Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
10 Ways to Annoy Your Server
[This list is not exhaustive]
1. As your server is walking to the table, stare at your menu and say obnoxiously 'DIET COKE WITH LEMON' before he has a chance to say 'Welcome to this fine establishment, my name is , what can I get for you to drink?'
2. Bring in a group of six people ten minutes before the restaurant closes.
3. Leave your number and a 'Call me' on your credit card slip and leave a shitty tip. (Important note: You will NOT get a phone call, if that really was your goal)
4. Ask if a side of sour cream costs extra. When you find out it costs 50 cents, definitely make a condescending face and say 'Nevermind...' (We know, saving it for the gumball machine at work)
5. After you see another table get a free birthday dessert with the whole staff singing a ridiculous song, tell your server it's your birthday too.
6. When your server comes by the table to ask if you need anything, say no. Then ask the next person who walks by for a refill.
7. Send your steak back because it's not well done. Then send it back because it's burnt.
8. When your server asks if she can get you anything to drink, scrunch up your nose, say 'Nah, I'll just have a water.'
9. Bring your child and all of his friend's for his 7th birthday party. Let them scream, run around the other tables, throw french fries at each other, ask for a million refills, etc. When you leave, kindly thank the server for her patience, and leave a 10% tip.
10. Tell your server that everything was fine, then go home, get online, and write a complaint to corporate about the poor service, the host who looked like he was on crack, the flamboyant manager, the food that was basically-frozen-when-it-came-out-it-was-so-cold, and the draft in the corner. Oh yeah, and the bad lighting.
1. As your server is walking to the table, stare at your menu and say obnoxiously 'DIET COKE WITH LEMON' before he has a chance to say 'Welcome to this fine establishment, my name is , what can I get for you to drink?'
2. Bring in a group of six people ten minutes before the restaurant closes.
3. Leave your number and a 'Call me' on your credit card slip and leave a shitty tip. (Important note: You will NOT get a phone call, if that really was your goal)
4. Ask if a side of sour cream costs extra. When you find out it costs 50 cents, definitely make a condescending face and say 'Nevermind...' (We know, saving it for the gumball machine at work)
5. After you see another table get a free birthday dessert with the whole staff singing a ridiculous song, tell your server it's your birthday too.
6. When your server comes by the table to ask if you need anything, say no. Then ask the next person who walks by for a refill.
7. Send your steak back because it's not well done. Then send it back because it's burnt.
8. When your server asks if she can get you anything to drink, scrunch up your nose, say 'Nah, I'll just have a water.'
9. Bring your child and all of his friend's for his 7th birthday party. Let them scream, run around the other tables, throw french fries at each other, ask for a million refills, etc. When you leave, kindly thank the server for her patience, and leave a 10% tip.
10. Tell your server that everything was fine, then go home, get online, and write a complaint to corporate about the poor service, the host who looked like he was on crack, the flamboyant manager, the food that was basically-frozen-when-it-came-out-it-was-so-cold, and the draft in the corner. Oh yeah, and the bad lighting.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
One Year
A year ago I was in a pretty bad place, emotionally. I thought today would be more difficult. It's amazing how God and time work together to heal and improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual areas of our lives.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Phil 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Phil 4:6
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Re-entry
During my re-entry retreat with my fellow SALTers we did an exercise which asked us to write down on note cards six things we learned or traits we acquired or lifestyle changes we adopted while in our host culture that we would like to maintain/keep going back into our home cultures.
Here's my list:
1. Sign language
2. Spanish language
3. Spirit of sharing (generosity)
4. Perseverance
5. Gift of presence
6. Acknowledging everyone in a room ALWAYS
*7. No schedule
#3. People never eat something in front of you without offering you some of what they have. During recess one time, I bought myself a pack of cookies and decided to save them for later. When I was in my office I was just about to pull them out to indulge when my coworker walked in and sat down at her desk. Knowing the unwritten rule of sharing several ideas came to me, one of which was to wait until she left again to eat them. Another was to offer her some. The third idea won me over however: I slipped the cookies into my pocket quietly, excused myself from the office, then quickly headed into an empty room a couple doors away. As I ate the cookies I thought about how selfish I was being, to not share even one cookie with my coworker.
Obviously I had/still have room for growth in this area (although I did get much better as my SALT year went on) so this aspect of the culture HAD to be on my list.
