Captain's Log: 31 May 2010
Avast me hearties! I be glad ye has chose to sail over to me blog. Strenghten yer hearts with some spirits and listen to the tales of Captain Nathan.
Now that that is over, welcome.
In preparation for my departure, my social nature has rapidly matured into a very weird form--the form of someone who initiates social events. I like to think of myself as a social leech. I have attached myself to a host who has then taken me to social gatherings. In this way, I have survived. But, seeing as I am to depart soon I have been required to evolve and take a more proactive approach to my friendships.
As June 2 draws near, I have begun to detach from my drained host and start engaging with my friends before I leave them for Europe. It has been an odd feeling. The past 5 days have been filled with many gatherings of my friends and Chandler. (Burn!!!!) Nick, Casey, Kelsey and Greg came over to Man Manor and enjoyed rousing games of Ping Pang last Friday. G-money, Chandler and myself took lake Ransom by storm Saturday at the Wentz Villa. Sunday a huge crowd came and broke in our new couch and coffee table. On that A-list were names like Austin Taylor, Hayden Viaille, Cecily Bailey, Kelsey Barnes and many others. It was a blast.
Some of these people I normally go months without seeing and are now the very people I am having trouble leaving. Perhaps it is because I am scared of my travels, but I feel it is more because I am starting to understand what they mean to me. I am less that 48 hours from Roma (pretentious spelling for the win!) and my spirit is having a rather large aversion to my setting sail. Lubbock with its quaint charms may play some part in this, however, I am left thinking it is those I am leaving behind that cause these disconent feelings. I have tried to explain to my heart that 49 days is hardly anything to fret over. For goodness sake! You will be in Italy, Greece and England! Quit being a little girl! My heart remains intransigent; it is unphased by such statements. I realize now that though 49 days from home is more than bearable; 49 days void of those friendships in Lubbock, however, is a burrden my spirit is not in good enough shape to handle. Much like Kyle and any activity. I am not leaving for good, but I am going to miss out on nights like tonight.
Tonight, while my friends smoked the devil's pipe, I sat and swapped the same stories I have swapped countless times. Senior parking and triquetras dominated the conversation at times, while tales of David Pruett were ever spewing from David's mouth. They are best friends, you know? Kyle was particularly reserved tonight, which is understandable seeing as his lady-friend was sitting right next to him.
I got to meet this Ms. Adcock and put her down as a bonus person met this summer. We swapped pleasantries and talked about our schooling. She is a double major in pre-med and philosophy so we had some common ground to discuss. Most of it was dry pleasantries with a smart remark on occasion. It wasn't terribly awkward, but rather dull as most first meetings are. (Don't misunderstand me, she is quite the interesting lady, but we all know how lame first meetings are. "Yes I am a classics major. Oh you have never heard of that? Shocking! What can I do with it? Well being poor is pretty much what you can do with it; although...") To be honest, I feel like the only real interaction I had with her was when her foot accidentally bumped mine. That awkward moment when you try to explain to the person next to you that you are not the type to play footsy is always a blast... I feel like these times are the times that you actually connect with people. When the stale air of formality is out of the equation and you are genuinely embarassed by a slight tap of the foot. After that the mood was lightened and I felt like she was more O.K. with Kyle's choice of friends. Or she was just creeped out by my adamant denial of the footsy game that she thought to herself "Kyle's friend must be a registered sex offender to freak out like that!" Well, newsflash! I'm not! I am just scared of women! So don't be all high and mi... Huh, where was I?
Ah yes! I was talking about summer nights with dear friends. My reticence regarding my journey is not from some anxiety about getting lost or about being away from home. I feel like by going on this trip I will be experiencing a once in a lifetime opportunity, but I am giving up a 49 nights like this one to experience that opportunity. And when you are sitting there, with the warm breeze on your neck. The smell of hookah permeating the night, infecting the lungs of your commrades, you think you might be getting a sour deal. Though I look forward to making new friends, I have 14 years of history with these people. These nights can't be replaced. Nor can the ones I will have on my trip. In the words of Chandler, CATCH 22!
To all my friends, I will dearly miss hanging out with you this summer, but take heart! I will come back with new stories and tales of adventures--surely I will manage to slay a dragon or two and regale you with the deets. Then maybe, just maybe, you won't have to hear me brag about my half ironman ever again. All 70.3 miles of it. Which I did in 6 hours.
End Transmission
P.S. I am still working on how to introduce you to the people I meet without sounding like a total creeper. Bear with me. I might never make it tharr!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Pre-Departure Orientation
Captain's Log: 30 May 2010
As I prepare for my departure to Rome, Nafplion and Binchester I have been asked several questions. I hope to address these questions before I leave so people don't continue to bother me. Normally, I would love the attention, but to be honest, when you ask me about my trip, we are not really talking about me. More talking about space I will occupy in the coming weeks. Though that is important, I feel like I am far more important than said spaces. In order to move the conversation away from wonderous European spectacles, let's answer some questions.
Q: What's her name?
A: Your mom.
SN: This is a common question asked by twelve year olds. a.k.a. my friend Kyle. If you are not the intellectual level of Mr. Kyle Gregory, he is trying to make a play on words - abroad becomes a broad. Look, the "gender chess" master himself could rival the likes of Mike Anderson with his word play. Let us marvel at his genius.
Q: What are you studying there?
