I love friends. I am so appreciative and in awe of the many people I have the pleasure of calling my friends.
This week, the three SPEC YAGMs began their 3 week Christmas break away from SPEC. Unfortunately, this meant not only a break from work but a break from our accomodation at SPEC for which we needed to find places to stay over the holiday.
Fortunately, this has resulted in one of the best slumber parties I have experienced in my 23 years of friendships! The beautiful Bath Abbey volunteer/tour guide/fellow YAGM Beckah Selnick took the three of us in, in what can only be described as a YAGM refugee camp! Sprawled out on camping sleep pads on her floor, we have had quite the week. There has been no topic of random conversation, Christmas iTunes song, or Youtube video off limits as we've enjoyed each others company and basked in the Advent glow of friendship! Yesterday, as December 17th rolled around and I turned 23, we indulged in some of my favorite things: sleeping in, a Youtube viewing of David Cook's American Idol journey, holiday window shopping in Bath, Pan-Asian cuisine at Wagamamas, chocolake birthday cake made by Kris, and some Friends' Christmas episodes!
This week of fun winds down on Sunday when I head on to Portchester for a Brillhart family Christmas! (With some lovely representatives from my Grandma Martin's side of the family.) I will always look back with fond memories of our awesome laziness and friendship of our Bath Advent. I've happily uncovered that the Christmas season isn't necessarily about who you're with, what you do, or even WHERE you are in the world- but rather embracing the love and promise of Christ in whatever form he comes to you!
Much Love from Bath,
Marta
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thankful Indeed!
As I approached my pigeon hole (mailbox) on Thanksgiving Day, I found a rather large envelope from the ELCA. I had just received the monthly Global Mission newsletter, so I knew this was something new and different. As I ripped the envelope open, I discovered homemade Thanksgiving cards and well-wishes from ELCA Global Mission Support. An abundance of hand-turkeys and childish scribbles and handwriting….just in time for my Thanksgiving abroad! My heart was immediately warmed. I particularly enjoyed a message that read: ‘Dear Person, please injoy the presants.”
We do a session with SPEC groups called “Languages of Love.” We explore the different ways of expressing love, and what these expressions mean to different people. Some people enjoy sentimental cards and messages and often hang on to these mementos. I am most certainly in this category of people. In our technological age of text messages, emails and “tweets”, nothing compares to a handwritten card or letter. I foresee myself being the type of mom who holds onto crafts and drawings long after their stint on the refrigerator.
Throughout my years in grade school and Sunday school, I have sent my fair share of care packages and letters to Americans overseas. To be on the receiving end of such a gesture this year is extremely touching. Many thanks to Global Mission Support and Trinity Lutheran Church in Vale, North Carolina! I’ve never been so grateful to see hand-turkeys….some of the best I’ve seen. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my love and support back home!
We do a session with SPEC groups called “Languages of Love.” We explore the different ways of expressing love, and what these expressions mean to different people. Some people enjoy sentimental cards and messages and often hang on to these mementos. I am most certainly in this category of people. In our technological age of text messages, emails and “tweets”, nothing compares to a handwritten card or letter. I foresee myself being the type of mom who holds onto crafts and drawings long after their stint on the refrigerator.
Throughout my years in grade school and Sunday school, I have sent my fair share of care packages and letters to Americans overseas. To be on the receiving end of such a gesture this year is extremely touching. Many thanks to Global Mission Support and Trinity Lutheran Church in Vale, North Carolina! I’ve never been so grateful to see hand-turkeys….some of the best I’ve seen. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my love and support back home!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Touchdown!!....?
You don’t realize how many sports analogies and phrases permeate American speech until you are in a country that knows generally very little about American sports.
I have stated or nearly stated all of the following instances of the aforementioned statement during my past 3 months in England. Included are reactions of my English friends:
”I really struck out on that one…” or “Strike one!”
Reaction: confused stare.
