los Miller

Hasta la próxima, Antigua!

2011-01-14T22:03:00.000-08:00

Until next time, Antigua....

Antigua - January 2011

2011-01-13T22:32:00.000-08:00

Resting on the terrace at Casa Luna

The Famous Arch--always a classic!

Sunset

Fountain meets Christmas!

Licuado de banano con yogur (Banana smoothie made with yogurt)

Huevos guatemaltecos (scrambled eggs with tomatoes and onions, served with a side of black beans, toast, and fresh fruit)

Lunch/Dinner at Café Condesa--always a good plan!

Beautiful, sunny day in front of Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Merced (aka "La Merced")

Back at my old room at Casa Luna, a hostel I would highly recommend to anyone needing a place to stay in Antigua.

I am back in Guatemala for a week and a half to volunteer for Wuqu' Kawoq, a non-profit organization that is "committed to facilitating excellence and linguistic competence in medical care delivery in the indigenous highlands of Guatemala" (Mission Statement). To learn more about what we do, please visit: http://www.wuqukawoq.org

Specifically, I will be training to be a medical interpreter/translator in Kaqchikel, one of the 22 Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. We will be conducting clinics in various towns across the country in the next week or so. It is going to be a very busy and rewarding time, so I took advantage of the down time just before everything gets started to spend a few nights in Antigua.

Namely, I have an obsession with books, so I came to peruse the book stores in town to see what I could find! These are some of the pictures I took along the way....

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2011-01-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

Early this week it snowed in Lawrence (along with the greater portion of the rest of the country). With the actual temperatures below freezing, it was safest to follow the cats' example: stay inside, where it is warm and dry, and check it all out through the window. All in all, there were 10 inches total at our house!

Topeka Zoo - January 8, 2011

2011-01-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Flamingos

Parrot

Macaw

Sleeping Bat

Tropical Rainforest Area with Lots of Birds

Poison Dart Frogs

Lizard

Tortoises

Orangutan

We both took our turn at kissing the monkeys!

Tiger

Porcupine

Giraffes

Hippopotamuses

Goat

Ducks

Bald Eagle

Grizzly Bear

Snow Fox

Mountain Lion

As part of a musical project Brian has been working on, we spent last Saturday at the Topeka Zoo. Located in Gage Park, it features a number of different species, far more than I was expecting from a regional zoo. Suffice it to say, we were surprised to come across so many lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Not to mention, the birds in the Tropical Rainforest area, one of which took a liking to my sweater and started pecking at its balls.

North Carolina - January 2011

2011-01-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

Spending the New Year with family, both human and furry....

North Carolina - White Christmas 2010

2011-01-05T18:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2010 - Lawrence, KS

2010-12-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

This year, we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Lawrence, KS with our two kitty gatos, Smokey and Sadie (the Goat). While we missed seeing the family, it was fun to watch the cats go crazy with the tree and excessive amounts of cat nip!

Maple Leaf Festival 2010

2010-10-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

The Maple Leaf Festival started in 1958 in Baldwin City, Kansas. It began as a community even inspired by Dr. Ivan Boyd, a biology professor at Baker University, also located in Baldwin City. Dr. Boyd stated that the third weekend of October was the best time to observe the changing colors of the Maple leaves as well as celebrate a successful harvest.

Now, more than fifty years later, the event continues to attract hundreds of people (as we noticed as we were waiting in the slew of cars on the turnpike). With over 300 craft exhibits, quilt shows, performing arts, live music, and unique fair food, it is a family-friendly event with something for everyone. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for local non-profits to raise funds.

Once we found parking, we held back the temptation to try the BBQ sandwiches at the firetruck to see what the billowing smoke could mean in terms of meat cooking on a grill. We began to make our way through the crowds, stopped off to buy a lemonade from a group of kids with a lemonade/grape kool-aid stand, and finally ended at a huge grill with a variety of animals to choose from. We settled on a brat, a hamburger, and an order of nachos with the liquid cheese.

After we ate, we started walking back through the streets to check out the quilt display and some of the craft vendors. All the while, we reminded ourselves that we needed to make it back to the stand with the huge cookies. So, at the end of the day, we returned to the stand which packed full of homemade goodies. Just as I saw the word, "Patchouli" on what we originally thought were cookies, I knew that something had gone wrong. Nope, not cookies; rather, they were homemade soaps made from goat products.

Luckily, on the other side of the stand, there were some assorted jams, breads, and a couple of baggies of cookies. I picked out a large jar of blackberry jam, a loaf of pumpkin bread, and a baggie of chocolate chip cookies. All in all, it was a fine day at the Maple Leaf Festival!

Wuqu' Kawoq Global Giving Day to Support Midwives in Guatemala!

