I know that I did not post in Georgia at all. While we had access to wi-fi, it was very difficult to try to post from my phone. Now that I'm back in the States, I will definitely attempt to do some follow-up posts and let you all know exactly how Georgia went. (It was wonderful, by the way.)
My computer is down right now, so I'm working in the lab, and I have a very busy week ahead of me, but I will get back to you ASAP, because I definitely want you to know how the trip concluded. Also, you'll have to see all of the amazing pictures!
Thanks for your understanding and all of your prayers that made this trip so successful!
Jessica
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
VIVA ARMENIA
TODAY WAS FANTASTIC.
Did you get that? FANTASTIC.
It was our last day building houses in Armenia, and that was actually very, very sad. I almost cried when we had to leave the family. The last days with the families were my favorites because we seemed to bond more and we took lots of pictures with the families. (Sidenote, Billy Jean by Michael Jackson is playing in the internet cafe right now.)
After we left the family, we went back to the hotel and rested before our farewell dinner. Then we loaded up on the bus and went to this fancy place for dinner. We had LOTS of toasts, and plenty of tender moments. My toast was to the families that we worked with this week and how blessed we were to be able to work with them. It truly has been a great experience, and there is still more to come. After our wonderfully filling dinner and receiving gifts from our Armenian leaders, we were invited to an Armenian engagement party next door. We all went and danced and had a great time. We also got to toast to the newly engaged couple. Armenians are so friendly and very willing to share their alcohol and a good time with us Americans.
Also we got some stats on all the work we've done, and in both houses put together, we mixed and hauled about 26 tons of concrete for the roof of one house and the floor of another. They also had stats about how much dirt and gravel we hauled as well, and it was a lot...tons, literally. We had lot of fun and did a lot of work these two weeks, and I'm of the mindset that life should be this way all of the time. Why work then play when you can work AND play?
I am looking forward to going to the Republic of Georgia tomorrow to work with the Evangelical Baptist Church there. Lots of prayers for a safe 4.5 hour trip and all of our sightseeing and mission work. We are all still having a wonderful time, and we are happy to leave part of our hearts here in Armenia as we leave to embark on the last portion of our trip. I hope that Georgia will be equally as rewarding.
Love from Armenia for the last time,
Jessica
Did you get that? FANTASTIC.
It was our last day building houses in Armenia, and that was actually very, very sad. I almost cried when we had to leave the family. The last days with the families were my favorites because we seemed to bond more and we took lots of pictures with the families. (Sidenote, Billy Jean by Michael Jackson is playing in the internet cafe right now.)
After we left the family, we went back to the hotel and rested before our farewell dinner. Then we loaded up on the bus and went to this fancy place for dinner. We had LOTS of toasts, and plenty of tender moments. My toast was to the families that we worked with this week and how blessed we were to be able to work with them. It truly has been a great experience, and there is still more to come. After our wonderfully filling dinner and receiving gifts from our Armenian leaders, we were invited to an Armenian engagement party next door. We all went and danced and had a great time. We also got to toast to the newly engaged couple. Armenians are so friendly and very willing to share their alcohol and a good time with us Americans.
Also we got some stats on all the work we've done, and in both houses put together, we mixed and hauled about 26 tons of concrete for the roof of one house and the floor of another. They also had stats about how much dirt and gravel we hauled as well, and it was a lot...tons, literally. We had lot of fun and did a lot of work these two weeks, and I'm of the mindset that life should be this way all of the time. Why work then play when you can work AND play?
I am looking forward to going to the Republic of Georgia tomorrow to work with the Evangelical Baptist Church there. Lots of prayers for a safe 4.5 hour trip and all of our sightseeing and mission work. We are all still having a wonderful time, and we are happy to leave part of our hearts here in Armenia as we leave to embark on the last portion of our trip. I hope that Georgia will be equally as rewarding.
Love from Armenia for the last time,
Jessica
Monday, August 1, 2011
the universal facebook
I would just like to start this post by saying that I have 2 Armenian Facebook friends to date, and I am waiting on a response for a third! Please be a little jealous, as I am very excited about this. International Facebook friends; what could be cooler? Not much, let me tell you.
Today we went back to the work site with our first family for the last time. It was such a bittersweet day. We had a ton of fun with everyone, and we got to give the family all of our gifts. At lunch everyone made wonderful toasts about how thankful they were to have people like us here to help them build their house. A group from the church in Yerevan, Etchmiatsin, showed up unexpectedly, and they sang us songs in Armenian. The bishop also made a toast to us, saying what wonderful Christians we were to come to another country to help people we didn't know to build a home. He was very gracious and thankful, as were all of the people we have met and served over the past week. It has truly been a blessing to us as well to come and work with such wonderful people. When we finally had to leave, it was actually a happy goodbye. We spent a lot of time taking pictures with the family and the children and everyone! Then we all hugged and said our goobyes. There were no tears, just lots of smiles because we know we will always keep them with us in our hearts, and they will have a little bit of us in their home, too.
After our work day we went back to the hotel for showers and rest before going to watch some of the local youth perform traditional Armenian dances for us. At the end, they even invited us up to dance as well. That was a lot of fun, even though I didn't really know what I was doing. Apparently the rest of our group did though because we got a lot of compliments on our dancing. Then it was off to dinner! We got to eat outside, and we were lucky that the weather cooled down this evening. It was HOT today!
I also want to say that I am very glad that I have my camera here with me, but I am also sad that I don't have my laptop so that I can process the pictures a day or two at a time. I have almost filled up a 16GB SD card with RAW photos. I have taken approximately 2,000 photos since leaving Georgia on July 21st, and I'm anticipating going through them when I get home with equal portions excitement and dread. It's going to take a long time and a lot of computer space.
Well, tomorrow is a work day with our new family, and I'm looking forward to meeting them. Then Wednesday is the lake day, which we are all looking forward to as well. It will be nice to find a place to cool off.
Thank you for reading. Keep up the wonderful prayers!
Jessica
Sunday, July 31, 2011
1/3 down.
