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onegirlatelier · 4 years ago

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Annie Cardigan | February - March, 2021

Happy International Women’s Day!

The pattern and colours of this cardigan are chosen specifically with Women’s Day in mind, and is named after the first woman to gain honours at Oxford, Annie Mary Anne Henley Rogers. She gained her first class honours in Latin and Greek in 1877, followed by first class honours in Ancient History in 1879, and finally matriculated and graduated in 1920.

A lot has happened in the recent few months which made me re-consider my degree at Oxford, but I have never regretted going there or doubted the value of the experience. I have been taught by so many lovely women teachers and professors and met so many fellow female students—which made me sometimes forget the gender inequality in academia and in schools of all ages—and it almost feels like nothing can make me give up the opportunity to be welcomed in this place where I am expected to actually achieve something.

Aren’t I lucky?

This cardigan is probably my last big project until July, because after a long struggle, I’ve decided to finish what I started—I will need to pass the exams in order to continue my study. Today is one of those good days where I feel connected to the world, and I must cherish my opportunity at Oxford because it hasn’t been an easy fight.

There might be a life waiting for me somewhere. Maybe it’s not going to be too bad. Maybe I just need to push myself a little harder. To eat a bit more, to exercise a bit more (not to. lose weight but to be ready for the long hikes in the summer vacation), and to talk a bit more when I feel like it.

Pattern

Once and Floral by Maxim Cyr.

It was a very simple top-down yoke sweater and the instruction was clear. I set myself a difficult task by deciding to make a cardigan instead and doing the body in flat rather than in the round, which meant doing stranded colourwork from the purl side.

The only problem with the pattern was that the required gauge seemed very odd to me. It was 26sts*30 rows in a 10cm square and the author used a standard fingering weight yarn (400m/100g) and 3.5mm needles. I used a light fingering weight yarn and 3.25 needles, which theoretically should make a tighter gauge, but got around 25sts*34 rows per 10cm. Maybe if I pulled my swatch vertically when blocking, I could have achieved what the pattern asked for, which was very tight in stitch gauge but very loose in row gauge. Thankfully it didn’t create too much trouble for me and I had only a few small mods. (Please refer to the Modification section.)

I am becoming more aware of the accessibility issues of Ravelry, and will try to discover more patterns that are available outside of Ravelry. I have access to books by Japanese designers, but if you know any good source for large, complicated, heirloom lace shawls, please let me know!

Yarn

Isager Alpaca 2, 50% alpaca, 50% wool. 250m per 50g skein.

White: (from the Eco range of Alpaca 2) #E0. I used about 30g (11g left from a used ball), or 150m.

Green: #thyme. I used about 168g (52g left from the four skeins I used), or 840m.

Purple: #52. I used about 10g (44g left), or 50m.

(I find that most skeins are a little more than 50g, so the figures are not exact. The usage of the #thyme also includes two small swatches. The whole cardigan weighs 205g without buttons.)

I’ve worked with this yarn before in my Scandinavian Spring cardigan, and this time I’m very pleased with it as well. It is made of natural fibres and has a nice wooly smell. It creates a thin, soft, and warm fabric that grows and puffs up after blocking. In fact, the Isager website specifically recommends it for cardigans.

The down side of such a soft yarn is obviously that it’s not as hard-wearing as some of the more rustic woolen yarns (such as Tukuwool Fingering). The website does state that it’s not able to handle too much wear and tear, but that is okay for me since both this cardigan and my Scandinavian Cardigan are very special and I do not expect to wear them as everyday garments.

These skeins did have travelled a long way to reach me, so I need to keep the carbon emission in mind. I purchased them from a local yarn store which bulk-ordered from the Isager website, though, so at least that’s better than buying small amounts directly from the Isager store. For this specific project, I only had to buy two more skeins of #thyme and one skein of #52, and the rest came from my stash.

(Can you see the heathered effect on this swatch? I'm swooning 😍)

Other materials

I used freshwater mother of pearl buttons. I’m not sure about the source of these buttons, but I understand that freshwater mussels are very important to the ecological systems in which they live (as are all other species), and I do hope that they come from responsible farming.

As for the thread to sew on the buttons, I opted for Fujix Patchwork Coton #50, which is 100% cotton with a coating that makes it a bit glossier, stiffer, and presumably stronger than the average cotton thread.

Needle sizes

3.25mm for the main body

2.5mm for the ribbing, because I like the ribbing to hug my body snugly and was worried about it being stretched out.

Finished size

I no longer think it’s relevant to take excessive measurements of my finished project, so I will only note the essential figures that might help me (or you) if trying to figure out how many stitches to cast on, how to adjust the yoke, etc.

Underarm circumference: 82cm

Total length of the yoke chart: 16cm

(Three ways to wear the cardigan, and the white bordering with which I'm so pleased - see Mod.)

Modifications

The most obvious mod is of course that I changed it from a pullover to a cardigan. Normally you would still knit in the round and steek the front later, but in order to preserve the yarn, I knitted the body back and forth.

I casted on 110sts instead of 120 because I was hoping for a tight collar. Then in the first row I increased to 120sts.

For the colourwork yoke, there were a few rows where I had only three or four sts of one colour in a repeat and the remaining sts are all in other colours (such as the rows showing the stamen), and for me it wasn’t worth it to carry the yarn of that colour all the way along the row. Hence I used a separate length of yarn to knit those few stitches in each repeat. For the stamen, I cut a length of green yarn for each repeat and knitted it in intarsia.

I did the body first. And then I was hesitant about the design of the hemming, button bands, and the collar, so I did them (in the order I mentioned them) before knitting the sleeves to save some brain power. I had seven button holes, one on the collar band and the rest on the button band, similar to the front of a shirt. The third button was specifically placed to echo the design of the yoke.

The pattern called for 1*1 ribbing, but I did 2*2 as it was stretchier. I did invisible 2*2 bind off with a decorative lining, and the technique is similar to what I did with my Toscana Shrug: after several rows of 2*2 ribbing in green, I switched to white and did one more row of ribbing. Then in white I bound off using the invisible method. You need to knit one row in the contrasting colour before binding off; otherwise it would look somewhat messy.)

You may know that when you change colours, there will be a dotted line on the purl side, and the same thing happens for the ‘purl’ part of the ribbing. I was really worried, but the invisible bound off seemed to have covered up that dotted line, so the result was quite neat—a nice surprise!

For each of the sleeve, I have 74sts on the set up row. I knitted 10 rows, then from next row: (dec 2 for the row, knit nine more rows) repeat five times. So at about elbow length I had five dec rows and 64sts on the needles. I knitted 51 rows to create a straight (instead of tapered) forearm. Then I dec 4 each row for five rows, and ended up with 44sts. I then switched to 2.5mm needles and did 2*2 ribbing. I knitted the ribbing extra long so that I could fold it back, which was the way I preferred.

(Here is a tutorial by Anushka about sewing buttons onto knitted garments, which is very helpful.)

Further Considerations

This was my first time doing colourwork from the purl side and it definitely was not a pleasant job. With more practice I will hopefully become better at it, though! I did reserve knitting (knitting from left to right) instead of purling for a few rows, but gave up as I couldn’t find a way to hold yarn comfortably with my left hand. I might need more practice there, too.

The ribbing is a little bit on the tight side, but at the moment I don’t have a problem with it. If I find it still too tight after some wear, next time I will remember to use 2.75mm needles. The 44sts cuffs are quite snug on my wrists, so next time I’ll do 48sts or more instead.

I still have a fair bit of Isager Alpaca 2 left, and I really need some long gloves to warm my wrists as well as forearms, so I might be knitting a pair of fingerless gloves later.

#knitting #knitblr #stories #Annie Cardigan #Isager Strik #Women's Day

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oldladyblogs · 5 years ago

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I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things

Confession: I saw the movies before I read the book. And on first view, I didn't like the movies--I was too young and the Moria troll scene scared me. But I got a bit older, watched the movies again, and LOVED them. Then I read the books, didn't understand them, and went back to the movies. Got a little older--I remember reading the books first in middle school and then in high school--and something just clicked.

Though Frodo and Sam aren't actually my favorite characters, their love for each other is really inspiring. However you see it (I personally view it as a deep platonic friendship), I've always wanted a love like that in my life. I hope I mean that much to someone one day, and that's the main reason I chose this quote above all others. It's simple yet meaningful and I think it's rather powerful, for all its plainness.

I had a bit of a rough time deciding how I wanted this panel to look. When I first started rereading the books for this project, I thought I'd pick a quote from Gimli, one of my favs, so I was thinking like. A square, dwarfish border with like, axes or something, and a big quote. But the more I read, the more I hated that idea. I finally chose a (slightly modified free pattern) mountain, since Sam and Frodo spend 90% of their time crossing them. Plus, coming from the Midwest, mountains very much represent the ultimate "adventure" for me (that and REALLY big trees. The oceans I couldn't care less about, I have the great lakes which are basically the same thing, especially Michigan). I did make the border a bit more elvish though, since LOTR is like, the epitome of elfness for me and a lot of other people, I assume.