2010-10-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

Wuqu' Kawoq is an NGO that provides health care in the highlands of Guatamala to Kaqchikel-speaking patients in their language. Tomorrow, we have a big campaign with Global Giving to raise money for our project with midwives. Starting at 12:01am Eastern on October 12th, Global Giving will match any donations over $10 by at least 30%.

The money will be used to expand our work in the past with midwives to more broadly address issues related to human and reproductive rights. Specifically, we will offer expanded educational offerings targeted at sexually transmitted disease, STI, contraception, and sexual rights. We will couple this to offer free of charge screenings for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases as well as access to contraceptive methods.

Here is the webpage from global giving:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/guatemalamidwives/http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/guatemalamidwives/

And, here is a statement from Brent Henderson, Wuqu' Kawoq Board Secretary:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Tuesday-is-the-Day-to-Support-Midwives-.html?soid=1102026328962&aid=aYD6hQgY0rY

Please consider making a donation. Every little bit helps!

Clinton Lake September 2010

2010-09-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Before it turned cold, Brian and I took advantage of the warm, sunny weather to go hiking near Clinton Lake.

Hot Damn, Tiffy Wrote Part of a Book

2010-09-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Boom Femenino in Mexico: Reading Contemporary Womens Writing. You can get it on Amazon.

Hot Damn, Tiffany was in the newspaper

2010-08-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

--Campus group aids in Guatemala disaster relief in the University Daily Kansan--

Back to the U.S.

2010-08-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

On August 2nd I flew back to the States from Guatemala, and I got to come home to our new house. As you can tell, the cats adjusted marvelously!

Feria de San Juan

2010-07-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

After two hours driving through the windy roads that weave through the mountains leading to Comalapa, we arrived and were instantaneously overwhelmed with all of the stimuli. We ate lots of fair food (although we paid for it later), rode the Rueda de Chicago, a ferris wheel that is take down and reassembled from one town to the next, and topped off the evening with a man dancing around in a deer outfit with hundreds of fireworks attached to his body. Quite entertaining, to say the least!

Van to Chiq'a'l (Comalapa)

2010-07-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

For the Feria de San Juan on June 24, 2010, a bunch of people from the Oxlajuj Aj course took a van to Comalapa to take part in the festivities.

CIRMA (Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica)

2010-07-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights to my being in Antigua is that CIRMA (Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica) is located just a five-minute walk from the main plaza. My first time there, I was completely mesmerized by all of its research glory!

Oxlajuj Aj 2010

2010-07-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

After completing the Kab'lajuj Ey Kaqchikel Mayan field school, I started Oxlajuj Aj, a Kaqchikel summer language course organized by Tulane University. Here are some of the pictures from the first few weeks of class....

Xukulem Richin Graham (Graham's Ceremony)

2010-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Graham, Claire, and I

Wo'o' Ajmike chuqa' Ixq'anil

(They were on the other side of the fire).

Just as we were arriving to Antigua, it was time for Graham, one of the year-long interns for Wuqu' Kawoq to depart for the States. To wish him a safe journey home, we held a day-keeper's ceremony for him at the altar located inside PLFM here in Antigua. Here are some pictures of us after it was over....

Nusamaj pa ri rute' q'aq' (My work in the kitchen)

2010-07-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of having a house was that we had a kitchen and could cook our meals, instead of having to eat out all of the time. I tried my hand at a few dishes, and here are some pictures of the results....

Taq Kotz'i'j pa xeruxikin qachoch (Flowers by our house)

2010-07-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about our house is the fact that there were so many flowers nearby, which tend to attract the butterflies!

Qachoch pa Pan Q’än (Our House in Antigua)

2010-07-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

The backyard

Rebecca picking limes off of our lime tree

Our pila

Rute' q'aq' (Kitchen)

Dining Room

Clarice and Claire sitting in our living room

Nuch'at (My bed)

Ruxikin Jay (Bathroom)

After the Kab'lajuj Ey course, we moved to Antigua to start Oxlajuj Aj, a Kaqchikel Mayan language and culture course organized by Tulane University. To get settled in, we first found a place to live in, and we found a house just on the north end of town. Here are some of the pictures of tiqachoch (our little house)....

Kab'lajuj Ey Kaqchikel Maya Language School Clausura

2010-07-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

After the two weeks of classes, we had our clausura to conclude the course and celebrate the success of Kab'lajuj Ey. It is always an emotional time because you form really strong bonds with everyone, so it is difficult to say good-bye to people who have managed to profoundly touch your heart in such a short amount of time.

