For those of you doubled over in laughter whenever I whipped out my cell phone in the states...I got news for you. The days of my Zack Morris phone are over!! Sorry Frank...
I got a new cell phone yesterday and so that means I am now reachable. My new phone is small and in color! Remember when you used to play the Oregon Trail on the green screen Macs at school...then remember when you played it in color? I know! My world is spinning...a beautiful colorful rainbow. Anyways here's the digitals and my address for all of you DYING to send me a letter:
Lynsee Melchi
Tuksdorp
H2:2-8
Univ of Pretoria
Pretoria 0002
SOUTH AFRICA
Cell #: +27 0724419621
(If dialing from the USA dial this: 011 27 724419621...and rememberI'm 8 hours ahead of Chicago, 2 hours ahead of GMT)
The best/cheapest way to call from the USA is to get a phone card. You can get African ones for $5 or $10 at most gas stations in urban areas. Out in the boonies, you might have to go to a Walgreens or something to get an international calling card. Just make sure to look at the prices to call S Africa and how many minutes you get for that. Calling cell phones is also more expensive usually.
So I moved into my dorm the other day...I guess I've spent 2 nights there so far. It's actually pretty pimp for a dorm room. Don't worry, there will be photos one of these days. I've left my computer at someone's house until it's insured, so it'll be a few days before I can download my new photos. I live in a single room on a floor of 8 rooms, 2 bathrooms, small kitchenette, and small common area (presumably for eating). My room is huge, w/wraparound desk, shelves, big closet, and not so uncomfortable bed. There is a shady lock on the door right now...but I've talked to the dorm lady about it (even though she is really scary and robotic) and hopefully I'll get a better functioning one soon. I have met one of my flatmates and seen one other girl. But mostly it's dead as hell in my dorm. It's a postgraduate dorm so that probably has something to do w/it. I'm conflicted...if I lived w/the younger kids I'd be meeting folks like crazy. But, I'd have to participate in (what looks lame to me) rituals akin to USA sorority/fraternity hoop-jumping. And I'd have to live w/18 year olds. I'm sure I'll meet some folks soon... Actually today a girl started talking to me and I think we might hang out later. She was very friendly.
Oh yeah...here's the photos:
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Acs2rho5cNGLlQ
Please let me know if they don't work. Also there are some photos missing (tacos and debauchery...stay tuned) even after the many many hours (something like 6) I have spent trying to get these bastards online. There has GOT to be a better way! Thankfully I finally found an internet cafe that doesn't suck...leave it to Asian kids to have the best damn internet in town. For real!
Thoughts for the day...
There are a lot of Asian folks here. I think Chinese and Korean. I saw a Korean grocery store the other day and a sign that said "exit" in about 10 languages including Chinese and Korean. Where did they come from? How did they land in Pretoria of all places? I'm on the hunt for some answers. The girl that lives next to me is Chinese, I think. I'm really confused. Confused like when I saw packs and packs of Japanese folks in Brazil...not tourist Japanese...Brazillian Japanese.
One of my fav SA DJs is playing tonight at a Univ event called RAG. RAG is like the big fundraising student party for the year. I think there are other things RAG does throughout the year too...but their big thing is this huge party for welcoming back students. I missed DJ Oskido in Durban in 2002 cos I was being lame and I'm not missing him tonight. I don't know anyone going...but maybe beer and house music will grease the wheels a bit. Seriously, I am being so shy here. It's weird. I just feel sort of quiet. I need to keep my eye out on what's going on before I start to get loud and Lynsee.
Enjoy the photos and speak to you later
Love Lynsee
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
One week down, 103 more to go
“Smile upon the chaos streams
Turning point…calm awaits you”
-Son Volt "Chaos Streams"
So I’ve survived a whole week and 3 days to date! I am desperately trying to add pictures...but it's taking forever. So bear w/me.
The week has been great! I have had a slow and steady progression of activity. All my hosts have been really chill. I started off at my Rotary host counselor’s house in a place called Silver Lakes, located on the edge of Pretoria. Silver Lakes is an “estate” that surrounds a golf course. It would be the equivalent of a gated community in the USA. My host counselor, Tony Godrich, is a grain miller by trade but his family also has their hand in many businesses in a place to the E of Pretoria called Bronkhorstspruit. A Toyota dealership, gas station, real estate, and probably a few other things. Their family consists of Tony and his wife Gail, their 3 daughters, and 1 really really cute granddaughter. They are also golf fanatics! The fam also includes 2 cats and 3 dogs. You’ll be able to see photos of all this eventually…so don’t fret!
I spent about 5 days at their house just maxin’ and relaxin’. In fact the majority of my time was spent sleeping…which I badly needed especially coming off the last 2 hectic weeks I had in the states and my really really long journey to SA. The place was serene as hell and I had my own flat at the back of the Godrich’s house…which was way cool. They also have a little pool I could cool off in. I got to check out Tony’s mill, had some drinks w/the Godrich’s golf partners, had my first braai (SA BBQ), and got some school stuff taken care of. In my first day there was a power outage, which really confused me because I had had so little sleep. I was taking a nap and the ceiling fan went out. I never suspected the power went out...I just thought I was useless. After some fiddling I gave up and had a warmer nap. When I finally talked to Gail later on that night she told me that the power had gone out and was in fact still out. There is some major piece of machinery that was malfunctioning which has been causing random power outages in all of SA. I haven’t really been affected except during my confusing nap and when I was trying to open a bank account the power kept going out for a few minutes at my bank. The power outages are expected to continue sporadically for another month or something.
It was great to chill…but hopefully many of you know me well enough to know that standing still is not how I operate. Even if I want to relax. I was SO grateful for the calmness of the Godrich’s but I began to itch…
After the Godrich’s, I moved on to stay for a few days w/an older lady named Bebe du Raan. Bebe is a really really cool retired lady (think Aunt Bernie style) that lives alone in Pretoria. She is also a Rotarian. She has 2 daughters and a stepson and stepdaughter. She also has a really cute bulldog puppy named Patchy. Patchy was sick and spent most of the time at the vet, but I did get to spend some time w/her before I left. Me and Patchy are the new feature photo on my blog…so check us out! Bebe has had quite a lot of misfortune as far as her married life is concerned…she lost 2 husbands and also her latest boyfriend. But I think that has made her one tough old bird! That’s just how life goes though…hard times make us harder.
I really had a great time w/Bebe and I look forward to spending more time w/her while I’m here. I feel like we really got along great! She’s just the sort of independent lady that I like to come across. A lady that reminds me how strong and great women really are…and that life doesn’t end after a certain age. At Bebe’s I sorted out more school stuff, went to Bible study (yeah that’s right Dad…I went to BIBLE study…), had lunch w/some cool older ladies that she worked w/years ago at an organization for the blind, went to my first Rotary meeting, had dinner at her stepson’s restaurant, and toured some of the projects that the Silverton Rotary club (my host Rotary club) is doing in the greater Pretoria area. The projects we toured are “feeding schemes” set up at some local rural schools. The Rotary club provides funding so that the kids at the school can have a meal (or more) while they are at school. The Rotarians and the administrators at the schools seemed very pleased w/how the program was working out…which is great! Rotary in action! The kids seem to be much healthier and able to engage better in their studies. And they have incentive to come to school cos they’ll get fed. I think most of us, as people who can have access to food whenever we please, forget how hard it can be to deal w/the basic activities in life w/an empty belly. I’ve always placed great importance on feeding folks that come to my house cos I think that feeding people is the most basic courtesy one can extend to visitors. My friend Peten, who stayed at my house in Urbana for a month, is always teasing me about how much weight he put on at my house cos I would make him eat ;) I suppose this simple philosophy is something that also extends to doing humanitarian work. Basic improvement starts w/a full belly.
