ten things I love about this place.
1.My third floor, attic bedroom. I share it with the most wonderful lady. It is spacious, with a slippery floor perfect for sock-dancing. The floor is cold in the morning, so I find myself skipping to the small bathroom where my hot shower awaits every morning. I love our window. It is big, and opens all the way. We have a view of the neighboring pastures and the enchanted forest over the hill. We look forward to warm, starry nights in the spring - when we will hang out our window and wave hello to the moon.
2. Coffee break. It happens twice a day, everyday. The entire campus stops, and takes a deep breath. Classes are built around, and meetings are postponed. Everyone takes the opportunity to sit together in our lovely little dining hall, eat delicious baked goods and sip coffee from tea cups. We talk about things like politics, theology and those places we call home. Coffee time is really the most delightful of times, and I look forward to it everyday.
3. Trains. There are lots of trains in Europe. Local trams that carry grandmothers to the grocery store, and other trains that run to far-off, exotic places like Bucharest and Amsterdam. I love traveling on the train. I enjoy watching people, and walking up and down the long cars and watching the German countryside pass me by. The other day I rode a train with an entire flock of seven-year-old girl scouts who were on their way to a fantastic tobogganing adventure in the Alps. I smiled at their silly antics and toothless grins. They were very excited, and I found it rather nice.
4. Quiet. I am learning how to be quiet here. It is a very hard lesson for a girl who loves words. However, I find myself content to be silent more often - and to listen to the ones around me. There are many things I can learn from quiet. I can learn to be honest with myself, and to let peace in. I can learn to listen to His voice, and to regulate my breathing. I can learn to be still, and to have that be okay. There is a swingset behind my building. It's a very good place to practice quiet. It may be built for children, but in some ways, I still am. And that's okay.
5. Our small numbers form a very tiny and beautiful community in this place. For such a little space, we have our fair share of diversity. I am learning to cook Italian pasta. (And I am getting quite good.) I am practicing my Spanish, and learning to use German washing machines. I go for walks with a girl from Denmark, and we talk about prejudice, social injustice and how much we miss our baby sisters. I discuss life and church history and current events with my professors and faculty over coffee and chocolate wafers. We truly are a family. We eat together (at beautiful tables set with real dishes), and play together (spoons and ping pong and awkward get-to-know-you games), and pray together on a daily basis. I am blessed to be a part of this community, and to be in relationship with some of the most incredible people.
6. There is a river here. You may or may not have heard. There are boats and docks and a lovely trail that runs from my village, all the way to Schaffhausen. There are ducks with mullets, and swans that are almost as tall as me. There is a bridge that reminds me of another that I know, and lots of benches to sit and wait and watch. I've heard that the river is best to visit in the Spring, but I really love it now. It's big and strong and always changing. It's ferociously cold, but fishermen still venture. It's dark and deep, yet still invites it's feathered friends to gather and play. It sings a winter-song, and I know that I will miss it when the warm-time comes. So, for now. I will cherish the moments I have.
7. There is a little gym in the building across the courtyard. To many, this doesn't sound quite thrilling. However, I have found that in times of sadness - in those home and heart-sick times - the little gym is a place of solace. I have learned the importance of stretching and running and working hard to put away the bad feelings. It has been a place to cry, a place to sit, a place to think and pray. The best part of the little gym is that each beautiful little window opens. So at the end of a long, hard run - I walk over to my favorite window (the one by the swirly mirror) and I throw it open. I invite the cold wind and remember again that I must be brave.
8. Every week, I spend four hours working in this little community. The job that I have been assigned is to spend one hour each day in the kitchen after the meal is finished, and everyone has gone their separate ways. While in the kitchen, I dry the steaming hot dishes, and put them back neatly in their homes. My favorite part of the kitchen are my new friends. Judy and Hilda. They are the loveliest of people. We communicate in a mixture of English and German and a universal understanding that women share in a kitchen. They are funny and witty, sweet and encouraging. They are wise and honest, talented and humble. I love them. Really, to understand how wonderful they are, you might just have to meet them. And, to be sure, Hilda will make you a nice bratwurst if you make the journey.
