Roommate: Emily
Favorite shared moment with her: quiet moments on study nights, after the pyjamas are on and the tea's in hand. We take turns picking the music, we share things that make us giggle or think. It's so peaceful and so conducive to good studying.
Busiest day of the week so far: looks to be Mondays from here on out, but so far it's been Tuesdays. I have classes back-to-back from 8:30 till 1, then from 2:30 to 4. Luckily part of that time's yoga and part is choir. :)
Favorite meal served: tonight's wasn't bad. Black bean quesadilla and lentils and rice.
Least favorite meal served: last night's stringy meat and worse-than-Velveeta mac n cheese. I went for the sandwich option!
Favorite non-honors class: Spanish! It's a conversation and composition course, heavy on the composition. I will be writing a research paper in Spanish this semester. Which sounds awesome to me. In addition, it's fabulous because it is basically like any English lit class in high school (that I loved so much) but with Spanish texts and discussed in Spanish. Ecstasy. :)
Best reading for any class: the Gospel of Matthew.
Hardest reading for any class: St. Anselm's Proslogium--rhetorical, dense and logic-speech. But interesting discussion ensued, so that's a plus.
Best advice so far: have and take care of young kids before you have to take care of your parents. Keep a sabbath. Go to sleep. ;)
Favorite day of weather: well, night, actually; Friday night when the snow came, fast and fluffy. Beautiful!
Newest pop culture thing experienced: Pitch Perfect. What a blend of hilarity and despair at humanity. Aca-awkward.
Number of coincidental connections between classes: we're up to like four or five. Reading the New Testament makes that easy, but it's wonderful to trace threads.
Last thing I lost: a glove.
Last thing I found: two completely different gloves.
Dregs of the tea most recently in my mug: Jasmine dragon loose leaf. A gift from a friend whose roommate worked at Teavana.
Best music for study/reading/writing yet this semester: Sense and Sensibility soundtrack. Hands down.
Laundry loads: just one, actually.
Latest I have stayed awake any night so far: up until 2:30ish on Friday, just for the halibut.
Best laptop sticker I've seen: "mischief managed"
My most recent laptop sticker: it's one I took from a bulletin board at a local coffeeshop: "life is good <3 especially when we are good to others"
Best sound I've heard: the worship team at the center city site of the church I go to, Liberti. They were fantastic! Very Mumford-esque, with a sax, trumpet, oboe, violin, acoustic guitar, and piano. And great harmonies.
Best choir song so far: Water Night by Eric Whitacre. Some stunning chords in that, and the lyrics were originally a Spanish poem!
Best hymn sung in church: Be Thou My Vision. Always gets me.
Best package received: a care package from Hannah! It included a teddy bear. 'Nuff said.
Best thing I'm learning, allbeit painfully: to trust in God in all things, and actually accept his peace as he offers it to me.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Advent ponderings
I am beginning to truly understand what Advent is. It's marvelous how God is showing me.
It is lovely to be home. I am content to be a full-time sister and daughter again, living at home and taking full advantage of a well-stocked and fully-equipped kitchen to make delicious meals and baked goods. My dog I had unexpectedly missed very much, and I have loved the opportunities to walk him every day for some quality time thinking, exercising, and sometimes talking with an accompanying family member in the frigid fresh air. And of course, in this season, it is a pleasure simply to be where it looks like home and smells like Christmas.
Of course, I didn't feel all these joyful, cozy, comfy, warm, Christmas-y feelings a week and a half ago; I was finishing up final exams, and laboring under the expectations I had for myself. I dreamt of the ability to sleep in my own bed, pined for the sight of my backyard and all its winter-bared trees, and yearned for the hot cocoa by the fire sort of moments with my little sisters. A countdown to the day I flew home conveyed so much hope, so many happy and energizing thoughts, that I was propelled through finals with a diligence and effort that carried me to the degree of success I needed. It made me thankful that I have such a home to which I am able to return. It made me praise God for his faithfulness in providing the means for my education, and my flying and driving halfway across the country to get to it. It made me reflect on all that I had learned in those quick four months that compose a semester.
