Showing posts with label awesome people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label awesome people. Show all posts
Monday, August 18, 2014
Living in Community
While I lived in Madrid, I had the pleasure of living in a beautiful apartment decorated in photos and collected items from all over the world in the heart of the city. I had the joy of walking to my classes each morning, and soaked up every second of hearing the city buzz, watching the people interact and feeling a completely rare joy in my daily commute.
My old roommate and dear friend, Cande, and her boyfriend, along with the visits of several friends ensured the apartment was never empty. My first week there her brother was visiting, and overlapping with his visit was another friend. In the four weeks we were there together, it truly felt like a home. There was always a meal being prepared, someone doing laundry, something to discuss, and an open bottle of wine. I've had great roommates and I have great friends. I have two years of stories from living in the sorority house. But this apartment in Madrid was something else. It felt like truly living with a sister, everything is everyone's and all responsibilities are shared. One's burden is felt by all. I learned to cook new meals, I laughed until I cried sitting at my place at the the table, and I had days in the last few weeks where I did absolutely "nothing" at all except enjoy doing nothing. I have deep love for the people I met in Madrid, and great appreciation for all the things they've taught me.
I leave Madrid sad. I know that a great year is ahead. I know that I have only one year left of law school and that I cannot just stay in Madrid forever. But July 2014 will be the month that I reminded myself of a great city where I truly feel at home. It went by too fast. I met new faces and spent delicious quality time with favorite faces. Certainly, some of my favorite memories were in Madrid's streets, and other favorites happened in that apartment. I am already looking forward to the next time I chirp, "Hasta luego!" Because with Madrid, it is just that - "until later;" it is never goodbye.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
until God sends us somewhere else
One of the most popular posts on this blog from when I was living in Madrid, Spain was a series I did on my favorite people. And so, a few snippets of the amazing people that I have met in my six weeks in Rwanda. Meeting people is absolutely one of my top three favorite things about traveling. And this summer a few people I've had limited interactions with have had a BIG impact on me.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
-Matthew 9:36-38
- Akagera Couple - a woman who developed curriculum for USAID and her husband, who have been living in Rwanda for one year but have been living in Africa or the Middle East for 27 years. When I asked them if when they got married they had any idea they would live overseas for most of their marriage, he responded, "We didn't know at the altar, but God made it pretty clear shortly after." And I just love that. When asked how much longer they would be in Rwanda, he chirped immediately, "Well, we'll be here until God sends us somewhere else." I just loved that. Aren't we all just somewhere until God sends us somewhere else?
- Mimi - Mimi lived in the DRC as a missionary kid for the first 15 years of her life. Then she went to boarding school in the US and didn't see her parents for many years. It could take a year for a letter to get to DRC from the US in the 50's, if it even got there at all. She told us some incredible stories and I could have listened to her talk for hours. I said to a friend of hers how impressed I was and that she should write a book! She responded plainly, "She has!" Click here for her story and devotional books. Her husband, a doctor and professor of medicine for the University of Colorado is in Rwanda working for the Clinton Foundation to help educate doctors in Rwanda to promote better family health practices.
- Two high schoolers with such maturity and wisdom far beyond their years in Rwanda for several weeks to help Mimi with her projects and around the house. They have such bright futures ahead!
- A girl who is here in Rwanda designing the sowing projects for a women's cooperative with her fashion design degree. SO COOL!!
- Missionary Family #1 - Gary has been here in Rwanda for 27 years. It goes without saying that he has an incredible story about coming here on a short term mission trip, and never leaving. Read on HERE.
- Missionary Family #2- A couple who have lived in Southern California and Oxford, UK and now have their two children in Rwanda. When they first met, they had no idea that he would chase a Masters in Divinity in Oxford, that would lead them to WorldVenture, that would lead them to Rwanda. These missionaries host a school for preachers. Since Rwanda's education system is built on memorization, the average Rwandan doesn't know how to use the critical thinking portion of his or her brain. This blows my mind, because as a law student, the ONLY part of your brain you use is critical thinking. So the preachers here start preaching to churches, only on what they have memorized or feel "called" to talk about, but have no formal biblical education. Very interesting the work they do, and how it can have such a huge impact on Rwandans whose faith is stronger than most faith, but whose biblical knowledge and spiritual foundation is lacking.
