OK, Jaleh's been gone for a couple of days now, and I haven't had time to breathe, let alone sit down and blog!
But now that things have simmered down a little, I can take the time to go through and process this trip. Mostly I took pictures of everything, so now I just have to edit them into a cohesive timeline of events.
I think I'll split it into week one and week two, at which point I can add photos to the blog and discuss what we did and where. Exciting, n'est pas? We did SOOOO much in such a short amount of time...this will be a nice chance to go back and really savour the time Jaleh and I had together here in the Holy Land.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Family visiting in the Holy Land
My sister's visiting me in Israel for two weeks!!! It's so wonderful to have her here; I can't wait to go out and show her the city sights and the Shrines and the people. There's so much to do, I hope we can get it all done in only two weeks.
Joaquin and I took the train out to the airport at 2:40 am to meet Jaleh and bring her to Haifa. We got there at 3:40, and Jaleh was already waiting outside by the visitors' area, so we hugged quickly and hauled her back down to the train terminal to catch the 3:53 train back to Haifa. I am completely surprised that we made it, but we did it! Good thing too, or else we would have had to wait around the airport for another hour for the next train...
So we made it back to Haifa at about 5:00 am, and Pat was waiting to pick us up from the station. We got the lovely scenic drive back home, viewing the Shrine of the Bab from Ben Gurion Ave., before we made it home to sleep. We then slept until about 2:00 pm.
After we woke up, I was able to bring Jaleh down to register at the Reception Centre. Then we made our visit to the Shrine of the Bab, which was wonderful; so restful and relaxing. I have visited the Shrine many times since I've been serving here, but there's something different about being able to share it with a visitor, especially someone as close to me as my sister. It was really special.
We were both a little too tired to go to the pilgrim talk that night, but we did make our way over to 2nd November for some food and a movie with the boys, Jayce and John Michael. Always a barrel of laughs with those two. :)
Now we are preparing to go to work - I've gotten permission for Jaleh to volunteer with me in my office while she's here, so that will be a lot of fun! She can see what my day-to-day job REALLY is like. It's going to be great. And we have a small get-together planned for Wednesday, a sort of meet-and-mingle, so that should be nice.
Joaquin and I took the train out to the airport at 2:40 am to meet Jaleh and bring her to Haifa. We got there at 3:40, and Jaleh was already waiting outside by the visitors' area, so we hugged quickly and hauled her back down to the train terminal to catch the 3:53 train back to Haifa. I am completely surprised that we made it, but we did it! Good thing too, or else we would have had to wait around the airport for another hour for the next train...
So we made it back to Haifa at about 5:00 am, and Pat was waiting to pick us up from the station. We got the lovely scenic drive back home, viewing the Shrine of the Bab from Ben Gurion Ave., before we made it home to sleep. We then slept until about 2:00 pm.
After we woke up, I was able to bring Jaleh down to register at the Reception Centre. Then we made our visit to the Shrine of the Bab, which was wonderful; so restful and relaxing. I have visited the Shrine many times since I've been serving here, but there's something different about being able to share it with a visitor, especially someone as close to me as my sister. It was really special.
We were both a little too tired to go to the pilgrim talk that night, but we did make our way over to 2nd November for some food and a movie with the boys, Jayce and John Michael. Always a barrel of laughs with those two. :)
Now we are preparing to go to work - I've gotten permission for Jaleh to volunteer with me in my office while she's here, so that will be a lot of fun! She can see what my day-to-day job REALLY is like. It's going to be great. And we have a small get-together planned for Wednesday, a sort of meet-and-mingle, so that should be nice.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Medical Expenses
I had quite a terrible scare the other day.
I've been waiting for the invoice from my surgery to come in so that I could pay it. However, when I got the bill from Health Services, the amount was almost 10x what I had been told it would cost. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the bill, and I was rather afraid that Dad might have a conniption when he found out what had happened.
I sent a timid email to Dad and then called him, hoping that he was in a good mood. He was pleased to hear from me, although not exactly pleased about the circumstances surrounding my call. We came to the conclusion that whatever the price was, we would pay it, but it was extremely important for me to try and contact the hospital to see if I could arrange for some sort of discount.
Coming from Canada, I'm not really used to haggling with health care providers over price, but this was a special situation and I was rather desperate for any sort of monetary relief. I called the billing section of the hospital and was able to talk to a very nice woman who suggested I contact the BWC Health Services in order for them to grease some wheels with the administration section. So that is exactly what I did; I explained that I don't have insurance coverage for these types of operations, I had been told a different price, I don't have money, etc.
They were really great about the whole thing - between myriad emails and phone calls and meetings, they were able to get the price changed back to close to the original quote. Turns out there had been a lot of miscommunication that had happened prior to the surgery, and then the invoice had had the wrong code for the billing situation.
So, at the end of the day, I don't have to pay much more than I originally thought, and my parents don't have to declare bankruptcy to help me out financially. Excellent; all those prayers at the Shrines really paid off...
I've been waiting for the invoice from my surgery to come in so that I could pay it. However, when I got the bill from Health Services, the amount was almost 10x what I had been told it would cost. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the bill, and I was rather afraid that Dad might have a conniption when he found out what had happened.
I sent a timid email to Dad and then called him, hoping that he was in a good mood. He was pleased to hear from me, although not exactly pleased about the circumstances surrounding my call. We came to the conclusion that whatever the price was, we would pay it, but it was extremely important for me to try and contact the hospital to see if I could arrange for some sort of discount.
Coming from Canada, I'm not really used to haggling with health care providers over price, but this was a special situation and I was rather desperate for any sort of monetary relief. I called the billing section of the hospital and was able to talk to a very nice woman who suggested I contact the BWC Health Services in order for them to grease some wheels with the administration section. So that is exactly what I did; I explained that I don't have insurance coverage for these types of operations, I had been told a different price, I don't have money, etc.
They were really great about the whole thing - between myriad emails and phone calls and meetings, they were able to get the price changed back to close to the original quote. Turns out there had been a lot of miscommunication that had happened prior to the surgery, and then the invoice had had the wrong code for the billing situation.
So, at the end of the day, I don't have to pay much more than I originally thought, and my parents don't have to declare bankruptcy to help me out financially. Excellent; all those prayers at the Shrines really paid off...
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Happiness
I sometimes feel that my life has no relevant meaning or purpose, that my existence is predicated on the sole fact that my parents whimsically decided to procreate and my immortal soul happened to be floating around in the ether when it occured.
However...
Some days it only takes a smile to know that I've touched a life that will be irrevocably changed because of my presence. And knowing that takes the sting out of some of the meaninglessness.
I'm not trying to be vain or proud of what I do. What I do is simply try to touch someone's heart and make their day a little bit brighter. If I can do that, I've accomplished my unspoken, heartfelt task for the day.
And when that happens, I feel a small sense of purpose, a small sense that this is part of what I am here for, what I am here to accomplish in this fleeting material existence. I like to make people happy - and that makes me happy.
However...
Some days it only takes a smile to know that I've touched a life that will be irrevocably changed because of my presence. And knowing that takes the sting out of some of the meaninglessness.
I'm not trying to be vain or proud of what I do. What I do is simply try to touch someone's heart and make their day a little bit brighter. If I can do that, I've accomplished my unspoken, heartfelt task for the day.
And when that happens, I feel a small sense of purpose, a small sense that this is part of what I am here for, what I am here to accomplish in this fleeting material existence. I like to make people happy - and that makes me happy.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Pilgrims in a Holy Land...
My friends, the Cyr family, recently came on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is one of those experiences that stays with you for a lifetime, so I'm really glad that I got to share some of those same moments with them.
It was really wonderful to see Genevieve as well, because I hadn't seen her since March when I came to serve here in Israel, and she has since then gotten married. :) Yay! I'm sad I missed the wedding, but there are so many more experiences to be had...
I spent a lovely afternoon with the Cyrs in Akka, the prison city on the other edge of the bay opposite Haifa. I am loathe to admit that this was my first excursion into the Old City since I have been here, but in all honesty I've been so busy working and serving and trying to get enough sleep that I hadn't really given myself the opportunity before now to go and explore the Old City portion of Akka with some friends.
It was a whole lot of fun; we all met up in a sherut down to Akka, with our good friend Abboud driving. He is a well known fixture amongst the Baha'is that serve here. On the sherut also was an old friend of my parents, Patsy Irving, which was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. We took the sherut all the way to the Land Gate, at which point we got out and decided to do a little walking/shopping through the bazaar areas nearby. Well, we happened upon a music store, and that was it. The Cyrs are a very musically inclined family, so many minutes later we emerged many shekels lighter than when we had stepped in. I even got myself a little ceramic drum to practice on. (Mom would be so proud!)
