A quick update on the mural's progress!

I just wanted to post a few pictures of what I did today on the mural. With classes this week I don't know how much I'll get done again until Friday.
Here is the results of my work today. I was a little sad not to have my audience from yesterday, but was able to paint a little faster.

I am really hoping to be able to paint murals in the various orphanages I'll be working with once I move to Kazakhstan. I believe strongly that beauty touches the soul and that there is no language barrier. As my time grows shorter before I depart many sentimental feelings rise up. I'm going to miss Marc and Sarah ever so much.. I already miss my sweet KC dog who I gave away in this summer and I'm going to miss my dear friends who have been there through trials and celebrations.

In contrast my excitement and anticipation grows. I didn't get to go to Kazakhstan this summer as I was fund raising and preparing to move and my missing the children has doubled since I haven't seen them since Aug 07. I have been 7 times since 2000, have built relationships and fallen in love with the country and the people. I long to be there and at the same time feel the ache of missing my family and friends here. The scale still tips dramatically to the side of all the sacrifices are more than worth it.

Thank you dear friends for you each of your encouraging words. Thank you for joining me on this journey and adventure..
Have a great week.
Vicki

A Good Day!

I am painting a mural in the Administration Building here in North Carolina. Since our school trains people to go and live in other countries it makes sense that the mural have people from all around the world. It is a fun project. I'm using many of the photos I've taken and gathering some from friends. I have new friends who's daughters are of Vietnamese ancestry. I had the great honor and privilege to take their pictures today so I can add them to the wall.








At one point during the day I had 5 children watching and asking questions as I painted. What a great joy to be able to paint with such an enthusiastic audience.

A secret dream of mine is to travel the world and paint murals in orphanages and hospitals.. I believe beauty touches the soul in ways that language cannot articulate... I'm not a master painter or anything, but I love to see people's environment's be transformed by color and paint.




When I arrived home I was greeted by 3 boys and a dog expressing their great joy in my arriving home. Now, it actually has absolutely nothing to do with me, but the "treats" I keep in the cupboards for them all.




Lady

Lady, a neighbors dog growled and didn't great me warmly when I first moved in. She has transformed into a tail wagging, happy dog who waits eagerly for me to arrive home. The three boys live next door in the dorm and keep my grocery list current with the appropriate treats. It is very heart warming to pull up to a fan club waiting anxiously for your arrival. Never mind they all just want treats. It still warms the soul..

The knowledge of the gift of friendship I've been given gives me courage and touches my heart. Thank you each for joining me as I travel down this road on the journey of my life...
Vicki

Time is flying and another class completed!

Just a glimpse of the brilliant colors all around



I can't believe I'm near the end of my stay here. I can't believe I just finished Effective Teams and Team Leaders. What a class... I have learned so much about myself as well as working in a team. One of the things I think that really hit home was that conflict actually builds unity and trust. (if done well)





Winshape Wilderness came up from Atlanta, GA to run a day coarse on team building using some low rope courses and activities they set up where we had to work as a team. The experience help bring out what works in a team as well as what doesn't work. The experience also revealed things about each of us; areas we need to grow as well as areas of strength. A emotionally draining day as well as fun. It was great to be out of the classroom in the beautiful fall weather.






My Sweet Sarah and Treasured Tahmina

It has made me think back to Tahmina, our exchange student from Turkmenistan. Sarah and her would go at it heatedly and passionately. It took Sarah awhile to learn how to fight with a sister, fighting with her brother is totally different, but Sarah soon learned. Tahmina and Sarah would be quite heated with their discussions, both laying their grief out on the table then 15 minutes later were laughing and giggling. Upon returning home after being apart they would by pass everyone else to escape back to their bedroom to share all that had happened to each while away. Tahmina was with our family when Sarah's Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and a month later I had to have major surgery too. These struggles and willingness to engage with us on all levels drew us together and bonded us like 'real' family. Our love for each other grew and she will always be a sister and daughter.