Read MORE here. Really cool work, interesting people and this organization is the one who provided us a house to live in while in Rwanda. - Devin - fluent in Kinyarwanda (I cannot overemphasize the impressive nature of this statement because this language is so impossible) from living in rural Rwanda for two years with the PeaceCorp. She is now in law school at Tulane, and is a delight to spend time with.
- Mary Ann - a student working on her Masters in Counseling, in Rwanda for a few weeks to host a training session with our IJM counselors. Mary Ann is awesome. She came to Rwanda with open eyes, an open heart and dived right in. She asked some hard-hitting questions, and got us each thinking about God's plan and our futures as she was contemplating her own. Interested in using her gifts for counseling victims of trauma, I am confident that wherever God sends her, she will be a great asset to that community. We were so sad she wasn't here for the whole summer. She also boldly drank an entire glass of fermented milk. You may be thinking, "that's not so impressive," but I couldn't stand within 20 feet of the milk for more than 30 seconds until I got gagged and had to run out of the room. And she drank it! Then survived a three hour drive on bumpy, uneven, dirt roads in the back of the car. She is a champion. We miss you Mary Ann!
- A girl who works for WorldVision, about my age. She is on a tour of East Africa, spending a few days in each country visiting WorldVision sites. After three sentences, I was green with envy for her job.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
-Matthew 9:36-38
Sunday, March 4, 2012
people I love in my daily life here
I thought this week instead of a post about my week, I would do things a little differently and let you get to know some of the people I interact with regularly.
two cleaning ladies- these two ladies are always chatting me up at JF (the high school where I work on Tuesday and Thursday). one has a daughter with plans to go spend a few months in Massachusettes. we've yet to communicate what city but she always asks if there are gangsters there with guns. every time I assure her no and that there are dangerous areas in every city but that I'm sure whatever city in "MasssaaaaCHUUUshhiitts" she's going, it will be safe there. one day I revealed I will be going to law school next year and they now think I'm just below celebrity status. when I explained I didn't know where I would be living but maybe NYC or LA, they kept repeating back and forth, "we know a New Yprk lawyer!!" uhh, not yet ladies but you can come visit me if that's what I end up being. they also mention coming to visit my office with a window over looking the statue of liberty every time I run into them. they speak so fast and while cleaning/mopping/etc, gossip pours out of their mouths. it seems like their main job is running the rumor mill and spreading the most controversial news. they must be good friends because they even carpool to an from school together. I love them.
Two ladies who look like sisters at LC (the Monday and Wednesday high school)- these women wow me every time I see them. there are maybe five or six disabled students at LC. I have two in my classes. one of whom can get around with her walker remarkably well though it appears as if each step is a struggle. she's smart and participates in class. the other disabled student I have is pretty "rough off" (even though even that seems terrible to say). he really has extreme difficulties communicating in Spanish and relies completely on someone else pushing his wheelchair and collecting his things. one woman tends to him full time all day. she miraculously understands him when I can't even make out that he is saying words. her patience and soul are solid gold. it appears to be her sister who does this for another one of the disabled boys. I thank God for them daily because I don't know if those boys can.
Silvia- my boss at LC- it sucks that I don't get to see her that often every time we speak it's incredible. she's an absolutely wonderful woman and I hate that I work every afternoon and I can't spend hours chatting at her house with a homemade meal. she is funny, she's always asking about my life, she worries about me when I have dark bags under my eyes and she would do anything for me.
The teachers at JF- Carmen is absolutely the sweetest, kindest, most soft spoken woman I have ever met. our schedules coincide so we have two hours where we are both in the department free grading and making lessons so we chat often. I told her I wasn't sleeping well and the next day, she had brought me these herbs that help her. she's simply wonderful. Pilar, gave me the vitamin C out of her purse one day when she said I looked like I was getting sick. she's from Sevilla and her accent, although subtle, reminds me of the hundreds of amazing memories I have in that beautiful city. Estrella is this ball of energy. she always jokes that her bottle of water is full of gin because the students would drive her past insanity otherwise. she's hilarious and always telling some huge story or flailing her arms around when she's talking about basically anything. I love her. anthony calls me speedy Gonzalez because I talk so fast. Ana is super super pregnant and looks like she may have her baby any day now. she's also super sweet and great. she's eats tortilla everyday for breakfast and I just love that. she's wonderful. and then theres marta. marta replaced a teacher who left on maternty leave in january. then, her husbands cancer came back. a week or two later, he died. a week agter yhe funeral, she was back at school. i can see her fragilty in her eyes and i see a bit of myself only someone who has experienced such a grave loss can recognize. every time we speak, i think, this must be what i use to look like. she is so strong and brave and must feel like working is the only reason why she would ever leave her bed. she was back working within a week of the funeral. there is a phrase in spanish that can only there are 11 total and I don't dislike any of them, but those are my favorites.
Cande- my roommate from Argentina- Living with someone I like has made a huge, huge difference in my life here, especially when I lay around the apartment for three straight days. Cande and I get along really well, she is an amazing cook and we offer to make dinner then split it a lot. she briefly mentioned she was thinking of moving and i was terrified. i would be really sad and lonely without her here. she's introduced me to some of her friends here and we always have a good time when we go out together. she is a great listener and a great advice giver. we've got a lot in common and i think shes one of the only blessings thats come out of living in this apartment. well, her and the brazilian that i love that moved out.
Gab- Gabriel lived with Cande and I when we first all moved in but then he found a cheaper place and moved out in november. we have stayed in close touch and still get together abotu once a week or so. gab is studying his masters in intellectual property now after getting his law degree in brazil. he is hilarious and so incredibly smart. i can tell him anything and we can talk about anything. anytime we get together is a pleasure.
Melania- wow, Melania blows my mind. shes running around crazy all the time because shes teaching as an auxiliar and also doing a masters program. she speaks four languages and always has something wonderful to say that you need to hear. shes simply one of the purest and most incredible people i have ever met. we had great adventures traveling to hungary and portugal together and im so sad that we cant travel together every weekend because shes so busy but i am so lucky to have her to encourage me to do everything i want to do and that life is too short to just sit around. shes such an inspiration!
One thing is for sure, I will miss these people when I have left here and I am determined to make the very most of the next few months of memories with them! I am grateful to be surrounded by amazing people and that these friends are just a special layer on top of great US friendships. I am already looking forward to the people I will meet in law school too!
two cleaning ladies- these two ladies are always chatting me up at JF (the high school where I work on Tuesday and Thursday). one has a daughter with plans to go spend a few months in Massachusettes. we've yet to communicate what city but she always asks if there are gangsters there with guns. every time I assure her no and that there are dangerous areas in every city but that I'm sure whatever city in "MasssaaaaCHUUUshhiitts" she's going, it will be safe there. one day I revealed I will be going to law school next year and they now think I'm just below celebrity status. when I explained I didn't know where I would be living but maybe NYC or LA, they kept repeating back and forth, "we know a New Yprk lawyer!!" uhh, not yet ladies but you can come visit me if that's what I end up being. they also mention coming to visit my office with a window over looking the statue of liberty every time I run into them. they speak so fast and while cleaning/mopping/etc, gossip pours out of their mouths. it seems like their main job is running the rumor mill and spreading the most controversial news. they must be good friends because they even carpool to an from school together. I love them.
Two ladies who look like sisters at LC (the Monday and Wednesday high school)- these women wow me every time I see them. there are maybe five or six disabled students at LC. I have two in my classes. one of whom can get around with her walker remarkably well though it appears as if each step is a struggle. she's smart and participates in class. the other disabled student I have is pretty "rough off" (even though even that seems terrible to say). he really has extreme difficulties communicating in Spanish and relies completely on someone else pushing his wheelchair and collecting his things. one woman tends to him full time all day. she miraculously understands him when I can't even make out that he is saying words. her patience and soul are solid gold. it appears to be her sister who does this for another one of the disabled boys. I thank God for them daily because I don't know if those boys can.
