Lydia Howe's Blog, page 15
April 29, 2016
Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks Week Seventeen: Norway
Welcome to another day of traveling around the world virtually through Noveltea! I'm excited about being (fictionally) in Norway this week. It's a pretty amazing country from what I read and I was pretty excited to find out that when a book is published the government buys 1,000 copies for their libraries... How cool is that?
And now, have fun with week 17th of my fiction series, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks.
photo free from Pixabay Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks Week Seventeen: Norway
Sophie, my wonder-assistant-planner-and-booker from Exploration Airlines is originally from Minnesota. Minnesota is the unofficial Norwegian capital of the United States and Sophie is of Norwegian decent. Add those facts together and you guessed it, Sophie flew in to join me during my week-long stay in the breath-taking country. Sophie was nearly giddy when she joined me late Monday night. The first thing we did Tuesday morning was eat a traditionally Norwegian breakfast consisting of milk, coffee, and an open sandwich with meat cuts, and another one with butter and jam. Then we headed to Nidaros Cathedral. It was built over the burial site of Saint Olav who had been a king of Norway in the 11th century. The cathedral was built from 1070 to 1300 and is of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles; it’s the northernmost medical cathedral in the world. The building was immense and ornamental with towering steeples and turrets and archways. The inside was vast with columns and tall ceilings and high quality workmanship at every turn. The floors looked like a beautiful patchwork quilt and light filtered through expertly crafted stained-glass windows. The windows on the south side of the cathedral have scenes from the New Testament against a red background, and the windows on the north side have scenes from the Old Testament against a blue background. It was impressive. There were so many small details and interstice and corners to explore that it felt like we’d never have enough time to see everything - to soak it all in. The air in the cathedral was cool and almost damp, perhaps a reflection from the rain misting outside. I could almost taste the history as I walked around, a magically, musty, dusty scent filling my senses. I rubbed my hand over the tall columns, tipping my head back to gaze at the ceiling that was marvelously high, leaving me to wonder how in the world the cathedral had been built without modern equipment. According to Sophie who had researched the cathedral back during her school years and kinda fell in love with it, the building was badly damaged by fires in 1327 and again in 1531. Parts that were destroyed were not rebuilt until the early 1900s. Also, in 1708 the church burned down completely except for the stone walls. Then in 1719 it was struck by lightning and again fire broke out. The restoration (and rebuilding) of the cathedral began in the mid-1800s and was officially finished in 2001. It was astonishing to think of how many hours of work and even lives had been dedicated to the work of one building. I couldn’t even fathom it.
For supper we went to a local restaurant and had a traditional Norse dish that is well known all around the world: Smoked salmon. The salmon was severed with scrambled eggs, dill, some kind of sandwich, and mustard. The salmon was delicious and quite… Smokey, which was kind of to be expected. I didn’t enjoy the eggs much as I generally cook mine harder, but it was an interesting mixture and I was glad to have tried it.
“Did you know that the Laerdal Tunnel is the world's longest road tunnel?” By the time we got back to our hotel room I was tired, but Sophie was too excited to sleep and was pulling facts both out of her memory bank and the internet. “I’ve never even heard of it before.” Her mouth dropped open as if I’d missed a very important part of my formal education. “It’s 15 miles long.” “That is amazing.” I didn’t know if I’d like the feeling of being stuck in a tunnel for an entire 15 minutes, but I didn’t voice my thoughts. “Guess what, the Global Peace Index from 2013 rates Norway as one of the most peaceful countries in the world.” From Sophie’s tone of voice and happy facial expressions, I almost thought she was personally responsible for that impressive claim. “Pretty cool.” I grinned, I was happy Sophie could have some fun on my year-long adventure. She’d done so much to help everything go smoothly for me during the first four months of the year. “The cheese slicer was invented in 1925 by Thor Bjorklund. And guess what country he was in? Norway.” Then Sophie’s face dropped, “Oh my goodness, I’ve never even used a cheese slicer before.” She looked aghast at the thought. “You should buy one when you’re here then.” “Perfect idea.” Sophie grinned and then went and looked out the window. “Wanna hear something strange?” “Um, sure?” I didn’t know if she was insinuating that the last five minutes of conversation hadn’t been strange, because that’s how I would have classified them. “Everyone who owns a TV in Norway has to pay a licensing fee each year that’s a little over $480. And that’s in US dollars.” Now that fact did sound interesting. I didn’t have a TV (I wasn’t home enough for it to be useful), but I enjoyed watching shows in hotel rooms from time to time. After a few minutes of gazing at the city stretching below us, Sophie was back at her computer clicking away. “Listen to this,” again her voice held excitement. “Leif Eriksson, the son of Erik the Red, sailed to Labrador and then south to a region he called Vinland in A.D. 1000. They found grapes and corn growing wild. Both places, although never settled, marked a Norwegian “discovery” of America.” “I kinda recall that from history books.” I grinned at Sophie’s enthusiasm, it was clear she was happy to have a Norwegian heritage. I yawned, “I’m kinda getting tired, do you feel jet lag catching up with you?” Sophie sighed and shut her computer, “Actually, yes. I think I’ll go get ready for bed now.” She yawned as she stood up. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.” “Neither can I.” And I couldn’t. During the week we planned to see Rondane National Park, explore the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, Camp for a night at Naeroyfijord, and fit as much other sightseeing and exploring into the trip as possible. I was nearly asleep when Sophie emerged from the bathroom bruising her teeth. “Indiana?” My name was mumbled around her toothbrush. “Humm?” I squinted at her. “Isn’t it strange that with how delicious the food was today that we ate that Grandiosa frozen pizza is Norway’s unofficial national dish?”
And so instead of fjords or cathedrals or any of the beautiful sights I’d seen during the day, I dreamed of pizza. Frozen pizza.
