Sealed, Stamped and Sent

While I had planned and hoped to write about something meaningful, perhaps actually having to do with ministry for once, I must instead share the deep insights into my possible future that have recently come to mind.

Last week I reached an important conclusion. The post office is the perfect job location for me. Mail is so satisfying on so many levels. It is exciting to receive mail. It is exciting to send mail.

Honestly, as I write letters and thank you notes to friends, family and supporters, I find myself eagerly coming up with any excuse to seal an envelope, place a stamp in the corner and write my return address. I even get excited about paying bills if involves these precious steps and the illusion that something with my mark on it will soon be travelling around the country of its own accord.

Really though, I think the most satisfying thing about mail is the sense of completion that so many other parts of life seem to lack. When else can you seal something up, mark it, put it in a box and feel complete closure?

There are many other reasons why I would enjoy working in a post office. For one thing, even though my own room is usually a total disaster, I love to organize and sort things. I could spend hours with the preschool activities of sorting colors and sizes if given the chance. And of course my nomadic nature causes me to wonder and daydream about places all-over the world. The destinations of letters and packages that pass through my hands could definitely provide kindling for that fire.

So beware. You may walk into your neighborhood branch of the USPS one of these days to find me behind the counter ready to smack a big fat stamp on your package. Or perhaps you will hear my giggles of delight from the back room as I am given yet another stack of letters to be sorted.

Platano...

Yes, this is my third entry about platanos... as I said, they rate approximately a 13 on my scale of 1 to 10 of Venezuelan foods that I have tried. This entry however is just to show what platanos look like and a few of the many ways to prepare them.

Mondongo

Shortly after arriving in Venezuela I "accidentally" tried a soup that I probably would have avoided, had I known better what it involved. When given the option of ordering the soup, we asked Venezuelan Claudia, what ingredients it involved. She said she couldn't remember, but that it was good. As we began eating our soup, the real story came out... "It is cow stomach!"

Claudia exclaimed. The broth and the veggies were good, so I ate around the stomach. I tried one piece, but just couldn't stomach the texture of the stomach... So I made a mental note to avoid mondongo int the future.

Until yesterday I was successful in my attempts (it actually has been quite easy to avoid... I don't think I've even had opportunity to say no, or to choose otherwise). Yesterday however, we had lunch in the university cafeteria, where your option is whatever they happen to put on your metal tray, or nothing. Guess what?! Mondongo!

I tried to stomach it, I really did. For those of you who don't know, I am generally someone who will eat pretty much anything that is served to me, whether or not it lands high on my list of preferred foods. This time however, the flavor, smell and texture of the stomach was unavoidable. I finally had to call it quits, about a quarter of the way into the soup.

So... on the list of Venezuelan foods that I recommend... on a scale of 1 to 10, where I've already placed Platano at 13, I believe I would place mondongo at a 2 or 3. (Believe me, it could be worse... much, much worse!)

I'm rich!

I found 5 Bolivars fuertes on the beach yesterday, wedged in the sand, getting washed over by the waves. As I walked back to our group, I couldn't believe my luck! I'm rich I thought! I'll buy something cool! And then as I sat down on my towel, the truth set in. Clutched in may hand sat approximately one dollar and 16 cents. Yay... But, it is orange, with armadillos, so I guess it was still a little exciting.

Click here to see for yourself the fun, colorful new bills we have in Venezuela:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagen:Reverso_5_Bs.F.JPG

Overnight buses

I like the idea of the overnight bus. In Venezuela they are huge, two story buses with reclining seats and footrests. The one problem however is that I am somehow to small, or of the wrong proportions to enjoy such comforts. Either my legs just hang, not reaching to the end of the footrest, or I find myself scrunched up into a ball trying to fit my whole body into my seat to be able to fully relax.

Conclusion, I should take the day buses from now on and read lots of books... Or, I should grow at least six inches.

Platano

Who knew I could get away with writing about my beloved platanos twice on my blog! Scroll down for more of a description of what they are. I just have to say though, that whatever there actual nutritional value (this is my next subject of research...) they have saved my life over the past weeks!

Crema de calabacín

One of my favorite new recipes for my stomach´s healing process:

Creme of Zucchini Soup

Slice up and boil onion, zucchini and a little bit of fresh cilantro until tender.
Blend!
Add salt to taste!

I love it! So tasty, so quick, and so healthy! You also can add a tiny bit of olive oil for flavor while it boils, and garlic (I'm currently not allowed to eat garlic or any other spices for that matter... so my version is really quite simple). I've also added squash or carrots to give it a bit of a different color and taste, it ends up a bit sweeter with these.

Enjoy! Or at least enjoy knowing what I'm enjoying! :)