tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86380266057494822862024-03-05T06:40:58.372-08:00 me and where we go Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-13603836972612660082016-09-11T22:30:00.001-07:002016-09-11T22:31:27.393-07:00Look up.I coach soccer at a local high school. This evening we had an extra Sunday practice because some players need to get the required 10 practices in before the games this week. The field still hasn't been marked fully and we need to work on positioning tomorrow so I stayed afterwards and started marking the goalie box. I was measuring and stringing lines and driving stakes and spraying paint. I have started wearing a hat more recently because those who care about me don't want me to get skin cancer and I agree with them. My head was down and my hat was covering my eyes. On the last run of paint, I glanced up to see the clouds full of pink light and half of the moon reflecting white against the blue sky in the East. I smiled and turned my hat around. Light. I need to let the light in. I need to look up. I need to turn my hat around as the sun sets and soak it in. I turned around and watched the orange sky turn fuchsia as I finished up. These moments when I am absorbed in my work, those blades of grass and paint, is when I need to recognize there is a bigger picture to take in. I need to look up and turn my hat around more.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeOX24cmlPTKO_TA1FCt0gQ7Bf24-iqGlMUXdF619obnnIihVOJrjGWb5KH5tk5DhSXQ7Tl7zpikqDfrEzO8wr_LGDvlCy8Nc64skykjIXXyghrfUJsAydTwf8IOv7PoJKa19jHWNgrCW/s640/blogger-image--1481229998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeOX24cmlPTKO_TA1FCt0gQ7Bf24-iqGlMUXdF619obnnIihVOJrjGWb5KH5tk5DhSXQ7Tl7zpikqDfrEzO8wr_LGDvlCy8Nc64skykjIXXyghrfUJsAydTwf8IOv7PoJKa19jHWNgrCW/s640/blogger-image--1481229998.jpg"></a></div>Of course better in person and taken after a few minutes of thinking.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5koXe9KP-ZN87Sz7ZJmcSeI7MSf9IvayeAwocGwUyqm3jJW6aGaxjdgWGUCrZNyMqSzx5gFv80MnaxI7V3_dCwMkubfjGl0CU5_QjnjCy7p3E-kGpIpvjznAnuZn8C_4IRajtM-ZLziOP/s640/blogger-image--1202604752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5koXe9KP-ZN87Sz7ZJmcSeI7MSf9IvayeAwocGwUyqm3jJW6aGaxjdgWGUCrZNyMqSzx5gFv80MnaxI7V3_dCwMkubfjGl0CU5_QjnjCy7p3E-kGpIpvjznAnuZn8C_4IRajtM-ZLziOP/s640/blogger-image--1202604752.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXGbNbsKKC_PmoBSg8ysWe2KZVHtxiBibzGkTquMvjTvmhuGanglW44aCUeHYEh4ruTm9IAguiF5VAR-1ZWlzLlRkUtkgLPaMAf9DOSmvE1dMQGINJbYu1cXONsPozNv9mmUvqq5odPqp/s640/blogger-image--1877082507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXGbNbsKKC_PmoBSg8ysWe2KZVHtxiBibzGkTquMvjTvmhuGanglW44aCUeHYEh4ruTm9IAguiF5VAR-1ZWlzLlRkUtkgLPaMAf9DOSmvE1dMQGINJbYu1cXONsPozNv9mmUvqq5odPqp/s640/blogger-image--1877082507.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-22471477791024082932016-04-07T00:25:00.003-07:002016-04-07T06:55:03.306-07:00The Dump People.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOY2A__HepTWVsFzeKhwnDNhyphenhyphenVatnJ7bK2SdacuQCpr_zJU-Nf6vqsJM5ZKDCDOl9NCnAf7xm5eZCpk1M-YDlTrxZH0MiISbZdUFXUtGztyyQxSjROtZ_-BExC8nhWXvYJ1KrSfhQxI1JO/s1600/IMG_7090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOY2A__HepTWVsFzeKhwnDNhyphenhyphenVatnJ7bK2SdacuQCpr_zJU-Nf6vqsJM5ZKDCDOl9NCnAf7xm5eZCpk1M-YDlTrxZH0MiISbZdUFXUtGztyyQxSjROtZ_-BExC8nhWXvYJ1KrSfhQxI1JO/s640/IMG_7090.JPG" width="640" /></a>Short and sweet. And foul smelling and filled with plastic bags. The dump is an interesting place. No one would want to work there. And then there's Fred. Fred has been working with them for 8 years. The "dump people" they are called. "It takes time and a relationship and trust. You can't just relocated 500 families from a place they've been for 30 years." These are Burmese people who have fled their military government. Many people's perspective when they visit the dump is to get these people out right away. Outsiders say also that the reason the people stay there is because they are heavily supported by NGO's because the phrase, "the dump people", pulls on heart strings more than "relocated and integrated" does. Plus that's already a thing, they called it, "refugee camps" and their situations are sometimes just as bad. It's not an easy situation to be in. Fred has seen many things there. He told me that he has taken many dead babies out of there and older people too.<br />
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Before I pulled out my phone, I asked Fred if the people minded me taking a picture. He paused and said, "You know, I appreciate you asking that cause no one ever does, they just pull out their camera and snap pictures so they can post 'em everywhere and they miss the real people who are actually here in front of them. Right here, there are real people but we distance ourselves from them. Yes, go for it. Here, I'll slow down." I snapped this picture as we bounced down the road to pick up the children for school. As many mornings go, a sick older lady, being carried by her relative, hitched a ride to be seen at Mae Tao Clinic. There were about 25 of us all piled in the back of the truck with a bike and other goods under foot.<br />
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Many of the kids who are born there have never been into town. They have no idea what the outside of the dump looks like let along the beautiful beaches just a few hours south of there. Fred has worked hard to build a trusting relationship with the people and gradually they have built up a few structures where they do some teaching of basic subjects. Fred points out a few of the really bright kids and brags on them a little. "This girl is brilliant. She is learning so much and teaching the other children. Her mind is... Oh and this boy, he is so sharp. So sharp." If given the opportunity, what would some of these kids create to better the world. Or simply, their world. What if? In most cases we won't know. They will never have the chance to blossom.<br />
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Mae Sot Thailand, July 2015<br />
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Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-64269844081754885492016-04-06T22:33:00.000-07:002016-04-07T00:22:12.435-07:00Educate From Within.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">(If nothing else, read the last paragraph.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">In Mae Sot, dinner with friends usually turns into dinner with more friends and new friends. I met several students from University of Cincinnati on Saturday night. They are here to check on a project they have been working with for several years. It's deeper than just checking up on people though. This is making and maintaining a face-to-face relationship and mutual respect. Their University's ongoing project is involved with SAW, Social Action for Women. It was started by a Burmese doctor who worked very hard to receive his education and now educates community leaders to educate their communities. Most of the communities SAW works with are Burmese farm workers in Thailand. It was founded originally for women but has now become a more family and relationship based workshop where communities come together to talk about abuse, rights, and empowerment. These workshops engage those topics in</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> the home and in the field. The workshops include a meal, a couple hygiene products, and 100 baht in place of a day's pay (less than $3).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Sunday morning, I tagged along with their group to one of the workshops. Along with the students there were several of the local leaders of SAW whom the students have been communicating with on a weekly basis from the States. We got into a truck taxi and traveled about an hour South of Mae Sot. The road opened up and fields of corn and hemp were rolling by. It rained off and on and the air was fresh. We stopped at someone's home on the way to pick up the food prepared for the attendees' lunch. We then drove into a small village surrounded by tall corn stalks. We unloaded the truck, helped set up the posters and then passed out a few supplies as people began to arrive. One of the main topics throughout was abuse in the home and on the farm. The attendees got into small groups and drew out pictures of what that looked like, then presented their story to everyone. They also did a few ice breakers and games.</span><br />
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While the groups were busy discussing their topics, the lead corespondent to the students took us to visit another village close. The head of the village told us that the water supply was poisoned by the chemicals used on the corn crops. This means that they have to purchased their own bottled water which comes out of their personal paychecks. The owner of the farm will not pay for a well to be drilled to solve this problem. The head of the village said that at this time they did not want to push the issue either because their relationship with the farmer was in pretty good standing. The bathroom, seen in the center right with green doors of the picture below, are in bad shape. They were put in by sponsorship from the University of Cincinnati but are now almost nearly full and unusable. Their homes are built out of bamboo because they are not supposed to be permanent. The land on which they live does not belong to them and they actually have to rent the land from the farmer/owner. So just to recap, they buy their own water, don't have anywhere to poop, don't have permanent home, pay rent on land, work hard on the farm, and get $2.80 a day.<br />
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Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-23955342388223109462015-08-07T05:28:00.001-07:002015-08-07T05:28:42.086-07:00Home.I arrived in Seattle yesterday evening and Julian's dear parents picked me up and gave me popcorn, grapes, and my car key. I drove back here to Walla Walla and was greeted by two very happy dogs and two hungry cats, as always. I did laundry and took a shower and it's 5am and I need to sleep but my body still thinks it's 7pm. So I'm winding down now. It's been a long day.<div><br><div>So, I'm safely home.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5-uFtgjAUqYESCXZOP3OZhf75m0A6ZyNGvcU3M87RKA3nRIIniHNbw5TkRK95xU-rJf4ASMnViwW6sgn46WdyjEkFJ7hp163KPp4ucrOzAszCPEqrXs-PnH8Gi8XXtX6x1aLrC0wU58L/s640/blogger-image-168439120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5-uFtgjAUqYESCXZOP3OZhf75m0A6ZyNGvcU3M87RKA3nRIIniHNbw5TkRK95xU-rJf4ASMnViwW6sgn46WdyjEkFJ7hp163KPp4ucrOzAszCPEqrXs-PnH8Gi8XXtX6x1aLrC0wU58L/s640/blogger-image-168439120.jpg"></a></div>(Blurry pre-sunrise from my roof.)</div><div><br></div><div>Please note that I have quite a few good posts coming up but I haven't had a chance to type them out yet. These last 5 days I have had some bad food poisoning (I'm guessing)/stomach issues, so my energy level has been approximately negative 1,000. I look forward to sharing more stories with you soon though!</div><div>... Caves, ocean and communities. Patients who can get better but just need some hope and ones who probably won't get better but have so much positive vibe to go around for days. Students with so much potential and are beginning to see it. And great friends made and who I hope to see again soon.</div><div><br></div><div>So, stay tuned. For now, good... Morning!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-41958904980846451402015-08-01T16:56:00.001-07:002015-08-01T17:02:47.193-07:00Ripples.These past seven days have been so wonderful. So so good. This post is the beginning.<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5rL9TTHKIMebdhF4sBcp5F0EJOimym4h5OIDuatEbPfga3xqk51aRv3OnFWzQEtlC8luDZss42fbcon-NUNkSU1zOZJKd3FRWbSfBGVdoyuTspi_jITasWNZt9yFKg3MzQWboB7SbdZ_/s640/blogger-image-1642030278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5rL9TTHKIMebdhF4sBcp5F0EJOimym4h5OIDuatEbPfga3xqk51aRv3OnFWzQEtlC8luDZss42fbcon-NUNkSU1zOZJKd3FRWbSfBGVdoyuTspi_jITasWNZt9yFKg3MzQWboB7SbdZ_/s640/blogger-image-1642030278.