Finished this panel the middle of May 2019, and it was fairly easy from start to finish. It's one of my favorites (the design, the font, and the quote all go together well, I think) and is also one of the few panels that DOESN'T have a mistake on it :)

#actually a project #cross stitch #lord of the rings #fandom #THE BOD #this is my design #I'm not actually a hardcore fan of lotr #like i never read the similarion or however its spelled #i dont know all the backstories of all 100% of the characters #but thats ok to be a casual fan #i cant be 100% on EVERYTHING #im like a solid 98% on Greek and Roman mythology though #i also know a smattering of others because im a huge history and mythology nerd #which you'll see in a few panels #BUT YEAH #lord of the rings is awesome #its in my top 20 favs ;)

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ivendarea · 5 years ago

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The Eesse

Through Fire, Ice, and Ashes

Banner art based on and supported by my Patrons ♥

The Eesse of north-eastern Atrana are a people of traders, sailors, and inventors. Known to stick to themselves and keep out of foreign affairs some consider them indifferent, while the Eesse see themselves as pragmatic - even a little cunning. When two people quarrel, a third rejoices, is a saying they live by.

One of the main reasons that contributes to their isolation is the Eesse’s homeland. A desolate and deadly wasteland it consists only of comparatively few insular communities spread along the lusher coastline. The coastal cities are connected via rivers and the oceans, as travel by sea has always been safer than travel on land, hence the Eesse’s long history of naval exploration. Their travels leading them beyond their nation’s borders early on, and low interest in engaging in wars as those would only harm trade and the fragile balance they are able to upkeep between sustaining their cities without restraining the growth of their population too much, contribute to the famed Eesse neutrality.

Their mentality of balance and making the best out of dreary situations, brought forth many great Eesse diplomats. In foreign countries they often fill the honoured position of neutral third-party mediators in conflicts, be it a business quarrel or even political negotiations.

Table of Contents:

Culture and History

Cultural Heritage

Language and Dialect

Shared Values

Common Etiquette

Fashion

Art and Architecture

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Courtship Ideals

Relationship Ideals

Continue reading below or on World Anvil

[Support the Ivendarea Project on Patreon]

Culture and History

In Ivendarea the Eesse make up about a third of the Assadin population nowadays, many being of medium to higher standing and working in official institutions from the military to the Academy of Saratheas. When Zerenda began his quest to conquer Ivendarea, the Eesse provided the ships and sailors for his forces, as Astairus was not equipped for a journey this far and long at the time. The Eesse also for the first time in a long time had reluctantly agreed to form an alliance with their western neighbours, hoping also to gain something out of the expedition. In the same manner that Zerenda decided to not return home, many of the Eesse ship captains and crews decided to stay after discovering Ivendarea’s potential as a splendid, peaceful homeland.

Cultural Heritage

Coming originally from a very warm location the majority of the Ivendarean Eesse live in the nation’s south in close-knit communities. With little resources far spread between their cities they always have had the urge to explore and are well-versed traders. Among the Assadin nations the Eesse have the reputation to build the best and fastest ships, and their knowledge about navigation with the help of sun and stars is unparalleled in Atrana.

Despite harsh living conditions the Eesse have a general positive outlook on life, living day by day and making the best out of every moment. They value education and learning, as it can provide the edge necessary to survive, keeps the mind sharp, and supports the survival of the community as a whole. The majority of Assadin scholars in Saratheas’ Academy are of Eesse origin.

Language and Dialect

The Eesse’s dialect is full and round sounding, slightly more melodic than the Azash spoken for example by the Kessem. As far-travelled sailors, Trade is like a second native language for most Eesse, and not few use it just as often, if not more than Azash in everyday life. As inquisitive learners most Eesse in Ivendarea also speak Nyrval and are often present as interpreters, be it during business negotiations or the interrogation of criminals. If an Eesse interpreter is present, no other involved party will be able to keep a secret from them.

Shared Values

Honesty and openness, curiosity and exploration, a level-headed mind and eloquence - those are the Eesse’s core values. Of course, a child is not born with those traits, hence why Eesse upbringing can appear strict to outsiders, even if it is loving and caring in its intentions. Children go to school no matter their background or social standing, an at least rudimentary education teaching necessary life skills, writing, reading, mathematics, and so on, is mandatory in all communities. It is so natural to the Eesse that education should be free at least in those early years that anything else seems unnatural.

Despite being predominantly known as diplomats and traders, the Eesse also bring forth great warriors, particularly mages. Magic is tightly knitted to the Eesse’s religious believes, magical powers being a gift of nature that must be treasured and cultivated. Most Eesse tend to take on roles in society that allow a use of their powers more often, be it as warriors that defend their homes against outside influences, or as priests and healers, nurturing their communities from within.

Common Etiquette

To not be always polite and honest would go against an Eesse’s honour. Their best diplomats and speakers are eloquent enough to touch upon even the most controversial subjects in such an objective manner, speaking about even the most uncomfortable truths, that everyone part of the conversation will leave the room satisfied, maybe even enlightened and rethinking their old ways in the most ideal scenario. On the other hand, this has directed a decent suspicion at the Eesse many times, as they seem to have a magic touch for manipulating a situation in their favour. Their honour would forbid them from doing so, but of course there are crooked individuals who have hurt their people’s reputation in the past.

Fashion

Donned in flowing fabrics with bold patterns an Eesse individual usually stands out. With fashion they express their joy for life, but it can also indicate status and rank. Certain colours are only worn by dignitaries, others are reserved for married couples, scholars, students of a specific craft, merchants, craftspeople, and so on.

Many elements of nature, be it depictions of flora and fauna or more abstract patterns symbolizing the flow of a river, the elements in general, or the scales of a reptile, are featured in their designs. To outsiders Eesse fashion is predominantly colourful, but for the Eesse themselves it is so much more than that. An outfit can showcase an individual’s entire story of their life at a glance. This of course has a social background: by wearing one’s story literally on the sleeve, it is easy to treat each other with the necessary respect and openness everyone deserves. No secrecy, no misunderstandings, everyone can be upfront and honest with each other.

Of course, some individuals of more questionable morality will dress in clothes that hide their identity, make them seem to be of higher or lower standing than they actually are for example. In Atrana this can be a punishable crime comparable to assumption of authority, but in general it is simply considered sketchy and rude and will make the individual doing it seem very untrustworthy.

An Eesse scholar dressed for various occasions. The clothes on the left, simple in shape and colour, are a casual outfit worn around the house or maybe while shopping in a market square. The blue tones hint to the individual’s family having relations to traders or seafarers, while the splash of yellow marks them as a teacher. In the second, slightly more formal tunic, the yellow undertones are stronger. This would be worn at more formal events while still being comfortable - also inform others to approach with the necessary respect. The outfit on the right stands out with the strong yellow robe, showcasing without a doubt a high standing as a Royal Scholar with its bold ornaments, while still incorporating a few splashes of blue to signify and honour the person’s background.

Art and Architecture

The Eesse’s love for bold shapes and colours is reflected also in their art and architecture. Furthermore, a notable feature of Eesse homes is that they often are an extension of whatever is naturally present already in the landscape. In Atrana there is an Eesse city built entirely on platforms spanning along a steep coast, fastened on overhanging rocks above and floating over the ocean far below.

A notable Eesse community in Ivendarea is Holtwind, where houses and walkways between them have been partly set up on posts but also incorporate the ruins of a long-abandoned temple of the Nyr that had almost been swallowed by the swamp. During the rainy season when the water rises, people rely entirely on boats to move around in their village, while in the dryer months stairs and ladders lead up into their homes.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Despite coming from a land dominated by a desert hostile to life, the Eesse know that one can find ways to flourish even in great peril and isolation. This is reflected in their attitude, being fierce and cunning, but at the same time determined, respectful of each other and all living beings. They are passionate and determined fighters at heart, more often with their words than weapons, but not shying away from defending their homes and loved ones with force if necessary.

The Eesse love bold shapes and colours, incorporating both in their fashion and hairstyles, their often thick and densely curled dark hair allowing for beautifully braided and three-dimensional styles.

Courtship Ideals

Diplomacy and a bold attitude do not have to be mutually exclusive - in politics and interpersonal relationships alike. Courting someone is often a playful back and forth, a little like an argumentation why one partner is the right for the other, with words chosen carefully to not push for too much too soon.

