josh greenman

School Gardens

2012-02-25T12:23:00.004-04:00

A few images of the school gardens that I´ve been working on.

A New Life in Guatemala

2012-02-25T11:44:00.005-04:00

Even though I've lived in Latin America for roughly 17 years, I'm still amazed about how some things are so similar and yet so different.

When I lived in Bolivia I used to eat potatoes every single day. I've now learned to say, "Please pass the ixim (K´iche´ for corn)."
My bi-weekly baths now consist of a bucket with a plastic scoop or a mud oven that acts as a sauna. I'm rather tall for Guatemala so I can now say that I bathe lying down.
The first question that I was asked when I first moved to rural Guatemala was how much money I make. There were rumors passing through town that the backpack that I carry filled with teaching material is actually filled with dollar bills.
I know how to read and write...meaning that I'm qualified to do just about anything that I want. A family has invited me to work with their kid who has a speech impediment. Worst-case scenario: he still stutters but has learned about the world of C. S. Lewis.

Dancing Merengue!

2011-10-24T17:03:00.001-04:00

I've learned how dance to merengue! This is a video of my host sister and me dancing. :)

Learning to use my hard head

2011-10-04T10:01:00.005-04:00

A few days ago my Guatemalan host mom asked me to help her move a quintal (100 lbs.) of raw corn. She offered to help me move it with the car but I wanted to try out a more traditionally Guatemalan way of moving heavy objects. Papa Jorge (my family's grandpa) lent me his micapal for a few minutes to carry the corn to the mill. I don't think he hooked the micapal on very well because my neck was killing me at the end of my trip. While I was walking through the streets of my small town everyone came out to laugh at the gringo carrying 100 pounds with his neck. Papa Jorge told me that when he was younger he used to take 250 pounds using a micapal. I should probably get used to lighter weights first...

Another Move

2011-08-10T07:09:00.002-04:00

It almost feels unreal that my voyage to Central America started two days ago and that I'm waiting to board my plane in Washington. I think part of the reason behind this unexpected rush of activities is that I have been so busy these last 8 months leading to my departure. More than ever I appreciate the ability to sit in a quiet spot and reflect. I hear that Peace Corps volunteers have a lot of time on their hands. It's going to be good.

Ready to move

2011-07-10T22:40:00.003-04:00

Why does it sometimes feel that time moves according to how important a life event is? Waiting to hear if I had made it into college, a certain internship or even jobs makes time inch along. Waiting for my term to start with the Peace Corps is no exception. Even though it's taken me less than the normal waiting time, spending 9 months in transition has still played games on my mind. What could I have accomplished with that time? Never before have I held myself back so much in fear of having to move after a minimal commitment or placing roots.

I have less that a month before I fly to Washington D.C. to commence my 24 month term. That's only four weekends away.

Home Brewing

2011-03-25T16:47:00.007-04:00

I've been playing around with some home brewing lately and finally decided to have a friend "professionally" test my latest creation. Daniel has his very own blog where he tastes and rates different commercial beers. We work together and it's always a treat to talk to him about the different beers that the world has to offer.

Visit me in Kalamazoo for a taste of the porter (while it still lasts)!

I thought the same thing...

2011-02-07T10:38:00.006-04:00

My thoughts exactly while watching the half time show during the superbowl (I didn't make the image).

Yo Voy Caminando...

2011-02-01T23:27:00.002-04:00

I feel like I'm finally making some headway through the Peace Corps rat race. It's been a huge help having my querida cousin walk me through the different processes and being the lone positive voice in the "wilderness." It seems like a lot of people either don't want me to leave or think that it's going to take forever. My cousin knows how vulnerable this whole process makes a person feel. It's hard knowing that you want to go, that there is a village waiting for you, that the U.S. government wants you to go and yet there are so many potential mistakes that could set a person back by months.

I sent my medical information in about two weeks ago and have already had my dental assessed and deemed acceptable. All that is needed now is for a nurse to look at my physical and psychological state of mind to decide if I'm worth investing thousands of dollars in.

It appears that my estimated departure date will be in the early summer. Stay tuned for more information as it surfaces.

Waiting, again.

2011-01-18T13:13:00.002-04:00

All of my medical information has been sent to the Peace Corps. Now all I have to do is wait and hope that nothing gets lost or missplaced along the way.

Forks in the Road

2010-12-19T20:45:00.004-04:00

- Alice in Wonderland

The Quest Continues

2010-12-15T22:32:00.003-04:00

I feel like it's high time to update my global audience on my whereabouts, life interests and general updates, especially since I'm paying good money to keep joshgreenman.com alive.

Grad School: I applied to the Masters of International Development Administration graduate program at Western Michigan University and have been accepted into the spring semester. The program has a deal with the Peace Corps where I could complete core requirements at the university and have my service with the PC fulfill the remaining credits. A nice aspect of this program is that the degree is completed faster (as long as the Peace Corps was part of you initial plan) and cheaper. A downside for me in starting school during the spring is the difficulty in obtaining teaching assistantships.

Peace Corps: Actually during the same day that I applied to graduate school, I met a PC representative from Chicago who was visiting the farm that I was working at. When she found out that I was interested in joining the Peace Corps she took the opportunity to tell me about the possibilities to study following an assignment. Even though I hadn't submitted my application yet, she took the chance and interviewed me for the position. A few weeks later I found out that I had been nominated to serve in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Final thoughts: I've decided to focus my efforts into the Peace Corps and re-apply for graduate school on my return. If the Peace Corps doesn't accept me quickly enough for me to return for the fall semester in 2013 then I would begin studying in the fall of 2011.

Don't worry, it all makes sense in my head. ;)

2010-11-20T00:16:00.002-04:00

Feliz Día, Papá

2010-06-20T21:41:00.003-04:00

Crossing the Strait of Magellan - Cruzando el Estrecho de Magallanes

Papá, te deseo lo mejor en tu día. Gracias por ser un gran ejemplo a tu hijo y por enseñarme como ser un hombre honesto y trabajador. I can't wait to see you again and to have more adventures traveling and seeing the world. It's always fun to dream big with you...