A: Mostly archeology. In Rome, we will be doing site survey. That is where we go to landmarks and look at the archeological features. We will be looking at temples, the forum, baths, famous roads and things of that sort. In Nafplion we will be doing ground survey. Walking the Argolid plane, old roads, old citadels and those types of things. In Binchester we are going to actually dig at Hadrian's Wall. Pretty sweet, no?
Q: How long will you be gone?
A: 7 weeks. Or in Zach time 13 years, 4 months, 3 days and 18 hours.
Q: Woah! Greece?! Aren't they in turmoil.
A: Watch the following clip.
As you can see, yes. Greece is in turmoil. But with all the bailout money headed their way, I am totally going to get myself a statue. They owe me. I am a tax paying American citizen. I payed $27 in taxes last year. So... yeah, they owe me.
Q: Will you get me something?
A: Did you get me something when you went on your last out of town trip?
Q: What are your looking to do there?
A: I want to veer away from the expected answer and give you my goal for the trip. Very early on in the planning for this trip, I wanted to be independant. I wanted to do my thing and get some life experiences under my belt. This was the plan, however, God likes to take things different ways. In the midst of my hopes and dreams of unfettered independance, God spoke to me. This is a less exciting message than I would have liked to hear, but sometimes what we want matters nil.
It has been on my heart for months now to really help change Lubbock. I feel like God is wanting to move and affect people's lives and my heart has been saying, "Once I am back in the 806 God's work is getting done!" Well, God kind of asked me in a soft gentle tone, "what makes you think you have to be in Lubbock to affect my work there? Do you think that I provided this opportunity for you just to chill? You don't think that the people going on the trip with you need Christ?" And then I realized what God was asking me. I have discovered that this trip is not about me. Not at all. It is about the people that I will meet. The people that I will travel with, eat with, study with and do so many other things with. So many chances to bless others and show other the love of Christ. So, the real goal of my trip is to meet one person a day. Meet one of God's precious children and try and affect their life following Christ's example. I have 49 days abroad. My goal is to meet 49 people. Hopefully and prayfully I meet that goal. I intend to blog about my days experiences and most importantly tell you about a person I have met in my travels. I am going to have countless to bless people. Learn about their lives, their struggles, their triumphs, their stories. I am stoked to say the least.
Now I leave you the floor reader(s). If your question hasn't been answered, feel free to ask.
Transmission over.
As I prepare for my departure to Rome, Nafplion and Binchester I have been asked several questions. I hope to address these questions before I leave so people don't continue to bother me. Normally, I would love the attention, but to be honest, when you ask me about my trip, we are not really talking about me. More talking about space I will occupy in the coming weeks. Though that is important, I feel like I am far more important than said spaces. In order to move the conversation away from wonderous European spectacles, let's answer some questions.
Q: What's her name?
A: Your mom.
SN: This is a common question asked by twelve year olds. a.k.a. my friend Kyle. If you are not the intellectual level of Mr. Kyle Gregory, he is trying to make a play on words - abroad becomes a broad. Look, the "gender chess" master himself could rival the likes of Mike Anderson with his word play. Let us marvel at his genius.
Q: What are you studying there?
A: Mostly archeology. In Rome, we will be doing site survey. That is where we go to landmarks and look at the archeological features. We will be looking at temples, the forum, baths, famous roads and things of that sort. In Nafplion we will be doing ground survey. Walking the Argolid plane, old roads, old citadels and those types of things. In Binchester we are going to actually dig at Hadrian's Wall. Pretty sweet, no?
Q: How long will you be gone?
A: 7 weeks. Or in Zach time 13 years, 4 months, 3 days and 18 hours.
Q: Woah! Greece?! Aren't they in turmoil.
A: Watch the following clip.
As you can see, yes. Greece is in turmoil. But with all the bailout money headed their way, I am totally going to get myself a statue. They owe me. I am a tax paying American citizen. I payed $27 in taxes last year. So... yeah, they owe me.
Q: Will you get me something?
A: Did you get me something when you went on your last out of town trip?
Q: What are your looking to do there?
A: I want to veer away from the expected answer and give you my goal for the trip. Very early on in the planning for this trip, I wanted to be independant. I wanted to do my thing and get some life experiences under my belt. This was the plan, however, God likes to take things different ways. In the midst of my hopes and dreams of unfettered independance, God spoke to me. This is a less exciting message than I would have liked to hear, but sometimes what we want matters nil.
It has been on my heart for months now to really help change Lubbock. I feel like God is wanting to move and affect people's lives and my heart has been saying, "Once I am back in the 806 God's work is getting done!" Well, God kind of asked me in a soft gentle tone, "what makes you think you have to be in Lubbock to affect my work there? Do you think that I provided this opportunity for you just to chill? You don't think that the people going on the trip with you need Christ?" And then I realized what God was asking me. I have discovered that this trip is not about me. Not at all. It is about the people that I will meet. The people that I will travel with, eat with, study with and do so many other things with. So many chances to bless others and show other the love of Christ. So, the real goal of my trip is to meet one person a day. Meet one of God's precious children and try and affect their life following Christ's example. I have 49 days abroad. My goal is to meet 49 people. Hopefully and prayfully I meet that goal. I intend to blog about my days experiences and most importantly tell you about a person I have met in my travels. I am going to have countless to bless people. Learn about their lives, their struggles, their triumphs, their stories. I am stoked to say the least.
Now I leave you the floor reader(s). If your question hasn't been answered, feel free to ask.
Transmission over.
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