Another New Year!

It's been awhile since I have written a blog post... It's been a crazy couple of weeks.  

 It all began with the coming of the Lunar New Year. Some southeast Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year so where I am is no different. This year the Lunar New Year fell on Feb. 8th. So most of the schools get at least a week off, my school gave us 10 days (Feb 4-14). What?!? So a couple friends of mine and myself decided to leave the country for the holiday. 

Lunar New Year (LNY) is probably the biggest celebration of the year. Some people compare it to Christmas. Students don't get a Christmas break but they get a LNY break. During this time families travel back to their hometowns and spend the week with their family. Their is usually a lot of cooking and eating of traditional foods. The city that I live in is basically shut down, everyone leaves and all the shops close down.  

There is a lot of hype as the new year approaches. Everyone is getting ready. You start to see these huge cherry blossom trees and fruit trees on the backs of motorbikes in preparation for the holiday. We had a new year party with our staff the Saturday before and we went bowling and then to our team leader's house for lunch. Then on Monday we went out with our staff to dinner. Then Tuesday we went to one of the sisters who owns our school house to wish them a Happy New Year. Then Wednesday we were on a plane leaving the country. 

It was really cool to experience the hype of the LNY but then have a nice relaxing and refreshing holiday.  

Happy New Year!  

Overseas Doctor Visit

The past couple of days I haven't been feeling very good. I went to school this morning for my first class and I couldn't make it through without crying. Now I am not an easy crier so I must have been in more pain than I realized. During 2nd period we, the foreign staff, got together to pray and I started crying again and we decided that it was best for me to go home and get some rest. 

I spent all morning trying to rest. I worshiped and prayed. I also tried to sleep but I was constantly uncomfortable. I just felt like I was supposed to go to the doctor. If I was in the States I would have easily gone to the Little Clinic. However, since I am in a different country I didn't really know what to do. Thank God for my lead teacher. We have all become like family and she was willing to pick me up after school and go with me to the Family Medical doctor.  

I already have a fear of doctors (White Coat Syndrome) but in a foreign country I felt deathly terrified! Thankfully everyone was super nice and we didn't have to wait too long to see the GP. However he couldn't help so I had to see a different doctor. We had to wait for her but thankfully it wasn't too long. I think we spent about an hour waiting altogether.  

It's a different experience going to the doctor (called hospital here) in a foreign country. Thankfully this was an international hospital so the staff spoke English and everyone was super nice. The doctors were very helpful and once you get past the cultural differences (one was from the Philippines and the other was from France) I could look past the rude bedside manner from the French doctor. I knew she meant well :).  

The French doctor asked where I was from and I told her America. She scoffed. Wow the French really don't like Americans. But then she was really nice it was just funny her reaction when I told her I was American.  

I can check going to the doctor in a foreign country off of my list! There is a first time for everything!!! 

I am glad I went to the hospital here. Even though I am terrified of doctors this visit really calmed me down. Please continue to pray for healing in my body. I know God is in control. Pray for peace and rest. God Bless.  

The Two Month Mark!

Well I have been here for exactly 2 months! In some aspects it feels like forever and in other aspects I feel like I just got here. I have gotten involved in a lot of things, which I think helps in the transition of living overseas. Things are still not easy but it is slowly becoming the new normal. School is slowly getting better and better (however there was a small hiccup yesterday that sent my day into a tail spin). Also getting involved at the church is one of the best things, it is what helped me in China and is what is helping me here.

When people ask me how long I have lived here sometimes they are shocked by my answer. I have learned how to get a taxi and tell them where I need to go, whether by saying it in the language or showing the address on my phone. I know how to buy vegetables at the local street market. I don’t always understand what they are saying but I manage to pay them and not feel ripped off. I know a couple of key phrases and can give input on the way things work here. I am nowhere near perfect but I have learned quickly some of the things needed for survival.

Everyone at church knows I am new, but because I am involved in a lot of things (the young adults group and the women’s group) people tend to think I have been here longer. I think this is a big part of transitioning. Getting involved helps to not think about home so often and I meet tons of new people. The young adults have been meeting at our apartment for the past month. It is so awesome to have a big living room where everyone can sit comfortably. Also I am a part of the women’s connection team! It’s nice having things to do outside of school. It makes me feel like I have more of a purpose here and an impact on the city.

School has been an up and down roller coaster. Whether it is trying to understand co-workers or trying to learn from the other foreigners. There are so many people (yet so little) working here and we are all different. We have different ways of communicating, teaching, and experiences. It’s a lot of adjustments to make while also adjusting to teaching in a foreign country. It doesn’t help that we never hear encouraging words from parents. We only hear the negative things which in turn make us feel like failures. But God is at work here! I am so grateful for the daily reminders that He is here with me. Some days it is easy to see and others it is a little harder. But I always know he is here and he has called me here. Thank you for your continued prayers and love!

2 months down and 22 more to go!

Taco night! And a few games of Dutch Blitz!