I promised a few people I wouldn't write these blogs in Spanish, so I won't, don't worry.
One of the things I really wanted coming down here was to become fluent, or at least proficient, in Spanish. Considering how much I've traveled to Spanish-speaking countries, I figured it's a good skill to have, not to mention the fact that I'm going to be here for a year in total.
At this point I'm three and a half months into my time here, and I've progressed a little bit in Spanish (mostly on being able to understand other people when they speak, which, granted, is a huge first step). But I still haven't spoken much Spanish...I'm not forced to, because nearly everyone on the Ranch speaks English, and those that don't I can normally get by with the limited Spanish I have, and if I'm desperate, get one of the students to translate. Going to church forces me to at least listen in Spanish (unless I feel like being lazy and totally rely on the translator). I got together with one of my students a handful of times and she helped me a bit, but life got busy and we stopped that.
A few weeks ago (or maybe a month ago, I don't remember), a new Honduran teacher moved to the Ranch. She is bilingual (not all the Honduran teachers are - they teach the students in Spanish), and somewhere along the line she was willing to start a Spanish conversation "class"...basically a group of us get together and spend the time conversing, mostly in Spanish, so we can practice. Last night was my first night going to the class (I just found out about it a week ago, I don't know how long it's been going). I was nervous walking into it. I know I can read well in Spanish, but I don't have much confidence at all in my conversational skills [in Spanish or in English!].
I didn't really have anything to be nervous about...the class went really well. We spent two and a half hours talking, mostly in Spanish, with some English thrown in. At one point my teacher looked at me and the girl sitting next to me on the couch and asked us why we don't normally speak in Spanish, because we definitely know enough to converse at this point. For me, it's one part uncertainty and one part fear.
I'm accustomed to knowing what I'm doing, and having a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about. And hopefully there will come a time when that translates into Spanish as well as English, but for now, I don't trust myself speaking in Spanish. When I'm talking with people who only understand Spanish, the need to communicate can override the uncertainty...I'll take a stab at speaking because the other option is to sit in silence, but when I'm talking with someone (like my students) who understand both, and who know English much better than I know Spanish, I usually revert to English. Hopefully I can force myself to stop that. I'm getting to know one of my girls better, we've spent some time together, and with her I may be comfortable enough to try speaking in Spanish.
It was encouraging for my teacher to ask me why I don't speak in Spanish, because it implied that I could. Now I just need to get over myself and be willing to make mistakes and look like a fool in front of people...which for me is very difficult...but it's necessary if I want to get past where I'm at right now. I'm not going to improve if I'm not willing to take some risks here.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
And There ARE Good Days
I hate leaving depressing posts up for too long. Not that it was necessarily depressing as much as it was just reality, and some times reality isn't flowers, hearts, bunny rabbits, and rainbows. But the past twenty-four plus hours were definitely an encouragement.
First, I do have to mention the e-mail responses I got back from my newsletter, because hearing from people back home is always awesome. It makes my day to know that people at home are thinking of me (even if they're just thinking of me because they opened their inbox and found a page-long e-mail from me). I appreciate it a lot, so thank you (and keep them coming).
Yesterday was relaxing. I read a little. I went to the dentist...for admittedly the first time in a while...and the dentists were from home...the next town over or so from me, so while I was laying there with my mouth open we talked about home (well, they talked...you know how it is). And no cavities, which was nice. Maybe not so relaxing, but nice. I watched a movie with my roommate. And, I got invited to play Settlers of Catan with some of the other people on the Ranch. I've been invited once or twice before but never went. Well, yesterday I figured it sounded like fun (and it was). The game "started" at 8...rather board set-up started at 8, which for those of you who play know something of how that goes...and we weren't playing the original, we were playing with an expansion set, which includes building ships to explore the ocean...so the set-up was a little more involved than usual. But still, fun was had and the game eventually ended shortly after 11. When I was walking home, I noticed it seemed rather bright out and looked up to a rather spectacular display of stars. It was a completely clear night...much clearer than we've had lately. So after I got home I put on a sweatshirt (it was a little chilly out), went back out and spent another 10 to 15 minutes wandering around and staring at the stars. The moon was bright enough that I didn't even use the flashlight I had brought with me.
Today, driving in to church in the busito also was good. On the way, we pick up a family who lives about a mile or so from the Ranch. Bienvenida almost always comes, and some of her children and grandchildren...which changes from week to week. At times there are two or three people we're picking up, at times there are six. Today it was Bienvenida, three of her children (she has 8 or 9 I think...but I don't know for sure), and two grandchildren. One of them, Valeria, comes often...and today she was the first one on the busito, and picked the seat next to me. She just turned two last week, and she's adorable...just saying. Within ten minutes, Valeria started nodding off, and leaning against my side...which with the bounciness of the busito didn't really seem that comfortable for her, so I picked her up and put her in my lap...and she promptly fell asleep. She slept until after we were in the city (while we were picking up other people...it's a 15 passenger busito...and usually it's pretty full by time we get to church). There's something restful about a child sleeping in your lap. And considering Valeria was super shy and refused to make eye contact with me for the first month or so after I got here, it was encouraging. [After church I got a chance to hold Bienvenida's other granddaughter, who is 4 months old. She fell asleep against my shoulder...it took her about three minutes after we left the church. She slept all the way to the mall, where we stopped to eat...about 15 minutes later...and considering all the babies I'm missing at home who were just born or will soon be born...yeah, a baby fix today was a good thing.]
