tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45272072833026113572024-03-13T12:21:17.053-04:00HalfKoreanSpanishLovingAmericanI'm from the USA, my wife from South Korea, and our baby? She's not really from either one. Me? I'm just a confused father with wanderlust and a knack for languages and adventure.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-27381973180808996382017-08-26T03:41:00.000-04:002017-08-26T03:47:01.683-04:00Forced Seasons of Change<br />
My last post, entitled <a href="http://www.halfkoreanspanishlovingamerican.com/2017/06/not-so-in-haste-my-heart.html" target="_blank">Not So In Haste, My Heart</a> dealt with the struggles between forcing change in our lives versus waiting for things to occur naturally, or, perhaps, as God wills them. This post deals with a surprise which turns the tables once again; a surprise which is a relief in so many ways despite the vast amount of uncertainty that it brings with it.<br />
<br />
Over the past several months I have been slowly searching for jobs as a result of a regular discontent in my daily work, but perhaps it is more than just my work. To be honest things have been a big blur for a while now--getting up, going to work, coming home drained, and somehow mustering up the strength to fake it all over again. It's rather tiresome to go on doing something that is not enjoyable but I have managed to keep it up for a while. This may be due to my innate stubbornness, or call it perseverance, but I kept it up probably longer than I should have in the end.<br />
<br />
I have been back and forth about waiting out the minimum time to take advantage of the equity that my job had set aside for me, in the event that we made it big. I kept asking myself: "What if I quit and then a few months later we make it big? I'll really kick myself for not sticking it out a few more months if it turns out to make them all rich." That was my only concern about leaving my job for a while but even that had waned as I laboriously rose and went through the motions. The job search has been rather demanding, as it often is, searching through every job board looking for that perfect fit which is about as obvious as all life choices are (not obvious at all).<br />
<br />
A little over two years ago I joined the company and it was much the same as it is now...at the time my heart knew that I didn't want to work for a start-up again and I did not want to work every waking hour of the day, but yet I did it again. Perhaps it was a lack of choices, or perhaps it all came together in a way which felt rather miraculous so it seemed the best decision to make. The good things were that I was able to work remotely from: Seoul, South Korea; Wilmington, NC; Lisboa, Faro, and Porto (Portugal); Sevilla, Malaga, Granada, Cordoba, Madrid (Spain); and Gibraltar. That really worked out and would not have been possible in most scenarios, so I must say that I am grateful. Likewise, this position brought us out to San Diego, CA, where we have been for barely one year (August 22, 2016 we flew out here), so we have even more excitement for which to smile about.<br />
<br />
I have been closing in on some positions and waiting out other opportunities, interviewing in the mornings, studying at night, searching job boards when I should be sleeping; dreaming about new opportunities when I should be conscious of the life going on about me. Today, for instance, I had the good fortune to interview with a company--it went rather well, but after my arrival at work I was let go due to the current financial state of our company. The past few months have been leading up to this moment, and more so this week. We had meeting after meeting where the reality was becoming more clear. Today as I was summoned I felt rather confident about the subject matter and was met with the expected--an apologetic, somber explanation of the obvious and that it necessarily resulted in my being let go. I received the news like a champion, I felt, seeing as how I saw it coming it wasn't too difficult, however, I feel confident that it would have caused me more frustration in my earlier years. The hymn I mentioned in the first paragraph has been on my mind for some time so it is in that vein that we accept the news with glad hearts. In 2010, around the time I started this blog I was in the process of joining the military and after nearly a year of waiting we received the news that it was not an option--our plans which were certain were no longer a certainty; they were certain only in that they were not going to happen. We were devastated. Who wouldn't be? While I cannot compare this moment to that, it is because of those moments that we can hope now.<br />
<br />
We have seen the outcome of our circumstances and that God has not forgotten us--He certainly did not give us what we wanted, or what we asked Him for, nor did not do anything in the time frame in which we requested. In retrospect I cannot say this isn't a bad thing. In my desperation over the past few weeks I even re-evaluated the military option (Cryptolinguist) and contacted both Army and Air Force recruiters just to give it one last shot. I was swiftly reminded that this was no longer an option for many reasons (I'm still colorblind, still very nearsighted, highly astigmatic, married to a foreign national, spent years abroad making contacts in many countries, have relatives living in foreign countries, etc.). These reasons make me ineligible for my desired rate in the military and also make me a rather unlikely candidate for a Top Secret clearance. I can still have desperate moments where I question things and I believe I'm doing better than in the past.<br />
<br />
My wife has seen me over these past few months as I have searched for jobs and grown impatient, upset, and been rather difficult to live with. In many ways I am exactly the same person I was in 2010, only with less hair. In other ways, I think that I have learned a lot and am less miserable when my plans fail now.<br />
<br />
In short, I no longer have a job but have high hopes that I will do something very different, and that I will enjoy it more. I hope to find my place in this world and take steps towards working in languages and linguistics. Sometimes it can be a rather daunting task seeing job postings which make it seem that I never have the relevant skills to pursue my interests, but other days I feel that I am inching towards my goals. I hope that I can one day find my way back into school in some capacity--I can't seem to stop reading about linguistics, and perhaps computational linguistics (how else can I make sense of my interests in computer science and languages? Obviously I have to do both). It has already been ten years since I completed college and the interests have only intensified; there is little doubt that another ten years will result in the same. Another interest has always been China. I can't really tell you why or how, but it's an interesting place to me. We visited a Chinese immersion school in San Diego today to consider it as an option for Eliora. They teach kindergarten in Mandarin and then little by little over the years even it out to equal parts English and Mandarin. It's fascinating. We'll keep this on the radar and see what becomes of it. See how many exciting things are going on when we just sit down to write them out?<br />
<br />
Here is to hoping for a new, exciting position which can one day get me closer to working in linguistics in some unknown capacity (if I knew exactly what it was I wanted to do I would have probably done that already, but it's a bit of a fleeting goal some days). For today, we deal with a brief period of unemployment. Tomorrow, or, next week perhaps, we pursue our goals as a family. It's strange to say this but I feel such a sense of relief now that the moment has arrived and I am now able to work for anyone again--anything could happen now.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-17517514789594309362017-06-17T04:33:00.003-04:002017-06-17T04:33:49.761-04:00Not So in Haste, My Heart<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Not so in haste my heart!<br />Have faith in God, and wait;<br />Although He linger long,<br />He never comes too late.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He never cometh late;<br />He knoweth what is best;<br />Vex not thyself in vain;<br />Until He cometh, rest.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Until He cometh, rest,<br />Nor grudge the hours that roll;<br />The feet that wait for God<br />Are soonest at the goal.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Are soonest at the goal<br />That is not gained with speed;<br />Then hold thee still, my heart,<br />For I shall wait His lead.</blockquote>
<div dir="ltr">
During a recent excursion to Los Angeles to visit relatives of my wife we had the pleasure of visiting a church which was led by our relative by marriage. Although it has been many years since I visited a more traditional Methodist church it is not something that I am unfamiliar with.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I cracked open the hymnal and discovered a piece of paper which was a placeholder, intentionally or unintentionally I cannot be certain, for this hymn: Not So in Haste, My Heart.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Reviewing the lyrics left me feeling they might be particularly relevant for my life at the moment and so I snapped a picture. Later that evening I reviewed the song in its entirety and was shocked at the relevance for my life both now and for at least the past decade of my life.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Individuals struggle with many varying problems during their sojourn on this Earth and of one thing I am certain: my lot in this life is that of a frequent dissatisfaction with the routine, the regular lives that most live. Before you jump to any conclusions about this being a good or bad thing let me tell you that it is not necessarily either. I have often viewed it as a good thing for me, for my life, simply because it has served as a driver or catalyst for much change. There are, however, many moments of doubt and agony which are the result of being uncertain about my current path, our goals, and our destination.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Often I envy those who can declare with certainty their goals, their desired or ideal career path, and find contentment in all things that they do.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It is during the times of doubt which I often begin to seek out new adventures, typically in distant regions of our world doing things which sound exciting. What does this look like in practice? It typically involves a new job in a new place, a new life, researching educational paths in the US or abroad which could lead to a new career or a tweak to my current one, or perhaps just binge-ordering books about Linguistics which is my real vice.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This time, when reviewing these lyrics I hope to maintain a bit if comfort in knowing who I am, my track record for discontentment, and slowly work towards the next fork in the road. What I hope to do differently this time is to have the foresight to make the decision in a way which is conducive to a more natural ending of a period of time rather than an abrupt, impatient, immature shift which lacks the refinement which comes with my supposed age. While I am always going to be impulsive and explore wild ideas and dreams, I hope to learn the most appropriate time and to content myself with my current situation. This seems such an attainable goal as I write these words but I am well aware that in a moment's notice I will again be seeking adventure elsewhere: here's to finding a healthy balance between these two opposing points of view.</div>
Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com1Wilmington, NC, USA34.2257255 -77.94471020000003134.0156165 -78.267433700000026 34.435834500000006 -77.621986700000036tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-65973492955394152432016-11-17T02:48:00.000-05:002016-11-17T02:52:24.416-05:00San Diego (or, Moving 2500 miles and Nearly Collapsing Due to Exhaustion)Yet another attempted "brief pause" in writing has resulted in nearly six months of inactivity. It's very easy to understand when I have explained the excitement of the past several months. Let's rewind to the beginning of this year, shall we?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKC9iWqhrUsFMIPjNV7YstROeo7AUdY7Pb3wWQq5Ue850LQHO27sjW1aXUO-C71QWtY33_gSX0jnHVEwm5J3xsyjC5HlqoIwjp86k39wJml_UITHI-X_MvflwKwABOzY6uG_lUcrTwdQ0/s1600/Eating+at+Slaters+50-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKC9iWqhrUsFMIPjNV7YstROeo7AUdY7Pb3wWQq5Ue850LQHO27sjW1aXUO-C71QWtY33_gSX0jnHVEwm5J3xsyjC5HlqoIwjp86k39wJml_UITHI-X_MvflwKwABOzY6uG_lUcrTwdQ0/s200/Eating+at+Slaters+50-50.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Slater's 50/50 with the family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's January, approximately, and my wife and I are stricken with wanderlust and have been searching for the cure for these past six years on and off. While working with my previous job I had the opportunity to leave town a few times to visit family in Seoul but not much beyond that. We began searching the web for affordable places to visit which would also satisfy our cravings. We vacillated between Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Chile, the Bahamas, places in Asia, such as Taiwan or Thailand, and also our dear friends in Hawai'i had tempted us for many months as well. We crossed them all off eventually. It cost almost as much to visit Mexico as it did Portugal ($700 USD to Mexico City at the time, about $1000 USD to visit Portugal). When reviewing pricing for housing it became obvious that the difference was really not as much as we had hoped. We went to Europe. We were there about three months and planned to wait out the time before my company, Brax, would move us out to San Diego, CA. We had waited a while in Wilmington and were growing impatient so we made our move.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5GIivIx4LOeiU1-VZN1jyj85JL7HJsDKfzgHd3SeaeQpVuKRYB0Rlt-MqLcOlypqh4Xxk3l2L70h_d154yZSOOwUQsU2HlnEPMJVoVBOry6Lrl69-3zsCcXmdzvIJkg5mWPnSKwivAXZ/s1600/Brax+Office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5GIivIx4LOeiU1-VZN1jyj85JL7HJsDKfzgHd3SeaeQpVuKRYB0Rlt-MqLcOlypqh4Xxk3l2L70h_d154yZSOOwUQsU2HlnEPMJVoVBOry6Lrl69-3zsCcXmdzvIJkg5mWPnSKwivAXZ/s200/Brax+Office.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside my office, San Diego</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After our three months in Europe we returned to Wilmington, NC, for one month, to visit with my family, say goodbye to everyone, and make final preparations to divest of our cars, and any unwanted possessions, and ship the rest. On August 22nd, we left for San Diego. We used airbnb until we were able to secure an apartment, and then purchased a car, and tried to settle in as quickly as possible. It was far more difficult to find an apartment than we had anticipated due to the time of the year, the price, the lack of availability and quick disappearance of properties, and many other factors. Ultimately we found a lovely place in Hillcrest, located just a couple of miles North of my office, which allows me to take the bus and only have one car.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTEEODs1m0f34On7kmSMWeoIccUlGdcRJVcDjWx916h7qhJvOlcSYExW_r2C9561QO_sAbO4A1JNdyjUY5h2VYdHiw-F3LTgif6HIe8PGqfF1iV26F9-ty3rYVzOLAXFq6K1IStjs-Dgd/s1600/Petco+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTEEODs1m0f34On7kmSMWeoIccUlGdcRJVcDjWx916h7qhJvOlcSYExW_r2C9561QO_sAbO4A1JNdyjUY5h2VYdHiw-F3LTgif6HIe8PGqfF1iV26F9-ty3rYVzOLAXFq6K1IStjs-Dgd/s200/Petco+Park.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Petco Park, watching the Padres play</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our belongings arrived nearly one month after our initial move to San Diego and it made for a most interesting three weeks at the apartment. We had next to nothing and it was quite freeing. With the arrival of our belongings we became quite overwhelmed for a few weeks, spending night and day unpacking, sorting, recycling, selling, throwing away, and breaking down boxes. We had to establish residency, change health insurance providers, update bank accounts, get car loans, wire money to new banks, get new drivers licenses, and I still needed to work. All the while, there was a bit of drama with the insurance and the moving company. It all worked out in the end, so I will spare the messy details. Needless to say, it was far more complicated moving to San Diego than leaving it all behind and heading to Europe. There's something about leaving your home and knowing you will be coming back that makes it easier--it must be psychological. We put everything into boxes, but it was still our home. We were gone three months, but it was still home. Taking bags and moving away while leaving it all behind--that's easy--I've done that several times already. Moving 2,500 miles with a wife and child? That was stressful.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4yK02R2SmIoOwrNTyQwLGUAjxBs5eYfeIdGfn7zGXPSOSMsQHl5xtMwg9UhCUUDJplkw4Z3f9NoNL0mgYlt3OeLjRRRJrAxCUPjFzxBIXhb8sNLIbGZP1AtmW6N81T0whF7izbVF8nxO/s1600/Hotel+del+Coronado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4yK02R2SmIoOwrNTyQwLGUAjxBs5eYfeIdGfn7zGXPSOSMsQHl5xtMwg9UhCUUDJplkw4Z3f9NoNL0mgYlt3OeLjRRRJrAxCUPjFzxBIXhb8sNLIbGZP1AtmW6N81T0whF7izbVF8nxO/s200/Hotel+del+Coronado.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of Hotel del Coronado</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fast forward three months--we've had our first guests from out of town, our boxes are now mostly in closets, the furniture is assembled, pictures have been hung on the walls, and it's starting to feel more like home. I've been working a lot trying to get acclimated and make myself more efficient at work. It has taken more time than I had anticipated. Working remotely has given me the false impression that I knew what I was doing. I'm still new, despite the fact that I've been with the same company for a little over a year. I'm still the odd one out at the office, hailing from North Carolina, and having that ever-nagging desire to leave it all for a bit of adventure. For now we're in sunny San Diego, enjoying the views of the beach, Balboa Park, and getting used to a different way of living. We are happy to have been given this opportunity and hope to make great memories as a family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com2San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-74564571792187161582016-05-22T18:43:00.000-04:002016-05-22T18:43:16.905-04:00Goodbye Gibraltar; ¡Hola Malaga!<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fEy0bB5jeadMG68BN6DccXjQNS9XLKyf7AEmF9eYWpyawxA5eBxP8C9jud5MUbxfRpMMLwCMtro4e2pPYU-7PWS_81nCi4DcorvVrovImsypgWWq1lMfzQfU3j9Pe7ICMlxhqbFuRil7/s1600/20160514_165712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fEy0bB5jeadMG68BN6DccXjQNS9XLKyf7AEmF9eYWpyawxA5eBxP8C9jud5MUbxfRpMMLwCMtro4e2pPYU-7PWS_81nCi4DcorvVrovImsypgWWq1lMfzQfU3j9Pe7ICMlxhqbFuRil7/s200/20160514_165712.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
Saying goodbye is sometimes bittersweet but it is soon overcome by the joy of getting to know another city. The first few days are always a bit strange--getting to know the quirks of where you are staying, how to turn the key just right so that the 100 plus year old door actually opens, or how you have to turn it the opposite way you expect. Where's the nearest supermarket in this city? Oh, all the brands are different and new. Oh, what? I can't read the label anymore, that kind of sucks. I guess I'll have to spend forever comparing or just get something and hope it's not terrible.</div>
<div>
During my first few weeks in Seoul I ordered the wrong dish quite on purpose. It doesn't really make sense, but I actively chose a dish that I thought I understood, but it was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beondegi" target="_blank">boiling hot, spicy red silkworm pupae / larvae</a>. Whoops!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Other challenges besides local cuisine are things like finding your way home from all the places around town. Add your wife, her sister, and your infant daughter and it's a bit more stressful than when it was just me at 21 traveling through South America. Back then it was just: "Whoops! Silly me, I took the wrong bus. I just lost an hour, but no big deal." Now it's more like: "ANDREW! The baby is screaming, we're starving, and now we're all HANGRY!" Most of the hangry is actually me, and the tired and upset is the baby, but that can make it a bit more stressful for us. It is normally short lived and we discuss how we can make it better the next day. We just review what went wrong and make a plan for the next day: eat earlier, carry a snack, don't put off buying water, stop and ask for directions before proceeding, or listen to your wife. It's basic stuff, I know, but the pressure tends to mount when one is traveling and it makes simple decisions less simple... especially when you're starving.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We'll be in Málaga a few weeks and will hopefully have plenty of time to get to know the city... Getting to know the feel of the city takes more than a weekend. I'm not certain that a few weeks is enough either but it allows us many more liberties even if we don't always make the most of our time every day. We can do many, many excursions and re-visit places on our way home. Sure we could visit Casemates Square in Gibraltar and take a few pictures and add them to the scrapbook but that's just less exciting to me than walking through there five or ten times, and walking up and down Main Street every day on the way home. It's not the way everyone feels, however. Part of me longs to visit the whole of Europe and place red pins on an imaginary map and write dates, times, and snap pictures as a family. The other part of me knows that going everywhere is just not quite as satisfying if we can't take it in. Besides, don't we have to save something for our next trip?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Goodbye, Gibraltar--Llanito, you lovely mix of Spanish and English, your fish and chips, your Morrisons supermarket, your lovely beach on the East side, your lovely cliffs [of insanity] with Barbary Macaques, your sunsets after 9:30pm, and your 30,000 people that all seem to know each other. Goodbye Siege tunnels, Ape Den, Europa Point, Saint Michael's Cave, Botanic Gardens, Main Street, Casemates Square, and your delightful plazas and playgrounds. Goodbye, friendly Gibraltarians and awkward political climate between you and Spain which makes the border crossing a power game played out between immigration officials refusing to stamp Schengen exit stamps... Goodbye to your airport runway which just so happens to stop traffic from entering and exiting the peninsula. Goodbye, beautiful cliffs enjoyed from the sands of the beach and age-old cannons protruding from the mountain... Goodbye view of the Strait of Gibraltar, Algeciras, and Morocco! Goodbye, Gibraltar!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-43801430252984506692016-05-20T16:53:00.000-04:002016-05-20T16:53:09.859-04:00포르투갈 파로-기차를 타고 파로로 왔다. 쁨이는 기차에 모모가 다운받은 뽀로로도 봤다가 그림도 그렸다가 종이로 만든 배랑 놀다가 잠도 잤다가 그렇게 세시간 정도를 남쪽으로 내려왔다. 파로에서는 금토일 주말만 보내는거라 별 기대도 없었다. 근데 이게 웬일. 집이 정말 좋다. 넓고 깨끗하고 앤드류가 일하기에도 좋고 각자 방하나씩 잡고 화장실 두개에 부엌도 넓고 테라스도 있고 거실도 따로 공간이 있어서 모모 말에 의하면 거기서 일하는 앤드류도 멋져보일 정도였다고했다.<br />