After the bazaar experience we were able to go into the Al-Jezeer mosque located nearby. For a couple of shekels we went inside the compound to see one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in the city. This mosque was present during the time of Baha'u'llah, so it was quite easy to picture many of the early believers crowded around outside to see if He was going to visit and talk to the multitude of worshippers.
We didn't have much more time to stay in the Old City (we are asked to be out of that area of town around 4:00 pm or so, mostly for our own safety because it gets pretty rowdy after dark), so Patsy, Marie-Jo and I wandered around a while longer looking for the famous Templar Tunnels before we realised we were hopelessly lost and headed towards the sea port not the tunnels. So we quickly made our way back through the maze of narrow streets and overshadowing buildings to the Land Gate to meet our sherut again to get out to Bahji and the Shrine of Baha'u'llah.
What a glorious feeling, to be able to visit the prison city area where Baha'u'llah was imprisoned for so much of His life, and then be permitted to go and visit the holiest spot on Earth, His holy resting place in Bahji. The juxtaposition of the two is a humbling and reverential experience.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Mom's poetry
Mom sent me this poem she wrote about me, the one I blogged about earlier when I claimed that we are psychic. Here's what Mom has to say about me:
Seven Hours Different
By Karen Sasani
November 22, 2007
We used to snuggle in her small room
In bed before 8
Read together
like we couldn’t get enough to drink
Both dressed in plaid and blue jeans
without knowing what the other
had on that day
Now she’s seven hours different
and half a world away
Watching her sister nurse
she wanted to taste it too
She stirred the dough
while I lined the cookie tin
I got out the paints
While she filled the water glass
Now she’s seven hours different
and half a world away
I put on nail polish for a wedding
And she said I had cherries on my nails
She splashed her sister in the bubble pool
While I snapped their pictures
We saved our crusts for the birds
and walked to Girl Guides together
and were so sure that everything
would always be this nice
Now she’s seven hours different
and half a world away
Seven Hours Different
By Karen Sasani
November 22, 2007
We used to snuggle in her small room
In bed before 8
Read together
like we couldn’t get enough to drink
Both dressed in plaid and blue jeans
without knowing what the other
had on that day
Now she’s seven hours different
and half a world away
Watching her sister nurse
she wanted to taste it too
She stirred the dough
while I lined the cookie tin
I got out the paints
While she filled the water glass
Now she’s seven hours different
and half a world away
I put on nail polish for a wedding
And she said I had cherries on my nails
She splashed her sister in the bubble pool
While I snapped their pictures
We saved our crusts for the birds
and walked to Girl Guides together
and were so sure that everything
would always be this nice
Now she’s seven hours different
and half a world away
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Musings
Sometimes I wonder how much of our lives can be measured by the steps we take to ensure our posterity.
It seems a shame that so many of us are judged early on in our lives solely by arbitrary labels and ideas.
I think about what it means to be trying to get by in a world that looks at abstracts like success and freedom with an alarmingly black-or-white mentality - there don't seem to be any tangible grey areas.
It seems a shame that so many of us are judged early on in our lives solely by arbitrary labels and ideas.
I think about what it means to be trying to get by in a world that looks at abstracts like success and freedom with an alarmingly black-or-white mentality - there don't seem to be any tangible grey areas.
the numbers flow
incessantly, unswervingly
making sense fall to the wayside
emotion and intellect
failing to interconnect
living on the point
of a double-edged sword
seems ludicrous
sanity fleeting, ungraspable
the numbers flow
and the numbness sets in
Baha'i Celebrity Alert!
I met a really cool guy last night, you might have heard of him - Rainn Wilson. He is most well known for his work on the television show The Office, as the character Dwight, but he's also been in numerous other t.v. shows and movies, i.e. Six Feet Under, Entourage, Sahara, C.S.I., etc. Neat! It's really fun to meet Baha'i celebrities, because there aren't very many of them.
He and his wife Holiday are on a three day visit to the Holy Land, and I bumped into them at the pilgrim talk. Very nice, very down-to-earth guy, especially for someone who has to work in Hollywood. Rainn and my friend MJ hit it off well because she's a singer/songwriter, so they had alot to talk about his most recent film, The Rocker. Apparently it was filmed in Toronto, so it's disappointing we didn't know about it sooner because she totally could have been an extra! :)
Anyway, like I said, it was very cool to meet a Baha'i celebrity who hadn't let fame and money get in the way of faith. Spirituality and material success don't have to be mutually exclusive; it's simply a matter of figuring out which one is the priority in your life.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
There's a Praying Mantis on my fern...
Actually, the title of the post sums the situation up pretty well. I found a praying mantis living on my fern. I guess it makes sense since it's in the living room. (BWHWHAHAA!)
Ok, seriously though, he was pretty cool to look at. I was watering the fern when I saw some movement towards the bottom, and when I looked closer, it turned out to be a small, off-white praying mantis climbing up one of the fronds. Neat, but I already have two flatmates and would prefer not to have one of the insect variety.
I grabbed a piece of paper and nudged him onto it, whereby I gently let him out the living room window onto our air conditioner box. He's in God's hands now; I just hope the cats don't get him...
Ok, seriously though, he was pretty cool to look at. I was watering the fern when I saw some movement towards the bottom, and when I looked closer, it turned out to be a small, off-white praying mantis climbing up one of the fronds. Neat, but I already have two flatmates and would prefer not to have one of the insect variety.
I grabbed a piece of paper and nudged him onto it, whereby I gently let him out the living room window onto our air conditioner box. He's in God's hands now; I just hope the cats don't get him...
Commemmoration of the Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha
Last night we commemmorated the passing of Abdu'l-Baha on November 28 1921. The holy day observance is always at midnight because that is when his soul ascended to the Abha kingdom. Although for most Baha'i holy days work is suspended the following day, Abdu'l-Baha requested that his birthday and his ascension not be considered holy days as such. So work is not suspended on his ascension night, and instead of celebrating his birthday, we celebrate the Day of the Covenant instead (also in November).
It was a beautiful service, held in the Concourse of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. The readings were eloquent, the atmosphere solemn, and afterwards all 1100 attendees stood on the steps of the Seat and reverently faced the Shrine of the Bab and Abdu'l-Baha for the recitation of the Tablets of Visitation.
We silently made our way down from the Seat to the Shrine itself in order to circumabulate the premises before ending up in front of the Haifa Pilgrim House for the inevitable Kodak moments. Here are a few gratutitous shots:
The air outside the Shrine as I was walking to the Pilgrim House smelled faintly of watermelon and jasmine blossoms. It was heavenly, and I remember thinking how incredibly fortunate I am to have the opportunity to serve here and be this close to the holiest spots on earth. Last night was magical and, although exhausted, I was thoroughly pleased to have been there.Monday, November 26, 2007
Lost on the 32
I got lost on the bus today.
I was feeling sick and decided to head home early. So I went to the bus stop near the office, and the first bus to swing by was the 32. Now, I am aware that the 32 stops almost directly in front of my house, I'm just not sure what the actual route is. But I was fairly confident that it would head up Hatzionut, turn on Tchernikovski and loop back around to Beth El after a few minutes. So I hopped on the bus to see exactly where it would take me before it took me home.
It didn't take me home, I can tell you that much.
The 32 swung down Bethlehem and into an area that I have never been to before. It's a nice area on the mountain overlooking the bay, but it wasn't exactly where I wanted to be. But I figured the bus had to loop around at SOME point because where else was it supposed to go out that way? Well, the bus was looping all right, but not where I wanted to go.
I ended up riding the bus alone in a Russian/Jewish (?) section called Ramat Shual. The roads all looped back and forth onto each other, and I felt like I was going in circles. Until the bus pulled up to a stop in the middle of nowhere and motioned to me that this was the end of the line. Slicha? Pardon? THIS is the end of the line? Where am I?!!? I had no choice but to disembark and await another bus to take me home. (Or close to it. At this point I was sort of desperate.)
At least I recognised the bus lines at this particular bus stop. I realised I could take the 26 or the 115 and those should theoretically get me back to where I wanted to be. Of course, theory I realised, was what had gotten me into this mess in the first place. *Sigh* So I was feeling sick and tired and discombobulated from the bus ride, but finally the 26 showed up. I boarded the buse and said a little prayer that this one was going to be a through ride. After about ten minutes I started to recognise street names again. Emile Zola, Stephen Wise, Victor Hugo - I knew I was getting somewhat close. (Yeah, I know they're weird street names but what can you do? At least they're famous.)
Finally, FINALLY, I was able to get off on Tchernikovski directly out front of our beloved 24-flower shop (which has its own unique and unusual story to tell), and I made it home safe and sound. And now I am sitting on my bed, poring over a street map of Haifa, trying to figure out where the heck I travelled to.
