tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47034702111408168862024-03-05T01:15:14.004-06:00still looking...sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-22048101613800809862012-04-03T23:07:00.001-05:002012-04-03T23:07:15.694-05:00during grief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare<br />
a feast of rich food for all peoples,<br />
a banquet of aged wine--<br />
the best of meats and the finest of wines.<br />
<br />
On this mountain he will destroy<br />
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,<br />
the sheet that covers all nations;<br />
he will swallow up death forever.<br />
<br />
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears<br />
from all faces;<br />
he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth.<br />
<br />
The LORD has spoken.<br />
<br />
In that day they will say,<br />
<br />
"Surely this is our God;<br />
we trusted in him, and he saved us.<br />
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;<br />
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."<br />
<br />
-Isaiah 25:6-9</div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-46093885005592382472011-06-22T15:07:00.003-05:002011-06-22T15:16:45.010-05:00thoughtsSo I arrived in Kisumu! Have internet in hotel! Tired, but a few updates:<br /><br />- I was feeling sick for a couple of days, but <strong>I am feeling much better now </strong>(please do not worry, Mom and Dad!!)<br />- I missed a flight this evening due to Nairobi traffic and construction. That doesn't ever really happen in Kansas City.<br />- Got on a later flight and still made it to Kisumu. *whew*<br />- There is a World Vision conference happening at this hotel. Lots of people in WV tshirts, and I've seen several Americans. Maybe I can talk to them, if I ever come out of my room (which doesn't really happen because my room-time is so limited and so so precious).<br /><br />...what else?...<br /><br />- I feel like I have been in Kenya for WEEKS. This is not an exaggeration. (Well, I guess I have been here for TWO weeks, but I feel like it has been about 5.) It's not a bad thing, it's just that SOO much has happened since I arrived!<br />- OH YEAH!!!! I went to a game park this morning; my first time! It was AWESOME! At first I was like, "yeah, that might be cool, but animals aren't really my thing," but then I saw giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lots of birds, lots of gazelle-like things, elephants, and lions! And it was AWESOME! (oops already said that!) Then we got sort of lost in the park...and I kind of fell asleep...and all of us and our things got really dusty. But I am so glad we went. It really was cool.<br />- Spent about 8 hours in the car today. That was not so awesome.<br /><br />Okay, that might be it for now. I should try to sleep (even though I'm not really tired because I slept a lot during those 8 hours). Good night (day) to all; missing you and looking forward to seeing you soon.sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-1930930644913764202011-06-15T15:21:00.003-05:002011-06-15T15:26:30.219-05:00karibu kenya!So, I've been here for several days and have actually had an excellent internet connection for the past few. It's late, and I'm tired, so I won't write anything substantial...but the last few days have been great! Two days of a workshop, three days of a conference (which ended every night with a dance party...pretty awesome). It has been great to meet so many people, and I have been really inspired by them and by the awesome stuff that is happening here. Tomorrow I start another workshop, then I'm off to Meru, then Kisumu! Then back to Nairobi! The trip isn't even half over yet, but I'm feeling great. Ready to keep going (provided that I can catch a bit of rest...somewhere).<br /><br />Alright, off to sleep. Really hope there isn't a mosquito in my net. Would reallllly defeat the purpose. Night! (Day! to all of you back home!)sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-65093533595378585512011-06-10T02:23:00.002-05:002011-06-10T02:35:31.715-05:00warm greetings from brussels!Look, I'm still blogging! This is progress. Don't know how many of you are actually interested in hearing from me so frequently, but I know my mother is, so I will update.<br /><br />Currently in Brussels, where it is about 8:30am. (2:30am in KC.) The weather is very cool. I hope that I packed warmly enough for Kenya...it is supposed to be in the 60s and 70s (winter!). I just ran into a girl with a KU hat in the bathroom...she got a little freaked out when I asked her if she is from Kansas (forgetting that she was wearing it on her forehead). Small world. <br /><br />The flight was fine, except for the fact that it was absolutely FREEZING. Even with my (special fuzzy) airplane socks and cardigan and blanket and scarf (which I even wrapped around my head at a point). Despite all of my attempts to get an aisle seat (which weren't that extensive, except for the fact that it is listed on my 'preferences' on our work flight-booking site and it's always yielded aisle seats in the past), I was smack in the middle of a 5-seat row. I guess it could have been worse. I didn't feel too claustrophobic. Watched <em>Hall Pass </em>(not terrible). Read some. Ate some (not terrible) food. Napped. Felt the need to stretch my legs but didn't really have the opportunity.