-모모랑 금요일밤에는 근처 몰에 가서 놀다가 아홉시가 넘어서 들어갔다. 신난 우리둘은 밖에서 저녁도 먹규 쇼핑도 하고 쁨이도 덩달아 신나서 집에가는 길에 잠도 안잤다. 우리가 선글라스 껴보면 '쁘띠',신발신어보면'쁘띠', 아이스크림 먹으면'쁘띠'. 정말정말 사랑스럽다. 쁘띠는 쁨이가 쁨이 스스로를 일컫는 말. 쁨이이름이 자기 귀에는 쁘띠로 들리나보다. 누가 자전거 타면 자기도 타고싶다고 쁘띠, 지나가다 놀이터를 보면 가고싶다고 쁘띠. 암튼 다 쁘띠. 억번을 들어도 귀여운 소리다.<br />
-토요일 아침에는 대성당을 중심으로 관광지를 돌아다녔고 오후에는 어제갔던 몰에서 놀고. 놀이터도 굉장히 잘 꾸며놓아서 모모랑 나는 쇼핑하고 아빠는 쁨이랑 놀이터에서 놀고. 완벽하지.<br />
-근데 문제는 다음날 발생. 사실 우리가 알게 되었을때는 이미 벌어진 일이라 나는 별로 개의치 않았다. 일요일 오후 1시몇분 버스를 타고 스페인 세비야로 갈 예정이었는데, 우리는 오후 4시쯤 버스를 타게 되었고 세비야에 시차 바뀐거 적용해서 8시쯤 도착하고 세비야 집에는 열시에나 들어가게 되고 저녁은 12시가 다돼서 먹게 되었다는 얘기. 여행에 이정도 스토리 하나 없음 심심할까봐 앤드류가 만들었나보다. 다시 파로로 돌아가서. 그 작은 버스 대합실에서 열명도 안되는 사람이 있었는데 거기서 한국 커플을 만났다. 그래서 인사도 하고 몇시차타고 세비야에 가느냐했더니 자기네는 네시몇분이란다 그래서 우리는 한시몇분차탄다 했더니 그커플이 아까 표살때 제일 빠른게 네시라던데 엥? 앤드류에게 말하고 확인해보니 우리가 샀던 티켓은 오전 그러니까 새벽 한시차였던 것이었다. 그 십만원정도의 티켓은 날라가고 다시 얼른 표를 사고 다시 기다림. 기다림. 세비야에서 열시나되야 일이 끝난다는 집주인 여자 기다림. 도착한 날 샤워기가 고장났는데 월요일은 무슨 공휴일이라 샤워못하면서 기다림. 시에스타때문에 상점은 오후에 문을 정말 다 닫길래 또 기다림. (엥? 갑자기 세비야 얘기를 쓰고있냐)<br />
-이제 포루투갈에서 스페인으로 넘어간다. 포루투갈은 한달뒤에 포루토로 다시 간다.Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869606744788241316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-674448371008737542016-05-20T16:29:00.001-04:002016-05-20T16:29:54.471-04:00포루투갈 리스본4월13일 오후 윌밍턴을 출발해서 포루투갈에 오전에 도착했다. 쁨이는 비행기에서 저녁을 잘 먹고 밤비행이라 계속 잤다. 도착하니 흩뿌리는 비가 내리고 있었다. 리스본 공항에서 인상적인것은 미국에서도 경험하지 못했던 '애기엄마'찬스다. 입국심사를 할때 긴 줄을 서야하는데 이때 다들 비행끝에 모두들 피곤한 상황에 아이엄마라고 먼저 가라고 양보해주는 사람을 아직까지 보지 못했다. 근데 표지판에 장애인,노약자,아이엄마 포함 다른 창구를 이용할 수 있는것이다. 야호! 이후로도 리스본 마트에서, 기차역에서 '애기엄마'찬스를 여러번 쓸 수 있었다. 이어서 공항에서 나오자마자 이런 담배연기는 백년만에 처음이었다. 실내든 실외든 주저없이 담배연기를 내뿜는 기막히는 사람들. 좋은점 나쁜점 하나씩 적어본다.<br />
<br />
이주넘게 있을 집에 도착해서 집주인 여자 소피아와 인사를 나누고- 지금 다섯번째 집에 머무르고 있는데 소피아가 가장 친절하고 맘에 든다- 집앞 인도 사람이하는 구멍가게에서 첫 장을 봤다.<br />
조금 쉬다가 비오는 날 유럽의 첫 산책을 나섰다. 그리고 집 근처 식당에서 바깔라우와 연어를 시켜서 이른 저녁을 먹었다. 그다음날 아침 11시가 넘어서 다들 일어났다. 정말 오랫만에 단잠을 잔것 같다.<br />
그리고 우리의 리스본 <일상+여행>은 시작됐다.<br />
<br />
-아침 8-9사이에 일어나서 물론,쁨이가 제일 먼저 일어나고. 아침을 차려먹는 사이 앤드류가 10시쯤 일어난다. 느긋하게 나갈 준비를 하고 12시전에 출발한다 어디로 가는지는 날마다 다르다. 날씨에 따라 다르고 전날 얼마나 피곤했냐에 다르고. 자기전에 모모와 갈 곳을 정하고 근처에 맛집도 찾아놓고 가는길도 미리 알아둔다. 그리고 신나게 놀다가 오후 5시쯤 집으로 돌아간다. 앤드류는 쉬면서 일 할 준비를 하고 쁨이와 나는 집앞 공원에서 좀 더 놀거나 저녁을 준비하거나 혹은 먹거나 그리고 저녁 8시쯤 쁨이는 잠을 자고 그 이후 나는 주방을 정리하고 다음날 일정을 짜고 잔다.<br />
- 리스본에서는 트램,택시,버스를 주로 타고 다녔다.<br />
크리스토 레이에 갈때는 집 근처에서 페리를 타고 강을 건너갔다. 집 창문으로 그리고 집 앞 공원에서 산위에 있는 커다란 십자가 상을 볼 수 있었는데 이후로 쁨이는 십자가와 예수님 단어를 확실이 배웠고, 높은데 있던 공원 덕분에 벤치에 앉아 트램,기차,버스,배,오토바이,자동차, 비행기를 보며 교통수단 단어를 확실히 배웠다.<br />
-핑고도스 체인 수퍼마켓은 여러도시를 거친뒤에도 아직까지 기억에 남는 수퍼마켓이다. 해산물이 정말 풍부하고 싸고 맛있었다.<br />
-또다른 기억에 남는 장소는 벨렘에 있은 패스츄리집. 나타의 원조인 그집에 다서 여섯번은 간것같다. 물론 이곳저곳 지나가며 나타를 많이 먹었는데 벨렘에 있는 그집은 바다를 갔다가 기차를 타고 돌아오는 길에 즉흥적으로 기차에서 내려 들르기까지했다. 가서 먹고 집으로 싸오기도 하고. 여행 한달이 넘은 이 시점에 가장 맛있었던것은 그 집 나타. 이 맛있는것을 쁨이와 나누고 싶어서 그냥 쁨이에게도 먹였다. 계란 노른자와 설탕때문에 살짝 주저했지만 얘도 여행중이고 여행의 별미는 이런거지 싶은 정신없는 엄마가 됐다; 애초 20개월된 아이와 삼개월 넘게 유럽여행을 한다는 것 자체에 '정신없다' 카테고리에 집어 넣은 사람들도 있겠지.<br />
-너무 많은곳을 다니기도했고 스페니쉬 지명때문에 아님 나이때문에 어디어디 갔는지 다 적을 수가 없다.<br />
아무튼 꼭 가야할만 곳은 갔으며 굳이 가지 않아도 될곳도 갔다. 쁨이를 업었다, 안았다, 유모차에도 태웠다 앤드류 목에도 올려놨다, 걸리기도했다. 힘들기도 힘들지만 재밌기도 재밌다. 우리가 젊으니 할 수 있다 싶다. 애가 한명이니 할 수 있다 싶다. 그리고 더 중요한 것은 '쁨이니까 이렇게 할 수 있는거다' 여행을 하는 중에 쁨이를 알아가면서 이아이는 앤드류나 나에게서 확실히 여행 유전자를 받았다 싶다. 다른 아이들과 여행을 다녀보지 않아서 비교 대상이 없지만, 새집에가면 우리보다 더 신나서 집구경을 하고 이동할때는 놀랍게도 잘 기다려주고 버텨주고 낮잠도 어디서든 잘자고 잘먹고. 정말 고맙다. 이런 선물을 주신 하나님께도 감사하고 이런 상황에서도 잘 지내주는 쁨이에게도 고맙고.<br />
- 리스본에서 지내면서 물론 말은 안통하지만 살려면 살 수도 있을것 같다고 앤드류에게 말한적이 있다. 리스본이기 때문인지 아니면 그냥 외국의 '도시'이기 때문인지. 30년정도 서울이라는 도시에 자라서 나는 작고 조용한 윌밍턴이 별로라고 생각했던 것 같다. (하지만 쁨이를 낳고 윌밍턴이 훨씬 좋아졌다.)<br />
-리스본에서 지낼때는 이국적인 커다란 창문이 달린 파스텔색의 집들과 도로쪽으로 널어둔 빨래들 이런것들이 처음이어서 다 예뻐보였는데 한달 정도 이곳저곳 다니다보니 그런것들에 대한 감흥이 사라졌다. 그냥 이곳에 사는 사람들에게 일상인것처럼 나도 벌써 그렇게 되고있는지도 모르겠다.<br />
-내 첫번째 유럽 도시 리스본에서 포르투갈 남부 작은도시 파로로 출발한다.<br />
<br />
<br />Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869606744788241316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-24819952315846319762016-05-17T17:26:00.000-04:002016-05-17T17:26:14.840-04:00Gibraltar Botanic GardensToday we spent our day at the Botanic Gardens of Gibraltar. While it may not seem like much, we woke up and went out again today. I'm sure you're probably thinking: "If I were in Europe I would not waste a moment!". Some of the joys of our trip are that we don't do crazy things every day. Some days we just wake up and try to determine what we'll do with our day, much like any day in the USA. That's part of the beauty I suppose. If we only had one or two days in each place we would rush like mad and, perhaps, miss out on some of the boring magic of the day to day life.<br />
<br />
A supermarket can be a thing of adventure when the whole family goes and you have never been there before. How many people does one need to ask in order to find a supermarket? We asked at least five people. It's necessary to do this unless it's really obvious. Back to the gardens...<br />
<br />
We walked to the gardens from where we are staying since it was only about a mile away. It is easy to find--you just look for the cable car and it is right behind that. Very obvious entrance, and it's all in front of the Rock Hotel (which ironically ruins the view of the rock). We just walked about, found a comfortable place to have a sandwich, and explored. We didn't take hundreds of pictures but we enjoyed it very much.<br />
<br />
Eliora and I explored a bit while the ladies were given a break. We found a waterfall put in by the Lion's club, I believe it was, which had a few places where we could reach in and touch the water. I showed Eliora how to get on her knees and hold herself with one hand while reaching in with the other. Safety first!<br />
<br />
There is an amazing playground which did not have a slide, but it had all sorts of things we had never seen. We spent an hour or two there easily even though Eliora was exhausted. We thought she would only last a few minutes but, no, she had energy to spare. We talked to a few locals--a lady and her 11 day old baby (Andrew III, the third), and a gentleman who runs a computer business here--I think it's called PC Fix It or something like that. He was quite friendly and I was able to ask him a lot of questions about Gibraltar--they are veritable founts of knowledge!<br />
<br />
After we returned home we rested a bit, Eliora slept a while, and once she woke up we went back out again. It was around 7pm or so, and, believe it or not, the sun stays up until about 21:45 or so. We went out to an open area and ran around and pet some dogs, then descended to Main Street, which was largely abandoned today since it was Sunday. We went to the plaza in front of City Hall and walked around on the white tiles like a train with Eliora. We then crossed out to the main road and were able to enjoy the sun and some palm trees for a while. Even though we didn't really do that much it was still so satisfying to be out and enjoy the city...even if it's just sitting on park benches and playing hide-and-seek with our daughter. I'm glad Olivia likes to travel too--otherwise we would be a disaster.<br />
<br />
<b>Links</b>:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibraltar_Botanic_Gardens" target="_blank">Gibraltar Botanic Gardens</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gibraltargardens.gi/" target="_blank">Botanic Gardens Official Site</a></li>
</ul>
Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com2Alameda Botanic Gardens, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, Gibraltar36.1308764 -5.350990599999931936.1276704 -5.3560330999999319 36.1340824 -5.3459480999999318tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-31148907973834140492016-05-15T19:20:00.000-04:002016-05-16T11:35:06.982-04:00Gibraltar - Caves, Cliffs, and Crazy 'CaquesWe began our morning by heading to a plaza where we took a tour taxi to see some of the famous sites of Gibraltar. I know you're probably thinking that a tour taxi sounds a bit touristy but the alternatives are not really plentiful. The alternative is to take the cable car to the top and walk a lot up and around winding one-way roads on cliffs while dodging cars and threatened monkeys. We have a baby, so, sorry folks, we didn't do what the average 20 year old does with no responsibilities. Moving on! So, we went up with an English family of 4 which had two boys, and a fifty something couple which could have been from Germany or something, not really sure. <br />
<br />
We made the following stops:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Pillars of Hercules</li>
<li>Saint Michael's Cave</li>
<li>Top of the rock / Upper Apes' Den</li>
<li>The Siege Tunnels</li>
</ol>
<br />
1) Our first stop was not really worth mentioning other than the views of Algeciras and the city below, which made it worth it, but we're not much for pictures in front of random statues or odd things.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqehygZiFghtViYdG8JyyrxWdH1f9v8ht8EEYLqSHcAZeOz6s7EYtI8H558_2UshJfWAg6dnDwALC4j-PPNHjxKGgYX5QLLdJPor8lNheAWftPGg5L2eKrU6C0WeyT_sLmO0VimrJTRokE/s1600/DSC03634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqehygZiFghtViYdG8JyyrxWdH1f9v8ht8EEYLqSHcAZeOz6s7EYtI8H558_2UshJfWAg6dnDwALC4j-PPNHjxKGgYX5QLLdJPor8lNheAWftPGg5L2eKrU6C0WeyT_sLmO0VimrJTRokE/s200/DSC03634.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Michael's Cave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2) Saint Michael's Cave, however, was quite worth the visit. We hopped out and went right past the crowds watching the monkeys, although I'm not certain who was really watching whom. The monkeys seemed equally interested in the humans and what they had brought them to eat. Speaking of eating, don't feed them! One monkey walked right up to a man's backpack and tried to unzip it causing him quite a shock. Another girl was eating an apple at the entrance and a monkey tried to jump her for it. The caves house an auditorium which is used for concerts and was also used as a makeshift hospital. The caves were quite impressive and open with large stalactites and stalagmites all over the place. The lighting was added which was of varying colors and gives our photos a 3D effect which was a nice surprise when we got home.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvyTLjlCUX81tRHkDCC_YcIOMKdmMqONixeDafUHNFioC1rSWgv9rpp3MBgSUykMm7dF0S8Q64h239Lu4FqgNrMD3z5bXyubvF75xfgbl4ilNQwOCsG_Ctr4hR8G0sd6nDttB253M-FFf/s1600/DSC03665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvyTLjlCUX81tRHkDCC_YcIOMKdmMqONixeDafUHNFioC1rSWgv9rpp3MBgSUykMm7dF0S8Q64h239Lu4FqgNrMD3z5bXyubvF75xfgbl4ilNQwOCsG_Ctr4hR8G0sd6nDttB253M-FFf/s200/DSC03665.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
