Christmas Greetings from England

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year. Always. It trumps Thanksgiving, my birthday, summer vacation...it trumps every day of the year for me. There is this feeling on Christmas Eve that isn't found any other day of the year. It's the day before Christmas...you are so close to that special celebration, but not quite there yet. All the sweet anticipation that has been building during the Christmas season is at it's highest. You get to spend the day with the people you love with easy smiles and laughter, everyone looking forward to the following day. A celebration of birth, life, relationships and love.

Or at least it should be that way. Things are a little different here.

A majority of the population here sees Christmas in a different way than myself - They view the day as a commercialized celebration of the exchanging of goods, they mark it in passing as the day people observe the birth of the prophet Jesus, or just a day with extra hassle where they must set up a tree and search for ways to convince their child that Santa still exists. So the magic of Christmas Eve is lost.

It's a hard day for me. It doesn't feel like Christmas here as hard as I know my housemates and I have tried to make it. Christmas Eve just feels like another day. Add on top of that extenuating circumstances that make me want to be home more than anything I've ever wanted and you have what the day feels like to me. Hollow. Like I'm missing something. And I am. Its hard not to when celebrating Christmas in a different country away from family. As much as I love the people I am surrounded with I imagine there will always be a void when your family is a continent away.

So this Christmas Eve I ask you to do something for me. Watch your family smile, make them laugh, play games and enjoy being in each others presence. Hug your loved ones so tight they tell you they can't breath...most important of all embrace the holiday. Feel the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve in yourself and those around you. Have a merry Christmas celebrating Christ's birth surrounded by the people you love.

Christmas Concert

Just the three Mennos singing a song at our Christmas choir concert.

Dear Ireland...

I never thought I would find a place that I would consider as beautiful as my birthplace, but I have. I never thought I would find a place that I equated with serenity that wasn't my home, but I have. I never thought I would find a place that felt like it soothed my soul that wasn't situated in a Mennonite community, but I have. I never thought I would find a place that I would miss which I was only just beginning to discover, but I have. You have stolen a piece of my heart.

Sincerely,
Me

 

Hi American Teacher!

I love going to school. I love working with my teacher and the students. I love the people I've gotten to know. I love that I no longer have to walk there. I pretty much just love everything about it...but my most favorite favorite favorite thing of all....is the odd things the children say to me on a regular basis. I finally decided I really should share with you some of the things they say so you can chuckle right along with me :)

While walking to lunch one day I was pretty much stopped in my tracks when one little boy (who I should point out I don't know and have no idea how he knew who I was) said, "Hello American teacher!" I must say I was so surprised to be addressed that way that everything in my head just sort of disappeared and all I could think of to say was, "Hello" right back.

I often have children commenting on my accent. They love it which means I get to hear many funny things about it including but not limited to:
1. Miss how do you say (insert word) in your language?
2. Miss when I get older I'm going to learn American.
3. Miss I love your accent.
4. Are you a movie star Miss? You sound like the people in movies.
5. Miss what language do you speak?


One day I was asked, "Miss I weigh ___ stones. How many stones are you?" The only reply I had was "If I knew what a stone was I would tell you." They seemed to think that was hilarious.

One of the funniest conversations I've ever been a part of was completely random and off topic (Sorry Miss Bennett, sometimes I let them distract me from keeping them on track).
student "Miss, who is the royal family in your country"
me "we don't have a royal family in the US"
student "you don't have a royal family Miss?"
me "not anymore. Our royal family used to be your royal family a long time ago"
student "oh. what happened miss?"
me "well, America decided it didn't want to listen to the British any more so there was a war"
student "a war between you and us?"
2nd student "yeah the American revolution" (or whatever they call it. I can't remember)
student "oh yeah! did we win miss?"
me "no, actually we did"
student "you beat us?"
me "yeah"
2nd student "then why are you here?"
me "because we are allies now. We are friends and get along"
2nd student "then why do you still celebrate the 4th of July"
....sigh. I can't remember how the conversation ended but I'm sure I was fighting a losing battle.

The way they use words throws me for a loop occasionally as well like when I had a little girl tell me one day "Miss your shoes are proper cute"... I learned not long after that that they often use the words proper and well in place of so or really when we all just mean very. Quite confusing.

A fun thing lately has been their topic of this term. They are learning about space and covered the moon landing. Part of their education on this was to hear some of the conspiracy theories which now has them all convinced that the US never made it to the moon. With the for or against the conspiracy I am solidly outnumbered 30 to 1. One little boy told me today "Miss I don't believe it. It never happened." Well we will just see about that when they learn they can't believe everything they hear (you can't see me but I am currently snickering and rubbing my hands together in anticipation of Miss Bennett teaching them the counter arguments to the conspiracy theories).

