Wednesday, May 25, 2005
I BEG YOUR PARDON?!
Well, one of the most basic skills that any volunteer can have while on site is being able to communicate. Imagine how long a build would take if volunteers spoke to each other like this: "hey you, pass me that long, skinny piece of wood; no, the other skinny piece of wood!" Thankfully, there is a much more efficient way of communicating and Habitat has organized a workshop for learning this "language". (CLICK HERE for more info)
If you're in the area of Danforth and Coxwell on the evening of June 7, why don't you join me?!
Sunday, May 22, 2005
UPDATE - YOUR INPUT WELCOMED!
I was sharing about my trip to New Zealand yesterday at my friends' wedding (congrats, Chun and Jennifer!) when I was asked if I was planning on proselytizing the people that I was building the house for. When I replied that my main objective is to help a family break free from the clutches of poverty substandard housing, I was short of being reprimanded for not carrying out the supposed obligations I have to convert others since I claim to bear the “Christian” label. How was I to distinguish between being a Christian and being "just a nice person"? Mmmm. This is an interesting question that deserves more discussion than the “pat” answer found in the “Answers” section of this website (CLICK HERE to read this, under "Are you going with a church group? Is this a missionary trip? "). I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Click on the “Comments” section at the end of this update to post a response. Or if you prefer to send me a private response that won’t be published, email me at: duffshot@gmail.com
Some interesting facts about New Zealand that I’ve discovered:
* The head of government is Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since December 1999) and the Prime Minister before her was Jenny Shipley (1997 to 1999)
* Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is the world’s most southerly capital city
* The most popular sports (by club membership) in New Zealand are: golf, netball (similar to basketball), soccer, rugby, cricket
* NZ has the worlds largest flightless parrot (kakapo), the oldest reptile (tuatara), the biggest earthworms, the smallest bats (the only native land mammals), the heaviest insect (a weta), some of the oldest trees, and many of the rarest birds, insects, and plants in the world.
Some interesting facts about New Zealand that I’ve discovered:
* The head of government is Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since December 1999) and the Prime Minister before her was Jenny Shipley (1997 to 1999)
* Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is the world’s most southerly capital city
* The most popular sports (by club membership) in New Zealand are: golf, netball (similar to basketball), soccer, rugby, cricket
* NZ has the worlds largest flightless parrot (kakapo), the oldest reptile (tuatara), the biggest earthworms, the smallest bats (the only native land mammals), the heaviest insect (a weta), some of the oldest trees, and many of the rarest birds, insects, and plants in the world.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
MAKE 2005 COUNT
I've come to the realization that what I'm doing the 2 weeks or so while I'm in New Zealand is really just scratching a minute part of a much more enormous problem. Click on the following link: http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/e/video1.html I should warn you that you may be disturbed by its message. But perhaps it is this disturbance that will help catalyze action, even it is just one nail at a time, one dollar at a time, one letter at a time.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
OTHER HAND UPS!
Part of your encouragement to me is hearing about how some of you are also spending part of your summer abroad involved in various worthy causes. My friends Doret and Vinh are organizing a trip to Nicaragua at roughly the same time that I'm heading off to New Zealand. They are also volunteering with Habitat For Humanity. It just goes to show that the problem of poverty housing exists everywhere! If you would like to find out more about this trip, shoot me an email. They are still looking for team members... To find out more about Habitat: CLICK HERE
I was reading an interesting article about nutrition (in my quest to improve my own eating habits to complement my training). The article emphasizes consuming food in its most natural state. The article suggests that you purchase items on the perimeter of the grocery store (the fresh produce, the meats) and stay away from the foods found in the middle (all the stuff found in boxes and cans). The article also suggests that more than 50% of our daily diet should be from fresh fruits and vegetables. To read this article, CLICK HERE
I was reading an interesting article about nutrition (in my quest to improve my own eating habits to complement my training). The article emphasizes consuming food in its most natural state. The article suggests that you purchase items on the perimeter of the grocery store (the fresh produce, the meats) and stay away from the foods found in the middle (all the stuff found in boxes and cans). The article also suggests that more than 50% of our daily diet should be from fresh fruits and vegetables. To read this article, CLICK HERE
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION
I saw first hand this morning how the body responds when it is depleted of energy - I barely made it! Every stroke in the pool seemed to be such a challenge. I've been feeling good, lately, about regulating my breathing while in the water, but today it was a struggle. As I continue to adopt a more disciplined nutrition program, I really need to fuel up before my morning swims...