And now, have fun with week 17th of my fiction series, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks.
photo free from Pixabay Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks Week Seventeen: NorwaySophie, my wonder-assistant-planner-and-booker from Exploration Airlines is originally from Minnesota. Minnesota is the unofficial Norwegian capital of the United States and Sophie is of Norwegian decent. Add those facts together and you guessed it, Sophie flew in to join me during my week-long stay in the breath-taking country. Sophie was nearly giddy when she joined me late Monday night. The first thing we did Tuesday morning was eat a traditionally Norwegian breakfast consisting of milk, coffee, and an open sandwich with meat cuts, and another one with butter and jam. Then we headed to Nidaros Cathedral. It was built over the burial site of Saint Olav who had been a king of Norway in the 11th century. The cathedral was built from 1070 to 1300 and is of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles; it’s the northernmost medical cathedral in the world. The building was immense and ornamental with towering steeples and turrets and archways. The inside was vast with columns and tall ceilings and high quality workmanship at every turn. The floors looked like a beautiful patchwork quilt and light filtered through expertly crafted stained-glass windows. The windows on the south side of the cathedral have scenes from the New Testament against a red background, and the windows on the north side have scenes from the Old Testament against a blue background. It was impressive. There were so many small details and interstice and corners to explore that it felt like we’d never have enough time to see everything - to soak it all in. The air in the cathedral was cool and almost damp, perhaps a reflection from the rain misting outside. I could almost taste the history as I walked around, a magically, musty, dusty scent filling my senses. I rubbed my hand over the tall columns, tipping my head back to gaze at the ceiling that was marvelously high, leaving me to wonder how in the world the cathedral had been built without modern equipment. According to Sophie who had researched the cathedral back during her school years and kinda fell in love with it, the building was badly damaged by fires in 1327 and again in 1531. Parts that were destroyed were not rebuilt until the early 1900s. Also, in 1708 the church burned down completely except for the stone walls. Then in 1719 it was struck by lightning and again fire broke out. The restoration (and rebuilding) of the cathedral began in the mid-1800s and was officially finished in 2001. It was astonishing to think of how many hours of work and even lives had been dedicated to the work of one building. I couldn’t even fathom it.
For supper we went to a local restaurant and had a traditional Norse dish that is well known all around the world: Smoked salmon. The salmon was severed with scrambled eggs, dill, some kind of sandwich, and mustard. The salmon was delicious and quite… Smokey, which was kind of to be expected. I didn’t enjoy the eggs much as I generally cook mine harder, but it was an interesting mixture and I was glad to have tried it.
“Did you know that the Laerdal Tunnel is the world's longest road tunnel?” By the time we got back to our hotel room I was tired, but Sophie was too excited to sleep and was pulling facts both out of her memory bank and the internet. “I’ve never even heard of it before.” Her mouth dropped open as if I’d missed a very important part of my formal education. “It’s 15 miles long.” “That is amazing.” I didn’t know if I’d like the feeling of being stuck in a tunnel for an entire 15 minutes, but I didn’t voice my thoughts. “Guess what, the Global Peace Index from 2013 rates Norway as one of the most peaceful countries in the world.” From Sophie’s tone of voice and happy facial expressions, I almost thought she was personally responsible for that impressive claim. “Pretty cool.” I grinned, I was happy Sophie could have some fun on my year-long adventure. She’d done so much to help everything go smoothly for me during the first four months of the year. “The cheese slicer was invented in 1925 by Thor Bjorklund. And guess what country he was in? Norway.” Then Sophie’s face dropped, “Oh my goodness, I’ve never even used a cheese slicer before.” She looked aghast at the thought. “You should buy one when you’re here then.” “Perfect idea.” Sophie grinned and then went and looked out the window. “Wanna hear something strange?” “Um, sure?” I didn’t know if she was insinuating that the last five minutes of conversation hadn’t been strange, because that’s how I would have classified them. “Everyone who owns a TV in Norway has to pay a licensing fee each year that’s a little over $480. And that’s in US dollars.” Now that fact did sound interesting. I didn’t have a TV (I wasn’t home enough for it to be useful), but I enjoyed watching shows in hotel rooms from time to time. After a few minutes of gazing at the city stretching below us, Sophie was back at her computer clicking away. “Listen to this,” again her voice held excitement. “Leif Eriksson, the son of Erik the Red, sailed to Labrador and then south to a region he called Vinland in A.D. 1000. They found grapes and corn growing wild. Both places, although never settled, marked a Norwegian “discovery” of America.” “I kinda recall that from history books.” I grinned at Sophie’s enthusiasm, it was clear she was happy to have a Norwegian heritage. I yawned, “I’m kinda getting tired, do you feel jet lag catching up with you?” Sophie sighed and shut her computer, “Actually, yes. I think I’ll go get ready for bed now.” She yawned as she stood up. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.” “Neither can I.” And I couldn’t. During the week we planned to see Rondane National Park, explore the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, Camp for a night at Naeroyfijord, and fit as much other sightseeing and exploring into the trip as possible. I was nearly asleep when Sophie emerged from the bathroom bruising her teeth. “Indiana?” My name was mumbled around her toothbrush. “Humm?” I squinted at her. “Isn’t it strange that with how delicious the food was today that we ate that Grandiosa frozen pizza is Norway’s unofficial national dish?”
And so instead of fjords or cathedrals or any of the beautiful sights I’d seen during the day, I dreamed of pizza. Frozen pizza.
April 28, 2016
Out of the Depths By Edgar Harrell: Book Review
Out of the Depths By Edgar Harrell
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
First-Person Non-Fiction192 Pages
About the Book (Backcover Blurb):
The Inspiring Story of a World War II Hero's Miraculous Survival at Sea
July 30, 1945--The USS Indianapolis and its 1,196-man crew is making its way toward a small island in the South Pacific. The ship is sailing unescorted, assured by headquarters the waters are safe. It is midnight, and Marine Edgar Harrell and several others have sacked out on deck rather than spend the night in their hot and muggy quarters below. Fresh off a top-secret mission to deliver uranium for the atomic bombs that would ultimately end World War II, they are unaware their ship is being watched. Minutes later, six torpedoes are slicing toward the Indy . . .
For five horrifying days and nights after their ship went down, Harrell and his shipmates had to fend for themselves in the open seas. Plagued by dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks, their numbers were cruelly depleted before they were miraculously rescued. This is one man's story of courage, ingenuity, and faith in God's providence in the midst of the worst naval disaster in U.S. history.
Why I Choose this Book: I've been interested in the story of the USS Indianapolis for several years now. We have a friend, Bob Welsh, who is a storyteller and has an amazing talent of weaving true historical accounts into verse. I've sat spellbound many times while listening to his poem, Sleep Well, Ye Men of Indy's Crew . (The poem is rather long, but well, well worth listening to!) A couple of years ago Bob even brought one of few survivors to meet our family - it was history come to life.