One thing I learned on my unplanned expedition - Adam is wrong. Avigdor Hame'iri is not where our trusty gas station is. It's where I got lost, where Tchernikovski turns into Stella Maris.
Hmmmmm...
I was feeling sick and decided to head home early. So I went to the bus stop near the office, and the first bus to swing by was the 32. Now, I am aware that the 32 stops almost directly in front of my house, I'm just not sure what the actual route is. But I was fairly confident that it would head up Hatzionut, turn on Tchernikovski and loop back around to Beth El after a few minutes. So I hopped on the bus to see exactly where it would take me before it took me home.
It didn't take me home, I can tell you that much.
The 32 swung down Bethlehem and into an area that I have never been to before. It's a nice area on the mountain overlooking the bay, but it wasn't exactly where I wanted to be. But I figured the bus had to loop around at SOME point because where else was it supposed to go out that way? Well, the bus was looping all right, but not where I wanted to go.
I ended up riding the bus alone in a Russian/Jewish (?) section called Ramat Shual. The roads all looped back and forth onto each other, and I felt like I was going in circles. Until the bus pulled up to a stop in the middle of nowhere and motioned to me that this was the end of the line. Slicha? Pardon? THIS is the end of the line? Where am I?!!? I had no choice but to disembark and await another bus to take me home. (Or close to it. At this point I was sort of desperate.)
At least I recognised the bus lines at this particular bus stop. I realised I could take the 26 or the 115 and those should theoretically get me back to where I wanted to be. Of course, theory I realised, was what had gotten me into this mess in the first place. *Sigh* So I was feeling sick and tired and discombobulated from the bus ride, but finally the 26 showed up. I boarded the buse and said a little prayer that this one was going to be a through ride. After about ten minutes I started to recognise street names again. Emile Zola, Stephen Wise, Victor Hugo - I knew I was getting somewhat close. (Yeah, I know they're weird street names but what can you do? At least they're famous.)
Finally, FINALLY, I was able to get off on Tchernikovski directly out front of our beloved 24-flower shop (which has its own unique and unusual story to tell), and I made it home safe and sound. And now I am sitting on my bed, poring over a street map of Haifa, trying to figure out where the heck I travelled to.
One thing I learned on my unplanned expedition - Adam is wrong. Avigdor Hame'iri is not where our trusty gas station is. It's where I got lost, where Tchernikovski turns into Stella Maris.
Hmmmmm...
Friday, November 23, 2007
ESP (no, not the sports channel...)
My mom and I are psychically connected.
I know, I know, scary but true!
I've been rather fluish and sick the past days, and on Wenesday I called home to Mom because I like to whine to my parents when I'm ill. Makes me feel better somehow. Mom wasn't home, so I left a message on her machine saying I'm sick and want some affection.
So about an hour later I get a call on our home line (which no one ever calls because who uses their home line when they have a cell phone?). It's Mom, and she's wondering how I am because she was "just thinking of me." I tell her of course she's been thinking about me; she got my message and was calling me back. Wrong. Apparently her answering machine is all wonky and doesn't let her receive most of her messages anyway. So she didn't even know I had called an hour before; she just knew she was thinking of me and had the urge to call.
I know what you're thinking - "So what? That doesn't mean jack squat; it's all coincidence." Ok, then smartypants, how about what happened the next day?...
I wanted to talk to Mom again, even though I had just talked to her the day before. Call it what you will, I just wanted to hear her voice. So I dialled her, thinking she was probably already out for the day, and wouldn't you know it, she was there. And astounded, because it turned out I had called her right as she was trying to think of an ending to a poem she was writing about me.
?!?!?!
Mom read me what she had written so far in the poem, and it was all about me as a child and the adorable things I had done and how I am now "seven hours different and half a world away." Now, I don't know about you, but I got chills at that one. I couldn't believe I had the urge to call home right at the exact moment my mom was wracking her brain trying to finish a poem dedicated to me.
So, we're psychic, and that's that. Mom and I have a bond that transcends physical limitations and I think that's pretty darn cool.
I know, I know, scary but true!
I've been rather fluish and sick the past days, and on Wenesday I called home to Mom because I like to whine to my parents when I'm ill. Makes me feel better somehow. Mom wasn't home, so I left a message on her machine saying I'm sick and want some affection.
So about an hour later I get a call on our home line (which no one ever calls because who uses their home line when they have a cell phone?). It's Mom, and she's wondering how I am because she was "just thinking of me." I tell her of course she's been thinking about me; she got my message and was calling me back. Wrong. Apparently her answering machine is all wonky and doesn't let her receive most of her messages anyway. So she didn't even know I had called an hour before; she just knew she was thinking of me and had the urge to call.
I know what you're thinking - "So what? That doesn't mean jack squat; it's all coincidence." Ok, then smartypants, how about what happened the next day?...
I wanted to talk to Mom again, even though I had just talked to her the day before. Call it what you will, I just wanted to hear her voice. So I dialled her, thinking she was probably already out for the day, and wouldn't you know it, she was there. And astounded, because it turned out I had called her right as she was trying to think of an ending to a poem she was writing about me.
?!?!?!
Mom read me what she had written so far in the poem, and it was all about me as a child and the adorable things I had done and how I am now "seven hours different and half a world away." Now, I don't know about you, but I got chills at that one. I couldn't believe I had the urge to call home right at the exact moment my mom was wracking her brain trying to finish a poem dedicated to me.
So, we're psychic, and that's that. Mom and I have a bond that transcends physical limitations and I think that's pretty darn cool.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Stopping to Smell the Roses...or Hibiscus...
I was behind the Seat today, walking back from Bracha Habas. There are a bunch of hibiscus trees that line the walkway, and the flowers are a glorious shade of red. While stopping to savour them, I noticed something rustling in the leaves. Out popped a gorgeous little hummingbird!
The hummingbird was definitely female, since she wasn't brightly coloured, but she was still beautiful. She was flitting around from flower to flower, zipping back and forth across the pathway. She nipped behind each hibiscus and drank some nectar, then she flew off.
It was nice to take some time and just enjoy being out and about in Israel. Sometimes it's easy to forget where I am and why I'm doing this job, but it's times like these when I really feel like I'm in the Holy Land.
The hummingbird was definitely female, since she wasn't brightly coloured, but she was still beautiful. She was flitting around from flower to flower, zipping back and forth across the pathway. She nipped behind each hibiscus and drank some nectar, then she flew off.
It was nice to take some time and just enjoy being out and about in Israel. Sometimes it's easy to forget where I am and why I'm doing this job, but it's times like these when I really feel like I'm in the Holy Land.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Weird Conversations
I have them. Weird conversations, that is. I know most people probably wouldn't believe half the things I randomly have conversations about, but believe me when I say that most of them should have been recorded for posterity.
My most random conversations tend to occur when I hang out with John Michael and Jayce. We're El Tries Amigos Locos (I think that means the crazy three amigos). We've talked about everything from Nazi chickens to protruding escarpments to hair juice. You know what's a weird topic? Whether hair juice might be as good as carrot juice.
Today at lunch I had a great conversation with some friends about creating our own amphibious vehicles and whether they should come equipped with projectile launchers. The best projectile we came up with? Jelly beans. Yeah, that's right. I told Carla she would be the most popular mom in the world if she showed up to pick her kids up at school and shot jelly beans at the other children. The conversation then turned to optometry and occupational therapy as prospective job fields. I'm not even kidding; you can't make stuff like this up.
Kat thinks I'm absolutely bonkers when I get on a rant about something completely and utterly ridiculous, but I figure if you can't be ridiculous with your friends, when can you? And besides, everyone who's ever met me knows I'm definitely eccentric (or nuts), so why fight it?
My most random conversations tend to occur when I hang out with John Michael and Jayce. We're El Tries Amigos Locos (I think that means the crazy three amigos). We've talked about everything from Nazi chickens to protruding escarpments to hair juice. You know what's a weird topic? Whether hair juice might be as good as carrot juice.
Today at lunch I had a great conversation with some friends about creating our own amphibious vehicles and whether they should come equipped with projectile launchers. The best projectile we came up with? Jelly beans. Yeah, that's right. I told Carla she would be the most popular mom in the world if she showed up to pick her kids up at school and shot jelly beans at the other children. The conversation then turned to optometry and occupational therapy as prospective job fields. I'm not even kidding; you can't make stuff like this up.
Kat thinks I'm absolutely bonkers when I get on a rant about something completely and utterly ridiculous, but I figure if you can't be ridiculous with your friends, when can you? And besides, everyone who's ever met me knows I'm definitely eccentric (or nuts), so why fight it?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Fesenjoon
So I'm on the bus home after work chatting with Kamran on my cell, when I see Iman standing in the intersection across from my house waiting for the light to turn. I wave hysterically at him through the bus window, and I know he sees me but is not quite sure WHO exactly he's seeing. I motion him over to the bus stop, where I dismount and he comes over to say hi.
