I guess it's been awhile since I've written anythin... Today marks T-minus 50 days to the wedding!! (RVA staff is praying for us!) Hopefully, there will be little hints of Africa in the ceremony and reception. I'm pretty excited about the whole thing!
"Farewell" paperwork is coming in rapidly. I have to fill out the termination of employment for our houseworker, electiricity reading form for maintenance, evalutation of national staff, flight information, exit interview scheduling, appointment with finance director, etc etc etc... which makes it difficult to keep one's mind on "OK, what are we doing in concert band today?" Speaking of which, concert band (the junior high band) has come LIGHTYEARS from where they were at the beginning of the term! They really want to do well, which makes it a lot of fun to work with them. Friday we're going to try a wordless rehearsal... should be interesting.
October 31 was Carnival (decidedly NOT Halloween!). It's hosted by the student council, and everyone gets to dress up in costume. There were several Jokers from the new Batman movie... also making appearances were the Flintstones, Tweety, Robin Hood -- accompanied by Little John, the Friar, Maiden Marian, and the Prince (King Richard? who is it?) -- a band of ninjas, and a whole (female) rugby team. There are lots of games, candy, prizes... and jail. The senior boys are in charge of jail... or maybe just the ones on SCA. Anyway, they can decide to put anyone in "jail" and hold him/her/them for a few minutes. It got a little bit rough a couple of times, but evidently it's all in good fun. Some of the staff dressed up (myself included), but I really wasn't that into it... It was alright, though. We didn't stay long.
On a more positive note, my housemate, Ashley -- Ms. Paulson, beloved chemistry teacher -- ended up in the dunk tank. SOOO funny!
This past Friday night, I ended up playing badminton in the raquetball court with Anita. We had a lovely conversation about teaching and the students and God and our families and... it was great! It was just another reminder, though, of how difficult it's going to be to leave. I miss my Mom and Dad, my brother and sister-in-law, my family (my cousin got married and I couldn't be there!), Sam, Jess, Rach, Mere, Ventia, my music family n' professors... and Charles... soooooo much. But I've met such wonderful people here! Relationships build up really quickly when you're around the same people ALL the time!
Saturday night, we had our caring community over for a sleepover.... eventually we were down to seven 13-year-old girls sleeping in one room. We made brownies, we had ice cream... we skipped the s'mores, but that's ok. They were bouncing off the walls anyway! We talked and giggled (LOTS!)... and we watched Emma. They were SO funny! Every time anything happened, there were all aghast -- "he's gonna break her heart!" and "No!!!!! She's not listening!!!" and "OH! I don't like HER!" We had so much fun with them! They ended up staying up giggling till 1am. Ashley and I didn't... and we thought they were asleep. In fact, I had to go in once and "do the Mom thing" and ask them to quiet down and go to sleep so that they wouldn't be bears in church in the morning. In the middle of my speech, Esther pipes up and asks, "Ms. Amber, do you ever giggle?" hahahaha! So I looked at her and said, "No, Esther... after you turn 18, you really don't do much giggling anymore. So enjoy it while you can." There was a pause, and they looked at me, TERRIFIED, and exclaimed, "OH NO!... really?! How sad!!" HAHAHAHA! Ashley, across the hall, was about to die! They were SO funny! I told them I was kidding, and they were relieved. hahahaha! Anyway... we had a great time with them.
That's about all the news I have. Our concerts are coming up soon... Nov 22, 23, 25. And the flute choir is playing in church on the 16th. I invited them to our house this Friday for cookies and ice cream. Rare treats out here... should be exciting. Keep praying for us out here. We're under water restrictions (though not as urgent as they were before -- we briefly were not allowed to shower) and still SO short-staffed! And I think everyone's just getting a bit stressed and weary as we near the end of the term. God has been faithful to take care of us, though.
3 comments:
WOW! Not much more to go now! I know that once you see Charles again and you get to start looking towards the wedding it will help you in how much you miss them.
However, it is SO WEIRD at first coming home after such an experience. I will definitely pray that you handle the emotions well. I did on some levels and looking back, I also didn't in some ways as well. I didn't think I would have much culture shock when I came...considering I had only been gone 8 weeks. But, OH MY WORD! I had so much of it!
But, you know what? Seeing Jonathan again was amazing. And, the night I got back is like now one of my most fav. memories with him. IT was so special.
Enjoy the rest of your time. Don't speed it up. Try and take it all in. Because, if you don't you will regret it! Everything is the same here back in the states. Nothing exctiing to hurry back to (besides your wedding). haha.
I am praying for you still! It will be REALLY good to see you. I hope you incorporate somethings into your wedding from africa. That'd be amazing!
I still miss the Philippines so much somedays, it just makes me so upset not being able just to hop in a plane and go see all those lovely faces again. I just sent all the girls Play Do for a gift. They had no clue what to do with it! Lol.
You should've told the girls you trade in giggling for laughter. haha. And you only laugh when it is worth it. Although, I gotta say, I do still giggle sometimes when I am around Jonathan. I'm like a little girl!
I MISS YOU!
You didn't say what YOU dressed up as for Halloween...er Carnival!
Secondly, yayyyy for coming home! I miss you!
Thirdly, yay for slumber parties. We're reading "Emma" in my Jane Austen class right now. What a good choice for a movie night. Great story!
I'm happy because now I know who "Alias" is...Jess. Dang, somebody could have told me that. I've been wondering this whole time.
So much to tell you, Amber. I'll wait til you get back. I miss you and love you too.
p.s. I posted a picture of you and Charles on my blog.
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