In your own dialect

So many people always say we need to learn the language of the people we live among. This is helpful in so many ways. It is easier to make friends and share with them if you speak their language. I knew this was important and have always heard this. It never really made complete sense until today. This morning at church we heard the message brought by an American. This is the first time I have heard an American at church in over a year. In Turkey at the international church we had a South African preacher, here the speaker is British or sometimes Irish, which is another completely different dialect. It was so sweet this morning to hear the Word in my American southern heart language. I realize that the others were English but it made a huge difference for it to be in American English. The style, pronunciation, and meaning of words is just so different. Normally I really have to concentrate to understand what the speaker is saying. It was so nice to sit and relax and soak it up and not try to translate the words. This sounds silly but just hearing Isaiah pronounced they way Americans say it was food for the soul.

One Year!

I have now lived overseas for an entire year. 9.5 more months left. It still doesn't always seem real. It seems like it was just the other day when I was filling out the applications for the job. I am so grateful for this opportunity to spend some time in another culture, 2 at that. It has been an experience of a lifetime. I have made so many memories and met so many people that will always remain dear to me. It has been very hard to be away from family and friends and normal life I knew in America. It has been a challenge to learn to travel, cook, shop, and simply live in foreign cities. So many times I have longed to move back to America and I am sure there will be more. There have been many tears of loneliness. But through all of this, Father has been with me every step of the way just as He promised. He is always faithful even when I fail. I still have so much to learn, and I am excited to see what Father has for me for the next bit of my life that I spend here. I cannot believe how much Father has shaped me and drawn me closer to Him. Thank you Father for this past year. It has truly been a blessing.

2009, where did you go?

Wow what a year!

I figured like everyone else, I should recap my year.



January- I said some very hard goodbyes and got on a plane headed for Turkey. This brought challenges learning to live in an Asian culture. I started taking language classes and learning more and more each day.



February- I contemplated a move to England or taking another job in Turkey. It was a very emotional month full of more culture shock and decisions on where to spend my time. I finally decided to move to England.



March- My parents and sister and soon to be brother-in-law came to visit. We all took a trip to Greece, Ephesus, Troy, and Cappadocia. I joined a great group of people to worship with who have become family to me.



April- I found out I was going to move to the London area in June. I spent a lot of time at the English club and being out in the city with anyone and everyone. I loved every minute of it.



May- I applied for my visa to the UK and got it in one week. I enjoyed the spring weather with parks and tulips.





June- I saw as many things in my city as possible knowing I was leaving. Once again I said a hard goodbye to so many lovely friends and a country and people I grew to love. I moved to England and began learning yet another new culture and language. It really is a different language.



July- I experience culture shock to a new level. It was not America and definitely not Turkey. A new roommate moved in with me. We moved the office from one part of town to another. I kept busy with a few visitors and also a trip back to Turkey.



August- I enjoyed a visit from my parents and Patrick and went with them to Scotland, Holland, and Germany. I turned 23.



September- I joined a basketball team and began training with them 2 nights a week. I went to a rugby match. Everything in the office was set up working like a real office with most of the employees finally here.





October- I began to truly enjoy living in England. I went on many weekend outings with some other single ladies. My old college roommate came to visit.




November- I at turkey in Turkey on Thanksgiving. I sprained my ankle pretty bad in a basketball game.



December- I worked a lot with so much do to. I went to America for Christmas with my family and friends.





Well that pretty much sums up 2009. I was probably more fun for me to look back than it was entertaining for you. Oh well.

Guy Fawkes Day!!

November 5 is one of the most celebrated holidays in England. On this day in 1605 this man tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament to protest the Protestant rule. This day is now bonfire night. We have been debating in the office on what exactly they were celebrating. I was invited by a few British friends to go to a bonfire with them. So I put on my wellies and joined the crowd of 20,000 people. My friends told me that they are celebrating the fact that he was caught and didnt succeed in blowing up parliament. So they have a huge bonfire and put a dummy on top.
Then there is a ceremony to light the bonfire with torches. The fire eventually goes to the top of the bonfire to engulf the dummy in flames. They put fire crackers inside of the dummy so when it burns completely they all pop like crazy. Now you know that guy fawkes is completely dead. Then everyone cheers.

The next piece of the entertainment of the night is a huge fireworks display. Everyone turns the opposite direction and watches the fireworks

It was a great night and the highlight of the weekend. Here is a picture of my friend and me as we enjoy the night.

USA, USA, USA

Yes, I went to the gymnastics world championships. It was the womens all around competition. I have never been so excited for an event as I was this when I found out it was in London. It was incredible. Jessica even came from America to go. I have always wanted to see something like this.
Here we are in the nose bleed section in our gymnastic shirts.


It was a fantastic evening. It helped that USA is definitely number 1.
It was so nerve racking to watch, but USA pulled out on top taking gold and silver medals. It was so cool to have won and to hear the national anthem. Here are the USA girls in pink on the podium along with the Japanese girl who made me really nervous at the end.




And of course the flags flying high.

What country am I in?

I decided to take a day and go into London and check out some Turkish neighborhoods and see what was there and if I could get involved there. It was so overwhelming as every culture I could think of collided in this area. There was a market with stuff from Africa, Turkey, the Middle East, India and so many other places. At the end of the street there was a grocery store. I was so overwhelmed and couldnt figure out what language to speak. They had British food, Turkish food, and American food all in one store. I bought a few things but it was a bit of culture shock. I couldnt figure out what country I was in. Then I walked, walked, and walked some more. I came to one street that was just so diverse I couldnt believe it so I took a few pictures to document my time.

The one on the left is definitely a mosque and the below picture is a Baptist church. They were right next to each other. I thought that was interesting.



























So I took more pictures. Here is a Turkish restaurant literally across the street.

Then I walked just a bit further and guess what I saw. You guessed it, a Mexican restaurant. Before this, I thought I had seen a piece of every culture in my day out but I was obviously wrong. By this time, I was exhausted but I decided to walk a little more. Next I came upon this
I am not sure what is going on here but for about a block of walking I saw men and boys dressed up like this coming from every corner. I was so amazed at all of the cultures I could come in contact with in just a few short hours.