To Live...

Am I really still jet-lag? Aye yi yi. My sleeping patterns are AWFUL! I can never fall asleep until at least 3am, and don't wake up until 11 or 12! [or in today's case 1pm only because my friend Morrill rang my doorbell at least 12 times] Classes are starting tomorrow and every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I have a class starting at 9am! Wish me luck... it's an amazing thing that my classes are only about a 2 minute walk away or I'd really be in trouble!  

The classes on my schedule for this semester are:

History of Art [I've already met the teacher and I'm so excited for this class!]

Photography [so I can actually learn how to take good pictures instead of teaching myself!]

European Cultures

International Marketing

Theories of Intelligence

I'm actually really anticipating classes to start.  It's nice to be able to pick which one's I want to take/learn about based on my interests, rather than just because I need them to graduate.  Ugh. Graduate.  I don't even want to think about it. Or, really I just don't want to think about going back to school in Ohio.  I've only been in Cyprus for a week, and I already know that life is going to be so weird when I come home.  School is going to be even worse! Yesterday, my roommate and I were talking about this.. how we're already dreading going back to "normal" school and such.  Ironically, I opened up my devotional, and had to read it aloud. It was titled "Joy Stealers" and it was all about dread. It was one of those "Okay, God" moments.  Here I am, on a beautiful Island, with wonderful people, letting my joy be stolen by dreadful thoughts. Well, I learned my lesson. It was as if God was whispering...

"You are alive. You're living and breathing in this moment. You're fantastically beautiful, and remarkably unique. Do not waste it. Live every moment, my Darling." 

And so from here on out, I plan to live. Without reservation. Without fear. Without question. For, to live would be an awfully big adventure. [so says my dearest favorite, Peter Pan]

Dancing Lessons From God

"Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God." -Kurt Vonnegut

Besides all the amazingly wonderful places that I get to visit from the scheduled trips on my program, I just booked the BEST Spring Break EVER!!! As of right now there are 7 of us going... two of my roommates [Jenalee and Jessica] the guys room next door [Matt, Jacob, and Scott] and another girl [Carolyn]. Thankfully, we bought all of our tickets last night because the prices all went up this morning!  

Our Agenda:

Flying from Cyprus to London on Wednesday, March 23rd [at...4:15am...good luck to us?]

While we're in London, Jessica's friend is letting us stay in his flat for free!  We've also found free tours that go to Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and a bunch of other places!

We'll be staying in London until Sunday, March 27th where we are taking a scenic coach [which I thought meant train.. but I think it's bus? Hmm. Oh well!] to Edinburg, Scotland. In Edinburg the free tour takes us to the Edinburg Castle, William Wallace and the Stone of Destiny, the real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a bunch of other places, and... wait for it... THE ORIGINAL HOGWARTS!!! [sorry Michelle... but, be jealous. be very jealous]

We'll be in Edinburg until Thursday, March 31st.  Then we will be flying to Dublin, Ireland! Ah! :) There is a free tour there, as well, with destinations like the Dublin Castle and U2-Origins of the Rock Legend.  Carolyn, one of the girls traveling with me, has a friend in Galway so we are planning on traveling there for a day or too to see the "real" coastal, non-touristy side of Ireland! Then we jet set back to London and then home to Cyprus on April 4th. 

This Spring Break is like... my dream! I am soo so more than excited, and the people traveling with me are amazing.  The best part? [you'll like this one, Dad!] The total price of all our plane and bus tickets? $280. Oh, and I found everything! I think my new calling in life might be a travel agent... I even had to book everyone's flights and fill out their information for them! haha. Besides being midly stressed out trying to fit it all together, it was kind of fun! 


The only thing I'm nervous about is packing... We're flying Ryan Air and I can only have ONE carry-on that I'm pretty sure has a size and weight limit... Oh, boy. Ah. Oh well... it's all so worth it! Life is good. 

Kalí óreksi!

(that means "bon appetite" in Greek by the way!)

Today, as part of our ongoing orientation, we went to a Greek cooking class! (Mom you're going to be so jealous, but don't worry... I wrote down all the ingredients and instructions for you!) The chef taught us how to make Ravioli with Halloumi cheese, grilled Halloumi cheese on pita with tomatoes and cucumbers, and Keftedes, which are fried meatballs.

It was amazingggg! Thank you Momma for teaching me how to be so appreciative of food :) Did you know that in the houses of Greek families, if you leave without eating something that is 
considered rude? Actually, that goes for most Mediterranean households. Now I know where my family gets it from!






After cooking, we learned more about the "Cyprus Conflict."  (Now don't freak out and think I'm in danger or anything...) But, Cyprus is divided into two halves, the Southern part, where I'm residing, is controlled by Greek Cypriots, and the Northern half is controlled by Turkish Cypriots.  (this all came about when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974... a little history lesson for you all today!) Nicosia, Cyprus's capitol (also where I'm living) is the only divided capitol ever.  You actually need a passport to travel between either side. 

So, yesterday, we were on a break in The Center of Nicosia and a few of us decided to go to the "North Side."  Instead of stamping our passports, they stamped a paper Visa, since it isn't recognized as a real country by the EU. The Turkish side was like going back through a time warp.  It was very quite.  And slow.  In the middle was a courtyard that was beautiful with older women knitting and a man reading the newspaper.  (see photos below)  And don't worry, we made it back to the other side alive!

Anyways, besides not being able to sleep on a normal pattern, Cyprus has been amazing. I really couldn't be more happy :)

"The world is quiet here."

Finally. Cyprus. I. Am. Here. 

It seems like it was years ago when I first stumbled across the website for this study abroad program and began the enrolling process. All the packing and praying and preparation... and now I'm finally here! And it's even better than I imagined. Over the summer, I thought I needed an escape, somewhere to run off to, which isn't uncommon for me. Life begins to get monotonous, and I find myself dreaming of new adventures. Thus, Cyprus. But this time, it wasn't so much about running away, as it was to running forward. It really is beautiful here. And quiet. 

Quiet. That's a new thing for me. I'm so use to the traffic coming in and out of my house, and school, and exhaustion that I haven't just sat and been quiet. It's so easy to get caught up in the everyday things of life, that we forget why we're really here, and what we really want to do. I believe I'm finally where I'm suppose to be. Right here, right now. Finally.

I've met the most incredible people already. It's strange, but I have this feeling that we're all here for the same reason.. to discover ourselves, to recreate ourselves. To finally start living what we've been believing all along. At least, for me it is. The most ironic (if that's the word you would use?) is that the majority of the students/my new friends that are in the program are Christians. How does this happen? And why do I find myself so surprised? Shouldn't this be normal?

After being in college for the past 3 and a half years, I realized that a lot of college students throw their religion to the way-side until they graduate, to ensure that they get the most out of their "college experience." How did I get so lucky to be put into a group.. 9 million miles away from home.. made up of college-aged kids from all over the United States.. who are actually going to make. me. think. about what it's really all about? 

The first night I was here, one of my roommates asked me if I believed in God. I didn't even have to open the door, God did it for me.

...we're all searching for something to believe in.

And it's up to me to use this time that I've been given to teach and to learn. God has so much more in-store for us than we could ever imagine... I can't even begin to describe the little "Oh, so that's why you did this, God" moments I've had since I've gotten here.

I'm so excited for everything He has planned.  Life is such a gift, and I have been so blessed.