The past few weeks have been jammed pack with school, homework and so much more. Two weekend ago 7 guest came and stayed in my dorm wing. One of CIT staff's daughter was getting married. Friday night two women with their babies showed up at my door. I helped them get cribs and pack n'plays set up before retiring for the evening. The next morning as I padded around my kitchen getting coffee in my pajamas and bathrobe a man I didn't not know showed up being lead down the hall by the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I offered him a cup and began another pot and before I knew it there were 5 adults and 2 babies around my kitchen table. I apologizing for not having any breakfast to offer only to have Betty disappear down the hall to return with banana nut bread and apple juice. I excused myself to dress properly and when I returned Joe & Mary called. I had forgot I had offered to keep their daughter's dogs for the day while they went out. What's two more in the chaos that was already in my small apartment. I knew the guest would be leaving soon for the wedding and I've missed my beloved KC so much so two dogs were more than welcomed. I have taken to feeding the neighbor's dog treats just for a dog fix. So, it was actually a great joy and pleasure to have them for the day. I was planning on painting and working on homework so would be around and it was fun to walk them when I needed a break.






As a community activity over this past weekend Rich and Michelle organized a Chili and Pie back off. There are some amazing cooks in our group and the food as usual was delicious. We seem to do a lot of activities around food. Good food and good friends are a good combination.









This pass Wednesday my language helper group got the great honor and privilege to go to Natasha's home for dinner. We got to meet her husband and two beautiful children. Natasha is not only a great language helper, but is a fabulous cook and warm hostess. We all had a delightful time tasting delicious Russian dishes and hearing Natasha's passion for life. Her family is absolutely delightful and warmly welcomed all of us in their home. She not only invited our group but our families. I'm single of coarse, Clay has a lovely wife Meagan, Michelle has a delightful husband Rich, Bonnie not only has a delightful husband, but 5 fabulous children making for a large crowd of people to invade someones home, but Natasha and her family did it with great grace. It was such an honor and privilege to spend time getting to know them better.


Jon, Bonnie's husband and Natasha's husband Dan.


Natasha's delightful son, Devin.


Natasha's beautiful daughter, Victoria.


Natasha and I


The whole "Gang" (I'm taking the picture)


Thursday was our last day of Effective Teams and Team Leaders. Several of our original group will be moving on now so it is bitter sweet that we end the class. But the special friendships made will carry on across time and miles. Each good-bye brings the reality of the big good-bye I will make in February. It also is heightening my appreciation for the dear sweet friendships I have been blessed with. I have some amazing friends who have loved me very well indeed.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Thank you dear friends for your kindness and love, compassion and encouragement for your willingness to speak truth into my life and willing to ask those hard questions even when you know I don't want to answer. Thank you for caring enough to enter into the conflicts and struggles of life, to walk along side me during the heartaches and joys, during trials and celebrations. Each one of you are woven into the tapestry of my life bringing more beauty into the weaving than I could have ever imagined.

I am thankful for each one.

Love Vicki

Slide Show from The Cajun Gumbo Dinner!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thank you Sandoz Family!

Cajun Gumbo and Fun!

Language Acquisition class ended Friday and my mind is so full I do believe knowledge is oozing out my ears. I have been given tools that will assist in me learning Kazakh.


If you wonder where I am, I'm on top of the table taking the picture!!!


Our small group that meets once a week pictured above with another small group.

During the past two weeks we had the amazing opportunity to work with a language helper. This is a person who's second language is English. We are encouraged to find a person in our new country who will helps us learn the language. To practice these skills people from the local community who were born in another country are brought in so we practice some of the ideas given to us so we can have a better understand how they will work once we are in our new home.



My group was the four of us above and I want to say what an amazing group of people they are. It was such a joy to work with Clay, Bonnie and Michelle. They each are so gifted and talented in so many ways. Our language helper was Natasha from Russia and oh, what a delight she was. The idea wasn't to learn the language we each will be learning in our various countries, but learn the techniques and skills to help us learn a new language. We actually learned some Russian and it was so much fun.





Clay's parent drove in from Louisiana. As a special gift they prepared an authentic Cajun Gumbo for all of us Friday night. Oh, my it was absolutely delicious. I had to eat seconds. It was Meagan's Birthday (Clay's sweet wife) and she was surprised with a birthday cake. It was a great time to fellowship and enjoy each other's company and know we had no homework for the weekend. YEAH!!!









