Elna only blogs sometimes now

Why hello!

There's a little trail of my breadcrumbs across the interwebs of my old blogs that you have somehow landed on.
Have a browse, and then hurry over to Sometimes Elna Blogs, which is where the real (current) party is at.

Elna

Thought of the day

I've been thinking today about why God would love us. Not just why he'd love the worst parts of me, but why he'd want to love us at all. I mean, who makes a bunch of people who don't give a crap about you, just to love them? I believe it, but it doesn't make much sense to me.

My friend Matthew jokingly said it's because God doesn't have anything better to do. Theologians would probably say it's because he created us, but that really doesn't answer much. And my mom would say I don't need to know why he loves, just that he does. (Gotta love those mom-answers!)

I kept mulling it over, and I think Matthew may just be right in a way about him having nothing better to do. Not that God is somehow divinely bored, but that this is actually the best thing he could have done. That, somehow, loving us, even when we hate him, seemed like a better option than forcing us, or not loving us at all.
Strange, isn't it?

Yeah, so that's what I've been thinking about. Somehow I don't mind that's it isn't resolved. We can't always aim for understanding everything.
**El

Sidenote: With the busyness that is my life there isn't much time for upkeeping the blog as I had hoped when starting it. So, I'm just keeping it open and random, for anything I feel like saying. Please comment if you read this & want to tell me about it.

Partying it up 50's style

As most girls I love a good dress up, so I jumped at the chance when invited to a 50's party last night. It was the annual meeting of our student newspaper (of which I am the new Arts & Entertainment editor, hurrah!). They went for a Mad Men inspired 50's newsroom theme and it turned out so well. 

Mignon (my favourite wingwoman and soon-to-be roomie) and I went all out in beehives and red lipstick. She wore a high-waisted skirt over a pretty lace top.  I was in a polka dot dress with a red belt. It was originally a hilarious looking pantsuit that I picked up for cheap cheap and altered into a dress. One of my favourite second-hand bargains I've had in ages.

Everybody looked so stylish- fedoras, pearls and paisley suspenders borrowed from grandpas. 

I wish we could dress like this every day!

The road calms me.

"Do you want to go home yet?" 

"I never want to go home yet."

I brought my car down to the university this term in the hope that it'll help me break out of a small-town life that's slowly becoming routine.
My friend Mignon and I took a long detour tonight, just because we can, and ended up snaking our way through the suburbs high above the city. In the spirit of whimsy, we took turns in choosing to go left or right and promised to only talk about things of no consequence.

I know we all have those amazing, big road trips in life and see amazing places, and I ppreciate it as much as the next travel-fanatic... but sometimes all you need to calm down and get perspective is a little a bit of road on the slope of a hill.

Wishing you something unexpected,
*El

Never

10 Lessons I Learnt the Hard Way


1. Never tell an interviewer you're not sure.
2. Never wear sandals on rainy days because you think you can defy the Weather Channel.
3. Never speed when trying to cross a border. Especially not when grumpy French people are involved.
4. Never talk about people in front of them because you assume they don't understand your language. 
5. Never skip washing day.
6. Never forget cake in the oven.
7. Never think you'll have infinite time.
8. Never bite your dentist back.
9. Never think 'that looks dodgy but I'll eat it anyway.'
10. Never forget to say goodbye.

Vovo Telo

I always look forward to meeting my friend Karin when I come home for the holidays, especially because she always takes me to the sweetest new coffee shops. Last week she took me to Vovo Telo, a great new bakery that just opened in Pretoria (with more branches in Port Elizabeth and Joburg).

There's good coffee, a variety of breads and cakes, and that great hot chocolate that comes on a stick.
The atmosphere is light and airy, which makes it perfect for breakfast or coffee.  
Go check out their adorable website for more.

Have a great week!
*El

Brazil: the good stuff

During the first week of The Travel Project I've peeked into the facts and places of Brazil, but this is where is gets interesting. This is the stuff you remember later whenthink of "that one time in Brazil, when..."

The first time I really fell in love with Brazil was when we covered capoeira in anthropology at college. This is the most graceful and powerful sport I know, with an amazing mix of dance, acrobatics and martial arts. It started out as a way for slaves to train themselves, yet look like they're dancing, and has evolved into a wonderful discipline that brings communities together and keeps kids out of trouble. It's development was also closely linked to the creation of various Afro-Brazilian instruments and their usage, which is also fascinating.
Check out this stylised video and this more realistic vid to understand why capoeira is on my must-experience list for Brazil.

The biggest tourist draw and arguably the biggest event in Brazil is of course the carnival about a month before Easter. Although Rio and Sao Paulo have the most famous carnivals, the big and sparkly festival takes place all over Brazil and with variations across the country. Although this isn't the biggest pull for me, if you're going to go to Brazil, this is definitely something you can't miss. I'd probably stick to the sea-side carnivals, especially those with lots of audience-participation. And of course, the carnival is a great place to see and experience the iconically sexy samba. 

There is so, so much more to explore, and I feel like I barely even touched on Brazil this week. But, after all, this project is not about knowing everything- it's about exploring what's out there and being enchanted by possibilities.
Week 1 is over and I'm quite glad I'm doing this project, even if just for myself.

Have a great Sunday
*El

photos by Timor-Leste at  UN Photo/Martine Perret and Prefeitura de Olinda