Crowned Crane

Ungrateful? Moi? Good friend Joy just listened longsufferingly to my thirty minute harangue. Okay, good friends do that for us, don't they? Joy and I have known each other an eternity, almost!

Feeling a bit guilty, I thought, "I have so much for which to be grateful". Not in the least for Joy. But also for my life, my world, my experiences which are so rich.

So, why this photo? It's part of my joy--small "j"--part of my rich experience. I've seen the Crowned Crane in her native habitat, Tanzania. I've seen her in a lovely, green-pooled Oasis in Bahrain. What a privilege! This slender lassy turned her head and winked at me, just so. I was there, camera at the ready. What a joy, large "j".

May your day be filled with joy, both large and small.

LankaBlue²

Dead in the Bed!

Not sure what accounts for this sleeplessness--it's 3.20 a.m. I have been up for two hours now, working on papers, study guides and updating materials for what seems to be a never-ending academic year! Our terms--known as blocks--last until early June. Then there's marking and make up exams which students are allowed to take until August. It seems like I teach year round!

To-day my Oral Communications class made their persuasion speeches. It took some persuading to get certain students to move from information mode to persuasion mode, which rather intrigues me. I should think speaking to persuade, on a passionate topic, would be interesting. It certainly was for me in my Oral Com's courses. But then, I like to take on the issues. Rabble Rouser! Okay, this said, it's off to bed. I realise I emailed students the same material--twice. No excuse now!

Veined Beauty

When floating through the air, she appeared completely white, without pattern, without design.

She alit, tucked into lilac nectar, revealing her true colours: white and beautifully veined- green, a marvel to behold.

She rose again in silence, fluttering away at the speed of white.

Good Things in the Garden

Digital cameras are wonderful for close up work. Takes all the guess work out of lighting, F-stops, the works. Or not. Sometimes those bits are fun to fiddle with.

It is Pentecost or Whitsuntide. A holiday with sun! Not complaining about Dutch rain. Our world is lovely and green. But we get on average three weeks of summer sun. It's 30° C today and it's hot in our semi-city location. A real treat!

May your days be warm and bright and my all your Christmases be white!

LankaBlue²

"And I'm Mr Dr Beth", Sam said with a smile.

This is 'me mate', Sam. I'm told he never smiles. Well, here he is, grinning from ear to ear as we land in Qatar. We are ready for a new adventure, if only for a few days!

We have been travelling the Middle East for the last seven years and we love it! I sat in the business lounge speaking German with a Romanian married to an Italian managing an Emirate firm. This is the Middle East: Expats from everywhere. In every combination.

The call to prayer. The smells of the spice Souk. Emerald green sea, pale blue sky. White sand dunes. Baba ganoush. Stunning women in Abayah. Dashing men sipping cardamon coffee boiled in brass pots. This is the Middle East.

Burger King. Bennigan's. Versace. Mercedez. This, too, is the Middle East.

Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, The Holy Land, Egypt and the Emirates. Soon Oman. The Lebanon, we hope, though things look a bit dismal now. One day, God willing, Iraq, a land of incredible history and beauty.

What treasure troves. What incredible diversity, hospitality and generosity. What turmoil and distress. The world in microcosm

Only once an unpleasant word, with a Saudi, who thought I should know my place as a woman.
I do. It's along side you, dear sir. I'm Dr Beth.

Two Beautiful Women

These are two of my students in Oral Communications and Introduction to Psychology. They are super students. Bright, intelligent, lovely women from Kenya and London. Tomorrow, a glimpse at my Dutch students, equally lovely, bright and intelligent!

My English Division Students

This is my second year teaching in the English programme. It has been a wonderful experience meeting young women and men from mainly Africa and the West Indies. I feel a very real kinship with these students because we have such "pluri-cultural" backgrounds.

We are often British born colonials, with indigenous passports; or we've married into another culture and are naturalised 'something else'. We had early British education, but later American, German, Dutch or another academic experience. We speak at least two languages, usually more and we love to explore the world around us.

This background makes for lively class room discussions! For all we share, we can be very different. A Nigerian, whilst sharing a pan-African sentiment is still Nigerian, not Ghanaian, Kenyan or South African. And, as I am learning, African men and women, like all men and women, think differently. We are united by many things, yet appreciate our uniqueness.