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Last Saturday I went out to Agape (the orphanage) like I do everyday. Everyone was busy doing things and I heard the older boys were playing soccer over at the church. I went over and joined in. They play on a cement "pitch" maybe a little bigger than a basketball court. It was raining off and on and the court was slippery. They are so good at keeping their balance and ball control though. They take smaller steps and usually keep it chill. Kinda. We played four vs four, with the loser after one goal trading out for a team on the sidelines. It was fun. Our team played for quite awhile and finally with no score went to shoot outs. We rotated through a few games. The other two teams were playing when it started raining a bit harder. The game seemed to be naturally ending. I was sitting down talking to Myo Aung Oo when he pointed to across the court. I looked over and a group of guys were in a huddle. Someone was on the ground. They were holding him down. I jumped up. One of them hit his chest a couple times. I walked quickly over. The group was talking loudly. I nelt down outside the group. They took off his shoes and pulled on his big toes. The one on the ground was shaking, barely. I realized he was having a seizure and told Myo to tell them to stop holding him. They partially understood and partially released. The grounded guy shook even more now for a couple seconds longer and stopped. While he was ending his seizure I checked his radial pulse and I watched him start breathing again. I told everyone to back up a bit and ask Myo to ask them what happened. "Did he fall? Slip? Did he hit his head?" I quickly did a blood sweep and made sure there was no major head trauma or any trauma. He started to wake up while everyone was yelling at him. Before I could do much they sat him up. I looked at his head quickly and upper back which both had slight abrasions. No external trauma. Everyone encouraged him to stand quickly and started making him walk. He was clearly weak, dragging his feet and rolling his head. I got on one side and grabbed someone on the other. They wanted to get him out of the rain. They wanted him to walk. It was hard to communicate. Several others now helped him over to the other side of the court and sat him down. I explained a concussion to Myo and Solomon. Several days later I explained seizures to them as well. They other players, his friends, wanted him to walk and seemed to think they could snap him out of it like they did by holding him down to stop the seizure. While he was sitting against the chain link fence, I had him squeeze my fingers and push his feet against my hands. There was a delay with translation but once he understood the delay continued. It started pouring down rain at this point and his friends got him up and moved him to a building close by. He was still dragging his feet and too weak to stand unsupported. They only had bicycles to get home by. I suggested maybe he should go to Mae Tao Clinic. I wasn't sure of the Clinic's protocol but at least we could give it a shot. Myo said, "So should he go the clinic?" I answered with a sort of, it would be best and if he wants to. Myo said, "Ok so we go get the truck." We rain the fifty meters to Agape. The caretaker/driver was sleeping. Myo said, "Can you drive?" I said with a little laugh, "Sure! Let's go." He ran and got the key, hopped in the drivers seat and said, "I drive to the church,<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> finish, you drive to the clinic." Deal. We loaded the guy and a couple friends into the back and I got in the drivers seat. First things first, brake. It went all the way to the floor. Next, emergency break. It seemed to have some resistance. The shifter. It wobbled around with no indication where the gears might be. Just the picture on top and my hand to feel it out. I felt like I was doing a laparoscopic surgery on the transmission with the monitors turned off and a general knowledge of its anatomy. Some how I made it out of the gate and onto the road which started out down hill. The brake went to the floor and, with a half an inch to spare, slowed down the truck enough. Down shifting wasn't easy because surgery and driving a car is hard and should not be done. We made it to the clinic about 4 km away. And of course, I was on the left side of the road and the right side the car. It was a brain teaser for sure.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I explained what happened to a medic in the trauma unit. They got him onto a table and briefly asked him/his friends a few questions. The responses from the injured were maybe three words total. The medic told me that he remembered everything that happened and this means he probably didn't have a concussion. I highly doubted that but that's the way it goes. They gave him pain medication because he said his head hurt. I explained to the medic about concussions and the need to make sure he is woken up every two hours. I don't know how he translated it but I think the message got across. They said he would be fine.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We got back in the truck and one of the friends joined me in the front seat. He showed me the way to their home. We arrived and help the injuried out of the truck. He was still weak. We walked him inside. I greeted the people there and explained to one women who spoke some English about concussion procedure. She understood. At that point I could do very little. I drove back up to Agape and parked the truck. I biked into town, and met some friends for dinner. The food is amazing.</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The next evening, I stopped by to see how he was doing. I slowly walked into the gate and called out, "Main ghala ba" several times. I was met with the same and one of the friends from the day before came out. We greeted each other and then he called the injuried. He was walking okay but still with weakness. I asked him how he was and he said good. He told about his arms and legs were tingly and his shoulders and neck were sore. I told him to drink lots of water and stretch, meditate, and relax. I gave him some encouragement and they thanked me. We said our goodbyes and I was off.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">After speaking with a couple people, I soon found out that treatment for seizures is always done this way here. They hold down the whole body in an attempt to stop the convulsions. They hit the chest and pull on the big toe to wake them out it. I came to realization that what I know to be common knowledge, some people have no idea. I want to change that. Education is the key. And there is nothing special about me being from where I'm from. I want to educate people to educate people. Community leaders learning to then teaching their community. The ripple effect of education is so powerful. The potential is great.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQkAe9zfyFw8NsaBkpqnDomUw-A64jAAPXPH_Bcq2RZ5m703qsA4GHNrsjvbn2XH-eOXlVZe7T-CDhIFXxDnVM-ku4Rrt9JejAK6Ucy-X-JrJkEKK-s3EkLormeGDReMU6gkGpmNjSoG0/s640/blogger-image-844685151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQkAe9zfyFw8NsaBkpqnDomUw-A64jAAPXPH_Bcq2RZ5m703qsA4GHNrsjvbn2XH-eOXlVZe7T-CDhIFXxDnVM-ku4Rrt9JejAK6Ucy-X-JrJkEKK-s3EkLormeGDReMU6gkGpmNjSoG0/s640/blogger-image-844685151.jpg"></a></div><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-24342751716890631252015-07-21T09:55:00.001-07:002015-07-23T21:52:10.027-07:00The Little Things.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV8bPXLWM9SRdSK_jDKZj8EQt3B_8Y-Bc21QEheiPxsGibSFFNgJ6p1QadIyGEDmbpwwx8VoSyf4L-ZhznEwdOluVUmz6oz2LufTe5sOg-H-QPrtElpicBZr7MnX_bTOigrF3ZnsnqZN7/s640/blogger-image-1671899916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV8bPXLWM9SRdSK_jDKZj8EQt3B_8Y-Bc21QEheiPxsGibSFFNgJ6p1QadIyGEDmbpwwx8VoSyf4L-ZhznEwdOluVUmz6oz2LufTe5sOg-H-QPrtElpicBZr7MnX_bTOigrF3ZnsnqZN7/s640/blogger-image-1671899916.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div>It was a long day. It's been continually raining the last few days here. Everything is soaking wet and it's not easy to dry clothes in the humidity. Life is great.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60Ub5_ZxpzvcvnMSH0zSF3slP7GjhhrjenOsPCPiCK6h4TRg_9XTWMp0gklZNUjHpBmzuk_TUAPQTZQjue-HFh67rej1PzFoGiL_mO36shP0Zmg1KvCG51gKXhyy9bChTnoRZ7pPR8fgo/s640/blogger-image--2070627608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60Ub5_ZxpzvcvnMSH0zSF3slP7GjhhrjenOsPCPiCK6h4TRg_9XTWMp0gklZNUjHpBmzuk_TUAPQTZQjue-HFh67rej1PzFoGiL_mO36shP0Zmg1KvCG51gKXhyy9bChTnoRZ7pPR8fgo/s640/blogger-image--2070627608.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br><div>I have gone to a local migrant (Burmese) school these last two mornings to help teach English class for one hour. We are talking about healthy living and it's sad to see so many foods of affluence such as KFC and GMO products pollute their world. They are becoming more comfortable asking questions and speaking English with me. At first they felt embarrassed, as any high schooler does in a second-language course.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4Gs4P8yIPjSRFppDB0k0cHs6x8LkWgU7570Y0iz7PmNotHx3Vvn-c_7TBPTDgcnC3LkzpED7NCFI5AD01rpd6xEdypl2Rx7Hm8_Hrw1aUEkQn7flkss_rJp9cnpIFQ-Tb5YtJgZH7vP-/s640/blogger-image--1608028857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4Gs4P8yIPjSRFppDB0k0cHs6x8LkWgU7570Y0iz7PmNotHx3Vvn-c_7TBPTDgcnC3LkzpED7NCFI5AD01rpd6xEdypl2Rx7Hm8_Hrw1aUEkQn7flkss_rJp9cnpIFQ-Tb5YtJgZH7vP-/s640/blogger-image--1608028857.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday afternoon, we found some bamboo. It was a short hike through the trees on small paths next to rice fields. We are going to use the bamboo to make a garden fence. It was fun chopping down tall shoots. Side note, lots<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> of angry ants with pointy abdomens and sharp jaws fell on me. Their bits still hurt. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As we were cutting the bamboo into shorter pieces I was thinking, how are going to split this. But this whole thing wasn't new to them. They placed the knife on the end of the bamboo and hit the back side of the knife into the end with another price of bamboo. Often it's better to watch and learn.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnRXYOqDqXeXjwsvKnqeHSmBgHSIlGaC0thLthyphenhyphenS_KUmasa_SrKs63VvFoCrVdsHmRNOp_bvV1G_TL4Knu6u8Ff2pmHrVytYIHU2WM01YILCix-SD-DO0XhM9ulYrnx_XsRdxume-q9Dd/s640/blogger-image--541250315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnRXYOqDqXeXjwsvKnqeHSmBgHSIlGaC0thLthyphenhyphenS_KUmasa_SrKs63VvFoCrVdsHmRNOp_bvV1G_TL4Knu6u8Ff2pmHrVytYIHU2WM01YILCix-SD-DO0XhM9ulYrnx_XsRdxume-q9Dd/s640/blogger-image--541250315.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Today at the clinic I was in Adult Medical In-Patient Ward. It was interesting. Lungs sound terrible when there's something wrong. And I am very thankful for vaccines.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tP-NpNKStOwZVgV1524_Rr-lTbnmm1Lqrgwa8pfxUdXTxYUxWgP20liJ47LhvpLuibH-gZ7md3eIhpJJIuyi-ZZMzvAHqo7Ky8Ld-cW_hXQAHsc6dHECaJaOnMlkRrCg5RqE7usn0ypu/s640/blogger-image--1690449414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tP-NpNKStOwZVgV1524_Rr-lTbnmm1Lqrgwa8pfxUdXTxYUxWgP20liJ47LhvpLuibH-gZ7md3eIhpJJIuyi-ZZMzvAHqo7Ky8Ld-cW_hXQAHsc6dHECaJaOnMlkRrCg5RqE7usn0ypu/s640/blogger-image--1690449414.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I love maps. Not Google maps. I love maps that I can touch and write on and unfold and fold and that take up the whole table and I can dream with. I bought the kids at Agape two maps today; one of southeast Asia and one of the world. We put them up in their meeting hall as they were finishing their homework. Today in school, some of them learned a bit about their neighboring countries. And now they have a map to see them. While looking at the world map, Myo Aung Oo told me, "I always wondered what the rest of the world looked like. I didn't know where all these places are but now I do!" Vision and potential should go hand-in-hand. Here, it seems vision is large and potential is suffocated by proud governments and greedy people. There is hope though. And for right now, we start with the little things.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokSRe2n_u54gCaCJK4EhcRaNIsMSWUSSKKYrunllTh6AgtrbzC7jGl4v2DHkidP-QmMxCmhYxZmrN1cRj8u4W2wWkDARp4vDv4CkDYrzudLixyGzlpQrdseQXPFXsVyC9FrtekPjv8wph/s640/blogger-image-753692438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokSRe2n_u54gCaCJK4EhcRaNIsMSWUSSKKYrunllTh6AgtrbzC7jGl4v2DHkidP-QmMxCmhYxZmrN1cRj8u4W2wWkDARp4vDv4CkDYrzudLixyGzlpQrdseQXPFXsVyC9FrtekPjv8wph/s640/blogger-image-753692438.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-34448248954156872732015-07-19T10:42:00.001-07:002015-07-20T00:24:48.567-07:00Passion.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBDzf2OEyRfDGFnkkIHAH3-2kQWWYxBYPjGDPbubOsioy4neEMGIDizjkEcr-A8X7B4-RdML2gC5IRHyGd2IiYZdWH7SV4h5GOLmmo9pnGBnwR1HEUcluWCnI2vY8JL62D6wE5APPeIFX/s640/blogger-image--1982969134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBDzf2OEyRfDGFnkkIHAH3-2kQWWYxBYPjGDPbubOsioy4neEMGIDizjkEcr-A8X7B4-RdML2gC5IRHyGd2IiYZdWH7SV4h5GOLmmo9pnGBnwR1HEUcluWCnI2vY8JL62D6wE5APPeIFX/s640/blogger-image--1982969134.