For the clausura, the students get to make mini-presentations, so I sang "Jun ti sanik" (There is one ant), which is a children's song in Kaqchikel. I also sang "Velha infancia" with Clarice in Portuguese. Some of the other talents were singing the Kansas alma mater, polka dancing, and having an English lesson for the teachers. It was hilarious teaching the teachers about vocabulary in English related to exercising (lifting weights, jumping jacks, etc.). It is always fun to turn the tables on the teachers and let them be students for a little bit. hehe

Finally, we all wrote a Matyoxinïk (a thank-you) for all of the teachers to thank them for all that they did for us. I am a schmuck for that sort of thing, so I was in tears the whole time I was trying to give mine. It was such a beautiful experience, so I really wanted my Matyoxinïk to communicate my gratitude and let the teachers know how much they each had touched my heart.

Since it was such a special occasion, I asked one of the teachers if she would mind lending me one of her trajes, so I felt so special walking around for the day in my po't and skirt!

Wuqu' Kawoq Clinic

2010-07-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

The last day of the Kab'lajuj Ey course, there was also a clinic being held in the Wuqu' Kawoq. Throughout the week, as we walked through the town, we were constantly being stopped by lots of random people in the streets asking about when "Ma Pedro" (the primary doctor for Wuqu' Kawoq) would arrive. I guess word had spread because there were tons of people that showed up that Friday to receive medical attention from the doctor. While Peter was seeing patients, we had class in the kitchen. It must have been quite a spectacle for everyone to hear us gringos trying our best at Kaqchikel because there were lots of people peeking in the kitchen door to check out what was going on in our class!

Jun Key (A Horse) ....

2010-07-07T01:26:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about the rural areas of Guatemala is the horses that are randomly standing on the sides of the roads. In many places, people use horses as their primary mode of transportation, aside from walking. This was a horse that we stumbled upon as we were walking to Wicha's house to have lunch....

Museo Santiago

2010-07-07T01:10:00.000-07:00

At the Museo Santiago, there is a lot of information on the barrilete (kite-making) tradition there. Every year for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), there is a huge festival in Santiago in which hundreds of kites are released to take their first flight. Because they are so huge (often several meters in diameter), they take months to prepare. Even though we aren't going to be able to witness this spectacle, it was really interesting to tour the museum.

On another note, since we are a Kaqchikel class, we asked the museum director to give us the tour in Kaqchikel. However, because Spanish is more predominant than Kaqchikel, the poor woman had extreme difficulties in expressing herself in the indigenous language. That just goes to show that just because someone wears traje (traditional Mayan clothing), it does not necessarily mean that s/he speaks a Mayan language.

Gullywasher!

2010-07-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

One of the beauties of living in Guatemala during the summer is that you don't miss out on the rainy season. When I was preparing to come here, everyone warned me to come prepared to deal with wet weather, but I had no idea what I was in store for! The house in Santiago is made of a tin roof, so even when it was just slightly raining, it sounded like it was coming a downpour from inside. One night, however, what we heard inside was pretty much what was going on outside - what can be considered for all intents and purposes as a good old fashioned gullywasher.

Yojb'iyin kik'in ri tijonela' (Walking with the Teachers)

2010-06-28T23:54:00.000-07:00

As another cultural event, we all visited the Museo Regional de Santiago Sacatepéquez one afternoon. As we were walking there, Emily took a picture of us all making our way through the streets....

Amazing Balancing Talents!

2010-06-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

Another thing that never ceased to amaze me about the Mayan communities is how the women manage to balance things on their heads. I have seen women transport items of various sizes on their heads, which is astounding!

One day, I had to pick up our laundry from Wicha's house, and, being the untalented gringa that I am, I had to lug the massive weight in my arms. As I was walking down the street, I can't tell you how many people stopped at stared at me like I was a flaming idiot as they were carrying things much heavier on their heads. Oh, the many things that we have to learn from the Maya!

K’aybäl (Market)

2010-06-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about Guatemala in general is the market. We always go there to buy our fruit and vegetables for each meal, and then on the way home, we always buy wäy (corn tortillas), which are more often than not the primary staple of a Mayan diet. Apart from the assortment of fresh produce, there are also vendors that sell a variety of other things, including traje (the traditional dress still worn by Mayan women).

Yojkemon rik'in Ixkamey (We weave with Ixkamey)

2010-06-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Another real treat of the Kab'lajuj Ey course was that one of the teachers, Ixkamey, is a renowned weaver. For our cultural event, one day she brought some of her weaving supplies and taught us how to weave.

In Mayan numerology, the number 20 is fundamental, because that is the number of fingers and toes that each human being has. In weaving, the strings are counted off in twenties, so Ixkamey showed us how to count the correct number of threads to make the pattern consistent.

