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First of all, one of the guys from the Istanbul team came down this week to help with the frisbee weekend preparations. He was born and raised in Istanbul, so he is practically Turkish (though he still claims to be American). I was amazed at how someone with the language could do more in one day than I did in two weeks. We have some solid leads now and I hope to be telling you all about this frisbee weekend really soon.
Secondly, I just got back from an awesome trip to the mountains with the roomies. It was raining most the day, but we found shelter in an old watchtower. I have no idea when this thing was built, but when we asked a local villager he replied, "I'm 55 years old and it has been here my whole life. My father is 80 and it was here as far back as he remembers." So we know for a fact that it's at least 80 years old. Past that, it's anyone's guess. Hopefully I will have pictures soon (assuming the film was loaded correctly).
Third, Uncle Ted and his wife had their fourth son this week. Congrats to them and welcome to Earth, Brownie #4.
And lastly, Clemson didn't quite pull it out for the ACC title, but we still landed a solid 5 seed in the tourney. While I know the history of 5 seeds being upset, I'm hoping that Drake will get beat (they're down as I write this) and take the pressure off of us. I'll go ahead and mention here that I didn't take enough time to really look at my bracket. The tourney kind of snuck up on me this year. My bracket looks terrible already, though my Sweet 16 is still intact so far.
I hope everyone enjoys their Easter. We had a wonderful prayer time at church last night where we had a nice dinner, shared our thoughts on the upcoming "resurrection holiday," and then celebrated the Lord's Supper. It was really great and a wonderful way to really prepare myself and the church for the upcoming holiday. Easter is what our whole faith revolves around. I know that it was on the cross that our sins were paid for. But think about it. Everybody dies. If Jesus had just died, he would have just been another man. It was his resurrection that showed his power over death. And like Paul says, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." (1 Cor. 15:14)
Praise God that he has risen!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Blog FIRST!
For the first time in the history of my blog (and probably in the history of blogs in general), you are going to get an entire post dedicated to... wait for it...
Clemson BASKETBALL!?!?!
That's right, all you diaper dandies out there. March Madness is upon us. Today is Selection Sunday, when the NCAA debuts it's field of 65 teams that will compete in the greatest championship tournament in the world, the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament (otherwise known as the Big Dance).
Most years in March Clemson is hyped up on baseball. With the 9th winningest program in the nation, Clemson baseball is perennially in the top 10 and eyeing a chance to go to Omaha for the second best championship tournament in the world, the College World Series. However, this year is quite different. Baseball is in a rebuilding year and looking rough. Basketball is what the orange faithful are watching these days (and only the orange faithful will realize how dramatically unbelievable that statement is).
The experts say we had a bid to the Big Dance locked up a few weeks back. We played a great nonconference schedule that only included two losses (one to a good Ole Miss team). Then, we finished all alone at third in the ACC (one of the top basketball conferences year in and year out). Along the way we took UNC, the #1 team in the country, into overtime twice before finally falling. Both games we had and let slip away. But we beat the people we were supposed to beat and only had a couple goof ups along the way. Just getting that at large bid is enough reason to have any Tiger excited, but that's just the beginning.
Being third in the ACC gave us a first round bye in the ACC tournament. Friday night we kicked off our ACC tourney run with a blasting of BC. The final score ended up being 82-48. Yes, you read that right, 82-48. The press defense forced 22 turnovers and kept the fighting Jesuits from getting any rhythm on offense. Again, this is enough to be considered a monumental year in Clemson basketball. But the ride continues.
Yesterday we played Duke in the semifinals for the right to play UNC in the finals. I got home from a fabulous dinner just in time to tune in (via the internet) to the last 5 minutes of the game. When I turned it on, we were up 7 and Duke looked beat. But Duke is never really beat. They stormed back to within two before I knew what was happening. All the memories of close calls and major collapses came rushing back to me, and trust me, there are a lot of them. But these Tigers proved that this year is something special. They hit shots when they needed to and, against all statistical odds, hit 7 of their last 8 free throws to hang on to the win. The defense held Duke, the best 3 pt. shooting team in the league, to just 6 of 26 behind the arc. And, again, after hitting only 62% of our free throws in the regular season, we hit 7 of our last 8 to ice it. Absolutely amazing.
Now we get our third chance at UNC. The first two times we had them all but beat before they stormed back on us. Let's finish the job this time and bring home that ACC Championship!
GO TIGERS!!!
Clemson BASKETBALL!?!?!
That's right, all you diaper dandies out there. March Madness is upon us. Today is Selection Sunday, when the NCAA debuts it's field of 65 teams that will compete in the greatest championship tournament in the world, the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament (otherwise known as the Big Dance).
Most years in March Clemson is hyped up on baseball. With the 9th winningest program in the nation, Clemson baseball is perennially in the top 10 and eyeing a chance to go to Omaha for the second best championship tournament in the world, the College World Series. However, this year is quite different. Baseball is in a rebuilding year and looking rough. Basketball is what the orange faithful are watching these days (and only the orange faithful will realize how dramatically unbelievable that statement is).
The experts say we had a bid to the Big Dance locked up a few weeks back. We played a great nonconference schedule that only included two losses (one to a good Ole Miss team). Then, we finished all alone at third in the ACC (one of the top basketball conferences year in and year out). Along the way we took UNC, the #1 team in the country, into overtime twice before finally falling. Both games we had and let slip away. But we beat the people we were supposed to beat and only had a couple goof ups along the way. Just getting that at large bid is enough reason to have any Tiger excited, but that's just the beginning.
Being third in the ACC gave us a first round bye in the ACC tournament. Friday night we kicked off our ACC tourney run with a blasting of BC. The final score ended up being 82-48. Yes, you read that right, 82-48. The press defense forced 22 turnovers and kept the fighting Jesuits from getting any rhythm on offense. Again, this is enough to be considered a monumental year in Clemson basketball. But the ride continues.
Yesterday we played Duke in the semifinals for the right to play UNC in the finals. I got home from a fabulous dinner just in time to tune in (via the internet) to the last 5 minutes of the game. When I turned it on, we were up 7 and Duke looked beat. But Duke is never really beat. They stormed back to within two before I knew what was happening. All the memories of close calls and major collapses came rushing back to me, and trust me, there are a lot of them. But these Tigers proved that this year is something special. They hit shots when they needed to and, against all statistical odds, hit 7 of their last 8 free throws to hang on to the win. The defense held Duke, the best 3 pt. shooting team in the league, to just 6 of 26 behind the arc. And, again, after hitting only 62% of our free throws in the regular season, we hit 7 of our last 8 to ice it. Absolutely amazing.
Now we get our third chance at UNC. The first two times we had them all but beat before they stormed back on us. Let's finish the job this time and bring home that ACC Championship!
GO TIGERS!!!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Frustrations
The reason I have been silent the last few weeks is two fold. 1. I've been very busy. 2. I've been very frustrated.
So what have I been busy with? And why has it been so frustrating?
Well, for starters, I'm unemployed. It happened suddenly and required me to make a few trips downtown to pay some fines. Apparently my internship wasn't quite as legit as the company and I thought. A week or so of uncertain anxiety and a few hundred dollars later I cleared my name in the government's eyes and cleared my schedule of anything work related.
Next has been an exciting opportunity to bring ultimate frisbee to this city. We've been trying to get a game going on Wednesday afternoons for months to varying degrees of success. Our frisbee friends in Istanbul landing an Innovator's Grant from the Ultimate Player's Association and want to use part of the funds to develop ultimate here. That means someone here (me) has to help set up all the logistics. We'll look past the fact that I'm the only foreigner really devoted to trying to build this and past the fact that I'm totally unorganized and not gifted in any administrative area. The fact is, it took me two weeks of almost daily trips to the university campus to find out who I'm supposed to talk to in order to reserve a field to use, figure out what kind of documents we need to request permission, request permission, and then get denied permission. As one very honest Turk told me yesterday, "No one likes to make decisions because no one likes to be the one responsible for anything. If you don't know someone, you can't get anything done." Don't I know it.
Third on the list has been Easter program prep at church. I volunteered to sing in the choir again (since I knew there'd only be five or six of us) and was volunteered to be in the theatre part of the production, though my last venture onto stage didn't work out so well. There's something about foreign vowel sounds, awkward homemade sandals, and suit pants that just don't go together. It really is a joy to be a member of this fellowship and to be able to serve, but that doesn't mean that it's not time consuming and frustrating at times.
Also, not something that I have to do, but something that I'd like to do, is learning photography. The Canadian is a pretty good photographer and has a classic 1983 Olympus camera that he has allowed me to learn with. It's manual everything and a lot of fun. I put friends and strangers alike in awkward situations as I snapped away for about two weeks, using up my first ever all-manual roll of film. Then, when I got it developed, I learned that the film hadn't been loaded properly (by the guy at the film store) and that I had not, in actuality, taken a single photo.
Funny, yet frustrating, story from today... After our regular Sat. morning basketball game (which I played very poorly in), we went to our regular cafe for our regular drinks and regular conversation. We were carrying on about the morning's game, the upcoming NCAA tourney, life and love and happiness and then the Holy Ghost. When, from the corner of my eye, I notice a lady from the other table very openly staring me down. She's an older lady with at least 6 gold teeth (that's all I could count). I make eye contact, give her a head nod, and a polite, Turkish, "Hello." This is how it goes from there.
GoldTooth: Hello.
(pause)
GoldTooth: English?!?
Me: No, we're American.
GoldTooth: This is Turkey.
Me: Excuse me?
GoldTooth: Turkish. Turkish. This is Turkey.
Me: Yes, I know. We know Turkish, but English is easier for us.
GoldTooth: Ah, you know Turkish. (Turns to husband) They know Turkish.
Husband: They know Turkish?
GoldTooth: They are speaking English, but they know Turkish.