3) By the time we got to the top of the rock the temperature had dropped and the wind had increased noticeably. We were shown a monkey which had just given birth the day before and was holding its offspring in arms with the umbilical cord still attached. There was a concrete structure and some stairs behind it which housed the monkeys while many were on the road, on the railing, or jumping onto the taxis. They were quite entertaining to say the least. From the stairs we could catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean / <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alboran_Sea">Alboran Sea</a> side of Gibraltar while looking to the other side we could see the Straight of Gibraltar. On the Mediterranean side we caught some glimpses of a beach which were quite beautiful. The views of the rock were stunning, although it does it little justice. It's quite incredible to be able to look around and see so many worlds converging.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF6brbn80JdDXbfZBAa1rjAQCtCfF_AP1u1YiCZuF85_6utQGf6CVgSwYeVrRco07MsvgxqV7GYEW5ztU1Ro-TKOxFG4bo0pJS8HsULO8S2cL3mjnqhqQVi1Fg9imVBFooSQa87Y39pfo/s1600/DSC03669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF6brbn80JdDXbfZBAa1rjAQCtCfF_AP1u1YiCZuF85_6utQGf6CVgSwYeVrRco07MsvgxqV7GYEW5ztU1Ro-TKOxFG4bo0pJS8HsULO8S2cL3mjnqhqQVi1Fg9imVBFooSQa87Y39pfo/s200/DSC03669.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbary Macaques</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
4) We saw only a small portion of the siege tunnels, but it was enough to get the general idea. We walked in and there were many cannons placed into the holes on the sides of the rock and we were able to catch some great views of the city and imagine ships coming in only to be surprised by cannon fire from the rock. I bet that was a nightmare. It reminded me a bit of the tunnels I visited in South Korea near the DMZ only these were in a mountain instead of underground. At the end of the tunnel was a bit of <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNUj6AEeRVHeYig_MxI08KA4Axmc6oxdkfxmJSIFoy6V5TB8aDZTILdVk_yNQ-cMeemUqJD43uJ0QHIZEcRyGDjDNbUhYOcWk48kJhzIA9Und6Aw7U31CO0vaVr7khDpiRQKILLmZ71Qb/s1600/20160514_150047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNUj6AEeRVHeYig_MxI08KA4Axmc6oxdkfxmJSIFoy6V5TB8aDZTILdVk_yNQ-cMeemUqJD43uJ0QHIZEcRyGDjDNbUhYOcWk48kJhzIA9Und6Aw7U31CO0vaVr7khDpiRQKILLmZ71Qb/s200/20160514_150047.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siege Tunnel view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
light which gave us a glimpse of the Mediterranean side. It was exciting looking out at the airport as well. After coming back out there is a deck with excellent views of Gibraltar and Spain. It's a great chance to see the airport in action and watch the cars back up.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGWIAtVXFVyanW5R44Y7vNhWborH4FU-VNy0F4pjDDILMmR81F1HA8sruBZTd_gnkjhMWqKXGfhpclTHzNdoCahmqqne980m13OwFqV6rkfl06OLty6V1THjQ8VU2PGbfS6KAvo42QUz3/s1600/20160514_161336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGWIAtVXFVyanW5R44Y7vNhWborH4FU-VNy0F4pjDDILMmR81F1HA8sruBZTd_gnkjhMWqKXGfhpclTHzNdoCahmqqne980m13OwFqV6rkfl06OLty6V1THjQ8VU2PGbfS6KAvo42QUz3/s200/20160514_161336.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandy Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Following the visit to the caves we descended to the plaza where we had begun. We were relaxing and Olivia and my sister-in-law started asking me if I could ask about the beach... Our taxi driver was still around so after he had eaten we asked him about the place. It was called <b>Sandy Bay</b>, which is home to an apartment complex called Both Worlds. We conversed for a few minutes and thanked him. A few minutes later he called us over to his taxi and said that he would take us there--his wife had joined him and they were going to be celebrating her birthday the next day. He just offered to take us there just because. He drove us past Europa Point and was really friendly towards us. They dropped us off on the other side of the rock and told us how to get down to the beach and where to catch a bus home. The views were something for which I have no real comparison. On one side you can see the rock towering above you--all the same sites we just saw but from below, and the we have Mediterranean and some ships just floating about in the sea. It was quite a different sort of beach from what we have in Wilmington, NC.<br />
<br />
<b>Links</b>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Michael%27s_Cave" target="_blank">Saint Michael's Cave</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_macaques_in_Gibraltar" target="_blank">Barbary Macaques in Gibraltar</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Siege_Tunnels" target="_blank">Great Siege Tunnels</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Bay,_Gibraltar" target="_blank">Sandy Bay</a></li>
</ul>
Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-5856427368788085042016-05-15T18:31:00.002-04:002016-05-15T18:31:42.133-04:00Gibraltar - Europa Point<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFgJ0rB6l4NYrx0Xo3CHF3ttmIyAks_JA0bJ3Ms_Dbb8gaAA4mVVQ6n6P0d6HC6BDB6vgqjkVFWhdV4U4H5W7EtZ0ilNUmf1pQ2DimNqaUkY4UegUd6Wb3CF9lGHQGffwz8khIzUj64xF/s1600/DSC03605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFgJ0rB6l4NYrx0Xo3CHF3ttmIyAks_JA0bJ3Ms_Dbb8gaAA4mVVQ6n6P0d6HC6BDB6vgqjkVFWhdV4U4H5W7EtZ0ilNUmf1pQ2DimNqaUkY4UegUd6Wb3CF9lGHQGffwz8khIzUj64xF/s200/DSC03605.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Europa Point in front of the mosque.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the first time since we came the weather was amazing--the way it's supposed to be here. We normally sleep in a bit because of my schedule, then pack some light lunch, then hit the road. We walked down to Casemates Square and out towards the buses. We caught bus number 2 and paid 2.25 pounds for a round trip to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Point">Europa Point</a>.<br />
<br />
We arrived and were able to catch a glimpse of the Straight of Gibraltar and Algeciras, Spain, and also across the water we were able to clearly see Morocco and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceuta">Ceuta</a>*. Absolutely stunning views. Windy, very windy, but well worth it. We saw the rock behind the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim_Mosque">Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque</a>. There is a nice playground and a cafeteria which gave us a place to eat lunch and let Eliora play for a while.<br />
<br />
There was a call to prayer while we were there which initially frightened me a bit, then we realized what it was and laughed. There are no mosques with calls for prayer on speakerphones where I come from. This probably means we need to visit Morocco!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIYik0gJziEBggXXXQoMZPoKFFNXgefSIu7oQSdLND8KUpuxFPcOqyEFFr9V9hypoz9c98rEAFFcgzYFdhpv5dp-jm3QL1xhyphenhyphenaIAnCB39utlu4cN4cN1xwYRRsWcPPu0xyhPMPgMfY_i1/s1600/DSC03565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIYik0gJziEBggXXXQoMZPoKFFNXgefSIu7oQSdLND8KUpuxFPcOqyEFFr9V9hypoz9c98rEAFFcgzYFdhpv5dp-jm3QL1xhyphenhyphenaIAnCB39utlu4cN4cN1xwYRRsWcPPu0xyhPMPgMfY_i1/s200/DSC03565.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Morocco off in the distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Note</b>: Ironic considering that Ceuta is a Spanish territory in Africa, much like Gibraltar is British territory stuck to the bottom of Spain--I don't know how many see the irony of Morocco wanting Ceuta back from Spain but not getting it back, while Spain doesn't recognize British sovereignty of Gibraltar and wishes it was theirs still.<br />
<br />
<b>Another Note</b>: Coming from the USA we don't really know much about Ceuta--our taxi driver from Gibraltar had never visited and he was only an hour away. While we didn't get to see it, nor will we this visit, it was fascinating to learn that it was Spanish territory in Africa.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-27994346162005201782016-05-12T12:16:00.000-04:002016-05-12T12:17:11.030-04:00Gibraltar, a bit of Llanito for all of usThis marks our fourth night in Gibraltar and also marks the fourth day of rain. Fortunately for us we have time on our side. We should have ample time for good, clear weather. We met a French couple which attempted to take the cable car to the top of the rock but it was not in service due to poor weather conditions. He described it as a disaster since they arrived and will depart today. It's really an odd place here since I hear both English and Spanish all the time--sometimes in the same sentence which is interesting in and of itself. I try to speak Spanish as often as I can, just because I can, and most address me in English since I guess I look like a tourist. Maybe it's my sunburn? I was also speaking a mix of Spanish and English at the Morrisons supermarket the other day who described it as a lovely place to live because of that. I certainly find it delightful.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kwd9nH5YpMJAUhvubcVTZrh36m1ILua33HNaxWfX5YE7Ph-YFQ0s_Qhr96OfReJ6cJdykoAE8pf0klyskJ8ICxyEjKUswOxlUo8KH1W50qYQvsu1lFp0Go2ysxJAssnREJ_rOY8FYvAI/s1600/20160512_173432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kwd9nH5YpMJAUhvubcVTZrh36m1ILua33HNaxWfX5YE7Ph-YFQ0s_Qhr96OfReJ6cJdykoAE8pf0klyskJ8ICxyEjKUswOxlUo8KH1W50qYQvsu1lFp0Go2ysxJAssnREJ_rOY8FYvAI/s200/20160512_173432.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Marks & Spencer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are planning on visiting Europa Point, the Siege Tunnels, Saint Michael's Cave, the monkeys, of course, and perhaps a few other things. We are a few blocks away from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Street,_Gibraltar">Main Street</a> which is a combination of tobacco, liquor, and jewelry shops. The liquor prices are quite low here, which makes me want to buy a bottle of something I don't really need because it is so cheap. I don't think I can finish a fifth of liquor by myself over the next four or five days. Perhaps if I could I should have something to worry about.<br />
<br />
We walked around quite a bit today after the rain let up, heading down towards <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Casemates_Square">Grand Casemates Square</a>, and then towards the airport. The airport crosses the land entrance from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_L%C3%ADnea_de_la_Concepci%C3%B3n">La Línea de la Concepción, Spain</a>, perpendicularly, which causes all incoming and outgoing traffic to stop when planes are landing or taking off. It's quite interesting to say the least.<br />
<br />
