Hey...
After much effort, consultation with mentors (all under the age of 16), and nagging by Alex, I learned to add pictures to the blog. Thanks to all who helped. I hope it gives proper vision to the words.
Big news here is the addition to the school family born yesterday. Baby girl.
Imagine photo here
Big excitement in the elementary school as her older sibs are there.
We are trying to plan a short out of town trip this weekend to the medieval town of Obidos and the old fishing village of Nazare (place that Da Gama left on his epic voyage around Africa). Our plans keep getting interupted by Nina's social schedule. She is in high demand as one would expect from such a wonderful person. We sometimes miss her a lot. Last week end, she left for school Friday AM and came home late Saturday night before leaving again most of Sunday. Portent of the future, I guess. Nice to see her in class though.
Mike
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday Sept. 28
Hello, all
Friday night was a different experience. Nancy and the girls went to a baby shower with a bunch of other like-gender types (Americans mostly) in a town about 20 miles from here. I dropped them off and joined the other males from age 1+ to... well, me at the beach. There were about 20 of us. Played soccer in the sand, took a dip in beautiful waves, and found a roadside wagon selling fresh baked (in a wood fired oven) bread stuffed with various cheeses and meats (locally called pao com Chouriço) to take care of our hunger. It was a beautiful night.
Saturday we played tourist at the waterfront monuments. The Tower of Belem used to be a fort in the middle of the river. It is now on the shore as they filled in the north side of the river. It predates the 1755 earthquake. The Monument to the Discoveries was first built as a temporary site by the dictator Salazar in the 30's or 40's and then replaced with this permanent one in the 1960's. It is impressive and attractive in the special setting it enjoys.
Friday night was a different experience. Nancy and the girls went to a baby shower with a bunch of other like-gender types (Americans mostly) in a town about 20 miles from here. I dropped them off and joined the other males from age 1+ to... well, me at the beach. There were about 20 of us. Played soccer in the sand, took a dip in beautiful waves, and found a roadside wagon selling fresh baked (in a wood fired oven) bread stuffed with various cheeses and meats (locally called pao com Chouriço) to take care of our hunger. It was a beautiful night.
Saturday we played tourist at the waterfront monuments. The Tower of Belem used to be a fort in the middle of the river. It is now on the shore as they filled in the north side of the river. It predates the 1755 earthquake. The Monument to the Discoveries was first built as a temporary site by the dictator Salazar in the 30's or 40's and then replaced with this permanent one in the 1960's. It is impressive and attractive in the special setting it enjoys.
About a block away is a early Renaissance Cathedral (also an earthquake survivor) and attached monastery/convent. Vasco Da Gama's burial site as well as the final resting place of kings and queens.
Nearby is the site of the invention of a famous local delicacy... a kind of custard pastry... called Pasteis de Belem. The coffee house type place has been in business since 1837 at this site. It has has many smallish rooms as it has expanded over the years and taken over nearby buildings. It would be a great +place to play "paint ball" or hide and seek. Hot out of the oven, sprinkled with cinnamon and/or powered sugar and washed down with your favorite coffee/chocolate drink, it is great. Often imitated (all over the place) but never duplicated, it is said that only the owner and 2 trusted employees actually know the recipe. Sadly, there is a Starbucks 2 doors down and a McDonald´s across the street. I think it will outlast both...
Yesterday (Sunday) after church, we went to the "largest mall in Europe" for lunch and joined hundreds of others wasting their time, looking at stuff in stores. It was fun though and we didn´t get lost (much) at all getting there and not at all getting back home.
We are constantly reminded of contrasts here. Old (very) and new, side by side. Example of new. Underground parking garages at malls have a small green or red light over each parking slot indicating occupancy. The red is automatically activated when a car fills it up. Easy to spot open spaces from a distance, so that you can join the race to get there first. Some other things, like toilet paper that is a mixture of wood fiber and crepe paper, are not so "up to date".
Got my first hair cut today. (He pre-washed it, took 30 minutes "styling" it, and washed it again before my blow dry) 10 euros well spent and I feel beautiful...
Mike
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday Sept 23, 2009
Hump day---
What a great climate/weather pattern we are in here. Cool nights and sunny warm days. Our car has been in the shop with a muffler issue as a result of a high object in the road, so I have been walking home in the AM to do my household chores like hang the laundry or, like today, prepare dinner by turning on the crockpot.
It takes about 6 minutes to walk one way with about 2 more used to catch my breath and look at the view. Of the 6 minutes 4.5 are used going up a steep hill. About 400 yds of up hill closely akin to 40 stories of steps... I will be in shape soon if I don't get the car back. Nothing like starting class with a little sweat already worked up... here I go
M
What a great climate/weather pattern we are in here. Cool nights and sunny warm days. Our car has been in the shop with a muffler issue as a result of a high object in the road, so I have been walking home in the AM to do my household chores like hang the laundry or, like today, prepare dinner by turning on the crockpot.
It takes about 6 minutes to walk one way with about 2 more used to catch my breath and look at the view. Of the 6 minutes 4.5 are used going up a steep hill. About 400 yds of up hill closely akin to 40 stories of steps... I will be in shape soon if I don't get the car back. Nothing like starting class with a little sweat already worked up... here I go
M
Monday, September 21, 2009
September 21, 2009
I have come to the conclusion that we are having way too much fun on the weekends. That makes it hard to go back to work on Monday mornings.
On Saturday we took the metro and went to old downtown Lisboa...it is very old and very European...lots of pastry shops and sidewalk cafes. Lots of foot traffic...they actually have designated walking streets and large piazzas where no cars are allowed...that is quite welcome since we often feel we are risking life and limb when we walk on the regular streets....so narrow with cars dodging here and there. The day started off cloudy but half way into our venture the sun was out again. As a result half our pictures for the day show gray skies and half show blue.
Before we got to the downtown area, Mike gave us a lesson on some Portugese history...one of the many advantages to being married to him...one of the most interesting things he told us was about the tragic events of 1755...one Sunday morning the great city of Lisbon was hit by a massive earth quake. The quake caused fierce fires to break out all across the city. Only minutes later the city was hit by a devastating tidal wave that finished things off. Thousands were killed and all but one small part of the city was destroyed. I can't help but think the people must have thought this was the end of the world!
Since most of the city was destroyed almost all the buildings we see now were built after 1755 in grand European style... Think Paris on a shoe string as much wealth along with the lives was lost that fateful day.
One interesting site is the elevator, designed by a student of Eiffel, who transports people from the lower part of the city to the upper part. Another is the partially finished cathedral which was not finished because the people thought God was displeased with their effort and sent the earthquake as a warning.
As we wandered along the streets, we came to a bazaar where artisans were displaying their wears...Mike bought me a lovely necklace for only 10 euros...he said it does not really seem like my style...I told him it is my new Portugese look.
Sidewalk entertainers, tourists of all origins, cafes, shops, street vendors, and smells of strong coffee vied for our attention. We will definitely do it again and soon...
On Saturday we took the metro and went to old downtown Lisboa...it is very old and very European...lots of pastry shops and sidewalk cafes. Lots of foot traffic...they actually have designated walking streets and large piazzas where no cars are allowed...that is quite welcome since we often feel we are risking life and limb when we walk on the regular streets....so narrow with cars dodging here and there. The day started off cloudy but half way into our venture the sun was out again. As a result half our pictures for the day show gray skies and half show blue.
Before we got to the downtown area, Mike gave us a lesson on some Portugese history...one of the many advantages to being married to him...one of the most interesting things he told us was about the tragic events of 1755...one Sunday morning the great city of Lisbon was hit by a massive earth quake. The quake caused fierce fires to break out all across the city. Only minutes later the city was hit by a devastating tidal wave that finished things off. Thousands were killed and all but one small part of the city was destroyed. I can't help but think the people must have thought this was the end of the world!
Since most of the city was destroyed almost all the buildings we see now were built after 1755 in grand European style... Think Paris on a shoe string as much wealth along with the lives was lost that fateful day.
One interesting site is the elevator, designed by a student of Eiffel, who transports people from the lower part of the city to the upper part. Another is the partially finished cathedral which was not finished because the people thought God was displeased with their effort and sent the earthquake as a warning.
As we wandered along the streets, we came to a bazaar where artisans were displaying their wears...Mike bought me a lovely necklace for only 10 euros...he said it does not really seem like my style...I told him it is my new Portugese look.
Sidewalk entertainers, tourists of all origins, cafes, shops, street vendors, and smells of strong coffee vied for our attention. We will definitely do it again and soon...
Friday, September 18, 2009
September 18, 2009
Yeah...it is Friday of the second week of teaching! And, can you believe this, I have my lessons plans all done for the coming week. This could make for a relaxing weekend. Seriously, it may sound like I am glad it is Friday...and, well, I am...but that does not mean I am not enjoying my class. They are sweet kids and hard workers. I love starting the day out teaching a class on Bible and having a short prayer time...very different from when I taught in the public schools.
