Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Selective Hearing
Ever had the experience of sounding like a COMPLETE idot because you couldn't comprehend what someone was saying. As if your hearing is selective due to the fact your brain is not even going the direction of the speaker...
Ok, here's my story. I was talking to a former MK who is now a midwife. I told her a bit of my story and where I was at in my decision making. She was recommending a certain university to me as I took down notes.
"Now what school is that?.." - I ask like a complete idito cuz she's said it twice already.
"Yale, New Haven" - she responds
"What school?" (thinking for sure this must be a Pennsylvania school somewhere near by)
"YALE...in New Haven...you know Yale in Conneticut"
Right...light goes on...oh yeah...yale as in prestigious university never even entering into my brain...never considered it...yeah...Yale...maybe I need to stop using the blonde glaze on my hair.
(Wasn't Legally Blonde filmed there...o wait, that was Harvard)
Ok, here's my story. I was talking to a former MK who is now a midwife. I told her a bit of my story and where I was at in my decision making. She was recommending a certain university to me as I took down notes.
"Now what school is that?.." - I ask like a complete idito cuz she's said it twice already.
"Yale, New Haven" - she responds
"What school?" (thinking for sure this must be a Pennsylvania school somewhere near by)
"YALE...in New Haven...you know Yale in Conneticut"
Right...light goes on...oh yeah...yale as in prestigious university never even entering into my brain...never considered it...yeah...Yale...maybe I need to stop using the blonde glaze on my hair.
(Wasn't Legally Blonde filmed there...o wait, that was Harvard)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Blessed Multitasking
I'm sitting in the main house of the retreat ministry with two phones, my computer, and a pile of mail overnighted to me. As I talk to various missions and schools I blog, work on my video, and read mail.
My big question of the hour...what song? (and obviously I ahere to strict copywrite laws I only use legal music and limit play so as not to appear that I am profitting...he he...yeah)
- I've used up my favorite classical selections on other videos
- God Will Lift Up Your Head is nice, but I have to consider the conservative circles in which it may be played (too many riffs and drums)
- The soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean is nice, but a bit too "lets plow ahead"
- Avril Lavigne's Happy Ending might be a bit sarcastic, though ironically fitting
- No Rudy or Gettysburg soundtrack (the aforementioned Mexican or inner city kids)
My big question of the hour...what song? (and obviously I ahere to strict copywrite laws I only use legal music and limit play so as not to appear that I am profitting...he he...yeah)
- I've used up my favorite classical selections on other videos
- God Will Lift Up Your Head is nice, but I have to consider the conservative circles in which it may be played (too many riffs and drums)
- The soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean is nice, but a bit too "lets plow ahead"
- Avril Lavigne's Happy Ending might be a bit sarcastic, though ironically fitting
- No Rudy or Gettysburg soundtrack (the aforementioned Mexican or inner city kids)
Monday, March 13, 2006
The Missionary Slideshow
Sitting with my new missionary buddies I was reminded I had not made my official video presentation for this last year. Having made countless DVDs for people last year I was flat out of ideas. Digital slideshows have kind of lost their uniqueness. You know...Volunteer with native...fade out...Volunteer eating strange item considered food...fade out...Volunteer looking dirty after manual labor...fade out...volunteer posing as if to prove they do manual labor...fade out...volunteer with mass of children.... I still can't hear anything that sounds like the soundtrack to Rudy or Gettysburg without having mental images of a slideshow with Mexican or inner city kids.
That was until Mr. T showed us his presentation. It was the first time I've seen a missionary dressed in a leisure suit and huge afro wig on their slideshow complete with stick figures. (and no, he'd never seen Napoleon Dynamite) As the crazy movie music swelled I found myself suddenly inspired to keep working on my video presentation... Mel has a camera and a crazy idea...be afraid...be very afraid...
That was until Mr. T showed us his presentation. It was the first time I've seen a missionary dressed in a leisure suit and huge afro wig on their slideshow complete with stick figures. (and no, he'd never seen Napoleon Dynamite) As the crazy movie music swelled I found myself suddenly inspired to keep working on my video presentation... Mel has a camera and a crazy idea...be afraid...be very afraid...
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Last Day of Debrief
Today is the last day of my debrief. In some odd way it feels almost reminiscent of high school graduation. As if today this glorious "this is the beginning of the rest of your life..." day and people will now inquire "Soooo, what are your plans?". Perhaps it's good for me to remember that I can now smile when I think of the pressure I put on myself around high school graduation. One day this time of my life will carry the same light humor.
