this post will be short and sweet since i'm still waiting on those 25 things from you all! i think i've shared enough of my life and heart for all to see, now it's my turn to do the vicarious living! (thanks, ish, for responding so quickly!)
anyway, today i had my african popular music class, which is different than i expected, though i don't know what i expected. it's a lot of history about all different regions of africa and the musical history of those regions, and there are a lot of names and time periods and places to remember. but the class is interesting and it's the biggest one nyu has here, so it must be good.
after class i rode my bike to SDA school, where i met up with belynda and leigh who had been going to schools while i was in class, meeting with them to verify that we were doing our education programs with them this semester. leigh and i have to go back to all 5 schools on monday and hand-deliver letters to each of the headmasters/headmistresses confirming our doing workshops there, and providing dates of availability. it's just interesting how business and official matters are conducted here. very bureaucratic, very formal. there's not much emailing or phone calling, but a lot of sitting outside offices, waiting to speak with someone for maybe 2 minutes. but it's fun and i'm SOO excited about actually getting to start the workshops!
i had the rest of the day off and spent most of it watching season 4 of entourage. i'm gonna be done pretty soon, and we've gone through almost all the DVDs i brought, so i don't know what i'll be watching a few weeks from now! we find ourselves watching a movie almost every night, and since i brought the biggest collection, they're mostly movies i like (good for me!).
all is well here. tomorrow gillian and i are going to venture to makola, the other market we still haven't been to. pray for me as i re-experience this very hectic situation (i don't think markets, at least ghanaian markets, are for me, but we'll see how this goes).
i really want to start skyping more with people! so if you have a skype name, let me know.
miss you all and love you lots!
elizabeth
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3 comments:
Another interesting day in "EJ's Big Ghanaian Adventure." I was thinking earlier today how cool this whole Blog thing is and how really wonderful it is that technology enables us to stay connected to you everyday when you are half the world away. Of course you have to do the writing and you do it very beautifully and descriptively. Nana is right, you could have a future as a travel writer if you wanted one. Your African Modern Music Class sounds fascinating. You are certainly learning about so many facets of Ghanaian and African culture and history that it is remarkable that you have absorbed so much in such a relatively short period of time. I think your natural curiousity, openness, and adaptablity are serving you well. Welcome to the world of bureaucracy. It can be frustrating, but just keep your eye on the prize and it will be worth every bit of it. I will pray for you to have a successful and stress free visit to the Makola Market and please pray for me as I stand in a very long line for Springsteen tickets. Seeing Springsteen live is one of the things your Dad told me I must do at least once (you probably can guess a couple of the other things)! Stay healthy and safe (gotta say it) and remember how much we dearly love you sweetpea. Isha
I'm back! Here are your Momma's 25 things, at last:
1. One of my favorite things to do is make chocolate chip cookies (Pillsbury - refrigerated -- the best) at 11:00 p.m. and down them with a full, frosted glass of whole milk - mmmmm – real comfort food.
2. I don't like things cliche or stereotypical, particularly words or images – (just flashed back to my sallow-faced jr. high English teacher who taught me what "stereotype" meant).
3. I love, adore, can't get enough of the theater - any theater - the wilder the better –watching, exploring backstage, smelling the scent of grease paint makeup, touching the costumes on the rack and hearing the sound of sets on a wooden stage. NOTHING is more exhilarating to me and I always travel back to my high school drama days when "folks came from all over Dallas to see our plays" - couldn't resist, EJ!
4. Without a doubt, I AM the most blessed woman on earth to be Momma to my two precious daughters - Elizabeth Jane and Sarah Seay are truly the most caring, respectful, kind, beautiful, and intelligent young people I could ever know and each carries my heart everywhere she goes. My greatest goal in life is to witness them both enjoy happiness and peace throughout their own lives. My pride and love for them is unconditional, never-ending and boundless and I know in my heart they will achieve whatever they set their minds to.
