6 months: More more more

Dear Little Elephant,

Today is quite a day. Today I can count your life by half years as opposed to by months or weeks or days. You are my half-year-old and you are perfect. You weigh around 15 lbs, are 26 inches tall, and the center of my universe.

I am sorry that you didn’t get a 5 months letter. It wasn’t that lots didn’t happen in month five. It was that at the 5 month birthday, Mama had a cold. I was coughing all the time. The coughing kept me up. The coughing kept you up. You kept me up. Mama was exhausted. You, however, were intrigued by the cough and spent quite a bit of time perfecting your own cough. Luckily, you weren’t sick (yay breastfeeding giving you antibodies), you were just trying to imitate that cool new sound Mama made. After 2 plus weeks, you got pretty good.

There are other things are now do great: you sit, play with blocks, spin a wheel that then sings you the alphabet song, grab things, pull the place mats off the table and throw them on the floor, put things into your mouth (without hitting yourself in the eye), smile, giggle, blow raspberries, squeal, shout really loud, grunt, give hugs, roll back and forth. On the rolling, you get around by rolling from back to stomach and then back from the place you came. Somehow you have learned to use this to rotate yourself in a circle.

Baths have chanced from being pure torture to the best thing ever. Yes, my smart little girl, you learned to splash. Now, just at the sight of water, you flap your arms like a little bird trying to take flight. When we bathe you in the baby tub (on the ground in the bathroom with 3-4 towels underneath), you efficiently splash the majority of water out of the tub. You stay in the water as your feet shrivel up and cry when we take you out. You splash water at Mama and Papa, not minding that it is getting on your own face and in your eyes. If we tilt you backwards, you kick too. Not as great as splashing, but almost as effective.

In things I am liking less, you have stopped being such a good sleeper. I used to brag about what a good sleeper I had. In the hospital, they had to wake you up for feedings. When you were two weeks old, after 7+ hours of sleep, you Papa woke me, terrified to go to your crib in case you had died in the night— you hadn’t, you were just an awesome sleeper. Until now. Now you get up multiple times each night. Sometimes you are hungry. Sometimes you want to know that Mama or Papa is nearby. Sometimes you want your binkie. Sometimes you want to play. Sometimes we don’t know what you want. It is killing us! So, Mama and Papa are trying to teach you to fall asleep by yourself and to sleep without your binkie. This is also killing us. I am sure someday I will look back and know we were successful, for now, I just look around and think about how tired we are.

Papa says you have “mamitis”, the disease of needing your mama and wanting to be with her all the time. When I start to leave for work in the morning, your lower lip puffs out, your eyes well with water, and you wail as the door shuts. My little girl, this breaks my heart. This morning, while I was showering, you made Papa bring you to see me 3 times just to make sure I hadn’t disappeared. If I am home, you don’t want to be with anyone else. I love that you love me. I love holding you and cuddling you. I hate not being with you all the time— but I think it breaks Papa’s heart a little bit each time you cry for me. At least you haven’t reached a phase where you have negative reactions to all strangers—you still love people, love meeting new people, and want everyone to hold you.
This month we spent a few days in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. It was cold!!! It was -15 Celsius as we walked to the restaurant one afternoon. Sadly, the trip was short and you mostly stayed in the hotel. When we took a car trip to visit the city, you mostly slept, all bundled up tight in many, many layers. The friends we traveled with, locals from several Central Asia countries, were impressed at how happily you allowed them to hold you—they said a local baby would never go to a stranger. In return, they sang and danced for you. You loved it!

Just before your 6 month birthday, we tried food. You love food. You have been fascinated by food and drink for months, mimicking the movements we make with our mouths, reaching for the plate, and sucking on the outside of glasses. Your first food was carrot puree and it was a hit. While you did like the spoon as much as the taste of the food, you had no problems swallowing. You smiled and cooed. Each time we placed you in your highchair, you were hopeful more food would be involved. Sometimes you waited patiently. Sometimes you screamed demanding “more, more, more”! Unfortunately, the carrots blocked up your system a little bit and Papa fund the lack of baby poops disconcerting. Food was discontinued for a week. Luckily, with your system all cleared out, for your 1/2 year birthday, you got to try a new food: squash.