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The other evening while I was at Agape Orphanage, a few people from a church close by came and sang songs with all the kids and told a story from the Bible. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Myo Aung Oo, one of the boys pictured on the right (below), was playing his air guitar like nobodies business. Afterwords I asked him if he had a guitar. He said they did but it was broken. He started to explain but couldn't find the words in English so he said, "I will show you." We went to his/their room/hall and he grabbed the guitar. It was missing the D string and the tuning peg for the D string. I asked if they had the peg and someone popped up with it. So we needed screws and new strings. Let's do this. I told the boys I would do my best to fix it. Today my friend and I headed out on bicycles to the orphanage. It's about 24 minutes from my house. En route to Agape, we checked a hardware store and they directed me to Tesco Locus Extra. It's a huge store that is basically the Walmart of Thailand. By the way, for all the Washingtonians out there, here's to us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK35wak-_zohw9uunv16T5wsl5YIX1JePMkCPkcZgtMMZ_QQLpt8KyQ0gj2lVrbrwqQjsqtRxTprmROpzQoxcD63ujH64NjKnHtzMc75eBC-lwXcePxwcFFsf_VwrOEFLb_mcKBS1fE4H1/s640/blogger-image-541160964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK35wak-_zohw9uunv16T5wsl5YIX1JePMkCPkcZgtMMZ_QQLpt8KyQ0gj2lVrbrwqQjsqtRxTprmROpzQoxcD63ujH64NjKnHtzMc75eBC-lwXcePxwcFFsf_VwrOEFLb_mcKBS1fE4H1/s640/blogger-image-541160964.jpg"></a></div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On the lower level they have a cinema, KFC, a bank, more fancy restaurants, and among other things a guitar shop. It's a stark contrast to what is in a 10 kilometer radius to the store. Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, refugees, orphans, the Thai-Burmese boarder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOso__aijkRuYYM8tJc17_YgW1qBSvkC9vLgeDeWWOATu1-EbctVVEaXTU5_2quFTaKmzuLFxQLnJ6vg7-oGvcef_bNytA8ckHjYHnHtHglagVNM6NwQW3t5KtCu9wWPPrGY20VgngjqOj/s640/blogger-image--781797051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOso__aijkRuYYM8tJc17_YgW1qBSvkC9vLgeDeWWOATu1-EbctVVEaXTU5_2quFTaKmzuLFxQLnJ6vg7-oGvcef_bNytA8ckHjYHnHtHglagVNM6NwQW3t5KtCu9wWPPrGY20VgngjqOj/s640/blogger-image--781797051.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">They had what we needed and the guy even let me barrow his precision screwdriver for the afternoon. We arrived just as they were finishing up some soccer and were starting to eat lunch. When they were done, we screwed the tuning peg on and then put all new strings on. Ahh yes. Stoked. I tuned it up and strummed a few chords. I handed it over to Salomon and he played a few chords. We encouraged them to sing something but Solomon was maybe a bit shy and handed it back to me. I played one song and then gave it back him. We encouraged again and believe me they wanted to. They started out with a song in Burmese which and then kept it going with some mixed language songs, Christian and other wise. They played and sung maybe eight or nine songs and each one very passionate and from deep souls.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdL-b7TRZJwYQJyUWPo7jFR5o3EjskCxTcq0DzZUyJ2tN9SE0hl5P6VxFy32OiEdlLAb8rgAYo6RACYlXljKMpVeVUdzLbAA7DI4E5QtIcE6WI4JGRp9pL2bA4khoeF1PIMbUn8dYIQVv/s640/blogger-image-1413869514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdL-b7TRZJwYQJyUWPo7jFR5o3EjskCxTcq0DzZUyJ2tN9SE0hl5P6VxFy32OiEdlLAb8rgAYo6RACYlXljKMpVeVUdzLbAA7DI4E5QtIcE6WI4JGRp9pL2bA4khoeF1PIMbUn8dYIQVv/s640/blogger-image-1413869514.jpg"></a></div></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We moved to the garden project and started pulling up plastic bags and so on. A few days before, the kids worked together to clear and clean up one large area and one small area for gardens. The larger area looked ideal but once we started turning over the dirt, we found plastic bags everywhere among other bits of trash. We even found a few Lego peices. Once we started pulling the trash out it didn't smell very good so we decided to wait a year or so to plant that one. We moved up to the smaller spot. It's more flat there and definitely less trash buried</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. Using the hoes, the older boys over turned the dirt while the younger ones pulled out bits of trash here and there. It looks really nice now. It does need a fence though to keep the dogs and chickens out. Bamboo might work if we can find some. Maybe that will happen tomorrow or the next day. One day at a time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUvn02b6u2iRuZfeMD-vzn9KkxHS8D1ACLsh1e9XSwGv25e6TCGYAhlPU3OuQh59SmDMlz5Q93orhEhIhyJ5_pLDQeG_Y4fPCbE_q5EsMXCE3B4l8ouDuHwebQczkwDmW2E5mOvJLBwYT/s640/blogger-image--95818290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUvn02b6u2iRuZfeMD-vzn9KkxHS8D1ACLsh1e9XSwGv25e6TCGYAhlPU3OuQh59SmDMlz5Q93orhEhIhyJ5_pLDQeG_Y4fPCbE_q5EsMXCE3B4l8ouDuHwebQczkwDmW2E5mOvJLBwYT/s640/blogger-image--95818290.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-29720793610565027972015-07-13T23:47:00.001-07:002015-07-20T10:48:19.451-07:00The situation.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRdZH4iLn8BTlq5zTMaWgu-zsAohOEltwma_syRkrAYAjXiEbExp2PtNQbmQrpVV4FG4clwy0l_oYb8cC332RGQFTlZamWVH10LuEanWL7CNygmgzv5MBk_pE9Za3yQOlTQB8GH4it6Bp/s640/blogger-image-159797502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRdZH4iLn8BTlq5zTMaWgu-zsAohOEltwma_syRkrAYAjXiEbExp2PtNQbmQrpVV4FG4clwy0l_oYb8cC332RGQFTlZamWVH10LuEanWL7CNygmgzv5MBk_pE9Za3yQOlTQB8GH4it6Bp/s640/blogger-image-159797502.jpg"></a></div>(a picture by a child from one of the refugee camps)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Hi friends,<div>First of all, I hit my head on the end of a 2x4 in a restaurant. It's healing nicely. No stitches. A nice French doctor told me it would be fine, and I'm fine with that. Here's a picture.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiRVtwG4SEVkcrooq-0lo3wxsUo7LNmi8ikMMpKcz6Qy9QqfWr_-bY9x8knHZNYDykIZHiA8HHN2mYbib3XRpVNQa-Uiql2gxA7aPbLVihYeL9xsNeSh8_WooH19-DgidrGLz5ifLIGGI/s640/blogger-image--1648543393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiRVtwG4SEVkcrooq-0lo3wxsUo7LNmi8ikMMpKcz6Qy9QqfWr_-bY9x8knHZNYDykIZHiA8HHN2mYbib3XRpVNQa-Uiql2gxA7aPbLVihYeL9xsNeSh8_WooH19-DgidrGLz5ifLIGGI/s640/blogger-image--1648543393.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Huh. Well, there it is. On to more important things.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I arrived in Mae Sot on Friday morning by way of a night bus from Sing Buri. The bus was fancy with reclining seats and lots of leg room. It was also freezing cold. And they played a Chinese King Kong movie translated into Thai. So when we got to Mae Sot, I slept all morning. I am staying at a hostel instead of with a host family like I thought. The hostel is owned by a family though, so I still have some connection with local Thai people at home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've been here,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-GRZQ4Q6Y8bs4j_BilJ9Hd-OitrNxhHUwuY2VKRvnRCLy1GBGOcqD12qP_0vom2f5uljdjvXrq95QovOMXZZ8lMhZFcwohv3IWqtAzV9RuMA53xmSf98hSK4XewL65ype991iYkk7XTT/s640/blogger-image-1302948615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-GRZQ4Q6Y8bs4j_BilJ9Hd-OitrNxhHUwuY2VKRvnRCLy1GBGOcqD12qP_0vom2f5uljdjvXrq95QovOMXZZ8lMhZFcwohv3IWqtAzV9RuMA53xmSf98hSK4XewL65ype991iYkk7XTT/s640/blogger-image-1302948615.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm1yjzMVYPnwZQiI-SjZorPy9o9pdcx47McAnojBfOLLwyC33CVhWGMvPETf7xyvikg8-qPj2Wg7tHl_SgmX-fPiYyxz9HHF_JHnCAfN_A6uy775mP5QbtwYHeS-fjUlJpyImAbZxO5tD/s640/blogger-image--1735957462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm1yjzMVYPnwZQiI-SjZorPy9o9pdcx47McAnojBfOLLwyC33CVhWGMvPETf7xyvikg8-qPj2Wg7tHl_SgmX-fPiYyxz9HHF_JHnCAfN_A6uy775mP5QbtwYHeS-fjUlJpyImAbZxO5tD/s640/blogger-image--1735957462.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFOcOzLiTSrGj0xLPo_spmDWOXbP3v2SxlWB431NlyE7xzepIXGHp5O2PNqaJWeJGrmXPoiewqXM-RxjerGzWX4f5QHf6LCpwj6h-OfKHTCp8tGmHr7gE8B5kY7-R3jyT0qKDvbnzrbtg/s640/blogger-image-470723931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFOcOzLiTSrGj0xLPo_spmDWOXbP3v2SxlWB431NlyE7xzepIXGHp5O2PNqaJWeJGrmXPoiewqXM-RxjerGzWX4f5QHf6LCpwj6h-OfKHTCp8tGmHr7gE8B5kY7-R3jyT0qKDvbnzrbtg/s640/blogger-image-470723931.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">at the clinic, for the last few days with a medic, mostly observing. This is the adult out-patient ward. It is run by about 10 medics. Patients come with complaints from fatigue and dizziness to fever and caugh to numbness in the arms and legs. This afternoon, through the medic as an translator, I was able to ask questions and write up several patients assessments which includes a chief complaint, patient history, hands on assesment and vital signs. Then diagnose the patient and prescribe treatment. It was a little scary. I felt under qualified in a way but the medic was right there to make sure everything was covered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(To clarify: Burma and Myanmar are interchangeable and Karen is a tribe/ethnic group of the Burmese.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The people who come to the clinic are primarily Burmese and Karen, a tribe on the border between Thailand and Myanmar here close to Mae Sot. The medics are mostly Burmese and speak Burmese, Karen, some Thai and some English. The patients communicate in either Burmese or Karen and the assesment is write in English by the medics. The situation with immigrants and refugees coming to Thailand from Myanmar is a huge issue that has been going on for over ten years. Please research it more. The patients I spoke with today work in the clothing factory here in Mae Sot. Their hours in one day are 8-12, 1-5, and 6-12 midnight, 7 days a week. So yes, they get two 1 hour breaks a day. That's enough, right. Their chief complaints were "dizziness" and "tiredness". It's common. When I looked into the eyes of a 25 year old woman who is married with thankfully no children and think she works 16 days, 7 days a week and she managed to take today off to come to the clinic, is there not more we can do?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Get out of that situation. Get an education. Find another job. Something. The horrible thing about this situation is that it's not that easy. Burmese migrants don't have access to the Thai healthcare system, and can be exploited for work because they have very limited options with very limited resources. Again, if you have any interest in this, start with Google and find out more information about it. It's bad. I don't really know all the details. I've only picked up a bit here and there from ex pats who work for organization helping these people get funding for major surgeries etc and students doing research in the area for the summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So here I am. What can I do. Smile. Give sincere advice about healthy living. That only goes so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLSjhQnFITvXT8sWM69abZlHjjuTxPzcUL5zDjq06FuMvA5LB7g3jm6JfzmYqbDVAHnfxf8Jh_QwVDX4PI619g9Jefft81uLfFbKPHtKEHv2XtO_v_gMUBrPYeiYR6jMBDyIa-0fkyWQC/s640/blogger-image-1536731665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLSjhQnFITvXT8sWM69abZlHjjuTxPzcUL5zDjq06FuMvA5LB7g3jm6JfzmYqbDVAHnfxf8Jh_QwVDX4PI619g9Jefft81uLfFbKPHtKEHv2XtO_v_gMUBrPYeiYR6jMBDyIa-0fkyWQC/s640/blogger-image-1536731665.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>These are the kids at Agape Orphanage. They are not all orphans. In fact, only a few of them actually have no family. Most of them have at least cousins or even siblings or parents. They too are Burmese or Karen. After the clinic around 4:00pm, I ride my bike about 20 minutes on good roads. It's just before a check point into Burma where I turn off to the orphanage. The kids get out of school about that time so it works nicely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here is a map to show how close it is to the river border.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCsc9rjLKQLZ9w1xGRdEplav1H__A4kX_4DBupJSpGNoNjod_qXB822TdscDSYymIqFuf1DnyDvOcwSfdiaQwc6ilUUd1vOf9vqsK5vw8vj_Ny_SEgnsX0y0tW1TRacN9le8-hxMDGqEM/s640/blogger-image-1477633927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCsc9rjLKQLZ9w1xGRdEplav1H__A4kX_4DBupJSpGNoNjod_qXB822TdscDSYymIqFuf1DnyDvOcwSfdiaQwc6ilUUd1vOf9vqsK5vw8vj_Ny_SEgnsX0y0tW1TRacN9le8-hxMDGqEM/s640/blogger-image-1477633927.