Twilight, Cracker Barrel, Croakies & Koozies...

Howdy Y'all!  (hehehe...I can't resist)

Another post comin' atcha from HOTlanta (which, ironically is unfortunately not very hot today.  It's cloudy and 62 and kinda reminds me of the Oregon coast, where I grew up. Hopin' that changes soon.....)

But, I digress.  Back to the happenings of this weekend. I had a really fun weekend jam packed full of activities.  Friday night, my Aunt hosted a WomenCraft party, where I was able to talk about my trip and sell WomenCraft products.  Even though speaking in public about myself is one of my top 5 most hated things to do, I think it went over well.  Talking about my experience in Tanzania made me realize how much I've really learned from the whole experience, and I was happy that I could squash some misconceptions people had about Africa.  Lots of questions were asked and products bought, so I felt like it was a very successful event! Thanks Auntie!

Then, later that night my cousin Megan & I went to Athens, Georgia (just over an hour's drive South of Sugarhill, where I'm currently living).  This was my not my first, but rather second trip to Athens.  According to this website, Athens is home to R.E.M. & the B52's, and is the #1 college music scene in America: http://www.visitathensga.com/

However...I haven't ever seen live music during my time there.  What I can attest to is that it is the home of the University of Georgia, and has also been #1 on the list of "top party school's in the country" many years running.  So...you can imagine the scene.  A really hip, funky town with a bunch of college kids. And this past weekend marked the close of the school year and Twilight, which made it extra fun.  Twilight is a festival where there are continuous bike races rallying through the center of downtown all day long, with beer tents and kegs lining the streets at night.  Reminded me so much of home/Oregon! Here's more about Twilight, if you're interested: http://www.athenstwilight.com/

And during my weekend in Athens, I started to soak in and recognize more differences between the South & the North. For starters, I have three things listed here:

#1: Koozies & Croakies:  If you're from Oregon, most likely when you hear those two words you will say "huh?"   I know...I hadn't heard them either before I came to the South.  Koozies & Croakies are fashionable accessories: one for your beer, and one for your sunglasses.  In my experience, they have been things that I've only seen rolling around in my parents kitchen drawers that we used to use when we went camping during my childhood, and only then.  If you used these in the NorthWest today, during a regular get together, it would be obvious that you were trying to be alternative/humerous, and stick out from the norm.  Here, they're cool, and they are in style.  And everybody uses them. I might just start rockin' 'em when I get home...

#2: Restaurant Menus: Yeah, I can't get over the things that I see regularly on a food menu here that we rarely see on menus in the NorthWest.  For example, I went to the popular chain restaurant in Georgia this weekend called Cracker Barrel...and the menu wasn't the only thing new & different to me.  How to describe it? I'd say you could mix the restaurant IHOP with the Ripley's Believe It or Not gift shop, and put them in the same room and you'd be good to go.  It's every grandma's dream.  A store mixed with useless trinkets and loads of canned goods and candy, along with a restaurant menu that I couldn't stop giggling at.  As their tagline states, "Visit Cracker Barrel Restaurant & Old Country Store, where pleasing people with our delicious homestyle cooking & gracious service defines our country spirit".  I wanted to buy one of their many items with the American flag on it, but the saying and image I loved the most I could only find on a dish rag and not on a t-shirt...so I had to pass for the time being.  Here's their website, if you would like to shop yourself: http://www.crackerbarrel.com/  

Cracker Barrel has two menus, one for breakfast & one for lunch/dinner.  Since we arrived at the restaurant at 3pm, I took a gander at both.  The food items I found on them that were not typical finds in the NorthWest included grits (a staple here, which I actually really like), hashbrown casserole, fried apples, fried chicken livers and spicy farm raised catfish. But...my personal favorite was their new "Eggs-In-The-Basket".  It's really too amazing to put into words, so I've found an image to share with you folks:

Yep, that's right!  Eggs IN the toast!  (or in their basket, I suppose).  Why didn't I think of that?  Genius.  And what's even better is those two round center slices cut out of toast that they include on the side.  A real treat. Dip 'em in jam and you're good to go! Someone at our table did order this, and it looks exactly like how its pictured here.  I myself opted for the Old Timer's Breakfast, which was equally appetizing to the eyes and mouth.

#3: Droppin' the "G":  If you haven't noticed, even MY writing has changed.  All the time here, people drop the "G" on the end of words.  For example: "I was headin' to the store for some bakin' supplies when the parkin' attendant stopped me".  This is true not only for spoken word, but also for hand written signs and menus.  Hearing it verbally was something that I expected, but to have it actually written down in formal settings makes me giggle.  It's not considered to be improper English, but rather just the "norm".  If you decide to take a look at the Cracker Barrel menu through the website I listed above, you will see exactly what I mean.

