The countdown is on: 6 hours until we leave for free travel. We are leaving for the airport at 2:30 a.m., where we will then fly to Amsterdam. After arriving there, we will board a train to Berlin, Germany. If we can start out on the right foot, hopefully the rest of our trip will go fairly smoothly. I am not expecting a comfortable ride with everything going as planned, but I'm praying for enough stability to make it worth our while.
When I am feeling overwhelmed with stress, I stop and count my blessings. Ben accidentally sent his Eurail pass home with his luggage. The clock is ticking and he is desperately trying to play out his options. Right now it seems like a lose-lose situation, but I am praying that things will work out for good. He has been looking forward to this for so long and he deserves such a great trip. No matter how this trip goes, I will always stop and count my blessings. I am doing more at 21 than most people get the chance to do in their whole lives-- what a gift!
We didn't really do anything profound on our last day, but that's exactly what I wanted to happen. I simply soaked in "the last day to sit outside," "the last day to eat dinner at our usual table," and all the other "last" things. I have been fairly composed, surprisingly, but I'm sure it won't all hit me until I get home.
My backpack is expanded to capacity and I have a feeling that I will start throwing away things as the trip goes on. Haha. Ten dollar shirts from Wal-Mart start looking more and more like garbage the longer the week goes on. I need to finish cleaning the room and doing some other last minute things to calm my nerves. Lacey sweeps when she is stressed and maybe I should incorporate this into my routine. You calm tension AND get things done.
I will try to write if I ever get the chance, but I don't know how available internet access will be. Adding to the list, I guess this is my "last" blog entry from the computer lab in the Artemis Hotel. I have enjoyed documenting my adventures, my growth and the sights I have been able to see. Though I was writing it for myself, it was your encouragement and comments that inspired me to log in each day.
A special shout out to Alana's mom-- thank you so much for your sweet comment on my last entry! I have loved every minute of being with your daughter-- I knew from the minute she sat by me on the bus that first time, that she would become a good friend. She has a sweet heart and I know that she probably gets that from you! Thank you to all the other moms who read my blog-- most of my tales and stories wouldn't be possible without the help of the wonderful daughters you have raised! (Even if they are quite the pranksters, Mrs. Casey.. Haha!)
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we embark (I love that word!) on this journey. I'm sure we will come back with stories that make you laugh, make you cry and make you shake your head and say, "That's my daughter for ya!"
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous
I have decided that chillin' by the pool is my calling in life. Forget the ambition and dreaming of previous entries of yesteryear. Though day by day our numbers get few, it leaves time for the rest of us to live luxuriously. Several of us girls sat out by the pool for hours, getting a tan and reading a book. I braved the icy cold water a few times, but decided that soakin' up the sun was more my style. I came in after a few hours and noticed that I got quite a tan. I hardly ever can notice right away, but today was special I guess. I love the feeling of sun on my face and the wavy mess of hair that results after swimming. Fofi bought us bowls of strawberries and I got a plate full, with a side of sugar-- the perfect treat.
We said goodbye to Mandy and Sarabeth today. I will miss the sound of Mandy's laugh echoing throughout the halls, which usually ended with a Sarabeth snort. You know those people whose laugh warms your heart and makes you want to tell jokes and stories for the rest of your life? That would be Mandy.
Nathan, Noah, Jarrett and Marshall also took off today-- everyone called first hug, last hug, largest hug and all that from Nathan so he told me that I had dibs on first kiss. He grinned because I left a hot pink kiss mark on his cheek. I will miss 'ol Nathan. He always made me laugh with his journal entries that he would turn in, each place had a poem about it. He has this cute embarrassed face and I will miss seeing him do it, along with the way he laughs hysterically when people tickle him.
I'm glad we have had these few days to recover before an exhausting 2-week stretch. I plan to hit the pool tomorrow one last time. :-)
Keep our whole group in your prayers. Thank you for your continued support! Keep commenting and stuff-- it is very encouraging!!
We said goodbye to Mandy and Sarabeth today. I will miss the sound of Mandy's laugh echoing throughout the halls, which usually ended with a Sarabeth snort. You know those people whose laugh warms your heart and makes you want to tell jokes and stories for the rest of your life? That would be Mandy.
Nathan, Noah, Jarrett and Marshall also took off today-- everyone called first hug, last hug, largest hug and all that from Nathan so he told me that I had dibs on first kiss. He grinned because I left a hot pink kiss mark on his cheek. I will miss 'ol Nathan. He always made me laugh with his journal entries that he would turn in, each place had a poem about it. He has this cute embarrassed face and I will miss seeing him do it, along with the way he laughs hysterically when people tickle him.
I'm glad we have had these few days to recover before an exhausting 2-week stretch. I plan to hit the pool tomorrow one last time. :-)
Keep our whole group in your prayers. Thank you for your continued support! Keep commenting and stuff-- it is very encouraging!!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
If you want to know...
Lacey made an itinerary that is hard to copy and paste onto this and is easier to download. She sent it to all of our parents-- if you would like a copy of it, e-mail my mom (rjreely@hotmail.com) and give her your e-mail address so she can send it to you! It isn't really specific yet because we are still filling it in with places and museums and such. We're college students, ya know. Little bit of planning, lots of flying by the seat of our pants! :-)
The First of the Goodbyes, Good Grades and an Engagement (No, it's not me..)
Today we bid our first farewells. We got up early and saw Kyle off. Because of his health issues, he decided to go ahead and fly home-- so that he could get everything worked out and not risk problems on free travel. A few moments ago we bid farewell to most of our crazy Knights boys, which will leave quite a void to life around here. It will be pretty quiet without them hee-hawing around the Artemis.
I have never really done well with goodbyes. Last night, Lacey showed Alana and I a slideshow she had put together. She took scenic shots from this semester and put bible verses on top of them. She is such a good photographer and is very talented in putting things like that together. Alana and I burst into tears after it was over and I started doing my I-can't-breathe cry. The one where you keep gasping for air and you sound like you need an oxygen tank. Embarrassing. Haha. I have a feeling it's the first of many to come.
It kind of stinks that we're the last group to leave because we have to notice the Artemis getting quieter and quieter. We have to see the empty tables with no one playing Spades on it-- and the livingroom couches open for once.
Though it is really hard to say goodbye, I know that all good things must come to an end. I am looking forward to being home with my family-- and feeling the effects of this trip for years to come. It's hard to move on, but it is also exciting. I feel like I have broadened my horizons and now I don't want to settle for less. I don't want to write for a podunk newspaper-- I want to work for a magazine, where I love what I'm writing and feel like I'm putting a piece of me into each article. Though coming into my own is a scary thought, it has now become more of an exciting challenge than the biggest fear of my life. Bliss and I were just talking about the exciting possibility of living in Nashville together while she goes to school and I get a job. I'm not a fan of growing up-- but this trip has made me a little more comfortable with that.
Pray for our patience as this week rolls around and as we free travel. Pray that I will keep the tears to a reasonable limit. Haha!
On a positive note, I just found out that I made an A in Humanities 270 and Humanities 201, the two hardest classes! :-) I think I probably made an A in Greek, but that hasn't been finalized yet. I won't find out about World Christian until the the semester back home is finished. I'm crossing my fingers for all A's! I got off to a rocky start, but once I got the hang of things it was more manageable. That makes this semester that much better! :-)
I just keep adding and adding to this message. I just heard a hysterical scream from Ashley and ran downstairs to see what was the matter. Nic and Carrol, one of our couples, just got engaged! I love them both and I'm so excited for them! They have been dating for a few years. She just got done showing us her ring (which is BEAUTIFUL!) and telling the story. He walked her down to the beach and asked her to make him the happiest man in the world! All the girls, of course, awed in unison. Happy times! :-) I'm glad we got to share it with them.
Unless something else happens, this entry has now come to an end. Love ya!
I have never really done well with goodbyes. Last night, Lacey showed Alana and I a slideshow she had put together. She took scenic shots from this semester and put bible verses on top of them. She is such a good photographer and is very talented in putting things like that together. Alana and I burst into tears after it was over and I started doing my I-can't-breathe cry. The one where you keep gasping for air and you sound like you need an oxygen tank. Embarrassing. Haha. I have a feeling it's the first of many to come.
It kind of stinks that we're the last group to leave because we have to notice the Artemis getting quieter and quieter. We have to see the empty tables with no one playing Spades on it-- and the livingroom couches open for once.