Since it takes a great deal of strength to be able to support a loom, women generally strap themselves to their loom, which is then secured to anything sturdy (a wall, a door frame, etc.).

I was absolutely terrified when I first started because I was really afraid that I was going to mess it up, but after I while I began to really enjoy it. Each of the threads that we used was an astonishingly beautiful hue, and I thanked Ixkamey profusely for teaching us how to weave. She is not only an extremely talented Kaqchikel teacher, but she is also a superb weaving instructor. Ütz rusamaj, Ixkamey!

Xukulem (Day Keeper Ceremony) pa Wuqu' Kawoq

2010-06-28T21:36:00.001-07:00

A cloth with the different colored candles that were used during the ceremony.

Wicha making sure the candles were placed correctly.

Clarice and Kate helping set up the materials needed for the fire.

Clarice, Claire and I focusing on the fire.

The daykeeper took my candles and touched them to my 13 joints during the part of the ceremony for my nahual (Toj).

After we all got back from Antigua, we had the opportunity to participate in a xukulem (Day Keeper's ceremony). According to the day that you were born, you have a number (1-13), and a nahual, which is a spirit that accompanies your soul in life. My day is Julajuj Toj, which means that my birthdate corresponds with the number 11, and my nahual is a Toj, which is a raindrop or a tear. It is said that the higher the number you have, the more strength you have.

During the ceremony, the daykeeper (aj q'ij) uses various materials, such as candles of different colors, incense, liquor, red soda, sugar, salt, rosemary, etc. Once the fire is started, he summons the ancestors to give the people participating in the ceremony guidance. For us, we asked our ancestors for strength as we continued to learn Kaqchikel.

As the ceremony proceeds, he goes through all of the different possible nahuales, and then names off the numbers 1-13 that correspond to each nahual. When your nahual is being summoned, you can toss your candles into the fire, or you can kneel and have the daykeeper take your candles and rub them all of over you, touching them to the 13 points of your body.

At other points in the ceremony, if you would like to put candles in the fire for a loved one, you are welcome to do so when that person's nahual is being summoned. For Brian's nahual, he is Waqi' Tz'ikin, which means that his number is 6 and his nahual is Bird. It is particularly interesting when the bird is summoned because everyone in the ceremony takes a handful of birdseed and sprinkles it over the fire while making a bird sound.

After having spent a year working to learn Kaqchikel, it was so beautiful to hear it being used in such a poetic way to summon the ancestors. However, what was the most amazing part of this particular ceremony was the fact that the day keeper sat with us after it was all over to explain what had just happened. According to him, our fire was very positive in that it indicated that we all approached the ceremony with open, pure hearts. The fire had several tornado-like swirls, which is the response of the ancestors. He told us that so far, there hasn't been any disturbance in our work and that our path is open. Now, we just need to continue to do good work, which ultimately depends on each of us.

Antigua: June 11-13, 2010

2010-06-26T00:11:00.000-07:00

Some merimba players busking in the streets.

Claire walking towards the famous arch.

A picture of one of the volcanoes surrounding Antigua that I took from the roof of our hotel.

Claire and Graham playing pool in Red's.

My first gallo, or better known as "Mama aq" (Rooster in Kaqchikel). I will never be able to look at it quite the same after Filiberto's rendition of "q'abarel" (drunk) with a water bottle pretending to be a Mama Aq.

Strolling through the streets with the group....

Sitting in front of the fountain in Café Condessa waiting for my lunch. The highlight of this place is that the coffee is amazing, which was much appreciated after a solid week of instant coffee in Santiago.

Claire, Kate, and Clarice in the hotel.

Claire and I walking towards the market.

Another lovely fountain....

Hanging out with Graham, Miranda, Kab'la, Claire, and Clarice at Kafka's. The joy of this place is the fact that you can sit for hours and smoke while you watch the World Cup games.

Ah, Café Condessa (again)...

Clarice and Kab'la having some Mama Aq....

The whole group at Café Condessa.

The colorful streets of Antigua.

After our first week with Kab'lajuj Ey, all of us tijoxela' (students) headed to Antigua for the weekend to take care of logistical things (i.e. withdraw money, buy cell phones, etc.).

While we were there, we also took advantage of our time to take a much-deserved break from studying....

Despedida de Ixche' chuqa' Kab'la

2010-06-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

At the end of the first week, Ixche' and Kab'la had to go their separate ways. Ixche' flew back to the States, whereas Kab'la was moving on to Antigua to work with some doctors from KU-Med. We were all sad to see them go, but we at least took advantage of taking the photo of the inaugurating class of Kab'lajuj Ey while they were still with us.

Maximón enjoying a Rubio….

