Thursday, July 19, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Five finger calendar...
You can count the days I have left in the United States on one hand now.
I have the feeling that my life will be changing drastically.
No duh, Gillian.
But, beyond stating the obvious, I feel that my life will be changing much more than I expect. And to be perfectly honest, I'm excited about the unexpected. Every time I go to Peru I learn lessons I never counted on learning and experience things I never imagined. I suppose I am finding peace in the unknown. Knowing that I actually have no idea what will happen makes me throw any preconceived notions out the window. Maybe this should be scary to me, but it's not.
I'll tell you what is scary though. Adulthood.
There comes a time in every twenty-something's life when they must step over that threshold of a college student life and into the proverbial "real world." And supposedly, my time has come. Here's why one might be tempted to believe that I am actually becoming an adult- I just bought my own health insurance plan.
And now, here's why that adult rumor should not be taken too seriously- After carefully going over my insurance packet that explains my coverage, I realized that I understood somewhere between 7 and 8 percent of what I read. I know absolutely nothing about health insurance (or probably any insurance for that matter), I can't understand their insurance jargon, nor could I even give you a decent definition of a premium, deductible, or what a PPO is, or even what it stands for. Frankly, I'm not sure what I just paid for, but modern bureaucracy tells me I need it, and it's time like these when I wonder how hard it would be to become a hippie of the 21st century.
So there you have it, I'm being forced into adulthood, and I don't understand the lingo. That's how they get you. Phooey on this, I'm moving to Peru.
I have the feeling that my life will be changing drastically.
No duh, Gillian.
But, beyond stating the obvious, I feel that my life will be changing much more than I expect. And to be perfectly honest, I'm excited about the unexpected. Every time I go to Peru I learn lessons I never counted on learning and experience things I never imagined. I suppose I am finding peace in the unknown. Knowing that I actually have no idea what will happen makes me throw any preconceived notions out the window. Maybe this should be scary to me, but it's not.
I'll tell you what is scary though. Adulthood.
There comes a time in every twenty-something's life when they must step over that threshold of a college student life and into the proverbial "real world." And supposedly, my time has come. Here's why one might be tempted to believe that I am actually becoming an adult- I just bought my own health insurance plan.
And now, here's why that adult rumor should not be taken too seriously- After carefully going over my insurance packet that explains my coverage, I realized that I understood somewhere between 7 and 8 percent of what I read. I know absolutely nothing about health insurance (or probably any insurance for that matter), I can't understand their insurance jargon, nor could I even give you a decent definition of a premium, deductible, or what a PPO is, or even what it stands for. Frankly, I'm not sure what I just paid for, but modern bureaucracy tells me I need it, and it's time like these when I wonder how hard it would be to become a hippie of the 21st century.
So there you have it, I'm being forced into adulthood, and I don't understand the lingo. That's how they get you. Phooey on this, I'm moving to Peru.
Monday, July 9, 2007
I just flew in from Peru and boy are my arms tired...
Well folks, I'm ten days away from moving to Peru, and it's just a little bit surreal. I've been looking forward to this for so long that once the day finally comes, I don't think I'll quite know what to do with myself. But no worries yet, I'll figure it out when I get there.
So, what have I been doing to pass the time, you might ask? well, for starters, my brother get married last weekend, so the whole family traveled to Southern Illinois for a five day wedding blitz. It was nice...and stressful. Nice and stressful indeed. Then I visited friends in South Carolina one last time. That was also nice...and humid, but mostly nice.
Then, yesterday, which of course was Sunday, marked the very first Peruvian Luncheon/Talent show at King of Kings Lutheran church, my home church in Colorado. We put it together to help raise more support for my time in Peru. It was a great day and so far, about $1350 was raised, and Thrivent promised 3/1 matching funds which means that the whole event will bring in about $1800- which of course, is overwhelmingly encouraging to see people becoming active with Peru Mission. I cooked a Peruvian meal for 60 and gave others a chance to experience lomo saltado and aji de gallina, even some chicha morada and Inca Cola (Peruvian drinks which you can get in Denver if you're interested by the way). We had about 10 acts for the talent show after lunch which included a magic act, some stand-up comedy direct from Pastor Schlecte, and the soulful stylings of Mr. Jim Rasmussen playing the bagpipes. I believe everyone had a great time. But to wrap this post up in true church bulletin style- A fun time was had by all.
So, what have I been doing to pass the time, you might ask? well, for starters, my brother get married last weekend, so the whole family traveled to Southern Illinois for a five day wedding blitz. It was nice...and stressful. Nice and stressful indeed. Then I visited friends in South Carolina one last time. That was also nice...and humid, but mostly nice.
Then, yesterday, which of course was Sunday, marked the very first Peruvian Luncheon/Talent show at King of Kings Lutheran church, my home church in Colorado. We put it together to help raise more support for my time in Peru. It was a great day and so far, about $1350 was raised, and Thrivent promised 3/1 matching funds which means that the whole event will bring in about $1800- which of course, is overwhelmingly encouraging to see people becoming active with Peru Mission. I cooked a Peruvian meal for 60 and gave others a chance to experience lomo saltado and aji de gallina, even some chicha morada and Inca Cola (Peruvian drinks which you can get in Denver if you're interested by the way). We had about 10 acts for the talent show after lunch which included a magic act, some stand-up comedy direct from Pastor Schlecte, and the soulful stylings of Mr. Jim Rasmussen playing the bagpipes. I believe everyone had a great time. But to wrap this post up in true church bulletin style- A fun time was had by all.
Monday, June 25, 2007
dum de dum...
I'm running out of things to post about on my blog. What with this being a blog about being in Peru, and seeing as how I'm not in Peru yet, it seems like I'm a little fluffy hamster, just spinning in my squeaky metal wheel.
Or something like that.
I have been itching to be in Peru ever since, well ever since I went there the first time in 2005. I knew I would go back. Don't ask me how, but I think in the back of my mind it wasn't ever really a question. Then when I did go back in 2006, I knew I would be going back for a more permanent visit...someday. Again, don't ask me how I knew. Actually maybe it's more of a hindsight bias thing Either way, the fact of the matter is that I am exactly 24 days away from leaving and now that it's close (well, closer than what it was 2 months ago) I just don't know what to do with myself before I leave.
I guess that's only partially true. I leave in 3 days for my brother's wedding- the last of the trilogy- and after that, I'll be in South Carolina to see friends one last time (possibly ever John Boyte) and then FINALLY I'll only be 13 days away. Does anyone know how to make time go by faster?
Or something like that.
I have been itching to be in Peru ever since, well ever since I went there the first time in 2005. I knew I would go back. Don't ask me how, but I think in the back of my mind it wasn't ever really a question. Then when I did go back in 2006, I knew I would be going back for a more permanent visit...someday. Again, don't ask me how I knew. Actually maybe it's more of a hindsight bias thing Either way, the fact of the matter is that I am exactly 24 days away from leaving and now that it's close (well, closer than what it was 2 months ago) I just don't know what to do with myself before I leave.
I guess that's only partially true. I leave in 3 days for my brother's wedding- the last of the trilogy- and after that, I'll be in South Carolina to see friends one last time (possibly ever John Boyte) and then FINALLY I'll only be 13 days away. Does anyone know how to make time go by faster?
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