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TuK8TyWU8qZFVrEUR334_jiBBfrJkuuXLYaoyTAOp8U-3OmELdXc1somxlsVPpnarj8KSVV1G-75mC9x3WXxnI6rwUnEscBF_iquKl8dhj3e8_27TRabv9z6S6VvDGypf_KvMJhIXUCq/s640/blogger-image--1376654158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TuK8TyWU8qZFVrEUR334_jiBBfrJkuuXLYaoyTAOp8U-3OmELdXc1somxlsVPpnarj8KSVV1G-75mC9x3WXxnI6rwUnEscBF_iquKl8dhj3e8_27TRabv9z6S6VvDGypf_KvMJhIXUCq/s640/blogger-image--1376654158.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last few days I have spent with them speaking English. We work on pronounciation. Most kids are taught English in school so they can read and write fairly well, however, speaking it is something they just don't do with each other. We wrote out different questions and answers and practiced speaking them today. I encouraged them to when I left to work on them with each other. Tomorrow will tell. But for today, I noticed improvement from yesterday and even just the the hours we spent together they improved. It's exciting. And it's not just about learning English. It's about connecting and growing. Maybe we take those things for granted. Being from an affluent nation, we have the opportunity to connect and grow so often. Do we take those opportunities though? Growing hurts. Connecting is hard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizknJcdQlke-KuN2BBQIWE7UMW5kurFZzC1ugO-1u1WmcTH2ryd4p0Z4JLQHSP27dzeaeNk-N_-ucGZPARsdco4VGF6QffQ7QvKxQMVwOMiq1B1pm-tXcG9QGDEtGJlaFcQlxF4ii9VSNI/s640/blogger-image--70821498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizknJcdQlke-KuN2BBQIWE7UMW5kurFZzC1ugO-1u1WmcTH2ryd4p0Z4JLQHSP27dzeaeNk-N_-ucGZPARsdco4VGF6QffQ7QvKxQMVwOMiq1B1pm-tXcG9QGDEtGJlaFcQlxF4ii9VSNI/s640/blogger-image--70821498.jpg"></a></div>These little kittens are running around the house I'm staying next to. They're cute. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's now 1:47 am. I barely feel tired. Tomorrow will prove I am though, so I must sleep.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-8799424947150195532015-07-09T02:55:00.001-07:002015-07-09T02:55:11.382-07:00Perspective.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9u-erQo74aolgFGoy6m9jxul9am9ZpOCFfgDHWA42tlZrJPdPokLkj-sPrdO_a3qQbHnGbNZV0iuGI1i0fSnsivkJSew2AL2lGT0a7BIobagKzjJ1LVrQRnDlTO1Pdqsmbb78ZZ09cos/s640/blogger-image-8189047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9u-erQo74aolgFGoy6m9jxul9am9ZpOCFfgDHWA42tlZrJPdPokLkj-sPrdO_a3qQbHnGbNZV0iuGI1i0fSnsivkJSew2AL2lGT0a7BIobagKzjJ1LVrQRnDlTO1Pdqsmbb78ZZ09cos/s640/blogger-image-8189047.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div>We're riding in the back of a truck taxi right now on our way to a hospital about 35 minutes from Sing Buri. The bumps in the road translate well to the truck and my bottom. There is a little rain and the skies are closed with a sheet of cloud cover. It's peaceful. We're in the present. Earlier today we visited the Buddist temple in Sing Buri. It is full of statues of Buddha and pictures of monks from the past. We placed incense and lit a candle and placed a gold leaf on a reclining Buddha.<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmEcgGHkzflIC0-30wuT6m_3-RO5dF6tMtnVK-2PLZP0-1U5OMeRS9gMkNGWs5retxgdXU4u72oo-1S8IxPzYnLDnPuHFm9aYPmVMFXVrYfrH0FOSWUjJVwhG5HO20T0MAXqP9yRXggXD/s640/blogger-image--953071090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmEcgGHkzflIC0-30wuT6m_3-RO5dF6tMtnVK-2PLZP0-1U5OMeRS9gMkNGWs5retxgdXU4u72oo-1S8IxPzYnLDnPuHFm9aYPmVMFXVrYfrH0FOSWUjJVwhG5HO20T0MAXqP9yRXggXD/s640/blogger-image--953071090.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOOdmHJ7TXQlE7pSQQwnxWyRruZuSnzu1lM7xnTw3AdbYnaf7-HngaKq3ACdk-FTdiVU-FTEwTdMn5CwWCwxV7_yUYfO7KOBVw1zYCcx7KO-dcNSMpTBUJqIsFJRTm3nyTMg7dUN1TGH-/s640/blogger-image-1029692780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOOdmHJ7TXQlE7pSQQwnxWyRruZuSnzu1lM7xnTw3AdbYnaf7-HngaKq3ACdk-FTdiVU-FTEwTdMn5CwWCwxV7_yUYfO7KOBVw1zYCcx7KO-dcNSMpTBUJqIsFJRTm3nyTMg7dUN1TGH-/s640/blogger-image-1029692780.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This morning at 6am we joined some locals to give cooked rice and package (ours was with canned fish and a juice box) to the monks as they passed by. Each of us respectfully bowed before placing the rice in the their bowls. After collecting the food, they eat what they need for that day of the perishable items and then give the rest to the poor.<div>While walking through the temple we came to the large reclining Buddha. When we got to the head there was a spot to kneel and bow. I chose not to. P'Ao, one of the coordinators, asked me why I didn't kneel and bow. She said, "Is it against your religion?"</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOymrAZ50_NNxq0_dtpjK_K6DnJ4XwTY5AJtCwW_QvgHeq1C0ISjFqcf0oZaQ13uF5FJxwSSh_wj2p6jdLKNtot9g9xSJbtAg-6qbkdv68eACSuS_6qhv5pn0YXuLj9WMU_Xp9Ka-gVQ4N/s640/blogger-image-1773116482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOymrAZ50_NNxq0_dtpjK_K6DnJ4XwTY5AJtCwW_QvgHeq1C0ISjFqcf0oZaQ13uF5FJxwSSh_wj2p6jdLKNtot9g9xSJbtAg-6qbkdv68eACSuS_6qhv5pn0YXuLj9WMU_Xp9Ka-gVQ4N/s640/blogger-image-1773116482.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br><div>The night before while eating in town, someone asked the core beliefs of a Seventh-Day Adventist. I explained healthy life style, death as a sleep, salvation through Jesus' death and life, living with love towards other (God's charactor as Jesus lived), and heaven, "hell" as separation from God, and the new earth. There are several world regions represented in our group. It was refreshing to share Christianity as a simple way of life rather than a complicated religion. Talking with others there, we shared several core principles.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMdelT72q7OGMqQtM9HGDmtw_7Lhiy_HiteE97d3W0Kup30XX0PznJ_LevRW6a8OVz2POl16Djqu8sLnpZkzVChzCnbCw9ASd1eH-aA1rRlKC8ixO-dy70O51FhJlVTo2_h65WcCUhd7j/s640/blogger-image--526198057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMdelT72q7OGMqQtM9HGDmtw_7Lhiy_HiteE97d3W0Kup30XX0PznJ_LevRW6a8OVz2POl16Djqu8sLnpZkzVChzCnbCw9ASd1eH-aA1rRlKC8ixO-dy70O51FhJlVTo2_h65WcCUhd7j/s640/blogger-image--526198057.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyv0MhUtwR-ThF220xGVvO2cNWt3btcnWGCK2reR8yd9J21T4lywf1_WypUezLa_WECEah8LivmqS2n_6FIycT3qpaWJCYsVq9WtVlPC6IB51LMT6u6iWMV79yvPOA9B88re3gGi394Yf6/s640/blogger-image-77559828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyv0MhUtwR-ThF220xGVvO2cNWt3btcnWGCK2reR8yd9J21T4lywf1_WypUezLa_WECEah8LivmqS2n_6FIycT3qpaWJCYsVq9WtVlPC6IB51LMT6u6iWMV79yvPOA9B88re3gGi394Yf6/s640/blogger-image-77559828.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-56UzraGhfQMVB6neXaycwLQLISp6OTvN9X69i_o20qLwed5vT8yy3b3g0IrGrSYD0A2p2NOx3Q8u_fBKxv_TmSKs4foSCxP6jripqMA9LoVbs9G4kcbhn4Iqncj2gn9KNHc-s7ds_pA/s640/blogger-image-2117708793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-56UzraGhfQMVB6neXaycwLQLISp6OTvN9X69i_o20qLwed5vT8yy3b3g0IrGrSYD0A2p2NOx3Q8u_fBKxv_TmSKs4foSCxP6jripqMA9LoVbs9G4kcbhn4Iqncj2gn9KNHc-s7ds_pA/s640/blogger-image-2117708793.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>When P'Ao asked me if it was because of my religion, I hesitated, and said, "Kind of, it's because it's not living." I explained that for the monks and to her and other people I have deep respect. And in the Thai culture, we will show that by bowing. Also that I didn't mean any disrespect to her or anyone else. But to an image that is not alive, I will not bow. She understood. And she said, "That is good that you do what you believe. Some people come here and just do everything because it is what we do but you should do how you believe." <br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4XWlZwVtgWGd6j2EhpSDatK5TnU1S0rW6LarMv7TgEvv1VYSAAftvAmUDa1nclVbDi71_YftM56FlOwUKO4uS381h4ZeS9mo4KSXHpCxGCeLdkZQ0viryHnmH0A-UBntuw7xljDPRmvX/s640/blogger-image--989752028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4XWlZwVtgWGd6j2EhpSDatK5TnU1S0rW6LarMv7TgEvv1VYSAAftvAmUDa1nclVbDi71_YftM56FlOwUKO4uS381h4ZeS9mo4KSXHpCxGCeLdkZQ0viryHnmH0A-UBntuw7xljDPRmvX/s640/blogger-image--989752028.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>Last night P'Mick was leaning against the doorway and I joined him. He was eating the rambutan fruit that looks like a leche. We starting chatting a bit. I asked him about his family and his place here where we are staying. I noticed the meat of a rambutan fruit sitting next to a pillar. Ants had found it and were crowding around, making a line up the pilar to somewhere and nowhere. I was surprised and said something like, "Oh, no, you'll attract the ants." He said, "The ants have to eat too." And laughed. He had placed it there to feed the ants. I asked him if he killed the ants ever. Or mosquitoes. What about malaria? He said no and you just blow them off your arm and it's bad luck then, or wear long sleaves. No killing. One of his five principles he lives by. He explained to me that as a Buddist he lives in the now. The present. The past is past and unchangable and the future has not happened yet so why worry about it. The only thing we can do is be in the now. This morning the fruit had ants covering it entirely and when we left this afternoon on the truck, we could see the seed showing through.</div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-9872520719794166992015-07-07T19:48:00.001-07:002015-07-07T19:48:59.036-07:00Just Inside Thailand.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg721EWWP-ALujhFFkrAsBhrENvAg1PuHB740QZudAtlb9B_Fd-r5SPIQs0KqraXkyFmNIG_OH5F6SRjxr-M0UwvHuezPfZ5rBO1tCc65MsNXlPbxEm3I5ykjW-J66Ku64DLByZWsBHj2zm/s640/blogger-image-267125763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg721EWWP-ALujhFFkrAsBhrENvAg1PuHB740QZudAtlb9B_Fd-r5SPIQs0KqraXkyFmNIG_OH5F6SRjxr-M0UwvHuezPfZ5rBO1tCc65MsNXlPbxEm3I5ykjW-J66Ku64DLByZWsBHj2zm/s640/blogger-image-267125763.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Screenshot from a video in Sing Buri.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From Hong Kong, I flew to Bangkok, Thailand. I was met at the airport and road in a taxi to a hostel in the heart of Bangkok. It is a busy city. We passed many temples on the way. Gold and deep red color with fancy designs. I don't have any pictures of them or Bangkok. I guess I was just taking it all in... Through my eyes. I took a couple videos of that evening though. There are eight of us here from the States. The six are from Maryland, one from Arizona, and then me from Washington (State). I had to clear that up.</div></span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrddhCSENYWsnUUnBsmptjusLGEIfR4uZQjBz-xKHuq2m8UyomZvS0_eA2MdrVqfiTW3-rvSgIJrM1_N0V_kuprnxK5ZCGLnGG3wrdiEsnmSxu7ZSgBa8Iu8o0cn8MECWmNqkNgD9LBVzu/s640/blogger-image-2146889210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrddhCSENYWsnUUnBsmptjusLGEIfR4uZQjBz-xKHuq2m8UyomZvS0_eA2MdrVqfiTW3-rvSgIJrM1_N0V_kuprnxK5ZCGLnGG3wrdiEsnmSxu7ZSgBa8Iu8o0cn8MECWmNqkNgD9LBVzu/s640/blogger-image-2146889210.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br><div>We went to dinner on the main tourist street where everyone was getting a massage and solicited to buy souvenirs. Dinner was good. Different from Thai food in back home. We kind of think of curries but there was a good variety of food.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxTDWokwzz0C9YwdNWBaI0EmauLVn81w46HZjDOBvZEH-UdezfmJZhmp_6IhgMDOR7JrtwlnoK4wALsEtYh3m4SHNjSNsegOYPGweshVNqMthqSh-hy-vE7TDu8sYDgQ6oWkMOcv_iN-5/s640/blogger-image-1150294032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxTDWokwzz0C9YwdNWBaI0EmauLVn81w46HZjDOBvZEH-UdezfmJZhmp_6IhgMDOR7JrtwlnoK4wALsEtYh3m4SHNjSNsegOYPGweshVNqMthqSh-hy-vE7TDu8sYDgQ6oWkMOcv_iN-5/s640/blogger-image-1150294032.jpg"></a></div></div><div>(Learning our names in Thai.)</div><div><br></div><div>We spent one night in Bangkok and then traveled to Sing Buri where we are at right now. The idea is to get us accustom to the culture for when we go to stay in local homes. We are staying in a house together learning some Thai and eating good food made by P'Ao and P'Mik. Solid leaders. They are very kind and patient and helpful and have a good sense of humor.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT-V3DNQinCku5P8c7DzapovPVGdCGRnyxDNDC5pGBBTmswvCGpu23nJOUtI7gSxMWgW_Be6peFB8IZGc6Su3KM_JMf05p2SdN1vMzUCUqUYx4NM2fpmib4ZpbE0x7DAbmA650e4x0dp6/s640/blogger-image--1082089381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT-V3DNQinCku5P8c7DzapovPVGdCGRnyxDNDC5pGBBTmswvCGpu23nJOUtI7gSxMWgW_Be6peFB8IZGc6Su3KM_JMf05p2SdN1vMzUCUqUYx4NM2fpmib4ZpbE0x7DAbmA650e4x0dp6/s640/blogger-image--1082089381.