Though it is really hard to say goodbye, I know that all good things must come to an end. I am looking forward to being home with my family-- and feeling the effects of this trip for years to come. It's hard to move on, but it is also exciting. I feel like I have broadened my horizons and now I don't want to settle for less. I don't want to write for a podunk newspaper-- I want to work for a magazine, where I love what I'm writing and feel like I'm putting a piece of me into each article. Though coming into my own is a scary thought, it has now become more of an exciting challenge than the biggest fear of my life. Bliss and I were just talking about the exciting possibility of living in Nashville together while she goes to school and I get a job. I'm not a fan of growing up-- but this trip has made me a little more comfortable with that.
Pray for our patience as this week rolls around and as we free travel. Pray that I will keep the tears to a reasonable limit. Haha!
On a positive note, I just found out that I made an A in Humanities 270 and Humanities 201, the two hardest classes! :-) I think I probably made an A in Greek, but that hasn't been finalized yet. I won't find out about World Christian until the the semester back home is finished. I'm crossing my fingers for all A's! I got off to a rocky start, but once I got the hang of things it was more manageable. That makes this semester that much better! :-)
I just keep adding and adding to this message. I just heard a hysterical scream from Ashley and ran downstairs to see what was the matter. Nic and Carrol, one of our couples, just got engaged! I love them both and I'm so excited for them! They have been dating for a few years. She just got done showing us her ring (which is BEAUTIFUL!) and telling the story. He walked her down to the beach and asked her to make him the happiest man in the world! All the girls, of course, awed in unison. Happy times! :-) I'm glad we got to share it with them.
Unless something else happens, this entry has now come to an end. Love ya!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Cruisin' the Greek Islands
We concluded our semester with a 3-day cruise aboard the Aquamarine. We left early in the morning and drove to where the ship was docked. We all got on board and took short naps before the loud, British lady with a deep, sultry voice (for the first time out of thousands of times to come) came over the intercom to inform us we had a muster drill. We all sleepily gathered our orange life vests and followed the others up the stairs. It was a vast sea of orange and gray. (Most of the other passengers were a lot older..) Our peppy Latin senorita staff member cheerfully explained how to put on the lifevest and showed us where our whistles and lights were. We were joking around and having fun with the drill (not to the point of being a distraction, of course) and this man behind us nonchalantly throws in, "You do know a boat from this company sank near Santarini 2 years ago.." We thought he was kidding, but he told us the whole story and our travel agent from Aristotle backed him up on it. I listened a little more closely. :-)
We landed in Mykonos early that evening. We walked around the town, which is full of white houses, decorated with accents of blue, green and red. I loved the blue window shutters and the bright flowers that decorated the staircases. We saw the famous church, a white igloo-type structure that adorns almost every t-shirt and souvenir from this island. The main attraction on this island is the giant windmills. They are remnant of the old days, with their rooftop hay coverings. Though very practical, I was thankful that they chose beauty over a modern contraption. One of my friends from back home proposed to his girlfriend (the Myhan's daughter) here about a year ago. I remember him telling me about it, but I am so glad that I got to see the spot for myself. It was here that I sat outside of a shop that was playing the traditional Greek music. I was sitting there, looking out at the sea and soaking up my final days in Greece. It was then that I decided I didn't want to lose that moment so I walked in to the music shop and said, "I need this CD. What is this CD?" The lady handed me a Greek instrumental CD and I bought it. My family will be glad to know that when I need to have a "Greek moment" they will hear "Zorba's Dance" blaring from my room-- or maybe even the livingroom. Haha. :-) Mykonos is also home to the hugest pelican I have ever seen. He basically owns the island. He, being a big part of their souvenir profits, knows that he is and waddles with an heir of arrogance. People were lined up to have their picture with him and he would open his mouth (which has a span of about 10 feet it seems) and chomp on their arm. It wouldn't hurt-- it would just make this hilarious noise. Everyone would laugh and he would walk down the street, in and out of stores, if he wanted to. I have never seen such a prima donna bird.
When we boarded the ship at night, we always had entertainment. After a family cruise in high school, I sat back and awaited a band that imitated the Beatles or a Broadway-type performance from a classy woman in a sequin gown. WRONG. I guess the best way to describe their nightly entertainment would be Las Vegas try-outs. Women, with caked-on makeup, diamond-studded bras and sequin underwear that doesn't deserve its place in the undergarment category, emerged from behind the curtain. What I cherished more than this, was looking around at all the shocked faces. I mean, we're used to Harding's editors cutting this stuff out for us. We go to PG movies where they bleep out the word "butt" and here we are with women wearing far more feathers than a bird shaking their bootays while a woman and a man, in Jasmine-Aladdin, type outfits belly dance to an Egyptian number. I was absolutely mortified, yet couldn't quite peel my eyes away from this entertainment trainwreck.
We were lucky the second night to have a Greek-inspired performance, where real Greek men came out and danced to several traditional dances. At the end, some of us went on stage and attempted to dance with them. It was quite a breather from the night before, but the last night was back to the city of sin. Haha.
The rest of the time spent on the cruise ship, we watched movies and played games in the gameroom. They also had a disco every night, which was really fun. It wasn't quite as fun as Egypt because there were other people, highly intoxicated, who decided to get on the dancefloor too. I sat there and watched how they crazily flailed their arms and slurred their words and I saw how much more fun we were having.
Our second stop was Rhodes. This place was mainly for shopping-- I bought a purse here. I spent the first part of the day with Mandy, Bethany, Ashley and Sara and met Lauren, Lacey and Alana for lunch at this rooftop restaurant-- we had some really good pizza! It was Lauren's birthday and I think she had a really good one. Lacey made her a sweet slideshow, with pictures her mom had sent her and pictures gathered from this trip. She also got sang to at dinner and the DJ at disco night recognized her and played, "Happy Birthday." Rhodes, like Mykonos, was a cute little town that integrated charm from ancient days with the style of the present. It had castles and fortress walls, but also stone streets with shops lining every square-inch. Restaurant owners tried to bid you to come in and some even called you beautiful. Very charming little place. It is also home to another one of the ancient wonders of the world: the colossus of Rhodes. Though it can't be seen anymore, it was a huge statue of a man that stood over the dock, letting ships pass under his massive legs.
We woke up super early on Sunday morning to quickly hit the island of Patmos. A small island that has about 3,000 people, it is where John was exiled along with his scribe. We visited an old monastery upon arrival, along with a museum that houses ancient manuscripts and scripture, but later hit the main attraction: the cave where they say John wrote the book of Revelation. He stayed here for 18 months before returning to Ephesus at age 104. Using this cave for his prayers and meditation, he was shocked to hear a loud trumpet one day, the blast of the horn cracking the cave walls. He was told to write down what he saw and heard and send it to the 7 churches of Asia. Not so surprisingly, this site has become a church. There was a service going on, but our tour guide still led us through. The familiar smell of incense overtook my senses once again. "Young lads," as our British tour guide called them, sang worship chants and it added to the solemn atmosphere. Visiting here made me realize that maybe I should take another stab at reading this book of the Bible. I have been to Bible studies on it, I have tried to talk to others about it-- but I get easily frustrated with its complicated themes. Maybe it deserves another chance. :-) Adding to my impression of Patmos is the fact that Richard Gere and other celebrities own homes here for when they need to "get away." I love me some Richard Gere. I wish I would have run into him, but unfortunately I don't think the Cave of the Apocalypse is the best place to find the man.
That afternoon we arrived in Ephesus, Turkey. We first visited the remains of the temple to Artemis, which consists of marshy swampland, a huge pillar and some huge stones spread throughout the swamp. This was another one of the ancient wonders of the world. With 126 columns, this building would fit about 3 Parthenons inside of it! That blew me away!
We then made our way to the ancient city of Ephesus, where we saw remnants of their way of life. Government buildings, public bathrooms, you name it-- we also saw what was left of Turkish baths, which brought on unwanted flashbacks of the Turkish Bath experience I endured in Jordan weeks ago. (Ask me about it personally and I will be glad to tell you about..once again, not so sure it is worth publishing..)
We saw the world's 3rd largest library, behind the ones in Alexandria and Pergamum. It kind of reminded me of the treasury in Petra-Jordan. Not quite as impressive, but it stood tall and it was easy to imagine how impressive it would have been back in its day. We also visited the theater where the silversmiths met to riot against Paul. Demetrius started riling everyone up when he told them that if Paul convinced people to believe in Jesus, it would hurt their profits. As made obvious by their ridiculously elegant temple to Artemis, she was a big part of life in Ephesus. If people stopped believing in her, then the silversmiths would have lost money from idols and statues that they made of her. I sat in the theater, where years ago, mobs of people shouted for 2 1/2 hours straight, "Great is Artemis, god of the Ephesians!" Paul could have easily been killed by the mob, but luckily he was allowed to spread the gospel further.
