For the following note I'm ignoring Spanish Monday.
I realize I have not written an actual English blog for sometime, which I'm sorry for. I promise to get going on that soon. Maybe not tomorrow, probably not till after Christmas, but soon.
In the mean time, Happy Holidays.
Sincerly yours,
Erika
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Español Lunes 2
Ay! Hoy es Español Lunes numero dos!!! Loco, no? Osea...¿que es nuevo?
Ayer hicimos muchas cosas navideña...
Despues el almuerzo, Mama, Carola, Edu, y yo ponemos el arbol de Navidad. Es un arbol muy bonita. ¡Pensé que el arbol sería falso, pero no es! Actualmente, es similar a ''hemlock,'' pero no sé que tipa es.
Más tarde, casi a las ocho, fui a la casa de una Hermana de mi iglesia. Tenemos una practica de coro para la Navidad. Tengo un parte donde canto sola. Siempre un hermano dijo -¡Más fuerte!-
Pero en mis meses sin canta, mi voz fuerte perdió su fuerza. Que triste. Pero me gusta a cantar no obstante.
Terminamos la practica como todos los actividades Mormones termina: con comida.
Cuando llegue a mi casa, ayudé a ponder bolos y luzes en el arbol de Navidad. Pero no aprendemos que los luzes no funcionaron hasta despues ellos estaban en el arbol. Jaja.
Y hoy...hoy quizas haré pies (no, no ''feet.'' Pie. El postre.) y iré a mis clases de baile como siempre. Y más...? No sé. Leeré Harry Potter en español y querré para Emily a dame su libro Twilight, para los días que no son Español Lunes. :)
Besitos,
Erika
Ayer hicimos muchas cosas navideña...
Despues el almuerzo, Mama, Carola, Edu, y yo ponemos el arbol de Navidad. Es un arbol muy bonita. ¡Pensé que el arbol sería falso, pero no es! Actualmente, es similar a ''hemlock,'' pero no sé que tipa es.
Más tarde, casi a las ocho, fui a la casa de una Hermana de mi iglesia. Tenemos una practica de coro para la Navidad. Tengo un parte donde canto sola. Siempre un hermano dijo -¡Más fuerte!-
Pero en mis meses sin canta, mi voz fuerte perdió su fuerza. Que triste. Pero me gusta a cantar no obstante.
Terminamos la practica como todos los actividades Mormones termina: con comida.
Cuando llegue a mi casa, ayudé a ponder bolos y luzes en el arbol de Navidad. Pero no aprendemos que los luzes no funcionaron hasta despues ellos estaban en el arbol. Jaja.
Y hoy...hoy quizas haré pies (no, no ''feet.'' Pie. El postre.) y iré a mis clases de baile como siempre. Y más...? No sé. Leeré Harry Potter en español y querré para Emily a dame su libro Twilight, para los días que no son Español Lunes. :)
Besitos,
Erika
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Journal Excerpt
For all you crazies out there who are just dying to read my journal, here's a quick paragraph I wrote today. I was feeling especially poetic after finishing one of my favorite books for the billioneth time.
''The heavens are dropping down fat, heavy water bombs of rain. The air smells hot and wet and very much alive. It's the kind of rain that makes you inhale more deeply in an attempt to get more of it inside you without drowning. It's the kind of afternoon, being just before lunch, that makes one want to curl up ouside in a hammock, nurse a mug of something sweet, and dream of happy nothings in particular. It's an afternoon made for forgtting obligations, chores, and the mundane monotony of a life set too much in its ways . Deadlines should cease to exist on days like this, as should excess noise, electronics of more than the most necessary functions, and any future dates. It's a day for here, now, and no other time or place, save it be the other world of a novel. Diets should be called off. Insecurities and social taboos should vanish. For this one, perfect day, people should just live. We should be trees for a day, happy to be what we are. Tomorrow can be loud, busy and rushed. Just let today be. ''
Needless to say, today I'd much rather stay home than go to dance class. You know, give myself a chance to breathe. But that's not going to happen. No, I'm going to go to dance, then come home and eat, shower, and collapse on my bed, either with Jane Eyre, or a TV show. Because that's what I do now. Things might change later though. We'll see.