All that to say, today was a good day. Hopefully tomorrow will be good as well. But for now...bed should probably happen sometime soon, because I do have school tomorrow...it's the beginning of the second-to-last week of school for the semester. No small amount of excitement there...it's just a matter of trying to end things at a "natural" stopping point. Hmm...about that...
First, I do have to mention the e-mail responses I got back from my newsletter, because hearing from people back home is always awesome. It makes my day to know that people at home are thinking of me (even if they're just thinking of me because they opened their inbox and found a page-long e-mail from me). I appreciate it a lot, so thank you (and keep them coming).
Yesterday was relaxing. I read a little. I went to the dentist...for admittedly the first time in a while...and the dentists were from home...the next town over or so from me, so while I was laying there with my mouth open we talked about home (well, they talked...you know how it is). And no cavities, which was nice. Maybe not so relaxing, but nice. I watched a movie with my roommate. And, I got invited to play Settlers of Catan with some of the other people on the Ranch. I've been invited once or twice before but never went. Well, yesterday I figured it sounded like fun (and it was). The game "started" at 8...rather board set-up started at 8, which for those of you who play know something of how that goes...and we weren't playing the original, we were playing with an expansion set, which includes building ships to explore the ocean...so the set-up was a little more involved than usual. But still, fun was had and the game eventually ended shortly after 11. When I was walking home, I noticed it seemed rather bright out and looked up to a rather spectacular display of stars. It was a completely clear night...much clearer than we've had lately. So after I got home I put on a sweatshirt (it was a little chilly out), went back out and spent another 10 to 15 minutes wandering around and staring at the stars. The moon was bright enough that I didn't even use the flashlight I had brought with me.
Today, driving in to church in the busito also was good. On the way, we pick up a family who lives about a mile or so from the Ranch. Bienvenida almost always comes, and some of her children and grandchildren...which changes from week to week. At times there are two or three people we're picking up, at times there are six. Today it was Bienvenida, three of her children (she has 8 or 9 I think...but I don't know for sure), and two grandchildren. One of them, Valeria, comes often...and today she was the first one on the busito, and picked the seat next to me. She just turned two last week, and she's adorable...just saying. Within ten minutes, Valeria started nodding off, and leaning against my side...which with the bounciness of the busito didn't really seem that comfortable for her, so I picked her up and put her in my lap...and she promptly fell asleep. She slept until after we were in the city (while we were picking up other people...it's a 15 passenger busito...and usually it's pretty full by time we get to church). There's something restful about a child sleeping in your lap. And considering Valeria was super shy and refused to make eye contact with me for the first month or so after I got here, it was encouraging. [After church I got a chance to hold Bienvenida's other granddaughter, who is 4 months old. She fell asleep against my shoulder...it took her about three minutes after we left the church. She slept all the way to the mall, where we stopped to eat...about 15 minutes later...and considering all the babies I'm missing at home who were just born or will soon be born...yeah, a baby fix today was a good thing.]
All that to say, today was a good day. Hopefully tomorrow will be good as well. But for now...bed should probably happen sometime soon, because I do have school tomorrow...it's the beginning of the second-to-last week of school for the semester. No small amount of excitement there...it's just a matter of trying to end things at a "natural" stopping point. Hmm...about that...
Saturday, November 5, 2011
I'm Ready to Get Off the Emotional Rollercoaster
Anytime now...
It's been an interesting month, filled with ups and downs. One day I'm fine, the next day I'm super homesick. Then I'm happy, then frustrated with things. I'm pretty sure in the three plus months I've been down here I've run a wider gamut of emotions than I have in the last five years.
Building new relationships takes work, and it hurts sometimes. At home, most of my friends have known me for years, and by this point they know my limitations, they know how to read me, whether I'm taking something as a joke or taking something personally. They know if I'm joking or serious (well, some of the time). They know what I'm interested in and what I like to do. And I know the same about them. I know how to push their buttons and how to avoid those buttons. I know what topics will set them off, and what they need to talk about. And I'm so comfortable in those relationships, that I forget how much you have to learn about other people in building relationships, because that knowledge didn't come automatically. How do you find out what sets someone off...by accidently doing so. [Sometimes they tell you ahead of time, but even then, often it takes experience to remember those things.] A lot of grace has to be extended when you're getting to know someone...and I'm trying, but sometimes it's more difficult than others. And living in close confines while this is going on exacerbates the issues at times.