2010-06-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

After Maximón got a bath, Claire and I sat down with him to have a Rubio, a Guatemalan brand of cigarettes. Undoubtedly, there is something to be said for a cigarette that does not have the flame repellent chemicals in them that the ones in the States have. Poor Maximón would have been chappy had he not gotten to enjoy his entire smoke!

Wa'in pa Rochoch Wicha (Lunch at Wicha's House)

2010-06-23T00:49:00.000-07:00

The tijonela' and tijoxela' (students and teachers) having lunch together.

A soup with squash, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables.

Fresh, steaming wäy (tortillas) wrapped in a cloth to keep them warm.

This is a lady who lives with Wicha playing with the cat that lives there. She was always so kind to us and was VERY patient with us when we tried to practice our Kaqchikel with her.

The altar inside of Wicha's house.

Everyday we had Wa'in (lunch) at Wicha's house. We always ate at a huge table, and there was always plenty of wäy (tortillas) to go around! As the community leader, there was also a large altar in the corner of the room where we ate. It was always a beautiful ambiance to have lunch. Plus, the added opportunity to speak Kaqchikel was invaluable!

Kab'lajuj Ey Kaqchikel Maya Language School

2010-06-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

Emily getting things ready for class to begin....

Reviewing with Ixkamey during the Kamulunïk (Review) early in the morning.

At the end of each day, we always had an etzlanem (game) to review the material that we had learned. As you can see, you never get too old for these things!

The tijonela' (teachers) planning our lessons....

Kem Chi (Grammar Lesson) with Filiberto, who is a renowned linguistic who wrote the infamous white OKMA dictionary!

Reviewing the day's material with Ixim Nik'te during the Kamulunïk (Review).

One day, Ixkamey told us a story about a man who needed to take some medication. On the label of the bottle, it said "Agítese bien antes de tomar." In Spanish, that mean shake well before taking the medicine. However, the man thought he was supposed to shake his body well, not the medication. This is Ixkamey doing her "Agítese bien" dance at the end of her story!

For our lesson on food, Anita and Clarice prepared a meal for the teachers and explained to them what ingredients they used to prepare. We all had a blast, especially when it came time to eat! Matyöx chi nuway!

Washing dishes in the pila with Ixim Nik'te and Ixkamey. Everyone else tried to help, but they insisted that they were "chanin, chanin" (fast, fast). I pulled out the married card and convinced them that three ixöqi’ (married women) are better than two!

Lajuj Tijax helping Clarice and I during the Kamulunïk (Review).

From June 7th - June 18th, I was one of the tijoxela' (students) that participated in Kab'lajuj Ey, a Kaqchikel Maya Language School that Wuqu' Kawoq organized. Wuqu' Kawoq is an NGO that promotes ethnolinguistics and ethnomedicine in the Highlands of Guatemala amongst Kaqchikel-speaking communities. It was an amazing opportunity to work with Lajuj Tijax, Ixkamey, Ixim Nikte, and Filiberto from 7am until 4:30pm every day. The lessons were intensive, but the interactive components really helped us learn the material. Here are some of the pictures from our first week of classes....

Ad Astra Wedding

2010-06-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

Two of my band mates, and founders of the Ad Astra Arkestra, got married way out in the country south of KC. It was a great wedding and I had a blast!! I got to play tamborine on the processional out and then we ate made amount of grill food and watch bands and DJ's play. They even had a hay ride. All the pictures I took are here (note- I am not as trigger happy as my lovely wife).

Maximón

2010-06-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

Maximón is a saint that is venerated by the Mayan communities in the Highlands of Guatemala with offerings of liquor, cigars, candles, cigarettes, and other miscellaneous items.

Here is some more information on Maximón: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim%C3%B3n

When we first arrived to the Wuqu' Kawoq house in Santiago Sacatepéquez, Maximón was in dire need of a bath. After finding these little tiny silver worms under his necklaces, we decided there was no other option. We collaboratively worked toward cleaning poor Maximón up - here are some pictures of our efforts.

Wuqu' Kawoq House

2010-06-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

These are the steps up to the house from the front door.

This is where we wash the dishes. In the basin to the far left, you wash the dirty dishes and rinse them with the "clean" water in the middle, which we call the pila. To the far right is where you leave them to dry.

This means "bathroom" in Kaqchikel. It technically means the ear of the house because all of the parts of the house are related to the parts of the body.

This is the view from our house out over the mountains. Although you can't see it very well from this picture, there is a volcano just out across the horizon that is absolutely beautiful.

For my first two weeks in Guatemala, I will be staying in the Wuqu' Kawoq house here in Santiago Sacatepéquez. Wuqu' Kawoq is an organization that promotes ethnolinguistics and ethnomedicine in the Highlands of Guatemala, providing medical care for the Kaqchikel Mayan communities in the area.

