Other Side of the Ocean

Welcome to Bend Living

2008-03-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

Guess what? I like it so much here in Bend that I just had to buy a new home! I mean, a BRAND NEW home. Who would have guessed one year after the beginning of my travel adventure that I would be here? I am so amazed and grateful.

Would you like to take a tour? Let me show you around a bit. Follow me through the model home which will be mine shortly. . .

Here we are in the entry way - front door, garage door and closet. As an aside, I will have THE nicest garage ever, painted designer colors and carpeted. Imagine that! One of the perks when the model office moves around the block.

Here we are in the living room. You'll notice the special cut-out section for the gigantic television and the 1/2 bath conveniently located off the. . . By the way, I won't be keeping the majority of the moveable items. I DID negotiate the leather sofa and chairs into the deal, but the builder wasn't willing to cede any more for my price.

A view into the kitchen and eating nook. It looks like a little piece of heaven.

What do you think about the stainless steel appliances and tile work? Coooollll. . .

Through the eating nook, . . .. . . you walk outside to the backyard. Wow, all you can see is the beautiful sky.

Oh, here it is. My backyard - big enough for a little barbeque party and possibly a new dog, but no yard maintenance. Just some new flower pots needed.

Let's walk back through the living room . . .. . and go upstairs to the three bedrooms.

Here is the master bedroom. . .

. . . with a sweet dual-sink bathroom. Oh - and here I am, the only picture with me in it. Sorry. I'm out of practice with the self-portraits. Next time.

Here is the room, I mean closet, I considered for my office, . . .

. . . except then I discovered for this adorable built-in desk at the top of the stairs. Oh, back to the tour.
Down the hall, you will find the other two bedrooms (they both look about the same) . . .

. . . and the final bathroom.

Thanks for completing the thorough Baker tour. You will find the Comment and Suggestion Box located on your way out.

Visitors are most welcome.

Goodbye to 4GYZ422

2007-12-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

No, not goodbye to my car - just my California license plates. I am now the proud owner of Oregon tags. Does this mean I'm an Oregonian or is it just my car? It sure does look official. Oh, by the way, did I tell you I'm moving to Bend, Oregon?

Some Oregon observations:

People make eye contact here. I keep thinking, "Why are you staring at me!?" and then I realize it's just general friendliness. Wow - what culture shock compared to LA.
The speed limit signs actually mean the speed you're supposed to go, not a jumping off point. Make sure not to go more than 5 miles over or prepare to brave the local police (this is, thankfully, not from personal experience - really).
The beauty is spectacular!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here we ALL are: Meredith, Tom, Charlie, me, my mom (Lynette), Canela, my dad (Dennis), Isabela, Rachelle, David and David. This is my family on Thanksgiving Day. I am so thankful for them. What a gift from God. I feel blessed beyond measure to have these amazing human beings in my life.

I felt prompted to share my thanks due to a conversation with a friend who shared one Thanksgiving memory in her past. Her father, uncle and grandfather had a huge falling out (punches thrown and everything) on Thanksgiving when she was eleven. There are many who share this type of story. The pain people carry from past hurts committed during this time of year makes me ponder my own attitude. I desire to be sensitive to those I encounter while driving, shopping, eating, or whatever else in order to share the love I have received.

May this Advent be a time of love anticipated, love discovered and love renewed.

"We love, because He first loved us." I John 4:19

Off to the Farm (Tear-Jerker Warning)

2007-10-23T20:26:00.001-07:00

So to speak, anyway. Today I sent my dog, Jake, to the farm. I wish that were actually the case.

In reality, I put my little buddy of more than 8 years to sleep. The form I filled out at the vet called it euthanasia. Whatever. Regardless of the terminology or euphemism used, the outcome is still the same. My dog is no longer and I am sad. It takes me by surprise how much emotion a dog can evoke. The loss I feel is deeper than I felt with my grandma's passing 10 years ago. Is that weird?

I spent the day reflecting on the many Jake stories I have stored in my brain. He had some of the strangest idiosyncrasies - sneezing when a particularly smelly car passed by on our morning runs, attempting to catch flies, choosing the vacuum as his nemesis, eating one piece of dog food at a time, "burying" his bone on top of the ground with leaves and dirt. All of these things made him unique. I suppose the same is true for humans. We look down on our own (or others) quirks, when really these are what make us who we are. Anyway, enough philosophy.
Goodbye, dear friend. I miss you. You set a precedent that will always be compared to and you will never be replaced.

Being a Big Sister

2007-09-22T06:24:00.001-07:00

Being a big sister is a big responsibility. Whether teaching her about the American flag, . . .

. . . or sharing an emotion-filled moment of congratulations, . . .. . . having to share your Cheerios, . . .

. . . or holding her for the first time. . .
. . . being a big sister is a big deal!

Let the Love and Passion Stay Forever

2007-09-22T06:24:00.000-07:00

Whether posted as a reminder to the workers in Lian's orphanage or for the foreigners who visit it, the exhortation was sobering. It certainly set the tone for my experience.

We spent Monday morning touring the place where Lian spent her first year of life. Have you ever been to an orphanage? It is a place that, no matter how nice it is, evokes emotion.

A moment of joy came when Lian got to thank one of the ladies who cared for her. A moment of conviction came when seeing where Lian slept.

A moment of sorrow came when meeting some of the children labeled "unadoptable".A moment of sadness over the rejection of their birth parents.Brought back to moments of joy with who Lian is and how her life has changed so drastically in the past three years.Jen and Dano left the orphanage thankful for how God has put together their family.
We celebrated with ANOTHER authentic Chinese feast. The vice mayor of Gaoyou and other city officials took us to the nicest restaurant in town (I guess - I don't know how to tell the difference). We must have tried at least 30 dishes even more exotic than the night before.

I even tried Gaoyou's specialty: double-yolked duck egg. Mmmmm! It was quite salty and made us foreigners gag. I ended up hiding the rest of mine below the noodles in my soup.
Lian concluded our meal with a toast to her "I.E.'s", those who cared for her at the orphanage.

Jen and I continue to marvel at the fact we've been friends for 17 years and all the changes we've seen in each other's lives. Such a gift!

". . . rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God. . ." I Peter 2:4

Lian's Hometown

2007-09-11T21:19:00.007-07:00

Welcome to Gaoyou, the place where Lian spent her first year of life. After a two-hour train ride to Nanjing and a two-hour van ride to Gaoyou, we decided it was time to get some exercise. We took a walking tour of the town and here are a few things we saw. . .

Gaoyou is a fishing village located on the Grand Canal.

We had the privelege of watching the local specialty being cleaned.

This is a pagoda, although it reminded me of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Man, I've been in too many countries this year!

We ended the day with our most excellent hosts, friends of Lian's teacher at her school in Seattle. They took wonderful care in providing for us - meeting us at the train station, driving us to Gaoyou and providing us with an authentic Chinese dinner experience. Duck eggs, eel, crab with all its internal organs and the shrimp we saw being cleaned earlier were included in our fare.
At the end of the day, this pretty much captures how we all felt - HAPPY!

Shanghai Noon

2007-09-11T21:19:00.006-07:00

Well, not really. It was more like Shanghai 9:00 PM. I just wanted to say that. I also wanted to let you know that we missed the typhoon scare by a couple days. 200,000 people were evacuated in preparation for its arrival. Thankfully, it was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Jon and I flew from Beijing to Shanghai on Saturday evening where we successfully met up with Jen, Dano and Lian. The next morning we took an early train to Nanjing. Do you notice anything familiar in this picture?

Oh yes! They had a Starbucks a block from our hotel. My heart was filled with joy.

Meet Anna Mei Jukanovich!

2007-09-11T21:19:00.005-07:00

Although I've missed a few days of blogging, I REALLY wanted to introduce you to the reason I came to China. This is Anna. She is a very sweet, delicate little dolly of a girl. Her parents and big sister are SO proud. What a great-looking family God has put together. I'm amazed to be part of this surreal experience. More later. . .

Scenes from Beijing, Home of the 2008 Olympics

2007-09-11T21:19:00.004-07:00

Everywhere you go in Beijing, there are signs of next year's Olympic games.Across from Tiananmen Square is a clock counting down to the opening ceremonies,and the controversial Bird's Nest Sports Complex can be found downtown.

Even the Forbidden City and Summer Palace are getting some touchups, although Tiananmen Gate seems intact.
Oops, sorry Chairman Mao. Didn't mean to cover your picture.The buildings in the Forbidden City have recently been painted. . .which accentuate its grandeur. Here is a picture of our guide Belinda (not Melinda):

My favorite part of the Forbidden City is the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Why? Because of the name, of course! Do I look harmonious? That was my goal.The Summer Palace where the infamous Dragon Lady lived is quite lovely.

Sorry for the quick tour of an awesome day. Beijing is truly a great city, but I gotta run!

The Great Wall Workout

2007-09-11T21:19:00.003-07:00

It was a cool and misty day. The fog was thick and the rain light. Not the ideal for seeing the grandeur of the Great Wall, but certainly perfect climbing weather. Jon and I were up for the challenge and set out for our journey upward. The thing about the mist was we couldn't see how much further we had to go. It felt like we just kept going up, . . . and up, . . . and up, . . . and up, into the clouds. Sidenote: I was highly amused that I specifically bought shorts for this trip because I expected it to be hot in Bejing. As it turns out, I was wrong. However, I WAS stubborn enough to wear them in the 60 degree weather. I must confess that my legs got a little shaky toward the end. It was a good thing I chose not to workout at the gym that morning!Ta da! We did finally reach the apex. I guess it took us about 40 minutes. Everything feels longer when you don't see the end in sight. Here we are at the end of our descent. Don't we look accomplished?

KungFu Noodles in Bejing

2007-09-11T21:19:00.002-07:00

We made it! Jon and I arrived safely in Bejing on Thursday afternoon after a smooth flight from San Francisco. We even had an American swimmer (I think) on our flight coming to qualify for the Olympics next year. Pretty cool. We picked up our luggage and met our guide, Melinda, who was holding a sign that read "Mr Jonathan Wolff and Ms. Suzanne Baker". Wow - I must say I felt special.

We were driven to our hotel in downtown Bejing and attempted to check in. I say attempted because there was a bit of confusion with our room. I say room because, at first, they showed only one room for the Jon and I. 20 minutes and one manager later, it was finally discovered that the reservation was made under "Ms. Lian Jukanovich", Jen and Dano's four-year-old daughter. Okey, dokey.

Jon and I got settled in our ROOMS and headed out to find some dinner. We meandered a bit aimlessly through the streets of Bejing for over an hour. We were both so tired and had little decision-making capabilities. At last, we decided upon the Kungfu noodle place - right around the corner from our hotel!

The Official China Itinerary

2007-09-11T21:19:00.001-07:00

The following is the official itinerary for my next adventure. Maybe a little TMI, but it's late and I'm off to Bejing in the morning:

CHINA ADOPTION TRIP
(Sep 12 – 29)

SCHEDULE

Sep 12: WEDNESDAY
UA821 SEASFO 720AM 928AM
UA889 SFOPEK 1107AM 225PM

Sep 13: THURSDAY New World Courtyard Hotel
Beijing – Arrive Beijing at 2:25pm. Will be met by local guide and
stay at New World Courtyard Hotel.

Sep 14: FRIDAY New World Courtyard Hotel
Beijing - Tour of the Great Wall. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Sep 14: FRIDAY
UA729 SEASFO 930AM 1141AM
UA857 SFOPVG 150PM 525PM

Sep 15: SATURDAY Zhongya Hotel
Beijing - Tour of TianAnMen Square, Forbidden City,
Summer Palace. (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Flight MU5156 (5:50 – 7:55pm) to Shanghai.
Shanghai – Jukanovich family will arrive at Pudong airport at 5:25. Check in
Zhongya hotel.
Mr. Wolff and Ms. Baker will arrive Hongqiao airport at 7:55pm.
Will be met by local guide at the airport and check in Zhongya hotel. Sep 16: SUNDAY Yangchun Hotel Shanghai – Train D412 (9:15 – 11:38am) to Nanjing. Nanjing – Not decide yet. Sep 17: MONDAY Mandarin Garden Hotel
Gaoyou – Visit Goayou orphanage, lunch with the orphanage staffs.
Drive back to Nanjing. .
Nanjing – Stay at Mandarin Garden Hotel.
Sep 18: TUESDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanjing – Flight MU2755 (8:20 – 9:25am) to Nanchang.
Nanchang – Arrive Nanchang at 9:25am will be met by local guide
at the airport. Stay at the Gloria Hotel.

