One week in...

Today is exactly a week since I arrive in New Zealand, and I am already horrible about posting blogs. I promise there will be great ones coming, I'm compiling a list of Kiwi slang translated into the American equivalents, and a list of interesting Kiwi food.

In this past week I flew into Auckland, went to Rotorua on a tour bus with heaps of American students from Australearn, had crazy adventures, and ended in Wellington where I will be living for the next 5 months.

Life. Is. Awesome.

I have the best flatmates every, one from New Zealand, one from Germany, and one from Colorado (who I don't know that well yet).

I promise I will post more in the next few days, I have alot to catch up on. I need to do my laundry, get my student ID, buy more groceries, write in my journal, buy my textbooks, put photos on Facebook, tour the campuses, find where my classes are, the list goes on and on.

I have been sick since Thursday, so I have needed to rest rest rest in order to get better. It's never fun meeting people for the first time when you are not feeling well. I feel and look like a tired zombie most of the time.

I promise I will detail everything I have been up to for the past week, just. not. tonight.

Super Bowl? No, Super EXCITED!

While watching the Super Bowl today, all I could think of was the fact that I leave for NZ two weeks from today.

LEAVE. THE. COUNTRY.

I will be on a plane ready to fly over the pacific exactly 2 weeks from today. Exactly 336 hours from right this moment.

I will be fulfilling a childhood dream when I board that airplane, and I definitely don't deserve it. In my short life I have already fulfilled some of my dreams, and completed things that are other people's childhood dreams I'm sure such as traveling to the continent of Africa, going on safari in Kenya, skydiving, graduating from high school and college, etc.

So why me? Why do I get to run off and do something that I have longed for? All I know is that I have this opportunity and I will make the absolute best of it.

The wise words of Bilbo: “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

People

I spent a few hours the other day reading this blog about crusty punks who hungout in a certain area of New York City.

http://crustypunks.blogspot.com/

I love being let into other peoples lives and minds, learning how they view the world especially people who are vastly different than me. Just take a moment to glance at some of the stories on the crusty punks blog. Those peoples lives are vastly dissimilar to mine, but at the same time I’m so drawn to what they have to say. I’m drawn to people that have a completely different life experience than me. Generally I find that no matter what someone looks like, we still struggle with similar questions in life, and we are all trying to understand our purpose in this world.

I'm interested in people's lives. I always flip to the end of a book first to read about the author. Whenever I read those college literary zines, I always flip to the little bios about each writer. In magazines I love to read about the lives of the contributors. Sometimes I’m more attentive to those little tidbits than whatever I’m reading. I guess I’m on a search for whats real. I could be in the middle of a fiction story, or poem in one of those college literary publications, but I have to flip to the little bio of the author to remind myself about the person who wrote the story. Anything that we make or create is an outpouring of who we are in some way, that’s why when I find an artist, designer, musician, etc that I like, I want to know about their life. What causes them to create, to make, to write, to sing?

I love to people watch. I don’t get bored in public places ever because there are always so many interesting things that people do. Maybe I’m so good at it because I get paid to do it, lifeguards are after all professional people watchers (and life savers).

Maybe that’s why I like to read about peoples lives, because they are all a very specific piece of our world, they fit in in some unique way. I don’t want to be all cliché and say “Oh we are all shining stars! We are unique little puzzle pieces!” *sigh* I think those phrases are true, but we need to find a new way to express it. 

How often do you talk to people who are strikingly opposite of you? When was the last time you even learned about someone who have a completely different life and belief as you? 

Expand your world.  

Obscure

I check my stats here on my blog, my small corner of the internet, often….maybe so often it’s probably vain… but anyway. It’s awesome to see that people from all around the world visit my blog randomly. I receive hits from Google searches actually, mostly attributed to the fact that I wrote about Stoney Tangewizi and a Cabinet of Curiosities. You can even Google search ‘stoney tangewizi’ and in the 2^nd page of the image search you can see a picture of me with a can of the pop! *sigh*  I can now die happy because I have received my 15 milliseconds of fame…

But this brings me to an interesting point, one that I’ve wanted to expound on for awhile…

I happen to be a dabbler, which happens to mean I feed on shallow-water vegetation with rapid,splashing movements of the bill…er wait, wrong definition. Here’s the right one:  to play and splash in or as if in water, especially with the hands; to work at anything in an irregular or superficial manner: to dabble in literature. That lovely definition comes from Dictionary.com. (One of my favorite websites, I have it bookmarked.)

