"But We All Speak the Same Language"

Years ago, when my kids were in school in East Lansing, I sent a letter to the school asking the principal for some input regarding a project the class wanted to do. The principal sent my letter back, with corrections in red pen. Apparently, according to her, I had spelled certain words wrong. This necessitated a trip to the school to explain that American spellings are somewhat of an anomaly in a sea of other English-speaking countries, and that my spelling was perfectly correct. She had not realised there was a difference between the US and the rest of the English-speaking world. British, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Australian, New Zealand, parts of the Caribbean, Bermuda, South Africa, and the US all “speak English”, but there is a wide variety of difference in each as well.

There was a time when there was little standardisation of English. In the 1700’s Samuel Johnson developed some rules for standard English, which became the basis of standard English throughout the British colonies and territories. In the 20^th century Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press contributed to the standardisation used in academic treatises and essays. American English was taught using Webster’s rules (Noah Webster, author of Webster’s Dictionary). With a large influx of immigration from non-English-speaking countries, American English became more phonetic, and spellings were changed to reflect that.

Language is a funny thing. Even as it may change (as in American English becoming more phonetic) in some ways it does not develop as quickly or in the same direction as the parent countries. Language in new countries tends to ‘ossify’ while language in the home country changes and evolves much more quickly. My husband has now been out of Japan for almost forty years, and has been told there that his language is quite “quaint” –that is, he speaks the language of his youth in post-war Japan. As a linguist, he has found it necessary when he is back in Japan to try to bring his own language use up-to-date, or at least to be able to see where the language has changed, compared to here in Canada. Most of the first-generation Japanese-Canadians speak and even more “archaic” form of Japanese.

How we use a language depends on so many factors. Where we were born, when we were born, where we went to school, how educated our parents were, how important education was for us, who our teachers were, how well we learned to read and how much we learned to read, whether or not we got advanced degrees in education, what the local dialects were, cultural and regional overlays, whether or not we are speaking a second language. Language involves absorbed and inherent understandings from within our family and social groups; nuances and local idioms are brought to bear. We can each use the same word, but depending on all those other accumulated factors we will understand it differently and use it differently. Every single one of us understands and uses the same words differently. It isn’t possible to say “this is what this word *means*”, because each of us brings to bear all of the sum of who we are including our life experience to the words we use, and what they mean to us. 

A friend of mine, a Presbyterian minister, was once called to a Portuguese-speaking Presbyterian church. The logic of the Presbyterian national church was that since Portuguese was a common language to the people from those countries, it made sense to have them all in one congregation. They did not realise that the Portuguese spoken in Mozambique, Brasil, Macao,  Angola, Goa, East Timor, Canada  and of course Portugal – are all different. Even if the words are the same, the usage changes, the accent changes and they become incomprehensible to each other, even though they are both speaking Portuguese.

As a preacher, there are times when I am floored by what someone got out of my sermon – what they heard, and what I was pretty sure I had said, were two completely different things. So when we who speak English fall into thinking we should be able to understand each other because “we all speak the same language”, remember that isn’t quite true.Understanding each other takes work, and a willingness to suspend our beliefs that we are right in order to hear the other.

New Beginnings...

"Under the Carob Tree" is a renamed blog. Formerly "Letters from Corner Brook", a chronicle of my time in Newfoundland, it's become an ongoing reflection place, separate from the sermons in the blog "Fran's Musings" (frannyharp.blogspot.com)

Norio and I travel a lot these days. We are at that stage where we do have the time and the finances. One of the places we go every year is the village of Moncarapacho in Portugal, just outside Olhao, and close to the sea. We rent a beautiful villa, and do a lot of strenuous resting beside the pool. A favourite spot of mine is a corner beside the bar, in the shade under the huge carob tree. I sat there almost every day for two weeks this year, reading books and starting to get serious about blogging.

So here we go - reflections on travel, life, work, theology - whatever comes to mind. Hopefully from time to time there might be something which speaks to you.

Fran

The End of the Second Year

It's been so long for this blog I decided to not try to upload all the photos within the last year - but instead start from now, and be more regular again about posting.