9. I love morning-time in Busingen. We leave our blinds open, in order to let the sun say good morning every day. We wake to a chorus of alarms - loud, obnoxious beeping coming from almost every room on the hall. We shower, dress and then find our way to the kitchen - where we will most likely sit to long chatting over breakfast, and then have to run to our classes or meetings or trips to the market. Morning-time is wonderful here. Everyone is busy, running to and fro. The hours spent before coffee time are productive and efficient. You might find me on a walk with Signe, pouring over Wesley books in the library, or sitting under the big tree. Usually, the sun comes out to say hello before the noon-time lunch bell rings. It marks the end of my favorite part of the day, but there is always the next. The great thing about life is that even when there is a night, a morning will always follow.
10. It isn't easy to be away. It isn't easy to miss my sister, and to wish that I could see her on stage next week. It isn't easy to be away from my mom and dad when I don't feel good, or when growing up is just too hard to do. It isn't easy to be away from the boy I love, and to miss him each and every moment. It isn't easy to be away from friends and roommates who are experiencing life - the hard times and the most exciting of new adventures. It isn't easy to be content with only pictures and hopes for a lovely reunion in May. It isn't easy to take new classes, with new teachers and to not worry about my scores. It isn't easy to trust Jesus with each and every person that I love. It isn't easy. However, it is so good. It is good to learn and grow and make new friends. It is good to listen, and to stretch. It is good to experience heart-aches, because they only mean that I love deeply and am deeply loved. It is good. This is good. I am thankful.
There are many more things that capture my heart in this place. Things like cobblestone streets, long walks in the pastures and the beautiful church on the hill. I am finding it much easier to be comfortable in this place, nomatter its temporary position in my life. I am choosing to be brave. I am choosing to love hard. And I am finding it quite easy to call here, home. And home is the very best place to be.
Monday, February 9, 2009
ten things.
ten things I love about this place.
1.My third floor, attic bedroom. I share it with the most wonderful lady. It is spacious, with a slippery floor perfect for sock-dancing. The floor is cold in the morning, so I find myself skipping to the small bathroom where my hot shower awaits every morning. I love our window. It is big, and opens all the way. We have a view of the neighboring pastures and the enchanted forest over the hill. We look forward to warm, starry nights in the spring - when we will hang out our window and wave hello to the moon.
2. Coffee break. It happens twice a day, everyday. The entire campus stops, and takes a deep breath. Classes are built around, and meetings are postponed. Everyone takes the opportunity to sit together in our lovely little dining hall, eat delicious baked goods and sip coffee from tea cups. We talk about things like politics, theology and those places we call home. Coffee time is really the most delightful of times, and I look forward to it everyday.
3. Trains. There are lots of trains in Europe. Local trams that carry grandmothers to the grocery store, and other trains that run to far-off, exotic places like Bucharest and Amsterdam. I love traveling on the train. I enjoy watching people, and walking up and down the long cars and watching the German countryside pass me by. The other day I rode a train with an entire flock of seven-year-old girl scouts who were on their way to a fantastic tobogganing adventure in the Alps. I smiled at their silly antics and toothless grins. They were very excited, and I found it rather nice.
4. Quiet. I am learning how to be quiet here. It is a very hard lesson for a girl who loves words. However, I find myself content to be silent more often - and to listen to the ones around me. There are many things I can learn from quiet. I can learn to be honest with myself, and to let peace in. I can learn to listen to His voice, and to regulate my breathing. I can learn to be still, and to have that be okay. There is a swingset behind my building. It's a very good place to practice quiet. It may be built for children, but in some ways, I still am. And that's okay.
5. Our small numbers form a very tiny and beautiful community in this place. For such a little space, we have our fair share of diversity. I am learning to cook Italian pasta. (And I am getting quite good.) I am practicing my Spanish, and learning to use German washing machines. I go for walks with a girl from Denmark, and we talk about prejudice, social injustice and how much we miss our baby sisters. I discuss life and church history and current events with my professors and faculty over coffee and chocolate wafers. We truly are a family. We eat together (at beautiful tables set with real dishes), and play together (spoons and ping pong and awkward get-to-know-you games), and pray together on a daily basis. I am blessed to be a part of this community, and to be in relationship with some of the most incredible people.