Lunch included a plate of fish and chips for me, Tandoori chicken for my sister in law, and Olivia had chicken pad thai. After the baby fell asleep we walked towards Marks & Spencer and found a coffee shop--Costa Coffee, where we were able to enjoy a cup of Flat White. We meandered about for a bit after until I had to come home to work. Tomorrow's weather looks promising so we hope to catch a glimpse of Africa from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Point">Europa Point</a>!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-87170041324020726892016-05-11T10:41:00.001-04:002016-05-11T12:17:55.681-04:00European ExtravaganzaSo last year I finally got a new job working remotely and it has allowed us some flexibility that we did not previously enjoy. We were able to visit South Korea for a while but that's another story for another time. I want to talk about what's going on in Europe.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_4ex841EVTHv_85G88cut6RKf8HB46NWwiDxkm6h1r0vNmWxFGdykbVwhEwBaZ3qmh8NA34sic3z9mkJK-0i4XvDs0F7nvkVkj_98bEvc5nPedhtRewIYdi6YHemdW6aqEaMGxN14UNV/s1600/DSC02466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_4ex841EVTHv_85G88cut6RKf8HB46NWwiDxkm6h1r0vNmWxFGdykbVwhEwBaZ3qmh8NA34sic3z9mkJK-0i4XvDs0F7nvkVkj_98bEvc5nPedhtRewIYdi6YHemdW6aqEaMGxN14UNV/s200/DSC02466.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Eliora enjoying Praça do Comércio.<br />
Lisbon, Portugal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wait, wait, not quite there yet--we were working in Wilmington, NC, my hometown, asking ourselves why we were not doing something more exciting. That's where I'll pick up. So, we started looking into Hawai'i, Puerto Rico, México, Panamá, Costa Rica, and a few other places. Finally, we just decided to go to Europe and pack up all our things and put them in storage. Where to? Portugal and Spain seem like great places to go, so that's what we've done. It happened very quickly. It was quite stressful with a baby and all, but somehow we've managed to make it happen. All you have to do is pack up everything you own and put it into storage, or sell a bunch of it, pack up three suitcases and a couple of backpacks, spend your tax refund money, and say goodbye to all your friends and family.<br />
<br />
First stop--Lisboa, Portugal. I'll write more about this in particular soon, but that's where we landed first. Approximately two weeks of enjoyment and we left for Faro, Portugal. Just a couple nights and on to Sevilla, Spain. After a week there we have now ventured south to Gibraltar where we'll remain for a total of nine days. *<br />
<br />
After this we'll make appearances in Málaga, Córdoba, Madrid, and then back to Portugal for a period in Porto. It's really the craziest thing we've done in a while. It's not just crazy because we're married and doing it for a total of 97 days, but because we have a 20 month infant. Olivia is doing well, and so is Eliora, and we even have a surprise visitor--my sister in law!<br />
<br />
This is really the first post in a series which I'll attempt to share as we move forward with our journey, while I attempt to catch up from the past few weeks, and upload facebook photos so our friends and family will have definitive proof we're not dead and just faking it. Stay tuned for some excitement!<br />
<br />
* <b>Note</b>: Sorry about the names of the cities... I have such a hard time writing them one way in English when Spanish or Portuguese does them differently. I'll just pretend that I don't know how to write them in English.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-54631873463704574132012-03-10T11:29:00.000-05:002012-04-12T19:48:05.542-04:00Hopeful Living in Questionable Conditions<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkrHWc425xoNZrbPT6n9Y9yNH3939z1b6SWZ130z-CSWQ0kSTDtoswh-t-PypbCk2tTnI-CCNvUMcU_8KpCCtRshGtS95OsgmYDqIaU84dDGMx-GlJNUhgepCywxMCGL1zql7iVtfRw2y/s1600/decision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkrHWc425xoNZrbPT6n9Y9yNH3939z1b6SWZ130z-CSWQ0kSTDtoswh-t-PypbCk2tTnI-CCNvUMcU_8KpCCtRshGtS95OsgmYDqIaU84dDGMx-GlJNUhgepCywxMCGL1zql7iVtfRw2y/s200/decision.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely picture courtesy of: <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/julia_manzerova/">Julia Manzerova</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
For some time now we've been in a limbo that has caused us to ask a lot of questions about our wants and goals in life. Many of the things we had planned for our lives over the past two years have not come to pass and some might argue we've endured a good deal of hardship, but compared to others we are really quite well off.<br />
<br />
We are involved in our local church and we try to hear and understand God, like most people, and hope for the best. Sometimes, however, you really wonder what He's doing and like many other historical figures we've asked Him things like, "Hello, up there, if you don't mind too much please don't forget about us." and we're probably really meaning "...don't forget about our dreams and plans we made for ourselves." I think that is how I feel sometimes and to tell you otherwise I'd be a liar.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have wondered quite a few times over the past year and a half since we returned to America why others seem to make plans and pursue them and they accomplish their goals. I cannot say that they do not endure difficulties but they do accomplish what they have set out to do. For me, I've started to wonder why others are able to accomplish what they've planned to do. It's almost funny, but whatever I plan has a way of failing fantastically, and in a way that I had no control over. I wonder what I'm doing that's so special that I get blocked so often? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please bear in mind that I'm just thinking out loud. It's not that I doubt God, but it's more like a healthy questioning of why we're being redirected so drastically from our plans. Most assuredly we know that they are our plans and even those who could care less about God know that we plan and we don't always have the luxury of achieving our goals. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are a lot of good reasons for all of what we're experiencing now but it is something else to be in the middle of it and not know the result. I feel very strongly about what I love and want to do and when you hear people talking like "Just give it all to God, man! He'll work it all out!" I cannot disagree, but I can tell you that letting go of what you hope for makes you feel like you're dying. I really want to be alive and to experience all the richness of culture and language the world has to offer me together with my wife. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Everyone deals with similar internal struggles and they almost always turn out well in the end, of course, but how do you get through the hard parts? I'm certain it is as simple as asking God "Why?" but He doesn't always just pull up a chair and remind me of the good parts of the story so far. I have to remember those myself--that's why it's important to journal! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For those of you who do not believe in God, what do you do to get through times of uncertainty? These must be the sorts of times that make us all human.<br />
<br />
**<b>A couple of days later I've had the pleasure of a great analogy, courtesy of my job</b>**<br />
I'm a programmer and work often with ordinary computer users. They sometimes place demands on system requirements that are very bad ideas. I design systems so it's hard to argue with a system architect about what is necessary and what is not. It is difficult not to be frustrated with others when their goals for the system seem so short-sighted in my mind. <i>I realized that I must be the same way about my own destiny in relation to God</i>. I want what I want, good or bad.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Inspirational Songs</b>:</div>
<div>
Josh Groban's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGLSk3AVcUU">Don't Give Up</a>".<br />
<br />
<b>With Collaborative Imagery From</b>:<br />
Julia Manzerova: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/julia_manzerova/">Flickr</a>.</div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-45786645669454285972012-01-30T12:27:00.002-05:002012-01-30T12:27:37.306-05:00Alpaquita<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyMoYo610MdrCq13D8YNA-5aCoMbHZ31V2J3FB2ucJtTzUbwiaIPJRNII5pqNcdXYUuakDrKSaN_fJZlVB5GMgACbz4XpR1RfOcioVeLn2zYEm6hZjKWc_YQNymO78yiica0eFnKHbC2t/s1600/20110211221004-772886.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572635776157294562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyMoYo610MdrCq13D8YNA-5aCoMbHZ31V2J3FB2ucJtTzUbwiaIPJRNII5pqNcdXYUuakDrKSaN_fJZlVB5GMgACbz4XpR1RfOcioVeLn2zYEm6hZjKWc_YQNymO78yiica0eFnKHbC2t/s200/20110211221004-772886.jpg" width="150" /></a> Many of you are familiar with the South American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpaca">Alpaca</a> and this, my friends, is that, but in miniature. Often referred to as 'una alpaquita' which is the diminutive form of alpaca, making it very cute indeed. Who could possibly argue with that? Is <i>this</i> not the cutest thing you have ever seen?<br />
<br />
This beauty was purchased on the road somewhere between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puno">Puno, Perú</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Paz">La Paz, Bolivia</a>, but before arriving in Bolivia, therefore we can call it unequivocally: a Peruvian Alpaquita. <br />
<br />
While I was on a tourist stop purchasing this very alpaquita I had the opportunity to feed and pet a live version and let me tell you, it was territorial as could be. You cannot just march up to a baby and not expect to be considered a threat by its mother. It scared the crap out of me. Who even knows the damage an alpaquita can do? <br />
<br />
Hay que tener mucho cuidado cuando alimentas a las alpaquitas. Tal vez sea tu última vez. (<a href="http://translate.google.com/#auto%7Cen%7CHay%20que%20tener%20mucho%20cuidado%20cuando%20alimentas%20a%20las%20alpaquitas.%20%20Tal%20vez%20sea%20tu%20%C3%BAltima%20vez.">?</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XEacsqTA3V3xi06j7U_HnPuSKClAeJiiaNpgGqM39nYN3qweP6N-gYfFl1ndlYc2-_Cw_SP4x7MVA6hLWvyEsMRVRtM-MR9J7MqWnHViTnEI9v0mXAJlYsyjKBLamPbf2bwc5FFIRwcL/s1600/n40509352_30221603_5310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline ! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XEacsqTA3V3xi06j7U_HnPuSKClAeJiiaNpgGqM39nYN3qweP6N-gYfFl1ndlYc2-_Cw_SP4x7MVA6hLWvyEsMRVRtM-MR9J7MqWnHViTnEI9v0mXAJlYsyjKBLamPbf2bwc5FFIRwcL/s200/n40509352_30221603_5310.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding a baby alpaca.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK0otMqOp55ujZWA6lhqYM9BPyO4oZDAc7drmxk5J3z8klBomNstIoSrNIDfLYTfvD3ecE8qC4GoGuZDSsDYvy32d3KNafR0HwXGj40jQYgoMgVHR26tSFQhyphenhyphen0lESRNKa7e994XSyM1Kw/s1600/n40509352_30221602_4981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK0otMqOp55ujZWA6lhqYM9BPyO4oZDAc7drmxk5J3z8klBomNstIoSrNIDfLYTfvD3ecE8qC4GoGuZDSsDYvy32d3KNafR0HwXGj40jQYgoMgVHR26tSFQhyphenhyphen0lESRNKa7e994XSyM1Kw/s200/n40509352_30221602_4981.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taunting the mother of the alpaca behind me, who charged at me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-23393880755762951402012-01-24T08:35:00.000-05:002012-01-24T08:35:36.988-05:00Gorilla Munch Much?<div class="mobile-photo">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIAtsl-dMmRaIdgLYfgAI8wft23puRqNVaz7SSWX8eLmh-rKr32ONkWGJec4jSq_uTXkaQipl6EztH1f8VamKrGDj5x6OCDWIxKeZN2Lqf5RZ-Znsjjr9MwvjRN_f2z95ZrYvmeaxS5dR/s1600/gorilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIAtsl-dMmRaIdgLYfgAI8wft23puRqNVaz7SSWX8eLmh-rKr32ONkWGJec4jSq_uTXkaQipl6EztH1f8VamKrGDj5x6OCDWIxKeZN2Lqf5RZ-Znsjjr9MwvjRN_f2z95ZrYvmeaxS5dR/s200/gorilla.jpg" width="132" /></a>Some time ago I wrote on <a href="http://www.halfkoreanspanishlovingamerican.com/2011/05/chock-full-of-innuendo.html">connotation</a> and a bit about how words have two meanings, one is connotative and the other is denotative, or one is going to have some negative/positive spin and the other is the dictionary meaning. The word 'munch', well, according to dictionary.com:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