Obscure and random things generally happen to be my favorite things or things that I’m interested in at least.  When I was a kid, I would go to the library, find a section and a topic and pick out all the books I could find on it, ones that mostly had lots of photos. I went through comic books, cooking, baking, architecture, sculpting, art history, interior design, rock gardens, Japanese gardens, bonsai trees, archery, cake decorating, crocheting, poetry, geography, travel, and whatever else you can imagine. I would get interested in a subject obsessively for a short period of time and read as much about the subject as I could. 

I think there should be a name for that, like, a SuperLearner or something. I would completely immerse myself into the subject and exhaust all the resources I had to learn about it. I would not only read about it, but I would actually participate some as well. I took an archery class one summer, I went to the bonsai show at the Como Conservatory, I visited all the Japanese gardens around the city of Minneapolis, I painted, crocheted, and made small rock gardens.

Ignore the 3inch tall sandals, I thought they were cool 

I know all of those things aren’t necessarily obscure and unknown, but I don’t think a normal person researches everything they can possibly find out about it. It still continues to this day, I’ve tried skydiving, kayaking, karate, step aerobics, cake decorating, speaking Spanish, surfing, fishing, traveling, sewing, bicycling, hiking, swimming, camping, writing, bowling, horseback riding, kite making, collecting, ocarina playing, bird watching, paintball, rock climbing, and so much more. If you haven’t noticed by now, I also like to write lists.

So the point to all this…It’s not to brag about how awesome I am because I like to try so many things, or to let everyone know I’m famous in my own small world because of liking a certain carbonated beverage… no the moral of the story is, I’m obsessively curious about random things, and it seems awkward and strange sometimes. Yet, variety is absolutely necessary, it’s not that I just like to explore other things, it’s that I MUST. Curiosity is necessary food to me.

That's one reason why I write this blog, because somehow there's tens and tens of you who read what I write, no matter what it's about. I can slip into looking at other people's lives and thinking they are so much more exciting than me because they do x, y, and z. So I just need to embrace who I am and my strange interests. So who knows? Maybe that person from Denmark will check my blog again and read about national kumquat appreciation day, or that stranger from Uganda will read my praises of yogurt cups.

We live in a massively large and strange, beautiful, amazing world, and I’m just contributing to the weirdness of it all.

Off to New York City

I was considering not writing today, but I thought I could squeeze in a quick post before I hop in a car and go off to New York City for the week.

Here's some things for you to explore, they are things that I check on often online, all great stuff.

This is an amazing blog that I check all the time.

I find these guys hilarious.

I find the sermons available from Mars Hill Church very helpful.

I will be sure to update you on all the wonderful things I see and do in New York!

On Writing

I've always been a writer I guess.

I am never one to freely grab at labels and apply them to myself. Some labels such as daughter, sister, Minnesotan, and Preble apply to me, I was born with them. But some are what you make of yourself: student, lifeguard, Christian, or friend. I've had labels attached to me by others, and politely declined them. At what point do I really become an artist, designer, writer, poet, etc?

My favorite things, including one of my past journals

Anyway, I've been writing my whole life. I am a very visual person, but at the same time I think in  words. Often when I see something I will construct a perfect way to describe it, in a sentence or two. I've been a chronic journaler since I was 12, but a few scrawled entries date back to 7 and 8 years old. Capturing memories has always been my hope. Journaling, composing poetry/prose, essays on random subjects, or just silly stories about teddy bears and trees have all been produced at one time or another. Not for other people, but for myself. Often times it doesn't even feel like a choice, I am compelled. I must write, and commit word to paper. 

Okay, enough musing... but my actual point for writing today was to share some of my writing with you. Here and there I write poetry (more like prose), I consistently write in my journal, and also find various other outlets (such as this blog). While tinkering around with writing, I realized what a rich resource my childhood is. I tend to write simple memories from my childhood when I can't find anything else to write. My childhood is such a source of inspiration. In my tween years I wrote terrible 'poetry', ugh. But many things I jotted down about my childhood became seeds to return to and cultivated into a more complete thought. At my previous school I took a reading poetry class, and a writing poetry class. I always gravitated toward writing prose about my childhood. It’s interesting that my writing style tends to be more whimsical than anything else. I just try to capture a memory, sum up a moment. Basically it’s those moments that are so pivotal when you are a kid. The moment when you realized gravity existed, or realized how bad you were, or jealous you could get. The moments where you learned that you and others were not invincible...