Little elephant, I look back at pictures that were taken of you 11 months ago, still in my uterus, and I am amazed by the person you have become. You are strong and sweet, outgoing yet serious, the perfect combination of Mama and Papa. Your eyes are still so dark that at times it is hard to tell the pupil from the iris. Your laugh is infections. I can’t wait to see who you will grow to be. No matter what, Mama always always always loves you.

-Mama

Limerick and Lost sleep

There once was a girl in Almaty,
Too young to use the potty,
Sleep she decided to ban,
Mama was not a fan,
Saying my daughter is being quite naughty.

I wrote this the other day while walking to the store. The night before I was supposed to go to a party and my friend Mike’s house. I really had wanted to go. He had even bought a little gift for Isi. And I like his wife and hadn’t been out in a while.

But I was exhausted. And it was snowing. The idea of trekking to his place, pushing the baby carriage through the snow, took too much out of me. I sent him an “i am sorry” via facebook and went to bed.

When I got home from the store, groceries in hand, I checked my email. I had a nice note telling me not to worry about missing the party— it is next weekend.

Clearly the little Elephants ban on sleep is getting to me.

4 months: Laughter makes the world go around

Dear Little Elephant,

I am a little bit late in wishing you a happy 4th monthiversary— but the day you turned 4 months was traumatic. You reached one milestone that Mama and Papa would have liked to never hit: you were in your first car accident. Luckily, my beautiful little girl, you are absolutely fine and appear to have forgot the whole ordeal. Mama and Papa, however, are completely traumatized by the fear that something could have happened to you in this freak accident. You see, we were driving to a picnic in the outskirts of Bishkek when we drove over a manhole cover. The cover flipped up, ripping a hole in the gas tank and throwing the car a bit. Airbags went off and Mama quickly stopped the car. The first words out of my mouth were about you and if you were okay. Papa, sitting next to you as always, said you were and stepped out of the car to see what had happened. When he saw gas leaking, he grabbed your car seat, yelled for Mama to run, and ran with you. The car did not blow up and 5 minutes later you were smiling and cooing at all the onlookers. We are so happy that you are safe.

Besides a startling start, this month has mostly been filled with smiles and laughter. Speaking of laughter, this month you learned to giggle and to fully belly laugh til you cry. Things that crack you up include: Mama or Papa jumping out from behind something and yelling “here I am”, Harley (your dog) doing her tricks—particularly rolling over, Papa killing flies with a kitchen towel, you shrieking, Aisuluu making faces at you, Papa making funny sounds, Mama kissing your belly, and so much more. Your laughter fills my heart and brings tears to my eyes every time— it truly is the most intoxicating sound.

This past month has been a month of discovery. Early on you learned how to grab. We tried practicing holding onto rattles before— but now you can see something, grab it, and shake it. This is an amazing new talent and in two days you went from being surprised when you grabbed things to holding onto the leg of a toy giraffe and using it to whip the toys hanging above your floor mat. You love to grab Mama’s finger while you are feeding, grab Mama’s hair when you are walking in the Ergo with Papa, and grab at the toys hanging over your play mat.

You also grab your feet which is extremely exciting because it means you know that you have feet. This new talent is helpful when we change your diaper as it makes it easier to clean you up. It is not helpful, however, when you make sad faces and cry when we have to put the feet down to attach the new diaper. For fun we give you lots of time with no pants on so that you can feel the skin of your feet as opposed to just booties or socks. You also have put your feet in your mouth once or twice. Yum!

Your favorite new trick is to lie on your back, hold mama’s fingers and let her pull you up to a sitting position. Parents reading this will say that this is no big accomplishment. You, however, take the trick further and firmly plant your feet once sitting so that Mama can continue to pull you into a standing position. At this point you look around to make sure that whoever is there has see your trick and you flash a huge, toothless grin. You love an audience. You love to be applauded. You love to be covered in kisses and hugs and have each milestone recognized.

This month you weighed 14 lbs 9oz and started to wear your 6 month clothing. You love to tense your body and shriek (although you don’t actually seem to be mad). You love to try to sit. You adore standing. You clearly want to be a big girl. And you will be. In so many ways you already are a big, strong, independent, intelligent little person.

Love you very much little cuddle bug,
Mama

Who could possibly ban that??

So often when I talk about Banned Books, people can’t believe that it is true.  The reasoning, I often site, is religious, because of sexual content, because of homophobia.  Today, I want to look at a couple books I love, ones that are classics, and that have been banned from time to time. I have highlighted the reasons in case you would prefer to skim.

