Hi everyone,
As promised, here are the links to the rest of the photos. Sorry it took a while, we've been keeping ourselves quite busy, and our computer has been on the fritz.
We are working on getting all of our papers graded and laundry washed so that we can leave for Germany on Wednesday. We will be there for a week, so probably won't hear too much from us on the blog until we get back.
Here are the pictures:
Album 1
Album 2
Album 3
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Häid jõule! Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! and Linksmų Kalėdų! from the Baltics!
Hi Everyone, Merry Christmas!
We are back from our annual Christmas trip to Tallinn, Estonia (we were there first last year, and made it a tradition by returning this year!).
We had a wonderful and refreshing time. We left before dawn on Sunday the 20th, rode a bus to Riga, Latvia, and then got on a different bus and headed to Tallinn, Estonia.
Here is a picture of the sun at high noon in Riga, at the bus station.
We rolled into Tallinn at about 4:15pm (we were running early, the requirements for a bus driver here are that they know how to drive fast, and pass every other car on the road. No worries, we made it safely. It was dark as midnight when we got there...and due to riding on a bus all day, it felt like midnight too. Steve is reading along as I type and is suggesting that I end the parenthetical thought. Good thing he is here to keep me in line!). After arriving at our hotel, we decided we needed to eat some food, so we went to a place we'd never been, the Grillhaus Daube. It was very tasty.
Then we walked around for a while and admired the Christmas Market. It was even better than we remembered!
Monday we spent walking around. It was quite a bit colder and snowier this year, so we got me a woolen hat from the knit market located on the city wall.
Me outside the Revel Cafe...one of our faves. If you look in the background, you can see that there is a sign for Segway tours...we didn't do it this time (too snowy, perhaps?), but someday.
Other Monday Adventures:
Steve in front of the Guild of the Blackheads (for Harley...also note the snow in all of these pictures)
A wintery, Christmas-y alley.
One of my favorite pictures of Steve in front of the Christmas Market
One more...isn't that tree magnificent?!
Tuesday we woke up and the sun was out. The earth was covered in snow, but it was a tad bit warmer (Monday was about 10 degrees F, and Tuesday was about 20 F).
Tuesday's Adventures:
Wednesday we traveled back to Klaipeda. Apparently all of the Baltic states were getting lots of snow while we were away (and all the way home it snowed non-stop in Latvia). We made it home safely though. Thank the Lord!
Yesterday and today have been pretty low-key. Last night we got together with the Johnsons and read advent verses and sang carols, and this evening we got together with some fellow student life staff who were also in town and had a christmas meal and read together the Christmas story (and read The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever as well). It was a good time of fellowship.
We have been wishing we could be home with our family this Christmas, but have been fortunate to have other people around here to spend it with. We're already planning our traditional trip to Tallinn for next year, so start saving your money, get a passport if you haven't already, and come with us. You would love it. Merry Christmas! I will try to get the rest of the Tallinn pictures up soon.
We are back from our annual Christmas trip to Tallinn, Estonia (we were there first last year, and made it a tradition by returning this year!).
We had a wonderful and refreshing time. We left before dawn on Sunday the 20th, rode a bus to Riga, Latvia, and then got on a different bus and headed to Tallinn, Estonia.
Here is a picture of the sun at high noon in Riga, at the bus station.
We rolled into Tallinn at about 4:15pm (we were running early, the requirements for a bus driver here are that they know how to drive fast, and pass every other car on the road. No worries, we made it safely. It was dark as midnight when we got there...and due to riding on a bus all day, it felt like midnight too. Steve is reading along as I type and is suggesting that I end the parenthetical thought. Good thing he is here to keep me in line!). After arriving at our hotel, we decided we needed to eat some food, so we went to a place we'd never been, the Grillhaus Daube. It was very tasty.
Then we walked around for a while and admired the Christmas Market. It was even better than we remembered!
Monday we spent walking around. It was quite a bit colder and snowier this year, so we got me a woolen hat from the knit market located on the city wall.
Me outside the Revel Cafe...one of our faves. If you look in the background, you can see that there is a sign for Segway tours...we didn't do it this time (too snowy, perhaps?), but someday.
Other Monday Adventures:
- Steve helping a frail old lady walk across town (stopping to rest about every 4-5 steps). Good to know that if I am ever that frail someday, Steve will patiently take my arm and walk with me!
- Listening to a Christmas Choir sing carols in Estonian for a little over an hour in a big old church. Very beautiful!
- Walking around in the winter wonderland, as large snowflakes fell all day...making us feel like we were in a Christmas snow globe.
Steve in front of the Guild of the Blackheads (for Harley...also note the snow in all of these pictures)
A wintery, Christmas-y alley.
One of my favorite pictures of Steve in front of the Christmas Market
One more...isn't that tree magnificent?!
Tuesday we woke up and the sun was out. The earth was covered in snow, but it was a tad bit warmer (Monday was about 10 degrees F, and Tuesday was about 20 F).
Tuesday's Adventures:
- Wrote some postcards and sent them via the Christmas Market post office (which is right next to Santa's house.
- Took a walk in a park.
- Outdoor ice skating (so much fun! makes us miss Minnesota).
- Playing lots of Cribbage in various coffee shops (could also be added to Monday's adventures)
Wednesday we traveled back to Klaipeda. Apparently all of the Baltic states were getting lots of snow while we were away (and all the way home it snowed non-stop in Latvia). We made it home safely though. Thank the Lord!
Yesterday and today have been pretty low-key. Last night we got together with the Johnsons and read advent verses and sang carols, and this evening we got together with some fellow student life staff who were also in town and had a christmas meal and read together the Christmas story (and read The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever as well). It was a good time of fellowship.
We have been wishing we could be home with our family this Christmas, but have been fortunate to have other people around here to spend it with. We're already planning our traditional trip to Tallinn for next year, so start saving your money, get a passport if you haven't already, and come with us. You would love it. Merry Christmas! I will try to get the rest of the Tallinn pictures up soon.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
cold
I know it's colder in Minnesota, but this past week has really felt like home and Christmas with snow that has lasted and below freezing temperatures with a little wind to make it feel 25 degrees colder than it actually is. Amazing how these things make us feel at home!
We are nearing the end of a very busy semester and we can see the end! Sunday we will leave for Tallinn, where according to accuweather, it will be bitterly cold and with each day we're there averaging about 5 hours of daylight. And....I am so much looking forward to it! We each have a book to read for fun, and there are a ton of cute coffeeshops and cafes to duck in out of the cold. Hopefully one of the days it will be warm enough outside to go ice skating....if I remember right there is an outdoor skating rink in Tallinn.
Pray for us as we finish out this week. The next two days will be busy, but the trip after will be that much more appreciated! Pray that we would end well, and for safety in our bus travels. I have no time to be stuck in the snow on the way to Riga this time around ;)
Hope everyone is well and keeping warm.
We are nearing the end of a very busy semester and we can see the end! Sunday we will leave for Tallinn, where according to accuweather, it will be bitterly cold and with each day we're there averaging about 5 hours of daylight. And....I am so much looking forward to it! We each have a book to read for fun, and there are a ton of cute coffeeshops and cafes to duck in out of the cold. Hopefully one of the days it will be warm enough outside to go ice skating....if I remember right there is an outdoor skating rink in Tallinn.