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We'll be traveling to our sites on Thursday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqHM7V8CJknHXAE5_R2UBXOAogDRecLVAt4fIFpa4QSUwlP-rRXCMcFnDO6hZ60juXso3b2dd5sSfdYltcEhs67BGc_NanHZWLcUWldrL3qhnFkXTnksLqcsamz1lqBZWXRzPeK8pO7E1/s640/blogger-image-848061078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqHM7V8CJknHXAE5_R2UBXOAogDRecLVAt4fIFpa4QSUwlP-rRXCMcFnDO6hZ60juXso3b2dd5sSfdYltcEhs67BGc_NanHZWLcUWldrL3qhnFkXTnksLqcsamz1lqBZWXRzPeK8pO7E1/s640/blogger-image-848061078.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had a quick rain the other day. It came down and we went outside and took showers. It was warm and refreshing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQvN5CGepEy-jONouN-8L66Zw7IHgGtHLxjVKDq4lIQAaJ833B9TmKpQO_0u2pjp7H3TGQBODoq1o-dLizZi4Mfw5f-ykansIt0rundn_K28T4jtkQg-_tuDvL3DEYS8QjhiR2lVxk6j2/s640/blogger-image--5537370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQvN5CGepEy-jONouN-8L66Zw7IHgGtHLxjVKDq4lIQAaJ833B9TmKpQO_0u2pjp7H3TGQBODoq1o-dLizZi4Mfw5f-ykansIt0rundn_K28T4jtkQg-_tuDvL3DEYS8QjhiR2lVxk6j2/s640/blogger-image--5537370.jpg"></a></div></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-42390851442435653392015-07-06T19:09:00.001-07:002015-07-06T19:09:38.379-07:00Hong Kong Day Two.<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iQ5jcuK5Si0_7rPlymRi434vIyMK9EPGTHKwzc1IZ-A0lN1rvgEqHy8dfEl2eJnkryczotjAtsfzckuqzzZmMZGkKC-X_lEn11HcdJE9G4E-ekYq1cOi5G7calIPVvLDMPbC1o2q_nRH/s640/blogger-image--142899212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iQ5jcuK5Si0_7rPlymRi434vIyMK9EPGTHKwzc1IZ-A0lN1rvgEqHy8dfEl2eJnkryczotjAtsfzckuqzzZmMZGkKC-X_lEn11HcdJE9G4E-ekYq1cOi5G7calIPVvLDMPbC1o2q_nRH/s640/blogger-image--142899212.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Let's start with breakfast.</span></div><div>We found a place the served traditional HK/Chinese food. We had grilled green beans, fried rice, and a couple vegetable/ tofu dishes. We ate with chop sticks. All those opportunities state side to practice and I used the fork. It was a good meal. Filling and lasted us, now that I think about it, all day!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAGjU68NTYmPE_Lh4zpjSWlD53fhQHnFKE62HJH5WxbChytzfAevxJAShW87ip6SqWQfQ_ndo9qgzOw3OLR1HSZaa-zxlKtHoSIad9kFy7SnS1bn3-9xfk11Hz8siewSgyyn2NUvCo_dA/s640/blogger-image--894294285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAGjU68NTYmPE_Lh4zpjSWlD53fhQHnFKE62HJH5WxbChytzfAevxJAShW87ip6SqWQfQ_ndo9qgzOw3OLR1HSZaa-zxlKtHoSIad9kFy7SnS1bn3-9xfk11Hz8siewSgyyn2NUvCo_dA/s640/blogger-image--894294285.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We started out toward Dragon's back, a hike that was recommended my a few friends. The Metro put us out onto the street as we follow the super helpful instructions of a blog found by Em M. At a left turn, almost before we could check the map, a man walked up and said,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"Where you going? Where you going?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He was onto us. We gathered this hike was pretty popular as he told about 12 times how to get there. We took a left and headed up the hill towards the cemetery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_rIfIAXZ_xoI8FemMdnjMw_3zAZYN0Q9rzSzzD3RVICYHQwsBy836Mew8W5r3l_Sgd9v0QAQ8fyiENqYpedOKFEOuVfV65LAd0nbNpoqqr7_GcqZTX_jhdaGkEDM3Xg_00ncahnmEQqc/s640/blogger-image--327494406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_rIfIAXZ_xoI8FemMdnjMw_3zAZYN0Q9rzSzzD3RVICYHQwsBy836Mew8W5r3l_Sgd9v0QAQ8fyiENqYpedOKFEOuVfV65LAd0nbNpoqqr7_GcqZTX_jhdaGkEDM3Xg_00ncahnmEQqc/s640/blogger-image--327494406.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We climbed the steps through the middle and met Channing, an Engineer interning in the area for a few months. We stuck together the rest of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGykcItpsxItv8-HWIzqu0E6rPZ83GW5R9ykZ6NG1F_fnDqBAKLPP4MVSq_y2mmN-p92jiWtQu6_Is_zZiluQMRS5_iofZfZpShD4GEpokjZOgT6tK2RkKm0X2z4g5NkSZrWg1LjzEkXCy/s640/blogger-image--941517070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGykcItpsxItv8-HWIzqu0E6rPZ83GW5R9ykZ6NG1F_fnDqBAKLPP4MVSq_y2mmN-p92jiWtQu6_Is_zZiluQMRS5_iofZfZpShD4GEpokjZOgT6tK2RkKm0X2z4g5NkSZrWg1LjzEkXCy/s640/blogger-image--941517070.jpg"></a></div>We kept climbing up until we came to cross roads and took a right heading South-ish on a paved path. The path wrapped around the hill as it offered a few views of the city and bay below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3TFz2S82-kIKNbLipq9BvoAGDf6Sp-BU_J5oBELMniiBHtL1cRRSD1sfeQ7ZD0cmzTV2PzlppfPFMy-8lAAJjJqrKM4osnwyeuB5RzUWb1r_jR9weh9CNtsqb8X3MvXXqWz_vQLfSoiR/s640/blogger-image-280406918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3TFz2S82-kIKNbLipq9BvoAGDf6Sp-BU_J5oBELMniiBHtL1cRRSD1sfeQ7ZD0cmzTV2PzlppfPFMy-8lAAJjJqrKM4osnwyeuB5RzUWb1r_jR9weh9CNtsqb8X3MvXXqWz_vQLfSoiR/s640/blogger-image-280406918.jpg"></a></div><br></div>The path eventually turned to dirt as we were partially covered by a small canopy. There were also flowing streams and dried creek beds along the way.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVLJss5zRAHygl0-6MIwBM_vbiFG0wSZxQmkcTsMsjkVDK7c9yLYnQltQVUQqs29uUIrivgZCFkF8yTUnhbwBwBnku-zix_E4d6iPlj-XKKtu9ubyp6997-aXLsTJY_htfccM-hTu-xKx/s640/blogger-image-31722099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVLJss5zRAHygl0-6MIwBM_vbiFG0wSZxQmkcTsMsjkVDK7c9yLYnQltQVUQqs29uUIrivgZCFkF8yTUnhbwBwBnku-zix_E4d6iPlj-XKKtu9ubyp6997-aXLsTJY_htfccM-hTu-xKx/s640/blogger-image-31722099.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The path kept a large curl as we finished up the tail and emerged onto the lower back of the dragon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclot-bnDLkiags_2FTVDkJrDO3eKxwE7c8OB94lVji7EkAw_ZNeeCSZpKqv2sKj_1REh92jOIM1C3gcb8fZt_bOkMJUiyaUxLlsIWBeWdgAIvv2_m5aPnPFXt6R1qzZ_GbhO_mXWCGrqX/s640/blogger-image--1198484666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclot-bnDLkiags_2FTVDkJrDO3eKxwE7c8OB94lVji7EkAw_ZNeeCSZpKqv2sKj_1REh92jOIM1C3gcb8fZt_bOkMJUiyaUxLlsIWBeWdgAIvv2_m5aPnPFXt6R1qzZ_GbhO_mXWCGrqX/s640/blogger-image--1198484666.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr8Zgfmt031Zayo3_ceDMEeB6-UcM5TL12oBNZE36uaFp-q-0TawJH_3eUGzhUskv6P_0f7G35eCaeaKY96qu0Jp3Vwrtpp0vzffYx4IHGV_aLX8Pwre1592f_ReNe3ZN7D-RhDwSDd6A/s640/blogger-image--958650029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr8Zgfmt031Zayo3_ceDMEeB6-UcM5TL12oBNZE36uaFp-q-0TawJH_3eUGzhUskv6P_0f7G35eCaeaKY96qu0Jp3Vwrtpp0vzffYx4IHGV_aLX8Pwre1592f_ReNe3ZN7D-RhDwSDd6A/s640/blogger-image--958650029.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We gradually made our way up the back and to the crest where the path opened up revealing green hill sides<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> scaling to beach and ocean.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkORRbp6LEtuyHhUdjH_dXNL55nqrGib1Tb7QFFv_q9lQkhaCxhxF7RJbsBnZiEEUl5b_xeyIlMfkCo40geMO7Io9pgUHbUr0SGlnm2dsMdz0hi567SBkHbJmYt_Mm_Lm3qq95UOOrrIa/s640/blogger-image-706448542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkORRbp6LEtuyHhUdjH_dXNL55nqrGib1Tb7QFFv_q9lQkhaCxhxF7RJbsBnZiEEUl5b_xeyIlMfkCo40geMO7Io9pgUHbUr0SGlnm2dsMdz0hi567SBkHbJmYt_Mm_Lm3qq95UOOrrIa/s640/blogger-image-706448542.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We decend the right of the neck to Shek O Road where we caught a bus down to the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXod47uaxcZbY4w8mZS8bAcMSbG22zzFJIYLi5RvhBfU0gVnc4EsA8YFEq-_X8E8CZx347TtiaSR9r33Zc7etIzNMeBGqz1LVNAPw4inHhOJ3whBQXOMvYV6g7JWNaEmAN_mnnRbdLlPvx/s640/blogger-image--702334102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXod47uaxcZbY4w8mZS8bAcMSbG22zzFJIYLi5RvhBfU0gVnc4EsA8YFEq-_X8E8CZx347TtiaSR9r33Zc7etIzNMeBGqz1LVNAPw4inHhOJ3whBQXOMvYV6g7JWNaEmAN_mnnRbdLlPvx/s640/blogger-image--702334102.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were sweating so so much. I felt like the water was coming out of my skin as fast as I was drinking it. It's a good feeling I guess but we were very ready to get in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_MLKJWQilkAngOatpENjHm1vMHONpGjrWzHP1SEQMTdoxO__3p4rp5ln_JG_VcIN2qhyphenhyphenpBZyG38IVZNuHF2qmF9sP0QFPtdSlH5zUwo0N5kwOJvFAvMIVENJeNChUmc0A0XP57SaKZJ5/s640/blogger-image--745533756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_MLKJWQilkAngOatpENjHm1vMHONpGjrWzHP1SEQMTdoxO__3p4rp5ln_JG_VcIN2qhyphenhyphenpBZyG38IVZNuHF2qmF9sP0QFPtdSlH5zUwo0N5kwOJvFAvMIVENJeNChUmc0A0XP57SaKZJ5/s640/blogger-image--745533756.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SOeLI3RK72UIEyURctF6JCQRoBv-PlJ7pPSB09AVaJSPf_p_u3Un-HRFwl_BB-14E3iOhQH3tfVkeviawqY2lvOIYQYiyB6o8guzd0rhKjjux3oFy6X0D6I-bNz_zYgsSNK-KsmvA7vw/s640/blogger-image-1604274194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SOeLI3RK72UIEyURctF6JCQRoBv-PlJ7pPSB09AVaJSPf_p_u3Un-HRFwl_BB-14E3iOhQH3tfVkeviawqY2lvOIYQYiyB6o8guzd0rhKjjux3oFy6X0D6I-bNz_zYgsSNK-KsmvA7vw/s640/blogger-image-1604274194.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was a little colder than we had thought and the clouds had covered a little more than usual so I wasn't ready to go all in. Never the less, it was refreshing. The locals were catching little fish and putting them in a water bottle to eat later. They were using little toy nets and mostly the kids were doing it but we tried using our hands and actually caught a few. The ocean was pretty dirty. There was lots of trash floating and the water was a light brown color. Still refreshing though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1e6Q4ylphSZ-htmk_UniWkjR7UNkIyWk9LsGF324Os27z60GvYXUsOCYYrb-JnbDvurx2Lf8dLlgbooQqPimz6Lsj2yrjfm8KM4Ym298yUiP4p__adJdB_lnb2xs4mbCZjlhSSBqi7Da/s640/blogger-image-1358017251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1e6Q4ylphSZ-htmk_UniWkjR7UNkIyWk9LsGF324Os27z60GvYXUsOCYYrb-JnbDvurx2Lf8dLlgbooQqPimz6Lsj2yrjfm8KM4Ym298yUiP4p__adJdB_lnb2xs4mbCZjlhSSBqi7Da/s640/blogger-image-1358017251.jpg"></a></div><br></div>We showered off and started the bus ride back to Hong Kong. We had planned to eat out at Adam's favorite Indian restaurant that evening and we were so ready for it. Adam ordered several dishes that we all shared and honestly it was so good and I was so hungry I remember much about the dishes. The first one was a crispy shell wrapped around a bit of curry in the middle. And the rest was just super tasty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeisGtm8xHBBTaFDRX7OANVbRs2F3Pipkn29Aqs67GStyUk9YF7-_kmhZ62jPytl1P3ncCZrFzQg7fy96cl6Xg8ro3MkYgESgjIYwi-NdbuUby-4SQz-BdDAG3z7uAbQdst9qzoxqhEM2q/s640/blogger-image-223562236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeisGtm8xHBBTaFDRX7OANVbRs2F3Pipkn29Aqs67GStyUk9YF7-_kmhZ62jPytl1P3ncCZrFzQg7fy96cl6Xg8ro3MkYgESgjIYwi-NdbuUby-4SQz-BdDAG3z7uAbQdst9qzoxqhEM2q/s640/blogger-image-223562236.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We parted ways with Channing (to randomly see him again 20 mins later at a Metro stop) and headed to the the base of Victoria Peak.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwYUPsSTNqHDo1uBYwM8gIAKrCmlziuh7CV-bYdIo_nQLjaRBS6kB1Z19vvLKo8lt0OZVOtM-gPsBs_9Eet59Q5SIjIr5n5GWwaCJasAXQO95NQeEIefeLDY9j4AXbcQItq-iQ8ORb9ah/s640/blogger-image-1606838799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwYUPsSTNqHDo1uBYwM8gIAKrCmlziuh7CV-bYdIo_nQLjaRBS6kB1Z19vvLKo8lt0OZVOtM-gPsBs_9Eet59Q5SIjIr5n5GWwaCJasAXQO95NQeEIefeLDY9j4AXbcQItq-iQ8ORb9ah/s640/blogger-image-1606838799.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tourist for days. This was the spot to be apparently. We lined up and actually got a great seat right next to window. The mountain is steep and I was told it gets up to a 45 degree angle at one point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9aUPVCuIlgPJpXjl5RwSePwyL6GLiMJbRrNOdAJX_Cs1BUQQbYz7m5NacXYhymx7uuq8bY0aQJ0JjbSdOH3FW-i34IDdmLLT8L-XXqqkUFaIoPZSLknpCMJ5QrfHNkMVeZriCGDUX_ji/s640/blogger-image-1027802603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9aUPVCuIlgPJpXjl5RwSePwyL6GLiMJbRrNOdAJX_Cs1BUQQbYz7m5NacXYhymx7uuq8bY0aQJ0JjbSdOH3FW-i34IDdmLLT8L-XXqqkUFaIoPZSLknpCMJ5QrfHNkMVeZriCGDUX_ji/s640/blogger-image-1027802603.