Sunday, December 23, 2007
Ama v. Lee Lee
Mission (Im).........Possible:
From the beginning, Steph told me to choose my battles with Amelie. Its really not worth it to chide her for letting her food fall to the floor, however throwing toys and kicking are not tolerated behaviors. Today we took Amelie to Ez's house to play with her and DD's kids while the mommies had tea. Amelie was given meringues and a juice drink.
Two hours later, coming down from a sugar high Amelie worked herself into a tantrum over the hard boiled egg the gardener had for lunch. Steph and Andreas left me with the kids while they went on a shopping excursion. After several attempts at getting Amelie to eat her chicken and rice lunch she finally just fell asleep on the bed.
Even after her nap she still screamed for a hardboiled egg. When I told her no she demanded chips. An egg is one thing, but chips after a morning full of sulfites and sugar? no. way.
I chose my battle. I was determined to win.
30 minutes of crying later I had coaxed Ama to the table for some juice where a plate of rice garnished with tomatoes awaited her. She screamed for chips and then decided to eat the tomatoes. Asking for more I told her only if she ate some rice. She ate a bite of rice and I gave her another tomatoe. This bartering system worked! I got her to eat her nutritional lunch of corn, peas, rice, chicken, tomatoes, juice, and billtong (a bribe)!!!!!
1 point for LeeLee!
From the beginning, Steph told me to choose my battles with Amelie. Its really not worth it to chide her for letting her food fall to the floor, however throwing toys and kicking are not tolerated behaviors. Today we took Amelie to Ez's house to play with her and DD's kids while the mommies had tea. Amelie was given meringues and a juice drink.
Two hours later, coming down from a sugar high Amelie worked herself into a tantrum over the hard boiled egg the gardener had for lunch. Steph and Andreas left me with the kids while they went on a shopping excursion. After several attempts at getting Amelie to eat her chicken and rice lunch she finally just fell asleep on the bed.
Even after her nap she still screamed for a hardboiled egg. When I told her no she demanded chips. An egg is one thing, but chips after a morning full of sulfites and sugar? no. way.
I chose my battle. I was determined to win.
30 minutes of crying later I had coaxed Ama to the table for some juice where a plate of rice garnished with tomatoes awaited her. She screamed for chips and then decided to eat the tomatoes. Asking for more I told her only if she ate some rice. She ate a bite of rice and I gave her another tomatoe. This bartering system worked! I got her to eat her nutritional lunch of corn, peas, rice, chicken, tomatoes, juice, and billtong (a bribe)!!!!!
1 point for LeeLee!
The History of Love/ What's in a name?
I just finished reading a delightful little book titled The History of Love by Brooklynite Nicole Krauss. The book was a gift to me for my 24th birthday from my dear friend who name is homonymous with my sister's.
Its been a while since a book has brought out curiosity and even the swelling of my tear glands in myself. Its the story of several people whose lives become intertwined through a book written by a man who fell in love with a girl named Alma when he was 10. His love for her was transcribed into three languages and even the impetus for a mother and father to name their only daughter after her.
Alma. A beautiful name. Amelie. Perhaps Alma and Amelie share a root sound, the way Laurent and Lawrence are also synonymous. The way that Ashlee and Ashling are the same.
After finishing The History of Love my curiousity is piqued to dwell on the origins of my own name. I too am named after a character in a book. My namesake is Ashley from Gone with the Wind which I read the summer of my 16th year in an attempt to familiarize myself with the great southern novel.
Ashley was a man loved by two women who stayed true to his wife despite the desires of the brazen, bold and beautiful Scarlett. What was it about Ashley's character that impelled my father to name his second daughter after him? His first, Stephanie was an obvious homage to his line. But why Ashley?
I must include this note about the spelling of my name. A-S-H-L-E-E was given to me by my dear friend Anita who had the prescience to know that I would need something unique for myself.
Its been a while since a book has brought out curiosity and even the swelling of my tear glands in myself. Its the story of several people whose lives become intertwined through a book written by a man who fell in love with a girl named Alma when he was 10. His love for her was transcribed into three languages and even the impetus for a mother and father to name their only daughter after her.
Alma. A beautiful name. Amelie. Perhaps Alma and Amelie share a root sound, the way Laurent and Lawrence are also synonymous. The way that Ashlee and Ashling are the same.
After finishing The History of Love my curiousity is piqued to dwell on the origins of my own name. I too am named after a character in a book. My namesake is Ashley from Gone with the Wind which I read the summer of my 16th year in an attempt to familiarize myself with the great southern novel.