Relationship Ideals

A relationship between two Eesse is a strong bond built over many years - and nearly impossible to break apart, be it childhood friendships or romantic partnerships. Despite their reputation in other nations to never take sides the Eesse are fiercely loyal to their loved ones and would literally “walk through fire, ice, and ashes” for them, as one of their sayings goes.

Thanks so much for reading ♥

Read more about Ivendarea on World Anvil

[Support the Ivendarea Project on Patreon]

#worldbuilding #fantasy writing #fantasy setting #original story #writing #article: peoples #the assadin #the eesse

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antiquecompass · 5 years ago

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Untamed Fest Day 2: Dynamic

Summary: Wherein Sizhui has a best friend and a crush and parents who care, perhaps, maybe, just a little too much.

(So, like I said yesterday these fics are going to bounce around the ages of 11-18 for the Juniors. In this one Sizhui is 14. It’s also pre-Sizhui/Jingyi. Don’t worry, nothing will get above Teen in this entire series, and only then bc I, and therefore characters I write, curse like a sailor.)

When it came to personality, at least inside the confines of Lan Academy, Lan Sizhui had taken after his Papa. He projected an aura of quiet leadership and confidence; fair in judgment, but willing to mete out and take punishments. Even at fourteen, he was already one of the leaders on the Student Council; the youngest Vice President in a decade. Sizhui had entered the Academy at the age of eleven, determined to prove any doubters wrong, and had done so quietly and efficiently, just like a Lan should.

Lan Jingyi did not lead quietly, though he was still a leader among their class. Lan Jingyi had the type of dynamic personality that drew others in, fluttering around him like butterflies, but he ignored most of them to keep the company of his two best friends. He was loud, opinionated, and always willing to make his feelings known. He wasn’t the way many thought a Lan should be, but he was very much a Lan, through and through, just willing to openly show the more stubborn parts of their personality that people forgot they had under their veneer of genteel manners.

It was often said that together, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi truly made the perfect Lan. A balance of the best, and worst, traits. Sizhui was calm and quiet, Jingyi excitable and loud, but where Sizhui often had self-doubts, Jingyi had enough pride and confidence for the both of them. They’d grown up as a pair, rarely apart, settling into their roles and friendship with an enviable and familiar ease. So many years together, being so known to each other, they were a hard pair to defeat in anything--be it something as simple as a classroom debate or something more serious as an actual fight to defend someone’s honor. Since they were always found in each other’s company, they’d become the pride of the family and the Academy.

Sizhui was proud to be the one-half of such a whole.

Sizhui also had a problem.

He knew he had a crush on Jingyi. It’d been there for years. Apparently he’d told his fathers at the ripe old age of five that he was going to marry Jingyi one day, and while it’d been a story retold often at family gatherings for laughs...well, Sizhui may not have truly meant it at five, but at fourteen, it was definitely a future he wanted.

And somehow he knew that wasn’t normal.

He knew it was normal, for him, to have a crush. His fathers had taken great pains to inform him about different sexual and gender identities and forms of attraction and the like as soon as he showed the first hints of a boyhood crush. So he knew a crush, especially on attractive, kind, funny, caring Jingyi wasn’t unusual. They’d been best friends since they were four. There was no one else his age Sizhui trusted more than Jingyi.

But Sizhui was worried that he’d passed the crush stage long ago and had been firmly planted in something that he was hesitant to call love, because he was only fourteen, but knew that clearly picturing a future with Jingyi that saw them married and raising some kids of their own as the most natural course of their relationship probably meant something significant.

He knew most Lans fell hard, fell once, and fell in love for life. But Sizhui was a Lan in name only.

Perhaps Nurture had won this round versus Nature.

He still needed to talk to someone before he embarrassingly blurted out his love for Jingyi straight to his face, probably when the other was devouring a basket of chicken wings. That would be Sizhui’s luck. He’d probably make poor Jingyi choke. And then he’d have to give him the Heimlich or something, and Jingyi would probably spit out his chicken bone right into Great Uncle Lan’s face, and then Sizhui would have to go find a grave plot to bury himself in after he died from the collective embarrrassment.

So, yeah, he needed to talk to someone.

**********

Dad’s office occupied the single turret tower of their massive house. He jokingly called it his gargoyle hoard, and often sang songs from Disney’s take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame as he climbed the stairs to the tower. Or he called for Papa with, ‘Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, let down your hair’ which never made much sense to Sizhui since Dad was the one in the tower, but they all indulged Dad’s whims and humor.

From the outside the tower looked imposing in its stone and dark shingled roof, but inside it was full of vibrant color. All of his books were here, crammed on an overstuffed bookshelf, containing every edition of every book he’d published in every language available, a handmade wooden sign hung above it declaring, A Leap of Faith. Art of his various characters hung on the wall, some official that he’d commissioned, some of his own making, but most sent by fans from around the world in the barrels of mail that came to the house each week.

It was a cluttered mess of genius that perfectly encapsulated his dad.

Today Dad was behind his desk, hair pulled up into a messy bun, with fingers covered in paint as he worked out some new character designs for his latest story. He was slowly moving from elementary reading level books to Young Adult, but his new series would straddle that border of Young Adult and New Adult--that vague spot where the characters weren’t young teens, nor in their mid-20s, but still had their own stories to tell. It was a story he’d been wanting to tell for years, based largely on his own life, but set in a mystical and magical modern world.

His papa was unceremoniously sprawled out on the battered couch that had followed his fathers from their apartment in Cambridge, to their home in Boston, to this massive estate in the Berkshires. Sizhui smiled to himself as he pictured his classmates faces if they ever saw the great Hanguang-Jun with such imperfect posture, wearing only worn sweatpants and a t-shirt older than Sizhui. His hair was also pulled up into a messy bun, a red pen clutched in his teeth as he read through the most recent edit of Dad’s new book.

Sizhui smiled as he watched them. His parents had always been so full of warmth and love--for him, for each other, for all their family--that Sizhui knew he’d been spoiled in care and affection. And he wanted that, the connection that they had. He knew it wasn’t effortless, every relationship took work and dedication and effort, but they made it seem so very easy.

“Sizhui, why do you linger?” Papa asked, eyes barely leaving the bound pages in his hands.

“Because he is a good boy who waits until he’s invited in, even though he knows he never has to,” Dad said, waving him inside. “What can we do for our favorite son?”

“Your only son, since you never did give me that sibling I asked for,” Sizhui teased.

Dad smirked. “Not for lack of trying,” he said.

“Wei Ying,” Papa admonished from the couch.

Dad patted the chair next to his desk. “Come. Sit. Speak. Bond. I feel like we never talk anymore.”

“We had an entire family conference just last night,” Sizhui said as he took his seat.

Dad frowned. “But that was school stuff. I want gossip, Sizhui. I want the deets. I want the 411. Give me the dirt. Spill the tea. Or the beans.” He looked to Papa. “What else do the kids say these days?”

“None of what just passed your lips,” Papa said.

Dad frowned. “So mean, Lan Zhan.” His pout became more pronounced as he turned to Sizhui. “See how he treats me? Betrayed by my very own heart and soul.”

Sizhui shook his head at them, but grasped on to the opening. “So, about that.”

He didn’t know what he expected to happen but Dad actually gasped and Papa sat up so fast he nearly tumbled off the couch.

“Is it happening?” Dad asked. “Did it happen?” He pulled out his leather planner, full of post-it notes, napkins, and various other bits and bobs. “I had you two down for at least another month from now, but your Papa insisted it would be before Halloween.”

“What?” Sizhui asked as he looked back and forth between his parents.

“Sizhui,” Papa said as he walked over to the desk. “Did Lan Jingyi not ask you out on a date?”

“What?” Sizhui asked. He felt the blood rush to his face, in his ears, blocking out all other sounds. “What?” he repeated.

Dad grimaced. “Whoops. I think we broke him. Bad parenting penalty.”

“No--I---what?” Sizhui asked again. “I just wanted to know how you, like, know if you like someone more than a friend and you’re running a bet on my dating life? With my best friend?”

“To be fair, your Uncle Huaisang runs a bet on everything,” Dad said.

“Wei Ying,” Papa cautioned.

“Fine,” Dad said, pushing his planner to the side. He sat forward and grasped Sizhui hands. “Sizhui, if you’re asking us this question, do you not already know the answer?”

Sizhui nodded. “But, how can you be sure?”

“In your own heart, what do you feel?” Papa asked. He knelt to meet Sizhui’s downcast gaze. “You don’t have to tell us, or even him, but you’ll feel so much more relief if you acknowledge your own truth.” His smile was small as he patted Sizhui’s knees. “It was the only way I was able to manage all the years when your dad still didn’t know his own feelings.”

“It must’ve been torture,” Sizhui said.

Papa smiled and met Dad’s eyes. “It wasn’t so bad, in the end. But you and Jingyi are different. You don’t have the restrictions on you that Uncle put on me and your Uncle Xichen. You don’t have the physical distance between you. If you want to, you can start dating now. If you feel like you’re ready.”