All that, to me, sounds a little bit like the Advent season, albeit on a less universally important level. What I felt in the present, and then how it would be, and how the switch would be made by one day, one change (in my example, the day of my flight; in the best Example, Christmas Day). Then, I felt anticipation of rest, now, in rest, I remember how God pulled me through a tough transitional semester. Then I felt a seeming hopelessness brought on by finals, where now I have renewed hope. Along with this change or renewal has come a greater desire to reflect in my work the glorious God I am coming to know better through my studies. I appreciate Advent, His coming, much better this year than I ever have, I think due to the double amount of waiting, and looking-forward-to, I experienced between Advent itself and my homecoming.
The most beautiful reentry to life at home was being at church with my family for Lessons & Carols Sunday. On this day every year, there is no sermon; instead the choir and scripture readers lead us through the story of Christ's birth in song and reading. It was beautiful(--shout out to the church choir and its director!). I felt like I had arrived, after making a long spiritual journey mirroring the journey of the magi, one full of anticipation and hope. A journey to realize that I wasn't the one who made the journey at all, but that I was the one Christ passionately journeyed to--here, to where I am, to the fallen, broken, hurting world full of starvation, grief, loneliness, grudges, hatred, and final exams. Suffering immense humility and humiliation (two words that I have now learned originally meant the same thing), God through his Son has shown me in a new way his great love all over again. I don't know if any of this is sensible or comprehensible to anyone else, or if the connection only works for the one who's lived it herself, as sometimes is true. But I believe God continues his loving, caring, fond, affectionate manner of guiding me, just as he always has. Praise God for his faithfulness to his loved ones, his little ones, his sheep.
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
It is lovely to be home. I am content to be a full-time sister and daughter again, living at home and taking full advantage of a well-stocked and fully-equipped kitchen to make delicious meals and baked goods. My dog I had unexpectedly missed very much, and I have loved the opportunities to walk him every day for some quality time thinking, exercising, and sometimes talking with an accompanying family member in the frigid fresh air. And of course, in this season, it is a pleasure simply to be where it looks like home and smells like Christmas.
Of course, I didn't feel all these joyful, cozy, comfy, warm, Christmas-y feelings a week and a half ago; I was finishing up final exams, and laboring under the expectations I had for myself. I dreamt of the ability to sleep in my own bed, pined for the sight of my backyard and all its winter-bared trees, and yearned for the hot cocoa by the fire sort of moments with my little sisters. A countdown to the day I flew home conveyed so much hope, so many happy and energizing thoughts, that I was propelled through finals with a diligence and effort that carried me to the degree of success I needed. It made me thankful that I have such a home to which I am able to return. It made me praise God for his faithfulness in providing the means for my education, and my flying and driving halfway across the country to get to it. It made me reflect on all that I had learned in those quick four months that compose a semester.
All that, to me, sounds a little bit like the Advent season, albeit on a less universally important level. What I felt in the present, and then how it would be, and how the switch would be made by one day, one change (in my example, the day of my flight; in the best Example, Christmas Day). Then, I felt anticipation of rest, now, in rest, I remember how God pulled me through a tough transitional semester. Then I felt a seeming hopelessness brought on by finals, where now I have renewed hope. Along with this change or renewal has come a greater desire to reflect in my work the glorious God I am coming to know better through my studies. I appreciate Advent, His coming, much better this year than I ever have, I think due to the double amount of waiting, and looking-forward-to, I experienced between Advent itself and my homecoming.
