Since I graduated in May, I haven’t really been that interested in writing with words. I’ve thought a lot about words and written some, spoken a bunch, sang some. I also use words in electronic messages every day – in text, email, Facebook, whatever device. Most of my creative energy is centered on being trained by a former professor of mine, growing my skills in Final Cut and shooting in verite documentary style, being connected to the power of thought conveyed in images, spoken words, and music combined to make what we call a “film.” Digital storytelling is a very current approach to disseminating information, and it’s also a lot of fun, for the maker and the viewer alike.
Working in documentary merges the new media angle with a conscious effort to tell a true, “verite” as it were, story. Being aware that documentary portrays a real life event, I often have to take stock and wonder – what gives me the clarity or good sense to sift through the mundane events of an extended period of time and piece together a story that makes sense, is compelling, and develops a character? This medium asserts that something must happen. And to become a focused editor, you must be as concerned with the larger piece as you are with the single frame. To do that well, you must understand the way life works. There is a surge of meaning, a moment that you realize is too long. Something must come to pass, pacing takes hold. The pace of things on screen is not the same as the pace in life, because it is shortened and taken into the editing system. The pace of film is the pace of your thoughts. You must be able to feel the roll of the moment, and know when it is coming to an end.
What I’ve been doing at Rutgers by documenting academic stories through the voices of the very people who are inspiring new generations of marine biologists, female scholars and activists, and storytellers whether on word or on screen has taught me that a lot of a non-fiction writer’s perspective has to be bonded in trust with the people whose story she is telling. Even if the trust is as simple as a smile while I hold the camera or concern over how their voice or image is portrayed, there has to be a relationship there. An interview, especially, requires a lot of trust from people when they would not otherwise be willing to tell their point of view to even one person let alone an indefinite public.
helped me to see that the world is always changing, the lapse of time on video is the same as it is in real life and ours is a documented culture like none other has ever been. Will this help us to come together? In documentary, I’m forced to take stock of a person as a character – which means they must potentially be able to grow.
I don’t know what the climax of this kind of media will be
or what can come beyond it. It’s hard for me to see how telling a story in 2
minutes can get any shorter, but I’m sure someone will find a way.
Check out our documentary team below:
http://wh.rutgers.edu/component/jvideo/watch/75/the-making-of-atlantic-crossing
Hola Todos!
Recently I have been spending my time thinking more about what i will do next year, than focusing all of my attention on outreach on campus. With about 7 weeks left now, its kinda hard not to do that, but i know that i also can't waste the few days i have left with STIINT. So, today i took some time off campus to spend with the Lord and try to refocus. Also, i sent my resume to more schools around the area in hopes of finding something!! I remain hopeful.
Lastnight we had a good night of just hanging out with friends. There's a house full of German students right beside the Crusade house on our street. Two of the girls who live there came over last night and we got to hang out and chat a bit. They're so cool! Makes me want to visit Germany. Maybe one day! We as a STINT team are heading up to Portland, OR on Dec 27th to Jan. 4th for the Campus Crusade winter conference there and for debriefing of our STINT year. I can't believe it's almost over. Sheesh. Time is going by ever so quickly now especially since we only have a matter of weeks more. I feel like i'm going so fast...but need to slow down. On Nov. 1st we're doing an outreach here in our apt. for women, showing the Magdalena movie, and doing a study that goes along with it. Also, Halloween is just around the corner! Costa Rica en general doesn't celebrate Halloween because its a North American holiday, and Costa Ricans dont want to share it. However, there is a party with the art students of the UCR and i think we may be able to participate in that. All of the students create their own costumes! It should be a very unique experience should we go!
As more things happen, i will update you! As for now we must be going!
Good morning!
Buenos Dias Amigos! This morning i'm sittin here in the apt, planning for the week ahead. This past weekend we had un “retiro”…retreat for the students involved in the ministry to encourage them and give them the tools and encouragement they need to share their faith with their peers. We spent most of lastweek planning for it, and Laura, Meghan, and I spoke about the book, Questioning Evangelism, written by Randy Newman. Laura and I spoke each for 30 minutes only in Spanish! J Afterward we realized how much Spanish we have really learned in the past 7 months. It’s pretty cool! There were about 25 students there both from UCR here in San Pedro, and the Tech University in Cartago, where our friends Philip and Shirley work as missionaries too with Crusade. It was really cool to see a group of students who all had an equal desire to share Christ with others and also to learn more about God for themselves!