“I was so excited I wanted to spike my paper crane and do a celebratory dance in the end zone.”
Reaction: confused stare.
“He shoots, he scores!!!”
Reaction: semi-confused state. (After all, there is shooting and scoring in football.)
“That comment came out of left field!”
Reaction: confused stare.
“A bunch of locker room talk…”
Reaction: confused stare.
"I hit that one outta the ballpark!"
Reaction: confused stare.
“It’s like throwing a hail mary….”
Reaction: COMPLETELY confused stare from my English Catholic friends—followed by a Marta explanation.
There have been others. Of course when I go to write them down down I forget many of them.
One other final musing semi-sports related--
Here in England, what we know as simply “the wave” is called “The Mexican Wave.” Haha isn’t that funny? Anyone know the origin/reason behind that? Kris jokes and says that would be politically incorrect in the States. I remember being told once by my Seattle relatives that “the wave” has its origins in the Kingdom because it was the first stadium constructed with a complete circle conducive for a “full” wave. Thoughts?
Shining my light...and Go Steelers!
-Marta
I have stated or nearly stated all of the following instances of the aforementioned statement during my past 3 months in England. Included are reactions of my English friends:
”I really struck out on that one…” or “Strike one!”
Reaction: confused stare.
“I was so excited I wanted to spike my paper crane and do a celebratory dance in the end zone.”
Reaction: confused stare.
“He shoots, he scores!!!”
Reaction: semi-confused state. (After all, there is shooting and scoring in football.)
“That comment came out of left field!”
Reaction: confused stare.
“A bunch of locker room talk…”
Reaction: confused stare.
"I hit that one outta the ballpark!"
Reaction: confused stare.
“It’s like throwing a hail mary….”
Reaction: COMPLETELY confused stare from my English Catholic friends—followed by a Marta explanation.
There have been others. Of course when I go to write them down down I forget many of them.
One other final musing semi-sports related--
Here in England, what we know as simply “the wave” is called “The Mexican Wave.” Haha isn’t that funny? Anyone know the origin/reason behind that? Kris jokes and says that would be politically incorrect in the States. I remember being told once by my Seattle relatives that “the wave” has its origins in the Kingdom because it was the first stadium constructed with a complete circle conducive for a “full” wave. Thoughts?
Shining my light...and Go Steelers!
-Marta
Monday, November 9, 2009
"I Wonder If Its True What They Don't Wear Beneath the Kilt? "
SPEC runs alongside the English school year, and so I spent the 3rd week of October away from SPEC as part of “half term break”. Kris and I alongside another UK YAGM Dana spent our week in London and Scotland. I could not have asked for a more enjoyable week of exploring Great Britain!
Dana is placed with a tutoring program called Springboard in London, so she shares a flat with some other volunteers in a Southeast London neighborhood called Peckham.
Some highlights of our 4 days in London included:
-getting more acquainted with the city, particularly public transportation and the “lay of the land.”
-doing touristy things like visiting Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye!
-an evening with the Springboard volunteers that included dinner and a rousing game of Apples to Apples.
-buying a “Not For Tourists” guide to London—it is my new best friend! I can’t wait to tour London with my visitors in 2010!
-attending St Annes Lutheran church on Reformation Sunday
-sitting outside Danas apartment eating chips with Kris while waited for her to get home
-an evening of “college food”, drinks, and The X-Factor!
After we soaked up our time in London, it was then on to our main event- an hour long flight up to Scotland! We were fortunate enough to receive some of the finest hospitality I have ever experienced through Amna, a friend of Dana. The first half of our time was spent in Edinburgh, staying with Amna’s sister Beenie. Edinburgh is one of the coolest cities…scratch that…PLACES I have ever been in my life!
Edinburgh highlights included:
-touring the city with a multi-bus sightseeing ticket- valid for 4 different buses/tours all day long! And boy did we get our money’s worth!