As of November 14th I have been here in Corner Brook for two years. It has been quite a year, too. By August it was clear that there were some agitators, as there are in every congregation, but the agitation resulted in an episode of bullying which was neither helpful nor called for - as it involved questioning my honesty about time off. I almost gave notice then. However, Norio was here, and after calming down and taking about a month to just think about the best way to deal with the issue, I decided to stay on. Since then, the feel of the church has changed, for the better, and it seems as if some kind of log-jam has moved. Norio thinks I should stay at least a full year longer. It will depend, of course, on how things go in the next six months....

In August one of my two colleagues took a call in Grand Falls-Windsor. I was sorry to see her leave as she was a lifeline sometimes, but she did need a congregation which would appreciate the many talents she has. I now travel to Grand Falls, which is 250 km away, every so often sometimes for meetings, and sometimes just for a break. My other colleague was asked to leave the congregation. The result was that I became the only active United Church minister in Corner Brook. The hospital chaplain has had to resign due to health issues, so we are left now with one full-time clergy (me), one part-time intentional interim, and one retired minister. Two of my colleagues - one in Stephenville, 45 minutes away - and one in Port-au-Basques - two and a half hours away - are taking time off, and I am backup.

I remember many years ago the United Church did a survey about people in isolated ministry - and most of the cases they cited were not what I considered isolated. Plus, there are different kinds of isolation. While there are other clergy here, I am essentially the only United Church face in the ministerial. It's a feeling of being very exposed....and in many senses a psychological isolation.

Well, of course there have been lots of good things....in April Linnea Good came to Humber, and did an evening concert and a Sunday service. Our spring meeting was held in Bay Roberts, almost to the East District border - seven hours across the province, and it was just a fantastic time. As it was also a conference meeting, we were lucky to have Linnea providing music. Cruise ships abounded in September and October, including my favourite ship, Brilliance of the Seas. Here is a shot from Benoit's Cove, as Brilliance departed. Photo is courtesy of a friend.

Our fall District meeting in October, was held in Twillingate; I travelled first to Fogo Island to visit a parishioner in her summer home, and then back on the ferry to drive to Twillingate. Some Newfoundland trivia: "Fogo" is the pronounciation which has evolved from the Portuguese "fuego"....fire. "Twillingate" is the pronounciation which has evolved from the French Basque "Toulinguet". Then there is Moreton's Harbour, and you have the circle...and a mini-history of the settlement of Newfoundland, and how fisheries evolved. Above are two photos from Fogo Island trip - my parishioner and a friend, as we climbed Brimstone Head in Fogo; and a view from the top of Brimstone Head.  In November Humber hosted Ray McGinnis, as guest preacher, and a workshop on writing Psalms. It was also excellent.

This Christmas has been busier than ever, with an incredible round of services and parties and dinners. On Christmas Eve we celebrated with a full church - wonderful to see every seat taken. We had a pageant and communion, the children and youth played instruments, and our two music students performed. It went incredibly well. The plan was to have a Christmas Day service - but a huge snowstorm beat us out. It wasn't worth risking seniors being hurt, so by 8:30, we had decided to cancel. However, I cooked a turkey and by later afternoon was able to move the car and join friends for dinner.

The closing photo for this blog was taken last night, as I drove past the Pepsi Centre Sports complex - the moon was coming up over the hills, and I just had to grab the cell phone camera. Newfoundland is indeed a breathtaking place, and worth every moment of being here.

My New Year's resolution (only one) is to keep up this blog on a more regular basis. Happy New Year, and a great 2013 to all.

 

Trip to L'Anse aux Meadows

These are photos of icebergs in St. Anthony and L'Anse aux Meadows area....starting with a Vinland Martini (bakeapple and partridgeberry - with a piece of iceberg ice...).

Letters from Corner Brook, August 2011

Well, how the time whips by! Last addition to this blog was the middle of July, and I was just off to West Haven Camp, to be a camp director/chaplain - a first! I’ve also taken on the role of Vice-Chair of the camp board, so it seemed appropriate to take at least a week. And what a week! 35 children between 7 and 10 years old - and of course the accompanying homesickness from some. Every day began with the raising of the Canadian flag, except for Newfie day - when the Newfoundland flag is raised. One little fellow caused many problems; in the end we realised he also was homesick - it was his first time at camp and away from home. We got him through the week, and although it was difficult at some points for the counsellors, it was really important to work with him. That’s what camp is about. He made it through the week, and when I saw the huge grin on his face Friday morning, and his comment “I MADE IT!!!”, camp was definitely worth it.

