The coffeemaker is dripping in the kitchen. I also hear sounds of family talking, making jokes, washing dishes and talking about going to the beach. Instrumental Christmas music is also playing as I sit at the dining room table typing for those of you who may glance at this.
I am a world away from my usual life, it seems. The sights and sounds in this country are so familiar and charged with memories that creep up on me, silently escaping from behind a rusted door labeled Childhood Memories. The paradox is that this country had such an impact on who I have become, yet now I feel like a stranger here. It's always weird to come back, yet soothing at the same time.
We have been busy. After I traveled 24 hours to get here, the very next day we drove to the jungle. Due to poor weather which impeded our flight into the jungle, our plans for trekking to different villages shrunk down to a quick visit to my parents' village and one nearby. They have a jungle house in the making, and it is a great deal nicer than I expected! The flea-infested yet endearing children gathered around us curiously, silently watching and waiting eagerly to be in any picture we took of the area. We also saw friends and made Brent's dream come true by seeing monkeys. I would post pictures, but I seem to have lost my camera...
Our adventures have included climbing up to the crater of an extinct volcano. It was amazing! But I can also tell you that I wouldn't want to try it again unless I were acclimated to the altitude first! I thought I would die on the way up (4000m = 14,000ft), or at least pass out from lack of oxygen! Thanks to gatorade, chocolate and my dad's encouragement, I made it to the top to see the snowcapped peaks of a mountain I had only seen for years at a distance. That day, we spent about six hours traveling by mule on steep muddy trails of the Andes!
More adventures (to the beach!) are on hold until after Christmas. I think Sonja and I will decorate cookies today and enjoy the approach of the Eve at our parents' home. May you also enjoy the approach of the holiday commemorating Jesus' birth, and may your soul and spirit know the peace only he can bring!
Sunday, December 23
Wednesday, December 12
WOW
"I just have this feeling in my heart: Laura will be home for Christmas."
Those were my mother's word's on Saturday. Today is Wednesday, and as of a few hours ago, I have a plane ticket and the allotted vacation days to be home for two weeks! I think I am still in shock! In two days I will be on a plane, headed to the southern hemisphere and to those volcanoes and my family's smiles.
I confess that I want to be the kid again; to put the world of grown-up education and work issues on the shelf for even a moment. I want to get renewed perspective and be somewhere familiar and warm, surrounded by those that are dearest to me on this planet. I want to rest. I want to eat pinchos from the street stand. I want to hear the waves of the Pacific wash up on shore and the pelting of jungle rain on a tin roof. I want to see my sister laugh.
God heard the desires of my heart even when I dared not voice them. So what can I say, I am in awe yet again--thankful and humbled by his personal care of me.
I'm going HOME!!!!!
Those were my mother's word's on Saturday. Today is Wednesday, and as of a few hours ago, I have a plane ticket and the allotted vacation days to be home for two weeks! I think I am still in shock! In two days I will be on a plane, headed to the southern hemisphere and to those volcanoes and my family's smiles.
I confess that I want to be the kid again; to put the world of grown-up education and work issues on the shelf for even a moment. I want to get renewed perspective and be somewhere familiar and warm, surrounded by those that are dearest to me on this planet. I want to rest. I want to eat pinchos from the street stand. I want to hear the waves of the Pacific wash up on shore and the pelting of jungle rain on a tin roof. I want to see my sister laugh.
God heard the desires of my heart even when I dared not voice them. So what can I say, I am in awe yet again--thankful and humbled by his personal care of me.
I'm going HOME!!!!!
Monday, December 3
twelve oh seven
I will be saying nothing original by stating that the time flies by quickly, but I still feel the need to note it. It's already December and the days have passed with the same steady quickness that characterizes the traffic at the train station on a Friday night. In other words--packed, dark-clad, seemingly going nowhere but actually in constant fluid motion as some people come and others go.
The bulk of my classes are over, with some essays still waiting for my undivided attention (hah! but will they get it, that is the question). I took a difficult exam last Thursday, and quite possibly still haven't slept enough to recover from it. Instead, this weekend kicked off a week of holiday parties. Yes, it is that time of year again. It seems quite excessive that excluding the two parties I had yesterday, this week contains five more festive occasions to attend! On a less happy note, I don't get to go home for the holidays due to (frustrating) situations at work. While I have accepted the fact with a degree of realism, it doesn't lessen the longing to see my family and the snowcapped volcanoes.
However, grandma's is also a welcoming place where I look forward to being for Christmas. Signing out, sending hugs and greetings from the northlands,
Yours Truly
The bulk of my classes are over, with some essays still waiting for my undivided attention (hah! but will they get it, that is the question). I took a difficult exam last Thursday, and quite possibly still haven't slept enough to recover from it. Instead, this weekend kicked off a week of holiday parties. Yes, it is that time of year again. It seems quite excessive that excluding the two parties I had yesterday, this week contains five more festive occasions to attend! On a less happy note, I don't get to go home for the holidays due to (frustrating) situations at work. While I have accepted the fact with a degree of realism, it doesn't lessen the longing to see my family and the snowcapped volcanoes.
However, grandma's is also a welcoming place where I look forward to being for Christmas. Signing out, sending hugs and greetings from the northlands,
Yours Truly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)