Bullet Point Post: Saturday Style

30 Mar 2013 1 Comment

by nataliaria in Bullet Point Post, College, Family, Humour, Little Sisters, Movies

• I’m home for the weekend; arrived yesterday afternoon, and I’ll return to school tomorrow evening. I could probably tally up several past posts which I have begun with the exact phrase seen above. I’m rather repetitive sometimes.

• Actually, I’ve been told that before. I wrote a paper last year, and exercised much the same writing techniques that appear in my blog posts, and someone read that paper and told me that I was repetitive. I think about that quite frequently, actually. Think about it frequently, and do almost nothing to alter my writing style.

• So I’m still repetitive.

• I took the two young sisters to the movie theater this evening. We saw The Croods. We’ve built a kind of tradition wherein I take it upon myself to accompany them to the theater once a year. The first time we did this, Larissa was three and Glendy was five, and we saw Despicable Me with Jo and her boys. The fire alarm in the theater went off partway through and I very nearly gave up the whole adventure, but they turned it off midway through our required evacuation and we were permitted back to our seats. Since the girls weren’t too deeply scarred by the whole experience, we did it again the next year.

• My father and I took the girls to see Winnie the Pooh two summers ago. I’ve already told you multiples times before how much I love that movie, and I’ll say it again because I have high standards friends, and that film is witty, creative, humorous, gentle, and quite endearing. So really, I encourage all to obtain and enjoy that great film.

• So The Croods. Having taken it upon my shoulders to bring the small ones to the theater, I of course feel responsible for the type of entertainment I was exposing them to. This explains why I actually read a review for The Croods, something I generally avoid doing. The review (from a Christian website, nonetheless) was surprisingly positive, and I approached this afternoon’s entertainment with eager curiosity. But oh, man, the movie was phenomenal. Deeply interesting from the opening credits, The Croods maintained my rapt attention throughout the film, and even made me cry in the emotional climax in the middle. I cried in a movie theater, friends.

• My father informed the kitchen today that I am becoming more emotive. What this means is that I had the emotional variety of a koala bear as a teenager, and have now grown such that not only do I allow tears to come out of my eyes, but I permit such eye leakage to occur in a movie theater.

• The Roommate is at school right now, while I am at home, and I’m experiencing the phenomenon wherein I feel very removed from what is happening in the realm of school because we work cooperatively to keep each other informed.

• So we Facebook chatted, which is a big deal because I haven’t been “online” on Facebook chat since the first week of January, due to the fact that when you are online, people talk to you, which I generally try to avoid in all areas of my life.

• But The Roommate. I found an image online featuring a zombie drawn in black and white, smiling creepily, captioned, “Running back to your room from the bathroom? I love a good race.” I posted said image on The Roommate’s Facebook wall because I am constantly being teased for the fact that I run so fast from the bathroom, back to our room, that the toilet is still flushing when I burst into the room. I posted the image on her wall and reminded her that this is real life: I must run, and I must run very quickly.

• But I’m home now, of course, and there are no zombies in these hallways. This is probably because there are 2.7 feet between the bathroom and my bedroom door, and that just isn’t enough space for a zombie.

• In closing, I’ve taken to calling the small sisters food items, as a term of endearment. I kissed them an hour ago, after having read them two chapters of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and said goodnight to Taco Sauce and Cheesecake. With that in mind, good night dear French Fries, and we’ll probably talk again rather soon.

~Natalia

Bullet Point Post: Classes are Classes

10 Sep 2012 1 Comment

by nataliaria in Bible, Bullet Point Post, Moody Bible Institute, Music, Teach

• I’m sitting in the dark in the lounge on my floor. It’s not completely dark, but it’s dark enough that seeing my keyboard is a bit of a struggle. I know how to type, so my inability to visually decipher which key is which is not too great a struggle, except when I decided that this would be a Bullet Point Post. Then, suddenly, not only could I not see the keys, but I had also completely forgotten which keys produce the bullet point icon. By the time I figured it out, my squinting face was three inches from the keyboard, and I had typed the following into the WordPress box: *(**I, as well as activated the search box on my computer desktop.

