This was it...the time I had been waiting for. The most important of all. I was from Canada...and I´d better represent...not only that...but the Vafaie family was been known for dominating in this amongst the Dorchesterarians. We were inside...but with the outdoor hot breeze wafting in. Sweat was coming out of every crevice of my body. I stared my opponent down...as he stared at me. I was NOT about to let my family down. This was no game of...golf...or...curling...this was some true...professional Venezuelian pingpong. The paddles were not in best shape..but I would have to deal with it. Sweat was constantly falling into my eyes...making the pingpong ball look nebulous. I knew that my opponent was facing these same difficulties...but he had been trained under these conditions...and I was no longer in the Vafaies house...I was on HIS territory. Despite the fact that he had played about 10 games in a row...and was started to look tired...I still let me family down. BLAST! A bunch of the youth had taken me downtown to one of their universities where we played some volleyball and pingpong. I would just DIE going to university here...because playing even just PINGPONG will leave you sweating like you were doing 1000 meter dashes due to the excruciating heat.
About 5 of the youth here have just completed book 2...and there are still another 10 youth in the process. Our dance workshop practices are doing O...K... Attendence is very inconsistent...but I have been able to get 2 youth coming consistently and who know almost all of the step moves. We will be performing in a week in Cabudare (where Bahiyyih is now serving) for a 2 day conference. (5 hour drive for a 2 day conference!! Dios!) The youth from here are also going to perform Guita!...which is Maracaibos traditional music.
Susan is once again very excited as many of the youth are starting to show their faces in the activities again. There seemed to be some problems causing disunity amongst the youth...some of which are ´girl guy´problems...such as relationships and bunch of people going for one person...and THATS why I currently dont have a girlfriend! Unless I´m 99% sure...I´m not going to do something that could end up in two broken hearts...and most importantly...the end of a great friendship that used to be. I find that many relationships these days are for pleasure...for the instant entertainment...and not thinking about the future. Whats the point? It will end up BAD! The way I see it...a relationship is a means of getting to know the other person better...not to satisfy your sexual desires, kissing or even hugs!...you still have mommy for that! Ahem....back to Venezuela...
I have been talking more with Peter (the pioneer here) to see what it really takes to be a succesful pioneer like himself. Peter lived in America...and was drafted into the army. When in the army...they were aloud to go to school as well. Peter decided to go into an ALL blacks school! (Peter is White). Peter was the only white person in the school...but all the people were very kind to him and welcomed him. Peter taught the Faith in that school as well as became friends with everyone...showing that there truly IS NO DIFFERENCE between the races of mankind. (Cant believe the ignorance of mankind sometimes!) The army general...or something upper class told recommended him not to attend the school anymore...because it looked bad for the army having a soldier going into an all blacks school. Peter ignored the recommendation, as he saw no real problem or threat. A couple weeks later...the school kicked him out and gave him back his money...obviously a work of the army...After Peter was done with the army...he left America by a cargo ship down to Venezuela. He didnt speak spanish...he had no guaranteed job...and he was only 27 years old! In Venezuela he eventually became a professor of engineering and is now retired. The story of Peter could be made into a movie! Like...one of those movies like Remember the Titans where it shows one man uniting all these races!! haha. Its incredible! I brought some puzzles from Canada...the type wheres in like a metal ring inside a loop...and you have to take the ring out. Peter was the only one who didnt ask for help...and he tried doing that puzzle for HOURS! This taught me that I better REALLY start working on perseverance if I´m wanting to become a good pioneer in the future, as well as taking something started, out to the finish. Peter is a man who really likes to talk!...and during dinner he has taught me some good lessons. He told me about how one great philosopher said that a man has hit maturity when he has found a cause worth working for...and Looses himself in it. Meaning that unless you find something worth living for...and become selfless in it...you have not reached maturity. This makes sense...whats the point in living...in having your own pleasure...if you die in 80 years and all is forgotten? Its only worthwhile to work for a cause.
Peters Daughter just returned from studying in America. She is going to be here for a week then is going to Equador where she will visit all the people she served with during her year of service. She is really awesome and a great translator! She took me out yesturday with a bunch of the youth and we did some sightseeing downtown...and in the ´tourist´ area where they had traditional style homes of maracaibo. After walking past a security guard with a shotgun...I felt safe to pull out my camera and take some pictures.
I have had a couple youth here tell me not to ever leave!!! I found it sooo sweet! The kindness and love that the youth show for me here is just tooo much for me to handle...that i dont know...how to handle it. haha. I REALLY wish I could speak flawless spanish...although my spanish is still getting better....i wish I could have good deep conversations with them. I have gotten to the point where I can tell some jokes and have made them all crack up at times!! Thats the most SATISFYING feeling...If I dont become a doctor...I want to go into some profession where I can just make people laugh!