A Separate Peace, by John Knowles

Challenged in Vernon-Verona-Sherill, NY School District (1980) as a “filthy, trashy sex novel.” Challenged at the Fannett-Metal High School in Shippensburg, PA (1985) because of its allegedly offensive language. Challenged as appropriate for high school reading lists in the Shelby County, TN school system (1989) because the novel contains “offensive language.”  Challenged, but retained in the Champaign, IL high school English classes (1991) despite claims that “unsuitable language” makes it inappropriate.  Challenged by the parent of a high school student in Troy, IL (1991) citing profanity and negative attitudes. Students were offered alternative assignments while the school board took the matter under advisement, but no further action was taken on the complaint. Challenged at the McDowell County, NC schools (1996) because of “graphic language.”

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger

Since its publication, this title has been a favorite target of censors. In 1960, a teacher in Tulsa, OK was fired for assigning the book to an eleventh grade English class. The  teacher appealed and was reinstated by the school board, but the book was removed from use  in the school. In 1963, a delegation of parents of high school students in Columbus, OH,  asked the school board to ban the novel for being “anti-white” and “obscene.” The school  board refused the request. Removed from the Selinsgrove, PA suggested reading list (1975).  Based on parents’ objections to the language and content of the book, the school board  voted 5-4 to ban the book.  The book was later reinstated in the curriculum when the board  learned that the vote was illegal because they needed a two-thirds vote for removal of the  text.  Challenged as an assignment in an American literature class in Pittsgrove, NJ  (1977).  After months of controversy, the board ruled that the novel could be read in the  Advanced Placement class, but they gave parents the right to decide whether or not their  children would read it. Removed from the Issaquah, WA optional High School reading list  (1978). Removed from the required reading list in Middleville, MI (1979). Removed from the  Jackson Milton school libraries in North Jackson, OH (1980). Removed from two Anniston, AL  High school libraries (1982), but later reinstated on a restrictive basis. Removed from the  school libraries in Morris, Manitoba (1982) along with two other books because they violate  the committee’s guidelines covering “excess vulgar language, sexual scenes, things  concerning moral issues, excessive violence, and anything dealing with the occult.”  Challenged at the Libby, MT High School (1983) due to the “book’s contents.” Banned from  English classes at the Freeport High School in De Funiak Springs, FL (1985) because it is  “unacceptable” and “obscene.” Removed from the required reading list of a Medicine Bow, WY  Senior High School English class (1986) because of sexual references and profanity in the  book. Banned from a required sophomore English reading list at the Napoleon, ND High School  (1987) after parents and the local Knights of Columbus chapter complained about its  profanity and sexual references. Challenged at the Linton-Stockton, IN High School (1988)  because the book is “blasphemous and undermines morality.” Banned from the classrooms in  Boron, CA High School (1989) because the book contains profanity. Challenged at the  Grayslake, IL Community High School (1991). Challenged at the Jamaica High School in  Sidell, IL (1992) because the book contains profanities and depicts premarital sex,  alcohol abuse, and prostitution. Challenged in the Waterloo, IA schools (1992) and Duval  County, FL public school libraries (1992) because of profanity, lurid passages about sex, a nd statements defamatory to minorities, God, women, and the disabled. Challenged at the  Cumberland Valley High School in Carlisle, PA (1992) because of a parent’s objections that  it contains profanity and is immoral. Challenged, but retained, at the New Richmond, WI  High School (1994) for use in some English classes. Challenged as required reading in the  Corona Norco, CA Unified School District (1993) because it is “centered around negative  activity.” The book was retained and teachers selected alternatives if students object to  Salinger’s novel. Challenged as mandatory reading in the Goffstown, NH schools (1994)  because of the vulgar words used and the sexual exploits experienced in the book.   Challenged at the St. Johns County Schools in St. Augustine, FL (1995). Challenged at the  Oxford Hills High School in Paris, ME (1996). A parent objected to the use of the ‘F’ word.  Challenged, but retained, at the Glynn Academy High School in Brunswick, GA (1997). A  student objected to the novel’s profanity and sexual references. Removed because of  profanity and sexual situations from the required reading curriculum of the Marysville, CA  Joint Unified School District (1997). The school superintendent removed it to get it “out  of the way so that we didn’t have that polarization over a book.” Challenged, but retained  on the shelves of Limestone County, AL school district (2000) despite objections about the  book’s foul language. Banned, but later reinstated after community protests at the Windsor  Forest High School in Savannah, GA (2000). The controversy began in early 1999 when a  parent complained about sex, violence, and profanity in the book that was part of an  Advanced Placement English class. Removed by a Dorchester District 2 school board member in  Summerville, SC (2001) because it “is a filthy, filthy book.” Challenged by a Glynn County,  GA (2001) school board member because of profanity. The novel was retained.  Challenged in  the Big Sky High School in Missoula, MT (2009).

