Carissa's (Continuing) Adventures

When I began telling my friends and family about my call to foreign work, they were excited for me and supportive, but I could tell they didn’t quite always know  how  to be supportive. It was a new adventure for all of us. I was the first one of my family and group of friends to embark on such a journey. As I’ve shared stories with other friends, I know they’ve had similar experiences. So I thought I’d compile a list and share some do’s and don’ts of having an expat in your life.  When we are about to leave: Don’t spend time telling us how unsafe it is. Have you looked around America lately? Mass shootings, drive-bys, obesity... the rest of the world is looking pretty good. And we’re not going because we think it’s safe. We’re going because we’ve laid down our own lives for the sake of the gospel. Asking us if it’s safe only gives an opportunity for doubt to creep in.  Do spend time with us. I know you’re confused and sad and don’t want to see us go. We ...

I'm working on a classroom update, but I need to get some pictures in order. Until then, I have some student quotes I've been hanging on to. 7th Graders While working in groups to make a skit: Girl: My name was going to be "Puree." I wanted a French name. That sounds French! Boy: That's not even a real name! What do you think this? Narnia? A student asked me about some projects hanging on the wall Me: This is about a book my 10th graders read. Student: It is about "How to Kill a Mockingjay?" Me:.... Close Randomly overheard in class Girl: The best tea I've ever had is called Sugar Plum. It tastes like you're going to become a fairy. 7th graders taking a "Flat Stanley" style picture for Rebi in China  10th graders: "She treats me like a tree!" Also news in 10th grade... we had 20's themed party to celebrate finishing The Great Gatsby and present projects. I was excited to see how much fun my ...

Today is the third day I've been off work for snow. At first, it was a treat. Then, it was a bit boring. Now, I have massive cabin fever. If we don't go back soon, I'll have totally drained my coffee budget for this month and next. These snow days have got me thinking about some snowy times from the past few years. Ironically, my Bulgarian word of the day yesterday was сняг (sn-yag), accompanied with this picture: That's an image I've seen before in real life. My first winter in Bulgaria, I was told, was the worst winter in 80 years. I saw so much snow that first winter, I wasn't even interested in taking pictures of it after the beginning of January.  We did have one day off school that winter, because our families who live on the mountain had cars buried in almost two meters of snow. I was shocked that cars, trains, and busses drove right on top of the snow, and life continued as normal. The stores were even continually stocked with milk and bre...

Well... so much for regular blog updates. Since I write frequently, I thought it wouldn't be difficult too keep updating this once I returned, but it turns out I'm too in danger of becoming an actual "blogger." If you know me for very long, you'll discover that when I feel strongly about anything at all, I write an essay about it. I keep being tempted to post these musings on my blog, but so far I've resisted. I'm not quite ready to become that person. In the meantime, I can do part educational blog/part life update. Thanksgiving just flew by and found me in the reminiscing spirit. Two years ago, I was thankful for seeing my mom for the first time seven months. Last year, I was thankful for Julie and making our dream of exploring London together a reality.  This year, I was thankful for being with my whole family for the first time in two years. It was eventful, as always, but wonderful, too.  In between eating turkey and rolls, I'v...

Three weeks ago, I embarked on a new school adventure in America. Actually, it started more that three weeks ago, as I carefully, lovingly set my room up. I arranged the desks, the books, my teacher desk, my boards, all the way I wanted them. I even got permission to paint the wall in my room blue and make my students a bit happier.  Planning for the first quarter My lovely bookcase, organized by color.  My degree did NOT include classes on painting.  After some training and meetings, I finally got to meet my students. I have 7, 8, and 10th grade English classes. The first week, we didn’t do too much intense work, as I wanted to get to know them and train them to be in my class. We did do a day of goal setting where I asked them what they wanted to do and who they wanted to be in 10 years. Then we worked backwards and set academic and character goals for this school year and put them up on the wall on these colorful notecards. My finished wall ...

Before I moved overseas, a friend advised that I would go through a six week period and a six month period. She told me it would take me about six weeks to stop feeling like I was on vacation (no more “honeymoon” phase!) and six months to truly feel at home and settled. I’ve found this to be true in reverse, as well. About six months after my plane landed, I stopped walking around with a lost feeling and smacking the outside of the bathroom wall to turn on the lights. Since returning to the States, I’ve experienced about as much as I could: anger, frustration, sadness, joy, laughter... I’ve traveled to see friends. I’ve been in two weddings and watched my “niece” start to crawl and take her first steps. I’ve drank heaps of coffee and spent many a day sitting down, staring at nothing, hoping for an angel to drop my next big assignment in my lap. With Ashley (Jane Bradley Photography) With Katie Look at this adorableness! (Jane Bradley Photo...

A little over two weeks ago, I stepped foot in America for the first time in 22 months. Having spent the better part of two years in Bulgaria as a missionary, teacher, and legal alien, stepping back on my home soil has been a strange experience to say the least. People have asked me many questions, most of them along the lines of, “How was it?” “Did you have fun?” “What were your favorite things?” “What are you going to do now?” And my replies have generally been: “I love tacos.”  I haven’t really known the answers to these questions. I have a general idea of what happened over the past few years, but I lived day-by-day. Each day brought new challenges and events, so I didn’t spend the time pondering how I had changed and what I liked the most. Now that I’m face to face with my old world, I feel a bit out of sorts, and almost at a loss to describe what’s happening inside my head. Today in church, an image from the end of Return of the King came to my mind and ...