Sprechen sie what?

Okay. Here are some of my cross-lingual experiences of late.

Experience 1:
I was reading a book about Africa the other day and was struck by a statement that accompanied a beautiful photo of a little girl giving a big 'cheese.' "We all smile in the same language." "Huh," I thought. "That's true!" I felt very encouraged by that. Living in a neighborhood like Brooklyn, it can be difficult to feel like you have any way to build relationships with many of the people passing you on the street talking on the phone in Spanish, calling to their run-away child in Arabic, or chatting in Chinese. How do you get to know them? How do you show them Jesus? So, this quote from the book gave me a renewed excitment for those daily streetside encounters. And it is true. I have daily shared smiles & been cheerfully returned as I've strolled about my neighborhood. It's like saying hola, salam lechem, ni hao, without saying a word. So I've realzied; smile=welcome. welcome=caring. caring=love. love=Jesus. It's at least a start.

Experience 2:
With the whole moving/getting settled thing going on for the past few months I have neglected getting my hair cut. So it was a task this week to do something about my borderline unmanagable mane. The other day as I was walking around the neighborhood, I kept my eyes open for promising looking hair salons. I passed many, went in to check out a few. One stood out. I walked in and was immediately cheerfully greeted. The ladies there were friendly and helpful. I inquired of the prices & appointment requirements. As I walked out, I said aloud actually, "That's the one." I was excited to find a place where I could be a regular and get to know neighborhood folks. Images of Steel Magnolias and Truvy's Salon flashed through my mind. So, today was the day. I strode to 5th avenue with high hopes. I went in and was immediately reminded that building relationships...particularly cross-cultural ones will not be easy and requires attentiveness and intentionality. Here are a few of the exchanges between me and my stylist Gloria (from Colombia) who speaks in a mixture of Spanish & very broken English:

1. Gloria: You want wash your hair? Ann: No, thank you. Just cut. Gloria: Okay, you come to sink.

2. Ann: How many hair stylists work here? Gloria: I cutting hair, oh, 25 years.

3. Gloria: You want me to blow dry? Ann: No, I'd like it to air dry. Gloria: okay (and pulls out hair dryer)

Not all of our conversation was confused, but this afternoon reminded me that relationships take effort. My hair did not turn out how I'd have liked it too, or how I explained, but it will grow. And so too might a friendship. If I'm willing to put in the effort.

I am thankful for these cross-lingual encounters. They are helping me learn about how to share Jesus in this new place; even with a smile & a haircut.

Theory of Relativity?

Perhaps it is since I became a parent. Or maybe because I am getting old...er. Quite probably because I have been surrounded by new everything for the past two months and my sense of observation & reflection is heightened. Whatever the source, my awarness of life's relativity has intensified.

Here are a few examples of my recent observations.

1. Bedtime. "I need to stop going to bed so late," said Ann at 11:00. "I actually got to sleep in today," Ann thought as she awoke at 7:15 to the sound of her singing son. Are you ready? I am about to sound like a reminiscent grandparent. I remember the days when staying up late meant a.m. hours. When sleeping in meant p.m. hours. Early. Late. Sleep in. Realtive.

2. Age. Do you remember those days when you looked at your parents, when you had to really crane your neck back so you could look up at them, and thought to your tiny self, "Dad's old!" Forget about grandparents, even parents were old. In truth, my parents were under 40 when I thought this 20 years ago. Now, I am only 12 years and some months away from turning 40. It suddenly doesn't seem quite so horrifically aged. Perhaps it is still old and my grown up brain has just subconsciously come to terms with the inevitability. Young. Old. Ancient. Relative.

3. Speed. Josiah & I climbed the stairs (one flight) today quickly; it only took 30 seconds. I carried him down the stairs quickly; 5 seconds. This website is taking forever to load; 10 seconds. I waited forever for the NYC marathoners to pass so I could cross the street & get to church; 30 minutes. (I gave up & went home, by the way. Tsk, tsk Mrs. Pastor’s wife) Quick. Forever. Relative.