Probably some of my favorite things they say are along the lines of "Miss you go back to America?," "Miss are you coming back?," "I'll miss you Miss," "Miss are you staying with us the whole time?," "Miss When will you be back?"....

I love those children :)

My school projects

Leer vs. Fear

I've told you before that I'm in a choir right?....I know I have....I just ask again for the shock value because if we are all being honest, me included, there is just no picturing me singing in a choir....by choice. Getting up in front of people is just not my thing. I like to observe...always have. But there is something incredibly wonderful about trying new things though...you learn. Sometimes in ways you weren't expecting. Especially when you joined 'just for now' because you didn't want to be left behind and you never really understood music because you were more of an art lover. Joining this choir with my roomies, who enjoy singing and one who studies music, I get a whole different view from them than from my own observations. For example... our upcoming concert has a song in it by John Bell entitled Sing a Different Song... The third verse goes like this...

Love a different love now Christmas is here,
love without condition, love without leer.
Christmas is here, with the humble and poor,
with the shy and unsure,
love a different love. Let Christ be the cure.

Now if you are anything like me you look right at this verse and immediately find something that bothers you. I leaned over during one of our practices and whispered to Rachel, "He should have said fear...it would have sounded better. Leer is just weird." To which she replied surprising me, "I like it." I most likely wrinkled my nose at her which by this point I would be surprised if she didn't know what exactly is going through my head at moments like that... so she continued and said, "John Bell is very intentional about his word choice. Leer is there because it is supposed to be" then she pointed out something else I hadn't noticed - verse 3 was all by its lonesome in a song with 4 verses. The other 3 are all grouped together with the same music but verse 3 has its own music. Why did he do that? The other verses are Sing a different song, shout a different shout, and dance a different dance....but verse three is love a different love. Love was the verse that was singled out. Not that that is surprising to anyone as love is so, so important throughout the Bible - after all it is the greatest of all the fruits of the spirit. But the verse as a whole is surprising. All of it makes sense - loving unconditionally, loving the humble and poor...so on and so forth...its the kind of thing we've heard so many times it is ingrained in our heads and hearts. Except for that one little word...leer...why leer? Why not fear? Loving without fear is a sweet kind of love. Its the kind of lyric you would expect. Its the kind of thing you've heard a million times.  But has anyone ever told you to love without leer? I looked up leer to see just what exactly this verse meant...its definition is 'to look with a sideways or oblique glance, especially suggestive of lascivious interest or sly and malicious intention.' Love at all times...not just when the less fortunate are around you...do not wait until someone turns their back to 'drop the act'....love a different love - love without leer. This idea of love is beautiful! To love and be loved in a way that you know is honest and true -- no leering.  The whole feel of this verse is so different when you look at it knowing its meaning. I look at it differently now that I'm not always trying to replace leer with fear in my head. I think it is very significant that Mr. Bell singled out this verse. Its like looking at a piece of art in a new light...not a way I ever imagined looking at music. But there you have it...trying new things means you learn new things.

So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for many things...joining choir! Learning that I really do enjoy singing. Rachel for making me see music in a new way. Mr. John Bell for making me consider love in a new way. Kaihle for making me laugh. My English family for insisting we have Thanksgiving! My family at home who never makes me feel like I am far away and missing out. My church family which has expanded to include 3 congregations....I am truly and wonderfully blessed this Thanksgiving and I hope you all have a list of blessings of your own!

(a song from our last concert yay!)

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November

The Gunpowder Plot (word for word what my 11 year olds learned in class)

Who goes there, friend or foe?

"John Johnson," came the reply, but it was too late. The cloak of secrecy had been lifted.

The plot to blow up Protestant King James 1 at the opening of Parliament was all but dead. Guy Fawkes, the man responsible for igniting the powder kegs, was about to be arrested and the dream of England returning to its Catholic ways lay in tatters. The date? November 4th, 1605.

It took just three days of torture in the Tower of London for this strong and powerful man to be broken, three days for him to betray his oath of secrecy by revealing the names and whereabouts of his co-conspirators. The rack, after all, is an evil tool, stretching its prisoner until the arms and legs are pulled from their sockets.

On January 27th, 1606, the remaining eight plotters were put on trial for high treason. All were found guilty. All were sentenced to death.

Hung until almost dead, they were then cut from the gallows, disemboweled, beheaded and sliced into quarters. Even the four fleeing plotters, who had been shot at Holbeche House, were taken from their graves and had their severed heads sent to London to be impaled on spikes and displayed for all to see throughout the city.

Designed to show others who wished to harm the King that they would never succeed, this grisly sight must have burned in the minds of all who say it. And yet to ensure that the defeat of such a treacherous plot would never fade into the mists of time, shortly after the executions the government ruled that November the 5th should be 'a day of thanksgiving'.

Ever since, this day has been known as Bonfire Night, a time when crowds gather to burn effigies of Guy Fawkes all over Britain.

The gunpowder plot may have been thwarted but it will never be forgotten.

Remember, remember

The fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason,

Why gunpowder treason, 

Should ever be forgot!

Blue Skies and Sunshine

This past week was our term break from school. It was absolutely amazing! We went to London and saw things that before those few days only existed in movies to me. We were TOTAL tourists...it was fantastic! We rode in the London eye, went to evensong at Westminster Abbey, saw Big Ben,  Parliament, the London Bridge, Tower bridge, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Globe, visited museums, went to London's M&M world, saw the Olympic countdown, watched the Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theater, took pictures in the well known red phone booths, stood on both sides of the prime meridian, walked miles and miles, and somehow managed to only get rained on once.

Upon our return very late Wednesday night we spent a few wonderful hours in our beds before being whisked away the next morning with Karen (the teacher I am working with) to see York. There we went shopping in the shambles, explored the York Minster, walked around the remains of the wall that once protected the keep, visited the Jorvik museum, and FINALLY had some good old American pizza at Pizza hut (you laugh but you really have no idea how much you miss ridiculous things like that).

Many of these old places just made my hands itch for art supplies. Interestingly enough what fascinates me most about these huge, pillared buildings isn't the massive and ornate stained glass windows, it isn't the intricately carved moldings or fixtures, it isn't even really the history (I think I just heard my family gasp all the way from home)...what fascinates me the most in all these old buildings is the shadows. I thought about it while we were in the Minster and actually had a chance to sit down and draw (not that I got a lot done...I had trouble deciding where to start). There are varying degrees of shadow...so dark your eyes can search forever and never see an outline to the kind of shadow almost overpowered by the light but still managing to exist. What you find with the power of shadows is that light emerges. You only see the brilliance of the light when shadows are present. The Minster's shadowed pillars, nooks and crannies just made the beautiful well lit open worship space and stained glass windows that much more beautiful. One without the other is impossible...there is no balance or appreciation.

It's the kind of lesson that can be applied to the rain. Something I never noticed before. I probably only realized this because it rains so much here...otherwise my brain would have never made the connection with the Minster's shadows. You see I love rain. I love storms and thunder and lightening. To me, they are the equivalent to shadows. While sitting there drawing in the Minster I realized that the light and openness was like a blue sky with sunshine. Blue skies and sunshine are not necessarily something I appreciated all that much...not until being here (with lots of grey skies and rain) and I realized just how beautiful that is. When we have the rare day without rain where the sky is actually clear enough to see the blue sky you just have to stare and smile. It is so lovely! I have lots of days like that at home...lots of those beautiful days with blue skies and sunshine.

It makes you think...the beauty that you miss everyday because you are so used to seeing it. I have probably said a million times since being here, "Do these people realize how lucky they are?"...but a better question was "Do I know how lucky I am to be from where I'm from?"...because you see for every old wall, castle, or cathedral there is an old one room school house, barn or country church at home...for every museum, statue, or landmark we have someone that can tell you the history of our area, show you something left behind by the Indians or point you towards obscure but unique anythings in your own town...for every ambling hill, scenic walk, or rainy day we have beautiful flat land that allows you to see for miles, people to walk with who have known your family for generations....and sunshine....Blue skies and sunshine.

Say What?

I have mentioned the Yorkshire accent before in my posts and I know I've talked to people about it here and there, but it is really hard to understand unless you hear it. I was informed today that there are some really wonderful poems, web site and videos on the internet that I could share with you all so I chose a few things to highlight what I'm talking about. Enjoy :)

The words below are just some examples...

GLOSSARY: A
Yorkshire term	Definition
allus	always
'appen	maybe, possibly e.g. "I'll 'appen that's it" for "that's possibly true"
aye	yes

GLOSSARY: B
Yorkshire term	Definition
backend	Autumn
bad 'un	no good
badly	not in a good state of health, i.e.'How's Martha?', 'She's badly.'
baggin	packed lunch
bagsey	childhood term, i.e. 'bagsey my turn!'
bairn	child
bait/ bait box	snack/ packed lunch
bap	bread bun
bazzerking	relaxing/ telling off (?)
beck	brook
beefin(g), blubberin(g)	crying
be reight	it'll be alright
berg	mountain
best y' do	see that you do
black bright, black as't face o' spades	very dirty
bog	toilet
bonce	head
bonny	pretty
brant	steep e.g. "'tis a brant hill"
bracken	ferns
bray/braying	beating e.g. "you'll get a good braying" or "I'll bray you"
breadcake	bread roll or bap
butty	sandwich

