Well, we are now a week past our Saturday Thanksgiving... which was very Thanksgiving-y and fun. It was even a cold, rainy day, so it felt like fall! We all pitched in different dishes (Hans and I made rolls... yes, from scratch.... and mashed potatoes.) We had so much delicious food, it was great! Someone even brought a football game on DVD which we had playing in the background, while we played cards and ate homemade apple and pumpkin pie... I tell you what. It was just like the real thing.
There hasn't been so much blogging happening because we're in the middle of a busy few weeks... lots of books due back to back, Hans preparing to teach 2 Tim, holiday parties, etc... It's good, but taking a toll on our communication efforts. We have already had 2 Christmas parties. The staff party for all YWAM Muizenberg was a big braai (BBQ) at a park with lots of food and volleyball and lounging on blankets in the sun... you know, just like most Christmas parties we've been to. Last night was the party for the SBS staff... also a braai, this time at the Lautsbaughs (the school leaders) home. Apparently, 'tis the season of braais and beach days. People from all over South Africa come to the coast for Christmas and New Year's. Our little town will be packed full with people celebrating at the beach. We've heard you can't even walk down the sidewalk by the ocean because there are so many braai's set up and people grilling and sunning and hanging out. So that will definitely be a different holiday feel for us. We'll post a few pictures.
We have two weeks of class before our two week Christmas break. We are really looking forward to some time off. Quite a few of the SBS students are also staying, so it will be good to have some time free of deadlines and homework to do fun things and get to know them better. We may have access to a car, so we'll be able to see a few of the sights we haven't had a chance to see yet. We are going camping for a few days over New Year's with two other couples. Apparently that is also a popular holiday activity here. We'll be driving 8 hours up the coast and camping somewhere along the ocean. So we're looking forward to that as well.
I sometimes feel like my posts make it sound like we're on a big, fun vacation. And we are definitely enjoying ourselves. But we do stay busy with our work and studies. And we feel like, really, we're still adapting to being here. It's easy to write about the fun we're having, and a little more difficult to write about all the things we're still processing and adjusting to. I think, because I'm an internal processor (YWAMese) I like to have things figured out before I verbalize them. But know that we are still in the transition, adjustment phase. And that we do appreciate your prayers.
I know the holidays are going to be the most difficult time to date of being away from family. Already I've had those tearful moments of realizing we won't get to share this holiday season with our families. Last year I got to spend 6 weeks with my family, which was a huge blessing. The holidays are such a special time. But we are also excited to experience a different culture's holiday season. We love seeing how life is lived in a different part of the world... what is valued, what isn't important, etc. It's an adventure, to be sure.
So enjoy this holiday season. Bundle up and sip hot cocoa by the fireplace for us!
No comments:
Post a Comment