Now at this point, it is important to note that we had previously had a conversation in the Food Centre not twenty-four hours ago about how he was extremely disappointed that I had not invited him to my flat for a visit since we have been here. Therefore God, according to His wonderfully mysterious ways, arranged for us to meet on the street just beyond my building. Fate.
I tell him to come over and hang out, and he shows me the food processor he just acquired from one of the ladies here at the World Centre. Sweet. So with the food processor in tow, we head back to my place to "stir up" a little trouble. Kat was home when we arrived, and was just about to cook something for dinner, so Iman offered to whip up a little fesenjoon.
Ok, there is some sort of weird phenomenon here at the World Centre where everyone seems to be a little fesenjoon-obsessed. Granted, it is quite a delicious dish of chopped walnuts, pomegranate paste and chicken, but everyone really goes crazy for it. And it's funny to me how many different versions of it there actually are. Kat and Iman had an amusing (to me) discussion about how their fesenjoon recipes were so vastly different...
"I add my paste to the chicken and let it simmer to thicken."
"Well, I cook them separately and add them together on the plate."
"You leave the onions in with the chicken?"
"You don't?"
"Do you want me to leave the onions in?"
"Not if you don't want to. But I eat them separately."
..that sort of thing.
Well, now Iman cannot claim that I have not invited him over to my flat for a real visit. It was quite lovely having a nice gentleman come by and cook some fesenjoon goodness for the ladies. Next time I'll have to do ghormeh sabzi if I really want to impress.
Now at this point, it is important to note that we had previously had a conversation in the Food Centre not twenty-four hours ago about how he was extremely disappointed that I had not invited him to my flat for a visit since we have been here. Therefore God, according to His wonderfully mysterious ways, arranged for us to meet on the street just beyond my building. Fate.
I tell him to come over and hang out, and he shows me the food processor he just acquired from one of the ladies here at the World Centre. Sweet. So with the food processor in tow, we head back to my place to "stir up" a little trouble. Kat was home when we arrived, and was just about to cook something for dinner, so Iman offered to whip up a little fesenjoon.
Ok, there is some sort of weird phenomenon here at the World Centre where everyone seems to be a little fesenjoon-obsessed. Granted, it is quite a delicious dish of chopped walnuts, pomegranate paste and chicken, but everyone really goes crazy for it. And it's funny to me how many different versions of it there actually are. Kat and Iman had an amusing (to me) discussion about how their fesenjoon recipes were so vastly different...
"I add my paste to the chicken and let it simmer to thicken."
"Well, I cook them separately and add them together on the plate."
"You leave the onions in with the chicken?"
"You don't?"
"Do you want me to leave the onions in?"
"Not if you don't want to. But I eat them separately."
..that sort of thing.
Well, now Iman cannot claim that I have not invited him over to my flat for a real visit. It was quite lovely having a nice gentleman come by and cook some fesenjoon goodness for the ladies. Next time I'll have to do ghormeh sabzi if I really want to impress.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Beth El Dinner Party!
Kat invited a small group of our friends over for a nice homecooked meal at our place to celebrate Roya and her brother Navid being here on pilgrimage. We had a great time hanging out together, eating fantastic Persian food, and watching some Flight of the Conchords comedy on the laptop.
We all love to laugh, and everyone thinks they're a comedian. Sometimes it's just good to sit back and have a good bellylaugh and not worry about being ridiculous. Hence the Flight of the Conchords bit, I suppose...
I just had to add this picture since it was one of the funniest of the night. The camera wasn't set to the timer, so when Kat pressed the button, none of us were quite ready. Navid, Lucia, and I all gave it a rousing two thumbs up! :)
It was nice to be able to have everyone over to relax, laugh, be with each other. It was also the first real party I'd had the energy for since my surgery, so that made it pretty special.
We all love to laugh, and everyone thinks they're a comedian. Sometimes it's just good to sit back and have a good bellylaugh and not worry about being ridiculous. Hence the Flight of the Conchords bit, I suppose... I just had to add this picture since it was one of the funniest of the night. The camera wasn't set to the timer, so when Kat pressed the button, none of us were quite ready. Navid, Lucia, and I all gave it a rousing two thumbs up! :)
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Working At The Carwash...la la la...
Got to wash the Accommodations car today!
We had too much fun; I had to drive the large Subaru into a narrow carwash slot designed for a lesser car, and try not to smash up the new bumper. I got to spray that sucker down with a sawed-off garden hose, but I had to avoid getting Adam sopping wet since he was trying to wash the tires on the other side. I think we both got a little moistened.
One of my buddies (who shall remain nameless) came by while we were finishing up. I didn't even realise he was there watching until I almost backed up onto him. He said he was "just enjoying the view", because apparently a woman washing a car is one of the hottest things on the planet. Ha ha! Me in my rolled-up dress pants and dirty sneakers trying to hose down a boat of a car with a garden hose. Too sexy.
Looks like we'll have to do the whole thing again relatively soon, because the desert sand and general bird/bat poop tends to accumulate pretty quickly on the cars here. Good times...
We had too much fun; I had to drive the large Subaru into a narrow carwash slot designed for a lesser car, and try not to smash up the new bumper. I got to spray that sucker down with a sawed-off garden hose, but I had to avoid getting Adam sopping wet since he was trying to wash the tires on the other side. I think we both got a little moistened.
One of my buddies (who shall remain nameless) came by while we were finishing up. I didn't even realise he was there watching until I almost backed up onto him. He said he was "just enjoying the view", because apparently a woman washing a car is one of the hottest things on the planet. Ha ha! Me in my rolled-up dress pants and dirty sneakers trying to hose down a boat of a car with a garden hose. Too sexy.
Looks like we'll have to do the whole thing again relatively soon, because the desert sand and general bird/bat poop tends to accumulate pretty quickly on the cars here. Good times...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Choir Practice
I recently joined the Baha'i World Centre Choir. There are about fifty or sixty of us overall, and it is so much fun to rehearse.
I happen to be a "low" soprano, which basically means I can sing high, but not high enough to shatter glass with my voice. There are about a dozen sopranos altogether, which makes us the smallest section in the choir. I've never been in a choir where the bass section is larger than the soprano section, but I have to admit it does give us a beautiful, well-rounded sound.
We get to rehearse in the Seat every Tuesday evening after work. I must admit that I'm usually pretty exhausted by the time I arrive for practice, but the voice warmups and actual singing get me really pumped! By the end of rehearsal I feel like a million bucks! Which is useful, because I then have to walk home...
We have our first show on 9 November; I believe it's a celebration for Baha'u'llah's birthday. At home we celebrate His birthday by the Gregorian calendar (12 November); here in the Holy Land we celebrate The Bab and Baha'u'llah's birthdays as twin celebrations that follow the lunar calendar. So that means that Their birthdays won't be celebrated until January of next year. So, in deference to the importance of the date, we are putting together a celebration for Baha'u'llah in November.
I'm looking forward to all the fun I'll be having over the course of this next year with the choir!
I happen to be a "low" soprano, which basically means I can sing high, but not high enough to shatter glass with my voice. There are about a dozen sopranos altogether, which makes us the smallest section in the choir. I've never been in a choir where the bass section is larger than the soprano section, but I have to admit it does give us a beautiful, well-rounded sound.
We get to rehearse in the Seat every Tuesday evening after work. I must admit that I'm usually pretty exhausted by the time I arrive for practice, but the voice warmups and actual singing get me really pumped! By the end of rehearsal I feel like a million bucks! Which is useful, because I then have to walk home...
We have our first show on 9 November; I believe it's a celebration for Baha'u'llah's birthday. At home we celebrate His birthday by the Gregorian calendar (12 November); here in the Holy Land we celebrate The Bab and Baha'u'llah's birthdays as twin celebrations that follow the lunar calendar. So that means that Their birthdays won't be celebrated until January of next year. So, in deference to the importance of the date, we are putting together a celebration for Baha'u'llah in November.
I'm looking forward to all the fun I'll be having over the course of this next year with the choir!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Promised Pictures of Our Play
I take a break in the Smith's house
Being silly while putting the sets together
I take a little peek through the window to see what's going on...
May casually relaxes in Mrs. Snowton's house
Geoffrey tests out the "Floroscopic Soul Assessor" I created
Shot of dress rehearsal in progress for The Divine Spark
Backstage on show night - capturing the spectacle!