Silvia- my boss at LC- it sucks that I don't get to see her that often every time we speak it's incredible. she's an absolutely wonderful woman and I hate that I work every afternoon and I can't spend hours chatting at her house with a homemade meal. she is funny, she's always asking about my life, she worries about me when I have dark bags under my eyes and she would do anything for me.
The teachers at JF- Carmen is absolutely the sweetest, kindest, most soft spoken woman I have ever met. our schedules coincide so we have two hours where we are both in the department free grading and making lessons so we chat often. I told her I wasn't sleeping well and the next day, she had brought me these herbs that help her. she's simply wonderful. Pilar, gave me the vitamin C out of her purse one day when she said I looked like I was getting sick. she's from Sevilla and her accent, although subtle, reminds me of the hundreds of amazing memories I have in that beautiful city. Estrella is this ball of energy. she always jokes that her bottle of water is full of gin because the students would drive her past insanity otherwise. she's hilarious and always telling some huge story or flailing her arms around when she's talking about basically anything. I love her. anthony calls me speedy Gonzalez because I talk so fast. Ana is super super pregnant and looks like she may have her baby any day now. she's also super sweet and great. she's eats tortilla everyday for breakfast and I just love that. she's wonderful. and then theres marta. marta replaced a teacher who left on maternty leave in january. then, her husbands cancer came back. a week or two later, he died. a week agter yhe funeral, she was back at school. i can see her fragilty in her eyes and i see a bit of myself only someone who has experienced such a grave loss can recognize. every time we speak, i think, this must be what i use to look like. she is so strong and brave and must feel like working is the only reason why she would ever leave her bed. she was back working within a week of the funeral. there is a phrase in spanish that can only there are 11 total and I don't dislike any of them, but those are my favorites.
Cande- my roommate from Argentina- Living with someone I like has made a huge, huge difference in my life here, especially when I lay around the apartment for three straight days. Cande and I get along really well, she is an amazing cook and we offer to make dinner then split it a lot. she briefly mentioned she was thinking of moving and i was terrified. i would be really sad and lonely without her here. she's introduced me to some of her friends here and we always have a good time when we go out together. she is a great listener and a great advice giver. we've got a lot in common and i think shes one of the only blessings thats come out of living in this apartment. well, her and the brazilian that i love that moved out.
Gab- Gabriel lived with Cande and I when we first all moved in but then he found a cheaper place and moved out in november. we have stayed in close touch and still get together abotu once a week or so. gab is studying his masters in intellectual property now after getting his law degree in brazil. he is hilarious and so incredibly smart. i can tell him anything and we can talk about anything. anytime we get together is a pleasure.
Melania- wow, Melania blows my mind. shes running around crazy all the time because shes teaching as an auxiliar and also doing a masters program. she speaks four languages and always has something wonderful to say that you need to hear. shes simply one of the purest and most incredible people i have ever met. we had great adventures traveling to hungary and portugal together and im so sad that we cant travel together every weekend because shes so busy but i am so lucky to have her to encourage me to do everything i want to do and that life is too short to just sit around. shes such an inspiration!
One thing is for sure, I will miss these people when I have left here and I am determined to make the very most of the next few months of memories with them! I am grateful to be surrounded by amazing people and that these friends are just a special layer on top of great US friendships. I am already looking forward to the people I will meet in law school too!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
this is the best week EVER!
first and most importantly, I GOT INTO LAW SCHOOL!!! let me back up. so as you know, i have been working my little tail off on applications. i have submitted 26 in total and have already heard back from several schools. most exciting is my acceptance to University of Miami. I still do not know if I got the scholarship that I applied for, but will know one way or another in the next three weeks or so. I was also offered a substantial scholarship to St. Thomas, which is also in Miami. I am really excited. I didnt realize quite how homesick, stressed, discouraged and overworked I was until my friend, Ansley landed and brought a taste of home and a breath of fresh air with her. She got here on Thursday and had the day to herself while I worked. When I got off, we had dinner with my roommate here and scurried off to the airport. Ansley and I landed in the Canary Islands (Las Palmas) at midnight and our family friend picked us up.