So, this is the part in the trip where things get harder than they were in the beginning. The food is starting to take its toll on me, and I'm not really looking forward to 2 more weeks of being sick to my stomach, but I guess that's part of the experience. We're 1/3 of the way in, and even though I can't speak for everyone, I'm pretty sure we're all starting to get homesick to some extent. Of course I miss my family and friends, but I also miss the simple things, like sitting on my big comfy couch at home with a book. Plus there is absolutely ZERO alone time here, and if you know me, you know I usually spend hours of my day alone to re-charge. It really has been nice having people around to talk to and have fun with late at night when I can't sleep, though. I think that is something from this trip that I will miss.
Today we visited some houses that the Fuller Center has built previously, and we got to see the community of people who lived there. It was really neat to see finished houses and the people who lived in them. One lady, Marine, was so gracious when she invited us into her home. She insisted that we take all of the seats and offered us candy as well. It was amazing to see people who have so little be willing to give so much. It was also hard thinking back to America where we have so much, but comparatively, many of us give so little. Marine told us that she had previously lived in the "poverty area" for 20 years, where she had her 3 kids, and you could tell she was so thankful to be living in a Fuller Center house now. (Her house now was still small by American standards, but SO much better than the tin building she came from.)
We also met a young girl names Naira, who had just come back from a year in America. She was amazing. She played the violin for us while her mom played the piano, and we got to dance with all of the children in the community. I was still feeling HORRIBLE, but how can you say no to sweet little girls who just want to dance with you? So I took my turn and had a great time. All of the girls loved us and were so excited that we were there!
Also, today was a holiday in Armenia. A holiday where everyone gets to throw buckets or bottles of water at people. As Americans, we were prime targets for the water, especially us girls. It seemed like a fun holiday for the kids, but it wasn't so cool that teenage boys used it as a way to soak shirts of other girls. It seemed like the boys could soak the girls, the girls could soak the girls, but the boys wouldn't wet other boys, and for the most part, the girls didn't mess with the boys too much. Kinda sketchy. Walking through town, it was horrible to get hit in the face with buckets of water, but watching the kids play in the community was more fun.
Tomorrow is our last day with the first family we worked with. I believe they finished the roof yesterday, so we should be working inside tomorrow. I will surely miss the parents and the kids, Suzi, Siramarg, and Suren. They have been a blast. Tuesday we go work with the new family. Wednesday we will visit Lake Sevan for the day. Thursday we will work with the new family again, and do the same thing Friday. Then Saturday we are off to GEORGIA, and we have yet to see what we will be doing there. This has been the experience of a lifetime already, and I can't believe we still get 2 more weeks here. I'm still very excited about what is to come, but I'm also thinking a lot about my family and friends back home. Any messages, emails, FB messages you can send would be greatly encouraged! Thank you all for reading along and keeping up with me. I'll keep in touch!
Jessica
Today we visited some houses that the Fuller Center has built previously, and we got to see the community of people who lived there. It was really neat to see finished houses and the people who lived in them. One lady, Marine, was so gracious when she invited us into her home. She insisted that we take all of the seats and offered us candy as well. It was amazing to see people who have so little be willing to give so much. It was also hard thinking back to America where we have so much, but comparatively, many of us give so little. Marine told us that she had previously lived in the "poverty area" for 20 years, where she had her 3 kids, and you could tell she was so thankful to be living in a Fuller Center house now. (Her house now was still small by American standards, but SO much better than the tin building she came from.)
We also met a young girl names Naira, who had just come back from a year in America. She was amazing. She played the violin for us while her mom played the piano, and we got to dance with all of the children in the community. I was still feeling HORRIBLE, but how can you say no to sweet little girls who just want to dance with you? So I took my turn and had a great time. All of the girls loved us and were so excited that we were there!
Also, today was a holiday in Armenia. A holiday where everyone gets to throw buckets or bottles of water at people. As Americans, we were prime targets for the water, especially us girls. It seemed like a fun holiday for the kids, but it wasn't so cool that teenage boys used it as a way to soak shirts of other girls. It seemed like the boys could soak the girls, the girls could soak the girls, but the boys wouldn't wet other boys, and for the most part, the girls didn't mess with the boys too much. Kinda sketchy. Walking through town, it was horrible to get hit in the face with buckets of water, but watching the kids play in the community was more fun.
Tomorrow is our last day with the first family we worked with. I believe they finished the roof yesterday, so we should be working inside tomorrow. I will surely miss the parents and the kids, Suzi, Siramarg, and Suren. They have been a blast. Tuesday we go work with the new family. Wednesday we will visit Lake Sevan for the day. Thursday we will work with the new family again, and do the same thing Friday. Then Saturday we are off to GEORGIA, and we have yet to see what we will be doing there. This has been the experience of a lifetime already, and I can't believe we still get 2 more weeks here. I'm still very excited about what is to come, but I'm also thinking a lot about my family and friends back home. Any messages, emails, FB messages you can send would be greatly encouraged! Thank you all for reading along and keeping up with me. I'll keep in touch!
Jessica
Friday, July 29, 2011
Never have i ever...
Last night part of our group stayed up playing a game called 'never have I ever' where you say something you've never done, but if anyone has done it, they have to put one of their fingers down. The first person to put down all 10 fingers loses...or wins, depending on how you look at it. It is always interesting to see what kinds of things people have done, especially when it comes to travel and things like that. Anyway, that was just a little insight into what we do in our spare time here. We really get to know each other and bond over things we have on common!
Today we went back to work with the family from yesterday. We were all working together towards the common goal of finishing the roof. Never have I ever thought I would enjoy carrying buckets of concrete so much, but it's great work when you're doing it alongside the people who will be living in the house.
That's all I really have for now since it was a long day and I'm pretty tired, but I will try to write more later. We discovered Wi-fi in the hotel lobby, so we're set for the next several days. I'm still rolling with the punches (which is my personal theme for this trip), and I'm really enjoying life here. It is hard to describe how joyful I am working here with people who live in extreme poverty every day, but I guess it's really showing me where my heart is and what I may want to do for the rest of my life. :) I am so thankful for this opportunity, and it has been such a blessing to be here and meet and work with so many Armenians. Next time I'll try to tell you more about the people we've been working with. :)
Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. You have been wonderful!
Love from Armenia,
Jessica
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Armenia the beautiful
Hello from the wonderful city of Vanadzor, Armenia. Today we went to Matendaran, which is an institute that has tons of archives of Armenian writing. They told us all about the formation of the Armenian alphabet, which has 39 letters, and we got to see all of these beautiful hand-written books and papers decorated with gorgeous artwork. It was quite the experience. It showed how proud Armenia is of their alphabet, language, and heritage. I've heard more than once from locals here that their language is a large part of what kept them together as one people even through the periods when they did not have land to call home.
After we finished at Matendaran, we went to the Genocide museum, and it was a powerful experience. I think the thing that caught my attention the most was the artwork of a survivor who is about 90 years old now. I will have to post pictures as soon as I can, but his art was very raw and real and there was no censorship whatsoever. I think that's the kind of person I am, so I can appreciate art that deals directly with such a raw subject. The paintings struck a nerve, just as they should.
It was also very eye-opening to hear our tour guide, a native Armenian, talk about the genocide. We have been learning about it for almost a year now, but hearing it from an Armenian had much more of an impact than just reading it in a book. I also saw a document in the museum where Atlanta, Georgia officially recognized the Armenian Genocide and declared a city-wide rememberance day in honor of the Armenians. In a world where many either do not know about the genocide or refuse to admit that it was as severe as it was, it was nice to know that Atlanta would recognize it, and that the document would receive a spot in the Armenian Genocide museum.
After the museums and lunch, we drove 2 hours from Yerevan to Vanadzor. The drive was absolutely amazing. It was filled with beautiful mountain landscapes, small villages, and farmers. As you can imagine, my shutter on my camera was going non-stop! It was really neat to be able to drive from the city, through the countryside, to Vanadzor. I've decided that all countrysides have something that makes them beautiful, and I love driving through them. When we got here, we unloaded our luggage and settled into our hotel before getting out and exploring. Kim, Ellen, and I walked down the street a bit to see the small grocery shops on the side of the road before heading back for dinner. Dinner is always a huge event, and I love it. We always have appetizers of cheeses, meats, and breads. Then we usually have a main course of hot meats or something. It has been wonderful!
I am in an internet cafe right now, which costs money, and I don't have much access to internet so I won't be on too often, but I'll do my best to update when I can.
Keep emailing, texting, and most of all, praying! I'm having a wonderful time, and I'm thankful for all of your support!
After we finished at Matendaran, we went to the Genocide museum, and it was a powerful experience. I think the thing that caught my attention the most was the artwork of a survivor who is about 90 years old now. I will have to post pictures as soon as I can, but his art was very raw and real and there was no censorship whatsoever. I think that's the kind of person I am, so I can appreciate art that deals directly with such a raw subject. The paintings struck a nerve, just as they should.
It was also very eye-opening to hear our tour guide, a native Armenian, talk about the genocide. We have been learning about it for almost a year now, but hearing it from an Armenian had much more of an impact than just reading it in a book. I also saw a document in the museum where Atlanta, Georgia officially recognized the Armenian Genocide and declared a city-wide rememberance day in honor of the Armenians. In a world where many either do not know about the genocide or refuse to admit that it was as severe as it was, it was nice to know that Atlanta would recognize it, and that the document would receive a spot in the Armenian Genocide museum.
After the museums and lunch, we drove 2 hours from Yerevan to Vanadzor. The drive was absolutely amazing. It was filled with beautiful mountain landscapes, small villages, and farmers. As you can imagine, my shutter on my camera was going non-stop! It was really neat to be able to drive from the city, through the countryside, to Vanadzor. I've decided that all countrysides have something that makes them beautiful, and I love driving through them. When we got here, we unloaded our luggage and settled into our hotel before getting out and exploring. Kim, Ellen, and I walked down the street a bit to see the small grocery shops on the side of the road before heading back for dinner. Dinner is always a huge event, and I love it. We always have appetizers of cheeses, meats, and breads. Then we usually have a main course of hot meats or something. It has been wonderful!
I am in an internet cafe right now, which costs money, and I don't have much access to internet so I won't be on too often, but I'll do my best to update when I can.
Keep emailing, texting, and most of all, praying! I'm having a wonderful time, and I'm thankful for all of your support!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wow.
I cannot even begin to tell you all that has happened. I feel so behind, and I'm not sure when I'll ever catch up at this point. Let me just say that right now we are in Armenia. It is not at all what I expected, but nothing has been so far. It was dark when we got here, but from what I can see from the balcony now, it's going to be a mix of old beauty and just plain old. I saw mount Ararat faintly in the distance and it is beautiful. I am glad to be here, and I'm ready to get this show on the road.
The time we spent in Poland was a whole trip in itself. I never imagined I would get to go to Auschwitz and Birkenau, and it was like a strange dream come true. I say strange because concentration camps aren't typical places one dreams of visiting. But if you know me and my fascination with Jewish culture and the twisted psychology behind the Holocaust, then you will understand. I loved it. I'll write more later on that.
We also visited the historic Jewish Quarter and it was amazing and sad. We saw where the Warsaw ghettos were and one part of the wall around the ghetto still remains. Crazy.
We also did some shopping and we had AMAZING food. I'm looking forward to all that is to come and hopefully to having more time to tell you about it.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
intentional relationships
As I was making all of my final preparations for my trip tonight, visiting with family, packing, teaching my mom to Skype, etc., I started thinking about all of the wonderful, beautiful, and inspiring people in my life and how I so often fail to acknowledge those people and their influence. Thanks to my personality, I often tend to learn about life through observation of others, and while I can be a social person, I usually am more reserved. I often feel like I say or do the wrong things in most situations, so I have become more likely to learn through passive observation as opposed to conversation and interaction with others. The downside to this is that I am certain that most of the people whom I look up to and care for deeply probably do not realize just how much of an influence they have on my life.