-The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, especially the Scotland 20th century-beyond exhibit and a “Salt of the Earth” portrait exhibit featuring famous Scots.
- my first Disney film at the theatres in YEARS—We saw Up in 3D!
- being introduced to Aero bars and falling in love! They are basically a candy bar sized version of Andes mints. Mmmmmm.
Our next stop was Glasgow, about an hour away from Edinburgh, where we stayed at Amna’s home. Her whole family—both immediate and extended were in and out of the house the whole week, and the warmth and hospitality we received was incredibly special. Other Glasgow highlights included:
-retail therapy at a mall with the girls followed by a Japanese restaurant, Wagamamas
-taking a night drive to a beautiful overlook of the city with Amna
-a trip to Loch Lomond, one of the biggest lochs in Scotland.
-falling on my ass in the mud at Loch Lomond and almost busting my camera
- taking refuge from a rainy day in Glasgow in a Starbucks. I can’t remember the last time I sat in an Starbucks sipping a coffee. It was a lovely afternoon.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better week away from SPEC. Spending time as a YAGM trio exploring our host country is something I will always cherish and remember.
On a less sentimental note--- the people at Starbucks sure did pull a fast one on me by naming the regular coffee an “Americano.” Thanks losers--- you can only imagine how my American rear end sounded as I ordered, “Umm…can I have an (ahem) an Americano, please.” in a Glasgow Starbucks.
Dana is placed with a tutoring program called Springboard in London, so she shares a flat with some other volunteers in a Southeast London neighborhood called Peckham.
Some highlights of our 4 days in London included:
-getting more acquainted with the city, particularly public transportation and the “lay of the land.”
-doing touristy things like visiting Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye!
-an evening with the Springboard volunteers that included dinner and a rousing game of Apples to Apples.
-buying a “Not For Tourists” guide to London—it is my new best friend! I can’t wait to tour London with my visitors in 2010!
-attending St Annes Lutheran church on Reformation Sunday
-sitting outside Danas apartment eating chips with Kris while waited for her to get home
-an evening of “college food”, drinks, and The X-Factor!
After we soaked up our time in London, it was then on to our main event- an hour long flight up to Scotland! We were fortunate enough to receive some of the finest hospitality I have ever experienced through Amna, a friend of Dana. The first half of our time was spent in Edinburgh, staying with Amna’s sister Beenie. Edinburgh is one of the coolest cities…scratch that…PLACES I have ever been in my life!
Edinburgh highlights included:
-touring the city with a multi-bus sightseeing ticket- valid for 4 different buses/tours all day long! And boy did we get our money’s worth!
-The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, especially the Scotland 20th century-beyond exhibit and a “Salt of the Earth” portrait exhibit featuring famous Scots.
- my first Disney film at the theatres in YEARS—We saw Up in 3D!
- being introduced to Aero bars and falling in love! They are basically a candy bar sized version of Andes mints. Mmmmmm.
Our next stop was Glasgow, about an hour away from Edinburgh, where we stayed at Amna’s home. Her whole family—both immediate and extended were in and out of the house the whole week, and the warmth and hospitality we received was incredibly special. Other Glasgow highlights included:
-retail therapy at a mall with the girls followed by a Japanese restaurant, Wagamamas
-taking a night drive to a beautiful overlook of the city with Amna
-a trip to Loch Lomond, one of the biggest lochs in Scotland.
-falling on my ass in the mud at Loch Lomond and almost busting my camera
- taking refuge from a rainy day in Glasgow in a Starbucks. I can’t remember the last time I sat in an Starbucks sipping a coffee. It was a lovely afternoon.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better week away from SPEC. Spending time as a YAGM trio exploring our host country is something I will always cherish and remember.
On a less sentimental note--- the people at Starbucks sure did pull a fast one on me by naming the regular coffee an “Americano.” Thanks losers--- you can only imagine how my American rear end sounded as I ordered, “Umm…can I have an (ahem) an Americano, please.” in a Glasgow Starbucks.