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

Burned by the East St. Louis, IL Public Library (1939) and barred from the Buffalo, NY Public Library (1939) on the grounds that “vulgar words” were used. Banned in Kansas City,  MO (1939). Banned in Kern County CA, the scene of Steinbeck’s novel (1939). Banned in  Ireland (1953). On Feb. 21, 1973, eleven Turkish book publishers went on trial before an  Istanbul martial law tribunal on charges of publishing, possessing and selling books in  violation of an order of the Istanbul martial law command. They faced possible sentences of  between one month’s and six months’ imprisonment “for spreading propaganda unfavorable to  the state” and the confiscation of their books. Eight booksellers were also on trial with  the publishers on the same charge involving The Grapes of Wrath. Banned in Kanawha, IA High  School classes (1980). Challenged in Vernon Verona Sherill, NY School District (1980).  Challenged as required reading for Richford, VT (1981) High School English students due to  the book’s language and portrayal of a former minister who recounts how he took advantage  of a young woman. Banned in Morris, Manitoba, Canada (1982). Removed from two Anniston,  Ala. high school libraries (1982), but later reinstated on a restrictive basis. Challenged  at the Cummings High School in Burlington, NC (1986) as an optional reading assignment  because the “book is full of filth. My son is being raised in a Christian home and this  book takes the Lord’s name in vain and has all kinds of profanity in it.” Although the  parent spoke to the press, a formal complaint with the school demanding the book’s removal  was not filed. Challenged at the Moore County school system in Carthage, NC (1986) because  the book contains the phase “God damn.” Challenged in the Greenville, SC schools (1991)  because the book uses the name of God and Jesus in a “vain and profane manner along with  inappropriate sexual references.” Challenged in the Union City, TN High School  classes (1993).

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Challenged in Eden Valley, MN (1977) and temporarily banned due to words “damn” and “whore lady” used in the novel. Challenged in the Vernon Verona Sherill, NY School District (1980)  as a “filthy, trashy novel.” Challenged at the Warren, IN Township schools (1981) because  the book does “psychological damage to the positive integration process” and “represents  institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature.” After unsuccessfully trying to ban Lee’s novel, three black parents resigned from the township human relations advisory  council. Challenged in the Waukegan, IL School District (1984) because the novel uses the  word “nigger.” Challenged in the Kansas City, MO junior high schools (1985). Challenged at  the Park Hill, MO Junior High School (1985) because the novel “contains profanity and  racial slurs.” Retained on a supplemental eighth grade reading list in the Casa Grande, AZ  Elementary School District (1985), despite the protests by black parents and the National  Association for the Advancement of Colored People who charged the book was unfit for junior high use. Challenged at the Santa Cruz, CA Schools (1995) because of its racial themes.  Removed from the Southwood High School Library in Caddo Parish, LA (1995) because the book’s language and content were objectionable. Challenged at the Moss Point, MS School District (1996) because the novel contains a racial epithet. Banned from the Lindale, TX advanced placement English reading list (1996) because the book “conflicted with the values of the community.” Challenged by a Glynn County, GA (2001) School Board member because of profanity. The novel was retained. Returned to the freshman reading list at Muskogee, OK High School (2001) despite complaints over the years from black students and parents about racial slurs in the text. Challenged in the Normal, IL Community High School’s sophomore literature class (2003) as being degrading to African Americans. Challenged at the Stanford Middle School in Durham, NC (2004) because the 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel uses the word “nigger.”  Challenged at the Brentwood, TN Middle School (2006) because the book contains “profanity” and “contains adult themes such as sexual intercourse, rape, and incest.”  The complainants also contend that the book’s use of racial slurs promotes “racial hatred, racial division, racial separation, and promotes white supremacy.”  Retained in the English curriculum by the Cherry Hill, NJ Board of Education (2007).  A resident had objected to the novel’s depiction of how blacks are treated by members of a racist white community in an Alabama town during the Depression.  The resident feared the book would upset black children reading it.  Removed (2009) from the St. Edmund Campion Secondary School classrooms in Brampton Ontario, Canada because a parent objected to language used in the novel, including the word “nigger.”