Along with first and second grade I am teaching art to my class and to the 3-6 graders. I am also teaching...now those of you who know me well will gasp at this...music...to my class. I know that is a bit scary but as I was doing it today I found I was having fun. God does work in mysterious ways. You have to remember I am teaching 6,7 and 8 year olds so they don't know a lot about music...thankfully for their music teacher.
Enough about school. Today I woke up at 5:30, thought it was 6:30...my usual time of arising on school days...and did not discover the mistake until after I had had my coffee...so of course there was no chance of getting back into bed and falling asleep. I was bummed about how tired I would be all day until I realized that since my clock was wrong this morning it was also wrong when I went to bed last night...so I got to bed an hour earlier than I thought I did. I felt much better after this realization. Isn't it funny how our minds work...or at least my mind.
Anyway, it was raining this morning. This doesn't happen often but when it does it can affect more than ones walk or ride to school...since we have to hang out all of our laundry on the clothes line we have discovered it does not dry in the rain...we have to plan when we do laundry around the weather. Luckily by midmorning today the rain had cleared and the sun was out so Mike went home before his first class (which is at 11 AM) and hung out the clothes I had thrown into the washer before we left for school. The really cool thing we have discovered about hanging clothes on the line is...you never need to use a loofa on your skin ...your stiffly dried clothes will do all the exfoliating you'll ever need!
Tonight we plan to go to a Chinese Restaurant (I never could spell that word) that has been highly recommended to us. We are looking forward to this experience in Portugal. One thing we have found with the restaurants here is you pay for everything....rolls, butter, pickles, etc. Anything that is on your table will be an extra charge if you eat it...so beware.
Tomorrow, if the weather is good we are going on a tour of old Lisboa (Lisbon). We have heard the tour is filled with lots of interesting history facts and the viewing of historical sights.
All in all, after almost a month (in four days) of life in Portugal we are settling in. Nina is starting to think of herself as a highschooler instead of a middleschooler...that is helping her confidence. I think she is realizing she actually can do 9th and 10th grade work...with more effort perhaps than she has had to put into school in the past...but she is learning a lot. Of course her favorite teacher is...Mr. Dubois...at least that is what she tells him at home. Kati is working on getting organized...we invested in a folder for each subject after she forgot her homework or thought she lost it three nights in a row...she found it the next day tucked away under something else. It is actually pretty cool to be going to school each morning together. Some days we go home at different times since the girls are taking Portugese after school a couple of days a week and Nina has a Bible study with the high school girls on another day. Soon I will be starting the women's Bible study one day every other week.
One more funny "slant" story before I sign off. Yesterday as we got home from school our neighbor was unloading groceries and dropped a rather large melon of some sort onto the road...the melon began to roll, faster and faster, and when it came to the intersection it actually turned the corner and rolled down another hill...finally coming to rest in many pieces in the middle of a downward slanting street after bouncing off a curb. down the block...it was a funny sight to see and no one even attempted to chase after it. They instinctively knew that once that melon escaped the confines of the bag it was in...it was gone forever!
Bye for now.
Nancy
Along with first and second grade I am teaching art to my class and to the 3-6 graders. I am also teaching...now those of you who know me well will gasp at this...music...to my class. I know that is a bit scary but as I was doing it today I found I was having fun. God does work in mysterious ways. You have to remember I am teaching 6,7 and 8 year olds so they don't know a lot about music...thankfully for their music teacher.
Enough about school. Today I woke up at 5:30, thought it was 6:30...my usual time of arising on school days...and did not discover the mistake until after I had had my coffee...so of course there was no chance of getting back into bed and falling asleep. I was bummed about how tired I would be all day until I realized that since my clock was wrong this morning it was also wrong when I went to bed last night...so I got to bed an hour earlier than I thought I did. I felt much better after this realization. Isn't it funny how our minds work...or at least my mind.
Anyway, it was raining this morning. This doesn't happen often but when it does it can affect more than ones walk or ride to school...since we have to hang out all of our laundry on the clothes line we have discovered it does not dry in the rain...we have to plan when we do laundry around the weather. Luckily by midmorning today the rain had cleared and the sun was out so Mike went home before his first class (which is at 11 AM) and hung out the clothes I had thrown into the washer before we left for school. The really cool thing we have discovered about hanging clothes on the line is...you never need to use a loofa on your skin ...your stiffly dried clothes will do all the exfoliating you'll ever need!
Tonight we plan to go to a Chinese Restaurant (I never could spell that word) that has been highly recommended to us. We are looking forward to this experience in Portugal. One thing we have found with the restaurants here is you pay for everything....rolls, butter, pickles, etc. Anything that is on your table will be an extra charge if you eat it...so beware.