Most good relationships I have at home were built over months and sometimes years of acquaintance. Here, I don't have that luxury. I'm being stretched in this and I'm not comfortable with it. [Then again, I know God never called us to be comfortable.] The more uncomfortable I get, the more I want to hop on a plane and go home...and the more I know I need to stay here and work through it. Which means that there have been a few times when I've been pretty miserable, lonely, and just weary.
There are things going on at home that don't help me much with this process either. Progress is happening on my grandpa's house, and I'm missing it. I spent many hours and a lot of sweat working on that house. And while it's good to see pictures of how the progress is coming, there's part of me that wishes I was there, however weird that sounds. I found out a few weeks ago that I'm going to be an aunt - my brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child. And I'm going to miss this whole process, the baby showers, the preparations, etc. When I come home in June, I'll have a little niece or nephew. A beautiful thing...but so much that I'm missing. And when I'm struggling with relationships here, or when misunderstandings come up, that's what I focus on...what I'm missing at home.
I use personal space as my buffer. At home, when something happens that causes me to react emotionally, I'll retreat and think about it and work through it until I can see it dispassionately or logically, and then decide how to react. At home, if I need to avoid someone for a few days until that happens, usually I can. Here, not so much, so I find myself operating more with my emotions than usual. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but again it's an uncomfortable thing for me.
And then there are days like yesterday, where emotions are all over the place. Yesterday was the second anniversary of my grandfather's "heavenly birthday" as my aunt puts it. November 4, 2009 he went to be with the Lord (and all his family and friends who had gone before him). I knew the anniversary was coming, I was trying to emotionally prepare for it, but there isn't much you can do about it. This week I've been more emotionally raw than usual. And then yesterday morning I checked facebook...and found that my cousins (on that side of the family) had their little baby girl born yesterday, on that anniversary. Little baby Miranda is the first great grandchild in that family (though three more are coming in the next six months). It was an interesting day - joy and sorrow intermingled.
And all of that is happening at home and I'm still here...where I know I'm supposed to be, but at times that doesn't make it any easier. I know I'm here for a reason. Part of that reason may be God teaching me how to work through relationships and emotions as opposed to just ignoring them until I have a chance to think about it. [And there are many good things happening too, please don't misunderstand me...I just don't struggle with those...maybe I'll talk about those in my next blog entry so it doesn't seem like I think my life is awful. :-)]
It's been an interesting month, filled with ups and downs. One day I'm fine, the next day I'm super homesick. Then I'm happy, then frustrated with things. I'm pretty sure in the three plus months I've been down here I've run a wider gamut of emotions than I have in the last five years.
Building new relationships takes work, and it hurts sometimes. At home, most of my friends have known me for years, and by this point they know my limitations, they know how to read me, whether I'm taking something as a joke or taking something personally. They know if I'm joking or serious (well, some of the time). They know what I'm interested in and what I like to do. And I know the same about them. I know how to push their buttons and how to avoid those buttons. I know what topics will set them off, and what they need to talk about. And I'm so comfortable in those relationships, that I forget how much you have to learn about other people in building relationships, because that knowledge didn't come automatically. How do you find out what sets someone off...by accidently doing so. [Sometimes they tell you ahead of time, but even then, often it takes experience to remember those things.] A lot of grace has to be extended when you're getting to know someone...and I'm trying, but sometimes it's more difficult than others. And living in close confines while this is going on exacerbates the issues at times.
Most good relationships I have at home were built over months and sometimes years of acquaintance. Here, I don't have that luxury. I'm being stretched in this and I'm not comfortable with it. [Then again, I know God never called us to be comfortable.] The more uncomfortable I get, the more I want to hop on a plane and go home...and the more I know I need to stay here and work through it. Which means that there have been a few times when I've been pretty miserable, lonely, and just weary.
There are things going on at home that don't help me much with this process either. Progress is happening on my grandpa's house, and I'm missing it. I spent many hours and a lot of sweat working on that house. And while it's good to see pictures of how the progress is coming, there's part of me that wishes I was there, however weird that sounds. I found out a few weeks ago that I'm going to be an aunt - my brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child. And I'm going to miss this whole process, the baby showers, the preparations, etc. When I come home in June, I'll have a little niece or nephew. A beautiful thing...but so much that I'm missing. And when I'm struggling with relationships here, or when misunderstandings come up, that's what I focus on...what I'm missing at home.
I use personal space as my buffer. At home, when something happens that causes me to react emotionally, I'll retreat and think about it and work through it until I can see it dispassionately or logically, and then decide how to react. At home, if I need to avoid someone for a few days until that happens, usually I can. Here, not so much, so I find myself operating more with my emotions than usual. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but again it's an uncomfortable thing for me.