This ends my journey of walking in Paul's footsteps-- I love the book of Ephesians and it was neat to see how the people who read it lived. We saw their version of "Rodeo Drive," where all the rich ladies shopped. We saw their fountains and their statues. We saw it all.
We ended the cruise with Captain's night, where we all dressed up some. The boys looked sharp in their shirts and ties. :-) We took lots of pictures and sadly realized that this was the last time our whole group would be together. A little bit of melancholy set over me for various reasons. I tried to dance it off, but every time the techno stopped, so did the distraction. My roommate for the trip, Bethany, noticed that I was kind of down one night and we had a really good girl talk. Covering the usual bases of boys, frustrations with change and the feeling of being often overlooked, we talked for a really long time. A little bit of homesickness swept over me as I took a shower-- the hot water hit my face and tears started to slowly stream down. After putting on my pajamas, I came back into the room and she was already asleep. I saw a small piece of paper on my pillow. In her cute, bubbly handwriting, she had written:
"Ashton, if ever you are doubting just how beautiful you are, then remember these words: 'The King is enthroned by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord. Psalm 45:11.' Your beauty shines brighter than you'll probably ever realize. Don't believe the lies that Satan tells you, you are not overlooked and you are not unseen. Keep being patient, and keep being yourself. Love you, don't forget that either." Sometimes Satan works hard on my heart-- but in times like that, God fights back for it.
We have a few more days before we leave for free travel on the 18th. I have to pack because I am shipping all my luggage tomorrow. :-) Better get to it! Love ya'll, Ash
We landed in Mykonos early that evening. We walked around the town, which is full of white houses, decorated with accents of blue, green and red. I loved the blue window shutters and the bright flowers that decorated the staircases. We saw the famous church, a white igloo-type structure that adorns almost every t-shirt and souvenir from this island. The main attraction on this island is the giant windmills. They are remnant of the old days, with their rooftop hay coverings. Though very practical, I was thankful that they chose beauty over a modern contraption. One of my friends from back home proposed to his girlfriend (the Myhan's daughter) here about a year ago. I remember him telling me about it, but I am so glad that I got to see the spot for myself. It was here that I sat outside of a shop that was playing the traditional Greek music. I was sitting there, looking out at the sea and soaking up my final days in Greece. It was then that I decided I didn't want to lose that moment so I walked in to the music shop and said, "I need this CD. What is this CD?" The lady handed me a Greek instrumental CD and I bought it. My family will be glad to know that when I need to have a "Greek moment" they will hear "Zorba's Dance" blaring from my room-- or maybe even the livingroom. Haha. :-) Mykonos is also home to the hugest pelican I have ever seen. He basically owns the island. He, being a big part of their souvenir profits, knows that he is and waddles with an heir of arrogance. People were lined up to have their picture with him and he would open his mouth (which has a span of about 10 feet it seems) and chomp on their arm. It wouldn't hurt-- it would just make this hilarious noise. Everyone would laugh and he would walk down the street, in and out of stores, if he wanted to. I have never seen such a prima donna bird.
When we boarded the ship at night, we always had entertainment. After a family cruise in high school, I sat back and awaited a band that imitated the Beatles or a Broadway-type performance from a classy woman in a sequin gown. WRONG. I guess the best way to describe their nightly entertainment would be Las Vegas try-outs. Women, with caked-on makeup, diamond-studded bras and sequin underwear that doesn't deserve its place in the undergarment category, emerged from behind the curtain. What I cherished more than this, was looking around at all the shocked faces. I mean, we're used to Harding's editors cutting this stuff out for us. We go to PG movies where they bleep out the word "butt" and here we are with women wearing far more feathers than a bird shaking their bootays while a woman and a man, in Jasmine-Aladdin, type outfits belly dance to an Egyptian number. I was absolutely mortified, yet couldn't quite peel my eyes away from this entertainment trainwreck.
We were lucky the second night to have a Greek-inspired performance, where real Greek men came out and danced to several traditional dances. At the end, some of us went on stage and attempted to dance with them. It was quite a breather from the night before, but the last night was back to the city of sin. Haha.
The rest of the time spent on the cruise ship, we watched movies and played games in the gameroom. They also had a disco every night, which was really fun. It wasn't quite as fun as Egypt because there were other people, highly intoxicated, who decided to get on the dancefloor too. I sat there and watched how they crazily flailed their arms and slurred their words and I saw how much more fun we were having.
Our second stop was Rhodes. This place was mainly for shopping-- I bought a purse here. I spent the first part of the day with Mandy, Bethany, Ashley and Sara and met Lauren, Lacey and Alana for lunch at this rooftop restaurant-- we had some really good pizza! It was Lauren's birthday and I think she had a really good one. Lacey made her a sweet slideshow, with pictures her mom had sent her and pictures gathered from this trip. She also got sang to at dinner and the DJ at disco night recognized her and played, "Happy Birthday." Rhodes, like Mykonos, was a cute little town that integrated charm from ancient days with the style of the present. It had castles and fortress walls, but also stone streets with shops lining every square-inch. Restaurant owners tried to bid you to come in and some even called you beautiful. Very charming little place. It is also home to another one of the ancient wonders of the world: the colossus of Rhodes. Though it can't be seen anymore, it was a huge statue of a man that stood over the dock, letting ships pass under his massive legs.
We woke up super early on Sunday morning to quickly hit the island of Patmos. A small island that has about 3,000 people, it is where John was exiled along with his scribe. We visited an old monastery upon arrival, along with a museum that houses ancient manuscripts and scripture, but later hit the main attraction: the cave where they say John wrote the book of Revelation. He stayed here for 18 months before returning to Ephesus at age 104. Using this cave for his prayers and meditation, he was shocked to hear a loud trumpet one day, the blast of the horn cracking the cave walls. He was told to write down what he saw and heard and send it to the 7 churches of Asia. Not so surprisingly, this site has become a church. There was a service going on, but our tour guide still led us through. The familiar smell of incense overtook my senses once again. "Young lads," as our British tour guide called them, sang worship chants and it added to the solemn atmosphere. Visiting here made me realize that maybe I should take another stab at reading this book of the Bible. I have been to Bible studies on it, I have tried to talk to others about it-- but I get easily frustrated with its complicated themes. Maybe it deserves another chance. :-) Adding to my impression of Patmos is the fact that Richard Gere and other celebrities own homes here for when they need to "get away." I love me some Richard Gere. I wish I would have run into him, but unfortunately I don't think the Cave of the Apocalypse is the best place to find the man.
That afternoon we arrived in Ephesus, Turkey. We first visited the remains of the temple to Artemis, which consists of marshy swampland, a huge pillar and some huge stones spread throughout the swamp. This was another one of the ancient wonders of the world. With 126 columns, this building would fit about 3 Parthenons inside of it! That blew me away!
We then made our way to the ancient city of Ephesus, where we saw remnants of their way of life. Government buildings, public bathrooms, you name it-- we also saw what was left of Turkish baths, which brought on unwanted flashbacks of the Turkish Bath experience I endured in Jordan weeks ago. (Ask me about it personally and I will be glad to tell you about..once again, not so sure it is worth publishing..)
We saw the world's 3rd largest library, behind the ones in Alexandria and Pergamum. It kind of reminded me of the treasury in Petra-Jordan. Not quite as impressive, but it stood tall and it was easy to imagine how impressive it would have been back in its day. We also visited the theater where the silversmiths met to riot against Paul. Demetrius started riling everyone up when he told them that if Paul convinced people to believe in Jesus, it would hurt their profits. As made obvious by their ridiculously elegant temple to Artemis, she was a big part of life in Ephesus. If people stopped believing in her, then the silversmiths would have lost money from idols and statues that they made of her. I sat in the theater, where years ago, mobs of people shouted for 2 1/2 hours straight, "Great is Artemis, god of the Ephesians!" Paul could have easily been killed by the mob, but luckily he was allowed to spread the gospel further.
This ends my journey of walking in Paul's footsteps-- I love the book of Ephesians and it was neat to see how the people who read it lived. We saw their version of "Rodeo Drive," where all the rich ladies shopped. We saw their fountains and their statues. We saw it all.