Friday, October 23, 2009
No Boundaries...?
“Every step we get a little deeper…..to climb higher up some mountains…and face the storm…and be totally awesome and succeed because THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES!!!!” -Kris Allen
Ok, so those aren't the exact lyrics to American Idol Season 8’s coronation song, but that’s the main gyst of that god-awful song we faithful AI viewers endured this year.
Sorry to tell you, songwriter and lame-excuse-for-a-judge Kara Dioguardi, but there ARE boundaries. Specifically it was cultural boundaries that were the topic of conversation at our recent Time For God (TFG) conference.
Language barriers are a huge boundary that separate cultures. The lack of language boundary between English and American cultures is comforting, but it carries with it a deep impact. The language barrier is absent, which means all the other boundaries that separate English and American cultures are all the more noticeable and raw. Differences in relating with each other, communication styles, expectations and cultural values and norms are shoved onto center stage; a center stage that can be foreign and uncomfortable, even if you “know your lines.” Feeling at ease with the language is often paired when gentle reminders that this still is very much a foreign country. While the language barrier remains a central element of these first months for many of our co-workers, Kris and I have found ourselves catapulted swiftly into the heart of some pretty deep and difficult cross-cultural issues. Living, working, and relating (especially to teenagers and my peers) in this culture has brought with it challenges I would have never fathomed initially.
Our conference was a much needed chance for the 12 UK YAGMs and a handful of others to reflect on mission work in the United Kingdom. The UK YAGM program is fundamentally very different from the other programs. “Mission work” and “missionary” carries a certain connotation, one that, no matter how negative or incorrect, doesn’t typically equate heading into a westernized culture to do God’s work. I know that the work I am doing here with SPEC is vital and legitimate, no matter the implications that surround it. Surprising boundaries that go far beyond the English language are complicated. Yet, when these boundaries and walls start to be broken down, the joys of being brothers and sisters in Christ really start to be realized. I am proud to be a part of the UK YAGM, Time for God and SPEC communities. The blessings continue. Thanks be to God!
TFG+ Conference
Ok, so those aren't the exact lyrics to American Idol Season 8’s coronation song, but that’s the main gyst of that god-awful song we faithful AI viewers endured this year.
Sorry to tell you, songwriter and lame-excuse-for-a-judge Kara Dioguardi, but there ARE boundaries. Specifically it was cultural boundaries that were the topic of conversation at our recent Time For God (TFG) conference.
Language barriers are a huge boundary that separate cultures. The lack of language boundary between English and American cultures is comforting, but it carries with it a deep impact. The language barrier is absent, which means all the other boundaries that separate English and American cultures are all the more noticeable and raw. Differences in relating with each other, communication styles, expectations and cultural values and norms are shoved onto center stage; a center stage that can be foreign and uncomfortable, even if you “know your lines.” Feeling at ease with the language is often paired when gentle reminders that this still is very much a foreign country. While the language barrier remains a central element of these first months for many of our co-workers, Kris and I have found ourselves catapulted swiftly into the heart of some pretty deep and difficult cross-cultural issues. Living, working, and relating (especially to teenagers and my peers) in this culture has brought with it challenges I would have never fathomed initially.
Our conference was a much needed chance for the 12 UK YAGMs and a handful of others to reflect on mission work in the United Kingdom. The UK YAGM program is fundamentally very different from the other programs. “Mission work” and “missionary” carries a certain connotation, one that, no matter how negative or incorrect, doesn’t typically equate heading into a westernized culture to do God’s work. I know that the work I am doing here with SPEC is vital and legitimate, no matter the implications that surround it. Surprising boundaries that go far beyond the English language are complicated. Yet, when these boundaries and walls start to be broken down, the joys of being brothers and sisters in Christ really start to be realized. I am proud to be a part of the UK YAGM, Time for God and SPEC communities. The blessings continue. Thanks be to God!
TFG+ Conference
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