''The heavens are dropping down fat, heavy water bombs of rain. The air smells hot and wet and very much alive. It's the kind of rain that makes you inhale more deeply in an attempt to get more of it inside you without drowning. It's the kind of afternoon, being just before lunch, that makes one want to curl up ouside in a hammock, nurse a mug of something sweet, and dream of happy nothings in particular. It's an afternoon made for forgtting obligations, chores, and the mundane monotony of a life set too much in its ways . Deadlines should cease to exist on days like this, as should excess noise, electronics of more than the most necessary functions, and any future dates. It's a day for here, now, and no other time or place, save it be the other world of a novel. Diets should be called off. Insecurities and social taboos should vanish. For this one, perfect day, people should just live. We should be trees for a day, happy to be what we are. Tomorrow can be loud, busy and rushed. Just let today be. ''
Needless to say, today I'd much rather stay home than go to dance class. You know, give myself a chance to breathe. But that's not going to happen. No, I'm going to go to dance, then come home and eat, shower, and collapse on my bed, either with Jane Eyre, or a TV show. Because that's what I do now. Things might change later though. We'll see.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Español Lunes
Hola...hoy es el primero dia de Español Lunes. Iiii...no me gusta. jaja. Pero tengo la culpa, y necesito tratar a estar contenta.
Entonces, la historia de Español Lunes:
Decidí que no hablo bastante español en mi vida normal en Bolivia. Siempre estoy escuchando a musica en ingles, o la tele, or hablando con mis amigos. Siempre en ingles. ¡Pero quiero aprender a hablar español! Hice lunes ''Español Lunes'' a practicar mi español. Las reglas? Habla solo en español. Escucha a musica solo en español. Mira solo la tele en español. No lee libros en ingles. Escribiré en mi diario solo en español en lunes tambien. Hoy, por una hora traté a hablar solo en español y es tan deficil! Va a ser un dia muyyy largo.
Ahora: Papi, si quieres salir una nota, por favor, no edite este blog. Solo diceme que soy inteligente y maravillosa y bonita y fantastic y todos las cosas buenas.
Christian, puedes editar este si quieres.
A todos: feliz diciembre!! 18 dias hasta navidad!!
TQM,
Erika
Dad was wondering if I would translate this pretty little post for those of you who decided to take highschool French, instead of Spanish, so here goes:
Hi...Today is the first day of Spanish Monday. Eeeeeee...I don't like it. Haha. But it's my fault, so I need to try to be happy.
So, the history of Spanish Monday:
I decided I don't speak enough Spanish in my normal life in Bolivia. I'm always listening to music in English, or the TV, or talking with my friends. Always in English. But I want to learn to speak Spanish! I made Monday ''Spanish Monday'' to practice my Spanish. The rules? Only speak in Spanish. Listen to music only in Spanish. Watch the TV only in Spanish. Don't read books in English. Write in my journal only in Spanish on Mondays also. Today, for an hour I tried to speak only in Spanish, and it's so difficult! It's going to be a veryyyy long day.
Now, Dad, if you want to leave a note, please, don't edit this blog. Only tell me that I'm smart and maravolous and fantastic and pretty and all the good things.
Christian, you can edit this if you want.
To Everyone: Happy December!! 18 days until Christmas!!
Love ya lots,
Erika
Entonces, la historia de Español Lunes:
Decidí que no hablo bastante español en mi vida normal en Bolivia. Siempre estoy escuchando a musica en ingles, o la tele, or hablando con mis amigos. Siempre en ingles. ¡Pero quiero aprender a hablar español! Hice lunes ''Español Lunes'' a practicar mi español. Las reglas? Habla solo en español. Escucha a musica solo en español. Mira solo la tele en español. No lee libros en ingles. Escribiré en mi diario solo en español en lunes tambien. Hoy, por una hora traté a hablar solo en español y es tan deficil! Va a ser un dia muyyy largo.
