Two days of rain and blackouts. Walked home in the torrential rain last night with takeaway fried chicken under my arm. Suit drenched but belly full. Hear back home you have had two months rain in 24 hours. Gotta love April.
Friday 27 April 2012
Doesn't matter where you are in the world...
The rain still finds you.
Two days of rain and blackouts. Walked home in the torrential rain last night with takeaway fried chicken under my arm. Suit drenched but belly full. Hear back home you have had two months rain in 24 hours. Gotta love April.
Two days of rain and blackouts. Walked home in the torrential rain last night with takeaway fried chicken under my arm. Suit drenched but belly full. Hear back home you have had two months rain in 24 hours. Gotta love April.
Thursday 26 April 2012
Technology contradiction
Hello all
I hope you are well.
Things here are busy. I had to take a trip to Georgetown (the capital) on Monday to get a visa for Suriname as I have completed another three months (nine months now and counting!). Interesting news is that they have introduced a long awaited tourist card for Europeans which is easier to get and cheaper, so good news all round. So this week I shall be heading across the waters to visit some friends with another English couple, where the brother will do the talk in the English congregation, which will be a nice change.
This made me laugh the order day. I visited New Amsterdam hall last weekend and took a picture of their phone-in technology - very funny:
Whilst this did not surprise me, something else happened that made me appreciate technology and was slightly scared about how it so easily has become ubiquitous. I was on an English study with friends and they have a deaf three-year old called Daniel. He was a bit unruly and bombastic so I showed him my iPad drawing programme to give him something visual. It was amazing to watch. Within about fie minutes, with some trial and error, he had worked out all the multi-gesture commands (five fingers to close, three to swipe, two to go up a level within the programme and the use of the home screen). It was like he has been a user for years. I didn't have to show him anything. Shows how natural these interfaces are and how toddlers all have a Stephen Hawkings lurking inside of them. I took a video but is too large to upload.
Miss everyone, but not the rain you are all experiencing. We have had our own share, along with all daŷ black outs, but at least it is still boiling hot.
Ciao for now.x
I hope you are well.
Things here are busy. I had to take a trip to Georgetown (the capital) on Monday to get a visa for Suriname as I have completed another three months (nine months now and counting!). Interesting news is that they have introduced a long awaited tourist card for Europeans which is easier to get and cheaper, so good news all round. So this week I shall be heading across the waters to visit some friends with another English couple, where the brother will do the talk in the English congregation, which will be a nice change.
This made me laugh the order day. I visited New Amsterdam hall last weekend and took a picture of their phone-in technology - very funny:
Whilst this did not surprise me, something else happened that made me appreciate technology and was slightly scared about how it so easily has become ubiquitous. I was on an English study with friends and they have a deaf three-year old called Daniel. He was a bit unruly and bombastic so I showed him my iPad drawing programme to give him something visual. It was amazing to watch. Within about fie minutes, with some trial and error, he had worked out all the multi-gesture commands (five fingers to close, three to swipe, two to go up a level within the programme and the use of the home screen). It was like he has been a user for years. I didn't have to show him anything. Shows how natural these interfaces are and how toddlers all have a Stephen Hawkings lurking inside of them. I took a video but is too large to upload.
Miss everyone, but not the rain you are all experiencing. We have had our own share, along with all daŷ black outs, but at least it is still boiling hot.
Ciao for now.x
Wednesday 18 April 2012
A day in New Amsterdam...
I recently took a trip up the coast to our sister sister sign language group in New Amsterdam to join them for some ministry. We dont know these guys too well, as we only see them at a monthly combined meeting and at the assemblies. I thought it might be nice to spend some time and experience their ministry.
N.A is a very different territory to ours. Whilst we spend most of our time on public transport travelling up and down the coast, they are able to use bikes to get around, saving a huge amount of money. I am not sure about turning up everywhere more sweaty than one must, but for the fiscal benefits, I can see the merits. They do this thing called 'towing' here, where two or more people share a bike. Kortel managed to convince me to do it for part of a walk as we were late - so weird!
In addition, their deaf are quite different. Whilst none of our deaf have ever attended school nor learnt any formal sign language, the deaf in N.A are a mixed bunch. Many have been through the 'special school' in the town, which says it teaches in ASL, but in reality they just write on the board and the deaf copy in English. This results in many of them signing ASL but not having a clue what they are really saying. This is dangerous as foreigners look at them, think they are competent in ASL and teach them as they would back home - which doesn't work!
Below is a picture of Robin preparing his Bible reading for Thursday. He doesn't own a DVD player, so has to watch the film and copy word for word in a drawing-hieroglyph notation. Poor lad didn't have a clue what he was signing sadly.
This was a call of Nikki's (girl from Ireland) in the English. Miss Patsy is her name, thank you very much. Very proper lady who hd some really deep questions. In one conversation we discussed the Seventh Day Adventists, tithing, the Anti-Christ, the rocks crying out and what happens to the sun when it goes into the sea...! Yes really. No disrespect meant, it just highlights the lack of education out here. We had to give her a demonstration about the earth moving and prove to her that the sun stays still - she still isn't convinced.
A great day had. I'm going to try and go up once a month or so to give a different element to my ministry and maybe to try and help give ideas to the brothers on how to teach the younger ones with ideas from work and bethel.
Fun day.
N.A is a very different territory to ours. Whilst we spend most of our time on public transport travelling up and down the coast, they are able to use bikes to get around, saving a huge amount of money. I am not sure about turning up everywhere more sweaty than one must, but for the fiscal benefits, I can see the merits. They do this thing called 'towing' here, where two or more people share a bike. Kortel managed to convince me to do it for part of a walk as we were late - so weird!