I´m not going to be here in Venezuela for MUCH longer...and this may be my last email before I get back...and then I may send one more to describe my whole experience! I hope you are all doing well and I miss you all!
Have a great summer,
Love,
Erfan
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Deprived! (Venezuela email #4)
I must say...all the time I have spent here has made me realize...how DEPRIVED they are of XBOX here! NO XBOX! NONE! But...they do play one game we are all familiar with! Frogger! But this version is much more difficult. You don´t have a top down view...you have a first person view. The cars go a lot faster, and they react by braking or turning if you are on the road. Your also not a frog who can leap one whole lane at a time..and SOME people play it HIGHEST difficulty by carrying lots of things and wearing high heels and crossing the highway where traffic merges...oh...and you only have one life. Personally...I have not played this so called ´game´...as I do not feel it safe to cross the highways of Maracaibo...nor have I needed to...yet.
I´m starting to get used to the excruciating heat here! If the temperature EVER hits 28-29 degrees at night...WOW...its a BEAUTIFUL night! As I look at myself in the mirror, I don´t think I have lost any body mass...because if I did...as you all know...I would cease to exist.
We have continued with Ruhi books here...and the youth themselves suggested that we do INTENSIVE Ruhi...which left Susan in shock...as she said that the youth were never THAT eager to do Ruhi and she felt as though she was always pushing THEM! We had pretty much a PACKED day of Ruhi from 3pm till 9pm, where I had a chance to tutor two youth for a couple hours! It was quite difficult...as there were moments of silence as I tried to make up a question relating to the read paragraphs.
We havent had too many more dance practices yet. The McLarens (the family I´m staying with) are gone for the weekend to see the Voices of Bahá, which is a choir consisting of 80 people from all over the World...and they are pretty much doing a huge Tour...singing all over the place right now. Beacause of the absence of the McLarens...we haven´t been able to hold much here...except for some childrens classes...speaking of which...yesturday was Día de niños! Day of the children, national celebration! We all went to another Bahais house where there were over 20 children...and they all got presents...we danced...they played musical chairs! The kids were very cute! They would constantly come up to me and ask me what their names are in English.
When I first came to Venezuela...I knew I´d NEVER be walking the streets during the night! NO WAY JOSE! (Hosay). Mom...Dad...this is when you two stop reading! Bye!...
Ahem...as I was saying....(mom..dad...i know your still reading..please!) Reinaldo (the youth staying at this house with me currently! Great guy...knows some english!) and I have actually walked the streets a number of times during the night! The night life here is actually quite amusing! Everyone´s got their chairs outside, kids are on the street playing soccer...it actually didnt seem as dangerous as they all made it seem. You would never see a girl walking alone though...they were usually accompanied by a MACHO man! The other night though...(thursday day...the McLarens had just left..) I was waiting for Reinaldo at around 11:30 pm. I was afraid that I wouldnt hear the doorbell from inside...so I waited outside...but inside the metal bar and cemented gates of the house. As I sat there...I heard something that I have heard quite a bit around here. Fireworks are very popular around here...I don´t like the fact that they are popular...because it kind of helps disguise the sound of a gunshot...and THIS firework...sounded a bit different... I thought to myself ´nah...cant be NOTHING! Its just fireworks......right?´...three minutes later...I could hear the sound of the ambulance in the background...by this time...I was already trying to recall all of the moves that Jet Li does to unarm his opponents...just incase I would have to use it if someone came to the gates with a gun...since the ´guard´dogs here seem quite incompetant. One is constantly dancing on is back to scratch off ticks...while the other is the size of a squirrel....as cute as one too! Soon after the sound of the ambulance...I heard two consecutive pistol shots...´PAH....PAH...´...by this time...I had a knife in each hand...and a backup knife in my sock. ( Only kidding!...Jet Li doesnt use knives! He uses his hands!) That.....got me saying the LONGER Protection prayers...I figure...It´d be worth it!
The youth and children here just LOVE my digital camera! Everytime I take a picture...they have to zoom in AS FAR as they can...and analyze every pixel of the picture...thats why I try to avoid taking pictures of LOTS of kids...otherwise...my camera will be covered in half digested, saliva filled chocolat.
Mom and Dad...this part is also not for you...as it is VERY bad....
I´ve pretty much become a pro at washing dishes now! When there are activities here..the dishes just PILE UP like you dont believe...and since I usually have nothing to do after the activities are over...I wash the dishes! If there is ONE thing that I can say that I have done consistently and helped out with here...is helped the McLarens WASH their dishes!