It's sad that no matter how long I am here, how many people I know, how much of the language I can speak, what kind of service I am giving to the community, that some people will still not want me here based solely on the fact that I'm a foreigner.
Pile all of that on top of the usual stress and frustration from living in a strange place, with strange people, who speak a strange language, living with two roommates who are very different from myself, trying to carry on a relationship with a girl half way across the world (who's got a world of worries of her own at the moment), and sprinkle in a little Turkish pollen to get my nose running and you have the perfect recipe for a frustrating couple weeks.
Lane gave me a pep talk last night, reminding me to look at the positives in my life instead of the negatives. It's true, you can never overstate the power of positive thinking. The positives in my life far, far outweigh the negatives. Thanking God for what he's given us and for his faithfulness to us changes the outlook of any day. I need to do that more often. Maybe then I can understand that these things are nothing more than slight, momentary afflictions. And easy ones at that.
So what have I been busy with? And why has it been so frustrating?
Well, for starters, I'm unemployed. It happened suddenly and required me to make a few trips downtown to pay some fines. Apparently my internship wasn't quite as legit as the company and I thought. A week or so of uncertain anxiety and a few hundred dollars later I cleared my name in the government's eyes and cleared my schedule of anything work related.
Next has been an exciting opportunity to bring ultimate frisbee to this city. We've been trying to get a game going on Wednesday afternoons for months to varying degrees of success. Our frisbee friends in Istanbul landing an Innovator's Grant from the Ultimate Player's Association and want to use part of the funds to develop ultimate here. That means someone here (me) has to help set up all the logistics. We'll look past the fact that I'm the only foreigner really devoted to trying to build this and past the fact that I'm totally unorganized and not gifted in any administrative area. The fact is, it took me two weeks of almost daily trips to the university campus to find out who I'm supposed to talk to in order to reserve a field to use, figure out what kind of documents we need to request permission, request permission, and then get denied permission. As one very honest Turk told me yesterday, "No one likes to make decisions because no one likes to be the one responsible for anything. If you don't know someone, you can't get anything done." Don't I know it.
Third on the list has been Easter program prep at church. I volunteered to sing in the choir again (since I knew there'd only be five or six of us) and was volunteered to be in the theatre part of the production, though my last venture onto stage didn't work out so well. There's something about foreign vowel sounds, awkward homemade sandals, and suit pants that just don't go together. It really is a joy to be a member of this fellowship and to be able to serve, but that doesn't mean that it's not time consuming and frustrating at times.
Also, not something that I have to do, but something that I'd like to do, is learning photography. The Canadian is a pretty good photographer and has a classic 1983 Olympus camera that he has allowed me to learn with. It's manual everything and a lot of fun. I put friends and strangers alike in awkward situations as I snapped away for about two weeks, using up my first ever all-manual roll of film. Then, when I got it developed, I learned that the film hadn't been loaded properly (by the guy at the film store) and that I had not, in actuality, taken a single photo.
Funny, yet frustrating, story from today... After our regular Sat. morning basketball game (which I played very poorly in), we went to our regular cafe for our regular drinks and regular conversation. We were carrying on about the morning's game, the upcoming NCAA tourney, life and love and happiness and then the Holy Ghost. When, from the corner of my eye, I notice a lady from the other table very openly staring me down. She's an older lady with at least 6 gold teeth (that's all I could count). I make eye contact, give her a head nod, and a polite, Turkish, "Hello." This is how it goes from there.
GoldTooth: Hello.
(pause)
GoldTooth: English?!?
Me: No, we're American.
GoldTooth: This is Turkey.
Me: Excuse me?
GoldTooth: Turkish. Turkish. This is Turkey.
Me: Yes, I know. We know Turkish, but English is easier for us.
GoldTooth: Ah, you know Turkish. (Turns to husband) They know Turkish.
Husband: They know Turkish?
GoldTooth: They are speaking English, but they know Turkish.
It's sad that no matter how long I am here, how many people I know, how much of the language I can speak, what kind of service I am giving to the community, that some people will still not want me here based solely on the fact that I'm a foreigner.
Pile all of that on top of the usual stress and frustration from living in a strange place, with strange people, who speak a strange language, living with two roommates who are very different from myself, trying to carry on a relationship with a girl half way across the world (who's got a world of worries of her own at the moment), and sprinkle in a little Turkish pollen to get my nose running and you have the perfect recipe for a frustrating couple weeks.
Lane gave me a pep talk last night, reminding me to look at the positives in my life instead of the negatives. It's true, you can never overstate the power of positive thinking. The positives in my life far, far outweigh the negatives. Thanking God for what he's given us and for his faithfulness to us changes the outlook of any day. I need to do that more often. Maybe then I can understand that these things are nothing more than slight, momentary afflictions. And easy ones at that.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Separated at Birth? - First Pitch - Last Shot - Sing-a-long - Staying Home
Tell me these two cats don't look like long lost twins...
That's Fidel on top and Willie Nelson on the bottom. Or was it the other way around?
They come from totally different places and have done totally different things with their lives, BUT... they sure do look alike.
Play Ball!
Today is the opening day of the college baseball season in Clemson. The Tigers are not as highly ranked as usual this year. We lost a lot of talent to the majors and graduation. But I think this is better for us. The past few years we've come in as preseason favorites (#1 or close to it in most polls) and haven't lived up to our expectations. Maybe this year we won't be puffed up with the high preseason rankings and instead we'll play with a chip on our shoulder, trying to prove ourselves. As I type this, Clemson has already secured our first win of the season 12-5 over Mercer and are getting ready for the second half of a double header. Though I have to admit that college basketball has my attention at the moment (it's been years since Clemson has been in NCAA talks this late in the year), it's great to hear the ping of those aluminum bats.
BEAUTIFUL Tiger Field- On a sunny spring afternoon, there is no better place in the world.
I got two points.
We played our usual Saturday morning basketball today. I have been a little off as of late. It's hard to live up to the name "Sweet Jesus." Today, with my old friend the Commie back (the one who gave me the nickname to begin with), I found my stroke again. The Commie himself nailed 6 straight 3s at one point, with each one a step further away than the one previous. Then I got in on the action nailing my first 3 attempts from long range. Even the old guy they call Father hit his first 2. It felt great to be hot again. Then, at the end, after a lot of people had left, we ended up with a game of 2 on 3. I was the third guy that got left open at the top of the key. I made 8 straight shots from about the free throw line to put us within two points of the game. I wanted to be the hero and end the game on a three, but I missed my long bomb. So our Turkish friend, who may not have hit a jump shot all day, called for the ball. He said he had two points. When I saw him spotting up from about 4 feet outside the three point line, I was a little skeptical. I tried to get in good rebounding position as he sent it up. It didn't have much arch, it looked ugly from start to finish, but he drained it and we walked away with the win. If you're going to call for it, you've got to make good on it. He did just that.
And Together We Sing
I have been leading worship two or three Sundays a month at church for the last few months. It's been a lot of fun, very rewarding, and a blessing to the church and to myself. It is nice to be able to serve at the church and the church seems to be enjoying my playing. Tonight though, I took another step in my musical career. I helped lead worship at one of our team meetings. The Anti and I prepared a few hymns, a few praise songs, and a few Turkish worship songs to share with the group. It was one of the best worship times we have had as a team, in my opinion. Despite my many differences with the Anti (hence the nickname), I have to say that she has one heck of a voice. It was a great time and hopefully I'll have some pictures to post for you soon.
Bearing Bad News
Lately I've been talking about the difficulties in keeping my mind on things here when going home is slowly but surely creeping up on me. This past week some of us received some unsettling news that could potential affect our ability to stay here physically. I can't divulge the details, but suffice it to say that we are worried about the ability to stay in this city long term. Obviously, for me, it's not that big of a deal at the moment. But others may be effected more by this, and I don't know what the ramifications will be long term. If y'all could be praying for that, I'd appreciate it.
They come from totally different places and have done totally different things with their lives, BUT... they sure do look alike.
Play Ball!
Today is the opening day of the college baseball season in Clemson. The Tigers are not as highly ranked as usual this year. We lost a lot of talent to the majors and graduation. But I think this is better for us. The past few years we've come in as preseason favorites (#1 or close to it in most polls) and haven't lived up to our expectations. Maybe this year we won't be puffed up with the high preseason rankings and instead we'll play with a chip on our shoulder, trying to prove ourselves. As I type this, Clemson has already secured our first win of the season 12-5 over Mercer and are getting ready for the second half of a double header. Though I have to admit that college basketball has my attention at the moment (it's been years since Clemson has been in NCAA talks this late in the year), it's great to hear the ping of those aluminum bats.
I got two points.
We played our usual Saturday morning basketball today. I have been a little off as of late. It's hard to live up to the name "Sweet Jesus." Today, with my old friend the Commie back (the one who gave me the nickname to begin with), I found my stroke again. The Commie himself nailed 6 straight 3s at one point, with each one a step further away than the one previous. Then I got in on the action nailing my first 3 attempts from long range. Even the old guy they call Father hit his first 2. It felt great to be hot again. Then, at the end, after a lot of people had left, we ended up with a game of 2 on 3. I was the third guy that got left open at the top of the key. I made 8 straight shots from about the free throw line to put us within two points of the game. I wanted to be the hero and end the game on a three, but I missed my long bomb. So our Turkish friend, who may not have hit a jump shot all day, called for the ball. He said he had two points. When I saw him spotting up from about 4 feet outside the three point line, I was a little skeptical. I tried to get in good rebounding position as he sent it up. It didn't have much arch, it looked ugly from start to finish, but he drained it and we walked away with the win. If you're going to call for it, you've got to make good on it. He did just that.