<br /><br />So now I have a bit of time in the Brussels airport before I head out to Nairobi, which will be...just checked...EVEN LONGER than the last flight...9 hrs 35 min vs. 7 hrs 28 min for the last one. NAIROBI IS REALLY FAR AWAY. Why do *I* work with all the really far away places?? So many of my coworkers have these lovely 4 hour flights that don't even take them out of the TIME ZONE. Luckeeee. (At least I don't have to get up at 4am to catch those flights.)<br /><br />Okay. Think I'm going to sign off for now and do some actual work before I have to get on the plane again. (I will really try to do that instead of watching the Grey's Anatomy dvd that is calling my name right now.)<br /><br />See you in Nairobi!sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-56739471536750471782011-06-09T11:43:00.002-05:002011-06-09T11:54:29.258-05:00about that whole "blogging" thing......I guess I'm not very good at it, if good = consistent. But, I'm getting ready to leave the country again for a bit, and might have some typing-time available while I am traveling, so...maybe I can try?<br /><br />So I'm on my way to Kenya for a little while. I'll be participating in a conference and will also visit a couple of our offices, then will return home.<br /><br />I had a lovely ride to the airport this morning in one of the 'shuttles.' I was the only passenger, and was able to talk with the driver, who is from Sudan. We talked Sudan politics, religious diversity, life in Kansas City. He's been here for almost 8 years, and so I asked him how he feels about living in the U.S: "It's great. There are so many opportunities."<br /><br />It's good to hear that...to be reminded. The fact that I have a job, that there are educational opportunities, etc etc...sometimes I get jaded about my own society, and forget to be grateful. I'm feeling a little more grateful today: for my home, and for the chance to share a little life with a stranger...sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-54804897550181173942011-04-12T12:45:00.001-05:002011-04-12T12:45:52.937-05:00oh my friends.Colin: you should fake your own explosion<br />and then i'll do the same<br />and then we can start new lives as unexploded people in the big city<br />nate can fake his own explosion too. we don't want to exclude him.sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-26962871411500651732011-03-24T01:12:00.004-05:002011-03-24T01:23:16.764-05:00potential vs. povertySo, yesterday a friend showed me this video...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pLix4QPL3tY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />While I think it's a little sad (does <i>any</i> kid [or adult for that matter] need to watch a movie that's so violent?), I appreciate the sentiment of focusing on potential rather than poverty. It's good to see some media that celebrates the dignity and spirit of people rather than glorifying the "pitiful." Eh??sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-38527276166130143532011-03-23T22:30:00.001-05:002011-03-23T22:32:25.327-05:00you know you're getting old......when you spend your whole evening trying to stay awake until an "acceptable" bedtime (which is NOT 7:30pm).<br /><br />what happened to fun and exciting Sara??sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-228701697705581092011-02-23T22:30:00.004-06:002011-02-27T16:59:26.703-06:00I've been ruined....so that every time I go to the supermarket I'm freaked out. All I can think about is how little the 'food' that is available to us actually resembles real food. And how absolutely ridiculous it is that we have literally dozens of options of bottles fruit juice, chips, butter-like substances. Who knows where these 'foods' come from, or what's actually in them?<br /><br />It is probably a little dramatic to say that I've been "ruined." Perhaps I should say that I have been opened up to the possibilities of food, and have become blessedly more aware of my connection to the earth and to my community...<br /><br />This is not some sudden awareness; I've been ruminating over these thoughts for several years now. But only recently do visits to the supermarket actually make me a little anxious. And a little angry.sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-29032257327493010872010-09-27T15:19:00.001-05:002010-09-27T15:20:58.658-05:00at the end of the week, I'm exhausted.<div><br /></div><div>at the beginning of the week, I'm exhausted.</div><div><br /></div><div>...</div><div><br /></div><div>that's all.