Ocean Orchestra’s Neighborhood

Psalm 102 (Listen)

This morning i woke up with a huge headache, so, i stayed in from our weekly church meeting at the Crusade house. Later, though, i felt better, so i swept the apartment and uploaded pictures we took yesterday on our trip to the orphanage in Cartago. This is a place we've frequented this year quite alot. It isn't really an orphanage as much as a home for the kids who live there. Dona Melba (Ms. Melba), is the mom of the house, and her husband, Don Victor, also. They take care of the kids as if they were their own, and there are around 25 of them. Her story is one of God's providence. When her own son was sick, and near death, Dona Melba asked God, "if you would only let my son be healed and live, i will promise to take care of any abandoned kids  that come to me." So that, is what God did! :) He healed her son, and one by one, children began coming to her door, in need of love, someone to take care of them, and food. Most of the children in her home have learning disabilities or some other type of social deficits as well. But as they get older, and the more i go there, i see more and more improvements! :) Here are just a few of the faces we see.

Ramen Restaurant - book illustration, originally uploaded by hooktrunk.

Mr. Elephant orders ramen at a Japanese noodle shop in Icetown. The decor is woodgrain ice. The light sconces depict a scene with Mount Funji.  Down below, a mother penguin and child are just entering the restaurant. Perhaps the child was curious about Mr. Elephant and begged his mother to investigate.

This drawing can be found in Daniel's new book, Come Back Soon - ISBN: 0618694943 at Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/Come-Back-Soon-Daniel-Schallau/dp/06186949...
or your local bookstore:
www.indiebound.org/book/0618694943?aff=hooktrunk

Daniel's website:
www.danielschallau.com

Fish letter - book illustration, originally uploaded by hooktrunk.

Mayor Guin dictates a letter to Mr. Elephant to invite him to the dedication of the newly completed Hotel Ice Penguin in Icetown.  Mayor Guin is the penguin wearing the top hat.  They are writing on an icy wood grain stump.  In the background on the left corner is an elephant leg carved in the ice.  Stairs lead to more rooms in Mayor Guin's home.  Somehow the goldfish's water isn't frozen.  Just outside the window, some penguins are rolling on Icetown's mode of tranasportation, snowballs.

Drawn with: Prismacolor color pencils, Rotring rapidograph pen on Arches 90 lb. hotpress watercolor paper.
Size: 7 in. x 7 in.
Time: 1 week to sketch and 2 days to draw.
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston - 2009

This drawing can be found in Daniel's new book, Come Back Soon at Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/Come-Back-Soon-Daniel-Schallau/dp/06186949.
or your local bookstore:
www.indiebound.org/book/0618694943?aff=hooktrunk

Daniel's website:
www.danielschallau.com

Go forth and fill your libraries with media.

Seriously, thanks to everyone for being so amazing and patient. You are the reason I love Vox.

~daisy

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

I was just told that the Amazon Conduit will be fixed by tomorrow. I will post here as soon as I get word that it's back up and running.

I know this has been frustrating and I am sorry there wasn't more I could do to make it less so. I really appreciate your patience though.

Cheers,

daisy

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!