Getting ready for some makeup magic; you can never have too many sparkles
The rest of my backstage crew: Jonathan, Dave, Kat, and Luis
The impish little souls from Heard on High. Still Homebound
Wow, so I'm reading Kat's blog and feeling like a complete slug for not blogging more frequently. However, I'm not really feeling like there's a whole lot going on in my life right now.
Let's see...what can I possibly say about what I've been up to for the past few weeks?
1. I've been growing my hair out. I know that seems like a cop-out answer, but I actually am trying to grow my hair longer. It seems the shorter Kat chops her hair (which looks good on her), the more I want my long hair back again (which looks good on me). We have a funny dynamic that way.
2. I had many a friend visit the past week or so. I haven't felt this popular in ages! I guess it takes a painful medical procedure to bring people out of their homes and into mine. Who knew? I haven't had to cook dinner for myself for almost two weeks now; leftovers are especially yummy if you didn't have to cook the original meal. I just have to remember how quickly food turns bad here and try to avoid the dishes with furry mould in them. Time to clean out the fridge and see what's lurking behind my pitas and cream cheese...
3. I tried to go back to work today. I made it into the office with relative ease, albeit the trek to the bus stop was the most I have walked in two weeks. I thought I could make it through the day; turns out I made it about two hours before I had to call it quits and go home. It should be ok; my coordinator has made it clear he is fine with me taking as much time as I need to recuperate before coming back in to work. There's no point in pushing myself too hard and screwing up all the healing progess I've made so far.
I still want to upload (download? what's the correct terminology?) pictures of recent events here; perhaps I can do that over the next few days now that my nausea has subsided and I can look at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time.
Let's see...what can I possibly say about what I've been up to for the past few weeks?
1. I've been growing my hair out. I know that seems like a cop-out answer, but I actually am trying to grow my hair longer. It seems the shorter Kat chops her hair (which looks good on her), the more I want my long hair back again (which looks good on me). We have a funny dynamic that way.
2. I had many a friend visit the past week or so. I haven't felt this popular in ages! I guess it takes a painful medical procedure to bring people out of their homes and into mine. Who knew? I haven't had to cook dinner for myself for almost two weeks now; leftovers are especially yummy if you didn't have to cook the original meal. I just have to remember how quickly food turns bad here and try to avoid the dishes with furry mould in them. Time to clean out the fridge and see what's lurking behind my pitas and cream cheese...
3. I tried to go back to work today. I made it into the office with relative ease, albeit the trek to the bus stop was the most I have walked in two weeks. I thought I could make it through the day; turns out I made it about two hours before I had to call it quits and go home. It should be ok; my coordinator has made it clear he is fine with me taking as much time as I need to recuperate before coming back in to work. There's no point in pushing myself too hard and screwing up all the healing progess I've made so far.
I still want to upload (download? what's the correct terminology?) pictures of recent events here; perhaps I can do that over the next few days now that my nausea has subsided and I can look at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time.
Friday, October 26, 2007
So Sick of Being Sick
I am SO BORED!!! (and still really sore...)
I've been stuck at home for over a week, while everyone else is at work. It's absolutely no fun getting over surgery, and even less so when everyone is so busy. :(
But it hasn't all been bad; people have been stopping by in the evenings to hang out and bring me food. I haven't really had the energy or drive to cook for myself, so the friends have been cooking up a storm and giving me food. Love it! Who could complain about free food and company?
Guess what? Having your nerves severed means that you're in for a whole world of pain in terms of recuperating. I had no idea what to expect until the night before last, when the intense muscle/spinal pain was so bad that I threw up. Not cool. I ended up going to the hospital again yesterday to get checked out and see if they could prescribe some other pain killer that would actually WORK and wouldn't make me continually nauseated. They gave me some liquid oxycodone while in the ER, and damn, that was awesome! I was floating the rest of the afternoon. I totally wish they could have perscribed that stuff for me. Damn.
Anyhoo, now I'm taking stuff for the general pain, for muscular-skeletal pain, and for nausea.
Let's hope this means I can go back to work the day after tomorrow. I don't know how I'll be feeling by Sunday, but I'm going to try my hardest to get in to work and see what I can do. If worst comes to worst I'll have to leave early. But I really miss seeing everyone in the lunchroom and around the BWC.
I've been stuck at home for over a week, while everyone else is at work. It's absolutely no fun getting over surgery, and even less so when everyone is so busy. :(
But it hasn't all been bad; people have been stopping by in the evenings to hang out and bring me food. I haven't really had the energy or drive to cook for myself, so the friends have been cooking up a storm and giving me food. Love it! Who could complain about free food and company?
Guess what? Having your nerves severed means that you're in for a whole world of pain in terms of recuperating. I had no idea what to expect until the night before last, when the intense muscle/spinal pain was so bad that I threw up. Not cool. I ended up going to the hospital again yesterday to get checked out and see if they could prescribe some other pain killer that would actually WORK and wouldn't make me continually nauseated. They gave me some liquid oxycodone while in the ER, and damn, that was awesome! I was floating the rest of the afternoon. I totally wish they could have perscribed that stuff for me. Damn.
Anyhoo, now I'm taking stuff for the general pain, for muscular-skeletal pain, and for nausea.
Let's hope this means I can go back to work the day after tomorrow. I don't know how I'll be feeling by Sunday, but I'm going to try my hardest to get in to work and see what I can do. If worst comes to worst I'll have to leave early. But I really miss seeing everyone in the lunchroom and around the BWC.
Monday, October 22, 2007
...Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig
Well, I'm home from the operation, which was a resounding success.
I feel like I've been run over by a sherut, since it's hard to breathe, but no matter. It shall get better as time progresses.
I've been trading off days where I feel fine between days where I'm really nauseated and woozy the whole time. My Accommodations partner-in-crime, Adam, was a nurse before coming here, so he's been giving me lots of advice about how to get better quicker and without the vomiting. :) Apparently going off your pain meds too early can actually make you feel worse before you feel better. That explains a LOT... I gotta remember to keep taking those pain killers until I feel 100% better.
I'm still feeling pretty out of it today, so this is just a short post. But I wanted everyone to know that I am alive and kicking, albeit with not too much energy or drive. C'est la vie, n'est pas?
I feel like I've been run over by a sherut, since it's hard to breathe, but no matter. It shall get better as time progresses.
I've been trading off days where I feel fine between days where I'm really nauseated and woozy the whole time. My Accommodations partner-in-crime, Adam, was a nurse before coming here, so he's been giving me lots of advice about how to get better quicker and without the vomiting. :) Apparently going off your pain meds too early can actually make you feel worse before you feel better. That explains a LOT... I gotta remember to keep taking those pain killers until I feel 100% better.
I'm still feeling pretty out of it today, so this is just a short post. But I wanted everyone to know that I am alive and kicking, albeit with not too much energy or drive. C'est la vie, n'est pas?
Monday, October 8, 2007
Endoscopic Thoracsic Sympathectomy
That's the name of the surgical procedure I'm undergoing in a little over a week.
I've elected to have surgery to correct my case of hyperhydrosis, a condition characterised by overactive sweat glands that activate without warning or reason. It affects approximately 1% of the population (I think this statistic is from the States, but suffice it to say, this condition is either fairly rare or completely undiagnosed a lot of the time). The surgery basically entails me going under anesthesia while the doctors create several tiny incisions under my arms to thread the endoscope (tiny camera) through to my spine. Apparently they will have to collapse my lungs in order to manuever the endoscope through the ribs and towards the spinal column where the nerve clusters are that they have to locate. Once located, they will then go ahead and sever the nerves leading to the affected areas.
Hyperhidrosis is something that's affected my life for quite some time now. For years, it has negatively affected me, where my hands and armpits sweat profusely without rhyme or reason. It's a most embarrassing condition to be faced with; people don't want to shake my hands, people ask why my clothes are stained, people ask if I'm feeling alright because I seem to be so sweaty. When buying clothes, I have to constantly wonder if this particular fabric/ colour/ design will show the sweat stains that will inevitably present themselves. Even thinking about the future had always given me trouble - I wondered about getting married, what that would entail: shaking peoples' hands at the reception, being excited and nervous and thereby exacerbating the condition - all sorts of worries that normally wouldn't affect someone's life, but worries that I have been all too acutely aware of for far too long.
I'm lucky to be able to have this procedure done while I'm serving here at the World Centre; it would have been extremely uncomfortable for me to have to wait until I moved back home to Canada. However, I have to admit that I'm getting really nervous about the whole situation - none of my family is here, and I feel pretty isolated right now. Sure, I have a lot of friends here, and they're being really supportive, but I almost hate having to tell people that I'm having surgery at all. I'm vacillating between excitment and sheer terror, but it's exceedingly hard to articulate that to anyone. So I'm left trying to explain myself to people who have no idea exactly how deeply this condition has affected my life, socially, physically, and mentally.
