Even though I am living out my dream on the coast, and you all know how I need the sunshine...I still miss Autumn...it's my favorite season. Everyone make sure you go running early in the morning when it smells like cold, and go to a High School football game, and watch the Mavs for me. Marc, however, is not allowed to go camping until I return.
I don't know if you were aware, but if you'll look in the top right hand corner, you will see the word "Shasta". This is not an advertisement for the famous cola, nor the daisy. It's a link to my travel-buddy's blog. She is much more informative than the nonsense I write about so I'll suggest a look a hers when you get the chance. I also don't wish to be repetitive, so all the pictures of our new home are up on her site!
Can I just tell you how much I love her by the way? There are 7 girls in the world I'd give anything for and she is one of them. I couldn't have asked for a better friend to come with me. We are on the same page you know? We both have the same heightened curiosity to explore, questions about life, while maintaining the healthy fear of death that keeps me from feeling like a sissy when I don't want to bungee-jump off some bridge in New Zealand...skydiving maybe, but no bungee! She's been amazingly patient and grounded when things dont go as planned while I am charged by emotion. She's more than friendly to everyone we meet, and I've never had to carry a conversation. Not to mentioned, she's cooks dinner, shares all of her chocolate, and makes me laugh so hard I draw attention. I am blessed to know her, much less be around her and live with her for the next few months. Love you Shast!
I know, I know. "Put more pictures up". I'M WORKING ON IT! THERE'S BEEN A BATTERY CRISIS.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough...
Hello. My name is Carisse. Im 25, I have a degree, and I work in a bakery...
When I went in for this position I had sort of fantasized that I would be just like Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Stranger Than Fiction" if I worked in a bakery. And all day I would knead dough and sprinkle things, and whistle whilst I work. But in actuality, I mostly run the cash register and guess at which coins are worth $2 and which pastries are called tarts. Not quite as cool as Maggie, but $17/hr should be enough to save up and spend my last 3 weeks overseas traveling. It feels like I'm back in High School working at the coffee shop with Paco, except no Paco, or volleyball practice, or capri-suns.
Did I mention the sun ha
s decided to shine on us and the spring weather here is PERFECT now? Today I went and read near the river, about 1 minute from my work, and it was beautiful. The perfect temp, with the perfect amount of wind, sitting in the perfect amount of shade. And those are my toes in case you forgot what they looked like.
I wanted to share something I read today from Donald Miller, I liked it and relate:
"I tend to think life is about security, that when you have a full year's rent, you can rest. I worry about things too much, I worry about whether or not my ideas are right, I worry about whether or not people like me, I worry about whether or not I am going to get married, and then I worry about whether or not my girl will leave me if I do get married...perhaps because I bought into Houston {or Dallas}, one thousand square miles of concrete and strip malls and megachurches and cineplaxes, none of it real. I mean it is there, it is made of matter, but it is all hype...it feels like we are supposed to be panicking about things...and because of this there doesn't seem to be any peace; there isn't any serenity...we can only panic about the clothes we wear, panic about the car we drive, all the while we feel the need for new furniture and a new television and a bigger house in the right neighborhood. We drive around in a trance, salivating for Starbucks while that great heaven sits above us, and that beautiful sunrise is happening in the desert, and all those mountains out West are collecting snow on the limbs of their pines, and all those leaves are changing colors out East." --Through Painted Deserts
It's time for me to explore, use all my 5 senses, and slow-down enough to read the pages of my life that are being written as we speak!
When I went in for this position I had sort of fantasized that I would be just like Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Stranger Than Fiction" if I worked in a bakery. And all day I would knead dough and sprinkle things, and whistle whilst I work. But in actuality, I mostly run the cash register and guess at which coins are worth $2 and which pastries are called tarts. Not quite as cool as Maggie, but $17/hr should be enough to save up and spend my last 3 weeks overseas traveling. It feels like I'm back in High School working at the coffee shop with Paco, except no Paco, or volleyball practice, or capri-suns.