Pray for us as we finish out this week. The next two days will be busy, but the trip after will be that much more appreciated! Pray that we would end well, and for safety in our bus travels. I have no time to be stuck in the snow on the way to Riga this time around ;)
Hope everyone is well and keeping warm.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
P.s. about the books
Just by way of reminder, in case it has been some years since you last read the Narnia books yourself, here are the seven titles:
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Horse and His Boy
- The Magician's Nephew
- The Last Battle
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sharing with Students via Narnia
As we are winding down the Fall semester we are at the same time working on plans for the Spring semester. One of the plans for Spring semester is addition of course on writings, thinking, and life of C.S.Lewis. As this course quickly filled up with students it is not something that I can audit or sit in on, however I have been working with the professor of this course to see how I could help. Our plan is that I will lead a supplemental book discussion group that will relate to the material and give added insight in Lewis' writings.
The plan for the discussion group is to read through all 7 of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia. Here is where the title of this post comes in. We don't have any budget to get all of the books to host this discussion group as this is an extra group and not required for the class.. The library only has 2 copies of each book. In order to do this discussion group we would need as many copies as we could get (15 would be great). Any donated books would be given to LCC and used in the semesters to follow.
I have purchased in the past a one volume collection of all 7 books which seems to be the least expensive option. Or perhaps someone has some old copies lying around the house that are not being read or you know of a used book store or flea market or a publisher.
Any help would be great. Send me an email shanson@lcc.lt if have questions or post a comment at the end of this post.
Thanks for your generosity and assisting in student learning.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas at LCC
Hi Everyone,
We are winding down the semester, and no surprise, life is busy! But going ok. We are looking forward to the break as much or more than the students, I think. But I guess it is not a competition (everyone wins when the competition involves looking forward to something). :)
This week is the last week of classes, both here at LCC, and for my online class. Sometime this week I need to find time to write my final project, and then I will be done with my class for this semester. It has certainly been very enjoyable.
Next week is finals week for the students, which means that toward the end of the week it will be getting busier as students are checking out of the dorm for winter break. We are excited though, because at the end of the week, on Sunday the 20th, we will also be leaving for a little break. For the first time ever as a married couple, we will be having a Christmas tradition (every other Christmas before this was celebrated in a different city/state/country/etc). Yay! I think we're raising the bar pretty high as far as Christmas traditions go, but if that means we have to find a way back to Tallinn, Estonia every year, so be it.
So, for the first part of break we will continue our annual tradition of going to Tallinn for a couple of days right before Christmas as our Christmas present to each other. Here is a picture from last year:
Tallinn Christmas market....lovely
I am very much looking forward to going back!
Then we will have to come back to LCC for a few days, so Steve can be on duty. We will be here for Christmas eve and Christmas day...so will probably hang out with the random students and faculty that will also need to be here for various reasons. Will be nice to spend it together.
Then we are hoping to go and visit various friends in Germany for the New Year and a few days after. Should be an adventure. Nothing set in stone there yet.
And THEN more good news (seriously, we will find things to blog about in the next few weeks, just introducing all of the ideas now). Even though no one was hired for the Leadership Coordinator position, someone here at LCC has offered to take over the leadership development program for next semester. A HUGE relief and blessing for me. And definitely an answer to prayer. Next semester, then, my main responsibilities will lie in coordinating student leadership hiring (for all student leadership positions), hiring student orientation staff for next fall, and all things housing (guest housing, student housing, summer and fall housing, etc). Should still be busy....but since I won't have to run the leadership development program, there will be more time to do things I want to do, like help lead a Bible study, and take more classes at North Park via the internet. Woohoo!
So that is life in a nutshell right now. We are busy and looking forward to break and next semester.
Hope all is going well wherever you are.
Laura
Oh! PS: I just looked at the title of this post and remembered what I originally intended to sit down and blog about (I live in the future, apparently!). Here are some pictures from the Christmas program, where I sang in the choir, and Steve was Santa again. Also, we've decorated our little apartment :)
Hallelujah Chorus
Us and our friends and neighbors the Johnson's
Me with Santa
Our tiny tree with an obnoxious amount of ornaments and other decoration.
We are winding down the semester, and no surprise, life is busy! But going ok. We are looking forward to the break as much or more than the students, I think. But I guess it is not a competition (everyone wins when the competition involves looking forward to something). :)
This week is the last week of classes, both here at LCC, and for my online class. Sometime this week I need to find time to write my final project, and then I will be done with my class for this semester. It has certainly been very enjoyable.
Next week is finals week for the students, which means that toward the end of the week it will be getting busier as students are checking out of the dorm for winter break. We are excited though, because at the end of the week, on Sunday the 20th, we will also be leaving for a little break. For the first time ever as a married couple, we will be having a Christmas tradition (every other Christmas before this was celebrated in a different city/state/country/etc). Yay! I think we're raising the bar pretty high as far as Christmas traditions go, but if that means we have to find a way back to Tallinn, Estonia every year, so be it.
So, for the first part of break we will continue our annual tradition of going to Tallinn for a couple of days right before Christmas as our Christmas present to each other. Here is a picture from last year:
Tallinn Christmas market....lovely
I am very much looking forward to going back!
Then we will have to come back to LCC for a few days, so Steve can be on duty. We will be here for Christmas eve and Christmas day...so will probably hang out with the random students and faculty that will also need to be here for various reasons. Will be nice to spend it together.
Then we are hoping to go and visit various friends in Germany for the New Year and a few days after. Should be an adventure. Nothing set in stone there yet.
And THEN more good news (seriously, we will find things to blog about in the next few weeks, just introducing all of the ideas now). Even though no one was hired for the Leadership Coordinator position, someone here at LCC has offered to take over the leadership development program for next semester. A HUGE relief and blessing for me. And definitely an answer to prayer. Next semester, then, my main responsibilities will lie in coordinating student leadership hiring (for all student leadership positions), hiring student orientation staff for next fall, and all things housing (guest housing, student housing, summer and fall housing, etc). Should still be busy....but since I won't have to run the leadership development program, there will be more time to do things I want to do, like help lead a Bible study, and take more classes at North Park via the internet. Woohoo!
So that is life in a nutshell right now. We are busy and looking forward to break and next semester.
Hope all is going well wherever you are.
Laura
Oh! PS: I just looked at the title of this post and remembered what I originally intended to sit down and blog about (I live in the future, apparently!). Here are some pictures from the Christmas program, where I sang in the choir, and Steve was Santa again. Also, we've decorated our little apartment :)
Hallelujah Chorus
Us and our friends and neighbors the Johnson's
Me with Santa
Our tiny tree with an obnoxious amount of ornaments and other decoration.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Thanksgiving a Week Late
Well, Thanksgiving has come and past. Even though we are far from family and friends who we would love to share the holidays with we had the opportunity to share our favorite holiday with people who have never experienced it before. On Monday of Thanksgiving week I prepared a full Thanksgiving meal (turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, croissants, and apple crisp) and during my normal RA staff meeting we enjoyed the meal and fellowship together.
It was great getting to share why we celebrate thanksgiving, they foods that we traditionally eat, and just to share why we are thankful. All of the RAs got into it and shared from the heart things they are thankful for. It was a great night and it felt like home (only there was no football to watch...I did get to play floor hockey the next night...driveway hockey at thanksgiving is a Hanson tradition).
I also participated in the LCC North Americans' Thanksgiving tradition of going to McDonald's on the Thanksgiving day, because it is a work day here we eat at the only American restaurant in town. Then on Saturday, the faculty and staff had a big Thankgsiving feast and after we cleaned up we decorated campus for Christmas. All in all it was a great week.
Some things that I am thankful for this year:
Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving meal with the RAs
The RAs coloring Thanksgiving pictures just like we used to color the pilgram pictures for the placecards at Hanson thanksgiving.