Gracias, Pá.

tqm

Update from the farm

2010-05-25T23:42:00.003-04:00

For those of you who rely solely on this blog for updates on my life, a lot has been happening that you probably don't know much about. After finishing my internship with Samaritan's Purse in Bolivia and spending a few months traveling around South America with friends and family, I have settled down in a small rural town in Michigan. I am currently completing an internship with Tillers International that trains people how to farm using draft animals and other rural developmental tools.

The following is a video of the two young oxen in my care. I should have had them pulling something of a medium weight so that they would learn how to pull as a team. Blue, Caesar and I are learning how to work together and it's taking quite a while to iron the wrinkles out...

Poor College Student, again

2010-05-18T20:42:00.002-04:00

While most of my college friends approach their senior graduation from college, I am just starting my summer semester. It's fun being a student again while discovering a new (and exciting) world of economics. I decided that I need to learn about economics and am taking a summer course at the local community college.

It's obvious that my professor is quite the capitalist but I find this a good way to acquire a balanced view of the world. Besides, the capitalists are the folks who make the wealthiest country in the world float and I should try to understand what makes them tick.

Enough is Enough

2010-05-18T20:13:00.004-04:00

I am currently reading a book titled Enough by authors Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman, which deals with the issues of hunger in developing (undeveloping?) countries, particularly Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, among others. Human greed is portrayed in vivid detail while this book walks the reader through some of the reasons behind global hunger. We have traditionally blamed famine on the weather and corrupt African political leaders who have not taken care of their people. These may well be factors of hunger, but there are larger powers behind the deaths of millions of people. What is most absurd to me is that rich countries refuse to lend money (as of when the book was written) to countries offering subsidies for agriculture (a Red....RUN!!!!). In turn these rich countries offer HUGE subsidies to their own farmers, driving down prices and making it impossible for farmers in poor countries to even make a living farming. It got so bad in the early 2000s that farmers would lose money by planting their own seeds. The United States and other countries with huge farming operations need international food aid as a place to dump their grain.

I am obviously extremely limited in being able to summarize a book in one paragraph. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in learning about hunger and the ways that it has been brought about due to economics.

10,000+ kms, oh what a trip!

2010-03-18T15:48:00.003-04:00

I am so glad my parents invited me on a vacation that became the longest road trip of my life. We were able to see six or seven national parks and camp out in countless "campings." The trip consisted of driving to the two extreme points of Argentina, between La Quiaca and Ushuaia (southernmost city in the world). We were all extremely tired out from the trip but enjoyed ourselves so much that my dad and I have already started talking about our next adventure!

(10,000 kilometers is more than 6,200 miles)

(We still aren't sure why the signs have different kilometers listed. Maybe they measure different routes?)

¡¿QUE?!

2010-03-18T15:36:00.003-04:00

I took these photos on the bus between Villazón and La Paz, Bolivia. It´s probably the nicest bus that I´ve ridden during this journey but definitely the one with the worst translation! Any idea what the second one is supposed mean?

Update on my trip...

2010-02-24T19:08:00.002-04:00

My journey started in Jujuy, the most northern province in Argentina.

Ver mapa más grande

Four days of driving later, I am currently in Junín de los Andes, roughly a little more than half way to my destination.

Ver mapa más grande

We hope to make it to Ushuia within five days...

Ver mapa más grande

Talk about a long trip!

My goals

2010-02-18T23:21:00.003-04:00

I've decided to make a list of goals that I hope to accomplish one day. They encompass most areas of life, except spiritual (which is something that we should all be striving towards and it's hard to make a list with it). Anyway, a lot of my goals involve travel and self-improvement to help me find better jobs down the road. Ultimately, these travels and "self improvements" are going to empower me to help others. Plus, they are pretty darn fun. Let me list them off... Please comment and let me know what your goals are!

Learn French
Visit Cuba
Study masters degree
Be a master asado chef (Argentine barbeque)
Acquire my Lithuanian citizenship
~~Visit Mchu Picchu~~

The beauty of a nap..

2010-02-15T23:24:00.002-04:00

Some naps are meant to be kept a secret; others are to be enjoyed by everyone. Some naps are silent, while others are loud. Some are short; others represent a full-nights sleep. Naps are beautiful and should be practiced by everyone. I appreciate a culture that can take time out of a busy day and just relax...

Jeff enjoying a beautiful nap on his way back from wine country in northern Argentina.

Photos from the trip

2010-02-11T18:21:00.001-04:00

To see some great photos of my recent trip through Bolivia and Peru, click here!

No sleep... but it's for FREE!

2010-01-28T22:53:00.004-04:00

This is how Ian and I "slept" for one night while in Buenos Aires. We were desperate for a free place to stay because of some budget issues. I think I got a few hours of sleep but Ian says that he didn't get much sleep at all. It might have helped if we had borrowed some blankets. Apparently pride isn't good for backs.

From Machu Picchu to Potosí

2010-01-26T12:06:00.002-04:00

Machu Picchu was expensive, but very worth it. Visiting these ruins have been on my to-do list for quite a few years. To be honest, we had pretty bad weather but this did little to dampen my spirits. Because of the rain, there have been many landslides in the Cusco/Machu Picchu area and many tourists have become stranded there. We had a four hour delay on the way out, but nothing too serious.

We made it into Potosí this morning and were met with extremely cold weather. Ian and I are going to take a tour of the old silver mine which has made Potosí famous throughout the world. Tomorrow, Ian, Jeff and I hope to check out La Casa de la Moneda (silver mint) and visit some amazing hot springs in the area (the Incas would make a special trip from Cusco just to visit their healing properties).

The current plan is to leave Potosí tomorrow night and get back to my house as fast as we possibly can.

Travels since BA

2010-01-19T19:05:00.002-04:00

I haven´t had much time or ganas to update my blog lately, but since I have a few things to update and I am paying for my url (the joshgreenman.com address thingy), I might as well write a few phrases to keep my even fewer readers content.

Jeff made it down to Buenos Aires on the seventh of this current month and we were able to make it up to Salta on a flight the following day. I felt a bit bad not being able to show the touristy sections of Salta and Jujuy to Ian and Jeff, but I guess that usually happens when you take living in a city for granted, no matter how beautiful or unique they might be (Jujuy is neither of these, I assure you).