Sep 19: WEDNESDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Receive your daughter at the CAB office. Interview
with CAB have adoption registration done.
Interview with Justice Dept. Apply for baby’s passport.
Sep 20: THURSDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Adjustment time and shop for the need.

Sep 21: FRIDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Visit the suburban of Nanchang City.

Sep 22: SATURDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – City tour.

Sep 23: SUNDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Rest and free time.

Sep 24: MONDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Pick up the Notary documents.

Sep 25: TUESDAY White Swan Hotel
Nanchang – Pick up your daughter’s passport.
Flight MU2149 (1:40 – 3:10pm) to Guangzhou.
Guangzhou – Be met by local guide at the airport. Check-in
White Swan Hotel.

Sep 26: WEDNESDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Child’s medical check up, picture taken and fill out the forms.

Sep 27: THURSDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Interview with U. S. Consulate at 11:00am.

Sep 28: FRIDAY New World Courtyard Hotel
Guangzhou – Pick up baby’s visa. Flight CA1302 (7:55 – 10:55pm)
to Beijing. Stay at the New World Courtyard Hotel.

Sep 29: SATURDAY
UA888 PEKSFO 1200N 844AM
UA322 SFOSEA 1040AM 1245PM

Hello and Goodbye to LA

2007-09-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

At least for a little while, anyway.After seven weeks in country, I decided it was time to leave again. Well, actually it's for a much better reason than that. After an unexpected two-year delay, I will accompany my best friend from college (Jennifer), her husband (Dano), her daughter (Lian) and her brother (Jon) to CHINA in order to bring home their new daughter. Yea! We are all so excited for the fulfillment of this long-anticipated event. Please check out their blog at www.jukanovich.blogspot.com to see a more detailed account.

Our itinerary is almost finalized, so I will wait until tomorrow to post it. No, really - I will!

Last Stop - Ireland

2007-07-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've had an absolutely gorgeous (an Irish use of the word) time here in Tulla, Clare County, Republic of Ireland. I was hosted by my Irish friends, Joan and Margaret, whom I met outside the Musee de Orsay in Paris (check out my April post). Just a chance meeting that has turned into true friendship. What a gift!
I'm headed back to the States in about 12 hours. I fly from Shannon to Los Angeles via Chicago. I am mourning the end of my time abroad and yet excited to be back in my home country for the first time in four months. I have so much to share with you. Thanks for your patience in waiting for more stories.

Day o' Flowers and Churches

2007-07-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Romania. Welcome to the European Union! To inform visitors that this really IS part of the EU, they have a sign posted. Pretty clever, I thought.I am here visiting my friend, Diane. Remember when I went to Cambodia a few years back? Diane was the one who worked with girls rescued out of prostitution and ran a hospice for those with AIDS. She recently moved to Iasi to lead a team that works among the Romanian youth and orphans. It is a much different culture, climate and language (obviously). The theme (a theme!) of my first day in Romania was flowers and churches. We started the day in search of sunflowers for their photogenic nature. We didn't have to go far. Sunflowers are a major crop here. They are used for their seeds and oil. I was reminded of the last sunflower field I walked in, which was next to our house in Minnesota over 25 years ago. We then popped by Flora Holland, a nursery with an amazing selection of cut flowers in a gigantic refrigerator. It felt wonderful to get out of the 98 degree heat. Plus, it reminded me of my last weekend spent in Amsterdam, where these flowers came from.Some typical Romanian scenes included: horse-drawn wagons, . . .older Romanian ladies wearing scarves (who reminded me of my dear Romanian residents at Covenant Manor: Constantina who insisted on speaking Romanian to everyone, Verginia who was the resident photographer, Lina who called me Draga and Lucy who claimed God is power), . . .. . . and, of course, gypsies.
Orthodoxy is the prevalent religion in Romania. 85 to 90 percent of the population are Orthodox, the 2nd largest percentage in the Orthodox religion (1st is Russia). Going to church is an integral part of the culture. People come to the church to cross themselves (they do it the opposite way from the Catholics, left to right), kiss the relics of the saints, confess, pray and pay to receive a blessing from the priest.
In fact, every time they pass a church, they are supposed to cross themselves. They must practice A LOT because of the large number of Orthodox churches. We visited just a small handful. They are quite ornate and beautiful, with frescoes painted on the interior and exterior.This 17th century church is currently under renovation. It reminded me of the Italian churches (Catholic, of course) that I saw over a month ago. Speaking of which, I still need to tell you about THOSE adventures. . .

Next door to the Orthodox churches are the old and new Catholic churches.

And down the road is the former palace and current cultural center of Iasi.I guess today could also be themed "Day o' Reflection" because of all the reminders I keep talking about. As previously mentioned, I'm in the throes of processing my trip and thinking about heading back to the States. One of the nice ladies I met asked me about what I will do when I return. The fact that the answer to that question is still unclear causes me to change the subject. I'm just living the present moment, knowing that the answer to that question will come.

My Tartan LeSportsac

2007-07-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

Jamie reminded me about something I've been meaning to tell you all. My LeSportsac bag has been my faithful companion on virtually every leg of my trip. In fact, I've made it my sole piece of luggage these past couple of weeks. The fact that I chose the tartan pattern years ago is just another testimony of my Scottish heritage (hee, hee).

P.S. I made it safely to Iasi (pronounced "Yash"), Romania, via Vienna. The airport has a two-way runway: land on one side, taxi on the other.

I HEART SCOTLAND

2007-07-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

I just returned from discovering Scotland by VW Golf. Tons o' fun! I'm on my way to Romania in the morning, but wanted to give a quick update that I l-o-v-e Scotland: the accent, the beauty, the friendly people, the lochs, the castles, the history. I felt quite at home (probably the most since my trip began), even driving on the left with a stick-shift (or gear lever I guess they call it). It must be my Scottish blood.

Let the Recap Begin (Almost)

2007-07-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, I have used my blog primarily to report what I’ve seen and experienced. What I haven’t included as much are my thoughts (thanks, Beatri!) on all that I have learned in my time abroad. Because I have squeezed so much out of my four months away, I haven’t had a whole lot of downtime to put my thoughts in order (shocking, I know). I’ve found that I will begin processing about one month AFTER I’ve been in a certain place. In China, for instance, I talked quite a bit about Africa because it was on my mind. Just a little insight into who I am.

I still have some reporting to do before you will see my thoughts, but never fear. I will continue blogging in the States. I think that will be when I FEEL what I’ve learned the most. Stay tuned. The interesting stories will not end with my journey on July 25th.

Heritage Tour Stop #1 - Amsterdam

2007-07-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

After a quick one-day turnaround in Paris, I flew to Amsterdam for the weekend. Crazy, you say? Well, after tanking just a bit, I would agree. I was rested with time on my hands when I made my travel itinerary. The outcome was a plan for Wonder Woman. I discovered I am not.

On my way through London, I had purchased an Amsterdam guidebook (in English, which isn’t easy to find in a French-speaking country) that I studied on the short flight from Paris. I arrived at Schipol Airport with a plan. It went something like this:

DAY 1

Go to Amsterdam's Historisch Museum
Take walking tour of Central Amsterdam
Take walking tour of the Jordaan District
Shop at Sissy-Boy, a popular Dutch clothing chain
Check into hotel

DAY 2

Take train to Delft where blue and white pottery is made
See windmills

DAY 3

Go to Van Gogh Museum
Go to Anne Frank's Huis
Take canal tour
Shop at Albert Cuypmarkt, Amsterdam's biggest general market
Shop at high-fashion stores for brother-in-law

My ACTUAL schedule went like this:

DAY 1

Take train from Schipol Airport (15 minutes outside Amsterdam) to Centraal Station
Take pictures of the Nationaal Monument (contains soil from 11 Dutch provinces),

the Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church that is no longer a church, but a concert and exhibition hall), and the mall where Sissy-Boy is located.

Shop at Sissy-boy
Go into shutdown
Take train back to Schipol Airport
Take shuttle to hotel and totally crash

DAY 2

REST
Take bus to Amstelpark
Walk to De Rieker Windmill, one of Rembrandt's painting locations

Walk through Amstelpark

Take tram to train station at Schipol (which contained a food market with quite a selection)
Return to hotel

DAY 3

Take train to Centraal Amsterdam
Take Canal Bus to Van Gogh Museum
Walk through Albert Cuypmarkt (typical outdoor flea market)
Shop at high-fashion store for brother-in-law
Take Canal Bus to Anne Frank's Huis
Take train back to Schipol (both major train station and mall within its structure – the smart Dutch!)
Return to Paris

A few random thoughts:

The canal bus is my favorite mode of public transport.

Anne Frank's Huis was the most moving experience – to be where she and her family hid for two years!

The beautiful churches are places of commerce and concerts, no longer used for worship. It made me sad to hear that told time and again.
You can go to a “cafe” to do ‘shrooms and weed. Hmmmm. . . (no, of COURSE I didn’t)
Heineken is on tap in Amsterdam.
Van Gogh had much self-doubt regarding his art. Another story of an imperfect human changing the course of history. I felt a kinship with him – who knew!
My favorite purchase was my Van Gogh Museum umbrella.

I guess I accomplished quite a bit during my first visit to Amsterdam. It gave me a small taste of my Dutch ancestry, with opportunity to explore more next time.

Goodbye to Asia

2007-07-02T02:45:00.005-07:00

I'm sitting in the Hong Kong Airport with free wi-fi and a grande mocha, getting ready to head back to Paris. I'm a little sad to leave China. This past month has exceeded my expectations. In fact, I'm considering taking Mandarin classes. I can't wait to return when my friends adopt their second little girl.

The Path to Wisdom

2007-07-02T02:45:00.004-07:00

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. . ." Proverbs 9:10Today I celebrated the 4th of July atop Ngong Ping plateau on the Hong Kong island of Lantau. It is where the largest Buddha statue in the world sits.It was something else. Two questions: "Why?" and "Why does he have a swastika on his chest?"I quickly moved on to the "Wisdom Path", which is a replica of the Heart Sutra displayed on wooden pillars placed in the form of the sign for eternity. The Heart Sutra is a prayer revered by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists (I copied this part from a brochure - it wasn't my knowledge). It is written in Chinese, so I'm not sure what it says. What I did appreciate is the awesome creation that surrounds it.I'd like to think the eternity symbol represents God's eternal presence with us which never changes. That part of God's character actually came to mind as I walked up the path.I could have spent hours enjoying the beauty, praising God for His amazing creativity. . .. . . as I sat upon a rock, but it started raining.

In the distance, I could see the world's largest Buddha looking rather small.
Happy 4th of July!

Africa Flashback - The Jungle Cruise

2007-07-02T02:45:00.003-07:00

My trip to Africa would not have been complete without a safari. It took place in the Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), located in western Uganda. There were two parts: the sunset cruise and the sunrise bus tour (I'll get to that one later).