Laura making gravy.
Olena and Katia (both from Ukraine) enjoying their first Thanksgiving.
Vasile and Ruxanda (both from Moldova) enjoying their first Thanksgiving...and inquiring about green bean casserole.
Neumann West Thanksgiving 2009 (Artsiom could not be there as he was back in Minsk for the weekend).
Vasile getting ready to feast.
It was great getting to share why we celebrate thanksgiving, they foods that we traditionally eat, and just to share why we are thankful. All of the RAs got into it and shared from the heart things they are thankful for. It was a great night and it felt like home (only there was no football to watch...I did get to play floor hockey the next night...driveway hockey at thanksgiving is a Hanson tradition).
I also participated in the LCC North Americans' Thanksgiving tradition of going to McDonald's on the Thanksgiving day, because it is a work day here we eat at the only American restaurant in town. Then on Saturday, the faculty and staff had a big Thankgsiving feast and after we cleaned up we decorated campus for Christmas. All in all it was a great week.
Some things that I am thankful for this year:
- My amazing wife who has chosen to take on this adventure with me
- A call to minister through higher education and to get the opportunity to serve some great students
- An answer to prayer for community and friendship by God's provision of the Erik and Becky Johnson to live across the hall from us this year.
- Family that love us and support us...we miss you all
- Friends who think of us often and write us notes and say prayers
- The generosity of many...much thanks!
Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving meal with the RAs
The RAs coloring Thanksgiving pictures just like we used to color the pilgram pictures for the placecards at Hanson thanksgiving.
Laura making gravy.
Olena and Katia (both from Ukraine) enjoying their first Thanksgiving.
Vasile and Ruxanda (both from Moldova) enjoying their first Thanksgiving...and inquiring about green bean casserole.
Neumann West Thanksgiving 2009 (Artsiom could not be there as he was back in Minsk for the weekend).
Vasile getting ready to feast.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
not quite ready to join the land of the living...but ready to join the land of the awake
Ugh. Remember how last week was super busy? Well, this week I'm paying for it. My body has shut down.
Usually my body temp hovers around 97.7 or so. On Sunday, when I woke up feeling extra sluggish and achy, I decided to check it out. Was 100.4. So back to bed I went. Got up to 101.3 that day. The next morning, it was lower (99.8), so decided to tough it out and go to work. Coughed all day. Should not have been out in public, spreading germs....but that is probably how I got sick in the first place. It's hard to admit when you are sick. Especially when there is work to be done. I even managed to convince myself that I was well enough to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with the RA's (Steve is a champ, by the way, preparing that for them...for all of them, I think it was their first Thanksgiving...he will have to post pictures later).
Yesterday, woke up with a fever again. And achy. So slept all day. Steve woke me up at the end of the day and shared some Thanksgiving leftovers with me (ie: mashed potatoes, not only my fave, but also what I could get down after a day of only sleep). Slept until today.
Temp: 98.8....lowest it has been all week, but still high for me. Still a little achy. Still a little sniffly and pathetic. But I learned my lesson. I pushed too hard and was in denial all day on Monday...so for today, I will stay awake for the day...but I'm not ready to go out in public. I will work from home as much as I can, and work on cleaning (degerming) the apartment. Hopefully the fever is gone for good. It has been a really long time since I have been this sick. Knocked me completely out for 2 days.
So. For today, I am thankful for a wonderful husband who can manage to take care of me and be an outstanding RD. I am thankful that my body forced me to get some much needed rest (although I was too sick to fully appreciate it...now I am just weak-feeling and have no concept of what day it is...Wednesday already?), and I am thankful that even though tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we can't be home (once again), that there are people here to eat thanksgiving food with, and lots of things to be thankful for.
Hope you are well! I think the next blog post will have to be from Steve, about his RA thanksgiving. Was a great time!
Usually my body temp hovers around 97.7 or so. On Sunday, when I woke up feeling extra sluggish and achy, I decided to check it out. Was 100.4. So back to bed I went. Got up to 101.3 that day. The next morning, it was lower (99.8), so decided to tough it out and go to work. Coughed all day. Should not have been out in public, spreading germs....but that is probably how I got sick in the first place. It's hard to admit when you are sick. Especially when there is work to be done. I even managed to convince myself that I was well enough to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with the RA's (Steve is a champ, by the way, preparing that for them...for all of them, I think it was their first Thanksgiving...he will have to post pictures later).
Yesterday, woke up with a fever again. And achy. So slept all day. Steve woke me up at the end of the day and shared some Thanksgiving leftovers with me (ie: mashed potatoes, not only my fave, but also what I could get down after a day of only sleep). Slept until today.
Temp: 98.8....lowest it has been all week, but still high for me. Still a little achy. Still a little sniffly and pathetic. But I learned my lesson. I pushed too hard and was in denial all day on Monday...so for today, I will stay awake for the day...but I'm not ready to go out in public. I will work from home as much as I can, and work on cleaning (degerming) the apartment. Hopefully the fever is gone for good. It has been a really long time since I have been this sick. Knocked me completely out for 2 days.
So. For today, I am thankful for a wonderful husband who can manage to take care of me and be an outstanding RD. I am thankful that my body forced me to get some much needed rest (although I was too sick to fully appreciate it...now I am just weak-feeling and have no concept of what day it is...Wednesday already?), and I am thankful that even though tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we can't be home (once again), that there are people here to eat thanksgiving food with, and lots of things to be thankful for.
Hope you are well! I think the next blog post will have to be from Steve, about his RA thanksgiving. Was a great time!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
busy, busy week.
Sorry we've been so quiet on the blog this week. It has been super busy!
Steve and the Res Life staff had their education week, and the theme was all about relationships. Every evening there was some event going on (movie night, panel discussion, conversations and coffee, debates) that had to do with relationships.
This week was also the week where students had to register for spring housing, so lots of paper work for me (but, I actually don't mind paperwork). Next week we will be figuring out who will need to stay in the dorm for any amount of time over winter break.
Thursday night we were asked if we would help brainstorm ideas with the Johnson's (friends who live in the other RD apartment), who were going to be hosting the Talent show, which was last night (Friday). Before we knew it, we were co-hosting! It was a very fun evening. The theme was "Broadway" so as co-hosts, and as Minnesotans, we decided to go the route of hosting as Minnesotans....borrowing ideas from the movie Waiting for Guffman, and a little from Fargo for our inspiration (the plot of Waiting for Guffman, and the accents from Fargo).
It was an exhausting week...and a good one...but we hope next week will be a little more quiet.
How was your week?
Steve and the Res Life staff had their education week, and the theme was all about relationships. Every evening there was some event going on (movie night, panel discussion, conversations and coffee, debates) that had to do with relationships.
This week was also the week where students had to register for spring housing, so lots of paper work for me (but, I actually don't mind paperwork). Next week we will be figuring out who will need to stay in the dorm for any amount of time over winter break.
Thursday night we were asked if we would help brainstorm ideas with the Johnson's (friends who live in the other RD apartment), who were going to be hosting the Talent show, which was last night (Friday). Before we knew it, we were co-hosting! It was a very fun evening. The theme was "Broadway" so as co-hosts, and as Minnesotans, we decided to go the route of hosting as Minnesotans....borrowing ideas from the movie Waiting for Guffman, and a little from Fargo for our inspiration (the plot of Waiting for Guffman, and the accents from Fargo).
It was an exhausting week...and a good one...but we hope next week will be a little more quiet.
