on the move

Yes, I am on the move, in more ways than one:

I'm moving my stuff! I've been busy packing up my little summer room in the city. It has been a lovely stay in this wonderfully located dorm situation with friendly theological inhabitants, but I'm thrilled to move into my own flat in eastern Helsinki tomorrow! My sis and I will be roommates (our dream come true!) in a charming flat that comes equipped with its own sauna! :)

Then, I'm moving myself...to see my sister! The opportunity came as a surprise, but since I can hardly resist travel offers, I definitely can't resist a subsidized travel offer to Israel! Plus, I have never been there before, and I get to see all that my sister's life has been about for the last few months! And not to mention the chance to meet new people, swim in the Dead Sea and bask in sunny weather. Bye bye, rainy Finland! Oh, and the icing on the surprise cake--Essy will be there!

I have the distinct sensation that God is spoiling me silly with his good surprises. Travel. Friends near and far. Sisterhood. Studies. Friendly flat. Oh, and a new job. After 5 months of "vacation," I am part-timing at a local cafe, learning to make cappuccinos!

So, that's the latest around these latitudes. Wondering and wandering continue as a new season begins. I hope the opening of a new season, wherever you are, finds you with much to be thankful for, and much to anticipate!

still

The wooden beams of the railroad bridge are still damp as I walk slowly over them, over the river running below, and over the island with the tall birch trees whose leaves glow in the evening sun. I enjoy the way the world looks after a rain. I'm glad I left the quietness of the house to feel the humidity in the air and hear the crunch of gravel under my feet. A sense of deja vu comes over me.

It is the fourth august that I have walked here, on this bridge, seen the boats docked on the shore of this city, and wandered the trails along this river. The returning feelings and senses that accompany the changing of seasons have invaded my afternoon stroll like companions set on taking me down their own route--I'd imagine down a familiar path called, "I wonder that I'm still here." But they take me down a road I've only seen a few times, into the forest trails of context and belonging, the hills of time where the sunset tells me how it has risen and set on generations of my ancestors in this land. I listen and look, aware that the view is friendly, yet foreign.

Will I ever stop counting the seasons I spend here?

Finnish Body Foreign Soul

Of all the things I could write about that are swimming around in my head, my mental fishing rod has hooked a big fat missionary kid fish. It's a species that looks much like the other lake fish but upon closer inspection has interestingly colorful gills that only appear if you stare long enough in bright sunlight, not to mention a slight twist in the flick of its tail that is typical of some South American species.

The fact that I'm a third culture kid (TCK) is not something I tell new acquaintances right away. It's so much easier to say, "Yeah, I'm from Helsinki." If someone sticks around long enough, or finally wonders why my English is more fluid than my Finnish, I will unwrap the package of linguistic and cultural history that has formed me. But sometimes, I just get tired of it, because I wear lots of other hats in life as well.

Last week I was a counselor at a camp specifically for TCKs with missionary parents. From the perspective of an adult TCK, this kind of camp is important because it creates a space and an atmosphere where an MK can process freely the thoughts and feelings that can't be shared with people who don't understand the experience of growing within many cultures. With kids from ages 13-20 present, eight counselors, two directors, a guest speaker and an observer, we were a very international crew! Because everyone involved belonged to the TCK world, it felt "homey" to be together, and very sad to leave.

I also took away a few thoughts from our sessions. One was a deep thankfulness for the decisions my parents have made in raising us, and how our family unity was important to them. Another thought was the correlation between inner well-being and the amount of yourself that is known to you and others. The larger the mass of things you hide beneath the surface, the more suffocated you feel. But when you are known by others and yourself, it is easier to breathe and feel free. Things get placed into proper perspective when they are "out."

So, proper encouragement to me to bring "out" the things that are easier to hide because they are complicated to talk about, or because I have forgotten them. Who knows, this fish could teach the other lake fish how to flick their tails with a new twist, and with a little encouragement the colorful gills could always be seen, not only in bright sunlight.

too much

The sky has been crying outside, the TV yelling inside with Olympic achievements. And I have come to the quiet of Heinola to rest and process the past weeks. They have been amazing weeks of new acquaintances, new contexts and encouraging thoughts. Not only did I spend some time in London and Brighton, but I have also been a camp counselor for MKs. What I have been ignoring is my studies....classes begin again in September.

So while I process and get caught up on my thoughts, here are a few pictures from my friends' wedding that I photographed last month: