watched Obama's acceptance speech. I got chills, I was moved near to tears, I couldn't stop smiling. What a victory for our nation.

Did you read what I just wrote? Gosh! When was the last time that you heard me refer to the US as "our nation?" Now, I know this might make me a fair-weather American. But here's the thing...

Growing up in rather international circles- what with having lots of friends in Canada, studying abroad in France, and then, needless to say, working abroad for the last 5+ years (this is my sixth!)...I have as an American passport holder gotten endless flack for being American. And this is long before I got intimate with all the Australians, who make fun (of anything and anyone) for fun. And the thing is, when people laughed at Americans through me for over-reacting about Monica, or hated on Americans through me for re-electing Bush, I couldn't fight back. All I could say was, "I'm not one of THOSE Americans."

For a long, long time, I associated more with being Latvian than American. Then I moved to Latvia, and realized, "Hey, I'm not *REALLY* one of these people either." Yeah, it was around then that I started to have major, "Who am I?" issues. It coincided perfectly with my mid-twenties.

But today, this morning, I said to Joel, "I have the weirdest feeling Joel! Today, for the first time in my life, I'm proud to be an American!" I desperately wished that I had a patriotic shirt or pin to wear- alas, I've never once bought a piece of clothing that has an American flag on it, or "USA". Ah well. My extra bright smile today might be enough to show how I feel- but it is amazing- really, and truly, proud to be American.

And for the record- it's not just because Obama won- it's because I have never, never seen so many people out there, fighting for what they believe in. Never has our country seen such high voter registration and turn out. It's inspiring. It's wonderful that apparently all those people that thought to themselves, "My vote won't make a difference" in the last election, finally got it, and finally decided to make a difference.

I am truly, truly inspired. And on this day, I have to say, I am going to share my joy with anyone who asks- and I'll do it in front of anyone. I don't care. Today, I won't be silenced.


Now- we have to keep supporting Obama. He is going to need all the good energy and support he can get to tackle some of the issues he's going to be faced with. He can count on me. Even if I'm not there, on US soil, I'll be supporting him from wherever I am! :)

***Later that day....

It's always something though isn't it? I'm so excited about Obama's win. But then, I have to hear the news about proposition 8. The proposition set forth by people so afraid, that they think that letting other people be happy will take away from their own (probably meager) happiness. Prop 8 was about adding an amendment to the State constitution making same-sex marriages illegal, and specifically putting in the words along the lines of, "only a marriage between a man and a woman will be legal and recognized in (insert state name)." So sad. Alas, we have had a shining moment, but America still has so far to go, so, so far.

Angola Tour 2008

Packed to the gills with stuff (so, so, so much stuff!), only an hour and a half after our scheduled departure time- here we are, ready to set off on our 9 day trip down the coast of Angola- from Luanda to Lobito, followed by Benguela, then down to Lubango, finally Namibe and Tumbwa- and then to turn around and do it all in reverse!

Ladies and gentlemen, this post marks the completion of my attempts to document this trip. Start here, and read all the way to "The Desert" to take in the full experience, or if you've already read all the rest, know that you have reached the end, at the beginning. :)

Camping

My biggest worry about this trip was not about doing a lot of driving, not about having to sleep in a tent, not about cooking over a campfire- it was about being able to shower. Call me what you will (Dad still calls me Princess, so that is ok!), but I need a shower, every day, otherwise I am just not a happy camper (uh, pun intended?). Without a shower, I feel dirty, smelly, and greasy, and it's not a way I like to be. So, I was worried about the camping. Luckily, even though we camped 6 out of 8 nights, we had showers (cold, but that was fine) every morning. Whew. So it was all good. Here's some photo evidence that we camped!

This was our first campsite in Lobito. This is in the morning- you can see everyone is bright eyed and bushy tailed! :)

Cooking breakfast

See, lady-towel-heads are evidence enough we've had showers. :)

This was our second campsite- after the farm. It was actually another farm, but we camped further up on the "mountain". It was a really beautiful site.

Our campsite in the early, early morning. Some of our campers (the photographer) were woken up really early by the sun, and captured some great pictures...

...like this one!

Now, the two nights we were down in Tumbwa (the desert place) we stayed in this house. It was nice enough.

And here we have indoor cooking. The one in blue was making bread in the pojke pot- it's like a little black cauldron- great because you can throw anything in there, and then just stick it in the fire. When we went on the pre-trip shopping trip, he insisted that he would make pojke pot bread, and that we needed to buy lots of flour. But then we reached this house, didn't think we'd be camping anymore and started giving the ole guy a really hard time about his bread. So, he stepped up to the plate and made some really delicious bread in the pojke!

Big Jesus

I just don't remember the story on this one... similar to the one in Rio, I don't remember which came first. Lubango sits in a valley though, and this guy is up there spreading his goodness over the whole city.

And then there was this:

I said to him, "Isn't that a bit sac religious?" He said, "I'm not religious." Then he posed longer so we all could take a picture.

Joel's upbringing hasn't abandoned him completely (meaning, he didn't follow suit).

The view of the city from up there

The Chasm

There were two "sights" to see in Lubango- the Big Jesus on the hill and what we called the Chasm- which is actually called Tundavala. I'm not sure why it was, but somehow the world chasm ended up being said about 879 times in the hour that it took us to finally get to it. It was indeed a chasm though.

There was a funny little story though- we were in Lubango, and we saw one road sign showing the way to Tundavala. So we followed it. We followed the road for a long time, but saw no more signs. So, at one point we pulled over to ask for directions. The driver asked a man on the side of the street, "Is Tundavala this way?" He said yes. Then the driver said, "And what is it up there?" And the man replied, "It's nothing, it's just a hole." Understatement of the year!

Here we are, though you can't see what there really is to see...

This!

It's a giant gorge- you can barely see the bottom from up top.

We are standing at what is hopefully just a look-out now. Unfortunately, during the civil war, this place was used by soldiers to throw prisoners of war to their deaths. What a horrible way to die!

I seem to be missing some pictures...this was a really inspiring place. It was just a beautiful natural thing. Actually, Joel and I kept talking about how much my brother my enjoy the place! I'm not sure they would let you climb it Martin, but, it looked like it would have been fun! :)