</div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-85347258015318983622010-08-10T15:56:00.002-05:002010-08-13T09:16:15.178-05:00nicaragua!<div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">So I’m going to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Nicaragua</st1:country-region></st1:place> tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">It will be a different sort of trip than I usually go on. This is a <a href="http://www.cfcausa.org/mats/index.html">“Mission Awareness Trip”</a> that is designed for sponsors so they can travel and meet their sponsored friend. I’m serving as the “CFCA-Kansas representative” since our president (who usually helps to facilitate these trips) <a href="http://walk2gether.org/">is in the process of walking from <st1:country-region st="on">Guatemala</st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chile</st1:place></st1:country-region> (no big deal)</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">So, it will be different. Definitely a different kind of work trip than I am used to...I’m hoping it’s more like a vacation? (Probably not, but I like to think about it that way.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">One thing that is DEFINITELY different is that it is only one week long...hooray! THAT means that I can most likely fit all of my gear into a small suitcase that I can carry on. This way I can ensure that my bag won’t get lost in the air (or wherever lost bags go to). Plus...one week? That’s peanuts. (I think...I don’t actually know what that phrase means. I mean to say that “it’s really no big deal compared to the longer trips I usually go on.”) <o:p></o:p></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">I won’t have to travel through 5,237 time zones to get there, or to come back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">I can travel there within one day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Everyone there will speak Spanish. I don’t speak Spanish. But I can probably understand it better than Tamil, or Hindi, or Telugu, or Malayalam, or Santali, or Swahili, or Luo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">I get to shop for souvenirs. Any requests?<o:p></o:p></span></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">This will be my third trip this year. WHEW. It feels like a lot. I’m pretty sure, however, that this will be my last trip of the year, which is good. It will be nice to have a long break.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><br /> <p></p></div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-63622659660262631782010-06-19T05:26:00.002-05:002010-06-19T05:40:18.329-05:00quick update!So, we're sitting in the Dubai airport which has free wifi, so I thought I would try to give a quick update:<br /><br />First -- the Dubai airport is definitely the coolest airport I have ever been in. It's like a mall. It is super nice. It is also the most diverse airport I have ever visited: Janet and I were playing "identify the nationality" and we only saw maybe 2 people that could have been American.<br /><br />ALSO: Emirates Airlines is the best airline I have ever flown. Seriously...<br /><br />Okay, the real (non-aviation) stuff: the trip has been great so far. We spent just under 2 weeks in India, with 2-3 days at each of our four projects in Tamil Nadu. It was lovely. We learned a lot and it was really productive, plus the weather was great: we had heard that temperatures were hovering around 108 degrees farenheit a few days before we arrived, but it was surprisingly mild throughout our whole visit. I don't quite know what else to say about the trip that isn't boring and work-related...Janet is a fun person to travel with. <br /><br />OH! Here's something that is noteworthy: aside from maybe 2 days when I was slightly uncomfortable, ***I did not get sick at all during my time in India!*** This is truly amazing. I also ate a ton more than I usually do, which might have made a difference.<br /><br />So, India was great. I was sad to leave. Usually, I get homesickish and am ready to come back by the end, but I was really digging it the whole time. I think I could live there.<br /><br />Now, we're in Dubai waiting to board our flight to Kenya (in fact, boarding just started!). We'll be there for 5 days, then will head to Switzerland for a couple of days for my /friend/Nate's roommate Cephas's wedding. First time to Kenya, first time to Switzerland! I can't wait!<br /><br />Now, boarding! I may be a little out of touch because I can't tweet in Kenya, but I may be able to get online at times.