We ended the cruise with Captain's night, where we all dressed up some. The boys looked sharp in their shirts and ties. :-) We took lots of pictures and sadly realized that this was the last time our whole group would be together. A little bit of melancholy set over me for various reasons. I tried to dance it off, but every time the techno stopped, so did the distraction. My roommate for the trip, Bethany, noticed that I was kind of down one night and we had a really good girl talk. Covering the usual bases of boys, frustrations with change and the feeling of being often overlooked, we talked for a really long time. A little bit of homesickness swept over me as I took a shower-- the hot water hit my face and tears started to slowly stream down. After putting on my pajamas, I came back into the room and she was already asleep. I saw a small piece of paper on my pillow. In her cute, bubbly handwriting, she had written:
"Ashton, if ever you are doubting just how beautiful you are, then remember these words: 'The King is enthroned by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord. Psalm 45:11.' Your beauty shines brighter than you'll probably ever realize. Don't believe the lies that Satan tells you, you are not overlooked and you are not unseen. Keep being patient, and keep being yourself. Love you, don't forget that either." Sometimes Satan works hard on my heart-- but in times like that, God fights back for it.
We have a few more days before we leave for free travel on the 18th. I have to pack because I am shipping all my luggage tomorrow. :-) Better get to it! Love ya'll, Ash
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Togas, Laughs and Cheesecake!
Tonight was our final banquet. We finished finals, we're headed on the cruise tomorrow and this was our last big shebang. It was a blast! Most of us wore togas (AKA clean bedsheets from the laundry room). I have to say that togas are really flattering to the female form. They're pretty comfortable, too. I think on days I don't feel like dressing up, I will simply roll out of bed and wrap my sheet around me. At home, it will be a cream and red-striped toga and at school it will be decorated with orange flowers. :-) I'm sure I will get some odd looks, but the heir of confidence I have gained from my times as a world traveler will enable me to walk with my head held high. Haha!
We had a marvelous dinner that consisted of steak, baked potatoes, broccoli, salad and rolls. The best part: Death by chocolate dessert and cheesecake!! Apparently, Mr. Griff is quite the dessert king. It was heavenly! I had an embarrassing incident in the dessert line with Austin that made my face very, very red and caused tears of embarrassment/laughter to run down my face. I don't think that it is publishing-worthy, but I just wanted to put it in here for me to remember in the future.
After dinner, we all met in the livingroom for HUG awards. You will be surprised to learn that I was awarded, "Most Likely to Make a Tearful Oscar Speech." They hit that nail on the head. Ironically, I almost teared up when I went in front of everyone. There were a lot of other funny awards. Alana got "Most Likely to be Dive-Bombed by a Bird." (Remember that blog entry?) and Ashley got "The Giggle Pots Award." (She is constantly giggling..I love it!) Most of the others fit their recipients quite well.
Tommy didn't quite finish his video by press-time so we will watch that another time. Bethany put together a short slideshow of pictures for us-- many of them will appear on the poster that she designed. Every year, another poster is added to the wall with group pictures on it. If Ryan comes this summer, I am going to make him take a picture of it for me. :-)
I am looking forward to our relaxing cruise. Captain showed us some pictures tonight to prepare us and I am really excited! No schoolwork will be on the brain-- it will be just us, the big blue sky and the water-- and hopefully some sunshine!
This night was a perfect ending to our time here together. I can't think of a better way to end it than laughing with some of the best people I've ever met. As much as I have sometimes been frustrated with Harding, this semester has opened my eyes to the blessings it gives. I have friends from all over the U.S. I know that, years from now, if I need a house to stay in for the night or a lunch date in a random state, I have several people that I will be able to call on. It has provided me with other college students who share a love for God and know how to have a blast without throwing their morality out the window. I see some of my public university friends who have changed completely and it makes me thank God for girls who want to make stupid videos at 2 a.m. instead of get drunk, for guys that hold each other accountable instead of partying it up every weekend, for teachers who genuinely care about your soul and well-being. I will accept the early morning chapels, the curfew and the both feet on the floor rule (ha!) for gifts such as these.
I won't be able to write for a few days, but I will update you when I get back. In the meantime, find some time for yourself this week. Do something that brings you joy, no matter how small it is. If you really want to be bold, put on a toga. Even if you have to be completely alone, put one on, look in the mirror and smile. It's pure freedom. Embrace the breeze!
Love ya, Ash
We had a marvelous dinner that consisted of steak, baked potatoes, broccoli, salad and rolls. The best part: Death by chocolate dessert and cheesecake!! Apparently, Mr. Griff is quite the dessert king. It was heavenly! I had an embarrassing incident in the dessert line with Austin that made my face very, very red and caused tears of embarrassment/laughter to run down my face. I don't think that it is publishing-worthy, but I just wanted to put it in here for me to remember in the future.
After dinner, we all met in the livingroom for HUG awards. You will be surprised to learn that I was awarded, "Most Likely to Make a Tearful Oscar Speech." They hit that nail on the head. Ironically, I almost teared up when I went in front of everyone. There were a lot of other funny awards. Alana got "Most Likely to be Dive-Bombed by a Bird." (Remember that blog entry?) and Ashley got "The Giggle Pots Award." (She is constantly giggling..I love it!) Most of the others fit their recipients quite well.
Tommy didn't quite finish his video by press-time so we will watch that another time. Bethany put together a short slideshow of pictures for us-- many of them will appear on the poster that she designed. Every year, another poster is added to the wall with group pictures on it. If Ryan comes this summer, I am going to make him take a picture of it for me. :-)
I am looking forward to our relaxing cruise. Captain showed us some pictures tonight to prepare us and I am really excited! No schoolwork will be on the brain-- it will be just us, the big blue sky and the water-- and hopefully some sunshine!
This night was a perfect ending to our time here together. I can't think of a better way to end it than laughing with some of the best people I've ever met. As much as I have sometimes been frustrated with Harding, this semester has opened my eyes to the blessings it gives. I have friends from all over the U.S. I know that, years from now, if I need a house to stay in for the night or a lunch date in a random state, I have several people that I will be able to call on. It has provided me with other college students who share a love for God and know how to have a blast without throwing their morality out the window. I see some of my public university friends who have changed completely and it makes me thank God for girls who want to make stupid videos at 2 a.m. instead of get drunk, for guys that hold each other accountable instead of partying it up every weekend, for teachers who genuinely care about your soul and well-being. I will accept the early morning chapels, the curfew and the both feet on the floor rule (ha!) for gifts such as these.
I won't be able to write for a few days, but I will update you when I get back. In the meantime, find some time for yourself this week. Do something that brings you joy, no matter how small it is. If you really want to be bold, put on a toga. Even if you have to be completely alone, put one on, look in the mirror and smile. It's pure freedom. Embrace the breeze!
Love ya, Ash
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Hard Tests and Crazy Videos
So, I took one of the longest tests of my life today. My Humanities 207 test took me roughly 2 hours to complete. I feel like I did OK on it, but I guess I won't know until she grades them. I also had World Christian-- I made a B on it, but hopefully I can keep an A in the class.
Deliriousness has swept over the campus. Bobby and I, after studying the 30-page World Christian study guide, began to quiz each other using different voices and accents. He would start out in a British voice and I would answer as a southern gal. I began to read paragraphs like a valley girl and he would answer back in some other voice that would send me into hysterics. I can't say that it helped me on the test, but it sure livened things up!
Tonight, Tommy made a video as part of our banquet entertainment for tomorrow night. He interviewed us all, asking us various questions about the trip. John and Ben asked me if I would be a part of their interview. Ben can do a FANTASTIC impression of an old British lady (who would have thunk it) and John was going to be a gangsta. They needed a southern gal with an accent, so of course they picked Miss Arkansas 2008. I wore Bryan's cowboy shirt and cowboy hat and headed downstairs to meet up with the guys. Ben had put on one of my dresses and tied a scarf around his head like an old lady. I busted out laughing, but soon realized that he looks better in my dress than I do! Why do guys always get the long legs, the muscular arms and the long eyelashes!? Ugh. We had a good time. I always seem to not be as funny when a camera is stuck in my face (unless it's just me and the girls) so I wasn't quite as humorous as I would have liked-- and I think my accent strayed from pure country. We'll see tomorrow night. I hope it isn't a flop. Considering everyone else was just being their normal selves, ours is bound to cause a stir of somekind. I will go down in Harding history as Betty Sue Mary Lou. That was my name.
Well, not much to tell really. We have some more exams tomorrow. Blah. But then it will all be over and we will be cruisin'!! No moleskins and no headsets on this trip! Hooooorayyyyyyyyy!!
Deliriousness has swept over the campus. Bobby and I, after studying the 30-page World Christian study guide, began to quiz each other using different voices and accents. He would start out in a British voice and I would answer as a southern gal. I began to read paragraphs like a valley girl and he would answer back in some other voice that would send me into hysterics. I can't say that it helped me on the test, but it sure livened things up!