5. It makes me sad when I hear people speak badly, even jokingly, about their spouses. This is not just since I lost my own Sweetheart; I've always felt dismay in hearing someone publicly criticize the one person he or she is supposed to support and love unconditionally - I know there are exceptions and I'm not talking about those. It’s just icky.
6. It also irks me – real bad - when people speak ill or condescendingly about themselves - always feel there will be others who might imprudently do that so why add to the negativity.
7. I had and have in my heart the most spectacular, fun, interesting, funny, talented, handsome and loving husband a girl could ever dream of – my Michael was my Prince and he made me laugh mightily. Boy, was I lucky. I wish we could have grown old together. We would have had such fun watching our girls start their own families. I see so much of him in them and his talents and love of family are very much theirs.
8. I love jamoca almond fudge ice cream and lemon custard ice cream – one scoop of each on a sugar cone – from Baskin Robbins – especially after Mexican food! More comfort food.
9. I loved the Rocky Horror Picture Show in college and well into adulthood. Last time I watched it was in Arizona as I was sewing a halloween costume - fitting! I would still watch it if it came on t.v.
10. My sewing machine and the beautiful fabrics I feed through it are my greatest source of relaxation – I could spend hours and hours doing nothing but sewing and watching good movies and be perfectly happy and I have. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment and joy to feel and smell the fabrics and finish up a project. I have many projects that need finishing!
11. I used to be a night person – coming alive late at night and being most productive and creative then. I am now an early morning person (usually!) – finding I’m energized by the prospect of a full day and many hours left ahead.
12. The happiest days of my life were August 13, 1983, my wedding date, July 7, 1989, the date our Elizabeth Jane was born, and July 11, 2003, the date our Sarah Seay was born. Each is as fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday.
13. I don’t believe in the following: “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Words can and do hurt and my mother was right. She would say to me, “ think before you speak.”
14. My favorite poet is Emerson and my favorite author is Thoreau. My favorite author’s saying is, “Life is a complicated business, fraught with mystery and some sunshine.” Philip Roth wrote this and my mother first introduced me to it. She taught me so much and every day I think of all the life lessons she wisely and quietly gave me.
15. The older I get, the less I like or appreciate cynicism or sarcasm.
16. I enjoy my mother in law so much – she is a great friend, comforter, grandmother, caretaker for my children and we’ve helped each other out in so many ways. Her Mikey adored her too.
17. I have the best support system imaginable and though she’s not physically here, my mother is right by my side every waking hour. She had the sweetest smile and kindest eyes and they are in my mind’s eye always. My dad is just the best – always knows the right things to say to me and says them without judgment. His words kept me going when Michael was so ill. My brother always, always has my back as the kids say. He would and has done anything for me. My brother in law is a gentleman and such a kind person – truly selfless and helpful and my sisters in law are friends first and they love my girls so much. I am a lucky woman.
18. I had the most awesome 50th birthday thanks to all of the above! The memory book and photo albums all put together give me such pleasure.
19. The color orange gives me energy and though I don’t use it often, I love looking at it. I used to love the color yellow and as a child was allowed to paint my room yellow and have yellow shag carpet installed in my room. How generous was that?!
20. I was given great latitude as a young person and my parents never judged me. That made me a better person and I am very grateful. It also gave me confidence.
21. I hold onto things probably longer than I “should”, but as both my mom and dad have always said, “You never know when you might need it.”
22. I don’t like change.
23. My home is my sanctuary. I’ve always loved being home.
24. I wish I were more of a list keeper; wish I was really like Martha and kept a detailed list in my head. But I do keep a list of sorts in my head.
25. I really do subscribe to the tenants “To each his own” and “Live and let live.” Having an open mind is much more enriching and fun than having a closed one. (A few more lessons learned from my mom)!
oops - of course I know the last date in #12 should be 'July 11, 1993'! It was the wee hours of the morn. when I proofed this. Will correct ad repost on the next blog entry! Sorry.
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