How was your week?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
economy sized...and a language lesson
Most things that you can buy here are...practically packaged...for lack of a better term. There is not really any such thing as "Economy sized" or "family sized" at the grocery store. You only buy as much as you need/can carry home. Not too much is in excess. No Sam's club or anything here (for better or for worse!).
Anyway,
A month ago, we were super excited to find a box of ice cream that was 25oo ml (usually we can find either 1000 or 500). It just goes to show how much we've gotten used to things coming in smaller sizes, because 2500 ml is just a tad over half a gallon. We were super excited because we thought a half gallon was a lot of ice cream.
Anyway, recently at the store, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Usually you can buy chicken bouillon, but in very small doses. Like you could make soup maybe three times.
So you can imagine our joy when we came across this...a lifetime supply! (Or what must seem like a lifetime supply here...probably the "small" back home ;)
I put it next to the paper towels, to show the size. Gallina Blanca is the brand, Vistienos is Lithuanian, Vistas Latvian, and Kanalihaga Estonian...refers to chicken. But if you don't read any of those languages, certainly you can tell by the picture of the chicken on the front what the flavor is. Lithuanian and Latvian are apparently very different languages (according to those who speak them), but they are in the same family, and look similar to the unknowing eye. Estonian is completely different all-together. It is mutually intelligible with Finnish, and both Estonian and Finnish are in the same language family as Hungarian. Weird, huh?
Anyway, we are doing well. This past week was my birthday, and LCC is a really great place to have a birthday I've decided, as both years I've been made to feel super loved and appreciated! Birthdays are a big deal here...so it has been a great week.
It is nearly 2 in the morning, and I should be sleeping, so I will say good night. Hope all is well, and that you didn't get completely lost in this totally random post.
Anyway,
A month ago, we were super excited to find a box of ice cream that was 25oo ml (usually we can find either 1000 or 500). It just goes to show how much we've gotten used to things coming in smaller sizes, because 2500 ml is just a tad over half a gallon. We were super excited because we thought a half gallon was a lot of ice cream.
Anyway, recently at the store, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Usually you can buy chicken bouillon, but in very small doses. Like you could make soup maybe three times.
So you can imagine our joy when we came across this...a lifetime supply! (Or what must seem like a lifetime supply here...probably the "small" back home ;)
I put it next to the paper towels, to show the size. Gallina Blanca is the brand, Vistienos is Lithuanian, Vistas Latvian, and Kanalihaga Estonian...refers to chicken. But if you don't read any of those languages, certainly you can tell by the picture of the chicken on the front what the flavor is. Lithuanian and Latvian are apparently very different languages (according to those who speak them), but they are in the same family, and look similar to the unknowing eye. Estonian is completely different all-together. It is mutually intelligible with Finnish, and both Estonian and Finnish are in the same language family as Hungarian. Weird, huh?
Anyway, we are doing well. This past week was my birthday, and LCC is a really great place to have a birthday I've decided, as both years I've been made to feel super loved and appreciated! Birthdays are a big deal here...so it has been a great week.
It is nearly 2 in the morning, and I should be sleeping, so I will say good night. Hope all is well, and that you didn't get completely lost in this totally random post.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A follow up on the information about donation receipts
Hi Everyone,
We recently were emailed this information:
Good news! Credit card donations can once again be made on our site! Please let your donors know. Also, receipts have been mailed for all donations received so far this year (August 1 – October 15).
We recently were emailed this information:
Good news! Credit card donations can once again be made on our site! Please let your donors know. Also, receipts have been mailed for all donations received so far this year (August 1 – October 15).
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Weekend
Hi All,
Thanks for the prayers and encouraging words this past week. It was much needed! I was also able to have some encouraging conversations this past week. Not all is solved, but better.
Yesterday (Friday) when classes were done, Steve had his RA retreat (I get to go along as benefits of being his wife:). So we loaded up a van and lots of food, and went out of town to a colleague's house for the evening (he has been super generous this year with letting people use his house for retreats).
It was just the thing we needed. We cooked our food over a fire, sauna'd, and just in general hung out. The house was heated by a wood stove, so Steve is a bit tired after trying to keep enough wood going, and making sure the house was warm through the night.
I on the other hand had the best night's sleep I've had in a long time. I woke up on my own (no alarm), and was ready to wake up (that never happens. I always want to sleep a little more). No one else was awake, so I took the camera and went for a walk. It was beautiful. I really connect with God via nature, and it was a gorgeous morning.
We got back here in the middle of the afternoon, and quickly cleaned up and then got ready for my leaders to come over for dinner (we were over scheduled this weekend, but it was such laid back quality time that it didn't seem so stressful). Yesterday before we left on the RA retreat I made a chicken stew of sorts (I was improvising, didn't know if it would turn out to be more of a thin soup or a thick stew...we were hoping for a stew, and it was a success!), so all we had to do when we got back today was heat it up, and then we made some rice to go with it. It was very tasty! I will definitely have to make it again.
Then after that we had our friends the Johnsons over for some 500 (cards). Their friendship has been such a huge blessing for us. They are definitely an answer to prayer -- so thank you for that!
Here are some pictures I took on my walk this morning, and Steve with his RAs. Thanks again for praying for us this week. It started out rough, but ended well.
The path up to the outdoor....hearth (what is the word?), where the guys cooked dinner (Šašlyk...basically seasoned/marinated meat on sticks...highly similar, I think, to shish kebabs).
Wintry trees on a small pond.
One of my favorite sounds is wind blowing through pine trees. I couldn't capture the sound, so here is a picture I took while I was listening to the wind while walking this morning.
Wide open nothingness. I was lucky to have such a blue sky. By this afternoon it was quite grey again.
A neat looking bridge.
Sun shining on the pine tree and the dirt road. Love it.
Steve and his RAs.
PS...happy Birthday to Hezekiah! We tried to call today, and will call again tomorrow too!
Thanks for the prayers and encouraging words this past week. It was much needed! I was also able to have some encouraging conversations this past week. Not all is solved, but better.
Yesterday (Friday) when classes were done, Steve had his RA retreat (I get to go along as benefits of being his wife:). So we loaded up a van and lots of food, and went out of town to a colleague's house for the evening (he has been super generous this year with letting people use his house for retreats).
It was just the thing we needed. We cooked our food over a fire, sauna'd, and just in general hung out. The house was heated by a wood stove, so Steve is a bit tired after trying to keep enough wood going, and making sure the house was warm through the night.
I on the other hand had the best night's sleep I've had in a long time. I woke up on my own (no alarm), and was ready to wake up (that never happens. I always want to sleep a little more). No one else was awake, so I took the camera and went for a walk. It was beautiful. I really connect with God via nature, and it was a gorgeous morning.
We got back here in the middle of the afternoon, and quickly cleaned up and then got ready for my leaders to come over for dinner (we were over scheduled this weekend, but it was such laid back quality time that it didn't seem so stressful). Yesterday before we left on the RA retreat I made a chicken stew of sorts (I was improvising, didn't know if it would turn out to be more of a thin soup or a thick stew...we were hoping for a stew, and it was a success!), so all we had to do when we got back today was heat it up, and then we made some rice to go with it. It was very tasty! I will definitely have to make it again.
Then after that we had our friends the Johnsons over for some 500 (cards). Their friendship has been such a huge blessing for us. They are definitely an answer to prayer -- so thank you for that!
Here are some pictures I took on my walk this morning, and Steve with his RAs. Thanks again for praying for us this week. It started out rough, but ended well.
The path up to the outdoor....hearth (what is the word?), where the guys cooked dinner (Šašlyk...basically seasoned/marinated meat on sticks...highly similar, I think, to shish kebabs).