I'm sure I'm simply overanxious about the whole thing; things will work out the way they're supposed to, regardless of whether I stew about them or not.
I've elected to have surgery to correct my case of hyperhydrosis, a condition characterised by overactive sweat glands that activate without warning or reason. It affects approximately 1% of the population (I think this statistic is from the States, but suffice it to say, this condition is either fairly rare or completely undiagnosed a lot of the time). The surgery basically entails me going under anesthesia while the doctors create several tiny incisions under my arms to thread the endoscope (tiny camera) through to my spine. Apparently they will have to collapse my lungs in order to manuever the endoscope through the ribs and towards the spinal column where the nerve clusters are that they have to locate. Once located, they will then go ahead and sever the nerves leading to the affected areas.
Hyperhidrosis is something that's affected my life for quite some time now. For years, it has negatively affected me, where my hands and armpits sweat profusely without rhyme or reason. It's a most embarrassing condition to be faced with; people don't want to shake my hands, people ask why my clothes are stained, people ask if I'm feeling alright because I seem to be so sweaty. When buying clothes, I have to constantly wonder if this particular fabric/ colour/ design will show the sweat stains that will inevitably present themselves. Even thinking about the future had always given me trouble - I wondered about getting married, what that would entail: shaking peoples' hands at the reception, being excited and nervous and thereby exacerbating the condition - all sorts of worries that normally wouldn't affect someone's life, but worries that I have been all too acutely aware of for far too long.
I'm lucky to be able to have this procedure done while I'm serving here at the World Centre; it would have been extremely uncomfortable for me to have to wait until I moved back home to Canada. However, I have to admit that I'm getting really nervous about the whole situation - none of my family is here, and I feel pretty isolated right now. Sure, I have a lot of friends here, and they're being really supportive, but I almost hate having to tell people that I'm having surgery at all. I'm vacillating between excitment and sheer terror, but it's exceedingly hard to articulate that to anyone. So I'm left trying to explain myself to people who have no idea exactly how deeply this condition has affected my life, socially, physically, and mentally.
I'm sure I'm simply overanxious about the whole thing; things will work out the way they're supposed to, regardless of whether I stew about them or not.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly in the Plains...
...on the other hand, the rain in Israel falls mainly on the mountain of God in Haifa.
It's that time of year, where the gently misting rain begins to fall at night and continues into the morning. It rained last night, but I thought I was just hearing people shuffling on the street all night.
But it was really sweet this morning; the sun was out, the sky was cloudy but not overcast, and it was sprinkling rain down on my shoulders as I walked to the office. I wish the weather could be like this all year! So gorgeous. Plus, it clears all the dust out of the air, so I can't complain there... :)
A little bit of rainy beauty can go a long way to lifting my spirits.
It's that time of year, where the gently misting rain begins to fall at night and continues into the morning. It rained last night, but I thought I was just hearing people shuffling on the street all night.
But it was really sweet this morning; the sun was out, the sky was cloudy but not overcast, and it was sprinkling rain down on my shoulders as I walked to the office. I wish the weather could be like this all year! So gorgeous. Plus, it clears all the dust out of the air, so I can't complain there... :)
A little bit of rainy beauty can go a long way to lifting my spirits.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Blast from the Past
Today I ran into Ryan Lash in the Food Centre. Talk about your blast from the past! I knew this guy from when I was a toddler back in Milton, Ontario in the eighties. Crazy!
It's really interesting to see where the Baha'i youth I grew up with have ended up. Most of them (the ones I've been able to keep track of, anyway) have not really remained active as Baha'is. So it's refreshing to see when someone has stayed really active and faithful to Baha'u'llah. Inspiring.
Ryan is now a consultant who is invited to the World Centre every few months. I'm not sure exactly what he consults about, as that would be confidential, but it's nice to know I'll see a familiar face here every so often over the next couple of years.
Won't Mom be surprised when I tell her I ran into Vicki's son here in Israel... :)
It's really interesting to see where the Baha'i youth I grew up with have ended up. Most of them (the ones I've been able to keep track of, anyway) have not really remained active as Baha'is. So it's refreshing to see when someone has stayed really active and faithful to Baha'u'llah. Inspiring.
Ryan is now a consultant who is invited to the World Centre every few months. I'm not sure exactly what he consults about, as that would be confidential, but it's nice to know I'll see a familiar face here every so often over the next couple of years.
Won't Mom be surprised when I tell her I ran into Vicki's son here in Israel... :)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
19 Day Fest
Since we don't have an administrative body like a Local Spiritual Assembly here in Israel, we normally don't celebrate the nineteen day feasts. However, there is a small contingent of youth here who still want to celebrate together and practice some of the Baha'i activities we have been encouraged to participate in once we go home to our respective communities.
So, every nineteen days we have been getting together, eating some lovely food, and practicing our home visiting techniques. We get divided into teams of two and throughout those nineteen days we have to do a home visit with someone. Then, at the next nineteen day 'fest' as I like to call them, we report back and talk about how the home visits went.
Making dinner beforehand (mmmmm, tortillas!)
Just hanging out on the Moon Couch
Last nineteen day 'fest' was Kent's birthday. Happy B-day buddy!!
Always make sure you have enough ice cream... :)
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I'm So Tired
I've been so exhausted lately I just haven't had the time or the energy to really post anything of value. Well, no energy to post anything at ALL, actually.
Things I should and will probably blog about in the near future:
-Switching jobs
-Finishing the Ihtifal play (complete with pictures!)
-Dr. Varqa's passing and funeral
-Stress points in my life and why they suck
-Upcoming surgery next month
Tune in soon for updates on these topics and more on Shireen's blog! (I feel like FOX or ABC) :)
Things I should and will probably blog about in the near future:
-Switching jobs
-Finishing the Ihtifal play (complete with pictures!)
-Dr. Varqa's passing and funeral
-Stress points in my life and why they suck
-Upcoming surgery next month
Tune in soon for updates on these topics and more on Shireen's blog! (I feel like FOX or ABC) :)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Blistered, Battered, and Bruised
Today was the tech rehearsal for the Ihtifal play, and am I ever exhausted! Turns out I'm stage managing the show, running around backstage making sure everything is set up properly. It's been a whirlwind of a time getting this thing ready to perform, but I think we're close to ready.
The sets are all painted and attached and in the space - I think they look particularly awesome. Isidro, May, Dave and I spent an inordinate amount of time and energy making these sets sparkle. And I think we've succeeded.
I may be blistered, I may be bruised, I may be absolutely beyond tired, I may have almost shot myself through the leg with a staple gun, but I think it may all have been worth it. We shall see what tomorrow brings - we have the final dress rehearsal tomorrow afternoon, and none of my stage crew have any idea what props they are assigned to bring on, but we're just going to wing it and have a marvellous time doing it.
I will be posting the photo diary I have been keeping of the process we've been going through. I can't post it until after the show though - no spoilers! We want everyone to be flabbergasted by the sets and props and costumes, so no peeking. :)
Soon, though, very soon...
The sets are all painted and attached and in the space - I think they look particularly awesome. Isidro, May, Dave and I spent an inordinate amount of time and energy making these sets sparkle. And I think we've succeeded.
I may be blistered, I may be bruised, I may be absolutely beyond tired, I may have almost shot myself through the leg with a staple gun, but I think it may all have been worth it. We shall see what tomorrow brings - we have the final dress rehearsal tomorrow afternoon, and none of my stage crew have any idea what props they are assigned to bring on, but we're just going to wing it and have a marvellous time doing it.
I will be posting the photo diary I have been keeping of the process we've been going through. I can't post it until after the show though - no spoilers! We want everyone to be flabbergasted by the sets and props and costumes, so no peeking. :)
Soon, though, very soon...
Filing, Filing Everywhere!
Finding it very hard to concentrate right now....
I need to be going through all the old files at work and make sure everything is up-to-date before I leave this job for another, but I keep getting left alone in the office for hours on end. It's very hard to motivate one's self to plow through stacks of paper when it seems never-ending and there isn't anyone peering over your shoulder to get it done.
Ok, I need to stop in my tracks and remind myself I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing this for the person coming in after me. I'm doing this so the department can have access to its files. I'm doing this because that's what I was brought in here to do. I'm doing this because...well, because it's the easiest way I have right now of serving the House of Justice.
Man, if that isn't enough motivation, I don't know what is. Back to the grindstone I go, but with a lighter feeling in my heart. Motivation is everything here, and I'm finding mine now. Writing these things out really seems to put a lot into perspective, doesn't it?
I need to be going through all the old files at work and make sure everything is up-to-date before I leave this job for another, but I keep getting left alone in the office for hours on end. It's very hard to motivate one's self to plow through stacks of paper when it seems never-ending and there isn't anyone peering over your shoulder to get it done.