Ashley was a man loved by two women who stayed true to his wife despite the desires of the brazen, bold and beautiful Scarlett. What was it about Ashley's character that impelled my father to name his second daughter after him? His first, Stephanie was an obvious homage to his line. But why Ashley?
I must include this note about the spelling of my name. A-S-H-L-E-E was given to me by my dear friend Anita who had the prescience to know that I would need something unique for myself.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Lessons of the Braai
1) channel your inner pyro and make a fire preferably in the braai (grill).
2) check fire in 20 minutes. Make serious face and return to drinking.
2b) Check braai coals 10-15 minutes later making sure to excuse yourself at a pivotal moment in conversation.
3) spread coals
4) chuck on some ostrich, lamb, bourevous, or steak
5) braai to perfection
Braaing here is pretty equivalent to grilling in the states- everyone does it and those who don't like to cook do it more. At the very least a family will braai once per week. South Africa is home to some of the best meat in the world. The laid back culture of Kaptstadt where African time is equivalent to Latin time is conducive to last minute gatherings of neighbors joining together for meat, wine, and possibly some veggies for dinner by sunset.
2) check fire in 20 minutes. Make serious face and return to drinking.
2b) Check braai coals 10-15 minutes later making sure to excuse yourself at a pivotal moment in conversation.
3) spread coals
4) chuck on some ostrich, lamb, bourevous, or steak
5) braai to perfection
Braaing here is pretty equivalent to grilling in the states- everyone does it and those who don't like to cook do it more. At the very least a family will braai once per week. South Africa is home to some of the best meat in the world. The laid back culture of Kaptstadt where African time is equivalent to Latin time is conducive to last minute gatherings of neighbors joining together for meat, wine, and possibly some veggies for dinner by sunset.
Security/fingers
At first it seems odd to see multiple large signs for armed security response on the houses in the neighborhood. Everyone has some sort of alarm system complete with armed response. The threat of robbery is real but it seems to not be a terribly serious issue. Cars are left parked outside, second story windows are left open, and children play within the confines of their courtyard homes.
I don't have to lift a finger
Not completely true, but, the cost of labor is cheap and our maid does the cleaning, dishes, and laundry (including ironing!). I think I can get used to this.
I don't have to lift a finger
Not completely true, but, the cost of labor is cheap and our maid does the cleaning, dishes, and laundry (including ironing!). I think I can get used to this.
The family gets Chicken Pox
Last Sunday Stephanie noticed a rash of bumps over her trunk after dinner at her Sveigenmutter's house. We tried to write it off as an allergic reaction to carrots. The next day, Amelie had bumps too. We had heard that a friend in the spielgroup had the CPs so we were happy to have quarantined ourselves form him the last week. Wednesday evening, they had become weltish and I found three spots on myself. We had a doctor friend check us out and declare we were all infected. I'm a bit flabbergasted myself since I had the vaccine less than 15 years ago. However, I have nothing to complain about since I've only got 3 pox.
Sharp Divide / OMG you live here!?
Arriving into Capetown was a welcomed relief after living in rainy Switzerland. I never thought three weeks without sun or swimming could effect me so much. A second wind was inspired upon exiting the airport and seeing a blue horizon dotted by cumulous cloud beauty marks.
We were picked up by Steph's best friend DD and her two children aged 5 and 3. After the porter managed to stuff all 30 of our bags in the truck's flatbed, we took off into Capetown rush hour traffic at a crisp 6:50 a.m..
While the ladies caught up, I looked around at the sights. A small (less than a mile in length) shanty-town to my right, brightly painted concrete tenements to my left, and Africans e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Walking the streets in between the cars, waiting for buses, overcrowding the beds of pick-up trucks. We were clearly in the industrial section of Kaptstadt and all of the people were on their way to work.
One $50 ticket for cell phone use and 3 screaming children later, we arrived in Blouberg. My jaw was gaped the whole time. Blouberg is a suburb situated across the bay from Tablemountain and the downtown waterfront area. The neighborhood is on a hill overlooking the bay and Tablemountain. The houses are all ultramodern impeccably landscaped pueblos. Our house looks out onto the water and Tablemountain- It is two stories with a rooftop lounge, pool and Jacuzzi. Its been two days now and I still cannot get over the beauty of the scenery. At night you can even see the twinkling of the lights from the city.
There is one aspect of nature that I am not particularly fond of: the wind. It can't even be classified as wind, more like a constant gale. I'm somewhat disappointed to be living a 10 minute walk from the beach and not be able to enjoy it out of the incessant wind and cold water.
