Novelties

There came a point in my life when I figured it out.  I don't remember when it was, but my guess is somewhere in high school.  I began to understand the rhythm of novelties.  Why am I writing about this?  Two reasons... number one, I have had a number of conversations and read several authors who write about this phenomenon in my generation.  We are "tinkers" according to Kevin DeYoung in Just Do Something.  We float from one job to another, travel, do internships, and are much more enamored with the journey than the destination.  Another reason is, as much as I try to distance myself from these ideas philosophically, I have found myself in that situation this summer.

Case in point: June - Morocco, June/July - work at camp, August - August - Australia.

What have I done?!  Have I inadvertently become one of those wandering gypsies looking for fulfillment and always eager for the next thing who are the future demise of settled neighborhoods, marriages before 30 and cultural stability?

I have figured out how to do new things.  In some ways, that's great.  I think it promotes adaptability to a changing world, and a helpful brand of resilience.  This summer I have become more conscious of this skill.  The past two summers, I've worked at a camp in Colorado.  I had the routine down, and had even taken on some leadership responsibilities.  This summer, however, the schedule didn't fit with my availability, so I chose to work at a new camp.  You might be thinking my camp days are quickly approaching their expiration date, but I do love camp.  This camp has a new staff, #Travy McTraverson, Alex, Saraaa, Spence, Shmana, and Noah Samoa.  They have a different mission statement, different inside jokes, different routines.  To make things worse (or just more challenging), I arrived late and missed staff training! 

What's a girl to do when she walks into a situation where she really has no idea what's going on?  Pick a winner and watch 'em like a hawk.  You become a covert agent with one mission: figure this new thing out.  I decided this is sort of a life application principle.  If you want to do something, by golly, find someone who is where you want to be and watch them.  Nope, I don't know where the trailhead is for the hiking group on Friday, but by golly, knowing what questions to ask and who to watch is going to get me where I need to be.

Coming soon: thoughts on gypsyness vs. the settled life

Much love,

Little Miss Sunshine 

Getting a Sense of North Africa

Well gang, I'm home.  After about 24 hours of being awake, traipsing through the streets of Madrid for a couple hours and spending a very long time on a plane or two, I have returned to my dear little house with my dear little family.  While telling you about my adventures in North Africa would take several hours if told in their entirety, I want to give you a little taste of what it was like.

See.

Tteachers light up as we talked about the best ways to help kids learn.  The ocean every morning as I looked out from my balcony.  A people so hospitable and welcoming, but still without the Light. 

Hear. 

Sounds of laughter that erupts from the comedies of a language barrier.  Justin Bieber being sung in English.  Shouts and chants of protesting.  A jumble of French, English, Spanish and Arabic that results from living in a cultural crossroad.

Smell.

The warm brown smell being exhaled from local bakeries. The refreshing zip of mint that I held to my nose when we toured the pungent tannery.  Paprika, cumin, saffron and curry at the local spice shop.

Taste.

Liquid gold, also known as peach-orange juice that is freshly made in the restaurants.  Pastila, a chicken almond pot pie made with puff pastry and honey and cinnamon on top.  Success in being able to use the degree I just graduated with.

Touch.

Cheeks of anyone you know or have just been introduced to - the women are all about kissing cheek to cheek.  A small hand being held tightly as we made our way through busy markets.  The feathery brush of fringe on the scarves we bought and wore almost daily.  

Thank you for your prayers and support.  If you have questions about more North African adventures, just let me know.  

Much love,

Little Miss Sunshine

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 7:14

Traipsing across North Africa

International travel is so much more and less than it's cracked up to be.  For example, guidebooks don't really get across the magic that happens when you communicate with your waiter in 4 different languages and end up with pizza at a restaurant or when you can only use sign language to buy fresh peas at the farmer's market.  They don't tell you about how wonderfully hospitable people are and the way you laugh so hard when you're trying to copy their Arabic pronunciations, failing miserably.  There are doors here that are intricately carved and bordered by colored tiles, and spices the color of.. well, we don't have anything that color!

There is, however, a side of travel that guidebooks don't talk about.  Sometimes you get sick.  That can taint your plans a little.  Listening all day to a language you can't understand is exhausting, especially for a girl whose love of language is as strong as mine.  It is the way I connect with people, celebrate, express myself.  To be on a little English island is harder than I thought.  There is no country music here, no running trails, and no tacos.  I live out of a suitcase and eat out most days.

Now, if there were tacos, running trails and country music, it wouldn't be North Africa.  I wouldn't want it to be different.  The difference makes it interesting, but it also makes you appreciate home that much more.  Wanderlust is so romantic and exotic (and contagious) but when all's said and done, there's no place like home.

Enjoying North Africa (and listening to a little Christmas music from back home on her ipod),

Little Miss Sunshine

North Africaaaaa

Hey Crew,
The past few days have been wonder-fulllllll.  The language part of my brain is pretty tired as I'm learning some Arabic, listening in some Spanish, and trying to remember the tiny bit of French I know.  The people here are kind and welcoming.  Our hotel is beautiful and very nice.  We were able to meet the teachers we'll be collaborating with last night, and will begin workshops today.  The weather is similar to San Diego, but not as hot.  The markets are everywhere, and prices are great.

First overseas adventure, thumbs up!

Little Miss Sunshine

WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING?!

Tomorrow is the day.  Tomorrow I will stride down that gangplank, onto a giant airborne bus that is going to take me to North Africa, with a couple stops in between.  I'll be partnering with a team from the US and the department of education to put on workshops for kindergarten teachers.  There will be scarves and spices and Arabic flying everywhere. 

Now, generally speaking, Little Miss Sunshine is pretty agressive about trying new things.  Escargot?  Let me at it!  Galloping a horse across a pasture?  Sure!  Flying halfway around the world to practice what I've just spent four years in college learning?  Absolutely? 

Confession: I'm a liiiiittle scared!  I've never even flown overseas.  I've never navigated international airports or hailed foreign taxis.  I've never actually taught a teacher how to teach.  What the heck am I doing?!

Then I got to thinking... hasn't life always happened like this?  How is this any different from that adrenaline pumping knot in your stomach that I got when Dad took off my training wheels or when the big green suburban drove away taking my whole family with it, leaving me at college a thousand miles from home?  If God's grace is sufficient for Paul to make it through his traveling adventures, then by golly it's sufficient enough for me. 

I covet your prayers as I stride onto that airplane tomorrow (with completely fake confidence).  Pray for smooth travel and discipline to put on spiritual armor every day.  Pray for unity within our team.  Pray for open hearts for the people we will meet.  Maybe you should pray that somehow I remember to turn my volume down.  I hear the rest of the world isn't quite as loud as the US.

Much love,

Little Miss Sunshine