And Together We Sing
I have been leading worship two or three Sundays a month at church for the last few months. It's been a lot of fun, very rewarding, and a blessing to the church and to myself. It is nice to be able to serve at the church and the church seems to be enjoying my playing. Tonight though, I took another step in my musical career. I helped lead worship at one of our team meetings. The Anti and I prepared a few hymns, a few praise songs, and a few Turkish worship songs to share with the group. It was one of the best worship times we have had as a team, in my opinion. Despite my many differences with the Anti (hence the nickname), I have to say that she has one heck of a voice. It was a great time and hopefully I'll have some pictures to post for you soon.
Bearing Bad News
Lately I've been talking about the difficulties in keeping my mind on things here when going home is slowly but surely creeping up on me. This past week some of us received some unsettling news that could potential affect our ability to stay here physically. I can't divulge the details, but suffice it to say that we are worried about the ability to stay in this city long term. Obviously, for me, it's not that big of a deal at the moment. But others may be effected more by this, and I don't know what the ramifications will be long term. If y'all could be praying for that, I'd appreciate it.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
This Week in Space
I came across this tonight as I was doing some pre-bedtime reading. I had read a short article about the US wanting to shoot down this thing last week. This is what we've come up with.
Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference last week that the military is fairly confident that the Navy's SM-3 missile, fired from aboard a cruiser in the Pacific, will hit the satellite.
"I think Secretary Gates shares that confidence," Morrell said. (from Yahoo News article)
The military is "fairly confident" that this thing is going to work. Secretary Gates shares that "confidence"?
Look, I know the thing is way up in space and all. But if we're going to start firing off rockets that cost God-only-knows-how-much towards satellites that cost God-only-knows-how-much, I'd like to think we could do better than "fairly confident." Heck, I'm "fairly confident" that I could shoot the thing down with my old iron sights 30/30. I'd hope that with our military's advanced technology we could at least be "pretty sure" about this.
Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference last week that the military is fairly confident that the Navy's SM-3 missile, fired from aboard a cruiser in the Pacific, will hit the satellite.
"I think Secretary Gates shares that confidence," Morrell said. (from Yahoo News article)
The military is "fairly confident" that this thing is going to work. Secretary Gates shares that "confidence"?
Look, I know the thing is way up in space and all. But if we're going to start firing off rockets that cost God-only-knows-how-much towards satellites that cost God-only-knows-how-much, I'd like to think we could do better than "fairly confident." Heck, I'm "fairly confident" that I could shoot the thing down with my old iron sights 30/30. I'd hope that with our military's advanced technology we could at least be "pretty sure" about this.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
One Last Look - For Fortune
It's been a long time coming, but I wanted to finish up showing off my pictures from Rome.
The last day there, Lane and I went back around to some sites that we had seen, but hadn't spent a lot of time enjoying. First on the list was the Spanish Steps. If you'll remember, the last time we were there, it was pouring. The second time around, it was much nicer.
Beautiful overlook of the city.
There is a nice park at the top of the Steps where Lane and I relaxed for a bit. We sat on a bench in a nice wooded area to just talk and relax.
The scene of the Double Pat.
A man came up to us selling little bracelet things. He put one on Lane's arm and then tied one on me. We kept telling him that we were not going to give him any money. He continued to reassure us that we didn't have to. He explained that the color he had given Lane stood for fortune. But then, I think he realized that he had no fortune on that day. I am cheaper and more stubborn than your average tourist. So he took the bracelet back from Lane. As he went to pick up his stuff, Lane looked over at me and said, "He just patted me on the butt." But she was kind of giggling, so I assume she meant he just bumped her when he was picking up his stuff. Apparently he had given her a little double tap on his way out. For fortune.
And we were able to laugh about it afterwards.
From there, we walked back down the Steps and on to the Pantheon. I was glad to go back by the place, since I had forgotten to take a picture of it's outside the time before. Lane was glad to go by it because she needed to go to the bathroom again.
Looking back up at the Spanish Steps.
The Pantheon from the outside, as I waited for Lane.
Even the McDonald's in Rome are swanky. This was stop #42 on Lane's "Public Bathroom Tour of Rome."
From there we went back to Trevi Fountain. I took the opportunity to eat one last piece of pork before coming back to my pork-free city. Then Lane and I spent a long time trying to guess where people were from. At a place like Trevi Fountain, there are people from every continent passing through. We talked about how great of a week it had been and what was to come when we returned to our respective places. All in all, it was probably my favorite part of the whole week. I know it doesn't sound too exciting, but it was just a very special time to just sit and be with each other.
Enjoying the pork immensely.
It was daylight when we got there.
After our sit by the fountain, we tried to find a nice place to eat. Even though Jess gave us wonderful directions, there is just no way to find your way around the back streets of Rome alone. So, we ended up at this little restaurant just up the road from her apartment. What a find! I wish we had gone there earlier in the week. It was one of the best meals I had in the country and Jess said that we didn't even get the best of it. She said they had the best pizza in town and Lane and I both got pasta.
Warm lighting, cool wine, the smell of pasta, and the sound of loud Italians made for the perfect atmosphere.
The food was dang good too.
But after that, the hard part came. First, we had to say goodbye to our friends and hosts. They were incredibly welcoming, helpful, and fun. I love Jess and her roommate was just as cool. Alex and everyone else who made the trip a big success will always have a special place in my heart. It was a great week and wouldn't have been so without the good advice, good pasta, and good laughs that you guys blessed us with. Thanks.
Since Lane had a super early flight, we had to take the last train out to the airport and spend the night there. Lane and I found a wide window sill to set up camp in. She got a few hours of sleep. I got a few espressos.
I don't think I could've slept anyways, but an espresso per hour will keep you wide awake.
Everybody did good until they started boarding Lane's flight. It was hard to see one of the best weeks of my life come to a close. But I know that it was just a taste of what's to come. In just a few short months, we'll pick it back up in Mississippi. Until then, I'm going to make the most of my time here, she's making the most of her time there, and we are making the most of this long distance relationship until we can be together again.
Last picture from one of the best weeks I can remember.
The last day there, Lane and I went back around to some sites that we had seen, but hadn't spent a lot of time enjoying. First on the list was the Spanish Steps. If you'll remember, the last time we were there, it was pouring. The second time around, it was much nicer.
There is a nice park at the top of the Steps where Lane and I relaxed for a bit. We sat on a bench in a nice wooded area to just talk and relax.
A man came up to us selling little bracelet things. He put one on Lane's arm and then tied one on me. We kept telling him that we were not going to give him any money. He continued to reassure us that we didn't have to. He explained that the color he had given Lane stood for fortune. But then, I think he realized that he had no fortune on that day. I am cheaper and more stubborn than your average tourist. So he took the bracelet back from Lane. As he went to pick up his stuff, Lane looked over at me and said, "He just patted me on the butt." But she was kind of giggling, so I assume she meant he just bumped her when he was picking up his stuff. Apparently he had given her a little double tap on his way out. For fortune.
From there, we walked back down the Steps and on to the Pantheon. I was glad to go back by the place, since I had forgotten to take a picture of it's outside the time before. Lane was glad to go by it because she needed to go to the bathroom again.
From there we went back to Trevi Fountain. I took the opportunity to eat one last piece of pork before coming back to my pork-free city. Then Lane and I spent a long time trying to guess where people were from. At a place like Trevi Fountain, there are people from every continent passing through. We talked about how great of a week it had been and what was to come when we returned to our respective places. All in all, it was probably my favorite part of the whole week. I know it doesn't sound too exciting, but it was just a very special time to just sit and be with each other.
After our sit by the fountain, we tried to find a nice place to eat. Even though Jess gave us wonderful directions, there is just no way to find your way around the back streets of Rome alone. So, we ended up at this little restaurant just up the road from her apartment. What a find! I wish we had gone there earlier in the week. It was one of the best meals I had in the country and Jess said that we didn't even get the best of it. She said they had the best pizza in town and Lane and I both got pasta.
But after that, the hard part came. First, we had to say goodbye to our friends and hosts. They were incredibly welcoming, helpful, and fun. I love Jess and her roommate was just as cool. Alex and everyone else who made the trip a big success will always have a special place in my heart. It was a great week and wouldn't have been so without the good advice, good pasta, and good laughs that you guys blessed us with. Thanks.
Since Lane had a super early flight, we had to take the last train out to the airport and spend the night there. Lane and I found a wide window sill to set up camp in. She got a few hours of sleep. I got a few espressos.
Everybody did good until they started boarding Lane's flight. It was hard to see one of the best weeks of my life come to a close. But I know that it was just a taste of what's to come. In just a few short months, we'll pick it back up in Mississippi. Until then, I'm going to make the most of my time here, she's making the most of her time there, and we are making the most of this long distance relationship until we can be together again.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
New Approach to Running
I've changed gears in my running to help me make it through the Kashmir Syndrome. I've been listening to Piper sermons while I run. I've got a CD of biographical sermons he has done that is really inspiring and challenging. Last week I used his sermon on the life of John Calvin to get me through a cold and windy 30 minute run. This week, I've started one on Jonathan Edwards. It got me through a solid run today and inspired and encouraged me today.
I had a nice conversation with the Canadian last night about our church, it's direction, and my personal direction in life. He was unaware that I had been to college. He thought I was the ultimate lay person. In a way, it was very encouraging. He admitted that he was encouraged that I came because it's rare to see a "practical" person on the field. In his opinion, too many intellectuals come overseas. People with PhDs, MDivs, and all the other titles that make us feel important have a little bit harder time fitting in with your average Joe (or average Mehmet, in this case). I agree. But the body of Christ needs theologians just as much as they need preachers and evangelists. Which got me thinking, "Where do I fit in this body?"
I'm not a theologian. Yes, I have read the books. I've put down Piper, Grudem, Sproul, and I'm working through Edwards, Owens, and Luther now. But I'm no theologian. I'm not a preacher. Yes, I've given talks. I can put together a challenging message that's interesting enough to keep your attention. But I'm no preacher. I'm not a pastor. I have friends that come to me for advice. But I can't deal with the problems that arise in leading a group of people. I haven't been giving that leadership gift nor the wisdom and compassion to direct and help people in need. I'm no pastor.
