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| Our visas!! |
It’s
absolutely crazy to think that in a little over three weeks I’ll finally be
beginning the journey I’ve been planning for almost a year. Yesterday, we received
our visas in the mail, which means we are officially allowed into Paraguay. And
best of all, my visa doesn’t expire until 2017! Not that I plan on staying that
long (don’t freak out Mom). The past few weeks have been interesting having
another person here with me sharing the experience of formation and living in
our community. A great interesting though. It’s been a huge help to have Caitlin here to confide in and to experience life in Albuquerque with me.
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| Caitlin, me & Mary outside Old Town. I've been three times before this, but never managed to see the actual entrance. |
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| Caitlin, Sr. Angela & Me |
Since I'm behind on blogging... Grandpa & Grandma Parks stopped by on their way to Arizona the first weekend back in Albuquerque. It was so nice to show them around a little, go out to eat (of course it was Pizza!) and to just hang out. Thank you for visiting. It was just what I needed my first week back!
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| After some intense games of cards that I'm pretty sure Grandpa won all of. |
Day to Day
Our weeks
have gotten much busier. Before Christmas break, I had a lot of free time to study Spanish and do whatever in the early afternoons. Now, I’m having conversation hours most Mondays and
Fridays with Sr. Marisa, which is a huge help in improving my spoken Spanish. Since Caitlin speaks Spanish very well, she's helping me too. Caitlin and
I have also started volunteering at Casa Angelica on Mondays and Thursdays from
1:30 to 5 before we go to San Jose for catechism. Casa Angelica started as a home for young children with severe disabilities, but now, because they get such amazing care, the children have grown into adults, with several around my age or older. The 16 “kids” are absolutely wonderful even though I don’t always know what
to say to them or do with them since none of them can speak or walk.
But, each day we go I feel more comfortable as I get to know what each of them
likes and dislikes and how they communicate.
Caitlin and
I have started cooking together in preparation for living in Paraguay, and I’m
surprised I’m saying this, but I don’t actually hate vegetables and beans. I
wouldn’t say my portions are full-on adult, but I’m getting there!
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| Our first meal together:A Moroccan dish with chick peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions and a bunch of other spices. |
A little Adventure
Last
Saturday, we went skiing at Sandia (the mountains right outside Albuquerque) much to Sr. Angela's dismay due to safety concerns. Luckily neither of us got hurt, so we didn't have to deal with her wrath or her threat of taking our place in going to Paraguay :). It was the first time Caitlin or I had gone skiing, and I’ll admit that I was a little scared at points and
fell down a lot (I went to the top of the mountain and even went on some blue
hills!), but it was an absolute blast. Mary, her boyfriend, Rob, and her
brother, Danny, were amazing coaches and teachers. Guess I’ll have to try out
the slopes in Colorado with Nicki, Jason and Oliver next year.
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| In our ski gear! I knew there was another reason I decided to bring running gear... |
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| Mary giving Caitlin and me lessons. |
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| Our wonderful coach! |
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| View from the lift: surprisingly not scary even with my fear of heights. |
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| After our run down the mountain, which I'm pretty sure took much longer than Rob & Danny were anticipating. |
Santa Fe
On Sunday,
Mary, Rob, Sr. Angela, Caitlin and I went to Santa Fe and explored the
Plaza, the Cathedral and the many shops that surround them. Plus, we stopped by
the Loretto Chapel, which houses the Miraculous Staircase. Amazing art and
culture!
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| View of Santa Fe from the Cathedral. |
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| Our Lady of Guadalupe tiled art outside the Cathedral. |
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| Outside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe |
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| The Cathedral doors. |
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| Intricacy on the doors. |
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| Crucifix inside the Cathedral. If I remember right it is several hundred years old and contains real human hair...not my favorite to be honest. |
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| The statue on top is La Conquistadora, interestingly enough now called our Lady of Peace. The oldest statue of Mary in the U.S. |
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| Inside the Cathedral |
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| Inside the Cathedral |
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| The baptismal font inside the Cathedral. |
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| Santa Fe |
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| Santa Fe |
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| The old Loretto Chapel |
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| All the rosaries hanging outside. |
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| On the train back to Albuquerque! |
Caitlin and
I returned to Santa Fe on Wednesday with a bus of parishioners from
Annunciation parish to participate in the Right for Life rally. I’d never been
to one, so it was an interesting experience. Skipping the actual march from the
Cathedral to the Round House (New Mexican Capitol), Caitlin and I
helped pass out 400 balloons to signify the abortions that occur in New
Mexico each month.
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| Right for Life Mass at the Cathedral |
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| holding roughly 70 balloons |
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| Outside the Round House |
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| Our handiwork |
This weekend,
we’re attending a retreat at the Spirituality Center on the Inner Compass: Growing
with Ignatian Spirituality, next weekend I’m heading to Flagstaff for a short
visit with Matt, the following weekend several past VOICA volunteers and
friends are gathering for a special send off Mass for Caitlin and I, the next
weekend we pack, and Monday we depart!
Hi, Thank you very much for your sharing! It's a joy to read your train of thoughts =] I am planning to join VOICA too and I have sent a mail to them a few days ago. I would like to ask how long you usually need to wait for their reply... (Kind of worried that they do not need volunteers now... =[)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your stay! Happy giving! =]
Erica
Hi Erica! I'm so glad you're enjoying my blog. Hopefully it is a good resource for you to learn about VOICA. They usually reply pretty quickly and they are always looking for volunteers (especially for Paraguay! :)) Which e-mail did you respond to? Voica@voica.org? You can also try voicaamerica@yahoo.com or you can e-mail me, too.
DeleteThank you for your prompt reply Hiliary! :) I sent my mail to voica@voica.org nearly a week ago and there is still no reply >< But it was a mail of questions only... perhaps they will reply quickly if I send them the completed application form... :p Let me try it and I will let you know soon! :) Btw do you mind giving me your email address? It seems to be more convenient to chat in that way! :p
ReplyDeleteErica
my email address is ericansm@gmail.com :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hiliary.smith@yahoo.com. Just sent you an e-mail!
ReplyDelete