Sizhui tried not to hunch his shoulders and make himself smaller, but the uncertainty ate at him. “But what if I ruin our friendship? I don’t think--I couldn’t take him hating me.”

“Oh, Sizhui,” Dad said as he clambered over the desk and hugged him. “Jingyi could never hate you. I know you know him better than that, but if you want more, well…”

“Leap of faith?” Sizhui asked.

Both his fathers nodded.

If the Lan-Wei family had its own motto, Leap of Faith, would be it. If they had their own crest, it would be a rabbit surrounded by the words, Daring, Determination, Devotion, and Honesty. His fathers had raised him with those values, and Sizhui did his best to own them, and now, he knew, he could either rely on them or try to patiently wait until Jingyi came to him.

If at school the dynamic of Sizhui and Jingyi made the perfect Lan, at home, Sizhui was very much the best, and worst, of both of his fathers.

“Oh, I know that look,” Dad said as he kissed the top of Sizhui’s head. “Poor Jingyi isn’t going to know what hit him.” Sizhui could feel his wide grin against his hair. “It’s going to be awesome.”

Part 2

#untamedfest #fandom: the untamed #long post #verse: lahl #fic: tales from lan academy #the untamed #my ridic writing #day 2

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merrybrides · 5 years ago

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DIY Wedding Decor Ideas to Wow Your Guests

Bikes + Blooms

Add a touch of whimsy to the entrance of your venue by nestling a bucket of overflowing seasonal blooms and lush seeded and silver eucalyptus bunches down into the basket of a vintage bicycle.

Reclaimed Runner

Bring texture and height to long dining tables with a rustic, reclaimed wood runner. Above, a piece of aged wood runs the length of the table and offers the understated arrangements and dainty votive candle holders a boost to give the illusion of a grander, more elegant display. Bonus? The reclaimed runner sports a rough texture that contrasts against the velvety white blooms and brings dimension and interest to each table.

Understated Ambiance With Hurricane Lamps

Pull off a sleek, minimalist-style table design with a mix of ultra-sleek glass hurricanes, glowing white candles and rustic greenery vines. Incorporate glass hurricanes in various heights to add drama and dimension to your centerpiece display. Pro tip: Ground your tablescape with a simple white table runner, providing a crisp, clean canvas that allows your lush greenery to shine.

Geometric Table Runner

If flowers aren’t your thing, go for a cool, modern tablescape that’s totally unexpected. This 3-D table runner will have guests gushing all night. You’ll be proud to say, “Actually, I made it myself!”

MAKE IT

Hand-Lettered Signs

Communicate with your guests by crafting personalized signs to spread throughout your reception. Not only will your hand-lettered signs pretty up the space, but they’ll also help the night flow smoothly.

MAKE IT: Hand-Lettered Wedding Sign

Vintage Charm

Give your tablescape a touch of old-school charm by creating place settings using mix-and-match, thrifted vintage dishes. Add color with a simple white tea cup filled with an abundance of vibrant, fresh-cut seasonal blooms. We especially love this approach for casual, al fresco receptions in the spring or intimate celebrations with friends and family.

Cool + Custom Touch

Keep guests cool and comfortable throughout your outdoor ceremony by crafting pretty, practical fans for each seat. Shop basic white paper fans online, then use vibrant paint to create a custom design that mirrors your wedding theme and color palette. This whimsical design sports hand-lettered names wrapped in a bold, fuchsia floral border. A pale pink tassel is secured at the base to give the fan a luxe, bohemian look that guests are sure to admire.

Wine Cork Bar Sign

In the midst of wedding planning stress, you probably don’t need a reason to drink wine, but here’s a reason to save the corks. Trace out the word you want to spell on craft paper, and hot glue your corks together using that template.

MAKE IT: How to Use Wine Corks To Make Monogram Letters

Silk Flower Wreath

This project is ideal for the DIY bride because you can get started months before the chaotic wedding week arrives. The best part? The silk flowers look so real that guests won’t know they aren’t. Hang these gorgeous wreaths as a ceremony backdrop, or display them at the reception.

MAKE IT

Clipboard Decor

Take uninspiring office supplies from bland to glam by coating the metal pieces of a clipboard in liquid gold leaf. While waiting for the paint to dry, print this free, downloadable quote art onto cardstock, then snip a few stems of seeded eucalyptus greenery. Assemble it all to create gorgeous signage for the gift table, bar or any other spot that could use a pop of prettiness.

Wax Paper Backdrop

Soft and airy, this wedding backdrop definitely doesn’t look homemade. Lucky for you, it is, and you can recreate it with string, ribbon and wax paper. MAKE IT

Say Cheese

No wedding is complete without a fun photo booth station. Grab your pals and snap some pics with this trendy DIY prop. Don’t forget to use the wedding hashtag when posting on social media.

MAKE IT: DIY Balloon Photo Booth

Home-Grown Centerpieces

If the idea of spending hundreds (okay, thousands) on custom floral centerpieces is nauseating to you, you’re not alone. Skip the florals and invest your bloom budget on a collection of pretty, potted shrubs and aged concrete planters that you can bring home and enjoy long after the reception ends. Sprinkle modern glass hurricanes and crisp, white pillar candles throughout the table to soften the centerpiece and create a cozy ambiance throughout the night.

Wire-Wrapped Signs

If you’re looking for a DIY that’s quick, easy and inexpensive, this one’s for you. Grab some copper wire and start bending. These stylish signs provide an adorably effective way to save your seats all night. MAKE IT

High-Dollar Doilies

Dollar store doilies may not be the first things that come to mind when you think chic, but they can be. When paired with gold candlesticks and some greenery, this table runner looks like a high-dollar display.

Upcycled Napkins

Instead of renting fancy custom napkins for a hefty chunk of change, buy plain white ones in bulk and personalize them with your monogram.

Pretty Hydrangea Globe

Also known as a kissing ball, this floating floral sphere can be used many ways. It can be hung indoors or out — from a ceiling beam or a tree branch — as part of your ceremony backdrop or reception tablescapes or carried down the aisle by bridesmaids or flower girls. You’ll need real or faux hydrangeas, a floral sphere and twine for this project. MAKE IT

Monogram Cornhole Game

A personalized cornhole game will keep wedding guests busy while waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. Use our step-by-step instructions to create a corn hole set for your big day and customize it with your marital surname initial and a paint job that coordinates with your wedding color palette.

MAKE IT: How to Build a Regulation Cornhole Set

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philippineconcordia-blog · 5 years ago

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B A R A N G A Y K U W E N T U H A N

T H R O U G H T H E L O O K I N G G L A S S : An Exploration Into Our Own Communities

By: Cristina Paula E. Castro

In the time of expansion, it had become easy for us to overlook our very own locales when we discuss about society. Today, we tend to look at the Macro Perspective of things without considering the smaller components that make it up. As we analyze the society in a global perspective and national perspective, it is important for us to also look into the tiny communities that make up our kaleidoscopic world. This is precisely what the University of Santo Tomas’ National Service Training Program enables students to do.

In a task to interview barangay officials about the hazards, vulnerabilities, capacities, and risk reduction abilities of the community, I was able to interview Mr. Marco Dan C. Salvaña and Mr. Fernando D. Concan about the conditions of Barangay San Isidro.

Shown in the photographs are Mr. Marco Dan C. Salvaña and Mr. Fernando D. Concan.

The interview began with the simple identification of the existing hazards for the community. Mr. Salvaña had identified two of the top hazards that threaten the community; fire and flood.

Mr. Fernando D. Concan signs the letter of consent.

Below is a photograph during the interview. Unfortunately, Rm. Marco Dan C. Salvaña requested not to be shown in the photograph on the day of the interview itself as discretion because he was in his school uniform.

While Barangay San Isidro sits in a heavily urbanized city, there are still portions of the barangay with less developed housing. With fire being unpredictable, it poses a huge threat to every area, especially those of which are compounds with houses and establishments made of light materials. The barangay has specific areas such as the Silverio Compound and the creek side of Valley 02 which are populated by informal settlers. As the houses and buildings were not planned with as much care as the other infrastructures within the barangay, fire easily spreads throughout these parts of the community. Earlier this year, a large fire consumed a commercial hardware establishment which is largely constructed with flammable materials. As a result, the whole area that it covers was consumed by fire. In the previous years, small fires that spark within Silverio Compound, Barangay Village, and the border near Santo Niño have created a great damage to the community due to the fast growing of the fire and due to the unpreparedness of the community during that time. Today, the Disaster and Risk Management Division of the barangay considers fire as the number one hazard to the community.