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Challenged as appropriate reading for Oakland, CA High School honors class (1984) due to the work’s “sexual and social explicitness” and its “troubling ideas about race relations, man’s relationship to God, African history, and human sexuality.” After nine months of haggling and delays, a divided Oakland Board of Education gave formal approval for the book’s use. Rejected for purchase by the Hayward, CA school’s trustee (1985) because of ”rough language” and “explicit sex scenes.” Removed from the open shelves of the Newport News, VA school library (1986) because of its “profanity and sexual references” and placed in a special section accessible only to students over the age of 18 or who have written permission from a parent. Challenged at the public libraries of Saginaw, MI (1989) because it was “too sexually graphic for a 12-year-old.”  Challenged as a summer youth program reading assignment in Chattanooga, TN (1989) because of its language and “explicitness.”  Challenged as an optional reading assigned in Ten Sleep, WY schools (1990). Challenged as a reading assignment at the New Burn, NC High School (1992) because the main character is raped by her stepfather. Banned in the Souderton, PA Area School District (1992) as appropriate reading for 10th graders because it is “smut.” Challenged on the curricular reading list at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, CT (1995) because sexually explicit passages aren’t appropriate high school reading. Retained as an English course reading assignment in the Junction City, OR high school (1995) after a challenge to Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel caused months of controversy. Although an alternative assignment was available, the book was challenged due to “inappropriate language, graphic sexual scenes, and book’s negative image of black men.” Challenged at the St. Johns County Schools in St. Augustine, FL (1995). Retained on the Round Rock, TX Independent High School reading list (1996) after a challenge that the book was too violent. Challenged, but retained, as part of the reading list for Advanced Placement English classes at Northwest High Schools in High Point, NC (1996). The book was challenged because it is “sexually graphic and violent.” Removed from the Jackson County, WV school libraries (1997) along with sixteen other titles. Challenged, but retained as part of a supplemental reading list at the Shawnee School in Lima, OH (1999). Several parents described its content as vulgar and “X-rated.” Removed from the Ferguson High School library in Newport News, VA (1999). Students may request and borrow the book with parental approval. Challenged, along with seventeen other titles in the Fairfax County, VA elementary and secondary libraries (2002), by a group called Parents Against Bad Books in Schools. The group contends the books ”contain profanity and descriptions of drug abuse, sexually explicit conduct, and torture.” Challenged in Burke County (2008) schools in Morgantown, NC by parents concerned about the homosexuality, rape, and incest portrayed in the book.

1984, by George Orwell

Challenged in the Jackson County, FL (1981) because Orwell’s novel is “pro-communist and contained explicit sexual matter.”

Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov

Banned as obscene in France (1956-1959), in England (1955-59), in Argentina (1959), and in New Zealand (1960). The South African Directorate of Publications announced on November 27, 1982, that Lolita has been taken off the banned list, eight years after a request for permission to market the novel in paperback had been refused.  Challenged at the Marion-Levy Public Library System in Ocala, FL (2006).  The Marion County commissioners voted to have the county attorney review the novel that addresses the themes of pedophilia and incest, to determine if it meets the state law’s definition of “unsuitable for minors.”

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey

Challenged in the Greeley, CO public school district (1971) as a non-required American Culture reading. In 1974, five residents of Strongsville, OH, sued the board of education to remove the novel. Labeling it “pornographic,” they charged the novel “glorifies criminal activity, has a tendency to corrupt juveniles and contains descriptions of bestiality, bizarre violence, and torture, dismemberment, death, and human elimination.” Removed from public school libraries in Randolph, NY, and Alton, OK (1975). Removed from the required reading list in Westport, MA (1977). Banned from the St. Anthony, ID Freemont High School classrooms (1978) and the instructor fired. The teacher sued. A decision in the case—Fogarty v. Atchley—was never published. Challenged at the Merrimack, NH High School (1982). Challenged as part of the curriculum in an Aberdeen, WA High School honors English class (1986) because the book promotes “secular humanism.” The school board voted to retain the title. Challenged at the Placentia-Yorba Linda, CA Unified School District (2000) after complaints by parents stated that teachers “can choose the best books, but they keep choosing this garbage over and over again.”