We merrily rode the bus from the Colline Hotel in Mukono to QENP in 8 short hours. As you can see, we enjoyed one another's company and vistas of the countryside after spending an intense week together.
We were welcomed to the park by its beauty and . . .. . . some baboons with their babies! The bluish hue of the photo was an enhancement caused by the bus window tinting. We made it just in time (actually, a little late) for our safari cruise. There was a patient British family scheduled for the same boat waiting for us. They were gracious and didn't even cast a glare our way. We hopped on the boat and awaited the animals' arrival (or they awaited ours, I guess).The first animals to be spotted were hippos. It was exciting to see them in their natural habitat with their babies and at close range. The other animals out in abundance were the birds. There were king fishers, . . .. . . some kind of stork, . . . . . . canaries with their ball-shaped nests and . . .. . . Uganda's national bird, which is some kind of eagle. Oops. I can't remember all the names of the birds. Anyone? Anyone?The fishermen were out gathering their early evening catches. Notice their homes off in the distance. It's as if time stands still in some parts of the world. I like the simplicity and serenity that is captured here. I remember needing to take a breath at that point and just be in the moment. We then had our first glimpse of water buffalo. Actually, they were just regular buffalo near water. Outcasts, as a matter of fact. Any buffalo found in three or less have been rejected by the herd. Sad, huh? I think it's nice how they're keeping one another company. It's like they're saying, "I got your back, man."One of the highlights of the jungle cruise was catching a glimpse of this elephant. He was on a mission going somewhere, so we had to be quick with our cameras.

The one incognito animal was the crocodile. He escaped my view, but Monique caught him on film. It's like those Magic Eye pictures where you have to see the picture in the dots. I just couldn't find him, but he was there. A little menacing, actually. The sun was setting and we had to get checked in to the hotel, so thus ended my first real jungle cruise.

Africa Flashback - Dinner with the Uganda MPs

2007-07-02T02:45:00.002-07:00

Monique and I had the privelege of going to dinner with some Ugandan Members of Parliament the night before we went to Rwanda. Claude Nikondeha, the organizer of Amahoro Africa, invited us to join him and several other conference attendees for some interesting dialogue with the a few of those with an inside perspective of Ugandan government. Claude is a Burundi native with a US citizenship who has aspirations of getting into African politics. Therefore, he has connections.

With African governments being notoriously corrupt, I was interested to hear what the MPs had to say. I spoke mostly with Edward, who represents a territory in the south. We discussed the way decisions are made, which many times are arbitrary. For example, Uganda is a major grower of coffee. Have you ever tasted a cup of Ugandan coffee at Starbucks? Me either. Edward explained that there had been a coffee processing plant, but it was sold by the government during one of the many civil strifes. The new owner from India turned it into a clothing warehouse and later abandoned it. The building is now vacant and of no use. Why? Because the government needed the instant cash to be spent on whatever the crisis-at-hand was at the time.Edward explained the current structure of parliament has expanded to the point of gridlock. There are 240 members representing Uganda's population of 80 million. This number has risen in the past few years from 156 due to a revision in the law to encourage affirmative action. Yes, there is affirmative action happening around the world!
My other interesting discussion was with an MP's wife who works for an American non-governmental organization (NGO). Her last job was with a British NGO. She observed that the Brits discussed everything, thought through every decision and looked at things from every angle. The Americans take action and let the chips fall as they may. There are certainly benefits and drawbacks to both methods. Her musings supported my limited interactions with the British. I understand why the first American settlers left. To be fair, the Brits have left their positive mark and systems around the world, including the States. They also have a wonderful sense of humor.

Calculating World Currency

2007-07-02T02:45:00.001-07:00

I decided to count up the number of currencies I've used since my trip began. The total is 13! They are:

US Dollar
European Union Euro (France, Spain, Austria, Italy)
Jordan Dinar
Syrian Pound (called lira)
Lebanese Pound
Uganda Shilling
Rwanda Franc
Ethiopia Birr
British Pound
United Arab Emirates Duram
China RMB (called quai)
Vietnam Dong
Hong Kong Dollar

You may wonder how I've dealt with so many currencies. My method is simple. If the exchange rate is MORE than one per US dollar (Shilling, Quai, Dong, etc.), I convert in my head to US dollars. If the exchange rate is LESS than one per US dollar (Pound, Euro), I pretend it is a US dollar. It's not until I get my credit card bill or look at my bank account that my conversion method seems erroneous. By then, it is too late, and my method continues on. . .

My Chinese Life - UPDATED

2007-07-02T02:45:00.000-07:00

This is the traditional Drang (one of twelve Chinese minority groups) outfit I wore everyday in China. Okay, not really. I thought it could be a good introduction for my Chinese life. After flying from Paris through London to Hong Kong, I took a ferry to Shenzhen in order to catch a flight to Nanning, my final destination. That travel day, plus the time change, wiped me out for about a week! Thankfully, the week that followed was full of just living life with my friend Emily, her husband Eric and their two children, Evan and Elsa.

We did normal stuff, like going shopping at Walmart, having an ice cream cone at McDonald's. . .. . . and eating the King Arthur Special at Pizza Hut.

Of course, normal stuff certainly looks quite different in Nanning than in Long Beach. For example, the only section at Walmart that carried familiar brands was health and beauty (Revlon, Maybelline, etc.). And McDonald's had mocha, berry and green apple twist cones. While I haven't been to Pizza Hut in years, I certainly don't remember prawn or salmon pizza with corn on top.

Emily and Eric have a woman who helps with daily life necessities, such as laundry, cooking and shopping. We call her IE (spelled phonetically), which in Chinese is like "auntie". It is an endearing term that shows respect. She brought Emily and I to the market with her one day so I could check out her daily routine. We walked through the beef section, . . .. . . the poultry section, . . .

. . . the fish section and . . .. . . the produce section.I actually ate more greens during my few weeks in China than I have in the past year! They have a wonderful selection that just doesn't exist in the States. I even tried pumpkin flowers, which are really tasty. Do they serve those in fancy restaurants?

Emily and I hadn't seen one another in over two years, so there was lots of catching up to do. I think we talked non-stop for the first week. Many of our conversations took place while preparing for Evan's 4th birthday party. We made train-shaped sugar cookies and a train cake. Can you guess what the party theme is?
I contributed by making chocolate chip cookies. It actually just satisfied my craving to have one! The only challenge I had was getting the chocolate chips. I improvised by chopping up a Dove bar. That is SOME knife.Evan and I enjoyed playing legos together for our daily interactions. It's still lots of fun, for those of you who were wondering. I think I'll buy some for my nieces and nephews so I can continue the legacy.Elsa and I just hung out.My showers were taken in the bathroom, as usual. What is UNUSUAL is the close proximity to the toilet (see the hole in the ground - that's a Chinese toilet), which is used as the drain. Just another example of Chinese ingenuity. By the way - I actually got pretty skilled at using a non-Western toilet. In Africa, I would dehydrate myself in order to avoid them at all costs. Maybe a little TMI, but it shows personal growth.Emily and I used my visit as an opportunity to pamper ourselves. We started with manicures and pedicures at the Dolphin Gulf - Paris (perhaps a chain?). A couple of observations:

We had FOUR ladies work on us - one per hand or foot; and

We were told the service would take about an hour. It took 2 1/2 hours. They were very meticulous. In fact, three weeks later, my toenails still look almost perfect!

Another treat was to have our hair "dry" shampooed. I didn't get it either until I tried it. The gentleman added a little shampoo, then a little water, then a little shampoo and then a little water, to my dry hair. He then gave me a 30-minute scalp massage. Very relaxing and unique. I also had him straighten my hair for a grand total of US$2.50. This pampering process took 1 1/2 hours. Boy, beauty is time-consuming! The final indulgence was a facial and massage. Emily hadn't previewed the experience, so neither one of us knew what to expect. We decided on the special for US$4 which included a scalp, neck and back massage, as well as a facial. Who could pass up a deal like that? We were told it would take about 30 minutes.
Two hours later, we had lived through that beauty process. I say lived through because it was actually a little painful. Have you ever had someone massage the tendon between your bone and muscle? Or pushed on your face? Do you know the feeling of tensing up to prepare for the pain? That was a Chinese massage. Here's what I looked like at the end:A little beaten up and bruised, as well as whitened. The beauty products they used on our faces included a whitening agent because Chinese women value looking whiter. My face did feel quite smooth from their products, which they encouraged us to buy at the end. I chose not to.

For the first time in my life, I went to a tailor in order to be fitted for a dress. A qipao, actually, which is a traditional Chinese dress worn on special occasions. I fell in love with the silk material you can see on the lower left and couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a tailored dress for less than US$40. By Chinese standards, that is a large sum of money not normally spent on such an item. I felt a little decadent in my purchase, but I can't wait to see how it turns out. (Mom and Dad - it will be sent to you because it wasn't ready when I left Nanning.)

This typical scene in Nanning took place at the entrance of Emily and Eric's street. It really captures what I saw when we went on our excursions.Just as in Africa, the amount of people activity amazed me.

Overall, I have enjoyed my time in China far more than I ever expected. The language fascinates me with its profound way of explaining things in the simplest terms. In English, I use about 20 words to explain something that in Chinese would be about 3. The industrious Chinese way of doing things inspires me. They seem to work smarter, not harder. They also are quite fascinated by, and welcoming of, foreigners. In fact, this seems to be the case in most places I've visited. We Americans have much to learn about the meaning of hospitality as we welcome guests in our country.

Giving up on Chronology

2007-06-26T23:53:00.000-07:00

I have decided to let go of putting all my adventures in chronological order and instead intersperse current events with past vignettes, which include:

Past events - Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Dubai and Italy
Current events - China and Vietnam
Future events - My European heritage tour and Romania

I figure it will be more fun for all parties involved! Hope you don't mind.

Guess What?

2007-06-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't purchased a home in southeast Asia, nor have I decided to work at the Funky Monkey in Hanoi. I took a huge step and purchased my return ticket to LA for July 25th. Cheers!

My updated travel itinerary until then is as follows:

6/24/07 Hanoi (Vietnam) to Nanning (Guangxi, China)
7/03/07 Nanning to Hong Kong
7/05/07 Hong Kong to Paris (France)
7/07/07 Paris to Amsterdam (Netherlands)
7/09/07 Amsterdam to Paris
7/11/07 Paris to Glasgow (Scotland)
7/15/07 Glasgow to Paris
7/16/07 Paris to Iasi (Romania)
7/19/07 Iasi to Paris
7/22/07 Paris to Dublin (Ireland)
7/25/07 Dublin to LAX (USA)

How many countries is that? I put them in parentheses in order to count, not to insult your intelligence. I'm laughing as I put it on paper. A little crazy, but coming down homestretch put a sense of urgency in my planning.

Thank you for your continued prayers, comments and e-mails. The fact that I have remained healthy and safe throughout my entire journey thus far is truly a miracle. Beyond that, thank you for praying for my next steps when I return. God is answering those as well. I will update you on that subject in a later post (but not too much later - don't worry!).

Asia Update

2007-06-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Hanoi, Vietnam. Until I am able to post my own updates, please check out what I'm doing at http://www.kidsaroundtheworld.com/photos_2007_hanoi.htm.

Boat to Bethany

2007-06-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

My first outing in Africa, other than the bus ride to the hotel, happened on my 3rd day in Uganda. A group of us conference-goers had the opportunity to visit Gaba Community Church in Kampala, about 15 miles from our hotel on Lake Victoria. How long was the bus ride? That's right - an hour. TIA.

Our tour guide was Pastor Fred Sekyewa, the executive director of Africa Renewal Ministries (http://www.africarenewal.org/), which is part of the church. ARM ministers to adults by introducing single mothers to cottage trades and men to business mentoring and pastoral training. They also administer Compassion International funds through their child sponsorship program that allows children in dire circumstances to be fed, clothed and educated.