The most beautiful reentry to life at home was being at church with my family for Lessons & Carols Sunday. On this day every year, there is no sermon; instead the choir and scripture readers lead us through the story of Christ's birth in song and reading. It was beautiful(--shout out to the church choir and its director!). I felt like I had arrived, after making a long spiritual journey mirroring the journey of the magi, one full of anticipation and hope. A journey to realize that I wasn't the one who made the journey at all, but that I was the one Christ passionately journeyed to--here, to where I am, to the fallen, broken, hurting world full of starvation, grief, loneliness, grudges, hatred, and final exams. Suffering immense humility and humiliation (two words that I have now learned originally meant the same thing), God through his Son has shown me in a new way his great love all over again. I don't know if any of this is sensible or comprehensible to anyone else, or if the connection only works for the one who's lived it herself, as sometimes is true. But I believe God continues his loving, caring, fond, affectionate manner of guiding me, just as he always has. Praise God for his faithfulness to his loved ones, his little ones, his sheep.
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A dog, some pearls, and a scarf
Never should one underestimate the encouraging power of a scarf or a dog. The presence of either on a particularly cold and sleepy day is as comforting as knowing one is almost done with one's first freshman semester.
This past week was a busy one, full of choir rehearsals and skipping some classes and going to others. Besides the inevitable beloved reading and homework. I am enjoying the winding down that is taking place in my classes, except in the ones where I have a final paper instead of exam. I am hopeful that I'll get the ideas that need to come so I can write the papers well, and finish the classes as I've started them.
The choir rehearsals are for a concert today, where the University choir will blend with several other choirs (church and otherwise) to perform a Christmas concert in the Kimmel Center in downtown Philly. I am so excited--it has been such an unanticipated blessing having choir in my schedule this year. The director is wonderful, and really talented at leading our 60-something choir. We will sing some breathtakingly beautiful melodies this afternoon, and a number of my best friends on campus are either singing with me or have bought tickets to see it. That's because they're lovely.
Any choir performance is my favorite chance to wear pearls. Really, I think everyday is a great day to wear pearls. My dad gave them to me, from Japan. Some of the ladies in the other choirs were making sure we college student girls had pearls, and I could say that, yes, I do have some. I love how they hang heavily around my neck, how they warm up after fifteen minutes, how they always remind me of Dad, family, and home.
Speaking of home, I should tell you about the scarf. I was sitting in my seat at rehearsal and greeting the people who walked past in my section, and one lady had the same scarf on as I've seen my sister wear a thousand times. A beautiful, sky blue and cream, cashmere scarf. I commented on it and told her my sister had the same one, and it was lovely to think of her when I saw this lady's scarf. Then during our break an hour later, she plopped herself down next to me and asked me about family, home, and my sister. When break was over, she took off her scarf and wrapped it about my neck unquestioningly and said, "Well, I'd like you to have this, so you can be reminded of her for right now, and so you two can be samesies when you get home." It made my heart and I quite warm.
The dog in the intro is named Maggie. She and I took a marvelous nap yesterday on my roommate Emily's couch. It was so nice to spend a night at Em's house, seeing her world and enjoying her neighbors and parents and home-cooked food. I was very content.
So I've written of the possibility of getting any real work done today, what with the concert and rehearsals taking up all day. And that is fine, because I'm set for Monday. But I must get to the bus now, making sure I have everything. There's a great fog out there today, so I will enjoy the cross-campus walk very much.
I wish you all a happy December, and I'm glad I finally sat down and wrote an entry. It's nice to spill thoughts and goodness into the blogosphere. Peace in this busy time of year, and God bless.
xox
This past week was a busy one, full of choir rehearsals and skipping some classes and going to others. Besides the inevitable beloved reading and homework. I am enjoying the winding down that is taking place in my classes, except in the ones where I have a final paper instead of exam. I am hopeful that I'll get the ideas that need to come so I can write the papers well, and finish the classes as I've started them.