We made our way up to the Bolivian border with a night spent in Huacalera, a small town in the Valley of Humahuaca (Unesco world heritage park). Our bus ride from the Bolivian border to La Paz was terrible, especially bad was the stretch between the border and Potosi. Once this road is complete it will be a nicer trip, with bus companies willing to send better buses, instead of just their beaters.

Once in La Paz, Ian, Jeff and I decided to ride bikes down the world´s most dangerous road. Ian and I made it down without any problems, but Jeff had a bad accident after one minute of leaving the top of the mountain and broke his wrist. We had a hard time getting the $3,000 together to pay for his operation. The clinic only accepted cash and our atm withdrawal limits are set to $200. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, we were able to gather the money an hour before it was due. Whew...

I am happy to announce that we are now in Cusco, probably one of the touristiest cities we have been in so far. We leave for Machu Picchu tomorrow and will be back in three days. The next big city on our list is Potosi, which will involve exploring the silver mine and visiting the mint house (where coins were made).

We are all quite tired but I am sure that we will survive until the end of the month. I´ll put some photos on as soon as I get back to my computer in Jujuy.

Chau for now.

Love from Quechua land.

Buenos Aires again...

2010-01-03T23:41:00.003-04:00

I've been in Buenos Aires for about a week now and have been really enjoyed it. Moving has always been a a large theme in my life and it seems to be continuing, even while on vacation. I've been in BA 7 days and heading for housing number 6 tomorrow night. It's been fun having Ian with me. We've been having quite a few laughs and I hope that these good times will continue. Ian's been a good sport even though he's been suffering through a few physical aggonies. He keeps saying that he can't believe how late we eat here in Argentina.

I've had a long week with some not so great sleeping situations. The hostel we are staying in tonight seems to be pretty nice and I hope our roommates aren't too noisy. Tomorrow Ian and I explore La Boca (Italian neighborhood) and move to a friend's apartment.

chau for now

Christmas in the summertime

2009-12-24T18:27:00.003-04:00

My family and I are about to head out to a friend's house for an asado (Argentine barbeque) to celebrate Christmas. I know that most of you who are in the northern hemisphere right now are probably freezing. I thought I would share this image of this week's forecast with you.

Happy holidays.

Another move...sigh

2009-12-07T23:08:00.003-04:00

The time has come for yet another move in my life. My internship with Samaritan's Purse ends in a few days. Sometimes I'm tempted to brag about how much transition I've had in my 23 years of life but at other times I'm reminded of how much pain is involved with saying good-bye so many times. Too many houses that I can't call home, too many accents affecting my Spanish and English, too many schools, too many goodbyes... It's really hard to say goodbye to people, things and activities.

One thing that I've been learning is that without goodbyes (as painful as they may be) it would be impossible to say 'hello' to new things. I wouldn't have spent an amazing six months in Bolivia without saying goodbye to Taylor and everything I had grown accustomed to there. Keep looking to God for the future and trust that he has the best for you...no matter how frustrating it might feel at times.

No beard now, this photo was taken in August

Photos from the Vivero

2009-11-30T12:17:00.004-04:00

I haven't been taking many photos of the tree nursery (or other projects) that I have been working on, but I did take a few two weeks ago.

These are baby pinus radiata. Cute, no?

This is a small elm tree. It's about a month old here! I like this picture because it shows the "new" in the foreground and the "old" in the background. :)

This is a picture of my friend Valentin who is helping out at the tree nursery. He's seperating the trees to plant them in individual plastic planting bags (we grow them in mass production).

The Wonders of the Altiplano

2009-11-16T15:43:00.005-04:00

It's amazing what the sun and a few months of forgetting to brush my teeth does to the body here in the Altiplano. I took this picture of myself about 4 days ago and thought that I looked pretty good in it.

What does the word "Altiplano" even mean? It's actually a word describing the landscape of the area where I work. "Alti" comes from alto (high) while "plano" means flat. It's crazy to think that I work at 4,000 meters and yet there are only a few hills around. Once the trees from the tree nursery I work at take off, people won't know the difference between the Altiplano and Pennsylvania. ;)

I'm a...

2009-11-03T22:28:00.003-04:00

Copacabana, Bolivia

2009-11-01T20:45:00.004-04:00

Dear Diary, I´m in Copacabana...Copacabana, Bolivia, not Copacabana, Brazil! The weather here is great with a lot of sun. I rented a motorcycle for half an hour and thought it was going to break down any second. Maybe it did. I dunno. My friends and I also rented a row boat and had a blast on the lake. I think something was wrong with it because it would never go in a strait line. Maybe it had something to do with my friend being quite a bit bigger than I am. I dunno. The trout we ate tasted great, even though it wasn't enough to fill my tummy. :( I have a feeling that I'll be back to visit this lovely town in January with some friends. I dunno.

Mateo 28

2009-10-24T23:40:00.009-04:00

Mateo 28 is an outreach run by my church once a month. Last Saturday we went to Chua, a small village on the shores of Lake Titicaca. I really enjoyed the trip because it not only covered a spiritual aspect, but also the physical. We worked alongside the local Adventist church, which will hopefully allow the church to be viewed in a more positive light. I helped with the dental work, which basically involved filling needles with new points and with anesthesia. I’ve never seen so many rotten teeth up close. I had to hold heads and hands because some teeth had large roots and we had to work quickly. My other job was holding heads and hands, to make sure that they didn’t poke the needles in deeper. I am looking forward to the next trip and hope to be able to pull a few teeth myself. Many children would get a tooth or two pulled and then head out to watch the puppets reenact the Good Samaritan.

Escuela de Campo

2009-10-18T20:07:00.007-04:00

Recently, I've been changed my focus from wells to agriculture, mostly supervising "escualas de campo" (country schools) and a new tree nursery that we are starting. An escuela de campo involves teaching locals how to plant high-grade potatoes that we bring from the city. A local tradition is to plow the earth using two cows, place a potato a foots distance from each other, and on top of the seeds pour sheep manure. If there isn't enough seed then the larger potatoes will be cut in half. We want local farmers to place the manure first and then the potato, so that more nutrition will enter the roots. Also, we are encouraging farmers to seal the cut potatoes with ash, so that no diseases will enter. In theory, using our high-grade potatoes (we sell these at half-price), placing the manure first and sealing the cut potatoes with ash will increase production and quality, providing local farmers with a more competitive edge on the market. I hope it works...