After a quick tour of the church, we listened to a few stories from young men who came through the program and were given an opportunity for education at Gaba's school. They each had completed a university degree and shared their dreams for the future. It is amazing to see the difference education makes in the cycle of poverty.TIA moment - In Uganda, we are quite a spectacle to the locals. Whenever they see a foreigner, they yell "Mizungo", meaning white person, to get our attention.The next part of our tour was visiting Bethany Village, one of the sites where orphans are educated and cared for through Compassion International. The "fastest" way to get there was by boat, so most of us climbed in and headed to the village.We had quite the bon voyage - thanks, Monique!Lake Victoria provided beautiful vistas on our hour ride to Bethany. There were many fishermen bringing in their catches for the day. They used nets to haul in the fish. . .. . . and laid the nets out on land to dry for the next day (I think).We arrived a short while before the sun set. Here is the view from Bethany Village. Ironically, it looks more like a tropical resort more than an orphan village, doesn't it? We were taken to the children's homes. There are generally 13 children between the ages of 5 and 12 in a house with one "mother" who cares for their needs.I was given a tour by Paul (tall one on the far right). He obviously had done this before and was so proud to show his home. He explained a typical day in their lives at Bethany: wake up, eat breakfast, read the Bible (he loves to read the Bible), go to school, play football (soccer, of course), eat dinner, pray together and go to bed. I was touched by these kids, so much so that I almost missed the boat literally. Pastor Fred had to come retrieve me. In fact, one boat had already left. Oops. The room mother asked if I would return. I sure hope so!We rode the boat back under the stars, took the hour bus ride to the hotel and arrived around 9 PM.

Last TIA for the day - The field trip was scheduled from 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Hmmmm. By this time, I had come up with the theory that you basically double any time estimate given. TIA.

Amahoro Africa

2007-06-11T23:41:00.002-07:00

My main reason for going to Uganda was to participate in Amahoro Africa (www.amahoro-africa.org), an international gathering of 150 African church leaders from mainly East Africa. The African countries represented were Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria, Liberia and South Africa. There were also about 50 participants from the US.

The meeting was held at the Colline Hotel in Mukono, which is near Kampala. Did you see "Hotel Rwanda"? Colline was the chain of hotels referenced.

Besides the bus ride from the airport, what I saw of the outdoors for 3 days was through a window. This was the view from my hotel room.Amahoro Africa's conversation discussed the post-colonial Church in Africa. It is a topic I hadn't pondered much beforehand. In fact, during my sabbatical, my brain has become quite underutilized. To go from inactivity to heady theological, social, political, psychological and spiritual discussions was overwhelming, but in a good way. We spent a total of 40 hours over 4 days in this conference room. Buzz words used included orientalism, post-modernism, post-colonialism, marginalized, context, apartheid, accountability, leadership development, partnership, transformation, reconciliation and empowerment. Does that give you an idea of our time together?

If you would like to follow some of the discussion, please check out the blog at www.amahoroafrica.blogspot.com. I'm also happy to interact with you more in-depth than what I will cover in my blog.

TIA moment(s): The electricity went out intermittently each day, sometimes for several seconds, other times for many minutes, always when Monique or I were showering. TIA.

A few highlights of the gathering for me were:

worshiping with Africans in Africa, . . .. . . discussing African womens' roles in the Church, and. . .

. . . interacting one-on-one with a large number of people.

My FAVORITE part of the conference was meeting each afternoon with my break-out discussion group. It was such a privilege to bring 7 nations together with our different perspectives and discuss the main session topics. From the left: John (Rwanda), Dan (Kenya), Nyantito (Tanzania), me (US), Onesphore (Burundi), Judith (Uganda), Louise (South Africa) and Rita (Uganda).

Being in Africa, we must dance! We had a celebration barbeque with traditional Ugandan dancers to inspire us.
We even had each country take turns on the dance floor. Once again, the stereotype was confirmed - white people can't dance.

The one exception was Brian McLaren. Way to go!

Into Africa

2007-06-11T23:41:00.001-07:00

Monique and I hustled to London Heathrow Airport, returned the rental car and collapsed at check-in about 1 hour before our flight to Uganda was scheduled to leave. Due to a luggage conveyor belt being broken (they had PILES of luggage to be taken), a passenger without the proper documentation and the removal of their luggage from the plane, our flight was delayed. Hurry up and wait. Just an aside - in the States, there is NO WAY a broken conveyor belt would be allowed to remain broken for over a day. Americans wouldn't stand for it. Another cultural difference.

After almost 24 hours (time zone changes included) of travel from London to Dubai through Addis Ababa onto Entebbe, we arrived at the infamous airport. This is what we looked like:
Hey - travel ain't easy and it doesn't always look pretty, although our first vista of Uganda certainly was. Would you agree?

We were met by a bus full of Amahoro Africa conference-goers who had graciously waited for our late arrival. On the ride to our hotel, in my jet-lagged haze, I attempted to absorb all that was going on around me. What I saw was a great introduction to what I continued to encounter throughout my travels in Africa.The contrast of blue sky, greenery and red dirt captures the core of Ugandan landscape. In the background is Lake Victoria.The mainstay of Uganda is a dish called matoke. It comes from the bananas found in abundance on these trees.This type of open market is seen in almost every town we passed in Uganda. And, most importantly, . . .. . . the streets full of Ugandan people who are in constant motion and in abundance at all times of the day and night. The amount of outdoor activity is astonishing.

The other introduction I had within the first hour of arrival was what I have now labeled TIA (This Is Africa) moments. You may remember this acronym from Leonardo di Caprio in "Blood Diamond", but he didn't originate it - the Africans did. I will include these moments periodically in my blogs. To define their meaning, I will use examples.

"Trust in God Electronics" - Does this mean you must trust God because your faith will ensure these electronics will work? TIA."Hertz Lease a Car" - Is that the type of rental car available in Uganda? TIA.

"Animal Transport" - Would this be considered "driving cattle" in Uganda? TIA.

The final TIA moment of the day came when experiencing African time. How long were we told the bus ride to the hotel would take? 45 minutes. How long was the actual bus ride? An hour and a half. TIA.

Whirlwind Tour of London

2007-06-10T00:48:00.000-07:00

Our London visit happened on our very last day in the UK. FYI - 5 hours is clearly NOT enough time to see this wonderful city. Our quasi-solution to this problem was to take the Original London Sightseeing Bus Tour. This is where the whirlwind began. . . and such a perfect place to start.

For those of you who haven't visited London, this is one of the first signs you'll encounter when traveling on the Underground. It sure is thoughtful of the Brits to warn us. . . . . . or so I thought until I saw this next sign: I had visions of having my purse stolen and filling out a crime report where the officer questions ME why I didn't take responsibility to look after my things. After all, there were signs posted. This is Great Britain. They take the rules and personal responsibility quite seriously.

Oh well. Nevermind the signs. Here's where the whirlwind begins, so pay close attention.

Here is Trafalgar Square (next slide).Here is Big Ben. . . (next slide, please)and Parliament (next).Here I am standing in front of Big Ben. . .(next slide, please). . . and Parliament (go on).

Here is Westminster Abbey (nexxxt).

Here I am standing in front of Westminster Abbey (next slide).

Here is the rear view of Big Ben and Parliament, with the partial obstruction due to someone's hair flying in front of my camera (we're on a bus, after all - next).

Here is the London Eye (I'm sorry - are you guys bored yet? Next!).

Here is St. Paul's Cathedral (a great shot - next slide, please).

Here is the Tower Bridge (not the London Bridge - that one's less aesthetic. Next).

Here is the Tower of London and. . .. . . here is where the tour ends abruptly due to the sudden realization that it is 4:10 PM, we have a 4:30 PM train to take in order to catch our flight to Uganda and we're not anywhere NEAR the train station. We literally had to sprint and just slipped in while the doors were closing. Whewww.

Real-Time World Status

2007-06-06T09:31:00.003-07:00

Date: June 7, 2007

Time: 1:30 PM

Location: France

Next Destination: China

Estimated Arrival Time: 4:00 PM on June 8, 2007

Next Blog Entry: Whirlwind Tour of London

Hanging with the London Locals

2007-06-06T09:31:00.002-07:00

Monique and I had the privelege of spending time with some people who live in and near London. These nice folks were Chorleywood locals whom we chatted with at the local pub. They took our picture, so we took theirs. They are Brits to the core.

The next day, we had lunch with Monique's friends, Heather and "T". Heather is from So Cal. T is from Tonga. They met through mutual friends and the rest is history. They now live in London because T is a professional rugby player for a local team. How very English!We had dinner with more of Monique's friends, John and Julie. John is the pastor at the American Church in London. They live down the street from Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. I was going to drop in and say hello, but they were in Los Angeles.In case you're interested, here's the street name for your next visit to London.

Saving the Best for Last

2007-06-06T09:31:00.001-07:00

The final chapter of "Quest for the Best B & B" is truly the best. The winner is North Hill Farm in Chorleywood of Hertfordshire. It is located north of London about 30 minutes by train (only 1 mile from the tube stop) and is only 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport. It provided the BEST breakfast with fresh fruit salad, fresh croissants, as well as the English standard of ham and eggs. It also had the best running trails. If you ever need to stay near London, you must check this place out. Do I sound like I'm advertising? I suppose I am. After all, a happy customer is the best source of new business.

The look of glee on my face is not only because of the items mentioned, but. . .. . . they had horses! At last - my dream came true. If I don't return to the States, this is where you would find me.

In fact, I tried to talk Nigel (he and his wife own the farm) into giving me a job. It didn't work very well because my experience is lacking in farm skills.

I haven't given up hope. I was truly inspired and just may open my own Farm Stay B & B, but in the US somewhere.

Flashback to Caerphilly Castle

2007-06-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

To continue the story of my UK experience which took place several weeks
ago. . .

While at one of our wireless internet locations, we met a Welshman named Glyn Davies. He took the time to explain some of the Welsh language to us, as well as recommend a visit to Caerphilly (or Caerffili) Castle. We took his advice and visited Caerphilly the next day on our way back to London.

According to Glyn, it is the second largest castle in Europe. I'm inclined to believe him. It was my first visit to any castle and it was quite a sight. It had a moat, a drawbridge, a portcullis, cannons and many towers.

Here we are, just a couple of princesses hanging out at our castle (hee, hee - just had to!).I was quite thankful for Glyn's knowledge. The castle listed on our tourist map was Cardiff Castle. Because it was on our way, we drove past it. What a disappointment! I guess it was built by a rich guy in the last century or so. No comparison.

Italian Interruption

2007-06-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

The current gap in blog entries is due to being overtaken by the culture, art and beauty of Tuscany. I have been in Firenze (Florence), Cortona and Assisi. Here are a few pictures of things to come. . . Oh, and don't forget that AFRICA will be up next after the UK. Please stay tuned and thank you for your patience. Now I must get my beauty rest because Francesco and I have a date to see Pisa in the morning. Sounds interesting, doesn't it?

Quest for the Best B & B - Part Four

2007-05-28T10:07:00.007-07:00

This is Holly Farm. According to the guidebook, it is an award-winning B & B. That is how we chose to stay here in Llandrindod-Wells. As you can see, it has lovely grounds. Still no horses, though. Just sheep.

It was fun to see the just-born lamb. The mother wasn't taking good enough care of her baby, so she was put in this pen. Our innkeeper was quite a character. I think she was fascinated by us Californians. I would say something and she just stared at me. Possibly she was translating in her head from English to Welsh. I'm not sure. I must admit it was a bit intimidating. It caused me to fill the empty space with more words. I find the memory quite amusing.

She did make a delicious English breakfast. I think I must have gained 5 pounds with all the full English breakfasts we ate every day!

Hit the Deck!

2007-05-28T10:07:00.006-07:00

Monique & I continued our drive toward the next farm stay in Llandrindod-Wells (another name I can't pronounce). Monique has a knack for finding back roads that provide the most spectacular scenery. We pulled over to take it all in. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a gigantic war plane flies over a hill directly toward us. We both stood there, frozen, not knowing if we should run for cover, hit the deck or just stare. We opted for the latter and fortunately no harm came.

The pictures cannot capture the size of the plane or feeling we had being out in the middle of nature and having our revelry interrupted so abruptly. We laughed for hours afterward at our experience. It's a good thing our slow reflexes didn't endanger our lives! I think the pilot must have had a good laugh at us and the look on our faces. I think he may have been messing with us.

Honey Ice Cream

2007-05-28T10:07:00.005-07:00

Dolgellau is next to the coast of Wales in Snowdonia National Park. It was home of the first Quakers before they relocated to the States. There is a small museum commemorating their journey of faith. Monique and I decided to check it out. About 10 minutes into our stay, we were overtaken by a class of Welsh students on a field trip. They stared at us and discussed among themselves (in Welsh) who we could be and what we were doing there. It was fun to listen to them speak the native language. There was a time in recent history when it was forbidden by the English to speak Welsh. It's good to know that it is currently being taught in schools. We headed out to see the coast. We found a small bay to explore and stick our toes in the water.