4. Distance. Where I grew up, far to me meant driving to the other side or outside of the city, say 15 minutes away. Where I spent the past 9 years, far meant driving, say, 45 minutes or more. Here in NYC I drive no where, so everything over a mile away; far. Grocery, post office, cleaners, bank, pharmacy, dollar store, restaurants, church, park, library, hardware store, department store, electronics store, all within a mile. If I have to drive at all; Far. Relative.

This list is surely not complete, or even extensive. Just some things I noticed this week. A strange thing that happens in our brains, isn’t it. These words hold their meaning only within context. Move the setting and the word can be nearly redefined. But one thing I know. Chocolate in every context in my brain; fantastic!


Highlight of my week: Finishing the painting projects!

The Near Future

Would you look into the future if you could? What would you choose to look at? Would you want to know about big life altering things like family changes, career changes, or... dare I say it...death?

Or would you want to know things like, "Do I ever visit Europe?", "Will it be sunny for our picnic Sunday?", or "How awesome will the St. Louis Cardinals inevitably be next year?"

I don't think that I would choose to look into the future if I had the opportunity, for a myriad of reasons.
1. I like surprises, and I am not very good at faking surprise.
2. I would only become unfocused on the here & now, so I would not get much done.
3. Assuming that we would not be able to alter the future events, this would not do any good.
4. I don't think it is what God intended. Unless God was showing me the future. Then, I would pay attention.

Now, if someone were to force me to look at some future event, I would choose to view things like what I will choose to order at some restaurant or what I will fix for dinner next Tuesday. I don't like to make these types of decisions, so it would be helpful to have a heads up.

So, although we cannot know future events for certain, here are some things that I am looking forward to probably getting to do in the near future.

1. Finishing our painting projects. Next, entry room. Then, dining room. Goal-by Thanksgiving.
2. Thanksgiving!
3. Making a Guitar Hero chick band with my friend Emily.
4. Starting Julie & my new book club. Reading is fun!
5. Bumblebee Josiah for Halloween.


Highlight of my week: Finishing the living room painting!

Brooklyn, Blogging, Battlestar Galactica

Well, we have been in Brooklyn for over a month now. It has been really enjoyable getting to know a new city, a new community. Moving to an entirely new place opens up the opportunity for fresh starts and building new life rhythms. I could introduce myself to people by my middle name and go by that from now on. Or I could decide that in NYC I am going to say po-tah-to instead of po-tay-to. And no one would know I changed. For the past few months, Adam and I have been saying "New city, new haircut." "New city, new glasses." "New city, new habits." So, I am going to try out this blogging thing. Here we go.

Things I like about Brooklyn so far (in no particular order)

1. Walking. Living in an urban area, I walk nearly everywhere I go. The grocery, fruit stand, pharmacy, church, park, library. I generally walk 1-2 miles (sometimes more) each day. I haven't driven since we moved here. Here is why I like this: I get great exercise, I don't have to drive so I save gas $ & the environment all in one shot, I get to know the neighborhood & neighbors, and I get to be outdoors.

2. New Yorkers. Beyond the rough, assertive exterior, I have found mostly that they are really quite friendly. At least Brooklynites. Many people will say, "Hello," passing by on the street. I even stopped and talked to a lady for ten minutes just while out on a walk one day. They've gotten a bum rap.

3. The streets. Each street has a personality of its own. After years living in suburbia, the personality of neighborhood streets is surprising & refreshing.

4. Church. The people at the church have been so welcoming. It is a joy to fellowship & worship with them all.

5. Our house. After 5 years of tight living quarters, I hardly know what to do with all of the space. It also feels great being in a place that I know is not just a temporary transitional place. In Illinois, we never felt compelled to do much with our apartments since we knew we would only be there for a short time. Plus, dishwasher.


Highlight of my week: Adam coming home from the EFCA district conference that he was at half of the week.