These last two weeks have been rough, but God has walked by me every step. We had group lectures in the morning followed by private counseling in the afternoons. I came to the conference pretty skeptical and feeling like a failure. The flashbacks, anxiety, crazy sleep patterns, and inability to concentrate made me almost wonder if I was losing my mind. It was hard to talk through specific memories and it often stirred up more. However, in the end God clearly showed me how He had been with me during each event.
This is only the first step. I've seen God heal many of the memories and flashbacks, but with post-traumatic stress disorder inevitably it may take some time for my brain to process it all. I now have strategies for stress and anxiety that will be helpful to me so I don't get that far down in the pit again before I sound an alarm. I believe I’m also better prepared to communicate in a team setting. Many of teaching incorporated insights into communication and how each person can look at a situation in a different light.
Just to clarify, I am quite certain I will not return to the mission with whom I served in Asia. Though I never expected to go to Asia, if God opened a different door there I would willingly go back. (The local people will always have a special place in my heart) This week I'll be talking to some missions agencies out here and looking at options for service. I'll also be following up on some school applications and trying to decide where to go next (whether to invest some more time in the States or really pursue going overseas this year) I won’t be back to my parents place until the end of the month. (It's so wild to be far enough east to see signs on the highway for New York City.)
A host of midwife friends are getting hitched...at least I should be able to attend one bridal shower this week...(let me go practice my shower "oooing" and "awwwing") I filled one of my new friends in on the goings on at showers to which he said "I'm GLAD I'm a guy".
These last two weeks have been rough, but God has walked by me every step. We had group lectures in the morning followed by private counseling in the afternoons. I came to the conference pretty skeptical and feeling like a failure. The flashbacks, anxiety, crazy sleep patterns, and inability to concentrate made me almost wonder if I was losing my mind. It was hard to talk through specific memories and it often stirred up more. However, in the end God clearly showed me how He had been with me during each event.
This is only the first step. I've seen God heal many of the memories and flashbacks, but with post-traumatic stress disorder inevitably it may take some time for my brain to process it all. I now have strategies for stress and anxiety that will be helpful to me so I don't get that far down in the pit again before I sound an alarm. I believe I’m also better prepared to communicate in a team setting. Many of teaching incorporated insights into communication and how each person can look at a situation in a different light.
Just to clarify, I am quite certain I will not return to the mission with whom I served in Asia. Though I never expected to go to Asia, if God opened a different door there I would willingly go back. (The local people will always have a special place in my heart) This week I'll be talking to some missions agencies out here and looking at options for service. I'll also be following up on some school applications and trying to decide where to go next (whether to invest some more time in the States or really pursue going overseas this year) I won’t be back to my parents place until the end of the month. (It's so wild to be far enough east to see signs on the highway for New York City.)
A host of midwife friends are getting hitched...at least I should be able to attend one bridal shower this week...(let me go practice my shower "oooing" and "awwwing") I filled one of my new friends in on the goings on at showers to which he said "I'm GLAD I'm a guy".
Thursday, March 09, 2006
A Few More Midwives in the World
The results have reached Canada! (and the rest of the US)...there are now a few more Certified Professional midwives in the world!
They are amazing ladies! (And look, not a one in a peasant skirt!)
They are amazing ladies! (And look, not a one in a peasant skirt!)
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Improving My Culture
Lately I've noticed my English and table manners have suffered from two years of speaking half-English/half-language-o-the-month while eating rice with my fingers. In my attempt to learn new big words or brush up my etiquette, some of the other debriefers have taken me for an etiquette expert (ah, if they only knew about Nic 'n' I's crazy TMI classes). Perhaps it was the mentioning fo the correct manner of eating asparagus with the fingertips that fooled them.
Yesterday on of the ladies gave me a copy of Emily Post's Ettiquite book from 1945. It's a riot! I find as I read it that the world seems to have a bit more certainty. Here at debrief I may be wrestling with the abstract questions of life, but can be confident that someone else has answered the question of how you seat a dinner party of 12 in the house of a widow (apparently the objective is to avoid her serving herself from an untouched first dish).
Here are a few gems:
- Did you know flight stewardesses used to be registered nurses? Fascinating.
- When removing bones from fish you are to first lift the bone with the fork then pull it the rest of the way pinched between the fork and knife.
- "He whose manners are only put on in company is a veneered gentleman, not a real one"
- [discussing how a visitor takes leave]"Naturally a woman is less effusive in what she says to a man than in what she says to another woman. And yet she may very well exclaim, 'I've been completely thrilled!' if he has told her anything that can be truthfully described as thrilling, but not otherwise. (p.10 - do I detect some sarcasm?)
