Conferences

Today I attended the annual women's conference at my College. Such a lovely thing to do after having been away for so long. And great that as I live on campus, I just had to walk down the driveway ( no driving in traffic, no parking hassles) to get there. This year the topic was 'Songs of the Heart' with talks for the Psalms. At one point during one of the talks, we were encouraged to write our responses to some of the pslams we'd been reading ( in the format " I am..." , " He is..." and "Therefore..."). I started writing and this is what came out:

I am broken.
I am overwhelmed.
BUT I am blessed despite my circumstances.
I learn to rejoice even from the depths,
because I can still see your stars, O Lord.
The night is dark with my despair,
but morning WILL come.
You WILL change my sackcloth for robes of gold.
You take my ashes and shower me with roses.
You are my eternal Beloved, you will never abandon me.
You lead me by my hand into your very throne room,
you seat me at your banquet table.
You wipe my tears and comfort me in your arms,
For I am yours forever.

One month in

I'm not entirely sure who reads this blog ( I know KB does). I think I'll keep writing it as a sort of semi public journal. A way to process my thoughts and experiences of transitioning back to Oz and chronicling experiences of being a full time student at College.

I've read in several re-entry books that it can take 6-12 months to transition back. Other friends say it's more like TWO YEARS! So I can expect this to take a while. I am finding the hardest thing about Aussie culture to get used to again is the constant putting down we seem to do, but passed off as just a joke. Another tough aspect is the noise levels when we have meals or any large gathering - it is usually so loud it's difficult to hear the person across the table. Maybe I am just more sensitive to noise now. I start feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

Was feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the course but it's too late to drop down to 3/4 load ( doing only 3 subjects per semester rather than 4) . Missed the deadline to change by 1 day. Oh well, guess that means I need to depend a lot more on God to get me through and that's not a bad thing.

Made a few friends at College. But the texture is different. I don't have the same emotional resources to give anymore - so am choosing carefully who I shall befriend ( in a deep way).  Last time I was here, I think I knew most people's names by this time in the semester ( week 3). This time around, I find I hit my capacity for meeting new people a lot sooner. If I've had a significant conversation with a person, then of course I remember them without the name tag ( we have to wear a name tag all through this term, but usually don't wear it on the weekends, at which point I stick with only the people whose names I DO know!).

Tonight, I went to a Beatnix concert ( Beatles cover band where a friend is one of the singers, he's normally Paul McCartney). Went by myself as no one at College was interested (way beyond their time, and it's barely in mine, but I heard it a lot growing up) . I knew that Andrew and Voula ( College buddies from 2002) would be there so I just took a taxi. I wished I had someone to go with, but it was nice that I had the freedom to just hop in a cab and go without thinking through what people might think of me for going out on my own and returning late at night. Had a great night, dancing away in the sidelines, chatting to my friends afterwards. Now I am too wired to go to bed!
Word on the street is that a group is going dancing to Retro next Friday night - they play 'retro' music, which means stuff from the 80s which is when I was a teen! So right up my alley- it's been a long time since I went dancing. I am going to investigate into Ceroc dance classes nearby and as long as I can borrow someone's car, I can get there and back. I need my creative outlets.

Would appreciate your prayers( anyone reading this!) re transition back to Oz, life as a full time student and struggling a bit with singleness too.

PRAYER POINTS

-Praise God for the privilege of studying at College. And to live on campus and have all my meals catered has been a blessing too, even if it means sometimes the culture clash is more obvious.
- I've been sick with a tummy bug ( possibly giardia) which I think I picked up in the Central Coast a couple of weeks ago. Am now on meds but please pray for quick healing.
-Pray for me to continue adapting and adjusting to College and being back in Oz - yes, there's been a lot of reverse culture shock.
- Please pray as I consider what ministry options to say YES to and what to say 'Not this time, sorry'. Next weekend, I've committed Saturday afternoon to helping with a coffee ministry that C'ian Surfers are putting on as part of the festivities around Australian Open of Surfing ( http://australianopenofsurfing.com/manly12/) which starts tomorrow for 1 week. Please pray I will have some good conversations about Jesus.
-Pray that I will be sensitive to the needs of others too - today a friend came to tell me she failed her Greek test. She was quite discouraged and teary. Please pray that I would know how to support and encourage her in a practical way ( Greek has been easier for me so far).

Finally , please pray that I will be content, whatever my marks, that I can keep remembering to ask our Lord and Saviour to show me every day what He wants me to learn and who He wants me to help and to have the ears and willing heart to do that.

