Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Construction
Renovations are hard!
Yes that is how I have decided to start this blog and I will say it again Renovations are hard. It s not that I am doing the renovations but I am doing the organizing and if you ask me the organization part is the more difficult part.
The first difficulty was finding someone to do this job. It seemed that a few years ago everyone had a contractor that they would suggest however that does not seem to be the case today. After a swing and a miss with a contractor that grandma had suggested I ended up choosing someone from the Christian Catalog (hahaha not a catalog for christians but rather a directory of christian repair people) to do the job.
The second difficulty was after having the contractor come and see the sink it was suggested that we not only replace the taps but the sink as well as there was rust and this would lead to future problems. Following this news this meant that I now had to figure out where and what to buy for a counter. This was surprisingly difficult as I thought that it would be a simple task of simply looking at Home Hardware or Home Depot websites and finding what they have for counter tops. What I found is that it is difficult to find a simply laminate countertop and rather there are lots of stone countertops.
The last difficulty is making sure that what I am finding is what dad is good with.
Oh the joys of a holiday back in Winnipeg.
Yes that is how I have decided to start this blog and I will say it again Renovations are hard. It s not that I am doing the renovations but I am doing the organizing and if you ask me the organization part is the more difficult part.
The first difficulty was finding someone to do this job. It seemed that a few years ago everyone had a contractor that they would suggest however that does not seem to be the case today. After a swing and a miss with a contractor that grandma had suggested I ended up choosing someone from the Christian Catalog (hahaha not a catalog for christians but rather a directory of christian repair people) to do the job.
The second difficulty was after having the contractor come and see the sink it was suggested that we not only replace the taps but the sink as well as there was rust and this would lead to future problems. Following this news this meant that I now had to figure out where and what to buy for a counter. This was surprisingly difficult as I thought that it would be a simple task of simply looking at Home Hardware or Home Depot websites and finding what they have for counter tops. What I found is that it is difficult to find a simply laminate countertop and rather there are lots of stone countertops.
The last difficulty is making sure that what I am finding is what dad is good with.
Oh the joys of a holiday back in Winnipeg.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Not all in our family are world-travelers this summer!
Dearest Judy, Wes, Rebekah and Lynnette,
Well, not having been to too many places lately (unless you count Daegu and Pohang - but they're hardly exciting), and, considering I don't currently have a camera to take pictures with and post on our blog, I guess I'm just the interested observer - but somebody's gotta fill that role - right?!?!?! I want you all to know that I am a HUGE fan of each of the members of my family though, and am content this summer to live my live vicariously through the adventures of my beautiful bride and troublesome children!!! Sure, life is routine and somewhat boring this summer, but I'm at least trying to keep busy, getting a jump on the lesson planning for the upcoming semester. Lesson planning isn't all that easy, right Wes?!?
I do miss each and all of my family members - but, to be truthful, I mostly miss my wife!!!! I think of, and make sure to pray for each and all of you on a daily basis. I recently wrote Nettie and said, among other "pearls of wisdom [????]" that the parent/child relationship is one of imbalance - parents think of, and are concerned for, their children on a MUCH more frequent/urgent basis than the opposite - why so?: Good question, and one I hope to ask the Lord about when I'm dwelling in eternity!!! However, by accepting this as true, our children at least know that they're frequently thought of, cared for, and prayed about!!!
Keep those pictures of all those exotic places and people of the world coming [posted here on good ol' blogspot, that is!] - Albania, Hungary, Slovenia, Holland [even Winnipeg,] etc. - I LOVE seeing them and savouring the memories I know they must represent for each of you - like I've said, living vicariously is good enough for me this summer!!!!
Love, always and forever!!!!!
-Hubby/Dad
Well, not having been to too many places lately (unless you count Daegu and Pohang - but they're hardly exciting), and, considering I don't currently have a camera to take pictures with and post on our blog, I guess I'm just the interested observer - but somebody's gotta fill that role - right?!?!?! I want you all to know that I am a HUGE fan of each of the members of my family though, and am content this summer to live my live vicariously through the adventures of my beautiful bride and troublesome children!!! Sure, life is routine and somewhat boring this summer, but I'm at least trying to keep busy, getting a jump on the lesson planning for the upcoming semester. Lesson planning isn't all that easy, right Wes?!?
I do miss each and all of my family members - but, to be truthful, I mostly miss my wife!!!! I think of, and make sure to pray for each and all of you on a daily basis. I recently wrote Nettie and said, among other "pearls of wisdom [????]" that the parent/child relationship is one of imbalance - parents think of, and are concerned for, their children on a MUCH more frequent/urgent basis than the opposite - why so?: Good question, and one I hope to ask the Lord about when I'm dwelling in eternity!!! However, by accepting this as true, our children at least know that they're frequently thought of, cared for, and prayed about!!!
Keep those pictures of all those exotic places and people of the world coming [posted here on good ol' blogspot, that is!] - Albania, Hungary, Slovenia, Holland [even Winnipeg,] etc. - I LOVE seeing them and savouring the memories I know they must represent for each of you - like I've said, living vicariously is good enough for me this summer!!!!
Love, always and forever!!!!!
-Hubby/Dad
Berat
Hey Family!
So here we are, we went to the airport yesterday and will be in Lushnje until Monday. Mom got her hair cut and looks really good. Everyone says that she looks young (its true she does).
We had a great time in Berat. Mom, Becky and I lived in the home of Ariana and her mother, one of the believers. The other girls lived in another home.
One of the highlights was the street evangelism. we did a skit, danced, face painted, made balloons and also talked with people. That was really fun. I'm glad we could do it.
Here are some pics:
This is how we felt most days after lunch. i don't know what kind of drugs they put in our lunch but it SURRRRRRE worked.
Heres a group of us ladies. Some are Albanians that we lived with but all are people that we became friends with.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
New Challenge
Hi all
Alright my Challenge for this week is that everyone post something. As I stated in my last post we were doing really well with the posting for a while there but we have lost it and I think that this blog is really something that we should keep up. Even though we talk over skype and email each other it is still nice to have this and to be able to look back on previous posts to see what we were thinking or what we were doing. I encourage everyone to consider what a benefit this will be in future years when we can look over it again and remember.
Love
Wes
Alright my Challenge for this week is that everyone post something. As I stated in my last post we were doing really well with the posting for a while there but we have lost it and I think that this blog is really something that we should keep up. Even though we talk over skype and email each other it is still nice to have this and to be able to look back on previous posts to see what we were thinking or what we were doing. I encourage everyone to consider what a benefit this will be in future years when we can look over it again and remember.
Love
Wes
Adventurous 9
Hi all
So I know that I have not posted for a while and in fact it seems that no one has been posting for a while. I am intending to change this and start to post again. The first thing that I am going to post is the Adventurous 9, these are the people that I went to Hungary with and taught with for a month. I have over 8 gigs of pictures to sort though and decide what to post and what not to post (what is worthy of this blog and what is not so worthy) but I thought that I would describe the main characters of the last month.
This is the dream team, we were pretty much the trouble makers of the group always looking for ways to annoy someone or make trouble somewhere and escape camp when ever possible. (starting from left to right Chris aka JC aka Jackie Chan, Viki aka Wiki (the Hungarians could never pronounce the V properly and after calling her Wiki the name just stuck), Alissa aka the blackfoot (called the blackfoot by JC and myself as she constantly seemed to have dirty feet, we actually hypothesis that she took a shower with her feet outside the tub to preserve the dirtiness of the feet), Wes aka Wes (me being me there was never any need for a nickname)
So I know that I have not posted for a while and in fact it seems that no one has been posting for a while. I am intending to change this and start to post again. The first thing that I am going to post is the Adventurous 9, these are the people that I went to Hungary with and taught with for a month. I have over 8 gigs of pictures to sort though and decide what to post and what not to post (what is worthy of this blog and what is not so worthy) but I thought that I would describe the main characters of the last month.
This is the dream team, we were pretty much the trouble makers of the group always looking for ways to annoy someone or make trouble somewhere and escape camp when ever possible. (starting from left to right Chris aka JC aka Jackie Chan, Viki aka Wiki (the Hungarians could never pronounce the V properly and after calling her Wiki the name just stuck), Alissa aka the blackfoot (called the blackfoot by JC and myself as she constantly seemed to have dirty feet, we actually hypothesis that she took a shower with her feet outside the tub to preserve the dirtiness of the feet), Wes aka Wes (me being me there was never any need for a nickname)
These are some of the ladies in our group looking far too cool for school. HAHAHA at least they thought that they were too cool for school. (In this group of rapping beauties starting from top left and moving we have Becky aka shorty (to be honest I am the only one who referred to her as this), below with the hood up is Jean (half korean and half Canadian), beside is Wiki once again and beside Wiki and below the guy is Martina aka Tina (Again this is one of those things where only I called her Tina because I knew it annoyed her and it made me laugh)
With the exception of the two guys this is almost all the ladies from the group, we are missing one. (starting from the left we have Shorty aka becky, Polly, Diana, Jean, Wiki, and Tina with two camp guys in the background. This is what happens when you show up to a camp with 7 foreign girls in tow you tend to make a bit of a stir)
So as you have seen over the last few pictures this was the group that I spent 1 month with in Hungary. JC was from the UK (London), Wiki and Alissa were from the US (New York City), Dianna was from Romania, Becky was from Malta, Polly from Hong Kong, Tina was from Chek, Jean was from Canada or South Korea take your pick and then of course there was me (I was the angle of the group always against doing anything wrong and of course the most responsible). It is funny after spending 1 month together you tend to get pretty close to people and I can honestly say that I am going to miss them. However I am sure that I will be seeing some of them in the not too distant future (especially JC, Becky and Tina)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Day in the life of a english teacher in Hungary
Hi all
Alright I have a precious brief moments to outline the average day in the life of a english teacher in Hungary.
7 am: wake up and get the kids up (usually involves yelling breakfast time down the hall and banging on doors as loudly as I can)
7:30 am: After I have yelled breakfast time a few times I head down the stairs (I live in a 7 floor dormitory) and bang on the girls door 2 floors below ours (they do not like waking up on time)
7:35 am: head for breakfast and see what is on the menu and help out where necessary
7:50 am: finish up with breakfast and grab what I need for lessons for the day (usually what I need is not there so I have to get creative)
8:30 am: I start my first session
10 am: I have a short break to take care of everything that I forgot everything to do in lesson preparation
10:30 am: back in class for another 90 minute session
12 am: kids go for anther 15 minute break and I try to run around getting everything I need for the third class
12:15 back at class for the last 60 minute session, usually this is a little unplanned as I am pretty tired by the time it is time to plan for the last session.
1:15 Class is done for the day and I head down for lunch
1:30 I finally manage to eat after handing out food and taking care of any concerns
1:55 I have to finish and head to a meeting for english teachers for 2
2 English teachers meeting where we talk about the highlights of the day and the low points and compare different techniques.
2:30 leave the english teachers meeting and run to the camp meeting (where I don't know what is being said but I am expected to attend anyways)
3 finish the meeting and then either take care of anything in the afternoon for the children or start lesson planning.
6 head down for supper and start to serve food to the children and find out what the plan is for the evening
6:45 finish with dinner and head back to keep on working on the lesson plan or to get ready for the evening program
8 - 10: evening program, this may be anything but we are always expected to be involved in some way
10 run back to the dorms for a quick shower before going back to lesson planning
10 - 2am or so: work on lesson plan and if I am lucky enough to finish early hang out with friends for a while.
2 head to bed and get a little sleep before starting everything all over again.
I have to run I have to get back to lesson planning and preparing a exam.
Love you all
Wes
Alright I have a precious brief moments to outline the average day in the life of a english teacher in Hungary.
7 am: wake up and get the kids up (usually involves yelling breakfast time down the hall and banging on doors as loudly as I can)
7:30 am: After I have yelled breakfast time a few times I head down the stairs (I live in a 7 floor dormitory) and bang on the girls door 2 floors below ours (they do not like waking up on time)
7:35 am: head for breakfast and see what is on the menu and help out where necessary
7:50 am: finish up with breakfast and grab what I need for lessons for the day (usually what I need is not there so I have to get creative)
8:30 am: I start my first session
10 am: I have a short break to take care of everything that I forgot everything to do in lesson preparation
10:30 am: back in class for another 90 minute session
12 am: kids go for anther 15 minute break and I try to run around getting everything I need for the third class
12:15 back at class for the last 60 minute session, usually this is a little unplanned as I am pretty tired by the time it is time to plan for the last session.
1:15 Class is done for the day and I head down for lunch
1:30 I finally manage to eat after handing out food and taking care of any concerns
1:55 I have to finish and head to a meeting for english teachers for 2
2 English teachers meeting where we talk about the highlights of the day and the low points and compare different techniques.
2:30 leave the english teachers meeting and run to the camp meeting (where I don't know what is being said but I am expected to attend anyways)
3 finish the meeting and then either take care of anything in the afternoon for the children or start lesson planning.
6 head down for supper and start to serve food to the children and find out what the plan is for the evening
6:45 finish with dinner and head back to keep on working on the lesson plan or to get ready for the evening program
8 - 10: evening program, this may be anything but we are always expected to be involved in some way
10 run back to the dorms for a quick shower before going back to lesson planning
10 - 2am or so: work on lesson plan and if I am lucky enough to finish early hang out with friends for a while.
2 head to bed and get a little sleep before starting everything all over again.
I have to run I have to get back to lesson planning and preparing a exam.
Love you all
Wes
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