Well...that's all for now!  As I come across more differences I will possibly edit this blog post to include them, so keep checkin' back.  Y'all have a great week, and I'll be postin' again real soon!

Dad's Visit to Africa, Part 1: Ngara, Tanzania

This story is...2 months overdue or so...but better late than never, right? I'm inspired to write today, so I hope you're inspired to read!  This is the first part of my story about my dad's visit to Africa.  Part 1 will take place in Ngara - where I lived for 5 months.  Part 2 will be about our time in Rwanda, where we went on safari and took in the big city life.  Here....we....go.....

I am now back in the states, but as you all know from my blog, my dad came to visit me in Africa on February 1st.  For your first time off the continent of North America, that's a pretty big leap to head to rural Africa.  The average person would more likely choose a cruise to Europe or something like that to ease themselves into international travel.  But, not my dad.  He just so happened to have a daughter who wanted to travel to one of the most remote areas of the world, and he was determined to share the experience with her.

Edson (my co-worker and our company driver), Hilary (my co-everything) and I made the early trek from Ngara, Tanzania to Kigali, Rwanda that morning to pick my dad up from the airport.  The first part of our drive was treacherous, to say the least. The massive rainfall had made our "shortcut" road very sketchy, and we swerved and slid in the mud for a good hour before we hit pavement.  At least 5 times during that part of the drive, I said to myself in one way or another "ok...so when the jeep tips over to the left and we crash, I'm gonna pull myself over towards the driver side of the vehicle by grasping the edge of the seat like so....."  Thanks to the quality of the jeep and the incredible talent of our driver Edson, we made it safely to the border and were on our way to the big city.

It being my fifth month in Tanzania, I knew my company well, and knew Edson to be reliably late.  So...I told him that my dad's flight was arriving an hour earlier than it really was...and we were actually early to the airport!  The three of us sat in the lounge area, at Bourbon Cafe, and enjoyed gourmet coffees.  After our 4+ hour trip to Kigali, and a caffeine boost, we were all feeling a bit antsy.  Hilary excused herself to the bathroom, while Edson decided to head outside to chat with some friends.  I looked at the clock on my cell phone after a minute or so.  15 minutes til dad's arrival.  Waiting, waiting, waiting.  I was used to that.  But then, I looked up, and to my surprise saw him walking through the arrival gates.  I was watching Hilary & Edson's stuff at the booth we were posted at, and paused for a minute not knowing if I should move or not.  "Dad!" I shouted.  He turned and saw me, and as soon as I saw his face emotions overcame me.  I rushed out of the booth and ran into his arms, both of us bursting into tears.  I had been so isolated for so long that it felt wonderful not only seeing someone new and familiar, but also someone who had known me for my whole life and knew who I really was, inside and out.

Soon after our tearful embrace, we reunited with my co-workers and were on our way back to Ngara.  We had to make it back to the border before it closed.  We arrived back at the WomenCraft headquarters late, and my dad was completely exhausted after his 48 hour journey.  I got him acquainted with the house, and we all went to sleep.

The next five days were jam packed with activities. We headed to the orphanage for street boys for him to watch me teach my hip hop class and for him to make balloon animals for the boys.  We spent time hiking in the hills behind my home.  And...dad visited the artisan groups with us to give vision exams to the women.  Well...technically he didn't do it.  We brought along a local optometrist assistant and she administered the exams while dad gave her advice.

One of my favorite parts about my dad's visit was seeing my experience through his eyes.  He was in awe and surprised by things that I had considered normal at that point.  He took lots of photos of my normal day to day activities that weren't typical by US standards, but I considered just to be a part of my lifestyle.  These photos for the most part were taken by Shannon (another co-worker of mine) or my dad, although a few are mine.  Enjoy seeing my journey through the eyes of others...

Boys at the Nazerete Orphanage admiring dad, and his fancy toys: sunglasses & camera.

Me teaching the baby freeze.  This was the boys' favorite move, and they all got it so quickly!

Teaching choreography.  Dirty shirt and face from rolling around on the ground.

Sister Nicole announcing to the boys that this is my dad.

Teaching the boys how to make balloon animals...

En garde!  A sword.

Happy participants.  Probably was their first time ever seeing a balloon...

Eye exams at our first group, Gichacha.  The optometrist assistant is giving the exam, while dad assists.

