New House

This post is way overdue as it has been exactly a month since I moved to a new house in Portland.  I am now living in the hip Sunnyside neighborhood off of SE Belmont Street.  I decided to move into this new place with some pretty rad girls who I've become good friends with this past year.  Laura is a family friend who moved to Portland from Virginia and works at Sseko Designs.  Mollie also moved from Virginia and is a med student at the National College of Natural Medicine.  Natalie is from Portland and just recently settled back in town after touring around the country for her amazing music.  Holly is living with us for the summer while she interns at Sseko and then starts the Oregon Fellows Program in September.  They are all awesome.

I feel like I'm just now getting settled in now that I'm back from Guatemala and I've loved living here so far.  We've already started checking out the nearby spots in order to become legit "locals".

Laura on our amazing back patio, our favorite part of the house

Belmont Market - where we buy ginger ale and gum

at Hobnob - this will be our official "local spot"

just hanging out at Aalto Lounge

The SE Portland Way

I just discovered this great resource last week: the SE Portland Tool Library.  Located in St Mark's Lutheran Church, any SE resident can go here to check out a wide variety of tools for free! How awesome is that?! I needed an electric sander to fix up a new dresser and was able to check one out here.  Sharing the resources we having and helping each other out... what a great idea.

Most Adventurous Day Ever

I have to write a whole seperate blog post about our last big day in Guatemala before traveling back to America. It was honestly the most adventurous and thrilling day I've ever had. After working all week to complete the stove project in Saqib, our team decided to take a day to explore another part of Guatemala about 3 hours north of Coban - Semuc Champey.

Semuc Champey is pretty much an all-natural extreme waterpark. Our day started with a trapeze rope swing that we all encouraged one another to try at least once. It was a great way to get our feet wet (no pun intended) for the day ahead of us. Next, our guide Carlos took us exploring through a cave where we could take nothing but a single wax candle. We walked into the dark cave not know what to expect (which was probably for the best) and here are the obstacles we encountered: climbing wet ladders, swimming with one arm while we held our candle up with the other arm, rappeling up a waterfall (I barely made it), jumping into a dark water hole, sliding down a rock while attempting to still keep our candle lit, then sliding down a shute where we were finally able to walk back out into the sun. It was intense!

And as if that wasn't enough, as we're walking away from the cave (thankful to be alive) Carlos says, "Now we're going tubing and then we'll jump off a bridge!" I guess our confidence was up and our adrenaline was still pumping, because without thinking twice we all yelled, "OK!" And that's exactly what we did. We floated down the Semuc Champey River, climbed out, hike up to a bridge and then jumped off a 30-ft bridge. I think that morning was enough adventure to last me a lifetime (or at least a few weeks).

This tour might not be for everyone, but it was an amazing experience for our team. We don't have many pictures to document it (although we each have our share of scrapes and bruises) which makes it a very special day that only we can really share together. This adventure was definitely one that would not be legal in the United States. We didn't have to go through a training or sign papers; there was simply a sign above the registration hut that said: "Enter at your own risk."

And it was a team-building activity to the max! Each of us had our strengths and weaknesses throughout the day. When one person needed help, someone was quickly there to hold their hand, give them a push, or talk them through it. It was incredible to see the encouragement that was passed around the group. We cheered one another through every obstacle. Congratulated each other when we made it through. And supported each other when we were hesitant or fearful. Just like a team should.

natural beauty

we were warned... and we did it anyway

if someone dared you to jump off a bridge in Guatemala, would you do it?

apparently.

exhausted and happy to be alive

At mid-afternoon, we hopped back in the van and were looking forward to a nice relaxing ride back to Coban - maybe we could even take a little nap! Little did we know, we were about to experience the most intense part of the day. Semuc Champey is down in the valley and we were headed back up to the hills. We came upon a hugely steep and long uphill road (aka stretch of rocks winding beside a dropoff into the valley) right as a storm was rolling in. Our 15-passenger van rumbled up the hill then stopped about 2/3 of the way up. Completely caught of guard, we all stared out the back window as we slowly started descending backwards down the hill. The van just didn't have enough power to make it up. After a quick tutorial in Spanish by some men walking along the side of the road (aka climbing over some of those rocks), 3 people evacuated the van, the rest of us moved to the back, and our driver Pablo gunned the engine back up the steep hill. The wheels were rolling, the tires were spinning, and the rubber was burning. But again, we stopped 2/3 of the way up. Then slowly started rolling back down the hill. Greta and I begged to get out, but everyone was ushered back into the van and told to "bounce with it" to help keep up the momentum so we could get to the top. So that's what we did and we barely crested the hill before the van gave out again. We all gave a huge sigh of relief, burst in to cheers for Pablo and once again thanked God for our lives.

