Friday, June 1, 2007

8 (Not So Random) Things About Me

Ok, I'm finally getting around to doing this one. I love reading everybody else's!

1. I spent four months sailing on a boat around the world. Literally. We started in Vancouver, BC and ended up in New Orleans (visiting countries in Asia, Africa, South and Central America)

2. On that same trip, I had the chance to meet Desmond Tutu in South Africa, and Fidel Castro in Cuba. What a combination!

3. Again, on same trip, I was scheduled to sail through the Suez Canal at the same time the USS Cole was attacked off of Yemen in 2000. The Suez Canal and surrounding areas were closed to all but military vessels, and we were re-routed from going to Egypt, Croatia, and Spain, and instead went to Kenya, South Africa, and Brazil.

4. I have an innate sense of knowing if a dog or cat I see on the street is friendly. I physically can not walk past a friendly animal without stopping to say hi.

5. I'm a chaotic person. Which means that at any given time parts of our home can look, ahem, chaotic. I'm also a bit scatter-brained, which has only gotten worse during pregnancy. I like to call it artistic creativity.

6. I love to cook, especially soul food from around the world. I think both food and music are the key to world peace. I especially love to cook meals I've learned from my former refugee clients and friends: Mesir Wat (Red Lentil stew from Ethiopia); Real Deal Pakistani curry (Pakistan, and named by the creator of the recipe); Chicken Adobo (Filipino); Aloo Badun (Spicy Potatoes and Onion, Sri Lanka); Pumpkin curry (Sri Lanka); Gado Gado and Spicy Noodles (Indonesia); Empanadas (Chile); Enchiladas, and a gazoodle variations of rice pudding and fried bananas.

7. I describe myself as a citizen of the world. I don't feel 'American'. We both still miss living in Australia.

8. I just sold the guitar I received as a gift when I was in college. I never learned how to play it, but I was still sad to see it go.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! Was it hard to sail for that long and to all those places? I cannot even imagine. Very cool 8 things :)

Bookfool said...

I'm very envious of the sailing trip, although I'm not sure I could handle open sea. I love sailing, though. You're so lucky to have had such a wonderful experience.

I'm all about organized chaos. That doesn't even make sense to me. LOL

Ana S. said...

Wow, sailing around the world! I'm so jealous!

You sound like you've been living life to the fullest, and I really admire people who are capable of doing that.

1morechapter said...

I did a not so random list myself!

Rereads are okay on the Book Awards Challenge.

Anonymous said...

Castro and Tutu? Sounds like an amazing trip!

I always think of myself as a citizen of the world too, but I always thought perhaps I was just being weird. Good to know there are more out there!

Nyssaneala said...

@iliana - It was one of the best times of my life! I was on a program called Semester at Sea, so we were on a really large, cruise-like ship, with 700 students total.

@bookfool - I guess technically it wasn't 'sailing', as in on a sailboat. I have been on a sailboat on the open sea a few times and it is definitely an experience like no other. I really live up to my horoscope sign, Pisces (fish).

@nymeth - Thank you! I value that compliment, especially now as I have been fairly sedentary recently. I miss the travelling, and can't wait until we are in a position financially to start it up again.

@3m - Life is rarely random, huh?

@booktraveller - yeah, I get some strange looks when I say that, or call myself a global citizen. Glad to see I'm not alone!

Lotus Reads said...

I love that you consider yourself a citizen of the world, I do too..with the world slowly becoming a global village it is important that we reach out and embrace other nationalities as our own.

Your sailing trip around the world sounds awesome...you've collected so many rich experiences. Have you written about this trip? Sounds to me like it would make great fodder for a travel memoir.

Enjoyed reading your meme, thanks for taking the time to share a little of yourself with us.

Lotus Reads said...

Ooooh and forgot to mention...I love international cuisine, too! Gado Gado in particular is one of my favorite salads...love that peanut sauce!