Earlier this week we returned from our journey abroad. Sorry it has taken me so long to post this blog. It's actually been a "draft" since Monday. I just haven't had the time to finish it and post it.
Going back was so good for my heart. However, a week was not long enough to spend back in my other "hometown" on the other side of the world. It was such a blessing to go back and see people and places that are so dear to my heart. Honestly, coming back to Pullman was kind of depressing knowing that I still have to graduate before I can move on in my life.
My heart was so refreshed going back to East Asia. It felt like I never left as I navigated the streets on bike and taxi and bus. Seeing old friends was a blessing. I got to spend lots of time catching up with people. I could definitely see myself moving back someday for an extended time, but I guess until then I will have to dream about it and continue to ask God, "when?"
Here's a recap of our time:
Monday we arrived in EA and waited for our cab driver to show up. When he did he was also carrying a sign that so appropriately read, "Mr. Steven." He got all our luggage into his car (amazingly) and it felt so normal not having a seat belt to wear and speeding along the highway with EA sights and sounds all around us. The ride took longer than usual because of traffic, but we finally arrived at the house of Jason and Rose and were reunited with old friends and met new ones. I dished out all the packages that had been accumulating in my room the weeks prior to leaving. Not much of the conversation was retained by my over-tired mind and eventually I made my way to bed.
Tuesday morning I woke up at 6am ready to go. Oh, jet lag. :-) Actually it worked out well getting up early throughout the week because it gave me time to talk to God and get into the Word. I got to finally meet Maggie and catch up with Rose a little in the morning. The guys came over and we planned out the week. Lunch was with the guys from last year at one of our favorite restaurants eating amazing food. Yum. That afternoon with met up with our dear friend Elle who took us out to New Campus and showed us how much everything has changed in the 8 months since we left. It was amazing walking around and seeing all the paths done and grass growing where there used to be dirt plots. The library that was being built all last year was
finsihed and we took a self-guided tour in the small glass elevators and marveled at the room of 1,000 computers; each one being occupied by a student engrossed in anything but "academic reading" as the door suggested. For dinner we met Rose and Jason at the "Chicken Taco" restaurant and stopped off for some Banana
Roti before heading back for the night.
Wednesday morning it was raining. Sad. We met up and headed to the city museum (which was also new) and were impressed with the presentation and creativity of some of the displays. Lunch was at Jack's for sentimental sake and after that we met back up with the current team to go out sharing on campus. I got to go with Elle and we talked to a room full of girls. One girl was especially interested in the Bible and it was so cool to talk to her and hear her questions. I'm excited for Elle to follow up with her and see what God is doing in her heart. It was fun just to talk to them and escape into their world for an afternoon. Dinner was at the Tree Restaurant with all of Steven and David's main guys from last year. Big John joined us too. I got the chance to try something I was told was "sea mushroom" only to find that it tasted nothing like mushroom and had the consistency of a sponge. As I chewed it continued to puff back up in my mouth. Maybe the purple stripes should have warned me.
Thursday morning we went shopping. :-) Got some pearls and ended up at the vase shop (thanks Matt for introducing us to this novelty) where we each got an EA vase to take home. It was fun wandering around the shop. Honestly, I could have bought five vases but there was no way to take all those on the plane. Lunch was with the team and we shared some awesome food and conversation. That afternoon I headed out to New Campus by myself where I got to see Katie, one of my girls from last year, and some other girls who are involved in the fellowship on campus. It was so fun to catch up and spend time together. Plus, Katie and another friend of ours helped me get some headphones for about $5 since my current ones weren't really holding up their own. For dinner I met with Liz at Starbucks. She's another one of the girls I worked with last year and is also a dear friend of mine. She was so cute! And even showed up on her e-bike. We laughed and talked about life, God and boys (of course). I think that afternoon catching up with old friends was the best for my heart.
Friday morning we left our "hometown" and headed into the City to visit more friends. It was sad leaving Rose and Jason and saying goodbye to Maggie. I wish I
could've had longer than a week to spend with them. I had a blast catching up with Rose during my stay at their place and playing with Maggie. It felt like I never left. We got to City via train (what were we thinking with all that luggage?!?). My "rolling" duffel was no longer rolling by the time we got and Steven the "bi-polar, analytical computer jock" piled my duffel on his suitcase and tied them together with shirt. Only in EA would we be able to do something that looked that silly and not be stared at because of it (not that we weren't being stared at, but it was because we were Americans). Right after getting off the train we headed to Starbucks and got to spend a few hours with the Bird and Becky! I didn't think we would get to see our two other
Nats from last year, but it worked out that we could meet up with them. It was such a sweet time hearing how their year is going and how much Bird loves being married. :-) I love those girls to pieces. That afternoon we ventured over to Katie and Georgia's where we were met with the biggest hugs ever and brought upstairs to their apartment overlooking the City. It was so good to see them. I left and had coffee with Bethany. I think that was good for both of us and we picked up just where we had left off. I love that about my friendships with others over there. Everyone we met up with, even though I hadn't kept in contact with them very well since I left, it was like we never left. Friendships rekindled over dinner at Moon River as Cam and
Steph joined us. Afterwards some bowling before finally I crashed at Katie and G's, exhausted from all the visiting.
Saturday morning I got up early again and got a little time with Georgia visiting before Steven, David and I headed out to be tourists. We spent the day walking around and seeing the sights of the City. That night we went to an acrobats show. It was such a good way to end our time there. It felt like we could conquer anything as we were able to get from subway to taxi and back again. One day I would love to live there and experience life in EA again.
Sunday was our day home. We got out to the airport and began our travels home. Coming back wasn't bad. We flew through Tokyo and the flights were overall considerably shorter. Not sure why we never thought about that before. We also got bumped up to Economy Plus for the 8 hour flight over the Pacific. It was glorious to have the extra leg room.
Sorry this update is kind of rushed and summarized. There really were too many memories to mention them all. It was great seeing friends, and yet there were friends that I didn't get to see.
A week is not long enough...