Photos of life at College

My room at College- the doorway leads to the study- 'curtain' is my bedspread from Lombok!

I don't yet have a place to hang all my necklaces so this tree branch is helping out. HOWEVER I have ordered online a very lovely free standing mirror which opens up to a jewellery cabinet.

Hat and handbag rack behind my door. I gave away almost all my hats when I came to Indo and am now restarting my collection - so far only have 2 hats but am sure they will multiply.

I even have a fake fireplace in my room with mantlepiece where I can put my 'bits and pieces' 

This is the front of the College - and is the original building which now houses the lecturers' offices.

My pastor ( far left) his wife and daughters had me over for Sunday lunch with some of the other staff of our church. It was a lovely summer afternoon to have lunch outside.

Here is the evening congregation at my church- many young people, most under 30!

               

This is my new friend Sarah, who attends College and also goes to the evening service at my church. We ended up at a local Thai restaurant after church.

These cheeky boys saying 'Cheese' are the sons of my friends ( who are also supporters).. 

The awesomely tasty chicken and mango salad that my friend ( the boys' mum) made.

The College year traditionally starts with a commencement service after dinner.And one of the musos is from the band Garage Hymnal - so yes the worship session was awesome.

We had a Families BBQ day during the first week - where all the lecturers cooked or served our drinks and meals. Here's one of the NT lecturers at the barbie.

We had this lovely Aussie BBQ feast                                   

Here's a shot from a kids' ministry arvo at my friends' commencement service at their church. There are playing 'Captain's coming'. It was a good time of sharing with the kids' about how to share about Jesus to their friends and people who don't know about Jesus.

2 weeks later

So I am now at College. Living in one of the campus houses. It's 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. The 3 girls in the back half of the house ( incl. yours truly) use the back bathroom which is much smaller than the front one. BUT as we have to clean it ourselves, I can appreciate having a smaller bathroom and also a frosted shower door instead of a clear one! It's the small things to be grateful for.

Once I work out how to migrate my photos to the new MAC* I will put some photos on here. I love my room, and it has a separate study area ( what used to be the sunroom). I've rigged up my bedspread from Lombok as a curtain to cut down the light in the morning streaming in from the study. and I have some of my Balinese things in there ( a silver square offering box, some wayang kulit puppets, a couple of little batik fans all on the mantelpiece of the nonworking fireplace. It's very comfortable!

* My new MacBook Pro ( 15" screen) was delivered yesterday afternoon. So I spent last night setting it up. Haven't sync'd my photos and music on there yet or uploaded my contacts. I think I need some help and also a quick tutorial! I'm sure once I get the hang of it, I will love my Mac, just like all the other devotees.

I've been good about exercising 5-6 times per week so far ( this is week 3) and lost 1 kg already. Am also having 1/2 portions at meals and filling up on salad and fruit. I refuse to put on any weight at College this time around - in fact my goal is to lose the 6kgs that I put on when I was here 10 years ago! ( I need to lose about 10 kgs in total to be at a good height/weight range).

I survived NT Greek intensive 4 days. Am a little annoyed that I got 2 of the easy test questions wrong as I didn't read the question properly ( and I knew the answer). Thankfully none of the tests this week count towards our final grade. So hopefully lesson learnt - READ THE QUESTION!

One week later

Well. I am still on honeymoon period. IF you have access to my FB, you will have seen some beautiful pictures of Sydney and some of its suburbs.( if you aren't on FB, why not?)
Blue is my new favourite colour-the photos below were taken on 2 different days walking along the waterfront. Makes exercise uplifting to the heart as well as good for the body. I am so thankful for good pathways to walk along, great scenery to look at, riends who look after me and lend me their  car and give me things that I need for College ( sheets, blankets, powerboard). I am very blessed!

More things to be thankful for

I've been walking twice now. Once in the Shire, along a very pretty creek. and today, along the suburban strees of Naremburn. I love that there are pretty walks that make exercise seem less painful. I also appreciate nice wide, even sidewalks to walk on. And I've loved looking at all the different homes around here, each one different from it's neighbour ( I love good architecture and landscaping). And eveything is so well maintained and clean ( no potholes in the roads, clearly marked lanes that traffic obeys, no rubbish by the side of the road). The neatness and orderliness of the lower Nth Shore certianly suits my personality type:-)

Visited Greenwich Baths today ( a small secluded beach known only to a few). Too cold for me to get in the water but I enjoyed the view of beautiful Sydney Harbour on a clear blue skies day, the kids playing in the ocean and the sand, the soy cappucino. Life is good.