Here are some pictures of the house that I am living in along with the other students in the course. All in all, there are 11 people here, so it has been a lot of fun getting to know everyone.

Arriving to Santiago Sacatepéquez

2010-06-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

For two months this summer (until August 2nd), I will be in Guatemala taking part in two Kaqchikel language schools and doing some field work for my dissertation. I arrived to Santiago Sacatepéquez on June 5th, and so far things are going well. Once I got here, I went with some of the other people in the first field school (Kab'lajuj Ey) to explore the town and get some lunch at Wicha's house. Here is a picture of us strolling around the town!

Lawrence May 2010

2010-06-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Before leaving for Guatemala, I made sure to get some good quality time with my amor. One of the things that we love doing together is taking walks, so we took advantage of a beautiful spring day to take our stroll. And, yes, we did stop to smell the flowers.....

Early American Borderlands Conference

2010-05-16T04:16:00.000-07:00

Dolphins!

On May 12-15, the Early Americanists Society hosted their annual meeting in St. Augustine, FL. At the conference, apart from giving a paper, I also served as Professor Arias's Graduate Assistant. It was my first time helping organize a conference, so it was a really good experience in terms of professional development.

The conference was a very intellectually stimulating environment. The panel presentations addressed a wide variety of topics, and the keynote speakers were amazing (José Rabasa in the line-up). The conference participants were very well known scholars in the study of Ibero - Anglo Early America, who were very collaborative in spirit. I ended up with a sheet of paper full of contact information, bibliographical references, academic organizations, etc. that were recommended to me over the span of four days that I was there.

Plus, after it was all said and done, there was even time to hit the beach on Saturday afternoon before the historical cruise of the St. Augustine bay that the conference organized to conclude the summit. Watching the sunset over the water was a spectacular reward for a successful conference!

KU2Bros - Bossa Nova Nite

2010-04-30T03:58:00.000-07:00

On April 30th, 2010, KU2Bros held their semi-annual fundraising event to raise money for Instituto Dois Irmãos (Two Brother Foundation), an NGO that provides educational opportunities to the children of Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This semester, the theme of the party was Bossa Nova, and musicians Ricardo Vogt and Leala Cyr performed at Cielito Lindo in downtown Lawrence.

Heather and Adam's Wedding

2010-04-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010 was Heather and Adam's wedding day. Brian and I flew back to Asheville, NC for the weekend to take part in the festivities. As with any wedding, it would be impossible to do a recap of all of the pictures on a blog post. There are lots more pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Heather and Adam's Wedding Pictures

Wichita, KS - March 2010

2010-03-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

For Spring Break this year, Brian and I went to Wichita, KS. While Brian had already been to the Southern part of Kansas, it was my first time. In all honesty, I don't think that I have ever seen anything that flat before!

While we were there, we made sure to visit the American All-Indian Center. With a 44-foot statue 'Keeper of the Plains' by Wichita artist Blackbear Bosin to keep watch over the building, the museum has exhibits of Native American art and artifacts, as well as a traditional Wichita-style grass lodge.

Before heading home to Lawrence, we also made our usual stop at the city's art museum (Wichita Art Museum), which houses a wide variety of American art, including pieces by Frederick Remington, Dale Chihuly and Mary Cassatt.

BRASA Carnaval - March 6, 2010

2010-03-06T03:44:00.000-08:00

Semana Brasileira culminates in Carnaval, a Brazilian dance party that attracts people from all over the Midwest. This year was no different, and we managed to pack Abe and Jake's here in downtown Lawrence.

Mesa Brasileira - March 5, 2010

2010-03-05T03:31:00.000-08:00

As part of Semana Brasileira, BRASA always hosts a large Mesa Brasileira for those who want to practice their Portuguese. Since it is the last of the week's events before Carnaval, we always provide snacks. This year, we had Pão de queijo and Guaraná!

Trip To Ulysses Kansas

2010-02-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

I had to go to Ulysses Kansas for some business. I have never seen the plains, even though I lived in Kansas going on 2 years now. I have never seen anything so flat in my life as the 4 hours between Wichita and Ulysses. On the trip out there, I saw lots of nothingness and Co-op grain silos. We went through Greensburg, a town that a few years ago was completely wiped out by a massive night of tornadoes. They are still rebuilding the area. The plains were peaceful and calming, and was a beautiful site to see.

Ulysses was a town with a population of 5500 folks, and they had a nice town. We stayed at the Corporate West Hotel (equal to some of the 4 star hotels I have stayed at in terms of the quality of the rooms) and ate at Alejandros (a Mexican joint) and The Landmark (a good local place to get a taste of the plains, aka cow).