GLOSSARY: C
Yorkshire term	Definition
cack-handed	left-handed, clumsy
carr	marsh
chat	fir cone
chelpin'	talking
childer	children
chippy, chip 'ole	fish and chip shop
chuckin(g) your guts up	being sick
chuddy	chewing gum
chuffed	pleased, excited
clarty	dirty, muddy, sticky
clemmy	stone (of a size you might throw)
clout	cloth or slap
cludger	toilet (in Knaresborough)
coal 'ole, coyle oyle	coal cellar
coit/cooat	coat
croggy	riding on the cross-bar of a bicycle

Top Ten

Ways you know you've assimilated to English culture:

1. When someone says football you don't automatically think of that game with the oblong ball.
2. You no longer have to think twice about which way the traffic is coming from (even if you still don't like crossing the road).
3. When someone says something that sounds made up, you no longer think to yourself that they are speaking jibberish...even if you still have to ask them what the word means (the 'Yorkshire accent' is a whole different story).
4. You begin explaining where you come from by picking a geographic area because you know no one knows where your state is....for example Ohio is by the great lakes.
5. You finally understand the currency and can tell the difference between the massive amount of coins they use (1 penny, 2 p, 5 p, 10 p, 20 p, 50 p, 1 pound, 2 pounds --yep all coins).
6. You start incorporating words into everyday use that you would never normally use such as Lovely, brilliant and wellies (along with that whole list of words I've been keeping track of in my English as a Second Language section)
7. You know where to find eggs in the store (hint - not anywhere near the refrigerated section).
8. You never assume you know what the weather is like by looking our your window....and you never assume the weather will be the same as the day progresses.
9. You are more surprised to see a blue sky than a cloudy one.
10. When someone asks if you are alright you don't wonder exactly what it is that could be wrong and instead cheerfully reply, "Yes and how are you?"

Ways you know you haven't quite gotten there yet:

1. Someone still finds something to tell you that is so different from what you expect that it shocks you...such as the fact that there are no outlets in bathrooms here. Something I didn't notice until it was pointed out to me.
2. You can find the eggs but some other groceries you still have trouble with (could be because some of them don't exist here).
3. You still feel like you are living in a Jane Austin novel or a fairytale.
4. You still chuckle to yourself when someone says something is far away and it's only an hour drive.
5. You watch t.v. buuuut you are usually watching American shows.
6. You still aren't sure how to react when someone says 'I love Americans'....do you say thank you? do you ask why? do you just nod, smile, and continue on?
7. When someone asks you if you would like to try some sort of food that you have absolutely no idea what it is, you debate in your head whether to take a chance that it will be something you recognize or if you should ask what is in it (like in the case of black pudding -- pig's blood, yummy *said while trying not to make too much of a face and not succeeding. It's a good thing Paul and Ruth are so nice and tolerate my squeamish stomach).
8. You still find it amusing to sit in the front passenger seat of cars here and not be driving.
9. Some poor child asks you for something at school and you have no idea what they are saying...for all you know they could be speaking a different language...that is until they ask the teacher and she knows exactly what they want....sigh, more words for my English as a Second Language section.
10. You still aren't quite sure how people come up with some of these Proper Nouns for places and have to occasionally scratch your head in wonder.

Taking a break from walking with Angie

Picture Perfect

Diocesan Day with the Anglicans (kind of like conference) - A picture moment I found by accident

At Saltaire - Climbing a statue we probably weren't supposed to - We just wanted to see Titus Salt up close!

Lots of rain means lots of rainbows :)

Rock climbing with some students

Hold on a second!...Where are all the merry men?

The last week(ish) has been wonderful! where to start, where to start...

School is as good a place as any. I love my school....I mean I don't love it in the way that I have any aspirations of becoming a teacher kind of love, but I really do enjoy the time I get to spend there. My teacher and students are wonderful and I have so much fun. One thing I am grateful for is the fact that my teacher uses me quite a bit. I do a lot of the normal things one would expect like fetching copies, cutting things apart, sitting with groups of children to keep them on track...I am lucky though because I am given the opportunity to do so much more. On several occasions I've gotten to take small math, reading and phonics groups out to work with individually. I've also gotten to decorate some boards, am currently designing and working on a target board, join in for gym, and go on field trips. I have learned many things at school such as...