The entire weekend was like a dream. Pilar, who I met in Rome last summer because shes a dentist with several of Dad's lasers, is like a mother to me and she really went above and beyond with her hosting duties. Thursday night, we walked along the beach and settled into her mother's apartment that's the qaintest little resort home with a huge balcony over looking the beach. That's where we had several awesome feasts. Friday, we shopped, walked all over the city, saw some awesome sights and relaxed. Saturday, we attempted to visit one of the most famous beaches in the world but the wind was pretty miserable. Wind-1, Stephanie & Ansley-0. Pilars son is 23 and her nephew is also 23 so it was really cool they hung out with us and invited some friends. It was a really awesome day, minus the realization we would not be coming back bronze beauty queens. At night, we hit up Carnaval. The night before we had gotten a taste of the madness but Saturday was the parade and it was completely insane and incredible. I have never seen or experienced anything quite like it. The costumes weren't Walmart Halloween $13 purchases. No, no. They were meticulously planned outfits with no detail overlooked. Mostly, friends were there in huge groups all dressed identical. So in the crowd, you could spot an entire crew of GI Joes or Ariels or lions or whatever. We took so many photos and just had an incredible time. Sunday's plane ride was rough because we didn't want to leave, but I was also looking forward to showing Ansley around my city. The rest of her visit, we managed to meet up with my friends here and eat more great food. We celebrated my acceptances and just celebrated being together and her vacation. It was AWESOME. I was super sad she couldn't stay longer. I also received big news my roommate from last year will be coming in April! The weekend she will be here we will go to Barcelona with Dad for a Biolase event. I don't know if I am accurately explaining how amazing the last two weeks were, so here are some pictures in hopes of doing a better job.
Wishes of an equally AWESOME week to you! And go watch Step Brothers for me because I just kept repeating "this is the best week EVER!" in Will Farrel's voice. and it really was! Looking forward to hearing more back from other schools and starting Spanish classes 4 days a week this week.
The entire weekend was like a dream. Pilar, who I met in Rome last summer because shes a dentist with several of Dad's lasers, is like a mother to me and she really went above and beyond with her hosting duties. Thursday night, we walked along the beach and settled into her mother's apartment that's the qaintest little resort home with a huge balcony over looking the beach. That's where we had several awesome feasts. Friday, we shopped, walked all over the city, saw some awesome sights and relaxed. Saturday, we attempted to visit one of the most famous beaches in the world but the wind was pretty miserable. Wind-1, Stephanie & Ansley-0. Pilars son is 23 and her nephew is also 23 so it was really cool they hung out with us and invited some friends. It was a really awesome day, minus the realization we would not be coming back bronze beauty queens. At night, we hit up Carnaval. The night before we had gotten a taste of the madness but Saturday was the parade and it was completely insane and incredible. I have never seen or experienced anything quite like it. The costumes weren't Walmart Halloween $13 purchases. No, no. They were meticulously planned outfits with no detail overlooked. Mostly, friends were there in huge groups all dressed identical. So in the crowd, you could spot an entire crew of GI Joes or Ariels or lions or whatever. We took so many photos and just had an incredible time. Sunday's plane ride was rough because we didn't want to leave, but I was also looking forward to showing Ansley around my city. The rest of her visit, we managed to meet up with my friends here and eat more great food. We celebrated my acceptances and just celebrated being together and her vacation. It was AWESOME. I was super sad she couldn't stay longer. I also received big news my roommate from last year will be coming in April! The weekend she will be here we will go to Barcelona with Dad for a Biolase event. I don't know if I am accurately explaining how amazing the last two weeks were, so here are some pictures in hopes of doing a better job.
Wishes of an equally AWESOME week to you! And go watch Step Brothers for me because I just kept repeating "this is the best week EVER!" in Will Farrel's voice. and it really was! Looking forward to hearing more back from other schools and starting Spanish classes 4 days a week this week.
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