Here's one of my favorites:

The Day I Learned How to Fly

The day I learned how to fly

I first discovered gravity

Tiny white fingers gripping each metal step

I ascended to the top of a mountain

Pulling my weight up to the summit

Though no more than four feet high

On top of that swing set slide

I could reach out and touch the clouds

I surveyed the land below, my backyard, prepared to jump

My parachute was harnessed and ready

Little tennis-shoed feet lifted off the metal

Leaping into the unknown

Unexpected, hands broke my fall in the grass

The halting flight ended in a crinkle of plastic

I didn’t fly! My trusty parachute!

Glancing at my shoulders I inspected the straps

The thin plastic bag was in working order

Rather than risk bruised knees a second time

I took flight with my feet firmly on the ground

The grass cushioning my steps as I took off running

The day I learned how to fly

I first discovered gravity

Penny Walks

As I write this, snow is swirling outside, yet again covering everything in sight. I meant to write this a few days ago because I think it would have been more timely, but no matter... 

The recent thaw brought to mind penny walks, an important part of my childhood. I have come to the realization that I actually AM quite weird. Yes, I know, you're thinking it's about time that I have understood this...but more than that, my childhood was quite abnormal in the best way possible. I used to think I was rather 'normal' up until very recently, but when you start talking about 'normal' things that you did when you were a child and people stare at you like you're from another planet...well then you know something is up. Apparently I did many strange and abnormal things as a child. Penny walks being one of them.

A typical street in Minneapolis

I think of penny walks and realize that they are very specific to my upbringing. Growing up in the city in Minnesota, where there's lots of snow, where people actually walk outside in the winter, and where people carry spare change for the bus all play a part in penny walks. When I was young, my mother would try many different things to get me out of doors. I would go on walks at the nature center with my siblings, and play outside in the snow all the time, but penny walks originally were another ploy to get us in the fresh air in late winter when the snow is just starting to melt. 

During the winter, the greedy claws of snowbanks will snatch away anything you drop in them, spare change included and when the weather finally warms up they are forced to release their icy grip on the treasures held within. And that's where penny walks come in. I would go on walks with my mom, and my siblings  and we would have a competition to see how much spare change we could find. At the end of our jaunt, whoever had the most money would gain bragging rights until the next time we ventured out. 

The bent and broken street pennies

We found more than just pennies, such as dimes, nickels, and the ever sought after quarters. Once I found a $20 winning already scratched off lottery ticket, and at another time a $20 bill frozen in the ice. Through all those walks over the years my eyes have been keenly trained to spot the small metal disks. At one point I even gained the nickname of Eagle Eyes, because I could spot a penny like a bird of prey finds a mouse. As time went on I would jump at the chance to go on a penny walk, and it ended up usually only being my mom and I walking. 

We would swing by penny street, not it's actual name but the one it gained because you were always guaranteed to find some spare change on it. My mother and I probably looked quite strange as we walked placidly down the sidewalk, only to suddenly burst into screams of "PENNY PENNY!!" and "I SAW IT FIRST" while pointed madly at a spot in the road or on the sidewalk, the rule being whoever sees it first gets it. At other times we would suddenly lunge towards the pavement to snatch up the copper disks. The curb was also a coveted position because it gave you a perfect view of the street and the sidewalk, I would walk along it like a balancing gymnast ready to leap off at a penny's notice. We always tried to walk side by side, because whoever was in front had an unfair advantage, and if someone started walking ahead the other would walk even faster, and soon we would be sprinting and sweeping our gaze back and forth rapidly searching.

Being away here at college I've been able to experience the wonders of penny walks. I haven't been counting....but I think I've found 37 cents this thaw. My friends laugh at me as I suddenly stop in mid stride to pick up a penny, nickel, or dime on the pavement, but I don't think they understand that...

...To this day I can't pass a humble penny on the sidewalk. 

Bus Surfing

Rain or shine, snow piled deep or shallow, as a student at the University of Minnesota I spend much of my time going to and from classes on the Campus Connector. I enjoy my time on the bus, letting my mind wander, people watching, or listening to strangers conversations. Lately though, I've needed something new to occupy myself on the bus. Since I can't read my homework, and I don't always like to have headphones stuffed into my ears to shut myself off from the sounds of the world, I've invented a new sport. 

The ever faithful Campus Connector

That's right, I've created the brand new sport! Bus Surfing! Now what you need for this is a bus, and just yourself, no surfboard needed. A backpack is optional, which I will explain later. Rather then just sit or stand back and endure a simple bus ride, I have invented a way to make every bus ride more exciting and interactive than ever before.

