Funny Stuff

Living and working overseas gives new perspective into humor. What's funny in America isn't funny here; what's funny here wouldn't always be considered humorous in the U.S. As for me, (a person who likes to laugh and easily cracks herself up) I've found plenty of reasons to laugh. Here are a few short recollections I've had in my first 50 days abroad:

1) I like it when students give me answers on tests that they assume are completely legitimate... but aren't anywhere in the realm of correctness. Here is one of my favorites: My final exam has a bonus question about the American holiday Thanksgiving. The bonus is to "name the American holiday that we celebrate by eating roast turkey"... The best (incorrect) answer yet is when a female student wrote: my wedding day.

I had so many questions after reading this answer! Is your wedding day a holiday in America? Did you/will you eat turkey on your wedding day?

2) Living and working in the same "bubble" as a handful of other people can make for some insane moments. We have decided that if there were a camera crew following us around, we'd have a top-rated reality show (or even sitcom) in the U.S. Seriously. I kid you not. You ALL would watch these train wreck moments. One of the funny things you'd all enjoy watching is the mess I made while baking a cake one afternoon. I had flour and batter everywhere. Different people kept walking into the kitchen and just laughing and shaking their head at me. If there were cameras to show HOW I clumsily made such a mess, much laughter would ensue. 

3) Working within a culture that most of the world sees as a threat (while in actuality, they are kind, funny, friendly and hospitable) has given me a unique point of view. Sometimes I see the irony and injustice in a humorous light. We had our students watch The Princess Diaries at a movie event to practice listening and then discussing (all in English). In a room full of mostly men, (in a culture that most of the world views warily) these guys absolutely CRACKED UP and howled with laughter at this movie! I loved it. I enjoyed it. And it was a breath of fresh air as I laughed along with them. Sitting in the middle of one of the most dangerous places in the world right now, we watched a silly, heartwarming movie and we laughed together. It was cathartic.

As you can see, I'm certainly enjoying my time here so far. I'm learning. I'm living. I'm growing. And hopefully I'm making a difference in my teeny part of the world.

Perspective

It's funny how one's perspective will change when removed from their normal surroundings, culture, and circumstances. I've lived outside of America for one month. That's it. A short month. Most would assume that it's no huge deal to "survive" for a month in another country, culture, and surrounded by a different religion. If you've never done it, maybe you should try it.

I've moved to two different homes in the last 28 days. I've eaten more chicken than I previously thought humanly possible, yet I haven't entirely grown tired of it. My home country has threatened to attack a country; the country I currently reside in would feel huge repercussions from any sort of attack. Because of this, I'm sometimes surrounded by tension so thick it could be cut with a knife.

I started taking classes in the local language. I cannot make some of the sounds that are necessary to speak it. Today in class, I felt like I was going to choke on my tongue if I continued to try to pronounce certain words. (It was really quite humorous!)

The name of the game... wait. This has progressed beyond fun and games. Let me rephrase... The way to handle life is to be FLEXIBLE. Be prepared for CHANGE. I have to remind myself that being fluid and "going with the flow" is not only necessary, but it's the only way to stay sane in the situation I live in. I've had to change my perspective. I have to force myself to do things differently. I've had to entirely overhaul certain parts of my life and lifestyle. And it's OK! I'm doing well. I'm processing these changes (sometimes out loud, or in writing, in the case of this blog post), and its OK. I know the One Who is in control of my life, of the situation I live in, and of the whole universe.

I sleep in peace each night, completely comfortable and resting in the knowledge that LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE. (Pack appropriately.) I think I have what it takes to live out this adventure. You?

**On a different note, I think my next blog post will be a collection of funny and humorous stories I've already collected from my time here. Be prepared to laugh!

Almost One Week

I am six days into my new adventure of living overseas for a year. So far, I have fallen into my new routine of teaching English quickly. My coworkers are great, and my students put forth a lot of effort.

Life in America already seems like its waaaay back in the rear view mirror. I have heard my first explosions. I have seen the atrocities that war and conflict have left behind. Evidence of violence just sits on the side of the road. I cannot watch my favorite sports on a regular basis (because of the time difference, even if I could get the internet to cooperate and stream MLB games, it would be at 2 or 3 am here. And that won't work when I have to get up and teach English class most days during the 9 am hour!) The food is different, and my body is still adjusting to the heat and dirt here.

Yet, I'm loving it. Oh, I am well aware that culture shock could start hitting me any old time it pleases. I'm sure at some point very soon, I'll miss the conveniences that life in America holds. But the people are warm and kind. They are weary from the violence that plagues their area. And while the oppressive sun and heat could be interpreted as an uncomfortable (and even deadly) aspect of life in this region of the world, I choose to see it as Light. A symbol of hope and joy and peace. I want to make a difference. I want to BE different. I AM different. I bear Good News. I bear Truth. I bear Peace. I want to teach to the best of my ability. I want my students to grow and learn in so many ways that far surpass English.

Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self Control.

Changes

I'm horrible at this blogging thing! It's much easier for me to tweet. Micro blogging is apparently more my style. Even so, I will attempt to update this every month or so (at least!) for the next year, as some exciting things will be happening!

At the end of May, I graduated from graduate school! Yay for a shiny new masters degree.

Me with my two best friends at graduation, the Bay and City in the background!

I then drove cross-country from Northern California to Central Florida with another awesome friend! I've spent the summer at home with my family and friend doing fun things and vacationing, enjoying every moment.

A nice photo of my parents, brother and I while vacationing at the beach this summer!