I AM NOT a tourist!

2009-09-28T22:37:00.004-04:00

"I'm not a tourist. I live here" has been this week's motto. It's kind of fun telling people (legit tourists and locals alike) that I work in La Paz. On Sunday I was looking at a sign up sheet at church for our anniversary lunch and a random person walked up to me and started explaining what it said (in English). I let him go on for a few moments before interrupting by saying, "Gacias, ¡ya pedí el pollo!" (Thanks, I already ordered the chicken!). I think the guy was quite embarrassed when he realized that my Spanish is halfway descent. Remember, when anyone every mistakes you for a tourist, turn to them and say in a calm voice, "I'm not a tourist. I live here!"

Gips Security

2009-09-20T23:46:00.005-04:00

I think this security company could have chosen a better name to represent what kind of service they provide:

Every Once in a While...

2009-09-13T00:50:00.006-04:00

I was in the campo this week working with Jhonny (yes, that is how they spell it here) and was visiting a small farming community when Mary, a three year-old girl, walked up to us with her mother. I'm not sure if I've enjoyed taking pictures this much in a very long time.

Names

2009-09-07T11:29:00.004-04:00

Because of my interesting nationality situation, I have two first names (Josué and Joshua). My middle name is simple, David and David. My last name though, is apparently up for grabs:

Working with SP

2009-08-31T11:19:00.003-04:00

It was great having my dad here for two weeks. He did a lot of work with the local churches and spoke about church growth. Many of the leaders had to walk many hours to get to these meetings. He even got to experience our school ministry and other forms of outreach.

Choro Trail

2009-08-24T16:50:00.002-04:00

My dad is visiting from Argentina and we just finished a 70 kilometer hike. We started 5,000 meters and ended at 1,200 m. It was great seeing all of the different kinds of vegetation as we plunged from cold desert to hot jungle! We finished the 2.5 day hike with a night in a nice hotel in the town of Coroico. The hotel's food was amazing, the bed-bugs were not.

Hiking Huayna Potosi

2009-08-10T16:33:00.003-04:00

I just got back from hiking Huayna Potosi, a mountain of 6088 meters (about 19,974 ft). I had a very enjoyablet time even though at times my feet and hands were quite frozen. We had really bad weather on the first day but things improved for when we left our base at 2 am. I´ve come to realise that I really do need to eat a lot when I´m hiking because I run out of energy so quickly.

Tithing

2009-08-05T10:48:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I was able to read 2 Corinthians 8 and felt convicted by the Spirit to re-think my stinginess with money and who the money was going to. We are instructed to ease the physical pain of those in need. I started to think of those who have great needs in my immediate surroundings. Homeless people, single mothers, and others came to mind. What about children? The children in the campo have nothing for themselves and sometimes can't have a full education due to the lack of funds. I partnered with Mabel Burke (I live with the Burkes) to buy school supplies for as many children as possible. The first school that I visited had about 10 children but there are others with even less. Each child received a plastic bag which contained:

2 pencils
2 pens (black and red)
a note-book
a pack of rulers
an eraser
a box of colored pencils
glue
stickers of the human body
a protractor
a pencil bag

I want to share this with everyone not to prove my generosity or try to make myself feel holy, but to encourage others to give. I hope to continue making these care packages for the many kids who live in the area where I work.

Time for a cut?

2009-07-27T17:33:00.003-04:00

I've heard rumors that it costs about 14 cents (1 Boliviano) to get a haircut here. Would you be willing to risk it?

Festival

2009-07-27T11:44:00.003-04:00

I was able to attend a dance and music festival in Achiri this Friday. It was very fun being able to meet many of the local malkus (community leaders) and other town leaders. A lot of their dances are many centuries old and have experienced a re-birth lately due to the increased focus on ancient cultures.

Takesi

2009-07-20T16:14:00.005-04:00

I just got back from a 1.5 day hike with a group of friends. We started our hike at around 3200 meters (10498 ft), got up to about 4600 m (15091 ft), and then plunged bellow 3000 m.
We walked about 30 kilometers in total and were able to see varius types of vegetation (from short grass to jungle). My knees just about gave out at the end of the first day and I wished I had walking sticks. Our next hikes include Huyana Potosi and Choro (about 70 kms long).

At the cumbre (4600 meters)

We camped near the river.

This river was the end of the hike and VERY cold.

This poor dog had to ride for three hours on top of the bus.

Solsito, ¿donde ´tas?

2009-07-14T09:28:00.002-04:00

I honestly don’t have much to complain about. I’ve had the privilege of living the majority of my life in areas with very mild winters. It gets cold once in a while in Jujuy and Salta but the truth is that it comes in waves, so most of the time you can work in t-shirts or even a light jacket while everyone else in the northern United States is obligated to wear large jackets just to stay warm. The weather has been very pleasant here in La Paz. The nights can get a bit chilly but a light fleece will take care of that. It’s even warm enough to wear Chacos, a very slight change from the winters with feet of snow.

I’ve realized that I have the Greenman disease where if we don’t get enough sun our brains shut down and we get ho-hum. I faced this while in Michigan and Indiana and especially while in Lithuania where I only saw the sun a few times.

La Paz is always sunny. Extremely sunny. It’s amazing how strong the sun is here and how easy it is to get burnt. This is the first time since I’ve been here that there is some cloud cover. I’m kind of cold right now because the sun usually shines in through the window and keeps me toasty. I can’t complain too much though, I know that tomorrow will be sunny again and even now I get a burst of rays every few minutes. It really is nice having this much sun after so many dark months.

Photos from silo planning

2009-07-06T16:52:00.005-04:00

I had a nice change this past week when I found out that I would be helping Gabriel measure out plots for the new silos that we will be building in August. It´s too cold at night and the cement freezes and falls apart, so we were helping farmers get the foundations ready.

This is the town where I stayed a week to help build silos: Caquiaviri.

This lamb´s mother died a few days ago, I think the owner is going to eat it soon (the lamb).

This is the health team´s quad, they use it to visit small villages and weigh babies (among other things).

Photos from the job

2009-06-29T17:48:00.004-04:00

Some random photos from well digging in Bolivia...

