Predictions

Tomorrow I leave KK, the group of fellow Malaysia YAGMs, my country coordinator, and the stability that has since been acquired since leaving the United States.  I've been working on having no expectations for the upcoming year, but as I have been here and have been adjusting, I started making some predictions.  I don't know if predictions qualify as expectations-- but never the less.

Predictions:

• That my students will teach me more than I can teach them
• That I will somehow learn to like spicy food
• That "service" will take on a whole knew meaning
• I could get fantastic at hand-washing clothes (I'm super slow now)
• Living in community will be a highlight of my year
• I will try things I would never try at home (food and more)
• Malay will become second nature (my language skills are still minimal)
• Grace and Love will take on many forms and faces
• I will learn and grow in what it means to be me

Thus far I have felt so incredibly blessed to be in this place.  I have a peace and calm in heart that makes it feel like this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey.  I couldn't be more happy to share it with such loving family and friends!

Tropical Weather

Saturday, August 25, 201

Yesterday we learned a little of the Malay language, and this morning I attempted to practice it at the morning meal (We had a breakfast of bread and hard boiled eggs-- It was tasty!)

This morning we will be learning more of the language and will be practicing it with each other.  We have also been invited to go for a jog this afternoon.

During our free time yesterday we went on a walk into downtown KK.


(Unfortunatly I am struggling to get pictures loaded on this blog--but Facebook has a good post-walk picture)

It was a lovely walk, but now I understand why they shower multiple times a day here.  So--we will see how this jog today goes!



Evening Reflection:

This morning we had more language training, we are learning to count to ten, say family titles and refresh ourselves on common phrases and greetings--it's a lot and a bit overwhelming, but its a phonetic language, so it's easier than I anticipated.

The jog today went okay.  Such high humidity makes it hard to breath.  I apparently ran 2 kilometers--I don't even know how far that is?

Dinner was rice, greens and then some meat.  Some days I eat rice, some days noodles, thankfully  I have found some soy sauce.

Peter, our country coordinator is just wonderful.  He leads us in thoughtful and engaging conversations and is very easy going.

Our group finally started bonding today over a nice game of phase 10, a personal favorite of mine.  It was fun to see personalities emerge and not to have an agenda for our time together.  Jet lag is wearing off, but, at 7:36 pm I am still ready to go to bed (it's already dark here at 7:00)