The other highlight of my stay w/Bebe was going to a new restaurant designed, built, owned, and operated by her stepson, Johnny. The place is called the Karoo Café and it is a fine dining experience and a half! The building was designed by Johnny and is one of the most unique venues I’ve ever seen. It’s mostly open air and had all sorts of really great ways that the building could be manipulated to open windows and walls and stuff…sorry…it’s hard to explain!! Very minimalist I guess. There were frogs in pools of water outside the entrance that chirped away as we dined. Oh, and the food was great!
Now I’ve moved onto the Roets’ house, also in Pretoria. I’m being hosted by a Rotarian named Alan. Alan is a lively widower with 3 daughters and 1 son. The kids are mostly older and only one of the daughters lives in the house. Also there is Nana, the grandmother, who visits often. She’s a really great and hilarious older lady that said to me “I really like the way you express yourself.” Which I thought to be a great compliment…although I didn’t know how to respond to it…or quite what she meant. I’ve just arrived Friday, so there’s not much to report. Their pool rocks!! I will send photos once I get them (hey these photos are taking ages! to download). One of the daughters is a national swimming champion and the youngest daughter is a national dance champion. Last night we went out and had a great Italian dinner w/plenty of wine. The family’s out doing stuff right now so I’m just nerding it up online w/my blog.
Some general thoughts/info…
I’m getting so anxious to start school. My classes are going to be SUPER boring for this first year though. Luckily I’m a science nerd…so I’ll probably really like them in spite of their dry titles. For the first semester I am taking: Intro to Proteins and Enzymes (biochemistry), Carbohydrate Metabolism (biochemistry), Gene and Chromosome Organization, Growth Diversity and Control of Bacteria. 2nd semester is: Lipid and Nitrogen Metabolism (biochemistry), Biochemistry in perspective, Genetic Analysis and Manipulation, Growth, activity, and control of fungi. All I can say is that I’m glad I like biochemistry!!!! I have this 1 year of courses to take and then I can apply for admission to the veterinary school here. In the USA there are about 30 vet schools. The continent of Africa has about 30 vet schools…so the pressure is really going to be on. All I gotta say though is that by the time I’m done showing off…these folks are going to be begging me to come to their vet school. Or at least that’s the plan!!!
Thankfully everything is in place for me to start school. I got a dorm room, student card, am registered, paid, and all those other little things…Wed Jan 31 is my first day of school.
I’m just trying to keep my skin intact in all this sun. Remember, my body still thinks it’s winter in Chicago. The weather is hottish here, but not humid. It’s not as dry heat style as the desert, but everyday when folks have said “It’s soooo hot!” I haven’t really been bothered. It’s not that sticky suffocating heat w/800% humidity, so it’s tolerable. It’s in the 30s Celsius here which I think is like the high 80s Fahrenheit. 31C=88F. It’s been anywhere from 30-33C. I’ve been slathering on a healthy dose of sunscreen everyday so I’m crisping slowly. And my freckles have instantly reappeared. I welcome them! The daylight is taking some getting used to as well because it’s been getting dark at like 4:45pm in Chicago. It gets dark at like 7pm here or something…so I’m a little off. I don’t have a clock usually so I can never tell what time it is when I wake up til I leave my room. Some days it might be 7am, some days it might be 1pm. But time doesn’t really matter to me right now so in all honesty I don’t care what time it is…just so long as I’m not rude to my hosts by sleeping ALLLL day.
I wish had some deep revelations to tell you about SA…but I don’t feel that strange about life here. I feel at ease and at home in a strange foreigner way. And above all I feel super calm. My hosts have helped me in so many ways as far as helping getting me sorted out so all that stress has been nonexistent. Hopefully most of you have been w/me since my first 2 trips to SA so you also have some idea of life here. If you have any specific questions…even if you think they are stupid…please email me. I’m here to extend peace, goodwill, and understanding to S Africans…but also I’m here to bring back a little of those things to the USA. Jayne…I took some pictures of S African huts for you so you can see some of the houses I’ve been staying in. Please note a heavy heavy helping of sarcasm!! In all seriousness, I’ve been staying in some of the dopest spreads SA has to offer.
The major thing I need to readjust to is the security situation here. There is a lot of senseless violent crimes and petty crimes here (rape, murder, stabbing, shootings, etc) and folks are locked up literally in an attempt to save their lives. But interestingly enough, not armed to the teeth…like we would be in the USA. Everyone I’ve stayed w/so far has tons of security in place at their house as well as making sure to lock car doors and stuff while they drive to prevent carjacking. I’ve just gotten my laptop and camera insured in case of theft and also need to get my iPod and hard drive insured too. I just need to make sure I switch my brain over to being in Pretoria SA and not being in Urbana IL. Luckily I was just in Chicago so I’m a little more seasoned, but even being in the city doesn’t compare to this. Mostly I’m just annoyed w/having to look after expensive pieces of machinery. What a drag! But I guess I do reap the benefits of it too…like being able to have access to MAD music.
For all you Rotarians just itching to know more about my Rotary experiences here…
I’ve attended just 1 meeting of the Silverton Rotary Club in District 9250 (I think). They meet every Wed at 5:30pm, but don’t serve food. They just have fellowship over drinks…now that’s South African! The club is about 20-ish members and also includes the District Governor, Chris Pretorius. The Silverton Club is going to be hosting the upcoming district conference in May. I’ll be attending the conference as well as giving a speech at the conference. I’m looking forward to it so that I can get a chance to network a bit better w/in the district. The district includes all of Botswana, all of Swaziland, the NE corner of S Africa, and Mozambique (I think all of Mozambique, but maybe just the bottom half of the country). I’ve exchanged banners w/the Silverton club and will be their main speaker in mid February. At my first meeting I also brought them some pins from the city of Urbana cos I know how much Rotarians love their pins!! I have an upcoming Scholars orientation in Cape Town the last weekend in February. I’m really looking forward to that because any excuse to go to Cape Town is a good excuse to go to Cape Town!! Also it looks like there will be a lot of great events planned out for us. The guy planning it seems very proactive and that’s always a good thing to be when you plan an event. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the club or anything to do w/Rotary here. I will seek out as much info as I can.
You can email me at: lynseemelchi@gmail.com
So that’s life this week…stay tuned for more. School starts on Wednesday so I’ll report on that soon enough.
And just a warning…I can already hear a S African lilt to my voice coming back. I can tell you that I will have a new accent completely when I come home in a few years. I hope you’ll be able to understand me ;) Maybe that’s just part of the exchange!
Take care and Much Love…I gotta go swim!!
Lynsee
Turning point…calm awaits you”
-Son Volt "Chaos Streams"
So I’ve survived a whole week and 3 days to date! I am desperately trying to add pictures...but it's taking forever. So bear w/me.
The week has been great! I have had a slow and steady progression of activity. All my hosts have been really chill. I started off at my Rotary host counselor’s house in a place called Silver Lakes, located on the edge of Pretoria. Silver Lakes is an “estate” that surrounds a golf course. It would be the equivalent of a gated community in the USA. My host counselor, Tony Godrich, is a grain miller by trade but his family also has their hand in many businesses in a place to the E of Pretoria called Bronkhorstspruit. A Toyota dealership, gas station, real estate, and probably a few other things. Their family consists of Tony and his wife Gail, their 3 daughters, and 1 really really cute granddaughter. They are also golf fanatics! The fam also includes 2 cats and 3 dogs. You’ll be able to see photos of all this eventually…so don’t fret!