Making rings for the wells

2009-06-29T17:28:00.004-04:00

We make cement rings for the wells to make sure that they are as clean as possible and so that the ground will not cave in. This also ensures that the owners will have an easier time cleaning the wells.

First days in La Paz

2009-06-22T10:51:00.004-04:00

I've already spent over a week in Bolivia and things are going great. It's amazing seeing how God is working through Samaritan's Purse to create sustainable projects. I'm going back out to the campo tomorrow and will return with pictures of the actual project that I am working on.

Getting reading to head out to the campo

Sopa de mani anyone?

Lost on the Altiplano.

Samaritan's Purse orientation

2009-06-16T12:52:00.002-04:00

I want to share these photos of the friends that I made while in Boone, NC. They are all amazing people and I'm sure that God will use in great ways. I talked about them a bit here.

Ya ´toy, pues.

2009-06-14T09:57:00.002-04:00

My flight was delayed for about two hours but wasn´t that bad. I think American Airlines is going on my not so favorite to fly with company list (along with LAB who shut down a few years ago).

I haven´t started feeling the altitude yet...

Leaving one America for another

2009-06-13T16:56:00.002-04:00

I’m sitting in the Charlotte International Airport getting ready for my flight to Miami which will then transport me off to La Paz, Bolivia. I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people who are going all over the world to serve Franklin Graham, the poor, and more importantly, God. I’ve enjoyed the “mountains” that surround Boone and the curvy roads which reminded me of certain areas of Argentina and Bolivia (as opposed to flat Indiana). I’ve enjoyed the ice tea, even though I’ll probably go back to drinking plain water once I get to Bolivia. I’ve even learned to appreciate the southern accent and have even caught myself saying “y’all” and “m’am” once in a while.

North Carolina was enjoyable and very friendly, but it’s time to go the true south, South America. I’ve been hyped and encouraged by the people working at the home office in Boone and it’s hard to believe that the time for my trip to Bolivia is finally here. Even though I’ve spent quite a few years in Bolivia, I still don’t know what it will look like to live in La Paz. I do know that I’m supposed to learn something there and I’m willing to listen…

So far so good...

2009-06-03T01:14:00.003-04:00

I've survived my second day without health insurance. Amen.

Souphouse stuff

2009-05-26T22:56:00.005-04:00

The last remnants of the International Souphouse have been moved outside. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the couches and lamps showed up in Upland's annual labor day sale!

Please, a rest?

2009-05-26T00:48:00.008-04:00

Or some time to think. I've been so busy with a wedding, an organic farm (and getting to show my family around!), my graduation and of course, my two beautiful nieces, that life seems like a whirlwind now. I've been having a hard time processing what is going on and has happened because I feel like I've been going going since I started working on my senior paper. I think I need a few days to just sit and think.

In other news, the International Souphouse is officially closed for business. The Kees and the Greenmans have been closing shop. It's sad seeing where all of the furniture used to be and think of all of the fun times that we had here. It's a weird feeling, because it's the people that make the Souphouse, not the couches. The empty spaces serve as a reminder that things as we know it have ended and it's time to explore our futures.

I wanted to write "I'm not done yet" on the top of my graduation cap. All right, I'm done now. Let's move on and get started.

El Gato en el Arbol

2009-05-11T09:52:00.003-04:00

Have you ever felt like this cat? I think this reflects me quite well right now. He says: "I got into this REALLY high tree and now I can't get down! Help! Help me!"

"Don't zoom out from the comic strip because you ruin the dramatic effect!"

Nationalism within the Russian Orthodox Church 2

2009-05-10T19:35:00.002-04:00

I thought this photo was very fitting for my senior paper topic.

What's been going on? Er...what hasn't?

2009-05-09T14:17:00.002-04:00

Senior paper turned in.
Finals in one week!
Saying good-bye.
Graduation is on the mind.
Filling out paper-work.
Taking quizzes or internship.
Hospital.
Organic farm.
Sorting and packing.
Being myself.
Sushi restaurant.
Argentine fútbol.
Thinking about the future.
Thinking about the past...

Nationalism within the Russian Orthodox Church

2009-04-24T07:46:00.002-04:00

Dr. Knox, my name is Josh Greenman and I am a double major in History and International Studies at Taylor University (Indiana, United States). I grew up in Argentina and have had the opportunity to study in the United States, Bolivia and Lithuania. While in Eastern Europe I became quite fascinated with Russian Orthodoxy and was able to attend quite a few services. Even though I was raised as a Protestant, I learned to appreciate Orthodoxy to a great extent.

I am writing to thank you for your research, which I have been able to use for my senior thesis. Even though my thesis is quite basic, I have enjoyed reading your various publications (including your book "Russian Society and the Orthodox Church") and learning about the influence of religion upon society. In my paper I focus on the history of nationalism (general over-view), why it's happening in Russia, and what the nationalists are doing to maintain their influence within the Church.

Again, thank you very much for your research.

Sincerely,
-Josh Greenman

Dear Josh,

Many thanks for your email. I am delighted you have found my research of interest. Your senior thesis sounds very topical. There is a strong current of nationalism within the Orthodox Church, as you will know, and it is difficult to understand contemporary Russia without appreciating this. Thanks again for taking the time to write.

Best regards,
Zoe

Recognize

2009-04-20T20:05:00.001-04:00

Silly me, it's recognition, not recognization.

I just finished page 4 of my 15-20 page paper on nationalism within the Russian Orthodox Church.

My roommate Jeff is goofy...

2009-04-17T23:05:00.003-04:00

and here's proof:

What's Wrong with the World?

2009-03-20T09:13:00.002-04:00

"The Times had asked a number of writers for essays on the topic "What's Wrong with the World?' Chesterton's reply is the shortest and most to the point in history:

Dear sirs:
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G.K. Chesterton

Kreeft, Peter. Making Sense of Suffering. Ann Arbor: Servant Books, 1986. pg. 14.

Souphouse News

2009-03-10T14:15:00.004-04:00

I recently asked the editor of "The Echo" (Taylor Universities' school newspaper) to write an article about the house that I have been living in for the past few years. A few of the residents of the house were interviewed concerning the relationship that the Souphouse plays with the rest of the campus. Click, enlarge, enjoy.

How Much Water?