<br /><br />xoxosarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-24830838727120392042010-06-02T11:11:00.001-05:002010-06-02T11:12:47.151-05:00<h6 style="font-weight: normal;" class="uiStreamMessage"><blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;">When we act under the influence of negative<br />thoughts and emotions, we become oblivious to the impact our actions<br />have on others. -Dalai Lama</span></blockquote></h6>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-73844906350617463112010-05-19T20:45:00.004-05:002010-05-26T15:25:19.688-05:00maybe one of these kids has been waiting for YOU.Ok. So, I work for an organization called <a href="http://hopeforafamily.org/">CFCA</a> (if you hadn't figured that out already from my rambling travel-ogs and bleeding heart quotes). To be honest, I have been with CFCA for about 4.5 years and can say with sincerity that I am <i>really </i>excited about the work that we're doing. <div><br /></div><div>CFCA operates through the model of sponsorship. That means that individuals have the opportunity to partner with one child, youth, or aging to help her/his family bring themselves out of poverty. This is a pretty exciting concept. </div><div><br /></div><div>Usually, I'm a skeptic about this sort of thing, but I have seen and experienced what this program can do for families. These are NOT the stories like "oh, my life was so awful and sad before CFCA, but then my sponsor came along and made my life better and saved me." These are stories of empowerment, of individuals joining together to form community, of children reaching their desired potential, of relationships being formed across caste and religion and culture, of social change.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seriously.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the reason I'm telling you all of this NOW is because I have given myself a personal mission. A few weeks ago I agreed to "take" 5 kids to find sponsors for them. So far, I haven't done a very good job. But I am determined to find sponsors for these 5 BEFORE June 7th.</div><div><br /></div><div>[<i>edit: while I was writing this, my mom, dad, and sister agreed to sponsor Susana from Columbia. AWESOME!</i>]</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here are the remaining FOUR!</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div><b><br /></b></div></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div>Emily, 8, lives in Guatemala. She likes to play with dolls and cars, and is described as "smiling and happy." Her dad is a farmer and her mom is a housewife. <span style="font-style: italic;">[edit: Emily has been sponsored! Thanks Ty & Maddy!]</span><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></b></div><div><b>Mamatha, </b>10, is from India. Her parents are farmers. Her talents are dancing and drawing, and her job at home is to help her mother with the household work.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Isai is 6 and lives in Mexico. He's "happy, a little grumpy but social and playful." (I love it.) His favorite school subjects are to color and cut. (Again, love it.) He lives with his mother, stepfather, and younger sister. [<em>edit: Isai has been sponsored! Thanks Andrea!</em>]</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b>James, </b>age 5 (almost 6!), is from Kenya. He is an above average student and likes to go to school. His favorite subjects are Kiswahili, English, and Math.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div>So...I know that I know LOTS of people who would love the experience of being a sponsor...they just don't know it yet. I myself have sponsored a girl named Yesenia from El Salvador for the past 4 years. I even traveled to El Salvador and was able to meet her!</div><div><br /></div><div>To be a sponsor, you commit to sending $30 per month, which will benefit the child and family that you sponsor. More importantly, however, you exchange letters and are able to build a real relationship with a real person...and I'm pretty convinced that relationships are what change the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, if you're interested in sponsoring one of these FOUR, please let me know. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about sponsorship or about CFCA. (You can find more information about CFCA <a href="http://hopeforafamily.org/">here</a>, and can even look at profiles of other kids and aging who are waiting for sponsors <a href="https://www.walk2gether.org/SponsorMe/View.aspx?search=C">here</a>. I strongly encourage you, however, to choose one of the four listed above.) </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading! Hopefully, my social media bombardment will get these 4 sponsored. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>xoxo</div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-67942566386914280662010-05-10T09:48:00.003-05:002010-05-10T09:54:09.097-05:00organic gardening and life<i><blockquote>...I've learned to nurture [the] circle of life, starting with microorganisms in the soil. Working with nature instead of trying to thwart it produces a confluence of benefits, many of them unforeseen. This philosophy also can be applied outside the garden. Take a positive mental attitude, for instance. It doesn't come from excluding or fighting with people whose ideas differ from yours, but rather from welcoming them--like the myriad bugs in the garden--into the debate, learning from them, and discovering how their ideas--distasteful or indifferent though they may be--can enhance your own.