Tuesday, 28 February 2012
race
Hey everybody,
I just got a last-minute opportunity to participate in the annual Ruta de Maya race, which is a four day, 170 mile race down the Belize River to the coast in canoes. See pictures below. Now, I'll get straight to the point. We need to fundraise $500 U.S. in order to buy food, gas, and pay our registration fees. So the 2012 Mount Carmel Volunteer teachers' team is asking for your help. If you can make a donation, it would be very appreciated. Please give or send any money to my parents. It you write a check, make it out to William Rensch and my dad can transfer the money to my account. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at joffwr@gmail.com. Hope to send you plenty of more pictures from our trip!
Friday, 17 February 2012
coolest moment ever!
Hey Everybody,
I just wanted to tell you about my coolest moment here in Belize so far. As some of you may know, Dr. Robert Carlson, the co-founder of WCC and my professor for Humanities and the Trivium, came down to speak to the parish community about the liberal arts. So the parish invited the high school teachers, Solt religious sisters and brothers, and others to come hear him in the parish hall. Before he spoke, I asked if I could introduce him instead of the the pastor. They let me, for which I was really honored. Given the academic occasion, I decided to tell everyone the story about his most important lesson to me, and then gave the podium to him. The moment really bowled me over, to be introducing my old professor while on my new mission. I was so excited.
By the way, my most important lesson from Dr. Carlson came when he kicked me out of class my junior year. I had decided that some book was more important than his lesson, and he wouldn't stand for it. It certainly taught me to pay attention.
I guess it should also humble me when my students aren't paying attention. After all, I was not very different only a short time ago.
But I can still kick them out of class.
I just wanted to tell you about my coolest moment here in Belize so far. As some of you may know, Dr. Robert Carlson, the co-founder of WCC and my professor for Humanities and the Trivium, came down to speak to the parish community about the liberal arts. So the parish invited the high school teachers, Solt religious sisters and brothers, and others to come hear him in the parish hall. Before he spoke, I asked if I could introduce him instead of the the pastor. They let me, for which I was really honored. Given the academic occasion, I decided to tell everyone the story about his most important lesson to me, and then gave the podium to him. The moment really bowled me over, to be introducing my old professor while on my new mission. I was so excited.
By the way, my most important lesson from Dr. Carlson came when he kicked me out of class my junior year. I had decided that some book was more important than his lesson, and he wouldn't stand for it. It certainly taught me to pay attention.
I guess it should also humble me when my students aren't paying attention. After all, I was not very different only a short time ago.
But I can still kick them out of class.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
valentine
Happy Valentine's day everybody! Its a pretty big deal down here in Belize, all the kids have come in pink, red, and white, and we just crowned the king and queen of Valentine's. Two of the teachers also get crowned, in this case, it was a couple of the volunteers who are in their third year here. Awesome.
Its pretty neat that people would be willing to give three years of their lives to others, especially since when there is so much pressure to start a paying career. Sometimes, it can feel like "my life" is on hold down here. Because Belize exists a world apart in many ways, sometimes its hard to see how your efforts will really impact the rest of your life, or even if they are doing any good. Its a leap of faith I guess. In the meantime, we are all plugging away; today, all the volunteers are celebrating Singles' Awareness Day (Have a happy SAD day!) by listening to sappy romantic songs and eating lots of cookies. (I'm reminding everybody that though we are single, we are not alone!) So have great day everyone, and keep us all in your prayers.
Jonathan
Jonathan
Its pretty neat that people would be willing to give three years of their lives to others, especially since when there is so much pressure to start a paying career. Sometimes, it can feel like "my life" is on hold down here. Because Belize exists a world apart in many ways, sometimes its hard to see how your efforts will really impact the rest of your life, or even if they are doing any good. Its a leap of faith I guess. In the meantime, we are all plugging away; today, all the volunteers are celebrating Singles' Awareness Day (Have a happy SAD day!) by listening to sappy romantic songs and eating lots of cookies. (I'm reminding everybody that though we are single, we are not alone!) So have great day everyone, and keep us all in your prayers.
Jonathan
Jonathan
Friday, 10 February 2012
resumes
Think of all the equivalencies between dating and having a job. You
start going out with somebody, its like getting hired. The first kiss
is like a raise. Dating, job- both may cause you to move. You break
up with them, you quit. They break up with you, you’re fired. Things
are bad, you complain to your friends, things are good, you don’t want
to make them jealous. And as Seinfeld pointed out, the first date is
basically an interview. But why do we go into that first date totally blind?
