We had a lovely dinner at Matt's flat the other night, to celebrate...well, to celebrate each other, really. He wanted to term the evening Mostmand Fest in honour of Mr. Reza Mostmand, but being the incredibly humble human being that he is, Reza refused to allow a dinner dedicated to himself.
So Matt decided to honour all of us instead and we ate wanna-be Mexican food. It was delicious and oh-so (kind-of) Mexican. :)
Later in the evening Reza wrote a love song for Iman, Laura and I made up a Spanish love song for each other, and much hilarity was enjoyed by all.
The night was capped off by one of the water pipes overflowing in the kitchen and the entire floor being soaked with soapy, foul smelling water. Apparently it was one of those pipes that don't really go anywhere but are still open to flooding occasionally. Good times.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
CHINA!!!
There was a lovely talk given the other day by some counsellors visiting from the Asian continent. They talked specifically about China, and it was wonderful - brought back so many memories of living there so long ago.
I want to go back to China sometime in the near future. It sounds like it's becoming so cosmopolitan. And I know the government has been in the news a lot recently for things like human rights violations in Tibet and the boycotting of the Olympics and all that sort of high-profile media circusry, but really, the local Chinese people are so warm-hearted and friendly and open and curious about all sorts of things; it's really quite refreshing.
A generalisation that has always stuck with me:
When offered information of value or information that's highly useful, they don't usually say "this will be good for me", they say, "this will be good for China". If only more people in the world were that selfless. We would all be much better off for it.
I want to go back to China sometime in the near future. It sounds like it's becoming so cosmopolitan. And I know the government has been in the news a lot recently for things like human rights violations in Tibet and the boycotting of the Olympics and all that sort of high-profile media circusry, but really, the local Chinese people are so warm-hearted and friendly and open and curious about all sorts of things; it's really quite refreshing.
A generalisation that has always stuck with me:
When offered information of value or information that's highly useful, they don't usually say "this will be good for me", they say, "this will be good for China". If only more people in the world were that selfless. We would all be much better off for it.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Double birthday bash!
My birthday was recently on the 29 of April, and my friend Laura's was on the 2 of May, so I decided to throw us a birthday bash to celebrate (both of our birthdays has been skipped due to the International Convention this year.) We had a bunch of people over to my flat, and we had a grand old time, playing games and getting scolded by the neighbours for making too much noise.
Here we were playing Fruit Salad, a game not unlike Musical Chairs. PJ got so fed up, he decided to take his chair with him as he played.
Here Laura and I decided to cut our cakes like an old married couple. Good times. The frosting was excellent. Yum!
Here we are just kicking back and having some laughs. We got waaaaaay too rowdy, but I blame all the sugar we were hopped up on.
Here we were playing Fruit Salad, a game not unlike Musical Chairs. PJ got so fed up, he decided to take his chair with him as he played.
Here I am laughing HYSTERICALLY as they bring out our respective birthday cakes and sing us the Canadian national anthem instead of "Happy Birthday". They butchered it, but it was wonderful nonetheless.
Here Laura and I decided to cut our cakes like an old married couple. Good times. The frosting was excellent. Yum!
Here we are just kicking back and having some laughs. We got waaaaaay too rowdy, but I blame all the sugar we were hopped up on. Saturday, May 3, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Best Birthday EVER!!
Ok, today was my best birthday ever, hands down!
Sure, I had to get up at 4 AM to get to the Convention Centre on time for training before the election; sure I was on my feet for seven straight hours pointing delegates where they had to go; sure I didn't get much food. But you know what? I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It was AMAZING!
I have so much respect for everyone who put effort into organising this convention - it has been so well planned, everything is running like clockwork. And the spirit of prayerful meditation and brotherhood was unbelievable. NOwhere else in the world would you see such a dignified election process with no electioneering and campaigning. The delegates simply pray and meditate about those souls they feel would be the most fitting to be House of Justice members, and then they vote. Simple as that.
I was a delegate usher, which meant that I was primarily responsible for keeping the queue orderly and everyone in the right place at the right time. Plus, juggling delegates leaving for bathroom breaks and delegates returning to their seats after the voting, plus staff going back and forth - it was exhilarating! I didn't realise how much I missed ushering until today.
THEN, after lunch, we all headed out to Bahji for the Ninth Day of Ridvan celebration. Basically, the Ridvan festival is a commemoration of the twelve days Baha'u'llah stayed in the garden of Ridvan with his family and friends, before declaring His mission as a Manifestation of God. I believe the Ninth Day is celebrated specifically because that was the day He officially declared His station as a Manifestation. Ridvan is considered the most auspicious of times in the Baha'i calendar, and to be born on the Ninth Day has always been such a source of joy for me. I have been blessed, and at no time was it more obvious than today when I got to be a phyiscal part of the election process for the Universal House of Justice, and then participate in such a beautiful holy day at the holiest spot on earth, Bahji.
Plus, after all THAT, Swati invited me back to her flat for some "leftovers", then proceeded to surprise me with my 2nd November buddies, and we had a lovely, although random and slap-happy dinner. Just the way I like it. :)
Oh glorious, glorious day!!
Sure, I had to get up at 4 AM to get to the Convention Centre on time for training before the election; sure I was on my feet for seven straight hours pointing delegates where they had to go; sure I didn't get much food. But you know what? I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It was AMAZING!
I have so much respect for everyone who put effort into organising this convention - it has been so well planned, everything is running like clockwork. And the spirit of prayerful meditation and brotherhood was unbelievable. NOwhere else in the world would you see such a dignified election process with no electioneering and campaigning. The delegates simply pray and meditate about those souls they feel would be the most fitting to be House of Justice members, and then they vote. Simple as that.