In addition, their deaf are quite different. Whilst none of our deaf have ever attended school nor learnt any formal sign language, the deaf in N.A are a mixed bunch. Many have been through the 'special school' in the town, which says it teaches in ASL, but in reality they just write on the board and the deaf copy in English. This results in many of them signing ASL but not having a clue what they are really saying. This is dangerous as foreigners look at them, think they are competent in ASL and teach them as they would back home - which doesn't work!
Below is a picture of Robin preparing his Bible reading for Thursday. He doesn't own a DVD player, so has to watch the film and copy word for word in a drawing-hieroglyph notation. Poor lad didn't have a clue what he was signing sadly.
This was a call of Nikki's (girl from Ireland) in the English. Miss Patsy is her name, thank you very much. Very proper lady who hd some really deep questions. In one conversation we discussed the Seventh Day Adventists, tithing, the Anti-Christ, the rocks crying out and what happens to the sun when it goes into the sea...! Yes really. No disrespect meant, it just highlights the lack of education out here. We had to give her a demonstration about the earth moving and prove to her that the sun stays still - she still isn't convinced.
A great day had. I'm going to try and go up once a month or so to give a different element to my ministry and maybe to try and help give ideas to the brothers on how to teach the younger ones with ideas from work and bethel.
Fun day.
Friday 13 April 2012
Ministry pictures
Hi all
How is everyone today? I have been naughty today and have spent the whole day off the ministry and on my sofa. I have a mountain of congregation schedules, interpreting schedules and territory listings to rewrite and organize, along with trying to change my ministry schedule. Enough is enough I though as I groaned my way out of bed. A day for myself.
It was scuppered somewhat by a protracted blackout, which lent itself to 'play on the iPad time'. As I was playing with some drawing and note taking apps, I thought I would share with you some of my recent pictures on the ministry.
When teaching the deaf, tho I actually do this for many of my hearing studies too, we use pictures to illustrate concepts. Whilst not an exact science, it is often more effective than discussion, as it cuts through language and allows the students to work things out themselves.
Here are a couple of my creations. Have a good laugh, but they work!
How is everyone today? I have been naughty today and have spent the whole day off the ministry and on my sofa. I have a mountain of congregation schedules, interpreting schedules and territory listings to rewrite and organize, along with trying to change my ministry schedule. Enough is enough I though as I groaned my way out of bed. A day for myself.
It was scuppered somewhat by a protracted blackout, which lent itself to 'play on the iPad time'. As I was playing with some drawing and note taking apps, I thought I would share with you some of my recent pictures on the ministry.
When teaching the deaf, tho I actually do this for many of my hearing studies too, we use pictures to illustrate concepts. Whilst not an exact science, it is often more effective than discussion, as it cuts through language and allows the students to work things out themselves.
Here are a couple of my creations. Have a good laugh, but they work!
Thursday 12 April 2012
Memorial Post
Hey all
Slightly belated post about the memorial, but I was waiting for a photo.
The sign language crew had to head up to join our sister group nearly two hours away, so slight logistical headache of picking up studies along the coast ensued whilst trying to get there on time. As it happened, our bus got too full so I had to get off and wait on the road for another to come. I arrived just before the emblems, so all was good. We had 91 in attendance with 52 deaf, which is a good showing. The memorial was held at the town hall and was a lovely venue. Due to the nature of our gathering, the town hall even decided to waive the fees, which was a real blessing as the cost of travelling alone is a hardship for many.
Our sign language contingent at the memorial.
Our English congregation of Skeldon had their memorial at the hall and had 238 present, that's at a cong with 70-odd publishers! We rushed back from the memorial to meet a load of them at the local chicken takeaway. Thoughtfully, they had saved some of the memorial wine for me to taste! Unknowing that it was the memorial wine, I forewent a cup and swigged straight of the bottle, which they thought was hilarious. There is even photo-evidence. Whoops.
Hope everyone had a lovely turnout at their respective memorials.
Slightly belated post about the memorial, but I was waiting for a photo.
The sign language crew had to head up to join our sister group nearly two hours away, so slight logistical headache of picking up studies along the coast ensued whilst trying to get there on time. As it happened, our bus got too full so I had to get off and wait on the road for another to come. I arrived just before the emblems, so all was good. We had 91 in attendance with 52 deaf, which is a good showing. The memorial was held at the town hall and was a lovely venue. Due to the nature of our gathering, the town hall even decided to waive the fees, which was a real blessing as the cost of travelling alone is a hardship for many.
Our sign language contingent at the memorial.
Our English congregation of Skeldon had their memorial at the hall and had 238 present, that's at a cong with 70-odd publishers! We rushed back from the memorial to meet a load of them at the local chicken takeaway. Thoughtfully, they had saved some of the memorial wine for me to taste! Unknowing that it was the memorial wine, I forewent a cup and swigged straight of the bottle, which they thought was hilarious. There is even photo-evidence. Whoops.
Hope everyone had a lovely turnout at their respective memorials.
Thursday 5 April 2012
Woke up craving...
Another lamenting blogpost! I woke up this morning craving smoked salmon on hash browns with poached egg and béarnaise sauce from Chez Bob in Belsize Park! I miss my brunch mornings in places like below.
Oh well, onwards and upwards. Memorial today. I hope everyone has a lovely day and good attendances. We have to travel with all of the deaf to a combined sign language memorial. Slight shame as it means we can't attend our actual congregation. I have sent my camera with someone so I can live vicariously!
Off to the market as having a lunch at mine tomorrow with everyone from sign language. Miss you all.
Oh well, onwards and upwards. Memorial today. I hope everyone has a lovely day and good attendances. We have to travel with all of the deaf to a combined sign language memorial. Slight shame as it means we can't attend our actual congregation. I have sent my camera with someone so I can live vicariously!
Off to the market as having a lunch at mine tomorrow with everyone from sign language. Miss you all.
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