today i will sit in a van for a few hours.  he will pull out his guitar and the six of us will practice songs — some we learned two months ago and others just two days ago.  the weekend will be filled with church meetings and school classes.  by the end, we’ll hopefully have… Continue reading ciao

before i came here one of my wisdom teeth was starting to come in.  as of a few days ago, i think another one is joining as well or coming in more and the right side of my face is throbbing.  since we lack anything new to talk about around here, something like this is a… Continue reading exciting times here at “the bode”

i made The Mistake again. we sat in a circle in a small room, surrounded by germans from a small youth group the other night.  we were there to sing, share our testimonies, and build relationships afterwards.  after the introduction explaining where we came from and what we were doing it was time to introduce ourselves. “hi. … Continue reading “hi. i’m the new yorker” #2

today is thanksgiving.  my family will be slowly waking up in several hours (it’s still one ‘o clock in the morning back home).  i’m guessing the parade will be on in the family room, everyone going in and out to see the favorite acts that will march past macy’s.  the turkey will smell yummy and… Continue reading thanksgiving

i stood in the kitchen for four hours this afternoon.  my green apron was dirty by the time i was done and i prayed that the hair net i was wearing actually held hair back from getting into the pancakes i was making.  i can’t tell you how many i made, but i can tell… Continue reading update

my desire to one day be a writer has left me.  the library has been my home yesterday and today.  i’ve spent twelve hours in there, researching and writing, willing myself to finish the longest paper we have to write here.  the last two days have been days when i wear sweats, a baseball cap, and… Continue reading things

*read with my sarcasm in mind.  i remember my first night here in germany.  i was exhausted because of the time difference, i found myself sitting in a church praying for a few minutes, and then i went out for a walk.  person after person passed me jogging or on a bike.  the amount of… Continue reading oh, the horrors of life

there were once three young girls who set out to spend their afternoon studying. they packed their bags, grabbed two blankets, and went to the lake.  at first they did very well — they were quite busily bent over their books while reading and writing.  then they had to look up and smile once and awhile… Continue reading homework by the lake

it was just the bus driver in the front and me, surrounded by many empty seats.  i had opted for the long route back into town from the airport.  i stared out the window, at the grey sky, the snowy mountains in the background, and wind playing with the branches of the trees.  a tear… Continue reading oh well

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