Workout update

Today I had a 45 minute bike ride scheduled on the training program. Chris's bike needed air in the tires. Tires are called "gumis" here. So gumiszervis is tire service. I also wanted to get his front light put on the bike so I went to the bike shop before heading to the Danube River. I was looking around at bikes and the cheap bike is still there. One of the guys who goes to English club is going to take me around to find a bike (He's an avid biker) in exchange for going out to pizza with him and his girlfriend so they can practice English. That I can do!

I love biking in my neighborhood around Hero's Square but now that it's spring, there are bugs galore and a few days ago I was getting protein when I really didn't want it. I guess I ride with my mouth sort of open. But then if you try and breathe through your nostrils and keep your mouth shut, you get bugs up there too. So, I wasn't up for a protein breakfast and decided I'd go through the city, then ride along the river. It was great!

I rode about 10 minutes to get to the river. Then I started the Garmin and rode for 10 miles clocking 49:23, about 12.1 miles an hour. I would love to finish the bike section in 45 minutes during the race, but I don't know if that's possible. I would have to add two miles and lose close to 10 minutes! Is it possible? I'm not sure but I'm going to try and shave my time and race faster so I'm ready in July. Next bike ride is scheduled for Sunday, 50 minutes.

Bloody Gimcrack huh?

Language is an interesting thing. I learned today at lunch that bloody is a cuss word for Brits. I didn't know that! I thought it was just slang. I love saying "bloody". I usually like to say "It's bloody hot" or "bloody well then!" just for affect. I don't know if I can give it up and I don't feel as though I'm cussing for one minute. I could say it 100 x and it still means absolutely nothing to me. Yep. Language is an interesting thing.

I remember an experience I had in Capetown in 2005. I was there for almost a month to help start a training school for Every Nation and in that time, one of the main coordinators became ill and had to go to the hospital for a minor operation.
Her husband called and said in his South African accent,

"Hi Jen....Tim here...Kirstie's gone to theater so she won't be joining you today."

I thought to myself, "Kirstie's going to the movies at a time like this?"

But actually in South Africa, theater means "operating room" in a hospital.

Language is a mysterious and intriguing thing and I'm constantly reminded of that fact while living in another country.
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Tonight I went with my friend Annet to see the U23D movie. One of the songs they do is "Bloody Sunday" which now brings on a whole new meaning now that I know it probably means both the cuss word and the blood spilled in war. There was also a song about using our words but I'm not as familiar with that song. It was really creative for the 3D part, with letters falling. Besides the fact that I felt I was right there in Argentina for this U2 concert with the best seat in the house, I just love Bono and how he chooses to use his influence in the world. For me, that song "One" is about the reality that we live in a global world and we need to find ways to get past our prejudices and work together. Yes, we are different but we're still the same.

I was originally inspired when U2 came out with the ONE campaign. I signed the declaration and spread the word. The only problem I have with Bono's method is that you can't just raise money and give it away because in some places in Africa, the leadership is corrupt and the people never get the resources that were intended for them. So, I believe that it goes deeper and people must be taught and trained. Specifically as a Christ follower I believe the best way is teaching and training people to follow in His footsteps and build a life of character. This takes time -- maybe even lifetimes in places like Africa.

Either way, I have signed the declaration and I'm committed.

In case you've never read it, here's U2's ONE campaign declaration:
"WE BELIEVE that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty.

WE RECOGNIZE that a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs - education, health, clean water, food, and care for orphans - would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget.

WE COMMIT ourselves - one person, one voice, one vote at a time - to make a better, safer world for all."

The only thing I would add to the list is recognizing human trafficking and making a pact to direct resources that way too. But no one's asking me and I doubt the declaration will be re-written on my behalf.
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Oh, back to the topic of language, Facebook word of the day. It's a showy and useless word in my opinion. And honestly, it just sounds really bad. Please take note of how it's pronounced. Can you imagine using this word in a sentence? Ummm. No.
Exactly where do these words come from? And who uses them?

Actually, maybe I'll use it someday and surprise you all after I get my gym membership back. :D

gimcrack \JIM-krak\, noun:
1. A showy but useless or worthless object; a gewgaw.
adjective:
1. Tastelessly showy; cheap; gaudy.
Yet the set is more than a collection of pretty gimcracks.
-- Frank Rich, Hot Seat
In those cities most self-conscious about their claim to be part of English history, like Oxford or Bath, the shops where you could have bought a dozen nails, home-made cakes or had a suit run up, have shut down and been replaced with places selling teddy bears, T-shirts and gimcrack souvenirs.
-- Jeremy Paxman, The English: A Portrait of a People

Immigration and Paperwork

Actually, I wish I had this passport - good for any length of time anywhere in the world. No restrictions, just come and go as you please. Wouldn't it be great in a perfect world?

