my passport

I want to introduce you to a good friend of mine:

The first trip I took out of the country was to South Africa in 2001 when I received this passport. We ministered on college campuses. I still have one 

very good friend in South Africa, who I knew in college. Bethany married an African man.

I didn't travel out-of-country again until 2005 when I organized a youth trip to Mexico City. We spent 10 days working with a

 healing crusade. This was the first time I realized such a practical application in speaking another language and went to bed thinking in Spanish, which was very exciting. 

My fascination with words definitely extends beyond the English language.

After that, 

you see stamps for my various travels while I was backpacking. I started in Scotland with a youth mission trip (this one was ultimate frisbee) and stayed after the rest of the team left and backpacked through Ireland, England, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Those seven weeks were some of the most amazing in my life, although I was really ready to come home at the end of them.

The next summer, I visited El Salvador to stay with the beautiful Mary Susan who spent time there in the Peace Corps. We had such a GREAT time!

Most of you know that I traveled again to Hungary this past Christmas and New Year's. This was a scouting trip for the move I'm taking for a year or two. (I'm setting my departure for early July, just after one more Eno River Festival). I'll tell you, nothing can be more confirming than feeling at home in a city not your own. It's a very strange thought indeed. I am so much more mature than I even was during backpacking and feel much more capable in navigating, especially since I felt so capable of speaking the language! When I held this passport the other night, I trembled a little with joy and then studied Hungarian for two hours.

Today, I found out that a Finnish student of mine might travel to Greece for a month in which case, I'd totally like to visit her in the summer (she has family there) and in the next week or so, I'm meeting with a girl who will go next year to Russia to teach ESL. I had written a list of places I wanted to visit while abroad and put Russia on a second list that involved stretching my dreams. Now, I have someone to visit. Could it be that God is orchestrating more adventures for me? (I definitely feel humbled and excited). I may have to stay for three years to visit all the places I'd like to.

kabong!

Friends. This is a maddening time of year, but I'm so thankful. Had precious HOURS with some friends of 10 years this week, three coffee meetings in between, received encouragement, books, ideas that will propel my writing for years to come. Have seen the Durham downtown lights at least 2 nights, and tonight, it's off to Raleigh to bake cookies with precious women. What amazes me is that none of us gave each other gifts, but we encouraged each other and that is worth way more than any Target purchase.

One of the most exciting things, faithful blog readers, to announce to you first is that my birthday party will actually BE on my birthday: January 22, 2009 - a Thursday. I'll send invites soon with more details :). Having a party this epic makes me feel like this:
Some brief shots of teaching to humor you:
I just finished working with Romeo and Juliet. The kids had to perform skits in different time periods: the 20s, the 30s, the 50s, the 60s, the 70s. One of the weirdest questions I got during this process was, "Can we wear fat suits?" This question came from the two smallest girls I've ever taught. The kids also had to incorporate slang from their time period into their skit. The group from the 30s used the word "sucks." I still haven't asked him if this originated from the 30s. And probably the most interesting thing, I've had two dating couples in the same class this semester. This latest really perplexed me - I saw them hugging in the hall and promptly thought, "How did this happen? They sit on opposite sides of the room!" Lo and behold, the next day were skit performances and I realized, "Oh, they were in the same skit group." I continue my refrain, "There is no love in English!" *Sigh* - it never works.

Next, I teach poetry. I am excited about it, but my deepest teaching question remains: How do you get guys to like or just have a passing interest in poetry?

For sure, my next post will be pictures and updates from Budapest. I have a lot to do between now and then. Happy Holidays to all!

jane austen

her birthday is December 16th - she's turning 233!

today has been awesome! I encouraged a student to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem - she's just the girl for it. I almost cried thinking how I could have had this opportunity in high school, but have always been proud that I bloomed a little later because art has helped me much.

Anyway, I think this is sort of a save-the-date: I'm turning 233 on Jan. 22nd (this is my real age: I told my students it was somewhere between 103 and 269). Jan. 22nd is a Thursday, but my party will probably be on a Saturday, like the whole day, so people can float in and out. Please save the date, I have some good ideas: JANUARY 24th, 2009!

Gearing up for Budapest! I'll be bringing an empty suitcase back (making deliveries to missionaries) - any small requests? I'll bring lots of paprika, of course.

slow down

It's so good to do this once in a while. I've stayed home a startling 3 nights this week so far - one of them was a SATURDAY (unbelievable, I know). I appreciate all the friends I said no to who made this possible.