What I Thought About this Book:For some reason this book was extremely hard for me to get into. Like, over two years hard to get into. I started it in 2014 and picked it up several times during the next 24 months, but it didn't hold my interest. Then I picked it up a couple days ago and like a switch was flipped, I hardly wanted to put the book down. It was incredibly interesting and pulled me in and made me almost feel the horror myself.
The story is amazing - really a miracle, and I don't use that word lightly. The author is very clear that he believes it's only by the hand of God that they were saved. He describes how so many different elements worked together to create their rescue, and it's astounding.
True war books always leave me sad. It's horrible and the cost of life is staggering. I'm so very incredibly thankful though for those who offered and gave their very lives so that we could live in freedom.
I'm so amazed at how the survivors were able to hang on. I have no clue how anyone could have a strong enough will to fight through what they did as the days slipped away in agonizing pain and terror with little to no hope of being rescued. The group of men from the Indianapolis are truly astonishing.
The crew from the Indianapolis unknowingly played a huge part in ending the war and yet because of Navy politics weren't fully recognized for around 50 years. I feel honored to have been able to thank one of the survivors in person for fighting for our freedom.
Conclusion: This book isn't for kids. It describes in some detail the horribleness of what the crew endured and it was gruesome. At the same time though, I don't think the author went into too much detail, it just isn't suitable for kids.
Rating: I'm giving Out of the Depths Four Stars (eight out of ten).
*I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review*
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
First-Person Non-Fiction192 Pages
About the Book (Backcover Blurb):
The Inspiring Story of a World War II Hero's Miraculous Survival at Sea
July 30, 1945--The USS Indianapolis and its 1,196-man crew is making its way toward a small island in the South Pacific. The ship is sailing unescorted, assured by headquarters the waters are safe. It is midnight, and Marine Edgar Harrell and several others have sacked out on deck rather than spend the night in their hot and muggy quarters below. Fresh off a top-secret mission to deliver uranium for the atomic bombs that would ultimately end World War II, they are unaware their ship is being watched. Minutes later, six torpedoes are slicing toward the Indy . . .
For five horrifying days and nights after their ship went down, Harrell and his shipmates had to fend for themselves in the open seas. Plagued by dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks, their numbers were cruelly depleted before they were miraculously rescued. This is one man's story of courage, ingenuity, and faith in God's providence in the midst of the worst naval disaster in U.S. history.
Why I Choose this Book: I've been interested in the story of the USS Indianapolis for several years now. We have a friend, Bob Welsh, who is a storyteller and has an amazing talent of weaving true historical accounts into verse. I've sat spellbound many times while listening to his poem, Sleep Well, Ye Men of Indy's Crew . (The poem is rather long, but well, well worth listening to!) A couple of years ago Bob even brought one of few survivors to meet our family - it was history come to life.
What I Thought About this Book:For some reason this book was extremely hard for me to get into. Like, over two years hard to get into. I started it in 2014 and picked it up several times during the next 24 months, but it didn't hold my interest. Then I picked it up a couple days ago and like a switch was flipped, I hardly wanted to put the book down. It was incredibly interesting and pulled me in and made me almost feel the horror myself.
The story is amazing - really a miracle, and I don't use that word lightly. The author is very clear that he believes it's only by the hand of God that they were saved. He describes how so many different elements worked together to create their rescue, and it's astounding.
True war books always leave me sad. It's horrible and the cost of life is staggering. I'm so very incredibly thankful though for those who offered and gave their very lives so that we could live in freedom.
I'm so amazed at how the survivors were able to hang on. I have no clue how anyone could have a strong enough will to fight through what they did as the days slipped away in agonizing pain and terror with little to no hope of being rescued. The group of men from the Indianapolis are truly astonishing.
The crew from the Indianapolis unknowingly played a huge part in ending the war and yet because of Navy politics weren't fully recognized for around 50 years. I feel honored to have been able to thank one of the survivors in person for fighting for our freedom.
Conclusion: This book isn't for kids. It describes in some detail the horribleness of what the crew endured and it was gruesome. At the same time though, I don't think the author went into too much detail, it just isn't suitable for kids.
Rating: I'm giving Out of the Depths Four Stars (eight out of ten).
*I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review*
X is for... Well, X
Did you know there are a lot of words that being with "x" and when I say a lot I mean there's more then the two that come mind when I think of the letter x (xylophone and x-ray). I googled the word today and was amazed at the list that came up.
It's fun to randomly look up words and find out their meanings. For instance did you know that xylophagous means "Feeding on or obtaining nutrition from wood?" How cool is that. That's a word I think would be fun to work into a conversation some day.
Xenophobia means "A person who is fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or of people from different countries or cultures." I'm thankful to be the opposite of a xenophobic.
Xanthous means "yellow." Can't you just imagine the confused look on someone's face when they ask what your favorite color is and you answer "Xanthous." It almost makes me wish that yellow was my favorite color.
Photo credits go to my brother Logan. If you look up research about expanding your vocabulary you'll find that it's very beneficial in many different areas of life. Although words like "xanthous" might never actually end up helping you, regularly adding to your word bank is a good habit to put into practice.
It's helpful to learn how to articulate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner and can even help people take you more seriously when you're trying to make a point.
I'm not nearly as good at enlarging my vocabulary as I should be, but I am working on it. What are some ways you expand your vocabulary? I'd be delighted to learn from you.
It's fun to randomly look up words and find out their meanings. For instance did you know that xylophagous means "Feeding on or obtaining nutrition from wood?" How cool is that. That's a word I think would be fun to work into a conversation some day.
Xenophobia means "A person who is fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or of people from different countries or cultures." I'm thankful to be the opposite of a xenophobic.
Xanthous means "yellow." Can't you just imagine the confused look on someone's face when they ask what your favorite color is and you answer "Xanthous." It almost makes me wish that yellow was my favorite color.
Photo credits go to my brother Logan. If you look up research about expanding your vocabulary you'll find that it's very beneficial in many different areas of life. Although words like "xanthous" might never actually end up helping you, regularly adding to your word bank is a good habit to put into practice. It's helpful to learn how to articulate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner and can even help people take you more seriously when you're trying to make a point.
I'm not nearly as good at enlarging my vocabulary as I should be, but I am working on it. What are some ways you expand your vocabulary? I'd be delighted to learn from you.
April 27, 2016
W is for Words #atozchallenge
Creativity is a lifestyle for me, not an action. This month I'm exploring twenty-six quirky ways I keep my creativity flowing.