• It took me five tries to create that bullet point icon, as well.

• I’m getting the hang of it now.

• I had Foundations of Education for Christian Schools this evening. A night class. The jury is still out as to my feelings regarding both night classes and once-a-week block classes. This class is both, and I’m sure I’ll have further opinions to share with you on that topic at a later date. As it is, I really very much enjoy this class. The professor, the methods used to instruct us, the texts we’re reading, the high amount of interaction with the other students, the way learning is a truly active and participatory event. I’m a fan.

• Actually, I lied. I’m still having trouble typing out these bullet point symbols.

• In my hermeneutics class, another once-a-weeker that meets on Tuesday afternoons, we were assigned the task of creating a chart containing the major points and themes of the book of Galatians. I dutifully printed out the book of Galatians and read it every day, highlighting words that seemed significant and scribbling notes in the margins of my print out. The chart due tomorrow, I was rather ambivalent about the whole prospect of charting a book of the Bible- surely I would leave something out, or incorrectly identify the themes of the passage. But, it being the night before, I tackled the assignment this evening, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the task. Maybe I’ll share my completed chart with you one day.

• Between the ages of eight and eighteen, I studied the art of playing piano. I dutifully practiced my songs, measured out scales and intervals, and memorized scores of musical facts, instructions, and informational tidbits. Twice a year for ten years, I was tested on these tidbits and songs, scales and intervals, along with many other musical skills. These music achievement tests were not the bane of my existence (that was recitals), but there are other things in life that provide me with more joy than said tests. However, I have quite recently discovered an additional bonus, a surprise application, for the random musical knowledge that I have retained: Exploring Music.

Exploring Music occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it exactly what the title indicates: an introductory class wherein music and the fundamentals thereof are explored. My music knowledge, limited and scattered though it may be, has served me very well in this class, to say the least.

• Due to the lack of purpose or truly redeeming nature of this post, I have prepared for you a short list of take away points, as any good professor would do:

- Bullet point icons are hard to type after midnight in the dark.
- Studying the Word of God, and at Moody, is an amazing privilege.
- I greatly enjoy what I am studying and the things I am learning.
- I gave up on bullet points.

~Natalia

Bullet Point Post: Roach Alert

18 Jul 2012 Leave a Comment

by nataliaria in Bullet Point Post, Casa Hogar, Church, Family, Friends, Humour, Kiddos, Mexico, Prayer, Spanish, Teach

• I’m once more sitting at the dining table in Manuel and Tere’s house, my second home. My legs are crossed on the seat, my trusty Old Navy flip flops kicked helter skelter somewhere under the table. This specific sitting position has two advantages: 1) I’m comfortable, and my posture is actually pretty good at the moment. 2) Feet up = no roaches touching me tonight.

• I’m alone in the dining room, but Manuel and Tere and Karen are in the bedroom. I can hear their voices. This is reassuring because it means that, in the event that a cockroach does salir, I don’t have to worry about waking them up to kill it.

• Not that I’m above waking someone up in order to dispose of a roach…

• Talk about something else, shall we?

• Ana, with whom I share a room while residing in this Mexican home, is currently serving as a counselor at week-long children’s camp put on by our church here. Beki, the resident little sister, and Manuelito, are also at camp. They’re having fun, yes, yes, but we’ve been counting the hours until they return since they left.

• 11pm last night found me in the backseat of the car, as Hermano Manuel sped up the dark freeway, on our way to deliver an urgently needed antihistamine to the camp. I seriously underestimated how excited I would be to catch sight of familiar faces amidst the swarm of campers. Casa Hogar kiddos, friends from church, my Mexican siblings; our reason for visiting the camp was not optimal, but we all enjoyed the brief visit.

