Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

This week is just full of changes. For one, Pastor and Mrs. Ahlers move back to the States on Thursday. That is a big change for them and it will be a big change for us too. It means no more English church and no more game nights. No more rides home from Albanian church and no more weekend vacations with a car. No more filling up our water and less American company. They will be missed!

Secondly, I'm all alone this week. Emily's grandfather passed away last night. When she found out this morning, she immediately made flight arrangements so she could be back in the States for the funeral and to be with her family for a few short days. Please, keep her in your prayers. She will be returning on Sunday and since that obvious means she's absent for classes this week, I'm covering hers as well as mine. So instead of three groups, I'm taking all six and planning all twelve classes this week. I will be busy, but I know I can do it. But I'm pretty sure that I'll be thankful next week when she's back. :)

Another big change is that we will have a few more "goodies" at our apartment after this week. Just silly things, really, when you look at the big scheme of things; items we can live without but that make life a little more like home. We bought the Ahlers' DVD player (they gave us a huge bargain, especially since it's hard to get one here that plays American DVDs) so we can watch movies on TV instead of on the computer. This means more opportunities for entertaining. :) And another TV related plus is that since Pastor will be renting the apartment beneath us for when he makes visits here, he's changing his cable subscription to this address since it's already paid for through the duration of our time here. Woo hoo! Cable TV! More shows and movies in English! He's also changing his wireless subscription to this building so he can use his computer when he's here. This means we will be getting rid of our current internet account and will be connecting through his wireless network. No more sharing one computer for the internet. I will finally be able to use my own! Skype, here I come! But mostly, it will just make planning and prep work easier. Plus, I won't feel like I'm kicking Emily off her own computer when I use the internet anymore. We're also getting a toaster from the Ahlers and they are letting us "grocery shop" through their kitchen before they go so they don't throw out so much. Wow! So many extra goodies coming our way this week. Sure makes me feel awfully lucky that the man upstairs is taking such good care of us. ;)

As for the weekend, if flew by. The dinner we had for Pastor and Mrs. Ahlers at Agron and Vitori's was very nice. There was a massive amount of food as Agron and Vitori are both excellent cooks. Dorien was there too so it was nice to have an added voice in the conversation. Plus, the ride home was very much appreciated. ;)

Before that, activity night was another success. We had a few more people this time and some brought friends, siblings, and even cousins. :) Emily did a little presentation on fall traditions in the US such as hay rides, carving pumpkins, apple picking, drinking apple cider, and jumping in leaves. We taught about jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows and corn mazes and caramel apples and all the best autumn has to offer. Then I played a game where you have two teams and they compete to dress a scarecrow. Ok, so the scarecrow is a team member instead of a bunch of hay. But each team member has to put an item of clothing on the scarecrow. The first team to have their scarecrow completely dressed wins. It was really fun! Then Emily showed them a YouTube video about how to make apple cider, one from Jon & Kate Plus 8 where they go pumpkin picking, and one of a person jumping into a pile of leaves. ;)They loved those. Especially the jumping in the leaves. That one got played three or four times. Then we handed out apple cider (we had apple juice and mulling spices), apple slices, and the closet thing we could find to caramels here. Great fun was had by all.

I'm missing home very much right now. I do like it here and I have friends and have enough to keep my time occupied but I do still miss home. I miss seeing people's faces and hearing their voices as often as I used to. To be honest, it doesn't help thinking about the Ahlers and Emily all going to America this week. Emily will get to see my parents. Oh, man! I have to admit that I'm jealous. The little green monster is showing his ugly face. I'm not jealous of the reason she made the trip home, obviously, but that she will see their faces, hear their voices, give them a hug for me. Thinking of the things she and the Ahlers' will be able to do--drink tap water, feel carpeting on their bare feet, give loved ones hugs, have hot water without turning on the pump....all the little things I totally took for granted before coming here.

I'm so grateful for what I've learned in just the two short months I've been here! It's amazing how my perspective on things has already changed. I feel wiser now about the things that matter. The best I can explain it is that I feel enlightened. There is no way I would know what I know now if I had never come to live here. It's just another experience that has changed my life and shaped my personal character. Truly, I am blessed to have this experience to add to those of my past. Being here just reminds me that in some cases, less is more and that absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Also, I never fully realized until now how comforting one's own culture is to them. And despite the financial and economic crash in the US right now, I sure am proud to be an American! I have so many less troubles because of it. :)

I could ponder and pontificate far more as my late night thoughts continue to meander (I love this time of day more than any other! There's a reason I'm a night owl.) but I have extra classes to teach this week. That means I need extra energy and extra energy requires extra sleep, especially since I'm drinking decaf coffee or tea while I'm on this medicine. No alcohol and very limited caffeine it said. And since I want to get better so badly, I'm following all the rules! lol :) So in the words of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, "TTFN!" (Ta ta for now!)