Did I mention the sun ha
s decided to shine on us and the spring weather here is PERFECT now? Today I went and read near the river, about 1 minute from my work, and it was beautiful. The perfect temp, with the perfect amount of wind, sitting in the perfect amount of shade. And those are my toes in case you forgot what they looked like.I wanted to share something I read today from Donald Miller, I liked it and relate:
"I tend to think life is about security, that when you have a full year's rent, you can rest. I worry about things too much, I worry about whether or not my ideas are right, I worry about whether or not people like me, I worry about whether or not I am going to get married, and then I worry about whether or not my girl will leave me if I do get married...perhaps because I bought into Houston {or Dallas}, one thousand square miles of concrete and strip malls and megachurches and cineplaxes, none of it real. I mean it is there, it is made of matter, but it is all hype...it feels like we are supposed to be panicking about things...and because of this there doesn't seem to be any peace; there isn't any serenity...we can only panic about the clothes we wear, panic about the car we drive, all the while we feel the need for new furniture and a new television and a bigger house in the right neighborhood. We drive around in a trance, salivating for Starbucks while that great heaven sits above us, and that beautiful sunrise is happening in the desert, and all those mountains out West are collecting snow on the limbs of their pines, and all those leaves are changing colors out East." --Through Painted Deserts
It's time for me to explore, use all my 5 senses, and slow-down enough to read the pages of my life that are being written as we speak!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
FOSTERS: Australian for crap
"You know why you haven't seen any signs for Fosters around here? Because you Americans are the only one's that drink that s***."
That's a direct quote from our orientation into the work visa program. I thought it was funny. Many of you may recollect my mild obsession with the chocolate enrobed cookie from Costa Rica called the "Chicky". May I introduce to you from Australia...the Tim Tam. This little bit of heaven is a sandwiched cookie dipped in chocolate and meant to swim in coffee. There are several flavors and I intend to conquer each one.
Shasta and I have decided to accelerate our self-confidence during this trip by taking up the art of singing in the shower. You should try this, especially if you know someone can hear you. I am not a singer, but in the shower, I can be whomever I want...an R&B sensation, Brandon Boyd's female harmony, or even a new addition to the cast of High School Musical. And while you think the person outside is mocking your lameness and judging every note...they are, in actuality marveling at you guts/control over intimidation. I am a rockstar.
We got job possibilities today. I'll fill you in when they become permanent and I collect a real paycheck. Miss you!
That's a direct quote from our orientation into the work visa program. I thought it was funny. Many of you may recollect my mild obsession with the chocolate enrobed cookie from Costa Rica called the "Chicky". May I introduce to you from Australia...the Tim Tam. This little bit of heaven is a sandwiched cookie dipped in chocolate and meant to swim in coffee. There are several flavors and I intend to conquer each one.
Shasta and I have decided to accelerate our self-confidence during this trip by taking up the art of singing in the shower. You should try this, especially if you know someone can hear you. I am not a singer, but in the shower, I can be whomever I want...an R&B sensation, Brandon Boyd's female harmony, or even a new addition to the cast of High School Musical. And while you think the person outside is mocking your lameness and judging every note...they are, in actuality marveling at you guts/control over intimidation. I am a rockstar.
We got job possibilities today. I'll fill you in when they become permanent and I collect a real paycheck. Miss you!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Beets, Bears, Battlestar Galactica
I've decided Australia is smarter than America on several levels. First of all, in most bathrooms here they have the separate button option for the 'half-flush'. It uses half as much water as a full flush so its perfect for when you've had a day full of coffee instead of prunes. Also, since they've been in a drought they've put little 4 minute hour glasses in the showers so people will use less water. 
I'm usually queen of high-maintenance 20 min. showers, however, I'm also slightly competitive in nature and find the hour-glass to be an incredible game. If I finish with sand left to spare, I get some peanut m&m's. We should do this in America even without a drought, just to save water.