I spent about 5 days at their house just maxin’ and relaxin’. In fact the majority of my time was spent sleeping…which I badly needed especially coming off the last 2 hectic weeks I had in the states and my really really long journey to SA. The place was serene as hell and I had my own flat at the back of the Godrich’s house…which was way cool. They also have a little pool I could cool off in. I got to check out Tony’s mill, had some drinks w/the Godrich’s golf partners, had my first braai (SA BBQ), and got some school stuff taken care of. In my first day there was a power outage, which really confused me because I had had so little sleep. I was taking a nap and the ceiling fan went out. I never suspected the power went out...I just thought I was useless. After some fiddling I gave up and had a warmer nap. When I finally talked to Gail later on that night she told me that the power had gone out and was in fact still out. There is some major piece of machinery that was malfunctioning which has been causing random power outages in all of SA. I haven’t really been affected except during my confusing nap and when I was trying to open a bank account the power kept going out for a few minutes at my bank. The power outages are expected to continue sporadically for another month or something.
It was great to chill…but hopefully many of you know me well enough to know that standing still is not how I operate. Even if I want to relax. I was SO grateful for the calmness of the Godrich’s but I began to itch…
After the Godrich’s, I moved on to stay for a few days w/an older lady named Bebe du Raan. Bebe is a really really cool retired lady (think Aunt Bernie style) that lives alone in Pretoria. She is also a Rotarian. She has 2 daughters and a stepson and stepdaughter. She also has a really cute bulldog puppy named Patchy. Patchy was sick and spent most of the time at the vet, but I did get to spend some time w/her before I left. Me and Patchy are the new feature photo on my blog…so check us out! Bebe has had quite a lot of misfortune as far as her married life is concerned…she lost 2 husbands and also her latest boyfriend. But I think that has made her one tough old bird! That’s just how life goes though…hard times make us harder.
I really had a great time w/Bebe and I look forward to spending more time w/her while I’m here. I feel like we really got along great! She’s just the sort of independent lady that I like to come across. A lady that reminds me how strong and great women really are…and that life doesn’t end after a certain age. At Bebe’s I sorted out more school stuff, went to Bible study (yeah that’s right Dad…I went to BIBLE study…), had lunch w/some cool older ladies that she worked w/years ago at an organization for the blind, went to my first Rotary meeting, had dinner at her stepson’s restaurant, and toured some of the projects that the Silverton Rotary club (my host Rotary club) is doing in the greater Pretoria area. The projects we toured are “feeding schemes” set up at some local rural schools. The Rotary club provides funding so that the kids at the school can have a meal (or more) while they are at school. The Rotarians and the administrators at the schools seemed very pleased w/how the program was working out…which is great! Rotary in action! The kids seem to be much healthier and able to engage better in their studies. And they have incentive to come to school cos they’ll get fed. I think most of us, as people who can have access to food whenever we please, forget how hard it can be to deal w/the basic activities in life w/an empty belly. I’ve always placed great importance on feeding folks that come to my house cos I think that feeding people is the most basic courtesy one can extend to visitors. My friend Peten, who stayed at my house in Urbana for a month, is always teasing me about how much weight he put on at my house cos I would make him eat ;) I suppose this simple philosophy is something that also extends to doing humanitarian work. Basic improvement starts w/a full belly.
The other highlight of my stay w/Bebe was going to a new restaurant designed, built, owned, and operated by her stepson, Johnny. The place is called the Karoo Café and it is a fine dining experience and a half! The building was designed by Johnny and is one of the most unique venues I’ve ever seen. It’s mostly open air and had all sorts of really great ways that the building could be manipulated to open windows and walls and stuff…sorry…it’s hard to explain!! Very minimalist I guess. There were frogs in pools of water outside the entrance that chirped away as we dined. Oh, and the food was great!
Now I’ve moved onto the Roets’ house, also in Pretoria. I’m being hosted by a Rotarian named Alan. Alan is a lively widower with 3 daughters and 1 son. The kids are mostly older and only one of the daughters lives in the house. Also there is Nana, the grandmother, who visits often. She’s a really great and hilarious older lady that said to me “I really like the way you express yourself.” Which I thought to be a great compliment…although I didn’t know how to respond to it…or quite what she meant. I’ve just arrived Friday, so there’s not much to report. Their pool rocks!! I will send photos once I get them (hey these photos are taking ages! to download). One of the daughters is a national swimming champion and the youngest daughter is a national dance champion. Last night we went out and had a great Italian dinner w/plenty of wine. The family’s out doing stuff right now so I’m just nerding it up online w/my blog.
Some general thoughts/info…
I’m getting so anxious to start school. My classes are going to be SUPER boring for this first year though. Luckily I’m a science nerd…so I’ll probably really like them in spite of their dry titles. For the first semester I am taking: Intro to Proteins and Enzymes (biochemistry), Carbohydrate Metabolism (biochemistry), Gene and Chromosome Organization, Growth Diversity and Control of Bacteria. 2nd semester is: Lipid and Nitrogen Metabolism (biochemistry), Biochemistry in perspective, Genetic Analysis and Manipulation, Growth, activity, and control of fungi. All I can say is that I’m glad I like biochemistry!!!! I have this 1 year of courses to take and then I can apply for admission to the veterinary school here. In the USA there are about 30 vet schools. The continent of Africa has about 30 vet schools…so the pressure is really going to be on. All I gotta say though is that by the time I’m done showing off…these folks are going to be begging me to come to their vet school. Or at least that’s the plan!!!
Thankfully everything is in place for me to start school. I got a dorm room, student card, am registered, paid, and all those other little things…Wed Jan 31 is my first day of school.
I’m just trying to keep my skin intact in all this sun. Remember, my body still thinks it’s winter in Chicago. The weather is hottish here, but not humid. It’s not as dry heat style as the desert, but everyday when folks have said “It’s soooo hot!” I haven’t really been bothered. It’s not that sticky suffocating heat w/800% humidity, so it’s tolerable. It’s in the 30s Celsius here which I think is like the high 80s Fahrenheit. 31C=88F. It’s been anywhere from 30-33C. I’ve been slathering on a healthy dose of sunscreen everyday so I’m crisping slowly. And my freckles have instantly reappeared. I welcome them! The daylight is taking some getting used to as well because it’s been getting dark at like 4:45pm in Chicago. It gets dark at like 7pm here or something…so I’m a little off. I don’t have a clock usually so I can never tell what time it is when I wake up til I leave my room. Some days it might be 7am, some days it might be 1pm. But time doesn’t really matter to me right now so in all honesty I don’t care what time it is…just so long as I’m not rude to my hosts by sleeping ALLLL day.
I wish had some deep revelations to tell you about SA…but I don’t feel that strange about life here. I feel at ease and at home in a strange foreigner way. And above all I feel super calm. My hosts have helped me in so many ways as far as helping getting me sorted out so all that stress has been nonexistent. Hopefully most of you have been w/me since my first 2 trips to SA so you also have some idea of life here. If you have any specific questions…even if you think they are stupid…please email me. I’m here to extend peace, goodwill, and understanding to S Africans…but also I’m here to bring back a little of those things to the USA. Jayne…I took some pictures of S African huts for you so you can see some of the houses I’ve been staying in. Please note a heavy heavy helping of sarcasm!! In all seriousness, I’ve been staying in some of the dopest spreads SA has to offer.
