Day Three: Streets of Riga

After having breakfast this morning, we left to roam the streets of Riga. Pictures already up on Facebook, more on the way from Lei and tia Connie's camera!)

We past by this gorgeous park, and as we were on the bridge taking photos, a lady approaches me and asks, "can you take a picture of me from my camera?" So I took her photo. In taking it, she recognized we spoke Spanish, and makes mention how delighted she was to meet people that speak it! She's Mexican, and will be returning back home soon. She actually came to Europe all by herself for a month. Her attitude was, if you have the circumstances to, then why not! We can't always wait on our friends. So I came alone. That was so admirable and brave of her! So my aunt had a Spanish tract in her purse, and as she handed it, the lady hugs her...crying. She says her mom in Mexico is a witness, and believes that this is a sign for her to visit the Hall. It was a beautiful experience :) We took a picture with her from a different camera. Will be up soon!

We also came across a lot of amber jewelry on the streets and even in-store, it's all so beautiful. Amber is very common in Latvia. As we were walking along the cobblestoned streets, two sisters approached us and gave us a big hug. They were distributing invitations for the convention, which is next weekend, and noticed we were sisters from our lapel badges! In saying our goodbyes to these sisters, we went to grab a bite at this Latvian/Russian place called Palmeni. As we got there, a few minutes later, met four other sisters! The two sisters we met previously on the street told these ones we met at Palmeni that we were going to eat there. So we all got to sit and eat together!

Before I forget to say, let me share with you a mistake of mine, haha. Yesterday, I blew a fuse in our bathroom by connecting an appliance of mine to the adaptor. My appliance was 120vac, just a set number. Being that it didn't have a range, you would need to buy an additional adaptor that will transmit to meet within the range... So thanks to my lack of understanding, we did not have light in our bathroom last night, especially since the electrician was not on duty till 8:30am the next morning!! After breakfast today, the electrician came in our room, turned a switch and bam, light in bathroom.

So always check the voltage on your appliances before plugging it in the adaptor when you're in Europe. Make sure it is ranged without exceeding the amount recommended! :)

After roaming Riga, we took a cab back to hotel due to the light rain and was about 60 degrees. Neither of us wanted to get sick! Lei and I took a nap as we returned as tia Connie went to get a massage at the spa downstairs in our lobby.

Beach tomorrow... :)

Latvia trip begins! Day One: Plane ride. ...Are we there yet?!

Not quite! Still have a long ways to go till we make our first stop in Copenhagen, Denmark. We're about 3 hours ahead of eastern time now. Which explains why I am tired! Will be a 7 hour time difference once we're in Latvia! Was able to dose off a bit here and there, which has been nice.

Before departing Newark airport earlier today, every seat in front of each passenger has a tv screen, and there's an exterior camera outside of the plane which allowed us to see the plane take off! (I have a picture I took of it) Almost felt as if you were in the driver's seat or a scene in a movie... How cool is that?!

Tonight's dinner was delish. I over heard that they served us Danish food. It was chicken glazed in some awesomeness with rice, piece of cheese with sesame crackers, a black/red beany corn salad (up my alley) , and for dessert, it reminded me of cheesecake, but also like angel food cake too, with chocolate on top. I had a cup of black tea too. I am so not missing breakfast, lol...

The plane inside is huge, too. Never have I been in one that has three columns and two aisles on each side! I'm sitting in the middle column.

Lei has been having a really interesting conversation with someone that has questions about our beliefs...go Lei!!

I will update when we're in Copenhagen! :)

Day Two: Copenhagen Landing.
We arrived this Thursday morning at 8am, (2am back home). Our connecting flight to Riga, Latvia departs at 10:50am. We are at the gate now, awaiting to board... In the meantime, after getting off our plane earlier this morning, we walked around Copenhagen's airport, got a bite/coffee at this cafe'

called, Lagkagehuset. It was really good! Before pouring milk into my coffee, I noticed the entire carton was written in Danish...
~ Boarding! Final destination: Riga, Latvia

Twal Cwaffee.

Is it me or is time just flying by?
These days have been so busy! With work, service, hair appointments and assembly coming up this weekend- my days are full. Packing has not been started yet, but I soon plan on getting it done. Mostly clothes, so its no problemo!
Despite how excited I am to be moving back, it's a little saddening as well. I've met and made so many friends. My little adventures whether sucky, hilarious or memorable- I will hold on to forever. I wouldn't have trade coming here for anything. Right at this moment, I have never been so happy in my entire life. I thank Jehovah for that everyday.
Being that I'll be moving soon, I've been handing over my RVs to others. My Bible study Tammy however is moving to a nearby town called Maplewood about 15 minutes from Bloomfield. I spoke with one of the brothers to find out what congregation she would be assigned to depending on her new address. Ivy Hill Congregation it is called. I made plans to take Tammy to that congregation's Sunday meeting this morning to hand her over to a sister. When first coming to the Hall, I had spoken to the service overseer. I explained the situation and that she's been a progressive Bible student. The brother directed me to the sister, met her and spoke about Tammy and her studies. Tammy and her met and will be having their first study together sometime later this week! Also, this weekend is our circuit assembly. They are in our same circuit, so the sister said she would pick her up! I told Tammy, "Don't worry, you'll see me there and will be able to say goodbye one more time!"
The sister and I exchanged phone numbers and email addresses to keep in touch. Make sure Tammy is keeping up. :) I'm so grateful how everything turned out!
For our assembly, my congregation is the host. Which means, we have a meeting on Tuesday and a week in service with the C.O. and D.O.!
One of the elders in my cong had a sign up sheet to work with them in service. Since I already have worked with Brother and Sister Jones, I decided to work with the District Overseer. This Thursday, I have an appointment to work with Brother Colvin (D.O) at 1:15, and Sister Colvin (his wife) at 3p. I'm excited!
Tonight at work, I was able to master saying, "twal cwaffee" (tall coffee), the true Jersian way. Now that, took me a while. :)

good times, fo shiz.

Beginning of December, we had our circuit overseer visit. Him and his wife's names are, Brodrick and Karen Jones. Ironically, they served in a circuit in FL years back, and I remember meeting this brother once! Awesome, encouraging teacher. I had the privilege of working with both brother and sister Jones in field service. Both shared some helpful tips to use in the house and house ministry, and RVs.
Last week I went skiing and snowboarding! Very cool I must say. First attempt at both and didn't do too bad. Stopping on the snowboard I found challenging, but for the most part, my turns were good! Any advice I would share with beginners is, always look ahead. haha. You will avoid so many accidents! :D
Recently I went sledding too which was a blast! Oh I shoveled the entire front yard all by myself the other day! I came in the house after wards, took off my boots, and needed a nap. Very tiring indeed, hehe.
This is great. So there's this regular customer. Very cool older man, and he usually comes in Starbuck's to get a tall coffee, and double chocolate brownie. Oh yeah, the brownie has to be warmed up 3 seconds exactly. If not, you will be shot. lol. Well anyway, one day as he's walking up to the register, I left what I was doing and as I'm walking towards him I say, "what do ya want?! I mean,(in a calmer voice) what would you like?" He looks at me awkwardly strange but with a smile and says, "what do I want? mann.." He starts cracking up. So, whenever he comes in, I ask him just like that, and we laugh. It's great, we have our own inside joke! :D
This will be my last month in my Jersey experience, so I'm doing as much as I can before I move back to the F L.
Handing over all my RVs this month, aw. Looking forward to starting a fresh new RV book when I move back though, yay!

quieres leer?....ok, um.. ciao!