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We got off in a bustle of people and found our way to the observation deck, looking North. The view was amazing! We then looked out over the bay on the west side without city light. Such a contrast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdpV-1eYlw4DIBJ-fqcu7p_qe_lSw3gs_j-lWcAUr72iipMBcY49X3jcsY01tby4KtB_d9l3YgRqQf49OXt2IVBKrrWHrg_VI-fgdLousS6v_aLSdxZ-pm-4QisYXpmp0mM6MIzyzzooN/s640/blogger-image--400874861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdpV-1eYlw4DIBJ-fqcu7p_qe_lSw3gs_j-lWcAUr72iipMBcY49X3jcsY01tby4KtB_d9l3YgRqQf49OXt2IVBKrrWHrg_VI-fgdLousS6v_aLSdxZ-pm-4QisYXpmp0mM6MIzyzzooN/s640/blogger-image--400874861.jpg"></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>Then we got an ice cream cones at Burger King with the best view in the world, I assume. (Proof.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXImgqEsi3hSt-m-tRVZYSp4y5jqm_BSB2KMU_YK_bnj5occkKlexA7NhaCnXJT354h6bLQZzRtCZm7mFH6JKkOuzkeQJxMcLuwOB3a0vtsm4q9ZcOPBr149xz_UB-XRL0UFhiPYGJBMT/s640/blogger-image--1286929182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXImgqEsi3hSt-m-tRVZYSp4y5jqm_BSB2KMU_YK_bnj5occkKlexA7NhaCnXJT354h6bLQZzRtCZm7mFH6JKkOuzkeQJxMcLuwOB3a0vtsm4q9ZcOPBr149xz_UB-XRL0UFhiPYGJBMT/s640/blogger-image--1286929182.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And that was the day! It was long and amazing. And we slept hard. The next day, I was off to Bangkok.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-79394903715893633982015-07-04T21:43:00.001-07:002015-07-04T21:44:35.154-07:00Hong Kong Day One.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz3WSiDhw8VMzUYkEcSu2miCkt-IDEG9mE-Ft6X1Y4gHVYu7rPAZ72oIMdJ-tqS1QmtklcunoYND9370jiA6cUGzChGio8TXZh-yaCzFORVGK-ShjWXT0oFyof6kQMMF5vqghzX35eJZ9/s640/blogger-image-1806535589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz3WSiDhw8VMzUYkEcSu2miCkt-IDEG9mE-Ft6X1Y4gHVYu7rPAZ72oIMdJ-tqS1QmtklcunoYND9370jiA6cUGzChGio8TXZh-yaCzFORVGK-ShjWXT0oFyof6kQMMF5vqghzX35eJZ9/s640/blogger-image-1806535589.jpg"></a></div><br></div>It's 7am on Sunday here in HK;15 hours in the future from home. Writing this, I'm laying in bed at Sice's house. Sice is a host for couch surfing, a website/organization that connect homes and locals with sleepy travelers. I arrived in HK via Teipai on Friday noon with anticipation of something new. New sites and sounds and generally familiar smells greeted me as the bus<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> quickly unloaded me </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">in Kawloon city. Using GoogleMaps location, Adam's detailed instructions, and quick check with a local, I found my way to the Communication and Visual Arts building on the Baptist University campus where Sice and I had planned to meet. There was a high school senior art expedition there on campus and I was invited on a personal tour by the professor whom also helped me contact and connect with Sice. He was very kind. We walked through the gallery as we explained the context of each piece. Most here directly related to the umbrella revelation and other political issues and concerns. This piece shows Hong Kong in its stages of growth and struggle.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVIQtcrYZz53pCa7XPQCRAsY-IZSbjAOaAdKvuuRIq4uPZKdk7E0IefZcTtPcgnDLf2MUqAncmNBp7OD6AbxJTBUB9Qm6kJZKBPB6b3uEmJGvIcJDfBNxji_WXHrhREb_i7yrfo-NCdf9/s640/blogger-image--1263981873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVIQtcrYZz53pCa7XPQCRAsY-IZSbjAOaAdKvuuRIq4uPZKdk7E0IefZcTtPcgnDLf2MUqAncmNBp7OD6AbxJTBUB9Qm6kJZKBPB6b3uEmJGvIcJDfBNxji_WXHrhREb_i7yrfo-NCdf9/s640/blogger-image--1263981873.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After connecting with Sice for a moment, I searched a five block radius for wifi and finally found a Starbucks. Thank goodness for Seattle. Adam, a good friend from high school graciously endured the heat and found me there. We hopped on bus and went to his apartment which is slightly larger than a shoe box standing on end. I took a shower and we were ready to explore. We took the metro under the water from the Pinensula to the Island and used an open air tour bus to see the city.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7S_zrO96QOMuFYHdmZbiJaPpEGivtZu1WOSqovWBLULSud7Hgfjyxgay0lybxm83Lu2SvxL1EJxMfm7TOpN9ax6oE5I5tz5nbgNGjca3ZVLulOvmZvlMhnrRGaHjeFt89MtTdT7NkBGj/s640/blogger-image-1611203135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7S_zrO96QOMuFYHdmZbiJaPpEGivtZu1WOSqovWBLULSud7Hgfjyxgay0lybxm83Lu2SvxL1EJxMfm7TOpN9ax6oE5I5tz5nbgNGjca3ZVLulOvmZvlMhnrRGaHjeFt89MtTdT7NkBGj/s640/blogger-image-1611203135.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsb9SYhyZoUjvKYasZJ74Di7i9HB1G3D2dh7fyggRV938j1S6i7YBLoTCUSCHuyTRrpllWw8w0ZSNxrdDlL9nwo-PkgM_g5dK6OhbhtIBwD-6X0GeZuGb5EM6aNpFRUGEI1qEw6p8T2n9/s640/blogger-image-301715555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsb9SYhyZoUjvKYasZJ74Di7i9HB1G3D2dh7fyggRV938j1S6i7YBLoTCUSCHuyTRrpllWw8w0ZSNxrdDlL9nwo-PkgM_g5dK6OhbhtIBwD-6X0GeZuGb5EM6aNpFRUGEI1qEw6p8T2n9/s640/blogger-image-301715555.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCQmEvUJqCcB9COJqDYzJQoCFXIJVQsbRrkxnFINagYfuPqKE6qHQmOjT4RGHX_AdmBMed34lFSwBxQp18ry6u4-WbClO2wfOTCTHkFoeSqHiEVoXcdfyI1TOfKSCk6bz028rKr8fjEKh/s640/blogger-image-1589870763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCQmEvUJqCcB9COJqDYzJQoCFXIJVQsbRrkxnFINagYfuPqKE6qHQmOjT4RGHX_AdmBMed34lFSwBxQp18ry6u4-WbClO2wfOTCTHkFoeSqHiEVoXcdfyI1TOfKSCk6bz028rKr8fjEKh/s640/blogger-image-1589870763.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">HK has the most sky scrapers in the world so with that many, they have to get creative. Do you see the Panda Bears climbing the one in the right? And they are always expanding their city.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcpUXaMNRWX8hZ1EDBysfIm_IAWf1NeOueCOkLFTB37aqbQ7kHxJIcXDcvr4Fz1RTaNRTippue7zx01Ljfu0YhpXxwW-x6q3nAFYut8VmcGxTZoqfcFXATWCTkgI4UxNhn4Xp0diin24m/s640/blogger-image-2064543418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcpUXaMNRWX8hZ1EDBysfIm_IAWf1NeOueCOkLFTB37aqbQ7kHxJIcXDcvr4Fz1RTaNRTippue7zx01Ljfu0YhpXxwW-x6q3nAFYut8VmcGxTZoqfcFXATWCTkgI4UxNhn4Xp0diin24m/s640/blogger-image-2064543418.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYYRDrBKRRoiQG35Q3bULOfJwbw2rVN4MEo_1-S1U27L0XlRUheiIKg7k9hOpReCZgpDfVCuDs1g55vJWkK0O_Sb9SdJwQinFQvI98BVnLLa1FISkkn9vxIKtMYq0N3BHEBxVt18GbTHE/s640/blogger-image-1876417775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYYRDrBKRRoiQG35Q3bULOfJwbw2rVN4MEo_1-S1U27L0XlRUheiIKg7k9hOpReCZgpDfVCuDs1g55vJWkK0O_Sb9SdJwQinFQvI98BVnLLa1FISkkn9vxIKtMYq0N3BHEBxVt18GbTHE/s640/blogger-image-1876417775.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrtqZgV3719WzdNrVci8djrExaPn68qZakMtOg99eW6TL9mzFLjGDEZmnbdNsqhSGduwpIbnEQHE9p5D6arRXuxLcWIkWT-B44Q9WtAAZ_VnRT30_wwU9PAZlbVEI4ZnaYavMNO71Hizl/s640/blogger-image-115104904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrtqZgV3719WzdNrVci8djrExaPn68qZakMtOg99eW6TL9mzFLjGDEZmnbdNsqhSGduwpIbnEQHE9p5D6arRXuxLcWIkWT-B44Q9WtAAZ_VnRT30_wwU9PAZlbVEI4ZnaYavMNO71Hizl/s640/blogger-image-115104904.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We finished with a ferry ride back to the peninsula, a quick view of the sky line, and an incredible symphony performance with an amazing violin soloist. The day came to a close and the many steps of HK Day Two were waiting for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK70ZGMS8GIy0u9awFk5t2F_S14lttFehAOdNXXoUbnHkKqFxRO1V-YAUVEwtLzqlaqpf158bRQK7ioZQ3Iz0EoTMxNfHkzRYJkNgzQoW2Tjfdbxb2xyzGZHizIQE0oQkbfcq2DyIsv_Q/s640/blogger-image-15528577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK70ZGMS8GIy0u9awFk5t2F_S14lttFehAOdNXXoUbnHkKqFxRO1V-YAUVEwtLzqlaqpf158bRQK7ioZQ3Iz0EoTMxNfHkzRYJkNgzQoW2Tjfdbxb2xyzGZHizIQE0oQkbfcq2DyIsv_Q/s640/blogger-image-15528577.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Looking South at the Island from the Peninsula.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></span>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-44035969474383090382015-07-02T00:54:00.001-07:002015-07-02T00:54:41.806-07:00Thankful.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHDqCVqsr1Rur58tIPAWz8DOcqyFp2y2GjHxxYgMp9yQ0Pgw59hxF4dQeNmQzz9tD35AYZDasTLfKu8JfW10I-JHlBMlqFcfXdyKmfdEJoU7prN9M2KQyfVoaSXacdJf_txRTryOOdT8e/s640/blogger-image--857371006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHDqCVqsr1Rur58tIPAWz8DOcqyFp2y2GjHxxYgMp9yQ0Pgw59hxF4dQeNmQzz9tD35AYZDasTLfKu8JfW10I-JHlBMlqFcfXdyKmfdEJoU7prN9M2KQyfVoaSXacdJf_txRTryOOdT8e/s640/blogger-image--857371006.jpg"></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Thankful for family.</span></div><div>Last weekend I spent time with my family at Q'Emilin Park in Post Falls. It was so refreshing. Their support and love it so good.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SkQ-H8uqJ98CelYDEBKp0MuZPPpL3FT3pgg_tA2QZYhKGK52pR_ef8A3cEHAza-5fPScatyA-jzOrRqX1HZoIDt01c5tpnQPqPZfXif1uvEBrE5lOc9IdnYDVpdQqbZlhl5qMqVrdKEg/s640/blogger-image--2021352115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SkQ-H8uqJ98CelYDEBKp0MuZPPpL3FT3pgg_tA2QZYhKGK52pR_ef8A3cEHAza-5fPScatyA-jzOrRqX1HZoIDt01c5tpnQPqPZfXif1uvEBrE5lOc9IdnYDVpdQqbZlhl5qMqVrdKEg/s640/blogger-image--2021352115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Thankful for friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Surrounded by people who are genuine and happy and challenge me and always down. (<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Julian took me to the airport last minute.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk5FX-h8KwuGJErKWJd-XhHO2pa81KhaMfUcQ2xDI4GHGj0v40aakOaSTIJD0rGtCco0MZTCAVR5gWWFAekpz-RBP6aeio-qK_8TYl7sR9wfEVbiPG47CckhcgTaGSh3ILZ6rTbh_D0ZM/s640/blogger-image-774282488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk5FX-h8KwuGJErKWJd-XhHO2pa81KhaMfUcQ2xDI4GHGj0v40aakOaSTIJD0rGtCco0MZTCAVR5gWWFAekpz-RBP6aeio-qK_8TYl7sR9wfEVbiPG47CckhcgTaGSh3ILZ6rTbh_D0ZM/s640/blogger-image-774282488.jpg"></a></div></div></div><br></div><div>And thankful for the opportunity to hop on a plane to Thailand. God is so good.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcqjJude_MZiYN5dXbd3DuJ03r1uAxG_DepDsxfMb-1OuEnb9CZ8JrvVqhKiTnVPTFFzbZQbh97QSd0tcDipa-kda3ddYojD9gdLDZJKktz3rSYjS4YwnWHHUGVxvtx_yytiM9y7HdV7g/s640/blogger-image-514813741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcqjJude_MZiYN5dXbd3DuJ03r1uAxG_DepDsxfMb-1OuEnb9CZ8JrvVqhKiTnVPTFFzbZQbh97QSd0tcDipa-kda3ddYojD9gdLDZJKktz3rSYjS4YwnWHHUGVxvtx_yytiM9y7HdV7g/s640/blogger-image-514813741.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-73278521161950713162015-06-25T23:39:00.001-07:002015-06-29T13:59:25.268-07:00Campsite 19<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Last weekend Alex and I road tripped up to Squamish, BC for a Tough Mudder at Whistler Blackcomb. We planned for more friends to join but this time we just met up with one for the race. Klahanie Campground is just off the highway right before Squamish. At first glance, I was kind of thinking we would have to deal with traffic noise all night. But thank goodness for reservations and advise. The week before I emailed the campground peeps and asked for the most quiet and out of the way campsite. They suggested campsite 19. After a beautiful Sabbath drive through the curves of coastal PNW, we pull off the Hwy and up to the office. We get out and are greeted by the hosts/owners in their French-Canadian accents and silly smiles. The man crumples up the reservation, taking us at our word, and pulls out a map to show us our site. Directions and then paying for the second night, and fire wood from the lady and off. We drive down the long hill and through the other sites, around the circle and up to right onto the "goat trail". We park and hop out. Immediately we hear the waterfall others had been turned away by and check it out. Following the water downstream, we see its final destination, ocean waters.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6909BtTHmm88Nc8DXR1p2is6xEEndJOZFrG-PfbXNOFdJxSKki9qtKPKWqS5CAEQIeZ_AiljWNgnFhS2uWmjF9mjihvZE8lF5bvUU673Ie8FdybipwWmdRfdV4OO8gXJca10Moskzsrs/s640/blogger-image--594613068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6909BtTHmm88Nc8DXR1p2is6xEEndJOZFrG-PfbXNOFdJxSKki9qtKPKWqS5CAEQIeZ_AiljWNgnFhS2uWmjF9mjihvZE8lF5bvUU673Ie8FdybipwWmdRfdV4OO8gXJca10Moskzsrs/s640/blogger-image--594613068.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We run down the trail, over the railroad tracks, onto the trail again and onto the boulders at the edge of the water. We made it! To our right, water meets water as cascading meets tidal and fresh meets salt.</span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_o7kAgbAzjQqhxKtCItCHrCjJBkPWG__pDHh5MOoA1UyKSdniK63zyeER9uotndRMNX0I-PNVYaCsdYtv4laOksqw-jRlNRozYIkMEOwGTx4V_F17YjGX56OS2Zx27R6yJuYVWxNFr8N/s640/blogger-image-1968906250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_o7kAgbAzjQqhxKtCItCHrCjJBkPWG__pDHh5MOoA1UyKSdniK63zyeER9uotndRMNX0I-PNVYaCsdYtv4laOksqw-jRlNRozYIkMEOwGTx4V_F17YjGX56OS2Zx27R6yJuYVWxNFr8N/s640/blogger-image-1968906250.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>We breathed it in; an amazing place and grateful to be a part of it.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>p.s.</div><div>Post race, we needed calories. So, at Tim Hortons we got a couple delicious Canadian maple donut, filled with cream. My taste buds danced with joy. Then we asked about any good restaurants in town, maybe Indian. We found the one; a very nice atmosphere, kind people, etc etc. But the food, oh my. Incredible. The BEST. We ordered four different curry bases. I can't remember the names but one had dumpling, another had chickpeas, another had lentils and the last had potato and cauliflower. They were all unique. Sweet, spices, creamy, soupy. It was all their. You would have to taste it, sorry. And it wasn't just because we were starving that they tasted so good. The extra we had for breakfast on the way back and it was still just as tasty cold. Sooo, yep!</div></font></div></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-4459289878446729102015-06-22T13:49:00.001-07:002015-06-24T00:54:05.810-07:00Oh, Canada.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our goal: get into Canada. Their goal: stop us from getting into Canada. Oh, and find drugs and weapons and pictures of child pornography. So they asked us to pull into slot four and follow instructions. We were then asked to get out of the car with our IDs. They asked us questions like, "How long have you known this man you are riding with?" I responded with, "Alex? Uhh we went to highschool together."<br />