Ok, I need to stop in my tracks and remind myself I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing this for the person coming in after me. I'm doing this so the department can have access to its files. I'm doing this because that's what I was brought in here to do. I'm doing this because...well, because it's the easiest way I have right now of serving the House of Justice.
Man, if that isn't enough motivation, I don't know what is. Back to the grindstone I go, but with a lighter feeling in my heart. Motivation is everything here, and I'm finding mine now. Writing these things out really seems to put a lot into perspective, doesn't it?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Technology Eludes Me No Longer!
I have finally figured out to link my friends' blogs to my own.
And it's only taken me three months to do.
I know, I know, the term is technologically impaired, I'm seeking counselling...
But lucky you, now you can see into the souls of some of my closest friends. There are some pretty cool people that I happen to be friends with, and they lead lives as exciting and eventful as mine!
The irony of that statement hits me like a grand piano dropped from a fifth storey window. (I'm trying to add some hyperbole to an otherwise dull post. Is it working?)
Sometimes I feel like my life is completely uneventful, but then I only have to glance at previous posts and I am reminded that sometimes my life is like an out of control freight train with me at the helm. And I don't know anything about trains.
But life is good, this is the gist of my post here.
And it's only taken me three months to do.
I know, I know, the term is technologically impaired, I'm seeking counselling...
But lucky you, now you can see into the souls of some of my closest friends. There are some pretty cool people that I happen to be friends with, and they lead lives as exciting and eventful as mine!
The irony of that statement hits me like a grand piano dropped from a fifth storey window. (I'm trying to add some hyperbole to an otherwise dull post. Is it working?)
Sometimes I feel like my life is completely uneventful, but then I only have to glance at previous posts and I am reminded that sometimes my life is like an out of control freight train with me at the helm. And I don't know anything about trains.
But life is good, this is the gist of my post here.
"Life is what happens to you on the way to somewhere else."
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Higher Education Denied to Baha'is in Iran
The Iranian government, although lately has been denying its expulsion of Baha'i university students based on their religious affiliations, has in fact been lying about its practices, and has been expelling students on no other grounds than the fact that they are Baha'i. These allegations were confirmed in a confidential government memorandum from Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology:
"The letter refutes recent statements by Iranian officials, who say Baha'i students in Iran face no discrimination - despite the fact that more than half of the Baha'i university students enrolled last autumn were gradually expelled over the course of the 2006-2007 academic year."
Please follow this link for more information on the government memorandum: http://news.bahai.org/story/575
Following in the wake of this distressing news, it has now been categorically confirmed that Iranian Ministry officials are actively trying to keep Baha'i students from receiving higher education. Out of over 1,050 Baha'is to sit for their entrance examinations this year, over 800 did not received their test scores back, saying they were deemed "incomplete". This means that none of those students were able to apply for university entrance for the 2007-2008 school year.
In a letter dated 9 September 2007, the Universal House of Justice, the supreme administrative body for the Baha'i world, wrote to the Baha'i youth in Iran encouraging them to stand firm during this exceedingly difficult period of time. The three page document states:
"These official acts are disappointing and shameful," wrote the Universal House of Justice. "This action of the government in obstructing youth, Baha'i or otherwise, from access to higher education stands in contrast to the noble history of Iran's past attainments."
The Universal House of Justice asks the youth of Iran to remain resolute in their convictions, steadfast in their faith, and ever-patient in the face of overwhelming government opposition. They are to:
"With an illumined conscience, with a world-embracing vision, with no partisan political agenda, and with due regard for law and order, strive for the regeneration of your country. By your deeds and services, attract the hearts of those around you, even win the esteem of your avowed enemies,"
Please follow this link for more information about the letter sent to the Iranian Baha'i youth: http://www.bwns.org/story/577
I post this information here in the hopes that people will read it, and their eyes will be opened to the injustice happening in the world around them. We all need to actively strive for the betterment of the world and its populace, and to do so we all need to be aware and informed about current oppression and tyranny. It is my wish that any and all university students back home in Canada, as well as Canadian government officials, will rise to the challenge and step forward to denounce these shameful acts of the Iranian government towards the Baha'i youth of its country.
(Please note - I am not, in any way, trying to degrade the name of Islam or any its tenets. The above-mentioned acts are being perpetrated by a extremist regime within the Iranian goverment, which is in fact a Muslim theocracy, but these vicious acts towards the Baha'is should not sully the illustrious history of the Islamic faith worldwide.)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Accommodations Dinner
We had a nice little get together at Arash and Bahareh's flat on Saturday evening, both to say goodbye to Frank and to welcome Meelod and I to the Accommodations family.
Subtract the other two ladies, and substitute Musa for Frank, and you're now looking at the Accommodations Office staff for the Baha'i World Centre. I think it's probably the smallest department in the BWC, but that doesn't mean that what we do isn't important. I feel like we are the servants who serve the servants. We will work tirelessly so that all other staff members here can go home to a flat that they are comfortable in and can rest easy knowing things are being taken care of by capable hands.
Adam and I want cool new uniforms. We figure if Move Crew can have awesome t-shirts, we should have awesome Operations Crew t-shirts. We've also decided we are going to be the Dynamic Duo - we both talk a lot and we're both eccentric. Adam and I will get along famously.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Things I am thankful for
I'm going to keep adding to this list, but here's what I've got so far:
I AM THANKFUL FOR...
1. The occasional day where the temperature dips below 30 C.
2. So many of my close friends back home finding love and getting married
3. The ability to dance to my ipod unselfconsciously
4. When I find a memo that I've been searching for all day
5. Seeing my friends in the lunchroom
6. The Book Centre (such a godsend!)
7. Being able to afford to talk on the phone to my parents overseas as often as I want
8. My fantastic flatmates, Kat and Luisa
9. A ridiculously nice flat
10. Having the opportunity to serve in Haifa at this point in my life
11. Living so close to the Shrine of the Bab
12. Second November and the boys that live there
13. Being approved to move to Accommodations - now I can serve to my fullest capacity!
14. The price of art supplies in the Hadar (sweet!)
15. My sister, the fashion guru whom I love, who sends me beautiful clothes
16. The days when the dust has settled and you can see across the bay to Akka and even Jordan
I AM THANKFUL FOR...
1. The occasional day where the temperature dips below 30 C.
2. So many of my close friends back home finding love and getting married
3. The ability to dance to my ipod unselfconsciously
4. When I find a memo that I've been searching for all day
5. Seeing my friends in the lunchroom
6. The Book Centre (such a godsend!)
7. Being able to afford to talk on the phone to my parents overseas as often as I want
8. My fantastic flatmates, Kat and Luisa
9. A ridiculously nice flat
10. Having the opportunity to serve in Haifa at this point in my life
11. Living so close to the Shrine of the Bab
12. Second November and the boys that live there
13. Being approved to move to Accommodations - now I can serve to my fullest capacity!
14. The price of art supplies in the Hadar (sweet!)
15. My sister, the fashion guru whom I love, who sends me beautiful clothes
16. The days when the dust has settled and you can see across the bay to Akka and even Jordan
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Gone Hunting
Today I went a'hunting. I'm helping with the sets and props for the Ihtifal Committee play we're putting on a week from Friday, so I had to go out at lunch today and try to find art supplies. No one else from the crew could come with me, but when Monica emailed me for a lunch date, I invited her along. No argument there! Who doesn't want to go shopping for art supplies?
Anyhoo, Amelia told me about a little art shop somewhere on the outskirts of the Merkaz, so Monica and I hopped in a sherut from Golomb gate and trundled off to see if we could find it.
We didn't.
We were fortunate enough to stop and have a bite to eat at the fantastic sandwich shop on the corner near Greg's Coffee, but when we headed off in the alleged direction of the art shop, it was nowhere to be found. Alas, our trip to the Merkaz was rather fruitless. I tried calling everyone I could think of to give us directions to the store, but NO ONE was answering their phones today. I guess when it's time for lunch, nothing else matters.
Monica mentioned that there was supposedly another art store down in the Hadar, but I was rather hesitant at this point until she was able to reach a friend of hers on the cell and get some actual directions. Sweet! So we finally caught a bus going down the mountain and decided to quickly try and find this other shop. (We're only supposed to take about an hour, maybe an hour and a half for lunch, and we'd already wasted most of it looking for the elusive shop in the Merkaz.) Plus, we HAD to find stuff today, because tomorrow is Rosh Hashana, and everything is going to be closed for three days straight. Shana Tova!