Unlike other phenomena, typhoons and rainstorm are largely predictable. Because of this, flooding has become less threatening for the barangay and disasters due to natural phenomena has become less frequent throughout the years. Still, the improve canal systems are only partly effective in alleviating this problem in certain areas. Although the city is situated in flat land, certain areas have been constructed with uneven roadwork and are located in lower land areas. Such places include Lopez Village, Vitalez Compound, and Matatdo Homes. Apart from this, there are also small bodies of water within the barangay. During the wet season, these bodies of water overflow and cause light flooding to sever flooding in the areas surrounding it. Such creeks include the inner part of Valley 02, the creek in the main road of Greenheights Village, and the lower part of Matatdo Homes.

Apart from these two hazards, the barangay also considers the possibility of an earthquake as a major hazard. While the barangay is not situated on the Marikina Valley Fault System which runs through Metro Manila, the barangay maintains serious earthquake preparedness as the city itself is situated near the areas along the fault line. Large structures such as the express way, abandoned buildings which have not been retrofitted, unfinished buildings, and newly constructed buildings may collapse during a strong earthquake. Apart from damaging its surrounding structures, it may also be a direct cause of the loss of life of the people. Such is observed in the neighboring barangay, Barangay Tambo.

Here are some of the photographs of abandoned and unfinished infrastructures found within the barangay.

Mr. Concan has mentioned that these hazards and risks are reviewed quarterly by the division, headed by the barangay chairman, Capt. Noel J. Haplos. While the division team is responsible for most of the operations, the projects are often proposed and organized by the barangay chairman as he is the one who coordinates with the neighboring barangays about the affairs of the community.

Prior to the heightened involvement of the people in the community in disaster management, the barangay was focused on the response to disaster alone. However, as more youth organizations sprouted along the line, the barangay was able to coordinate with these associations to educate the capable members of the society on how to prevent, prepare, and respond to a disaster. In the unfortunate instances wherein disasters and calamities caused a devastating impact, the division is only able to respond to select areas at a time due to blocked roads and disrupted signals. After a brief recovery period, the disaster team tasks individuals to gauge the damage caused to the community, its probable root cause, and how to address the said problem. Since then, the barangay, in coordination with the city, was able to improve waterways, acquire appropriate weather instruments, develop evacuation plans for the different sub-areas of the barangay, and distribute necessary items during emergencies and during calamities.

The community walk enabled me to see first-hand the key places within the barangay. We were able to visit the most hazardous places or the areas which are most likely to acquire the most damage in times of disaster.

Shown above is the entrance to San Antonio Valley 02.

Pictured above is the entrance to Silverio Compound, and below is a snapshot of the area.

For fires, the areas that are most susceptible to this hazard are Valley 02, Silverio Compound, and Barangay Village. There are large portions of Valley 02 with infrastructures that are very closely built. There are also less-developed portions in the compound with homes that are built with substandard materials. Silverio Compound, which lies near the barangay hall, is a relatively large area occupied by informal settlers. Because of this, the landscape of the compound is poorly planned with narrow roads, overlapping houses, and poor street system. In addition, the houses that populate the area are pre-dominantly made of thin wood planks and metal gals. During instances of fire, the fire department of the barangay finds it difficult to respond as soon as possible due to the narrow labyrinthine streets which block fire trucks from entering the compound. It is also doubly challenging to extinguish fires as the houses are stacked against and atop other houses. Barangay Village also houses an area of poorly-constructed homes that are compressed in a small land area. Because of this, it becomes difficult to trace the exact place from where fires specifically spark. The damage is also more fatal as the fire easily spreads in the small area which houses a large number of people.

Shown above is the entrance to Lopez Village. Entering the village is not possible during the time of the community walk as non-residents are not allowed to enter the premises without a letter from a homeowner.

Pictured above and below is the entrance to Vitalez Compound.

Pictured below is the downward slope of a street in Vitalez Compund.

The uneven ground level in Vitalez Compound is one of the reasons why it is susceptible to flooding.

Pictured above is the entrance to Matatdo Homes. Below is a photograph of the lower portion of the compound near its southern border.

Pictured below is the gate of Greenheights Village.

The two photographs below are the two parts of the creek located inside the premises of the village.

As one observes, the sides of the creek have now been cemented. However, the marshy part of the creek is yet to be cleared.

The most affected areas for flooding are Lopez Village, Vitalez Compund, Matatdo Homes, and a small portion of Greenheights Village where a creek is located. Lopez Village, Vitalez Compound, United Parañaque Subdivision 05 (shown below), and Matatdo Homes are similarly characterized by lower land area, poor drainage systems, and uneven roadwork.

As a result, the rainfall from other areas of the barangay are caught in the said areas. The clogged drainages in the said places also contribute to the pooling and non-filtration of rainwater. As for Greenheights Village, although the subdivision is considered as one of the safest place within the barangay, the creek within its territory easily overflows during typhoons. What is more unfortunate is how the said creek is located at the middle of one of the schools, Escuela De San Lorenzo Ruiz, whose two buildings are connected by a bridge that passes over the creek. Apart from its nature as a body of water, the creek is also heavily polluted and is dirtied by garbage. This contributes to the impeded flow of water.

Of course, the barangay also has a list of the safest places within its territory. While the villages such as Greenheights Village and Krause Village are considered safe, the barangay only advices one place as a truly secured place in times of disaster. This is the Manila Memorial Park. While the place is a cemetery, it is considered to have one of the best area designs in the city. In fact, it is considered as the main evacuation point in case a large disaster hits the city. It covers a large area of flat land, has a very small number of structures that may collapse, and is on a relatively elevated part of the city. While there is also a body of water within its premises, the said body of water rarely overflows as the land area it covers is larger than that of the smaller creeks within the barangay.

The Manila Memorial Park which is pictured above and below serves as the emergency evacuation site of the whole barangay and its neighboring barangays.

Of course, the barangay has ways to mitigate and manage the situations and conditions at hand. According to Mr. Salvaña and Mr. Concan, the barangay began by cleaning the drainage systems and addressing the overflowing of the creeks. As observed, the creek in Greenheights Village has since been cemented and today, the water rarely overflows as some efforts were made to clean the body of water. The disaster management division also holds seminars, trainings, and tournaments in the different villages and subdivisions of the barangay every four months based on the safety map that they have in their office. The participants are often youth members and these events are done in coordination with the different home-owners associations. I was informed by the interviewees that during these trainings, equipment such as manuals, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers to different households. Another one of the progressive and helpful practices in the barangay is how the local government is willing to give enough budget for the procurement of equipment needed for disaster management and for emergency responses during disasters and calamities. Such can be seen in the office of the disaster management division. In addition, Mr. Salavaña and Mr. Concan has also informed me that most of the members of the community have began to appreciate the need for preparedness. As a result, they no longer need to approach the different communities one by one as the respective associations of the said communities are now the ones to volunteer in sponsoring and pin participating in the events and projects that the disaster management division plans. Because of this progressive behavior the team behind the barangays disaster management is able to continuously improve. Now, they are even approached by schools such as the Philippine National University and the Far Eastern University to teach disaster preparedness and to educate on hazard and risk management in the said institutions.

Pictures above is the Barangay Hazard Map and below is the manual that is distributed to the residents.

As shown below, the Barangay San Isidro is a recipient of recognition for its efficiency in disaster management and preparedness.

Pictured below are some of he available equipment for response emergencies.

Fortunately for the barangay, the interviewees have informed me that there are very little concerns when it comes to disaster management in terms of the participation of the people. However, the trainings are only often attended by youth members. The main concern as of now is keeping the residents of the areas most susceptible to damage safe. Mr. Salvaña admitted that the team is unable to respond to all of the places at the same time during large calamities. He has also raised his concern on improving the conditions of the communities of informal settlers as it is not feasible or possible for the local government to provide better housing or better infrastructures for all of the residents of the said areas. This, of course, is understandable. The government needs to wisely consume its budget and with the thousands of homes within the hazardous areas, it is simply not probable or ideal for new homes to be constructed. Such a concern is raised as the said residents do not have the financial capacity to acquire better homes. Personal safety equipment is also not as accessible to certain parts of the community as they are to some of its other members due to economic status. In times of disaster, the people who live in the most hazardous areas are at a steep disadvantage as they receive the largest damage and have the least capacity to rehabilitate their homes and livelihood which may be destroyed during disasters. In the case of the barangay, the composting farm is located beside the creek in Greenheight Village, placing it in the direction greatly affected by the flooding that is caused by the creek.

The Faith Garden is a composting garden where common vegetable products are grown.

In response to this, the local government can focus on the prevention of the devastating effects of calamities and disasters from happening. As much as possible, the government must improve the public spaces where the hazardous places are. This includes cleaning and improving the drainage systems and fixing the already damaged roads and streets of these areas to ensure that emergency response teams can easily access these places when needed.