This morning we went for a walk to the beach. While this beach lacks the charming qualities of Florida and Caribbean beaches i.e. powder white sand, warm water, lolling waves, and attractive half-naked people, the beach on the Cape has pebbles, cold water, a hard surf, rocks, and few people. There are, however, a few kite-surfers and surfers dotting the shore line. The beach is still spectacular. The rocks make for a delightful playground for the brave set against the deep blue bay and the dramatic backdrop of Tablemountain. It is plain to see why Sir Francis Drake named Kaptstadt the most beautiful cape in the world.
A word on Tablemountain:
It is a flat mountain that holds the city at its base. I watch the clouds roll over the mountain- they look like an intricate lace flapping in the breeze.
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| From CapePics1 |
The summation of this landscape, the mountain, the water, the horizon, and the birds is a continual drama of life. Here, you cannot lose vigor, strength or drive to live. The birds chirp in the trees, the sunlight spills throughout the house, and the breeze captivates your hair. It would be a sin for one to be asked to leave this place. I now understand why my sister chose to live here rather than return home.
Melkpos Beach at Sunset
LeeLee learns a lesson on toddlers
I'm going to be honest here: I've never really been kind in my thoughts to screaming children, especially on planes. Well, I learned my lesson. No matter how hard you try, there is a point where you cannot control a child. While Laurent was a superb traveling companion, I cannot say the same for Amelie. Somehow she transformed her tiredness into some kind of speed. I have never seen her so cracked out before and we even monitored her sweetie intake. But, you know, its really hard to get angry at a two year old brain after 22 hours of traveling. I mean, not many adults can actually handle it.
I discovered the limit to my patience. It occurs 5 minutes after the pilot has turned on the fastened seat belt sign and the flight attendant has twice reminded you to secure your child yet she is still threatening to run down the aisle screaming bloody murder as the plane is taxiing.
From this experience, I will never again grimace or complain about unruly children and their assumed lackadaisical parents.
On a positive note, I think this exercise in nanny-land is giving me some thicker skin in concentration. Just last September the sound of sucking made me forget every second of thought.
June LSAT, here I come.
I discovered the limit to my patience. It occurs 5 minutes after the pilot has turned on the fastened seat belt sign and the flight attendant has twice reminded you to secure your child yet she is still threatening to run down the aisle screaming bloody murder as the plane is taxiing.
From this experience, I will never again grimace or complain about unruly children and their assumed lackadaisical parents.
On a positive note, I think this exercise in nanny-land is giving me some thicker skin in concentration. Just last September the sound of sucking made me forget every second of thought.
June LSAT, here I come.
homeopathy
My last two days in Switzerland included two homeopathic treatments. If my diagnosis was anything like Star Trek, well beam me up Scotty, cause I'm living in the space age.
(to be concluded)
(to be concluded)
LeeLee goes on a date
Not only did I have a blast Saturday night, I met a nice Swiss guy who took me out for tea my last evening in Bern. A friend of the model, he plays guitar in one of Bern's indie synth-rock bands. He is also a serious mechanical engineering student. Despite the fact I was teaching English the whole time, I give this date a 7/10 rating for character, intelligence, propriety, charm, and attraction. I'm sure we'll meet again when I return to Bern.
My date and I at the Gangsta party
My date and I at the Gangsta party
Gangsta Suisse
Saturday night I went out with the model and his friends to a the Bierhubeli, a hip hop dj night. To poke fun at the Bernese wiggers, the model and his hipster friends decided to dress up like gangstas. I was advised to do the same. While I lacked key wardrobe components such as ice, daisy dukes, and my four inch wedges, I managed to pull off a pretty hot Miami-inspired get up complete with my Christian Dior saddle bag and my token cowboy boots (a godsend walking in the rainy cobblestone streets of Bern).
I was not prepared to the lengths these guys went, in other words, Gainesville theme parties have nothing on them.
>
I was not prepared to the lengths these guys went, in other words, Gainesville theme parties have nothing on them.
>
Friday, December 7, 2007
Word of the day: arschgewei
My first week in Switzerland I made it a point to learn what I call table German- vocabulary necessary for feeding yourself at dinner.
This past week I have moved onto bar-German. While discussing trends in tattoos with the model we discovered a common theme in tattoos for American and Swiss females. The affectionately labeled American Tramp Stamp is called the Arschgewei in Swiss German meaning butt antler. I'm sorry, this was just too hilarious of a term to not publish.
This past week I have moved onto bar-German. While discussing trends in tattoos with the model we discovered a common theme in tattoos for American and Swiss females. The affectionately labeled American Tramp Stamp is called the Arschgewei in Swiss German meaning butt antler. I'm sorry, this was just too hilarious of a term to not publish.
Lee Lee goes on an (un)date.
For being a quite uneventful day I had two very nice highlights.