As a writer I find words to be incredibly wonderful. They're tools I use on a daily, most of the time hourly, basis. With them I craft sentences, I convey thoughts, create worlds, pass along messages, share hope, and a million other little things that are hardly ever thought about.
Words sound delightful to my ears as I listen to the people around me speaking. I often times have an audio book or singing playing in the background as I work. I read words wherever I go, my eyes catching signs and headlines and brand names. Books contain thousands of words, just waiting to be sucked in. After reading, words come seemingly unbidden to my brain where I processes what I just learned and come up with new ideas.
Words can be fantastic, beautiful, melodic, and soul-feeding. My favorite way in the entire world to be creative is with words, and I'm so thankful to have them as a tool.
As a writer I find words to be incredibly wonderful. They're tools I use on a daily, most of the time hourly, basis. With them I craft sentences, I convey thoughts, create worlds, pass along messages, share hope, and a million other little things that are hardly ever thought about.
Words sound delightful to my ears as I listen to the people around me speaking. I often times have an audio book or singing playing in the background as I work. I read words wherever I go, my eyes catching signs and headlines and brand names. Books contain thousands of words, just waiting to be sucked in. After reading, words come seemingly unbidden to my brain where I processes what I just learned and come up with new ideas.
Words can be fantastic, beautiful, melodic, and soul-feeding. My favorite way in the entire world to be creative is with words, and I'm so thankful to have them as a tool.
Dangerous Love By Ray Norman: Book Review
Dangerous LoveBy Ray Norman
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
First-Person Non-Fiction256 Pages
About the Book (Backcover Blurb):Ray Norman spent most of his life living in far-flung corners of the globe, working on long-term development projects and living out his calling as a Christian professional. By the time he arrived in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania around the turn of the millennium, he was veteran of life as an expat, at home in countries and cultures not his own. But in 2001, the world was about to change—and so was Ray’s life.In the aftermath of 9/11—a time when tensions between Muslim and Western culture were peaking—Ray and his daughter, Hannah, made the short drive from their home to the Mauritanian beach. But instead of spending the afternoon enjoying the waves and the water, father and daughter found themselves hurtling back to the city, each with a bullet-hole pumping blood into the floorboards of their jeep.Dangerous Love is an account of the Normans’ brush with violent extremism—and of the family’s unexpected return to Mauritania in the face of terrifying risks. This is the story of a call that could not be denied and of a family’s refusal to give up on love.
Why I Choose this Book: In a world where anything is apt to happen, knowing that God is still God and can change fear into love and bitterness into forgiveness is very important. It's inspiring and encouraging to learn from others who have gone through difficult times and have come away closer to God.
What I Thought About this Book:For some reason it was difficult to get into. The prologue was gripping, but then I nearly instantly lost interest as the first couple of chapters went into great detail with history that was somewhat hard to follow. I laid the book aside for five months and only came back to it because I had agreed to read and review it.
And then boom, it was incredibly interesting. The author writes with long, flowing sentences and uses many wordy-descriptions, but once I got in the flow, it worked. By the end of the book I was actually grimacing at myself a bit, realizing that the whole Western mindset of hurry, hurry, hurry must be more ingrained in me than I realized. The author talks about how he had to learn to slow down to live among the people of Mauritania, and I'm pretty sure that's why his book has the cadence it does.
Overall it was really clear that Mr. Norman and his family really, really loved the people they worked among. That is huge - showing God's love with actions, deeds, and words is a mind-blowing combination. Mr. Norman said when he and his daughter were shot, he didn't feel any anger, instead he felt overwhelming betrayal and hurt that one of the people he loved so much had turned against him (even though they hadn't known the person personally).
I felt like Mr. Norman did a good job of telling the story with details, but not over dramatizing anything. He was honest and raw, describing how things went and how they were effected and how they chose to respond... I especially was impressed by Hannah (their ten-year-old daughter) and how she was able to handle the whole situation.
Conclusion: This book is encouraging, inspiring, and a worth-while read. It obviously has some violence in it, but not much at all. I can't remember having any impressions of it not being suitable for kids 14 and under, but I'd say it's definitely okay for ages 15 and up.
Rating: I'm giving Dangerous Love Four Stars (eight out of ten).
*I received this book for free from BookLook in exchange for an honest review*
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
First-Person Non-Fiction256 Pages
About the Book (Backcover Blurb):Ray Norman spent most of his life living in far-flung corners of the globe, working on long-term development projects and living out his calling as a Christian professional. By the time he arrived in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania around the turn of the millennium, he was veteran of life as an expat, at home in countries and cultures not his own. But in 2001, the world was about to change—and so was Ray’s life.In the aftermath of 9/11—a time when tensions between Muslim and Western culture were peaking—Ray and his daughter, Hannah, made the short drive from their home to the Mauritanian beach. But instead of spending the afternoon enjoying the waves and the water, father and daughter found themselves hurtling back to the city, each with a bullet-hole pumping blood into the floorboards of their jeep.Dangerous Love is an account of the Normans’ brush with violent extremism—and of the family’s unexpected return to Mauritania in the face of terrifying risks. This is the story of a call that could not be denied and of a family’s refusal to give up on love.
Why I Choose this Book: In a world where anything is apt to happen, knowing that God is still God and can change fear into love and bitterness into forgiveness is very important. It's inspiring and encouraging to learn from others who have gone through difficult times and have come away closer to God.
What I Thought About this Book:For some reason it was difficult to get into. The prologue was gripping, but then I nearly instantly lost interest as the first couple of chapters went into great detail with history that was somewhat hard to follow. I laid the book aside for five months and only came back to it because I had agreed to read and review it.
And then boom, it was incredibly interesting. The author writes with long, flowing sentences and uses many wordy-descriptions, but once I got in the flow, it worked. By the end of the book I was actually grimacing at myself a bit, realizing that the whole Western mindset of hurry, hurry, hurry must be more ingrained in me than I realized. The author talks about how he had to learn to slow down to live among the people of Mauritania, and I'm pretty sure that's why his book has the cadence it does.
Overall it was really clear that Mr. Norman and his family really, really loved the people they worked among. That is huge - showing God's love with actions, deeds, and words is a mind-blowing combination. Mr. Norman said when he and his daughter were shot, he didn't feel any anger, instead he felt overwhelming betrayal and hurt that one of the people he loved so much had turned against him (even though they hadn't known the person personally).