bouncing with it up one of the lesser hills after the initial life-threatening ascent...

this is pretty much what the first half of the 3 hr ride was like

MTI Trip to Guatemala

Last week I traveled to Guatemala for 7 days with Medical Teams International.  Yes, I was going with my organization but I was going as a volunteer on a layworker team to build stoves in a small Guatemalan village called Saqib.  It was an amazing trip with an incredible group of people whom I didn't know but got to know pretty well throughout the week.  I kept a blog on the MTI website, so here are some clips that hopefully capture the trip...

Our diverse team included Judy, Amy, Evan, Howard, Cassie, Becca, Megan, Greta, Charley, West, Ryan and me

Day 1:

We have yet to interact much with the local people, the Guatemaltecos. Today has been a day to take in our surroundings: the culture, the terrain, the weather, the food, the sights. Our team is ready to serve. We want to be active and get our hands dirty. We want to interact with these people that we traveled so far to meet and begin the project that we've been anticipating for so long. But I think we are going through the necessary process for serving in a foreign country. It is so important to understand the people and the country before you can serve them. What's their culture? What do they do? How do they do it? What's important the them? What are their real needs? How can we best serve them? Where can we be most helpful? Where would we get in the way?

One of the things I admire most about Medical Teams International is their commitment to working in solidarity with the community; as partners. This evening, a few of our Guatemalan staff lead us through an orientation and presentation of the stove project including health statistics on why this work is important in the specific area of San Juan Chamelco. I think our team has gained a deeper perspective of why we are here. We knew that we were coming to build stoves. But we are realizing that we are here to participate in tranformational development. Rather than coming, giving a handout, and leaving, we are building relationships and participating in building up a community. Hopefully in the process we will transform this community through improved stoves, better health, and a sense of value and worth. While at the same time we will be transformed in our understanding and posture towards this new country and our ability to relate to and learn from our friends in a whole other part of the world.

Day 2:

Today we finally traveled to the village of Saqib to start the stove project. We drove about 45 minutes outside of Coban up a windy road to this secluded village of about 370 people. When we arrived, the people of Saqib were standing outside to greet us. We all gathered into their community center, a cozy concrete building in the center of the village, for a welcoming ceremony.  The children sang the Guatemalan national anthem for us and many of the community leaders greeted us.

Our group split into three teams of four, making sure each had a Spanish speaker and a Q'eqchi speaker who could help translate. The Q'eqchi speakers were men who work for Lola, the Guatemalan company who designed the stoves we were building. Over the course of the day (which we really only worked a little over half of due to the welcoming ceremony), we were able to install 10 new stoves in the village of Saqib. That means 10 families were able to cook dinner in a smoke-free home tonight; 10 families will go to sleep breathing in cleaner air; dozens of kids have less risk of developing respiratory illnesses.

Day 3:

Today when we arrived in the community of Saqib, we went straight to work on building stoves. The best thing about this stove project (besides improving health, of course) is that we are able to enter people's homes and really get to know the families in the community. These people are gracious beyond belief. They embody the meaning of hospitality.  The gifts and kind words were overwhelming.  All we could do was smile and say "bantiosh" - thank you.

And then there was Aldofo. A child who only spoke to me with his eyes. I would call his name and he would simply raise his eyebrows and giggle. He somehow reminded me of my nephew who, although is blond-haired and blue-eyed, has the same expressions. It reminded me that children all over the world have that same joyful spirit.

