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.
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
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.
 |
| 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!
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
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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