My students want to get the best education possible and return home to rebuild or direct the building of their countries. Some have now emigrated to the Netherlands and work within their own ethnic communities. Some are looking ahead to other fields of endeavour, both geographically and educationally. They continue to evolve.

I am proud of them. And proud, that in some small way, I am helping them toward their goal.
They're a fine looking group, too!

Why I love Teaching!

One of my students just emailed me with questions about the survey she devised for our Psychology of Religion class. She's 'into it'! And I love it. What greater joy can there be than helping another person discover the joys of research? To help them discover 'data' that can shake the world? Yes, really. I know she will provide another new 'bit' of knowledge about human experience, psychology and religion. And it is my great privilege to help guide her along the way. As Steve Irwin would say: Woo-Hoo!

Here's where I work http://www.vuamsterdam.com/about_the_VU/index.cfm
Tomorrow, I'll take some photos of my students to show you what a 'fine group' they are!
Toodles!
LankaBlue

Umm. Good!

Here's a recipe for the culinary-challenged.

This might be a Betty Crocker brain child originally. But as it comes from my mother, improved by "moi", I can't say for certain. As "Dr Beth", I have no problem citing my sources. So, Ms Betty, if the original be yours, I credit you.


This is my Banana NutCake Recipe.

Ingredients

Bisquick™
300 grms (or same amount self rising flour)
Walnut Oil
50ml (you can use a combination of oils if you like)
Eggs
2 or 3 depending on size (larger, only 2)
Walnuts (crushed)
50 grm
Chocolate
50 grm (Zartbitter-Bittersweet, crushed)
Vanilla
A splash, maybe 1/2 teaspn
Bananas
3 ripened
Ginger
1/4 teaspn
Cinnamon
1/4 teaspn
Nutmeg
1/4 teaspn
Maple Syrup
to taste, maybe 1 tablespn

Key issue: Liquids combined should not be more than 75ml. If the mixture looks too "wet", add a bit more flour ;-)

Baking Instructions

Combine dry ingredients. Add liquid ingredients. Stir. There might be a few lumps, but that's okay. Spray a bunt pan with non stick cooking spray. You can use a baking tin, but what a pain! (And I don't know the size). Besides, a bunt pan allows you to creatively add raspberries or strawberries in the centre if you wish.

Bake at 180°C or 350°F for about 65 minutes. But check this! Cooking time, as you know, varies with the oven and I have a convection oven. It takes about 60 minutes in mine.

After cooking, let it cool. Turn out on a lovely platter or kitchen cutting board, if your singificant other can't wait to tuck in.

Do try this. It smells divine. It tastes great with an afternoon 'cuppa'. Enjoy!
From LankBlue² to You.

Day Two

You will note, I have already changed my blog format. What's life about if not change? Day two of blogging and my life's not changed one iota ;-) Late last night, things whirled through my brain to write down today. Come daylight, gone. Ah, well.

I am procrastinating. Work calls (When doesn't it?). If I can upload the photo of our new balcony decking, I will. Oh, joy, I hear you say? Too right!

Oops. Battery's dead. Now I'm really procrastinating.

Have a great Sunday. More later, I promise ;-)

Getting Started

Here goes . . . after an age, I'm blogging. It is a beautiful day outside--sunshine all over the Netherlands, a rare thing indeed! Best of all is the bird song outside our balcony. We live next to a canal and the weeping willow is packed full of local birds like the Ekster, the Spreeuw, and the grote bonte Speecht. Beautiful! We set up a feeder as well. Never thought I would actually use those binoculars!

This is the last day of Spring Break at the College where I teach. Sammy (my significant other) is recovering from surgery; I am recovering from an intense term of Oral Communications and Psychology of Religion. I have both English and Dutch students this term which runs until 5 June. They are a joy. Really! I'll post some snaps of my students later. The English division students are from Africa and the West Indies mostly, with lovely accented English. I am not teaching in Dutch, not yet! My Dutch students have excellent English language skills. I do, however, read their essay and papers in Dutch and provide them with a Dutch exam. A lot of work!