And then there are days like yesterday, where emotions are all over the place. Yesterday was the second anniversary of my grandfather's "heavenly birthday" as my aunt puts it. November 4, 2009 he went to be with the Lord (and all his family and friends who had gone before him). I knew the anniversary was coming, I was trying to emotionally prepare for it, but there isn't much you can do about it. This week I've been more emotionally raw than usual. And then yesterday morning I checked facebook...and found that my cousins (on that side of the family) had their little baby girl born yesterday, on that anniversary. Little baby Miranda is the first great grandchild in that family (though three more are coming in the next six months). It was an interesting day - joy and sorrow intermingled.
And all of that is happening at home and I'm still here...where I know I'm supposed to be, but at times that doesn't make it any easier. I know I'm here for a reason. Part of that reason may be God teaching me how to work through relationships and emotions as opposed to just ignoring them until I have a chance to think about it. [And there are many good things happening too, please don't misunderstand me...I just don't struggle with those...maybe I'll talk about those in my next blog entry so it doesn't seem like I think my life is awful. :-)]
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Lessons Relearned...
I've kept a journal sporadically from the time I was 12. From time to time I look through them (but I haven't done so for about 4 or 5 years at this point...I may have to do that after I get home). With the advent of technology and the internet there are other ways to record your thoughts. Every (school) year, I keep a journal in a (password protected) document on my computer, as well as paper journals I write in, because there is something about physically holding a pen...and writing in fun colors...even if it takes longer.
And then there are the online journals and blogs...I had a Xanga account for about 4 years, and about a month and a half ago I went through that and copied out some of the more interesting or funny posts. And from time to time I write a note on Facebook. I was bored today (weekends tend to be pretty low-key around here) so I went back and started reading old notes. Here is an excerpt from one of them that spoke to me again as I was reading through it...especially in light of what I'm doing right now. For those of you who are friends with me on facebook, the original note was written September 27, 2008...if you want to read it in its entirety:
And then there are the online journals and blogs...I had a Xanga account for about 4 years, and about a month and a half ago I went through that and copied out some of the more interesting or funny posts. And from time to time I write a note on Facebook. I was bored today (weekends tend to be pretty low-key around here) so I went back and started reading old notes. Here is an excerpt from one of them that spoke to me again as I was reading through it...especially in light of what I'm doing right now. For those of you who are friends with me on facebook, the original note was written September 27, 2008...if you want to read it in its entirety:
I was listening to an FFH cd in my car while I was driving tonight, and this song came on. Now I know the song. I'm singing along with the song. And then I started listening to and thinking about what I was singing. And I repeated the song a few times as the message sank in. Because I think it was a message I needed to hear. So I'm going to write a few portions of the song here (with apologies to the band) and kind of what my thought process was...
Have I ever told you that I love the way you turned out
Have I ever told you that I've been watching and I'm so proud
How often do I tell people what I love about them? And not in a cheesy, corny way, but sincerely. How often do I vocalize my appreciation for other people? Um, not much. If at all. (Yes, they were sentence fragments, deal with it...). Honestly, in a culture that is so focused on itself and/or those who stand out in physical/athletic/entertainment/financial ways...how often do people who are very generous daily get recognized. I'm not talking about those who give millions of dollars (out of their billions of dollars)...I'm talking about those who take their time, which is precious, to reach out to someone else. People who give of what they don't have much of to help those who need it. People who are kind just because...because that's who Jesus is. People who live God's love day in and day out, who would rather not be recognized in front of millions but recognized in front of God. Who live to hear "well done good and faithful servant" at the end of all things. The people who make my life bearable, who have helped me through my struggles just by being an example, a reminder that there is good in this world and there are people who care. And they do it without thanks or recognition. They do it because God is living in them and they have surrendered to His leading.
In the end of the song, that's where it goes...
But I believe there is hope for me, and it's going to take some time
There's a God who sees what's inside of me, I know He can change my mind
There aren't words to describe how unmerited and miraculous this process is. Looking back on where God has taken me in the last 14 years astonishes me. What's more astonishing is I was dragging my feet most of the way, and I still got here (not that I have arrived anywhere in particular yet...). I still drag my feet at times...most of the time. And I don't know where I'm heading...but He does.