I felt like Mr. Norman did a good job of telling the story with details, but not over dramatizing anything. He was honest and raw, describing how things went and how they were effected and how they chose to respond... I especially was impressed by Hannah (their ten-year-old daughter) and how she was able to handle the whole situation.
Conclusion: This book is encouraging, inspiring, and a worth-while read. It obviously has some violence in it, but not much at all. I can't remember having any impressions of it not being suitable for kids 14 and under, but I'd say it's definitely okay for ages 15 and up.
Rating: I'm giving Dangerous Love Four Stars (eight out of ten).
*I received this book for free from BookLook in exchange for an honest review*
April 26, 2016
V is for Vacation #atozchallenge
Creativity is a lifestyle for me, not an action. This month I'm exploring twenty-six quirky ways I keep my creativity flowing.
Right now I'm on vacation and it's really amazing; there are white sandy beaches, the ocean with a dozen different shades of blue and green, and lots of fun games with my siblings. I'm also getting a ton of work done, soaking in the fact that I'm not engrained in my normal routine and can therefore step out and try new ideas.
Vacations are great times to stretch creativity and come up with new ideas. There's nothing like brainstorming on a quiet day or going for a long walk to troubleshoot. Vacations are also wonderful for learning new things or trying your hand at an interesting craft.
Do you know what I've discovered, though? I don't have to have a real vacation in order to feel like I'm getting one. Instead I can take an afternoon or evening and turn it into vacation mode. I can curl up with a book, set aside a task and play a game with my bro, or even make a special meal for the family. Stepping out of routine changes up life and is good for me, even if I don't always like it.
There's also such a thing as taking a vacation from being creative. Sometimes I get tired of being creative and I just want to glide through life for a few days by rote. And that's okay, as long as it doesn't last for very long. In fact it can be quite helpful cause it not only gives me a break, but it also reminds me of how much more alive life feels when it's stoked with creativity.
And now I'm off to get some work on a sun encased patio with an azure blue sky encompassing the world and coconut tree fonds rustling in the wind all around me. This would seriously be an amazing setting for a book... Maybe after I catch up on my non-writing job for the day I'll be able to write some.
Right now I'm on vacation and it's really amazing; there are white sandy beaches, the ocean with a dozen different shades of blue and green, and lots of fun games with my siblings. I'm also getting a ton of work done, soaking in the fact that I'm not engrained in my normal routine and can therefore step out and try new ideas.
Vacations are great times to stretch creativity and come up with new ideas. There's nothing like brainstorming on a quiet day or going for a long walk to troubleshoot. Vacations are also wonderful for learning new things or trying your hand at an interesting craft.
Do you know what I've discovered, though? I don't have to have a real vacation in order to feel like I'm getting one. Instead I can take an afternoon or evening and turn it into vacation mode. I can curl up with a book, set aside a task and play a game with my bro, or even make a special meal for the family. Stepping out of routine changes up life and is good for me, even if I don't always like it.
There's also such a thing as taking a vacation from being creative. Sometimes I get tired of being creative and I just want to glide through life for a few days by rote. And that's okay, as long as it doesn't last for very long. In fact it can be quite helpful cause it not only gives me a break, but it also reminds me of how much more alive life feels when it's stoked with creativity.
And now I'm off to get some work on a sun encased patio with an azure blue sky encompassing the world and coconut tree fonds rustling in the wind all around me. This would seriously be an amazing setting for a book... Maybe after I catch up on my non-writing job for the day I'll be able to write some.
April 25, 2016
U is for Uno #atozchallenge
Creativity is a lifestyle for me, not an action. This month I'm exploring twenty-six quirky ways I keep my creativity flowing.
Sometimes you have to take normal games and change them up. My little bro and I play Uno a lot - last week alone we probably played a couple hundreds hands. I wasn't really into Uno until my best friend told us the way her family plays the game and then we tweaked a few more rules and came up with a fast-paced game that you have to be fully engaged in to win. Changing up rules and creating new ways to play games is a fun way to exercise creativity and quite rewarding as well.
Today I thought I would share our rules with y'all so maybe you can enjoy this version of Uno as well. (I'm explaining how it works with two people, you can play it with more using the same rules, but it works out slightly different.)
1. Start out with each person having 7 cards like with a normal game and begin the same way.2. Whenever a card gets played, people can play matching cards, even if it's not their turn. (For example, if I play a red 4, I can also play another red 4, or a green 4, or a blue 4... Any 4 can be played. Same thing if my bro plays a 4, I can jump in and play several cards right in a row.) This makes the game really fast, because you try and play the next card before the other person can play a match. 3. You can skip, reverse, and build up Draw 2s and Draw 4s. This makes the game quite crazy and it's not unusual to have to draw 10-16 cards at once. Let me explain how it works: If I put down a yellow Draw 2, my bro can then play a Draw 2 of any color, a Draw 4, a yellow skip, or a yellow reverse. If he plays a red Draw 2, then I can play a Draw 2 of any color, a Draw 4, or a red skip, or a red reverse... And you get the idea.
It's not surprising to be able to play 10 or so cards at once, especially when there are just two players, because when you play a skip or a reverse, then you get to play again right away (unless the other player jumps in with a skip or reverse before you can go on).
This is an example of a long row of cards one person would be able to play in one turn:
And that, my friends, is the way we play Uno now. It seriously makes the game about 60x more fun than the regular way and also takes some strategy (you have to keep skips and reverses to protect yourself so you don't have to eat your own Draw 4s or Draw 2s, etc...).
Do you ever change up rules to games? Does this way of playing Uno sound like fun to you? Games are so much fun and I enjoy discussing them.
* * * It's that time again where we get to choose where Annie goes for this week in our Friday Series, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks. And our destination is... Norway!
Sometimes you have to take normal games and change them up. My little bro and I play Uno a lot - last week alone we probably played a couple hundreds hands. I wasn't really into Uno until my best friend told us the way her family plays the game and then we tweaked a few more rules and came up with a fast-paced game that you have to be fully engaged in to win. Changing up rules and creating new ways to play games is a fun way to exercise creativity and quite rewarding as well.
Today I thought I would share our rules with y'all so maybe you can enjoy this version of Uno as well. (I'm explaining how it works with two people, you can play it with more using the same rules, but it works out slightly different.)