Below are some a shot or two of this strange strip along the side of the road of metal yard art (or something similar).

BRASA Micareta Folia Fundraising Event

2010-02-14T02:48:00.000-08:00

On February 13, 2010, as part of BRASA I helped organize a fundraiser at Wilde's Chateau 21. We had all kinds of music, Brazilian capoeira, dancing, and more! It was a really successful event, and with the money that we raised, we were able to fund Semana Brasileira and Carnaval....

Austin, Texas - January 2010

2010-01-12T03:03:00.000-08:00

Just before holiday break was over, I took a few days and went to visit Nikkie in Austin, TX. Needless to say, I was happy to be escaping the frigid Kansan temperatures by heading south!

Midwest Snow ain't for a Southern Boy

2010-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

Seriously, this is caca de toro (in english=bull $h!t). I took this picture outside of the local Old Navy in Lawrence KS. It hasn't snowed in 3 days, but it was about 8 degrees when I took this picture. I don't even know how they stack snow that high. When I drive down the roads, there is still a foot and a half "snow curb" everywhere. I can't wait to see what kind of mess happens with the over two feet of snow we got in that last month that has not melted yet changes matter states.

Another Snow Storm....

2010-01-06T22:45:00.001-08:00

Tonight, Brian and I had to drive to Kansas City so that I can catch a 6:55 flight in the morning from MCI to Austin, TX. However, a huge arctic front has decided to swoop down over Kansas and dump a ton of snow.

In the end, we left Lawrence just after I took these pictures and drove to a hotel right beside the airport. These were pictures of Lawrence before the major bands of the storm hit, so you can imagine the following two hours while we drove from Lawrence to about 15 miles north of Kansas City.

Old Man Winter, why us again?

2010!

2010-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

For the New Year, Brian and I stopped by to see some friends in Lawrence before spending the night in Kansas City. It was so cold and snowy that this snowman managed to stick around to ring in 2010!

Happy New Year! Feliz año nuevo! Feliz ano novo! Ütz juna’ k’ak’a’!

Snowy Jayhawk!

2009-12-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Even the Jayhawk's cold....

Winter Break @ KU

2009-12-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

After we got back from North Carolina, I ventured out to campus to get some work done. Needless to say that with all of the snow on the ground, it was quite an achievement to make it to Wescoe....

I-70 Kansas City-Lawrence

2009-12-28T17:26:00.000-08:00

After we left the airport, we were both amazed at the amount of snow that was still on the ground everywhere. Here are some of the pictures that I took along I-70 as we drove from Kansas City to Lawrence.

Digging the Car Out at the Airport....

2009-12-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

Since we left the car at the economy lot in the airport, it hadn't moved since the snow came. All the same, we were just lucky that we didn't have to call the snow line at KCI to have them come and dig us out! Brian is a pro at snow-driving!

A Blanket of Snow over KCI

2009-12-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

Ironically, as we arrived to Kansas City, it was also covered in snow. Apparently, it has snowed the day after we leave for North Carolina, and, since the temperatures never got above 32, all that snow was still on the ground waiting for us!

Snowy Blue Ridge Mountains!

2009-12-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

On Monday, December 28th, it was time for us to head back to Kansas. Although it was sad to say our goodbyes to our family and friends, seeing snow-covered mountains always has a way of lifting spirits!

Mountain Breakfast ala Kenny

2009-12-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Sunday after Christmas, Brian's dad, Kenny, got up early and made a country breakfast with all the trimmings: eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, biscuits, gravy, etc. Needless to say, we all stuffed ourselves!

Christmas Dinner!

2009-12-26T19:58:00.000-08:00

Because we ended up getting so busy on Christmas Day, Madre decided to prepare Christmas dinner the day after Christmas. Prime Rib, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, and rolls were still good a day later. We all devoured some cow, quite happily!

Christmas with Beverly and Jared!

2009-12-26T11:54:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas, we stopped by Beverly and Jared's house. One of the highlights of the holiday season is the abundance of sweet goodies at everyone's house. Beverly's was no different, so we settled in for a warm cup of Joe and a slice of rum cake!

Christmas at Madre and Padre's - Part II

2009-12-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Since Brian was feeling sick Christmas morning, we went back to Madre and Padre's house Christmas evening to finish exchanging gifts. Thank goodness Brian was feeling a lot better and could enjoy himself!

Christmas with Kenny, Jan, & Brynna!

2009-12-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

After I finished up with all of the holiday festivities in Barnardsville, Brian and I went to his parents house for a little Christmas cheer!

Christmas in Barnardsville, NC!