The major thing I need to readjust to is the security situation here. There is a lot of senseless violent crimes and petty crimes here (rape, murder, stabbing, shootings, etc) and folks are locked up literally in an attempt to save their lives. But interestingly enough, not armed to the teeth…like we would be in the USA. Everyone I’ve stayed w/so far has tons of security in place at their house as well as making sure to lock car doors and stuff while they drive to prevent carjacking. I’ve just gotten my laptop and camera insured in case of theft and also need to get my iPod and hard drive insured too. I just need to make sure I switch my brain over to being in Pretoria SA and not being in Urbana IL. Luckily I was just in Chicago so I’m a little more seasoned, but even being in the city doesn’t compare to this. Mostly I’m just annoyed w/having to look after expensive pieces of machinery. What a drag! But I guess I do reap the benefits of it too…like being able to have access to MAD music.
For all you Rotarians just itching to know more about my Rotary experiences here…
I’ve attended just 1 meeting of the Silverton Rotary Club in District 9250 (I think). They meet every Wed at 5:30pm, but don’t serve food. They just have fellowship over drinks…now that’s South African! The club is about 20-ish members and also includes the District Governor, Chris Pretorius. The Silverton Club is going to be hosting the upcoming district conference in May. I’ll be attending the conference as well as giving a speech at the conference. I’m looking forward to it so that I can get a chance to network a bit better w/in the district. The district includes all of Botswana, all of Swaziland, the NE corner of S Africa, and Mozambique (I think all of Mozambique, but maybe just the bottom half of the country). I’ve exchanged banners w/the Silverton club and will be their main speaker in mid February. At my first meeting I also brought them some pins from the city of Urbana cos I know how much Rotarians love their pins!! I have an upcoming Scholars orientation in Cape Town the last weekend in February. I’m really looking forward to that because any excuse to go to Cape Town is a good excuse to go to Cape Town!! Also it looks like there will be a lot of great events planned out for us. The guy planning it seems very proactive and that’s always a good thing to be when you plan an event. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the club or anything to do w/Rotary here. I will seek out as much info as I can.
You can email me at: lynseemelchi@gmail.com
So that’s life this week…stay tuned for more. School starts on Wednesday so I’ll report on that soon enough.
And just a warning…I can already hear a S African lilt to my voice coming back. I can tell you that I will have a new accent completely when I come home in a few years. I hope you’ll be able to understand me ;) Maybe that’s just part of the exchange!
Take care and Much Love…I gotta go swim!!
Lynsee
Friday, January 19, 2007
I'll have thunder and clouds, extra lightning, hold the twisters
First revelation: There are no tornadoes in South Africa.
Heck yeah!!! Tornadoes spawned of monster spring and summer storms were my first and greatest fear in life...until I met the post 9/11 airport terminal. Now tornadoes take a back seat and I've almost dropped tornado fear entirely...it's sort of dumb to be afraid of something you have no control over. Last night as I sat watching a very nice storm blow over I found out that there are no tornadoes in South Africa. And if they occur they aren't proper funnel clouds and they are complete freaks of nature. A sigh of relief. For once in my life I can enjoy a spectacular display of thunder and lightning without keeping my ears open for the tornado sirens. And Graeme...I can leave my digging spork at home ;)
As I'm sure you all know from my recent email...I made it! I'm here! I arrived in South Africa yesterday morning after a very long journey through 3 continents on only 7 total hours of sleep. Whoa. Last night was a night in which I slept harder than any hardwood tree the forest has to offer! It was great!
The last 2 weeks have been very hectic so it's a great relief to finally have arrived. I heard that I received my Rotary scholarship over one year ago...so that's how long I've been waiting to come. Waiting is a drag. I have had the dream of coming back to school in South Africa for more than a year and it's nice to finally see it realized. On the plane I had a thought that was at once frightening and exciting. I have just made an impossible dream come true. It's hard to explain how fantastic that feels. You should all try it some time. Think of anything that you want to do, even if it can't be done. And then do it. I bet you have the power to make it happen. You will be surprised :)
A bit about the last week because it's been action-packed...
I spent the time travelling all over the place to say my last goodbyes. Many apologies to those I couldn't squeeze in...but I'm just one woman. There are times when I need to understand my limits. Those times are few and far between but they do come, and when they do I have to give in. As you saw from the photos I had a going away party a few Saturdays ago w/my friend Ben who was leaving for Costa Rica that next Monday. The weekend was a blur of parties and fun...so that was good. My friend Dave came up from Waukegan and so we hung out for the weekend.
That next Monday I saw Ben off at O'Hare on his first trip out of the country to sunny Costa Rica. He's still there now living out his dreams of being a Latin hustler or surfer or something ;) Congrats on leaving the USA! Now lather, rinse, and REPEAT. Monday I also got my visa (hooray!) and then went to Champaign to do a radio show one last time. I stayed in CU for a few days, said some goodbyes to the U of I crew, and then headed back to Chicago on my way to Wisconsin. I spent the night with my dad in order to burn some more backup DVDs of my precious music collection and then headed off to my childhood friend's house. I have some great photos of my time w/Julie and her family. As soon as I can get them together I will post them. Julie has 2 kids, a petting zoo, and a generally rocking family life...so it was a great time! I always love going to visit cos I can get my hands dirty and smell the sweetness of hay and manure. It's also always good to see my second mom! At Julie's we went back to my old elementary school to volunteer for her son's kindergarten class. That was way fun but it was weird to see my old school!
Then I went home for the final nail in the "I'm really really going to SA" coffin...packing my suitcase! The process really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I managed to fit stuff for the next 2 years in a giant suitcase, a giant pack, and my bookbag. Cool! Also I had one last spree at the thrift store w/my friend Mumbles from Girl Scouts. And more importantly...I ate my last tacos. Pollo con mole and horchata. I'm going to have to savor that meal for years...but luckily have some photos to facilitate the salivation process.
Then came Tuesday when I did my final business, had my last meal w/family, and headed off to the airport. It really couldn't have come fast enough as I am impatient, weepy, and there was a bit of friction at home I think due to the fact I was leaving. I'm not a fan of friction. The airport on the Ohare side was totally cool and I had no security static at all. What a relief! The rest of the airport details for the whole trip are thankfully very very boring because everything went great.
Apparently along some distant branch of my family tree there were some relatives that moved to Spain. So I just found out a few days before I was set to leave that I have relatives in Madrid!!! What a blessing because I arrived in Madrid at 7am and left at midnight. There is absolutely no way I would have survived that long of a layover w/out some help. So, much love to Vicky and Carlos for coming to pick me up and for putting me up (or putting up w/me) for the day! I got the chance to take a nap, have some Spanish food, hear some lectures about music in Spanish, and visit w/family I previously had not known. Not too shabby considering I thought I was going to have to spend a long and tiring day at the airport!
And then you know the rest. I am here. That's about it. I was greeted in Joburg by Tony and Gail Godrich holding a sign with my name on it. Being greeted by sign at the airport is something on my "to do before I die list." I have since been recuperating and trying to adjust my winter skin to the sun of South Africa. Here come the freckles! Seriously, I started to get red after like 3 minutes in the sun. My hosts Tony and Gail have been great and they even put me up in my own flat at the back of their house. They have 3 older daughters, 3 adorable dogs, 2 cats, and 1 really really cute granddaughter. It's a good place to bring myself up to speed.
Thanks for all the great emails you sent me recently. They have been great!! Stay tuned for the next adventures. Which will be: opening a bank account, getting a cell phone, and finding out what the heck is going on w/my schooling.