There’s one student in particular who really captures my attention. His name is Jonathan. He has such a big desire to learn more about God’s word, and spends so much time reading it daily. It is an encouragement for me to see a student so thirsty for La Palabra de Dios! With Jonathan, and one of his friends, we have a study of the book of Romans every Friday afternoon.
This morning I will meet with a girl named Anna. I hope for Anna that her eyes would be opened to the relevance of God in her life, and that she would not only believe in the traditions of the Catholic church, but would feel the love of God in her heart and see how he works in all areas of her life. I'm looking forward to out meeting today.
In other news, my own heart has been really encouraged, esp this weekend. Just being with Ticos makes me feel encouraged, speaking Spanish, but also being in the word! Lately, I've been feeling a little but far from God in my own heart. Sometimes we desire things of the world, more than Christ, and i know this is the cause of the way i've been feeling lately. However, it is one thing to know in your head what's going on, it's another to feel it in your heart. And oftentimes this heart of ours is oh so deceitful and senseless. Although we need our hearts to know how we feel about things, often our feelings deceive us. I think this is one way Satan can have a foothold in my life. If i'm not spending consistent time in the word with God, and in prayer, talking to him , how am i to know what He's telling me? and what the difference is btwn what he's telling me and what my heart is telling me? :) Yeah. I had an encouraging talk about this topic lastnight with one of my friends here! It was good! Now my heart feels a little less heavy! Gracias a Dios for his blessings!
One goal for the next two months we have here for me is to get better at Spanish, memorize more verses, and maybe verses in Spanish tambien (too.) I'm excited about all the things God has already done in my life so far these 7 months, and am excited to see what he does in the future, even in the next 5 months. We'll see! :)
My friend Kevin Olitan started a traveling music video site about New Brunswick featuring local bands and/or poets, artists, etc. plus everyone else on the street.
Here is his site. Please check it out! Lots of good things happening in da Bruns.
And here's the Wanderer session that Kevin and Christine Tram did with me. I did a Sufjan cover and one of my own.
ENJOY!
<3 to you
Hello Vox friends! Just got back from a wonderful day at El Mirador, a park in Cartago where you can look out and see some of the most beautiful mountains! But what you’ve missed since our Visa renewal trip to Panama has far surpassed this beautiful day in Costa Rica.
More recently from Panama, we celebrated Costa Rica’s Independence Day! The official holiday was this past Tuesday. The Monday before, however, we had a full day on campus, then in the night headed out to our fav city recently, Cartago! There we saw cool fireworks being shot out of the top of an old church that now looks like ruins, but isn’t actually ruins because it never was an actual finished, built church. Well, so it’s just ruins. Nothing mysterious or historical really happened. Just an earthquake, and it was never able to be completed.
After that night, when we had the best burgers in Cartago, we made plans to have the best day off from school since the age of 13. AMUSEMENT PARK! Here, there’s an amusement park called Parque De Diversiones. I was there from 12 (medio dia) to 5 pm in the night! Whoohoo! Until it began raining, as normal here in the afternoons. It was me, Laura, Andrey, Douglas, Isaac, Hector, and Carolina!
On a more serious note, we’ve had some really CHIVA (cool) news lately! A week ago today, and I wrote this in my newest newsletter as well, our friend Douglas, pictured above in some photos, accepted Christ as his Savior! We were sitting in our normal, every week meeting, but were studying Ephesians. We discussed how some people only have a head knowledge of Christ, but not a heart knowledge, and all of sudden he left the room for about 15 minutes. When he came back, he had tears in his eyes. Afterwards, he explained to me what had happened. Turns out, he realized that he had never actually asked God to come into his heart, only made a mental, intellectual decision to trust Him, and believe in Him. SO, he felt a strong urgency to do that and couldn’t wait, and is now our new brother in Christ! J YAY!! We’re going to worship forever with Douglas in Heaven! Things that God does in our hearts when we least expect it! J
Our last Friday night Fiesta consisted of the differences between men and women. Sort of a heavy topic, but we played Battle of the Sexes, and it was interesting how competitive the guys were with their knowledge, or lack of, about women! The women were sorely outnumbered, which contributed to our defeat in the battle of the sexes. Hmm. Lastima! J Maybe we’ll have a chance to redeem ourselves someday.