2009-12-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

For Christmas Day, Brian was feeling a little under the weather, so he held the fort down at home, resting in the bed. After I made sure he was good and Pepto-Bismol-ed up, Madre, Padre, and I left for Barnardsville, NC to see Grandpa and the rest of the Creegan family. All in all, it was a good day on the farm!

Christmas Morning!

2009-12-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

On Christmas morning, it was a pretty typical Christmas atmosphere. A Christmas Story on TV, Padre scrambling eggs and frying bacon, and, of course, going through your stocking to see what Santa brought. This year, it appears Zoe was Santa....

Christmas at Scott and Chrissy's

2009-12-24T23:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve night we have a long-standing tradition of going to Brian's Uncle Scott and Aunt Chrissy's house. Apart from getting to see everyone for the holidays, I always look forward to Chrissy's signature hot punch!

Christmas with the Kitties!

2009-12-23T02:45:00.000-08:00

We had to leave the house by 4 o'clock in the morning to catch our 7am flight to Asheville. However, just before we left, we gave Smokey and Sadie their Christmas presents to keep them occupied while we were out of town. I'm still not sure if they liked the cat nip or the toys better....

sqrt(ur mother) @ Replay Lounge 12.22.2009

2009-12-22T23:58:00.000-08:00

The night before Brian and I left for Asheville for the Christmas holiday, Brian, aka sqrt(ur mother), played an electronic set at the Replay Lounge in downtown Lawrence, KS.

After spending weeks crafting an electronic drum set, it was time for its grand debut!

Although I am a little biased, I would say this was the best show that Brian's ever done! Way to go, love!!!

Christmas Lights - Downtown Kansas City

2009-12-19T23:38:00.000-08:00

After we wandered around Legends marveling at their lights, we headed up the road to the Plaza in Downtown Kansas City. My personal favorite was seeing the Cheesecake Factory (Giralda replica) all lit up with Christmas lights. That was certainly something they didn't do in Sevilla!

Christmas Lights - Legends KCK

2009-12-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

The Saturday before Christmas, Brian and I ventured out to Kansas City in search of Christmas lights. And what to our wondering eyes should appear, but Legends Shopping Center with singing Christmas trees! Yes, it was a bit capitalistic, but the light show was amazing....

Finals Week - December 2009

2009-12-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, finals week is never good in any semester. While it's less than enjoyable for me, the kitties always have a blast playing in the book mountains that take root throughout the house....

First Snow of the Year!

2009-12-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

Albeit the winter always brings frigid temperatures, it is hard to complain when there is snow on the ground. These are some of the pictures that I took on campus when it snowed the week after Kenny left for North Carolina.

Kenny's Visit to Kansas!

2009-12-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in December, Brian's dad, Kenny, came to visit us in Kansas. Since he is a lifelong fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, the plan was to load up and go to Arrowstead Stadium to see one of their games. However, the winter is brutal out here, so in the end Brian and Kenny opted to just spend a few minutes at the stadium and take pictures. 'Tis mighty frosty out!

Mesa Brasileira - December 4, 2009

2009-12-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

December 4th marked the second to the last Mesa Brasileira of the semester; Mesa Brasileira is an informal Portuguese conversation group promoted by KU's BRASA (Brazilian Student Association).

Given the large Brazilian population on campus and the interest in Portuguese across campus, there is generally a crowd at Henry's on Fridays to practice their Portuguese and learn about Brazilian culture!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-28T00:06:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving, we did not get a chance to make it home for the holidays. Because there were some people from the department that were also going to be staying in town over the break, we decided to have a pot luck Thanksgiving dinner at Matías's house (Ironically enough, somehow Matías managed to escape all of the pictures....).

Our contribution to the entourage was pumpkins pies, rolls, and homemade stuffing. Plus, I got to try my hand out at the turkey!

Samba Nite!

2009-11-26T22:37:00.000-08:00

Later that evening, KU2Bros and GRASP co-sponsored a fundraising event to support educational opportunities for the children living in Rocinha, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All in all, the night was a success, and we were able to earn over $1000 to send to Brazil!

Matilde Ribeiro: "Racial Equality Policy in Brazil: Myths and Realities"

2009-11-26T22:30:00.001-08:00

On November 2oth at 3:30pm, Matilde Ribeiro gave a lecture entitled, "Racial Equality Policy in Brazil: Myths and Realities." This event was co-sponsored by KU2Bros and GRASP, among other organizations.

Set Up: Multicultural Resource Center Classroom

2009-11-26T22:12:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures of us setting up the conference room where Matilde Ribeiro gave her talk later that afternoon. You can tell that we were hard at work....

Matilde Ribeiro: Lunch at Impromptu Café

2009-11-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

CIBER, the Business School at KU, hosted a luncheon with Matilde Ribeiro at the Impromptu Café for a number of faculty members and students.