#5. People are always around. No one lives on their own. There are always vendors in the street, children playing, people sitting outside their houses on plastic lawn chairs. There aren't enough rooms in the house to really be alone, since most rooms are shared. My family's house was one floor, with one living area. There was someone home practically all the time. I found it frustrating to not have my own space at first but later grew to enjoy the comfort of the presence of other people, even if we weren't actively engaged with each other.
#6. Whenever you walk into a building (bank, grocery store, small convenience store, church, house, etc) you should immediately greet everyone who is there. A general 'Buenas' (good morning/afternoon) will do in a public place, but certainly don't expect to slip into somewhere quietly. Even on buses and in taxis (taxi drivers will often pick up other passengers en route to your destination) as people board they will greet the driver and/or other passengers. I've tried doing this here in the states, saying 'Good morning' to fellow students when I enter class, or walking into the grocery store, but I mostly get weird looks.
I felt I needed to include a small explanation for those three, but hopefully the other characteristics/cultural norms/etc speak for themselves.
The most difficult part of the whole reflection exercise came when the leaders said, 'OK, now out of these six items* please eliminate two of them. It is highly unlikely that you will be able to keep all six with you as you return home.' Ugh. Tough decision. The even more difficult part was when they said 'Now that you've narrowed it down to four, please pick two more cards to get rid of.'
Whaaaaaaaat.
I can't remember now which ones I chose, but today I would choose the spirit of sharing and having no schedule. I hate it when life gets too busy to enjoy it and it is a great challenge to my character to put others before myself and be generous with them (by sharing or giving). My constant prayer is to let go of what I have (knowing that it's not mine to begin with) in order to share with others. This is especially important to me because my income is dependent on the generosity of others! Why should I be stingy when I expect others to be generous?
*I'm ambitious so I had written down seven things.
Here's my list:
1. Sign language
2. Spanish language
3. Spirit of sharing (generosity)
4. Perseverance
5. Gift of presence
6. Acknowledging everyone in a room ALWAYS
*7. No schedule
#3. People never eat something in front of you without offering you some of what they have. During recess one time, I bought myself a pack of cookies and decided to save them for later. When I was in my office I was just about to pull them out to indulge when my coworker walked in and sat down at her desk. Knowing the unwritten rule of sharing several ideas came to me, one of which was to wait until she left again to eat them. Another was to offer her some. The third idea won me over however: I slipped the cookies into my pocket quietly, excused myself from the office, then quickly headed into an empty room a couple doors away. As I ate the cookies I thought about how selfish I was being, to not share even one cookie with my coworker.
Obviously I had/still have room for growth in this area (although I did get much better as my SALT year went on) so this aspect of the culture HAD to be on my list.
#5. People are always around. No one lives on their own. There are always vendors in the street, children playing, people sitting outside their houses on plastic lawn chairs. There aren't enough rooms in the house to really be alone, since most rooms are shared. My family's house was one floor, with one living area. There was someone home practically all the time. I found it frustrating to not have my own space at first but later grew to enjoy the comfort of the presence of other people, even if we weren't actively engaged with each other.
#6. Whenever you walk into a building (bank, grocery store, small convenience store, church, house, etc) you should immediately greet everyone who is there. A general 'Buenas' (good morning/afternoon) will do in a public place, but certainly don't expect to slip into somewhere quietly. Even on buses and in taxis (taxi drivers will often pick up other passengers en route to your destination) as people board they will greet the driver and/or other passengers. I've tried doing this here in the states, saying 'Good morning' to fellow students when I enter class, or walking into the grocery store, but I mostly get weird looks.
I felt I needed to include a small explanation for those three, but hopefully the other characteristics/cultural norms/etc speak for themselves.
The most difficult part of the whole reflection exercise came when the leaders said, 'OK, now out of these six items* please eliminate two of them. It is highly unlikely that you will be able to keep all six with you as you return home.' Ugh. Tough decision. The even more difficult part was when they said 'Now that you've narrowed it down to four, please pick two more cards to get rid of.'
Whaaaaaaaat.
I can't remember now which ones I chose, but today I would choose the spirit of sharing and having no schedule. I hate it when life gets too busy to enjoy it and it is a great challenge to my character to put others before myself and be generous with them (by sharing or giving). My constant prayer is to let go of what I have (knowing that it's not mine to begin with) in order to share with others. This is especially important to me because my income is dependent on the generosity of others! Why should I be stingy when I expect others to be generous?
*I'm ambitious so I had written down seven things.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Gracias
Sometimes when I go running I like to think about all of the things for which I'm thankful:
*Parents that love me
*Parents that love all of their daughters without condition (and it's a good thing!)