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><blockquote style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">-Jeff Cox</span></blockquote></i></span></blockquote><br /></i><div><i></i> </div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-18814103690940113482010-05-04T12:34:00.001-05:002010-05-04T12:36:53.307-05:00<p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">People living in poverty have the least access to power to shape policies – to shape their future. But they have the right to a voice. They must not be made to sit in silence as ‘development’ happens around them, at their own expense. True development is impossible without the participation of those concerned. </span></span></i><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">- Nelson Mandela</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal">I may be starting a series of work-related posts soon. (or, this post may be the first of the series.) stay tuned.<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-63223022595211716302010-04-16T16:19:00.003-05:002010-04-16T16:23:58.125-05:00a quote...<span style="font-size:100%;">...from a letter from a sponsored child in Nigeria to his sponsor:<br /><br />"Yes, banger is a kind of firework. It is graded according to the sound it produces. Example: one sound banger will produce only a sound, two sound banger will produce two sounds. Banger can also called knockout. The banger we have are from one sound to nine sounds. I can hold it and let it bang while I'm holding it. Though it is dangerous, you just need to be careful. It is more fun when you hold it."<br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:10pt;"></span></span>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-19852786550793615912010-03-25T01:39:00.002-05:002010-03-25T06:29:50.431-05:00<p>omg...internet, for the first time in days!!</p><p>We got these net-card-modem things when we were in Hyderabad, thinking that we would be able to use them while traveling...but they only worked in Hyderabad (and, now it seems, Delhi). whoops. HOWEVER, we were in such a rural area for so many days, that we probably wouldn't have been able to get much service anyway.</p><p>So, now we're in Delhi! We have been to Hyderabad (where I posted last), Dumka for a couple of days, then in "interior villages" throughout Jharkhand and Bihar, Bhagalpur, Allahabad, and now Delhi. The time has passed surprisingly quickly...we have been very busy. Now, we have the rest of today and tomorrow in Delhi, then I fly home tomorrow night! yay!</p><p>I got a bit of sickness yesterday, but have been attacking it with antibiotics and electrolyte fluid and as much rest as I can get, so I'm feeling better today. yay! I can make it through these last couple of days!</p><p>Overall, it's been a really good trip. In terms of work, it's been really productive, but it's been a really good trip for me personally, too. I had a rough first few days (I usually do), but then I settled into my groove. It was good that we didn't have internet or cell coverage...I think I needed a chance to be totally separated from my "connected" life, which allowed me to experience a sort of spiritual cleansing...a lenten fast, if you will. Plus, we were in the middle of Beautiful Nowhere...Bihar and Jharkhand...very rural villages, beautiful scenery...most of the places we stayed barely had electricity (for only a couple of hours a day, if at all). It was a good time to reflect. </p><p>Plus, being placed in a culture that is sooo different from your own allows you to examine your own culture, and habits, and lifestyle, and thought patterns. (You would think that I would be used to this by now, since it's my fifth trip to India!) This process can sometimes be unsettling, but when combined with the rural exile, it allowed me to have a particularly reflective time. ahhhh.</p><p>So anyway. Really only a day and a half left...and I'm ready to come home. I miss my little home in Kansas City. :)</p>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-41662541336093776762010-03-16T16:58:00.002-05:002010-03-16T17:10:11.626-05:00hyderabad...Well, I made it safely to India...barely. My flight out of Kansas City was delayed a couple of hours, so I was literally running through Chicago O'Hare (a la 'home alone') to make my connecting flight. I did make it, but my bag didn't.<br /><br />The bag was supposed to be delivered to Hyderabad yesterday, but wasn't. Now it is supposed to be sent to Calcutta tomorrow evening so I can pick it up on my brief (very brief) stay in that airport...PRAY FOR MY SUITCASE! I was able to go shopping and have a few extra outfits, but not enough to last for 10,236,273 days or however long it is until I get home.