Growing Pains

Hello everyone!

It's been about a week so I have.. wait not very much to say. That's a joke. The last week we've just been going to class here in La Casa and trying our best to get adjusted to everything. I've been working hard at practicing my Spanish, keeping up with my heavyyy reading and blog posts for my literature class, and spending alot of time with the girls- which is awesome. The time I've been here has been really challenging so far, to be perfectly honest. I didn't know how much I was going to have to get used to, and how homesick I would be. The thing is, I don't exactly want to be in Allen or Abilene, I just love and appreciate all the people and things I have there. Like milk! I absolutely love milk. See, they have milk here, but it's more like sweet I guess you could say. And! they only refrigerate it in our house because that's how we, Americans, like it best. I mean I have never been more excited to pour myself a tall glass of cold milk in my life.. weird right? It's just the little stuff.

City life in general is just alot to get used to as well. I talked a little about it in previous posts, but the whole way of life moves and breathes differently here. I've just lived in my bubble forever and have never been challenged to see things quite like they are here. It's not bad, it's just different. I have every option of a restaurant, every brand I could ever need, and an entire team of people rooting for me along the way back home. It's cliche, I know, but I live in suuuuch a blessed community. Duh, right? Adults reading this are like clapping that I figured it out, haha. I mean, I've known it all along, its just experiencing it this way is completely moving.

Just a few things I've gotten to do, by the way. Last Thursday we went to the opening "desfile," or parade for Carnaval, which is a huuuge celebration Uruguay and other South American countries celebrate each year. I haven't exactly figured out the reason for celebration yet, hah, but mostly it's tradition. It lasts about 6 weeks and its wild! They have different events every night and we will get to go to some of them. A few of us girls also got to go to un club privado el sábado. Which means, we got to go to a private club on Saturday.. you like that? Haha, anyways. It was on the beach, they had a restaurant, work out facilities, outside pool, and it was just absolutely wonderful. We payed $13 for a day there and we spent 7 hours in the sun... Neeeedless to say I got scorched. I put on sunscreen, I really did, and high numbers too! but the Uruguayan sun is deceptive because it's not that hot here so you don't realize how much exposure you're getting. I didn't get as burned as some of the other girls, but it was just enough for me to learn my lesson.

All the times in between classes, homework, and the bigger events, we just spend time together and continue to learn one another. We make an effort to go out in the city atleast once a day and not hide in the house all the time- which would be really easy, and also get pretty regular interaction with the locals because there's a group of students that attend the church we're associated with here. They're all around our age and love learning English and teaching us Spanish so it works out really well.

Overall, only in the week and a half that I've been here- which by the way feels like a month, God is moving me in insane ways and showing me things I would have never been bold enough to do on my own. It's been really hard and very thought provoking, but I am so psyched to see the transformation that comes from this trip.
The last thing I'll leave you with is, well first of all, Mom I now officially eat broccoli, even though it's sick nasty, and I take a multivitamin- so that's good news, right? And second, last night we had our weekly devo and Wimon talked to us about Psalm 23. Now of course, I've heard this passage a hundred times and love it, but last night was different. He used one of  my favorite exercises where we read the passage aloud 3 times with a minute in between to process. For the first time I heard the psalm as almost a love letter. Even though I know it's written to God from David, it's like David is confirming the promises God offers us. I heard alot last night, but the two things that struck me most was the confidence David had in saying "surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life."  I just love that reminder that in all the valleys and all the hills God is chasing after us relentlessly, and working for the greatest good. And the second was the last line, "and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever," which, if you know me, you know how much I worry about what is coming next this semester, this summer, this fall, and how should I plan, and what should I expect and on and on, but this, this promise says, "Hailey! Ultimately you get to be with me! Isn't that exciting? Isn't it worth it?" Wimon reminded us that we're alive on earth to cultivate that yearning for God so that by the time we've run the race and get to hang out with him we are absolutely thrilled. Needless to say, I'm growing alot. It really stinks alot of the time, I neverrr get why things go the way they do, and my attitude isn't always the best, but the coolest thing about it all is I don't have to get it. I cannot control it but I can take comfort in HIS taking care of everything. What a good God we serve.

I hope this post finds you well and I'm praying for your safety and health while I'm away. Miss me just a little bit, and know that I love you all so much!