Eye exams for the first time ever....

for women who really need it...

My dad is a 3rd generation optometrist, and he said that these lenses they used for exams in Tanzania were like something his grandfather used many, many years ago...

Checking vision improvement with the use of the WomenCraft baskets.

Dad noticed these glasses were crooked on her face, so he adjusted them so she could be more comfortable.

As you can see, she was very pleased with her improved sight.  She said something in Swahili, and Pastor (my co-worker) turned to my dad and translated what she said.  "She said that she is so happy she can see her weaving clearly now, that she's skipping lunch today so she can continue working".  Tears welled up in my dad's eyes and all he could do was nod, and then walk away for a few minutes to gain composure.  He'd been administering eye exams for 30+ years  in the states, but he could really see the big impact he made in every artisan's life here in Ngara...

In places where artisans met and didn't have shelter, I held the eye exam chart.  Dad trained Hilary & Pastor (the social impact team) on how to administer exams, so that they could continue after he left and distribute glasses as necessary...

Seeing the children as we toured from village to village was always one of my favorite parts.  Pastor was adored by all the kids.

This was our last stop of the day on Route Week, and while the artisan group was not there, this little boy was.  He was dancing outside his house and my dad took a video of him & I dancing together.  Here he is watching himself, without question for the first time on film.  He couldn't stop dancing and smiling...and neither could dad.

This is what our walk into town (Ngara) looked like.  About 5 km from Murgwanza, where I lived.

Buying fruit & veggies at the local market in Ngara.  We did this several times a week.  Hilary is most likely swatting a fly away from her face...

Besides walking on foot, our other option for transportation was to hail a taxi...or otherwise known as a motorcycle to us.  "Piki piki" is what they say in Tanzania.  My dad loved taking the motorcycles home.  Here, my motorcycle driver is giving me change.  The typical cost for a ride from town to Murgwanza is 1500 shillings, or approx. $1 USD.

Groups of kids often follow you around, curious to see a white person in their neck of the woods.

Hiking in the hills behind our house

Children do a lot of hard labor, and carrying sticks to make fires is one of the many tasks they perform.  These kids followed us up to the house and....

...had the special treat of having balloon animals made for them.  It was rather amusing to see them head down to their piles of sticks with balloon animal hats on their heads.  They looked puzzled at each other and thought "wait a second...how am I going to do this?" The balloon animal hats won out, however, and they carried their sticks under their arms.

This was my office and desk at WomenCraft.

Ernestina, our WomenCraft Director, wearing her full kitenge traditional wear as always.

The vision team, giving more exams.

And to finish out the week/evening in Ngara, we stopped by "Garden Pause"...a popular local bar. Cheers!

Video: Nazerete Orphanage for Street Boys - Hip Hop Circle Time

I posted this video on my Facebook page yesterday, but for those of you who don't have Facebook or aren't connected to me through it, I wanted to make sure to share this video with you too.  I've written so much about my hip hop class at Nazerete Orphanage for Street Boys here on the blog that you know the scene well...and now you get to see it live!

This is a video of our "circle time" at the end of our 4th hip hop class, which my dad recorded when he came to visit me (you can hear him at the end of the video say "whoa! nice moves"....lol). Circle time is when the boys get to demonstrate to me what they've learned in class.  Such talented kids!  The boy in the pink pants even gets up the courage to perform the choreography I taught them.  I love them so much and this video always makes me smile so big when I watch it.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

These kids truly have nothing, and they appreciate every little thing so much.  We could all learn something from them....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-p09ZKPXWg

The Apparel Mart, Dancin', and Subbin'...Oh My!

When I decided to come to Atlanta, I had a few objectives in mind:

1. Spend time with my family (Aunt, Uncle & cousins)

2. Figure out next steps in life

3. Make & save up as much money as possible teaching dance and working odd end jobs here and there.

So far, I've been doing pretty good accomplishing all three of those things, and this last week I really hit #3 hard.  Last Tuesday-Sunday, I worked the Apparel Mart, smack dab in the middle of downtown Atlanta.  I got connected to this job through a mutual friend of my Aunt's.  With my background working trade shows, I had experience that many other candidates did not.  And after a short phone interview with the Michael & Paula Hyman showroom, I was hired for the job.