But I'm not supposed to be. Piper says at the beginning of this sermon on Edwards that no one else in that room is Jonathan Edwards. He was in a class of his own. The greatest thinker ever born on American soil is not who you should compare yourself to. In fact, it's not biblical. 1 Cor. 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am..." So what am I?
Sometimes I feel like that flabby part under your arm. I'm there. Most people would rather get rid of me, or at least minimize me. I serve no purpose. I'm unattractive. I'm embarassing.
And sometimes I feel like the elbow. I work. I do my job without much glory or praise. I'm not the prettiest thing to look at, but everyone is glad to have me. I can pack a punch and hit hard when I need to. I'm useful. I'm needed.
In reality, I'm probably both of these at times. And, at other times, something entirely different. I feel like I am learning and growing every day. There are so many things I have seen and done in the last two years that have made me rethink so much of what I believe. Some things have been cemented in my mind as true, never to be shaken again. Some things that I thought were cemented have been uprooted forcefully. I don't know what I am yet. I know some things that I'm not. I know some things that I want to be.
I want to be the best C-Love I can be. The best English teacher. The best Turkish student. The best friend. The best teammate. The best jogger. The best theologian. The best evangelist. The best boyfriend. The best son and brother. The best roommate. The best guitar player.
The best me. The me God wants me to be.
I had a nice conversation with the Canadian last night about our church, it's direction, and my personal direction in life. He was unaware that I had been to college. He thought I was the ultimate lay person. In a way, it was very encouraging. He admitted that he was encouraged that I came because it's rare to see a "practical" person on the field. In his opinion, too many intellectuals come overseas. People with PhDs, MDivs, and all the other titles that make us feel important have a little bit harder time fitting in with your average Joe (or average Mehmet, in this case). I agree. But the body of Christ needs theologians just as much as they need preachers and evangelists. Which got me thinking, "Where do I fit in this body?"
I'm not a theologian. Yes, I have read the books. I've put down Piper, Grudem, Sproul, and I'm working through Edwards, Owens, and Luther now. But I'm no theologian. I'm not a preacher. Yes, I've given talks. I can put together a challenging message that's interesting enough to keep your attention. But I'm no preacher. I'm not a pastor. I have friends that come to me for advice. But I can't deal with the problems that arise in leading a group of people. I haven't been giving that leadership gift nor the wisdom and compassion to direct and help people in need. I'm no pastor.
But I'm not supposed to be. Piper says at the beginning of this sermon on Edwards that no one else in that room is Jonathan Edwards. He was in a class of his own. The greatest thinker ever born on American soil is not who you should compare yourself to. In fact, it's not biblical. 1 Cor. 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am..." So what am I?
Sometimes I feel like that flabby part under your arm. I'm there. Most people would rather get rid of me, or at least minimize me. I serve no purpose. I'm unattractive. I'm embarassing.
And sometimes I feel like the elbow. I work. I do my job without much glory or praise. I'm not the prettiest thing to look at, but everyone is glad to have me. I can pack a punch and hit hard when I need to. I'm useful. I'm needed.
In reality, I'm probably both of these at times. And, at other times, something entirely different. I feel like I am learning and growing every day. There are so many things I have seen and done in the last two years that have made me rethink so much of what I believe. Some things have been cemented in my mind as true, never to be shaken again. Some things that I thought were cemented have been uprooted forcefully. I don't know what I am yet. I know some things that I'm not. I know some things that I want to be.
I want to be the best C-Love I can be. The best English teacher. The best Turkish student. The best friend. The best teammate. The best jogger. The best theologian. The best evangelist. The best boyfriend. The best son and brother. The best roommate. The best guitar player.
The best me. The me God wants me to be.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Checkin' In
It's no secret that my time in this country is quickly coming to an end. I have felt it coming since I got back from vacation and it's not a pleasant feeling. It tears and gnaws at me. At the same time it is pulling me towards what is to come and grounding me in what is here and now.
There is a lot (A LOT) of work to do here. I have a lot of friends that I have grown to love. I still don't understand the majority of the language. The church still needs a decent guitar player. The Barber still needs someone to play backgammon with. I have a few more Turkish Bibles to give away. The guys still need a small forward on the "national team." Somebody's got to teach English to all these business men. And who is the Big O going to go fishing with when I'm gone?
But at the same time, I want to be ready for America. I need a job. If any of you reading in the Jackson, MS area know of anything, please let me know. I'll need a place to stay. I'm going to need a car. I've got connections already, but I'll be trying to find and fit into a new church, a new set of friends, a new community. I'm jumping right into some of the best fishing of the year and I'll just have a few short months to get a game plan ready for duck season.
I dream of Chick-fil-a and Rush's chili-cheeseburgers. I dread the day I have to walk away from Yaprak Doner and Adana Kebap. The idea of getting 64 ounces of Dr. Pepper with as much ice as I want at ANY gas station makes me giddy. Not being able to find a lukewarm glass of frothy ayran makes me a little sad. Being able to talk about deep, personal, and spiritual issues at ease with people I understand is something I long for. Doing the same thing when it's difficult, confusing, and sometimes impossible is something I live for.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I see my departure on the horizon and at the same time I'm excited about it and dreading it. I've had a little while to get over my post-vacation moops and I am ready for the spring. Things are about to get back to normal, hopefully (whatever normal is). We should start playing ultimate again this week. We've found another group of guys to play basketball with. We've got our first coffee house coming up soon. It's about to be a lot of fun again.
Some people tell me that it's easy to check out the last few months that you're in country. You see the great shining glory of the western world and it mesmerizes you. I see it. It's tempting me. But I don't want to miss "this." Brothers, sisters, friends, experiences, sights, sounds, and tastes that I won't have there. I don't want to check out. I'm just checking in.
There is a lot (A LOT) of work to do here. I have a lot of friends that I have grown to love. I still don't understand the majority of the language. The church still needs a decent guitar player. The Barber still needs someone to play backgammon with. I have a few more Turkish Bibles to give away. The guys still need a small forward on the "national team." Somebody's got to teach English to all these business men. And who is the Big O going to go fishing with when I'm gone?
But at the same time, I want to be ready for America. I need a job. If any of you reading in the Jackson, MS area know of anything, please let me know. I'll need a place to stay. I'm going to need a car. I've got connections already, but I'll be trying to find and fit into a new church, a new set of friends, a new community. I'm jumping right into some of the best fishing of the year and I'll just have a few short months to get a game plan ready for duck season.
I dream of Chick-fil-a and Rush's chili-cheeseburgers. I dread the day I have to walk away from Yaprak Doner and Adana Kebap. The idea of getting 64 ounces of Dr. Pepper with as much ice as I want at ANY gas station makes me giddy. Not being able to find a lukewarm glass of frothy ayran makes me a little sad. Being able to talk about deep, personal, and spiritual issues at ease with people I understand is something I long for. Doing the same thing when it's difficult, confusing, and sometimes impossible is something I live for.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I see my departure on the horizon and at the same time I'm excited about it and dreading it. I've had a little while to get over my post-vacation moops and I am ready for the spring. Things are about to get back to normal, hopefully (whatever normal is). We should start playing ultimate again this week. We've found another group of guys to play basketball with. We've got our first coffee house coming up soon. It's about to be a lot of fun again.
Some people tell me that it's easy to check out the last few months that you're in country. You see the great shining glory of the western world and it mesmerizes you. I see it. It's tempting me. But I don't want to miss "this." Brothers, sisters, friends, experiences, sights, sounds, and tastes that I won't have there. I don't want to check out. I'm just checking in.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Short Post Before Bed
Things I am thankful for today:
Phone calls from Peru.
People helping me get up for Bible study.
Nescafe Cappuccino Mixes!
God speaking to us through his word.
Naps.
Lunch and laughs with good friends.
Expensive coffees.
Being able to joke in Turkish.
A good haircut.
Having someone else wash my head for me.
3 glasses of "fugitive tea."
2 good roommates.
1 low electric bill.
Music that never gets old.
And a lot more to look forward to tomorrow.
If you can name who this is, I'll give you a dollar.
You have one week.
Phone calls from Peru.
People helping me get up for Bible study.
Nescafe Cappuccino Mixes!
God speaking to us through his word.
Naps.
Lunch and laughs with good friends.
Expensive coffees.
Being able to joke in Turkish.
A good haircut.
Having someone else wash my head for me.
3 glasses of "fugitive tea."
2 good roommates.
1 low electric bill.
Music that never gets old.
And a lot more to look forward to tomorrow.
You have one week.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The First World
As I proofread my own post from earlier today, I noticed a slight misnomer.
I mentioned that Lane and I were shocked by our re-entry into the "first world." While it is true that the moment was shocking and that we were in the "first world," it must be noted that I actually live in the first world now.
Lane and I were having a discussion the other night about what exactly the terms "first world" and "third world" meant. We were also having a "discussion" about whether Peru and Turkey were in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd worlds. Lane was very correct in saying that Peru was considered 3rd world, but to my utter surprise, Turkey is considered part of the 1st world. This, obviously, made me question.
So, what do you do when you have strange questions that need an answer immediately? Wikipedia!
God bless the man who thought this up!
Here I learned that the terms 1st world, 2nd world, and 3rd world were originally political in nature, instead of economic (which is how most of us think of them today). After WWII, when the world was being divided between the NATO countries and the USSR, the terms "Western Bloc" and "Eastern Bloc" came into use to describe which side you were on, freedom's or communism's. Then a Frenchman (of course he'd be French) felt sorry for all the countries being left out of the talk, since the majority of the world was not involved in the NATO/Warsaw Pact ordeal. He coined the term the "Third World" to give these countries some unification and identity. The Western countries grabbed the term "First World" for themselves and left the Soviets with the "Second World" term. Among those in alliance with NATO was the young republic known as Turkey. It sat precariously below the USSR, squeezed between Big Red and the Med. Peru, however, was not part of these political bickerings, and thus is 3rd world.