Tonight, Tommy made a video as part of our banquet entertainment for tomorrow night. He interviewed us all, asking us various questions about the trip. John and Ben asked me if I would be a part of their interview. Ben can do a FANTASTIC impression of an old British lady (who would have thunk it) and John was going to be a gangsta. They needed a southern gal with an accent, so of course they picked Miss Arkansas 2008. I wore Bryan's cowboy shirt and cowboy hat and headed downstairs to meet up with the guys. Ben had put on one of my dresses and tied a scarf around his head like an old lady. I busted out laughing, but soon realized that he looks better in my dress than I do! Why do guys always get the long legs, the muscular arms and the long eyelashes!? Ugh. We had a good time. I always seem to not be as funny when a camera is stuck in my face (unless it's just me and the girls) so I wasn't quite as humorous as I would have liked-- and I think my accent strayed from pure country. We'll see tomorrow night. I hope it isn't a flop. Considering everyone else was just being their normal selves, ours is bound to cause a stir of somekind. I will go down in Harding history as Betty Sue Mary Lou. That was my name.
Well, not much to tell really. We have some more exams tomorrow. Blah. But then it will all be over and we will be cruisin'!! No moleskins and no headsets on this trip! Hooooorayyyyyyyyy!!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Consider it Pure Joy..Argh
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter trials of many kinds, knowing that the tesing of your faith produces perseverance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
Ashton Paraphrase: "Consider it all joy, my poor college students, when you encounter tests and projects of many kinds, knowing that the testing of your knowledge produces a cultural awareness that will change your life. And let endurance have its perfect straight A results, so that you may be smart and well-rounded, lacking in nothing."
That's right, my friends. It's finals week. I am taking a brain break from my World Christian online bible class study guide answer search. He gave us all these random questions with not even a map on how to find them, which means I am spending hours searching through a 1000 page book and the whole online cyberspace that might house the answer.
We are all pretty overwhelmed right now. Sometimes I don't even know where to begin. I know that, like the Bible verse says, things will soon be over and I will look back with a sigh of relief. Until then though, I am frantically trying to fill out study guides and do projects. We are spending our final days in Greece confined. I did get out and play some basketball today and shot around with Sarabeth's dad who played ball in college. But other than that- the boring life of a hermit.
Ok, my whinefest is over. :-) Let's pull out a blessing here to put things in perspective. Today, the lady who taught us how to cook a Greek meal came back and spoke in chapel. She took a trip to Nigeria to teach the ladies there how to better preserve food. It was a neat presentation and I think that is such a great ministry, one that I would have never thought of. She's not a missionary, she's a cook-- but she can use that to further God's kingdom! I really want to go to Africa someday-- add that to my "bucket list." Alana talks all the time about her little African babies and it makes me really want to go and help out over there.
So, many people here have exerted their independence in recent days. We have 3 tattoos, 2 nose piercings and lots of bungee jumpers. I am writing this here to test the whole "In 30 years.." hypothesis that is often thrown at us youngins. I went around with all these people as they did their cool, rebellious things and I really wanted to do it as well. While nose-piercing isn't for me, it looks really cute on Alana and Danielle. I did, however, want a small agapo tattoo on my foot. After running it by the parentals, 4 e-mails and one that simply read, "Dear Ashton, No tattoo. Love, Dad" pretty much stomped on my dreams. Though I don't think it is a whim, I decided to respect their wishes. (I know all of you other family members just breathed a sigh of relief..) I gave them a hard time about once again restraining me from "coolness," but Dad was quick to remind me that my rebellion occurred when I was 4. I was quite the terror. If I read this paragraph in 30 years and a tear falls down my cheek because I still want it, I'll call up the girls and we'll head to the tattoo shop. Until then, I will continue to draw it on with a Sharpie. :-) Luckily, the man at the tattoo shop gave me a sticker with a skull on it to make up for the fact that I'm a loser. Haha. I'm sure I will get lots of comments on this particular blog. Take it easy on me, people-- I didn't do it.
Love, the uncool Tattoo-less girl who has never even dyed her hair or snuck out a day in her life.
Ashton Paraphrase: "Consider it all joy, my poor college students, when you encounter tests and projects of many kinds, knowing that the testing of your knowledge produces a cultural awareness that will change your life. And let endurance have its perfect straight A results, so that you may be smart and well-rounded, lacking in nothing."
That's right, my friends. It's finals week. I am taking a brain break from my World Christian online bible class study guide answer search. He gave us all these random questions with not even a map on how to find them, which means I am spending hours searching through a 1000 page book and the whole online cyberspace that might house the answer.
We are all pretty overwhelmed right now. Sometimes I don't even know where to begin. I know that, like the Bible verse says, things will soon be over and I will look back with a sigh of relief. Until then though, I am frantically trying to fill out study guides and do projects. We are spending our final days in Greece confined. I did get out and play some basketball today and shot around with Sarabeth's dad who played ball in college. But other than that- the boring life of a hermit.
Ok, my whinefest is over. :-) Let's pull out a blessing here to put things in perspective. Today, the lady who taught us how to cook a Greek meal came back and spoke in chapel. She took a trip to Nigeria to teach the ladies there how to better preserve food. It was a neat presentation and I think that is such a great ministry, one that I would have never thought of. She's not a missionary, she's a cook-- but she can use that to further God's kingdom! I really want to go to Africa someday-- add that to my "bucket list." Alana talks all the time about her little African babies and it makes me really want to go and help out over there.
So, many people here have exerted their independence in recent days. We have 3 tattoos, 2 nose piercings and lots of bungee jumpers. I am writing this here to test the whole "In 30 years.." hypothesis that is often thrown at us youngins. I went around with all these people as they did their cool, rebellious things and I really wanted to do it as well. While nose-piercing isn't for me, it looks really cute on Alana and Danielle. I did, however, want a small agapo tattoo on my foot. After running it by the parentals, 4 e-mails and one that simply read, "Dear Ashton, No tattoo. Love, Dad" pretty much stomped on my dreams. Though I don't think it is a whim, I decided to respect their wishes. (I know all of you other family members just breathed a sigh of relief..) I gave them a hard time about once again restraining me from "coolness," but Dad was quick to remind me that my rebellion occurred when I was 4. I was quite the terror. If I read this paragraph in 30 years and a tear falls down my cheek because I still want it, I'll call up the girls and we'll head to the tattoo shop. Until then, I will continue to draw it on with a Sharpie. :-) Luckily, the man at the tattoo shop gave me a sticker with a skull on it to make up for the fact that I'm a loser. Haha. I'm sure I will get lots of comments on this particular blog. Take it easy on me, people-- I didn't do it.
Love, the uncool Tattoo-less girl who has never even dyed her hair or snuck out a day in her life.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Last Day in the Plaka
In addition to all of our other "lasts," today was our final Sunday in the plaka. I just can't believe it's all winding down. We decided to replay our first day in Athens. We first went by Costas and Valerie's shop to bid them farewell. On the first day, we all went there to meet them. I bought a necklace from their cute shop, "Joy."
We ate at Zabbas for lunch as we did on our first trip. I had my last chicken gyro for a while. :-) While we were in there, Alana heard these other American college kids in there having conversations that we did when we were "beginners." She laughed as she heard one of the girls ask in her southern drawl, "How much are these ji-rows? I don't know what to get.." They fumbled around with their new currency, the spitting image of us months ago. Though it made me smile, it also made me sad. Our journey is coming to an end and theirs is only beginning.
We also re-visited the storeowner who thought I was Greek. For those of you keeping up with my blog the whole time, Mr. Pinch-your-cheeks "Greeky Greeky" man! He was just as friendly, but I stayed toward the back this time as to avoid harassment.
Sara Montgomery, Sarabeth Myers, Tony Haas, Ashley Sain, and Mandy Watson went out in style. They went bungee-jumping off of the Corinthian Canal, the second largest bungee jump in the world. We all sat in the livingroom and watched the video tonight. The screams and facial expressions as they plunged 200+ feet were priceless. I wish I was that bold, but I decided not to pay 60 euro to scare myself to death. I don't think wetting my pants would be a good start to a long day in town. I salute them for their bravery though! I want to do something like that before I die though. I am now forming a "bucket list." (A list of things to do before I kick the bucket.)
Tomorrow starts the week of finals-- prayers, please!! All my love, Ashton
We ate at Zabbas for lunch as we did on our first trip. I had my last chicken gyro for a while. :-) While we were in there, Alana heard these other American college kids in there having conversations that we did when we were "beginners." She laughed as she heard one of the girls ask in her southern drawl, "How much are these ji-rows? I don't know what to get.." They fumbled around with their new currency, the spitting image of us months ago. Though it made me smile, it also made me sad. Our journey is coming to an end and theirs is only beginning.
