an end to an era, leaving the Bosch?!?

I am sitting in my classroom with one more day to go. I have ‘N Sync playing and it makes me so happy, maybe to much?!? Our time here in the Bosch is coming to an end (hopefully on Saturday) and it made me think about the time here and my time with Mercy Ships so far. It has been an interesting time here these past five months. I came so suddenly that I never thought much about the fact that for half of my time in Mercy Ships I would be living in the Bosch not the ship. In ways that has been good; it was kinda like easing into it. There where so many fewer people when I got to the ship and even less here these past few months. I have had a chance to meet and make connections with people. People are nice but you need people who you click with and who you can be your self with. That was something a bit nerve racking for me at first because I am loud and not always appropriate or supper conservative and I was worried about where my swearing ass would land amongst the people here. I am happy to report that I was able to find people who I click with and am so happy I have those relationships established before the crazy-ness begins in full swing.
I have had great opportunities in my time here. I was very lucky to go on a safari with great people here and am so thankful for that. There have been lots and maybe to many trips to the mall or mug and bean. There was a great and much needed wine tasting, canopy tours that where great and had amazing views. I have been able to play volleyball almost every weekend since we got here, which is my favorite sport and I love. I have been able to blend with the other teachers, which is great cause I was apprehensive joining an established team late. I have been able to get to know people here and am so excited that I will get to know them better. I have watched loads of movies and tv shows and have enjoyed the way they make it feel normal to be living in the middle of no where South Africa teaching ONE student. Might never get over that one. I have also been able to grow stronger in my faith by being in a place with so many Christians. Do not get me wrong it is not perfect. I frequently get annoyed by the judgment and gossip that happens here, and that I honestly take part in as well. It is a hard community to live in but one that I know is strengthening me and woke me up out of a slum away from God. When people ask how I heard about Mercy Ships I laugh because I tell them well actually, my sister-in-law and I where driving to the beach one morning, and she mentioned she and my brother wanted to do it, but that she had looked and there was a teaching job. I like to mention at that time I was not interested in listening and still battling a hangover from the night before celebrating one of my best friends wedding in style. Not my best moment, but with out it would I be here? Who knows? Tessa the before mentioned SIL likes to mention that she did not even think I was listening, I did not really think so either but some part of me was I guess. After the conversation I did not think about it for about a month and then one day after being home sick with the flu for the 4th day and reaching the end if the web, I looked into Mercy Ships. Three weeks latter from the email about the job I was on a flight to Togo. What the hell was I thinking?
I am so excited for the rest of my time here. I have kind of come to a conclusion that I will be going home in June and not extending. It is like 95% for sure. But then I think about what I would miss and who I would miss here and it makes it hard. I will make that decision when I am ready I guess but enjoy the time I do have here. I am so excited for Sierra Leone, I did not really experience Togo and am ready to experience West Africa. I can not wait for what is ahead of me and life on the ship and settling into that. I thought the transition would be a good time to be reflective hope you thought so to. Love you all lots Ang

Back into the swing...

         I have been back for almost two weeks now and time has been flying by and creeping all at the same time. Last week only a few teachers where back yet but we still started getting ready for this semester. We took a few shopping trips for the academy of course and spent three days on the ship. The ship is still in dock yard and we will be starting the semester here in Appelsboch, but when we do move back on we will not have loads of time to move, un pack and start school. So we are trying to get as much done before the move and school starts back on board as possible. I went to the ship three days last week, which does not sound like much but when it is at least an hour and half each way three it enough. We were lucky enough to have already had the containers unpacked and boxes back into our classrooms, that would have been so much work but others had done it already for us. Thanks guys! Myself and another teacher switched classrooms. Considering I had never taught in the room that was meant to be mine cause it was being used as storage when I got there I had no problem moving. I am now in a much smaller classroom but it has windows!!!!! I considering I only have one class of six, three times a week I don’t need a big room. It looks like a room and is just waiting for a few personal touches to feel like my room. We also put the library back together, which was fun, or at least practice for my alphabet skills… a lot.
        On Saturday I went with friends to a mall close-ish by and got a few things, it was nice to get out and catch up with people who were home for the holidays or went on holidays here. On Sunday I went to the surfer church which I love then to the beach. I did put sunscreen on I promise but it got washed off in the water I guess. I got burned, not just pink, RED… hurts to move my lips are even blistered red. When I went to dinner people could not help but ask if I had been out in the sun. I had lots of offers for Aloha from people and even a fan so I could sleep better. It makes me mad at my self for being to stupid and not taking care of myself. I also worry about skin cancer and wrinkles not necessarily in that order though.
         On Monday all the teachers went to the ship and put classes back together. It was great to have everyone back together and catch up. On Monday night there was a PR event that some of us where helping with. It did not all go exactly as planned but ended up being fun hanging on the ship and doing what we do best making fun of each other and our situation. On Tuesday we worked here at Appelsboch and unpacked out one box that we will be teaching out of for a few weeks. The plan is to hopefully move next weekend back to the ship, but there can always be delays. We are not really sure what will happen after three weeks here and our emergency boxes just are not cutting it anymore, so that should be fun! It is just life trying to get back to normal, or as normal as it is here and in Mercy Ships.
January, 19th 2011

The holidays

It has been almost a month and I am back in Appelsboch. I can not think of any month in my life that has gone faster. I left Appelsboch feeling like I was/ am in a good place I could tell I would miss people and things about this place and I took that as strong confirmation that I am in the right spot. I spent a long 48 hours traveling home, I was so happy when I got to New York to be home even on the other side of country. First stop was Starbucks and to get a Pumpkin Spice Latte, the second spot was five minutes latter to get another latte cause I downed the first one to fast. I had a 10 hour lay over in JFK and knew my sandals and hoddie would not be enough for the snow so I hung out inside. I got the gossip magazines I enjoy to much, panda express and had my nails done in the airport it was for the massage chair honest! I finally made it home and was incredibly happy.
       My parents came and picked me up from the airport and it was so nice to be home in Portland. The next few days where nice just hanging out at home trying to get Padfoot to love me again after I left him and enjoying being home. My parents and I went to the beach house and it was amazing to see the final product, with the exception of a few little things. I ran from room to room just looking at everything and just kind of amazed. It is amazing to see the house that is completely different from the one we looked at last year. I love it! It was great to hang out at the beach and relax and enjoy the things I have not had for the last 4 months and will not have for the next 6. The next week was great getting ready for Christmas and my birthday and having Den and Tessa come home and Rob and Misty over. It was so nice to have everyone around. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at the Beach. It was really nice we played a lot of games and watched Christmas movies. Christmas was great Rob and Misty got us each a nurf gun and we of course had to have a good fight with those. It was really nice to hang out and have everyone in one place even just for one night.
       The rest of my time went by to fast. I could not believe that it was already time to go back. I had felt ready to go back but it is always hard to say good-bye to my rents. I had to fly into New York and spend a night there. That was the hardest part again my cloths where not ready for the snow flurries so I hung out at the hotel which did not have walking access to anything around. I felt more alone there then at any other point. I got to Durban and was meet with 1 of 2 bags. But it will hopefully get here soon from someone else that went to the airport. When I got back here to Appelsboch it was great cause everyone is happy to see you and that you are back it made leaving my family loads easier even though it is still really hard to e away for so long. I hope everyone had a great holiday time.