This realization was especially important to me as I embark on this journey because, while I will be able to observe the new people I meet in Armenia and Georgia, I feel like I will gain much more insight by actually interacting with them, talking, asking questions, and generally getting to know people. Three weeks is actually quite a short time to spend with people whom I will have just met, and I feel like stepping out of my observation bubble/comfort zone and making more of a conscious effort to get to know people will help me to have a much more relational and rewarding experience on this trip.
I hope this makes sense.
Also, before I left, I wanted to give a tiny shout-out to people I really look up to, who may or may not know it:
Mom & Dad--for your constant support and love; for more than I can ever list, and more than I will probably ever realize.
Grandma Brown--because I've realized that so much of who I am has come from you (through my dad)
Nana--because you've always seemed to look up to me, but I don't know if you realize how much I love and admire you too
Aunt Chrystal--because, even when I don't, I know that I could always come to you with anything, and you would love and support me
Kaci Lesley--because you are so transparent and real; your talks on TA retreats always stuck with me, and I'm honored to be able to follow your blog and gain more of your insights
Nick & Diana Cash--because you are such genuine and compassionate people who follow God whole-heartedly; randomly running into either of you around town never fails to make my day. Hearing Nick on the Truth and reading Diana's blog are wonderful, inspirational additions to my life.
Caleb--because of the way you pursue your passions in life without holding back; you use the gifts God has given you so fully, each and every day.
Carmen--because she has been up north for practically this whole summer and her relationship with God is awesome and inspiring, and I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful friend, whom I met in Office Max right before freshman year in high school. Also because you are so outgoing, and you have the most intentional, amazing relationships with everyone you meet.
Alli--because you have such a pure heart, and you tackle every day with a positive attitude and a smile on your face
Kristin H.--because you are so honest in a world where people tend to skirt around the truth
Dr. Grant & Dr. Drake--because you truly have a passion for serving others, and you are so gracious to take us on this trip and share your wisdom and insights with us. You truly want to see us succeed and excel in everything we do.
2013 Service Scholars--because all of you have something wonderful and unique to contribute to this group! I can honestly say that, had any one of you not been able to go on this trip, I would have been truly sad. Over the past couple of years I have come to be so thankful for this group (even though, honestly, I have struggled at times). You never fail to be supportive, even when I am not, and I am thankful for you all.
Gosh, there are so many other people in my life who I truly love and respect. I could dedicate an entire blog to highlighting the people who make my life worth living. I just wanted you to know that I am so thankful for all of you, and without your support, love, and friendship, I'm sure that I would not be going on this trip right now. Thank you to those of you who are reading this blog, even though I don't even know who all is reading it! I am honored and thankful that you would take the time to read my rambling thoughts about this trip, and I'm thankful for your influence in my life as well.
Also, just because I didn't list you above doesn't mean that I'm not specifically thankful or thinking about your influence in my life as well. I know that calling people out sometimes makes others feel left out, and that's not my intention. (There are so many other people I could list, and if I know you in any way, you've already influenced me more than you know. ADPis, RUFers, Mercerians, Blue Devils, TeenAdvisors, teachers, students, friends, acquaintances...gosh I am just feeling so thankful for people tonight!) I promise that I am going to be much more intentional with my relationships with others this year, starting with this trip, and you will know just how much I appreciate you too!
As always, your prayers are welcomed and very, very much appreciated. I honestly don't know how I'm not having a cow about leaving my home and family for 3 weeks--well I do! The truth is that it's your prayers are working! Thank you! :)
P.S. The flight to Chicago tomorrow is at 8:30 am and the flight to Warsaw is at 6:30 pm, in case you were wondering.
This realization was especially important to me as I embark on this journey because, while I will be able to observe the new people I meet in Armenia and Georgia, I feel like I will gain much more insight by actually interacting with them, talking, asking questions, and generally getting to know people. Three weeks is actually quite a short time to spend with people whom I will have just met, and I feel like stepping out of my observation bubble/comfort zone and making more of a conscious effort to get to know people will help me to have a much more relational and rewarding experience on this trip.
I hope this makes sense.
Also, before I left, I wanted to give a tiny shout-out to people I really look up to, who may or may not know it:
Mom & Dad--for your constant support and love; for more than I can ever list, and more than I will probably ever realize.
Grandma Brown--because I've realized that so much of who I am has come from you (through my dad)
Nana--because you've always seemed to look up to me, but I don't know if you realize how much I love and admire you too
Aunt Chrystal--because, even when I don't, I know that I could always come to you with anything, and you would love and support me
Kaci Lesley--because you are so transparent and real; your talks on TA retreats always stuck with me, and I'm honored to be able to follow your blog and gain more of your insights
Nick & Diana Cash--because you are such genuine and compassionate people who follow God whole-heartedly; randomly running into either of you around town never fails to make my day. Hearing Nick on the Truth and reading Diana's blog are wonderful, inspirational additions to my life.
Caleb--because of the way you pursue your passions in life without holding back; you use the gifts God has given you so fully, each and every day.
Carmen--because she has been up north for practically this whole summer and her relationship with God is awesome and inspiring, and I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful friend, whom I met in Office Max right before freshman year in high school. Also because you are so outgoing, and you have the most intentional, amazing relationships with everyone you meet.
Alli--because you have such a pure heart, and you tackle every day with a positive attitude and a smile on your face
Kristin H.--because you are so honest in a world where people tend to skirt around the truth
Dr. Grant & Dr. Drake--because you truly have a passion for serving others, and you are so gracious to take us on this trip and share your wisdom and insights with us. You truly want to see us succeed and excel in everything we do.
2013 Service Scholars--because all of you have something wonderful and unique to contribute to this group! I can honestly say that, had any one of you not been able to go on this trip, I would have been truly sad. Over the past couple of years I have come to be so thankful for this group (even though, honestly, I have struggled at times). You never fail to be supportive, even when I am not, and I am thankful for you all.
Gosh, there are so many other people in my life who I truly love and respect. I could dedicate an entire blog to highlighting the people who make my life worth living. I just wanted you to know that I am so thankful for all of you, and without your support, love, and friendship, I'm sure that I would not be going on this trip right now. Thank you to those of you who are reading this blog, even though I don't even know who all is reading it! I am honored and thankful that you would take the time to read my rambling thoughts about this trip, and I'm thankful for your influence in my life as well.