Ahora: Papi, si quieres salir una nota, por favor, no edite este blog. Solo diceme que soy inteligente y maravillosa y bonita y fantastic y todos las cosas buenas.
Christian, puedes editar este si quieres.
A todos: feliz diciembre!! 18 dias hasta navidad!!
TQM,
Erika
Dad was wondering if I would translate this pretty little post for those of you who decided to take highschool French, instead of Spanish, so here goes:
Hi...Today is the first day of Spanish Monday. Eeeeeee...I don't like it. Haha. But it's my fault, so I need to try to be happy.
So, the history of Spanish Monday:
I decided I don't speak enough Spanish in my normal life in Bolivia. I'm always listening to music in English, or the TV, or talking with my friends. Always in English. But I want to learn to speak Spanish! I made Monday ''Spanish Monday'' to practice my Spanish. The rules? Only speak in Spanish. Listen to music only in Spanish. Watch the TV only in Spanish. Don't read books in English. Write in my journal only in Spanish on Mondays also. Today, for an hour I tried to speak only in Spanish, and it's so difficult! It's going to be a veryyyy long day.
Now, Dad, if you want to leave a note, please, don't edit this blog. Only tell me that I'm smart and maravolous and fantastic and pretty and all the good things.
Christian, you can edit this if you want.
To Everyone: Happy December!! 18 days until Christmas!!
Love ya lots,
Erika
Thursday, December 4, 2008
*Christmas*
It is officially December, so Christmas is officially close enough for the normal person to celebrate. (As opposed to un-normal, like department store people, and fashion designers.) Part of me is thrilled at this, and is planning what gifts to give, how to decorate, and whether or not to make eggnog. Another part is pretty out of sorts. I suppose this is understandable, it being on average over eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Still, so many of my home traditions seem to have made it to my little South American corner of the world. Some make sense, but some just may surprise you.
The sixteenth of November began as a normal Sunday. I dressed, got a ride to church, then sat down and pulled out my little green hymnbook. I found the assigned page, and sat back to wait for the meeting to start. After the introductions, the chorister stood up and the congregation launched into a Spanish rendition of ''Joy to the World.'' I was not expecting that in the least! For me, Thanksgiving was always the start of the Christmas celebration. Before that last Thursday in November however, Christmas was only to be mentioned in passing. Sure, you could whistle Jingle Bells under your breath, but we never had a group as large as a church congregation singing ''Silent Night'' until after Thanksgiving! I was shocked, to be sure. After the song, I asked a girl why we were singing Christmas songs so early, and she told me that they always sing them, even in August! I guess starting the Christmas celebration after Thanksgiving makes no sense to people who don’t celebrate the United States Thanksgiving.
Not soon after, the billboards and storefronts started gearing up. Thirty foot signs depict Santa quenching his thirst with a Coke, and plastic Christmas trees squat in every available grocery store corner. Cotton snow and paper snowflakes are stuck to windows, and holiday getaways are being advertised in the newspapers. There are even Santas with white beards holding children on their laps at the entrances of grocery stores. The Christmas spirit is definitely growing as we begin the last December of 2008.
You’re probably seeing much of the same things if you’re in the States. The only difference is that they seem to fit so much better there to me. I break out in a sweat just looking at the poor man in a fuzzy red suit standing out in the full sunshine while the rest of the world is wearing shorts. The plastic pines look alien next to the ever-green mangos and palms. I love the spirit associated with these traditional decorations, but my body and brain are so confused by the contrasts. If I were to choose a Christmas tree from my yard, I would decorate the lemon tree. I would paint Papa Noel in swim trucks and a white tank top. I would have a Christmas pool party and retape the song so it sang ‘’I’m dreaming of a tan Christmas.’’ All of this is me not adjusting to my environment. Shame on me. I came with preconceptions; I couldn’t help it. I thought my Christmas would be insanely different, and now that so much appears the same, I’m just plain out of whack.
