signs
No, not the movie. (Mel Gibson, crop circles.)
I’m talking about the hilarious game we played at our neighbours house as we got together to celebrate Christmas night with the eating of left overs (from lunch.) I’m blogging this so I don’t forget.
Elements of the game:
- A group of people sitting in a circle.
- The person who is ‘it’ stands in the middle of the circle.
- “Signs” that every player has- this could be scratching a nose, tapping an arm, poking out a tongue, tugging an ear, whatever, as long as it’s simple to do.
- “Has it” – this mysterious concept, a “chosen one” among the seated players. This gets passed around.
Game play
Every player has a signal. Perhaps people keep their signals from game to game. Go around the circle, and try to remember everyone’s sign. Now pick someone to be ‘it’ (they stand) and some one in the sitting group to start. They are now holding “chosen one” status.
Passing it on
A seated player does their own signal, then the signal of another player. (For example, scratching their nose then tapping their knee.) A pass is only completely when the second player receives.
Receiving
The second player acknowledges that they have received the “chosen one status” by making their own signal. Then they pass it on to somebody else by making their signal.
While all this is going on, ‘it’ is looking around the circle, trying to “trap” someone by asking them if they have the “chosen one status” (ie: “do you have it?”) when in fact, they do. This is when a person has received the status but hasn’t passed it on yet.
When someone is caught with the chosen one stuatus, they exchange places with ‘it’ (note: they keep their own signals!)
Special Fairness Rules
- A seated player, once the second signal has been made once, may re-transmit this signal again, but may not change signals, even if the second player is not paying attention.
- ‘It’ may not ask everyone in the circle systematically one after the other if they “have it”. They must also wait at least 5 seconds between asking.
- Only the person who “has it” or is receiving the status may make signals.
COMMENTS
traveler’s journal part 2
2 Dec Argentina 5:40pm
Hello! I hail from the future! We left Auckland at 9ish on the 2nd after delays. It was a medical type emergency (3 St Johns and 2 other) fro a lady on the Aerolineas flight from Sydney to Auckland. She was in the glass hallway- we could see the drama but not hear it. She was on our flight so we had to wait. At one point they wanted to put heart monitor sticker things on her, which have to go on chest skin obviously. 3 Aerolineas guys immediately blocked the view by standing there with their coats held out- I was impressed. Finally we got on the flight- those Auckland employees need a medal!
Before I forget, we got metal cutlery (plastic knife) on Emirates, but my feet didn’t touch the floor! I fit much better in the Aerolineas Argentinas seats, but we had all plastic cutlery.
2 Dec Argentina 7:15pm
I waited to the end of the queue for the Aerolineas desk, as lots of people had missed flights because of the delay, so I waited for them to finish. Then I was sen looking for a TAM desk. There is no TAM desk. I found some TAM staff, and they told me to wait till a gate was assigned and then to go there. So I killed some time by getting some pesos changed- I’m enjoying Spanish, though the rapid Spanish of Argentina has me say “que?” (what) only to get a rephrase in English. Grr. The Aerolineas food was good. Even though the trays were a bit beat up, it was homey. The chicken wasn’t bony, fatty or gristly, there was just enough sauce for the rice, a hot bread roll was very welcome and the apple pudding was tasty. The individually wrapped Tim Tam was pure win.
The toilets were out of any kind of paper unfortunately at the end of the flight, which was a bit gross. The flight was a bit rough and ready, and perhaps the meal trays could have been picked up quicker, but I was pretty happy. The seats reclined further than the ones on Emirates as well.
After spinning more lies (to keep the surprise) and letting my friends and neighbours know where I was (By getting some internet time) It finally was time to go and get my boarding pass. “Pasaporte por favor” – “si” – “es Australiana… tiene visa” The tone was “uh oh- Aussie- oh, she has a visa, good good.” The airlines care about the visas becaus they foot the bill of the deportation (if you don’t have a return ticket) so you get checked over before you leave.
I’m enjoying a beautiful golden sunset. Mm. I’m getting closer- this time tomorrow I will be in Bolivia!
This is the second part of my travel story- the final part sometime this week or the next.
Part One (Part Two) Part Three
COMMENTS
best Christmas card ever
My sister received one of the best Christmas cards I have ever seen.
On the front, it said:
Happy Birthday!
And on the inside:
WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S NOT YOUR BIRTHDAY!!?
…um, I mean… uh… Ooops!
Merry Christmas!
Hey! At least I got it on the second try!
I liked it.
COMMENTS
traveler’s journal part 1
This is pretty much exactly transcribed from the journal I took as I was travelling- the more tired I got, the more flaked out the entries become. They are in present tense as I was writing them as if I was blogging on paper.
The following entries get me to almost the end of my time in Auckland.
Melbourne, 02/Dec/07
It was sad saying good bye to my friends and family. I’m excited about arriving in Bolivia though. Right now I’m sitting at gate 9, it’s 7:20 am and I’m waiting for the 8:10 Auckland flight (on Emirates).
I’m worried that my web of lies won’t hold up and my family will find out, by ringing up or something. I’m also nervous about changing planes and airlines in Auckland- I’ve got to pick up my little suitcase (16.7k) and check in again. I’ve got a while in Auckland, so that’s good.
…
Just got shuffled around the departure lounge- causing much confusion. It makes sense though, they want the transit passengers from Dubai kept apart from the others so they can board first. However, there are some anxious people who feel as though they are being left behind- chill!
Auckland, 3:30pm
I’m in New Zealand! Not just in the airport- I can actually go outside- and I have. Just outside the door though. I’m currently waiting for flight AR1183 to open it’s check in counter.
While waiting for my little suitcase on the luggage carousel, I’ve decided why beagles are used as sniffer dogs, it’s because they’re very cute! (not to mention good sniffers.) I had a care going through customs- “what’s that food in the tin?” said the official sternly. “Oh yeah! It’s a Christmas pudding.” “oh ok, lots of those this time of year.” phew!
Emirates was good, the service was nice- hot wet towels before the meal to freshen up! The entertainment system (ICE) was brilliant- I was sorry to not be using it for very long. I enjoyed the music- all top #1 hits in the UK from 1952 till today (I had fun looking up significant years/months- what was a hit when I was born, when my parents got married, etc.) I also enjoyed the cameras- there is one underneath the plane and one on the nose, so you can really see the view even if you don’t have a window. The seating configuration was 2-4-2, I was on the aisle at 23B.
The food was excellent- but that brings me to where Emirates loses points. The tray tables are dodgy, hard to understand. Mine broke, I wanted it to fill in the arrivals card and it wouldn’t budge. Also, when the person in front reclines, there is no where for the table to go, it stays flat, but it is close to the seat in front, you can’t pull it out closer to you. If you have something too tall- like a glass, it will fall over- the person next to me caught her glass just in time! I was also asked to put my seat up (I had just reclined it slightly and forgotten about it) before the meal.
The seats where fairly comfy but a bit funny shaped- had no neck support/allowance. The pull out ears where good though- they don’t fold past 90 degrees like the Qantas ones. The decor was tasteful and pretty. ICE saved Emirates- and the service, but for all the good press they get, I had expected more.
6pm Auckland 02 Dec/07
I’m still in New Zealand, but finally in to the departures bit, after an hour long wait in the Aerolineas queue. They did apologise for the delay, system problems. I saw some girls a head of me in the queue who had to re pack one of their bags because it was too heavy (I think they were sharing a bag.) At the check in counter the guy tried to book my bag all the way to Cochabamba- “I’ll do my best- there, all the way.” He said. “To Cochabamba?” I said, not seeing the CBB on the luggage label. “No, just to Asunción. It’s a local flight maybe.” “Más o menos.” “Más o menos..” (smile.) more or less
I went and paid the departure fee- 25NZD, I don’t have NZD on me and offer to change USD. Credit Card? yep. I hit savings- won’t work. Credit card. Through Security no hassle, (though I think I register as slightly higher than normal metal content (medical metal bits) but I was ok.) The customs/border guy said- you’ve been here one day? “Yeah, I had to get my suitcase, go out and come in again.” “fun times”
I’m slightly annoyed as I have no passport proof that I’ve actually been to NZ- no stamps. I did remember to get a stamp in Melbourne though.
Auckland is beautiful- the mountains and the water. I’m enjoying the view. I think one day is a bit short to spend in NZ. The security people’s uniform is a light teal-y blue- they don’t look severe, they look like a staffer from the Roller Coaster Tycoon game. heheheh. Another culture shock type thing is how much water is used in one toilet flush- no half flushes in Auckland because there are no water restrictions!
Auckland airport is a bit quirky, “attention so-n-so, your aircraft is ready to depart- and everyone is waiting for you.” Also they don’t put up gate numbers till there is only a little time to go- it’s because all the facilities are about the gates- it’s a bit like descending into the pit of despair.
At this point, God bless John for buying me the Worther’s Originals. I have been walking around, drinking water and using the loo, so I feel pretty good- tired, but that’s a positive as I’ll sleep on the plane.
more to come!
Part Two Part Three
COMMENTS
an adventure!
Well, it’s December, and I haven’t blogged yet. I am now back in Bolivia (just in time for some interesting social/political situations) and enjoying spending time with my family.
I kept a journal as I traveled, so will soon blog about my airport/airline experiences and opinions.