Also, just because I didn't list you above doesn't mean that I'm not specifically thankful or thinking about your influence in my life as well. I know that calling people out sometimes makes others feel left out, and that's not my intention. (There are so many other people I could list, and if I know you in any way, you've already influenced me more than you know. ADPis, RUFers, Mercerians, Blue Devils, TeenAdvisors, teachers, students, friends, acquaintances...gosh I am just feeling so thankful for people tonight!) I promise that I am going to be much more intentional with my relationships with others this year, starting with this trip, and you will know just how much I appreciate you too!
As always, your prayers are welcomed and very, very much appreciated. I honestly don't know how I'm not having a cow about leaving my home and family for 3 weeks--well I do! The truth is that it's your prayers are working! Thank you! :)
P.S. The flight to Chicago tomorrow is at 8:30 am and the flight to Warsaw is at 6:30 pm, in case you were wondering.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
class day 2
I have a very serious prayer request for my trip. I know for certain that there will be people who pray for our safety and for blessings over our trip, but if someone could PLEASE pray for my camera, I would appreciate it more than you know. Please make sure that someone prays that my camera will work flawlessly so that I can use the talents that God has given me and be able to share what I see in Armenia and Georgia when I come back to the states. I know that He has given me a talent for photography, and that I need to use that talent to bring glory to Him, so please pray for that, in addition, of course, to the safety of the members on our trip as well as blessings over our interactions with the people of Armenia and Georgia.
On to other things. Today in class we made a list of who was going to get engaged, and in what order. I have photos, but I'm not sure if I should post them. We'll just have to see what happens.
But what we really did in class today was talk about a book we read called A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch. We also watched a really long movie on Stalin, who sacrificed his people to create a world power. He industrialized Russia, certainly, but he lost many citizens in the process. Russians love powerful leaders, though. What do we as Americans value in a leader? I'll think on that one, but I'm pretty sure I would rather have someone concerned with the desires of the people as opposed to satisfying their desires of power and ambition.
We also had two group presentations. One presentation was about minorities in Armenia and Georgia, and my group's presentation was about education in the two countries. It was really helpful to be able to hear all of the information that my peers had gathered about each country. It was also great that I didn't have to research each topic myself! I did end up with a topic that I feel really strongly about, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Armenian and Georgian citizens have to say about their educational system.
Tomorrow we should have a pretty short class, and then I will be able to go home for an evening before heading to the airport early Thursday morning! I continue to get more and more excited as the flight approaches, but I'm also still very nervous. I haven't fully wrapped my head around what it will be like to be out of the country with limited contact with my family and friends for three weeks. But the truth is, many students have done a trip like this before me, and many will continue to do it after me, and if they can do it, so can I. This will be a very intense learning experience for me, and I'm hoping to use it to my full advantage. I just pray that I can keep a positive outlook for the duration of the trip and trust that God will give me the strength to get through the rough spots. You are invited to pray for these things as well! :)
Also, have I mentioned that I'm really glad that you're reading this blog? Thank you! I appreciate your support as I embark on this journey!
On to other things. Today in class we made a list of who was going to get engaged, and in what order. I have photos, but I'm not sure if I should post them. We'll just have to see what happens.
But what we really did in class today was talk about a book we read called A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch. We also watched a really long movie on Stalin, who sacrificed his people to create a world power. He industrialized Russia, certainly, but he lost many citizens in the process. Russians love powerful leaders, though. What do we as Americans value in a leader? I'll think on that one, but I'm pretty sure I would rather have someone concerned with the desires of the people as opposed to satisfying their desires of power and ambition.
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| Watching the Stalin documentary. |
We also had two group presentations. One presentation was about minorities in Armenia and Georgia, and my group's presentation was about education in the two countries. It was really helpful to be able to hear all of the information that my peers had gathered about each country. It was also great that I didn't have to research each topic myself! I did end up with a topic that I feel really strongly about, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Armenian and Georgian citizens have to say about their educational system.
Tomorrow we should have a pretty short class, and then I will be able to go home for an evening before heading to the airport early Thursday morning! I continue to get more and more excited as the flight approaches, but I'm also still very nervous. I haven't fully wrapped my head around what it will be like to be out of the country with limited contact with my family and friends for three weeks. But the truth is, many students have done a trip like this before me, and many will continue to do it after me, and if they can do it, so can I. This will be a very intense learning experience for me, and I'm hoping to use it to my full advantage. I just pray that I can keep a positive outlook for the duration of the trip and trust that God will give me the strength to get through the rough spots. You are invited to pray for these things as well! :)
Also, have I mentioned that I'm really glad that you're reading this blog? Thank you! I appreciate your support as I embark on this journey!
Monday, July 18, 2011
let the classes begin
Today I came to Mercer for our pre-departure classes, and it was really great! It was so encouraging to finally have people to talk with about the material we have been reading for weeks. It was also wonderful to see everyone. It makes the trip seem so real now! Today there were so many times where I could hardly decide to laugh or cry from excitement, so I mostly just smiled and nodded a lot so I wouldn't embarrass myself.
Dr. Grant talked with us about Lenin, who is embalmed and can be visited in Russia to this day...and yes, that is what I took from the video we watched about Lenin's life. Also, in the beginning of the video, one scholar claimed that Lenin did not come from a broken family as his actions later in life would seem to reflect, but he did encounter what I think would be pretty damaging, psychologically, when it comes to his family. What I mean by this is that, while he may have had a great family in his youth, his father died, and his brother was hanged before Lenin even graduated high school. Not the perfect family situation if you ask me. Breaking point? Probably so. Also, tomorrow I will add a photo of the nesting dolls that Dr. Grant used to teach us about the Soviet leaders. I love visual aids.
Dr. Drake had us watch a movie called Fail-Safe, and it was one of those really intense movies that are really good, but also really bad at the same time. Here's a photo. Please watch the movie or visit IMDB to read what it was all about. We related it back to an essay we read called "Perils of Obedience" which discusses the Stanley Milgram experiment. You should look into that too, if you aren't familiar with it. Once you do that, you will be up to date with everything I did today. :)
Also, another student will be in charge of managing a group blog for our trip, and as soon as I have our link, I will post that on here so you can see the writings of everyone in our group as well. In addition, I discovered that I can make Skype calls for free as long as I have access to free wi-fi, so make sure I have your Skype username if you'd like to talk to me while I am overseas!