verb (used with object)</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
to chew with steady or vigorous working of the jaws, often audibly.</blockquote>
<br />
That is denotation...That's what I think of when I look at that gorilla going at it up there. I can see in the background the baby gorilla and I really feel like I'm in the jungle, pounding my hands and bantering, even hissing at those non-alpha males that want in on the action. <br />
<br />
What about connotation? I don't think there is really anything that is positive about this word in that regard. If you don't think that there could have been a better word then why don't you visit <a href="http://urbandictionary.com/">urbandictionary.com</a> and see what they have to say about it? I'm sure you'll be pleasantly or uncomfortably surprised, depending on your convictions.<br />
<br />
<b>Sources, and such</b>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/munch">'Munch' as defined on: Dictionary.com</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/thesaurus.php?term=munch">'Munch' as defined on: Urbandictionary.com</a></li>
<li>Wikipedia: ( <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connotation">Connotation</a> / <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denotation">Denotation</a> )</li>
<li>EnviroKidz Orgainic: <a href="http://shop.naturespath.com/Gorilla-Munch-Cereal/p/NPA-860020&c=NaturesPath@EnviroKidz">Gorilla Munch Cereal</a></li>
</ul>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-78997684273207107832012-01-07T10:50:00.001-05:002012-01-13T10:26:16.093-05:00In L2 Everything is Exciting<div class="mobile-photo">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7aON4kMahHcbyde3b7WD6KHjMT4g9k_Xfa1375uQ0I3aAPDCW2Zi-64acGY8Lw7RuIxxRon6qSub0QtcWIBPseq1UKPVYrBjo9l6rF8uRw17CQnITE7i5gCtpSAvTVeFG7rpMuSmvdZe/s1600/image-722050.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694917996532778770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7aON4kMahHcbyde3b7WD6KHjMT4g9k_Xfa1375uQ0I3aAPDCW2Zi-64acGY8Lw7RuIxxRon6qSub0QtcWIBPseq1UKPVYrBjo9l6rF8uRw17CQnITE7i5gCtpSAvTVeFG7rpMuSmvdZe/s200/image-722050.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Izq = izquierdo, Der = derecho<br />
Spanish for: left and right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While living abroad and acquiring another language it is absolutely necessary to become infatuated with the language and culture being learned. It will likely be a result of your interest as opposed to an active decision to become enamored. You can't help it, you just fall in love.</div>
<br />
When living in Chile I became fond of a store called <a href="http://www.casaideas.com/catalogo/index.php/cl">Casa & Ideas</a>, which carried many common household goods, such as Bed Bath and Beyond, but with a bit less of the bath and bed, and more of the 'beyond'.<br />
<br />
I purchased these slippers, having abbreviations of the words 'izquierdo' and 'derecho', both adjectives following the word 'pie', such as pie izquierdo and pie derecho, meaning 'left foot' and 'right foot' in Spanish. This was the coolest thing to me since I was in love with Spanish, so I bought them immediately.<br />
<br />
An interesting fact about the word 'izquierdo/a' is that it has its origins in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_language">Basque</a>, or Euskera, the language of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_people">Basque people</a> in Northern Spain. What's really great about this language is that it is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_isolate">language isolate</a>, which is a fancy way of saying 'Where does it come from? We do not know.' It is broken down as follows, esku (hand, From Basque) and kerros (Celtic word, meaning 'twisted'). The left hand has long since been the 'worthless hand' and been associated with all sorts of bad; not surprising considering that 'derecho' in Spanish also means 'right, or correct'. Apparently the Latin words for 'right' and 'left' are 'dexter' and 'sinister', which are passed down to us in the roots 'skillful' and 'evil'. <br />
<br />
Learning words in foreign languages <i>can</i> be fun and buying simple things--such as slippers--can make it even more exciting.<br />
<br />
<b>Sources</b>:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.houseofnames.com/izquierdo-family-crest">Izquierdo Family Crest--Word Origin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://etimologias.dechile.net/?izquierda">Etymological Dictionary (in Spanish)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/spanish/derecho">Derecho: Merriam-Webster Definition</a></li>
<li><a href="http://pubman.mpdl.mpg.de/pubman/item/escidoc:77180:6/component/escidoc:77181/Casasanto_2009_jepg.pdf">Embodiment of Abstract Concepts: Good and Bad in Right- and Left-Handers, by Daniel Casasanto</a> (Page 353).</li>
</ul>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com2Wilmington, NC, USA34.2257255 -77.944710234.120694500000006 -78.1026387 34.3307565 -77.7867817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-42613404437576567042011-12-11T18:05:00.001-05:002011-12-12T08:44:08.755-05:00Shortsightedness of Hindsight, or, Irony in 2011Reflecting upon the events of this year and how the military career I had planned out for myself, and my family, did not work out I began to think of the word hindsight...<br />
<br />
Straight from the horse's mouth:<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="4" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr class="tr3" valign="top"><td align="right" class="td3n1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="1%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></td><td class="td3n2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
the ability to understand, after something has happened, what should have been<br /> done or what caused the event. (See Sources) </blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">I cannot help but laugh when recounting the story, because it is the most ironic ending I could have thought possible. People always say, "hindsight is 20/20" and they are, without a doubt, correct. What many do not realize, however, is that when you are medically disqualified from joining the military because of your vision it takes on an entirely different meaning.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Maybe the vision I had was a bit shortsighted? After all, they </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">did</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> tell me my eyes were pretty bad. How can one even speak of vision authoritatively when that is the determining factor in his disqualification? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Haha.</span> <br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2012 is nearly here and we have much to show. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good decisions or bad decisions? Horrible question, who thinks about things like that anyway? I believe our only error was measuring the effectiveness of our decisions based upon the immediate outcome of the situation. Things take time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />My wife and I agreed that things are pretty good now and being together is sweet. I can even work from home one day a week. Not too shabby! Hindsight, why don't you stop by next weekend and we'll tell you how irony actually made you look silly. 20/20 is for the birds.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Sources:</b></span><br />
"hindsight." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 11 Dec. 2011. <Dictionary.com <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hindsight">http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hindsight</a>>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com3Wilmington, NC, USA34.2257255 -77.944710234.120694500000006 -78.1026387 34.3307565 -77.7867817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-11416642833794232672011-11-26T09:54:00.001-05:002011-11-26T10:28:06.171-05:00Balancing Dreams with your Nine to Five<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkwyCgz_JhzTMeKLQKB7rjns9eJwdk3MpLNW9jHpjogHnnlur3Ov7bxp9OLgjKL4XW166lUq3IufG9hqEIFRkfYNNZTmBKTFkUneooLvgRPQHChLo23zF-T0OOU3UL0TrZDgHTFKlBo6Q/s1600/pegadoalmar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkwyCgz_JhzTMeKLQKB7rjns9eJwdk3MpLNW9jHpjogHnnlur3Ov7bxp9OLgjKL4XW166lUq3IufG9hqEIFRkfYNNZTmBKTFkUneooLvgRPQHChLo23zF-T0OOU3UL0TrZDgHTFKlBo6Q/s200/pegadoalmar.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, standing on the rocks at <br />Avenida Peru in Vina del Mar, Chile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The average number of days between my posts seems to be increasing signaling the reality that I'm not quite settled in my new job and that the holidays are nearing. We've had some very good news and some bad news, and we've gotten excited and gotten less excited but all things considered we're doing well.<br />
<br />
My initial ninety days at work are nearing and it's time to sign for a year, if they still want me, haha. We're still crazy about going other places and sometimes it gets in the way with a normal life. How do you get up every day and go to work when you wish everyone around you spoke a different language? I don't know how others feel but sometimes my daily life isn't all that exciting, but then again, I'm comparing it to a lot of really exciting places. While it might be part of growing up, I do think that moving to other countries tends to make my small-town life a bit less exciting. I'm trying to balance this with my daily life.<br />
<br />
A good friend of mine, who recently moved off to the greater DC area with a sweet job programming robots to think for us (or something like that), told me that the programming is just a means to get me into a position so that I can do what I really want. He said: "It's my grind." if I'm not mistaken. He's not really completely satisfied with programming either, since he loves Psychology, and has a vision beyond it all. I like that.<br />
<br />
I've considered that it could just be me, but Olivia seems to feel the same. That's good, otherwise I would feel like I was the only one in the world who wants to move anywhere but Wilmington, NC and Seoul, South Korea. <br />
<br />
I think it is just that the adventurous spirit that never dies and that deep down in our souls we long for more than what we have. I wouldn't call it a simple dissatisfaction with things, but it's like this tickling excitement for a future where you get to move around and pursue selfless careers for the greater good of mankind. (I'm trying to justify satisfying my selfish desires by making it sound like I want to do humanitarian work, or missionary work; is it working?)<br />
<br />