Wintry trees on a small pond.
One of my favorite sounds is wind blowing through pine trees. I couldn't capture the sound, so here is a picture I took while I was listening to the wind while walking this morning.
Wide open nothingness. I was lucky to have such a blue sky. By this afternoon it was quite grey again.
A neat looking bridge.
Sun shining on the pine tree and the dirt road. Love it.
Steve and his RAs.
PS...happy Birthday to Hezekiah! We tried to call today, and will call again tomorrow too!
Monday, November 2, 2009
please pray for me
I am having a super discouraging day. If you want to know the details, I would rather talk about them via skype or email.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Information for supporters
We got this email today from LCC's new Director of Expatriate Recruitment, just thought we'd pass part of it on to you, for your information...thank you for all of your support (prayer, financial, moral, etc...we need it all)!
Here is the email:
US Fundraising Expats:
I have uncovered two issues with the US Charity that I need to pass on:
1.) The online credit card donation system on our site is currently not working. Donors are currently getting an error and are not able to complete their donation. Our support company is aware of the issue and they are working to resolve this as soon as possible.
2.) There is a backlog of receipts that have not gone out. US Donors who have given during this fiscal year (August 1 ff) have not received a receipt in the mail. The US Charity is aware of the problem and will be sending out receipts very soon.
Here is the email:
US Fundraising Expats:
I have uncovered two issues with the US Charity that I need to pass on:
1.) The online credit card donation system on our site is currently not working. Donors are currently getting an error and are not able to complete their donation. Our support company is aware of the issue and they are working to resolve this as soon as possible.
2.) There is a backlog of receipts that have not gone out. US Donors who have given during this fiscal year (August 1 ff) have not received a receipt in the mail. The US Charity is aware of the problem and will be sending out receipts very soon.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
millions of photos :)
Hi Everyone,
I posted some pictures today, here are the links:
staycation part 1
staycation part 2
black and white
colorful
Happy November! :)
I posted some pictures today, here are the links:
staycation part 1
staycation part 2
black and white
colorful
Happy November! :)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fall Break Wednesday
Last night provided us with a nice Baltic monsoon that lasted into the day today. In true Klaipeda style the weather changed about every 15 minutes from windy and raining to sunny to sunny and raining to complete downpour.
So, in the spirit of today being a Klaipeda weather day, we stayed in. I had to do a small work thing this morning so I quickly ventured over to the academic building, but other than that it was a day to catch up on some home things. While I did the dishes and made a late lunch, Laura did her homework. She has an assignment due tonight and has been reading most of the day so that she can write her paper tonight.
It has been a good break. It was nice to just stay in today, but hopefully the weather will be nicer tomorrow so that we can explore some more and take more pictures to share. I also need some more time away from the dorm, just to get a break.
Write or call us on skype, we have time to talk this week.
So, in the spirit of today being a Klaipeda weather day, we stayed in. I had to do a small work thing this morning so I quickly ventured over to the academic building, but other than that it was a day to catch up on some home things. While I did the dishes and made a late lunch, Laura did her homework. She has an assignment due tonight and has been reading most of the day so that she can write her paper tonight.
It has been a good break. It was nice to just stay in today, but hopefully the weather will be nicer tomorrow so that we can explore some more and take more pictures to share. I also need some more time away from the dorm, just to get a break.
Write or call us on skype, we have time to talk this week.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Fall Break 2009 (so far)
This week is Fall Break. If you're just tuning in, we have to stay in Klaipeda because Steve is on duty. No worries though, it is the perfect opportunity to be tourists and visit some places we've never been. It has also been great to share some meals with students (now that everyone isn't so busy). Here are some pictures from the last couple of days. When break is over, I will make an album with all of the pictures we've taken and put a link to it on here. Enjoy!
We had our Albanian friends over again for Burek. Here Steve is practicing rolling out the dough very thinly; Aina supervises (Eri and Juli in the background preparing the filling).
Yesterday (Monday) we went over to check the mail, as we have been 3x a day for the past month, and were delighted to find a letter and a slip of paper that said we had a package. We immediately went to the post office to pick it up. Here is the funny (not funny haha) thing: the letter was sent a week (or less) ago, and the package was sent a month (or more) ago. It is so great to get notes from home! The candy corn was a bit crunchy, and tasted a little bit like the coffee...we loved it! And we're very excited about the coffee. :)
Last night we journeyed over to Karklu to eat dinner with 2 RAs (Steve's RAs from last year...they are still RAs, but on a different team). It was so fun. We love these girls!
Nadiya, Tania, Steve
Tania, Steve, Laura
We enjoyed each other's company so much, this morning/afternoon we all got up and went to the clock museum together. Clocks have come a long way over the years!
Tania, Nadiya, Laura (reflection), Steve
Steve and me in front of the museum.
After the clock museum, we went our separate ways. Steve and I wanted some lunch, so we decided to go somewhere we'd never been before. It was a good choice! Steve had pancakes with cheese sauce and mushrooms, and I had chicken stew with rice and vegetables. The name of the place means (I think): Central Newspaper Cafe and Bar
After lunch, we walked ALL OVER Klaipeda. It was a cloudy day, but felt warm (I'm guessing upper 40s). Here are a couple of pictures from that:
Steve by a colorful building and some arrows.
Me by a bulding covered in vines.
It is Autumn here! The colorful leaves look good against the grey sky.
Hope everyone is doing well!
We had our Albanian friends over again for Burek. Here Steve is practicing rolling out the dough very thinly; Aina supervises (Eri and Juli in the background preparing the filling).
Yesterday (Monday) we went over to check the mail, as we have been 3x a day for the past month, and were delighted to find a letter and a slip of paper that said we had a package. We immediately went to the post office to pick it up. Here is the funny (not funny haha) thing: the letter was sent a week (or less) ago, and the package was sent a month (or more) ago. It is so great to get notes from home! The candy corn was a bit crunchy, and tasted a little bit like the coffee...we loved it! And we're very excited about the coffee. :)
Last night we journeyed over to Karklu to eat dinner with 2 RAs (Steve's RAs from last year...they are still RAs, but on a different team). It was so fun. We love these girls!
Nadiya, Tania, Steve
Tania, Steve, Laura
We enjoyed each other's company so much, this morning/afternoon we all got up and went to the clock museum together. Clocks have come a long way over the years!
Tania, Nadiya, Laura (reflection), Steve
Steve and me in front of the museum.
After the clock museum, we went our separate ways. Steve and I wanted some lunch, so we decided to go somewhere we'd never been before. It was a good choice! Steve had pancakes with cheese sauce and mushrooms, and I had chicken stew with rice and vegetables. The name of the place means (I think): Central Newspaper Cafe and Bar
After lunch, we walked ALL OVER Klaipeda. It was a cloudy day, but felt warm (I'm guessing upper 40s). Here are a couple of pictures from that:
Steve by a colorful building and some arrows.
Me by a bulding covered in vines.
It is Autumn here! The colorful leaves look good against the grey sky.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
No dice
Went to the doctor today...she thought the stitches were not ready to come out yet. She prescribed me some things to properly keep the finger clean. I have to go in tomorrow to get it looked at again, and then on Monday morning, I will go in and get the stitches out. So a few more days with a bandaged finger.
I must say I'm a little relieved. I also didn't think the stitches were ready to come out.
Thanks for the prayers! I could use some more on Monday morning (or...Sunday night for you).
Have a great weekend. It is a blessing in disguise that we have to stay here over break (and that the doctor's office is right across the street (and down a ways) from school).