Love Lynsee
Heck yeah!!! Tornadoes spawned of monster spring and summer storms were my first and greatest fear in life...until I met the post 9/11 airport terminal. Now tornadoes take a back seat and I've almost dropped tornado fear entirely...it's sort of dumb to be afraid of something you have no control over. Last night as I sat watching a very nice storm blow over I found out that there are no tornadoes in South Africa. And if they occur they aren't proper funnel clouds and they are complete freaks of nature. A sigh of relief. For once in my life I can enjoy a spectacular display of thunder and lightning without keeping my ears open for the tornado sirens. And Graeme...I can leave my digging spork at home ;)
As I'm sure you all know from my recent email...I made it! I'm here! I arrived in South Africa yesterday morning after a very long journey through 3 continents on only 7 total hours of sleep. Whoa. Last night was a night in which I slept harder than any hardwood tree the forest has to offer! It was great!
The last 2 weeks have been very hectic so it's a great relief to finally have arrived. I heard that I received my Rotary scholarship over one year ago...so that's how long I've been waiting to come. Waiting is a drag. I have had the dream of coming back to school in South Africa for more than a year and it's nice to finally see it realized. On the plane I had a thought that was at once frightening and exciting. I have just made an impossible dream come true. It's hard to explain how fantastic that feels. You should all try it some time. Think of anything that you want to do, even if it can't be done. And then do it. I bet you have the power to make it happen. You will be surprised :)
A bit about the last week because it's been action-packed...
I spent the time travelling all over the place to say my last goodbyes. Many apologies to those I couldn't squeeze in...but I'm just one woman. There are times when I need to understand my limits. Those times are few and far between but they do come, and when they do I have to give in. As you saw from the photos I had a going away party a few Saturdays ago w/my friend Ben who was leaving for Costa Rica that next Monday. The weekend was a blur of parties and fun...so that was good. My friend Dave came up from Waukegan and so we hung out for the weekend.
That next Monday I saw Ben off at O'Hare on his first trip out of the country to sunny Costa Rica. He's still there now living out his dreams of being a Latin hustler or surfer or something ;) Congrats on leaving the USA! Now lather, rinse, and REPEAT. Monday I also got my visa (hooray!) and then went to Champaign to do a radio show one last time. I stayed in CU for a few days, said some goodbyes to the U of I crew, and then headed back to Chicago on my way to Wisconsin. I spent the night with my dad in order to burn some more backup DVDs of my precious music collection and then headed off to my childhood friend's house. I have some great photos of my time w/Julie and her family. As soon as I can get them together I will post them. Julie has 2 kids, a petting zoo, and a generally rocking family life...so it was a great time! I always love going to visit cos I can get my hands dirty and smell the sweetness of hay and manure. It's also always good to see my second mom! At Julie's we went back to my old elementary school to volunteer for her son's kindergarten class. That was way fun but it was weird to see my old school!
Then I went home for the final nail in the "I'm really really going to SA" coffin...packing my suitcase! The process really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I managed to fit stuff for the next 2 years in a giant suitcase, a giant pack, and my bookbag. Cool! Also I had one last spree at the thrift store w/my friend Mumbles from Girl Scouts. And more importantly...I ate my last tacos. Pollo con mole and horchata. I'm going to have to savor that meal for years...but luckily have some photos to facilitate the salivation process.
Then came Tuesday when I did my final business, had my last meal w/family, and headed off to the airport. It really couldn't have come fast enough as I am impatient, weepy, and there was a bit of friction at home I think due to the fact I was leaving. I'm not a fan of friction. The airport on the Ohare side was totally cool and I had no security static at all. What a relief! The rest of the airport details for the whole trip are thankfully very very boring because everything went great.
Apparently along some distant branch of my family tree there were some relatives that moved to Spain. So I just found out a few days before I was set to leave that I have relatives in Madrid!!! What a blessing because I arrived in Madrid at 7am and left at midnight. There is absolutely no way I would have survived that long of a layover w/out some help. So, much love to Vicky and Carlos for coming to pick me up and for putting me up (or putting up w/me) for the day! I got the chance to take a nap, have some Spanish food, hear some lectures about music in Spanish, and visit w/family I previously had not known. Not too shabby considering I thought I was going to have to spend a long and tiring day at the airport!
And then you know the rest. I am here. That's about it. I was greeted in Joburg by Tony and Gail Godrich holding a sign with my name on it. Being greeted by sign at the airport is something on my "to do before I die list." I have since been recuperating and trying to adjust my winter skin to the sun of South Africa. Here come the freckles! Seriously, I started to get red after like 3 minutes in the sun. My hosts Tony and Gail have been great and they even put me up in my own flat at the back of their house. They have 3 older daughters, 3 adorable dogs, 2 cats, and 1 really really cute granddaughter. It's a good place to bring myself up to speed.
Thanks for all the great emails you sent me recently. They have been great!! Stay tuned for the next adventures. Which will be: opening a bank account, getting a cell phone, and finding out what the heck is going on w/my schooling.
Love Lynsee
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Photos...Round 1
So I lied...I'm still in the USA, but at O'Hare airport. Which is shakily considered the US at best. More of international waters I would say. Although the airport typically brings out the timid mouse inside of me (anxiety problems the likes of which you didn't know possible of Lynsee) all has gone well so far. And I'm at my gate and paying attention...so I'm sure to NOT miss this flight ;) It's pretty hilarious at the gate so far cos it's very apparent that I'm not the only student lurking about. I feel like I'm witnessing a life-expanding moment in the lives of those around me...the first study abroad trip. I'm wading in a sea of kids off to their study abroad experience in Spain. This plane ride is going to be like Spring Break w/wings...ha ha. Madrid here we come!
I haven't quite figured out a good way to do photos yet, so here's my first crack at sharing photos. Please give me feedback as to how good this does/doesn't work for you. I am working on all the options available. Oh and also I need to figure out how to use my camera.
Please click on or cut and paste the link below to see the first round in a multi-round bout of goodbyes.
http://lynseemelchi.shutterfly.com/action/?a=0Acs2rho5cNGLjI
PS: Aunt Bernie...it's super easy to bathe myself in the golden light cos the sun is shining directly in my eyes right now. Now that's easy visualization!!
Enjoy!
41 minutes and counting til take off
Love Lynsee
I haven't quite figured out a good way to do photos yet, so here's my first crack at sharing photos. Please give me feedback as to how good this does/doesn't work for you. I am working on all the options available. Oh and also I need to figure out how to use my camera.
Please click on or cut and paste the link below to see the first round in a multi-round bout of goodbyes.
http://lynseemelchi.shutterfly
PS: Aunt Bernie...it's super easy to bathe myself in the golden light cos the sun is shining directly in my eyes right now. Now that's easy visualization!!
Enjoy!
41 minutes and counting til take off
Love Lynsee
"By the time you read this...
I'll be basking in African sun like...Wow! Yes! We made it! We're here!"
Well not yet, but soon. I'll be off on the plane Tuesday evening around 5pm from O'Hare. Flying through Spain with a very loooong layover in Madrid. But by 11am (S African time) on Thursday I'll have arrived in my prospective home. Yes! Even now it seems so surreal.
I just wanted to say thanks so much to all of you who have supported and helped me in these last months with everything from places to stay to food to whatever it is you had to offer me! I couldn't have done it without you!!! Please please please recognize that you have a place to stay in South Africa with me. I hope you will all consider (and if possible) and make a trip to SA a reality!
And to all of you I'm about to meet...hello!
I promise I have photos to add to this here blog thing...but I gotta figure out how to do it. I have a bunch of going away photos of goodbyes and what not. Stay tuned.
Well, stick w/me. I'm off to Africa, baby!!