We continued our drive along the coast and pulled over to take some photos.

It was there we met a mother and son out for an afternoon drive. He lives about 70 miles south near Cardiff and drives up once per week to take his mom out for honey ice cream. She lives in a retirement community down the road. She reminded me of my Covenant Manor residents and made me miss them! They invited us to join them for honey ice cream, but we declined. I now don't remember why. I will be on the lookout for honey I cream and remember these two.

Quest for the Best B & B - Part Three

2007-05-28T10:07:00.004-07:00

We arrived in Dolgellau and found a quaint village.

I had envisioned our "farm stay" to be out in the countryside. As it turned out, it was just 1/4 mile from the center of town. Conveniently located - I could live that. Sadly, no horses on this farm. Just a name I couldn't pronounce (too many consonants), chickens, cows, cats and a dog (he looked like Jake - I miss my dog!).During the night, a calf was born. Therefore, it was named Suzanne. Pretty cool, huh? Somewhere in the Welsh countryside my namesake is chewing on her cud.

Although some of my farm expectations weren't met, the beauty of Wales overrode any disappointment I may have felt. . .

. . . And with this amazing view to get me ready for the day, I was smitten with my first stay on a farm.

Croeso i Gymru!

2007-05-28T10:07:00.003-07:00

After spending the morning utilizing wireless internet access (FINALLY), we walked around Ludlow to see what it had to offer. We encountered our first castle.

It didn't look worth the 6 pound entry fee, so here's the low-budget photo. Not bad. . .

Now onto the good stuff. Any guesses to what the blog title says? Here's a hint:Welcome to Wales - land of much beauty, friendly people, narrow roads and the most foreign language I've ever laid eyes (or ears) on. For instance, to pronounce the double "LL", you need to almost make the jowls of your cheeks shudder while saying "SHH". Anyway, difficult to explain and even more difficult to say. Monique aptly said it this way: Welcome to Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Trallwng and other names we can't pronounce!
We enjoyed a late lunch in Welshpool (that one's easy) and visited the tourist center. It was there that Monique had a revelatory guidebook find that transformed the way we found our nightly accomodations. It's called "Stay on a Farm!" For those of you who don't know, I've always wanted to live on a farm (if only for a short while) in order to have a horse. Could this be more perfect? The woman at the center gave us a recommendation, I called the number and it was set. We were to stay on a farm in Dolgellau, a short hour drive from Welshpool.

Quest for the Best B & B - Part Two

2007-05-28T10:07:00.002-07:00

We certainly packed our second day in England full of many adventures. Because of different circumstances, mainly our search for internet, it got to be much later than we realized. It was my driving shift and I was tired. Hence, it was time to find a B & B.

We started looking for signs and saw one pointing to the top of a hill with a beautiful view of a valley. The B & B was called the Kremlin. Hmmm. . . well, it's worth a try. After all, it's good to combine cultures in a foreign country. Why not support the Russians? We entered an intimidating door to find a group of men watching football (soccer) on a big screen television enjoying their beers. We stood there for about 10 minutes before being acknowledged. Not a good sign. The innkeeper/bartender finally looked our way and we inquired about the cost for a night's stay. He quoted us some outrageous amount that I have now forgotten (purposely) and we left.

Next up was the Angel B & B. I vaguely remember seeing somewhat of a halo around it. Well, maybe not, but desperation had set in and the look of the place was far superior than the Kremlin. We inquired at the door, interrupting the woman innkeeper from her dinner. Unfortunately, no room at the inn. She kindly suggested that we try the next town called Ludlow. Surely there are many options there.

We drove another few miles to the center of Ludlow. Alas, at approximately 10 PM, we had success and found the Bull Hotel as our home for the night. Whew - that was a close one. After getting settled in, I adamantly told Monique that we would heretofore find a place to stay by 6:30 PM each night. There - problem solved.

A Drive through the English Countryside

2007-05-28T10:07:00.001-07:00

To make the most of our car rental, Monique and I continued driving westward toward Wales. A few things stood out to me in the English countryside:

The beautiful fields of rapeseed
The farm animals

The number of bald men driving Ferraris (seriously - I think I counted at least four in one day!)

The lack of internet access (we took a detour in order to find wireless internet only to discover the vast sums of pounds we would need to pay).

Hey - you can't have EVERYTHING and I will take minor inconvenience for major beauty.

The Birthplace and Resting Place of Winston Churchill

2007-05-25T00:58:00.002-07:00

After a good night's rest and a proper English breakfast, we decided on our next destination. Upon the suggestion of a chap named Melvin Chaplain (born and raised in Cassington), we headed to Bladon. This is where Winston Churchill is buried. I guess we sort of went backwards because our next stop was Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill's birthplace and the current residence of the Duke of Marlborough. In fact, that's the Duke's Range Rover parked out front. I'm not kidding! The beauty of the grounds and the enormity of the palace were hard to capture through pictures. Here's my best attempt to show you what we saw.

My favorite part of our time there was enjoying the of serene landscape that's been well-kept for many generations. It's a sharp contrast to the mania of Paris or Los Angeles.

The Quest for the Best B & B - Part One

2007-05-25T00:58:00.001-07:00

While in the UK, Monique and I lived on the edge a bit by winging it when it came to accomodations. We had varied degrees of success in our quest for the best B & B.

As you may recall, I drove us out of Oxford. Besides staying on the correct side of the road, top priority was finding a place to spend the night. I pulled off the main road toward a small village called Cassington. Lo and behold, at the end of the road was an inviting little place called Checkers Inn. Viola! Our first place to stay.

After getting settled into our room, we enjoyed a drink at the the pub downstairs. How very English - the perfect end to our first day in England.

Back to the Regularly Scheduled Programme

2007-05-25T00:58:00.000-07:00

After spending the past few weeks in Africa, I have returned to Paris for a week of rest before heading off to Italy. I still have some stories to tell you about the rest of my time in the UK, so I will pick up where I left off. . .

I'm Almost There. . .

2007-05-23T01:54:00.000-07:00

I'm in London Heathrow Airport in transit to Paris. My flight from Dubai, UAE, arrived safely. I am now passing the hours at a Starbucks until my flight leaves this afternoon. I love Starbucks! Yes, I am one of THOSE Americans who is grateful to see this chain when I do. I can't help it! No judgements for you may feel the same when you are away from everything familiar for extended periods of time. Can you guess where this Starbucks is?

I'm looking forward to sharing my Africa adventures. So many stories. My friend Monique came up with a good summary by stating we fit one year of experiences into three weeks. Therefore, expect it to take me some time to tell you about them. I assure you, it will be worth the wait.

Thank you for your e-mails and prayers. I feel overwhelmed today with the emotions of missing you all. Please keep them coming.

Back in Uganda from Rwanda onto Safari

2007-05-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

My posts are minimalist in nature due to the non-stop schedule I've maintained in Africa. We head off to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the morning for our two-day safari. Thus, no access to share the MANY stories accumulating on a daily basis. I can't wait to tell you more. Please know I am well cared for and God has protected us in our travels. Thanks for your patience and look for updated posts on Friday.

Headed Out for Rwanda

2007-05-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

After 4 intense days of sessions, group discussions, personal interactions, global issues and Emergent Church conversations, I'm headed to Rwanda. Besides sleeping, I've had about 5 minutes of downtime per day. I can't wait to share with you all that I've experienced and learned, but it will have to wait until next week. While you wait, go to www.amahoro-africa.org to check out this conference that brought me to Africa.

Please pray for safety in travel by bus and plane. Please pray for protection from mosquitoes and food poisoning. Most importantly, please pray for our interactions with the people and ministries we will be seeing in Rwanda tied to genocide.

BTW - I'm still having a great time and you WILL hear about the rest of my UK experience, too!

I'm in Africa!

2007-05-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

After 24 hours of car, train, plane and bus ride, I have safely arrived in Kamapala, Uganda. I look forward to telling you about the rest of my time in England and Wales, but wanted you to know the Kenyan plan that crashed was not mine.

Our First Stop in England

2007-04-28T01:23:00.012-07:00

Monique and I had very few set plans for our stay in the United Kingdom. We decided early on to just wing it and go whereever the road (and map) may lead us. We were first led to Oxford.

It is absolutely a university town. There were students everywhere and the place bustled with activity because of it. I was struck by the beauty and noticed some similarity to Boston.

We watched crew teams practice on the Thames. . .

. . . and enjoyed fish and chips at the Cock and Camel (strange name, questionable service, GREAT food).
We strolled through Oxford's campus and enjoyed the sunset. By this time, the memory of brutal customs agents was a distant memory.

Welcome to the UK!

2007-04-28T01:23:00.011-07:00

After an 8-hour overnight stay in Paris, I headed off to my next destination - the United Kingdom. I flew to London Heathrow in order to meet my friend Monique, whose flight from Los Angeles would arrive shortly after mine. Boy, that sounds so easy now that I write it. It wasn't quite that way.

I walked to customs with the thought I'd sail through and wait for Monique's flight to arrive. After all, this is England. They had barely blinked at me in Paris and Vienna. In fact, I walked into Austria without anyone even checking my passport. Plus, I just came from the Middle East. If I can get in their countries, why should the UK be different? Oh, the arrogance of America rears its ugly head.

The British gentleman at the counter took my passport and began asking a series of questions. "Where are you staying? How much cash do you have in your wallet? Why are you carrying Euro when the UK uses British Pounds? Have you EVER traveled outside the US? What if your friend's plane gets re-routed? Why did you write "unemployed" on the declaration card instead of sabbatical? What the _____ are you doing in my country (well, he didn't say that with words, but it certainly was implied)?" Do you have a clear picture in your minds?

The main issue was I didn't know where I was staying or have necessary phone numbers to prove my stay in the UK was not a threat to the country. I don't remember the last time I felt like such an idiot. He certainly was convinced of his American stereotype and I'm sad to say I didn't do anything to help it. In the end, he let me through, but the damage was done. I journaled for about a half hour to get over that one!

Thankfully, meeting up with Monique after that was a breeze. She shared my experience with customs and so we drown our sorrow with my comfort food - NACHOS.

They look a bit different, don't they? Hey, I was just thankful to be in the country. Later that day we enjoyed a proper English meal of fish, chips and tea.Our next challenge was driving on the other side of the road. We rented an automatic to make our transition a little easier. Monique was the brave one and went first.

It was like being 16 again when you first learn how to drive. Look at Monique doing drivers ed checkpoints. She was a champ!

Here's a glimpse of our first moments on the road.

I did drive toward the end of our first day in England. I made my leg of the trip a quick one by pulling into the first B & B we could find - a total of maybe 15 minutes.

Being in Beirut

2007-04-28T01:23:00.010-07:00

The pictures I ever remember seeing of Beirut are bombed buildings, men with guns and desert-looking land. Because of this, I want to show you a different side of the city and listen to your response. This is the view from our room at Hotel Mediterrane on the Corniche. Pretty spectacular, huh?

This is a self-portrait with daytime view of our locale.

Melissa and I took a stroll along the Corniche with her friend Jonathan, who lives in Beirut and showed us around a bit. He's the shadowy figure below.

The atmosphere in Beirut was considerably different than what we experienced in both Jordan and Syria. You know those pictures of Beirut I referred to earlier? Well, I did see buildings which were bombed in the war last August, lots of men with guns and some desert-looking land. Some other observations I made were:

The French influence evidenced in architecture, number of French-speakers and the language written on signs;
The Western influence evidenced in style of dress (MUCH less conservative than Syria and Jordan), restaurant chains (KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks) and cars driven; and
English is widely spoken.

Beirut was the only place in the Middle East we visited where I felt a little uneasy. The night we arrived, the bodies of two young males abducted from Beirut were found in the south. This fueled the atmosphere of political uncertainty and increased the number of security checkpoints. Overall, I'm glad to say I've been to Beirut, but it's not a place I plan a return visit.