One day in service, after using the "People of All Nations" booklet, I thought to myself how awesome it would be to learn a new language. A couple of years ago, I was interested in learning chinese, but that has changed for me now. I guess I don't find it as interesting as I did four years ago. hehe.
I began to think of what would be needed in the territory... possibly even talking to my circuit overseer (from FL of course, since I'll be moving back in a couple of months.) Therefore, I'm not just learning it for added head knowledge, but to actually use it effectively in the ministry. So... a very good idea came to mind. Spanish!
Ok ok, I'm Cuban and you think I should know spanish perfectly but I'll be honest with ya- I suck at it. haha. Spanish theocratically is a lot more difficult being that there are many words I've never heard of growing up. I love the language, and even have a hispanic accent added to it so this brings learning new words and conversational feeling a lot better... haha.
As I was thinking of this great idea, I began to think of how in the world am I going to begin! I mean, starting from beginner spanish would be insanely a breeze for me. I know that stuff, yo!
So I took a trip to Barnes & Noble and found a spanish-to-english/english-to-spanish dictionary and a nice, cheap ol' notebook to write my new words into!
Now that I have all the supplies I need, I'm reading through the spanish Watchtower and Awake. Whatever words I come across to which I don't know the meaning to, I circle/look them up. Afterwards, write them into my notebook for remembrance. My own personal reference I guess. :)
When I move back to FL soon, I will be still attending my same english congregation, but plan to make a few extra spanish meetings with my grandmother. I feel this will add in helping me to learn this language, especially theocratically.
I've been praying to Jehovah to help me widen out in the ministry, and even though pioneering is also a goal of mine, this will only add in making it ever so much more helpful and beneficial.
I'm excited! :)

pump gas, neva.

So chilly its really getting these days. No snow yet though. Maybe in a couple of weeks! My allergies were getting on me, but I'm fine now. I've developed eczema on my hands first time eva though..woohoo! Haha. The doc prescribed me some hydrocortisone valerate cream, so its helping a lot. Glad about that, :).
Leaves changing their color, nice breezy weather... I actually really like the fall season here. There's a beauty that can be admired from it. I do enjoy the changes of the seasons. I seem to finally have the right apparel now anyways for the winter... so bring it on. ;)
As soon as it gets freezing cold here, a group of us are planning to go ice skating! I would preferably like to go out doors, just to get the real feel you know..
I have my passport now, so in January, my fam is planning a trip to Canada. I've been to Niagra Falls once, but that was when I was less than a year old.. so it'd be nice to go now that I'm older to actually enjoy it this time for reals. :)
Lei and I are planning a trip to Italy in two years. In spring time, we're hoping. I will most likely be on a cheese hunt.. find Italy's most amazing cheeses around...yanno, nerd it up. xD I'm a cheese freak guys... hah.
Oh yeah. Not sure if you all knew this, but in the state of New Jersey, pumping your own gas is not allowed. That's right- we got people's who come up to your window asking, "How much? For what?" lol.

viva la VIA.

The other day marked six months that I've been here. It's finally starting to get chilly! It's been in the 60s mostly these past couple of days. I'm looking forward to the snow! Maybe not so much having my car blocked with it in the morning. We'll see how that goes. Expert at shoveling? Not so much.. If its what I have to do every morning, then I will eventually have it down. :) It's like parallel parking- I would rather not choose to, but if its the only way I'm going to be able to park, I then have no excuse! Just recently I was asked to cover someones shift at another Starbuck's. It was on church street, just a couple of minutes from my store. The shift went well despite how small the store was compared to ours. For parking, the only spot I had was far, and at a meter. I only put about an hour cos I rarely carry change on me. I was planning on walking back eventually during my shift to put more change, but those I worked with said its not a problem after 6p.m. At the end of my shift that night, I called my aunt as I was walking to my car... little creepy, especially at night. I most likely won't be asked to work there again though. It was a one in a time thing.
VIA challenge anyone? Have you done it?! hehe.
I recently saw our commercial during The Office tv breaks the other day. I don't know. I'm not sure if I like it especially since it has brought very arrogant ones into our store! Some people came in saying, "alright lemme try it. I bet I could taste the difference!" kind of in a rude/cocky way, and I'm just like - dude, you are not cool! stop pretending you're the best or something... (I didn't say that, but sure was thinking it!)
The VIA instant coffee is great btw. I've tried it myself and love it!