Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Ok, in classic Julie fashion, I have a story that could have very easily happened in the states to me. I was finally planning to host a colleague and her husband for a Sunday lunch. Planned ahead, went to ku isoko (the market), bought all of the ingredients, and soaked the beans overnight. After preparing my international feast (guacamole, Israeli salad, and French bean salad), I realized my guests did not seem quite satisfied. Later in the evening, I had so many leftovers, that I invited another set of guests. As I was discussing with them whether they thought the ibishyimbo (beans) turned out well, I was pretty sure we were having a huge language barrier. They kept insisting that I had not indeed cooked beans (pre-soaked, I repeat, and cooked for over 2 hours). I assured them that they were very well cooked...turned out I had cooked peanuts instead. Oh my.
Things are quite well. As you can guess I am elated about Joe`s visit. He arrives tomorrow morning.
Been working hard. Did a training today on the importance of play and how to use toys appropriately, that went quite well. Just putting together all of my training topics. The group prioritized and we are off (feeding, toileting, caregiver training...). You get the idea.
Two interesting language nuances. I can`t find a word in Kinyarwanda for FUN. And, people say here a translation of YOU WERE LOST, when they have not seen you in a long time. Loving language.
Hope to hear from you all soon. Happy upcoming holidays.
Things are quite well. As you can guess I am elated about Joe`s visit. He arrives tomorrow morning.
Been working hard. Did a training today on the importance of play and how to use toys appropriately, that went quite well. Just putting together all of my training topics. The group prioritized and we are off (feeding, toileting, caregiver training...). You get the idea.
Two interesting language nuances. I can`t find a word in Kinyarwanda for FUN. And, people say here a translation of YOU WERE LOST, when they have not seen you in a long time. Loving language.
Hope to hear from you all soon. Happy upcoming holidays.
# posted by Julie @ 6:54 AM 
Comments:
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yay i'm first! sorry harriette.
not many things make me laugh out loud, but, oh, julie. didn't you once serve spencer and entire salad of raw kale? love that you aren't above sharing stories like that, even at your own expense. keep them coming!
love
gay
not many things make me laugh out loud, but, oh, julie. didn't you once serve spencer and entire salad of raw kale? love that you aren't above sharing stories like that, even at your own expense. keep them coming!
love
gay
# posted by 
: 6:48 PM
: 6:48 PM
Hi Julie. I am at Grandma's with Grandma and Sam. I am showing them how to access your blog.
Hope you and Joe had a good time on the safari yesterday. We will call you right before we leave for the airport.
Love,
Mom
Hope you and Joe had a good time on the safari yesterday. We will call you right before we leave for the airport.
Love,
Mom
# posted by : 7:42 AM
: 7:42 AM
i'm also procrastinating! i have boards on thursday and friday (two days this time). i've been trying to get ahold of you, but i guess you are having such a good time that your phone is always off! oh well, i'll catch you one of these days. i hope akagera was amazing, and that you are having a terrific and relaxing time in kibuye (i think you are there now). jason and i went to carol's yesterday for a holiday party -- lots of fun and we had a great game of mafia! we missed you and joe of course. i'm working straight for ~12 days starting tomorrow, but then get 4 days off for new years (so not such a bad price to pay). we're going to tahoe with adam and yve (and ruth and chris)...can't wait!!! well, talk to you soon...
love,
allie
love,
allie
# posted by : 1:54 PM
: 1:54 PM
Hey Juls!!! I've been reading your blog since you left, and have totally enjoyed the stories! I have to say, though, that this one takes the cake! (or should i say the peanuts???) Seriouly, hilarious.
It sounds like your experiences are just one after another full of color, life and energy. I am so glad that your dream of so many years is finally coming true.
I hope you and Joe are enjoying your visit together--what a treat! Scott and I are deep into our third month of a house renovation that was supposed to take but six weeks (right!). We have lived here the entire time, on a dusty queen-sized bed shoved against a wall, and somehow have still managed to remain friends! We haven't had any running water (except for a small shower) for several weeks now, so you're probably living better than us right now :).
Anyway, enjoy your time with Joe (hi joe!) and I'll write more soon (and more often!)
xo
maris
It sounds like your experiences are just one after another full of color, life and energy. I am so glad that your dream of so many years is finally coming true.
