Better Late Than Never

After one year of living overseas, I finally decided to cave and make a blog. My idea is to update more regularly what is happening in my life, because I can't seem to fit all of the awesome weirdness of my days into a monthly letter.

Looking back on the past year, the things I've done and seen, it seems nearly impossible. The list of things I miss about the States (Chik-fil-a, owning a car) seem to continuously pale in comparison with the list of things I adore about living overseas (the food, windows, light switches, scenery, history, culture, and people).

Living overseas has also challenged and strengthened my faith in ways I could have never understood in the States. A year of living by myself in a building where no one speaks English has been ridiculously un-fun at time. But it has been in those times, the ones where I thought I was going mad, that the beauty of my Savior was revealed to me in new ways. Relying on the Father for all of my satisfaction has become so urgently necessary that the idea of going back to the comfort and ease of American life seems more foreign than the caramelized goose liver on the menu here.

Currently, I'm enjoying spring. The world has gone from looking like this:

 

to looking like this:

 

A big improvement, I think. I've also been enjoying an influx of visitors and special events. First two of my dearest friends came for a visit and we ended up spending a few days touring Philippi and relaxing on the Mediterranean. 

 

Then, I was able to celebrate my birthday with my sweet friends here, who treated me to a birthday weekend extravanganza, complete with pancakes, shopping, fajitas, and pumpkin spice latte cupcakes, complemented by Marvel Comics napkins.

 

Then, my brother came for a visit. So we went to Athens for a long weekend and got to see some cool things like the Archeological Museum,

 

and the Acropolis, Agora, Forum, and a Greek Island. 

Here's a view of the Acropolis from the rock which Paul stood on to give his "Men of Athens" speech. Without meaning to, I've been following Paul's footsteps around Europe. 

 

School is starting to wind down and planning for next year has begun. It's been a continuous mad frenzy of back-up plans and making lists, then re-making the lists. I'm still not certain how next year will look, but I guess I'll know in the fullness of time. Until then, I'm praying to finish out this school year strong. 

This month, my younger students and I are celebrating obscure holidays. Just because we can. We celebrated National Wear Purple Day and National Eat Chocolate Chips Day, and this coming week we're going to try to do something for National Armed Services Day. Here's a picture from National Brothers and Sisters Day. I had them make cards for one another and then I took them to the store so they could buy a small present for their sibling. I think it was a hit! (Especially since the presents were ice-cream. You can't go wrong there).

 

Please continue to pray for me as I finish out the school year. 

I make no promises, but I'm going to attempt to publish a new blog every couple of weeks or so. I haven't had a blog since I was in high school, so I'm not sure I really remember how do to it. Just one more adventure, I suppose!