| Saturday, May 28, 2005 |
| Peru |
| Hi all... I am writing this from Trujillo, Peru. If there is one thing i could say it is that it is crrazzzy weird to be here without 33 other people. arrivin into lima the other night without my bethany friends was weird... especially to be greeted by jose once again by jose, who still looks very much like jose. go figure eh... the shift key on this keyboard seems to not be working so sorry bout the brutal lack of punctuation. the english teacher in me is having difficulties coping with that one. alas... yesterday i went to see about getting another visa while in lima, and it turns out that in order to get one, i would have to pay a 155 american dollar fee - which would not even gauruntee the visa, followed by an interview anywhere from 2 to 5 business days afterward - with approval of the visa pending on the fact that all of my papers were approved. as one of them isn't translated into spanish, the nice man at the counter wasn't too optimistic about my chances, and i was advised by jose and my friend alicia not to waste the money and try another tact in bogota or maybe ecuador or something. so, the saga with my visa continues. i don't really know what to pray for or what to ask for anymore... so i am trying hard not to let the worries pollute my brain right now - i woudl rather focus on this trip, enjoying my time with dennis and betty ... and WOW was it ever WEIRD this morning to pull up into trujillo and see those two waiting, i still feel like i shoudl wake up at any moment... and being with my friend erin. shoot, GOD is good to me - and i praise him that i can be here and spend some amazing time with two of my best friends. |
posted by Erica @ 1:46 p.m.  |
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| Tuesday, May 24, 2005 |
| Weird , or should I say "different?" Hot Dogs. |
Hipe - so I feel like it has been a long time since I have written, I guess it's cuz life feels so strange right now. Why? I don't know. Maybe because I am going to Peru in TWO DAYS!!!! Holy toledo I am pumped to get to be with two of my best friends in the entire (literally) world! Dennis and Betty - oh yeah! I also get to visit a friend in Piura named Erin, I went through school (grades 7 - 11) with her, and it's been a good year or two since we've been in the hick village of Valleyview, attempting to climb on top of Hillside High School because there is nothing else to do. Booyah Hickview - ahhhh the memories of a rebel-filled adolescence. Not that I wish I could take back some of those years in Valleyview, but I wish I could take them back. But I guess we learn from our mistakes. At any rate, I am very excited to see Erin and reminisce about the ole days... Crazy to go from Valleyview to Peru with someone. These last days here in Bogota have been cool - we've had some much needed and loved sunshine, and I have had some good times - riding the bus sola, I finished at ECA on Friday, bought my first CD in Spanish, and the other day... went for hot dogs with a bunch of the youth from Dios Es Amor for Gina's birthday. They were strange I gotta say - but somehow very tasty. Some of you will remember the hamburgers in Peru... well, this was kinda a hot dog with all the stuff the hamburger had: crispy little fry things, salsa rosada, salsa de piña (I think??? It was yellow, and usually that is this pineapple stuff...), lettuce, onions, cheeze, etc... I liked it, but the whole time was thinking, "well this is interesting..." Perro Caliente, Colombian style! Will the experiences never end? I hope not.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- MIJUCO begins in 22 days (I think, more or less) - pray that everything would come together, that final prep's would be smooth, and that participants would commit to the program, etc...
- For my visa situation. I am going to peru primarily to apply for a different visa - pray that God's will would be made clear.
- For my travels in Peru, much time will be spent on buses alone so that all of those arrangements and travels could be smooth would be awesome!
- For Paula, that she wouldn't be too lonely y triste sin mi =) |
| posted by Erica @ 10:21 a.m. |
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| Wednesday, May 18, 2005 |
| Prideful Independence! |
Today I went to my Spanish lesson as per usual this morning - sola. Sin Paula. ALL on my ownnnn - not that I haven't been taking buses alone, because as previous posts have said, I obviously have been... but today was different because I had to take TWO buses to get there - it involves a transfer... oooo. May I just say that it pumps me up for life - filling me with this beautiful "Ahhhh, I'm not completely dependant for everything in my life" kinda feeling. Besides which, today (earlier) was BEAUTIFUL - blue skies, warm, etc... so that added to my "on top of the world of prideful indepenence" feeling. Good times.
This is really a good feeling to have cuz these last couple days have been kinda bleh in the whole being content where I am department. I had a really good talk with Bonnie Lo (elementary principal) at ECA the other day. Seriously, I praise God because of the encouragement she has been to me in my time here. But back to the point, we were talking about how somedays there is the desire to just give up, pack your bags and go to where life is easy and everyday isn't this struggle to be faithful to the calling God has placed on you. In all honesty, somedays I get this bitter attitude in my heart about being here - it is hard to focus on the superior picture of God and His workings when it is miserable weather - rainy and cloudy every day, you have a new nephew you won't see until he is 6 months old, you miss your family and friends, your miss your language, you miss the feeling of belonging, you miss that "certain someone"... you miss being able to walk or drive to wherever you want to and not have to worry about safety or getting lost or answer to people for every second of the day... Get the grumpy and em-bittered drift?
However, as Bonnie and I talked we both came to recognize and shared with each other that no way would we actually abandon the path God has us on (or we hope we wouldn't). I have known since I've been a Christian that I don't want to go about my faith half-heartedly, I know that given the chance I could live the complacent life, but deep down somewhere something inside won't let me enjoy it - even the thought sours when I think of it.
Please don't read this and think I am this walking bittered woman or anything - I don't grumble to myself (that often), or lash out (that often) or throw rocks at the millions and millions of dogs that annoy me everyday (that often) =) It is quite the opposite, I do enjoy my experiences and especially the friends I am coming to have here - just every once in awhile, in the times I have to think, I start wishing it didn't have to be this effort to be faithful. Please pray that I would be stable in peace... I don't enjoy the "roller-coaster" of emotions; being on top of the world one moment and doubting the next. I know God has led me here, I desire to serve Him... so I'm gonna pray in faith for His goodness to be revealed.
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." |
| posted by Erica @ 10:30 a.m. |
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| Monday, May 16, 2005 |
| Aidan Morris Scammell |
OK - Reason #1 why I would love to be back in Canada today - because I am an aunt for the second time! Yep - on Saturday May 14 my brother's girlfriend had their baby! (Aidan Morris Scammell) Last night I got two phone calls from my parents... how crazy is it that I won't get to see my new little buddy until November? Geh! He was 3 weeks early, and weighs 5.1 pounds - so he is just a little itty bitty gapher, but I am told that he is perfectly healthy and the doctors say he'll be just fine. Christina (his mom) is doing good too - PRAISE the Lord for no other major complications! Please pray for the little guy - for health and all that stuff. Also, my brother and his girlfriend aren't Christians and aren't currently working - so they could use some good ole prayer too!
Other than being pumped about my new little buddy, life is good - please be praying for my upcoming trip to Peru - I will be applying for a new visa while there, otherwise my max stay in Colombia is September 8. Also, that I could be an encouragement to those I visit with.
Pray also for MIJUCO, as we are getting ready - yesterday was the one month mark until the program begins - we are asking people in the churches for food supplies like rice, oil, arena, juices, etc... non-perishable items so that the expenses on the program for food will be less. |
| posted by Erica @ 9:09 a.m. |
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| Thursday, May 12, 2005 |
| Fresh Bricks - Available for Purchase |
| Ok. The sweat is still fresh on my palms... I thought I was totally used to the eccentricity of the bus system here, and then tonight happens. So, yesterday I talked with the bosses at English World where I teach two nights a week, and they asked me to come in tonight so the students could undergo a "REAL INTERVIEW" with a "REAL LIVE CANADIAN" (I still find my 'exoticness' here quite hilarious at times... and if by times, I mean always - then yes, at times) so of course, I go because of my inability to say no (Sabrina - terribly sorry... I'm working on it! I just won't mention that I am also making up a class tomorrow night after ECA as well... hehe). So - I hop on the bus, which I usually adore. However, these last 3 trips have been somewhat - not so amazingly beautiful. Why you ask? Well because yesterday on my way to English World I was stuck in one of those coversations where the other person just isn't quite meeting up to their end of the deal, leaving me stuck trying to have a semi-intelligent conversation and failing miserably - the bus is my solace, my place where I can observe this city in peace and enjoy it... I am afraid yesterday all was lost. Then today on my way there I choose to take this colectivo that is UNBELIEVABLY tiny people... I am talking my shoulders were hitting the roof... not to mention that the aisle wasn't big enough for ONE person, nevermind 2 people standing in it while I am trying to get off... the awkwardness of having to shove your butt into someone's face while maneuvering out... and of having some man crawl over you (basically I am being literal here) to get to his seat all while the van is careening through Bogota streets and swerving around the various bycicles, motos, dogs, etc... on the street - my word. Then tonight. Oh my word. Tonight. So I get to the "interviews"... only to find out, there are none because the students couldn't make it. I'm like, meh - what'm I gonna do? Get mad? That's lame. So I leave... but no one is able to walk me to the bus, so the whole time I am praying like no one's mother - finally get to teh bus stop, my normal bus won't stop cuz it is PACCCKKKKEDDDD... so I wait, and wait, and wait - praying the whole time... sure that I am about to be mugged at any moment... and finally my bus comes, packed again, but I take it cuz no way am I standing on that street any longer - stand for like, 25 minutes again in a lurching, careening bus... finally get a seat to discover the bus has come to an absolute standstill for like, 10 minutes. People on the bus start hollering at the driver, telling him where to turn to avoid the accident or traffic jam or whatever it is... finally the driver takes a side street (in my mind I am FREAKING out because we're not on any street I know - only to come within MILLIMETERS of nailing this taxi who tried to come through a narrow street at the same time as us... so of course the driver and people on the bus feel the need to lean out windows and yell back and forth with the taxista... at any moment, I was sure a riot would break out. So, we're still in who knows what street and the guy beside me is muttering to me about the trip, which is causing me to panic cuz I don't want to talk with him cuz I sound like such a yuppie north american in my Spanish... FINALLYYYYY we get back onto our street and I get to my stop and go to get off the bus... only to have this PSYCHO on a motorcycle come and almost peg the side of the bus - AND ME. I know this is heinously long, but I had to tell the story in my language cuz in Spanish I will lose some of the fear... my word. This is a crazy city. But I like it. Like the title says - fresh bricks available for purchase... Erica that ones for you. And yes, I have thought of the logistics of it - tonight helped to make it all the more clearer :) |
| posted by Erica @ 5:35 p.m. |
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| Tuesday, May 10, 2005 |
| Dying at the hands of Mexican Hot Sauce! |
| Paula and I went out for Mexican food yesterday - it was a holiday here, so I had no work - and I tried out this sauce stuff. I should've known to be careful because Paula didn't know what the name was in Spanish... alas, I tried it anyway. How could anyone enjoy burning their face off for the sake of food? Not me - that is for dang sure. Anyway, life has been good - bowling in Spanish was a fun time, even if I lost by ridiculous amounts... I did however enjoy people watching - one couple was particularily interesting: you know how you see those overly macho male types trying to impress a girl who is obviously on a first or second date? Yep - definitely had fun laughing at a couple in a lane Marisol and I were watchign while waiting for our lane. All I wanted to tell the poor guy in the far too tight t-shirt was to lighten up: it's bowling. What, pray tell, is studly about bowling? Life otherwise is really good - into my last 2 weeks at ECA. The 20th will be my last day. Then I am off to Peru on May 26 for 10 days... then MIJUCO starts on June 15. Paula leaves for Canada August 1 (ish) - life is speeding up, and I am excited to see what all God brings my way! |
| posted by Erica @ 9:29 a.m. |
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| Thursday, May 05, 2005 |
| I am my own worst Fear! |
| Had my first Spanish lesson on Wednesday. "offical" lesson that is. Definitely faced myself in a Spanish teacher. I know now how my poor, poor students feel when they face off with the Erica-nator. I am brutally cruel. Basically, I am the type of teacher who is fairly hard on students - no Spanish in my classes unless absolutely necessary, homework to keep em up on their English, etc... WELL! My Spanish teacher is exaclty the same... I felt like I was facing off to a firing squad - I am pretty sure I haven't ever been so self conscious about ATTEMPTING Spanish in my entire life. Oh wait, that's not true - the other day in the photo shop the ladies most definitely were making fun of me in Spanish and laughing at me... hard to talk when you feel like crawling into a hole and dying because you can't speak the same language - sucks doubly that I could understand what they were saying. Although - I did find some satisfaction in talking to them and correcting them that I am NOT from the States, and am indeed from Canada, and watching them get embarrassed. Haha. Serves em right. Call me a gringa again. Anyway - what can you do about it? Life is good otherwise... got a busy weekend ahead of me. Took tomorrow off from ECA to work with Paula, Leidy (and Tomas?) on MIJUCO stuff... pumped about that... and we're going bowling after! Wooowooooo.... bowling in Spanish. Should be interesting. Then Youth Group as usual at Dios es Amor, and church on Sunday... may not seem like much, but always turns out to be more than you think. |
| posted by Erica @ 4:20 p.m. |
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| About Me |
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Name: Erica
Home: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done.
Mother Teresa |
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