A Quick Ode to America (before I head out)

  

This is how we roll in India.

My ideal self would be a baller biker woman if necessary, but I've got a lot to learn from this guy...

Hopefully, I'll get to see this often when I get to India. It would definitely make life interesting. 

Prep Under My Belt.

I have....


1. Met a lot of South Asian people. Who are awesome.

2. Got the book Where There's No Doctor. Now I feel confident enough to give stitches and deliver a baby. I'd recommend it.

3. Opened a grown-up banking account.

4. Learned how to give a legit hair cut.

5. Watched some YouTube videos that helped me to dive into culture. =)

6. Learned a ton about myself. I'm an ESTJ.

7. Got my ESL certification.

8. Got my visa, baby.

9. Vaccinations. Enough said.

10. Read through the Lonely Planet book on India and Culture Shock: India, so now I won't have culture shock, right? 

11. How to blend in even if I'm using a travel/language guide. Thank you RealSimple. 

12. Learned why it's so important to learn language and NOT rely on a translator. 

Prepare. Me. For. Whatever.

There are some things I need to learn as I move around the world. Really. There are.

I need to learn...

- Language. Enough said. I want to know the heart language of my new neighbors and friends.

- Boldness. Confidence. Fearlessness.

- My role as a woman in a new, less liberating culture. Learning to look down, bow a little, and respond to instead of initiate communication with men.

- How to fit into a 'right handed culture.' The right hand is for all things clean (handling food, money, and most normal things). The left hand is for everything nasty (mostly a toilet paper replacement).

(I have clean hands for now, don't worry)

- How to cook some awesome curry.

- How to be a learner. Hardcore. I go in knowing just about zero about how to talk, walk, or even eat... and can learn from people of every age and background. Two-year-olds are my teachers.


And the list continues.

"Well, what do your friends think?"

I was getting my hair cut the other day and somehow the topic of me moving to India came up. (Probably because I said... "PLEASE PLEASE don't cut my hair in some funky style that needs a hair dryer, straightener, curler, or anything that you plug into the wall.")

Anyway, the lady cutting my hair hesitantly asked what my friends thought about me leaving for a few years to a place that's not exactly safe and fancy. I was SO thrilled to say that my friends have done nothing less than push me to follow Him with absolute abandon.

They make photo-shoots seem like a normal part of everyday life.

They never hesitate to call me out if my attitude sucks.

They listen. Even when I don't know what I'm talking about. 

Praying is never awkward or forced because it happens so often. 

Celebrating the 4th of July by chillin with Somalian refugees is WAY more exciting than sitting in a lawn chair watching fireworks. 

 

(Thank you Allie Brill for these sweet pictures that I stole from your facebook page)

They make me want to serve. Anyone. Everyone. A lot. All the time. 

They're real. Honest. Transparent.

It's normal to be nomadic. Teysha knows that real well. =)

They show me my strengths and push me to pursue my passions.

They make me feel beautiful. (Hats off to Sarah and Ashley for being my personal stylists.)

They laugh. Especially late at night, Sonn. haha.

They're constant. 

Encouraging. 

Strong.

They've taught me how to love. 

I get that we're scattered for a reason. I can't wait to see how their lives impact the nations. One annual reunion down, and probably about eighty to go. Bring it on. 

My Nephew.

It's crazy how family grows. New people literally pop into my life before I even know what happened. Sometimes they're blood related, and sometimes they're not.... in this case, he is. My nephew Jacob is the cutest little guy that I know.

Just saying.

Here's proof:

 

AAAANNNNNDDDDD guess what? We just found out that Daniel and Candas (my brother and sister-in-law) are expecting another baby boy in December. I can't wait to see his little face on Skype. 

Human Trafficking. Exposed.

This my dad.

This is a snippet of why I like him.