That's all I have for now! More class tomorrow, and getting so excited to leave on Thursday! Wow!
Dr. Grant talked with us about Lenin, who is embalmed and can be visited in Russia to this day...and yes, that is what I took from the video we watched about Lenin's life. Also, in the beginning of the video, one scholar claimed that Lenin did not come from a broken family as his actions later in life would seem to reflect, but he did encounter what I think would be pretty damaging, psychologically, when it comes to his family. What I mean by this is that, while he may have had a great family in his youth, his father died, and his brother was hanged before Lenin even graduated high school. Not the perfect family situation if you ask me. Breaking point? Probably so. Also, tomorrow I will add a photo of the nesting dolls that Dr. Grant used to teach us about the Soviet leaders. I love visual aids.
Dr. Drake had us watch a movie called Fail-Safe, and it was one of those really intense movies that are really good, but also really bad at the same time. Here's a photo. Please watch the movie or visit IMDB to read what it was all about. We related it back to an essay we read called "Perils of Obedience" which discusses the Stanley Milgram experiment. You should look into that too, if you aren't familiar with it. Once you do that, you will be up to date with everything I did today. :)
That's all I have for now! More class tomorrow, and getting so excited to leave on Thursday! Wow!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
it's a journey
I can't sleep. If you've checked the time-stamp of this post, I guess that's a pretty obvious statement to make. I'm just way to excited. I have to be up at 6:15 in the morning so that I can get ready to drive to Mercer for class. I've been doing a lot of work on my paper, and I've also been gathering information for my group presentation, and now I have no desire to sleep. I feel like I've done so much this week to prepare for this trip, yet there is STILL so much left to be done.
I have everything packed for the trip. Now I just have to make it through 3 days of classes, 4 nights of limited sleep, 2 plane rides (with 2 long layovers), and I'll be there! But I don't want to get ahead of myself. I have certainly enjoyed the whole process, and I intend to make every minute of this experience count, from packing down to the final ride home after the trip. I'm excited to be one step closer to being there, but I'm also trying to enjoy the journey itself. Reading books, writing papers, and packing bags is all part of the experience, and so far it has been a great experience. Let's hope that continues!
I guess it's time to try to sleep! I'll leave you with this photo of my packed bag:
I have everything packed for the trip. Now I just have to make it through 3 days of classes, 4 nights of limited sleep, 2 plane rides (with 2 long layovers), and I'll be there! But I don't want to get ahead of myself. I have certainly enjoyed the whole process, and I intend to make every minute of this experience count, from packing down to the final ride home after the trip. I'm excited to be one step closer to being there, but I'm also trying to enjoy the journey itself. Reading books, writing papers, and packing bags is all part of the experience, and so far it has been a great experience. Let's hope that continues!
I guess it's time to try to sleep! I'll leave you with this photo of my packed bag:
Thursday, July 14, 2011
getting closer!
Today was very eventful in terms of planning and packing for my trip. Early this afternoon I packed a suitcase for school and put together some other things for when I go back to school. Later in the afternoon, the pants that I ordered for my trip arrived, so I tried them on and they fit really well. I think that they are going to be great for the trip. Also, Bo the Bear came in the mail today, and he is adorable. I'm excited to take him on the trip.
When my mom got home she helped me get all of my stuff together for the trip, and we packed everything up. I am pleased to report that I have plenty of room left in my bags, and both bags take up only half of the weight limit. I still have a small list of things to add to each bag, and knowing me, I'm sure I'll re-pack both of them before the week is over, but at least I know that I'm pretty much good to go for the trip. Tomorrow I'm going to get some more odds and ends together, and I will have the rest of the week to read! Stay tuned for more updates!
When my mom got home she helped me get all of my stuff together for the trip, and we packed everything up. I am pleased to report that I have plenty of room left in my bags, and both bags take up only half of the weight limit. I still have a small list of things to add to each bag, and knowing me, I'm sure I'll re-pack both of them before the week is over, but at least I know that I'm pretty much good to go for the trip. Tomorrow I'm going to get some more odds and ends together, and I will have the rest of the week to read! Stay tuned for more updates!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
more preparations
So Stephanie but Bo the bear in the mail yesterday, and I'm expecting to see him tomorrow or Friday. I should get my last check from work tomorrow or Friday also, and then I will be able to see exactly what I have to take with me to Armenia and Georgia.
Today my mom, my cousin, and I got out to do some shopping for my trip and for my dorm room next year. It's such and odd feeling to be preparing to go overseas and back to school at the same time. It's strange to think about what color I'm decorating my dorm while reading about the Armenian genocide and writing about their education system. It's the odd combinations of events that keep life interesting.
The other day I found a great thrift deal at Goodwill; I got an adorable teapot/lamp for $3, and Caleb got it for me. Now Mom and I are going to fix it up, so we went to get a lamp shade at the Dollar General and some ribbon and fabric at JoAnn's to cover it. Did you know they are doing a 15% college student discount on everything in the store, even sale items, for the month of July? Awesome, huh?
I also have a ring that I got from my grandmother for my 16th birthday, and I wear it all of the time. Well, I decided that it might not be wise to take it to Armenia since it's worth a lot, both monetarily and sentimentally. So I decided that I would get a cheap replacement ring to wear instead because I knew that I would feel odd not wearing anything on that finger. It sounds kind of strange, but that's the way my mind works.
Anyway, I'm still trying to prepare for Armenia and Georgia. I'm doing LOTS of reading, which I don't have a problem with. I'm still researching and writing about the education system, specifically higher education. So if you come across a particularly interesting article about college in Armenia/Georgia, feel free to post it. :) I'm also still shopping for last-minute things and trying to get everything together to pack. It's going to be a very busy and interesting week, so please keep praying that I make it through with my sanity in tact! :)
Oh, I also realized that I will have Wi-Fi access in our hotel in Georgia for the last week of our trip, so I should definitely be able to post pretty regularly then. If nothing else, you should hear from me often that week. Awesome!
