It's funny I don't know what to write about now that I am no longer in Africa. In Africa my life was exciting, I had poignant stories to tell, deep reflective entries to share and cool pictures to post. Now my life seems uneventful. Certainly nothing anyone would want to read about. There are a lot of "Mommy blogs" out there where women around the nation are keeping us posted on latest tooth that has come in for baby Timmy, or the latest domestic disaster. There is also a growing phenomenon of cooking/recipes blog out there. People swapping helpful kitchen hints and yummy recipes. Then, I think there is the third category of blogs and that is the " I am off on a big adventure and want to keep everyone up to date on my travels (and maybe trigger a bit of envy) without writing a lot of e-mails. " Certainly there are other categories of blogs but for simplicity's sake I'll only mention those three. Previously my blog fell into category number 3. Now, however, it is merely a blog an everyday 'normal' life blog. I will do my best to post interesting little tidbits of information.
I have started going to the singles small group class at church on Sunday morning. Just a side note: the label "single" becomes more and more stigmatizing the further into my twenties that I get. It stirs in people (esp. married people) the desire to 'fix' the situation. Usually people will make comments like, "I have a nice son I'd like you to meet", or "so there is this guy, T, I think you guys would be perfect for one another" or worse yet "there is this guy M. , he has a really great personality". "Good personality" is often the code word for "socially awkward" My sister Keri's latest line is "maybe you should try signing up for e-harmony". Not to knock anyone who has found that special someone on e-harmony or match.com , it seems to be working for a lot of people.
So, I walked in the room this morning and there were only two other people there. I started to realize 10 minutes later when the room started filling up that I was merely one of those not-so-cool people who actually show up on time. Obviously, the more socially savvy singles show up 15 minutes late. The table I was sitting at filled up quite quickly but then I noticed a girl sitting all by herself at a table. Trying to spare her the awkwardness of sitting alone and looking like she has no friends I asked if I could join her. She said yes but was quick to assure me that "my friends are coming they wanted to save them a seat". What is this Middle School ??? She was nice enough, a Louisiana girl, but as her friends started to arrive I realized I had inadvertently found myself at the "cool table"--the rock star looking male worship leader with shaggy hair, the tall funny I've-worked-on-the- church-staff and know everybody guy, and the stylishly dressed sophisticated looking girls. Anyone who knows me well, realizes I may felt a little out of place. Although my sister Keri claims I have no social boundaries it's not entirely true. I have never been cool, fashion-forward, graceful or sophisticated such people initially intimidate me. Being an athlete in high school is the one things that kept me from being labeled as a "geek". I have learned, however, when you are the "new kid" in a situation if you pretend to be at ease no one else suspects otherwise. So I confess sometimes the air of confidence is a complete facade, but I am sure I am not the only one who pretends...Isn't it completely silly that no matter how old we get we still just want to be liked and accepted? Rejection I think is the ultimate wound to the human soul...
But I am diverting...all this to say week 2 of the singles group went well. We talked about C.S. Lewis's take on charity, discussed at our tables some deep and meaningful questions, and all in all my table of "cool" people were pretty nice although I had the distinct feeling of being the outsider in a close-knit group of friends. More on the singles group to follow...
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Walking in the Light...
"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning: My God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28
I am thankful that the Lord transforms darkness into light. That He is light. That He strengthens my spirit over and over again...Praise the Lord!
I am thankful that the Lord transforms darkness into light. That He is light. That He strengthens my spirit over and over again...Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
My life now...
At the moment I am living with my sister, Keri and her husband Micah. They have generously offered me one of their spare bed rooms which they transformed from an office to a bedroom with enough space for a single bed, bookshelf and desk. It's about half the size of my cabin on the ship minus 3 roommates so all things considered its pretty spacious. I by far have the best view of the house. I see a brilliant sunrise every morning through my window which faces East. I am happy. I have my world maps hanging, a few family photos and some miscellaneous artwork that I have collected during my travels.