1. Start out with each person having 7 cards like with a normal game and begin the same way.2. Whenever a card gets played, people can play matching cards, even if it's not their turn. (For example, if I play a red 4, I can also play another red 4, or a green 4, or a blue 4... Any 4 can be played. Same thing if my bro plays a 4, I can jump in and play several cards right in a row.) This makes the game really fast, because you try and play the next card before the other person can play a match. 3. You can skip, reverse, and build up Draw 2s and Draw 4s. This makes the game quite crazy and it's not unusual to have to draw 10-16 cards at once. Let me explain how it works: If I put down a yellow Draw 2, my bro can then play a Draw 2 of any color, a Draw 4, a yellow skip, or a yellow reverse. If he plays a red Draw 2, then I can play a Draw 2 of any color, a Draw 4, or a red skip, or a red reverse... And you get the idea.
It's not surprising to be able to play 10 or so cards at once, especially when there are just two players, because when you play a skip or a reverse, then you get to play again right away (unless the other player jumps in with a skip or reverse before you can go on).
This is an example of a long row of cards one person would be able to play in one turn:
And that, my friends, is the way we play Uno now. It seriously makes the game about 60x more fun than the regular way and also takes some strategy (you have to keep skips and reverses to protect yourself so you don't have to eat your own Draw 4s or Draw 2s, etc...).
Do you ever change up rules to games? Does this way of playing Uno sound like fun to you? Games are so much fun and I enjoy discussing them.
* * * It's that time again where we get to choose where Annie goes for this week in our Friday Series, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks. And our destination is... Norway!
April 23, 2016
T is for Twist and Turn #atozchallenge
Creativity is a lifestyle for me, not an action. This month I'm exploring twenty-six quirky ways I keep my creativity flowing.
I have so much fun taking average and ordinary things and twisting and turning them around to see them from a unique perspective.
Try reading a familiar book upside down for instance. Or taking an every day task like eating and writing and doing it with your non-dominate hand. Sometimes I act like I'm riding a horse when I go for a jog or like I'm flying an airplane when I'm cutting grass with the zero-turn.
Next time you're a passenger in a car try imagining you're riding a (really fast) horse along the berm of the road. What obstacles can you jump over, which ones do you have to go around? (I actually gave up on the horse a while ago and traded it in for a liger... Pretty much the coolest animal ever.)
When I am vacuuming the house using the sweeper hose, I always pretend like the hose is my pet elephant's trunk. I like to try to do normal hand activities with my feet (crocheting doesn't work all that great because I can't quite figure out how to hold the hook the right way), or multitask with opposites. (Back when I took piano lessons if I had a slow song to practice I would listen to "The Woodpecker Song" by Buddy Davis on full blast next to me as I plinked along... I guess it's no wonder my piano playing never progressed very far.)
Every day (and seemingly mundane) life activities are actually catalysts to spur creativity to greater levels and I throughly enjoy finding ways to exercise the experimental and artistic side of my brain.
I have so much fun taking average and ordinary things and twisting and turning them around to see them from a unique perspective.
Try reading a familiar book upside down for instance. Or taking an every day task like eating and writing and doing it with your non-dominate hand. Sometimes I act like I'm riding a horse when I go for a jog or like I'm flying an airplane when I'm cutting grass with the zero-turn.
Next time you're a passenger in a car try imagining you're riding a (really fast) horse along the berm of the road. What obstacles can you jump over, which ones do you have to go around? (I actually gave up on the horse a while ago and traded it in for a liger... Pretty much the coolest animal ever.)
When I am vacuuming the house using the sweeper hose, I always pretend like the hose is my pet elephant's trunk. I like to try to do normal hand activities with my feet (crocheting doesn't work all that great because I can't quite figure out how to hold the hook the right way), or multitask with opposites. (Back when I took piano lessons if I had a slow song to practice I would listen to "The Woodpecker Song" by Buddy Davis on full blast next to me as I plinked along... I guess it's no wonder my piano playing never progressed very far.)
Every day (and seemingly mundane) life activities are actually catalysts to spur creativity to greater levels and I throughly enjoy finding ways to exercise the experimental and artistic side of my brain.
When Others Shuddered By Jamie Janosz: Book Review
When Others Shuddered By Jamie Janosz
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
Narrative Non-Fiction208 Pages
About the Book (Backcover Blurb):When Others Shuddered: Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up is the story of eight women called to serve God and who, in doing so, changed the world. They lived at the turn of the century, rubbing shoulders with the well-known men of their time, like John Rockefeller, Marshall Field, and Dwight Lyman Moody.These women—Fanny Crosby, Mary McLeod Bethune, Nettie McCormick, Sarah Dunn Clarke, Emma Dryer, Virginia Asher, Evangeline Booth, and Amanda Berry Smith—were unique. They were single and married, black and white, wealthy and poor, beautiful and plain, mothers and childless. Yet, each felt called to make a difference and to do something—to meet a pressing need in her world.These women wanted to live lives less ordinary. Their stories inspire us to follow God’s calling in our own lives. They teach us that each individual person can make a difference. These eight women will show you how God can use your life to change the world.Why I Choose this Book: It's encouraging and inspiring to read about people who have done great things for God and have lived their lives to the fullest. I like to read about their lives so I can "learn their secrets" so to speak and use my life to bring glory to God. What I Thought About this Book:This book reminded me of a compilation of "book reviews" of the eight ladies' lives that were featured. There were about 20-25 pages devoted to each woman and gave a general overview of their lives and notable accomplishments. There were a couple of ladies who I found myself wanting to learn more about (Evangeline Booth for instance), and then one or two who I knew a moderate amount about (like Fanny Crosby). Overall I enjoyed reading the book and it made me want to make sure I was living the life that God has for me so at the end of my race I can hear "Well done, good and faithful servant." These ladies accomplished some pretty impressive feats and overcame many of the barriers of their time. They worked through personally difficulties and triumphed even when things were difficult. It is inspiring indeed to think about what all they went through and how they still emerged victorious. Sadly, there were several things about some of these ladies that I don't want to mimic in my own life. There were times when their ministry took away from their families and several had falling apart marriages which made me sad. Obviously no one is perfect, and this was a good warning to live a life that pleases God in all aspects. (Also, just as obviously, this was a very brief overview of the ladies' lives and so I have no clue what full stories are.)
Conclusion: The book had a lot of good information, but the writing style wasn't one I particularly enjoyed. Although I didn't see typos, there were times where it was very redundant and didn't feel well edited. That might just because I have editing on my brain right now, though.
Rating: I'm giving When Others Shuddered Three Stars (five out of ten).