- He tells me he loves me. All the time. And he's not lying.
- He patiently listens to my opinions even when everybody knows he's right.
- The way he loves my mom set the possible husband bar real high. It's insane that their 25th anniversary is this week. Always respectful. Always selfless. Always serving.
- He supports the decisions that I make. Even things like skydiving and setting up camp overseas.
- He prays. More than to "bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies." I'm not really sure if that awkward meal prayer even makes since. Since I was a little girl, I've seen my dad on his knees.
- He sees people through God's eyes... no matter what they've done or who they are. He loves. Listens. Gives. Invites over for dinner.
- He laughs at his own jokes. For a long time. That screams self-confidence.
- He works at a church and still likes going to church. Talk about strong character.
- He watches CSI reruns with me.
- He wakes up every morning with purpose.
- I know he loves me.

Reminisce.

It's weird to think that this part of my life is over. The part where you learn things just for the sake of a letter-- you write more specifically, read more intentionally, and speak more clearly just so a professor can write 'A' at the top of a rubric. The part where your friends are practically everywhere you are. They're at Starbucks every time you show up, they're at Kroger, at the Farmer's market, the bike trails, the library, and showing up at your house spontaneously every few minutes. The part where community falls in your lap. The college part ended a few days ago with graduation.


I love change, and I'm excited about jumping into the unknown that is ahead of me, but I thought I'd take a second and reminisce on the last few years.



I got to SFA as a freshman and didn't know anyone at all, but amazing friends fell into my life... and I started to learn what friendship is supposed to look like. 

Unconditional love, accountability, and honesty started to become normal to me, but OH did I have a lot to learn about being a friend. 

Being away from home that year really helped me to appreciate my family. My sister Ruth and I became more like friends than just sisters. I love her like crazy. In the same year, I got to travel the world with my brother, Daniel. It was a blast. Here's a little glimpse:

Oh, and I got to tour Europe with all of these awesome people for spring break. We hit up Rome, Florence, Paris, and London. .. for FREE. Crazy, I know. That was my first overseas experience, and it's like a disease. I can't get the love for the world out of my blood or off my mind. 

Sophomore year for me was just a semester long because I got to spend the spring semester in West Africa. The time I was at SFA was awesome, though. I got to go skydiving!! I had a blast going on spontaneous road trips, going places just for the sake of a photo shoot, and learning how to balance school, sleep, and a social life. Sleep was usually the first to go. =) 

During this semester in Niger, I really had to re-find my identity. I wasn't with my huge family, my church, my friends, or my school-- Who was I? I was a stranger in a strange land. I had to drop my entitlements because, really, no one cared. In the village of Ayorou, I was only known by the love I showed, the God I represented, and well, the color of my skin. It was insane to me that the African friends that I made had never heard of a religion other than Islam or of a God who loved them. 

I learned that friends can be found in every culture in every nation. Every place can be a home. 

The day I got home from Africa, there were about fifty people at my house to welcome me home. It was insane. It was crazy to be around so many English speakers all at the same time... and to realize how blessed I am with people who love me. People go out of their way everyday to show me that they love me-- if you're one of those people, thank you. Really. 

My junior year was so sweet. I got to live with my best friends and share life together. I never had to do anything alone because they were right next to me the whole time. I learned that authenticity beats appearances any day, and that life isn't about me. At all. But that one way I can show the world that I follow Him is to love the people he has put in my life.  

 This past summer, my friendships started to change because they started leaving. I felt like my life was falling apart, but don't worry, it wasn't. 

Kodee married Dan, Allie left for Afghanistan, Sonnie was in Portland, Sarah was headed off to teach precious kids in Houston, and I was the baby-- still destined to be in Nacogdoches for my senior year. 

After spending a few months convinced that I didn't need any new friends (miserable if you can imagine), I couldn't hold them back anymore. I am so blessed. Friendship is everywhere. I just had to be transparent and let it happen. This past year was such a blast. I got to work with Nate and Roman and do Crosspoint things, have endless sister nights with Ruth, and breakfast dates with Teysha and Caroline. I couldn't have asked for better people to spend my last year of college with. Like they always say, lasty's a blasty. 

Turns out that these friends still love me too. I'll love them forever. No doubts. How does that old song go again?? "Make new friends and keep the old..."




Here's just a little taste of my last four years. Four years of insane blessings and hardcore friends.