Yesterday, Nori and I went back to the immigration office so I could submit an appeal to my visa denial along with other documents and more money. I'll know in a month whether I've secured a one year residential visa or not. Regardless, I have a little insert serving as a temporary visa until the end of July. Atleast I'm "legal" for now.

My friend Lara is experiencing the same challenges in Lithuania. But her Nori is currently training for the Olympics in the states. Lara speaks broken Lithuanian, but immigration language is often so technical and she has no one there to help at the moment. Can you imagine? It's been almost impossible for Lara to fulfill their paperwork obligations and quite a hastle, seeing that all along she has only committed to living in Lithuania for a year. Lara's roommate, Austra Skujytė, would normally be of great help but the Olympics sort of got in the way. Austra won the silver medal in heptathlon in Athens 2004 for Lithuania and she's currently training for Beijing. So Lara is sort of "stuck" trying to figure things out. (Side note: I hope you'll follow Austra in the Heptathlon events which are scheduled for August 15th.) I can't imagine trying to overcome these language barriers without the help of Nori and Peter here in Budapest. Unless you've experienced this personally, you'll never know what immigration exhaustion is really like :D

Seeing that the goal of our work in Budapest is to one day hand off the work to nationals with very few Americans, it's a good thing actually. The best part about it -- besides knowing their own culture so well and speaking the language fluently -- is that Hungarians won't have these "bloody" visa issues! :D

Budapest this Fall

"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."
- George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian

I didn't realize that General Patton was an Olympian until reading this quote and looking up some information on his life. How interesting! I'm always amazed at how complex and diverse we are as people. I guess it's just refreshing to read this from a man well known for his involvement with WWII but less known for his athletic prowess.

I'm beginning to look ahead as I train for the sprint tri in July. For me, 2008 is a race year and it's kind of exciting. After July, I've decided on two running races in Budapest. Even though running is my least favorite of the three events in tri, it's growing on me. I've never liked running. I just like the way I feel (healthy) after I do it.

So, the first is the Nike Budapest International half-marathon on September 7th. Next, the Budapest International Marathon on October 5th and within it is a "mini-marathon" - which is completely doable! Looking at the maps, both races start at Heroe's Square, right in my backyard. And both races end with a free ticket to the Szechenyi Baths! Now that I'm over my fear of the baths and have come to appreciate the fact that they aren't filled with old European men in speedos, that is FABULOUS news!

As I reviewed some websites on training for a half, I realized that I can actually start to add in longer runs once a week and keep myself consistently running the smaller distances suggested in training for a Sprint Tri. On one of the training sites, the question was posed --

Why do I want to complete a half marathon?

Basically it was suggested that you need to "dig down deep" and come up with an answer that will get you through when it's tough. Honestly, I'm not that deep. I don't know why really. I don't really "like" running. Free tickets to the baths? I guess when I think about it thoughtfully, I want to celebrate the healthy lifestyle and challenge myself physically. I have feet that can run and a healthy body. Not everyone does. Maybe that's my "down deep." And I guess I also want to be able to tell my kids someday that I ran a few International races in Budapest. It sure is a beautiful city!

http://www.budapestmarathon.com/eng/half/news.html

http://www.budapestmarathon.com/eng/marathon/news.html

Who would like to take vacation in September or October and join me?

Open Water Swim or .......Ice Bath???

Last night, I returned from Lake Balaton where I spent a few days working for an English training course that specifically trains Hungarian business professionals.

While I was there, I managed to squeeze in a swim Thursday morning and a run Friay morning. If you live or train near warm water (Bree in Hawaii) I'm sure you'll be thankful and inspired after reading this post. In fact, you might feel compelled to jump into your warm water and train!! I still can't believe I took an ice bath at Lake Balaton on Thursday!
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30 minute swim - Thursday
OPEN WATER SWIM OR OPEN WATER ICE BATH?.....
Apparently open water swimming has a much different feel from training in a pool. That point became obvious immediately for me. It's easy to get freaked out, even by your own shadow in the mirky open waters. I am sure there were creatures below, but I couldn't see them because the water was so cloudy and for that I was thankful. I found out later, at breakfast time, that the lake is indeed filled with water snakes which are harmless. I don't think I would have ventured into the lake had I known that beforehand but in this situation, ignorance was ......almost bliss.

It's less than a three minute walk from the Hotel Aranyas to the lake. I brought my tri-suit and thought I'd use it for the first time. Other than swimming this past summer with my little brother to the Sand Harbor buoys at Lake Tahoe, I can't say that I've done any open water swim training. Yet strangely, I was optimistic.