*I received this book for free from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review*
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
Narrative Non-Fiction208 Pages
About the Book (Backcover Blurb):When Others Shuddered: Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up is the story of eight women called to serve God and who, in doing so, changed the world. They lived at the turn of the century, rubbing shoulders with the well-known men of their time, like John Rockefeller, Marshall Field, and Dwight Lyman Moody.These women—Fanny Crosby, Mary McLeod Bethune, Nettie McCormick, Sarah Dunn Clarke, Emma Dryer, Virginia Asher, Evangeline Booth, and Amanda Berry Smith—were unique. They were single and married, black and white, wealthy and poor, beautiful and plain, mothers and childless. Yet, each felt called to make a difference and to do something—to meet a pressing need in her world.These women wanted to live lives less ordinary. Their stories inspire us to follow God’s calling in our own lives. They teach us that each individual person can make a difference. These eight women will show you how God can use your life to change the world.Why I Choose this Book: It's encouraging and inspiring to read about people who have done great things for God and have lived their lives to the fullest. I like to read about their lives so I can "learn their secrets" so to speak and use my life to bring glory to God. What I Thought About this Book:This book reminded me of a compilation of "book reviews" of the eight ladies' lives that were featured. There were about 20-25 pages devoted to each woman and gave a general overview of their lives and notable accomplishments. There were a couple of ladies who I found myself wanting to learn more about (Evangeline Booth for instance), and then one or two who I knew a moderate amount about (like Fanny Crosby). Overall I enjoyed reading the book and it made me want to make sure I was living the life that God has for me so at the end of my race I can hear "Well done, good and faithful servant." These ladies accomplished some pretty impressive feats and overcame many of the barriers of their time. They worked through personally difficulties and triumphed even when things were difficult. It is inspiring indeed to think about what all they went through and how they still emerged victorious. Sadly, there were several things about some of these ladies that I don't want to mimic in my own life. There were times when their ministry took away from their families and several had falling apart marriages which made me sad. Obviously no one is perfect, and this was a good warning to live a life that pleases God in all aspects. (Also, just as obviously, this was a very brief overview of the ladies' lives and so I have no clue what full stories are.)
Conclusion: The book had a lot of good information, but the writing style wasn't one I particularly enjoyed. Although I didn't see typos, there were times where it was very redundant and didn't feel well edited. That might just because I have editing on my brain right now, though.
Rating: I'm giving When Others Shuddered Three Stars (five out of ten).
*I received this book for free from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review*
April 22, 2016
Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks Week Sixteen: Georgia
Yikes, is it Friday again already? This weeks weekly segment of the fictional story, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks has left me hungry for Georgian cuisine. It also makes me want to visit the country and explore; Georgia hosts the deepest caves in the world. That's my kind of country!
Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks Week Sixteen: Georgia
“Uplistsikhe.” I tried saying the word, but my tongue couldn’t quite make out the interesting sounds. I knew the translation meant “Fortress of the lord” and decided to forego my try at Georgian, the official language of the country of Georgia, in lieu of exploring the ancient rock-hewn town. The city was built on the bank of the Mtkvari River, less than ten miles east of the town of Gori. Archaeological excavations have uncovered artifacts from the late Bronze Age until the late Middle Ages. Uplistsike is thought to be one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia and was known for it’s pagan worship until the arrival of Christianity in the 4th century AD. At one point Uplistsikhe was one of the most important centers of Kartli and flourished for hundreds of years until they were plundered by the Mongols. The ancient complex is unique and notable, a haven of history and beauty. It’s just under ten acres in size and is divided into three parts, the upper, middle, and lower sections. Narrow alleys and even staircases fan out from the central street to the different structures. The middle part is the largest and houses most of the rock-hewn “buildings.” The lower section is connected to the middle section by narrow passageways cut through the rock. The upper level consists of a Christian stone basilica and was built long after the other two levels. The rocky world includes many different structures such as a bakery, cellars, a prison, and a large hall; these are connected by tunnels that worked as walkways - like mini roads. There were very few decorative elements on the rock-cut structures, although some of the larger ones had stone carvings and adorned ceilings. In the National Museum of Tbilisi (which was on my list of places to visit), there’s a collection of artifacts archeologists have uncovered like jewelry, sculptures, and ceramics. I had expected the “Fortress of the lord” to be hot, but it wasn’t and the chill in the air made me thankful I’d been advised to bring a sweater along on our exploration trip. The air was crisp and I felt surrounded with a feeling of mystery as I ducked into the century-old archways and tunnels. Although I could imagine the dwellings to have been considered boring and commonplace to the people who lived in them, they now held eras of history within their cool stone walls. I wished I could slip into the past and spend my week walking around on Georgian soil during the height of it’s ancient past. Georgia is a small country (about the size of South Carolina), with around four million people and a developing economy. The weather in some parts is quite pleasant as the country is located on the Black Sea. Georgia is, surprisingly because of it’s small size, one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world. It has climate zones that range from subtropical to semi-desert to high alpine. Georgia also has one of Europe’s largest national parks and hosts a fair amount of pristine wilderness, which makes it the perfect home to many creatures. They even have bears, leopards, and lynxes in their forests which host the tallest trees in Europe. Georgia is located in both Asia and Europe, making it one of six transcontinental contiguous boundary countries. (The other countries are Egypt, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey.)
The Jewish community in Georgia is considered to be one of the oldest in the world. In 337 AD Christianity was declared the official religion of Georgia. According to a census in 2002, 83.9% of the population now consider themselves to be Georgian Orthodox with the remainder of the population being Muslim, Armenian Apostolic Church, and a very small percentage is Roman Catholic. A pamphlet I found at one museums I visited talked about the Georgian alphabet. As a blogger and publicist for Exploration Airlines words are a very important part of my job so I found it quite interesting. There are only 14 independent alphabets in the world and the Georgian alphabet is one of them. Many scholars believe that the creation of the Old Georgian alphabet was very instrumental in making religious scripture more accessible to the Georgians. The oldest uncontested example of Georgian writing is an Asomtavrulia inscription from 430 AD found in a church in Bethlehem. How cool is that?
For being such a small country I was continually surprised at how much Georgia had to offer. There were so many different things to do: Hike up mountains, explore caves, visit museums, go parasailing, and the list went on. I packed as much as I could into my trip, but there was so much more I had to give up on trying to do for lack of time.
