Rugby World Cup, Eating Healthy, and Muffins.

Last weekend, the Rugby World Cup began here in New Zealand. It is the first time NZ has hosted the event since 1987--the same year they last won the cup. So as you might imagine, there are a lot of expectations for greatness in NZ during this time. It is pretty exciting, since NZ is such a small country. We get to hear a lot of complaining at the same time--about how terrible the public transport is, criticisms on the decorations, and moaning about the referees making bad calls against the All Blacks(NZ's idolized Rugby team). At work everybody is getting into the excitement, which makes my days a little more interesting. I work with a lot of Pacific Islanders(Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, etc.), and they are all getting very into it, proudly cheering for their home teams. Tomorrow we are having a potluck to celebrate Samoa's first game of the world cup. I decided to make these banana chocolate chip muffins (blue and red to support USA!):

I made those to compensate for the healthy eating lifestyle Erlo and I are attempting. We always try to eat healthy, but after watching the documentary Knives over Forks which is all about Plant-Based Eating, we are trying to have less meat and dairy in our diets. It's a very compelling movie, and while I realize that it is probably biased, I think the evidence they present begs for at least a little conscious lifestyle change. Watch it and see what you think!

Anyway, tonight, I made this amazing dish:

It is roasted butternut squash stuffed with Quinoa mixed with chickpeas and caramelized onions. I used ginger, sprigs from our curry plant and fresh garlic to season it. Erlo agreed it was great. This was a completely vegan meal with plenty of protein. It was so filling neither of us could finish it! This doesn't mean that we are becoming vegan(Erlo definitely couldn't), but we both want to experiment cooking with a lot less meat and dairy. I know the muffins don't really follow the whole no dairy thing, but they are a treat... :)

Thankfulness

I'm not one to quote Bible verses very often, and maybe I should be, but one of my favorite verses has always been "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is my will for you". Even if you are not a Jesus follower, I believe the practice of being thankful is truly a powerful one, and one that I really haven't practiced enough lately. Thankfulness reminds us of the abundance we have, which is essential to remember in a world of so many with so little.

As I mentioned in my last post, the transition to New Zealand has not been the easiest, but this last week I got a job! I will be a Social Worker at Child Youth and Family, the child protection agency here in New Zealand. Although the location is not ideal(one hour commute), we don't have a second car yet, and it is provisional on NZ recognizing I am qualified to practice social work, I am nonetheless thankful. I am thankful that we now have two incomes. I am thankful that I am doing something I believe in--which is protecting children and working to conserve the family unit. I am thankful that I won't be left at home to think too much about things (a potentially dangerous thing for me). I am incredibly thankful for a husband who supports me in everything, even when I am potentially hard to live with. I am thankful to be living in a country with a mild winter(comparatively). I am thankful for summer coming around the corner. I am thankful for the delicious food that is abundant in New Zealand. I am thankful for a God who takes care of us and loves us and gives us an endless number of things to be thankful for.

I guess one of the main reasons I am thinking about being thankful lately is my lack of thankfulness and because of the season here, it feels like it should be thanksgiving, and so I guess the best thing to do is to be thankful.

What are you thankful for?

In New Zealand with a 'Kiwi'

We've been in New Zealand for just about 2 months now and Erlo and I are making an attempt at adjusting/readjusting to the culture. It's much more complicated that one would think to adjust to a culture that is different in practice and yet similar in appearance. I've found that my adjustment to the culture here has been more difficult than in say, Korea or Taiwan, possibly because I am almost expected to understand it because I speak the language. I still haven't quite been able to articulate everything that is different about this culture, but in the process, I am learning to be patient and trying to stay positive. More to come on the cultural differences in the months to come.

Erlo and I have settled into a two-bedroom rental and are slowly getting our heads around this grown-up world we have been thrown into. We are ecstatic about being close to beautiful beaches, a mountain range, and several wineries. I seriously shouldn't complain about any of this. The job hunt is still in progress for me, which is also teaching me patience and humility ;)

So here I am in yet another new home! I can't wait to see what adventures await me here!

Last 5's

Stolen from my BFF, with a few alterations:

last 5 books I read:

1)Stolen Innocence-Elissa Wall

2) High Noon-Nora Roberts

3) The Opposite of Love- Julie Buxbaum

4) Rogue- Danielle Steel(not proud...)

5) Slam- Nick Hornby

Last 5 meals:

1) homemade pizza

2) kimchi, rice, and tofu patties

3) delicious deli sandwich

4) korean beef, rice, and kimchi

5) cereal

*Last 5 people I talked to on the phone/skype:

1) Erlo

2) a girl I interviewed at school today

3) my family

4) Alicia

5) Bethany

*some of those had some repeats!

Last 5 things I watched on TV(rather, the internet):

1)Law and Order

2)Private Practice

3) 17 Again

4) Medium

5) Grey's Anatomy

Last 5 things I've bought:

1) water

2) some groceries, including eggs, cheese, bread, and vegetables

3) a coffee this afternoon

4) that delicious sandwich last night

5) a cold beverage to go with that sandwich

that was probably more interesting for me than for you!