Also, someone get on the city council and put in a train system. Mass transit is genius. You can actually go anywhere you want, without traffic or road rage, for a cheap price. You can even read Harry Potter on your way there if you so choose. Not to mention the gallons of pollution it has to be saving. If I think about how every person on the train I am riding would probably be sitting in an SUV for 30 minutes or more in Dallas during rush hour...I heart the environment.
America still trumps Australia on the food boat though. Beets are only good for providing painters with color idea. They are not edible so I am confused as to why Australians put them on their burgers or anything else. I plan on keeping a few in my pockets incase I need to ward off sharks, crocs, or vampires etc...
Sydney was beautiful. It completely reminds me of a cleaner and smaller NYC. They even have Hyde Park which is similar to Central Park.
The opera house is bigger than you think, the Harbor is cool to see, but I have yet to meet Wolfmother, or Jet, or Keith Urban. 4 months to be hopeful though.
Today we WALKED (which i loved) to the store to get our first groceries! We bought these reusable cloth bags that everyone uses here. So...in retrospect over this post, I guess I'll be coming home somewhat of a hippie concerned about recylcing and water and all that!
I'm usually queen of high-maintenance 20 min. showers, however, I'm also slightly competitive in nature and find the hour-glass to be an incredible game. If I finish with sand left to spare, I get some peanut m&m's. We should do this in America even without a drought, just to save water.Also, someone get on the city council and put in a train system. Mass transit is genius. You can actually go anywhere you want, without traffic or road rage, for a cheap price. You can even read Harry Potter on your way there if you so choose. Not to mention the gallons of pollution it has to be saving. If I think about how every person on the train I am riding would probably be sitting in an SUV for 30 minutes or more in Dallas during rush hour...I heart the environment.
America still trumps Australia on the food boat though. Beets are only good for providing painters with color idea. They are not edible so I am confused as to why Australians put them on their burgers or anything else. I plan on keeping a few in my pockets incase I need to ward off sharks, crocs, or vampires etc...
Sydney was beautiful. It completely reminds me of a cleaner and smaller NYC. They even have Hyde Park which is similar to Central Park.
The opera house is bigger than you think, the Harbor is cool to see, but I have yet to meet Wolfmother, or Jet, or Keith Urban. 4 months to be hopeful though.Today we WALKED (which i loved) to the store to get our first groceries! We bought these reusable cloth bags that everyone uses here. So...in retrospect over this post, I guess I'll be coming home somewhat of a hippie concerned about recylcing and water and all that!
My Cup Overflows...
I ran away from my life in America to force myself to depend on God for each and every need, to learn to pray, to learn to listen, and to try to feel guidance. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...Eph. 3:20
I came to Australia with only 2 contacts. A college professor gave me the email address of a man at a church in Sydney. His name is Peter Gray and he and his wife Marina so generously poured out their love and gave us a home for our last 2 nights in Sydney so that we didn't need a hostel.
We went to a Bible study one night with their son, Andrew, and somehow it came up that I go to the Village Church in Dallas and get this, they had heard sermons from my preacher over the internet! They gave us the phone number of a preacher in Brisbane named Mick Porter.
We arrive in Brisbane and stay the night with my new friend, Gionata Nencini. "Johnny" as I like to call him, is this wonderful Italian, about our age, who is touring the world on his motorcycle.
He has already ridden from Italy across Asia and been saving up money here in Australia for 1 year in order to ship his bike to Chile and begin his ride up through Canada. Keep an eye out for this guy. He will probably write a book about his adventures and be famous one day. Aside from all this he was the sweetest, most thoughtful host ever. He took great care of us for 2 nights and we are blessed to know him.