For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway

Declared non-mailable by the U.S. Post Office (1940). On Feb. 21, 1973, eleven Turkish book publishers went on trial before an Istanbul martial law tribunal on charges of publishing, possessing, and selling books in violation of an order of the Istanbul martial law command. They faced possible sentences of between one month’s and six months’ imprisonment “for spreading propaganda unfavorable to the state” and the confiscation of their books. Eight booksellers also were on trial with the publishers on the same charge involving For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh

Alabama Representative Gerald Allen (R-Cottondale) proposed legislation that would prohibit the use of public funds for the “purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.” The bill also proposed that novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed.  The bill would impact all Alabama school, public, and university libraries. While it would ban books like Heather Has Two Mommies, it could also include classic and popular novels with gay characters such as  Brideshead Revisited, The Color Purple or The Picture of Dorian Gray (2005).

For more examples, please visit the American Library Association.

Banned Book Week 2011

Once again it is Banned Book Week. I have blogged about this in the past: 2009, 2008, and 2007.

While I hope to blog again later in the week, for today, I just want to tell you what Banned Book Week is (in case you don’t know).

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week.  BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings.  Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections.  Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the for free expression” href=”http://www.abffe.org/” target=”_self”>American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; college stores” href=”http://www.nacs.org/” target=”_self”>National Association of College Stores.  It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. In 2011, the National Coalition Against Censorship; National Council of Teachers of English; and PEN American Center also signed on as sponsors.

For more information on getting involved with Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, please see Ideas and Resources, and the new Banned Books Week site. You can also contact the ALA

Learning to Laugh again

A sense of humor is something that is very cultural.  Often, jokes (like the one above) include plays on words.  Other times, cultural references are utilized.  Sometimes, it is just that we think different things are funny.

I lived in Chile in high school and my parents came to visit.  I remember clearly passing a whole afternoon with some Chilean friends and my parents. I would translate jokes back and forth.  Things funny to my parents were not funny to my friends. Things funny to my friends were not funny to my parents.

In college, I returned to Chile for another year.  About 1/2 way through the year (so 1.5 years living in Chile), I went to see a Chilean movie with a group of 12 Americans.  We saw El Chacotero Sentimental.  I laughed and laughed.  The other Americans didn’t.  As we left, I was told that I had spent too much time in Chile as I was the only one who got it. It was a proud day for me!

Over the years, I have read Mafalda and come to love the humor so I thought I should share it on the blog (I picked something that I think, while not translatable, is funny across cultures).  Of course, I can’t quote Mafalda the way many of my friends in Chile can.

My Seven Travel Truths

Call me a copycat.  I am fine with that.

But Kyle is one too.

So, Kyle wrote a blog about her 7 travel truths which I fully enjoyed reading.  She wrote it after reading a blog written by Oneika about her 7 travel truths.  I think that Oneika was the original.

According to a silly app I found on line, I have visited 14% of the world. I only counted countries I have spent some time in— it would be more if I counted countries where I only know the airport!  I have also lived for longer periods of time in Chile, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Cambodia.  I have traveled for both work and for pleasure, stayed in 5 star hotels and the nastiest of hostels.  I have flown first class and hitch hiked (sorry Mom and Dad).  So, I have a few opinions about travel and, of course, my own pet peeves.

1. I will always spend more on food then on lodging.

Yes, I like clean showers and to have my own bathroom.  I also like fancy robes and pools.   However, I like good food even more.  I love to eat and try things local— even fried grasshoppers stuffed with peanuts and noodles with horse meat.  I also love good food or food that reminds me of home.  If I can take a cooking class, even better.  I did one in Cambodia and it was a great travel experience. Below is a picture of me learning to make traditional foods in Moldova.

2. I would rather get to know a place then see everything.

Yes, I like traveling. I like setting off to see the world.  Even more though, I like living abroad. I like being in a place so long that I get past the honeymoon phase and can see its flaws.  I enjoy getting to know local people and how they spend their time– it doesn’t have to be fancy, just real.  I love to go to outdoor markets, both food and artisan both abroad and in the states.  I think these markets say a lot about a country. When I was in Moldova, I spent days with my neighbors to understand their lives. I learned to harvest walnuts and plant cabbages.  I learned to can vegetables and make juice.  When I lived in Cambodia, I went with my language teacher to her home village for a celebration where we washed  her parents.

