This is funny

 

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/because-every-country-is-the-best-at-something/

I’m thankful for shrimp

It was around this time four years ago (four? that seems so long ago) that Jacob invited me to his work Christmas party. We were at an awkward stage—should I go on my mission? Should Jacob prevent me from going on one? He asked me out by sending a text: Date tonite, yes or no?

I decided, “Yes.”

That night, there was plenty of party food. As I got a plate together, I turned to Jacob and said, “You know what? I think this is my first time to eat shrimp in public.” “Really?” Jacob replied. “How often do you eat it in private?”

And I swear to you, that is the reason he knew he wanted to date me. He doesn’t even realize it but I’m convinced that’s what won him over. Since then, I have eaten shrimp in public (and, I suppose, private) countless times, but I never stop being grateful for that offhand comment that Jacob found so endearing and hilarious.

 

I think this might have been for Homecoming, one of our first dates.

I Heart the Italian food pyramid

In the Italian gym, they have a food pyramid that is posted. It’s different than the American food pyramid. Could this be one reason why there is practically not a single overweight person in all of Rome, despite the pasta, pizza, and gelato galore? Or maybe it’s just because everyone here is a chronic smoker instead.

 

I love this food pyramid for so many reasons.

1. I’m highly converted to limiting carbs. When I stopped eating so much bread at every meal, my belly fat disappeared. I’m serious, it was like overnight, once I made the decision to limit white bread in particular. I feel like I figured out a secret that probably everyone already knows.

2. Vegetables, fruits, and daily exercise make the foundation of a healthy diet.

3. Red meats are limited.

4. Good fats found in avocados and olive oil are emphasized.

American food pyramid, you are partly the cause of America’s obesity. 6-11 servings of grains per day? You’ve got to be kidding me. Especially since most of the grains Americans eat are of the white, highly processed, high glucose variety.

It’s funny, too, that corn goes in the grain section on the first one, and vegetable one in the American one…

Anyone else think the American one is a bit outdated?

Christmas is coming

Instead of posting a list of what I’m grateful for, I’m posting what we want for Christmas.

Awful right?

But it’s coming up on Christmas and I’ve learned most people don’t know how to shop for a couple of nomads.

So, here’s a Christmas list for two people who live out of a suitcase.

CLOTHES

What is most important for a travel nomad is for items to be light and to dry quickly. Drying quickly is important because only the US uses driers. Jeans are bad. White is a bad idea; it gets dirty too easily.  Don’t get me started on traveling with garments…

You’d think that buying clothes would be a breeze, but the truth is shopping is draining without a girlfriend to do it with. So I always appreciate clothes. Even though I have enough clothes already, if you get tired of seeing me in the same shirts in all my pictures, think of how excited Jacob gets when he sees me in something new.

This site came recommended

http://travelwithkids.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=travelwithkids&cdn=travel&tm=84&f=20&su=p974.8.121.ip_p284.9.336.ip_p531.51.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.tilley.com/

For both of us,

A fleece vest might be nice. Those would warm up any outfit and not take up a lot of space.

For Jacob

He’d like a new pair of khakis that will dry quickly and a pair of light shorts that are at least to the knee.

For me,

Snug-fitting and colorful is usually good.

Athletic shorts

BEAUTY

This is always a good category because I like to look nice for Jacob.

I’m looking for a good shiny hair product. If you find one you like, I’m open to try it.

Actually, I like to try any beauty product that someone is truly converted to.

TRAVEL-SIZE

This is always a safe category.

Travel sized laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc.

HEALTH

Vitamins, probiotics, etc

WORK

Jacob would like a portable squat flex (Al Hiller), and a portable green screen for videos. And 4 to 6 of the bands:

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=143&pid=1618

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?cid=138&m=PD&pid=515

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?cid=138&m=PD&pid=247

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=114&pid=3181

ENTERTAINMENT

Any book on the Kindle that you think we would like

WHAT TWO NOMADS DON”T NEED

Little knick knacks, or items to decorate, or plants. We have two suitcases people. That is it.

To be continued…

 

Here was our Thanksgiving. Jacob dressed the chicken with butter, garlic, and onions, we had mashed potatoes, the first time I’ve ever made those—wow that was like a home comfort food, brussels sprouts with mushroom, parsley, and lemon juice, and Sprite with juice mixed. Sweet and simple and very tasty. Then we ate gelato and strolled around the Colosseum. Then we walked home and saw Scott Nibley standing across the street. Surprise! He’s going to be staying with us for 10 days. Scott is the one we visited in Jerusalem.

 

Is it true love?

Within one day of being in Italy Jacob announced that he could spend the rest of his life here.

While I don’t doubt that he loves it, I wonder if it could partially be the change of scene from Ghana, human development: low to…

Rome.

From raw poverty

to polished sophistication 

From aggressive sales pitches to anonymity

From piles of trash and crowds of people selling their wares

to cobblestone streets and crowds of tourists at the Trevi Fountain

From outdoor fruits and vegetable stalls and maggots in my couscous

to refrigeration and a kitchen and Carrefour

 

From all sorts of species of animals

 
to nothing but well-groomed pets on leashes (except for the odd pigeon or two)

From massive traffic jams to high speed metro

From sweaty tropical heat to borderline cold and rainy, but just right if you bundle up weather.

From a dangerous and precariously attached ceiling fan with only one setting and cold showers to a heater, warm blankets, and hot showers

 

From getting my nails done in a parking lot

to listening to Nessun Dorma in front of the Pantheon

From a hippie bedroom with dirty floors and styrofoam-stuffed pillows to a classy soft-bedded spacious apartment

 

 

From casual security and open doors to quadruple locks in a pickpocket-heavy city…

 

 

From a view of our laundry fluttering in the breeze after opening our bedroom door to a view of ancient Roman ruins…

 

 

The distance from Ghana to Rome feels like more than only an 8 hour flight. Remembering Ghana puts a smile on our faces though…

So is Jacob really enamored with Italy or is it just that it feels more like home? Does it even matter? As for me, I’m loving cooking again, eating green olives and feta cheese to my heart’s content, NOT eating pizza and gelato to my heart’s content because then I would put on 10 pounds, but allowing myself the odd bite or two, and breathing in beauty.

I can’t believe I’d forgotten how beautiful Europe is. Rome is wonderful.

 

Goodbye Ghana

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

Romans 1:16

Ghanaians live this scripture and it’s inspiring. And joyful.

We felt like these people truly knew God.

 

We took some missionaries out to dinner.

 
This is the Portuguese Church inside the slave castle. Isn’t it sickening to know that all around them was human suffering embodied waiting to be sold into slavery while the pious white people went to church?
 

Kakum National Forest

   

Nearly every single white LDS person we’ve met invited us to dinner. We were grateful to get fed American-style meals and see what it’s like to be a senior missionary in the church. Of the four different couples, they had 6, 8, 8, and 9 kids respectively. Wow!

 

 

As our time comes to a close in West Africa, I think Jacob summed it up just about right:

“The draw of Africa, for me, isn’t to see any particular sight. It’s to see people living simple lives of faith.”

I couldn’t pity anyone in Ghana. People lived with too much joy. In some ways Ghana has got it together more than any developed country.

It’s not an easy country to visit, but it’s bittersweet to leave.

Indian core exercises – amazing video.

 

Never seen anything like this before… amazing.

Do 3 sets of this routine twice per week. j/k