1. How to throw, catch, and run with a rugby ball
2. there is a worship session for every child of every faith offered once a week. Even atheist children have a program set up for them.
3. Lunch is pretty much going to be a surprise every day even though I signed up for it in the morning. American English is not England English especially where food is involved.
4. I am absolutely not qualified at all to help with any sort of spelling lessons....ever. There are just too many funky letters stuck into random words.
5. I hadn't realized it until after the lesson was finished, but I am not exactly qualified for helping with phonics here either...I mean seriously, the way they pronounce things is just plain odd sometimes.
6. The kids are hilarious...I have to try really really hard not to laugh or smile when they do something funny but are in trouble with Ms. Bennett for doing so. Ahhh the joys of being in a classroom and not being the authoritarian.
7. They are actually excited when they are placed in a group with me which in turn makes me excited to teach them things...or them teach me....whichever way it happens. (plus they call me Miss which is way more cool than I had expected)
8. The teachers lounge is indeed the magical place we all thought it was while we were in school and not allowed to enter.
9. My classroom faces the street I walk along to get to the school, which I did not discover until just last Wednesday. The only reason I probably even know this is because it is lined by this huge graveyard. If there had been houses I probably still wouldn't have a clue...that is how disoriented this school and its maze of hallways makes me.
10. I have no hope of ever learning the Pakistani language even though my pupils have tried in vain to teach me some useful phrases including but not limited to...I am fine. Yes, I would like some tea. No, I do not like coffee. Goodbye.

Wednesday was just this completely and unexpectedly amazing day. First, we were scheduled to go on a mini field trip to Morrison's and the Range (a grocery store and an everything else store) to buy materials for their enterprise projects (I know, you are right, that is totally cool!) and research logos, slogans and advertising gimmicks. It is very tricky and stressful to keep track of 7 11 year olds with cameras who just want to scamper everywhere. Still fun though because they are funny and for some reason seem to like me. If that wasn't cool enough as it was I found out upon arriving at school that morning that a last minute trip had been added to the day's schedule. There was a festival in the town square (huge square I must add) called Positive Bradford which I gather was a celebration of some sort to celebrate their diversity and community and pretty much everything. A last minute call had been made asking for students to come and sing at the event...my lucky class was chosen. So we went to this event and just had a really great time. I along with the teachers and students stood in front of the stage and sang If You're Happy and You Know It. It is possible we ended up in either the local newspaper, tv news, or radio station...I have no idea though because I don't yet know where to find any of those things. I suppose it will remain a mystery. We split the children into their houses (it is kinda Harry Potterish which amuses me) and I went with the children of Capella to explore the different tents and activities. I am pretty sure they collected enough free pens and pencils to supply a small office for a year. They had so much fun! It was great seeing them smile and giggle and run all around even if it was a nightmare to keep track of 8 of them in the crowded square. One boy told me on the way back to school that this was the best day of school ever!

Definitely the funniest part of the day occurred when we met some of the local Rugby players who were signing schedules. One of them brought me a business card from their boss or coach or someone (hard to tell...trying to understand people with accents in loud places is impossible) and explained that they were available to do fundraisers of different sorts in schools and such. After he walked away a couple of the girls of the group just sorta looked at me before one asked, "did he just ask you on a date?" I laughed pretty hard and assured her that no he had not asked me on a date to which she replied, "Well, he just gave you a number didn't he?" I tried explaining that it wasn't that kind of number...they didn't seem too convinced.