The other residents of the house are my oh-so-cute and cuddly 9 month old niece Sklyar Nicole Rue (if they named her after someone else they are certainly not telling me).Skylar has not started crawling yet but she seems more and more curious everyday and I don't think it will be long until her desire to be more mobile prompts her to crawl . Her new discovery of the week is that she can make a clucking sound with her tongue, pretty adorable. Of course as the doting aunt I think most everything she does is adorable. The highlight of my day is when I am still laying in bed and Keri brings Skylar in to lay in bed with me. She likes my brightly colored map hanging from the ceiling, sometimes I lay there and tell her all about Africa. On other mornings I read to her until she starts fidgeting which lets me know she is ready for breakfast.
Not to be forgotten are the two hairy members of the family. Jack: the personality-filled pug from the animal rescue center who has a larger wardrobe then I do and prefers to poop in the house rather then venture out into the snow on cold days. He also loves watching Animal planet. This would be the moment to say that Jack and I are still establishing a relationship. He protested my arrival by pooping in my room 3 times in two weeks, and peeing on a stack on books sitting on my floor. At the moment Jack is wearing his red hooded sweatshirt with little pines trees printed on it. This is my favorite piece in his wardrobe because his hood falls down over his eyes and he sometimes runs into the walls. Pretty entertaining...
Sabot: (which evidently is the name of some piece of Army artillery) is the good natured golden retriever who almost died as a puppy from canine parvo and had to have multiple blood transfusions. He barely survived. He is now nearly two. His hobbies are: hiking, playing in the snow, going for walks, eating poo in the backyard, and playing with Jack and Micah.
The other residents of the house are my oh-so-cute and cuddly 9 month old niece Sklyar Nicole Rue (if they named her after someone else they are certainly not telling me).Skylar has not started crawling yet but she seems more and more curious everyday and I don't think it will be long until her desire to be more mobile prompts her to crawl . Her new discovery of the week is that she can make a clucking sound with her tongue, pretty adorable. Of course as the doting aunt I think most everything she does is adorable. The highlight of my day is when I am still laying in bed and Keri brings Skylar in to lay in bed with me. She likes my brightly colored map hanging from the ceiling, sometimes I lay there and tell her all about Africa. On other mornings I read to her until she starts fidgeting which lets me know she is ready for breakfast.
Not to be forgotten are the two hairy members of the family. Jack: the personality-filled pug from the animal rescue center who has a larger wardrobe then I do and prefers to poop in the house rather then venture out into the snow on cold days. He also loves watching Animal planet. This would be the moment to say that Jack and I are still establishing a relationship. He protested my arrival by pooping in my room 3 times in two weeks, and peeing on a stack on books sitting on my floor. At the moment Jack is wearing his red hooded sweatshirt with little pines trees printed on it. This is my favorite piece in his wardrobe because his hood falls down over his eyes and he sometimes runs into the walls. Pretty entertaining...
Sabot: (which evidently is the name of some piece of Army artillery) is the good natured golden retriever who almost died as a puppy from canine parvo and had to have multiple blood transfusions. He barely survived. He is now nearly two. His hobbies are: hiking, playing in the snow, going for walks, eating poo in the backyard, and playing with Jack and Micah.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Writing again
Ok...so I am returning to this blog after nearly a year of not writing. I actually couldn't even remember what my blog address was so I went to blogspot.com and searched for "Nicole Austin". Some seductive looking blond popped up and I am pretty sure it wasn't me...looked kind of sketchy like a porn site or something. Never did want to be blond, they always get a bad rap for being unintelligent. Aren't all the introspective, adventurous, and noble heroines of books always brunette anyways? (ie: Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice being a prime example).
Anyhow, all this to say I have decided to resume blogging thanks to the encouragement of my somewhat wacky poetic friend Mle Haymes who is a true writer at heart (I am just a wannabe).