I hope you and Joe are enjoying your visit together--what a treat! Scott and I are deep into our third month of a house renovation that was supposed to take but six weeks (right!). We have lived here the entire time, on a dusty queen-sized bed shoved against a wall, and somehow have still managed to remain friends! We haven't had any running water (except for a small shower) for several weeks now, so you're probably living better than us right now :).
Anyway, enjoy your time with Joe (hi joe!) and I'll write more soon (and more often!)
xo
maris
# posted by : 7:47 PM
: 7:47 PM
Hey Juls,
All is going well here. I am crazy...why didnt I appreciate the down time before the company hit full speed?? I have officially become a hermit and never leave my desk. I'm trying my hardest to have a company up an running for you to come home to! Our first photo shoot (kids and toys) is tomorrow in LA. I am not going to be there, but sheri seems to have things almost under control. I should be getting the final layout of the snap bag packaging tonight....I will forward to you as soon as I do. I would give you non-work related news, but I havent stopped working long enough to have any. I hope you are having a wonderful rwanda style hanukkah and that joe managed to find his luggage.
miss you!
jess
ps Melissa tried the mexican place that you always rave about on valencia and is now as obsessed as you are. she asked me to tell you. :)
All is going well here. I am crazy...why didnt I appreciate the down time before the company hit full speed?? I have officially become a hermit and never leave my desk. I'm trying my hardest to have a company up an running for you to come home to! Our first photo shoot (kids and toys) is tomorrow in LA. I am not going to be there, but sheri seems to have things almost under control. I should be getting the final layout of the snap bag packaging tonight....I will forward to you as soon as I do. I would give you non-work related news, but I havent stopped working long enough to have any. I hope you are having a wonderful rwanda style hanukkah and that joe managed to find his luggage.
miss you!
jess
ps Melissa tried the mexican place that you always rave about on valencia and is now as obsessed as you are. she asked me to tell you. :)
# posted by : 4:17 PM
: 4:17 PM
jul,
ok, sorry to be so officially late in posting. love everyone's news -like catching up w/ what is new w/ marissa and jess and gay through your blog!
we are well. tons of work to do, but pretending not to freak out about it. i told everyone at my current job that i'm strongly considering a different job for next year. it went ok. now i just have to negotiate the contract with dr. zeller!!!! agh! so glad you and joe are having fun (hi joe, hope to see you in SF in january!) and as soon as jonathan has a clue what he's doing over the summer, we can start making plans to come there ourselves. i'm bringing mom my backpack when i'm home in early march to make sure she can fit her stuff into it and carry it. i think it will work out great. have a happy new year, and maybe we'll eat at burma superstar, or chin's or eric's next month in your honor!
jennie
ok, sorry to be so officially late in posting. love everyone's news -like catching up w/ what is new w/ marissa and jess and gay through your blog!
we are well. tons of work to do, but pretending not to freak out about it. i told everyone at my current job that i'm strongly considering a different job for next year. it went ok. now i just have to negotiate the contract with dr. zeller!!!! agh! so glad you and joe are having fun (hi joe, hope to see you in SF in january!) and as soon as jonathan has a clue what he's doing over the summer, we can start making plans to come there ourselves. i'm bringing mom my backpack when i'm home in early march to make sure she can fit her stuff into it and carry it. i think it will work out great. have a happy new year, and maybe we'll eat at burma superstar, or chin's or eric's next month in your honor!
jennie
# posted by : 12:25 PM
: 12:25 PM
ps- don't you think i would like cooked peanuts better than beans anyway??!!
jennie
jennie
# posted by : 12:25 PM
: 12:25 PM
First off, my apologies for the ridiculous-looking "Ms. Kakos" title--I set my blogger account for my classes, so most of my posting is to my students.
Secondly, peanuts are absolutely delicious. Far better than beans, and don't let anyone tell you different.
Thirdly, I just spent the last 45 minutes reading through all of your posts, and I have to say that your stories are both fascinating and elusive. Aside from your bean story (which made my parents laugh out loud), I especially love your story about gently suggesting that you acclimate children to the loud noise of the saw before applying it to their limbs. What a small decision that makes all the difference--to take a child's feelings as seriously as the physcial injury.
