(Written 14:40, Sun 18th Dec)
I’m currently sat at Aran, the cool coffee shop in Friedrichshafen that we go to. Not going to lie, my bum is starting to get a tad numb! I’ve been sat at this seat for, let me work this out, 4 hours now ...and I have about another 2 hours until my ferry leaves to take me to the airport. So far I have completed all but one level of majong tiles, drank some tea, eaten a Panini, watched inception (...which is an awesome film by the way; is he left in reality or a dream?!! Oh my gosh, my mind was working over load when I was watching it!). And I’m pretty sure the staff have noticed that I am STILL here 4 hours after arriving, still sat at my laptop haha! In fact, I think I’ve even sat through some shift changes; the girl that walked past wasn’t on shift when I first got here! OK, enough about the length of time I’ve sat here, let’s move on...
Bodenseehof tem one is officially over. I can’t quite get my brain around this, where the heck did three months go?! I honestly can’t comprehend it. It feels weird that I’m not going to be at school for the next 3 weeks, but I’ll be at home again. I’m glad for the break to be honest. My brain has almost reached saturation point, and would probably benefit from some time just to digest more what I’ve been listening to in lectures.
Lots of us have been reflecting back on our time here so far, asking each other about our highlights. So I thought I’d share a few of mine!
One thing that everyone seems to say is how awesome the people are. We really are a little community, and I appreciate the friendships that I have here. For me it took quite a while to get settled with people; to get past the ‘surface’ friendships that you have initially with people and reach the more meaningful friendships where you feel open to share exactly where you are with things, what your struggling with etc. And that’s a big reason why I’m so excited for next term. This term, half the time was getting past that surface friendship with people. But once we get back after Christmas break, I won’t have to spend weeks getting to know people from scratch, but I’ll be able to get to know them more.
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| At the top of the swiss alps :) |
English camp for me was another highlight. For me the first one stands out more. It was a smaller camp so I got to know each of the kids and also our team of 6 people that went. There were so many awesome moments during the camp; hiking up to the top of a mountain to see a 360 degree view of alps surrounding us; praying with some of the girls who as the start of the week were pretty quiet when it came to talking a out Christianity, but then by the end were praying aloud to the rest of the group; eating my first ever smore. It was just a great week.
I have also loved all of the social events that the school has put on, especially all of those where music was involved. We have some seriously talented people here musically, and I could sit and listen to them perform for hours.
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| When the Bode took over the 10k! |
Doing the 10k...hard work but SO MUCH FUN!
Having a week where I didn’t go on the internet, sent no emails, didn’t go on facebook, listened to no music from my ipod was also great. When the media fast was going on the school was so much more sociable, you could seriously notice the difference. There was more time to just sit and spend time with God one on one. Go for a walk with no music to fill your head, but just quietness for you to talk to Him.
Our outreach events have been great too. It’s awesome seeing the school work together to put on events like The Crossing and Advent International. And as scary as it is afterward to go and talk to random people who have come, some of which know little English, it is kind of fun. Especially now when we recognise some faces from previous events.
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| Shopping at the Christmas market |
Ohh, and seeing shooting stars! I must have seen about 5-6 since I’ve been here, which I think is quite a lot!
The Christmas market at Stuttgart was so much fun too, wandering around all the cute little stalls and getting in the Christmassy mood.
There have been SO MANY great lectures. Ones that particularly stand out have been the ones by Peter in the series ‘walk the talk’, the life of Abraham by Rob Whittiker, and Jill Brisco giving us some ‘life lessons’. I’m excited to have time over Christmas to maybe look through some of my notes; read back about what they said.
Mann, when I think about it my list could go on and on and on and on and on...
Can you tell why I’m excited for next term?!!