And to totally go in another direction (kind of connected to that last thought...where I'm heading) I was reading through Psalm 119 because we're going through it in church. Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." I realized that this description is more appropriate than I ever considered. Because if you truly are in a dark, dark area and you have a flashlight, it doesn't light up much. It will light a few steps in front of you clearly so you can see where you're walking, but it doesn't do much to light up your destination. And that seems to be how God works. We know where our destination is, but on this path that we're walking we only get to see the step or two that's ahead of us. We don't see the twists and turns to come, the heartaches, blessings, trials, joys, etc. He shows us the next step, and we have to trust that He will be with us along the way to help us through the obstacles. Through those obstacles we learn how best to walk the path. We learn how to stay close to Him when we feel like we know how we want to walk, or when rabbit trails come along that we want to follow. We may learn to see potential pitfalls or temptations more clearly and keep to the middle of the path. Another thing with always looking just at the step or two ahead of you...you don't realize when you're going uphill or downhill too much. You may notice a bit...the going may be a little easier or harder, but if you're just focusing on where to put your feet next you can scale a hill higher than you would have dared had you known what was coming. God never promised to show us the future...he promised to walk with us, to help us, encourage us...and He promised that He has plans for us, plans to give us hope...the hope of a life forever with Him. Honestly, looking back on some of the things I've gone through, I'm glad I didn't know they were coming. Because I probably would have tried to find a way around them...but God can use our trials and sufferings for His good. And while they weren't fun times and I never want to go through much of that again...I'm not sorry for those experiences, because I know they have made me into more of who my Father wants me to be, the woman He created me to be. And I doubt the road ahead will be smooth. But whatever He brings me to, He will bring me through.
So here I am today...three years farther down that road. There have been more twists, turns, hills and valleys. Had you told me when I wrote that note that within three years I would have packed up and moved to Honduras I probably wouldn't have believed you. If you were to tell me today what my life will be like in another three years or five years...who knows if I would believe you either. Even when we want to know how something is going to turn out (I could name a few things going on in my life right now that I'd LOVE to see how things will work), God doesn't tell us that...he just shows us what to do in the next step. And we have to trust that he has the destination in mind, he knows where we're heading, and he can carry us through anything. Just do the good set in front of you to do...you don't have the concentrate on the whole picture, because you can't see the whole picture...the big picture isn't your responsibility. But you can focus on what you're given to do, and doing that to the glory of God.
Have I ever told you that I love the way you turned out
Have I ever told you that I've been watching and I'm so proud
How often do I tell people what I love about them? And not in a cheesy, corny way, but sincerely. How often do I vocalize my appreciation for other people? Um, not much. If at all. (Yes, they were sentence fragments, deal with it...). Honestly, in a culture that is so focused on itself and/or those who stand out in physical/athletic/entertainment/financial ways...how often do people who are very generous daily get recognized. I'm not talking about those who give millions of dollars (out of their billions of dollars)...I'm talking about those who take their time, which is precious, to reach out to someone else. People who give of what they don't have much of to help those who need it. People who are kind just because...because that's who Jesus is. People who live God's love day in and day out, who would rather not be recognized in front of millions but recognized in front of God. Who live to hear "well done good and faithful servant" at the end of all things. The people who make my life bearable, who have helped me through my struggles just by being an example, a reminder that there is good in this world and there are people who care. And they do it without thanks or recognition. They do it because God is living in them and they have surrendered to His leading.
In the end of the song, that's where it goes...
But I believe there is hope for me, and it's going to take some time
There's a God who sees what's inside of me, I know He can change my mind
There aren't words to describe how unmerited and miraculous this process is. Looking back on where God has taken me in the last 14 years astonishes me. What's more astonishing is I was dragging my feet most of the way, and I still got here (not that I have arrived anywhere in particular yet...). I still drag my feet at times...most of the time. And I don't know where I'm heading...but He does.
And to totally go in another direction (kind of connected to that last thought...where I'm heading) I was reading through Psalm 119 because we're going through it in church. Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." I realized that this description is more appropriate than I ever considered. Because if you truly are in a dark, dark area and you have a flashlight, it doesn't light up much. It will light a few steps in front of you clearly so you can see where you're walking, but it doesn't do much to light up your destination. And that seems to be how God works. We know where our destination is, but on this path that we're walking we only get to see the step or two that's ahead of us. We don't see the twists and turns to come, the heartaches, blessings, trials, joys, etc. He shows us the next step, and we have to trust that He will be with us along the way to help us through the obstacles. Through those obstacles we learn how best to walk the path. We learn how to stay close to Him when we feel like we know how we want to walk, or when rabbit trails come along that we want to follow. We may learn to see potential pitfalls or temptations more clearly and keep to the middle of the path. Another thing with always looking just at the step or two ahead of you...you don't realize when you're going uphill or downhill too much. You may notice a bit...the going may be a little easier or harder, but if you're just focusing on where to put your feet next you can scale a hill higher than you would have dared had you known what was coming. God never promised to show us the future...he promised to walk with us, to help us, encourage us...and He promised that He has plans for us, plans to give us hope...the hope of a life forever with Him. Honestly, looking back on some of the things I've gone through, I'm glad I didn't know they were coming. Because I probably would have tried to find a way around them...but God can use our trials and sufferings for His good. And while they weren't fun times and I never want to go through much of that again...I'm not sorry for those experiences, because I know they have made me into more of who my Father wants me to be, the woman He created me to be. And I doubt the road ahead will be smooth. But whatever He brings me to, He will bring me through.