Map courtesy of Wikipedia.
Blue is the First World.
Red is the Second World.
Green is the Third World.
Now where are Turkey and Peru?
The article does go on to mention how the terms have drifted to more of a socio-economic meaning. The Third World is more widely understood to be an economic label put on those countries that are not producing at the rate of "the West." The Global South is made up almost exclusively of these "developing" nations.
The problems are larger and more dynamic than I can ever understand. I don't pretend to know even what the problems are, and I would never claim to have an answer. But I do know one thing. As Christians, we are commanded to help those in need (Matt. 5:42 and Luke 6:35, among MANY others). Jesus said we would always have the poor with us (John 12:8). That means we will always have someone to help. And help we must. How? Well, there are great organizations out there to support: the Hunger Site for helping feed the poor; Amnesty International for protecting the poor; and the American Red Cross to heal the poor. These are just names I thought of off the top of my head. I can't vouch for the work they do, I'm just throwing out ideas.
And supporting those organizations through time, labor, and money is very important. But the biggest, the most widespread, and, potentially, the most world-changing organization in the world is the body of Christ. We need to take a good look at our own lives and determine what we are doing to uphold these commandments of Jesus. If we are to be obedient to the Gospel, we must be obedient to the whole Gospel. Let's consider what we can do in our lives to help feed the hungry, clothe the cold, give hope to the hopeless, and love those that don't know love. When we as Christians begin to do this in our own lives and as it grows into a movement of the Body as a whole, then we will be able to show a lost and hurting world what the love of Christ is truly about, bringing the kingdom of God to this world.
Lord, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
I mentioned that Lane and I were shocked by our re-entry into the "first world." While it is true that the moment was shocking and that we were in the "first world," it must be noted that I actually live in the first world now.
Lane and I were having a discussion the other night about what exactly the terms "first world" and "third world" meant. We were also having a "discussion" about whether Peru and Turkey were in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd worlds. Lane was very correct in saying that Peru was considered 3rd world, but to my utter surprise, Turkey is considered part of the 1st world. This, obviously, made me question.
So, what do you do when you have strange questions that need an answer immediately? Wikipedia!
Here I learned that the terms 1st world, 2nd world, and 3rd world were originally political in nature, instead of economic (which is how most of us think of them today). After WWII, when the world was being divided between the NATO countries and the USSR, the terms "Western Bloc" and "Eastern Bloc" came into use to describe which side you were on, freedom's or communism's. Then a Frenchman (of course he'd be French) felt sorry for all the countries being left out of the talk, since the majority of the world was not involved in the NATO/Warsaw Pact ordeal. He coined the term the "Third World" to give these countries some unification and identity. The Western countries grabbed the term "First World" for themselves and left the Soviets with the "Second World" term. Among those in alliance with NATO was the young republic known as Turkey. It sat precariously below the USSR, squeezed between Big Red and the Med. Peru, however, was not part of these political bickerings, and thus is 3rd world.
Blue is the First World.
Red is the Second World.
Green is the Third World.
Now where are Turkey and Peru?
The article does go on to mention how the terms have drifted to more of a socio-economic meaning. The Third World is more widely understood to be an economic label put on those countries that are not producing at the rate of "the West." The Global South is made up almost exclusively of these "developing" nations.
The problems are larger and more dynamic than I can ever understand. I don't pretend to know even what the problems are, and I would never claim to have an answer. But I do know one thing. As Christians, we are commanded to help those in need (Matt. 5:42 and Luke 6:35, among MANY others). Jesus said we would always have the poor with us (John 12:8). That means we will always have someone to help. And help we must. How? Well, there are great organizations out there to support: the Hunger Site for helping feed the poor; Amnesty International for protecting the poor; and the American Red Cross to heal the poor. These are just names I thought of off the top of my head. I can't vouch for the work they do, I'm just throwing out ideas.
And supporting those organizations through time, labor, and money is very important. But the biggest, the most widespread, and, potentially, the most world-changing organization in the world is the body of Christ. We need to take a good look at our own lives and determine what we are doing to uphold these commandments of Jesus. If we are to be obedient to the Gospel, we must be obedient to the whole Gospel. Let's consider what we can do in our lives to help feed the hungry, clothe the cold, give hope to the hopeless, and love those that don't know love. When we as Christians begin to do this in our own lives and as it grows into a movement of the Body as a whole, then we will be able to show a lost and hurting world what the love of Christ is truly about, bringing the kingdom of God to this world.
Lord, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Eve's Fall from Grace
Rome, day 4, was one that was extremely frustrating. It tested the limits of my love. My devotion and my affections were stretched. It was really hard for me to stand by my girl.
Eve, my Mac, got sick.
I don't know what it was. It started with my iTunes library being lost and needing to be rebuilt. Then my desktop became jumbled for no reason. Then all of my passwords and keychains were lost. Things went downhill fast. But, luckily, it went sour in the right place. If it had happened here, in Turkey, I'd be lost. No one I've met in this city knows anything about Macs and as far as I can tell there's only one store that claims to know anything about them and it's in the basement of a very sketchy building. But since Rome is the Capital of the World, of course they have an Apple Store. So off we went!
The Apple Store was on the complete opposite end of town, off the city map. It tooks us a tram, bus, tram, bus, and a long walk to get there. This is tram #1.
The day was a little drizzly, but we started out in good spirits.
The good spirits didn't last long. Between the first bus and second tram, we got a little bit lost. Lane had had enough already.
Getting there is half the fun. It can also be half the torture. Tram, bus, tram, bus, and a long walk made for about 2 hours (or a little more) of travel. We got a little lost once. Then on the last bus ride, we wound up riding in green fields with the sun on our faces (movie quote!). Neither of us could understand why we were driving through the farm to get to the Apple Store. Lane thought for a moment that maybe I had looked up an apple orchard named the Apple Store. But the nice bus driver knew enough English to understand that I was lost and told us when to get off the bus. From the bus stop, it was only a mile along a busy interstate-type road to the massive shopping mall.
Our second tram. It weaved through a huge piece of an ancient aqueduct.
Gotta love Rome.
The shopping mall caught me and Lane both by surprise. It was as crowded as a mall in America the week before Christmas, and much fancier! Neither one of us was ready for the shock of first world commercialism. That shock combined with the stress and aggravation of sitting at the "Genius Bar" for two hours means no pictures of the mall. The one Genius that spoke English could not solve my problem. In fact, if he did anything, he probably made it worse. But he did tell me how I could fix it myself once I got back to Turkey. So we left cautiously optimistic, slightly frustrated, a wee bit tired, and very hungry. A walk, bus, tram, bus, and tram later and we were ready for dinner.
This was the cute couple in the restaurant. We look happy enough. But then...
Lane said, "Alright, now let's take a picture of how we really feel."
This sums it up pretty well.
Overall, it was a little bit frustrating. But in the end, we had a few good laughs, spent some good time together, and Eve is running at full speed again. Everyone is happy.
Eve, my Mac, got sick.
I don't know what it was. It started with my iTunes library being lost and needing to be rebuilt. Then my desktop became jumbled for no reason. Then all of my passwords and keychains were lost. Things went downhill fast. But, luckily, it went sour in the right place. If it had happened here, in Turkey, I'd be lost. No one I've met in this city knows anything about Macs and as far as I can tell there's only one store that claims to know anything about them and it's in the basement of a very sketchy building. But since Rome is the Capital of the World, of course they have an Apple Store. So off we went!
Getting there is half the fun. It can also be half the torture. Tram, bus, tram, bus, and a long walk made for about 2 hours (or a little more) of travel. We got a little lost once. Then on the last bus ride, we wound up riding in green fields with the sun on our faces (movie quote!). Neither of us could understand why we were driving through the farm to get to the Apple Store. Lane thought for a moment that maybe I had looked up an apple orchard named the Apple Store. But the nice bus driver knew enough English to understand that I was lost and told us when to get off the bus. From the bus stop, it was only a mile along a busy interstate-type road to the massive shopping mall.
Gotta love Rome.
The shopping mall caught me and Lane both by surprise. It was as crowded as a mall in America the week before Christmas, and much fancier! Neither one of us was ready for the shock of first world commercialism. That shock combined with the stress and aggravation of sitting at the "Genius Bar" for two hours means no pictures of the mall. The one Genius that spoke English could not solve my problem. In fact, if he did anything, he probably made it worse. But he did tell me how I could fix it myself once I got back to Turkey. So we left cautiously optimistic, slightly frustrated, a wee bit tired, and very hungry. A walk, bus, tram, bus, and tram later and we were ready for dinner.
This sums it up pretty well.
Overall, it was a little bit frustrating. But in the end, we had a few good laughs, spent some good time together, and Eve is running at full speed again. Everyone is happy.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A Little Cultural Learning
But not the culture I'm used to learning about.
It's been cold and dreary here in the land of the Turk the past couple days. It has made running impossible (well, you know) and even going outside is an uncomfortable chore. So this morning I had a nice conversation with Lane Marie and one thing led to another and here is where I found myself.
The Wikipedia article on Southern American English.
The journey to this site is almost, if not as, interesting as what I learned in it. First, I was just running through my normal website checks for daily news. I always check the front page of Yahoo and found this interesting article about an asteroid that will be coming "close" to Earth. Granted, close in astronomical terms is, well, astronomical.
Next, I see a link at the bottom of the page to a link on the Black Death. Thank goodness a plague that killed upwards of 50% of the population of Europe didn't do it "indiscriminately."