<br /><br />But, I've been in Hyderabad for the last couple of days, and it's been good. Very busy (though I did have some down time this morning...loooove the down time). And we've been to a few gatherings where we have been the "honored guests": this is nice, but it can be exhausting (literally) to be treated like a celebrity all the time. I'd rather just sit in the back row and watch everyone else.<br /><br />So, tomorrow we have a few more meetings, then we fly to Calcutta (Kolkata) in the evening where I will RETRIEVE MY BAG and then we will get on a train to...somewhere in Jharkhand. <br /><br />It's the middle of the night now, and though I'm having a hard time sleeping (hooray jet lag), I should probably try. I really miss everyone, and Kansas City! <br /><br />(and: phone tweets work! you can view them at <a href="http://twitter.com/sarainindia">http://twitter.com/sarainindia</a>)<br /><br />bye! pray for my bag!! :)sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-63092629971789042832010-03-11T12:37:00.004-06:002010-03-11T12:41:26.404-06:00tweet tweetI'm contemplating a new way of keeping in touch while I'm in India. I've set up a <a href="http://twitter.com/">twitter</a> account that I will try to update while I'm there, either from the internet OR *crossing fingers* from my cell phone. We'll see if it works. My twitter username is "sarainindia" (@sarainindia). If you're a twitter user, you can "follow" me. If not, you can visit <a href="http://twitter.com/sarainindia">http://twitter.com/sarainindia</a> to see my updates! (If it works, of course!)<br /><br />Oh, and...I'm going to India on Saturday. In case you didn't catch that. ;) It should be a good trip...I'm looking forward to the HOT weather! woohooo!!!sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-67194573840464086212010-03-04T12:34:00.002-06:002010-03-04T12:36:15.338-06:00I think it's about time......that I also announced the launch of <a href="http://kcbookclub.blogspot.com/">KC Bookies</a>, the official blog of my book club.<br /><br />Our book club is the best. We have great members, we read great books, we drink great wine, we eat snacks.<br /><br />Our blog is a way for us to share our books with the world. You should check us out.sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-23436822368847798962010-02-22T22:20:00.002-06:002010-02-22T22:30:36.809-06:00first post of the new year, apparently.I offer you a quote:<br /><br />"...we are all invited...to discover, through following Jesus, that this new world is indeed a place of justice, spirituality, relationship, and beauty, and that we are not only to enjoy it as such but to work at bringing it to birth on earth as in heaven." -N.T. Wright, <span style="font-style:italic;">Simply Christian</span><br /><br />It doesn't exactly have the same effect out of context. But it's still good if you let it simmer for a little while.<div><br /></div><div>I would like to start writing more. For me, though, it's not something that I can just do...it has to overflow. I'm working on 'simmering' my life a little more so that a little more spills over. I guess we'll have to see what happens. Lent is a good time to 'simmer'...</div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-26908652692095883462009-12-31T14:49:00.002-06:002009-12-31T14:53:00.442-06:00top albums of the decade.A few days ago, a few friends and I had an email exchange in which we shared our top 20 albums of the decade. It was one of the most fun exercises I’ve done in awhile: flipping through the ipod to see what it really IS that I’ve been listening to for the past 10 years.<br /><br />The albums that made the list are ones that I just LOVED, and still love now. 20 is a remarkably small number...there are many more albums that were highly qualified to fall on this list.<br /><br /><br />20. gnarls barkley – st. elsewhere<br />19. feist – let it die<br />18. arcade fire – funeral<br />17. sufjan stevens – seven swans<br />16. over the rhine – the trumpet child<br />15. ryan adams – heartbreaker<br />14. andrew bird – armchair apocrypha<br />13. damien rice – o<br />12. over the rhine – drunkard’s prayer<br />11. iron and wine – the creek drank the cradle<br />10. coldplay – a rush of blood to the head<br />9. glen hansard and marketa irglova – the swell season<br />8. patty griffin – 1000 kisses<br />7. bon iver – for emma, forever ago<br />6. over the rhine – ohio<br />5. thom yorke – the eraser<br />4. regina spektor – begin to hope<br />3. sigur ros – takk...<br />2. radiohead – kid a<br />1. radiohead – in rainbows<br /><br />****<br /><br />In other news, I find myself here on the eve of a New Year and I am, unexpectedly, INCREDIBLY EXCITED. Looking forward to what is to come in my life and in community. Excited to keep learning and growing. Hoping that I will continue to be transformed by the renewing of my mind.