Day 5:

Wow, what a week of working on the stoves in Saqib and getting to know the people in the village. Our team successfully built 40 stoves in 3 days. I had heard about the problems the old open-fire stoves were causing in the homes and I had read reports on how Medical Teams International is working to improve health by building new stoves; but I had no idea what a problem this was until I saw it firsthand.

As much as I enjoyed visiting these people’s homes, it was difficult to be in the house for more than a few minutes at a time. The smoke made it hard to simply breathe. My eyes would start to burn and I would start coughing. These Guatemalans were using the open-fire stoves to fill a basic need of eating. But in exchange, they were compromising the basic need of breathing clean air. No one should have to live that way. We all deserve a good meal and fresh air under the shelter of our own roofs. I realized that this is a problem that can’t be ignored. What a blessing to be able to offer our friends in Saqib a healthy way to live their everyday life.

Today, we celebrated with the people of Saqiib. These people are simply beautiful. They have impacted my life and I am forever grateful to have met them and shared a short time in our lives together. They have given me a renewed perspective on the meaningful things in life. And for that I say thank you: “Bantiosh.”

me and little Marvin

En Guatemala

I just returned last night from a week in Guatemala with Medical Teams International.  It was an absolutely amazing experience.  You can read about the week on my MTI blog.  More details about the trip coming soon!

MDW with Anne

My dear friend Anne came to visit me for the long holiday weekend.  This was her 3rd time to visit me in Portland (1st when she drove up with me to help me move, and 2nd when she came two Decembers ago).  We've already done all of the touristy stuff together so this time we were able to just bum around the town and do whatever we wanted.  This weekend is best told with pictures...

 

we stopped in Powells Books and each picked up a copy of The Phantom Tollbooth, Anne's childhood favorite

enjoyed a nice sunny lunch outside of Elephant's Deli

we treated ourselves to a pedicure (with champagne)

 

we drove to Seattle for the day on Saturday and went to Gas Works Park...

 

...stopped by to see the Troll Under the Bridge...

 

... went to a Mariner's game - it was actually "turn back the clock day" and they were playing as the Seattle Rainiers (and of course we went to Pike's Place Market in between all of this)

 

after church on Sunday, we went for a hike to Triple Falls in the gorge

 

and on Monday we went winetasting around Newberg with some girlfriends

Thanks for coming to visit me (again!), Anne!  Next time you come, I'll try to get Mount Hood to actually come out!

Small World... Literally

How often do you start talking to someone and come to find out that you just happen to know their brother’s girlfriend’s roommate’s parent’s neighbor’s kid’s teacher’s husband? You connect all of the million little dots and then exclaim, “omg… small world!” This seems to have become a common occurrence. Which begs the question: Is it really a small world? Or has technology and the convenience of travel given us the ability to hold the world in the palm of our hands (almost quite literally with an iphone)?

For example, I posted something on my church website and got a response from a random girl who doesn’t live too far from me here in Portland. In preparation for meeting up with her later this week, I checked her profile on Facebook (typical). I saw that we have several mutual friends and that she “likes” Restoration Gateway. So I emailed her back, confessed that I FBSed (Facebook Stalked) her, and told her about my connection to Restoration Gateway. To which she responded… “omg, small world!” Maybe. But maybe the fact that a) traveling to Uganda has become somewhat trendy, and b) Facebook made all of the relationship connections for me just means that the likelihood of me meeting someone in Portland who knows my aunt and uncle in Uganda isn’t that far-fetched.

Another example, a couple who is friends of my family moved from Waco to Portland about a year ago. Neither of them went to undergrad at Baylor, but I just happened to be in the same sorority pledge class as the woman’s youngest sister. And my sister was roommates with the woman’s brother’s wife. And I was roommates with my sister’s roommate’s sister. Did you get that? And now 8 years later, I’m friends with said sister-in-law since we both live in Portland. Small world? Nope, that’s just Baylor for you. We’re all connected somehow.

So next time you meet someone who just happens to know your mom’s best friend from high school’s ex-husband’s coworker’s daughter’s roommate’s dog’s girlfriend’s owner’s hairdresser’s niece… just remember the world is getting smaller and smaller every day. We’re able to connect and network with more people now than ever before. We may each literally be 5 degrees from Kevin Bacon, or at least his coworker’s son’s college roommate. Small world!