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And, "Have you ever done any narcotic?" "Nope." "It's okay, I know it's legal in Washington, I don't care what you do on your own time." "Nope."</div>
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And, "Why are you coming into Canada?" "We're doing a Tough Mudder at Whistler tomorrow!" "Uhh-hhu... So are you meeting anyone up there?" "Yes, everyone else who is doing the Tough Mudder."</div>
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Canada is great. Their boarder patrol is tough. (They didn't say "sorry" once. Disappointing.) And we made it back to Washington with a friendly, "Oh right, yep, the Tough Mudder, how was it?!"</div>
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Also, gas prices were incredibly low.</div>
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Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-16575697234670735502015-06-22T13:02:00.001-07:002015-06-29T13:56:12.249-07:00Tough Mudder Whistler 2015 with Good Friends.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tough and not as muddy as we thought. 18 kilometers of running and 19 obstacles for getting over/under/through/whatever. We started out in a long line to get our bibs, checked in our bag and headed toward the noise. We hopped over a wooden barrier and into the warm up area. Mr. Steroid-man was waiting for us with his colorful tattoos and bulging veins. He meant well, I'm sure. Bless his heart. So he did his job and got us alllllll pumped up. Then we moved onto the starting line with Mr. Sentiments. We grouped up and got cold as he asked us to take a knee and explored the reasons for running this race ie fathers, cancer, homeless children, each other/family/community/idk. So, we were ready to go. And off we went. Slightly inspired and more motivated to just leave. Woot! So we were off! The first few obstacles were a wooden wall style requiring a little hop and jump and over. Then "Cry Baby" was next. We were told to prepare for a gas chamber of sorts. I immediately thought mace and tear gas and police brutality and World War II, etc. It was menthol. A low to ground chamber of fog infused menthol vapor that burnt our lungs and chilled our skin. It was refreshing. And we kept running. Mud was next. Lots of it. All over the trail. And runners. We mainly stayed to the side where there was less mud cause honestly when given the option to run 10 miles with mud in my shoes or not, I generally go with not. But it was challenging! Lots of small stumps that could impale our bodies and plenty of chances to slip and brake an ankle. So good! And more running! So much running!<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycLjG4Gw9suTWCSG38KzN_nPqZ1M3-tSiNMEX3AEz0sp3CXD2HsCfkA9TmPcCJBXqF9F9K59HhPPF_zclM2U1aWVIreOmC3tkesxUWmL_9zC783IYaohFsdf_7muvJs3jJF0JuZz582P1/s640/blogger-image--1309316447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycLjG4Gw9suTWCSG38KzN_nPqZ1M3-tSiNMEX3AEz0sp3CXD2HsCfkA9TmPcCJBXqF9F9K59HhPPF_zclM2U1aWVIreOmC3tkesxUWmL_9zC783IYaohFsdf_7muvJs3jJF0JuZz582P1/s640/blogger-image--1309316447.jpg"></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Our feet taking a break after 12 miles.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Then, "Hold Your Wood". A team effort to pass a 10ft log through several hole and over several walls with a "no wood on wood" policy loosely followed and never enforced. And more running. Which, by the way, offered an incredibly beautiful scene. Snow spotted peaks pulled up from a lush green costal forest of evergreen trees and thick underbrush. Creeks, streams, and hopeful rivers crossed our path as we made our way to the next challenge. A soupy mud bed with a barbed wire canopy waited for us. Oh, and culverts to crawl through that landed us in a watery light brown bath. It was refreshing. More frolicking through the forest and then we got the good stuff. The joys of a highdive! So good. And by dive, I mean no diving allowed but we got to jump 15 into water!/mud./other. It was fun! And then there was "Everest", a big slippery ramp that we had to sprint towards, throw our bodies at and hope someone at the top caught us. It worked out and I really like it. The camaraderie was awesome; everyone helping each other and encouraging each other to push themselves to the limit. A bit like the Kentucky Derby but everyone is rooting for each other and no one has horses and there are no winners and no large bets are made with a free beer at the end and no one dies.<br>
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So, then ice. Ice bath. "Ice Enima" was the words they liked to use. I was a little scared. But it was refreshing. We slid down into a tank of ice water with cage over head that forced us to go all in, then had to hop over a divider board and into another tank of ice water and then out. Wooh! It was cold. Luckily we had great weather. That sun was doing work yesterday! Upper 70(f) degree weather made it worth the dunk. We passed by the long ski jump course used in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Up the steep hill and onto the last few obstacles. "Funky Monkey" was a set of monkey bars that led to a bar that swung over to a suspended bar which we shimmied along, all over a light brown pool of water. It was like I was on the play ground in grade school again! Those were the days. Life was simple. No dirty water.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We were almost done! Another kilometer to the dredded dangling electric shock therapy. So much hype and mental prep for that. After 18 km though, I was over it. We bolted through and felt a slight irritation of electricity towards to the end. And we finished!! Mission accomplished. It was long. We sprayed off and got a head band. So legit. I actually wanted a medal, but that's okay. The race as a whole was so beautiful and calming and good for my soul. A little push of mental and physical in an incredibly glorious place, Beautiful Britiah Columbia.<br>
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Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-56035315011857061672015-06-20T16:47:00.001-07:002015-06-23T13:06:02.666-07:00Road TripThe open road. Here we are! While I'm writing this we are in line for the boarder crossing in Blaine, WA heading to our first Tough Mudder at Whistler!! Oh, it's going to be... Muddy. Haha. Let's do this! Good to spend quality time with a good friend. So good.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDN-JoPIgatV3g_VNditznT4SZj8G08dEGE6jeCQNSjLJhzyU6Ni53NAF0mgFhL7C2a8VgZTraSaaWu2f_-JhUraJUQ2BDTyh8pOWussjCzYGdpEXj0-YRXoWuTb7d_5KKdBWWBzxSO2V/s640/blogger-image-1508903058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDN-JoPIgatV3g_VNditznT4SZj8G08dEGE6jeCQNSjLJhzyU6Ni53NAF0mgFhL7C2a8VgZTraSaaWu2f_-JhUraJUQ2BDTyh8pOWussjCzYGdpEXj0-YRXoWuTb7d_5KKdBWWBzxSO2V/s640/blogger-image-1508903058.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaF4ClZOVlKANDZs4404qbJAnsbywiBKhD8tXpQmNWnyK_pRSTcml1zYfKP0X9t1HY0q-vKmWNTlurYFHPzt1GUo-xLgu5U5fzv8I9XSGj09VAOh_QtsCt6endDiXyJ3JQ1s7XrG8S1-J/s640/blogger-image--1528634868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaF4ClZOVlKANDZs4404qbJAnsbywiBKhD8tXpQmNWnyK_pRSTcml1zYfKP0X9t1HY0q-vKmWNTlurYFHPzt1GUo-xLgu5U5fzv8I9XSGj09VAOh_QtsCt6endDiXyJ3JQ1s7XrG8S1-J/s640/blogger-image--1528634868.jpg"></a></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-51122022871970237802011-03-21T02:16:00.000-07:002015-06-23T13:07:11.132-07:00Sum Sum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A summary of the last four months.<br>
November First to February Second was spent in Italy. While in <i>Italia</i> I lived in <i>Forli</i> and volunteered at a nursing home. I visit <i>Venezia</i> (Venice), <i>Firenze</i> (Florence), <i>Siena, Pisa, La Spezia, </i>and<i> Roma.</i> On February Second I got on a plane and landed in London. I spent a week there visiting friends, (and London and the Stonehenge), before heading north to Harrogate for a week. There I stayed with some one via couch surfing and got to see some of the city. During that week I went over to Skipton by bus and then walked about six miles up to Malham in the Yorkshire Dales. I visited Malham Cove and camped out above Malham Lake. Heading back to Harrogate and then to London I flew out on February Fifteen to Tampa, Florida. There I met up with my uncle and aunt and spent the weekend with my cousin and his family. On Sunday I flew up to Chattanooga where I was picked from the airport and driven four hours to Cleveland, GA where I visited my uncle and cousin for a week. On Sunday my cousin took me to Gainsville where I got a but to Atlanta and then Chattanooga. In Chattanooga I met randomly, (God's awesome), met up with a friend and we wet caving that night. The next morning I left at eight am from Chattanooga after a good ol' southern breakfast. Boarding a Greyhound in Tennessee sealed my fate. From then on it was loud, annoying, stuffed, stuffy, smelly riding through Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, S Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Because of two completely separate break downs and delays all around, I arrived into Spokane just a little too late. My connection to home sweet home had already left, but some how I managed...<br>
I want to say that Italy was beautiful- people and land alike. England was very moist but the company was worth it all. Florida was sunny and warm as was seeing my family. Georgia was relaxing and peaceful- the best time ever spend with my cousin. Tennessee was a miracle and a kick in the pants. And the rest, is history.<br>
</div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-43016147459611050822011-03-21T01:40:00.000-07:002015-06-23T13:08:47.941-07:00Italia.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In November, 2010 I left for Italy not really knowing what to expect. It all kind of happened so fast and when I had to leave it felt like only the beginning. While I was there I took Italian classes twice a week at one of the colleges. By the end I would partially dream in Italian and respond without even thinking in conversation. But learning the language was really only a bonus. For some reason when I first arrived I never really thought about meeting and having friends. The first Friday night, though, I was engulfed in these Italian young people that immediately accepted me into their beautiful words. After that, life gradually became confusing. The more I began to interact with people and listen to the words coming out of their mouths, the more I was confused and frustrated and loved it. Most of them spoke English some what and would kindly help me. Every Saturday afternoon the youth would get together and have a meeting and before hand usually play some <i>calcio</i>, or soccer. I loved hanging out with everyone and I was so grateful how they included me in everything. Most of the time I would need a translation but Luigi was always close by to lend a helpful mouth.<br>