One thing that I have found very interesting is the fact that Home visits are a part of their lives here. In Canada...in our cluster meetings (if some of you have no idea what I´m talking about...feel free to email me and ask me) we talk about how important it is to have home visits...and we set goals for home visits....HERE...its like...´alright...lets go around the streets and visit this person...that person...´, and they will all invite you to sit down...have a drink of Coke or water...etc. I remember one of the ways that clusters are divided is by transportation availability...and its interesting to see that this whole ´sector´ is all walking distance away! All of the 20 youth...20 children...all walking distance away! Its SOOOO NICE and CONVENIENT that way! Want to have a social? Walk around...tell everyone to just join ya! And they all walk around with you and you come back home and watch some movies or something. They dont tell eachother about activities by phone here...they walk around and tell them all individually! I find it to be much more effective...and has served to make me understand maybe why the LEM site hasnt been soo successful (once again...if you are confused...email me!), because we send out these MASS emails (like this one) to invite people to things...but its MUCH more effective if a friend invites you personally...by coming to your door or a phone call! Lesson #1 Learnt! ( About time!).
Reinaldo and I are about to walk to his house to feed his dogs (he lives in an apartment with two BIG dogs). One of them is a Wolf Dog....VERY beautiful creature and it HOWLS like a WOLF!! Its incredible! ( I missed my chance to see a monkey back in Barquisimeto! I´m still jealous of you for that Faran!)
Miss you all and love you all lots,
Erfan
I´m starting to get used to the excruciating heat here! If the temperature EVER hits 28-29 degrees at night...WOW...its a BEAUTIFUL night! As I look at myself in the mirror, I don´t think I have lost any body mass...because if I did...as you all know...I would cease to exist.
We have continued with Ruhi books here...and the youth themselves suggested that we do INTENSIVE Ruhi...which left Susan in shock...as she said that the youth were never THAT eager to do Ruhi and she felt as though she was always pushing THEM! We had pretty much a PACKED day of Ruhi from 3pm till 9pm, where I had a chance to tutor two youth for a couple hours! It was quite difficult...as there were moments of silence as I tried to make up a question relating to the read paragraphs.
We havent had too many more dance practices yet. The McLarens (the family I´m staying with) are gone for the weekend to see the Voices of Bahá, which is a choir consisting of 80 people from all over the World...and they are pretty much doing a huge Tour...singing all over the place right now. Beacause of the absence of the McLarens...we haven´t been able to hold much here...except for some childrens classes...speaking of which...yesturday was Día de niños! Day of the children, national celebration! We all went to another Bahais house where there were over 20 children...and they all got presents...we danced...they played musical chairs! The kids were very cute! They would constantly come up to me and ask me what their names are in English.
When I first came to Venezuela...I knew I´d NEVER be walking the streets during the night! NO WAY JOSE! (Hosay). Mom...Dad...this is when you two stop reading! Bye!...
Ahem...as I was saying....(mom..dad...i know your still reading..please!) Reinaldo (the youth staying at this house with me currently! Great guy...knows some english!) and I have actually walked the streets a number of times during the night! The night life here is actually quite amusing! Everyone´s got their chairs outside, kids are on the street playing soccer...it actually didnt seem as dangerous as they all made it seem. You would never see a girl walking alone though...they were usually accompanied by a MACHO man! The other night though...(thursday day...the McLarens had just left..) I was waiting for Reinaldo at around 11:30 pm. I was afraid that I wouldnt hear the doorbell from inside...so I waited outside...but inside the metal bar and cemented gates of the house. As I sat there...I heard something that I have heard quite a bit around here. Fireworks are very popular around here...I don´t like the fact that they are popular...because it kind of helps disguise the sound of a gunshot...and THIS firework...sounded a bit different... I thought to myself ´nah...cant be NOTHING! Its just fireworks......right?´...three minutes later...I could hear the sound of the ambulance in the background...by this time...I was already trying to recall all of the moves that Jet Li does to unarm his opponents...just incase I would have to use it if someone came to the gates with a gun...since the ´guard´dogs here seem quite incompetant. One is constantly dancing on is back to scratch off ticks...while the other is the size of a squirrel....as cute as one too! Soon after the sound of the ambulance...I heard two consecutive pistol shots...´PAH....PAH...´...by this time...I had a knife in each hand...and a backup knife in my sock. ( Only kidding!...Jet Li doesnt use knives! He uses his hands!) That.....got me saying the LONGER Protection prayers...I figure...It´d be worth it!