Love Lynsee
Well not yet, but soon. I'll be off on the plane Tuesday evening around 5pm from O'Hare. Flying through Spain with a very loooong layover in Madrid. But by 11am (S African time) on Thursday I'll have arrived in my prospective home. Yes! Even now it seems so surreal.
I just wanted to say thanks so much to all of you who have supported and helped me in these last months with everything from places to stay to food to whatever it is you had to offer me! I couldn't have done it without you!!! Please please please recognize that you have a place to stay in South Africa with me. I hope you will all consider (and if possible) and make a trip to SA a reality!
And to all of you I'm about to meet...hello!
I promise I have photos to add to this here blog thing...but I gotta figure out how to do it. I have a bunch of going away photos of goodbyes and what not. Stay tuned.
Well, stick w/me. I'm off to Africa, baby!!
Love Lynsee
Thursday, January 11, 2007
More "No more fire!"
Hey everyone
I just realized that more of the show I did on Tuesday morning 1/9/07 is online. If you go to: www.wrfu.net and go the archives section for 1/9/07 then the tail end of my show is recorded on the "World Radio Network" file. You can listen to it online or download it.
You can also try this link: http://wrfu.net/node/446
Enjoy!
I just realized that more of the show I did on Tuesday morning 1/9/07 is online. If you go to: www.wrfu.net and go the archives section for 1/9/07 then the tail end of my show is recorded on the "World Radio Network" file. You can listen to it online or download it.
You can also try this link: http://wrfu.net/node/446
Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Last WRFU show?
I am in the process of doing a radio show right now on my baby radio station...WRFU-LP Urbana 104.5FM. Since I got this forum I thought I'd post the songs I'm playing on the show tonight. Also if I can find an archived link to the show I will post that too. I guess this is supposed to be a farewell show of sorts. One the explores musically what my brain's been going thru the last few weeks and that talks about travelling, S Africa, and saying goodbye (I feel like all I do is say goodbye these days!)...in that order specifically. Thanks to Mike Lehman who is supposedly capturing this on cassette tape for me :)
Raspberry Pickin' by Candy Sweat
Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
That's How Strong my Love is by Otis Redding
Luv 2 Luv U by Timbaland and Magoo feat. Missy Elliott (remix)
*talking*
Shinjiro (Harsh Mix) by DJ Krush feat. Mos Def
I Try by Talib Kweli feat. Mary J Blige
Glitches (The Skin You're In) by Arrieux and The Roots from Red Star Sounds, Vol 1
You Gotta BE by Des'ree
*talking*
Face Up and Sing by Ani DiFranco
Big Emotional Life by M.O.T.O
Chaos Streams by Son Volt
Angel from Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt and John Prine
Big Empty by Stone Temple Pilots
Girl, You'll be a woman soon by Urge Overkill
Moving Shaking by Great Lake Swimmers
*talking*
Ambitionz Az a Ridah by 2pac
Ramblin' Man by Lemon Jelly
Anchorless by The WeakerThans
Thousand Miles by Kilborn Alley Blues Band
Travelling Man by Mos Def
Africa Dream by Talib Kweli
Memories Live by Talib Kweli
*talking*
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica by Soweto Community Hall
Mari Ye Pepha (Oskido 2002) by Bongo Maffin mixed by Oskido
Mama Africa (Playin 4 the city remix) by T Bose
Tshwane by All Star DJ Cleo mixed by T Bose
Believe by Soldiers of Twilight mixed T Bose
Township Dwell by Prophets of da city
Township Rebellion by Rage Against the Machine
I'm Ready by Muddy Waters
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday by Boyz II Men
Farewell Transmission by Songs:Ohia
*talking*
See the Joy by RZA
A Stretch of the Imagination by The Invisible
Many Rivers to Cross by Jimmy Cliff
Fontanelle by Clem Snide
*talking*
Go to an archive of some of the show...it only recorded the first part of the show
I can't make any promises that the music is clean...you've been warned!
Go to: http://www.wrfu.net/station/archives/all
Look for "It's Raining Discs and Ghouls" for 1/9/07
If that link doesn't go then go to www.wrfu.net and click on the "archives" link on the right side of the page and look for "It's Raining Discs and Ghoul" for 1/9/07
Raspberry Pickin' by Candy Sweat
Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
That's How Strong my Love is by Otis Redding
Luv 2 Luv U by Timbaland and Magoo feat. Missy Elliott (remix)
*talking*
Shinjiro (Harsh Mix) by DJ Krush feat. Mos Def
I Try by Talib Kweli feat. Mary J Blige
Glitches (The Skin You're In) by Arrieux and The Roots from Red Star Sounds, Vol 1
You Gotta BE by Des'ree
*talking*
Face Up and Sing by Ani DiFranco
Big Emotional Life by M.O.T.O
Chaos Streams by Son Volt
Angel from Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt and John Prine
Big Empty by Stone Temple Pilots
Girl, You'll be a woman soon by Urge Overkill
Moving Shaking by Great Lake Swimmers
*talking*
Ambitionz Az a Ridah by 2pac
Ramblin' Man by Lemon Jelly
Anchorless by The WeakerThans
Thousand Miles by Kilborn Alley Blues Band
Travelling Man by Mos Def
Africa Dream by Talib Kweli
Memories Live by Talib Kweli
*talking*
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica by Soweto Community Hall
Mari Ye Pepha (Oskido 2002) by Bongo Maffin mixed by Oskido
Mama Africa (Playin 4 the city remix) by T Bose
Tshwane by All Star DJ Cleo mixed by T Bose
Believe by Soldiers of Twilight mixed T Bose
Township Dwell by Prophets of da city
Township Rebellion by Rage Against the Machine
I'm Ready by Muddy Waters
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday by Boyz II Men
Farewell Transmission by Songs:Ohia
*talking*
See the Joy by RZA
A Stretch of the Imagination by The Invisible
Many Rivers to Cross by Jimmy Cliff
Fontanelle by Clem Snide
*talking*
Go to an archive of some of the show...it only recorded the first part of the show
I can't make any promises that the music is clean...you've been warned!
Go to: http://www.wrfu.net/station/archives/all
Look for "It's Raining Discs and Ghouls" for 1/9/07
If that link doesn't go then go to www.wrfu.net and click on the "archives" link on the right side of the page and look for "It's Raining Discs and Ghoul" for 1/9/07
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
In retrospect…
It’s that time isn’t it? Time to run down the top whatever of 2006. Top movies, best sports plays, best photos, memorable moments and such. Time to gather it all together and press forward into a new year…2007. FYI, 2007 you better watch out cos I’ve got your number and I’m coming after you!!! You’ve been warned. So, following in suit, here’s my long overdue message to you regarding the happenings of 2006. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to gather it all up for you (I’ve started this Lynsee update about 3x already, but just can’t seem to finish it). Better late than never right?
2006 was actually a pretty tough year for me. I’m pretty relieved that the year is over and will hopefully be taking some of its negative madness w/it. I was in Champaign-Urbana for most of the year and just moved in August back up north to Waukegan/Chicago. I’m anchored in Waukegan/Chicago right now as I bop around saying my last goodbyes, sipping one more beer w/friends, eating as many steak tacos as I can to tide me over for the next 2 years, and generally soaking up “the USA” before I leave it in my rearview.