So here I am today...three years farther down that road. There have been more twists, turns, hills and valleys. Had you told me when I wrote that note that within three years I would have packed up and moved to Honduras I probably wouldn't have believed you. If you were to tell me today what my life will be like in another three years or five years...who knows if I would believe you either. Even when we want to know how something is going to turn out (I could name a few things going on in my life right now that I'd LOVE to see how things will work), God doesn't tell us that...he just shows us what to do in the next step. And we have to trust that he has the destination in mind, he knows where we're heading, and he can carry us through anything. Just do the good set in front of you to do...you don't have the concentrate on the whole picture, because you can't see the whole picture...the big picture isn't your responsibility. But you can focus on what you're given to do, and doing that to the glory of God.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Bumps in the Road
The title is meant both literally and figuratively. Last week was rough physically, mentally and emotionally. You know those times when it feels like the whole world is conspiring against you and all your friends have ditched you...yeah, those times? That's what last week felt like to me. Or maybe I ditched my friends, I don't know...I mean granted I did leave most of them behind...but between battling homesickness, twisting my ankle, and going back to being a social recluse for a few days, fighting with the internet constantly, or so it seemed, trying to get a couple of students up to speed on things because they royally bombed a test...it wasn't a good week.
Things started looking up on Sunday, I got a chance to talk with a few people from back home for a while, both on the phone and online, and that helped a lot. On Monday, we had the day off of school for Columbus Day (I know, it was a week "late"), and sleeping in and spending the day relaxing (and preparing for Family Night) was appreciated. I made rolls and chocolate chip cookies for dinner (and Melody made pasta and Rachel made the salad). But I got a lot of baking done, and it was good times. I made rolls again yesterday after school because for some reason they all mysteriously disappeared. I'll probably have to make them again this weekend. I don't mind, it's kind of fun...and they're so much better than store bought bread down here. And between yesterday and today I watched the entire first season of Burn Notice (only 12 episodes long, it's not that big of an accomplishment). I have seen more TV shows down here (via seasons) than I ever watched back home...than I ever had TIME to watch back home. The last couple of days have gone well, and I'm doing much better now than I was last week, so that's definitely encouraging. Considering that Saturday was the first time I've been homesick enough where I wanted to get a plane ticket and fly home, and I've been here 3 months as of tomorrow, that's probably not doing too badly all told.
My initial tourist visa (which expires tomorrow) has been extended for two months, and residency has been applied for. This means that I won't have to worry about anything in terms of legally staying here until the end of March, because the two month extension takes me to my flight home for Christmas, and after I return, if I don't have residency yet, I'll get a 3-month tourist visa again. I'm praying it doesn't come to that, and the cards show up relatively quickly.
As for the literal bumps in the road...well, apparently we're getting the backlash of Hurricane Jova coming in, and it's basically been constantly raining, misting or drizzling for the past four or five days, and it's supposed to continue for the foreseeable future (the rest of the week at least). The roads are basically bumpy, potholed, mud pits. This past Sunday, the busito (15 passenger van) couldn't make it up one of the hills. We tried three times. In the end, one of the house parents (who has a 4-wheel drive vehicle...but is definitely smaller than the busito) ended up towing us back to the Ranch. It was really funny to see, I'm sure (especially as people who were standing on the side of the road as we passed often started laughing at us). But we made it back safely, and that's all that matters. And we've already gotten an e-mail saying that likely, no church for us on Sunday...though a few of the people may be going in, so if we're desperate for groceries, we can get them a list. But mostly, get comfortable here for a while. :-)
Things started looking up on Sunday, I got a chance to talk with a few people from back home for a while, both on the phone and online, and that helped a lot. On Monday, we had the day off of school for Columbus Day (I know, it was a week "late"), and sleeping in and spending the day relaxing (and preparing for Family Night) was appreciated. I made rolls and chocolate chip cookies for dinner (and Melody made pasta and Rachel made the salad). But I got a lot of baking done, and it was good times. I made rolls again yesterday after school because for some reason they all mysteriously disappeared. I'll probably have to make them again this weekend. I don't mind, it's kind of fun...and they're so much better than store bought bread down here. And between yesterday and today I watched the entire first season of Burn Notice (only 12 episodes long, it's not that big of an accomplishment). I have seen more TV shows down here (via seasons) than I ever watched back home...than I ever had TIME to watch back home. The last couple of days have gone well, and I'm doing much better now than I was last week, so that's definitely encouraging. Considering that Saturday was the first time I've been homesick enough where I wanted to get a plane ticket and fly home, and I've been here 3 months as of tomorrow, that's probably not doing too badly all told.
My initial tourist visa (which expires tomorrow) has been extended for two months, and residency has been applied for. This means that I won't have to worry about anything in terms of legally staying here until the end of March, because the two month extension takes me to my flight home for Christmas, and after I return, if I don't have residency yet, I'll get a 3-month tourist visa again. I'm praying it doesn't come to that, and the cards show up relatively quickly.