Tomorrow, if the weather is good we are going on a tour of old Lisboa (Lisbon). We have heard the tour is filled with lots of interesting history facts and the viewing of historical sights.
All in all, after almost a month (in four days) of life in Portugal we are settling in. Nina is starting to think of herself as a highschooler instead of a middleschooler...that is helping her confidence. I think she is realizing she actually can do 9th and 10th grade work...with more effort perhaps than she has had to put into school in the past...but she is learning a lot. Of course her favorite teacher is...Mr. Dubois...at least that is what she tells him at home. Kati is working on getting organized...we invested in a folder for each subject after she forgot her homework or thought she lost it three nights in a row...she found it the next day tucked away under something else. It is actually pretty cool to be going to school each morning together. Some days we go home at different times since the girls are taking Portugese after school a couple of days a week and Nina has a Bible study with the high school girls on another day. Soon I will be starting the women's Bible study one day every other week.
One more funny "slant" story before I sign off. Yesterday as we got home from school our neighbor was unloading groceries and dropped a rather large melon of some sort onto the road...the melon began to roll, faster and faster, and when it came to the intersection it actually turned the corner and rolled down another hill...finally coming to rest in many pieces in the middle of a downward slanting street after bouncing off a curb. down the block...it was a funny sight to see and no one even attempted to chase after it. They instinctively knew that once that melon escaped the confines of the bag it was in...it was gone forever!
Bye for now.
Nancy
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
09-15-09
Tuesday already...
Another interesting thing about our area is the large number of dogs. Many of the loud barking watchdog variety on chains or behind walls, but also a number free roamers. No negative experiences yet (although some close calls when one fails to watch your steps carefully, if you know what I mean). The interesting thing about the roamers is that they seem to be missing the gene that controls the "get out of the street when a car comes" reflex inherent in most living critters. They sleep in the street, often in the middle of intersections, sit in the street, eat in the street, have meetings with several of their ilk in the street, etc. They do go to the sidewalks (at least near our house) to do their "business", but are very slow responders to the menace of auto tires or honking horns. Haven´t hit one yet but nearly did last night. Gray dog on a gray street at dusk... It survived... probably to breed more with the missing gene...
M
Another interesting thing about our area is the large number of dogs. Many of the loud barking watchdog variety on chains or behind walls, but also a number free roamers. No negative experiences yet (although some close calls when one fails to watch your steps carefully, if you know what I mean). The interesting thing about the roamers is that they seem to be missing the gene that controls the "get out of the street when a car comes" reflex inherent in most living critters. They sleep in the street, often in the middle of intersections, sit in the street, eat in the street, have meetings with several of their ilk in the street, etc. They do go to the sidewalks (at least near our house) to do their "business", but are very slow responders to the menace of auto tires or honking horns. Haven´t hit one yet but nearly did last night. Gray dog on a gray street at dusk... It survived... probably to breed more with the missing gene...
M
Sunday, September 13, 2009
9-13-09
Finally Saturday…
Nancy did school work all morning and I prepped for PE by walking up and down a hill with the GPS marking off 1.5 km for a fitness test.
This afternoon I forced them all into the car and we headed for the beach… Caparica.
We visited there 22 years ago and Mike Jr. and Lisa, sorry to say, were introduced to “nature worship”. No such untoward events today. Today it was beautiful. 10+ miles of sandy white beach and 3 foot waves of clean cool (very cool) water rolling in. Kati and I had a ball. Nina is a great swimmer but being from IL thinks that water you swim in has to have lots of chlorine and a cement bottom. She finally joined us but I had the most fun. Nancy took pictures and looked cute on the beach. She doesn’t do cool water.
I really feel rejuvenated and I think I can do another school week…
M
Nancy did school work all morning and I prepped for PE by walking up and down a hill with the GPS marking off 1.5 km for a fitness test.
This afternoon I forced them all into the car and we headed for the beach… Caparica.
We visited there 22 years ago and Mike Jr. and Lisa, sorry to say, were introduced to “nature worship”. No such untoward events today. Today it was beautiful. 10+ miles of sandy white beach and 3 foot waves of clean cool (very cool) water rolling in. Kati and I had a ball. Nina is a great swimmer but being from IL thinks that water you swim in has to have lots of chlorine and a cement bottom. She finally joined us but I had the most fun. Nancy took pictures and looked cute on the beach. She doesn’t do cool water.
I really feel rejuvenated and I think I can do another school week…
M
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