The year popped off w/my grandfather dying and going to his funeral in Iowa. I think this really set off a bunch of emotions in me that were lying dormant. I wasn’t super close to Pappy, but did send him many cards and letters in his later years. A gesture that my Aunt Jolene said he really valued. It was a great feeling to know that something I started doing just for the heck of it created smiles. So I was pretty upset about my grandfather passing, but I never necessarily understood why. This was followed up by a pretty stressful living situation (at least for me) that eventually ended with my roommate/friend for like 5 years and I going our respective ways. That was really tough and I’ve never really “lost” a friend like that ever. It was sad and stressful, but ultimately I think for the best. In hindsight, we had really been moving apart on our own respective paths for some time and I think this rupture was in the cards. It was just a matter of when. I don’t begrudge her at all and actually am quite proud of the way that she has started to shine in the last year or so. She has really started to find her stride in life and that’s always something to be proud of. I guess though that I just recognize that we can’t really be friends right now.
Whew, heavy things. On the radio tip…WRFU: Radio Free Urbana turned 1 year old on Nov 13, 2006 at 5pm. I really can’t express the joy that I felt about that. I can’t believe I am a part of creating something like a radio station that will hopefully grow to serve Urbana-Champaign's radio needs. I feel so lucky. I guess it’s really the first thing I’ve voluntarily worked on (at least that I can think of) where I can truly say that I was a part of something way bigger than myself. (Dad that phrase was for you…) It’s a pretty awesome feeling. I could get used to this.
The road has been rough as far as managing the station and it will be a lot of work to mold it into a proper tool for the community to use and enjoy, but it’s so worth it. And the possibilities are nearly endless…what a fantastic project to play with and develop. I’m going to miss it so much. I was doing lots and lots for the station because I just loved it. It was my hobby I guess…and an addictive one at that. In 2006 I made my first public service announcement, learned how to edit music, did my first hard-hitting interview (in Spanish, to boot) and probably a million other tiny tasks. I was still doing publicity/fundraising/outreach for the station, a natural position for me, and also took on many other small tasks like gathering music for our library, creating radio spots/Public Service Announcements, editing music for the radio, and (like I said) probably 105 million other tiny tasks that just needed a person to do them. Curse the fact that I need to be gainfully employed so I can eat, drink beer, and make money for going places cos otherwise I would have spent 24/7 at that station just tinkering. I would turn into a true radio goddess. Oh also I was doing a weekly radio show called “More Fire!” More Fire! was a show that my friend/roommate Kai, and my friend Dan, and I put together each week. A testament to silliness and getting you on the radio. Our show was very late at night and so we’d play all kinds of crazy music and banter about random subjects. We had fun ;) Hope the listeners did too. The main aspect of our show was to get other people onto the radio. So we’d have guests like local bands, our friends, people coming to share information about some topic (like meditation). One time we even got a caller to come down to the station just after he called to hang w/us. Part of the spirit of our radio station, and indymedia as a whole, is that media making isn’t scary or unattainable. Anyone can do it. And the best way to prove that is by involving newcomers. Our show wasn’t some hard-hitting journalistic masterpiece, but I think as far as involving radio newbies…we were quite successful. It was really incredible to do a radio show each week and with stresses and emotions building up in me gradually over the year, More Fire! was crucial in that it provided a fun pressure release. Oh my do I miss my weekly radio show!!! Sometimes I was even doing like 2 or 3 extra shows a week just cos it’s so great to be on the radio. I will be doing my last More Fire! on Mon Jan 8th at 11pm Central. You can probably tune in over the internet if you go to:
www.wrfu.net.
We are streaming over the internet now and so you can hear archived shows as well as listen in to what’s happening live. So check me out or check out the other programs we have to offer!!! I can’t promise I’ll be couth (well I will be w/in the FCC’s guidelines) but I can promise you great music and laughs. I started my prospective playlist weeks ago ;)
So I left all that behind in Urbana in August and packed it home. I was actually pretty sad when I left CU but mostly I think I was (and am) just mentally exhausted. On top of breaking with my friend/roommate, my baby radio station, and my home of 7 years…I had another situation go down w/a friend of mine that I fell for (it was an accident, I swear!). I (eventually…I’m such a coward) told him about my feelings for him. He wasn’t interested, we talked a bit, and then we went our separate ways (me north, he south). It hurt to be rejected. Besides a scant scrap of communication between us he basically hasn’t spoken to me in like 2 months. It really upsets me because I took him (and still do) as a close friend and it really hurts that he’s not talking to me. I guess mostly I just hope that he’s okay, but if he is…I’m kind of mad at him for being such a weiner. Things have been so stressful up here for me and I really just miss my friend, regardless of all the extra drama. Oh well, life I say, life. So, needless to say, it was a pretty dramatic break I had w/my beloved Urbana.
As you probably can see from my past posts, I’m going to be moving to South Africa pretty soon (2 weeks today to be exact) thanks to an incredible scholarship I have received from Rotary International. Although it’s a gigantic blessing…it has been lots of work to get all my affairs together (argh! I still don’t have my passport OR visa and I leave in 14 days!) as well as just a completely mental experience. Today as I was waiting for the train and watching the sunrise (oh thank goodness I only have to work for 1 more day!!!!!) I just thought to myself “Lynsee in 2 weeks you will be doing all these little life tasks (eating, waiting for trains, brushing my teeth) on a totally different continent.” That blew my mind. And will continue to blow my mind until I’m safely in the thick of it. I guess once I can get past all this waiting for something to happen, once I can get my hands really dirty w/this experience, then maybe I can even out a bit. And even then I still probably won’t believe it. ;)
Since I moved to Chicago I have been transient at best. I have lived in like 6 different places and had about a billion odd jobs. I got fired from one job…my first firing ever. That was a trip to say the least, but honestly I’m glad I got fired. That job was in hospitality and it was sort of starting to stress me out. So when I got fired I called my old boss in Champaign who called our old boss in Chicago who gave me a job. Nice! W/in 24 hours I had a new job and a pay raise. Take that job that fired me! Yeah! You tossed a good girl to the curb...
I started to volunteer at the Field Museum (in all my infinite extra time, right? I swear I sleep!!) for a researcher that studies small mammals (mice, shrews, bats, etc) in Southern Africa. He also does predator/prey stuff and one of his focuses is the man-eating Tsavo lions…yes the Ghost in the Darkness lions. I am helping him to organize a collection of small mammals he has from Malawi. Mostly I just organize data, but soon I will be helping him process the specimens (removing the skulls and stuff) and catalog them further. I don’t know how far I’ll get before I leave though. I found this guy randomly by emailing everyone at the Field Museum that studies animals. The crazy thing is that he is a really close friend with my old bosses in Champaign, the fish folks. It IS a small world. The volunteering is fun and I am secretly hoping that the next time he goes to Southern Africa that he will need a helpful student to like carry his bags or something. We’ll see.
So I guess that’s the year in review. A hard year. A stressful year. But ultimately, a year that is over. Here’s to 2007! A year where I hope to find more grace and joy in my entropic life on this earth. May you find the same...
So this takes place of my big fat email, but just cos it’s up on a blog site doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from you!!! Please email me and let me know what’s going on w/YOU! I have been talking soooooooo much about S Africa that my mouth is tired (sometimes I have to tell my “story” like 5 times per day, especially if I meet new folks). Enough about me…how about you?
All the best in 2007. Big ups to those rocking the house and taking names! And to those idling in the driveway…get that car in gear!
Much Love
Lynsee
2006 was actually a pretty tough year for me. I’m pretty relieved that the year is over and will hopefully be taking some of its negative madness w/it. I was in Champaign-Urbana for most of the year and just moved in August back up north to Waukegan/Chicago. I’m anchored in Waukegan/Chicago right now as I bop around saying my last goodbyes, sipping one more beer w/friends, eating as many steak tacos as I can to tide me over for the next 2 years, and generally soaking up “the USA” before I leave it in my rearview.
The year popped off w/my grandfather dying and going to his funeral in Iowa. I think this really set off a bunch of emotions in me that were lying dormant. I wasn’t super close to Pappy, but did send him many cards and letters in his later years. A gesture that my Aunt Jolene said he really valued. It was a great feeling to know that something I started doing just for the heck of it created smiles. So I was pretty upset about my grandfather passing, but I never necessarily understood why. This was followed up by a pretty stressful living situation (at least for me) that eventually ended with my roommate/friend for like 5 years and I going our respective ways. That was really tough and I’ve never really “lost” a friend like that ever. It was sad and stressful, but ultimately I think for the best. In hindsight, we had really been moving apart on our own respective paths for some time and I think this rupture was in the cards. It was just a matter of when. I don’t begrudge her at all and actually am quite proud of the way that she has started to shine in the last year or so. She has really started to find her stride in life and that’s always something to be proud of. I guess though that I just recognize that we can’t really be friends right now.
Whew, heavy things. On the radio tip…WRFU: Radio Free Urbana turned 1 year old on Nov 13, 2006 at 5pm. I really can’t express the joy that I felt about that. I can’t believe I am a part of creating something like a radio station that will hopefully grow to serve Urbana-Champaign's radio needs. I feel so lucky. I guess it’s really the first thing I’ve voluntarily worked on (at least that I can think of) where I can truly say that I was a part of something way bigger than myself. (Dad that phrase was for you…) It’s a pretty awesome feeling. I could get used to this.
The road has been rough as far as managing the station and it will be a lot of work to mold it into a proper tool for the community to use and enjoy, but it’s so worth it. And the possibilities are nearly endless…what a fantastic project to play with and develop. I’m going to miss it so much. I was doing lots and lots for the station because I just loved it. It was my hobby I guess…and an addictive one at that. In 2006 I made my first public service announcement, learned how to edit music, did my first hard-hitting interview (in Spanish, to boot) and probably a million other tiny tasks. I was still doing publicity/fundraising/outreach for the station, a natural position for me, and also took on many other small tasks like gathering music for our library, creating radio spots/Public Service Announcements, editing music for the radio, and (like I said) probably 105 million other tiny tasks that just needed a person to do them. Curse the fact that I need to be gainfully employed so I can eat, drink beer, and make money for going places cos otherwise I would have spent 24/7 at that station just tinkering. I would turn into a true radio goddess. Oh also I was doing a weekly radio show called “More Fire!” More Fire! was a show that my friend/roommate Kai, and my friend Dan, and I put together each week. A testament to silliness and getting you on the radio. Our show was very late at night and so we’d play all kinds of crazy music and banter about random subjects. We had fun ;) Hope the listeners did too. The main aspect of our show was to get other people onto the radio. So we’d have guests like local bands, our friends, people coming to share information about some topic (like meditation). One time we even got a caller to come down to the station just after he called to hang w/us. Part of the spirit of our radio station, and indymedia as a whole, is that media making isn’t scary or unattainable. Anyone can do it. And the best way to prove that is by involving newcomers. Our show wasn’t some hard-hitting journalistic masterpiece, but I think as far as involving radio newbies…we were quite successful. It was really incredible to do a radio show each week and with stresses and emotions building up in me gradually over the year, More Fire! was crucial in that it provided a fun pressure release. Oh my do I miss my weekly radio show!!! Sometimes I was even doing like 2 or 3 extra shows a week just cos it’s so great to be on the radio. I will be doing my last More Fire! on Mon Jan 8th at 11pm Central. You can probably tune in over the internet if you go to:
www.wrfu.net.
We are streaming over the internet now and so you can hear archived shows as well as listen in to what’s happening live. So check me out or check out the other programs we have to offer!!! I can’t promise I’ll be couth (well I will be w/in the FCC’s guidelines) but I can promise you great music and laughs. I started my prospective playlist weeks ago ;)
So I left all that behind in Urbana in August and packed it home. I was actually pretty sad when I left CU but mostly I think I was (and am) just mentally exhausted. On top of breaking with my friend/roommate, my baby radio station, and my home of 7 years…I had another situation go down w/a friend of mine that I fell for (it was an accident, I swear!). I (eventually…I’m such a coward) told him about my feelings for him. He wasn’t interested, we talked a bit, and then we went our separate ways (me north, he south). It hurt to be rejected. Besides a scant scrap of communication between us he basically hasn’t spoken to me in like 2 months. It really upsets me because I took him (and still do) as a close friend and it really hurts that he’s not talking to me. I guess mostly I just hope that he’s okay, but if he is…I’m kind of mad at him for being such a weiner. Things have been so stressful up here for me and I really just miss my friend, regardless of all the extra drama. Oh well, life I say, life. So, needless to say, it was a pretty dramatic break I had w/my beloved Urbana.
As you probably can see from my past posts, I’m going to be moving to South Africa pretty soon (2 weeks today to be exact) thanks to an incredible scholarship I have received from Rotary International. Although it’s a gigantic blessing…it has been lots of work to get all my affairs together (argh! I still don’t have my passport OR visa and I leave in 14 days!) as well as just a completely mental experience. Today as I was waiting for the train and watching the sunrise (oh thank goodness I only have to work for 1 more day!!!!!) I just thought to myself “Lynsee in 2 weeks you will be doing all these little life tasks (eating, waiting for trains, brushing my teeth) on a totally different continent.” That blew my mind. And will continue to blow my mind until I’m safely in the thick of it. I guess once I can get past all this waiting for something to happen, once I can get my hands really dirty w/this experience, then maybe I can even out a bit. And even then I still probably won’t believe it. ;)
Since I moved to Chicago I have been transient at best. I have lived in like 6 different places and had about a billion odd jobs. I got fired from one job…my first firing ever. That was a trip to say the least, but honestly I’m glad I got fired. That job was in hospitality and it was sort of starting to stress me out. So when I got fired I called my old boss in Champaign who called our old boss in Chicago who gave me a job. Nice! W/in 24 hours I had a new job and a pay raise. Take that job that fired me! Yeah! You tossed a good girl to the curb...
I started to volunteer at the Field Museum (in all my infinite extra time, right? I swear I sleep!!) for a researcher that studies small mammals (mice, shrews, bats, etc) in Southern Africa. He also does predator/prey stuff and one of his focuses is the man-eating Tsavo lions…yes the Ghost in the Darkness lions. I am helping him to organize a collection of small mammals he has from Malawi. Mostly I just organize data, but soon I will be helping him process the specimens (removing the skulls and stuff) and catalog them further. I don’t know how far I’ll get before I leave though. I found this guy randomly by emailing everyone at the Field Museum that studies animals. The crazy thing is that he is a really close friend with my old bosses in Champaign, the fish folks. It IS a small world. The volunteering is fun and I am secretly hoping that the next time he goes to Southern Africa that he will need a helpful student to like carry his bags or something. We’ll see.
So I guess that’s the year in review. A hard year. A stressful year. But ultimately, a year that is over. Here’s to 2007! A year where I hope to find more grace and joy in my entropic life on this earth. May you find the same...
So this takes place of my big fat email, but just cos it’s up on a blog site doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from you!!! Please email me and let me know what’s going on w/YOU! I have been talking soooooooo much about S Africa that my mouth is tired (sometimes I have to tell my “story” like 5 times per day, especially if I meet new folks). Enough about me…how about you?
All the best in 2007. Big ups to those rocking the house and taking names! And to those idling in the driveway…get that car in gear!
Much Love
Lynsee
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