The choir rehearsals are for a concert today, where the University choir will blend with several other choirs (church and otherwise) to perform a Christmas concert in the Kimmel Center in downtown Philly. I am so excited--it has been such an unanticipated blessing having choir in my schedule this year. The director is wonderful, and really talented at leading our 60-something choir. We will sing some breathtakingly beautiful melodies this afternoon, and a number of my best friends on campus are either singing with me or have bought tickets to see it. That's because they're lovely.
Any choir performance is my favorite chance to wear pearls. Really, I think everyday is a great day to wear pearls. My dad gave them to me, from Japan. Some of the ladies in the other choirs were making sure we college student girls had pearls, and I could say that, yes, I do have some. I love how they hang heavily around my neck, how they warm up after fifteen minutes, how they always remind me of Dad, family, and home.
Speaking of home, I should tell you about the scarf. I was sitting in my seat at rehearsal and greeting the people who walked past in my section, and one lady had the same scarf on as I've seen my sister wear a thousand times. A beautiful, sky blue and cream, cashmere scarf. I commented on it and told her my sister had the same one, and it was lovely to think of her when I saw this lady's scarf. Then during our break an hour later, she plopped herself down next to me and asked me about family, home, and my sister. When break was over, she took off her scarf and wrapped it about my neck unquestioningly and said, "Well, I'd like you to have this, so you can be reminded of her for right now, and so you two can be samesies when you get home." It made my heart and I quite warm.
The dog in the intro is named Maggie. She and I took a marvelous nap yesterday on my roommate Emily's couch. It was so nice to spend a night at Em's house, seeing her world and enjoying her neighbors and parents and home-cooked food. I was very content.
So I've written of the possibility of getting any real work done today, what with the concert and rehearsals taking up all day. And that is fine, because I'm set for Monday. But I must get to the bus now, making sure I have everything. There's a great fog out there today, so I will enjoy the cross-campus walk very much.
I wish you all a happy December, and I'm glad I finally sat down and wrote an entry. It's nice to spill thoughts and goodness into the blogosphere. Peace in this busy time of year, and God bless.
xox
Monday, September 24, 2012
college blog numero uno
Hi, I'm still Anna. :)
I'm over a month in, and the blogging's been nonexistent! oopsie. But otherwise I seem to be keeping afloat pretty well, considering the all-out inundation of social, spiritual, mental and gustatorial (if you include late night snacking) delights.
Here's a summary of the past four weeks:
Somewhat awkward first meeting of my cohort mates. Camping trip--canoeing, jumping in cold water, discussing wisdom, sharing fears, laughing, stars reflecting in the lake, cold dewy tenty mornings, day-long hike, nicknames, inside jokes. Orientation: more new freshmen buddies, fun/silly activities, better-than-usual dining hall food. Start to classes, and the irony of my first class being one in math--Accounting 107--after all the loathing I've heaped on it for years. Homework and social life--these two can be balanced? Beginning the flow of philosophical thought in my brain. Feel the burn. Growing accustomed to hills. Growing accustomed to my wonderful dorm room. Decorating, piece by piece. Sharing it with the hall girls. Loving my hall mates. Finding study spots. Keeping tabs on the great blue heron that likes to hang out in the pond. Lectures and debates and discussions. Swing dance club, Latinos Unidos club, Italy club--wishing I had the time. Enjoying fall's approach. Reading aloud. Rejoicing in the beauty of campus. Practising (ooh, good reminder) my guitar chords. Speaking with Russian accent. Meeting people, liking them. Weekend with Hannah at her home in central PA--going to the fair, sitting on a tractor for the first time, viewing tractor pulls, eating fried food, not fried food, sleeping, enjoying mountainous countryside. Being blessed by time with her family. Late night walks, by light of full moons and waxing crescent moons. Looking forward to time with cousins soon. More homework. Adventures. Shenanigans.
I have not nearly covered it, but that is a sampling. And it's a delectable one. Another blog habit I'll start is listing the diverse forms of study breaks friends and I take in a week.