*Ten toes and ten fingers
*Lungs that can breathe deeply
*Legs that are strong enough to carry me for more than ten miles at a time
*Good health
*Eyes that can see, even though I need contacts
*Ears that hear so I can listen to my music, even if it is a bit too loud or inappropriate haha
*A body that can move and groove
*Good friends that go waaaaay back
*New friends
*The amazing ability we have as humans to forgive people who hurt us
*Chocolate in my cupboard
*Homemade granola
*Three jobs, when some people don't even have one
*My car
*Music
*A warm house (or an air conditioned one in the summer)
*My friends in other countries
*Spanish as a second language (I'm always learning)
*four good pairs of jeans
*Biology class (note: lecture, NOT lab)
*Cell phone
*Friends who listen to me complain/whine and encourage me
*Friends who randomly let me know they're thinking of me
*Ability to read music
*Nice smelling perfume
*Men who wear nice smelling cologne
*Life
*Fun earrings
*Hot showers
*A loving immediate AND extended family
*All the people who have supported me in all of my adventures
*My cute nephew who now loves me and calls me tía : )
*Parents that love me
*Parents that love all of their daughters without condition (and it's a good thing!)
*Ten toes and ten fingers
*Lungs that can breathe deeply
*Legs that are strong enough to carry me for more than ten miles at a time
*Good health
*Eyes that can see, even though I need contacts
*Ears that hear so I can listen to my music, even if it is a bit too loud or inappropriate haha
*A body that can move and groove
*Good friends that go waaaaay back
*New friends
*The amazing ability we have as humans to forgive people who hurt us
*Chocolate in my cupboard
*Homemade granola
*Three jobs, when some people don't even have one
*My car
*Music
*A warm house (or an air conditioned one in the summer)
*My friends in other countries
*Spanish as a second language (I'm always learning)
*four good pairs of jeans
*Biology class (note: lecture, NOT lab)
*Cell phone
*Friends who listen to me complain/whine and encourage me
*Friends who randomly let me know they're thinking of me
*Ability to read music
*Nice smelling perfume
*Men who wear nice smelling cologne
*Life
*Fun earrings
*Hot showers
*A loving immediate AND extended family
*All the people who have supported me in all of my adventures
*My cute nephew who now loves me and calls me tía : )
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Raw thoughts on Baptism
Two weekends ago I visited a church which happened to be doing a baby baptism that day. I don't like baby baptisms.
For several reasons which I won't get in to, I disagree with baby baptisms. That Sunday morning it was further confirmed. After little baby had water sprinkled over his head and parents agree to raise him on the straight and narrow, little baby is presented with a wooden teddy bear-shaped wall hanging with baby's first initial. Cute. Then big sister gets a stuffed bunny because she's so wonderful and cute. Everyone is all smiles and after the service pictures are taken of little baby's special day. It was life-changing, right?
What is infant baptism? Why do it? I see people that never come to church (except maybe Christmas and Easter) who bring their babies in to be baptized. Is it their rabbit foot, with confirmation as the lucky penny? In the Bible people got the Holy Spirit and a change of heart; I really don't think John the Baptist was giving out 'I <3 JC' keychains to people lined up by the river.
I know that some people do it with the best intentions and I know that some people recognize their infant baptism as their baptism, but when did we decide to take the decision out of the hands of the one who is getting baptized? Baptism symbolizes many things, a change of heart, a decision, a new life, a cleansing... but does little baby really capture all of those things? Or any?
For several reasons which I won't get in to, I disagree with baby baptisms. That Sunday morning it was further confirmed. After little baby had water sprinkled over his head and parents agree to raise him on the straight and narrow, little baby is presented with a wooden teddy bear-shaped wall hanging with baby's first initial. Cute. Then big sister gets a stuffed bunny because she's so wonderful and cute. Everyone is all smiles and after the service pictures are taken of little baby's special day. It was life-changing, right?
What is infant baptism? Why do it? I see people that never come to church (except maybe Christmas and Easter) who bring their babies in to be baptized. Is it their rabbit foot, with confirmation as the lucky penny? In the Bible people got the Holy Spirit and a change of heart; I really don't think John the Baptist was giving out 'I <3 JC' keychains to people lined up by the river.
I know that some people do it with the best intentions and I know that some people recognize their infant baptism as their baptism, but when did we decide to take the decision out of the hands of the one who is getting baptized? Baptism symbolizes many things, a change of heart, a decision, a new life, a cleansing... but does little baby really capture all of those things? Or any?
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