While we were staying with him, Shasta and I were definitely feeling the pressure to get an apartment fast. So after exhausting heaps of time on the internet, and one failed attempt, we set out to meet a real estate agent to have a look at flat. We got lost, walked all day, in the cold and rain, our feet wet, miserable, pathetic, feeling hopeless and unsure about the territory this place was in. We were killing time before our appointment to look at this place when we stopped in a coffee shop. Remember, this was a horrible, no good, very bad day for us so we decided to pray. We prayed for a place to live, and long story short...the agent never showed up, we took it as a sign from God, and we gave up and went back to Johnny's place. We got to soak up some deep conversation with Johnny and I was able to forget the day and decided to worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
That night I got a phone call from Andrea Porter, Mick Porter's wife. Not only did she offer to keep us until we found an apartment...she offered us the self-contained flat they own underneath their house to live in through December! It is a spacious apartment complete with bathroom, shower, bedrooms and kitchen. Not only is it a great place, but we are incredibly excited to go to church with this couple who has read all the same books we have, with the same views on the poor and the Gospel as us...and on top of that, I think Andrea will be my new best friend. We are alike in a thousand different ways.....It's amazing how I've been blessed with family all over the world. I have "family" in Costa Rica that took me in as their own, "family" in L.A., Haiti, Deep Ellum, you name it. I think we focus so much on the negative in the world that we no longer notice the goodness in people, and we can find that with an mustard-seed of trust.
For the sake of space I've left out several little stories and 'coincidences' from our last two weeks, but in a nutshell...God has taken what little faith I was clinging to and showed up around every corner. I am blessed, I've teared up several times today...and not just because I'm an emotional person, but because God has overwhelmed me. Just when you doubt and wonder if He listens or cares, He talks back. Don't be afraid to ask Him. Don't be too prideful to depend on Him for your next meal or your next place to sleep. Everything comes from God whether a lot or a little. The clothes, bed, food you have...He gave that to you, and He's more than willing to provide. Coming here was a good idea mom, you'll see.
Several of you have left comments and I miss you! However, I dont have all your email addresses since I left work so please feel free to write my hotmail and I will respond.
carissekay@hotmail.com
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen................Eph 3:20
I came to Australia with only 2 contacts. A college professor gave me the email address of a man at a church in Sydney. His name is Peter Gray and he and his wife Marina so generously poured out their love and gave us a home for our last 2 nights in Sydney so that we didn't need a hostel.
We went to a Bible study one night with their son, Andrew, and somehow it came up that I go to the Village Church in Dallas and get this, they had heard sermons from my preacher over the internet! They gave us the phone number of a preacher in Brisbane named Mick Porter.We arrive in Brisbane and stay the night with my new friend, Gionata Nencini. "Johnny" as I like to call him, is this wonderful Italian, about our age, who is touring the world on his motorcycle.
He has already ridden from Italy across Asia and been saving up money here in Australia for 1 year in order to ship his bike to Chile and begin his ride up through Canada. Keep an eye out for this guy. He will probably write a book about his adventures and be famous one day. Aside from all this he was the sweetest, most thoughtful host ever. He took great care of us for 2 nights and we are blessed to know him.While we were staying with him, Shasta and I were definitely feeling the pressure to get an apartment fast. So after exhausting heaps of time on the internet, and one failed attempt, we set out to meet a real estate agent to have a look at flat. We got lost, walked all day, in the cold and rain, our feet wet, miserable, pathetic, feeling hopeless and unsure about the territory this place was in. We were killing time before our appointment to look at this place when we stopped in a coffee shop. Remember, this was a horrible, no good, very bad day for us so we decided to pray. We prayed for a place to live, and long story short...the agent never showed up, we took it as a sign from God, and we gave up and went back to Johnny's place. We got to soak up some deep conversation with Johnny and I was able to forget the day and decided to worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
That night I got a phone call from Andrea Porter, Mick Porter's wife. Not only did she offer to keep us until we found an apartment...she offered us the self-contained flat they own underneath their house to live in through December! It is a spacious apartment complete with bathroom, shower, bedrooms and kitchen. Not only is it a great place, but we are incredibly excited to go to church with this couple who has read all the same books we have, with the same views on the poor and the Gospel as us...and on top of that, I think Andrea will be my new best friend. We are alike in a thousand different ways.....It's amazing how I've been blessed with family all over the world. I have "family" in Costa Rica that took me in as their own, "family" in L.A., Haiti, Deep Ellum, you name it. I think we focus so much on the negative in the world that we no longer notice the goodness in people, and we can find that with an mustard-seed of trust.
