Slowly But Surely

I am slowly but surely figuring things out around here. I feel like my curiosity senses are on high alert. I am always noticing things that I am sure I would not notice if I was not so new to the area. For example, the streets are really poorly lit. I was on the freeway the other night and there were no overhead lights. This makes it difficult to see especially because it seems like every road is under construction which means lots of reflectors in my eyes. If you call me at night and I do not answer it is probably because I am driving. I cannot do both in the dark.

The intersection called 7 Corners that I mentioned the last post beat me again yesterday. I was feeling very confident that I could make it through it no problem. I was wrong. I went through it once and got in the wrong lane and ended up going the opposite direction I wanted to be going. So I U-turned (thank goodness for U-turns) and attempted again to get in the lane I thought I needed. Nope! Wrong again! This time it was too late to turn around though so I heard the familiar "re-calculating" and just kept going the wrong way and found a new route. Crisis averted.

I had a really fun weekend with my two new friends Tara and Kevin. I explained to Tara my almost constant need to be social, (what can I say, I love being with people) so we made some plans. On Saturday we went to one of the private art museums in the District that usually costs but was free that day. It had some great collections and was such a manageable size that we made it through in a few hours, with time to have some more fun. We headed to the Eastern Market and this place was great! I did not buy anything but if I wanted jewelry, crafts, art, fruit, veggies or meat this would be the place I would go! It was beautiful.

At the game with Tara and Kevin- sorry for the fence face

Saturday night I worshiped with Falls Church's Iglesia de Cristo and it was great. I love singing in Spanish and even though I did not understand the majority of the sermon, it was encouraging to be with those Christians on a Saturday night.

Sunday was fun of church and baseball. Church in the morning and evening and baseball in the afternoon. Tara and Kevin and I drove to the National's stadium to see them play the Cardinals and they actually won! My friend Hannah joined us for some of the game and it was great to see a familiar face. It was a hot but beautiful day and I had a great time watching the game and enjoying the view of the Potomac River and Navy Yard. On the drive home we saw the Pentagon! I was impressed.

Me and Hannah at the game

This week I have been meeting with various people from church in their homes and for ministry activities. This afternoon I went to a Spanish conversation class at a local library. I was expecting to just talk with people as best we could but the teachers actually taught us things and then had us talk about them. There were people of all ages and levels and I really enjoyed it. I like the controlled environment for language learning.

I am looking forward to this Labor Day weekend. Who knows what I will be up to but I am sure I will have a good time!

Life in the Big City

Life in the big city of DC is great. Now I don't actually live in the District (as people here say) but I live in Northern Virginia, Fairfax county. It is so interesting to see how people label different areas, by county, by city, by neighborhood, by shopping center. The layout of the city is a mess but people make it work and so am I.

It is funny how just two weeks ago I would have found it annoying to drive 30 min. to visit a friend because many people and activities were so close I could walk to them. In just a short time, I have reverted back to city driving where 30 min. is actually really good time.

The other night I drove to an area of town to meet two friends for dinner. I was so proud that I made it there with the help of my trusty side-kick Garmin while only cutting two people off to get into my correct lane! I also found free parking and that just made my night. I was quite nervous that I might have to park at a meter and I was not ready for that big of a step.

A GPS is a necessity. I know they have just recently become popular in cars (at least to my knowledge) but I am not sure I could have managed without one. I am getting used to hearing the phrase "re-calculating" as a pass on by my turn or get into the wrong lane (which is easy to do, one intersection is called 7 Corners for a reason). There are also these strange side roads that are like access roads to the freeway but they are along normal roads. I am still not sure how to manage those babies.

The church I am working with here is treating me wonderfully. I have already met so many great people and if I could just remember all their names I would be set. There are people of all ages and they have been so welcoming. Many of them already know who I am when I introduce myself and offer words of encouragement or excitement for me to be here. I am looking forward to getting to know as many of them as possible during my months here.

Everyone is also insistent that I must take in some of the sites while I am here. Luckily I have semi-recently visited many of the major tourist sites so that means I am getting to visit some of the less major ones and experience some of the real DC culture and not just the tourist culture. I love that! It is amazing how different cities in the same country can be from each other. I just love these new experiences. It reminds me of when I first moved to Denver and I used to yell out "I can't believe I live here!!!!!!!!!" every time I got to see or do something cool. That is how I feel now.

As wonderful as living here has been this first week I cannot deny that I am also missing my friends and family in Texas so if any of you need to beat the heat or take a vacay then head on up here. You will love it!!!!

The Journey

The journey from Houston, TX to Falls Church, VA was a long one. It took us 3 days to arrive and this included two hotel stays, 30 hours in the car, crossing through 7 states, countless bathroom stops, many GPS references, and some pretty bad food along the way to get there, but it was worth it.

Most of the drive was beautiful and we enjoyed a short time on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park at the end for a hike and pretty drive. I loved the beautiful trees in Mississippi and the rolling hills and mountains through Tennessee and Virginia. I never knew what this part of the country looked like.

I am excited to be here in the DC/Falls Church area. I had a good weekend getting to visit with many people from the church and I drove my parents to the airport today to send them back to Texas. The adventure begins!!

Some not-so-green salads in Tuscaloosa, Alabama- we did not have to pay

The view my dad had of the mountains

Me on the AT- I could not help but think of Bill Bryson

Resting our weary selves in the beauty of the Appalachian Mts.

Drinking Inca Kola at a Peruvian resturant in Virginia- do they drink this in Peru I wonder?

On The Road

I am sitting in a hotel in Roanoke, Virginia. My parents and have finished day two of three of driving from Houston to DC. Whew! It has been a beautiful drive but I sure am tired of sitting down. I am ready to be there!!!! Tomorrow we are going to do a little sight-seeing along the way so that will make the drive a little more fun.

It was sad to leave Abilene and really sad to leave my teammates but I am excited about my time in Virginia. Until I have more to share you can check out our team blog and see how our send-off weekend went!

Adios Abilene

Tomorrow morning at 8AM I will be saying goodbye to Abilene, my home for the past two and a half years. Although I am moving on to where I want to be I am still sad to leave this place. I am surprised by how much this town has grown on me! I think it is more about the people than the place. I have had so much fun and am so thankful for all the wonderful friends I have made. ALL of you are welcome to visit in Chile!!!!

Church going away party for me and others- yall are the best!

The family I lived with- thanks for not letting me be homeless :)

Great friends I made over the past few years- I will forever remember our game and dance parties

Two of the many many roomies I have had- love you girls!

On the river again

Another year of Waltonia has come and gone. I think I will just let the pictures tell the story.

Going off the rope swing- it was scary at first but then I could not get enough

Waiting to eat a scrumptious dinner

Oh river, how we love you

I could not get this to turn normal but I want you to focus on the goat eyes- creepy!!

Lovely women of the Meredith clan

Me testing out my new, huge sunglasses

Playing washers with my cousin

Sitting in the field, in an awkward line to watch an exciting game of horseshoes

Hanging out in the cabin- no that is not my brother's real hair, it is a hair hat...

Putting my swingball skills in to action

Lined up for the event of the week

A Mariachi band!!!!!!!!!!

Chopping and cooking with Shannon

Feeding the donkeys, not sure they would survive with out me each year