Literally…

Another word that is used too often in conversation and most of the time makes no sense is “literally.” Sometimes I don’t think people understand what that word means. This weekend I heard a college girl at a restaurant complaining to her parents about her roommates: “They are like so annoying, like so totally loud that I like literally wanted to go in their room and kill them.” Really? Because if you literally wanted to kill them then I think you need to be checked into a psychiatric clinic asap. And if you literally killed them then you’re about to be wearing some nice shiny handcuffs.

I can’t help but laugh when I hear people say things like:

- “I literally cried my eyes out.” Really? Then what are those things you’re looking at me with?

- “I’ve been studying so much that my brain is literally about to explode.” Really? You must not be studying neuroscience because I don’t think that’s physically possible.

- “That is literally the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Really? Have you been keeping a list with ratings of dumb things you’ve heard throughout your lifetime?

Anyway, I literally don’t know how many times I hear people misuse the word literally, but if they literally can’t stop it then I literally might go crazy.

Vancouver BC Marathon

This weekend, I got to check something off of my bucket list. I ran an international marathon.  The Vancouver Marathon, which took place this past Sunday May 6th, was my 3rd marathon to run.  Drew and my friend Jed flew in from Austin and the three of us drove 6 hours north across the border into Canada. After the border patrol fired loads of questions at us to make sure we weren’t terrorists (How do you know each other, eh? Friends from college. What are you doing in Canada, eh? Running a marathon. Why are you running a marathon, eh? That is a good question, officer!), we were allowed into the great nation of Canada.

We picked up our race packets along with the 6,000 other crazy people running the marathon, checked into our hotel, then headed to Steamworks to carb up on pizza and pasta. We didn’t do any sightseeing on Saturday because we wanted to preserve our precious feet and get plenty of rest for the big day. Sunday morning we followed the other runners down the street, into the subway and toward the start line at Queen Elizabeth Park. Jed, the elite runner that he is, left us in his dust as he took off in hopes of a record-setting race time. Drew kindly ran the first mile with me then said, “You can do this, Mary Leigh!” and took off on his own as well. So I put in my headphones and turned on some motivational jams as a soundtrack for the lovely sights of Vancouver BC. I have to say, running a marathon is a great way to see a new city. We covered lots of ground (42.2 kilometers to be exact) and saw the University of British Columbia, The Stanley Park Seawall, ran across the Burrard Bridge, and finished downtown.

Around mile 6, I ran by a little pack of people who came out to cheer and they yelled, “Way to go, Mary! You’re doing great.” I’m pretty sure I shot them the most confused/shocked look, because I didn’t know how they knew my name!  Do I know these people? Then I realized that my name was written in big bold letters under the race number on my bib. And for the rest of the race, people were cheering me on by name as if they had come out just for me. (Sidenote: Drew bought his racing bib from an injured young man named Juan, so when he ran by people would yell, “You can do it, Juan!”) One of the great things about running a marathon is the encouragement. People were yelling things like, “Looking good!” and “You’re my hero!” That will put an extra hop in your step.

Surprisingly there was never a point in the race in which I wanted to die, nor did I ever stop to walk. I actually felt pretty good the whole way and finished in 4:06:34 – a new personal best!  Jed finished with a great time despite a foot injury and Drew finished a few minutes before me despite not really training (which means he got to check "run an off-the-couch marathon" off of his bucket list).  The 3 of us painfully limped back to our hotel, took showers and a nap, went out for burgers, fries and a beer, then went back to the hotel and went to bed.

We were about as sore as could be this morning and watching us waddle down the street was surely entertaining to all in sight.  Due to our lack of energy and desire to walk as little as possible, we didn't do much sighseeing today either.  We had breakfast at Central Bistro, strolled by the beach at Stanley Park (where the boys harrassed innocent runners by telling them to "stop running - it's aweful), packed up and headed home.  It was a great weekend and we accomplished what we set out to do!

the beautiful route

post race with our medals and brown bag lunches

revisiting the "scene of the crime" - kilometer 31 (mile 19)

where things started falling apart for the boys

enjoying the sun and happy to be sitting and not running

Just Do It

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

- Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder