TAMMY SHOWS US HOW TO EXPLORE OUR WORLD!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

Hello there to all our friends in this diverse and wonderful world!
We hope you have all had a happy weekend and have perhaps had the opportunity to watch some of the amazing
SOCCER WORLD CUP SPECTACLE!!!

After Friday's opening ceremony and the numerous matches since then, I feel quite exhausted. Some of us in this family are already "Soccered Out".  But there's no stopping now! This is a once in a lifetime experience and it is also so wonderful to be part of the blogging celebratons of ...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY!!!
Thank you to all those bloggers who have already participated by putting up special posts towards this campaign.  You can view all these posts by going to the special links at the top of my right hand tool bar. I personally have already learned so much from you all, so ...

THANK YOU BLOGGERS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING DURING THIS DRIVE!!!
If you are interested in joining the bid to foster greater understanding between bloggers, countries and nations, please go and visit the infomation post by clicking
HERE

---xXx---

Although we spent an enormous amount of time around our television this weekend (with me also on this computer!), one highlight of the weekend was our walk yesterday with
TAMMY-GIRL!
In our endeavours to build her self esteem after the loss of her MAXDOG a few weeks ago, we decided to take her walking to the doggie section of the
JOHANNESBURG BOTANICAL GARDENS.
We had the perfect sunny winter's day yesterday and since most people were busy watching the game between Serbia and Ghana, our roads were relatively empty...

I want to show you these pictures because I believe that our TAMMY-GIRL is finding her own feet and coming into her own. Her outing yesterday taught me too about the value of embracing change.  She is embracing the changes in her own life and is being open to new things we offer her. 

Shouldn't we all strive to do this as we open our hearts to others in the world who aren't quite like ourselves? Let's take a look at Tammy's approach to new opportunities...

"The unknown makes us all cautiously apprehensive!"

"What is this journey all about?"

"It's a good thing to sniff things out first!"

"...because there is a really big, unknown world out there!"

"...with diverse people, races and unknown cultures."

"...but I am part of this big, wide world!"

"...and I can find my feet!"

"I can take on new challenges!"

"..into unknown territory!"

"...and realise that it can be lots of fun!

Sometimes it can be daunting too, but in the end I move beyond myself towards my own personal growth!"

"Running on the edges is not quite the same as being part of the action!"

"...although a little loving encouragement does help!"

"There are opportunities to look out for..."

"Taking those steps out of our own comfort zone give us the chance to become the person who we are truly meant to be!"

WHY NOT STEP OUTSIDE YOUR OWN COMFORT ZONE TODAY?

---xXx---

The Soccer World Cup games today involve a further six countries. In my attempt to explore the amazing diversity of the world in which we live, here are six recipes for some of the cuisine from these countries. 

NETHERLANDS

DENMARK

JAPAN
During my past studies, I came across the tradition of the
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY

I personally admire the ethos behind this particular ceremony simply because of the quality of the interation between the two people involved as well as its focus on creating the perfect environment for hospitality.

(If you are interested in the detail of this tradition, you can simply "google it".)

 I have simplified it, in my own words, (to the extreme) in order to make my point. 

(I do not mean to offend anyone in the simplification)

Very special care is taken with each step. 

These are the basic steps...

1. Prepare the place for your guests.

2. Boil a pot of water.

3. Offer something sweet to your guests.

4.Make the tea

5. Serve the tea to your guests.

In my opinion, the beauty of this ceremony is that it's

entire focus is towards creating harmony

by paying attention to the details of things which are generally overlooked.

By paying careful attention to the treatment and understanding of those around you, you can serve to make the world a better place! You can serve to foster harmony! We can learn so much from this small but important routine!

THANK YOU, JAPAN!

---xXx---

CAMEROON

ITALY

PARAGUAY

Wishing all my friends and guests in my country..

A WONDERFUL, HAPPY  and EXPLORATORY MONDAY!

Good luck to ALL the playing teams!!!