That article led me to wonder what the Black Death really was. Was it the bubonic plague? Was it from rat fleas? Was it something totally different? Can't say that I had really invested it. So, off to Wikipedia we go. I know it's not "official" and anyone can change the data on it and yadda yadda. It's a poor man's encyclopedia and I love it.
Whilst perusing the article on the Black Death, I learned some very interesting facts. First of all, no one really knows for sure what the Black Death was. It was bad, everyone agrees on that. But the list of effects is really what caught my eye. Among others, some of the longest lasting effects, though rather indirectly, of the Black Death are the rise of capitalism, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Great Vowel Shift. Having a pretty good idea about the first three, I followed the link to see what this Great Vowel Shift was all about.
Apparently during the same time period that the Black Death was ravaging the world, a major shift in how English speakers pronounced certain vowels began to occur. The article claims that it was helped along, in part, by the Black Death. While I am not an expert in the phonetic alphabet, I still found the article interesting. I also saw a word that I have heard a few times in my short English teaching career, but wasn't entirely sure on it's definition. So next, I read about diphthongs (and yes, this is a family friendly blog).
Again, an interesting read. It's nice to pick up some of the technical lingo from time to time. These are principles that we all use in our everyday speech, but we just don't know what the professionals call them. On the diphthong page, I saw another term that caught my attention. Under the examples of English diphthongs was the phrase Rhotic dialects. Using the examples they gave of how a speaker of a Rhotic dialect would say certain words, I wondered if I may be one myself. Come to find out, I may be.
Rhotic and non-Rhotic are two main categories that English speakers are divided into. It all revolves around how and when you pronounce the sound commonly written in English as "R". Apparently, the earliest cases of losing the "R" sound date back to the 15th century, around the time of the Black Death. Rhotic speakers will pronounce the R in all situations, but non-Rhotic speakers will only say it when followed by a vowel, and sometimes not even then. Sometimes they will use a "linking-R" when a word ending in R is followed by a word beginning with a vowel. And, even more cultured, is the "intrusive-R" that finds it's way into words between vowels or between words. I tried to pronounce some words non-Rhotic-ly and found that a lot of them were foreign sounding, but that most of them rolled right out pretty easy. There was almost a Gone With The Wind sound to my voice. And for good reason I found out.
Southern American English is one of the non-Rhotic dialects. That's what gives all those sweet Southern Belles that wonderfully soft tone. Though I might have to argue Wikipedia's definition of "the South" (the "modern definition" is the one I'd use), I have to admit that they amazed me with their ability to distinguish between the different types of Southern accents. This is something that I have tried to explain to my non-Southern (or should I just say Rhotic) friends my whole life. There is a difference.
For example, I have known people from the coastal areas of SC. One of my best friends in high school had family in the Georgetown, SC area. His grandmother had that wonderful Southern Coastal accent that rarely pronounces an R and sounds as soft as the breeze coming in over the marshes. On the other hand, most of my family is from the upstate where the Highland Southern is more prevalent. But my great grandmother was from way up in the hills (she used to run moonshine as a teenage girl) and could not say the word "wash" without an R sound to save her life. This is defined as the Southern Appallachain accent.
I'd place myself somewhere in the middle of all that. Between my mother's mountain heritage and my time in the Midlands, around all those beautiful coastal folk, I have a nice blend of two wonderful sounding accents. I definitely lean heavier towards the Southern Highland sound, but I have been known to drop an R from time to time.
It was an interesting read and made me feel proud, once again, to be from a place with a little culture. And so, to delve into that culture a little more, I headed over to YouTube to see some of the less refined, but more entertaining, pieces of my culture (that last one is for you, Massons).
Hope you enjoy the Grand Finale.
It's been cold and dreary here in the land of the Turk the past couple days. It has made running impossible (well, you know) and even going outside is an uncomfortable chore. So this morning I had a nice conversation with Lane Marie and one thing led to another and here is where I found myself.
The journey to this site is almost, if not as, interesting as what I learned in it. First, I was just running through my normal website checks for daily news. I always check the front page of Yahoo and found this interesting article about an asteroid that will be coming "close" to Earth. Granted, close in astronomical terms is, well, astronomical.
Next, I see a link at the bottom of the page to a link on the Black Death. Thank goodness a plague that killed upwards of 50% of the population of Europe didn't do it "indiscriminately."
That article led me to wonder what the Black Death really was. Was it the bubonic plague? Was it from rat fleas? Was it something totally different? Can't say that I had really invested it. So, off to Wikipedia we go. I know it's not "official" and anyone can change the data on it and yadda yadda. It's a poor man's encyclopedia and I love it.
Whilst perusing the article on the Black Death, I learned some very interesting facts. First of all, no one really knows for sure what the Black Death was. It was bad, everyone agrees on that. But the list of effects is really what caught my eye. Among others, some of the longest lasting effects, though rather indirectly, of the Black Death are the rise of capitalism, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Great Vowel Shift. Having a pretty good idea about the first three, I followed the link to see what this Great Vowel Shift was all about.
Apparently during the same time period that the Black Death was ravaging the world, a major shift in how English speakers pronounced certain vowels began to occur. The article claims that it was helped along, in part, by the Black Death. While I am not an expert in the phonetic alphabet, I still found the article interesting. I also saw a word that I have heard a few times in my short English teaching career, but wasn't entirely sure on it's definition. So next, I read about diphthongs (and yes, this is a family friendly blog).
Again, an interesting read. It's nice to pick up some of the technical lingo from time to time. These are principles that we all use in our everyday speech, but we just don't know what the professionals call them. On the diphthong page, I saw another term that caught my attention. Under the examples of English diphthongs was the phrase Rhotic dialects. Using the examples they gave of how a speaker of a Rhotic dialect would say certain words, I wondered if I may be one myself. Come to find out, I may be.
Rhotic and non-Rhotic are two main categories that English speakers are divided into. It all revolves around how and when you pronounce the sound commonly written in English as "R". Apparently, the earliest cases of losing the "R" sound date back to the 15th century, around the time of the Black Death. Rhotic speakers will pronounce the R in all situations, but non-Rhotic speakers will only say it when followed by a vowel, and sometimes not even then. Sometimes they will use a "linking-R" when a word ending in R is followed by a word beginning with a vowel. And, even more cultured, is the "intrusive-R" that finds it's way into words between vowels or between words. I tried to pronounce some words non-Rhotic-ly and found that a lot of them were foreign sounding, but that most of them rolled right out pretty easy. There was almost a Gone With The Wind sound to my voice. And for good reason I found out.
Southern American English is one of the non-Rhotic dialects. That's what gives all those sweet Southern Belles that wonderfully soft tone. Though I might have to argue Wikipedia's definition of "the South" (the "modern definition" is the one I'd use), I have to admit that they amazed me with their ability to distinguish between the different types of Southern accents. This is something that I have tried to explain to my non-Southern (or should I just say Rhotic) friends my whole life. There is a difference.
For example, I have known people from the coastal areas of SC. One of my best friends in high school had family in the Georgetown, SC area. His grandmother had that wonderful Southern Coastal accent that rarely pronounces an R and sounds as soft as the breeze coming in over the marshes. On the other hand, most of my family is from the upstate where the Highland Southern is more prevalent. But my great grandmother was from way up in the hills (she used to run moonshine as a teenage girl) and could not say the word "wash" without an R sound to save her life. This is defined as the Southern Appallachain accent.
I'd place myself somewhere in the middle of all that. Between my mother's mountain heritage and my time in the Midlands, around all those beautiful coastal folk, I have a nice blend of two wonderful sounding accents. I definitely lean heavier towards the Southern Highland sound, but I have been known to drop an R from time to time.
It was an interesting read and made me feel proud, once again, to be from a place with a little culture. And so, to delve into that culture a little more, I headed over to YouTube to see some of the less refined, but more entertaining, pieces of my culture (that last one is for you, Massons).
Hope you enjoy the Grand Finale.
Monday, January 28, 2008
It never rains in Rome.
That was the word our token Italian gave us when we arrived. I guess "never" means "every other day" in Italian.
Our third day in Rome was a wet one. It had been drizzling the day prior. It was absolutely pouring this day. But we made the most of it.
Our first stop was the Pantheon. This was once a temple devoted to all the many gods of Rome, but then later converted to a Catholic church. It was built in 125 AD and was the largest dome in the world until 1781. It is the final resting place of some Italian kings and the famous painter Raphael. It is regarded as the best preserved piece of ancient Roman architecture. It was quite impressive, though I forgot to take a picture of the outside (partly due to the rain).
The Great Eye in the center of the dome.
The nicely decorated interior.
From there it was off to Trevi Fountain. This used to be the end of an aqueduct that brought fresh water into the city. The fountain was built in 1762. It's the grandest of the Baroque fountains in Rome. There is a myth that says if you throw a coin over your shoulder and into the fountain, you will return to Rome. With the current exchange rate, it was a pretty expensive gamble. But, when in Rome...
The story of the week.
I give the fountain one very enthusiastic thumb up.
I love Rome.
From the fountain we strolled on over to the Spanish Steps. The only things I really know about these things is that it's the "longest and widest staircase in all of Europe," according to experts, and "it's really pretty," according to girls.
They were not all that pretty to me.
As you can see, it was raining pretty hard. So we just left the Spanish Steps and headed home. We were already soaked to the bone and it was a little chilly. So, at Jess', we enjoyed two very frustrating games of darts (both of which Lane won) and a nice game of one on one rummy (which I dominated).
How does someone who is admittedly "just throwing it" hit a bullseye? She beat me twice because my darts kept falling out.
After darts, I was ready for revenge. I beat her, unmercifully.
Our third day in Rome was a wet one. It had been drizzling the day prior. It was absolutely pouring this day. But we made the most of it.