The food in Georgia was incomparable. It’s almost felt like I was entering the Biblical times where dinner guests were honored and feasts could literally last for days. Eastern and Western dishes are expertly mixed, creating vast amounts of mouth water concoctions. Imagine dumplings, flatbreads, and everything in-between and you’ll get a picture of what I’m talking about. Walnuts are a often-found ingredient in Georgian cooking, used in main dishes, chopped salads, soups, and sauces. During the first few days I figured out that Georgians are partial to fresh ingredients and often grow gardens in their backyards. (Yes, please! So yummy!) The western provinces of Georgia often serve a chili-garlic paste which is mouthwatering in more than one way. The taste was good, but the spice was almost overwhelming, comparable to the dishes I had made in South Korea a couple weeks back. One of my favorite things I ate was called churchkhela. It was a colorful and lumpy string-like confection that shop owners would hang in their storefronts for people to buy as they passed by. Churchkhela is made by taking concentrated grape juice and pouring it repeatedly over strands of walnuts (told you they use a lot of walnuts). Each layer is left to dry until a waxy and chewy covering is over the nuts. The reason I liked them so much is because they were unique and beautiful and yet still tasted good. It was like a dessert and I wanted to learn how to make them, but was informed it was actually a long process and took years to master. My experience in Georgia was fantastic, especially the food. I bought a cookbook to take home. Hopefully I’d be able to replicate some of the dishes I’d been served.
Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks Week Sixteen: Georgia
“Uplistsikhe.” I tried saying the word, but my tongue couldn’t quite make out the interesting sounds. I knew the translation meant “Fortress of the lord” and decided to forego my try at Georgian, the official language of the country of Georgia, in lieu of exploring the ancient rock-hewn town. The city was built on the bank of the Mtkvari River, less than ten miles east of the town of Gori. Archaeological excavations have uncovered artifacts from the late Bronze Age until the late Middle Ages. Uplistsike is thought to be one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia and was known for it’s pagan worship until the arrival of Christianity in the 4th century AD. At one point Uplistsikhe was one of the most important centers of Kartli and flourished for hundreds of years until they were plundered by the Mongols. The ancient complex is unique and notable, a haven of history and beauty. It’s just under ten acres in size and is divided into three parts, the upper, middle, and lower sections. Narrow alleys and even staircases fan out from the central street to the different structures. The middle part is the largest and houses most of the rock-hewn “buildings.” The lower section is connected to the middle section by narrow passageways cut through the rock. The upper level consists of a Christian stone basilica and was built long after the other two levels. The rocky world includes many different structures such as a bakery, cellars, a prison, and a large hall; these are connected by tunnels that worked as walkways - like mini roads. There were very few decorative elements on the rock-cut structures, although some of the larger ones had stone carvings and adorned ceilings. In the National Museum of Tbilisi (which was on my list of places to visit), there’s a collection of artifacts archeologists have uncovered like jewelry, sculptures, and ceramics. I had expected the “Fortress of the lord” to be hot, but it wasn’t and the chill in the air made me thankful I’d been advised to bring a sweater along on our exploration trip. The air was crisp and I felt surrounded with a feeling of mystery as I ducked into the century-old archways and tunnels. Although I could imagine the dwellings to have been considered boring and commonplace to the people who lived in them, they now held eras of history within their cool stone walls. I wished I could slip into the past and spend my week walking around on Georgian soil during the height of it’s ancient past. Georgia is a small country (about the size of South Carolina), with around four million people and a developing economy. The weather in some parts is quite pleasant as the country is located on the Black Sea. Georgia is, surprisingly because of it’s small size, one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world. It has climate zones that range from subtropical to semi-desert to high alpine. Georgia also has one of Europe’s largest national parks and hosts a fair amount of pristine wilderness, which makes it the perfect home to many creatures. They even have bears, leopards, and lynxes in their forests which host the tallest trees in Europe. Georgia is located in both Asia and Europe, making it one of six transcontinental contiguous boundary countries. (The other countries are Egypt, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey.)
The Jewish community in Georgia is considered to be one of the oldest in the world. In 337 AD Christianity was declared the official religion of Georgia. According to a census in 2002, 83.9% of the population now consider themselves to be Georgian Orthodox with the remainder of the population being Muslim, Armenian Apostolic Church, and a very small percentage is Roman Catholic. A pamphlet I found at one museums I visited talked about the Georgian alphabet. As a blogger and publicist for Exploration Airlines words are a very important part of my job so I found it quite interesting. There are only 14 independent alphabets in the world and the Georgian alphabet is one of them. Many scholars believe that the creation of the Old Georgian alphabet was very instrumental in making religious scripture more accessible to the Georgians. The oldest uncontested example of Georgian writing is an Asomtavrulia inscription from 430 AD found in a church in Bethlehem. How cool is that?
For being such a small country I was continually surprised at how much Georgia had to offer. There were so many different things to do: Hike up mountains, explore caves, visit museums, go parasailing, and the list went on. I packed as much as I could into my trip, but there was so much more I had to give up on trying to do for lack of time.
The food in Georgia was incomparable. It’s almost felt like I was entering the Biblical times where dinner guests were honored and feasts could literally last for days. Eastern and Western dishes are expertly mixed, creating vast amounts of mouth water concoctions. Imagine dumplings, flatbreads, and everything in-between and you’ll get a picture of what I’m talking about. Walnuts are a often-found ingredient in Georgian cooking, used in main dishes, chopped salads, soups, and sauces. During the first few days I figured out that Georgians are partial to fresh ingredients and often grow gardens in their backyards. (Yes, please! So yummy!) The western provinces of Georgia often serve a chili-garlic paste which is mouthwatering in more than one way. The taste was good, but the spice was almost overwhelming, comparable to the dishes I had made in South Korea a couple weeks back. One of my favorite things I ate was called churchkhela. It was a colorful and lumpy string-like confection that shop owners would hang in their storefronts for people to buy as they passed by. Churchkhela is made by taking concentrated grape juice and pouring it repeatedly over strands of walnuts (told you they use a lot of walnuts). Each layer is left to dry until a waxy and chewy covering is over the nuts. The reason I liked them so much is because they were unique and beautiful and yet still tasted good. It was like a dessert and I wanted to learn how to make them, but was informed it was actually a long process and took years to master. My experience in Georgia was fantastic, especially the food. I bought a cookbook to take home. Hopefully I’d be able to replicate some of the dishes I’d been served.