2009-03-05T00:16:00.003-04:00

I had the opportunity to see Thomas Friedman speak tonight at Ball State. What he had to say about the economy and the environment makes a lot of sense, especially since I am taking an environment and society class semester. While waiting for Friedman to come out on stage, my professor Dr. Winquist let me borrow his magazine, The Economist. I found the following graph to be quite thought provoking, especially since some of my favorite beverages are listed.

You can see the full article here.

Jones Soda says,

2009-02-20T23:52:00.003-04:00

"Judge one not by his charms, but by his qualities."

The Bible says, "The Lord's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive" (Proverbs 20:27).

Which?

2009-02-14T22:49:00.003-04:00

I haven't been updating much on the topic of my future after graduation, which I apologize for. I have been refraining from doing so because I didn't want to raise false hope or crush dreams (my own) too publically. There are some updates that need to be presented though, things that I need prayer for.

So far there seem to be two options that are dominant. I had initially applied for Samaritan's Purse, a type of Christian relief program. Apparently I am a finalist for their program in Bolivia and get interviewed next Friday. The nice thing about this program is that I would speak the language where I would be stationed, it is a paid position, and it's for five months. I haven't been told what I would be doing there though. Oh...did I mention that I studied for five years in Bolivia?

The second option is with World Venture. I'm not sure why both my options are Christian missions, but that is how it worked out. My parents work with World Venture, so I'm quite familiar with who they are and what they do. A night after I found out that I was a finalist with Samaritan's Purse I received a phone call from World Venture inviting me to help start a type of Christian Peace Corps in Côte d'Ivoire, Africa. I would be part of the first group to go over and help start up the center, molding and shaping it according to what I feel needs to change. More specifically, I would help organize and make connections for the agricultural section. Who knew the time that I spent on the farm in Tambo would come in this handy?

Both these opportunities are holistic ministries, meeting people's physical needs. I need to raise $1500 a month for the World Venture program. As I find out more information I will be posting it on my blog. I still need to officially apply for my position with World Venture, but it is pretty much a 'go' situation.

Please keep me in your prayers. If anyone is interested in supporting me please let me know! I know that God will provide...

Her Morning Elegance

2009-02-08T23:58:00.003-04:00

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did.

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
Uploaded by IgnitionVM

Puentes

2009-01-27T13:04:00.003-04:00

Translated: "It's the biggest infrastructure plan since the 50s and the most ambitious!...fix bridges with the rest of the world!"

This is how most Argentines currently sees Obama's plans...

You Can Do Better Than This

2009-01-27T10:15:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow is my last class day for January term and I have three things due, including a map, an essay, and a presentation. My presentation explores some of the reasons why Ernesto Guevara became a communist. I am focusing on what Che Guevara saw during his trip through South America, especially the way which large U.S. American companies took advantage of the workers.
I needed a source showing how these labourers were being exploited.

I completed a search looking for working conditions in South America during the early 1900s. I found this: 'The Ku Klux Klan is a secret organization that was formed in South America in the state called Mississippi in the early 1900's which until this day still exists..." The kicker is that you actually have to pay to be able to access this junk (you can see a sampling for free).

The Order of Fashion

2009-01-24T23:11:00.002-04:00

Certain things have been brought to my attention through some serious cultural observations. When I returned to Argentina in 2003 after being in the States for a year, everyone was wearing Arab-looking scarves which were being made in India. Seriously, pretty much everyone under the age of 30 had one on and most of them were black and white. Some where home-made, usually made of thicker yarn.

Fast forward to 2005, while I was finishing up my last year in Bolivia. I wanted to give scarves to my friends, so put in an order to my mom to buy them in Argentina (they didn't sell them in Bolivia at all). I think she had somewhat of a hard time finding them because by then they were going out of style. After arriving to the United States, I noticed that I was one of the only ones on campus wearing an Indian (or Middle Eastern, depending on what you want to call them) scarf on campus.

While I was packing to travel to Lithuania in 2007, I decided to take my scarf even though I was pretty sure I was going to be the only one wearing that style in all of Europe. When I got there I was quite surprised to find out that Middle-Eastern scarves were just starting to trickle in. Most where black and white, but there were also a few reddish ones.

Winter 2008-9. It seems like the United States is welcoming the Middle Eastern scarf look. So far, the two that I've seen have been black and white. Yay for originality!

Guess who? 2

2009-01-15T17:59:00.004-04:00

To my dedicated readers, I'm sorry I haven't been writing in my blog much. Pictures seem to be the main staple these days... I've been quite busy lately and have had a lot of things going through my mind. I've already applied for a five month internship with Samaritan's Purse and am waiting to hear back from them. I am currently working on my application for the Peace Corps and hope to have everything sent in by the end of the month.

And now for some pictures:

Christmas with grandpa 1987, first time in the States.

In front of "El Indio" in Humahuaca, northern Jujuy. Grandma Greenman is standing behind my sister.

With pops and Tata.

My dad standing next to a vicuña.

Guess who?

2009-01-12T21:33:00.003-04:00

Ah...the good old days...

Dinner with the big H

2009-01-09T23:05:00.003-04:00

The soupies had a chance to have dinner with the Habeckers last night. It's crazy to think how fast time has flown by. The Dr. Habecker became the president of Taylor University my freshman year. Also, it came to our attention last night that we are are the last class to remember the van accident of '06.

Apples

2009-01-09T16:20:00.004-04:00

The Apple community welcomes me. This is the first photo that I've taken using Photobooth.

This is the second:

Now that I have a computer, I no longer have an excuse not to blog, do my homework, email, and complete my applucation to the peace corp. The peace corp is interviewing at Ball State in February and I need to get my application in soon...

¡Feliz navidad...

2008-12-30T02:37:00.003-04:00

y prospero año nuevo!

p.s. Yes, I am related to Santa Clause!

Working on intelectuality

2008-12-07T03:34:00.004-04:00

In The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind Mark A. Noll says, "The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind....American evangelicals are not exemplary for their thinking, and they have not been so for several generations...Despite dynamic success at a popular level, modern American evangelicals have failed notably in sustaining serious intellectual life" (3).

After reading the first half of this book, I have decided to help with the overall evangelical mind by publishing scholarly articles.