From Syria to Lebanon

2007-04-28T01:23:00.009-07:00

Of all the Middle East travels, our bus ride from Aleppo to Beirut was certainly the most eventful. The day started with our bus getting a late start. Our departure was scheduled for 9:30 AM. We left at 10:15 AM. The bus driver attempted to make up by lost time by driving extremely fast. I can't say for sure what our actual speed was because the needle on the speedometer was missing. Just picture the movie "Speed". I think we actually caught some air on a few of the bumps.

We made a couple stops alongside the road. Here was what one of them looked like.

Funny thing - I didn't SEE any sign for a bus stop. Do you? Also, the passengers we picked up didn't appear to pay any money. Hmmmm. . .

A few kilometers before the Lebanese border, we stopped at a "gas station". I was confused because we had gotten gas about an hour after we left Aleppo. Then I saw that they were siphoning gasoline out of the tank. Oh, the mysteries of Syria.

At the border of Lebanon, we ran into a bit of a language barrier. Our bus drivers and the Syrian customs agents didn't speak English. They kept calling "Suzanne" because it is an Arabic name. I gave them the blank, I-don't-understand stare. It actually became a benefit because we escaped paying any exit tax. The customs agent then walked us across the border. This is what it looked like.

I have a feeling it isn't the main tourist border crossing. It was here that I got my first clear glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Lebanese officials let us sail through customs and didn't charge us for our visas. God truly gave us favor in this politically unstable country. Isn't it beautiful? The pictures I see of Lebanon are of bombed buildings, not serene terrain.

Outside of Beirut, there were some detours due to road construction. At one of them, our bus driver had an altercation with a Lebanese bus. They yelled at each other in Arabic. From that point on, the Lebanese bus stalked us. He cut in front of us constantly, braked for no reason and waited for us at forks in the road. We were praying without ceasing for God's peace to cut down on the machismo and bring us to safety. Thankfully, He honored those prayers and we made it to Beirut.

Travel in the Arab World

2007-04-28T01:23:00.008-07:00

Need I say more? Here is what a typical taxi ride looked like from the front seat. We got REALLY good at it by the end of our stay.

City of Watered Goats

2007-04-28T01:23:00.007-07:00

Because of my extended stay in the Middle East, I was able to join my friends on the trek to the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo aka Halab. Halab is Arabic for "place where Abraham watered his goats". It's humble beginning hasn't stopped it from becoming a thriving city. Just last year it was voted the Capital of Islamic Culture.

The main attraction in Aleppo is the Citadel. It was the city center centuries ago. As the teenage daughter of our friends in Aleppo said, "It's just a bunch of rocks." I would say a bunch of very impressive rocks with amazing views of the city.

After exploring the different crevices and enjoying the 360 view of Aleppo, we had some mint tea at an outdoor cafe. At the table next to us was a 70-something couple from Orange, California. They were touring Syria and then on to Iran. Wow! I hope I will be doing the same 40 years from now.

Although I enjoyed my stay in Aleppo, Damascus was the city that captured my heart in Syria.

A Street Called Straight

2007-04-28T01:23:00.006-07:00

We took the opportunity to walk down the famous street mentioned in Acts and visit Ananias’s house. On the way, there was a group of boys enjoying an afterschool snack. We stopped to watch the action and joined them in their treat. The man took a ball of dough, rolled it onto a round pillow and transferred it to cook on the open oven. In case you’re wondering, that’s chocolate, not some other foreign substance. It was delicious!

My first look at Ananias's house included a Volvo parked out front. He really was an amazing guy. I do realize he lived about 2000 years ago, but still. It was something to commemorate.

The home is underground due to the number of years which have passed and how they used to build city upon city. This occurred when there was an earthquake or attack on the city.

The home is set up to evoke a sense of reverence for the miracle which took place through Paul’s conversion and Ananias’s faith. Of course, I was a little busy playing with my camera's self-timer in order to get this shot, so I missed out on some of that reverence. Note to self: let go of the photojournalist stuff for important moments such as these.

To continue our time with Paul, we walked a bit further to the place where he escaped Damascus through the city wall. He must have been a man small in stature because the space he fit into was tiny! Here I am attempting to reenact the scene. I don’t think I would have succeeded.

Behind the Times

2007-04-28T01:23:00.005-07:00

Date: Monday, April 30th

Time: 10:00 PM

Location: Ludlow, England

Just wanted to give you an update of my current status in the world. Stay posted for further tales from the Middle East.

Doing the Hubbly Bubbly

2007-04-28T01:23:00.004-07:00

While in Jordan, we had dinner at the Bel Mondo Café. It was there I decided I just HAD to try what they called Hubbly Bubbly aka Huka aka Shisha. I’ve never smoked anything in my life up to this point. Why not try it the Middle Eastern way? Melissa suggested I wait until we arrive in Syria. It would be a bit more authentic that way.

In Damascus, we went up the mountain and enjoyed dinner overlooking the city. What a perfect place for some Hubbly Bubbly.

Being a Bedouin in the Souq

2007-04-28T01:23:00.003-07:00

On Monday, we did some shopping at the Souq in Damascus. It is a colorful place, packed with people and everything you could possibly desire in Syria.

A shopkeeper we now call Sultan (it was the name of the shop) enticed us into his store through the promise of finger cymbals. There was an alleged Canadian who popped his head into the shop and said “I’m tired of buying junk from all these other Syrians. This is the only businessman I trust in Syria.” Well, with that endorsement, why not trust him? Never mind the fact that the Canadian had an Arab accent. Hence, I purchased the cymbals. To go with them, he suggested a belly dancing outfit. He showed me several. Thankfully, I narrowly escaped the purchase of THAT expensive Halloween costume.

I then told him I was looking for a hijab, the head covering used by Muslim women. He said for us to follow his protégé to another store. Alas, no hijabs. Only scarves. Whew. I thought I was safe, but wait – there’s more.

The Sultan arrived and insisted that we join him for tea, which we did. He told stories of the fleeting opportunity he had to attend a university in Boston and of his American friends who purchase his many wares. He talked about how brave we are to visit Syria, despite what the media says. He also thought we must be democrats because we didn’t listen to what our president said! He then brought out some beautiful hand-stitched Bedouin jackets. To give the clothes credibility, he had an arts and crafts book on hand to show us that these are the real McCoy. As you can see in the picture, it sure was fun to dress up! So much fun that Melissa and I chose to purchase one of those Bedouin jackets. EXPENSIVE Bedouin jackets.

Later that afternoon, we visited another shop that had finger cymbals. They were one third the price we paid at the Sultan’s shop. I was peeved. Several minutes later, we passed another shop with similar Bedouin jackets. Just to torture ourselves, we asked about the price. It was 25% less than the Sultan’s and this guy probably would have haggled a whole lot more. The label “Stupid American” did come to mind. Candy graciously reminded us that it is part of the experience. I guess it is. The moral of the story? Shop around, haggle the price and don’t trust a Canadian with an Arab accent!

Take off Your Shoes

2007-04-28T01:23:00.002-07:00

One of the first things we did after arriving in Damascus was to visit two mosques: the Umayyad Mosque and the Shiite Mosque.

The Umayyad Mosque is a Sunni mosque that, according to the brochure, is the most famous Islamic mosque. Its claim to fame is keeping both John the Baptist's head and three strands of Mohammed's hair in the center shrine. We didn't attempt to check on these claims.

As you can see, we were required to wear appropriate attire to enter the mosque. We also removed our shoes at the door to show respect. Personally, I felt like Obi Wan Kanobe or perhaps a woman on Star Trek. I truly felt out of place.

Inside the mosque we sat on the floor and prayed for a bit. The verse that came to me out of Exodus was when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and said, "Take off your shoes, for the ground on which you walk is holy ground." Damascus has much history that makes it a holy place. I felt the release of control once again, especially for this period of rest and true listening to what God wants to speak. No burning bushes yet, but I'll keep you posted.

The Shiite Mosque is where we saw mostly Iranians on pilgramage to this holy place for them. They

wailed at the shrine, crying for blessings. They then threw items of clothing or pictures of loved ones on the shrine in order for them to receive blessings as well.

As you can see, it was beautiful on the inside. Do you recognize that person in the chador?

The Road to Damascus

2007-04-28T01:23:00.001-07:00

Our road to Damascus from Amman was relatively smooth. The view of dry, arrid land is mostly what we saw on the 4 hour bus ride. Oh, and the sheep, of course. I have a greater understanding of why sheep and shepherds are mentioned so much in the Bible.

Crossing the border included a Jordanian exit tax, barbed wire and a check of our Syrian visas. We had been told some horror stories about getting stuck at the border, but thankfully no such story for us.

Syria is a more conservative country than Jordan that has not allowed foreign influence or investment to taint its culture. The Syrian people are warm and welcoming. Almost everyone we had contact with said "Welcome!" This is one of the few English words spoken, however. There were not many taxi drivers or merchants that spoke English.

We were also welcomed by the third world driving and traffic patterns. There truly is method in their mania. Somehow, it just works not following any visible rules we hold so tightly onto in the West.

Here is a view of Damascus from "the mountain" as it is called by locals. I found it to be more of a hill, such as Signal Hill, Anaheim Hills, etc. The view sure was beautiful and it gives a larger picture of the oldest inhabited city in the world.

A Change in Itinerary

2007-04-28T01:23:00.000-07:00

I am having so much fun in the Middle East, I decided to extend my stay here. Instead of leaving on Tuesday, I went to Aleppo (in Syria) and Beirut (in Lebanon). Here are some posts to catch you up on what we've done. . .

My Friend Coco

2007-04-19T10:32:00.003-07:00

The highlight of my trip to Petra was getting to have a camel ride on the way back up the hill. A Bedoin man who spoke English with an Irish accent "rented" us our camels.
Here she is - my friend Coco. It was so much fun. I laughed the whole way!

The New Seventh Wonder of the World

2007-04-19T10:32:00.002-07:00

Petra is attempting to become one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. There is even a website you can go to in order to place your vote. Take a look at these photos and you decide.

If you would like to place your vote, go to www.new7wonders.com.

In Pursuit of the Holy Grail

2007-04-19T10:32:00.001-07:00

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The pursuit of the holy grail. We're on the way to Petra, city where those famous scenes were filmed. Does it look familiar?

Well, we must be getting close if there is an Indiana Jones Gift Shop, right?

This is the path to the holy grail - I'm sure of it!

Oh, here it is! Not really, but the pursuit sure was fun anyway.

A Touch of Rome?

2007-04-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

Today we visited the ancient city of Gerasa, now called Jarash. It was once a prosperous city of the Roman Decapolis. It is surrounded by the hills of Gilead and is the area where Jesus healed the Gerasene (Mark 5:20). All this information I pirated from a guidebook to set the stage for the pictures to come.

Jarash has such landmarks as Hadrian's Arch, the Hippodrome, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Artemis. I will let you peruse the pictures and enjoy the day as we did.

At the end of our visit, we stopped for coffee to chat with some new friends we met yesterday at Jesus's baptism site. Patricia is from Venezuela and now lives in Jordan with her Jordanian husband, whom she met in Florida at college, and their twin girls. She speaks Spanish, English, Italian and Arabic. Carlos, Patricia's brother, is visiting from Venezuela and speaks Spanish, English and Italian. Their mother, Margaret (she's Irish, but moved to Venezuela in 1949), joined our party today. We had a great time sharing our travel stories and may even meet up again in Lebanon!

From left to right: me, Melissa, Margaret, Patricia, Candy and Carlos.

A Swim At the Lowest Place on Earth

2007-04-16T09:29:00.005-07:00

Today I got to swim, or should I say FLOAT, in the Dead Sea. Pretty cool. Very fun. See - there I am!

Matthew 3

2007-04-16T09:29:00.004-07:00

"For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!" - Matthew 3:3

Welcome to Jordan! I was first greeted at the airport by several men wearing berets and fatigues, carrying some form of automatic weapon. Well, they weren't there for me exactly. My friend Melissa was though and that was wonderful! I was so happy to be with my friend after being alone for a week. What a gift!