The weather here in North Carolina is cool and crisp. The leaves have changed to beautiful yellow, oranges and reds. As I watch fall change through the kaleidoscope of colors I'm aware of how fast time is moving forward. Soon winter will blanket the area with a chill in the air and the leaves will blanket the ground in brown. The reality that this will be my last fall here on the east coast for awhile brings a mixture of emotions. I'm so excited to be that much closer to moving to Kazakhstan and at the same time missing my family and friends who I will leave behind. My dear friends and family are treasures I sometimes forget to acknowledge just how precious each one is to me. I am looking forward to spending some quality time when I get back to Richmond with many dear friends.
Thank you for being with me on this journey. My love to each of you.
Love Vicki

I Received a Call from my Baby Girl!!!

Just a quick - SHOUT of JOY!!! Yesterday I finally got a call from Sarah... She sounded great. She only had a few minutes and needed to give me information about graduation on November 21st. When I would try and ask a question her response was "Mom, I don't have time for your questions I have to give you some important information!" then she'd be off running with what she needed to share. Oh, how my heart filled with such joy and happiness to hear her sweet voice. She spoke about new friends, being injured and on light duty for three days, passing academic test, how hard her RDC is, and how she loved me and miss me, her brother, father, step-mother, friends and family. Then she had to go... She request letters from everyone and pictures.
I thought the first call she might be crying and sharing how hard things were, but that isn't what I got. She was upbeat, positive, and happy even when speaking about the hard things. She sounded so grown up.

Well, that is all for now dear friends. I am over my head with this language learning.. ugh.. But did want to share this great joy with you.
Thank you each for your encouragement. If you need Sarah's address let me know.
Love
Vicki

Language Acquisition!!! Oh, My!!!

FIRST SOME SIGHTS FROM BEAUTIFUL WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA






I am not learning Kazakh, but the skills needed to learn a second language.
Did you know that there are over 700 sounds the human voice apparatus is capable of making? I sure didn't.. Did you know that there is a Phonetic Alphabet to guide you in how to say any word of any language? Did you know there are things called stop, voiced and unvoiced sounds and things called Fricatives.. Oh, My!!! Is your head spinning yet???? We are learning things like intentional and being proactive in our language learning (in all our learning) I can't take a back seat and hope I learn the Kazakh language by just being there. The instructors are also preparing us for the overwhelming sense of our loss of identity while learning to learn a new language. Who am I??? if you take away my culture, language and ability to communicate...
I've heard much criticism of people who aren't learning English when they move to America.. Now I'm not saying people shouldn't learn the language of the country they are living in. I most certainly seek to learn Kazakh. But have you ever considered how it feels to - even if willingly - be plopped down in a culture that is very different, where you can't do basic things like buy food or go to the bank or communicate with your neighbors. It throws everything in your world upside down. Like falling down the rabbit's hole in Alice in Wonderland. This summer not having a "home" to go home to I found myself lost in a city I know. There was no auto pilot at the end of a day to get home. I had to think about each detail of my life. Do you realize how many daily things we each take for granted? The amount of time we don't have to really engage our minds to do the daily stuff? Now, think about having to think about each step of the day. There is no "auto pilot" to do anything, from brushing your teeth, fixing your meals, buying your groceries, nothing.. That brings a whole new meaning to stress.
The staff are giving us a "tool box" of strategies and skills to help us not only acquire the language but also navigate the mind field of emotions that comes along with living in a new country trying to learn the language.
Can I tell EVERYONE how THANKFUL that I have this opportunity to get this training. I came because I was told this would be good for me, I had no idea how unprepared I was and didn't understand I desperately needed this training.. Now, I do..

I have been amazed to look back over my life and see how so many things have been working together to prepare me for this very point in time. The training here is bringing together all my life experiences revealing how they weave together.

As a child I invented my own language which gave me the privilege of going to speech therapy. My youngest sister upon entering school was diagnosed with learning disabilities. I remember the teacher telling my mom that she was a bright child and would eventually catch up to the other students. The key was instead of presenting the same idea 10 times, present the idea 10 different ways. Kind of the same idea when people do the same behavior over and over expecting a different out come. In order to get a different out come you have to change the behavior. I've always like the analogy of Babe Ruth. He (at least use to - I'm not a baseball fan) held the record for home runs.. He also held the record for the most strikes.. The story goes that he said the reason he had the most home runs was because he wasn't afraid to swing the bad increasing the number of swings there fore increasing the number of times the bat connected with the ball.. I have to keep swinging, keep playing the game if I'm going to be successful. No toddler falls the first time then refuses to get up and try again. They don't focus on the fall, but rather on the goal.. At 47 I'm seeking to be more child like in attitude..