I also thought it might be good to resume this public journal as a sort of post-Mercy Ships rehabilitation therapy. This whole adjusting to life back on land is taking some time. I miss not being able to say goodnight to my neighbors through cabin wall, I miss tea times in the cozy cabin 4343 sitting area, I miss long evenings on the dock with the ship kids playing red light green light to the backdrop of a brilliant African sunset. I miss the power of a community worshiping in song together. I miss Sat. morning pancakes and the ripple of excitement that the daily opening of the snack bar and cafe always caused. I would never remember it was break time until I saw a large herd of people moving toward Deck 5 with their mug in hand. And I miss that you would never forget when it was meal time even if you never carried a watch because you always saw a third of the crew heading en mass to the dining room, hoping there might be a dessert or something special at dinner. (They were usually disappointed, however, fresh cut pineapple was always a source of excitement for me).A few other things I miss: Ultimate games in the rain, magnetic walls (sure did make re-decorating easier) ,the crew galley on Saturday mornings, cooking with the Kronester and Cairncross kids, the Scottish Cedeles on the dock, Christmas eve and the special events of December, and the transformation of a patient's countenance as he or she experienced the joy of physical wholeness and meaningful touch once again.
I am no longer on the ship, however,so just to ease a bit a of homesickness perhaps I should also remember some of the things I don't miss about ship life. Time has a funny way of fading from our memory the hard times, the time of homesickness, stress and fatigue. It's a gift from the Lord I think that our mind sifts the memories, keeping the good ones as if they were valuable gems and letting go of the painful memories. Sometimes it is good to forget.
A few things I don't miss:
--Stench of sewage that wafted across the harbour some days, making me feel like the ship was floating in a giant toilet bowl
--Seasickness during sails
--the constant flow of UN paparazzi who seemed completely unaware that the ship was our home not a tourist destination.
--Cucumbers and slightly fermented tomatoes every day twice a day.
--Weevils in the breakfast cereal
--4 hour church services with 3 offerings
--The disappointment of a patient's face when 'wholeness' wasn't going to be possible despite surgery
--People asking for more then I felt I was able to give.
--Weekly fire drills =)
Anyhow, all this to say I have decided to resume blogging thanks to the encouragement of my somewhat wacky poetic friend Mle Haymes who is a true writer at heart (I am just a wannabe).
I also thought it might be good to resume this public journal as a sort of post-Mercy Ships rehabilitation therapy. This whole adjusting to life back on land is taking some time. I miss not being able to say goodnight to my neighbors through cabin wall, I miss tea times in the cozy cabin 4343 sitting area, I miss long evenings on the dock with the ship kids playing red light green light to the backdrop of a brilliant African sunset. I miss the power of a community worshiping in song together. I miss Sat. morning pancakes and the ripple of excitement that the daily opening of the snack bar and cafe always caused. I would never remember it was break time until I saw a large herd of people moving toward Deck 5 with their mug in hand. And I miss that you would never forget when it was meal time even if you never carried a watch because you always saw a third of the crew heading en mass to the dining room, hoping there might be a dessert or something special at dinner. (They were usually disappointed, however, fresh cut pineapple was always a source of excitement for me).A few other things I miss: Ultimate games in the rain, magnetic walls (sure did make re-decorating easier) ,the crew galley on Saturday mornings, cooking with the Kronester and Cairncross kids, the Scottish Cedeles on the dock, Christmas eve and the special events of December, and the transformation of a patient's countenance as he or she experienced the joy of physical wholeness and meaningful touch once again.
I am no longer on the ship, however,so just to ease a bit a of homesickness perhaps I should also remember some of the things I don't miss about ship life. Time has a funny way of fading from our memory the hard times, the time of homesickness, stress and fatigue. It's a gift from the Lord I think that our mind sifts the memories, keeping the good ones as if they were valuable gems and letting go of the painful memories. Sometimes it is good to forget.
A few things I don't miss:
--Stench of sewage that wafted across the harbour some days, making me feel like the ship was floating in a giant toilet bowl
--Seasickness during sails
--the constant flow of UN paparazzi who seemed completely unaware that the ship was our home not a tourist destination.
--Cucumbers and slightly fermented tomatoes every day twice a day.
--Weevils in the breakfast cereal
--4 hour church services with 3 offerings
--The disappointment of a patient's face when 'wholeness' wasn't going to be possible despite surgery
--People asking for more then I felt I was able to give.
--Weekly fire drills =)
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