Tis the Season..

Alright world, I'm here. I've dedicated this hot and muggy evening to updating my blog. We've had a long stretch of scorching weather. Last week it was 37 degrees. It's hard to believe it's December - though I am constantly reminded when I walk outside and see all the shops decorated in red and green Christmas things. It's hard to really capture that "Christmas feeling" when there's sweat running down my face and everyone is walking around in flip flops and tank tops. I am not one to enjoy the cold.. infact, I loathe it - but I severely miss the snow when December rolls around.

I decided to stop being a grinch and bring some festive cheer, canadian style.

Here's my little contribution of snow :)

Day to day

Well it has been more than 4 months since I left Canadian soil. It's hard to believe sometimes that I've been here that long already. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but I feel at home here. I've been quite busy in the office helping students and visitors with their applications and visa process, but I really feel like I'm getting the hang of things. People often ask me, "do you REALLY enjoy working in the office all day?" The answer is yes, I do. I think there's a certain satisfcation that comes when we can really use the gifts we have to help others. I have the gift of administration and if I can do my job well, and it means that 5 other people are able to do theirs even better, then it's a team effort.

We are doing a little revamping in the office this coming week and I will be getting my own little office space! I'm really excited about this - a place of my own where I can organize my things and make it feel like "my place." I'm sure everyone else will appreciate not seeing my stacks of papers and garbage scattered everywhere..

my office space!

Obstacles..

Since I have been here 4 months already, I am no longer studying half the day but working full time in the office. I still go twice a week to my tutor for Portuguese lessons, but really.. everyday is a "study" day. I write emails, answer the phone, have meetings - all in Portuguese. So I never really stop studying. This has been a catalyst in how quickly I have learned all that I have, but also extremely exhausting and frustrating. From the moment I wake up until I sleep, my world is saturated in another culture, another language. Nothing I do is just "for fun" or "relaxing." When we take a break to eat lunch, the table conversation is in Portuguese. When I sit and watch TV with my roommates, it's in Portuguese.

All the litte things that I took for granted at home, are now another "job." This has been extremely frustrating and at times isolating. Although this is a very difficult season of life for me, the thing I know about seasons is that they always pass. And I am learning the value of relationships and the importance of communication; also to be real with people when things are not going well. It can be easy for me to simply exist here; to "survive" and get through the days. But I don't want to merely exist; I want to LIVE. To enjoy the community of others; to be honest when I'm finding things difficult and talk about the cultural differences; to allow God to use this time to teach me; to be open to change, and listen to the perspectives of others. It is a season of growth to say the least!

Thank you so much to all the people who continue to pray for me and bless me with your kind words and encouragements - I cannot begin to express the difference they have made in my everyday life.

Hope you are enjoying the Christmas season wherever you are in the world! :)