We've just got a month or so to go and 2012 will be here. What better time to start pondering our future and how our present will take us there? I know it sounds unrelated but I remembered a piece of literature I read in college from Julio Cortázar entitled "La Isla a Mediodia", or something like "The Island at Noon". All that dreaming and it can sometimes make you crazy. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it as he was a man of great genius. It's a short story so carve out a few and tell me what you think, ok?<br />
<br />
<b>Inspirations</b>:<br />
My old Computer Science friend<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Cort%C3%A1zar">Julio Cortazar</a>: <a href="http://www.literatura.us/cortazar/isla.html">La Isla a Mediodia</a> (<a href="http://latinamericanshortstories.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/cortazar-the-island-at-noon.pdf">The Island at Noon</a>).<br />
Globetrotting<br />
<br />
<br />Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-51074657117199230832011-11-07T21:06:00.001-05:002011-11-07T21:06:19.338-05:00Go Energies or Go Home<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltR6eBT-_zCmy98jvS8yxtvENecTByhgIGgOSQhCVfEWsB7VBaI5s1U2-c03IYEWzpL1Ds5xuFOzjwMtJF4vAwgMHKCaN5kV6Bo8vyojhpIEm8Mbs0jS2EvtvvrqIXag9MdebljVgGoY/s1600/Connecting-iPhone-to-Linux-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltR6eBT-_zCmy98jvS8yxtvENecTByhgIGgOSQhCVfEWsB7VBaI5s1U2-c03IYEWzpL1Ds5xuFOzjwMtJF4vAwgMHKCaN5kV6Bo8vyojhpIEm8Mbs0jS2EvtvvrqIXag9MdebljVgGoY/s200/Connecting-iPhone-to-Linux-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.junauza.com/2010/08/connecting-iphone-to-linux-using.html">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've told most of you of my new programming job but have not told much about it. I'm a programmer, along with a very good, old friend of mine, who is the lead and I am the first in command underneath him.<br />
<br />
We program mostly in PHP, but there are lots of opportunities to use javascript, jquery, and we do a fair bit of work in html/css in addition. There are some projects to come which will require my renewed interest in java. Anyone unfamiliar with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yii">Yii Framework</a> would likely find it interesting as well. The Yii Framework is an example of the MVC or Model, View, Controller framework which separates web applications into three distinct parts, so that you focus on getting data, presenting it and working between the database and the views by using the controller, which is a bit of an in-between. It means you get your data, you pass it around and do things with it, and then present it, all in a nicely compartmentalized way.<br />
<br />
Interesting? Well, that's the beginning of it. <br />
<br />
I'm working for <a href="http://goenergies.com/">GoEnergies</a>, a bulk fuel company and help them build tasty, sexy and otherwise useful applications to make their lives easier. It's not a bad job, actually, it's pretty great. If you want a good idea of what I do in addition to this, I am sure that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux">linux</a> command line and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vim_(text_editor)">vim</a> would summarize it all very nicely. Oh, yes, I use Linux AND I'm normal. Imagine that.<br />
<br />
If this post seems like it was written in another language it almost was, but don't fear, I will post more delectable things at a later date. That's the good thing about being ADHD, or multi-faceted, it means all your readers never get bored :)Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-30222340986429619972011-10-30T22:13:00.002-04:002011-10-30T22:13:51.701-04:00Acquisition of Worldly PossessionsWhile not the most important details of our life, we do have much to say about filling up our room in preparation for our next stage. It would seem a small detail but after this past year we have expected much less and been happy with very little because we had no choice. Now, as things seem to be looking up we've moved in with our sister for a season in anticipation for our next step which will be our own apartment/house pending our brother in law's arrival to North Carolina.<br />
<br />
We moved in to a room with no furniture and no bed. Just a couple weeks later we have managed to fill it up with goodies from <a href="http://craigslist.org/">Craig's List</a>, all at a price that is so good it makes me feel a little bit guilty. Unbelievable.<br />
<br />
It does feel good to get some stuff finally but while I was in church today I was thinking something almost the complete opposite of what I <i>should</i> have been thinking. It is time to just enjoy life, and soak in all the blessings as of late, but another thought came to mind: <i>no matter what I get I will not feel any better</i>. <br />
<br />
This is no huge revelation but considering what I want to do in life; much of it involves learning languages and living in foreign countries with my wife. It's all just a distraction on our way! <br />
<br />
Forgive me, as I have no intention of trying to sound like I've got it all made and that I'm happy with nothing. I really mean to say that I feel a bit of a void and although we're getting the things we need for our bedroom I recognize it adds nothing to our lives. I don't mean to sound pessimistic either, but these sorts of things don't really please me too much. I'm happy when I go places and do things. I like the exotic. I don't enjoy vacation but rather living in a place that might seem a vacation to the people I grew up with. I don't want it to be a two week distraction. Maybe I just long for adventure and am not very easily satisfied? I guess that every day I'm learning a bit more. <br />
<br />
My word for the year is still 'Contentment' until this year ends. I have a long way to go!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-64636175407043159032011-10-08T09:44:00.000-04:002011-10-08T09:44:14.374-04:00Absence Makes Something Grow Fonder...Hello, and let it be known I'm terribly sorry for the past month or so. <br />
<br />
September 1, 2011 marked the first day of my new job, a 'real job' at GoEnergies, a local Wilmington, NC company. My great friend got me a job working for him, since he is the lead software developer. It's a pretty sweet deal.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, I have been frantically brushing up on programming and database management skills, most of which had decayed to such a point as to wonder if they would ever recover. One month later there is much more hope. We have been developing a website for the company, as well as other internal applications; pretty normal as far as programming jobs go. <br />
<br />
We have also purchased a 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon (Limited), which means it has leather seats, a cd player and it has heated seats as well as mirror defrosting. As it turns out it had very few miles on it, but not as few as it seemed at the beginning. The first digit on the odometer didn't advance making it look like the car only had 17,000 miles on it. It really had 117,000, which is still pretty excellent. <br />
<br />
My wife, Olivia has also started working with the local YMCA where she takes care of the sweet multi-cultural kids a couple days a week. She likes it so far and is starting to show more ambition. Your hopes and dreams start to escape you after a year of almost constant waiting and disappointment, but that is when other things start to 'kick in', so we say. It is in times like these that words like 'faith' really must be put to work and turned into 'works'. <br />
<br />
There has been almost so much good news lately that we felt that we were in control of our lives again, (what a silly thought, right?), and were going to get up out of the hole we've been stuck in, all in a manner of speaking, of course. This past week we went to the doctor to find out that Olivia has a large growth, and the doctor thought it might have been a fibroid. The following Monday we followed up with an ultrasound. Friday morning the guesses were confirmed and we are host to an 11cm in diameter fibroid. That's a softball for those of you who are numerically challenged. Life just go interesting again! We'll keep everyone posted. For now? God has been true in finding us both jobs we enjoy, whether or not they are easy is another story entirely. We are both very much happy, and growing to be happier every day despite this new bit of news. It's strange how things can begin to seem so bright even when they don't seem as good. For some reason I think it's all going to be fantastic in the end. God has been pretty darn good to us.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-3644970427916259922011-09-04T12:02:00.000-04:002011-09-04T12:02:24.212-04:00Circumlocution and Vocabulary in Foreign Languages<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFByVMZ9TSTXb4yQAMuhODku4VV5jzE78q4cW9DLqcjcSfteBmODC8VSvwNZGC6_vN0z3N8NvtOYBHvHaDMuXl0v0AXvt_ZErLreTiyHIkf5Txlv7GIUbp3FtgJVC2BmyBNFC7EyuFK7w/s1600/roundabout.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFByVMZ9TSTXb4yQAMuhODku4VV5jzE78q4cW9DLqcjcSfteBmODC8VSvwNZGC6_vN0z3N8NvtOYBHvHaDMuXl0v0AXvt_ZErLreTiyHIkf5Txlv7GIUbp3FtgJVC2BmyBNFC7EyuFK7w/s200/roundabout.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image property of: <a href="http://www.defensivecycling.com/">Defensive Cycling</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Speaking in a foreign language it comes to mind that there is always a bare minimum vocabulary necessary for effective communication. With the accumulation of languages comes the ability to shortcut this procedure by asking more effective questions. Why make language learning blunders again on your third language?<br />
<br />
If I could start again I would try to work on this skill--along with another which is very helpful--called <i>circumlocution</i>:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">1.</span> </span></span><br />
<div class="dndata">
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">roundabout</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">indirect</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">way</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">speaking;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">use</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">more</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">words</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">than</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">necessary</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">express</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">idea.</span> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">2.</span> </span></span><br />
<div class="dndata">
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">roundabout</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">expression. (<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/circumlocution">Dictionary.com</a>)</span> </span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
While it might sound like something bad, circumlocution is a necessary evil when speaking a foreign language. When you don't have the word do you simply not speak it? Not an option. You must improvise--this improvisation is called circumlocution. In Spanish it's called <i>verborrea</i>, which I really like because it sounds like diarrhea, giving us an accurate, albeit disgusting, image (<a href="http://www.wordreference.com/definicion/verborrea">wordreference</a>).<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdote"><b>Anecdote</b></a>: While visiting Chile for the first time, while my Spanish was still very bad, I talked with my Chilean house mother for nearly an hour trying to explain the word "the manner/way". One misunderstanding led to another, and before we knew it there were sentences requiring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recursion">recursion</a> to determine the original word. Simply put, I needed to define several terms in the sentence before I could ask the question I really wanted to ask.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
I had to ask her with what I knew. I knew how to say "the way", but it was more like "the path". <i>El camino</i>.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
I asked her using these sentences: "El camino en que se peina." "El camino en que camina."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
The way in which she (combs her hair/walks).</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
I told her it was a metaphorical extension, and after a few minutes she exclaimed: "LA MANERA!" Sometimes the word we're looking for is not far off at all; we often already know it. All I needed to do was to say: "The manner in which..." instead of "The way in which..." Sometimes it's not this easy, but we still need to know how to ask better questions.</div>
<br />
In order for us to ask meaningful questions we often have to ask for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part_of_speech">parts of speech</a>, but some general words are particularly helpful, such as:<br />
<ul>
<li>Word</li>
<li>Verb</li>
<li>Place</li>
<li>Thing</li>
<li>How do you say _____?</li>
<li>How do you say ___ in ___ (language)? </li>
<li>If ____ then ____.</li>
<li>What is ______?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Of course there are a great many things that make communication more useful and effective, but I've found that words, such as these, often help the listener understand what it is we need to know, or the idea that I'm trying to communicate. <br />
<br />
<b>Sources:</b><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumlocution">Circumlocution</a>.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbosity">Verbosity</a>.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part_of_speech">Part of Speech</a>.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-65810733744346339802011-08-28T21:31:00.000-04:002011-08-28T21:31:02.986-04:00Gargantuan Encounters with Foreign Culture<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZQTTf_eHW0KCl-ki-8nE1pBp8g2Dkts4CkelMGm-qxuZvxU771wOnqH0ywcqT3Hrl4ZLqiBfidi9grIG3MNlCsjTn1SBMnJHBmNR0exSsIXPwbn0qhN95O5OFMKD20yykDxbWeuh1dEn/s1600/BisonCrash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZQTTf_eHW0KCl-ki-8nE1pBp8g2Dkts4CkelMGm-qxuZvxU771wOnqH0ywcqT3Hrl4ZLqiBfidi9grIG3MNlCsjTn1SBMnJHBmNR0exSsIXPwbn0qhN95O5OFMKD20yykDxbWeuh1dEn/s200/BisonCrash.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Property of: <a href="http://www.worth1000.com/entries/288497/bison-crash">Worth1000.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Like hitting a buffalo while driving down the road... You're never going to be the same again, but what if that buffalo became a permanent fixture on your car and added to its functionality and beauty? That's what it's like when you travel and try to become someone different.<br />
<br />
Just a taste of the <i>travel bug</i> will send your life spiraling, down or up I cannot say, until you cast off all else and pursue everything foreign...Everything NOT (whatever I am) is what I became infatuated with.<br />
<br />
My first collisions with foreign culture were: 9 days in Costa Rica, and 5 weeks in Chile. I can tell the story of my life almost in a before/after 2005 fashion. After that year I was never the same.<br />
<br />
What was your gargantuan encounter with foreign culture? Can you pinpoint a specific time, date, place or experience? Please <i>do</i> tell.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-74410202532691688592011-08-26T10:40:00.000-04:002011-08-26T10:40:19.022-04:00On Contentment, Part II<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGKkKSjMwI6iIeNwGHc11NpodZIAxnN_6SObDztdHyjGNHGs-HvOCcwnv8b0ho4OzC2-OfYBhLvPQCzGiwe5PSwkSgbi4TvB3J4jmqrAHGV9C2kCbTKq73Jx_wIPC9OjvwtGnW0pWP0vi/s1600/contentment-chinese.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGKkKSjMwI6iIeNwGHc11NpodZIAxnN_6SObDztdHyjGNHGs-HvOCcwnv8b0ho4OzC2-OfYBhLvPQCzGiwe5PSwkSgbi4TvB3J4jmqrAHGV9C2kCbTKq73Jx_wIPC9OjvwtGnW0pWP0vi/s1600/contentment-chinese.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Property of: <a href="http://www.words-chinese.com/symbols/_satisfaction.htm">words-chinese.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In a <a href="http://www.halfkoreanspanishlovingamerican.com/2011/01/on-contentment.html">previous post</a>, I outlined some of the reasons why I chose the word <b>contentment</b> to be my word for the year. Approximately 7 months later I can tell you that I almost wish that I hadn't chosen that word. For many reasons it has been a year in which we have lacked much, financially speaking.<br />
<br />
Much has gone wrong with our career path and our plans, and essentially <i>nothing</i> that we planned besides our marriage has actually happened. We have given up the military dream, the navy, and the Cryptologic Linguist job, and broadened our horizons to include most every job. Not ideal when we are creatures of passion--longing to pursue only what we love at the expense of our financial prosperity.<br />
<br />
We have spent nearly one year with my family, living together, and as of late we've had the pleasure of housing my sister and her four children. That brings the grand total of people in our house to 11. A lot, you know? We've been angry, tired, frustrated, and complained about sharing a home and car after marriage. I would get angry because our plans weren't working out but there is often nothing to be done about it besides letting go of them and moving on. What do you do when you don't have money? Nothing. You do stuff that doesn't cost money and we have had our share of this. We have been blessed with jobs but they have not been regular and have been unrelated to my studies (Computer Science, Spanish).<br />
<br />
After 7 months what have we learned? God has a reason for letting our life suck, if you'll allow me to use that terminology. We have been quite angry at times, wondering why God hasn't let us free to be 'successful' like everyone else we know. Why, God, can everyone else do well and work hard but yet you allow me to sit at home and apply for 5,000 jobs without results? It's hard to answer those questions. The answers don't seem to satisfy..<br />
<br />
We've learned, although we've known since we were children, that God works things out in a way that is good, and whether or not we agree with it at the time, or ever is going to be up to us. We could be angry about it but it seems that moving on, seeking new employment in less exciting cities has some merit to it. My wife's family is still not seeing eye to eye with us in regards to our marriage, but I'm sure that it will come around. Contentment? Well, I think we've got a long way to go. I <i>am</i> sure that we have learned a lot about being content with very little; being content with what we've been given, until we can move forward.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-21382913419561609462011-08-21T18:30:00.000-04:002011-08-21T18:30:57.581-04:00Asking for Forks in Asia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANZYKYhTkCh9OvjUwztwnGa13gwEggphwaY8UTpFHLRiLfacoyWfdqlD937BLG2z8yMSmtpfQHhyphenhyphen5CiF1pDfEe6GQcEQXVb_Ng33sMptbU_BAp6MQlbVw0RxtvGIjdHKT5ZtZkfke00zh/s1600/ChopsticksMeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANZYKYhTkCh9OvjUwztwnGa13gwEggphwaY8UTpFHLRiLfacoyWfdqlD937BLG2z8yMSmtpfQHhyphenhyphen5CiF1pDfEe6GQcEQXVb_Ng33sMptbU_BAp6MQlbVw0RxtvGIjdHKT5ZtZkfke00zh/s200/ChopsticksMeme.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FORK!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Humiliation:<br />
<blockquote><blockquote><div class="luna-Ent"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">to</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">cause</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">(a</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">person)</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">a</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black;">painful</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black;">loss</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black;">of</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">pride,</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black;">self-respect,</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black;">or</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: black; cursor: default;">dignity;</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword">mortify. (<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humiliation">Dictionary.com</a>)</span> </span></div></blockquote></blockquote><br />
Nothing cuts down your pride like when you have to ask for a fork in Asia when you can actually use chop sticks.<br />
<br />
<br />
"...May I please have a fork? My hand doesn't work."<br />
"Cho, fo-kuh chuseyo. Son-ul anduessunikka."<br />
<br />
When I broke my hand (metacarpal) in Korea I was unable to show off my Level V chop stick mastery. It hurt because it made me feel like I was just a lame foreigner who was afraid of chop sticks. Does anyone have similar experiences where you had to do something like this? It could be speaking English in a foreign country when you know it makes you look ignorant. You know the feeling, so why don't you tell me <i>your</i> experience?Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527207283302611357.post-47753350311176136502011-08-18T14:23:00.000-04:002011-08-18T14:23:20.093-04:00Shucker's Marketing Campaign<div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTfQ2-g-Y9z5CCh48pTyhLF1RtPb34rYb8-ySuBH2BIDcNIobWKibwnmzUCrRfC0HszKKofQNWsrxftFuDuvAcRoir_iaLq49-DkN9ucjhX9E0ICQKYGBTQJQCp7G5j62NPMVrHCN_vW0/s1600/image-765878.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641565241713537346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTfQ2-g-Y9z5CCh48pTyhLF1RtPb34rYb8-ySuBH2BIDcNIobWKibwnmzUCrRfC0HszKKofQNWsrxftFuDuvAcRoir_iaLq49-DkN9ucjhX9E0ICQKYGBTQJQCp7G5j62NPMVrHCN_vW0/s320/image-765878.jpg" /></a></div><br />
On my way to work I often pass this new <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6828+Market+Street+wilmington+nc&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&gl=us&z=16&vpsrc=0">Wilmington, NC</a> restaurant: <a href="http://www.shuckersgrill.com/">Shucker's</a>. It's an oyster bar and grill, and maybe we'll go visit it soon enough. I just couldn't stop thinking about marketing slogans for them; all of which would be hilarious, of course.<br />
<br />
One such example:<br />
<blockquote> "Bring the whole shucking family!"</blockquote><br />
I think that would really get the locals in the doors. I hope you have a great day!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112280949591217660noreply@blogger.com9