I have decided to start small:

p.s. It took a lot more work than expected to get this much printed, so I've decided to retire while I'm still in my prime.

My glasses, please

2008-11-16T17:01:00.003-04:00

I need my glasses to read but not to see. I forgot my glasses in Chicago quite a long time ago and I've been able to manage without them, so far. After about 30 pages worth of essays written, my eyes are crying, pleading for the curvature that my glasses provide. Every book I pick up taunts me, dares me to read it without getting a headache. My body needs rest, but my eyes scream for an oasis of loving sleep, a chance to see blackness nothing.

No matter how much I romanticize, the fact is that I am still about two pages away from finishing my essay on Jahiliyyah, the barbaric time before the arrival of Muhammad. I shall continue.

Je, that was actually kind of funny

2008-11-11T09:10:00.003-04:00

Some background:

I was talking with my dad this morning concerning some glasses that should have gotten here about a week ago, but never showed up in my post-box.
At the end of my sophomore year, someone stole my white racing bike out of the Sammy bike closet. It had a flat front tire and was chained up.
My father recently ordered a belt for himself and some thermal underwear for my sister, to help her survive the long winter days in Chicago. They should be in the same box as my glasses.

My dad said this morning: "I hope the guy who stole your bike isn't wearing your glasses, my belt and Sara's undies."

I tried imagining what that would look like... :D

Like, no way!

2008-11-11T01:30:00.003-04:00

Enough is enough. Please please PLEASE stop saying "like" all the time! I feel like everyone is like, acting out their life. Like, it gets on my nerves and I'm like, "Ah! That makes me like, so mad!" Seriously now...

I recently ran across this interview of Mrs. Palin that reminded me that I was going to write about my dislike of the overuse of "like." She says: "I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me to somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door."

I agree with her prayer...but...two "likes" in one sentence is pushing it for me. *sigh*

Maybe with like, some sleep I'll be much better in the morning because then I'll be like, all rested up!

Some of my favorites...

2008-11-07T13:25:00.004-04:00

These are some of my favotire "statuses" from facebook concerning Obama being the new president of the United States. I'm leavig them in their original form, so there might be a few spelling errors.

H***** ****s "is dreading the rise of socialism..."

N**** "now that Obama is president, white people may find a need to use that underground railroad."

N**** "is gonna vote for McCain because i really don't wanna see my taxes go up.......im sorry, i like spending my money, rather than the government."

B*** "is concerned how Obama makes Christ Like statments."

E*** "needs to hear someone who has actually lived in a socialist State actually claim that A) Obama is a socialist or B) that is policy ideas are bad."

E*** "is satisfied with the presidential race though unsatisfied with the reactions to it by his 'christian' friends.

What are some of your favorites?

In Honor of Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

2008-11-04T17:29:00.003-04:00

"You know, comrades," says Stalin, "that I think in regard to this: I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this --who will count the votes, and how."

I got that quote from here.

A WOW update

2008-11-03T15:58:00.003-04:00

World Opportunities Week is going full blast, and I'm on my second cup of coffee (refills only cost 50 cents!).

WOW has been going extremely well. I've really enjoyed meeting all of the mission representatives and helping them with anything they need. In some way I feel like its part of what I should be doing for the rest of my life, serving people. Since I'm so involved with planning, I know exactly (at least I'm supposed to) what is going on and I want to attend all of the events. There are some excellent speakers and events going on this week, so I'm kind of tight on time. This busy time might be the boost that I need to get things done, I don't know.

What good is a boost though, if I waste my time writing in my blog all day? Nada.

Something made me chuckle today. I sat next to Mrs. Habecker in chapel today and she thought I was a mission representative. She asked me if I was enjoying my time at Taylor. She was quite embarrassed when she found out that this was my fourth year at Taylor... :P

Russia and the presents

2008-11-01T22:39:00.002-04:00

It's probably time to sleep when I start talking in my essay about how the Russian government should have given the presents a voice after the emancipation of 1861.

work work work...

The 30 of of October of 1983

2008-10-30T08:04:00.004-04:00

"El 30 de octubre de 1983 el candidato por la UCR, Raúl Alfonsín, se impuso en las elecciones presidenciales, dejando atrás la dictadura militar que asumió el poder en 1976."

I realised that while I've been working on my Russian history essay on the effects the industrailization of Russia had on the revolution of 1914 (and prior revolutions as well), that Argentina is celebrating 25 years of democracy today! The military dictatorship had been in power from 1976 until 1983.

Free Hugs...

2008-10-29T22:48:00.004-04:00

everybody needs them!

Untitled

2008-10-21T01:36:00.004-04:00

As I (try to) plan my future I have to keep in mind that any knowledge that I gain, any achievements that I make, any awards that I win, should be for God's glory, not my own or the Greenman family. Sometimes I catch myself thinking up hard ways to live life to be able to create opportunities for myself to grow. If God wants me to grow in a certain way, he will make it happen. That takes trust in knowing that he knows what is going on and that my adventure is slowly and patiently finding out what that is. I've been thinking a lot lately about the order of actions. Many times we pray to God, "Please Lord, bless us this day as we ____." Instead, we should be searching what the Lord wants and asking, "What do you want me to do?" That way, we automatically know what we do will be blessed. Not easy, but blessed.

The funny thing is...this whole post makes the first seven words of the paragraph completely and utterly pointless...which is pretty cool. Renee wouldn't approve grammatically though.

Tids.

2008-10-20T19:54:00.002-04:00

Heads up, if my rss feed isn't working for you, try rss feeding me again. I had to change my original blog address from elgauchitoarg.blogspot.com to joshgreenman.blogspot.com because of some mix-ups with my url provider. All that to say, sorry for the inconvenience!

Here is an update on my life:

trying to study,

don't feel like it.

maté.

future,

five year plan.

I see Ruwe,

she has a fancy hat on.

That is all.

These made me think

2008-10-13T23:56:00.003-04:00

Click to enlarge.

Banksy is his http://www.banksy.co.uk/

My life is a leaf

2008-10-13T23:34:00.003-04:00

I'm not feeling too poetic, but I do feel like a dried out, crumpled leaf that has been thrown into the wind, waiting for the nearest current of air to guide me to my next location and stage of life. Who knows? I might end up in a gutter, in an ocean, on the top of a mountain; a whole new kind of world awaits me.