Hailey

Did I Mention We Don't Have Air-Conditioning in La Casa?

Because we don't! I didn't notice it the first few days, but it's like once I found out I just started burning up! I mean, it is HOT here! But I guess I'd rather that than the chilly Abilene weather right now. By the way, I'm not doing the best at taking pictures here, but if you're interested in seeing some, you can look at some of the other girl's Facebook pages if they're not private. They are really great photographers. Their names are Catie Baird and Leigh Foith. Both of them have really fancy cameras and beautiful pictures. They might have links to their photography blogs too. I will put up pictures soon though, I promise!

We started classes yesterday. It was very relaxed, but let me just say, I am going to do more reading this semester than I ever have. For those of you who are wondering, my schedule will be
Mondays: Spanish Lab (11:30-12:30), Latin American Studies (2-3:30)
Tuesdays: Spanish Lab (11:30-12:30), Spanish Class (2-4)
Wednesdays: Spanish Class (10:30-12:30), Latin American Studies Activities (2-5)
Thursdays: Spanish Lab (11:30-12:30), Spanish Class (2-4)
Fridays: Latin American Studies (9-10:30), Spanish Class (10:30-12:30).
Plus, I'm taking an Major British Writers online and a class called Christianity in Culture online. It's going to be a big work load, but I know I can manage as I develop more of a schedule here.

Also, On Sunday at 9pm, Monday at 9am, and Thursday at 9am we have Chapel/House Meetings. I don't know if anyone cares to know that much detail, hah, but there it is.
Between all of that, we've just been enjoying bonding and getting to know one another. A group of us went on a run around La Rambla yesterday which is the path along the beach, and it was awesome. It's going to be so easy be motivated here!

All in all, I'm pretty stressed, think I'm adjusting well, and sleeeeepy! But I'm enjoying the ride. After just finishing my classes for the day, we're going to start on all of our reading while we wait for the other girls to get done with their class. Then it's off to the beach and leftovers for supper.

I love and miss you all very much!

Sunburns in January

Yesterday I finally got to put my toes in the sand! They showed us another part of Montevideo yesterday which had more open-air markets with everything you can imagine. The funniest thing was probably the video games and movies. I saw the Sims! Which, I haven't played since elementary school, but it was funny to see it here in this setting. We also got to go into Punta Carretas, I think it was called, which is an American looking shopping mall that was originally a prison. It was beautiful and, well of course, I saw so many shoes I wanted. It was weird feeling like I was walking around Stonebriar Mall or something back in Dallas. I got to speak with one of the girls working in one of the stores and she was so sweet. After a few sentences in Spanish she asked me if I wanted to speak English. I laughed out loud because she knew! Anyways, then we got to walk down to one of the nicer beaches down in that wealthier part of town for a little bit and took the bus back to the Casa. After hanging around here for a while, a few of the other girls and I walked down to our beach and spent an hour or so napping in the sand. It was so wonderful and I'm already getting sun! Then last night we got to meet the youth from the church we're connected with and have more pizza! It was deeelicious. They have really simple pizza but its great and cheap.

Today we went to church at the Iglesia de Cristo next door and our house dad spoke. I didn't understand everything, of course, but it was nice to go and meet the people. Then I passed out for the last couple of hours, hah. I'm still just catching up on my sleep and getting used to the time change. I wonder how long it will take before I stop looking at my watch and doing the math to think what time it is there for all of you. I miss home alot, but I'm doing better today. I listened to this sermon online last night about God listening and hearing those who love, worship, and pursue him. The lesson encouraged praying in confidence and being put at ease in knowing that he hears me, not just us the believers, but me as an individual. Me, Hailey! So as I rest up today, get some reading done, buy some groceries, and well probably hit the beach again, I'm reminded of that and at peace. I know he's taking care of me here- shaping, molding and amazing me, and! he's watching over everything back home and lacing my life together perfectly. What a sweet deal.

Please keep praying for my group and me as we start classes tomorrow and find a rhythm here. I love you all and appreciate you keeping up with me!