<br /><br />(I also turn 28 in a few days, and that IS giving me anxiety. Minor late-twenties crisis. I’m sure I’ll be fine.)sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-4295990793871086732009-10-15T15:18:00.001-05:002009-10-15T15:21:12.652-05:00belated...written during the trip, but not posted. so I'll post now.<br /><br />(that means that I'm<span style="font-family: georgia;"> back! I'll u</span>pdate with more soon.)<br /><br />**********************<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cookies and orange soda…that’s what I had for dinner.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Honestly…I don’t like Indian food that much. >.<></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One thing we have found that we can eat in restaurants, etc is Chinese food. It’s actually pretty common on menus in the cities. So…in the last couple of weeks, I have eaten more chicken fried rice than I probably eat in a year. It’s good, but after this trip I probably won’t be eating it for a long, long time. </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On other occasions, people are usually aware of our eating habits ahead of time, so there will be some plain boiled vegetables or “chicken no spice” prepared for us. But, of course, nobody else eats it because they don’t think it tastes like anything.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If all else fails, I eat the trail mix that I brought along. (My travel companion, Ilene, brings enough food with her to last the whole trip. She could probably bring a small suitcase full of food.) I have discovered that my favorite trail mix elements (I mix it myself from the bulk bins at Wild Oats) are ALMONDS (I could probably survive solely on them), craisins, and M&Ms (the Wild Oats version). I could probably live without the soy nuts. Um…you probably don’t care about my favorite trail mix items…</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One thing I do love when I’m in India is FRUIT. It is so fresh and sweet! I’ve read that you are only supposed to eat fruits that can be peeled, so I eat a lot of plantains (tiny bananas) and oranges. Last night I ate an orange that had green skin…and greenish flesh…but it wasn’t as good as the regular oranges (which are EXCELLENT). </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, so…that was a blog post about food. We had a good day today, but I can’t imagine that anyone wants to hear about our all-day staff meeting…</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Coming home soon! </span></span></p><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703470211140816886.post-1766846479106074532009-10-06T13:24:00.001-05:002009-10-06T13:25:56.772-05:00so sleepy.I wrote this earlier today when I had a few minutes...<br />********************<br /><br />I have been terrible at updating during this trip, which is too bad, because we’ve pretty much had an internet connection the whole time. Why have I been such a bad updater? Well…<br /><br />…This has been a very different trip for us. Usually, if we are doing an organizational audit or normal project visit, we have a lot of activities: visiting multiple “subprojects” in one day, going out to villages, visiting sponsored families, etc…lots of moving. <br /><br />For THIS trip, we have just been in cities, working primarily at our “project” (main) offices, training our new staff members and working through issues. Lots of inside time. We had thought that it would make this trip somewhat easier: not having to stay in a new place each night, being “in touch” (our cell phones and internet cards always work in the cities) most of the time, not as much traveling around…<br /><br />…but it seems like it’s harder. Doing all of this training and office work has been EXHAUSTING. The other night, we got back to our room and slept from 6:30 to 11:30pm…I woke up and worked for a couple of hours because I had things to do, but slept again from 2 to 7:30 am with no problems. Yawn.<br /><br />Anway…today we’re in Bangalore. The weather here is BEAUTIFUL. After many days of hot hot in Delhi and Chennai, we arrived here on the train this morning (early, about 4:30am), and it was kind of chilly! But now that the sun has come up, it is beautiful. We had a great and productive meeting this morning, and now we’re preparing to drive to the airport to head to Palay. We also had a couple of nice days in Chennai…some really productive work with our new staff, and a visit with some old friends. I like Chennai.<br /><br />This trip has also seemed long. Fortunately, I feel like I have settled in so the length doesn’t feel as emotionally oppressive anymore J, but it feels like we have been traveling for much longer than 10 days. Whew. We’re on the downhill slope now, though. It’s funny…by the end of a trip, I feel both eager to get home AND frustrated that I can’t stay longer. Oh well.sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14558787273262653188noreply@blogger.com4