Today my mom, my cousin, and I got out to do some shopping for my trip and for my dorm room next year. It's such and odd feeling to be preparing to go overseas and back to school at the same time. It's strange to think about what color I'm decorating my dorm while reading about the Armenian genocide and writing about their education system. It's the odd combinations of events that keep life interesting.
The other day I found a great thrift deal at Goodwill; I got an adorable teapot/lamp for $3, and Caleb got it for me. Now Mom and I are going to fix it up, so we went to get a lamp shade at the Dollar General and some ribbon and fabric at JoAnn's to cover it. Did you know they are doing a 15% college student discount on everything in the store, even sale items, for the month of July? Awesome, huh?
I also have a ring that I got from my grandmother for my 16th birthday, and I wear it all of the time. Well, I decided that it might not be wise to take it to Armenia since it's worth a lot, both monetarily and sentimentally. So I decided that I would get a cheap replacement ring to wear instead because I knew that I would feel odd not wearing anything on that finger. It sounds kind of strange, but that's the way my mind works.
Anyway, I'm still trying to prepare for Armenia and Georgia. I'm doing LOTS of reading, which I don't have a problem with. I'm still researching and writing about the education system, specifically higher education. So if you come across a particularly interesting article about college in Armenia/Georgia, feel free to post it. :) I'm also still shopping for last-minute things and trying to get everything together to pack. It's going to be a very busy and interesting week, so please keep praying that I make it through with my sanity in tact! :)
Oh, I also realized that I will have Wi-Fi access in our hotel in Georgia for the last week of our trip, so I should definitely be able to post pretty regularly then. If nothing else, you should hear from me often that week. Awesome!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
organizing
I love organizing. The downside? I tend to become super obsessive about organizing when I am nervous or stressed out about something. The downside to that? I don't realize that I'm stressed out until AFTER I've done all of the organizing. The story that explains where this self discovery came from? As follows:
This evening I spent approximately 2 hours (yes TWO) taking the agenda for my trip and putting it into my Google calendar. When I first started doing it, it seemed like a great idea for several reasons. 1. It would make my itinerary easier to distribute to my family and friends. (This proved to be false.) 2. It would give me easy access to it while traveling; look it up on my phone and voila! no shuffling of papers and such. (Also, proven false.) 3. I thought it would be quick and easy. (Again, false...clearly.)
#1 was wrong because I realized, after I put everything in my Google calendar, that I had already forwarded the email with the agenda to my parents. I'm sure my mom has already printed it out and put it on her desk at work. If not, she will this week, for sure. (My mom did, however like the idea of having access to a day-by-day plan of what I would be doing readily available on HER phone.)
#2 was false because, as I mentioned in my previous post, I cannot access the internet on my cell phone while out of the U.S. (I still think that I can sync my calendar though, and not have to be connected to the internet to view it. Working on that one.)
#3 False again because, well, it took me 2 hours to do it.
And after all of this, I realized that I was spending time 'organizing' (aka being counter-productive) because I am getting so nervous and excited about this trip, and I can hardly contain myself. Too bad I didn't think about that fully before I started working with my Google calendar. Then maybe I could have made a better plan of action!
If you would like the link to my Google calendar so that you can check out all the cool places I'll be going...like Lake Sevan and the birthplace of Stalin, then comment with your email address, and I'll forward the calendar link to you. It really is going to be an awesome trip, and looking at the agenda for 2 hours did make me even more excited about it!
This evening I spent approximately 2 hours (yes TWO) taking the agenda for my trip and putting it into my Google calendar. When I first started doing it, it seemed like a great idea for several reasons. 1. It would make my itinerary easier to distribute to my family and friends. (This proved to be false.) 2. It would give me easy access to it while traveling; look it up on my phone and voila! no shuffling of papers and such. (Also, proven false.) 3. I thought it would be quick and easy. (Again, false...clearly.)
#1 was wrong because I realized, after I put everything in my Google calendar, that I had already forwarded the email with the agenda to my parents. I'm sure my mom has already printed it out and put it on her desk at work. If not, she will this week, for sure. (My mom did, however like the idea of having access to a day-by-day plan of what I would be doing readily available on HER phone.)
#2 was false because, as I mentioned in my previous post, I cannot access the internet on my cell phone while out of the U.S. (I still think that I can sync my calendar though, and not have to be connected to the internet to view it. Working on that one.)
#3 False again because, well, it took me 2 hours to do it.
And after all of this, I realized that I was spending time 'organizing' (aka being counter-productive) because I am getting so nervous and excited about this trip, and I can hardly contain myself. Too bad I didn't think about that fully before I started working with my Google calendar. Then maybe I could have made a better plan of action!
If you would like the link to my Google calendar so that you can check out all the cool places I'll be going...like Lake Sevan and the birthplace of Stalin, then comment with your email address, and I'll forward the calendar link to you. It really is going to be an awesome trip, and looking at the agenda for 2 hours did make me even more excited about it!
phone problems
Today I was having issues with my cell phone and it's charger, and it led me to think about what 3 weeks with limited access to my phone will be like. Now, before I go any further, I would like to say that I have also been thinking about tons of other, more important aspects of this trip, mostly the people, but I'm choosing to write about something as materialistic as my cell phone at this point in time. I don't think I'm fully ready to start writing about my emotions yet!
So, the cell phone...when I actually get out of the country, I will no longer log on to Facebook or the internet using my cell phone. The closer the trip gets, the more I actually realize how much time I spend on my phone using all of these applications. That being said, I think that being in Armenia/Georgia for three weeks without instant access will be somewhat liberating. I've thought several times of deleting my Facebook just because of the time that it takes away from other aspects of my life, but I always end up keeping it for some reason, the main one being that it is a prime mode of communication between myself and most of my friends, family, and even professors. So, since I never can quite make myself delete my sites, a vacation from them is usually the closest I can get to getting away from them for a while.