But to be honest, thinking about the huge decisions (probably the biggest in my life) that I have to make within a few months scares me silly. I'm flexible for anything, which helps...right?

MuKappa (and friends) lunch table

2008-10-09T10:17:00.002-04:00

For the past few years I've been eating lunch at 11 am Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at the dinning commons. Over time, I have been able to find friends who ate ate at the same time and we've been able to build a little community. Going through old emails, I found one written by one of the original 'members.'

The email is dated from 10/29/2006 and states:

Josh!

I hope you had a great weekend hanging out with your mom! It was nice to meet her today, too bad we couldn't have talked longer.

Anyway, are you going to have class at 11 next semester? I can register at 2 pm tomorrow, and I have the option of taking a class at that time or at 1 pm, and I will take it at 1 if we're going to eat lunch at 11, but if you can't then I will take it at 11. So, let me know as you can if you know yet.

Thanks!

Ann

And the rest is history...

I would like a job, please.

2008-10-08T23:36:00.004-04:00

This last Tuesday I was able to attend a discussion on how to manage money and be monetarily sound. The people giving the presentation were from Charles Schwab investments. They had some great things to say, even I feel that most of the tips offered were pretty obvious (when you have debt, pay it back right away). I have been reading through a book entitled "International Jobs." The author of the book states, "I will never forget the powerful presentation of one senior professional at a career panel I attended. He opened his remarks by saying that when he speaks to a group of approximately fifty students, generally thirty will approach him at the end of a panel for questions; only five might ask for a business car; and if he has a good day, only two will call to follow up for an informational interview. Those are the only two he might - he informed the surprised group -consider hiring" (10).

Sure enough. At the end of the presentation only about three or four of us (out of 50ish?) stayed to talk to the four Schwab representatives. I don't have any interest in working with an investment company, but I was able to practice my networking skills. I now have a phone number, four names, and a business card for my efforts. Not only that, but they know my name, my story, and my face. I was also able to tell them what my budgeting system was: just don't spend money. When they heard that, they gave me some chocolate bars. :)

Loneliness has a definition.

2008-10-05T17:58:00.003-04:00

"The loneliest maté is the one cebado alone." - Josh Greenman

Lucky for me, Ruwe ccompanied me with downing two whole liters (minus some that spilled onto my pants) of extra yummy extra strong maté. She had to visit a museum in Indianapolis so we drank one liter on the way down and another on the way back up to Taylor.

p.s. My stomach hates me now.

Shaving the beard

2008-10-05T01:58:00.002-04:00

Ha, my thoughts exactly.

(Got it from here)

I'm almost there...

2008-10-01T12:35:00.004-04:00

(Got it from here)

Distractions distractions...I've actually been doing pretty well lately. Obviously, there is always room for improvement. But, I think I'll be able to graduate on time. ;)

If anything, this video is what is currently distracting me the most.

Let's see what other history majors are doing...

2008-09-30T12:24:00.002-04:00

Popular Jobs for History Majors

Statler & Waldorf

2008-09-26T12:14:00.003-04:00

Click to enlarge.

What do YOU think?

Copied from The New York Times.

Mongols + Orthodox Church = Love

2008-09-25T20:22:00.002-04:00

I've decided to write about the relationship that the Mongols and the Orthodox Church had during the Tatar occoupation of Russia. I feel like I've been typing for ever and should have at least 23 pages...but I only have 3 or so. Ugh this is going slow. :P

The Ideal Student...

2008-09-24T19:41:00.002-04:00

...isn't me.

I've always had a hard time skipping classes. Even when I'm burning with a 130 degree fever, I still feel as if it's my responsibility to walk through the five feet of snow, uphill both ways, to get to class. It probably has something to do with the way that my parents brought me up.

Mom and dad, I have something important to tell you. I skipped class today for no apparent reason. I'm feeling perfectly fine, but I've been going through something called senioritis where you don't feel like doing schoolwork (or going to class). It's already starting to set it. Thankfully I have pretty easy semesters this year. I invited a friend to go with me to a local coffee shop (she's in the same class as I am) and we both enjoyed our skip.

Mother, please don't cry, but I'm actually writing this blog entry as my professor is lecturing on global warming. He says that "It is caused largely by the carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere, the amount of which is growing each year because of our use of fossil fuels." Interesting, no? Not really.

Don't worry mother, I will graduate. My fear of not graduating is far greater than my wandering mind...

josh greenman

School Gardens

A New Life in Guatemala

Dancing Merengue!

Learning to use my hard head

Another Move

Ready to move

Home Brewing

I thought the same thing...

Yo Voy Caminando...

Waiting, again.

Forks in the Road

The Quest Continues

Feliz Día, Papá

Update from the farm

Poor College Student, again

Enough is Enough

10,000+ kms, oh what a trip!

¡¿QUE?!

Update on my trip...

My goals

The beauty of a nap..

Photos from the trip

No sleep... but it's for FREE!

From Machu Picchu to Potosí

Travels since BA

Buenos Aires again...

Christmas in the summertime

Another move...*sigh*

Photos from the Vivero

The Wonders of the Altiplano

I'm a...

Copacabana, Bolivia

Mateo 28

Escuela de Campo

I AM NOT a tourist!

Gips Security

Every Once in a While...

Names

Working with SP

Choro Trail

Hiking Huayna Potosi

Tithing

Time for a cut?

Festival

Takesi

Solsito, ¿donde ´tas?

Photos from silo planning

Photos from the job

Making rings for the wells

First days in La Paz

Samaritan's Purse orientation

Ya ´toy, pues.

Leaving one America for another

So far so good...

Souphouse stuff

Please, a rest?

El Gato en el Arbol

Nationalism within the Russian Orthodox Church 2

What's been going on? Er...what hasn't?

Nationalism within the Russian Orthodox Church

Recognize

My roommate Jeff is goofy...

What's Wrong with the World?

Souphouse News

How Much Water?

Jones Soda says,

Which?

Her Morning Elegance

Puentes

You Can Do Better Than This

The Order of Fashion

Guess who? 2

Guess who?

Dinner with the big H

Apples

¡Feliz navidad...

Working on intelectuality

My glasses, please

Je, that was actually kind of funny

Another move...sigh