up and down the mountain

one way to travel.

doorman.

the city from the hotel-4th floor

Blister at the beginning of the day

 

New Shoes

so when you go anywhere it is suggested to not bring new shoes; you should have shoes that have been broken in to fit your feet so that you dont have to worry about blisters or the shoe not fitting you properly... it's always wise to have a shoe you know and know what to expect... it is after all what you are relying on to keep you moving, yeah?     well i got a pair of Toms shoes on the Thursday (i left on a Friday)... they tell you this advice with good reason. i wore my shoes on the trip over here and started to get a slight blister by the time we finally arrived; it was more of an annoyance and didn't really hurt. then yesterday we climbed a very steep mountain and although i was thankful for my Toms, the blister grew a little more.  now before you say i told you so, the blister doesnt really hurt it just looks red and is peeling my skin a bit... i learned my lesson.

we have been having a blast meeting a ton of new people, learning the language (some better than others) and bringing water filters to a lot of people. Kimberly has picked up the language better than any of us, she can practically have a conversation already and i'm still stuck on hello and what is your name... i just do not have a mind for language like i wish i did, i will get it, but very lahey-lahey (slowly slowly).

another tip- dont let your sports bra show from the top of your shirt... i guess its inappropriate... i learned that about a week in when  a group of teenage girls quickly lucked it back into my shirt among lots of laughs and giggles... who would have guessed i would be the immodest one here!

Humidity

We are here! it was a long time traveling with delayed flights and extra stops along the way but we have finally arrived (well a few days ago) and we are already setting up water filters and preparing to visit more places. We have been doing a lot of training so far and yesterday got to go shopping for some local garb. It was quite the experience. I feel like I have so much to say already and every time I go to sit down and get some of my thoughts out of my head, my brain shuts down and doesn't want to confront all of the different thoughts and feelings i have going on at one time.
It has finally hit me that I ave actually moved here and am not just visiting for a little while. i have mixed feelings about that but today i was okay with that decision. we'll see what happens tomorrow. I was lucky to be able to get internet access through my kindle on the trip out here(that's the reason for the supper bad grammar on the previous couple of posts). i had another, funnier, post that i tried to upload from the fourth airport we were in but my Kindle froze right as i was about to post it so I'll re-post something similar later.
I just want everyone to know that i am well and the rest of the team and I are all getting the full experience here. tomorrow we are going to a school where we will get to install a water filter, which takes about an hour to install, and do some water tests in the neighboring houses... Its going to be a busy day.
a few side notes:

• it has rained every day so far and if its not raining it is so humid from the impending rain that you are constantly swimming through the air. 
• the area is so beautiful, we are currently more in the mountains near a huge river- It looks like something out of the jungle book-the real life version.
• my fingers smell like curry, constantly
• the people are so nice and welcoming

planes

im on the plane getting ready to travel for too many hours at one time.... and ive already been asked to switch seats 2 times... its cool. so many stories to tell... i think it will be a good flight. there are a lot of good movies available. also it hit me on the last flight that i'm moving not just visiting. i think im a bit scared.

Beginning.

We are off.
Traveling is both exciting and boring. I am anxious to get on the plane in order to sit and wait. It was an interesting time this morning getting the last minute things, finishing packing my bag, saying good byes.... I wish i had better control of my temper and my communication skills... but whats done is done and all i can do is try to be conscious of my behavior next time so that i can change it.
 I'm surprised at how much my friends and family's support has meant to me, I'm just starting to realize how much i rely upon their opinion and support. i almost cried while saying my final goodbyes. the final hugs... then i remembered i was a robot and sucked it up.

I'm really excited. now i just want to get on the plane so I can sleep.

I love you guys.

Last Days

I woke up this morning really tired and kind of floundering. I still have a lot to do, and no more days to do it.

I will miss the opportunities to get up at 8 and go shopping with friends or by myself, if I want to. Now I usually don't like shopping at all, but I will miss the chance and the choice to go whenever and wherever I like. I did my errands really early this morning then I fell back asleep when i got home around 10ish... now I feel groggy and sluggish. what a start.
I feel like my house just threw up into my room. I'm not prepared... yet. I will be by 3am...

I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye.

Timshel

I feel like i need to explain the name of this blog. i got the idea from East of Eden by John Steinbeck; in this section they are talking Genesis 4:1-16. the chapter is the story of Cain and Abel and ultimately the question of being a slave to sin or not... Timshel is in gen 4:7; which means "thou mayest"

said Lee. “Well, the story bit deeply into me and I went into it word for word. The more I thought about the story, the more profound it became to me. Then I compared the translations we have—and they were fairly close. There was only one place that bothered me. The King James version says this—it is when Jehov. has asked Cain why he is angry. Jehov. says, ‘If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.’ It was the ‘thou shalt’ that struck me, because it was a promise that Cain would conquer sin.” ...

Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. “Don’t you see?” he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?”

... Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, ‘Do thou,’ and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But ‘Thou mayest’! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph.

Adam said, “Do you believe that, Lee?”

“Yes, I do. Yes, I do. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, ‘I couldn’t help it; the way was set.’ But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. 

... I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed— because ‘Thou mayest.’”

so you see, i have a choice. a choice to obey or not. it is not destined, or mandatory. it is the difference between I can and I may. ... so i am choosing to go on this trip and i am choosing to obey.

read the book. East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Preparations

It's a weird feeling to be completely stressed and yet completely bored. maybe it's just my mind wanting my body to get up and get organized but my body just wants to sit back and watch TV while i have the option... I'm in the process of packing up my entire life into one suitcase, maybe a carry-on bag as well. It's going alright for now. I cant think of anything else that i really need to bring but i already have that feeling that I'm forgetting something. When I packed up for college and living in a different city, i literally packed my clothes took some stuff from around the house and left, i bought almost everything i needed there.. and i guess I'm doing the same thing only without as much clothes. It just feels different. IDK.

i still have to run errands like telling the bank I'm going to a different country for a  while and my card has not been stolen, and turn back in a certain car tag.. but instead of doing those things early this morning, i watched TV for about 3 and half hours straight... dont worry though, it will get done!

Things to do today:
pack up suitecase- not just lay it all out on the bed
figure out if i need to buy anything else for the trip- then buy it
pack up the rest of the things in my room- move it to garage
go to bank
turn in tag
spend quality time with Maxipad

The First.

well... I leave in less than a week so i figured it was time to start this thing up. I have only a few rules:
1. Do not judge me for my typos; including misspellings.
2. Don't think less of me if I'm not witty enough for you.
3. Enjoy.