Anyway, in my reading adventures, I found a really beautiful snippet of a poem I thought many people should hear. It should encourage the socks off you (that's right - you'd better be barefoot next time I see you):

From "August in Waterton, Alberta" by Bill Holm

Above me, wind does its best

to blow leaves off

the aspen tree a month too soon.

No use wind. All you succeed

in doing is making music, the noise

of failure growing beautiful.

YAY!

Great news, people. I PASSED NATIONAL BOARDS! I am definitely glad I don't have to go through any further trauma. :D

Tiffany. .. and my first spoken word reading

I'm not sure how people get anything done once they start writing. Yesterday, I wrote six poems throughout the day and let my students know that this is probably why their papers haven't been graded, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

I've been waking up everyday with a poem or two on my heart for the last two weeks. And, I will mention that I'm working on four major art projects right now as well, still learning the guitar, and not getting much sleep.

I have a poem that exemplifies how I feel at the moment (this is certainly a sneak peek for this week's Broad St. Mic and a preview of this coming Monday's Mansion 462 Mic):

famous

I like being famous

staying up all night 

is so much better for creativity

I like being famous

I change my hairstyle

once per week so I can stay

in obscurity

I like being famous

because I don't have to see

the same people everyday

I have lots of stuff to give away

I have people to drive

people to keep my plants alive

people take seriously what I say

I have lots of friends but my

phone never rings

people are afraid to call

I like being famous

I can't have pets

I'm never home to take care of them

I never have time to create anymore

And every time I leave my house

paparazzi are at the door

I like being famous

Maybe being famous isn't all it's cracked up to be,

but I must admit I sure

enjoy the money.

Onto the title of my post: Tiffany is phenomenal! I just linked her blog to mine on the right, so check it out!

Two years ago, she came to speak to students in all of my classes and had many poetry prompts ready for them. She inspired me with her teaching techniques, and she shared poetry and prompts for the entire hour and a half of all of my classes. She is ONLY a senior in college at this point (almost done!), so imagine how good she was last night when she was the featured poet. You all have no idea. My favorites were her Ode to Food and a poem, which was probably titled "Five More Minutes" about how she wishes she could sleep a little more (those words were certainly resounding in my head this morning). I was so blown away by her poetry that the one picture I got with her was quite dark, so that's why I included two artsy PICTURES of my experience. The first is of me writing - my journal really looks like this. All of my poems start this way. Second is a shot of a doorway in my apartment: On the left is a card Sarah gave me not long ago as a housewarming gift - it has a woman on it and says "You're fab!," which is always a great reminder. Beside that is a picture Tiffany and I took together several years ago (probably like 5) at a Valentine's Ball. We are holding a sign that says, "Happy Valentine's Day." It was the first time I met her and a good reminder to be joyful on that day no matter what's going on.

The Mansion is a unique spot. Poets of many ethnicities are there; many, many people have dreadlocks (and I got lots of compliments on mine), and the talent of the readers is so beyond mine at this point that I left feeling really inspired as hearing word always makes me feel. 

I will certainly be back next Monday.

blog love

Even better (and so kind!): http://ncpoetlaureate.blogspot.com/2008/11/nicole.html I've been thinking this for a while anyway, but now since I might have a few more visitors, I want to post two definition poems I read at open mic this past wednesday (what a GREAT time that was!, even my hairdressers came!):

Rebound

In basketball
This is a good thing
But in dating
It doesn’t help
Attachment born
Of misery
Is not love

Teens

They are too young
To diet
To dye their hair
To wear short clothes
What habits
That may
Carry them into
Addictive adults

Short poems are definitely great for blogs!

I've received a lot of encouragement lately about a whole lot of things. Monday, I met a woman who is going to help edit my novel (that's a big announcement, for sure - I have about 40 pages (started this about 3 years ago) - but I am really thankful for people who want to trade writing). Wednesday was just amazing: 20 + people came to my open mic and I got to see some new friends' talents in major ways, which really inspired me. Last night, I met a woman who played electric violin in a band called Sugar in the Dirt. She had beautiful locks and taught me more about how to maintain mine on my own. I've been working on them even today (the ends) and they're looking great! (people are stopping me on the street as usual).

Thank you, kind world!