• Upon arrival home last night, Hermana Tere offered to lend me Karen’s little dog, a cotton-ball-colored toy poodle, since Karen was also away for the night. I kindly accepted the proffered creature. Actually, to be slightly more honest, I was so desperate to not sleep in the bedroom alone that I not only accepted Dory’s canine presence, but pulled her little bed as close to my own as possible, and I may or may not have spent a little bit of time talking to her… Maybe.

• I then failed to take her to the bathroom in the madrugada and began my morning mopping up a puppy mess.

• Being Wednesday, we went to church this evening. I know I’ve said it before, but I’m bullet pointing my pensamientos as they come, so I might as well remind you that, in addition to my church in Chicago, I’m completely enthralled with the church I attend here. The preaching, the way God uses the lessons and music to grow me and reassure me and teach me, the community, the emphasis on prayer; I’m so thankful.

• On a related note, Ana recently recounted to me a story involving someone from the church. I was almost sure that I knew who she was talking about, but not positive, and I told her so. You’d probably recognize her if you saw her, Ana assured me. I nodded, adding that, while I don’t know their names, I would probably recognize much of the congregation por vista. And they all probably recognize you, Ana laughed. Yes, the tone of my skin and my hair does not exactly lend itself to anonymity.

• It recently came to my attention that my ability to speak Spanish, which is completely a gift from God, and not at all something I could have conjured up on my own, is directly related to my mental/emotional/spiritual state. Distracted, worried, emotional, and my ability to communicate declines rapidly and rather instantaneously. Thankfully, while I don’t think I’ll ever escape the teasing and jokes about my mistakes and mispronunciations, those I interact with here are very patient with me, supplying words when my story turns into a blind search for a word I don’t know, and correcting my mistakes when they really matter.

• Karen just flicked the kitchen light off and took the dogs back to bed. I haven’t seen any roaches yet, and I think I want to keep it that way. I hope your Thursday is bright, encouraging, and roach-free!

~Natalia

Bullet Point Post: A La Mexico

09 Jul 2012 4 Comments

by nataliaria in Bullet Point Post, Casa Hogar, Food, Friends, Kiddos, Mexico, Simple, Spanish, Swimming, Teach

• I started English classes today. Teaching, not taking, although I could probably use a couple of classes in this crazy language. One time, while I was living here last winter, after writing a late-night, rather incoherent blog post, Stevy informed me that I was beginning to write as if English were indeed my second language. This was both hilarious and sadly, rather true.

• No, but for real. I spent three hours this morning teaching English to assorted groups at the Casa Hogar. I, and I say this fully aware of the repercussions it may carry, spent most of this time wishing desperately that I actually payed attention when my mother taught English here. Beki tells me that the woman brought in real sugar for them all to sample when she covered baking items. If only I could bring in real jungle animals…

• There was a cockroach in the room that Ana and I share this morning. Now, sitting alone in the dining room, I’m mentally composing lists of all the ways a roach could approach me.

• It’s a long list.

• My day at the Casa Hogar ended with sitting in Cuarto Uno with Ana, Karen, and the oldest girls. We told stories and retold stories and teased each other and laughed until it was 11pm, and suddenly time to go.

• Occasionally, it occurs to me to wonder if I was supposed to be Mexican.

• But then I’d have to deal with more cockroaches.

• I assigned each English class homework and spent half my afternoon sitting on beds doing the very homework I had assigned, while my littlest students looked on in interest.

• Little Rosa asked me again today if I spoke English. The English class having done little to convince her, she devised the hardest test as seven-year-old could to test my fluency: say all the vowels in English.

• To her utter amazement, I passed the test with flying colors.

• I was recruited to teach two classes in this program of activities that Hermana Tere has devised: English, and swimming. Swim class starts on Wednesday, with the oldest girls, and I must say, I’m as interested to see how it unfolds as they are. I’ll be sure to report back after Wednesday.

