Archive for July, 2008

Austin, Texas

Posted in general bood on July 27, 2008 by allea2008

Although not as exciting as actually traveling out of the country, Austin is one of the most liberal places in the Lone Star State.  As a part of a group of 1800 teachers converging in the area, I can say it really was a TeacheRama!  Contending with extreme climactic changes was challenging. Outside as hurricane Dolly moved through and became a tropical storm it was 104 degrees and 94% humidity before it rained hours later.  Never have I been as thankful for air conditioning ruining the environment.  This was pumped full blast and I wished for my sweatshirt!  I learned some Texan grammar about the proper uses of “y’all” and other lingo and wondered how they can enjoy the outdoors without a swimming pool.

Walking along sixth street was interesting, as it was filled with bars, clubs and pizzerias.  It was early for the usual action and many themed bars were empty with bartenders calling out to entice the crowd inside for dollar shots and two dollar beers.  Since we were walking with thirty-somethings that was distasteful and crude.  Teachers know how to have their fun though!  It was a trip that was long, short, hot, cold, fun, annoying, stressful, relaxing, intriguing, boring and of course, very educational.

http://www.keepaustinweird.com/

New Devendra Banhart Music Video

Posted in flying spaghetti monster on July 26, 2008 by steve

I’m sure Ben can attest to the cultural accuracy of this clip.  With bonus special guest appearance by Banhart GF/SNL rapper Natalie Portman. 

Tanzania

Posted in international men of mystery on July 26, 2008 by chaolay

Hey guys,

It’s been a while since I’ve been on here. But I’m finally getting settled in the Hanga Abbey. As you can gather, we have electricity and internet here. It’s pretty nice, considering I could walk down the street 1/4 of a mile and find people living in small mud huts.

But it’s been a great experience so far. I experienced the lawless roads of Dar Es Salaam, went to and played in some soccer matches, and now I’m about to start teaching English, Computers and Music. Since I don’t understand much Swahili yet, and they don’t understand much English, I’ll be in for a character-builder!

I’m recording some voice memos on my iPod that I may compile into a music/speaking podcast of sorts. Until then, you can read Ben Demarais’ blog of the trip (he’s the other volunteer):

http://ben-tanzania.blogspot.com

Otherwise, I’ve just gotten into gmail chatting. It works pretty well here even with the slower internet. So if you’re on, I’m charliemccarron@gmail.com

Good luck to everyone travelling around the world!

Charlie

bus ride
This is me getting back on the bus after our “bathroom break” where everyone just gets out and pees in the woods. The bus ride was 14 hours on bumpy terrain. We watched alternating J-Lo and Celine Dion music videos at full volume from 5am onwards.

Japan

Posted in general bood on July 26, 2008 by reesemeese

Hey all, I’m in Chicago right now waiting for my flight to Tokyo.  Wish me luck!  If you guys wanna check out my travel blog, the website is japankenberg.blogspot.com

Namaste!

Posted in general bood on July 22, 2008 by benhansberry

Thought I’d drop a line to let everyone know that I’m safe and all.  The flight over here was long, but it has been an amazin experience so far.  For the first few days we were bussing aound central india doing touristy things, Taj Mahal, palaces, Dehli.  Now we are in Darhamsala, which is where the Tibetan government-in-exile is located.  Every morning I go up to the Dali Lama’s temple to pray/meditate and look out from the moutain.  It is so sureal!  We have stated our service project and the monks we are interviewing are really cool.  Yesterday I walked around the city with one the them just talking for about an hour, then we stoped at this little street chai place and had tea when it started raining.  I hope everyone at home is doing well!

Um…

Posted in general bood on July 12, 2008 by ndmycar

Is it just me or is this a little disturbing?

http://holylandexperience.com/

Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

Posted in general bood on July 10, 2008 by benhansberry

Hey everyone, I leave on Tuesday for Asia and I’m sure I will be busy for the next few days.

For anyone who hasn’t heard, I’ll be in India, Nepal and (god willing) Tibet. I’m going with a group of men from SJU and we will be staying in Buddhist monasteries teaching English for some of the time. The rest of the time we will be sight -seeing, backpacking and the like. I will be back in the States on the 15th of August. I’d love to get together sometime before classes start, so I can see everyone again.

I hope you all have a great rest of the summer while I’m gone. And wish me luck.

Exciting news! Exciting news! Exciting news!

Posted in general bood on July 2, 2008 by broten

I’ve had to wait for a few weeks before I could tell everyone but I got the go-ahead.   MY OLDER SISTER IS 9 WEEKS PREGNANT!!  I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNTIE!!  I’ll keep in touch as time goes on, maybe even post a few ultrasound pictures.  She had an early ultrasound because of her risky history and since the ultrasound tech knows me (we bowl together) she printed out a picture with the words “hello auntie” across it but it was so early you can’t really tell there is even a baby there. 

Anyway, just wanted to share.  Hope everyone is having a great summer!!

Why “Gates of Heaven” is the Best Documentary Ever

Posted in general bood on July 1, 2008 by ndmycar

Real people say unscripted things like this:

“I’m raised on a farm, we had chickens and pigs and cows and sheep and everything. But down here I’ve been lost. Now they’ve taken them all away from here up to that – What’s the name of that place? Up above here a little ways? That town? Commences with a ‘B.’ Blue. It’s – Blue Hill Cemetery, I think the name of it is. Not too far, I guess, about maybe twenty miles from here. A little town there, a little place. You know where it’s at. But I was really surprised when I heard they were getting rid of the cemetery over here. Gonna put in buildings or something over there. Ah well, I know people been very good to me, you know. Well, they see my condition, I guess, must of felt sorry for me. But it’s real, my condition is. It’s not put on. That’s for sure! Boy, if I could only walk. If I could only get out. Drive my car. I’d get another car. Ya… and my son, if he was only better to me. After I bought him that car. He’s got a nice car. I bought it myself just a short time ago. I don’t know. These kids – the more you do for them… He’ s my grandson, but I raised him from two years old… I don’t see him very often. And he just got the car. I didn’t pay for all of it. I gave him four hundred dollars. Pretty good! His boss knows it. Well, he’s not working for that outfit now. He’s changed. He’s gone back on his old job – hauling sand. No, not hauling sand; he’s working in the office. That’s right. He took over the office job. His boss told me that on the phone. But, you know, he should help me more. He’s all I got. He’s the one who brought me up here. And then put me here by myself among strangers. It’s terrible, you stop and think of it. I’ve been without so much, when I first come up here. Ya. It’s what half of my trouble is from – him not being home with me. Didn’t cost him nothing to stay here. Every time he need money, he’d always come, ‘Mom, can I have this? Can I have that?’ But he never pays back. Too good, too easy – that’s what everybody tells me. I quit now. I quit. Now he’s got the office job, I’m going after him. I’m going after him good, too – if I have to go in… in a different way. He’s going to pay that money. He’s got the office job now. And he makes good money anyway. And he has no kids. He has not married. Never get married, he says. He was married once – they’re divorced. Well, she tried to take him for the kid, but she didn’t. They went to court. It was somebody else’s kid. She was nothing but a tramp in the first place. I told him that. He wouldn’t listen to me. I says, ‘I know what she is.’ I said, ‘Richard, please, listen to me.’ He wouldn’t listen. He knew all, he knew everything. Big shot! But he soon found out. Now that’s all over with. I’ve been through so much I don’t know how I’m staying alive. Really, for my age… if you’re young, it’s different. But I’ve always said I’m never going to grow old. I’ve always had that, and the people that I tell how old I am, they don’t believe me, because people my age as a rule don’t get around like I do.” -Florence Rasmussen

www.imdb.com/title/tt0077598/

Mexican Brain Worm

Posted in ramen noodles on July 1, 2008 by luluanne

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18493

here is a site that explains in a little more detail the joy of brainworms…i know you all are very curious about it and want to think about it all the time.

you are very welcome kathy.