Having less than three months left now on STINT, I’ve had a lot of opportunity to think about what the next year holds. There are a few opportunities to teach here in private elementary schools, teach English to adults or children, or study more to become certified to teach English or even study for a Master’s Degree. I’ve been spending some of my time lately sorting through these options and trying to think and really seek what God would have my next move be. Money is one factor. If any of you know anyone who needs a tutor or teacher from December from February while I’m in Nashville, let me know! I would love to do that, and will need to work when I’m at home before the hopeful return here to Costa Rica.
play the new song here on myspace page: jesus
lyrics:
Jesus
I'd go all night just to see you
I'd take a boat on the water
I would meet you on the other side
I am the one
you want to know
I bet it's got to hurt a little
just to know
I'm around
You brought me gifts
I brought you gifts
We'll bring eachother gifts
Of that I'm sure
You're the one I want to see
Cuz you take good care of me
You, me and Jesus
that makes three
What a friend we have in Jesus
What a friend we have in Jesus
"Us" is not a word
I've really ever known
how to use
Do you know?
It's way to big for me
Can you explain it?
I'd go anywhere with you
to the desert, even the zoo
I'll go if that's what you want to do
As long as we can go with
Jesus
I'll go anywhere you want to go
as long as I can go
with you
and Jesus
I'm pretty terrible at keeping up with this thing. Maybe if my blog had more direction, if I had a constant topic to bring information to I could write more. I don't think anyone reads this, and even if they did they've probably given up on me and my inconsistent habits. The lull of summer kept me removed from my computer, so coming back to write something is sort of like starting all over again. I should keep a real live journal again and bring some intimacy between me and my own thoughts back into my life.
I was thinking, the only Panama City i've ever been to before lies in the Gulf Coast on the panhandle of Florida! :)
Although not the United States, this Panama City was also on the coast, but much different than anything you would see here in Costa Rica.First of all, we left here in San Jose at 12 in the afternoon on Saturday, and arrived there to be picked up from the bus stop at 3:30 in the morning! AGH! i was dead to the world, but we were able to get to the house of the people we were staying with and rest well before the next morning when we would be visiting their church!
To the left is the nice couple that let us stay at their house during our stay in Panama City. They have been working with Campus Crusade for Christ here for years now! Leanzo, on the right, was our "guide" for the week, and would show us all around the city when he had the opportunity! We were very much taken care of during our stay here! :)
The first day, we went out to lunch with some of the students who are involved with the ministry, the second day, Monday, we spent seeing a little of the city, and shopping at the local mall. Prices are so affordable on clothing there, not like here where every name brand is twice as expensive, so we took advantage of that and bought a few things. We had plently of time to rest and relax as well. On Tuesday, Laura and I had the great opportunity to see the Panama Canal! It was huge! Stretches 50 miles and splits the country of Panama into, making it possible for trade routes to be made shorter, and countries all over the world to have their products imported easier!
We spent a couple of hours here, waitng to see a historical movie about the building of the canal and how Panama benefits from it. It took about half an hour for this ship to finish going through this part if the canal because they have to lower the water on the side you see here, and raise the water level on the other side in order for the ship to pass.
More pictures are on my profile page of that process, and i will explain! Altogether, we met some really cool students who are so in love with the Lord, and excited about who He is, and sharing their faith as well! It was a very encouraging time to spend with fellow believers and learn a little bit about the culture of Panama and how it differs from Costa Rica! Also in my pics you will find historical buildings we visited and the friends we made that we hope to see here in November if we can plan a week for them to come help us with our ministry here! :)
Panama was a BIG city, and reminded me alot of the States. I would like to go back before we leave here, but we'll see. Our next trip out of the country is scheduled for mid November, which is oh so close to my leave date on STINT. AGH, what a terribly sad day that will be! I don't want to leave! Sorry, mom and dad, but it's the truth! :) I love this place, and the people we're meeting here, what i'm learning, the things God is doing, and just the whole bit. I'm confirmed by the Lord that i'm supposed to be here this year. What i should do after December, is still yet to be determined, but i'm sure i will know in due time! :) Thanks for reading, and Dios Te Bendiga a todos! Love you!
Sufjan Stevens, Fiction, and Phone calls- enough to remind me of college life.
Good morning friends! Today is Friday, and we have the morning off! So here i am, in the office again with my faithful pc..I have one appointment today at 1:00 with a girl we met back in May. Her schedule is so busy that she rarely has time to meet, so we're very happy that she has time today! I'm not sure what our conversation will result in, God does though. Tonight is our weekly Friday night fiesta that we invite students to. It will be the first we've had since school's been out for the last month. I hope as many show up as we've made cool relationships with! :)
I love my job this year, and i'm so thankful to the people and God for allowing me to be here this year. (Psh, that sounds like some kind of awards acceptance speech.) In all sincerity and truth, sometimes i struggle with this concept of being a missionary. I miss the days when i could set tangible, measurable goals for myself and see a result. When the job ahead was something i knew i could do, and had experience in, and could get better at. Sharing the glorious (1 Tim. 1:8-11) Gospel of Christ isn't that at all. The results are totally out of my control. I'm a seed planter. (Matt. 13) and my primary job is to make sure that i've planted. That's it. Yes, we disciple students as well, cultivating the seeds that have been sown, but this process too, is lifelong, and the work of the Holy Spirit, which you can't grade or make better.
