Results!

The results are in from the poll I asked about a week ago. To recap, the options were: Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, and Tanzania. Here are the results:

Mexico: 0
Japan: 2
New Zealand: 7
Switzerland: 3
Spain: 2
Tanzania: 2

There were a total of 16 votes. Obviously people who followed my blog would much rather visit NZ or Switzerland... I can't imagine why! Spain, Tanzania and Japan must be all about the same popularity level: very low. Of course, most of my followers live in Mexico so it's obvious that they wouldn't choose there. Still... it is kind of sad that no one wants to visit!
Hopefully a new and real post coming soon!
-Andre

PS: Also I hope that soon I will have something that will let you Facebook people follow me without having a gmail type account.

Why is it?

Why is it that the clock goes so fast?
Why is it that your fingernails are such a blast?
Why is it that gold is yellow when
In reality it is gold color?
Why is it that I cannot get answers to questions
And those that have answers will not tell?
Frustration ensues.
Anger builds.
Chest jumps.
Mouth opens.
But it soon passes and I get an answer.
An answer from an un-looked for source.
Some answers make sense,
Some are arbitrary.
But really
Why is it that you want to darken the sun with glasses?

The Poll

As you can see there is a new poll on the top right of this page! I have seen polls on other friend's pages and thought I'd add one. Now, go vote! When you are done, come back here. I tried to use countries that, in my circle of friends, are pretty popular making it harder to vote. I think if I were to go to one of the countries I would go to Switzerland. I love mountains and would love to see the old towns and churches that Switzerland harbors. Something like this:

(from here: http://www.bugbog.com/european_countries/switzerland_travel_guide.html)
'twould be lovely.
Next week I will let you know which country got the most votes!
Also, if you did vote, let me know by commenting below.

Why can't I ever think up a good title?

Today in English class I finally got my assignment back. The assignment? To write three "snapshots" on a community you belong to with a 'scrupulously mean' eye (with a critical eye). I had a lot of fun doing it, but not because I don' t like this community. I was only following the instructions.I had fun writing them and I hope you enjoy reading them as well. The title is "Snapshots on the MK Community."
PS: I got an 8 out of 9 points for these, and from a strict teacher!

Introduction

These are several short snapshots on the MK community. While I have been a part of it for many years, I have also been apart from it, especially when I was younger. I feel that this gives me a certain advantage over my peers who have been in this community since they were born.

Mirrored Air

           

As he walked into the room, the conversation stopped. The hostess frowned with displeasure upon recognizing him.

            “Oh. Him,” she said.

            “Have a seat and come play this board game,” his friends told him.

            He sat down and rolled the dice to take his turn at Life. The conversation continued around him, consisting mostly of popular actors, sci-fi movies and adventure films. He listened to his friends comment on the different subjects.

            “Did you hear about the new movie about the masked man? They say the producers are not even sure if the actor’s name is what he says it is.”

            “How about that actress who had plastic surgery on her face for the third time? Celebrity news people say she doesn’t look at all like before the surgery.”

            “Heard about the new movie called “Mirrored Air?” I was so disappointed when it didn’t come out when they said it would; and they have postponed the date again!”

            The group of friends continued taking turns around the Life board but never quite getting what they were after, always missing the place they wanted by just a square or so. Even so, they carefully guarded their voices and facial expressions; disappointment never made an appearance on the stage of their faces. They used the accepted forms of speech and twisted their faces to express things that their faces were not meant to do. Movies and actors continued to whirl above the Life board.

            He walked home disillusioned with the Life game and how it had turned out. Being the same as everyone else was easier, just talk the way everyone else does.

            “They’ll accept me if I’m not me,” he said to himself.

Middle

Eyes followed the group of young people stride by: people with long, blonde hair, swishing back and forth with the quick gait they set. Talking, laughing, these were things that the locals could understand. But these noises were very different, for those familiar sounds sounded high and mighty. These youth rarely were courteous, trying as hard as possible not to use the native language; they thought they could not, or would not, stoop to the “poor devil’s” level. They used sign language most, because even though it made them look ridiculous trying to explain simple things that would have taken but a word, it was better to be an idiot than an Indian. Gesticulating, their arms whirled like windmills in front of the shop keeper’s faces. Locals gave them queer looks as they passed by. They were loud and noisy too, besides the fact that they walked directly down the middle of the road. On market days, locals grumbled when they pushed past them, their arms laden with fragrant produce. Marching down the road, they only moved aside ever so slightly to let a vehicle pass by. Local eyes stared at them with detestation.

            “Stupid foreigners who don’t even know to get out of the middle of the road.”

A Wrong Note

As they walked into the stillness of the church, penetrated only by the rustling of skirts and the flipping of pages, they suppressed their voices. They melted into the crowd, finding their place on a pew. Whispering, they continued their vigorous conversation.

            “I never liked how Tolkien wrote. His fantasy world never really caught on with me. It’s like it’s too fake or something.”

            “But you have no idea of how many people like his books. They got rave reviews by lots of publishing houses; and the movies are fantastic as well. The characters are so real and the descriptions in the books are so vivid that you can see with your mind exactly what he’s talking about.”

            “Ok, so maybe he is ok after all.” Thoughtfully, “I guess you are right. He’s one of the best authors who ever wrote. Hey, do you have a copy of the books?”

            Gradually the noise diminished into a silence only to be found in holy places and funerals. A chortle would bring the roof down. Of a sudden, the choir starts singing, the voices blending into one. Not a single misplaced note; not one person stepped out of line. Then the congregation joined in. The few people who sang out of tune were quickly hushed into silence.

I hope you enjoyed them! Please drop a comment! 

Unexpected!

Well, I certainly did not expect to post something else so soon, but circumstances have forced me to. First, the background picture of the blog is one that I took myself. It is the mountain facing our house, which looks spectacular with clouds. When I see it like that I think of Lord of the Rings.
The second reason is for the little link on the right, just above this blog's followers. That leads to a Facebook page showing some of my photography. The page is called HowIC Cards, an explanation of which you will find on its page. If you want to look at HowIC Cards without leaving the blog, it is easier to right click on the link and then choose "Open in new tab."

-Andre Beren

A Boring Title: My First Post

Here it is; my first post. First of all, you might wonder about the name I have chosen for my blog. In fact, it doesn't mean a thing. It is a title I used for a school assignment and I really like it. Since the title has nothing to do with the actual blog, I'll tell you about what I plan for it. First of all, I'm a TCK, or Third Culture Kid. This means that I have ties to two cultures. In my case, my mom is from the US and my dad is from Mexico, creating in me a third culture. My parents are missionaries, translating the Bible into my dad's first language, Zapotec. I often travel with them to the different villages so I thought this would be a good way to really show what it is like out there. I enjoy photography so hopefully soon I will have some pictures to share.
Just recently we went out to one of our villages, but since I did not know that I would be starting this blog, I took very few pictures. This will change soon!
Until next time!

-Andre Beren