Our first stop was the Pantheon. This was once a temple devoted to all the many gods of Rome, but then later converted to a Catholic church. It was built in 125 AD and was the largest dome in the world until 1781. It is the final resting place of some Italian kings and the famous painter Raphael. It is regarded as the best preserved piece of ancient Roman architecture. It was quite impressive, though I forgot to take a picture of the outside (partly due to the rain).
From there it was off to Trevi Fountain. This used to be the end of an aqueduct that brought fresh water into the city. The fountain was built in 1762. It's the grandest of the Baroque fountains in Rome. There is a myth that says if you throw a coin over your shoulder and into the fountain, you will return to Rome. With the current exchange rate, it was a pretty expensive gamble. But, when in Rome...
From the fountain we strolled on over to the Spanish Steps. The only things I really know about these things is that it's the "longest and widest staircase in all of Europe," according to experts, and "it's really pretty," according to girls.
As you can see, it was raining pretty hard. So we just left the Spanish Steps and headed home. We were already soaked to the bone and it was a little chilly. So, at Jess', we enjoyed two very frustrating games of darts (both of which Lane won) and a nice game of one on one rummy (which I dominated).
Saturday, January 26, 2008
I am a travelever of both time and space.
If you can name that song reference (and movie reference, actually) before you read on, let me know and I'll give you a dollar. Be honest though!
I have been running, somewhat, and as promised, here is the latest update. This week I ran twice. I will play basketball tomorrow, and that will include some more running, so let's make it two and a half days this past week. It hasn't been bad. I haven't felt like I was going to die while I've been out there and I haven't been sore or tired afterwards. But, I think I have found my hopefully temporary limit.
At about the two mile mark I start feeling it and as I approach the third, I crap out. I am keeping a pretty good pace, so I could potentially slow down and run further, but still, it's a little embarrassing. I should not have trouble running for more than 20 minutes. I have a list of excuses though, don't worry.
1. I'm still not sure how to eat for running. What I mean is, I always feel a little sick when I run and I think some of it has to do with what I'm eating. Something tells me that those two Turkish sausage, egg, potato, and cheese burritos I had (with mayonnaise) the night before were part of the problem today. Maybe I should be looking more for fruits and vegetables and less for processed meat products and fat based condiments.
2. I have had a head cold for the past week or so. It makes breathing in my nose hard and it means I have a lot of drainage too. This would explain why my spit is so thick and why it is harder than it should be to breath. It may also explain the upset stomach.
And finally, 3. Kashmir. Hopefully you all see the song reference now. If not, go out and buy the Led Zeppelin box set and listen to it from start to finish. It'll be the best $70 and 5 hours you've ever spent. Matt Damon quotes it in the meeting with Matsui in Ocean's Twelve, by the way. Anyhow, I made a playlist of just over thirty minutes worth of music to run to. The songs are rocking, to keep me going. Everyday I have started with a different song and just put it on random order. Everyday Kashmir has been the 4th song played. The song that carries me from the 15 minute mark past the 20 minute mark (or past two miles and to the third). I have yet to finish the song.
So maybe 20 minutes is my wall right now. That'd be about 3 miles at the pace I keep, maybe a little less. That means I'll be walking the last 10 miles of this half marathon! Great.
Or maybe it's just Kashmir. Maybe if I replace it with the hard driving duo of Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreux and Immigrant Song, it'll carry me over towards that fourth mile. Valhalla, I am coming!
I have been running, somewhat, and as promised, here is the latest update. This week I ran twice. I will play basketball tomorrow, and that will include some more running, so let's make it two and a half days this past week. It hasn't been bad. I haven't felt like I was going to die while I've been out there and I haven't been sore or tired afterwards. But, I think I have found my hopefully temporary limit.
At about the two mile mark I start feeling it and as I approach the third, I crap out. I am keeping a pretty good pace, so I could potentially slow down and run further, but still, it's a little embarrassing. I should not have trouble running for more than 20 minutes. I have a list of excuses though, don't worry.
1. I'm still not sure how to eat for running. What I mean is, I always feel a little sick when I run and I think some of it has to do with what I'm eating. Something tells me that those two Turkish sausage, egg, potato, and cheese burritos I had (with mayonnaise) the night before were part of the problem today. Maybe I should be looking more for fruits and vegetables and less for processed meat products and fat based condiments.
2. I have had a head cold for the past week or so. It makes breathing in my nose hard and it means I have a lot of drainage too. This would explain why my spit is so thick and why it is harder than it should be to breath. It may also explain the upset stomach.
And finally, 3. Kashmir. Hopefully you all see the song reference now. If not, go out and buy the Led Zeppelin box set and listen to it from start to finish. It'll be the best $70 and 5 hours you've ever spent. Matt Damon quotes it in the meeting with Matsui in Ocean's Twelve, by the way. Anyhow, I made a playlist of just over thirty minutes worth of music to run to. The songs are rocking, to keep me going. Everyday I have started with a different song and just put it on random order. Everyday Kashmir has been the 4th song played. The song that carries me from the 15 minute mark past the 20 minute mark (or past two miles and to the third). I have yet to finish the song.
So maybe 20 minutes is my wall right now. That'd be about 3 miles at the pace I keep, maybe a little less. That means I'll be walking the last 10 miles of this half marathon! Great.
Or maybe it's just Kashmir. Maybe if I replace it with the hard driving duo of Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreux and Immigrant Song, it'll carry me over towards that fourth mile. Valhalla, I am coming!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Financial Crisis Hitting Home
I don't keep up with the news very well, but even I have heard about the financial crisis that is sweeping through most of the major world markets. I don't know that I've ever really noticed much change in my life during times like these in the past. With the exception of rising gas prices, I haven't felt the effects of any of the economic shifts in my life, for better or worse. But this latest one has hit closer to home.
The most immediate effect is the exchange rate. I get paid in US dollars, so my pay literally goes up and down daily. I get paid a set amount and that set amount can translate into X lira one day and X+ or X- the next day depending on the exchange rate. For example, soon after I came the exchange rate was hovering around 1.4 to 1.5 lira to the dollar. This past week, it went up to 1.19 (it had fallen lower than that). That means for every dollar I'm paid, I'm losing 20-30 Turkish cents compared to what I was making a year or so ago. That adds up quick.
But the effect that hit me last night was much bigger and effects people besides me. I teach an English class that is made of a salesman from a large international company and two bankers. They have been telling me for months that the American economy wasn't doing well and that it was going to be bad for everyone. They knew it was coming, but they still weren't able to prepare for it fully. One of the bankers lost a lot of the money he had invested recently. The other is doing better, but both are living with the weight of this on their shoulders. It's possible that with the amazing losses banks are reporting these days that these men could be fired.
They don't have the time, money, or concentration for English class these days, so they dropped our class. They've become friends though, so I will keep in touch with them over the weeks to come. I pray that through this time we Christians can show the world what it means to hope in something that neither moth nor rust (nor stock market fluctuations) can destroy. I also pray that we can give that hope to those in need around us.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
When cooking potatoes...
don't turn your head for even a second, especially not for 5 or 10 minutes.
I decided that I'd try to cook some potatoes tonight for dinner. It's warm, filling, and delicious. So, I cut the potatoes and a small onion to cook with them. Then, with my health in mind, threw them in a pan with a lot of butter. And I mean a lot. I knew that it would take a while for the pan to warm up since I was using the small burner. Boy was I wrong!
I came in here to work on that last blog post and in no time at all, I smelled smoke. By the time I got into the kitchen, it was boiling out of the pan. The little burner wasted no time burning the potatoes in the middle of the pan. All total, only about three or four slices were beyond saving, but they sure did put out a lot of smoke!
I decided that I'd try to cook some potatoes tonight for dinner. It's warm, filling, and delicious. So, I cut the potatoes and a small onion to cook with them. Then, with my health in mind, threw them in a pan with a lot of butter. And I mean a lot. I knew that it would take a while for the pan to warm up since I was using the small burner. Boy was I wrong!
I came in here to work on that last blog post and in no time at all, I smelled smoke. By the time I got into the kitchen, it was boiling out of the pan. The little burner wasted no time burning the potatoes in the middle of the pan. All total, only about three or four slices were beyond saving, but they sure did put out a lot of smoke!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Roma 2 - The Eternal City Continues
After a wonderfully lazy morning, Lane and I got out in time to grab some lunch. With no idea where we were supposed to be going, we wandered until we found a great little hole-in-the-wall pizza joint.
I was hungry that day.
And of course, when you're in Italy, even if it is freezing butt cold, you have to get some gelato.
This was the first, but not the last (by far) cup of gelato that would find it's way into this mouth.
After filling our stomachs with such wonderful treats, it was time to get out and see some of Rome. Up next on the list was the Coliseum.
It's not Death Valley, but impressive nonetheless.
Unfortunately, it was raining on us and it started to get a little cold. We were deterred from entering the Coliseum by the warning that it's not all that impressive inside and the even more unimpressive price of admission. We sought shelter in it's shadow as we tried to figure out what to do next. Something that would keep us dry, warm, and having fun.
I was really craving some more of that wonderful Italian coffee, but we needed a place to sit. Most of the espresso bars don't have tables to sit at, so I thought maybe we could find a bookstore that had a cafe inside of it. That way we could sit, grab a book or magazine, and drink some coffee. Nice, warm, relaxing.
Rome guide book, telling us about all the things we had and hadn't seen.
To find this bookstore, I had the ingenious idea of just getting on a bus and riding it until we saw something that looked good. Come to find out, it worked! We found a nice bookstore with a cafe on the top floor. We grabbed a Rome guide book and a few other things to read as we sat and had some good coffee. We stayed for a few hours and had a really great time.
The happy, and warm, customers.
From there, it was off to the grocery store. We (read: I) wanted to save a little money and one easy way was for us (read: me) to cook dinner a couple times. It turned out fairly well, compared to recent happenings (read: my next blog post).