So - among other things the kids learned to sing an African welcome song “Mulumele Shangwe”, and made bird feeders to put on trees around the camp. They were quite taken with not only the birds but the chipmunks who came up to get the bird seed.

At the end of July, I hopped on a plane and flew to Toronto. Ack!!!!! Hot, humid, and chock full of traffic going nowhere. My poor little lungs, which by now are used to clean Corner Brook air, really didn’t know quite what to do. Gasping, it was time to whip out the antihistamines again. I miss the people, but sure don’t miss Toronto.

In the week, I did manage to see friends from Glen Ayr, a friend recovering from surgery, and another friend just going for surgery. Plus a walk along the boardwalk, and a wonderful breakfast, with a cruise friend who visited Corner Brook earlier....and of course my wonderful kids and grandkids....and discovered that there is a labyrinth made of stones down on the beach at the boardwalk.....

Norio came back from Japan, and on the 5th of August we were on the road to Newfoundland. It was a nice comfortable drive, and we anticipated a couple of days camping in PEI. Well, we did pitch the tent, but since the rain never let up, we spent most of our time poking around in Charlottetown, Montague, and at the Panmure Island Lighthouse. NO sun at all. View of Panmure Island Beach from the lighthouse - and a shot of the working light.
Back here, there was a week rest and do some work, and some hiking up in the tablelands in Gros Morne. The picture at the top is from that hike. On the 17th we were off to Halifax for the Japan Studies Association of Canada annual conference. Halifax is one of the nicest cities in Canada, and gets better all the time. We ate lots of seafood, sampled beer at a local brewery, sailed on a tall ship “Mar II”, got a wild show from a tugboat, saw Theodore Tugboat of course; and of course, heard papers. I went specifically to hear a paper about the Presbyterian and United Church missioners who “accommodated” the Japanese occupying forces during World War II in Korea, to the detriment of Korean Christians. There was also a comprehensive update from the Consul General of Japan in Montreal regarding the ongoing crisis, and a keynote address on the nature of patriotism and terrorism, particularly in Japan. Lots of good info and some sermon material. The new ferries - Blue Puttees and Highlanders - are much bigger, and even have a helipad on Deck 10....thought you'd like to know that :-)Back in Corner Brook for a wedding on the 23rd, and then off again to L’Anse aux Meadows to see icebergs. Stayed in a beautiful B&B, and of *course*, at our very first breakfast a couple looked up and said “Hey. You’re Rev. Fran aren’t you!” On the second morning, Norio and the young man across the table realised they have offices on the same floor at York University.
....we also met a young woman from Melbourne in Australia - travelling through Newfoundland and Labrador, and were able to connect her to a minister in Labrador. Hope she stops here in Corner Brook on the way back down. And met an fascinating man from Florida who was motorbiking (his wife doesn’t like the bike) - he’s from Germany and has two businesses of his own. That’s really half the fun of a B&B, the people you meet.

Our host at the B&B is a member of the United Church, as is one of her friends who makes the most gorgeous quilts. She had just been out picking the wonderful bakeapple berries, and was happy to sell four quarts freshly picked. It’s berry season!!!!

...and then there were the icebergs. I tend to gush when I get talking about them. We did a two-hour boat trip out on the ocean. Didn’t see any whales but the big bergs more than made up for any of that. Didn’t get tired taking pictures of them either. Morning started out overcast, and the bergs somehow had a pale mauve overcast along with blue and white. As the day went on the sun came out and the pictures got even better. We drove to St. Anthony Bight ( a small cove with a beach and picnic tables) and the whole place was jammed with icebergs. So was St. Carol’s. A local character told us the smaller pieces are called “berg-er bits”. Some of those “bits” are now in the freezer!!!! Imagine drinking something 15,000 years old!

On the return trip we saw two moose, and stopped to look at the wreck of the SS Ethie, which broke up on the shores of Gros Morne in a huge storm - back in the ‘30's. She was a steam/sailing ship which carried people goods and mail up and down the coast. All 94 passengers were safely taken off and no one died, but the wreckage remains. Fascinating.

Norio has returned to Toronto - he did the whole trip including ferry, in 48 hours. I got just a tad snarly because he went almost the whole two days without being in contact - just ate, slept and drove. But at least he is home OK. The house is quiet, and almost back to clean. I have a paper to read, and some schedule planning to do for the fall, and start on service prep.

Update: I went back and read some of the Ruminations on the Road. Those will be posted shortly as well. Also, hope you like pics of icebergs, ‘cause there are a lot.

Letters from Corner Brook - July 10-16, 2011

I can’t begin to keep up with the time here. It’s been unfortunate that my brother-in-law and nephew haven’t been able to get out and draw/paint as much as they might have liked. Friday at Woody Point was a beautiful day, Saturday not bad. Sunday we were back to cold, chilly, wet and generally disgusting. My poor cedars on the deck just get put upright and get going again, and it rains buckets, and they end up over sideways and floating. We keep hearing that the weather is going to get better. Oh yeah?

I don’t remember if I wrote last week about the show at the Bay of Islands Yacht club. In checking, find it wasn’t included. So let’s hop back to last Thursday. Six young people have summer employment with the Bay of Islands Theatre. They did a wonderful dinner show called “A Concise History of Newfoundland”. Only one of these kids is a theatre student. The others were going into various careers like law and medicine. They interspersed funny scenarios taken from Newfoundland history, with songs from Newfoundland and the appropriate historical periods. The dinner was excellent, and we all enjoyed the show. What talent.

Monday the 11th was one of the good days for weather. Bob and Joel went off to Woody Point again; some drawing and photography for Joel; Bob was giving a watercolour workshop in the afternoon. Kathi and I left at the same time, and headed up to L’Anse aux Meadows. It was a fantastic drive, in beautiful weather. Along the way, we stopped at a chip truck - and got a fat lot of shrimps, onion rings and chips.

As we pulled out from the chip truck, I heard a rattling and banging under the car. Stopping to check, discovered the rear mud-flap flapping. Never let it be said that twist-ties are not one of humanity’s great inventions. A simple twist-tie fed through the two holes in the car and the flap, a couple of twists - and it’s miraculously silent again.

In L’Anse aux Meadows (actually Hay Cove) we found our B&B, and then went off to photograph icebergs before dark came. Since the weather was decent, it was a good time to do it. There were a lot of icebergs around. A 100-square mile ice-sheet recently broke off the Arctic’s Petermann glacier - and the bergs we were seeing were pieces of that ice-sheet, moving into the harbours and gradually breaking up into smaller pieces.
http://www.icebergfinder.com/iceberg-map.aspx

That evening, Kathi and I went to the Norseman Restaurant for dinner. It’s a wonderful place to eat, and we had two nice large cod dinners, a partridgeberry martini, chocolate mousse and pannacotta for dessert. During dinner I was telling Kathi about the Festival 500 community choir in Corner Brook during May, with Scott Leithead from Edmonton - and that Scott’s choir Kokopelli, from Edmonton - would be in Corner Brook July 15. The couple at the next table overheard, and mentioned to us that their daughter was singing with Kokopelli but also playing oboe for one of the pieces.

On Tuesday morning, the great weather had again disappeared, and instead we were buried in fog and sheets of rain. Figuring there was little else to do, we went off to explore some of the smaller coves and towns; up to the Dark Tickle store so I could get one of the warm jackets I’d seen the day before. Cold enough to see the breath! We stopped at a small craft store, where I also got a perfect scale model of a Viking ship - Kathi got a pair of labradorite earrings - part of the opal family of stones.Just after one Bob and Joel arrived, and we went to have lunch at a small restaurant called The Daily Catch. Excellent food, including crab cakes and a carrot-ginger soup. By then the weather had improved enough that we could drive to the Viking village of Norstead - a fascinating look into the history of the Norse migration to North America. Please note: Vikings never put horns on their helmets; that was a theatrical addition invented somewhere along the way to make them look more fearsome. After Norstead, we also went to the national Historical Site of L’Anse aux Meadows, and then out for some more photos of icebergs.

That evening we had dinner at the Norseman again. We were joined by a member of the staff of Parks Canada - she pretty well runs Gros Morne, but does other things as well - and was in L’Anse aux Meadows to work with a film crew doing a documentary. I also wanted to hear one of my favourite singers, Wade Hillier, who often performs there. It was a great evening, good food and company. It is without a doubt my favourite restaurant anywhere.

So Wednesday morning we were off again, driving to St. Anthony to see if there were more icebergs around, and just see the lay of the land. Following a quick lunch, Kathi and I were on the road home and the two fellas went out to do some more drawing while they could. They went down to Norris Point and Rocky Harbour, and did some work there.

Friday everyone was on the way home, and life resumed a somewhat different pace again. Friday evening, Corner Brook was treated to the wonderful youth choir from Edmonton - Kokopelli - led by Scott Leithead, who was the choir clinician at the Corner Brook Festival 500 in May. Those of us who sang with the community choir in May were invited to join Kokopelli for the music that we knew. - and I discovered that Scott is a friend of two of my musician friends - Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran.

Saturday morning - today, July 16 - I was out the door to meet a friend who was helping move a deck umbrella from the store to the house. Box was too big for my car, and he has a truck. That done, I worked a little, and then went down to City Hall for the Gay Pride Parade. Who should be there singing and taking part, but Scott Leithead and Kokopelli.

So it’s been a busy week......and I confess to being a bit tired. Just a bit. Starting tomorrow afternoon, I am camp chaplain at West Haven till Friday noon. OK. 35 small kiddies.....fun!

Letters from Corner Brook - Canada Day week.....

Well, what a week! ...where to start?

Monday I guess.....which dawned in a pea-soup fog. Corner Brook *might* get fog once every couple of years. Well, this was the day....I wondered if the Twilight Zone had come and we were suddenly in St. John’s, which *does* get lots of fog.

So - last week had ended with a call from a local funeral home, to take a service Monday afternoon. I didn’t know the family, they weren’t Humber, but asked for United Church. After the service was over, I was approached by a woman who said “It’s a long time since the airport in Toronto!” Then she said “When you walked in this afternoon I thought ‘This person looks right familiar!’. When you started to talk, I thought ‘I know this voice.’ Took a moment but then I remembered we talked in the airport in Toronto, on the way back here to Newfoundland!”

It just goes to show that we never know how those supposedly chance conversations in passing will turn out.

After the service, dashed home to change into more comfortable clothes, and then went to the Comfort Inn to pick up two women I’d met via the cruise network. They were just starting a bus trip through Newfoundland. So we went to the Mamateek Inn for - ahem - cod tongues, with ‘scrunchions’, little tiny pieces of crispy fried salt pork fat. Following dinner, we attempted to drive to Lark Harbour - there were times when it looked as if the fog was lifting, times when we could see right down the bay, but eventually it just got so thick it wasn’t worth driving. So we came back, and went to Steady Brook where the fresh water stream is, to get them a bottle of water for the trip; then down to Bowaters Park for a short walk. They’ve seen a good part of Corner Brook anyway. In the few days since, they report that they had cloudberry (bakeapple) tarts, partridgeberry tarts, moose pie, and figgy duff - have seen four moose and an iceberg. The weather improved and they’ve been enjoying great sunshine and beautiful scenery. Joanne, Fran and Audrey in Corner Brook.

Tuesday was the staff orientation at West Haven United Church camp - so I felt it was a good idea to be there. I’ve started a term as Vice-Chair of the Camp Board, and wanted to meet the staff and just see what was going on. It was a great day, including a fantastic lasagna lunch. The big news is that when the Glidden Paint Store was approached by a member of the board for some donations, he walked away with a commitment for $3000 dollars worth of paint and supplies, and two painters, - to do whatever we need done to the camp buildings. So sometime next week we are going to the camp to volunteer to help the painters.....so I took some pictures of “before”, and will put in “after” when it’s done. There is an iris blooming down on the beach. The title photo is the chapel ready for the evening service.

Wednesday the weather turned, and out came sun and warm weather. Thank goodness! I spent the morning in a conference call, discussing possibilities for the churches in Corner Brook; then some work on paper stuff, in to the hospital to make some visits, in to Home Hardware to order two more deck chairs, and finally finished with dinner out with some friends....sitting on their back deck in the garden watching the birds and just relaxing and enjoying.

Thursday turned out to be one of those days. I’d arranged to meet my colleague Kim at our favourite coffee place for breakfast...and then was going to spend the day just shopping and getting the house in shape. Not to be. My colleague Myles, who chairs Pastoral Oversight, wanted to meet to talk about getting the committee rolling. So from breakfast with Kim, it was downtown to have lunch. Then a run to Zeller’s for stuff for the house, and a meeting with someone from the church for afternoon coffee; then to Canadian Tire for chair cushions, plant pots, a couple of tools and some hooks for the kitchen. Finally got home, and got the outside lights up on the deck.

Oh yes! The landlord came to finish the deck!!! Finally. So, after much mulling about outside gardening, the decision was made to plant some roses and trees in pots on the deck...and not worry about a garden outside where I can’t see it anyway.

If this blog sounds a little disjointed, that’s because I’ve come back to it various times....so picking up on Friday - this time it was up to the church camp for the larger orientation of volunteers. This time it was pack a bag and stay for two nights. Part of my role was worship and music, along with one of our congregation - a youth, Oliver Dingwell, who is also co-chair of our board.

On Sunday morning I ran into town for service at Humber, and then back out again for the afternoon closing worship and communion. There is a great update to the camp, too. Turns out the painting of our camp was exciting enough that the Glidden store is providing up to $7000 worth of supplies, and Tim Horton’s will be supplying coffee and donuts on painting day.

Unfortunately I will be in Toronto when painting day happens....

I am trying to remember what I was doing Monday and Tuesday last week....and I think it was cleaning house frantically. About ten days before, I got an email from my brother-in-law, Bob Sinclair in Edmonton - that he and my nephew Joel were coming to Newfoundland. Bob has an art show at the Discovery Centre in Gros Morne National Park (where he was Artist in Residence in 2009); Joel has got into water colour painting as well, and came along to do some drawing and see Newfoundland. After some verbal arm wrestling with my sister, I persuaded her to come as well. That meant that Wednesday of this past week, July 5, they were arriving. Massive cleaning of house, moving of things out of the bedroom, buying more furniture for the deck, and generally getting everything prepared.

And Wednesday they arrived. We went to the train museum, drove out to Lark Harbour and back, stopped to eat, and took a walk in the newly-redone Margaret Bowaters Park. I wanted to make sure they were tired enough to sleep well. They did....

On Friday we took a trip up to Gros Morne, to Woody Point and Trout River. There is an excellent fish place in Trout River, called the Seaside Restaurant....Bob and Joel had fresh cod, Kathi had fresh sole, and I had my first mess of “caplin”, small sardines which come up the shore in droves, and can be picked up by hand. They were so fresh and so sweet, and perfectly cooked. I introduced Kathi to bakeapple berries - in a beautiful ice-cream parfait dessert. Plus we got fairly well snockered on a partridge-berry cocktail. Unfortunately I forgot all about taking a picture of the wonderful food....oh well.

That evening we went to a barbecue at the home of the Gros Morne Park geologist - a wonderful woman Kris Oravec. There we met the current artist-in-residence, from Yorkshire in the UK; a sculptor from the UK living in Newfoundland, and a textile artist working out of Woody Point. I took along some ground moose, moose steaks, and moose sausage. They were all a big hit! We enjoyed a lovely evening together.

Saturday was back to life in Corner Brook. Bob and Joel went off to Woody Point for the opening of the show. Kathi sat at home and rested and read, and I went off to perform a wedding, and attend the reception.

So here we are at Sunday again. Can’t believe how the time is flying. We had a wild storm in Corner Brook last night and into today - high winds and buckets of rain. My laundry which was almost dry didn’t get taken in, hence was not only wet but dirty again. So much rain came down that the dirt in the pots got splashed up on the laundry. The rain is finally ending, the pots are slightly drained out, and I think we are going out for a trek to the mall, and some dinner....

Cheers at the end of another two weeks in Newfoundland.....and the beautiful tablelands of Gros Morne Park.