Hopework-l Mailing List: Re: Hopework supper Sunday, Oct. 24

[GiGi Mullins (littlebigdirector]

Hello Lynn!
Sabaai dee mai kha (how are you)? It's lovely to see the Hopework Supper
Sunday email, even if I can't make it this month (or until next year, for
that matter!). But it does make me homesick, too. I am missing autumn very
much here in equatorial endless summer -- the high today was 93º and at
10:30pm it is still 81º with 80% humidity! It really takes some getting used
to, but I'm incredibly thankful for air conditioning.  :D

Things here in Thailand are good, and I'm finally feeling a little settled
after 5 weeks. I am living in a temporary situation with another teacher
from France, who is a very nice young woman. We are in a 3 bedroom townhouse
not too far from campus. But in mid-November, Miss Daisy and I will be
moving into our own place, another townhouse in this same complex. It's very
pretty, also has 3 bedrooms, is recently remodeled, and fully furnished. It
will be nice for us to be in our own place because the place we are at now
feels more like living in a dormatory, with all of our belongings in one
room where we spend nearly all of our time at home.

Working at the University has been a very interesting experience. I work
mostly with expats because I am at the International College where all the
courses are taught in English. Three of my co-workers are American and my
boss is French. Our office manager is Thai, her name is Boom, and she's
wonderful. She really looks after me and I value my new friendship with her.
I am really enjoying everything that has to do with teaching filmmaking --
curriculum design, course prep, interactions with the students. But our
department is going through a major transition, and we are woefully
understaffed. In addition, my boss is the only person in our department who
is capable and reliable (ummm, besides me of course!) -- but he is extremely
good at what he does and has been very respectful and supportive of me, so
I'm glad to be working for him. He and his partner have taken me to dinner
on a few occasions and they are lovely to spend time with.

Meanwhile, I am preparing my applications for several MFA programs, hoping
to be accepted into the U of M's program for next fall. I have realized that
a career in academia requires that terminal degree. Also, I am looking
forward to three years of concentrated time as a film artist -- that sounds
like bliss to me. But these programs are very, very competitive, so I'll
have to submit an amazing portfolio of work and one heckuva great personal
statement!

On the subject of nurturing and toxicity ... I find that I have met some
incredible people already since I've been here. The generosity of these
people has been especially nurturing to me in this time of extreme
re-orientation. On the other hand, I have also met a few folks that have ...
shall we say "narcissistic tendencies," and is that ever toxic!! I limit my
exposure to those folks, that's for sure. I have taken to heart that I may
learn how to be more generous with my time and my heart, as well as my
money. On a personal level, I have nourished myself well in terms of food --
oh, the food here is just wonderful!!! And I generally have one meal a day
in the company of good people. But I have neglected my body in other ways,
such as the absence of my yoga practice. This tends to make me moody, which
is unfortunately toxic to other people and to poor Daisy. I'm really working
on that. But the new place where I'm moving has a room that is just right
for yoga, and I can't wait!

Please pass on my best regards to all who come for the supper, and
especially to John and your mom. I miss you all very much!! And if you
should want to take a trip to Bangkok sometime during the next ten months,
I'll have two guestrooms open very soon ... seriously ... !

love from GiGi


On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 9:04 PM, Lynn Englund <engl8813 [at] umn.edu> wrote:

> Dear Hopework friends,
>
> I apologize for the late invitation to this Sunday¹s Hopework supper 4-7 pm
> at my place. Details below.
>
> In the weeks since September¹s Hopework dinner, I¹ve finally had to close
> my
> windows ‹ all the way. I¹m always a little sad when the day comes that I
> know they¹ll stay shut until the following spring, but I haven¹t had to
> turn
> on the furnace yet! One marker of winter¹s pending arrival at a time. On
> the
> bright side, I¹ve just returned from a a few days in Toronto where I saw
> gardens and planters full of the most wonderful arrangements of mums,
> grasses, cabbages, and vines. I¹m looking forward to hauling dirt to my 4th
> floor deck next spring so that I can enjoy that beauty here in a year.
>
> John and I are pleased to invite you to join us this Sunday, October 26 for
> the second in a series of Hopework suppers. Last month 12 of us greeted
> each
> other around the table and shared the food and drinks we brought along.
> Afterward we went around the circle to tell a story that illustrated an
> aspect of health that is on our mind.
>
> Some of the themes that emerged in our circle were watching parents being
> caregivers to their parents, relationships between our health and our
> identity, the daily practices that we use and desire for health, engaging
> with health systems that may not always have our healing as their priority,
> our own amazing abilities to heal and restore ourselves, and our awareness
> of what it means to be together in this boat of health and wellbeing,
> needing webs of relationships for health and wellbeing, and recognizing our
> needs for care during the times in life that we are dependent on others.
>
> Hopework is the name that John and I use for the work we do. Hopework is
> the
> practice of creating safe spaces for people to get to know and like each
> other, and finding renewed hope and purpose in life with and from each
> other. John and I host a pot-luck supper on the last Sunday of most months
> as a way to reconnect with friends who have shared in our work and to meet
> new acquaintances who share our interests. Each month we look forward to
> greeting new and long-time Hopework friends, Philosophy Camp/Lives Worth
> Living alumni and fellows, and other friends and acquaintances who share
> our
> interests. Please join us when you can!
>
> We will be looking into the aspects of health that are alive for us. This
> month I¹m interested in looking more deeply into the arenas of our  lives
> that nurture our health and wellbeing or seem toxic to it.
>
> Date: Sunday, October 26
> Time: Arrive at 4:00; meal will begin at 4:30 pm.
>      We usually finish and clean up about 7:00 pm.
> Menu: Please bring a dish or beverage to share. I¹ll provide a vegetarian
>      soup or main dish and water, tea, and coffee.
> Topic: Health. What parts of your life nurture health or are toxic?
> RSVP: Let me know if you¹re planning to come so I have an idea of how many
> to expect.
>
> Lynn Englund and John Wallace
> The Metro Lofts building
> 2650 University Ave West, #315
> Saint Paul, MN 55114
>
> 651-646-0069 (home)
> 612-710-7287 (cell)
>
> Map and directions: http://tiny.cc/FkhvY
>
> Park on University Ave. near Dunn Bros., or in the lot along the east side
> of
> the building. The entrance is on the east side of the building, just south
> of
> Dunn Bros. Push ³300² on the security box to have us buzz you into the
> building. The elevator is to the right of the lobby. Turn left when you get
> off.
>
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>