Pictured above and below are the streets of Silverio Compound.

Although some may negatively interpret it, the resilience of the people must also be strengthened. This includes effective emergency plans and consistent drills in preparation for disasters. An evacuation map for each community must be provided and evacuation practices must be continuously held in these areas. As an example, Kalayaan Village in Rizal holds these drills every few months to train the residents for an orderly and smooth evacuation in case a large calamity of an unpreventable disaster strikes. With the sprawling coverage of areas like Silverio Compound, it is important for the people to be trained for emergency situations and to be informed of the best routes to exit the area affected by the disaster. It is not realistic for the government to guard every area of the barangay during disasters. As a result, we as residents must also be informed and prepared.

There are instances when disasters cannot be prevented. However, we can improve the response to such disasters. The local government must make sure that emergency lines are available at all times and emergency response teams are present and well-equipped especially when the barangay already expects a certain disaster to hit. The local government can also heighten efforts in encouraging the community to volunteer as trained response team members. In addition, lessons on first aid may also be taught to the members of the community. This will enable every individual to be knowledgeable about emergency health care and able to provide temporary care to casualties in times of disaster. It is commendable that first aid kits are already being distributed in the households within the hazardous areas. However, this will not be truly beneficial if the people do not know how to properly administer first aid. As an addition, it would also be beneficial if weather-predicting instruments are given to the communities that live in more hazardous areas. The interviewees have informed me that such instruments are situated in Greenheights Village. While it would indeed be better for all of the areas to have their own gauges, it might prove to be more effective to provide these instruments to those who need it more. This way, the said areas would be able to know first-hand the nature of the typhoon that may hit in order for them to prepare immediately.

Similarly, these challenges are also present in the country as a whole. There are people and communities which are more vulnerable than others. First, the aging community and individuals with disabilities who have no immediate guardian may find it more difficult to respond and adjust during disasters. Not every Filipino live in places that are safe from calamities and disasters. Apart from this, not all of the citizens of the country have the means and capacity to pick themselves up after disasters that have heavily destroyed their homes and sources of livelihood. One of the biggest issues in terms if disaster management is the limited budget to acquire instruments in accurately predicting the strength of typhoons, to purchase enough and quality equipment for rescue operations during disasters, and to reach far-flung areas that have little knowledge on disaster manage and little means to rehabilitate their local community on their own. There are also a lot of illegal residential areas that are located in hazardous places. As a result, the said areas become a catch-basin for flood, a hot-spot for fire incidences, and highly dangerous places during earthquakes. In addition, a significant number of people even in the cities do not participate in disaster trainings with seriousness. During fire drills and earthquake drills, a number of people make a joke out of the situation and consider the activities as a waste of time. In first aid activities held in one of our classes in the National Service Training Program, some students who are laughing about the activity can be observed. This creates an unhealthy environment when it comes to teaching disaster management. In both the local and national sphere, the government cannot be the only entity responsible for disaster management. We, too, must be willing to support the projects of the government to address the problems concerning disasters by participating in national drills and volunteering to learn basic skills to raise the capacity of our community to reduce the damage that comes with calamities and disasters.

The interview, or as our facilitator pertains to it, the kuwentuhan, was truly a fruitful conversation. My appreciation for the whole team behind disaster management both in our barangay and in other barangays have grown more. Seeing how passionate the members were in their task made me realize how face our concern for the society around us can go. It has also made me appreciate my fellow residents as well who take it upon themselves to volunteer as members of the emergency response units despite having their own personal duties in work or in school. Hearing how the overall management of disaster in the barangay improved as members of the community began being more involved had made me realize how important it truly is for each individual to play his or her duty. Involvement in the community is a necessary aspect in the progress of the society. In a way, we must all use our resources and capabilities to look out for each other.

The photograph above is taken during the community walk while the picture below is taken before the community walk. With me are the members of the barangay’s fire and disaster management team.

Seeing the different areas in our barangay has made me more aware of the disparity that exists even within one location. The hazardous places and safer places pose a stark difference between each other, much of which was due to economic differences. This disheartened me as such conditions should not be the reason why the lives of a group of people is placed in a graver danger than those of others. Because of this, I am even more dedicated to supporting advocacies that aim to address the inequalities in the society. As we can see, such issues are not merely concerned with education or profession; they also permeate to the capacity and vulnerability of an individual.

As one may have realized by the end of the activity, there are countless challenges to overcome when it comes to the disaster and risk management of the country. As a tropical country and as a nation that is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, we are a hot-spot for natural calamities on top of man-made disasters. Striving to establish responsible disaster risk management among individuals should not be seen as a way of romanticizing the resilience or the ability of the Filipinos to adapt. Instead, it must be seen as a priority to prevent the damage to life and to property during catastrophes. As we are now aware of, safety from tragedies, whether natural or not, is not guaranteed for all of us. Thus, those who have the capacity and capability to help those in more vulnerable situations must be willing to assist in times of need. With an average of twenty typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility as estimated by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, twenty-three active volcanoes, and active earthquake activity on top of armed conflict in certain areas and the unpredictability of fires accidents, it is important for all of us to be aware and prepared. To begin this, we must first be willing learners when it comes to the topic at hand.

Being a member of the youth should not limit us from being active members of the society. In fact, I was fortunate enough to take a photograph with the fellow members of the youth; volunteers who were taught Basic Life Support at the same time I interviewed the barangay officials. The photograph below shows the youth volunteers and beside me, the organizer of the event and barangay chairman, Mr. Noel J. Japlos.

The active participation of the members of the community in disaster management is also one of the best practices within the barangay.

As young individuals, we have great capability to use our time and energy in volunteering to become responders during emergencies. The interviewees that I had the pleasure of having a conversation with has invited me to become a part of the youth responders in our barangay. In addition, even our own university offers a chance for us to participate in disaster management by holding first aid seminars and by offering opportunities to be part of the Philippine Red Cross. Of course, it is not possible for us to magically give a solution to areas with substandard infrastructures and to re-build stronger homes for our fellow Filipinos. What we can do is participating in the projects of our local communities where people are needed to teach skills related to disaster management. As individuals who are quite informed of effective disaster plans, we can use our learning to pitch project ideas and improved area designs for evacuation or for improvement. Even these small acts increase the capacity of our own community by boosting the number of individuals who are capable of addressing the problems brought by catastrophes.

As a student myself, I can accept the offer of the community to participate and train for the response team. Apart from being a responder, I would also be given the chance to pitch in my ideas on disaster management which I have learned during the course of the National Service Training Program Class that I have taken in the university. Of course, my knowledge is definitely not on par with my superiors. However, this will also be a good opportunity for me to learn new ways to become a more productive member of society.

Pictured above and below are the facades of the two buildings that serves as the home for the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, located beside Barangay San Isidro’s hall.

I was informed by Mr. Salvaña that while the village I reside in, Greenheights Village, actively supports and sponsors the disaster management division of our barangay, there is yet to be a youth organization within the village with whom they can coordinate with for more physically demanding projects. As a resident of the village, I may approach the local association about the formation of such a group. This way, we can help in addressing the barangay’s need for manpower. As younger members of the society, the more rigorous activities that come with disaster management will be more easily performed by our age group than by the more elderly members of the community. The capacity of communities in not only measured by emergency actions. Political and social involvement must also be considered. In time, the learning that our group and organization would have acquired may be used to pitch ideas to the local government on better means to improve disaster management. This may range from simple seminars and drills to the annual provision of emergency equipment to the communities within the barangay. Even increasing the number of fire hydrants around the barangay can prove to be an effective measure towards preparedness. As the City of Parañaque heavily involves its youth members in projects, we have the opportunity to play concrete and proactive roles in increasing the capacity of our community by proposing realistic and sustainable policies on disaster management. Such policies include those that are focused on equipping individuals of knowledge about disaster and risk management and empowering individuals on disaster preparedness and response.

Mr. Fernando D. Concan poses for a photograph during after the interview.

The session of the interview had taught me innumerable lessons not only about disaster management, but on the entire concept of community as a whole. With a spark of hope and resolution, I left the confines of the barangay hall being more positive about my personal ability to become of greater help to my community.

#BarangayKuwentuhan #Posts

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funnelprinciple · 5 years ago

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Connected

Jamaica mission trip

Arrival - Connected

After several months of anticipation our group of 5 dads and 5 sons left Columbus, Ohio July 13 bound for a mission trip to Kingston, Jamaica. We would be hosted by an organization called Mustard Seed Communities, based in the Kingston area. MSC provides since 1978 housing, care, food and education for mostly disabled and abandoned children and adults, which today numbers nearly 600. Your thoughts and prayers and generosity have moved me.

This trip was the idea of me, Mark Sellers and my friend John Bruzzese. We know each other through our sons Patrick (mine) and Michael (John’s) who played basketball at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus. Our sons are now high school seniors and John and I felt that a trip where the boys would serve others, through the love of Christ, would be memorable.