Today, I'll list all that I've done so far: moonlit walks, dancing, dancing, dancing, youtube videos, working out, massage chains, Wendell Berry poetry. :)
Have a lovely week, y'all!
xox
I'm over a month in, and the blogging's been nonexistent! oopsie. But otherwise I seem to be keeping afloat pretty well, considering the all-out inundation of social, spiritual, mental and gustatorial (if you include late night snacking) delights.
Here's a summary of the past four weeks:
Somewhat awkward first meeting of my cohort mates. Camping trip--canoeing, jumping in cold water, discussing wisdom, sharing fears, laughing, stars reflecting in the lake, cold dewy tenty mornings, day-long hike, nicknames, inside jokes. Orientation: more new freshmen buddies, fun/silly activities, better-than-usual dining hall food. Start to classes, and the irony of my first class being one in math--Accounting 107--after all the loathing I've heaped on it for years. Homework and social life--these two can be balanced? Beginning the flow of philosophical thought in my brain. Feel the burn. Growing accustomed to hills. Growing accustomed to my wonderful dorm room. Decorating, piece by piece. Sharing it with the hall girls. Loving my hall mates. Finding study spots. Keeping tabs on the great blue heron that likes to hang out in the pond. Lectures and debates and discussions. Swing dance club, Latinos Unidos club, Italy club--wishing I had the time. Enjoying fall's approach. Reading aloud. Rejoicing in the beauty of campus. Practising (ooh, good reminder) my guitar chords. Speaking with Russian accent. Meeting people, liking them. Weekend with Hannah at her home in central PA--going to the fair, sitting on a tractor for the first time, viewing tractor pulls, eating fried food, not fried food, sleeping, enjoying mountainous countryside. Being blessed by time with her family. Late night walks, by light of full moons and waxing crescent moons. Looking forward to time with cousins soon. More homework. Adventures. Shenanigans.
I have not nearly covered it, but that is a sampling. And it's a delectable one. Another blog habit I'll start is listing the diverse forms of study breaks friends and I take in a week.
Today, I'll list all that I've done so far: moonlit walks, dancing, dancing, dancing, youtube videos, working out, massage chains, Wendell Berry poetry. :)
Have a lovely week, y'all!
xox
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
semi-final destination :)
Did you know that the
geographical coordinates of Bogotá and Philadelphia line up longitudinally,
almost exactly? I did, because I googled it. That is so much fun. And with the
help of Skype, all those latitudinal lines separating me from a beloved continent seem to fade.
Here I am, headed out
to my home for the next four years: the Templeton Honors College at Eastern
University. I’m glad for many things at this time—not the least of them being
excellent goodbyes from many diverse groups of friends. Glad for the van that
can contain all my crap from here to there. Glad for the hand of protection
over our vehicle. Glad for
the changes, glad for the old. Glad for the prospect of meeting lots of
neat new people this year. Glad for the friends I leave behind. Glad for the new Mumford T-shirt. Glad for the
PA hills on all sides right now and for four more years.
But,
more to the point, I guess I’m thankful. It’s been a while since I had such a
cool way to spend my time as digging in deep to academia. I welcome the daily
challenge of returning to schoolwork. I even welcome the tests and quizzes that
will inevitably come (but just ask me in two months). And this time, it’s not
just school; I get to have the fun of dorm life added on! If we’re being
honest, I have awaited this time of life since the first day I set foot in high
school. I recognize, now as ever, that none of these blessings are earned by my
Wheaton-North-worthy GPA, my list of extracurriculars, or the work experience I
have gained this past year. Nope. All are God-given gifts to spur me on my
journey in the path he hasn’t hesitated in forming for me.
If the next decade could play out exactly as I am
dreaming it would (which it won’t, and I am okay with that), it would look a
lot like this:
Four excellent years of undergrad at THC, gleaning
knowledge in all topics that interest me and learning from truly great minds.
