Five Questions Meme

Today I thought I would try something new—something I have never done before. A meme. What is a meme? It is, according to the Oxford Dictionary, “an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, esp. imitation.”

But in the blogging world, it has a little bit different meaning. This meme works by having one blog author (or blogger) “tag” another with five questions, then the recipient needs to tag two other people (or something of that nature). Every meme is a bit different, but at it's root a meme is kind of like a game of tag on the internet. And no, I am not sure if there are tag-backs...

Last week I was reading Hutch's Full Circle blog (Extra credit if you see the music joke!), and he had answered a meme. It was optional to participate (I volunteered to be tagged), but the idea intrigued me. So, here are the very thoughtful, and thought-provoking questions Allen (a.k.a. Hutch) wrote for me (and my answers):

1. How, if at all, has MBC prepared you (besides personal edification) for what you're doing now?

The one thing that stands out to me is Dr. Tim Aldrich's section on how to teach. Specifically “take what is known to teach the unknown.” The rest is kind of intangible as far as relevance is concerned. These “intangibles” have great value to me personally, but not much in terms of my current line of work.

2. Where are you at in terms of your learning Portuguese? Are you pretty much fluent? Still struggling with local idioms? Having learned languages before, but never having been immersed like you are, I'm very curious about the whole process.

Well, that is really more than one question, first off. :D I am pretty fluent. I take the dog to the vet, go to the grocery store, gab in the church office, talk with family, etc. Of course, a lot of people help me out by talking a bit slower than normal, and enunciating clearly, but I would say basic fluency has been achieved (but I really need to work on my writing). Some idioms are really confusing, but most are kind of obvious if you think about them.

3. I may or may not have read this... trying to remember... but how did you propose to your wife?

I did sort of allude to that story in a post entitled “Our Story,” but that does not really tell the whole proposal story.

We have a favorite place at one of the malls here; a little outdoor table right beside the city's only bowling alley. I planned to take her there after I had secretly asked her father for permission to ask (and somehow it remained a secret—a miracle in this family).

She got home from work, and even though I had planned this with her, she was so tired that she did not want to go. I begged and pleaded, and she changed her mind. See, it was almost Christmas, and I felt it would be pretty cliché to ask her then. The place was also important because that is where we had our first date.

We rode the bus to the mall, and I was very nervous that Nádya would see the lump in my pocket that was the ring box. When we got to the mall we wandered around a bit, and wound up at “our table.” We sat there talking, and reminiscing about our first date. I have forgotten how I made the segue, but I knelt and asked.

I don't remember the words I used, but the ring I proposed with was originally my grandmother's, and I explained that at the time. She burst into tears. I had two thoughts chasing each other through my mind.

1. I REALLY messed up!
2. I REALLY did this right!

It got so bad that I asked her if I did something wrong. She managed (with a smile) “No!” I ended up asking her again, and she replied “Yes, absolutely!”

She then went on to explain that I had done it so right, and had surprised her so much, that she could not help but cry.

4. What food from the States do you miss the most and why?

I don't really find myself missing food a lot (though, I used to). But when I eat pizza I miss tomato sauce. They put ketchup on top of the pizza instead of tomato sauce underneath. Pizza here is not that desirable to me—with one exception: Banana with condensed milk and cinnamon sugar.

Don't get me wrong, I do miss foods, but I guess I gave up wishing for what I could not have as a matter of practicality. My special stock of peanut butter (which is not available here) is running out, so I may have a crisis on my hands soon... I have also noticed that I miss good coffee and Italian food, which don't seem to be available here commonly.

5. Knowing that you go to a Baptist church (so there may be some continuity with the US), how is church (both the service and the community) different in Brazil versus the States?

Completely different, and completely the same. People are the same everywhere, and there are people in this church that remind me of people from past churches.

The food there is awesome (it is a Baptist Church).

The service is the big difference. The music is both louder and livelier than any service I have been to in the US. I would compare it to going to a Forgivenmuch, or Sonic Flood concert both in terms of volume and energy.

Theologically speaking, there is a definite leaning toward the more charismatic (at least compared to my experience).

If you would like to participate in this meme, just let me know.

[composed and posted with ecto]

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