3. I am working on improving my planning skills. I swear. I am.

While my husband won’t believe this as he finds my obsession with lists hysterical, I am working on being a better planner when it comes to travel. I used to just buy a ticket and go.  I figured once I arrived, I would figure things out: lodging, food, language, places to visit.  Often, this worked well.  I was never disappointed I missed someplace I really wanted to see– after all, I didn’t know it was there to miss. I usually found someplace to stay that was reasonably affordable and clean.  However, after an unfortunate experience on an overnight train with no seats and men peeing in the cabin, I started to rethink my traveling logic.

Now, I like to plan things— at least with a general idea of what is available, when things will be open, how much things will cost, and a map of the metro (if pertinent).  I abhor trains (see above link) and am careful to plan planes so that I don’t have to dart across town or spent 6 hours idle in transit.  I don’t plan out every second, but I like to know my options.

4. I pretend to scoff at people who insist on wearing make-up and staying in 5 star hotels, but I secretly love the luxury of those hotels.

I love to think of myself as some granola chick who can slap on a backpack, stick out her thumb and slum it with the best of them.  Admittedly, I have been there.  Granted, I have moved on now.  I do enjoy staying places with a comfortable bed and a good pool.  I, however, hate to pay for those places.  Luckily, my job sends me traveling and priceline exists.  I admit that I can become obsessed with the game: what is the best deal I can get??? With our newest family member in tow, I think that we will be even more discriminating about where we stay and how many times we switch hotels during a visit to a country.

5. I forget stuff.

It is true. I can forget places I have been. I never know what the restaurant/hotel/beach’s name is.  I can’t tell you how to get there.  I can tell you if I loved it or not.   Because I forget things, I like to take pictures. While people do laugh at the camera carrying tourist– which I am– I also look back at my photos.  I love spending an afternoon looking at old photos and places I have been.  This obsession with photos is despised by my husband who refuses to have his picture taken.  Sadly, because of his hate for cameras and eye rolling, I take less pictures.  So many more things will simply be forgotten from now on.

6. I never pay for guides.

I hate the idea of paying for a guide for things, particularly the headphone audio guides. I do like it, however, when other people pay for real people guides.  Because I speak several languages and dabble in a few more, I do love to stand near guided tours and see what I can pick up.  This is particularly fun when the tour is in Russian, Romanian, or Japanese.

7. I hate carrying things.

I do love rolling suitcases. In fact, I LOVE my new swivel suitcase.  I can roll it in every direction possible and I don’t even have to tilt it and feel any weight.  My dislike for carrying suitcases (and backpacks) makes me pack light.  Sometimes, it means I don’t have the correct clothing for all situations.  While in Lithuania (in August), I was freezing and ended up buying this pink sweater. Later in the trip, I wore the sweater in Prague (pictured below).

I also rarely pack makeup, heals, dresses, dress up clothes, or appropriate shoes. If possible, I prefer to do all traveling in flip flops or tennis shoes. Yes, I know that makes me look like a stupid, American tourist… but I am an American tourist (hopefully not stupid too often).  Plus, the shoes match the camera, which I mentioned above. I have embraced this and moved on.

3 months, 3 countries

Dear Little Elephant,

There is no greater truth than this: You have your Papa wrapped around your finger.  He is a complete slave to your every whim and so in love with you.  Your Papa is learning to stay calm when you cry; to bounce you in his arms and sing folklore to you; to make you smile he will put a ridiculously large, TV salesman, cheesy smile on his face (honestly, I have never seen him smile this much or this big- ever); and he even will choose to watch you sleep over reading (previously his favorite activity).

You smile back now and love to make people smile at you.  First, you pick a target. Then you stare at them. If this does not make them smile back, you smile at them, mimicking the behavior you want to see.  If this does not work, you make cute cooing sounds at them.  When this does not work, you scream at them.  This almost never works but it does show your frustration. You are a social baby and very much want everyone (including everyone on the airplane) to smile at you.

Your Abuelo and Abue (Chilean Grandpa and Grandma) adore you.  They spent every single moment you were in Chile (except when Mama was evil and put you down to sleep in your crib at night) cooing at you and cuddling with you.  I have never seen Abuelo smile this much or look as happy as he does when he is holding you.  He has patience to walk you through the house when you are your most upset.  He loves holding you in his arms while we eat.  And he can spend hours in silence staring at you and telling you how beautiful and amazing you are.

