BFA Journey Vignettes

This last week's continued constant work, never free time, has proved more taxing than usual.  However, sprinkled throughout have been little delights.

Saturday I experienced one of life’s “ah ha” moments, when you realize you’ve changed.   Socked in grey skies and more than drizzle and less than a hard rain greeted me as the day started.  It was here for the day, and I had promised to take sandwiches to our church’s auto-clinic where men volunteer to change summer tires to snow tires, check car fluids, etc...an awesome, amazing ministry for church members.  Pat and I also had planned on a short outing to try out her new car (she’s been like a bird with clipped wings), but she needed to run an errand before leaving and wasn’t sure she would be back before I had to get the sandwiches there in time for the 11:45 lunch.  I blurted out, “Don’t worry, I can just walk over there and you can come by when you’re finished.”  Never in my life would walking somewhere in the rain to do something been considered so blithely.  Here it’s part of life, and now I don’t even notice, like a native--and just like the men doing this ministry.  Out I splashed to deliver sandwiches, bundled under a red hooded Fog raincoat and umbrella. That’s a change!

That night we attended the high school play, a comedy.  Unlike the music recital, none of my students were in the performance, but it was delightful.  The play, yes, but even more so were the students in the audience.  Before the play were quiet conversations, but also loud clamor as students called out to people behind the curtains before the play.  However, this is not the same commotion found in school back home.  When the house lights went down, the students became silent, and not a single distraction occurred, only attention to their classmates on stage.  Then during intermission, the volume increased, only to die down again upon the opening of the next act.  I cannot tell you what a stark contrast this was to school experiences of having to constantly be concerned about discipline issues. None here... at the end of the play, another treasure.  The Maugenhard dorm guys who had been seated  together, mobbed their dorm-mates performance conclusion, congratulating and encouraging him.  The bond they have is rather like seeing college frat brothers positively elevating their brothers, only this is all positive.  That, too, is normal here.

At the end of the school day, Tuesday’s German class brought a surprise--a quiz on Thursday!  The already overwhelmed feelings of constant work--the never ending study for teaching, study for German class, reading for monthly certification in-services--just was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.  Overwhelmed, I immediately decided to cancel the talk I was to attend that night, no time.  Frustrations of never even feeling like I have the time to figure out my printer problem--why it took all night to print a page, and not wanting to take the time to reload Rosetta Stone on this computer plus the other technology quirks that seem to always surface.  I had had enough.  Grace was coming over to help with the printer and Rosetta Stone in exchange for dinner, but after this news we both chose not to go anywhere else.  Instead, that night I did German homework and set out to study more as did she.

The next morning, to my surprise there in the school e-mail was a study group planned for that evening.  Grace and I did that.  Four of us made good use of two hours prep.  Somehow this “girls gathering” was a pick-me-up from the weight of work.  By the way, the quiz went well this afternoon, PTL.

Tonight a forth treat, an American Thanksgiving dinner was served at all the dorms, and Pat and I were invited.  Delicious turkey, absolutely scrumptious vegetables (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole--all with the best crunchy toppings I’ve ever eaten, dressing, and more), and home made pies--plus NO DISHES! What an amazing out-of-the-norm dinner, something  I didn’t miss it until it was made available.  Thanks to the dorm parents who organized and invited, and thanks to the girls who cleaned up...what a special way to end a rather a draining week or more of days.

Have I bounced back?  No, but I’m waiting for a non-event weekend that may help.  However, rays of light like these reaching through the clouds keep me going.