No Comprende

It is so stressful sometimes being the only person whose mother tongue is English. You just want people to understand you, and the more you try, the more frustrated you get. Sometimes my students get so frustrated with me because they don’t understand new concepts that I’m teaching them. I can totally understand what they are going through. You try and try, but nothing seems to help. Words are so precious. You can wave your arms about as much as you want, but an idea or a concept is best understood when you speak the same language. You cannot understand how amazing it is to get a napkin when you ask for a napkin.  How easily I know that I will take words for granted when I return to the Land of the Free. I cannot imagine being here alone. I cannot imagine never having an outlet to release to in my own language. Maria, who is from Finland, commented on how frustrated she gets sometimes. Although she knows English as well as we do(and perhaps better in some cases), she still wishes to express herself in Finnish. Of course! That’s to be expected! That’s what she is comfortable with. I feel the same way. There are times when I just want to spout off in English and have just ONE person understand what I’m grasping for. Before you realize it, you’ve become so much more frustrated and angry than you ever anticipated. How silly this is! Something most people don’t ever even encounter, and I struggle with it on hourly basis. Interesting, eh? But something Maria said has stuck with me. She said that no matter how much she wishes she could talk to someone in Finnish and have them comprehend and reply, she can always rely on God. God knows all tongues and is the best listener you could ask for. So, whenever I am frustrated or just feeling misunderstood, I get out my journal. I write to my Father or simply talk out loud to Him. How much better I feel! Even though I doubt that you are struggling with people understanding the literal words that are exiting your mouth, I think it’s safe to assume that there are times when people do not understand your way of thinking. Take it to God. He is the one person who will not only completely understand, but will have the best response you could ask for :o)

Time Flies

As I told you, Stephanie, Rebecca, and myself have undoubtedly been up to no good :o) Sadly, Rebecca has to go home this coming Monday :0( That only gives us 5 more days together. It's hard to believe that she's already been here 2 weeks! Time really has flown by. It has been so nice to have a little bit of America with us :o) Not to mention, she brought 2 cans of Big Franks for us...haha

Speaking of time, do any of you realize that I'll be home in exactly 3 months? This is just pure insanity! I seriously can't believe that my time here will end so soon. In some ways I am elated to think about going home, but in others I am saddened beyond belief to realize that my precious home here will have to be abandoned. Enough of the Debbie Downer act, I've still got 3 months, and I will enjoy it to the fullest! 

Here's a few pics of us girls up to no good! : Yeah, these top pictures are of us standing by the bug cart....they eat fried bugs....yummy? NOT! Not that we tried them or anything....

Rebecca(a.k.a. "Binga") IS HERE!!!!!!!

Here are a couple pics of our time with Reb so far :o) :

This is us on the ferry back to the mainland...we be silly

So it wouldn't let me add another pic to this post. The pic of us at the airport should be to your left....with my other gadgets on the left of the page. Sorry bout that.

OK.....I'll add more later - the internet is being SUPER testy....like a crazy, angry monkey......only I would compare internet access to a monkey......