Thursday (22) we went to a small gathering at the Methodist church to socialize and wrap boxes for Operation Christmas Child. The boxes from here go to Europe and Africa. Friday (23) we went walking with Angie and Nelly in the Moors....all I have to say from the walk is beautiful! Malcolm met us at a dog friendly pub later for 'American' portioned food. We had a chance to chat with the pub owner who actually remembered Angie, Malcolm and the Mennonites from the past year (we are referred to as the Mennonites pretty much wherever we go). Sunday (25) we had the opportunity to worship with the Anglican church for the first time...not only is the building this ancient piece of art made of stone and pillars and huge stained glass windows, but the service and rituals of the Anglicans are actually quite lovely (lovely hehe...I'm picking up on commonly used English words here). Sunday afternoon there was a meet and greet with tea at the Methodist church for people from both churches to meet and get to know us. We sang several hymns with them and even had a chance to teach them one (oddly enough it is the same hymn the girls from the past year picked for this same event). Sunday evening I spent watching Rugby with Barry and Val (I escaped Titanic and tears with Rachel and Kaihle--no offense you two but that is so not my thing). Barry is hilarious and Val is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. They will be leaving soon to spent time with family in America for 7 weeks...we are happy for them to see family, but sad to see them go. Monday (26) evening we went to our first choir practice (yes I know right! me in a choir...it is kinda funny...it will be even funnier when we actually have a show). Wednesday (28) evening we went to Compline (some part of Anglican worship I will have to explain when I understand better) and then to the Vicarage where Paul and Ruth served us and Alex (another Anglican minister) the first of many meals we will have together on Wednesday evenings. Paul and Ruth are so clever! They are feeding us by giving us a tour around the world. Wednesday night was Asian food (what we would probably refer to as Middle Eastern). We had yummy chicken curry and eggplant something or other...we also learned that words like eggplant and cucumber for example are not words used in the UK. Thursday (29) we had our first day of Footloose and Fancy Free...this is a group of older church members who show up every other Thursday to play games and have tea...turns out I'm the bomb-diggity at jigsaw puzzles. Being in the middle of an unexpected heat wave and probably the last few warm days of the season, Angie took us to the coast on Friday (30). We went to this place called Robin Hood's Bay...it is a town so old there is no vehicle access to most of it because the 'streets' are so tiny. They are also impossibly twisty, turney and confusing so instead of naming them, each house was given a name. How cool is that?! After church on Sunday (2) with the Methodists, a family from the church took us out to eat and then for a nice walk to a nearby Abbey as old as the hills...it lay in ruins, but was absolutely gorgeous and brimming with life.

This country is so beautiful - both the countryside and the people. We have so many wonderful people looking out for and wondering after us. I am loving my time here for so many reasons. I love living with Rachel and Kaihle...I love Angie making sure we see all the beauty of her country...I love my students and the amazing teacher I've been paired with...I love being able to walk places...I love the mystery of finding out what some oddly named food is (it's really fun if it turns out to be something you recognize)...I love that Barry uses 'soccer' instead of 'football' when he talks to me and always keeps me up to date on everything soccer going on...I love how sweet Val is...I love that Paul answers my millions of questions without second thought (good thing because I have toooons of questions. My dad would tell you I've had them from birth)...I love that Ruth makes such wonderful food and is always so nice when we visit...I love the people from both churches who ask how we are getting on and if there is anything they can do for us as well as inviting us out to enjoy the day with them...I love the kindness and interest of random strangers we come into contact with...I even kinda love the idea of trying something new like the choir...I just love Bradford...I also love all of you who I know are praying for me, reading my blog or asking my family for news. As I look back on the three weeks I've been here and remember all the wonderful experiences I've had and people I've gotten to meet in this short time, I know that you and God are the reason I am able to be here.  :)

The Moors

My class getting ready to sing

Robin Hood's Bay

Bolton Abbey

Just a simple stroll through the country.....don't be jealous

Friday was a fantastic day. The weather was absolutely beautiful (by English standards that is...I doubt my mother would have agreed with me). We spend the day with Angie (the Methodist church choir director) and her husband Malcolm. She picked us up at 10:30 in the morning and brought us to her house were we met her husband and Nelly her 11 year old dog that thinks shes a puppy. From there we spent the next two or three hours strolling around. I say stroll but it was actually a pretty good walk with all the hills. It is really interesting the way the foot paths work here....there is no such thing as private property the way we would think of it. Farmer and livestock owners are supposed to make so there is some way to get through their land on the paths. Between properties there are these lock things that you have to climb through but which do not allow animals to get through. In one of the picture below you will see me climbing over one of them. Nelly was hilarious during the entire trip. She would run ahead of us turn around and wait for us with her head down and tail in the air. When we caught up to her she would run behind us and then back in front of us again. It took me a little bit to catch on to the fact that she was leaving a stick for us to pick up and when we didn't she was running behind us to retrieve it. Well once we had that figured out she kept us busy throwing sticks the rest of the time. Smart dog wouldn't go get the stick and bring it back though...no she would get the stick  walk over to where our path and set it down letting us walk over and do the work of actually picking it up. I think we probably got more of a work out than her...Rachel was probably Nelly's favorite because she played forever!

Saturday the England team ventured over to Leeds to check out the mall there...just a little girly bonding. It was entertaining in more ways than one. It was quite the adventure trying to figure out the bus, wandering through stores we had never heard of, trying to understand sizing, and also trying to figure out just how cheap or expensive something really was....it's a lot trickier trying to do so when the currency is in pounds.

Sunday was our first official church morning at the Methodist church. We were warmly welcomed and met so many people I don't have a hope of remembering all of their names. Church then tea...big surprise.  It was a fun morning!