I must say I'm a little relieved. I also didn't think the stitches were ready to come out.
Thanks for the prayers! I could use some more on Monday morning (or...Sunday night for you).
Have a great weekend. It is a blessing in disguise that we have to stay here over break (and that the doctor's office is right across the street (and down a ways) from school).
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Short post
Hi All,
We are doing well, here in the middle of midterm week.
We will have to stay here in Klaipeda for fall break, because Steve will be the RD on duty. It is the opposite of last year, where we had to leave the country...this time around, we can't leave the city. It will still be relaxing, and hopefully we will be able to get off campus and explore the places in Klaipeda we haven't yet been to.
I can't remember if I've posted it on here yet or not, but this year I still get to participate in Community Bible Study International. It is such a blessing to be able to get off campus and be spiritually fed (also a good place to find some community and fellowship, even if it is only one night a week!). We are studying Ephesians this semester, and it is very encouraging! I had done the Ephesians study with Community Bible Study back in Pennsylvania, but it is always good to study it again!
This week our memory verse is Ephesians 2:8-9 (taken from the NIV...I included verse 10 because I like it and can't hardly recite 8 and 9 without it):
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Tomorrow morning (Thursday), I will go and have my stitches taken out of my finger. Pray for me! I get queasy just thinking about it.
Other than that, we are (along with everyone else) just counting down the minutes until fall break! Hope everyone back home is doing well.
We are doing well, here in the middle of midterm week.
We will have to stay here in Klaipeda for fall break, because Steve will be the RD on duty. It is the opposite of last year, where we had to leave the country...this time around, we can't leave the city. It will still be relaxing, and hopefully we will be able to get off campus and explore the places in Klaipeda we haven't yet been to.
I can't remember if I've posted it on here yet or not, but this year I still get to participate in Community Bible Study International. It is such a blessing to be able to get off campus and be spiritually fed (also a good place to find some community and fellowship, even if it is only one night a week!). We are studying Ephesians this semester, and it is very encouraging! I had done the Ephesians study with Community Bible Study back in Pennsylvania, but it is always good to study it again!
This week our memory verse is Ephesians 2:8-9 (taken from the NIV...I included verse 10 because I like it and can't hardly recite 8 and 9 without it):
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Tomorrow morning (Thursday), I will go and have my stitches taken out of my finger. Pray for me! I get queasy just thinking about it.
Other than that, we are (along with everyone else) just counting down the minutes until fall break! Hope everyone back home is doing well.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Some Things We Did in Vilnius
On our trip to Vilnius last weekend, besides visiting the Hill of Crosses, we were toured through the Museum of Genocide Victims. This museum is located in the former KGB headquarters for the Vilnius region. The tour was fascinating and heartbreaking all at the same time. When most of us Westerners think about WWII we quickly think of the gruesomeness of the Holocaust and often forget about the genocides that took place involving non-Jewish peoples.
Most of our tour of the Genocide Museum took place in the basement of the building where the KGB prison was located. The prison has changed very little from the time it was used (from 1940-1991). The prisoners brought to this prison were political prisoners who had in someway resisted the Soviet way.
We had been told that going to this museum was "essential" to a visit to Vilnius and I think that I agree. I feel like I have a much more informed perspective on history and culture having visited this museum.
For more information check out the museum's website here: The Museum of Genocide Victims
I have currently been reading a book in which the two main characters are discussing the topics of Jesus, the message of the Gospels, heaven, hell, etc. As I finished a chapter today, the characters were continuing their conversation as they were walking into the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. As they are entering the museum one of the characters asks what Jesus is doing or trying to accomplish by "using language of hell, plus all the other negative outcomes" in his parables. The other character replies, "He's trying to get us to repent so that places like this will no longer need to be built."*
That is my prayer. Not only is that our mission while we are in Lithuania, but for where ever and to whomever we are called.
*McLaren, B.D. 2005. The last word and the word after that: a tale of faith, doubt, and a new kind of Christianity. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Most of our tour of the Genocide Museum took place in the basement of the building where the KGB prison was located. The prison has changed very little from the time it was used (from 1940-1991). The prisoners brought to this prison were political prisoners who had in someway resisted the Soviet way.
We had been told that going to this museum was "essential" to a visit to Vilnius and I think that I agree. I feel like I have a much more informed perspective on history and culture having visited this museum.
For more information check out the museum's website here: The Museum of Genocide Victims
I have currently been reading a book in which the two main characters are discussing the topics of Jesus, the message of the Gospels, heaven, hell, etc. As I finished a chapter today, the characters were continuing their conversation as they were walking into the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. As they are entering the museum one of the characters asks what Jesus is doing or trying to accomplish by "using language of hell, plus all the other negative outcomes" in his parables. The other character replies, "He's trying to get us to repent so that places like this will no longer need to be built."*
That is my prayer. Not only is that our mission while we are in Lithuania, but for where ever and to whomever we are called.
*McLaren, B.D. 2005. The last word and the word after that: a tale of faith, doubt, and a new kind of Christianity. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
tuesday's adventures
Today was a busy day. I had planned on it being a busy day anyway, but there was some added adventure.
Here's the rundown, since my typing is limited:
9-10am - go to office, print out grocery list, and recipe for salsa.
10a-12p- Go grocery shopping for first year night (big event for first year students)
12-1p - Go to a First Year Seminar presentation.
1-2p - lunch with Steve
2-2:15p - start chopping up tomatoes for salsa, and chatting with one of my orientation leaders
2:15-4pm - slice chunk of finger instead of tomato, bleed everywhere, go to hospital, get 3 stitches, get all bandaged up, see other people in far worse shape than I am in, drive to a clinic, drive to another clinic, register at that clinic, make appointments to go get the bandages changed and stitches removed, go back to LCC.
4-7p -- continue to help with the set-up for first year night (my leaders finished the salsa, it was amazing)
7-9p - host Addam's family theme party for first year students, me dressed as pugsley and steve as uncle fester.
9-10p - clean up
can you guess which part of the day wasn't planned? I will work on posting a photo album of first year night...there are no photos of the injured finger...too graphic.
Here are some to hold you over:
left to right: Ulyana, Ana, Steve, Laura (Ulyana is the SOS leader that Steve teaches first year seminar with, Ana is the SOS leader that Laura teaches first year seminar with. They are both pretty great!)
The Addams Family...with 2 Wednesdays
No wedding ring for a while (also now needs to be cleaned).
Here's the rundown, since my typing is limited:
9-10am - go to office, print out grocery list, and recipe for salsa.
10a-12p- Go grocery shopping for first year night (big event for first year students)
12-1p - Go to a First Year Seminar presentation.
1-2p - lunch with Steve
2-2:15p - start chopping up tomatoes for salsa, and chatting with one of my orientation leaders
2:15-4pm - slice chunk of finger instead of tomato, bleed everywhere, go to hospital, get 3 stitches, get all bandaged up, see other people in far worse shape than I am in, drive to a clinic, drive to another clinic, register at that clinic, make appointments to go get the bandages changed and stitches removed, go back to LCC.
4-7p -- continue to help with the set-up for first year night (my leaders finished the salsa, it was amazing)
7-9p - host Addam's family theme party for first year students, me dressed as pugsley and steve as uncle fester.
9-10p - clean up
can you guess which part of the day wasn't planned? I will work on posting a photo album of first year night...there are no photos of the injured finger...too graphic.
Here are some to hold you over:
left to right: Ulyana, Ana, Steve, Laura (Ulyana is the SOS leader that Steve teaches first year seminar with, Ana is the SOS leader that Laura teaches first year seminar with. They are both pretty great!)