The youth and children here just LOVE my digital camera! Everytime I take a picture...they have to zoom in AS FAR as they can...and analyze every pixel of the picture...thats why I try to avoid taking pictures of LOTS of kids...otherwise...my camera will be covered in half digested, saliva filled chocolat.
Mom and Dad...this part is also not for you...as it is VERY bad....
I´ve pretty much become a pro at washing dishes now! When there are activities here..the dishes just PILE UP like you dont believe...and since I usually have nothing to do after the activities are over...I wash the dishes! If there is ONE thing that I can say that I have done consistently and helped out with here...is helped the McLarens WASH their dishes!
One thing that I have found very interesting is the fact that Home visits are a part of their lives here. In Canada...in our cluster meetings (if some of you have no idea what I´m talking about...feel free to email me and ask me) we talk about how important it is to have home visits...and we set goals for home visits....HERE...its like...´alright...lets go around the streets and visit this person...that person...´, and they will all invite you to sit down...have a drink of Coke or water...etc. I remember one of the ways that clusters are divided is by transportation availability...and its interesting to see that this whole ´sector´ is all walking distance away! All of the 20 youth...20 children...all walking distance away! Its SOOOO NICE and CONVENIENT that way! Want to have a social? Walk around...tell everyone to just join ya! And they all walk around with you and you come back home and watch some movies or something. They dont tell eachother about activities by phone here...they walk around and tell them all individually! I find it to be much more effective...and has served to make me understand maybe why the LEM site hasnt been soo successful (once again...if you are confused...email me!), because we send out these MASS emails (like this one) to invite people to things...but its MUCH more effective if a friend invites you personally...by coming to your door or a phone call! Lesson #1 Learnt! ( About time!).
Reinaldo and I are about to walk to his house to feed his dogs (he lives in an apartment with two BIG dogs). One of them is a Wolf Dog....VERY beautiful creature and it HOWLS like a WOLF!! Its incredible! ( I missed my chance to see a monkey back in Barquisimeto! I´m still jealous of you for that Faran!)
Miss you all and love you all lots,
Erfan
Friday, July 15, 2005
Traggic events...
Third email from Venezuela...:
Vanessa has always been a part of the community here in Maracaibo...being soo kind as to take people around the city...lifting them up on her very shoulders. Providing the cool air when it was too hot...and providing the music...when people were low. Just the other day...something tragic happened. It happened as we were driving through the town dropping different youth off at their homes with Vanessa.
´Not NOW Vanessa!! NOT NOW!!!!´..Susan was yelling...as we all looked at Vanessa with lost hope. And then Vanessa got back up again..showing signs of life...¨comon...you can do it!¨...but once again...it happened ¨NO...VANESSA!! COMON!!!¨. To be honest...I found the whole situation quite commical!! I mean...who calls their VAN ´Vanessa´?? But after I asked for a clear explanation..Susan explained how when they first got the Van...they just called it ´Van´. But they saw that the chemistry wasnt working and the relationship wasnt right...untill they found out that the vehicle was a FEMALE...so they called her Vanessa.
(I REALLY should stop faking these tragic stories...I´m going to become the boy who cried wolf. There I go LYING again...i AM the boy who cried wolf...they kicked me out of the village shortly after the wolf ate all the sheep....)
I apologize as it has been a while since my last email...as internet access is a bit more limited in this city compared to where i was before. Let us venture back to...last Wednesday. I was in Barquisimeto, where Bahiyyih is serving. On Wednesday we all went TO DA BEACH! It was about a 2 hour drive up north. ( Before I continue...I must confess a sin...I drank their coffee here....and I...well I...I liked it. OH...and...im REALLY NOT they boy who cried wolf). As we drove next to the beach...I saw that the water was brown. I was quite dissappointed. All those stories I had heard about the BEAUTIFUL BEACH....well...I wasnt going to see them THIS summer. But I WAS WRONG....we paid some guys to take us on their boat...and to an island nearby (about 15 minute boat ride). I tried to scare Bahiyyih by convincing her that they would simply take us to the middle of the water...take our stuff and car keys...and leave without us....that would have made a cool story...The Island was very nice! And the water was a light tint of green...and it got more blue as it went out. Wasnt IDEAL...but better than anything amature Erfan has seen. The fish in the water were BEAUTIFUL...ranging from the yellow fish in the old Telus commercials...to the Squid from little mermaid (That thing scared me pretty good..)