This past summer I went to Hawaii and tried surfing for the first time ever. I fell in love with it. Alas I live in Minnesota, a land locked state, with plenty of bodies of water (our lovely lakes), but not any ocean. So in order to bring the feeling of Hawaii to the snow covered Midwest, Bus Surfing was born. It's rather simple really...

The correct Bus Surfing stance

In order to bus surf, you have to be standing up, which isn't a problem if you ride the bus at the bus times of the day. Position your feet and body as you would if you were on a surfboard, and make the necessary adjustments when packed like sardines with all your fellow college students. Normally when one rides the bus, you hold onto the poles to keep yourself from toppling onto the other riders, but with bus surfing the goal is to keep your balance without any support. When the bus moves keep your balance and imagine that you are riding the thundering waves in Hawaii. This sport is guaranteed not only to help you pass the time on your commute, but make it fun as well.

There are a few things you can do to improve your Bus Surfing skill such as ride the bus during the winter. The added snow on the road makes for a bumpier ride, and thus a more challenging bus surf ride. For added difficulty you may also carry a backpack full of 5lb textbooks. Bonus points for a laptop, your lunch for the day, and any large homework projects. To continue to improve your bus surfing skills, add additional textbook, bricks, or hand weights as needed.

Happy Bus Surfing!

Places I want to go

It's about the time in the semester when I wish that I was elsewhere, roaming freely and exploring new territory. I often dream of traveling to many places as I'm stuck in my desk chair reading a 65 page chapter on means of egress for building code...loads of fun.

I long for wide open spaces, and a realm of possibilities. I want to learn and change. Exploration and adventure is so dynamic, travel is an ever changing art. I dream of going many places, and awhile back I made a list of all the places I must go to in my life, which amounted to 25 countries. My list in no particular order:

New Zealand,   England/Scotland,  Ireland,  Iceland,  Japan,  China,  Australia,  Czech Republic,  South Africa,  Greece,   Italy,   India,   Turkey,   Egypt,  France,  Peru,  Brazil,  Russia,  Spain,  Netherlands,  Tanzania,  Uganda,  Germany,  Israel

And those are only the places I must go to, not the places I would just like to go to. The reasons for going to some of the countries are strong, some not so much. In the end, I just long for new territory and places I've never been before, so that I can come back to my home and see everything is a whole new way...

We shall not cease

from exploration 

And the end of all

our exploring 

Will be to arrive

where we started 

And know the place

for the first time.

~T. S. Eliot

A Year Of...

The semester has actually started, and this is the point in the year where I think (after only 2 blog posts) “Oooooh man….what can I really say for a whole year?” This is also the point when I say to myself, after reading over the syllabi for my classes, “How will I EVER survive this semester?”

My sister Elisabeth likes to ‘theme’ years. She looks ahead at the days in front of her and says: “This will be a year of _____” I often look at a year and say it will be a year of….lots-o-stuff. There’s lots-o-stuff I know that’s going to happen, and lots-o-stuff I don’t. So I was challenged by my sis to look at this year and decide what I want to focus on, which I decided will be a year of Purpose. (noun - the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc, verb - to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself)

Side note: I love definitions of words, as you can see by the title of my blog. I look up words in the dictionary all the time. It shows true flavor and depth, like when you try a food and there are different flavor notes that develop as you taste it? Well that's how word definitions are for me...and I think I just revealed how epic of a nerd I am, but I think you would have found out eventually anyway...

A year of purpose, what does that look like? In all honesty I'm not 100% sure, what I do know is that choices and possibilities are not the problem, it’s the decision making and the choosing. There are many things that I would love to do, but what I need is focus.

The thing that caused me to think along this wavelength to begin with was a sermon from Mark Driscoll here. View to specific section that impacted me, about 10 minutes and totally worth listening to, here. I don't want to be simply cause oriented, and find a purpose in just something. I already have a purpose and that is first and foremost to serve Jesus Christ, a cause comes later. (If you are reading this and you don't believe in Jesus and are perplexed as to why I would want to follow and serve some dude named Jesus, please ask me and I will tell you.) I think Matthew 22:37-39 outlines exactly that point: Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

#1. Love God. #2. Love people. I admit that I have gotten this mixed up before and have wanted to find a purpose when I already have one. So my year of purpose will be in #1 and #2, and in answering and acting on some questions: How can I love Jesus, and how can I love and serve people? How can I serve students at the University of Minnesota? What should I spend my time investing in, and who should I spend my time with? Where do I fit in? How can I use my skills, knowledge, and talents for the benefit of others?