• I’m Facebook chatting with Carly about simple, and the plausibility of unplugging completely from the cell phone era, and the irony of blogging while fb chatting while my iPhone charges next to me is very nearly too much to bear.

• So, I think I’ll go to bed. Today was English class and kitchen work and friend time, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

~Natalia

Bullet Point Post: Link Edition

04 Jun 2012 Leave a Comment

by nataliaria in Bullet Point Post, Summer, Work

• My mother’s parents, known in most circles as my grandparents, are coming into town tomorrow. The last time my mother, sisters, and I saw them was in October, but Stevy and my father have not spent time with the dear people since Christmas 2010. We fully anticipate a wonderful ten-day reunion.

• I’m leaving for Mancelona with the youth group this Saturday. Kat, Tommy, and I discussed the games and music for WOW Camp until rather late yesterday evening. The process of deciding which activities the campers will be doing, with Hillsong Kids worship music playing in the background, greatly increased my enthusiasm for the upcoming trip.

• This evening was my first night back at work in a week. Due first to camping, then to Mancelona meetings, I was unable to be at the pool last week, and I missed my kiddos. After my 2.5-hour workday, I walked home barely containing a grin and the faint urge to skip home. I’m blessed to work where I do, and with the people I do, and it’s undeniably a blessing that interacting with the tiny athletes so thrills my heart and brings me joy.

• Life springs and leaps forward, and I’m off to bed now, because soon enough it’ll be Tuesday morning and I’ll have things to do, and people to see, and tasks to accomplish.

And I’m looking forward to it.

~Natalia

The One Where I Forget to Post {Bullet Point Style}

03 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by nataliaria in Blogging, Bullet Point Post, College

• I forgot to post last night. Inescapably and inexplicably, every Thursday night of both this semester and last is absolutely chock full of homework. By this point, I’m beginning to suspect that it’s a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, and regardless of how much homework I do leading up to Thursday, I am doomed to spend Thursday evening at my desk, studiously reading, or writing, or prepping. It’s hopeless to resist.

• So I do homework on Thursday night.

• And last night, I was so wrapped up in homework, and then I was so tired that I simply climbed into bed and fell asleep when I was done that I completely forgot to write anything here on LeadmeWhere.

• So I’m posting now.

• See?

• I’m doing laundry at the moment. Well, I mean, I’m not actively washing clothing with my bare hands, but I am sitting in my room while the dryer finishes up seven floors under me. Except that I’m pretty sure it finished about 35 minutes ago…

• Oh well, I’m writing a post now. I’ll get my clean clothes later.

• Although not too much later; hypothetically speaking, I wouldn’t want to leave my clothing in the dryer for so long that someone else needs to use the dryer and thus takes the liberty of removing my slightly damp bundle of clothes from the now-inactive dryer and leaving them in a heap on the laundry table, such that when I went to collect my clothes the next morning I found a damp, incredibly wrinkled pile on the laundry table, and too lazy and apathetic too put them in the dryer again in order to finish drying completely (not to mention that I didn’t have my laundry card with me) I simply carried the jumble of clothes back to my room, where I left it for another couple hours before finally folding it, and then spending the next two weeks trying to convince myself that no one was noticing how wrinkled all of my shirts were.

• Not that that has ever happened to me.

• I gave the devotional in my speech class this morning. It was on Psalm 98, and was about living a lifestyle of praise, because God has done so much for us. I thought it went pretty well, actually. Maybe I’ll share it with you sometime.

• The only downside was that I’m sick, so I sounded like I was talking while squeezing my nose, and if I made a point too forcefully, my speech would temporarily deteriorate into a coughing fit.

• *sigh*

• I really should go get my laundry.

• Bye.

• Addendum: I went down to fetch my laundry and found it heaped in a bundle on the laundry table.

• I can’t win.

• At least it was dry…

~Natalia

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