Grad school—either in Costa Rica (there's a particularly good program there) or here in
USA—to add to the palatability of my resume. Then, off to Bogotá or Buenos Aires
to work for Globant. That’s the sueño.
Other than that, the plan is to enjoy the heck out of the next four years at college. What a bummer
there are only four, and they’re going to fly. I’ll not waste a day.
With regards to the blog, I think I’ll keep going. Why
stop a ball that’s already rolling? Plus, there are some people in the world
that read it. Thanks, guys. :)
Blessings on you readers, wherever, whoever, however. May
your autumn bring you such excitement and novelty and joy as I am almost sure
to have. And thank you for sojourning with me through this most marvelous Gap
Year.
HERE’s where Bunny’s got to.
Shalom. xox
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Back in the USA. What a beautiful evening to be here. For the whole entire day, actually.
Due to the again-impressive storm last night that certainly cooled things down a tad, today was a brilliantly sunny day. Definitely of the variety that makes me stop and think, wow, life is a beautiful gift. It did also help that I got to wear my cute new rose-colored blouse today. Pretty outfits are best appreciated, by me, on beautiful days.
My sisters and I sang in church today, and I loved it. Maddi played guitar, and Bella and I sang. It was also my last Sunday at Immanuel Presbyterian Church for a while, and we had communion. I don't know what that's like at many other churches, but at ours, it's nothing short of beautiful. After all going forward together, we return to our seats and wait until everyone's been served. Then, to close the service, we join hands and sing as a congregation the first and last verses of "Amazing Grace". I was sitting with my family in the balcony today because we were up there to sing, and I had the privilege of looking out over the whole congregation as we sang. The congregation that so welcomed our family, fresh off the plane from England, about 13 years ago; the people that taught my Sunday school classes all through schoolyears, and those with whom my parents arranged play-dates. I have grown so much in the time that I have attended IPC, and I have loved it as it is, but the family that I have accrued there will continue to grow and change even while I'm not there. I am okay with that. It has helped and nurtured me carefully for long enough--now I'm going to college.
I am going to college. And I cannot wait! School supplies are just the most material/commercialist joy of starting school again--joys which range from studying to having roommates to extracurriculars. I leave in only eleven days. So much to get ready before then! But that's a good thing, because without activity (as this summer has laid painfully obvious) I go bonkers. I await the goodness this year holds quite expectantly--but the excited kind, not the nervous kind. I will be saving my nerves for my first paper in over a year, my first exams in over a year.
Heck, I'm even looking forward to papers and exams: it's definitely time for school. :)
xox
Due to the again-impressive storm last night that certainly cooled things down a tad, today was a brilliantly sunny day. Definitely of the variety that makes me stop and think, wow, life is a beautiful gift. It did also help that I got to wear my cute new rose-colored blouse today. Pretty outfits are best appreciated, by me, on beautiful days.
My sisters and I sang in church today, and I loved it. Maddi played guitar, and Bella and I sang. It was also my last Sunday at Immanuel Presbyterian Church for a while, and we had communion. I don't know what that's like at many other churches, but at ours, it's nothing short of beautiful. After all going forward together, we return to our seats and wait until everyone's been served. Then, to close the service, we join hands and sing as a congregation the first and last verses of "Amazing Grace". I was sitting with my family in the balcony today because we were up there to sing, and I had the privilege of looking out over the whole congregation as we sang. The congregation that so welcomed our family, fresh off the plane from England, about 13 years ago; the people that taught my Sunday school classes all through schoolyears, and those with whom my parents arranged play-dates. I have grown so much in the time that I have attended IPC, and I have loved it as it is, but the family that I have accrued there will continue to grow and change even while I'm not there. I am okay with that. It has helped and nurtured me carefully for long enough--now I'm going to college.
I am going to college. And I cannot wait! School supplies are just the most material/commercialist joy of starting school again--joys which range from studying to having roommates to extracurriculars. I leave in only eleven days. So much to get ready before then! But that's a good thing, because without activity (as this summer has laid painfully obvious) I go bonkers. I await the goodness this year holds quite expectantly--but the excited kind, not the nervous kind. I will be saving my nerves for my first paper in over a year, my first exams in over a year.