I was a delegate usher, which meant that I was primarily responsible for keeping the queue orderly and everyone in the right place at the right time. Plus, juggling delegates leaving for bathroom breaks and delegates returning to their seats after the voting, plus staff going back and forth - it was exhilarating! I didn't realise how much I missed ushering until today.
THEN, after lunch, we all headed out to Bahji for the Ninth Day of Ridvan celebration. Basically, the Ridvan festival is a commemoration of the twelve days Baha'u'llah stayed in the garden of Ridvan with his family and friends, before declaring His mission as a Manifestation of God. I believe the Ninth Day is celebrated specifically because that was the day He officially declared His station as a Manifestation. Ridvan is considered the most auspicious of times in the Baha'i calendar, and to be born on the Ninth Day has always been such a source of joy for me. I have been blessed, and at no time was it more obvious than today when I got to be a phyiscal part of the election process for the Universal House of Justice, and then participate in such a beautiful holy day at the holiest spot on earth, Bahji.
Plus, after all THAT, Swati invited me back to her flat for some "leftovers", then proceeded to surprise me with my 2nd November buddies, and we had a lovely, although random and slap-happy dinner. Just the way I like it. :)
Oh glorious, glorious day!!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Preparation and Anticipation!
We at the World Centre have all been supremely busy lately preparing for the Tenth International Convention for the Election of the Universal House of Justice. I had no idea the logistics involved in planning something this elaborate, but from what I've seen so far, it's going to take a LOT of volunteers to make this fantastic event go smoothly.
I am sooooo excited to have the priviledge of getting to volunteer at an International Convention. Basically, all the delegates from every National Spiritual Assembly across the globe will start arriving in Haifa in approximately three days or so in order to vote for the next members of the Universal House of Justice. It only occurs once every five years, and the last one had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of war this time five years ago, so this is actually the first convention being held in ten years. Wow. And I get to be here when it happens. Double wow.
I will be an usher, which I'm pretty excited about, since that used to be my job back home before I came to Israel. I am so psyched for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the administrative process of the Baha'i Faith at work in its (I feel) highest, purest form. It's so humbling to be a part of, I can tell you that much.
More details shall follow after Convention, once the election results have been officially released...
I am sooooo excited to have the priviledge of getting to volunteer at an International Convention. Basically, all the delegates from every National Spiritual Assembly across the globe will start arriving in Haifa in approximately three days or so in order to vote for the next members of the Universal House of Justice. It only occurs once every five years, and the last one had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of war this time five years ago, so this is actually the first convention being held in ten years. Wow. And I get to be here when it happens. Double wow.
I will be an usher, which I'm pretty excited about, since that used to be my job back home before I came to Israel. I am so psyched for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the administrative process of the Baha'i Faith at work in its (I feel) highest, purest form. It's so humbling to be a part of, I can tell you that much.
More details shall follow after Convention, once the election results have been officially released...
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Insomniac
I haven't had a good night's sleep in well over a month.
It's gotten to the point where I've started to keep a sleep journal to try and track how often I wake up and why. For the past few days, I have noticed that, without fail, I will wake up at 5:00 AM almost on the nose. I am also frequently waking throughout the night and having a hard time getting back to sleep.
One problem I know is that my walls feel thinner than rice paper, and I can hear everything that goes on in the street. So it might be that I'm waking at 5 every morning because that's when the delivery truck comes and makes a god-awful racket outside the convenience store across the street. Grrrrrrr. I've tried to wear earplugs, but they are so uncomfortable in my ears that they keep me awake, as does the thought that if I wear earplugs I will miss my alarm and forget to go to work. Not a good plan...
Insomnia is not fun. It is making me dangerously irritable. I have to try very hard to make it to work in the morning and not rip someone's head off or fall asleep at my desk and drool all over my keyboard. I hate the idea of taking prescription meds, but at this point I am willing to try almost anything!
I've had insomnia before, but not this bad or this frequent, and not for the same reasons. I had a terrible bout of it during university one semester, which caused me to almost fail my one morning class that term. The same thing is happening here; I'm not able to fall back to sleep until about an hour before my alarm clock goes off and then I have to wake up again.
SAVE ME!!! I REQUIRE SLEEP!!!!
It's gotten to the point where I've started to keep a sleep journal to try and track how often I wake up and why. For the past few days, I have noticed that, without fail, I will wake up at 5:00 AM almost on the nose. I am also frequently waking throughout the night and having a hard time getting back to sleep.
One problem I know is that my walls feel thinner than rice paper, and I can hear everything that goes on in the street. So it might be that I'm waking at 5 every morning because that's when the delivery truck comes and makes a god-awful racket outside the convenience store across the street. Grrrrrrr. I've tried to wear earplugs, but they are so uncomfortable in my ears that they keep me awake, as does the thought that if I wear earplugs I will miss my alarm and forget to go to work. Not a good plan...
Insomnia is not fun. It is making me dangerously irritable. I have to try very hard to make it to work in the morning and not rip someone's head off or fall asleep at my desk and drool all over my keyboard. I hate the idea of taking prescription meds, but at this point I am willing to try almost anything!
I've had insomnia before, but not this bad or this frequent, and not for the same reasons. I had a terrible bout of it during university one semester, which caused me to almost fail my one morning class that term. The same thing is happening here; I'm not able to fall back to sleep until about an hour before my alarm clock goes off and then I have to wake up again.
SAVE ME!!! I REQUIRE SLEEP!!!!
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