Besides John and me and our two sons, the mission mates include Matt Niemiec and his son Zach; Brian Haney and son Liam; and Matt Ritchey and son Max. All are from Columbus.

As mission leaders John and I are often looked at as the ones responsible for making this trip happen. True, but John and I are merely the products of our connections, some we sought and many we didn’t, but that somehow through the grace of God came into our lives. Collectively those connections are the inspiration and guidance for this trip.

First, my brother Brad. It was his former college roommate Thad McGuire at Ohio State,who went on to get his MBA, then got into a management consulting, and several years later heard a calling to the priesthood. Thad’s now a priest in the Phoenix diocese. Thad recommended Mustard Seed Communities. (The logo on the t-shirts that you see all of the mission team members wearing was designed by my daughter Hannah, a graphics design graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP college).

Another connection of mine is Steve Gran. Steve helped me get the mission bug three years ago when he asked me to join a team in Haiti.

John had taken a mission trip to Monterey, Mexico years ago with his daughter in 2013.

Then of course there are the mission team members. To explain how I am connected to all of them would take too long but suffice to say I am where I am in my faith life not because of conscious choice; but rather, because of many individuals who took me in, like a stray cat needing a home.

Arriving at Mission House Gordon Town, Jamaica

We met our drivers and mission rep, Leroy at Norman Manley airport Saturday evening. Leroy we would learn was the perfect host for mission groups. A jovial, easy going Jamaican, he quickly cut through anxiety and anticipation with jokes and offhand funny comments. He butchered John’s last name ‘Bruzzesse’ for ten minutes (later, on purpose I think!). We made new connections with driver Webb and mission rep Tavares, whom we later heard Leroy call ‘the mayor’ because he seemed to know everyone everywhere we went.

During the orientation the night we arrived Leroy proudly told us about singing the new Jamaican national anthem as a young boy once the country gained independence from Great Britain in 1962.

The cook, Beckita, had a big pot of chicken soup with dumplings on the stove for us when we arrived. Someone commented that the stock tasted like it had been reducing all day, yummy.

Day 1 Sunday

Day 2 highlights:

- Get out of your comfort zone to grow and really live life.

- Provide compassion beyond borders.

- Participate in life instead of anticipate.

- Never underestimate the power of physical touch to a physically and mentally disabled person

- Be present.

Awoke to the sounds of one of the female staff singing God is the answer.

Actually, I awoke all through the night to the sounds of Saturday night. Motorbikes randomly whizzed by, someone at the bar across the street would shout something, or the music there would be kicked up a few levels when someone asked. Everyone had the same experience. Plus, since our mission house has no AC all the windows are open and we all sweated and rolled uncomfortably in 80 degree, high humid conditions.

Outside my room is a mango tree bearing fruit.

Tiara

After a group breakfast and prayer we went downstairs to see the residents. Fair to say that seeing no child or young adult not in a wheelchair and all afflicted with physical and mental disabilities was eye opening for us all. Only one of the 15 or so residents could speak a single word. This happened to be a little girl of 12 named Tiara. She could not only speak but had a sharp wit and irascible personality that caused all of us to laugh very hard.

Picture this young girl in a wheelchair telling my son Patrick to ‘get back here Patrick!’ soon after he left the conversation with her. The first thing she asked me when I met her was ‘Do you have a coloring book?’ I did and she said, ‘go get it.’ Later she asked to play cards. ‘What games do you know?’ I asked. ‘Go fish’ she said. I doubted this but she quickly added ‘Go get the cards.’ I did, and we ended playing a game of flash card to see which numbers or cards and suits she knew. I put the cards we used on the bottom but when she got one right she’d say ‘Give me my 2’, or Give me my queen’. Tiara made us all laugh very hard.

Miss Rookwood and Rose were the night nurses, working a 5pm to 8am shift. They asked us if we wanted to feed the staff and we all jumped in. This again was a bit nerve racking for many of us. In our reflection time at the end of the day several mission mates commented that they were not used to communicating with someone who couldn’t talk and even react normally to them.

Mass

Being Catholic we were all thrilled to know there was the St. Martin de Porres church a 1 minute walk from our mission house. This was special for our mission mate Max whose confirmation saint is this saint. Liam and Zach and several dads were able to wheel several residents to the service. Fr Graham resided, a young Jamaican priest celebrating his 10thanniversary as a priest. Several moments stood out for us including:

- Fr Graham’s homily about the Good Samaritan. We are all called to love thy neighbor especially when it is uncomfortable.

- Compassion beyond borders. This applies to both physical and other borders in our heads.

- At the beginning of mass Fr Graham announced ‘We are blessed to have guests from Columbia, Ohio.

- At the end of the service we were asked to introduce ourselves. They said they were blessed to have our presence and wished us well during our visit.

Matthew 25:40

In addition to this bible verse - which we embraced as a theme for our team – it says ‘what you do for the least of my people you do for me’, Mustard Seed has a facility – called an apostolate – for mostly teenage boys that are HIV positive. All of these young men were born with the virus from mothers that passed it to them.

We toured the facility where they live. Zach and Patrick and Liam and Michael played several spirited games of soccer – football in Jamaica – and at times got schooled and at other times had flashes of brilliance. We treated the boys at the home to ice cream. One guy kept coming back for 2nds, and 3rds, and 4ths until we finally had to say no. We were told to take no photos of these boys.

Dad Brian had a terrific conversation with 4 of the boys at the home. At first they wanted to see his phone, which he resisted but then used it to introduce the boys to his family pictures. Brian developed some great credibility and trust quickly and got the boys to share with him their dreams and interests. He asked them what they needed re: supplies for school. They were so forthcoming he ended up making a long list and is considering this as an eagle scout project for his son Liam. These are some simple items like backpacks, paper, books, calculators, a protractor. I heard one young man say ‘we like to draw here’.

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personalkdtl · 6 years ago

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Hi, a scenario where xiumin teach his gf to swim. First he doesnt want so she hired a guy to teach her to make xiumin jealous. Thank you

Valid Reason ~ Xiumin Scenario

Genre: Romance, Fluff, Slight jealousy

Summary: You simply wanted to learn to swim to be able to feel at ease wheneveryou went to the beach with your family, friends or your boyfriend so you askedsaid person to help but he refuses. Seeing that Xiumin won’t be of much help youdecide that maybe trying to get to him in some other way will be moreeffective.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Everything wasrunning smoothly in your life; work was stressful at times but you managedsince after all being an architect was never an easy job to do and adding tothe table that you graduated from a university in London a few years ago thatmade you someone many people wanted you to work with. You were healthy, yourparents too and you had a stable relationship of more than 2 years with Xiuminwhom you met through one of your close friends during your college days. He waseverything you never knew you loved in a man: caring, patient, supportive, atotal goofball at times but turned into a serious 24 grown up man when he hadhis mind set on something or taking care of you…so all that combined madeXiumin someone you deeply loved and cared; even if he was stubborn at times.

It was 7:00 pmand you were in the studio doing some light drafts of an upcoming project thecompany assigned you to. Large round glasses covered your eyes as your recentlydyed ash brown hair was tied up neatly in a bun as you focused on the outlinesof your work, it was the simple design of a vacation house but the owner saidthat he wanted a simple yet elegant designed that wasn’t too overwhelming.

There was alight knock on your door and you replied with a simple “come in” as your eyesnever left the paper and directed the pencil towards a border of a column togive depth to the line and placed the measurements at the side in neat numbers.A pair of arms was now circling your body and a soft kiss was placed on yourcheek as you recognized the sweet aura your boyfriend emitted and you turnedaround.

“Work mode on?”Xiumin softly asked now placing a soft kiss on your lips and you simply nodded

“A vacationhouse, it is due in two weeks actually” You pointed to the large sheet of paperand he chuckled and quietly examined the design

His eyes werelooking for your signature item on every design and then he found it, it waslike a personal signature of yours to place a vase with sunflowers to decoratethe designs you did and you never told Xiumin about it but he quickly saw it inyour works.

“There it is” Hecarefully pointed at the little drawing and being careful not to touch thepaper since you were picky when it came to the order and presentation of yourworks which meant tidiness too

He took a seatnext to you and simply let you work for a few minutes as he gently stroke oneof your cheeks, he simply adored you and even if some of the moments you two spenttogether there had to be some work done before you two could relax… it was finefor him since he knows how passionate you are about your career.