An interesting article on performance nutrition: CLICK HERE to read
An interesting article on performance nutrition: CLICK HERE to read
Monday, May 09, 2005
MY FIRST "BRICK" WORKOUT
I completed my first "brick" workout, referring to how your legs feel like after a swim, bike and run. The weather was absolutely perfect (at least for the bike and run; I completed my swim in an indoor pool) and it was nice whizzing along on my just tuned-up bike. I was so tired at the end but that may have been due to improper nutrition during the workout. Next time, I will carry more water and carbohydrate gel packs. I only attempted half the distances in each activity, to get my body familiar with stringing the different activities together.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
THE UPHILL RIDE OF PREPARATION
Thanks for checking out this update! It's amazing that once you share a cause that others see as worthy, the burden of seeing the initiative through is all of a sudden much easier! I am touched by how many people have given me encouragement through their words and deeds. This is truly not MY trip, but a journey that is shared by many. I'm honoured to be your ambassador in New Zealand!
Many know about my weakness in the water and have been asking me how that part of the training is going. My confidence is building and, on more than one occasion, I've been able to finish 800 metres without stopping. I believe that my body is learning how to "breathe" while in the water. I'm no longer anxious when there are others around me and even the occasional gulp of water doesn't phase me (mind you, a gulp of Lake Ontario water might be lethal!)
I found out that 2 of my NZ team members have dropped out, due to family issues. Our team leader is contemplating whether or not to find another 2 or just go with our current roster. Regardless, we are going to have an AMAZING time volunteering with Habitat.
Many thanks to those who have a keen eye for detail!! Thanks for noticing the spelling/grammar errors and sending them to me. For a while, I indicated that my swim target was 750 km!! I think not. But do continue to scrutinize the different parts of this site and...
- see when my flight leaves from Toronto (and on which flight I'm on): CLICK HERE
- know how many people live in New Zealand right now: CLICK HERE
- check this out if you want to find out how to support me: CLICK HERE
Many know about my weakness in the water and have been asking me how that part of the training is going. My confidence is building and, on more than one occasion, I've been able to finish 800 metres without stopping. I believe that my body is learning how to "breathe" while in the water. I'm no longer anxious when there are others around me and even the occasional gulp of water doesn't phase me (mind you, a gulp of Lake Ontario water might be lethal!)
I found out that 2 of my NZ team members have dropped out, due to family issues. Our team leader is contemplating whether or not to find another 2 or just go with our current roster. Regardless, we are going to have an AMAZING time volunteering with Habitat.
Many thanks to those who have a keen eye for detail!! Thanks for noticing the spelling/grammar errors and sending them to me. For a while, I indicated that my swim target was 750 km!! I think not. But do continue to scrutinize the different parts of this site and...
- see when my flight leaves from Toronto (and on which flight I'm on): CLICK HERE
- know how many people live in New Zealand right now: CLICK HERE
- check this out if you want to find out how to support me: CLICK HERE
Sunday, May 01, 2005
WELCOME TO TIM'S NEW ZEALAND TRIP BLOG!!
Well, it's official! I'm taking what I'm doing this summer and going "public" with it! Glad that you could stop by!! Please feel free to look around and click on the different links which will give you more information about this exciting trip to New Zealand. Stop by frequently as I will update this site regularly. Be sure to...
- find out why I'm going to New Zealand this summer: CLICK HERE
- see how my triathlon training is going: CLICK HERE
- check to this out if you're interested in supporting me: CLICK HERE
- find out why I'm going to New Zealand this summer: CLICK HERE
- see how my triathlon training is going: CLICK HERE
- check to this out if you're interested in supporting me: CLICK HERE