During the week, much of my time was spent working in <i>la cucina</i>, or the kitchen. Of course my skills were not up to the standard of Salvadore, the head chief, but I would do little things like wash and cut vegatables and meats, and tackle the continuing flow of dishes. I enjoyed working in there because most of the kitchen staff didn't speak much English. This forced me to practice my Italian because there were no Luigi's around to tell me what things meant- I was on my own. Hand signals and examples of products combined with lots of words were used to display what needed to be done and how to do it. I started catching on and tried to remember words to look up when I got home. Some times I would bring my dictionary to work with me and those days were honestly less productive because of my constant 'search for the word'.<br>
I love my Italian friends. I miss them too. I'll be back though. Ciao.</div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-34518261614477931392011-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:002015-06-24T00:47:15.528-07:00One Day of Sunshine.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">The Yorkshire Dales are a beautiful and some what mythical place. They remind me of some where that tales of creators never to be discovered were thought of and told around fires. I walked through Dry Valley on my way back from Malham Tarn(Lake) yesterday. It was a shallow valley of green and rock surrounded by and submerged in fog. A rock wall split the small valley in half and several other rock walls cut in and out as I walk along. About a quarter of the way down I found a sheep that was dead; its back right leg had been eaten and some of the intestines were strewn about. The night before I slept just above the Tarn in a field. During the night I heard sheep grassing by my tent. The dense fog that rolled in about seven that evening didn't let up the next morning as I packed my tent and sleeping bag. I started down the valley about mid-day; past Malham Tarn, through Dry Valley, and over Malham Cove to Malham- where I spent the night drying out in a B and B.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Malham Cove was at one time a massive water fall. The melting water from the glacier ran through the valley and over the falls. Water still runs through there but not over the falls- it runs under it. Just above Dry Valley, run off water from Malham Tarn disappears. It flows underground for about three miles and re-appears underneath Malham Cove to continue though the Southern Dales as a stream for animals to bathe and drink from.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Walking through the Yorkshire Dales I got some funny looks from the locals- the sheep and cows. A few of them stomped their feet as a warning. I was hauling about thirty-seven pounds so I was in no position to just up and run for it. (I don't think fighting sheep and/or cows with horns is a good idea with or without a pack on, thus running was my option.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">My final words for this subject are these. The Yorkshire Dales is a wet and beautiful land- the order is important. It is extremely wet. Moisture comes from all angles, there was no way to get away from it. In the same respect, beauty is in everything. There is no escaping the green and lush hills dotted with animals and lined rock walls. I thought I'd seen what heaven will look like so many other places but if heaven had to choose its face, this would be it.</span></div>
Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-52382464246759513862011-01-17T11:22:00.000-08:002011-01-17T11:22:50.811-08:00Its been awhile!So much to say!! Enjoyed hanging out with my dad and sister, (road tripped it)! Siena is the best! Snowboarding was great! Christmas was fun! (But I missed my family.) New Years was really REALLY loud!! I was sick for about a week- from New Years on. (That wasn't fun, btw.) I just started Italian classes again! I'm understanding Italian alot better now! AND I leave in two weeks.<br />
I'm kind of excited to continue on my journey but at the same time, I will really miss it here. I have made quite a few friends- quality friends. Also, I'm just starting to get ahold of the language. There are many words and phrases I've been able to pick up that I wouldn't have otherwise if I wasn't in here. I'm so greatful for this oppertunity. I love Italy and I will be back some day.<br />
Working in <em>la cucina </em>has been really good for me. No one in the kitchen can speak English fluently. This makes it nice for me because everyone is constantly telling me things in Italian! Some of the others can speak some English so we work together some times to figure out words. I'm always asking, 'Come si dice?', again and again.<br />
There is a lady here that always talks to me about her teeth. I don't understand all of what she's saying but she just comes up to me and starts talking and talking. I understand that her teeth hurt and she can't eat very well. But pretty much everything else is lost on me. Everyday she has a little different story about how, <em>today here teeth are this or that and she can or can't eat this or that</em>. I think that's what she's saying.. haha.<br />
Mario is a bipolar. (That's my own diagnosis.) He is seventy-five years old and works here at the nursing home part time. He opens and closes the gates every morning and evening and sets the table <em>per pranzo e cena.</em> He is a character some times. One day he will be happy and joking around and the next day he won't talk at all or mumble about things all day. Some times he sings while setting the tables. One morning he came in with his head down and looking very depressed. He mumbled things for awhile and we couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. Eventually we figured out that he had left him brief case on the bus and it had forty euros in it. I felt a little bad for him... but it was kinda funny. (Not that he lost the money or brief case just the way he was acting.) Him and this other lady that works part time as well have at it some times- thats kinda funny too.<br />
It's been a fun time here! I'll miss it.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-13255905225344955802010-11-27T06:11:00.000-08:002010-11-27T06:11:18.241-08:00Olives<span class="UIStory_Message">Olive Oil. It is used for everything in the kitchen. I love it. It makes everything taste better, and work better. When our meat slicer was a bit stiff, the chief just poured a little olive oil over the runners and it worked beautifully. The weather here has been searching for snow but apparently not able to pull it down yet. It has been cold most nights and rainy on occasion. Today, the Sabbath, greeted me with a smile of sunshine and blue sky. I look forward to snow, though. I miss it. Last year I went from summer to summer to summer and miss out on winter altogether. This year I hope to go up north toward Austria and the Alps to find snow. Snowboarding in Italy- this will be a brandnew experience for me. I am a bit jealous of myself!</span><br />
<span class="UIStory_Message">I look forward to my dad and sister coming a few days. We will meet in Florence and then go on a road trip through the northern part of the country- La Spezia, Milano, Verona, Venezia, Bologna. These plans are quite likely to change though in the last minute. I do know this- it's going to be an adventure! I am excited to see them. I love road trips.</span>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-35669851261481841792010-11-20T08:05:00.000-08:002015-06-24T00:46:46.033-07:00Recent Happenings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been in Forli for three weeks now and I love it here. The language is challenging but I'm catching on quickly. I am taking Italian lessons on Monday and Wednesday. The teacher doesn't know any English so it will force me learn Italian even quicker. I understand a lot more than I can speak so it is difficult during conversations because I can't always add my two cents. It teaches me patience and how to choose my words and think before I speak.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My job description is is a bit vague that is why I have been reluctant to share much of what I do. After three week, though, I think I have got it down. I do whatever needs to be done. haha. I have painted doors and parts of walls. I have raked leaves and picked up trash. Recently, I helped move out twenty-two beds which were replaced but new, fully electronic ones. Riding the elevator was the most fun part about that job- all thirty-two seconds.<br />
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I am really enjoying myself here. The people are very friendly and accepting. They made me feel like family in the first hour I was with them. They are very spontanious and care free. They are masters of making some thing our of nothing.<br />
The church youth group took a trip to the mountains last weekend and I went along. That was a lot of fun and the mountains are breathtaking. We stayed in an old church building made of stone next to a church with a bell. I felt kind of like I was in a movie. Old Europe was right there in front of me.<br />
I am blessed to be here. I work around the elderly all day long and most of the time they so happy. They are content. Life is simple here. Everyone is relaxed from the youngest to the oldest. There are always times though- trust me, Italians can get pretty excited! Over all though they are relaxed. Not wanting for anything. I would describe it as being, chill.</span></div>
Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-64626047004172922682010-11-05T11:08:00.000-07:002010-11-05T11:08:20.256-07:00Forli<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNl_bZmRR9rU9gmGKyphNJv9JUUZctEg4rbXTetTgxhzixAPWAc772BIXK7FEFwrfch76aA_vs-xa9XEemAffwMWkS7CoLGGrMlWmQeHcjZw8m4yDrzg8n8D5prDn53aZery22OQj-dOE/s1600/PB040065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNl_bZmRR9rU9gmGKyphNJv9JUUZctEg4rbXTetTgxhzixAPWAc772BIXK7FEFwrfch76aA_vs-xa9XEemAffwMWkS7CoLGGrMlWmQeHcjZw8m4yDrzg8n8D5prDn53aZery22OQj-dOE/s320/PB040065.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I ride my bike from Casa Mia down the main street for about seven blocks. The street Ts and I take a left. From there I ride about a mile heading out of town. I find a road that looks like it might lead to some where interesting and follow it. There is a vinard on my right surrounding a large brick house. I start up the narrow road. It bends and twists and climbs for more miles than my legs care to recount. When I reach the top this scene awaits me. Hills. <em>Colline</em>. They stretch before me as far as the sea. A soft fog holds them together and the cows graze on their grass.</span></div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638026605749482286.post-60962528679991205272010-10-28T13:57:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:57:49.586-07:00LondonFirst, google this: Ramsey Rd, 8AZ. That was my final destination.<br />
Now, google this: Acton Town Station, London. That is where I started<br />
I arrive in Heathrow International this morning a little before six am. The flight, via Toronto, was decently pleasant- props to Air Canada. After spending a bit of time at the airport trying to sort of contacts here, I decided to take off for London. Boarding the underground, I took the Piccadilly line to Acton Town station. My final destination was Ramsey Rd, W3. From there took a right on Bollo Ln and then a left on Bollo Bridge Rd. After taking a right on Palmerston Rd I crossed the tracks and proceeded on Kingswood Rd which turns into Cunnington St. At Parade I took a left to walk around the park.<br />
At this point, I have been walking for a while. I had a forty plus pound backpack on and a twenty-five plus pound hand bag. All this while I've been asking people which way to go. I paid 20p for the rest room and after asking a traffic police where to go, started up Beaconsfield Rd which turns in to Acton Ln. I asked a man where Ramsey Rd might be. He, being the only one apparently, knew the street. So I continued on Acton Ln. Under the bridge and took the the second left on Leythe Rd. I asked another innocent person for directions and he sent me back around to take first left. Now I'm back on Bollo Bridge Rd. The first left is Ramsey. I was finally there.<br />
About an hour and a half prior, I was three blocks away. My feet are a little sore and my hip hurts.<br />
That's just the beginning...Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09320719900186840869noreply@blogger.com0