The Addams Family...with 2 Wednesdays
No wedding ring for a while (also now needs to be cleaned).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Vilnius
We had a long but wonderful day today!
We were some of the lucky staff that got to go along on the intercultural trip (for the second year in a row!). This year, we went to Hill of Crosses again, and then on to Vilnius! Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and it is also the Capital of Culture of Europe for 2009.
We were hoping to be able to carve out some time in our schedule to sneak away and go visit a distant cousin of mine who was in Vilnius this week for a conference, but unfortunately it did not work out.
It was a full day though, with wonderful weather (cold, but no rain...and even some blue sky!), and wonderful company.
As usual, we took millions of pictures.
They are here.
Enjoy!
Hope all is well....heard through the grapevine that Minnesota saw some snow already!
We were some of the lucky staff that got to go along on the intercultural trip (for the second year in a row!). This year, we went to Hill of Crosses again, and then on to Vilnius! Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and it is also the Capital of Culture of Europe for 2009.
We were hoping to be able to carve out some time in our schedule to sneak away and go visit a distant cousin of mine who was in Vilnius this week for a conference, but unfortunately it did not work out.
It was a full day though, with wonderful weather (cold, but no rain...and even some blue sky!), and wonderful company.
As usual, we took millions of pictures.
They are here.
Enjoy!
Hope all is well....heard through the grapevine that Minnesota saw some snow already!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
A Fun Gift
As most of the United States knows by now my beloved Minnesota Twins topped off a great weekend of Minnesota sports with and epic victory last night (or for me, very early this morning).
If there is one cultural thing that I miss by living in Eastern Europe, it is the fact that it is difficult to watch the sports teams that I love...or really any sports at all. I am blessed to have a wonderful internet connection and access to espn.com, twins.mlb.com, nfl.com, bethel.edu, and other websites (I could even follow my cousins' high school football, soccer, basketball, and hockey scores last year). This whole internet thing is nothing new and you all know that.
However, it is very much a treat when I can follow a game live and share in it with my fellow fans. Last night, our friends, the Yockeys, who spent last year here at LCC with us, emailed me and to see if we were going to attempt to follow the Twins game (they are from Illinois and are Cub fans, but also baseball fans). Then they offered to help us listen to the radio feed of the game via the internet. It was very generous of them and it was so great to talk to them for a while as we made the arrangements.
Being the game started at 12:00 midnight our time and lasted 4 1/2 hours, I was exhausted, but so glad I stayed up to witness a great game.
The long night also gave me time to think of all of the people who are supporting us to be here working at LCC. I am amazed at all of generosity and creativity of all of you in the ways you support us. Thank you so much. Even though I may not have time or space to mention each one by name, know that have been a blessing to Laura and me.
Thank you for you prayers. And all you Minnesotans now have to cheer extra hard during the playoffs.
If there is one cultural thing that I miss by living in Eastern Europe, it is the fact that it is difficult to watch the sports teams that I love...or really any sports at all. I am blessed to have a wonderful internet connection and access to espn.com, twins.mlb.com, nfl.com, bethel.edu, and other websites (I could even follow my cousins' high school football, soccer, basketball, and hockey scores last year). This whole internet thing is nothing new and you all know that.
However, it is very much a treat when I can follow a game live and share in it with my fellow fans. Last night, our friends, the Yockeys, who spent last year here at LCC with us, emailed me and to see if we were going to attempt to follow the Twins game (they are from Illinois and are Cub fans, but also baseball fans). Then they offered to help us listen to the radio feed of the game via the internet. It was very generous of them and it was so great to talk to them for a while as we made the arrangements.
Being the game started at 12:00 midnight our time and lasted 4 1/2 hours, I was exhausted, but so glad I stayed up to witness a great game.
The long night also gave me time to think of all of the people who are supporting us to be here working at LCC. I am amazed at all of generosity and creativity of all of you in the ways you support us. Thank you so much. Even though I may not have time or space to mention each one by name, know that have been a blessing to Laura and me.
Thank you for you prayers. And all you Minnesotans now have to cheer extra hard during the playoffs.
Friday, October 2, 2009
ch-ch-ch-chain
Last January when Guy came and visited us, it was a blast. Months before he came, I made a paper chain to count down the days until his arrival (I honestly thought that I had blogged about this, but I've searched high and low and can't find the blog to link to).
Shortly after Guy left, we thought it would be fun(ny) to make a chain to countdown the days until Eva and Hannah visited. They are coming in February of 2010. So I made a year's worth of chain links and linked them all together. Up until May, it served as a dual countdown, because that is when Steve's parents came to visit.
For over the summer, we packed it up with all of our stuff and left it behind. It was really a relief to be able to tear away that many chain links when we got back after the summer was over.
Anyway, the chain is so big, and our apartment is not, so it has been living on top of the counter with lots of other goodies...until now. It is finally a manage-able length...which is exciting, because that means that we will have visitors soon! February 2010 is right around the corner...and in honor of that, we've relocated the chain to a more prominent area of the apartment.
Here is the current length...it now fits in our living room! The beginning of the chain is touching the camera (hence why all of the flash got soaked in to the links), and the end of the chain is hooked on the bathroom door. There's Steve in the background!
Here is where we used to keep the chain, among some of our other favorite things.
And here is its new home. Steve thinks it looks like Pippi Longstocking.
Well, I'm on my lunch break and need to get back to the ol' office. If you would like to come and visit us, we now have a hide-a-bed, we are pretty good cooks, and we will make you a paper chain. Just some things to consider :)
Shortly after Guy left, we thought it would be fun(ny) to make a chain to countdown the days until Eva and Hannah visited. They are coming in February of 2010. So I made a year's worth of chain links and linked them all together. Up until May, it served as a dual countdown, because that is when Steve's parents came to visit.
For over the summer, we packed it up with all of our stuff and left it behind. It was really a relief to be able to tear away that many chain links when we got back after the summer was over.
Anyway, the chain is so big, and our apartment is not, so it has been living on top of the counter with lots of other goodies...until now. It is finally a manage-able length...which is exciting, because that means that we will have visitors soon! February 2010 is right around the corner...and in honor of that, we've relocated the chain to a more prominent area of the apartment.
Here is the current length...it now fits in our living room! The beginning of the chain is touching the camera (hence why all of the flash got soaked in to the links), and the end of the chain is hooked on the bathroom door. There's Steve in the background!
Here is where we used to keep the chain, among some of our other favorite things.
And here is its new home. Steve thinks it looks like Pippi Longstocking.
Well, I'm on my lunch break and need to get back to the ol' office. If you would like to come and visit us, we now have a hide-a-bed, we are pretty good cooks, and we will make you a paper chain. Just some things to consider :)
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A fun video by one of the students...
Here is a video done by one of the students here. Please note that this event was just under an hour...but went through the whole range of weather possibilities...(to compliment my pictures). Enjoy!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
2nd Annual Ugly Duckling Cup
Hi All,
This last Thursday was the 2nd Annual Ugly Duckling Cup...a dorm competition that involved students from the dorm building their own boats and racing them on the pond here on campus. Perhaps you remember last year the pictures we posted of us all carrying the boat across the city. This year Karklu won again (but now we live in Neumann West...we got second place!), and there were some extra added elements, like a quick relay before the boat race, where runners, 3-legged racers, and piggy backers had to pass off their team's flag (the baton, if you will), and then there were three sets of sailors, so each team had to sail their boat across the pond three times. As you will see in the pictures, the weather was typical Klaipeda weather...but a good time was had by all!