We also re-visited the storeowner who thought I was Greek. For those of you keeping up with my blog the whole time, Mr. Pinch-your-cheeks "Greeky Greeky" man! He was just as friendly, but I stayed toward the back this time as to avoid harassment.
Sara Montgomery, Sarabeth Myers, Tony Haas, Ashley Sain, and Mandy Watson went out in style. They went bungee-jumping off of the Corinthian Canal, the second largest bungee jump in the world. We all sat in the livingroom and watched the video tonight. The screams and facial expressions as they plunged 200+ feet were priceless. I wish I was that bold, but I decided not to pay 60 euro to scare myself to death. I don't think wetting my pants would be a good start to a long day in town. I salute them for their bravery though! I want to do something like that before I die though. I am now forming a "bucket list." (A list of things to do before I kick the bucket.)
Tomorrow starts the week of finals-- prayers, please!! All my love, Ashton
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Lord Bless You and Keep You...
"The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.' So they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:24)
The reason I started with this verse is because Captain used it in chapel today. Because it is one of our last chapels of the semester, Captain used it kind of as the "closing words" chapel. I honestly have to say that at the opening chapel in January when he said the semester would fly by, I thought to myself, "They always say that. Four months is a long time." It was almost a surreal experience sitting there today, hearing his words of closure and his constant reference to "been."
"This HAS BEEN a great semester." "We HAVE GOTTEN close." "We HAVE LEARNED a lot." "You will LOOK BACK on our travels." People say when I get back this will all seem like a dream, but it already feels that way. It was such a smooth transition from curiosity and fear to complete comfort and instant friendships-- even my early trials seem far away. God blessed me with good health for the remainder of my stay here.
After he got done recapping the semester, he wanted to share his blessing with us-- the blessing he read to his son and daughter before they were married. Many people teared up as he blessed us in the way God blessed the Israelites except he replaced Israelites with "HUGGERS 2008" at the end. It was at that moment that it hit me that we will soon be going our separate ways. Things will never be the same. Though I am usually very hesitant to change, I have recently realized that it is inevitable. I, instead, focus on the fact that God places different people in your life at different times for a purpose. They all come and go, some stay-- but it is not necessary to mourn when your relationship evolves or maybe even disappears with time. I know that some of us will stay close and some of us will see each other only from time to time, while others of us will only meet again at reunions. I am going to work with God on being OK with that. I will always look back and see how each person here blessed me in some way. Captain said that the change in you isn't always drastic and immediate, but that eventually you will see how you were molded from this experience. I am excited to get home and see the ways in which God has used this semester to enrich my life. I know that this semester has broadened my horizons and enriched my soul. I have an outlook that reaches out past Paragould, Arkansas and that in itself is growth; it is my firm belief that anytime God gets you out of your comfort zone, change can't help but result.
I've heard that small blessing my whole life, but for some reason it provided me with comfort today. Though we will be going in all directions, the Lord has promised to keep us in his care-- and that in itself makes the separation easier. Ben said that his mom used to always share that blessing with him in high school and that he always just let it run through one ear and out the other; after hearing him talk about that, I know his appreciation for that love will be strengthened. I think, if nothing else, we have learned not to take things for granted anymore.
This isn't my closing blog entry, but I just wanted to thank all of you for your continued support. For those of you who helped me financially, I hope that I have made it apparent to you how worth it that sacrifice was. Thanks to those who read, who commented and I can't wait to talk to you about it when I get home. :-)
P.S. Yes, the blog template ADD kicked in again. Like the clean, slick look better?
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.' So they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:24)
The reason I started with this verse is because Captain used it in chapel today. Because it is one of our last chapels of the semester, Captain used it kind of as the "closing words" chapel. I honestly have to say that at the opening chapel in January when he said the semester would fly by, I thought to myself, "They always say that. Four months is a long time." It was almost a surreal experience sitting there today, hearing his words of closure and his constant reference to "been."
"This HAS BEEN a great semester." "We HAVE GOTTEN close." "We HAVE LEARNED a lot." "You will LOOK BACK on our travels." People say when I get back this will all seem like a dream, but it already feels that way. It was such a smooth transition from curiosity and fear to complete comfort and instant friendships-- even my early trials seem far away. God blessed me with good health for the remainder of my stay here.
After he got done recapping the semester, he wanted to share his blessing with us-- the blessing he read to his son and daughter before they were married. Many people teared up as he blessed us in the way God blessed the Israelites except he replaced Israelites with "HUGGERS 2008" at the end. It was at that moment that it hit me that we will soon be going our separate ways. Things will never be the same. Though I am usually very hesitant to change, I have recently realized that it is inevitable. I, instead, focus on the fact that God places different people in your life at different times for a purpose. They all come and go, some stay-- but it is not necessary to mourn when your relationship evolves or maybe even disappears with time. I know that some of us will stay close and some of us will see each other only from time to time, while others of us will only meet again at reunions. I am going to work with God on being OK with that. I will always look back and see how each person here blessed me in some way. Captain said that the change in you isn't always drastic and immediate, but that eventually you will see how you were molded from this experience. I am excited to get home and see the ways in which God has used this semester to enrich my life. I know that this semester has broadened my horizons and enriched my soul. I have an outlook that reaches out past Paragould, Arkansas and that in itself is growth; it is my firm belief that anytime God gets you out of your comfort zone, change can't help but result.
I've heard that small blessing my whole life, but for some reason it provided me with comfort today. Though we will be going in all directions, the Lord has promised to keep us in his care-- and that in itself makes the separation easier. Ben said that his mom used to always share that blessing with him in high school and that he always just let it run through one ear and out the other; after hearing him talk about that, I know his appreciation for that love will be strengthened. I think, if nothing else, we have learned not to take things for granted anymore.
This isn't my closing blog entry, but I just wanted to thank all of you for your continued support. For those of you who helped me financially, I hope that I have made it apparent to you how worth it that sacrifice was. Thanks to those who read, who commented and I can't wait to talk to you about it when I get home. :-)
P.S. Yes, the blog template ADD kicked in again. Like the clean, slick look better?
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Joy of Progress
Last night, although it was an ending to a pretty stressful day, closed on a good note. We actually made progress on our free travel plans. It seems that in all the other meetings we would work for hours but come up short on actual progress. We pretty much have our route down and we booked several hostels. They are relatively cheap, but still seem to be hospitable (unless they googled the photos and it looks nothing like that!) Lacey is making a spreadsheet itinerary that I will post on here once it is complete. I will also give you the phone number of the phone we take so that you can get a hold of us in case of emergency.
I think I am most excited about Ireland and the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. I think that I will actually get emotional-- haha. I don't care if the other tourists want to shoot me, I am going to sing some of the musical numbers at the various places. I don't know if it is allowed, but I want them to let me off at the mountain so that I can spin around and burst out with, "The hills are alive with the sound of music!" I don't know what it is about that movie that touches me so. It is so much more than "I just love that movie" which I often say about others. It is a part of my childhood; it is a part of how I was raised. I can't remember a time at grandma's or a time in my own home that music was not an integral part of our family gatherings. The movie itself weaved its magic on us. I remember when we were little kids, Ryan and I would play Liesl and Rolfe (spelling) and we would dance around the toy boxes that lined the outside of our playroom. We were in the gazebo and I would sing, "I am 16 going on 17..." He, on the floor, would hold my hand as I pranced around the toyboxes above him. Patient, compliant younger brothers. I probably mortified him just now. Sorry, Ry.
Rebelling against yesterday's melancholy, I got outdoors today and played some volleyball and worked out. It felt so good to feel the sun on my face and know that I have most of my projects complete. I am going to try to head to the beach tomorrow if the weather is nice. :-)
I hear that the weather is pretty bad in Arkansas. I hope it clears up soon and that ya'll stay safe! Don't go running, Pawpaw. You can skip a few days. :-) I don't want you to get swept up in a tornado!! Thanks for your comments and continued reading, even though it doesn't seem like much is going on to talk about.
Love ya'll, Ash
I think I am most excited about Ireland and the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. I think that I will actually get emotional-- haha. I don't care if the other tourists want to shoot me, I am going to sing some of the musical numbers at the various places. I don't know if it is allowed, but I want them to let me off at the mountain so that I can spin around and burst out with, "The hills are alive with the sound of music!" I don't know what it is about that movie that touches me so. It is so much more than "I just love that movie" which I often say about others. It is a part of my childhood; it is a part of how I was raised. I can't remember a time at grandma's or a time in my own home that music was not an integral part of our family gatherings. The movie itself weaved its magic on us. I remember when we were little kids, Ryan and I would play Liesl and Rolfe (spelling) and we would dance around the toy boxes that lined the outside of our playroom. We were in the gazebo and I would sing, "I am 16 going on 17..." He, on the floor, would hold my hand as I pranced around the toyboxes above him. Patient, compliant younger brothers. I probably mortified him just now. Sorry, Ry.