As for the literal bumps in the road...well, apparently we're getting the backlash of Hurricane Jova coming in, and it's basically been constantly raining, misting or drizzling for the past four or five days, and it's supposed to continue for the foreseeable future (the rest of the week at least). The roads are basically bumpy, potholed, mud pits. This past Sunday, the busito (15 passenger van) couldn't make it up one of the hills. We tried three times. In the end, one of the house parents (who has a 4-wheel drive vehicle...but is definitely smaller than the busito) ended up towing us back to the Ranch. It was really funny to see, I'm sure (especially as people who were standing on the side of the road as we passed often started laughing at us). But we made it back safely, and that's all that matters. And we've already gotten an e-mail saying that likely, no church for us on Sunday...though a few of the people may be going in, so if we're desperate for groceries, we can get them a list. But mostly, get comfortable here for a while. :-)
Sunday, October 9, 2011
It's been a full week...
I sat down tonight and figured it had been at least two weeks since I last updated...and then realized it was only last Tuesday...yes, the week felt that long. It wasn't like the week dragged by, it was more that so much happened in the week.
Wednesday we were able to go into the city, which was definitely needed. We got groceries, had pictures taken for residency cards (kind of like passports, you need to turn in pictures of yourself with your application). Hopefully that gets taken care of sometime this week because I'm running out of days on my tourist visa. Hard to believe I've been here almost 90 days already, but it's true. Anyway, we made it in and made it out of the city and back to the Ranch. After Kim dropped Melody and me off at our house she got stuck and couldn't make it up the hill again. A lot of mud and muscle later we had pushed the busito to firmer ground and it made it up the hill, but that was a funny and tiring proposition. But a successful trip nonetheless. Wednesday also stuff from home showed up, so I have my drivers' license, some sweatshirts and sweatpants here now. I've been very comfortable the last few days. :-)
Thursday after school I decided I wanted to make rolls because I'm getting tired of the bread down here, which seems to be half stale by time you buy it. So I made rolls...there are two left. They turned out well. I did share them, so the fact that 22 rolls disappeared in 3 days doesn't indicate anything about how many I've had. ;-) I probably will make more on Tuesday.
Friday I continued the desire to bake and I made cookies...chocolate chip cookies. Some of you know what recipe that is. Now, I'm doing both of these (bread and cookies) without the help of a Kitchen Aid (which is very helpful)...so my arms were a little tired by Friday night. But the cookies were worth it...and there are more of them left. They turned out pretty well for using unfamiliar brands and ingredients, no stand mixer, no cookie scoop, and only one air-bake pan. It does make me appreciate all my kitchen gadgets so much more! But I still will keep baking down here I'm sure...
Saturday started out really productive...I had an empty house and worked for about 6 hours straight and got a lot of "chores" done...cleaning, laundry, etc. Baking does accumulate a lot of dirty dishes...and I washed as I went along for the most part. But that's only the "most" part. I made myself pupusas for lunch, they turned out pretty well (and there are more dishes). About the time I finished up all of that, the guys next door got back from the city, so I went next door to see what they were up to. We ended up watching a few episodes of House (Jason has season 1) and then there was a "bonfire" w/ smores up at the kiosk. [It can't hold a candle to Nate's bonfires back home...but it was fire...] Oh, and I've probably watched more TV and been exposed to more TV shows and movies down here than I ever was in the States...more because there's not much else to do. So we all share our stuff...well, those who brought stuff down here with them. I'll probably be bringing a few of my favorites down here after Christmas.
Then today...wow...well, it started out when my alarm didn't go off and I woke up 15 minutes before we leave for church. I did make it to the busito on time, albeit with wet hair. It had dried by time we got to the city. I had blood sugar problems for most of the morning, probably because my breakfast was two rolls I grabbed as I walked out the door. After lunch it started to get better, I was mostly good by time we got back to the Ranch. We went shopping, got groceries, and managed to get back to the Ranch without getting stuck. This morning was rather sunny...but while we were standing outside PriceSmart waiting for everyone to finish up shopping and get to the busito we heard some really impressive thunder (and if I had been looking in the right direction, based on the flashes of light I could see, I'm guessing the lightning was impressive too!). It was raining for much of the drive back, but again, we still made it without a problem...Bienvenida spent much of the ride back praying as we approached hills (she was sitting next to me). That may have helped. :-)
And I get to go to school tomorrow, while all the teachers back home get Monday off. We are celebrating the "519th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Americas Day" next week Monday. To those in the States, that would translate into Columbus Day. We get it, just a week after you all. [Evidently I'm hanging out with too many people from the southern USA...because while I wrote "you all" what went through my head had a different accent on it...at least I didn't say all y'all. I am surrounded by a lot of southerners down here. It makes for some interesting conversations.]