I'm beginning to see now why some missionaries spend their entire lives doing what they do. Sometimes i feel i'm completely useless. But now that i type that out, maybe it's a good thing that i feel that way. In short, i am useless, in and of myself. Maybe it's that i haven't been abiding enough in Christ to see that whatever good results from my being here, is the work of an amazing, loving God. Yes, maybe that's it.
I recently finished my "not so monthly" newsletter and it's in the mail, for those of you out there who receive them. What is written there, i will wait and let you read for yourself. It's so cool that i can let you in on what i'm doing here in Central America from wherever you are in the huge United States of America. I haven't been into the news a whole lot lately, if there's anything big i'm missing from Obama's reign, or politics as such, let me know! I'm interested! Here in Costa Rica, they've discovered that President Oscar Arias has contracted Swine Flu, so that's pretty big in the news. He's fairly on up in years, and it could prove pretty detrimental to his health! You can be praying for his wellness! Also, you can pray for our ministry, that God would continually be opening doors, and that the list of names of students could result in strong, God centered relationships! Today should be fairly laid back- after going on campus we will prepare for the party tonight and then, in the morning, i have to pack for Panama!
We'll be out of the country for three days this next week to renew our visas! Our destination is the house of the Panama City Campus Crusade staff down there! So, when i get back i should have to alot to update on that! :) Pray for our journey, it's a 12 hour bus ride, and that we make the border crossing safely! Again, don;t forget you can contact me at jodie.racquel@gmail.com anytime! I would love your comments! :)
Grace and Peace
Jodie Racquel
Well, as i was saying, before i had to leave to go to a cycling class with Hector, we visited the home of Omer! It was beautiful!
He lives in a town called Santa Anna...
When we were done here, i went back to San Pedro, to begin another week of time off from University!
Then, Laura had two friends come in from the states. One whom i know from the past, and one whom i just met! Justin and Chelsey! The first visitor, Justin, went with us to the home of our good friend, Hector! He lives in a town called Nicoya! The main things that stuck out about this trip were meeting Hector's sweet, precious nephew, Travis! Here, you can see how much Laura enjoyed him! Also, i have a video that i will upload here of his camara shyness.Every morning when we would wake up, he had a new story to tell us mostly consisting of something falling, leaving, or the cat getting hurt in the street! :) He's two!
We also went to the beach on our trip to Nicoya. I think we saw three different beaches in this one week of traveling.We visited a beach called Carrillo! It's Hector's favorite beach in Costa Rica! Sadly, i have no photos of that one! Upon leaving Nicoya, we ventured on to Tortugero! The land of sea turtles laying eggs, and rastafarean Ticos! It's near the Limon side of Costa Rica, so the people are more Carribean, with Jamaican accents and such.
We stayed at a placed called Miss Junnie's Hotel, and took an hour boat ride down the river to get there! It was quite a different experience than i had ever had before in Costa Rica! I'm glad i went!
I will post more pictures on the side here to explain a little more about Tortugero, but the highlight was definitely seeing a large sea turtle lay her egges! Slightly disturbing because i felt as if i were intruding on her privacy a little, especially being in a group of about 20 people, but afterward, after about an hour, we got to see her journey back into the ocean to go and mate again, to come back and have more babies! Only 1 in 1000 eggs actually reach turtle adulthood! So many predators and pollution in the sea prevent these delicate animals from surviving! This place is the world's first conservation for sea turtles! We learned a few things about this sensitive process in our experience.
After being away for five days, we finally returned to San Pedro, and i went to visit two friends in Cartago, a city about 30 minutes away from where i live! That was last weekend! Now, i'm approaching a new one. Laura is out of town with her parents this week visiting a Volcano and doing other equally adventurous things, i'm here in quiet little San Pedro, contemplating life, love, and other mysteries. Well, specifically catching up on time alone with God, small groups, and time by myself. It's been refreshing so far! I've begun going to a cycling class, which here is called "spinning" with Hector! He's trying to lose weight, and wants me to join! It's very good excercise! HARD, but good! That's about all to catch you up on for now! Grace and Peace, and i hope this update finds you well!
Chao!