Heck, I'm even looking forward to papers and exams: it's definitely time for school. :)
xox
Monday, July 16, 2012
Reflections
In this summer that seems to me to be somewhat meandering, purposeless, or random, God seems to find a way to remind me that even the rest he designates from time to time is intentional. I have felt, throughout this summer, a sense of waiting--probably due to being so excited for school to start up in the fall! But of course, that is a big distraction, and doesn't make the time go any faster. What it does do is make me realize that I still am dependent on God for giving my life purpose at any given moment; for how I hope to identify myself, which is by the child of God that I am, not by the activities or acts that I achieve. But, you know, work in progress.
Last night I found myself in a state of bliss on a southern-Bogota terrace admiring the majesty of mountains surrounding such gorgeous (and prettily illuminated) city. Inhaling air from the steady, frigid breeze, and just watching the unfading glimmer of life.
Life is so very real here. I am constantly surprised and renewed by it. The attention to family. The giing thanks for waking up well and safe every morning, and the thanksgiving for the food on the table. The natural beauty surrounding us. The intrigue in observing all the varieties of activities people here get down to each and every day. Even driving in all the traffic and with all those crazy drivers--how fast and recklessly and hazardously some people take to driving is just a reminder of how fleeting life is, and how full of excitement and feeling it can be.
The same was true being in church on Sunday, at a church called Centro de Vida y Adoracion, and singing in Spanish a worship song that I had previously learnt in Argentina. It is so cool to me that my adventures are intertwining, constantly and carefully. That certainly adds to my life's cohesiveness, which encourages me. Making a Colombian friend in Argentina led to a friendship while I was in Buenos Aires, another couple of visits when we were both back in Bogota, and then to my return trip to stay with his family these two weeks in Bogota.
I am so grateful for this year of travel. I have learned about life in general, as well as understood more how I want to live it. All the little memories and lessons are things I can bring to college and beyond. All the photos and the foods and the souvenirs that I have enjoyed only serve to trigger memory of all the special moments that have made this time such a blessing. As it draws to a close now, I'm going to savor both these remembrances and the new adventures to come. On whatever continent, in whatever country, with whichever people they may be.
xox
Last night I found myself in a state of bliss on a southern-Bogota terrace admiring the majesty of mountains surrounding such gorgeous (and prettily illuminated) city. Inhaling air from the steady, frigid breeze, and just watching the unfading glimmer of life.
Life is so very real here. I am constantly surprised and renewed by it. The attention to family. The giing thanks for waking up well and safe every morning, and the thanksgiving for the food on the table. The natural beauty surrounding us. The intrigue in observing all the varieties of activities people here get down to each and every day. Even driving in all the traffic and with all those crazy drivers--how fast and recklessly and hazardously some people take to driving is just a reminder of how fleeting life is, and how full of excitement and feeling it can be.
The same was true being in church on Sunday, at a church called Centro de Vida y Adoracion, and singing in Spanish a worship song that I had previously learnt in Argentina. It is so cool to me that my adventures are intertwining, constantly and carefully. That certainly adds to my life's cohesiveness, which encourages me. Making a Colombian friend in Argentina led to a friendship while I was in Buenos Aires, another couple of visits when we were both back in Bogota, and then to my return trip to stay with his family these two weeks in Bogota.
I am so grateful for this year of travel. I have learned about life in general, as well as understood more how I want to live it. All the little memories and lessons are things I can bring to college and beyond. All the photos and the foods and the souvenirs that I have enjoyed only serve to trigger memory of all the special moments that have made this time such a blessing. As it draws to a close now, I'm going to savor both these remembrances and the new adventures to come. On whatever continent, in whatever country, with whichever people they may be.
xox
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