After spending the night at a Southern Baptist guesthouse, we headed off to see some sights. On our way toward the Jordan River, I took a few photos (well, it was more than a few - just ask Melissa) to give a visual of the landscape.

In the hour car ride, we passed at least 8 mosques,

. . . more than 8 sheep,

. . . 1 camel,

. . . and lots of arrid terrain.

Our first stop was the site of Jesus's baptism. Are you ready for the 7 JD (Jordan Dinar = $10) tour? For our investment, we received a guide (Ali is his name), a brochure, a ticket, a bus ride and a walking tour. Enjoy!

Here is Ali quoting the passage from the Book of Matthew. Please pray that he knows the meaning of his words and daily work.

At the far right is Juna, one of my travel companions. In the background is a group from a Korean church.

We walked through the middle of a casual Catholic service held around a basin of holy water. We also walked through an Russian Orthodox church with an Orthodox priest singing a chant along with the soundtrack

playing in the background. Very ecumenical!

Here are my other travel buddies. To the left is Candy and to the right is Melissa. Oh, and there's the Jordan River in the background! I even got to dip my toe in the water.

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for. Here is the site of Jesus's baptism. . .

. . . yeah, that was kind of our response, too. Nevertheless, it was a meaningful experience and well worth our time. Getting there is half the fun!

An Excursion in Vienna

2007-04-16T09:29:00.003-07:00

On my way from Paris to Amman, I had a BRIEF stop in Vienna. I wanted to get a small taste of Austria and planned accordingly by scheduling an earlier-than-necessary flight to utilize my layover.

Here's my time spent in a nutshell:

LIKES - View of the Alps from the plane (I was singing "The Sound of Music"), Viennese coffee, apple struedel, ease & cost of transportation, good-looking people, 2 Starbucks sightings and the lunch

special at Weinwurm.

DISLIKES - Suitcase ripped during bus transport, number of smokers substantial, forgetting where the bus stop was (that had to do with me, not Vienna), can't bring liquids on board (I could in Paris - go figure!) and getting frisked by security. OBSERVATIONS - The Blue Danube looks green, the architecture looks different than France and the city has a small-town feel.

CONCLUSION - 3 hours in Vienna isn't quite enough, one day may be enough and 3 days would be more than enough time to see the sights.

My New Irish Friends

2007-04-16T09:29:00.002-07:00

Although my time at Musee de Orsay was enjoyable, I felt quite alone. Not being able to speak French really limits my communication in France, believe it or not! The language barrier has gotten to me over the past few days. I'm used to talking with anyone I choose. I also had two less than desirable interactions with museum employees (I presume both were French) that left me close to tears.

One interaction was with a woman who yelled at me for attempting to take photos in an exhibition - "No photographs! It is strictly forbidden!! You may never take photos in the exhibition!!!" Well, how was I supposed to know that when I could take them in the REST of the museum? The other was with a man who I attempted to ask if I could take photographs again. He pretended (or maybe really didn't know - in my emotional state it didn't matter) not to know English and was peeved at me for not greeting him with "Bon Jour, Monsier."

After the museum closed, I took some time outside to gather my thoughts and eat some chocolate. Or was it eat chocolate and gather my thoughts? Anyway, I stood next to some ladies speaking with, what I assessed, either a Scottish or Irish accent. I was just about to ask them when one of the ladies named Joan asked me about my "Guggenheim Bilbao" t-shirt. She had visited there several years ago and always regretted not purchasing the black t-shirt I wore.

I was just so happy to speak with friendly people who spoke English! We chatted for about half an hour. They invited me to join them for dinner and two of them (Margaret and Joan) gave me their phone numbers for when I visit Ireland. Well, I'm just have to now!

God provides for me in amazing ways and on this day it was through my Irish friends. I didn't feel so alone anymore. He prepares our paths and we walk in them.

For My Nieces

2007-04-16T09:29:00.001-07:00

Canela and Isabela - this painting reminded me of you. Will you dance for me?

Name That Artist, Please

2007-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Remember that required Art History class sophmore year of college? Now's the time to display your knowledge. I'm going easy on you because these are all pretty famous.

An Impressionist Overview

2007-04-16T06:54:00.001-07:00

Here are some paintings that stood out as my favorites. They are some of the lesser known impressionists, at least to a layperson such as myself. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the names of the pieces (they were in French, of course!) or the artists. I will give my own dialogue instead. Please take it with the grain of salt - no disrepect meant to the artists. "I think a storm is coming. I'd better hurry and pick the romantic wildflowers quickly."

"Now promise you won't tell Mom that I broke her favorite watch, okay?"

"I thought the Farmer's Almanac said this river had excellent fishing, Norm. I haven't caught one fish yet."

"I heard that Shelly's cousin Patricia told her best friend's niece that she heard that Margot eloped. Did you hear that, too?"

This is the pre-impressionist big dots art. I like all the colors used in this one.

Ah, the Seine River, inspiration for so many impressionist artists. It truly is beautiful. Here's a modern-day look from the Musee de Orsay veranda.

Memories of My College Dormroom

2007-04-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

The summer before I went away to college, I decided on the theme for my first room away from home. Claude Monet was it! I had a Monet-esque bedding, Monet posters, Monet calendar, you name it. It was quite a treat to see in person his original work that I cherished so much back then. It definitely renewed my love of his art, although I won't be running out to purchase any more posters. It has so much more meaning in the Musee de Orsay. Enjoy the paintings!

Welcome to Musee de Orsay!

2007-04-14T06:33:00.003-07:00

This is the Musee de Orsay, home of many impressionists artwork. I was given excellent advice by Jennifer and Tanya to check out this museum before going to the Louvre. I'm so glad I did. I spent Sunday afternoon discovering art.

Musee de Orsay used to be a train station. Now that you know, doesn't it kind of look like one?

Here is a view that I discovered while enjoying my afternoon snack. Do you see Basilique de Sacre Coeur off in the distance?

To give perspective of the vast and ornate space, I took pictures of the ballroom. FYI - I kept most of my photos G-rated, but the following are more PG-13.

Hillsong Church in Paris

2007-04-14T06:33:00.002-07:00

I took another opportunity to go to Hillsong Church in Paris. Remember we were turned away because there wasn't enough room? Well, thankfully, that didn't happen again. After the day I had, I think I would have emotionally lost it. Oh, by the way, after getting off the metro in Paris, I got lost. Nevermind. The important part of the story is I made it to Espace San Martin down the street from the Georges Pompidou (gigantic modern art museum - I'll show you that another time) to Hillsong Church Paris.

Pretty cool, huh? The atmosphere is hip and full of energy. It was refreshing to be in a church that had more of the States feel (I miss it - oui!). This is Hillsong London's Paris church plant. The service is in both English (Aussie-style) and French. I was amazed at the talent of the translators. It flowed quite smoothly. The guy on the left is the French translator.

I sat next to Eliza from Sweden. She had blonde hair the length of Crystal Gayle's, only thicker and healthier-looking. She is a regular at Hillsong. I'll have to talk to her more next time I go.

I attempted to download a short video clip I took during the worship time, but it didn't work. Bummer! The worship is concert-like with people jumping up and down, raising their hands. I was expecting at any moment a stage-dive. Alas, it never came, but the energy was at that level. If this represents Paris's youth, God is doing a mighty work and the church breakthrough is happening like Derek believes.

The Budget Tour of Versailles

2007-04-14T06:33:00.001-07:00

My adventure of the day (AOTD) on Friday was to go find Versailles. It looked so easy on the Paris public transportation map. I took the bus to the Blue RER (Paris train) to the Yellow RER. Piece of cake. I then waited for about an hour for the correct train that said "Chateau de Versailles" to arrive. I saw the same trains come and go. I memorized what each of their names were (DEBA, MONA, JILL, etc.). I FINALLY put it together that I was on the wrong side of the tracks. Literally. Here's what the view looked like, in case you ever find yourself in a similar situation: I arrived in Versailles starving because I planned to have lunch there. By this time, it was about 4 PM. I went to the Creperie and was turned away because they just finished lunch. I settled on a sidewalk cafe that served, of all things, Mexican food. My favorite! Nevermind my chicken burrito tasted more curry-like. It was still delicious and look how nicely presented!

Onward to Chateau de Versailles. On the way I passed the Hotel de Ville. It looked like a landmark, so I took a picture. Since this time, I've seen one in Paris and Wissous. Is this a chain like the Holiday Inn? A mystery to solve later. . .

Here's another scene I passed on my walk to the Chateau. It looks like I could be back in the 17th century. This is one of my favorite parts of Paris so far. The history of the buildings.

Viola! I arrive at the gates of Chateau de Versailles. I am struck by the enormity of its size.

At the front gates, there are signs pointing to where to purchase a billet (ticket). By this time it's after 4:30 PM and I need to be back in Paris at 7:00 PM. I decided to take myself on the budget tour. Here's what it looked like. Let me know what you think.

And they want to charge for a ticket when this is what you see?! Just kidding. Keep looking. . .
Isn't this in picture books and stuff? I'm sure I saw it in "A Paris Story".

Here was my favorite part of the tour. Even though there weren't any flowers, the view was stunning.

Thus concludes the Budget Tour of Versailles. As you can see, it only included the outdoors. When I spoke with a gentleman at one of the entrances, he said even though the Chateau closed in less than an hour, I still needed to buy a ticket. As if!

SWF ISO Internet Hook-Up

2007-04-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

The past week in Wissous has been a technological challenge for me as I attempt to keep my blog updated via dial-up. Today I decided to go to Antony in search of faster internet. As you can see, I was successful. Do I look happy or what?

A Paris Story - Part Deux

2007-04-13T00:43:00.001-07:00

I decided because I was already out and about, I must make the most of the 18 Euro I paid for my jaunt to the airport. I was inclined to go see a movie.

My aunt had given me a brochure for "A Paris Story". I thought it would be the perfect educational way to get started in my seeing the sights of Paris. The brochure set my hopes high that I would leave with a greater understanding of the history of Paris.

I made it to the last showing of the day and was joined by two other American families. The film was in French, but there were headsets at each theatre seat for your language of choice. It began with a random bearded man (Victor Hugo, according to the brochure - is it terrible that I don't know who he is?) as a sort of narrator talking to a woman (it was about the middle of the movie when I figured out that she represented Paris). The movie covered the last 2000 years of Paris's history, but it kept jumping from history to present day and back again. It talked of artists, poets, war heroes, explorers, kings, queens, architects and others I can't remember right now. Oy-vey!

My assessment is this: had I more knowledge of Paris, it would be a great survey of the city. However, the artistic way it was presented was a little over my practical head. It was no PBS special, that's for sure. My consolation was it's location across the street from Opera de Paris. Isn't it beautiful?

A Paris Story

2007-04-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

After my day of rest, I was invigorated to go out and brave the French world. I decided to start with a train ride to the Charles de Gaulle Airport. My purpose was two-fold: to practice for my trip to the Middle East next week and to pick up my plane tickets.

I caught the 297 bus from Wissous to Antony where the train station is located. My first moment of slight panic was whether the bus was going to stop at the location I needed. As we wound through Antony, everything started looking like the train station to me. Alas, no panic of any quantity was needed - the train station was a top destination point for my bus.

Next up was purchasing the correct ticket for the airport. They have automated machines where I can choose to read in English, so I started there. I found what I thought would work, but when I tried to insert the ticket, it buzzed at me. I then waited in line at the ticket booth with a real person. I explained in English what I needed to do and she explained back in French the ticket I needed. Oh well - I ended up with the correct ticket, a nice plastic ticket holder and coupons for sightseeing (although I saw later most had expired). On to the airport. . .

Charles de Gaulle rivals Chicago O'Hare in size. There are two terminals, so I needed to decide by memory which one Austrian Airlines was located in. Yea - I guessed right! I found the ticket counter and was asked for my confirmation number. Oops. I forgot all about that. The agent was unable to find my reservation. A moment of garden-variety panic set in until I realized I just needed to check my e-mail for the number.

Next up was finding the computer to check my e-mail. The great thing about the airport is there are abundant information desks for people like me. I asked and was pointed directly behind me. Oh – there it is.

In the end, I successfully acquired my tickets.

A Walk in the Park

2007-04-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was the first day without people or plans since I arrived in France two weeks ago. It was wonderful to have some detune time.

I decided to stick close to home. I took a stroll through the park a couple blocks away. I read the book "River Town" by Peter Hessler while enjoying the perfect spring weather and my new friends, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. It was nice of them to share some of their territory with me.

My adventure of the day (AOTD) was going to the local discount market called Ed. One difference in markets here is they don't provide bags - it's BYOB. Very environmentally concious, I would say. Another difference I found is you have to weigh your own produce. I hadn't noticed this when picking up my apples and tomatoes. When I brought my items to the register, the clerk pointed at the produce section and said something in French. She then started ringing up the person behind me. I walked back to the produce section and found the scale with the stickers. Oh.

A Slight Detour in Tours

2007-04-12T00:02:00.000-07:00

Our drive from Bardos went so smoothly that we were able to have a short visit in Tours. It is located in the heart of the Chateau Region, which is about two hours south of Paris.

Daniel and Jennifer have friends, Derek and Andrea, who live in a small town outside Tours called Fondette. They are missionaries with Church Resource Ministries and have lived here for 10 years.

I had the privelege of talking with Derek about he and Andrea's experience as church-planters in France. The vision they were given before they came was their work would be "groundbreaking". This is the perfect word-picture in that the labor is hard and the visible fruit yielded is little. Derek explained that both the French culture and intellect are barriers to them seeing their need for God. France is the birthplace of the Enlightenment, after all. They view Christianity as American and "simple".

The best gift of our visit was meeting Natalie, a recent convert (her term). She affirmed Derek's assessment of ministry among the French. She understands because she thought the same way not too long ago! She said if only they could know what she now knows, they would be converted, too. Her passion and joy (in an understated way) was so refreshing to hear. Both Natalie and Derek expressed hope for the future of the church in France. They belive a breakthrough is near.

Please pray for that breakthrough to happen. Please pray for Derek and Andrea. They will be visiting So Cal this summer to listen to what God has planned next for their lives of ministry. Their visit is to prepare them to return next summer. Please pray for Natalie, that her faith will continue to be strengthened and that her influence as a French believer will reach far beyond comprehension.

P.S. This is the FOURTH attempt at publishing this specific entry. I can't imagine what is going on!

A Comment to All My Commenters

2007-04-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU for your participation in my trip. I want you to know how meaningful it is to have you all comment on my blog. Even though I don't respond directly, I do plan to. I am currently using dial-up which is trying my patience exceedingly and limits my communication. I hope to find a cafe that has wireless in the next few days, which will help.

In the meantime, please know I'm reading each of your comments. If you would like, please e-mail me directly at suzyzoo30@gmail.com (or aol.com, your choice).

Here are a few personal messages:

Beckie - Thank you for commenting on my blog. It's so fun to hear from you!

Craig - I've gone on several runs here in Paris and one when I was in Bardos. They help orient me to my surroundings. It's a great way to explore and get a lay of the land. Thanks for asking!

Urvi-la Shah Patel - PLEASE send me your e-mail address to suzyzoo30@gmail.com. I'm so excited to hear from you. How did you find me?

Jamie - THANK YOU, dear friend, for being my most faithful commenter. You're the best and I hope to return the favor. Also, thanks for telling your parents about my blog.

Canela - I love the fact that you commented on my blog. I'm so happy to hear from you. I love you!

The Road to Paris

2007-04-10T13:24:00.003-07:00

The car ride back to Paris was to begin around 7 AM. My alarm was set for about 6:20 AM. Previously, I had some difficulty setting the alarm on my most-awesome travel clock (thanks, Jamie!), so I had diligently tested it the night before. I was successful in getting it to go off about 4 times, to the amusement of my family.

Needless to say, I was awoken at 7:40 AM by my uncle Paul calling my name. The irony is I had a vivid dream in Spain about my alarm clock not going off and my uncle being quite upset about me not being ready on time. Fortunately, only half my dream came true. My uncle did not express any irritation and I was ready to go in 12 minutes. I looked in the mirror a little later which reflected a literal "just-rolled-out-of-bed" look. You will get a glimpse of that later.

Once on the road, this is the view we got to enjoy: lots of yellow and green fields, charming little towns off in the distance and sunshine!

A Mountain Storm

2007-04-10T13:24:00.002-07:00

It was a good thing we had our Goodbye to Bardos walk when we did. 20 minutes later a rainstorm, complete with thunder and lightning, rolled in from the Pyrenees. I was able to capture a small part of it with my beloved camera. It's a bit fuzzy, but you'll get the picture (ha, ha!).

Saying Goodbye to Bardos

2007-04-10T13:24:00.001-07:00

The time has come to head back to the city. Daniel, Jennifer and Caleb fly back to Colorado on Tuesday, so I will accompany them back to Paris.

We said goodbye to Bardos by taking one more walk in the beauty of this place. I bid the sheep (I'm used to the smell) and space goodbye through my photos. I'm sad to leave Bardos because it is a place of rest and peace. I may just need to include one more visit here sometime later in my journey. Thank you, Paul and Beatri, for your amazing hospitality!

The Easter Egg Hunt

2007-04-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Easter is when we celebrate Christ's resurrection, the new life we have through Him and. . . the hunt for Easter eggs?? Well, I'm not sure why we celebrate this way, but it sure is fun. Anyone know what the history is there? Let me know.

It was a team effort in decorating and hiding the eggs. When it time for the hunt, Melodie and her bunny were the top contenders for number of eggs found. However, for this being Caleb's first Easter, he held his own by discovering several eggs in hard-to-find places (with a little help from Jennifer).

Nestle Tollhouse Kitchen

2007-04-03T12:33:00.019-07:00

It's about that stage in being away from home that comfort food is absolutely required. The first taste of home I needed was nachos. You ask, "Nachos in France?" Oui! Jennifer and I had an adventure at Carrefour (the equivalent to Walmart with more groceries) in order to obtain cheddar cheese. This was not as easy as one would think. They don't make cheddar cheese in France, amazingly enough. Fortunately, when we went to the MASSIVE cheese counter, we found the French cheese lady sympathetic. She happens to have a sister in Connecticut who has told her all about nachos, so she knew what we needed. Whew! First comfort food need fulfilled.
The next essential comfort food needed was chocolate chip cookies. My sisters and I have a Thursday night tradition of making cookies together. I miss it already! Therefore, I decided that my cousins and I needed to make chocolate chip cookies. Again, this is not an easy feat because chocolate chips are difficult to find. We had success, once again, at Carrefour. However, the chips are half the size of regular ones and cost three times as much. I must say the quality is better. We are in France, after all!

You can see Michele and I making our respective batches side-by-side because I went into teacher mode. She was a good sport and we enjoyed our cousin time. The cookies got mostly rave reviews and we were told they tasted American.

The Beach of Biarritz

2007-04-03T12:33:00.018-07:00

This is some information for all you surfers out there. I was told people come from all over the world to surf here in Biarritz. Apparantly, Biarritz has waves that compare with Hawaii. Did you know that? Learning how to surf is still on my list of things to do, but I won't be checking that off my list here. The water is too cold! Melodie and I were brave enough to stick our toes in, just to check. I commemorated my visit by picking up a few of the MANY rocks on the beach that are quite varied (Sally - those are for you!).

My Second Cousins

2007-04-03T12:33:00.017-07:00

One of the joys of my time in France is to spend time with family members I haven't been able to see often. Hanging out with my "second cousins" Melodie and Caleb brings back wonderful memories of being with my first cousins when we were young. There are pictures similar to these of Daniel, Michele, Rachelle and I over 30 years ago. It's so much fun to look at the next generation of cousins forming their own relationship. Melodie and Caleb absolutely adore one another! They are BFF.

It's All About the Bling, Baby!

2007-04-03T12:33:00.016-07:00

Have you ever seen "bling H2O"? I know I haven't! I couldn't resist taking my picture with water that probably cost more than an airline ticket (well, I forgot to look at the price, but I must be close). We found this a Bayonne wine shop. Looks like I didn't have my morning cup of French roast (that's for you, Jode) coffee yet.

Farmer's Market, French Style

2007-04-03T12:33:00.015-07:00

Every Saturday morning in Bayonne is the Farmer's Market. There were breads, meats, fish, cheeses, produce and just about everything else you can think of. Sadly, I've never (I know!) been to a farmer's market in the US, so comparing is difficult. One thing I DID notice is how people look much more French here than in Paris. This picture captures it well.

Can you find my uncle?

Cathedral in Bayonne

2007-04-03T12:33:00.014-07:00

On Saturday morning, my Uncle Paul took Daniel and I to Bayonne, which is a town about 20 minutes down the road from Bardos. Here is a cathedral we toured (I think it's called Cathedral de Bayonne, but I'm not sure). I was struck by the beauty and massive size of this place. Being the day before Easter, I pondered how different "church" looks in the US. The buildings here create a sense of reverence that we don't experience in the typical evangelical church. The thought, construction and time taken to create this kind of space left me awestruck.

My new camera

2007-04-03T12:33:00.013-07:00

Today I had a success in buying a new camera to replace the one I broke. I found the best price at Darty, the store I referenced previously. I guess it is comparable to Best Buy. The nice young man who helped me picked up very quickly that I didn't speak any French. Fortunately for me, he spoke English. He even used a swear word properly:)

I wanted to take a picture to show the CORRECT thing to do with the wrist strap, which is to wear it anytime the camera is being used. Funny - it's pretty much the first thing the Basic User Guide says to do. It has been a humbling experience.

Guggenheim Bilbao

2007-04-03T12:33:00.012-07:00

We drove from Santillana del Mar to Bilbao, which was about 1 hour away. Bilbao is where the second (or is it third?) Guggenheim Museum is located. The other is in New York City. I was confused because Frank Gehry, the architect of Guggenheim Bilbao, is also the architect who designed the concert hall in Los Angeles.

It is a modern art museum, as exemplified by the gigantic spider located at the entrace, which is carrying a sac of eggs. Modern art isn't my favorite. The architecture is truly magnificent, though, which made our visit worthy of buying a souvenir t-shirt (to be modeled on a later entry).

Please enjoy some of the contraband photos. It was only later I put together you're really not supposed to take pictures in a museum. Art Culture 101.

Our Day in Santillana del Mar, Spain

2007-04-03T12:33:00.011-07:00

Santillana del Mar (Ray - you are SO the most well-travelled!) is a small village in northern Spain near the coast which was built in the 17th century. As you can see, it has been beautifully preserved. It truly feels like I was back in time. The cobblestone streets are very cool, although a bit difficult to walk on. I didn't go on my morning run here due to the fear of falling (well, not really the reason, but it sounds good).

When we arrived, we had an early dinner Spainard time at 9:00 PM. Others trickled into the restaurant between 10:00 PM and 10:30 PM. What fascinates me is it doesn't feel that late.

The next morning, we walked through the town and then drove to the Museo de Altamira. The museum's main exhibition is the Cave of Altamira, a Palaeolithic site that recreates caves found with the earliest known art. Sadly, the first tour was full and we were unable to take the tour. Hence, no pictures

The Road to Spain, Part Dos

2007-04-03T12:33:00.010-07:00

So the moment after I took a picture of my hotel room, BAM, I dropped my camera (gasp!). Now, I have dropped cameras many times in the past. However, I believe it has never been on a hardwood floor. Unless you haven't yet guessed, my camera BROKE. My 6-week old camera broke in Espana. No tears were shed, but my remorse has grown over time. Because this is my tool to include all of you in my trip, I must replace it. More on that story to come. . .

Despite my loss, we had an enjoyable time in Spain. I will write more later as we are off to Darty (it's an electronic store, or so I'm told) to by a new camera.