Rebelling against yesterday's melancholy, I got outdoors today and played some volleyball and worked out. It felt so good to feel the sun on my face and know that I have most of my projects complete. I am going to try to head to the beach tomorrow if the weather is nice. :-)
I hear that the weather is pretty bad in Arkansas. I hope it clears up soon and that ya'll stay safe! Don't go running, Pawpaw. You can skip a few days. :-) I don't want you to get swept up in a tornado!! Thanks for your comments and continued reading, even though it doesn't seem like much is going on to talk about.
Love ya'll, Ash
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Brain-Fried
This has been the first day in a while that from the moment I woke up (and put on my make up..I say a little...oh, never mind..) til the time I go to bed I have been doing nothing but schoolwork. We had class all morning and then after lunch our Hum 201 class presented all of our free travel presentations. It took over 3 hours. Then it was supper time. Then, I came up to the computer lab and finished my powerpoint presentation for World Christian. We are fixing to work on free travel plans. I have literally been staring at some kind of screen since 9:00 a.m.!
I am about to go crazy-- last night, Danielle and I took about 4 hours to finish our free travel presentation. By midnight, I was going absolutely bonkers. People were laughing at how delirious I, and other people in the class, were after hours of computer-stare time. My colorful scarf went from my neck at the beginning of the project, to wrapped around my head in anguish, to an African headdress after I had messed up my hair after hours of running my hands through it in despair. We finished that though and the presentation went well so that's one less thing on my mind. My World Christian powerpoint isn't due until April 11th, but for some reason I got on this non-procrastination kick and finished it today. :-) Go me!
One of our boys, Kyle was hospitalized last night and has been there all morning. He's going to be fine, but he is having blockage in his intestines and has been in pain. Just keep him in your prayers. By the end of the trip, I have not been the only medical problem. Amy hurt her leg and had to go the emergency room and Kyle has now had his cultural experience.
This entry was really boring and for that I am sorry. My day has, in fact, been one to yawn at. That's how the end usually goes though.
I hope you are all doing well-- I am getting to that point where I miss you all a whole lot! Everyone has already started that "list of things I'm going to do when I get home" and I am beginning mine. Go to Sonic for a vanilla Dr. Pepper, rent all the chic flicks I missed, watch a Law and Order: SVU marathon, sprawl out in my own bed with my fluffy pillow and comforter; play hoops at the community center and go walking with Mom, discussing the 4th "Twilight" book with Dad when that comes out, hang out with my cool brothers and their gfs, going out to eat with Mimi and Papa and making Papa do his famous shaking up and down laugh, hanging out by the lake with Mema and Papa this summer...the list goes on.
Love ya'll-- not too much longer!!
I am about to go crazy-- last night, Danielle and I took about 4 hours to finish our free travel presentation. By midnight, I was going absolutely bonkers. People were laughing at how delirious I, and other people in the class, were after hours of computer-stare time. My colorful scarf went from my neck at the beginning of the project, to wrapped around my head in anguish, to an African headdress after I had messed up my hair after hours of running my hands through it in despair. We finished that though and the presentation went well so that's one less thing on my mind. My World Christian powerpoint isn't due until April 11th, but for some reason I got on this non-procrastination kick and finished it today. :-) Go me!
One of our boys, Kyle was hospitalized last night and has been there all morning. He's going to be fine, but he is having blockage in his intestines and has been in pain. Just keep him in your prayers. By the end of the trip, I have not been the only medical problem. Amy hurt her leg and had to go the emergency room and Kyle has now had his cultural experience.
This entry was really boring and for that I am sorry. My day has, in fact, been one to yawn at. That's how the end usually goes though.
I hope you are all doing well-- I am getting to that point where I miss you all a whole lot! Everyone has already started that "list of things I'm going to do when I get home" and I am beginning mine. Go to Sonic for a vanilla Dr. Pepper, rent all the chic flicks I missed, watch a Law and Order: SVU marathon, sprawl out in my own bed with my fluffy pillow and comforter; play hoops at the community center and go walking with Mom, discussing the 4th "Twilight" book with Dad when that comes out, hang out with my cool brothers and their gfs, going out to eat with Mimi and Papa and making Papa do his famous shaking up and down laugh, hanging out by the lake with Mema and Papa this summer...the list goes on.
Love ya'll-- not too much longer!!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Snoopy=Sappy
Don't you hate it when you become the worst version of yourself? In this case, I am not talking about turning into this enraged person who can't control their anger and therefore turns into their own worst enemy-- I am talking about when an already sensitive person takes it too far, when a tear becomes a blubbering mess of nonsense. That, my friends, is what occurred tonight.
Costas and Valerie are pretty much our connections in the Plaka. They own two jewelry stores and have become good friends with the Myhans. Valerie is American, but fell in love with Costas and moved here. They are two of the sweetest people and are always there to help. If you need anything, you just go to their shop and they will tell you how to get somewhere, give you recommendations, etc. Valerie, along with co-owning the store, is a vocal music teacher at the local international school. She asked Captain if we would be interested in coming to the dress rehearsal of the musical, "Snoopy" so that her kids would have an audience to feed off of. We all agreed to go so he brought in a shuttle bus and we drove to the play-- a fun field trip.
The characters in the play ranged from middle school to high school and they were SO talented. The acting was wonderful and they harmonized well. The musical numbers mostly had to do with being a kid, growing up and the toils that come along with coming into your own. I just couldn't believe how great the girl who played Snoopy was, this sassy chick who spouted her lines like she was a natural. Charlie Brown was played by a boy who I'm sure empathized with being pushed aside and walked over himself. Linus, with blanket in hand, fit the part perfectly- a know-it-all boy who just needed a little security in life. I found myself tearing up at different parts of the play, but I kept it relatively under control.
It wasn't until the last number (about believing in yourself) that I let one tear swell up and fall. I was just so impressed by these kids and how talented they were-- and it took me back to being a kid. More tears started to slowly slide down my face until the final curtain dropped and they took their last bow. The lights soon came back up and one by one people started to notice that I had teared up. It has become the semester-long joke and like wildfire it spread that "Ashton was crying!" I think my mom will back me up on this-- if there is one thing that makes being sensitive worse-- it's people noticing. It's like adding gasoline to a flame. Everyone looked at me, laughed and then it came: the burst of tears. DiMy grabs me and gives me a hug, then Mrs. Griff, then Captain. I was so embarrassed. Many people consoled me with "This is what I love about you!" but sometimes it is what I hate about myself. I hate having no control over my emotions, I hate not being able to pinpoint why I am emotional. It's just that if my heart in some unexplainable way is touched, the waterworks begin.
I don't know if it was the kids. I don't know if it was the music. I don't know if it was the innocence that I want to return to. I don't know if, subconsciously, I don't feel believed in (haha). It was just touching. We met some of the kids afterward and apparently they had heard rumors that "they were so good that someone cried." That made me realize that maybe that's my calling. Maybe, just maybe, God made people like me as the "bravo" that some people desperately need in their lives. I know that some of my proudest moments were when I looked in the audience or across the room and saw my mom crying. Dad and I both know when an article we have written is a success because it passes the "Ronda cried" test. Though sometimes it feels like a curse, it is also a blessing. It is a constant reminder that I am living, that my heart is still feeling and that there are things in life worth crying for.
Costas and Valerie are pretty much our connections in the Plaka. They own two jewelry stores and have become good friends with the Myhans. Valerie is American, but fell in love with Costas and moved here. They are two of the sweetest people and are always there to help. If you need anything, you just go to their shop and they will tell you how to get somewhere, give you recommendations, etc. Valerie, along with co-owning the store, is a vocal music teacher at the local international school. She asked Captain if we would be interested in coming to the dress rehearsal of the musical, "Snoopy" so that her kids would have an audience to feed off of. We all agreed to go so he brought in a shuttle bus and we drove to the play-- a fun field trip.
The characters in the play ranged from middle school to high school and they were SO talented. The acting was wonderful and they harmonized well. The musical numbers mostly had to do with being a kid, growing up and the toils that come along with coming into your own. I just couldn't believe how great the girl who played Snoopy was, this sassy chick who spouted her lines like she was a natural. Charlie Brown was played by a boy who I'm sure empathized with being pushed aside and walked over himself. Linus, with blanket in hand, fit the part perfectly- a know-it-all boy who just needed a little security in life. I found myself tearing up at different parts of the play, but I kept it relatively under control.