1) Sennheiser Headphones: Best deal in Switzerland. I bought $150 German kevlar reinnforced head phones for 90 francs ($80). Pure. Aural. Pleasure. Note to audiophiles: Buy Sennheiser PX 200 and you too can experience bass induced auralgasms.
2) (un)date with a Swiss-American model.
I went out on with the model 3 years or so on a previous visit to Bern. Tonight he took me shopping and bar hopping. Quite a fun guy, who in-spite of his love for shoes, pension for tight jeans and too hip for thou haircut, just likes to let loose and have a good time. What more could a girl want? Except that minor detail labeled girlfriend.
1) Sennheiser Headphones: Best deal in Switzerland. I bought $150 German kevlar reinnforced head phones for 90 francs ($80). Pure. Aural. Pleasure. Note to audiophiles: Buy Sennheiser PX 200 and you too can experience bass induced auralgasms.
2) (un)date with a Swiss-American model.
I went out on with the model 3 years or so on a previous visit to Bern. Tonight he took me shopping and bar hopping. Quite a fun guy, who in-spite of his love for shoes, pension for tight jeans and too hip for thou haircut, just likes to let loose and have a good time. What more could a girl want? Except that minor detail labeled girlfriend.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Wine Tasting
First of all, receiving the wine was an ordeal in itself. Originally scheduled to arrive Monday morning, it finally made it to the house Wednesday afternoon, four hours before the tasting.
After twice sending trucks that were too big to make it through the narrow street, the shipping company sent a large truck once again Wednesday morning. We all just wondered how could a shipping company mess up three times by sending the wrong truck? Well, they believed the issue would be ameliorated by sending a smaller truck, however they would first have to return to Basel and transfer the two wine pallets. We couldn't really object even though the past two days had been ruined waiting for the never arriving wine.
Finally the wine arrived Wednesday at 3. Not surprisingly, they sent a large truck again. However the young strapping drivers deftly navigated the construction area and narrow street in revers to deliver us the wine.
When I say two pallets of wine I mean to say I have never seen so much wine in my life. We unloaded box after box of wine direct from South Africa.
Unfortunately, several bottles were missing. These bottles weren't just any bottles. These bottles were the equivalent of commissioned paintings. Eight magnums (!!!) of wine composed specially to age 15 years for the tastes of Amelie. Of all the hundreds of bottles of wine the priceless ones were stolen.
Not even American Express can replace that.
After twice sending trucks that were too big to make it through the narrow street, the shipping company sent a large truck once again Wednesday morning. We all just wondered how could a shipping company mess up three times by sending the wrong truck? Well, they believed the issue would be ameliorated by sending a smaller truck, however they would first have to return to Basel and transfer the two wine pallets. We couldn't really object even though the past two days had been ruined waiting for the never arriving wine.
Finally the wine arrived Wednesday at 3. Not surprisingly, they sent a large truck again. However the young strapping drivers deftly navigated the construction area and narrow street in revers to deliver us the wine.
When I say two pallets of wine I mean to say I have never seen so much wine in my life. We unloaded box after box of wine direct from South Africa.
Unfortunately, several bottles were missing. These bottles weren't just any bottles. These bottles were the equivalent of commissioned paintings. Eight magnums (!!!) of wine composed specially to age 15 years for the tastes of Amelie. Of all the hundreds of bottles of wine the priceless ones were stolen.
Not even American Express can replace that.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
LeeLee goes to the doctor
It is a well known fact that I have a horrendous cough. Years ago I developed my signature bronchial bark. While moving out of Gainesville in August my throat clearing intensified into an all-out expungement of phlegm. While this problem is no longer as frequent it is exacerbated by milk and cheese. Obviously, this is a issue as cream, cheese and chocolate are dietary staples in Switzerland.
Following an incident involving fodue, Andreas suggested that I visit his mother, a homeopathic doctor. After being promised that no needles would be involved to determine my allergies I agreed to a visit.
Thursday, I went into town and walked to her office overlooking the future bear park. Its a brilliant little space in a 13th century building. Seated in a cream scandinavian recliner, I noticed a bookshelf with German medical journals and lots of little blue vials containing what I assume to be oils or liquid vitamins. On my left were two machines- one had small glass vials with different objects in them in a radial pattern and the other machine looked like a midi board.
To diagnose me, my doctor waved a wand-like object over my stomach while turning the dial of glass vials. She repeated this several times sighed and said... "oh... you can't eat anything... except potatoes." Then she hooked two metal cylinders up to the other machine and had me hold them while she sent a current through me. She replaced one with a metal pen which she pressed onto the edges of my fingernails on my right hand.
I just sat there, mildly uncomfortable, wondering what is going on, what are these things and how did I end up on the Star Trek medical deck?
At the end of my session she told me that she'd have Stephanie explain everything to me and I am not to eat any wheat or dairy products. So I can't have bread, pasta, chocolate, cheese, milk or butter for the next two weeks. AHHH!
Following an incident involving fodue, Andreas suggested that I visit his mother, a homeopathic doctor. After being promised that no needles would be involved to determine my allergies I agreed to a visit.
Thursday, I went into town and walked to her office overlooking the future bear park. Its a brilliant little space in a 13th century building. Seated in a cream scandinavian recliner, I noticed a bookshelf with German medical journals and lots of little blue vials containing what I assume to be oils or liquid vitamins. On my left were two machines- one had small glass vials with different objects in them in a radial pattern and the other machine looked like a midi board.
To diagnose me, my doctor waved a wand-like object over my stomach while turning the dial of glass vials. She repeated this several times sighed and said... "oh... you can't eat anything... except potatoes." Then she hooked two metal cylinders up to the other machine and had me hold them while she sent a current through me. She replaced one with a metal pen which she pressed onto the edges of my fingernails on my right hand.
I just sat there, mildly uncomfortable, wondering what is going on, what are these things and how did I end up on the Star Trek medical deck?
At the end of my session she told me that she'd have Stephanie explain everything to me and I am not to eat any wheat or dairy products. So I can't have bread, pasta, chocolate, cheese, milk or butter for the next two weeks. AHHH!
Gymboree and Tierpark
Last Wednesday I attended Amelie's Gymboree. Even though the group was for English speakers I felt like an alien- completely out of place in a world full of children, babies and mommies. This feeling intensified when I was mistaken for the mommy of Laurent. "Oh no! He's not mine. I'm just holding him for my sister," I said. Interacting with one child is fine, but it takes an extra sense to be aware of all the 2 footers running around on the floor. I tried so hard not to step on them.
I chatted for a bit with one of the American mothers. Its very difficult to make small talk on little known subjects without liquid encouragement. On the spot, I racked my mind for the things one is supposed to discuss about babies, like how many months, their weight, changing nappies... I couldn't think of many things to say about a person that does nothing but eat, sleep and poo besides the adjectives of cute and adorable. I'm hoping that in a months time his capabilities will expand and I'll have more to discuss.
When it was time to sing songs I actually jumped at the chance of sitting alone on the couch with the sleeping Laurent. I had thought this would be my favorite activity but in fact I was overwhelmed by all the children. Baby steps in Nannyland.
After Gymboree, we went for a walk down to the Tierpark (animal park) with Stephanie's friend and her two year old daughter. We brought a bag of chestnuts to feed the reindeer. Its really quite amazing to hand feed this mythical (to a Floridian) animal. Unfortunately the father was not up for receiving treats from two screaming toddlers and three woman in giant coats. It would have been splendid to see his antlers separated by just a chainlink fence.
Next stop in the Tierpark was the flamingo pond. Really quite surprising to find flamingos in near freezing weather. We talked to the keeper who explained that flamingos are fine in the cold until the water freezes- then they run the risk of breaking their legs.
There were plenty more animals to see at the Tierpark, however our hunger surmounted any desire to see them. We took lunch by the river and then made our way home.
I chatted for a bit with one of the American mothers. Its very difficult to make small talk on little known subjects without liquid encouragement. On the spot, I racked my mind for the things one is supposed to discuss about babies, like how many months, their weight, changing nappies... I couldn't think of many things to say about a person that does nothing but eat, sleep and poo besides the adjectives of cute and adorable. I'm hoping that in a months time his capabilities will expand and I'll have more to discuss.
When it was time to sing songs I actually jumped at the chance of sitting alone on the couch with the sleeping Laurent. I had thought this would be my favorite activity but in fact I was overwhelmed by all the children. Baby steps in Nannyland.
After Gymboree, we went for a walk down to the Tierpark (animal park) with Stephanie's friend and her two year old daughter. We brought a bag of chestnuts to feed the reindeer. Its really quite amazing to hand feed this mythical (to a Floridian) animal. Unfortunately the father was not up for receiving treats from two screaming toddlers and three woman in giant coats. It would have been splendid to see his antlers separated by just a chainlink fence.
Next stop in the Tierpark was the flamingo pond. Really quite surprising to find flamingos in near freezing weather. We talked to the keeper who explained that flamingos are fine in the cold until the water freezes- then they run the risk of breaking their legs.
There were plenty more animals to see at the Tierpark, however our hunger surmounted any desire to see them. We took lunch by the river and then made our way home.
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