Here's the Apparel Mart's website, if you're interested in seeing where I was at: http://www.americasmart.com/apparel

I was to show and model designer clothing, and more specifically I was asked to rep a brand called "Tulle".  Being back in sales and back in the trade show atmosphere was a breath of fresh air and so familiar to me.  I really felt like I was in my element.  And I absolutely loved being downtown in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life.  However, I simultaneously felt totally out of place.  My hand made kitenge shoulder bag from Tanzania stood out like a sore thumb in the break room, lined up next to the finest Gucci and Prada purses available.  And my Danskos and hoodie hardly fit in with the more popular cowboy boots and button up silk tops.  But...I did my best to blend in and make friends.  And by the end of the show, I even mustered up the courage to forcefully throw out a "y'all" every once in a while when conversing with a customer.

One of the most stark contrasts between here and the Northwest is the influence and importance of religion, mainly being Christian.  Almost everyone goes to church, and its rare to hear someone challenge a view point of someone who has strong Christian beliefs, because here everyone thinks very similarly.  On Sunday, for example, when I arrived at the show, my co-worker Lindsay came up to me and said "hey....is there, like, a meeting going on across the hall or something? There are a whole bunch of people gathered over in that showroom...along with some of our co-workers".  I didn't have a clue but after five tiring show days and it only being just past 8:00 am, I honestly didn't care to investigate.  About an hour later, another co-worker of mine, Annie, struck up conversation with me:

"Oh, I'm SO glad that they had a church service over there in that showroom," she said.

"I'm sorry...what?" I said.

"Oh yeah.  They brought a pastor in and he gave a service so that people who had to be at the mart wouldn't miss out.  Isn't that wonderful?" exclaimed Annie in her cheery, energetic way.

"Oh wow," I said.  "That would never happen in Oregon.  I....don't go to church".

And just like that, our conversation was over. Neither of us had insulted the other, but it was clear that our lives centered around different beliefs.  So far from what I've seen here in the South, church & state are intertwined...and apparently so is church & fashion.

This year I have worn so many different hats and have been to so many different places that I have learned a lot about what I like, and what I really don't.  And over the past week I have realized that tried and true, I am a Northwest girl.  I miss drinking beers out of a mason jar, seeing hipsters walking down the streets wearing beanies and having to jump out of the way of bicyclists trying to make it on time to work.  I really miss quality NW coffee, fresh organic food, the smell of the ocean, and just being around people that make an effort to be...well...different from the norm!

On the other hand, I have to say that I will miss many things about the South, and sometimes I wonder if I'm crazy for wanting to go home.  People here (overall) are so very warm, friendly and welcoming.  I feel like even though I've only been here for a month and a half, I have a network of friends and a great support system, and that feels really nice.  The generosity people have shown to me is overwhelming...whether it be giving me rides to the metro, inviting me over for dinners, or simply wanting to sit down and share a moment to talk story.  And..."the weather here ain't bad neither".  Today the high is projected to be a balmy 82.

Now that the mart's over, I'm busy putting my entire focus back on dance.  I'm not only teaching with my Aunt's dance school now, but I also have private lessons lined up which are paying quite nicely and are highly rewarding.  Working one on one with dancers really gives me the time and focus to help them work on their strengths and weaknesses individually, and give them my full and undivided attention.  I hope to continue doing soloist work when I get back to Oregon.  I am also busy choreographing a hip hop routine for the end of the year show for my Aunt's school here in Atlanta.  My cousin & I will be dancing it together.  It's to the song "Wild for the Night" by A$AP Rocky.  If you're not into profanity, I wouldn't suggest looking it up. But...if you've ever danced hip hop with me before, you've gotta check out this song!  The beat is siiiiiiick!  And...if you'd like to see the choreo I've got so far...take a peek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmIjNrLvrA

I've also just finished up my application and testing process for substitute teaching in the Gwinnett County School District here.  My Aunt works for North Gwinnett HS, and as soon as my application goes through, she thinks I'll be a shoe in to sub regularly for the next month.  Apparently their French teacher is out with a sick child for a while, and I am crossing my fingers I'll get to be in that classroom.  I am excited about this opportunity because I have always been interested in becoming a full-time high school teacher, but have never had the chance to try it out.  And while I have never been the head teacher in a high school, I have taught as the head teacher in pre-school and also in the dance studio for many years, so I don't think it will be too much of an adjustment.  However during part of my studying yesterday, there was a section called "other management suggestions", and #11 said "notice if a student has a pen without an ink cartridge.  It might be used as a spit ball thrower...."

Great.  Can't wait to get started.

So that's it for now!  Spring is in full swing and so are my allergies, but besides that I'm healthy, and very, very happy.  Hope the same goes for you!

Hugs & Love from the Dirty South....