It wasn't until the last number (about believing in yourself) that I let one tear swell up and fall. I was just so impressed by these kids and how talented they were-- and it took me back to being a kid. More tears started to slowly slide down my face until the final curtain dropped and they took their last bow. The lights soon came back up and one by one people started to notice that I had teared up. It has become the semester-long joke and like wildfire it spread that "Ashton was crying!" I think my mom will back me up on this-- if there is one thing that makes being sensitive worse-- it's people noticing. It's like adding gasoline to a flame. Everyone looked at me, laughed and then it came: the burst of tears. DiMy grabs me and gives me a hug, then Mrs. Griff, then Captain. I was so embarrassed. Many people consoled me with "This is what I love about you!" but sometimes it is what I hate about myself. I hate having no control over my emotions, I hate not being able to pinpoint why I am emotional. It's just that if my heart in some unexplainable way is touched, the waterworks begin.
I don't know if it was the kids. I don't know if it was the music. I don't know if it was the innocence that I want to return to. I don't know if, subconsciously, I don't feel believed in (haha). It was just touching. We met some of the kids afterward and apparently they had heard rumors that "they were so good that someone cried." That made me realize that maybe that's my calling. Maybe, just maybe, God made people like me as the "bravo" that some people desperately need in their lives. I know that some of my proudest moments were when I looked in the audience or across the room and saw my mom crying. Dad and I both know when an article we have written is a success because it passes the "Ronda cried" test. Though sometimes it feels like a curse, it is also a blessing. It is a constant reminder that I am living, that my heart is still feeling and that there are things in life worth crying for.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April Fools Day
I went to bed fairly early last night because I knew we had a service day the next day and I wanted to be well rested for a hard day's work. I snuggled up in my bed, read some of my book and fell into a deep sleep.
Lauren bursts through our door frantically, which is not unusual because she often serves as a late wake-up call to Lacey and I when we oversleep. "Lacey! Ashton! Ya'll overslept! Everyone's waiting downstairs for ya'll for the Sunrise Devo! Get ready!" Lacey quickly sits up, stressing out. She looks at her phone for the time. "I can't believe we overslept. Crap! Crap! Man. I set the alarm!" I am in a daze-- nothing about this situation makes sense to me.
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" I sleepily grumble, not moving. Lauren explains to me that Captain announced it on the bus on the way back from Athens. They always have a sunrise devo at the beach on the day before the day of service. (Such a Harding-esque activity..it sort of made sense to my tired brain.) My lethargic brain thinks back to me cutting up on the bus while he was at the microphone. The one time I don't pay attention I miss something important. Not making very much sense in the morning, I exclaim, "I have never heard about this in my life!" "Captain is so mad right now. He is yelling. Ya'll better get downstairs!" Lauren urges. "This is the most retarded thing I have ever heard of!" I exclaim as I attempt to put shoes on and a jacket. I look for my lipgloss, but I can't find it anywhere which makes me even more distraught.
"Are you bringing your Bible?" Lacey asks. "You can't stinkin' read in the dark anyway!" I snap. I mumble some more under my breath as I make my exit out the door. I take a few steps and I see the faces of about 6 girls. "April Fools!" they shout in unison as I see the sly grin on Lauren's face. Turns out, Lacey was in on it too and had only been pretending to be asleep as to make it more realistic. Turns out it was 2:30 a.m.! No wonder I was so out of it. This account is based on the fact that Alana was recording it. I take no responsibility for the grouchy grumblings of my 2:30 a.m. wake-up call. I think anyone would do the same. I couldn't be mad though because I have to give credit where its due. Haha. I had a hard time falling back asleep though because apparently the dogs were laughing at their cruel joke as well because they howled all night long as if to say, "Sunrise devotional. Haha! They sure got you!"
We had a service day from 10:00-4:00 with a break for lunch. The first half of the day I picked up trash along the street and near the school. While picking up trash, some of the kids were at recess and called us over to talk to them. They tried out their English and asked us what we were doing. We said that we were picking up all their trash and they thanked us. Before we left them, I said, "No more trash, right?" They shook their heads enthusiastically. "No more trash!" Maybe I made a difference.
The second half of the day I planted flowers. I mixed new soil in with the old and loosened up the dirt with a shovel. We put in some pretty flowers-- I can't remember the name-- but they spread like ivy except in colorful blooms. We were pretty dirty after it was all over.
I took a nap to recover from my sleep-depriving joke, woke up for supper and played some volleyball outside. Captain took us all out for icecream tonight for all our hard work today-- 2 scoops! It was fantastic! :-)
We worked on free travel tonight, which is quite daunting. I wish there were pretty little free travel packets you could pick up and everything was already laid out for you. People say that takes the fun out of it. Yeah, I just hate when people plan things for me, things that normally cause me to want to pull my hair out. Don't you just hate that? Haha. I know-- the adventure comes in the mishaps and independent feeling you get from picking 13 euro hostels that you share with a creeper and an old guy with body odor. Well, it's about curfew so I better leave you! I hope you weren't too fooled on this very special day and if you were-- be thankful that people love you enough to take the time to trick you. If pranks reveal love, I have felt more loved on this trip than I have in a long time. :-)
Lauren bursts through our door frantically, which is not unusual because she often serves as a late wake-up call to Lacey and I when we oversleep. "Lacey! Ashton! Ya'll overslept! Everyone's waiting downstairs for ya'll for the Sunrise Devo! Get ready!" Lacey quickly sits up, stressing out. She looks at her phone for the time. "I can't believe we overslept. Crap! Crap! Man. I set the alarm!" I am in a daze-- nothing about this situation makes sense to me.
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" I sleepily grumble, not moving. Lauren explains to me that Captain announced it on the bus on the way back from Athens. They always have a sunrise devo at the beach on the day before the day of service. (Such a Harding-esque activity..it sort of made sense to my tired brain.) My lethargic brain thinks back to me cutting up on the bus while he was at the microphone. The one time I don't pay attention I miss something important. Not making very much sense in the morning, I exclaim, "I have never heard about this in my life!" "Captain is so mad right now. He is yelling. Ya'll better get downstairs!" Lauren urges. "This is the most retarded thing I have ever heard of!" I exclaim as I attempt to put shoes on and a jacket. I look for my lipgloss, but I can't find it anywhere which makes me even more distraught.
"Are you bringing your Bible?" Lacey asks. "You can't stinkin' read in the dark anyway!" I snap. I mumble some more under my breath as I make my exit out the door. I take a few steps and I see the faces of about 6 girls. "April Fools!" they shout in unison as I see the sly grin on Lauren's face. Turns out, Lacey was in on it too and had only been pretending to be asleep as to make it more realistic. Turns out it was 2:30 a.m.! No wonder I was so out of it. This account is based on the fact that Alana was recording it. I take no responsibility for the grouchy grumblings of my 2:30 a.m. wake-up call. I think anyone would do the same. I couldn't be mad though because I have to give credit where its due. Haha. I had a hard time falling back asleep though because apparently the dogs were laughing at their cruel joke as well because they howled all night long as if to say, "Sunrise devotional. Haha! They sure got you!"
We had a service day from 10:00-4:00 with a break for lunch. The first half of the day I picked up trash along the street and near the school. While picking up trash, some of the kids were at recess and called us over to talk to them. They tried out their English and asked us what we were doing. We said that we were picking up all their trash and they thanked us. Before we left them, I said, "No more trash, right?" They shook their heads enthusiastically. "No more trash!" Maybe I made a difference.
The second half of the day I planted flowers. I mixed new soil in with the old and loosened up the dirt with a shovel. We put in some pretty flowers-- I can't remember the name-- but they spread like ivy except in colorful blooms. We were pretty dirty after it was all over.
I took a nap to recover from my sleep-depriving joke, woke up for supper and played some volleyball outside. Captain took us all out for icecream tonight for all our hard work today-- 2 scoops! It was fantastic! :-)
We worked on free travel tonight, which is quite daunting. I wish there were pretty little free travel packets you could pick up and everything was already laid out for you. People say that takes the fun out of it. Yeah, I just hate when people plan things for me, things that normally cause me to want to pull my hair out. Don't you just hate that? Haha. I know-- the adventure comes in the mishaps and independent feeling you get from picking 13 euro hostels that you share with a creeper and an old guy with body odor. Well, it's about curfew so I better leave you! I hope you weren't too fooled on this very special day and if you were-- be thankful that people love you enough to take the time to trick you. If pranks reveal love, I have felt more loved on this trip than I have in a long time. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