Perhaps it was the sight of water which has always been medicinal for me. I used to love running at Redondo Beach in California. Just the sight of water does something for me! And if I had it my way, I'd live near the ocean and do nothing but write, drink coffee and exercise along the coast. I guess that's another topic for another day.

In the back of my mind, I kept thinking that I didn't want to be in the water completely alone. Luckily there were a few older gentlemen fishing and I had a captive audience. Honestly, that was the last thing I really wanted (a captive audience) and they were much more interested in catching fish anyways.

I moved far away from them so as not to disturb their peaceful morning fishing adventure. I knew they would probably rescue me if I needed rescuing since every man loves rescuing a damsel in distress, right gents? Unfortunately Lake Balaton turned out to be a lot more shallow than I imagined for atleast 75 meters from the shore so there would be no opportunity or need for rescuing today.

When I first got to the lake shore, I put my feet in and found it was colder than I expected. Actually, it was more like an ice bath than an actual swimming lake. I almost turned back to the hotel. Then, I looked at the beautiful sunrise cascading through the clouds, I looked at the water in front of me and I looked over at the fishermen.

My toes were numb already and I had only dipped them in briefly.
"Am I crazy?" I thought, as I looked back over the water. I dipped my toes in again optimistically but it felt like they were sitting in a freezer box. The temperature hadn't changed and I was back to my original thoughts.

"I must be crazy. Just put your sweatshirt on, Jen, and go back."

And then the fight began and indecision set in for atleast 5 minutes.

"Jump in." I thought. "You need this experience in open water. It's mental preparation. You have to be ready under every condition."

I argued with myself for atleast five minutes before finally jumping into the absolutely, incredibly freezing Lake Balaton water. It took me atleast a few minutes to catch my breath. A few times I thought I was going to get an attack of coronary thrombosis. I was in body shock at first.

Finally, like Dori on Finding Nemo I kept saying to myself
"Just keep swim-ming, just keep swim-ming."

And I managed to stay in that "bloody" water for 30 minutes.
(I've been around a few Brits the last few days so my English has been tainted.)

The water was shallow and honestly I felt as though the swim were more to help me get over the fear of open water swimming than actual distance and time training.

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The weather was incredible Friday morning. One of the guys on our team from South Africa joined me on the run. We ran 28 minutes although I was scheduled for 20, which just seems so "weak" to me, but o.k. Like Robyn said a few posts ago, I need to concentrate on distance and speed and not worry about the time slots. It was great to run along Lake Balaton.

Prized possession

Quick comment:
One of the girls on campus can't make it tomorrow to Alexandria. She wanted to encourage me not to worry. At the end of her text she wrote something troubling, "Have fun and break a leg!" No!!! I don't want to break a leg. How could breaking a leg possibly be fun? She was just using her English expressions that she no doubt learned but I wonder who ever came up with that ridiculous saying which translated is supposed to mean you tried so hard you broke your leg. Injuries suck! I'm trying to finish a sprint tri but "NO breaking legs here, please. :D" He he.
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I love this image!

I'm using it in my power point tomorrow along with this scripture in James 1:18




"And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession."

Creative Design

Tomorrow at Alexandria Bookstore I will give the second half of this discussion on the topic -- Pop-culture and self-image. I found this you tube clip and I'm going to actually show it to introduce the final point. "Ultimately" is misspelled in the clip but I hope it doesn't take away from the content. I don't know how to correct the misspelled word but hopefully it will be minor.

Basically, the message is which mirror are you looking into for self-definition and is it lying to you?
I propose that there are three main mirrors:
1) the mirror of pop-culture/the world
2) the mirror of self-judgment
3) the mirror of God's word/the Bible

I'm getting inspired and excited. I hope the message comes across tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to focus on the third mirror with a brief review of the first two mirrors.

Thanks for your prayers. I appreciate them and I hope that people are helped and encouraged to think about the mirrors they are looking into for self-definition. I like the phrase in the You Tube clip --

"We can change our outward appearance, but can anything we ever do really change who we are?"

Maybe we will all choose to look more to our creator and ask for His involvement and His purpose in our lives. This will change who we are. He's the one who designed us uniquely and with a specific idea in mind. He owns the owners manual. I hope more of us will consult Him about His intentions!

