I Will Survive...

Proper wording should be: "I Did Survive" (the first day at least). My first day went remarkably well. My students are very different from my US students - I predicted as much. I am excited about this school year and the interesting conversations and discussions that lay ahead.

Things I Learned on Day 1:
1. Be prepared for chaos.
2. Get your lunch early from the student store.
3. The questions never end.
4. It is okay to save things for tomorrow.
5. Learn to say "no."

Prayers Appreciated

After a fantastic week of an informative orientation and a refreshing out-of-town staff retreat, the school year gets its big start tomorrow! I am looking forward to a productive and fun term. I hope that I can follow our retreat speaker's challenge "to create a yearning for the vast and endless sea." My prayer is that Jesus will use me in His creation of a yearning for both English Literature and Himself in my students.

Tag! You're It!

My friend Lorraine has tagged me to write 8 random facts about myself and then tag eight other bloggers. I'm not sure I know eight other bloggers but I'll write the random facts.

8 Random Facts With Special Focus on My Recent Move

1. I think airports are some of the most interesting places in the world. They're good places for people-watching. And in Manila, there were thousands of people to watch at the pick-up area. It is a loud and noisy and hot place.

2. I met my roommate in the airport. We decided to be roommates there. Not really but it sounds pretty funny.

3. I have recently acquired a consortium of pets. A dog, two cats, multiple fish, and a couple of geckos that like the bugs in my house.

4. I LOVE the pool on campus. I will be spending many hours there. It was not there when I graduated. A new development that I'm in love with!

5. I had yummy food at a little place called Lemongrass. It might be an Asian replacement for Yes Thai but nothing will ever top Yes Thai.

6. I had my passport photo taken at a Filipino-style photo booth, ie. there was absolutely no notice that there was even a photo booth in the building. In fact, the guard at the door, in the same lobby, did not know that the ONLY other guy in the lobby was manning a photo booth. We had to wait for 5 minutes for the camera batteries to charge, then were led to the stairwell for the white background, picture taken, waited another few minutes for the picture to be processed on the printer. So fantastically random that it just made my day!

7. I discovered that my cousin Kevin's 8-hour traffic direction class for surveyors was a waste. Kev, all you need to know is how to shoo people off of the road. On my way home tonight, a work crew was working directly in the center of the road. There were barriers around the workzone but one guy was sitting on a bit of concrete in front just swatting people to the sides. He was wearing no reflective material nor was he holding any "slow down" sign. Just sitting there, swatting cars.

8. I'm certain that all the alum friends that I have are jealous of the amazing "V" food that I get to eat. Today's fare was AMAZING cinnamon rolls, yummy fruit, rice, Filipino chopsuey, pancit incredibiliosa, lumpia (not banana - I'm going to find some of that tomorrow), and pork
barbeque. Too good!

I arrived!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I did arrive safely and soundly in Manila last night at 10:20 pm. All of my bags were off the carousel within minutes. I'm at my new house and excited to be here. I will update more when I recharge my computer battery and get a little more settled!

Un-Easy Changes

Tonight marks a countdown of hours. It has been a week of "one-last's." One last time to visit Anna at work. One last shopping excursion with Rachel. One last time with friends. One last cuddle with my birthday-baby cousin. One last visit to my favorite Grand Rapids restaurant - Real Food Cafe (okay, more like two lasts. We're going to hit it on the way to the airport tomorrow too.) I leave fully aware of what I am leaving behind.

I've had this knack since we first started doing our major moves of living in the past even as the future was starting. I want to go into this adventure full force. However, it will not be easy to say my goodbyes to my sisters, my grandparents, my family, and my friends. I'm expecting many tears tomorrow at the airport. I just hope they aren't all mine.

I'll see you all when I get there!

Here Comes My Not-so-Little Brother

We're all pretty excited to go pick up Tim from the airport. The three of us girls got to spend the week with him out in Washington. And now we're looking forward to great fun while we pack, clean, and shop.

Little Snippets

I've been a bad blogger. In my defense, I wanted to start adding pictures to my blog and that just hasn't been possible with the conglomoration of computers that I've been on recently. But now I have my very own and I'm excited to be blogging from a reliable spot.

So here are a couple of highlights from my most recent weeks.

1. My send-off at Ravenswood. I will miss the people of this congregation and worshiping with them. It was hard leaving there. I was especially struck by the beauty of having someone say your name as you take communion. I appreciate a small church for this reason.

2. Camping with my family. Besides a little bit of blood here and there, I think we did pretty good this year. Campfires, s'mores, windy days on the beach, visits to the candy store with Grampa, and, in true old lady fashion, I was the first adult in bed every night.

3. Kelly and Arturo's wedding.

4. A last visit to Superdog with Jill and Kevin.

5. A not-so-easy but fun goodbye time with Amanda out in Winona, Minnesota. We went on a "hiking trip" that included a not-as-long-as-we-thought-it-would-be trail, camping overnight, schlepping our stuff out the next morning, coffee and bagels in Lanesboro, a 3 1/2 hour kayaking trip, coffee from Mugby Junction, and a fantastic hippie 4th of July party on a co-op. We had a fantastic time and I wouldn't trade it for the world!













6. A final fun weekend with Chicago with Ebony, Tim and Laura. I will miss my Chicago friends so very much!

7. Orientation Week with others going overseas for ministry.

8. My commissioning service at Oakdale. This was a pretty spectacular day for me. My aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and sisters were all there to make it even more special. I'm not sure if there are any photographs or videos of this event but I think that I can get my hands on the audio. I was moved by the outpouring of support from this church family. Pastor George did not realize that the passage that he took his message from was one that means a lot to my family as well - Psalm 121.

It has just been an amazing month. I am tired. I am anxious about the future. However, I am confident that I am taking the right step at the right time.