If you care so much, put down the sign and fly somewhere else in the world and actually do something to help.*

*I had to edit the first few sentences because of my dramatic title. It confused my meaning.*

Seriously...do people think a country doing nothing= peace. It boggles my mind. Peace is not isolationism, peace is not universalism. You can't just wish peace into being or throw money around and get peace. Until everyone is happy because they have everything they want, there will never be total peace. Until you end corruption, half the aid you send to any group of people will never reach them. People are corrupt and selfish and sinful. This is also why communism never works. People can't share equally, someone always wants more...more control, more power, more stuff. I mean, really, deep down we should all want to end world hunger and make sure everyone has clean drinking water, and end crimes against children, and end wars over land and gang fights and wars over religion. But until you can snap your fingers and stop evil from existing...these things come with a cost.

I do want peace. I dream of peace. More than peace really, but that is another rant. No matter what you think on the topic of the current happenings in the world, you can't wave a sign around and get peace and you can't run away from a situation and get peace.

Next time: Why I think everyone needs to go live halfway around the world and get some perspective.
Next next time: Why the US will never "win" when it comes to the opinion of 80% of the world.

*Thoughts sparked by pictures from an anti-war, anti-bush protest.

The more you talk, the less I can say

It snowed last night! I heard something outside last night but I couldn't tell if it was wind or the fan in my room. I woke up this morning and Emily told me to look outside. Out the window was an exciting world of white. The snow was falling from all directions it appeared. I think it was only the wind blowing the snowflakes around as they fell. It has mostly melted now (about 6 hrs later) but it was exciting nonetheless.

I was home sick yesterday. I have a throat infection and a nasal/sinus infection, according to the school doctor. He gave me a prescription for ear drops and antibiotcs. He also told me to get an otc nasal spray and take advil. I had the advil but the other three costed me less than $25 total, which was amazing to me. I have been using them and my throat feels ok but my ears hurt more than before and I have lots of headache pain. I have been resting (sleeping, reading, watching NUMB3RS) so hopefully I will be well soon. The Agatha Christie book, Dumb Witness, that I am reading has been really good. I'm almost halfway done. I don't know how I'll finish it when I have to go back to school. Sadness.

It as actually quite an ordeal to find a substitute for my class. The 1st grade teacher is also out sick and one of the girls who just got here recently, Emma, subbed for her in the afternoon and a parent did the morning. Poor Emma just got here last week, and is only here to help out with things for 3 months. She is a junior in college and thinking about if she might want to major in education. I'm sure she did a wonderful job but she was nervous, having never done very much in a classroom before. So most of the parents we called to sub 1st grade Friday said they couldn't and we were already using Emma in 1st grade. Thankfully Hannah, the music teacher who arrived a few weeks ago, said she would sub my class in the morning since she only had one class for music in the morning and it is mine. Kim called one or two more parents who we hadn't already called from our sub list and they couldn't do it. Thankfully a parent of one of my students said she'd sub the afternoon. I hope everything went alright! This is one of the downsides of working at a tiny International School.

Today is the Senior Auction at school, which should be fun. They have a silent auction and a loud auction for all kinds of items, including poptarts, guitar lessons, various homemade meals (American, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Southern breakfast), dessert mixes, Dr.Pepper, and other things not easily acquired in Hungary. All the money goes to the Senior class trip. Should be really fun. I don't know what I'll buy.

Speaking of things we can't get here, Paula was nice enough to share the poptarts, oatmeal, and crunchy Peanut Butter that she got send huge boxes of. I was soo excited. Thanks to Paula for her very kind gift. I now have some tasty unfrosted Strawberry Poptarts, some instant oatmeal and instant grits :), and some CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER.

Now would also be an excellent time to thank everyone for the amazing packages they have sent me. It is so sweet and it always makes my day to know people are thinking of me, and to get yummy items (and some non-eatable but still exciting items). I currently have so much Kool-aid I could probably provide drinks for the whole town of Diosd. Thank you so much everyone! I love you so much!