For the sake of space I've left out several little stories and 'coincidences' from our last two weeks, but in a nutshell...God has taken what little faith I was clinging to and showed up around every corner. I am blessed, I've teared up several times today...and not just because I'm an emotional person, but because God has overwhelmed me. Just when you doubt and wonder if He listens or cares, He talks back. Don't be afraid to ask Him. Don't be too prideful to depend on Him for your next meal or your next place to sleep. Everything comes from God whether a lot or a little. The clothes, bed, food you have...He gave that to you, and He's more than willing to provide. Coming here was a good idea mom, you'll see.
Several of you have left comments and I miss you! However, I dont have all your email addresses since I left work so please feel free to write my hotmail and I will respond.
carissekay@hotmail.com
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen................Eph 3:20
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Funny
4. My mom is hilarious, I think she gets it from me.
So in response to my previousl blog I get this message from my mom:
"Tell Shasta I am appointing her Security Director as well as her other duties The Office of Security Director has immediate authority over that of Social Director for the well being of the entire company. Duties of that office include scrutinizing friends made by the Social Director and cancelling conversations if deemed necessary, plus looking over her back."
I wrote her back and told her she was funny and then got the next of my laugh out loud messages:
"Why do you kids think I have no sense of humor? I'll have you know I was the 'fun one' among friends at school and work. I LOVE fun!"
Ugh, I love my family. Im sure there are more stories from here I could share, but here is what I have time for. So...I dont wear my glasses except to drive and see movies, you all know this. And, its rained here the last couple days so I dont wear them to read all the street signs as we've been walking around Sydney. Therefore Shasta has also been appointed 'Directions Coordinator' and I sorta just walk next to her talking as we get from A to B.
Well, this morning we were standing on a street corner waiting for the light to change and I came up with a new endearing term for Shasta as she read a sign for me across the street. I like to call her "Guide Dog". You know, like the kinds blind people have? She then looks over at me out the side of her rain jacket hood and says, "Not cool."
Ha. I laughed so hard. In fact Im tearing up now. Maybe you had to be there I dunno.
I also find it funny that the we brought the rain to Australia who had been in a 3 YEAR DROUGHT prior to our arrival. Fun times. Pics coming soon! Good ones!
So in response to my previousl blog I get this message from my mom:
"Tell Shasta I am appointing her Security Director as well as her other duties The Office of Security Director has immediate authority over that of Social Director for the well being of the entire company. Duties of that office include scrutinizing friends made by the Social Director and cancelling conversations if deemed necessary, plus looking over her back."
I wrote her back and told her she was funny and then got the next of my laugh out loud messages:
"Why do you kids think I have no sense of humor? I'll have you know I was the 'fun one' among friends at school and work. I LOVE fun!"
Ugh, I love my family. Im sure there are more stories from here I could share, but here is what I have time for. So...I dont wear my glasses except to drive and see movies, you all know this. And, its rained here the last couple days so I dont wear them to read all the street signs as we've been walking around Sydney. Therefore Shasta has also been appointed 'Directions Coordinator' and I sorta just walk next to her talking as we get from A to B.
Well, this morning we were standing on a street corner waiting for the light to change and I came up with a new endearing term for Shasta as she read a sign for me across the street. I like to call her "Guide Dog". You know, like the kinds blind people have? She then looks over at me out the side of her rain jacket hood and says, "Not cool."
Ha. I laughed so hard. In fact Im tearing up now. Maybe you had to be there I dunno.
I also find it funny that the we brought the rain to Australia who had been in a 3 YEAR DROUGHT prior to our arrival. Fun times. Pics coming soon! Good ones!