I leave in about a week and a half to start my new job. I'll be moving to another country to teach English and do relief and development work for a year. I'm excited to help others while being adventurous. Several of my passions are combining, and I'm looking forward to what the next year holds! It'll be a learning experience to live in another culture, surrounded by different religions and languages. Hopefully I'll remember to update this blog and keep you all updated! 

Don't forget to check my twitter, too! Lately, my twitter account has been little more than my personal micro sports blog. :-D

Subcultures

32 days. That's all that stands between me and walking across a stage to receive my shiny new masters degree.

While I am greatly looking forward to being done with seminary schoolwork (I still have two lengthy papers to write), I will miss this cool place I've been living. I will miss the San Francisco Bay Area even though I am moving on to another neat adventure in a short time.

The Bay Area is fun. It's interesting. It's a subculture.

But it isn't the only subculture I've been living in. At the moment, I feel like I'm in a subculture within a subculture within a subculture within a subculture within a subculture. Let's see if I can unpack this for those of you who don't know this area.....

I am living in a seminary subculture here at GGBTS.
GGBTS is in the Marin subculture, which is a
subculture of the San Francisco Bay Area,
which is a subculture of California,
which is a subculture of the United States,
and the US is most certainly a subculture of the world.
(even though arguments can be made for the meshing/mashing/merging of cultures within the US because of immigration and travel.)

If I've lost you, I'm sorry. But this area is SO VERY different from anywhere else. (from anywhere else in the whole world.) If you haven't been here, you should come visit the Bay. It's pretty awesome. Be prepared to see different cultures, different views, different scenery, and different people. But enjoy it. See it for what it is.

Live your life, folks. Love God. Love People.

Priorities

Balance. Priorities. The law (in Christian/biblical terms).... These are all ideas and topics that have prompted this post and these thoughts from me today. Forgive me for rambling and throwing random thoughts out. This is not a good sample of my writing skills. :-)

As a seminary student working on a masters degree, I run across a lot of things in life (both in questions from others and in class assignments) that make me think about what priorities I have in life, what priorities I should have in life, and what priorities the Church should have. Along the same lines, what priorities should our culture and country and government have? I'm not sure there is a set answer. For every situation, priorities will change. Positions and directions will change, which defines what gets prioritized. And that's OK. It's fine. That's how life works. BUT... you have to know how to prioritize. I'm still learning. I don't think I'll ever be near perfecting it.

For a class I'm taking this semester at Golden Gate, I had to read In Search of Balance. In the paper I wrote on this book, I noted that I thought I'd learn some amazing new insights. I did not learn anything new and amazing. The book is entirely practical, and I already implement most of the things the author talks about. There is no set recipe or "fix-all" for everyone. It's a process. Life's a process.

A not-so-fun and much talked about topic in Christian circles and definitely in seminary is (dun dun dun) THE LAW. Just some random thoughts I'm going to throw out on this topic: don't make it your priority. "If keeping the law is the basis of relationship, then you have no relationship. You will violate the law." My New Testament professor, Dr. Martin, said this in class this morning as we discussed the law, keeping the law, and that sort of thing. The kind of law-keeping we discussed in class caused arguments, even in Bible times, that got people killed. (Stephen was stoned for things along these lines.) The law condemns everyone, which is why a relationship with Christ is important. Christ overcomes the cranky old law. (Galatians 3:23-29) Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing. (duh) My lesson from this is to not prioritize arguments that don't matter. Following a set of rules isn't what "saves" you or strengthens your relationship to Christ. While there are obviously things you should and shouldn't do, there is no checklist. I'm tired of people acting like they are better and checking off their list.

Soap box time. Along these lines, a blog post has surfaced about the "Southern Baptist" stance on alcohol changing. First of all, I've heard several seminarians make comments about the stance changing. Well, don't get all excited. One comment, by one person, was made about FUTURE moves to take "rules and suggestions" out of recommendations. This hasn't happened yet. (Know the processes, people. Don't get caught in sounding ignorant because you're excited about not being under contract to not drink alcohol.) Also, every Southern Baptist church and entity is autonomous and can (and will) make its own decisions. Then again, you are your own person and have to make your own decisions according to your own conscience anyway. But, this isn't a priority for me. I'm not a fan of alcohol. Getting off my soapbox. That stuff said, I don't think drinking alcohol, in and of itself, is wrong or sinful or bad. I choose not to drink. But that's a personal choice for numerous reasons.

Another thought of something that should be prioritized: loving people. Telling people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. As our seminary president, Dr. Jeff Iorg, has been quoted saying: "Go after people, not places."  If you end up somewhere on the other side of the globe, that's great. If you live in the same town your whole life, that's ok, too. No matter where you are, love the people, and share God's love and saving grace with them.

Live your life. Love God. Love people. Follow Jesus. Those are priorities. Everything else falls into place.

Here. We. GO!

Another semester has started... and it's my LAST ONE in seminary! I am through the first week of my last semester. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel! It's sure to be a fun-packed, busy semester with my internship, working at starbucks, and classes... not to mention the college ministry I'm helping lead at church!

Also, my favorite SPORTS ARE BACK! The beginning of baseball season is almost upon us! As football season has recently drawn to a close, spring training (for MLB) starts this week! The Daytona 500 is two weeks from today, marking the start of the NASCAR season! *sigh* Sweet springtime. (February is springtime in my mind, with the advent of new, fresh sports seasons.)

To keep up with all that's going on in my life (when I don't have time for new blog posts), keep up with me on Twitter!