Reporters

Reporters make me so mad. I was just watching this interview with Johnny and June Carter Cash from 1991 and the reporter was just obnoxious. The whole interview he kept asking about the same things in different ways.
Reporter-"So you have this dependancy problem? How is that for you?"
Johnny C- "Well it's not really an issue right now. Whenever I have to take any mood altering drugs, after surgery or something, there is a dependancy problem but it is something I over come. Right now I am not taking anything"
R- "So June, when he had his surgery and was dependant on these drugs, what is it like for you as his wife?"
later...
R-"So in the tabloids, they talk about all this, how does that feel for you?"
Johnny talks about how it is frustratung because there is no truth to most of what they print.
R-"So June, as a wife, how is this for you when they say things about John?"
(That was also annoying, he kept referring to him as John when June referred to him as Johnny. His name is not John.)

It was the most frustrating thing to watch. Can we please talk about something else other than chemical dependancy problems that were basically over 10 years before the interview. Argh.

Pride and Prejudice

This is the newer (2003) Pride and Prejudice movie set in modern day. I love it, much like the BBC Mini-Series and the new (2005) version. LOVE IT! Sadly, I only own the 5 hr. BBC/A&E version. Happily, I have plenty of time to get the 2005 and 2003 versions:)

View from my apartment

Get a Passport...become a world citizen

It's so interesting how different experiences lead to different perspectives. I sense I will be dealing with this a lot more in the future. I read this article about new laws requiring US and surrounding countries to have passports to (re) enter the US and I was reading it not really understanding until it hit me that a lot of US citzens who haven't travelled outside North America may not have their passports, and the article mentioned it being hard to get one. It was an interesting experience for me to realize I have a different perspective than some in an area I wouldn't have considered controversial (whereas I am used to being different than most Americans on more political/social/moral issues).

Possibly more later. My kids are coming!

God is so Good

Lately I have been feeling really down and discouraged but this morning God just met me exactly where I was at. It was so wonderful and refreshing. It was encouraging how God just ministered to me in a very personal and loving way through church at Calvary and then time alone in my apartment just listening to music. I feel so much better than I have in awhile and it is glorious:) If I were a better writer I would tell you all about it but I am not, so I don't want to detract from it by trying to retell it. Part of what the sermon was on was being weary (of the world, of people, in your walk with Christ) and God's promise to give us rest (Matt. 11:28). That is exactly what I was feeling, weary (among other things). I feel like I have gotten a hug from God.

Megváltóm él! (My Redeemer lives)

New Pictures

My kids caroling (at the end of the album)
London
London and Amsterdam
Thanksgiving to Christmas
My going away party before I left for Hungary
Salzburg, Austria

I think I have already linked everything else. Enjoy.

It's a twister!

It's actually not (yet, as far as I know) but the wind today is CRAZY. Annah Kate warned me that she almost got blown away several times as I left school to walk home for lunch but I didn't fully believe it until I felt it for myself. The wind gets trapped between buildings over here and is intense. This is the most intense I have seen it since being in Hungary. It was an interesting experience as sirens blew in the distance and the wind blew everything around, whipping wildly. I survived on my way home, let's hope I do the same on my way back to school.

Happy Crazy Wind Friday everyone!

I'm a wit

the Wit (52% dark, 23% spontaneous, 15% vulgar)

your humor style: CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat. I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer. Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion. You probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais The 3-Variable Funny Test! - it rules - If you're interested, try my best friend's best test: The Genghis Khan Genetic Fitness Masterpiece

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on darkness You scored higher than 99% on spontaneity You scored higher than 99% on vulgarity

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test I apologize for the crazy spacing and placement of these quiz results. The graphic at the end also confuses me because I can't tell if it is saying I am more dark, vulgar, and spontaneous than 99% of people or less than 99% of people.

I'm too overwhelmed to post yet

Paula got to update before I did, so read her blog (linked to the right of the post) and that will tide you over until I get to update :)

Christmas Day Picture

Christmas Day.
No, I am not expecting...I just wear Hungarian hippy clothes.











Nathalie, Emily, Paula, Heather, Me (not pregnant), Beth Kliewer

(if you click on the picture it gets bigger)