Once we got to the Hadar, we booted it up the main road trying to find the fork in the road where the art store allegedly was. Lo and behold, we managed to find it! Success! And was the stuff ever cheap; I was able to buy ten brushes, eleven bottles of gouache, and a small canvas for 150 shekels. That's about $40 altogether, which is pretty sweet, I must say. Monica and I were in heaven; if only we'd had more time to browse! I'll just have to go back again when I have more money and more time...
After making our purchases, we had to hoof it back down to where the buses gathered to see if we could quickly grab a bus, sherut, or taxi, whichever came first. We were able to pile ourselves into a sherut, probably one of the tiniest sheruts I've been in so far. I was practically sitting on the lap of the guy beside me, who happened to have a large suitcase with him, while Monica had her paints and canvas basically wedged up under her face. So squishy - best sherut ride ever!
As we drove by Golomb gate, I hollered at the driver to let me off, I practically rolled out the door, and flew down the stairs behind the ITC building back to my office at the bottom of the hill. And it turns out I was only ten minutes late!
Such a crazy lunchtime, no wonder I'm home now and absolutely knackered at 9:30 PM. I suppose it could also be the supreme stress of trying to stage a show in just over a week with absolutely no sets or props to speak of yet. How do I get myself into these situations? Oh wait, that's right, I am Shireen and my life is weird...
Anyhoo, Amelia told me about a little art shop somewhere on the outskirts of the Merkaz, so Monica and I hopped in a sherut from Golomb gate and trundled off to see if we could find it.
We didn't.
We were fortunate enough to stop and have a bite to eat at the fantastic sandwich shop on the corner near Greg's Coffee, but when we headed off in the alleged direction of the art shop, it was nowhere to be found. Alas, our trip to the Merkaz was rather fruitless. I tried calling everyone I could think of to give us directions to the store, but NO ONE was answering their phones today. I guess when it's time for lunch, nothing else matters.
Monica mentioned that there was supposedly another art store down in the Hadar, but I was rather hesitant at this point until she was able to reach a friend of hers on the cell and get some actual directions. Sweet! So we finally caught a bus going down the mountain and decided to quickly try and find this other shop. (We're only supposed to take about an hour, maybe an hour and a half for lunch, and we'd already wasted most of it looking for the elusive shop in the Merkaz.) Plus, we HAD to find stuff today, because tomorrow is Rosh Hashana, and everything is going to be closed for three days straight. Shana Tova!
Once we got to the Hadar, we booted it up the main road trying to find the fork in the road where the art store allegedly was. Lo and behold, we managed to find it! Success! And was the stuff ever cheap; I was able to buy ten brushes, eleven bottles of gouache, and a small canvas for 150 shekels. That's about $40 altogether, which is pretty sweet, I must say. Monica and I were in heaven; if only we'd had more time to browse! I'll just have to go back again when I have more money and more time...
After making our purchases, we had to hoof it back down to where the buses gathered to see if we could quickly grab a bus, sherut, or taxi, whichever came first. We were able to pile ourselves into a sherut, probably one of the tiniest sheruts I've been in so far. I was practically sitting on the lap of the guy beside me, who happened to have a large suitcase with him, while Monica had her paints and canvas basically wedged up under her face. So squishy - best sherut ride ever!
As we drove by Golomb gate, I hollered at the driver to let me off, I practically rolled out the door, and flew down the stairs behind the ITC building back to my office at the bottom of the hill. And it turns out I was only ten minutes late!
Such a crazy lunchtime, no wonder I'm home now and absolutely knackered at 9:30 PM. I suppose it could also be the supreme stress of trying to stage a show in just over a week with absolutely no sets or props to speak of yet. How do I get myself into these situations? Oh wait, that's right, I am Shireen and my life is weird...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Bab
Today we commemorated the martyrdom of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i Faith. Normally back home it is commemorated 9 July, but here some of the holy days are celebrated according to the lunar calendar. So, on 11 September, we all gathered outside the Haifa Pilgrim House and had a marvellous holy day.
Me and Bauback
Monica and me
Me, Anjali, and Kara
Me and Bauback 
Me, Lucia, and Roya
Borhan and me
Joaquin, Shiva, and me
All the Brazillians and me!
Afonso and me
Khatereh, Heranush, me and Ezra
Monica and meI just realised every single one of these pictures has me in it, but it's my blog, so whatever!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Games Night at Bracha Habas
Every Monday night there is a reoccuring event here at the World Centre. I'm not talking about a class or a devotional or anything - I'm talking about games night. That's right, it's a games night. I've heard tell of it for awhile now, but never got a chance to go. Until now.
Tonight was my first visit to Bracha Habas and the mythical games night, but wouldn't you know it, the boys had uploaded the recent Giants-Cowboys NFL match from yesterday and that took precedence over all else. Us girls relegated ourselves to the kitchen to make burgers and salad, while the boys hooted at the computer screen. Sometimes I wonder if we're really breaking gender stereotypes here at all... :)
All in all, it was pretty fun. The large group games were preempted for the football game, but we still had a good time playing Hearts in smaller groups. There was also a small Scrabble contingent that I might join next time. Plus, if we're a large group next time, I'm going to teach everyone the Maroussia Game - it's basically a cross between Charades and Taboo, but a whole lot more fun than you might think.
APPROVED!!!!
MY TRANSFER HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!!
I am so ridiculously giddy right now, I can barely type. My request for departmental transfer has been approved, so I'm now officially moving to Accommodations!!
This is so sweet. I mean, it really sucks that I have to leave the Department of Holy Places, but in the grand scheme of things, this is really for the best. I am not an office manager, and after this stint I don't think I ever will be. :) But I get to be on the Operations Crew in Accommodations which basically means that I will be assisting with flat preparations for new staff and visitors. I'm the one that gets to leave the chocolate on the pillow, so to speak. I also will be doing flat inspections, which is cool since I did that sort of thing when I worked for Nancy Campbell for the winter.
I'M SO EXCITED!!!
Sorry, I hate using all caps, but it's the only way to adequately describe the elation I am currently experiencing. This is too perfect...and now I cannot wait to tell my coordinator; she is going to be so excited for me too. She said that when everything is all settled and we've figured out what's going on, she and I are going to go out for a fancy dinner date and just have a wonderful evening together. Sweet, eh? I'm really going to miss working with everyone in the office, but I remind myself that they're only going to be a block away now. It's not like I'm physically leaving the World Centre; I'm just shifting my field of work.
And I love it.
This is going to be good...
I am so ridiculously giddy right now, I can barely type. My request for departmental transfer has been approved, so I'm now officially moving to Accommodations!!
This is so sweet. I mean, it really sucks that I have to leave the Department of Holy Places, but in the grand scheme of things, this is really for the best. I am not an office manager, and after this stint I don't think I ever will be. :) But I get to be on the Operations Crew in Accommodations which basically means that I will be assisting with flat preparations for new staff and visitors. I'm the one that gets to leave the chocolate on the pillow, so to speak. I also will be doing flat inspections, which is cool since I did that sort of thing when I worked for Nancy Campbell for the winter.
I'M SO EXCITED!!!
Sorry, I hate using all caps, but it's the only way to adequately describe the elation I am currently experiencing. This is too perfect...and now I cannot wait to tell my coordinator; she is going to be so excited for me too. She said that when everything is all settled and we've figured out what's going on, she and I are going to go out for a fancy dinner date and just have a wonderful evening together. Sweet, eh? I'm really going to miss working with everyone in the office, but I remind myself that they're only going to be a block away now. It's not like I'm physically leaving the World Centre; I'm just shifting my field of work.
And I love it.
This is going to be good...
Sunday, September 9, 2007
The Flatties
It's been six months; I feel like I should probably introduce y'all to my flatmates here in Israel.
Khatereh E.
Kiwi from New Zealand
Here for a year interning in the Research Dept.
Younger than me by a couple of years
Super serious and intense (awesome)
One of the wisest souls I've ever encountered - wise beyond her years
Luisa H.C.
Bolivian
Here for a year and a half in the Pilgrim Reception Centre
Older than Kat and I by a few years
Extremely soft spoken and adorable
Thinks her English is terrible, but I think it's wonderful (I wish my Spanish was that good!)
I can't even describe how incredibly lucky I am to have such amazing flatmates. There is not one bad thing I can say about living with these two girls. Man, I know I'm gushing, but really, sometimes you can get stuck with people that are lovely but you can't live with them. These two girls are such a pleasure to live with, I'm so elated.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Farewell dinner for Minoo and Roger
I was asked to organize a farewell dinner for Minoo and Roger M. before they finished their terms of service here in Haifa. Minoo was the Custodian of the Shrine of the Bab for years, and Roger worked in the gardens department. Minoo was serving here for something like eleven years - I can't even imagine that I've been here for six months! It's almost unreal.
Anyway, here are some great shots from the party as it was happening:
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