There are some differences, thank goodness. My mother says she doesn’t know any Christmas carols. The majority of the celebrating is done on Christmas Eve. Presents are opened after the midnight mass of Christmas Eve, then for Christmas itself, people are said to sleep and relax. Those are all different concepts to me, and I’m thankful for them. If things were too much like home, I might open up to the ever-knocking homesickness. By keeping my distance from what I’m used to, I can enjoy my new experiences. Perhaps it’s slightly twisted logic, but it seems to be working. I’m meshing my two worlds into one colorful hammock of reds and greens and tinsels and pine boughs. When Christmas arrives, I will be content to swing in my two worlds, and love both of them. The majority of my holidays are still based around family--that won't change. There will still be presents and jokes and food. Even some of the superficial is the same.
It’s December, so go celebrate. Whatever you're doing this holiday season, I hope you're enjoying it. It’s a time to be happy. So please, please be happy. Happy Holidays.
The sixteenth of November began as a normal Sunday. I dressed, got a ride to church, then sat down and pulled out my little green hymnbook. I found the assigned page, and sat back to wait for the meeting to start. After the introductions, the chorister stood up and the congregation launched into a Spanish rendition of ''Joy to the World.'' I was not expecting that in the least! For me, Thanksgiving was always the start of the Christmas celebration. Before that last Thursday in November however, Christmas was only to be mentioned in passing. Sure, you could whistle Jingle Bells under your breath, but we never had a group as large as a church congregation singing ''Silent Night'' until after Thanksgiving! I was shocked, to be sure. After the song, I asked a girl why we were singing Christmas songs so early, and she told me that they always sing them, even in August! I guess starting the Christmas celebration after Thanksgiving makes no sense to people who don’t celebrate the United States Thanksgiving.
Not soon after, the billboards and storefronts started gearing up. Thirty foot signs depict Santa quenching his thirst with a Coke, and plastic Christmas trees squat in every available grocery store corner. Cotton snow and paper snowflakes are stuck to windows, and holiday getaways are being advertised in the newspapers. There are even Santas with white beards holding children on their laps at the entrances of grocery stores. The Christmas spirit is definitely growing as we begin the last December of 2008.
You’re probably seeing much of the same things if you’re in the States. The only difference is that they seem to fit so much better there to me. I break out in a sweat just looking at the poor man in a fuzzy red suit standing out in the full sunshine while the rest of the world is wearing shorts. The plastic pines look alien next to the ever-green mangos and palms. I love the spirit associated with these traditional decorations, but my body and brain are so confused by the contrasts. If I were to choose a Christmas tree from my yard, I would decorate the lemon tree. I would paint Papa Noel in swim trucks and a white tank top. I would have a Christmas pool party and retape the song so it sang ‘’I’m dreaming of a tan Christmas.’’ All of this is me not adjusting to my environment. Shame on me. I came with preconceptions; I couldn’t help it. I thought my Christmas would be insanely different, and now that so much appears the same, I’m just plain out of whack.
There are some differences, thank goodness. My mother says she doesn’t know any Christmas carols. The majority of the celebrating is done on Christmas Eve. Presents are opened after the midnight mass of Christmas Eve, then for Christmas itself, people are said to sleep and relax. Those are all different concepts to me, and I’m thankful for them. If things were too much like home, I might open up to the ever-knocking homesickness. By keeping my distance from what I’m used to, I can enjoy my new experiences. Perhaps it’s slightly twisted logic, but it seems to be working. I’m meshing my two worlds into one colorful hammock of reds and greens and tinsels and pine boughs. When Christmas arrives, I will be content to swing in my two worlds, and love both of them. The majority of my holidays are still based around family--that won't change. There will still be presents and jokes and food. Even some of the superficial is the same.
It’s December, so go celebrate. Whatever you're doing this holiday season, I hope you're enjoying it. It’s a time to be happy. So please, please be happy. Happy Holidays.
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