Wednesday we were able to go into the city, which was definitely needed. We got groceries, had pictures taken for residency cards (kind of like passports, you need to turn in pictures of yourself with your application). Hopefully that gets taken care of sometime this week because I'm running out of days on my tourist visa. Hard to believe I've been here almost 90 days already, but it's true. Anyway, we made it in and made it out of the city and back to the Ranch. After Kim dropped Melody and me off at our house she got stuck and couldn't make it up the hill again. A lot of mud and muscle later we had pushed the busito to firmer ground and it made it up the hill, but that was a funny and tiring proposition. But a successful trip nonetheless. Wednesday also stuff from home showed up, so I have my drivers' license, some sweatshirts and sweatpants here now. I've been very comfortable the last few days. :-)
Thursday after school I decided I wanted to make rolls because I'm getting tired of the bread down here, which seems to be half stale by time you buy it. So I made rolls...there are two left. They turned out well. I did share them, so the fact that 22 rolls disappeared in 3 days doesn't indicate anything about how many I've had. ;-) I probably will make more on Tuesday.
Friday I continued the desire to bake and I made cookies...chocolate chip cookies. Some of you know what recipe that is. Now, I'm doing both of these (bread and cookies) without the help of a Kitchen Aid (which is very helpful)...so my arms were a little tired by Friday night. But the cookies were worth it...and there are more of them left. They turned out pretty well for using unfamiliar brands and ingredients, no stand mixer, no cookie scoop, and only one air-bake pan. It does make me appreciate all my kitchen gadgets so much more! But I still will keep baking down here I'm sure...
Saturday started out really productive...I had an empty house and worked for about 6 hours straight and got a lot of "chores" done...cleaning, laundry, etc. Baking does accumulate a lot of dirty dishes...and I washed as I went along for the most part. But that's only the "most" part. I made myself pupusas for lunch, they turned out pretty well (and there are more dishes). About the time I finished up all of that, the guys next door got back from the city, so I went next door to see what they were up to. We ended up watching a few episodes of House (Jason has season 1) and then there was a "bonfire" w/ smores up at the kiosk. [It can't hold a candle to Nate's bonfires back home...but it was fire...] Oh, and I've probably watched more TV and been exposed to more TV shows and movies down here than I ever was in the States...more because there's not much else to do. So we all share our stuff...well, those who brought stuff down here with them. I'll probably be bringing a few of my favorites down here after Christmas.
Then today...wow...well, it started out when my alarm didn't go off and I woke up 15 minutes before we leave for church. I did make it to the busito on time, albeit with wet hair. It had dried by time we got to the city. I had blood sugar problems for most of the morning, probably because my breakfast was two rolls I grabbed as I walked out the door. After lunch it started to get better, I was mostly good by time we got back to the Ranch. We went shopping, got groceries, and managed to get back to the Ranch without getting stuck. This morning was rather sunny...but while we were standing outside PriceSmart waiting for everyone to finish up shopping and get to the busito we heard some really impressive thunder (and if I had been looking in the right direction, based on the flashes of light I could see, I'm guessing the lightning was impressive too!). It was raining for much of the drive back, but again, we still made it without a problem...Bienvenida spent much of the ride back praying as we approached hills (she was sitting next to me). That may have helped. :-)
And I get to go to school tomorrow, while all the teachers back home get Monday off. We are celebrating the "519th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Americas Day" next week Monday. To those in the States, that would translate into Columbus Day. We get it, just a week after you all. [Evidently I'm hanging out with too many people from the southern USA...because while I wrote "you all" what went through my head had a different accent on it...at least I didn't say all y'all. I am surrounded by a lot of southerners down here. It makes for some interesting conversations.]
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
New Experiences...
I've been snowed in...but this is the first time I've been rained in. This weekend was something of a new experience. Saturday morning we got the message that all trips to and from the city were suspended...so we didn't got in for church or shopping on Sunday. It meant that I had a really lazy weekend. I didn't want to go outside because it was raining pretty much all weekend. It's a lot less fun than you might think to walk around in the rain when it's a little on the chilly side AND it's difficult to dry out when you get back inside because humidity everywhere is 100%.
Yesterday there was a soccer game...technically. There were 6 of us playing...so 3 on 3 without goalies. The soccer field was basically a mud puddle. It was a lot of fun...but I came home soaked and muddy. (Fortunately the dirt came out of my clothes...well for the most part.) It is still currently raining a bit. The sun tried to make an appearance earlier today. I think it's supposed to stop raining sometime over the next couple of days. Or at least it's supposed to stop raining so much...I'll believe it when I see it.
Yesterday there was a soccer game...technically. There were 6 of us playing...so 3 on 3 without goalies. The soccer field was basically a mud puddle. It was a lot of fun...but I came home soaked and muddy. (Fortunately the dirt came out of my clothes...well for the most part.) It is still currently raining a bit. The sun tried to make an appearance earlier today. I think it's supposed to stop raining sometime over the next couple of days. Or at least it's supposed to stop raining so much...I'll believe it when I see it.
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