Yesterday on of the ladies gave me a copy of Emily Post's Ettiquite book from 1945. It's a riot! I find as I read it that the world seems to have a bit more certainty. Here at debrief I may be wrestling with the abstract questions of life, but can be confident that someone else has answered the question of how you seat a dinner party of 12 in the house of a widow (apparently the objective is to avoid her serving herself from an untouched first dish).
Here are a few gems:
- Did you know flight stewardesses used to be registered nurses? Fascinating.
- When removing bones from fish you are to first lift the bone with the fork then pull it the rest of the way pinched between the fork and knife.
- "He whose manners are only put on in company is a veneered gentleman, not a real one"
- [discussing how a visitor takes leave]"Naturally a woman is less effusive in what she says to a man than in what she says to another woman. And yet she may very well exclaim, 'I've been completely thrilled!' if he has told her anything that can be truthfully described as thrilling, but not otherwise. (p.10 - do I detect some sarcasm?)
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Life Is Short...Hang Out with Kiwi's
Today one of my favorite, yet crazy midwife buddies is moving to the land of the kiwis. This is just me tipping my hat to say, yeah, life is short...
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Rockstar Midwife
Congrats to Hooles who persisted in taking her 8-hour certification exam again and passed!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
The Sweetest Place on Earth
Prayers Fulfilled?
This little town has a sign in honor of a female missionary doctor who opened the first hospital in the Chinese empire. Apparently she lived here when she came home after 31 years of service "broken in health". I wonder if she prayed for this town. Now, years later missionaries are being restored in the Lord at this same place.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Living It Up In the Small Town
Last night they gave us some free time to play a game or watch a movie (this is my kind of spiritual retreat!). We picked out an old Don Knotts picture, “The Reluctant Astronaut”. (Seemed fitting in light of his recent death) Sure, Don Knotts is classic, but movie making has come a long way.
You know you have a real winner when the movie trailer has lines like
“See Don in every type of training equipment”
(whooo, you don’t see training equipment everyday, now do you?)
“See Don in orbit”
(I’m pretty sure that was not actual footage)
“It’ll put you in hysterics”
(The over exaggeration being your classic indicator)
They flash glorious special effects such as crackers suspended in the air on string…ingenious.
O well, it sure had to be more exciting than hopping in the car to cruse this tiny town of 900 to see if they had a 24-hour gas station. As the older participants headed to bed at 8:20 they told us that maybe the new Subway in the gas station might be open. The big city has ruined me! Actually I am just enjoying a slower paced life....usually
You know you have a real winner when the movie trailer has lines like
“See Don in every type of training equipment”
(whooo, you don’t see training equipment everyday, now do you?)
“See Don in orbit”
(I’m pretty sure that was not actual footage)
“It’ll put you in hysterics”
(The over exaggeration being your classic indicator)
They flash glorious special effects such as crackers suspended in the air on string…ingenious.
O well, it sure had to be more exciting than hopping in the car to cruse this tiny town of 900 to see if they had a 24-hour gas station. As the older participants headed to bed at 8:20 they told us that maybe the new Subway in the gas station might be open. The big city has ruined me! Actually I am just enjoying a slower paced life....usually
My View
This is the view just outside the house where I'm staying during the debrief. It's not a tropical beach, but it is beautiful. So cozy and comfy. I think I need another run...they feed us on the hour. =0))
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Earning My Wings
Driving to the east coast was more of an adventure than I anticipated. There was no forecast of snow, but I ran into a lovely near-white out on the highway. (And no, I did not exaggerate this detail, though it did come in handy when there was an outlet mall near the off ramp when conditions got bad).
The day started out nice. I took pictures of the state sign…sang at the top of my lungs...reminisced about road trips with family or friends. Then ,after missing my turn at the border and give the state of Pennsylvania about $5 in tolls just to get lost on their road I decided the Amish have something to the no vehicle thing...
Nah…who am I kidding after a year of public transportation in Asia? I love driving myself.
As for my first encounter with Red Bull…I’m not so sure it gives you wings, but combined with a double tall caramel macchiato, and diet Dr. Pepper you do take flight.
The day started out nice. I took pictures of the state sign…sang at the top of my lungs...reminisced about road trips with family or friends. Then ,after missing my turn at the border and give the state of Pennsylvania about $5 in tolls just to get lost on their road I decided the Amish have something to the no vehicle thing...
Nah…who am I kidding after a year of public transportation in Asia? I love driving myself.
As for my first encounter with Red Bull…I’m not so sure it gives you wings, but combined with a double tall caramel macchiato, and diet Dr. Pepper you do take flight.
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