Here is one of my favorite pictures of the day, the rest can be seen here.
Have a great weekend!
This last Thursday was the 2nd Annual Ugly Duckling Cup...a dorm competition that involved students from the dorm building their own boats and racing them on the pond here on campus. Perhaps you remember last year the pictures we posted of us all carrying the boat across the city. This year Karklu won again (but now we live in Neumann West...we got second place!), and there were some extra added elements, like a quick relay before the boat race, where runners, 3-legged racers, and piggy backers had to pass off their team's flag (the baton, if you will), and then there were three sets of sailors, so each team had to sail their boat across the pond three times. As you will see in the pictures, the weather was typical Klaipeda weather...but a good time was had by all!
Here is one of my favorite pictures of the day, the rest can be seen here.
Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Stir crazy
One thing that I did not anticipate properly about overseas work is how small the bubble you live in actually is. A colleague of mine compared it to when she worked on a cruise ship for 6 months. The options for people to befriend outside of work are very limited...especially when you live at work (in her case, a boat...in our case, eastern Europe).
That being said, we are doing well, don't worry about us. But please pray that we would be able to find community and balance of personal life and work life.
We are taking time to go out on a date tonight (much needed), and hopefully will get out of town for a day or two this weekend. It will be so nice to be off campus for a little while! (to put it into even more perspective...I am one of those who spent a lot of time being a commuter when I was in college. I lived in a dorm for a total of three semesters when I was a student, the rest of time was spent living off campus. Being a wife of an RD, I am now on my third semester of living in a dorm when I'm not a student. It is definitely one of those "God has such a sense of humor" situations). :)
Hope everyone is doing well.
That being said, we are doing well, don't worry about us. But please pray that we would be able to find community and balance of personal life and work life.
We are taking time to go out on a date tonight (much needed), and hopefully will get out of town for a day or two this weekend. It will be so nice to be off campus for a little while! (to put it into even more perspective...I am one of those who spent a lot of time being a commuter when I was in college. I lived in a dorm for a total of three semesters when I was a student, the rest of time was spent living off campus. Being a wife of an RD, I am now on my third semester of living in a dorm when I'm not a student. It is definitely one of those "God has such a sense of humor" situations). :)
Hope everyone is doing well.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Intercultural Olympics
The Intercultural Olympics is a day (Saturday) of games planned by the Intercultural student leaders and their supervisor Sarah. Teams of students representing their country play a bunch of fun camp-type games at the Velodrome (bike track) near LCC. Steve and I made an appearance before heading out to the market. It was a beautiful day! Here is a link to the pictures I took (the batteries of the camera died, so there aren't very many pictures, and of the the pictures taken, there isn't that much variety, sorry).
Hope everyone is doing well!
Hope everyone is doing well!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A Weekend of Food
One of the best parts of working at a university with students is getting to spend time with them. And like most people one of the best ways to spend time together is around a table of food. This takes on a whole new meaning when working at an international university.
Last fall, Laura and I had the opportunity to travel to Izmir, Turkey and visit some Balci family (long time family friends). While with Murat, Sedan, Osman, Feyhan, and Suti (their housekeeper), we enjoyed a Turkish dish called börek. Börek is a flaky pastry that is most often filled with savory ingredients. The crust is phyllo dough (puff pastry) and then insides are usually spinach and cheese, meat, tomato and onion, etc. Börek quickly became one of our favorite foods and something that we have been longing to learn how to make ourselves, so that we can enjoy it more often.
Last year during Bible study we were sharing a meal with our students and talking about native dishes for each country. One girl, Aina, from Albania said that most Albainian dishes had been influenced by the history of Ottoman Empire rule in their country for about 500 years. So I asked if Börek was one such influence. Our hearts and stomachs rejoiced when Aina said that of course Albainians ate börek. Only in Albainia it is spelled byrek. A few weeks later Aina made us some byrek.
On Friday, Aina, Eri, and Juli (all ladies from Albainia) came over to our apartment to show us how to make byrek from scratch. It is a bit of a time consuming task, but so worth the effort. Laura was in charge of observing the creation of the phyllo dough and I was was in charge of helping and observing the making of the filling for two different types of byrek (spinach and feta; tomato and onion). We had a great time learning, talking, laughing, and of course eating our final product. Ummm, I can still taste it. Here are some pictures for you get a "taste" of what a delight byrek is.
Oh, deliciousness (a.k.a. byrek or börek)
Aina and Laura rolling out the layers of dough.
Juli and Eri filling the tomato and onion byrek.
The preparations.
Our lovely byrek teachers enjoying their hard work.
Also, last evening, Iva, one of my RAs from last year came over for dessert to catch up from the summer. She has been in Greece working this summer and brought us a Greek treat that is like a Russian Tea biscuit, but had whole almonds in them. They were great. And it was a great time to catch up with Iva and hear her tales from the summer.
Finally, today we held our first dorm potluck for the year, here in Neumann at noon. Vasile, who was our neighbor last year and now on my RA staff instigated and planned the event. In all about 12 people came, but we shared chicken, pasta, pasta salad, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, borsht, tiramisu, and sausage and apple egg bake. It was a great time of eating and getting to know some students we haven't really met yet.
Now we are off to church where we will enjoy an ice cream social after the service. It has been a good weekend.
Last fall, Laura and I had the opportunity to travel to Izmir, Turkey and visit some Balci family (long time family friends). While with Murat, Sedan, Osman, Feyhan, and Suti (their housekeeper), we enjoyed a Turkish dish called börek. Börek is a flaky pastry that is most often filled with savory ingredients. The crust is phyllo dough (puff pastry) and then insides are usually spinach and cheese, meat, tomato and onion, etc. Börek quickly became one of our favorite foods and something that we have been longing to learn how to make ourselves, so that we can enjoy it more often.
Last year during Bible study we were sharing a meal with our students and talking about native dishes for each country. One girl, Aina, from Albania said that most Albainian dishes had been influenced by the history of Ottoman Empire rule in their country for about 500 years. So I asked if Börek was one such influence. Our hearts and stomachs rejoiced when Aina said that of course Albainians ate börek. Only in Albainia it is spelled byrek. A few weeks later Aina made us some byrek.
On Friday, Aina, Eri, and Juli (all ladies from Albainia) came over to our apartment to show us how to make byrek from scratch. It is a bit of a time consuming task, but so worth the effort. Laura was in charge of observing the creation of the phyllo dough and I was was in charge of helping and observing the making of the filling for two different types of byrek (spinach and feta; tomato and onion). We had a great time learning, talking, laughing, and of course eating our final product. Ummm, I can still taste it. Here are some pictures for you get a "taste" of what a delight byrek is.
Oh, deliciousness (a.k.a. byrek or börek)
Aina and Laura rolling out the layers of dough.
Juli and Eri filling the tomato and onion byrek.
The preparations.
Our lovely byrek teachers enjoying their hard work.
Also, last evening, Iva, one of my RAs from last year came over for dessert to catch up from the summer. She has been in Greece working this summer and brought us a Greek treat that is like a Russian Tea biscuit, but had whole almonds in them. They were great. And it was a great time to catch up with Iva and hear her tales from the summer.
Finally, today we held our first dorm potluck for the year, here in Neumann at noon. Vasile, who was our neighbor last year and now on my RA staff instigated and planned the event. In all about 12 people came, but we shared chicken, pasta, pasta salad, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, borsht, tiramisu, and sausage and apple egg bake. It was a great time of eating and getting to know some students we haven't really met yet.
Now we are off to church where we will enjoy an ice cream social after the service. It has been a good weekend.
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