Four hours
of Phase 4 down…496 to go.
We had a
meeting Tuesday, so no class then.
Wednesday I woke up sick (even though being sick is never fun, I was
actually glad, because it meant I HAD to rest), so I cancelled class that day
and today. Friday is a holiday.
Phase 4 is
starting out with a bang, I'm telling you. ;)
It's crazy
to think just how far my language ability has come since I arrived – when I
understood just a smattering of basic vocab (colors, numbers, animals, common
household items, etc.) – to being able to discuss politics and movies and the
school system. Granted, it's still a lot
of work, and it's far (FAR!) from polished, and the person listening still has
to exercise a considerable amount of
patience, and…you get the point.
I still make
plenty of mistakes. Like the other day,
when I thought I was saying, "She pushes the button on the computer," I was
actually saying, "She oppresses the button on the computer." Or when I mixed up the words for value/price and courage.
Every once
in while I get to the point where I've seriously had enough of being the
village idiot and bumbling around all. the. time. But for the most part it's funny to me.
- - -
The
cockroaches are becoming more numerous as the weather gets warmer. I could probably write a post several
paragraphs long about how much I hate them, but…
- you
probably already know that
- you
probably don’t want to read an entire post dedicated to my complaints about
cockroaches or anything else
But I will
just explain that picture. The other
morning I was calmly eating breakfast ("calmly" is normally how I like to eat),
when…HORRORS!!! I saw a cockroach
crawling on Evangelists in Chains. I hate cockroaches regardless of size or
where I see them, but this…this was too much.
"You disgusting thing, don't you know that book is practically an
heirloom?!"
Okay, so I
didn't react quite that
strongly. But still. My poor book.
- - -
The meeting
Tuesday was out in another town – a 1 ½ hour drive, or something like
that. I didn't really watch the
clock. We made it out there fine, but
when we got ready to leave, the van wouldn't start. Thus the above picture of everyone standing
around.
Thankfully
it did start eventually, and (even more important) it kept running the whole
way back. :)
It was
really nice to get out of the city. I
hadn't realized how much of a city girl I'm not
until coming here. The noise, the
traffic, the tall buildings blocking the horizon, the people everywhere…
Anyway, I
was more than happy for a least a few hours of nature and open space.
"They're
good for your health and good for your teeth," one of the girls said as we
passed the gummy bears around.
On Opposite
Day.
There were
some really cute goats behind that truck – but you'll just have to take my word for
it. I tried about three times to snap a
picture, and each time my attempt was foiled.
Everyone was
tired on the way back…
Baobab
trees: classically African.
Most of the
buildings we saw on the drive were, at most, two stories. Such a difference from the city! A welcome difference.
"Minute Maid
– it's everywhere, just like Coca-Cola," I thought. Wait, it's made by the Coca-Cola company…
This was the
first time I'd been on the toll road. (You're welcome for that fascinating bit of information.)
All that
green at once? Delightful.
Once we
started getting into the city, we saw a lot more billboards. Most of the ones on that wall are
food-related (seasonings, etc.). Quite
colorful, aren't they?
- - -
The other
week, Michelle sent me a link of how you know you're from CA, and I found it
pretty amusing. Some of them don't apply
to me in the least, but others are spot on.
I suppose it's
homesickness that makes me more likely to extol the virtues of my state. (Seriously,
though, politics aside, California is awesome.)
I've been
away for over seven months now.
Half a world
away from home.
Distance can
separate me physically from family and friends…from home…from so much of what
is familiar…but it cannot separate me from God's love.
Nothing can.
Nothing, nothing, nothing.
…And as far
as home goes, a little bit of home will be coming next week. A couple from my church will be visiting for
a few days. That'll be good. :)
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