While it will be a nice break, it will also be very strange. Limited access to Facebook and the use of text messaging will mean limited communication with my friends and family while I am gone. It also means that the way I communicate will have to change some. That's one of the reasons that I am writing this blog--this way, I can still let everyone know what's going on with me, even if I don't know exactly how things are going back here at home.
I'm sure that there will be so many things going on in Armenia and Georgia that I will have less time to even think about being on my cell phone. I can't even begin to imagine all of the people I will meet and learn about. All of the thoughts swimming around in my head are so overwhelming at times that I can hardly put it into words, hence the random, lengthy post about a cell phone.
I'm sure I'll get to writing about all my thoughts about the people I'll meet, the work I'll be doing, and the work that God will be doing soon enough; just bear with me until I get to that point! As always, prayers and comments are greatly encouraged and appreciated!
So, the cell phone...when I actually get out of the country, I will no longer log on to Facebook or the internet using my cell phone. The closer the trip gets, the more I actually realize how much time I spend on my phone using all of these applications. That being said, I think that being in Armenia/Georgia for three weeks without instant access will be somewhat liberating. I've thought several times of deleting my Facebook just because of the time that it takes away from other aspects of my life, but I always end up keeping it for some reason, the main one being that it is a prime mode of communication between myself and most of my friends, family, and even professors. So, since I never can quite make myself delete my sites, a vacation from them is usually the closest I can get to getting away from them for a while.
While it will be a nice break, it will also be very strange. Limited access to Facebook and the use of text messaging will mean limited communication with my friends and family while I am gone. It also means that the way I communicate will have to change some. That's one of the reasons that I am writing this blog--this way, I can still let everyone know what's going on with me, even if I don't know exactly how things are going back here at home.
I'm sure that there will be so many things going on in Armenia and Georgia that I will have less time to even think about being on my cell phone. I can't even begin to imagine all of the people I will meet and learn about. All of the thoughts swimming around in my head are so overwhelming at times that I can hardly put it into words, hence the random, lengthy post about a cell phone.
I'm sure I'll get to writing about all my thoughts about the people I'll meet, the work I'll be doing, and the work that God will be doing soon enough; just bear with me until I get to that point! As always, prayers and comments are greatly encouraged and appreciated!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
gifts, bears, and backpacks!
Today at work I bought some gifts to share with my new Armenian and Georgian friends, and I'm already imagining the people I'll be sharing these gifts with. I got several WWJD bracelets, a few books of Proverbs, and some coloring-type books about easter. My mom also got 10 or so coloring books to donate to the Fuller Center in addition to the coloring pencils she got last week. She also got me a book of Columbus postcards to take and share in Armenia and Georgia. I'm very excited about sharing a little piece of the States with my new friends.
I also found out today that one of my sorority sisters, Stephanie, has 'traveling bears' to use as teaching aids in her classroom, and one of the bears, Bo, is going to be able to go with us to Armenia and Georgia. We will take pictures of them with us on our travels, and she will use the pictures and bears to help teach her students about other countries and places around the world. How exciting!
Also, Caleb is going to write me some letters to take with me on my trip to read for when I get homesick. If anyone else wants to do that too, I would be very appreciative! :)
Finally, Dad decided that he would get me a large hiking backpack to take on the trip, rather than having to carry around my luggage, as long as I mostly filled it with things to take to the Armenians and Georgians. So, we went to Academy in Auburn today and got a large backpack, and I can't wait to pack it full of gifts! I'm so excited for this trip!
I also found out today that one of my sorority sisters, Stephanie, has 'traveling bears' to use as teaching aids in her classroom, and one of the bears, Bo, is going to be able to go with us to Armenia and Georgia. We will take pictures of them with us on our travels, and she will use the pictures and bears to help teach her students about other countries and places around the world. How exciting!
Also, Caleb is going to write me some letters to take with me on my trip to read for when I get homesick. If anyone else wants to do that too, I would be very appreciative! :)
Finally, Dad decided that he would get me a large hiking backpack to take on the trip, rather than having to carry around my luggage, as long as I mostly filled it with things to take to the Armenians and Georgians. So, we went to Academy in Auburn today and got a large backpack, and I can't wait to pack it full of gifts! I'm so excited for this trip!
Friday, July 8, 2011
2 weeks and counting
Two weeks from now I'll be in Warsaw waiting to go to Yerevan, Armenia. It's hard to imagine that in just 14 days I will find myself in a completely different country far across the ocean. I'm hoping, as I start this blog, that I'll have time to continue it while I'm in Armenia and Georgia, but I guess we'll just have to see what happens when the time comes.
As the time gets closer, I am trying to prepare myself more and more for this trip, but the best thing that I can do right now is pray for God to continue to prepare my heart for what I will see and experience on this trip. In the past weeks I have been doing a lot of reading, some for classes, and some for myself, and I have discovered that travel guides are hilarious and very helpful at the same time. I have learned a lot about Armenia and Georgia, but I know that no amount of reading can prepare me for what I will actually experience there.
I still have so much to do, so please pray for me as I continue to prepare for this trip, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Tomorrow I hope to find some postcards and other things to take from Columbus to share with the friends I make in Armenia and Georgia. I have some colored pencils to take, but I still need coloring books to take as well. If you have any suggestions of clever souvenirs from America or places to find them, they would be greatly appreciated! Your prayers, support, and comments will also be appreciated while I am abroad!
As the time gets closer, I am trying to prepare myself more and more for this trip, but the best thing that I can do right now is pray for God to continue to prepare my heart for what I will see and experience on this trip. In the past weeks I have been doing a lot of reading, some for classes, and some for myself, and I have discovered that travel guides are hilarious and very helpful at the same time. I have learned a lot about Armenia and Georgia, but I know that no amount of reading can prepare me for what I will actually experience there.
I still have so much to do, so please pray for me as I continue to prepare for this trip, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Tomorrow I hope to find some postcards and other things to take from Columbus to share with the friends I make in Armenia and Georgia. I have some colored pencils to take, but I still need coloring books to take as well. If you have any suggestions of clever souvenirs from America or places to find them, they would be greatly appreciated! Your prayers, support, and comments will also be appreciated while I am abroad!
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