Thursday..AHHh..Thursday...the day I had been awaiting...the day that FINALLY stop livin´it up, and get to serve. ( believe it or not...I came here to serve!) I took a 5.5 hour bus ride West to a city called Maracaibo. I had my first teaching opportunity as I was talking to the person beside me...and the person behind me overheard that I´m from Canada. She also spoke a little bit of English...and I told her about the Bahaí Faith...and now she knows what its all about! To get to Maracaibo, we had to cross a 9km bridge...the longest in South America. Thanks to my Prayers...we hit the bridge JUST as the Sun was setting ( Yea...Those are the kinds of things that i pray for...) Everyone had warned me about the excruciating heat in Maracaibo...and BOY...were they RIGHT...When I stepped out of the bus...I could feel all my skin cells trying to retreat back into the bus. The worst part was....it was NIGHTTIME...and the sun wasnt even out!
I´m staying at a lovely American couples house here, Susan and Peter McLaren, who have been pioneers here for over 20 years. Imagine the Faith it takes to leave a place like America...money...good weather...wealthy country...to a place like Maracaibo...Dangerous...HOTTTT...poor... That should tell you enough about how AMAZING this couple is!! They have a full schedule of Bahaí activities everyday! The youth here are just amazing! They all thought i was coming on Wednesday...so they ALL gathered (about 10 to 12 of them) at the McLarens house on Wednesday...found out that i wasnt coming that day...and ALL returned AGAIN on Thursday! They were soo kind! Funny! They know a little bit of english. They love doing drama. We all sat down and they did a ´game show´ style....going around introducing everyone with a ´host´, putting on a great show! Susan tells me that a lot of these people stopped coming to Bahaí activities because they had conflict with eachother...but the very fact that I came has united them and they have all come again! ( Once again...this just shows how nice Susan is!). I have attended one Ruhi circle (book 2...boy...i MISSED doing Ruhi!), practiced a PERFORMED a step dance...also helped teach ALL of the other youth two of the step moves. Only Three youth here know the step dance...and this community has a LOT of potential for an AMAZING dance workshop. The youth here are just soo amazing...they constantly draw me pictures saying ´Remember us´, and writing things like ¨Welcome Erfan. May you have a great time here¨. etc. etc...
Anyways...all I have left to do is split this email into chapters, and i´ve got one Book with no point to it! Haha...so I will end this email!
Miss you ALL lots! Sorry for making the email soo long...just havent written in soo long!
Love, Erfan
Vanessa has always been a part of the community here in Maracaibo...being soo kind as to take people around the city...lifting them up on her very shoulders. Providing the cool air when it was too hot...and providing the music...when people were low. Just the other day...something tragic happened. It happened as we were driving through the town dropping different youth off at their homes with Vanessa.
´Not NOW Vanessa!! NOT NOW!!!!´..Susan was yelling...as we all looked at Vanessa with lost hope. And then Vanessa got back up again..showing signs of life...¨comon...you can do it!¨...but once again...it happened ¨NO...VANESSA!! COMON!!!¨. To be honest...I found the whole situation quite commical!! I mean...who calls their VAN ´Vanessa´?? But after I asked for a clear explanation..Susan explained how when they first got the Van...they just called it ´Van´. But they saw that the chemistry wasnt working and the relationship wasnt right...untill they found out that the vehicle was a FEMALE...so they called her Vanessa.
(I REALLY should stop faking these tragic stories...I´m going to become the boy who cried wolf. There I go LYING again...i AM the boy who cried wolf...they kicked me out of the village shortly after the wolf ate all the sheep....)
I apologize as it has been a while since my last email...as internet access is a bit more limited in this city compared to where i was before. Let us venture back to...last Wednesday. I was in Barquisimeto, where Bahiyyih is serving. On Wednesday we all went TO DA BEACH! It was about a 2 hour drive up north. ( Before I continue...I must confess a sin...I drank their coffee here....and I...well I...I liked it. OH...and...im REALLY NOT they boy who cried wolf). As we drove next to the beach...I saw that the water was brown. I was quite dissappointed. All those stories I had heard about the BEAUTIFUL BEACH....well...I wasnt going to see them THIS summer. But I WAS WRONG....we paid some guys to take us on their boat...and to an island nearby (about 15 minute boat ride). I tried to scare Bahiyyih by convincing her that they would simply take us to the middle of the water...take our stuff and car keys...and leave without us....that would have made a cool story...The Island was very nice! And the water was a light tint of green...and it got more blue as it went out. Wasnt IDEAL...but better than anything amature Erfan has seen. The fish in the water were BEAUTIFUL...ranging from the yellow fish in the old Telus commercials...to the Squid from little mermaid (That thing scared me pretty good..)