6. There is a river here. You may or may not have heard. There are boats and docks and a lovely trail that runs from my village, all the way to Schaffhausen. There are ducks with mullets, and swans that are almost as tall as me. There is a bridge that reminds me of another that I know, and lots of benches to sit and wait and watch. I've heard that the river is best to visit in the Spring, but I really love it now. It's big and strong and always changing. It's ferociously cold, but fishermen still venture. It's dark and deep, yet still invites it's feathered friends to gather and play. It sings a winter-song, and I know that I will miss it when the warm-time comes. So, for now. I will cherish the moments I have.
7. There is a little gym in the building across the courtyard. To many, this doesn't sound quite thrilling. However, I have found that in times of sadness - in those home and heart-sick times - the little gym is a place of solace. I have learned the importance of stretching and running and working hard to put away the bad feelings. It has been a place to cry, a place to sit, a place to think and pray. The best part of the little gym is that each beautiful little window opens. So at the end of a long, hard run - I walk over to my favorite window (the one by the swirly mirror) and I throw it open. I invite the cold wind and remember again that I must be brave.
8. Every week, I spend four hours working in this little community. The job that I have been assigned is to spend one hour each day in the kitchen after the meal is finished, and everyone has gone their separate ways. While in the kitchen, I dry the steaming hot dishes, and put them back neatly in their homes. My favorite part of the kitchen are my new friends. Judy and Hilda. They are the loveliest of people. We communicate in a mixture of English and German and a universal understanding that women share in a kitchen. They are funny and witty, sweet and encouraging. They are wise and honest, talented and humble. I love them. Really, to understand how wonderful they are, you might just have to meet them. And, to be sure, Hilda will make you a nice bratwurst if you make the journey.
9. I love morning-time in Busingen. We leave our blinds open, in order to let the sun say good morning every day. We wake to a chorus of alarms - loud, obnoxious beeping coming from almost every room on the hall. We shower, dress and then find our way to the kitchen - where we will most likely sit to long chatting over breakfast, and then have to run to our classes or meetings or trips to the market. Morning-time is wonderful here. Everyone is busy, running to and fro. The hours spent before coffee time are productive and efficient. You might find me on a walk with Signe, pouring over Wesley books in the library, or sitting under the big tree. Usually, the sun comes out to say hello before the noon-time lunch bell rings. It marks the end of my favorite part of the day, but there is always the next. The great thing about life is that even when there is a night, a morning will always follow.
10. It isn't easy to be away. It isn't easy to miss my sister, and to wish that I could see her on stage next week. It isn't easy to be away from my mom and dad when I don't feel good, or when growing up is just too hard to do. It isn't easy to be away from the boy I love, and to miss him each and every moment. It isn't easy to be away from friends and roommates who are experiencing life - the hard times and the most exciting of new adventures. It isn't easy to be content with only pictures and hopes for a lovely reunion in May. It isn't easy to take new classes, with new teachers and to not worry about my scores. It isn't easy to trust Jesus with each and every person that I love. It isn't easy. However, it is so good. It is good to learn and grow and make new friends. It is good to listen, and to stretch. It is good to experience heart-aches, because they only mean that I love deeply and am deeply loved. It is good. This is good. I am thankful.
There are many more things that capture my heart in this place. Things like cobblestone streets, long walks in the pastures and the beautiful church on the hill. I am finding it much easier to be comfortable in this place, nomatter its temporary position in my life. I am choosing to be brave. I am choosing to love hard. And I am finding it quite easy to call here, home. And home is the very best place to be.
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Lovely. Thought provoking. Memory stirring. Inspiring. You. And your wonderful new post. Both are breathtaking. Love you.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about your thoughts. I wish I were young like you again and experience what you are experiencing. I know you are making the best of your opportunity there, but let me just say, "Enjoy every moment!"
ReplyDeleteLove, Yuki