This wonderful weekend was the precursor to the beginning of a very exciting week. I started my work at The Lidget Green Primary School bright and early Monday morning. I found it a tad amusing that the teacher I will be working with is Ms. Bennett...it's like walking into a Jane Austin novel only with children. LG is a school that has had a couple additions so it's like one giant maze to me. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually but for right now I get turned around a lot. I am helping with the older children which is actually quite a bit of fun. I've already been able to work with a couple different small groups helping with math. Otherwise, I just wander around the classroom watching and checking. When I get a little more used to the schedule and the levels the kids are at I will be able to do more things. Right now I'm just learning. One fun thing I've found is that LG is one of the schools that teaches Spanish to the students so, I will actually have the opportunity to put my 5 years of study to use.

My School

Oh, say can you see?

Hello everyone! I hope things are going well for you. I am loving England! Or at least the bits I have gotten to see so far. Everything is so beautiful and different from home. Of course like any city there are dirty areas and bad streets...but I have a really hard time seeing any of that past the old stone churches, steeples, towers, old houses, glass windows, stone walls, ambling hills and meandering livestock. Everything is just incredible. Rachel and I were able to go out to eat the other day with Louise (pastor of the Methodist church) and Nancy somewhere in the country. The countryside looked like stepping right into a movie - rolling hills dotted with happy little sheep and the occasional old, stone country house. We ended up at this pub/inn place where I finally got to experience fish and chips. The week has been pretty relaxed. Everyone here is giving us time to settle in and adjust to the time change, giving us only as much information as we need or they think we can handle. We ate at the vicarage on Sunday afternoon with Paul (Anglican pastor) and his wife Ruth, Louise, Barry (the Anglican church warden)and his wife Val, and Alex (another Anglican minister), toured the schools we will be volunteering at on Monday and Tuesday morning, and explored Bradford's city center Tuesday afternoon. I had a kind of funny moment when we were there. The town hall is this large castle looking building with flags flown on top. I never realized how ingrained the idea of seeing an American flag flying on buildings and in public spaces was until I saw the British flag flying over the building. If you had asked me what flag would have been flown in such a place I obviously would have been able to tell you and yet, seeing the British flag was kind of a shocker. For a split second my brain tried telling me that that was wrong - that the British flag should not be there. I was pretty amused when my logic caught up with my instincts. I imagine I will have plenty more moments like that.

I don't have a lot to share with you yet about any experiences I have had, so instead I'll leave you with a list of things I have learned:

-Stop lights turn 'amber' both before they turn red and green.
-You have to turn on outlets for them to work.
-I'm pretty sure every time we turn left I am always going to think we are all going to die until I realize that we are not actually crossing traffic.
-British people are hilarious. When they say something funny I actually think it's funny (this is for my family who thinks I have a weird sense of humor...it's not actually that weird).
-Fish and chips are........interesting.
-Not all British people drink tea...some of them actually like coffee (gasp).
-Washing dishes by hand is actually kind of relaxing. You have to slow down which gives you lots of time to think. Also, 3 people make a surprising amount of dishes.
-Heating units here are just plain odd (as are the door locking mechanisms).
-Rachel and Kaihle are not as amused by the products while grocery shopping as me.
-Candy here is awesome!
-People use the kind of words you normally only find in period books or movies in everyday conversation. For example...the word fortnight pops up often.
-Crossing the road is surprisingly difficult and requires concentration (especially if a roundabout is involved).
-I actually like a little tea with my milk and sugar...er I mean I like a little milk and sugar with my tea.
-My vocabulary is increasing daily...which is good, otherwise I wouldn't have a clue what people are trying to say half the time.
-If I don't speak I blend in quite well...unless I'm in my neighborhood. Then I'm in the minority with no hope of blending in.
-Boys that honk or whistle to get your attention are both amusing and irritating. It's like junior high all over again.
-The Grocery store is on the top of probably the highest mountain in all of the UK.
-I will have very muscly calves after walking up said mountain.
-Hurricane winds followed us here from the US and are now trying to knock us over and/or blow down the flat.
-Cars along the side of the street do not have to all park facing the same direction. It is also alright if they are on the sidewalk a good foot or so.
-You won't see vans unless they are for a taxi service....or trucks now that I think about it.
-I may be a little more OCD about organization that I thought considering I've already gone through the kitchen, a closet, the living room, the bathroom....which is silly since we will probably be moving soon.
-Rachel and Kaihle are a lot of fun to live with. We are all similar and different in equal measure.
-I haven't quite been able to let go of Ohio time yet. I still find myself counting backwards to know what time it 'really' is (I got a watch with two faces. Hopefully, if it's just there and I'm not always doing the math I won't think about it as much...problem solved...maybe).
-I am ridiculously excited to start making friends (ironic because I'm a bit of an introvert).
-I love the weather here....I love the clouds, the rain, the cool temperatures, the wind....I love it!
-It's doubtful that I will be able to stop myself from buying some super cute rain boots...they are everywhere.
-The list of places I want to see keeps growing both because I hear about things or people keep saying 'oh, you must see this.'
-It is really easy to find people willing to talk about soccer/football.
-I miss my own pillow.
-There are animals here I can play with then give back to their owners to take care of...hehe.
-I am impatient to learn what I can about the different denominations and religions in this area.
-People don't take leftovers home after meals and will look at you funny when you ask.
-I am looking forward to beginning our work here.
-England makes me happy :)