This morning's workout

I'm loving the Garmin watch and all it's cool features. Sometime soon I'm going to try the training assistant again. I tried it once and it kicked my butt so I turned it off half way through that workout last week! I think I set the goal too high so maybe that's why I was so discouraged. Oh well. I'll try again soon against this "virtual" training partner since Nona went back to the states and most of the girls I run with are not doing it to train for an event.
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This morning I biked 6.73 miles at 10.9 miles an hour for 37:07 minutes. For some reason, my legs felt jello-y. Starting next week I'm going to be more determined about strength training. Besides sqauts and lunges, which I never consistently do, I'm kind of clueless as to what you can do at home for your legs. I don't have a gym membership anymore so I have to make do at home.
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Last night I went to the immigration office with Nori and found out that my visa was denied -- that I need to pay more money and submit another letter and hopefully then I will be accepted for a one year residential visa. My friend Lara in Lithuania is going through the same thing, even though she's Lithuanian and her parents moved to the states before she was born. There's another guy I know who lives in the Philippines who also has had visa issues and he's a pro-basketball player. Crazy! The first year I lived here there was no problem getting a teaching visa with the school. This second year it's been one application after another to try and get a residential visa. I'm hopeful it will work out. If not, my dad's dream comes true and I'll be home for a summer visit.
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My papa called last night just as I was thinking about him and my mom. They celebrated 38 years of marriage on April 18th. He's doing good but has to go in for some health things so I'm praying for him. It was really good to talk to him and, of course, he wanted to know when I'm coming home. I actually want to write a whole blog about how thankful I am for my dad but I don't have time for it now so when I get back, be prepared for a long and sappy post about my dad and other faithful men like him!!

Have a great week! I'll catch up with you on the weekend. :D

Lake Balaton

WORKOUT UPDATE:
When I got home tonight at 7 pm I was exhausted and it was raining outside. On the bus ride home, I kept thinking maybe it would be fun to ride the bike in the rain. The 35 minute bike ride was actually scheduled for tomorrow but since I leave for Lake Balaton I was thinking I'd get it in today instead. Didn't happen. I pulled out the Pilates DVD and I'm planning to get something in before bedtime. But, I'm still packing, finishing emails, cleaning my house, talking to my friend Lara in Lithuania about life in Eastern Europe, and yep. I'm all over the map, par usual before leaving for a few days.
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I started packing a bit last night for Lake Balaton. Included is my tri-suit and flippers. I'm going to open water swim while I'm there, even though I'll have to get up super early to do it.

Excited about seeing the lake and getting a run in there too. Oh yeah, and of course I'm excited to be teaching conversational english in an advanced group of business professionals in Hungary. I always feel a bit intimidated in these settings. I'm a conversationalist for sure, but sometimes I'm not quite as knowledgeable as I'd like to be on a variety of topics. I'll be checking up on all the latest Hungarian, U.S. and world news before I go.

I'll be traveling with two older British women who are driving us. They are hilarious with very distinct and proper British accents. Love it.

My plan was to get the scheduled 35 minute bike in before staff meeting and campus outings today but it didn't happen. I will be logging a bike ride in the evening! I won't be posting until the weekend, but I hope the sun is shining in your part of the world as it is here and I hope you get a chance to enjoy your week, whatever you're doing! :D

Chimera what?

When we were in Frankfurt, I met Aris, a Greek brotha' from anotha' motha'. :D This guy was hilarious. He quotes almost the entire film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." I thought of "da Greek" this morning.

Chimera what? Where do these words come from? Oh, it comes from da Greeek!!!I'm a native English speaker and I've never even heard of this word. I don't like this word. I think this word is stupid. Really. I stumbled upon it while checking facebook's application Dictionary.com and the....

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Word of the Day for Monday, April 21, 2008

chimera \ky-MIR-uh\, noun:
1. (Capitalized) A fire-breathing she-monster represented as having a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
2. Any imaginary monster made up of grotesquely incongruous parts.
3. An illusion or mental fabrication; a grotesque product of the imagination.
4. An individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution, produced as a result of organ transplant, grafting, or genetic engineering.

Asa Whitney, with no previous experience and having nothing but his faith and self-assurance to tell him he was not pursuing a chimera, began to outline how he would get a railroad across the vast, uninhabited middle of the American continent to the Pacific shores, where the lure of Asia beckoned, within reach.
-- David Haward Bain, Empire Express

She seems to spend most of the book sobbing, throwing up and generally marinating in a stew of self-absorption while searching fruitlessly for that chimera, her true self, inexpertly aided by astrologers and new-age therapists.
-- "Cutting through fantasies to crazy life", USA Today, December 2, 1999

These "chimeras" can be created because of our power--derived from the recombinant DNA technology developed in the early 1970s--to move DNA from one species to another.
-- Bryan Appleyard, Brave New Worlds

Chimera comes from Latin chimaera, from Greek chimaira "she-goat, chimera."

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I don't think I'll be using this word in my conversations anytime soon.