“You know…” Youstarted in a soft voice to grab his attention as you carefully erased a lineand traced it again in a more rectangular angle

“Maybe I shouldlearn to swim, for me to be able to enjoy more time with you and not worryingabout drowning every time I let go of your arms” You said with a soft chuckleremembering how you will childishly cling to Xiumin when you had some trips tothe beach and he reassured you that it was fine to be like this

“Uhum” Was allXiumin answered as he held his face on the palm of his hand and his elbowrested on one side of the table

“Maybe you couldteach me!” You suggested as the idea crossed your mind and expected someexcited reaction of him as you looked at him with a wide smile, but you weremet with the opposite thing

“I don’t thinkit is a great idea actually ____________” A little frown appeared on Xiumin’sexpression and his view went back to the paper as to dismiss the topic you justbrought up

“Why? It wouldbe nice since you won’t have to be constantly checking up on me every time wego to the beach, we could even go often knowing you love it there” You pokedhis side with the eraser on the tip of your pencil as a little pout appeared onyour lips to try and convince him

“I still don’tlike the idea, so I won’t teach you” He repeated and he scooted closer to youand took off your glasses to clean them with the cloth on the case and thenplacing them back neatly on your face

“Oh okay, Iunderstand” You said with a little bit of confusion as Xiumin gave you a softsimple smile and urged you to resume your work

You weren’t evenmad with him; it was more like a whole million questions in your head as to whyXiumin would refuse to teach you and more when you asked him to. In the past,he will always be thrilled when you asked him for help even in the most trivialthings like buying new pots for your indoor plants or organizing the differentcolored pencils you owned. You knew he could be a patient teacher and thatlearning to swim with him could be a fun experience too, adding that you couldspend more time together that way and even had fun…but he refused to the ideawithout giving it a second thought. You knew something was wrong but notwanting to argue with him, it was time that you found another alternative tomake Xiumin help you learn how to swim…even if you knew that you had to dealwith some serious stares from him later.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

You had manyoptions, asking Chen or even Suho to teach you but it all came to the pointthat since they were trusted friends from Xiumin then he would find themreliable and maybe even thank them for doing some time for you. It was awkwardto ask a stranger to teach you to swim and you remembered that one of yourfriends at Uni was in the swimming team at high school, so after calling himand explaining him how it was weird Xiumin said no but you still wanted tolearn.

“Okay then, Iwill see you tomorrow at 4:00 pm after I deliver the blueprints at the office”You said excitedly over the phone as you closed the refrigerator’s door

You didn’tnoticed that Xiumin entered the kitchen to grab some water just in time to hearyou making plans with someone, he wasn’t the jealous type but more of a curiousboyfriend since if you were going to be with a friend he wouldn’t bother you onthat time and just wanted you to have a good moment.

“Did you makeplans with a friend?” Xiumin asked and you almost screamed when you heard hisvoice because you were engrossed in the excitement of learning to swim

“Oh god, my soulalmost left me” You placed a hand over your panicking heart and he just laughedat your cute action and walked closer to give you a soft kiss in your forehead

“Yes, I justcalled Hyungwon and asked him if he could teach me how to swim and he agreed!”You were used to Xiumin’s innocent curiosity so it was normal for you to simplytell him what was going on

He heard yourwords but he was taken back at the fact that you were going to ask one of yourold classmates to help you. Truthfully he could have thought you perfectly butin his mind he had a valid reason not to teach you; but he expected you toforget about the swimming lessons and not keep asking about them.

“You are reallygoing to learn with Hyungwon?” He asked tilting his head and you had to stopyourself from hugging him because of the confused look on his face

“Yup, I figuredyou had many things to do so I didn’t wanted to bother you” That was youranswer and then you left the kitchen thinking that he will talk to you aboutthe matter later, but he didn’t

The next day,you delivered the blueprints at the office and reminded your assistant to handthem over to the construction team when the budget was approved. Hyungwon toldyou that he can teach you at his old school’s swimming pool since the studentswere on vacations and the coach was a really good friend of him. You arrived atthe place and quickly went to change into your swimsuit and sit at the edge ofthe pool while your legs were swinging back and forth creating little waves onthe surface.

“I should treatHyungwon for teaching me after this” You quietly mumbled to yourself rememberinghow he used to nag for seasoned pork ribs when you were classmates

You had beenwaiting for Hyungwon to appear for a while now and you wondered if he justforgotten about it or if he was running late, you took out your phone anddecided to dial his number when you heard the door opening. You were ready tostart whining to Hyungwon about making you wait but to your surprise it wasyour boyfriend who entered the place with a towel hanging around his neck andyou raised an eyebrow as to why he was here.

“Xiumin?” Youasked with a curious stare as your boyfriend placed the towel on a bench and hesmiled at you like it was normal for him to be there

“Hyungwon toldme he couldn’t teach you today so I offered to fill in for him” He said as ifthe both of them were the best of friends and he will contact him for some kindof help

You couldn’thelp but laugh at what was happening right now; obviously this was Xiumin’sdoing and he didn’t wanted to admit it out loud so you will have to scoop thetruth out of him in one way or another but you will prefer it to be in a funway so he wouldn’t feel it forced or be embarrassed about it later.

“Babe, can youtell me what is going on with me learning to swim topic?” You asked with a softsmile but he just dismissed your question by waving his hand in the air

“Nothing, I justreally wanted to fill in for today” He said and turned around to start walkingover to the ladder at the corner of the pool

You took that asyour opportunity, Xiumin looked so focused on the pool that he didn’t noticedyou were practically running towards him and since the floor was a littleslippery you could slightly push him off the edge as he ended in the pool andyou went in with him too.

You hung ontohis shoulders as he swam to the edge of the pool and you were doing your bestnot to laugh at the serious stares he was throwing at you, you knew him prettywell to know that he wasn’t mad but was slightly annoyed that you managed tothrew him off the edge of the pool.

“Will you tellme now?” You asked circling his neck with your arms and he sighed

He spun aroundand floated near the edge as he secured your grip on him and he rested hishands on your hips to keep you steady. He brushed a few strands off your faceas his stare was fixed on you and looking at you now only made his decisionstronger of not teaching you two swim or letting anyone else teach you.

“It’s becauseyou are too pretty in a swimsuit, that is why” He started and looked at theside with an annoyed face and you inched closer to him

“Is that all?”Your index finger moved his chin towards you and that gave you the space tosoftly kiss him

Xiumin was weak,weak when you could easily get him to open up with your calm personality, softvoice and sweet kisses that always get him every time you were the one whokissed him because he always desired for them since the first time he met you.

“And if youlearn to swim, then you won’t need to cling onto me anymore and some boys mighttry to flirt up with you and ¿who wouldn’t want to? You are simply gorgeous inthat dark blue swimsuit you like to use when we go to the beach.” He finallyleft everything out and it felt better saying it out loud but he was also curiousabout your reaction

“That is why youdidn’t want to teach me?” You asked caressing his hair and slightly nodded

“Yes and Ithought you will let the topic go when I said no” He confessed and pressed akiss on your cheek as he hugged you closer to him

This is why youloved him, he was always doing his best to take care of you and making sure youwere happy but you rarely saw this possessive or jealous side of him which madeyou feel extra loved when he let it show and acknowledge it. You let him hugyou a little more until you called him.

“How about youteach me and I still cling to you when we go to the beach when my legs feeltired, you are very comfortable after all” You suggested and he nodded at youridea

“I like it, butthis only confirms that you fell asleep on my back the last time we went to thebeach” He pointed out remembering the event of a few months ago

“I didn’t! I wasjust lost in space!” You defended and splashed some water on him

“Who gets lostin space with her eyes closed?” He teased tickling your sided as you squirmedin the water trying your best not to let go of his shoulders

“Then teach meto swim so I don’t fall asleep on your back” He denied with his head and swamtowards the center of the pool as you tried to know what was his next move

“I will teachyou for safety reasons, not for you to let go of me” Xiumin’s calm and maturevoice said and you simply nodded at his instructions

“Good, now teachme to swim” You demanded and the lessons began

After a fewlessons both of you decided to go the beach and surprisingly he told you toswim for a while but as soon as he saw some guy looking at you it took him lessthan 5 seconds to be at your side and place your arms over his shoulders.

“But I barelyhad like 5 minutes of swimming by myself” You said and rested your chin on hisshoulder

“Sorry babe, youare too pretty to be left alone in the sea” Xiumin kissed your lips as a signthat you were his and once again, your trip to the beach consisted of eating,sunbathing and letting your boyfriend carry you in sea.

I think I have seen this request for quite a while in tumblr by now, so I leave my own version here. I hope you enjoy it even if it is just 2.5k words and that your Xiumin biased heart is happy. Thank you for the support and love too ✨

[Masterlist]

#EXO #EXO Scenarios #Kim Xiumin #Kim Minseok #Xiumin #Minseok #Xiumin Scenarios #Minseok Scenarios #EXO Fanfic #EXO x Reader #EXO Fluff #Xiumin Fluff #Minseok Fluff #Kpop Scenarios

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