Abue needs to be reminded that Abuelo/ Uncle M/ Mama/ Papa haven’t had a chance to touch you.  Abue is wonderful at getting you to talk and you love having “conversations” in which you excitedly tell her “aguuuuu” and then you smile.  Abue also bought you a mobile for your crib and you think it is the best thing in the world (after breastmilk and pooping).

Your Uncle M was the first of your Chilean family to hold you.  He even beat Abue by pulling you out of my arms when we got out of the car.  Uncle M has had less experience with babies, but is enamored with you.  He sings to you, carries you in his arms up and down the hallway, plays with you and is even willing to help Mama do tummy time with you. You HATE tummy time and your Papa can’t stand to hear you scream so we don’t do it much.  After Mama explained how important it was, Uncle M took it upon himself to make tummy time fun— he has even succeeded (for short periods).

In Chile you met so many people, Abue’s family, Abuelo’s family, Mama’s host family and her other host family, Papa’s friends from law school and even a friend who was visiting from Barcelona. Leaving Chile was hard. It was hard on Papa’s family because they love you so much.  It was hard on Papa because he loves how happy you make his family. It was hard on Mama because it was hard on Papa.

During this month we moved on to a new adventure: Kazakhstan!   You are very very jet-lagged and so in my milk supply.  You like the new house and all the fun new things we have here.  The swing was an instant favorite as was the rocking chair.  This month you discovered your hands– but you still don’t know what to do with them beyond lick them.  Mama has been trying to teach you to hold a rattle and every so often you do– for a few seconds.  You smile huge when you make it make a sound and then look surprised when it falls from your hand.  We are reading more books and checking out all the things there are to do.  Almaty has so many fountains and other great colorful buildings to look at.

The other big change, 4 days ago, was that Mama went back to work.  I think in your jet-lagged state, you barely noticed.  You sleep so much while I am out and I have been coming home to feed you.  Also, I have been leaving bottles so that Papa can feed you.  He loves being able to feed you and you love the bottle.  The truth is, you love to eat and are fascinated by food. The only downside to Papa feeding you is that before when you were very hungry and Mama need a minute or two, Papa could hold you and you would be calm.  After all, you knew he couldn’t feed you.  Now, there is no peace when you are hungry.

As your Papa tells you: you are my everyday sunshine.  I love you very, very, much my little girl.

Mama

The road home

Chile – Awesome, originally uploaded by nicolas_modesto.

This picture is awesome and very reminiscent of my view of the Andes mountains as I drove home from my (host) family to my husband’s family’s home. Over the weekend, it rained, cleaning the sky. The combination of that and the setting sun gave a beautiful view of the mountains where you could see each detail as opposed to the foggy mountains that usually hang in the distance. Sadly, I didn’t have a camera so this will have to do.

Seeing Stars

I suppose people who live near Hollywood must see stars every so often, doing everyday things, living their lives. I am not talking about the paparazzi who stalk them. Or the stalkers who photograph them. But rather, everyday people, people on the jobs, people not looking running into really cool people.

In some ways, Chile makes me feel like I am one of those everyday people. Santiago is big. But it is also small enough to see the stars from the teleserias out at a restaurant or parking their cars.

On this trip, the news media has also made me feel this way. Revista Ya this week has Denisse Van Lamoen, who is the 2011 World Champion in Archery, on the cover. She is Chilean. She also happens to be an old classmate from when I was an exchange student in Rancagua. In fact, she was very close friends with my host sister. In college, when I returned to Chile, I spent a year hanging out with her younger brother. He even came to the very first Thanksgiving that I cooked without my Mom’s help. It was amazing to see her on the cover– she looks beautiful in the photo shoots. But, the best part, for me, is that she still looks like the girl I knew. Only, famous.

Denisse isn’t the only person I know who has been in the newspapers while I have been here.  A bunch of my Chile blogger buddies (all gringas) were featured in La Tercera. Kyle (in the photo), Emily, Eileen, Andrea, Abby and Margaret were all quoted.  Of them, I know in person Kyle, Emily and Abby (I think I have met Abby, but now that it is in writing perhaps she is just a virtual friend).  And I definitely also read Eileen and Margaret.   Now that I have been notified of Andrea’s blog, I will have to check it out (Thank you La Tercera).