My job: wash and break broccoli, clean and cut mushrooms, peel and slice onions, and cook all of the above with our meat in a pan. Lane's job: play with the camera.
And of course, when you're in Italy, even if it is freezing butt cold, you have to get some gelato.
After filling our stomachs with such wonderful treats, it was time to get out and see some of Rome. Up next on the list was the Coliseum.
Unfortunately, it was raining on us and it started to get a little cold. We were deterred from entering the Coliseum by the warning that it's not all that impressive inside and the even more unimpressive price of admission. We sought shelter in it's shadow as we tried to figure out what to do next. Something that would keep us dry, warm, and having fun.
I was really craving some more of that wonderful Italian coffee, but we needed a place to sit. Most of the espresso bars don't have tables to sit at, so I thought maybe we could find a bookstore that had a cafe inside of it. That way we could sit, grab a book or magazine, and drink some coffee. Nice, warm, relaxing.
To find this bookstore, I had the ingenious idea of just getting on a bus and riding it until we saw something that looked good. Come to find out, it worked! We found a nice bookstore with a cafe on the top floor. We grabbed a Rome guide book and a few other things to read as we sat and had some good coffee. We stayed for a few hours and had a really great time.
From there, it was off to the grocery store. We (read: I) wanted to save a little money and one easy way was for us (read: me) to cook dinner a couple times. It turned out fairly well, compared to recent happenings (read: my next blog post).
Monday, January 21, 2008
Don't we at least deserve an explanation?
I mean, really, what's so bad about it? I know there are a lot of worthless videos out there. I know people try to post music videos and even movies illegally. I know that the entertainment industry has complained. But what in heaven's name is so bad about YouTube that the Turkish courts block it from all of us? What's worse is that this is the second time in the last 12 months that this has happened! If anyone has read an official reason for this, please let me know. In the meantime, I will be downloading low quality Russian mp3s, watching a couple pirated DVDs, and doing other totally legit activities which the Turkish courts see no problem with.
Herşey Türkiye İçin!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Slow and Steady Wins the Race?
That's the old saying. I'm pretty sure fast and steady would beat slow and steady, but I'm just working on the steady part for now.
I did start my "training" today for the half marathon. I ran for almost 20 minutes at what I felt like was a good pace (maybe an 8 minute mile). It was short, I know, but it's a start. I wasn't too terribly tired afterwards and besides having to use the bathroom kind of bad, I didn't have any pains. Hopefully I can get the bodily functions under control, or else it'll be one messy race.
I'll keep you updated on my progress.
Assuming I progress.
I did start my "training" today for the half marathon. I ran for almost 20 minutes at what I felt like was a good pace (maybe an 8 minute mile). It was short, I know, but it's a start. I wasn't too terribly tired afterwards and besides having to use the bathroom kind of bad, I didn't have any pains. Hopefully I can get the bodily functions under control, or else it'll be one messy race.
I'll keep you updated on my progress.
Assuming I progress.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Rome - The Capital of the World
Thank goodness the Italians aren't dramatic or they may come up with grandiose names for "THE City." (I think I just got sarcasm on my keyboard)
I want to let you see the "Eternal City" of Rome. It really is a beautiful place with an ancient artifact around every corner. It was amazing and encouraging to see how remnants of the ancient world are being preserved and how the demands on the present world are being met at the same time. Well, enough jabber, let's get on with it...
Day 1 - Sistina Capella
For our first day out, we decided to see the "Holy See." Lane and I were both pretty pumped about seeing the Sistine Chapel. I have a program that sends me a religious painting every few days and I can't tell you how many of them have come either from the Chapel itself or the museums that are included in the tour. So, with instructions from Jess and Alex on how to get there, much enthusiasm about seeing some of the world's most famous pieces of art, and the soul soothing sounds of this guy on the tram, we were on our way.
Friendly Neighborhood Minstrel
Thanks to our wonderful directions, we found the place very easily. It's hard to miss the largest Christian church in the world and the tallest building in the city of Rome.
Welcome to the biggest church in the world in the smallest nation in the world. St. Peter's, Vatican City.
There are four things I expected to see while at the Vatican. I got to see three of them. Unfortunately, the Pope was no where to be found. But we did see...
Nuns of all colors! I have read that there is a meaning behind the color of their "habits" (nun outfits), but I don't remember what grey means.
Strange dudes in funny clothes! This was actually a step up for the Vatican guard from their usual attire. (Google Vatican guards to see what I mean.)
Amazing works of art! This is the inside of the basilica, but the picture doesn't do it justice.
Works like this (Raphael's "Transfiguration") were around, and in, every corner.
From St. Peter's we made our way to the Vatican Museums. By "make our way" I mean that we followed the Vatican wall around past the hundred African and South Asian immigrants that were selling fake Chanel, Prada, and Luis Vuitton bags on the sidewalk. I didn't stop to talk to any of them because all the Wolof I could remember was "I speak a little Wolof" and "I want to go to sea." I didn't think that would get me far.
So we got in to the Vatican Museums. I didn't really know what to expect, since I hadn't done my homework before going. All I really knew was that the Sistine Chapel was waiting for us at the end. What I saw before we ever got there was worth the price of admission.
The first thing that really got my attention was the "Hall of Maps." We had been walking through a few rooms with sculptures and things, but this room was the first one (of many) that made me stop and stare for a while. It was a long hallway that was decorated with these huge maps on the walls and beautiful paintings and guilding on the ceiling.
A view of the ceiling. Every inch was covered with something beautiful.
Lane really liked this room. The big maps were quite impressive.
From there, we wandered through hallways and bedrooms in the Apostolic Palace. These were rooms that were largely decorated by Raphael or his assistants and students. I really enjoyed these rooms. I was blown away by Raphael's use of color and how it gave the paintings such depth.
The Deliverance of Saint Peter
Maybe Raphael's greatest work, The School of Athens.
After taking in these great works, we then meandered through the modern art section. There were some interesting things, to put it nicely. Modern art is one of those things that is either cool and dead on, or is wacky and out there. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground. But we found quite a few pieces that were very well done. To my surprise, I got to see a couple Salvador Dali paintings in the collection. These were some cool things we saw, though I don't know who did them.
From there it was on, finally, to the Sistine Chapel. Everything you have heard about it is true. It's amazing. The ceiling is beautiful, there's no denying it. It is beyond my comprehension how a man can make such beautiful pictures. The thing that really took my breath was the huge Last Judgment that takes up the entire wall behind the altar. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. They wouldn't allow you to take pictures, and you could find better pictures online anyhow, so I don't have anything to show you here.
From there, it was off to find a slice of pizza and a way home. I developed a bit of a headache throughout the day. Everybody showed a lot of grace towards me by letting me drift off to sleep on the couch that evening. That was the end of DAY 1 of our Roman vacation. Man, it makes me tired just telling you guys about it.
Sleep tight Pope!
I want to let you see the "Eternal City" of Rome. It really is a beautiful place with an ancient artifact around every corner. It was amazing and encouraging to see how remnants of the ancient world are being preserved and how the demands on the present world are being met at the same time. Well, enough jabber, let's get on with it...
Day 1 - Sistina Capella
For our first day out, we decided to see the "Holy See." Lane and I were both pretty pumped about seeing the Sistine Chapel. I have a program that sends me a religious painting every few days and I can't tell you how many of them have come either from the Chapel itself or the museums that are included in the tour. So, with instructions from Jess and Alex on how to get there, much enthusiasm about seeing some of the world's most famous pieces of art, and the soul soothing sounds of this guy on the tram, we were on our way.
Thanks to our wonderful directions, we found the place very easily. It's hard to miss the largest Christian church in the world and the tallest building in the city of Rome.
There are four things I expected to see while at the Vatican. I got to see three of them. Unfortunately, the Pope was no where to be found. But we did see...
From St. Peter's we made our way to the Vatican Museums. By "make our way" I mean that we followed the Vatican wall around past the hundred African and South Asian immigrants that were selling fake Chanel, Prada, and Luis Vuitton bags on the sidewalk. I didn't stop to talk to any of them because all the Wolof I could remember was "I speak a little Wolof" and "I want to go to sea." I didn't think that would get me far.
So we got in to the Vatican Museums. I didn't really know what to expect, since I hadn't done my homework before going. All I really knew was that the Sistine Chapel was waiting for us at the end. What I saw before we ever got there was worth the price of admission.
The first thing that really got my attention was the "Hall of Maps." We had been walking through a few rooms with sculptures and things, but this room was the first one (of many) that made me stop and stare for a while. It was a long hallway that was decorated with these huge maps on the walls and beautiful paintings and guilding on the ceiling.
From there, we wandered through hallways and bedrooms in the Apostolic Palace. These were rooms that were largely decorated by Raphael or his assistants and students. I really enjoyed these rooms. I was blown away by Raphael's use of color and how it gave the paintings such depth.
After taking in these great works, we then meandered through the modern art section. There were some interesting things, to put it nicely. Modern art is one of those things that is either cool and dead on, or is wacky and out there. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground. But we found quite a few pieces that were very well done. To my surprise, I got to see a couple Salvador Dali paintings in the collection. These were some cool things we saw, though I don't know who did them.
From there it was on, finally, to the Sistine Chapel. Everything you have heard about it is true. It's amazing. The ceiling is beautiful, there's no denying it. It is beyond my comprehension how a man can make such beautiful pictures. The thing that really took my breath was the huge Last Judgment that takes up the entire wall behind the altar. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. They wouldn't allow you to take pictures, and you could find better pictures online anyhow, so I don't have anything to show you here.
From there, it was off to find a slice of pizza and a way home. I developed a bit of a headache throughout the day. Everybody showed a lot of grace towards me by letting me drift off to sleep on the couch that evening. That was the end of DAY 1 of our Roman vacation. Man, it makes me tired just telling you guys about it.
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