Friday, August 17, 2007
No Worries
I'm in Sydney, I'm safe. The 14.5 hour flight wasn't bad at ALL. Qantas is a great airline and keeps you busy with snacks, your own screen to view movies, tv, music. The trip went by suprisingly fast and wasn't painful at all. I got a little nervous waiting in the terminal when Shasta says, "...so do you have your work visa papers printed out that say you CAN'T GET INTO THE COUNTRY without this slip of paper??"....to which I frantically hoped those very papers were in the bag I had just checked onto the plane. Thank the sweet Lord we ended up not needing them in customs later.
All of this to say, Shasta has now been appointed head of all Administration and Clerical work for this trip...while I have been elected, Social Chair. Thats right, she gets us to and fro...and I make us friends along the way. Until next time mates!
All of this to say, Shasta has now been appointed head of all Administration and Clerical work for this trip...while I have been elected, Social Chair. Thats right, she gets us to and fro...and I make us friends along the way. Until next time mates!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hermosa Happiness
I love California. I would love to live here. I dont care that its expensive. I love that there are toddlers and old men riding skateboards, bikes, and surfboards all day long. I love how active I've been here. I love my sweet, sweet friends Toby and Jane that so generously open their home to us like it was our own. I love how my calves hurt after volleyball in the sand. I love that I finally rocked the video game "Guitar Hero" and I dont even like video games. I love talking at night with the waves in the background staring into a literal sea of darkness. I love sprouts and avacados on wheat bread. I love riding Toby's longboard. I love that I've had the best time of my life here in two days...and the only thing I've spent money on is food. I love you guys. I love God.
Pray for my upcoming 14 hours on a plane. Those of you who love me know how ancy I can get. Dont worry though, I got snacks, got Harry Potter, got inflight movies. Lets do this Australia business.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Reasons why my mom is better than yours
1. My mom is the prettiest of all the moms
2. My mom cleared out a space for all my junk to be stored
3. My mom made me Thanksgiving dinner in August
Thats right, I got to eat sweet potatoes and turkey and dressing during the summer since I won't be here in November. I've enjoyed the short time I've been able to spend here out in the woods with my folks. Its so peaceful here I love it! I intend on spending the rest of the day packing, downsizing, and re-packing so that I can fit 4 months of whatever I need into a suitcase and a backpack. Back to Dallas tomorrow, a night with most of my best girls, then off to L.A. on Tuesday.
People keep asking me if I'm nervous. I haven't really had time to be nervous. I suppose if I dwelled on all possible scenarios that would leave me homeless, hungry, or a character in a sequel of "Wolf Creek" (horror movie about tourists in Australia...not recommended), then I might be nervous. Mostly I'm just excited. I'm about to see places, meet people, and experience things I have yet to have done in the last 25 years. And let me also just say, as much as I love the CVC, and as much as I love my sweetie pie clients/co-workers there...its an incredible feeling to have the last day of your job. I highly suggest it. Everyone go quit your job and head for adventure. Go, now.
I love everyone of you who decided to read this little journal! Please keep me in your prayers. I anticipate God will open up a world of doors for me to follow into a deeper relationship with Him.XXOO-Carisse
p.s... (PAT...I am a failure, disappointment, lost the challenge, probably owe you 20 bucks or something)
Sunday, August 5, 2007
A couch is not a bed
Couches were meant to be sat on, in an upright position. I have come to this conclusion after spending my first homeless week on my friend Brittany's couch. Tomorrow I will spend another week on another couch, get a weekend on a fluffy bed at my parents, and then off to L.A. I am excited and nervous, excited for growth and nervous for change. But as I've been reading lately in a wonderful Donald Miller book; if you don't grow, adapt, and change...you will expire. Not everyone needs to drop their life and go to Australia to find this...but I do. I'll leave you with the best quote I've read recently, I believe it illustrates my motives.
"While a person can have faith that a chair will hold him, it is not until he sits on that chair that he has acted on his faith". --Donald Miller
"While a person can have faith that a chair will hold him, it is not until he sits on that chair that he has acted on his faith". --Donald Miller
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