Thursday..AHHh..Thursday...the day I had been awaiting...the day that FINALLY stop livin´it up, and get to serve. ( believe it or not...I came here to serve!) I took a 5.5 hour bus ride West to a city called Maracaibo. I had my first teaching opportunity as I was talking to the person beside me...and the person behind me overheard that I´m from Canada. She also spoke a little bit of English...and I told her about the Bahaí Faith...and now she knows what its all about! To get to Maracaibo, we had to cross a 9km bridge...the longest in South America. Thanks to my Prayers...we hit the bridge JUST as the Sun was setting ( Yea...Those are the kinds of things that i pray for...) Everyone had warned me about the excruciating heat in Maracaibo...and BOY...were they RIGHT...When I stepped out of the bus...I could feel all my skin cells trying to retreat back into the bus. The worst part was....it was NIGHTTIME...and the sun wasnt even out!
I´m staying at a lovely American couples house here, Susan and Peter McLaren, who have been pioneers here for over 20 years. Imagine the Faith it takes to leave a place like America...money...good weather...wealthy country...to a place like Maracaibo...Dangerous...HOTTTT...poor... That should tell you enough about how AMAZING this couple is!! They have a full schedule of Bahaí activities everyday! The youth here are just amazing! They all thought i was coming on Wednesday...so they ALL gathered (about 10 to 12 of them) at the McLarens house on Wednesday...found out that i wasnt coming that day...and ALL returned AGAIN on Thursday! They were soo kind! Funny! They know a little bit of english. They love doing drama. We all sat down and they did a ´game show´ style....going around introducing everyone with a ´host´, putting on a great show! Susan tells me that a lot of these people stopped coming to Bahaí activities because they had conflict with eachother...but the very fact that I came has united them and they have all come again! ( Once again...this just shows how nice Susan is!). I have attended one Ruhi circle (book 2...boy...i MISSED doing Ruhi!), practiced a PERFORMED a step dance...also helped teach ALL of the other youth two of the step moves. Only Three youth here know the step dance...and this community has a LOT of potential for an AMAZING dance workshop. The youth here are just soo amazing...they constantly draw me pictures saying ´Remember us´, and writing things like ¨Welcome Erfan. May you have a great time here¨. etc. etc...
Anyways...all I have left to do is split this email into chapters, and i´ve got one Book with no point to it! Haha...so I will end this email!
Miss you ALL lots! Sorry for making the email soo long...just havent written in soo long!
Love, Erfan
Venezuela continued...
The is the next email that I sent out about Venezuela...titled: SWINGING BATS!
Wow...I just had the scariest experience of my life...Firstly...I was outdoors...all alone. Not smart. Secondly...it had just gotten dark...not smart. No one else knew where I was....NOT SMART. Just as the sun went down...I could see the trees around me growing taller...as if trying to intimidate me. I could hear sounds nearby...should I dare look? I could hear people...close...too close. by the time i turned around....i saw a BAT SWINGING AT MY FACE...BUT IT JUST BARELY MISSED!!!! I could have been decapitated! Oh...sorry...when I said "bat" i meant those cute little fury flying things. Oh...and when i say outdoors...I meant in the Baha'is residences backyard...which is barracaded with high walls and fences for security. And...the trees bare the most DELICIOUS of fruit in Venezuela...MANGOOOOOO.
Ok, I'm sorry, that was cojo (lame), but I cant say that I've had any terrifying or death threatening experiences just yet...but I'm looking forward to them, and I will be sure to report them as soon as they occur!
I have done soo much in the past three days...I went to my first Ruhi circle, ate my first chivo (goat), attended an interinstitutional meeting, and have a son named Carlos Mantana. The people here are sooooooo kind! They are all trying to help me learn spanish. Los Ninos (the kids) are soo cute. They tell me to tell them a significant word in spanish that i want to learn the meaning to. And I will point to things...say "que es el contrario de..." (what is the opposite of), and they are constantly sooo helpful! At the interinstitutional meeting...they were soo encouraging, and helped me read passages from letters written by the Universal House of Justice. They were correcting my pronounciation, my grammer...etc. and THEN they REALLY challenged me by getting me to read the spanish version.
We have gone to the craziest markets in the middle of NOWHERE! We went up this mountain about 30 minutes away...where they have their "Michaelanjelo" who paints all these ceramic things. A local family took us around allllllll yesturday! They took us to this BEAUTIFUL mountain about 1 hour from here...and on the very top was a market. The family we went with was constantly saying "Es FRIO!!" (Its cold), whereas the temperature was actually PERFECT for us! On top of the mountain, I got to go horse back riding...my work there was done! They wanted to take us somewhere to eat LIZARDS!! I was very pumped and excited about the idea...but Bahiyyih didn't seem too pleased.