By the hairs on my chiny chin chin...

Last moment last moment last moment..... I feel like I've had a month of last moments...and I have. Some of these last moments have been a tad more tense than others. One of the big ones I know you have all been wondering about is the visa issue. I did get my visa...on the Friday before orientation...I left on Sunday morning. Last minute. I finished packing for the sixth and final time Sunday morning. I got a memory card for my camera Sunday. There was a last minute change of plans for orientation. I arrived 5 minutes before this was to begin only to find out there was yet another change of plans. There was last minute washing and hanging out and nerves. Last minute, last minute, last minute...it seems as though it has been a lot of running around and last minutes, but finally...I'm in England!!!! whoooo....exciting I know but I really am getting ahead of myself here. I have to tell you all a little bit about orientation in Chicago.

The week started out on Sunday the 28th were my parents (probably a little nervously) dropped me off at a place called Jesus People USA (JPUSA). The nerves probably came from the fact that on first glance this place appears to be some strange sort of hippie commune right in the middle of everything...annnnnnnd it kind of is. What I learned through out my time there was that although it is definitely like that there is so much more to it and it is this wonderfully beautiful place. JPUSA is a Christian community that doesn't just worship together on Sundays but instead lives their lives collectively everyday. The live, work, raise their children, do service, and worship together. I image there are probably times when they want to throw some of their fellow JPUSA members out of top story windows but for the most part they have found a way to live together in such a way as to find a kind of harmony I think many Christian communities miss out on. It really is wonderful. They home school their children so they can raise them biblically, they have several outreach programs (you should honestly google them), I would think, after getting a look at all the very interesting and eclectic grouping of people, it would be almost impossible to raise their children with prejudices. To explain this let me just give you an example....I don't know how many of you have ever seen my ears (I usually am pretty good at not making them stand out too much) but I have 10 piercings. I also currently have two feathers in my hair, one of which is purple. I made some of the JPUSA people seem downright conservative while at the same time compared to others I couldn't have even pretended that I was a blip on the radar. I'm not sure what it was about seeing some plain clothed, straight laced individual walking alongside a tattooed, dread locked, nose pierced individual that made me so happy...but I'm guessing it was the fact that none of them seemed to notice. I loved JPUSA.

The week was filled with lectures, learning, and reflecting. Which was all fantastic of course, but that wasn't what stood out for me. What I found by going to orientation was the last thing I had ever expected. I found a group of young people that I am better for having met. I so easily came to know and love them that it kind of surprised me at the intensity of my feelings when it came time to say goodbye and part ways. The week was filled with tears, hilarity, deep talks, bonding and fun. I leave knowing I have made genuine friends and not just familiar strangers. It is hard for me to explain to you what exactly experiencing orientation with this group meant to me....the group dynamics are just beyond explanation as are the people. If you ever have a free moment I suggest going to the MMN or facebook Radical Journey page to find out who they are and search out their blogs. You will be confident that the service workers being sent out into the world as your representatives are some of the best there could be.

Team England

The Radical Journey Group

There are entirely too many stories from the week to share so I think I will share just one single moment with you. We had a lot of fun. There were prank calls (ask Luke about this), exploring, movies, ice cream, eating out, staying up late and BBQs....but one moment kind of defines this group. We had a day or so where our electricity wasn't working. Upon finding out that first night that we were left in the dark with none of the conventional ways of entertaining ourselves that my generation is used to - did we go out and find electrical fun? No we did not....we did something very Mennonite :)

And that kind of explains my orientation. Of course we weren't always having hymn sings, but we did have the kind of group that enjoyed being ridiculous as well as soulful... who didn't mind to cry as much as they laughed... who shared with one another like old friends and had few secrets not shared...we did ridiculous things as well as serious and we were all the better for it. I love each of them and will miss their similarities, differences, eccentricities and quirks....I will miss these wonderful people God brought into my life....I will miss my friends....but for now...

I am going to enjoy ENGLAND!!!!! WHOOOOOOO!