When Sarah, my youngest didn't begin speaking by age three I sought help and she too began speech therapy... I had no idea all that would be helpful now with some of the things they are teaching.. How amazing to see the threads woven through my life preparing me for this adventure..


Students from my ESL class from the local University

Once I started traveling to Kazakhstan our world open up to internationals in our area.. Marc and Sarah started bringing home international friends after their trip to Kazakhstan in 2002. Then we invited exchange students into our home for the school year. Talk about broadening our horizons. I taught classes at the local university in the ESL program. It was so much fun working with the students helping them increase their English language. Did you ever think why we say we have "butterflies" in our stomachs? In Taiwan they have waves in their stomachs! In Turkey they have rabbits!!


Marc and Sarah with our exchange student Tahmina from Turkmenistan. (Hello sweet Tahmina!)

I think there have been times I have forgotten how richly blessed I have been. One thing I had my exchange students do after they got over the excitement of being in America and began to see only what they didn't like and how much they missed their homes, was daily write a list of 20 things they were thankful for that day. Now, sometimes it was for very simple things like the sky is blue. There were days it was really hard for them to find things they liked about the new place they found themselves in. But it did work.. They began to see that different doesn't equate bad. I too have to remember that piece of advice. I too have to daily keep my list of things I am thankful for because sometime in the mist of the chaos of life I forget just truly how blessed beyond measure I am.









Saturday, I had the great privilege and blessing to tag along with Michelle, her two beautiful girls Abby & Lucy and Pat. We went to Hendersonville, NC but stopped several times on the way there and back. The colors on the trees are beautiful, the air crisp and cool. This is apple picking time in western North Carolina so fresh apple cider, apple butter and delicious apples can be picked up at various road side stands. In Hendersonville the girls had a grand time in the Hands On Museum. I enjoyed watching these precious girls simply enjoy the many activities. I think I had forgotten just how innocent, bright eyed, and trusting children can. I love the children that are in my life here at training. It helps ease the ache for my two.





My dear friend Lois, called and let me know SHE had RECEIVED a letter from my sweet daughter.. UGH.. I did not. The mail moves a little slower down to this part of the state. It was so good to know someone had heard from her and hear that she is making it. She reported that she was still alive (which is a good thing) that she misses home (I think that is typical for recruits) that she received the meanest and hardest drill Sargent (probably all recruits feel this) and she also finally had a date for boot camp graduation. November 21st. A week after I finish training here, almost perfect timing. I was hoping for a little more time between training and her graduation to have time to work, but this is it. Now, I have to figure out how to get to Great Lakes, IL and a place to stay. Sarah only has leave for that day so I don't need to stay in the area except for that Thursday and Friday night. I don't know if I'll fly or drive.. My car isn't up to that long of a road trip. I was a little worried taking it here, but it has hung in there. I did look into rental cars, but at this point I just don't know. It's not today's problem so I'm not going to worry about it..

My time here in training has been such an encouragement. The staff are amazing with their willingness to share their knowledge and friendships. Friendships that will last a life time across lands and oceans are being built between other students and staff. The dear friendships that I have treasured to this point I'm recognizing more just how valuable they are to me and how truly blessed I've been with the people that have been placed on the path in my life. Thank you dear friends for being there to encourage me and cheer for me along the way. I have been touched by the letters, notes, and care packages (thank you Tim & Lisa for the great books, Janet for the tasty treats and Lois for my mail, book, & my paints! :o} ) I could never do this alone or in my own strength and am so touched by the time and effort my dear friends have put into letting me know they are there for me. Everyone loves getting mail in this day of technology nothing replaces a physical letter.. Remember to write my sweet Sarah..

I've got several images I want to paint and have started on. What a joy to paint just for the joy of expressing my thankfulness of all the many blessing in my life. Maybe I'll share but for the moment it is like a journal with my inner most thoughts.. But oh, what fun I'm having..

Thank you dear friends.. I keep you each close to my heart..
May your day be filled with seeing the many joys and blessings given just for today..
Love
Vicki