I'm loving the attention I get here. I mean...They ALL stare at me. I've come to the conclusion that its probably because im soo damn good looking.....OR.....MAYBE because im tall. But either way, im still damn good looking. Some people try to make it less obvious that they are staring at me...while others just BLURT out LAUGHING in amasement! hahaha. But unfortunately...I don't know how to say all my tall jokes in spanish yet...give it time.
In one of the markets, they were selling BABY PARROTS! We got to hold them...My LORD they were soo cute!! I've heard that you can even find baby SLOTH's here! (Like monkeys...but ten times slower).
Im supposed to be going to Maracaibo this thursday...which is said to be VERY hot...that they say even the local people there complain of the heat. At least its next to the beach...which means good seafood. After Maracaibo...im suppose to go to BONAIRES! Its a tourist island...WOOP WOOP.. I will be sure to take lots of photos!
Anyways, I send my love out to all of you, since none of you wanted me to remove you from the email list.
Erfan
(P.S., For some reason, i cant send my pictures from msn, and so im going to send the email from my gmail account. Please do not send emails to my gmail account, only because i do not check it nearly as often! Gracias!)
Wow...I just had the scariest experience of my life...Firstly...I was outdoors...all alone. Not smart. Secondly...it had just gotten dark...not smart. No one else knew where I was....NOT SMART. Just as the sun went down...I could see the trees around me growing taller...as if trying to intimidate me. I could hear sounds nearby...should I dare look? I could hear people...close...too close. by the time i turned around....i saw a BAT SWINGING AT MY FACE...BUT IT JUST BARELY MISSED!!!! I could have been decapitated! Oh...sorry...when I said "bat" i meant those cute little fury flying things. Oh...and when i say outdoors...I meant in the Baha'is residences backyard...which is barracaded with high walls and fences for security. And...the trees bare the most DELICIOUS of fruit in Venezuela...MANGOOOOOO.
Ok, I'm sorry, that was cojo (lame), but I cant say that I've had any terrifying or death threatening experiences just yet...but I'm looking forward to them, and I will be sure to report them as soon as they occur!
I have done soo much in the past three days...I went to my first Ruhi circle, ate my first chivo (goat), attended an interinstitutional meeting, and have a son named Carlos Mantana. The people here are sooooooo kind! They are all trying to help me learn spanish. Los Ninos (the kids) are soo cute. They tell me to tell them a significant word in spanish that i want to learn the meaning to. And I will point to things...say "que es el contrario de..." (what is the opposite of), and they are constantly sooo helpful! At the interinstitutional meeting...they were soo encouraging, and helped me read passages from letters written by the Universal House of Justice. They were correcting my pronounciation, my grammer...etc. and THEN they REALLY challenged me by getting me to read the spanish version.
We have gone to the craziest markets in the middle of NOWHERE! We went up this mountain about 30 minutes away...where they have their "Michaelanjelo" who paints all these ceramic things. A local family took us around allllllll yesturday! They took us to this BEAUTIFUL mountain about 1 hour from here...and on the very top was a market. The family we went with was constantly saying "Es FRIO!!" (Its cold), whereas the temperature was actually PERFECT for us! On top of the mountain, I got to go horse back riding...my work there was done! They wanted to take us somewhere to eat LIZARDS!! I was very pumped and excited about the idea...but Bahiyyih didn't seem too pleased.
I'm loving the attention I get here. I mean...They ALL stare at me. I've come to the conclusion that its probably because im soo damn good looking.....OR.....MAYBE because im tall. But either way, im still damn good looking. Some people try to make it less obvious that they are staring at me...while others just BLURT out LAUGHING in amasement! hahaha. But unfortunately...I don't know how to say all my tall jokes in spanish yet...give it time.
In one of the markets, they were selling BABY PARROTS! We got to hold them...My LORD they were soo cute!! I've heard that you can even find baby SLOTH's here! (Like monkeys...but ten times slower).
Im supposed to be going to Maracaibo this thursday...which is said to be VERY hot...that they say even the local people there complain of the heat. At least its next to the beach...which means good seafood. After Maracaibo...im suppose to go to BONAIRES! Its a tourist island...WOOP WOOP.. I will be sure to take lots of photos!
Anyways, I send my love out to all of you, since none of you wanted me to remove you from the email list.
Erfan
(P.S., For some reason, i cant send my pictures from msn, and so im going to send the email from my gmail account. Please do not send emails to my gmail account, only because i do not check it nearly as often! Gracias!)
Venezuela...
I apologize for not ´blogging´ in so long...but I think it was one of the shortest lasting FADS ever! BUT...nonetheless...it shall prove itself useful as I can use it to post my emails that I have been sending out to everyone from here in Venezuela. I cannot post any pictures on here..and that is why I have posted some pics on...photos.yahoo.com/erfanv. ( Under the album called Venezuela!)