As for my comment about your blogs being elusive, I have a suggestion. For those of whose traveling experiences are limited to England, can you possibly describe one of your days in an hour-by-hour fashion? I love your stories, but I'm desperate for a little more context. I want to know what kind of bed you sleep in, what you eat for lunch, how much time you spend working, what your house looks like, etc. I don't mean to be demanding, but I really need to zoom out a little to understand fully the little snapshots, you know?
Anyway, I look forward to your first comment of 2007, and I will hop onto your blog much more frequently from now on.
Love,
Kris
P.S. I also love the details about the language--I'm hoping to use this somehow in my classroom.
Secondly, peanuts are absolutely delicious. Far better than beans, and don't let anyone tell you different.
Thirdly, I just spent the last 45 minutes reading through all of your posts, and I have to say that your stories are both fascinating and elusive. Aside from your bean story (which made my parents laugh out loud), I especially love your story about gently suggesting that you acclimate children to the loud noise of the saw before applying it to their limbs. What a small decision that makes all the difference--to take a child's feelings as seriously as the physcial injury.
As for my comment about your blogs being elusive, I have a suggestion. For those of whose traveling experiences are limited to England, can you possibly describe one of your days in an hour-by-hour fashion? I love your stories, but I'm desperate for a little more context. I want to know what kind of bed you sleep in, what you eat for lunch, how much time you spend working, what your house looks like, etc. I don't mean to be demanding, but I really need to zoom out a little to understand fully the little snapshots, you know?
Anyway, I look forward to your first comment of 2007, and I will hop onto your blog much more frequently from now on.
Love,
Kris
P.S. I also love the details about the language--I'm hoping to use this somehow in my classroom.
Its now 2007. I've read with interest the recent posts and others comments. It's exciting to get even the slightest feel for the unusual experiences you are having. All is great here. Hope you had a great visit with Joe. Expect he has left, but if not, tell him Hi from us. All the best for a Happy, Healthy, Successful and Fun 2007. Hope you got our card and Hanukah gift.
Looking forward to your next post....
Looking forward to your next post....
# posted by : 9:43 AM
: 9:43 AM
Hi Jules,
Happy new year! I hope you and Joe are having an amazing time together. I just bought another calling card and I will give you a try once Joe leaves-not that I know when that is, but I will guess. I don't have too much to report from here. We went to Las Vegas over the Christmas weekend to see my family and spent new years at home. It has been really nice have three day weekends back to back. I am not looking forward to things getting busy here again-just not motivated. It sounds like you are doing amazing work at your placement, and even though you serve soggy peanuts the people in Rwanda sound taken with you. How could they not be? Anyways, hope all is well and I look forward to talking with you sometime soon.
Love, Laurie
Happy new year! I hope you and Joe are having an amazing time together. I just bought another calling card and I will give you a try once Joe leaves-not that I know when that is, but I will guess. I don't have too much to report from here. We went to Las Vegas over the Christmas weekend to see my family and spent new years at home. It has been really nice have three day weekends back to back. I am not looking forward to things getting busy here again-just not motivated. It sounds like you are doing amazing work at your placement, and even though you serve soggy peanuts the people in Rwanda sound taken with you. How could they not be? Anyways, hope all is well and I look forward to talking with you sometime soon.
Love, Laurie
# posted by : 3:51 PM
: 3:51 PM
dear julie
i've enjoyed reading your blog. i'm a canadian film and theatre professional who spent last summer in rwanda crewing on the film Shake Hands with the Devil. i've gotten funding and am lucky to be back there to teach workshops at the Rwanda Cinema Centre in kigali march 15 or so to may. it would be lovely to meet with you, also tho i am not so religious, it would be nice to connect to any jewish community during pesach, if you know any or will be there. congratulations on your beautiful work to date,
jen
www.theatreasylum.com
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i've enjoyed reading your blog. i'm a canadian film and theatre professional who spent last summer in rwanda crewing on the film Shake Hands with the Devil. i've gotten funding and am lucky to be back there to teach workshops at the Rwanda Cinema Centre in kigali march 15 or so to may. it would be lovely to meet with you, also tho i am not so religious, it would be nice to connect to any jewish community during pesach, if you know any or will be there. congratulations on your beautiful work to date,
jen
www.theatreasylum.com
# posted by : 11:36 AM
: 11:36 AM << Home