You’re not just hired off the street, but with dating, the guy risks
money, the girl an outfit, and both a whole evening. Why not avoid
this hassle by submitting relationship resumes to each other? Then
you only have interview (go out with) those that catch your attention.
These resumes would have relationship history, references, and goals,
just like a business resume has employment history and so forth. Some
things that might come up:
“Let’s see here, this guy dated the same girl from 2006 to 2009, broke
up, but then they were back together for three months in 2011. What’s
the story there?”\
“Ooh, his past relationship history includes an Italian model. Must be cute.”
“She hasn’t seen anyone since high school. Not good.”
“Hmm, goals include engagement and marriage. I don’t think I can
offer something that long term.”
“Why is the same girl in his relationship history and his references?
This is going to circular.”
But, you may ask, haven’t dating websites and the like solved the problem of not knowing
your date? C’mon, it’s the internet, people will say anything there. No, he is not a three-time
Triathalon winner. And I doubt that she is fluent in Russian and Mandarin Chinese. This is why you should submit a resume to the other person; people are a lot more honest when they put things on paper. Especially if its 100% cotton fiber.
start going out with somebody, its like getting hired. The first kiss
is like a raise. Dating, job- both may cause you to move. You break
up with them, you quit. They break up with you, you’re fired. Things
are bad, you complain to your friends, things are good, you don’t want
to make them jealous. And as Seinfeld pointed out, the first date is
basically an interview. But why do we go into that first date totally blind?
You’re not just hired off the street, but with dating, the guy risks
money, the girl an outfit, and both a whole evening. Why not avoid
this hassle by submitting relationship resumes to each other? Then
you only have interview (go out with) those that catch your attention.
These resumes would have relationship history, references, and goals,
just like a business resume has employment history and so forth. Some
things that might come up:
“Let’s see here, this guy dated the same girl from 2006 to 2009, broke
up, but then they were back together for three months in 2011. What’s
the story there?”\
“Ooh, his past relationship history includes an Italian model. Must be cute.”
“She hasn’t seen anyone since high school. Not good.”
“Hmm, goals include engagement and marriage. I don’t think I can
offer something that long term.”
“Why is the same girl in his relationship history and his references?
This is going to circular.”
But, you may ask, haven’t dating websites and the like solved the problem of not knowing
your date? C’mon, it’s the internet, people will say anything there. No, he is not a three-time
Triathalon winner. And I doubt that she is fluent in Russian and Mandarin Chinese. This is why you should submit a resume to the other person; people are a lot more honest when they put things on paper. Especially if its 100% cotton fiber.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
kitchen
I don't mean to alarm anybody with this story, I just want to have some record out there in case I die.
You see, usually when we come into the rectory in the kitchen, there are all the clean dishes in a rack next to the tables where we eat out meals, which are pretty much picnic tables, and we sit on picnic benches. (Sitting down at the table is a pretty gymnastic dance if there are other people sitting there: approach table, stand on one foot, kick other foot through gap between benchtop and tabletop, straddle the the bench, swing other foot over and through gap, put food down, sit down. Not everyone uses this order.) Anyway, I came in today and just grabbed a glass and plate off the rack. I poured myself some juice, which prevented me from seeing the bottom of the glass. It was only as I got near the bottom that I saw some foreign white substance sitting at the glass bottom. I assumed it was perhaps a piece of orange pith that had fallen in the juice. Foolishly, I took another sip. This allowed me to see more clearly the white slimy mold at the bottom.
At the time, this did not disturb me too much. But now I realize that this stuff is swirling around in my intestines, and I expect to come down with a case of who-knows-what. It may prove fatal. So if my life ends, have drink in my honor. Just inspect your glass before you put anything in it.
You see, usually when we come into the rectory in the kitchen, there are all the clean dishes in a rack next to the tables where we eat out meals, which are pretty much picnic tables, and we sit on picnic benches. (Sitting down at the table is a pretty gymnastic dance if there are other people sitting there: approach table, stand on one foot, kick other foot through gap between benchtop and tabletop, straddle the the bench, swing other foot over and through gap, put food down, sit down. Not everyone uses this order.) Anyway, I came in today and just grabbed a glass and plate off the rack. I poured myself some juice, which prevented me from seeing the bottom of the glass. It was only as I got near the bottom that I saw some foreign white substance sitting at the glass bottom. I assumed it was perhaps a piece of orange pith that had fallen in the juice. Foolishly, I took another sip. This allowed me to see more clearly the white slimy mold at the bottom.
At the time, this did not disturb me too much. But now I realize that this stuff is swirling around in my intestines, and I expect to come down with a case of who-knows-what. It may prove fatal. So if my life ends, have drink in my honor. Just inspect your glass before you put anything in it.
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