Heres the first email that I sent out:
Its that time...finally...no worries...exams are done...time to relax...you sleep and in your dreams you can hear the sound of music...Ahh...the music...wait...that music isnt very enjoyable!! Whats going on? I wake up to realize..."oh yea...its 2:30am...I have to go to Toronto Airport to go to Venezuela".
For those of you who may not know, I am spending a month and a half (from June 28th till Agust 17th) in the beautiful country of Venezuela, doing volunteer work/service. (Ruhi circulos, junior youth classes and childrens classes, helping teach dances, english, etc.)
As we were driving to Toronto, I was struggling to keep my eyes open. My two eyes taking turns, left to right, right to left...getting rest seperately. Its not the most effective...but when im tired...my eyes have a mind of their own.
Mr.Shahkar Arjomand was driving. He was coming to Venezuela to visit his daughter Bahiyyih Arjomand who is currently serving here.
All the flights went smoothly. We went from Toronto to Miami, then from Miami to Caracas, Venezuela...and from Caracas to Barquisimeto (a city West of Caracas.) As the Airplane flew over Caracas....we could see the Ocean on our left...and on our right was beautiful green mountains with tall trees...and fog/mist covering the tops...the ONLY thing missing was the Jurassic Park theme music to go with it all.
On our flight from Caracas to Barquisimeto, I contimplated pretending to puke on the people next to me...for good laughs...but then I thought about it...I don't think I want to make enemies...more chances of getting mugged! Thats my prime fear!
The house we are staying in is midway up one of mountains, and we have a view of the whole city. NAGUARA!, Its soo b-e-a-utiful. I still have not had a chance to see the sunrise or sunset yet...although I know I will tomorrow, as i will have to wake up at 5am to go shopping in the market.
Anyways...food is almost ready...they eat dinner around 8:30-9ish around here...but dont worry everyone...I will survive. I also hear that all the people who come to do service here lose weight...I figure...If I lose anymore weight...I will cease to exist.
If any of you are jerks..i mean..if any of you dont want any emails from me...then just email me, and I will be sure to enter your email address into many many online dating websites. ( Except for you Nima Rohani...I know you already do that yourself! haha).
Hopefuly I will have access to internet to keep up to date!
Much Love,
Erfan.
Heres the first email that I sent out:
Its that time...finally...no worries...exams are done...time to relax...you sleep and in your dreams you can hear the sound of music...Ahh...the music...wait...that music isnt very enjoyable!! Whats going on? I wake up to realize..."oh yea...its 2:30am...I have to go to Toronto Airport to go to Venezuela".
For those of you who may not know, I am spending a month and a half (from June 28th till Agust 17th) in the beautiful country of Venezuela, doing volunteer work/service. (Ruhi circulos, junior youth classes and childrens classes, helping teach dances, english, etc.)
As we were driving to Toronto, I was struggling to keep my eyes open. My two eyes taking turns, left to right, right to left...getting rest seperately. Its not the most effective...but when im tired...my eyes have a mind of their own.
Mr.Shahkar Arjomand was driving. He was coming to Venezuela to visit his daughter Bahiyyih Arjomand who is currently serving here.
All the flights went smoothly. We went from Toronto to Miami, then from Miami to Caracas, Venezuela...and from Caracas to Barquisimeto (a city West of Caracas.) As the Airplane flew over Caracas....we could see the Ocean on our left...and on our right was beautiful green mountains with tall trees...and fog/mist covering the tops...the ONLY thing missing was the Jurassic Park theme music to go with it all.
On our flight from Caracas to Barquisimeto, I contimplated pretending to puke on the people next to me...for good laughs...but then I thought about it...I don't think I want to make enemies...more chances of getting mugged! Thats my prime fear!
The house we are staying in is midway up one of mountains, and we have a view of the whole city. NAGUARA!, Its soo b-e-a-utiful. I still have not had a chance to see the sunrise or sunset yet...although I know I will tomorrow, as i will have to wake up at 5am to go shopping in the market.
Anyways...food is almost ready...they eat dinner around 8:30-9ish around here...but dont worry everyone...I will survive. I also hear that all the people who come to do service here lose weight...I figure...If I lose anymore weight...I will cease to exist.
If any of you are jerks..i mean..if any of you dont want any emails from me...then just email me, and I will be sure to enter your email address into many many online dating websites. ( Except for you Nima Rohani...I know you already do that yourself! haha).
Hopefuly I will have access to internet to keep up to date!
Much Love,
Erfan.
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