-Hailey

Southern Hospitality; Day 2

Welp.. I feel like I will be saying this alot this semester, but it's been a long day. We got out this afternoon after having some of our professors over for lunch and they sent us into the city really for the first time. We got to look over the pier, see the port, and go to Cuidad Vieja, which means the Old City. We were split into smaller groups just because one, thats more fun, and two, it doesn't draw as much attention. Its really cool because the streets are filled with tables set up everywhere with odds and ends and cool little items to buy, which I'm sure is common in alot of big cities, tons of magazine stands, food carts, and all the stores have open doors if a door at all. It really is chaos. They sat us down this morning for lots of advice, instructions, rules, and guidelines- which was great because its making it more real that I'll actually be living here, and it was really informational about what to expect and look out for out in the city. I feel like I am constantly scanning everyone and everything, not knowing really what to process. We got our first taste of city life today when we got a little off course and felt the wandering eyes. I really feel like a tourist here, which is interesting. The clothing style is so specific; its like a grunge, very relaxed look and definitely no glitter, bright colors, or glam. Even wearing tshirts seem a little off because its not like they walk around in athletic clothes. But the shoes are great! I can't wait to get some cute sandals. I'm definitely experiencing culture shock and realizing how much of a real thing it is. I've always heard the phrase, but didn't really understand until today. In my sweet, sheltered life back in Allen, and on the ACU campus, I always feel safe and taken care of. Everything is immediate, easy, and kinda beautiful- if that makes sense. I just realize I guess how careless I am or rather get to be. All the people in my life are generally respectful and friendly, and not that the Uruguayan people aren't wonderful, it's just different. In my life back in Texas, my upbringing has taught me to make confident eye contact, smile, and even sometimes greet people I pass. Here, you do not want to do that. I had to keep myself from smiling at people all day, and I felt so rude. They just don't do it. I've heard that about other big cities- like in the northern US cities, but anyone who knows me knows how hard that is for me to keep to myself and just look away. First of all, they just think you're weird, or you bring attention to yourself, or they think you're up to no good. It's just bizarre. I am obviously staying very aware and being careful, don't worry mom and dad, but it is definitely new living in a city.

In other news, the weather was beautiful today. Hot, but not too hot, and very windy. It gets really cool in the shade and when the sun goes down its definitely jeans and jacket weather, but its really pleasant. We had delicious food all day with fresh fruit for breakfast, pasta and fruit for lunch, and we went out to try their version of pizza and icecream for supper. It's all very different, but still good. Portion size is going to be key this semester, haha! I think we're going to get to go to the beach for real tomorrow, which of course I'm so excited about. And! My Spanish is already improving! Even while I've been typing this I've been thinking what my words or phrases would be in Spanish. I'm really looking forward to that class starting. Oh! and school starts Monday. They gave us this paper today with our whole semester on it, like classes and trips and stuff. It make it look so tiny.

Overall, I am happy to be here. God is really stretching me and I love the opportunity I am getting to know him in a completely different way; as the Protector. I am confident that he will guide my paths while I'm here and make me "invisible" as Rosalinda, our house mom, put it this evening. I will definitely have to get used to not drawing attention to myself, haha, and especially speaking quieter- which is the norm here. I miss you all alot and hope that I'm writing this for people to actually read! I love you and am praying for you in this time that we have apart. Oh and by the way, don't bother sending me anything, packages especially. It will take usually months to get here, if it gets here at all. My house parents got a package last week sent in August, so that stinks, but you will just have to email me instead.

Love you all so so much!
Hailey

New Beginnings

Yesterday was so long! After driving from Abilene to DFW Airport, waiting a few hours for our flight, flying from Dallas to Miami, waiting 3 hours and then a 4 hour delay we left out sometime before 3am and landed in Montevideo! Then our house parents, Rosalinda and Wimon Walker, took us to Casa ACU and we got to eat! Raquel, our cook, is fantastic. They took us around Montevideo on a scavenger hunt just to show us the basics we will need. I got my first pesos today which I was very excited about. After a shower (finally) and fresh clothes, they took us out to dinner and I had to give the taxi driver instructions. The thing is, I've never ridden in a taxi in my life, much less in a Spanish speaking country. Once again, I was pretty proud of myself. I already feel my Spanish improving. Dinner was interesting... The food here is going to take some getting used to for sure but I'm not too worried if they have cereal. I really don't love city life so far. Its kinda smelly and dirty. But I do like the energy! Plus we got to drive by the beach which is only a 20 minute walk. I caaaaan't wait! I'll be honest and say I'm more homesick than I thought I would be, but I know that every great transition takes time and patience. I'm excited, don't get me wrong, but I just hope that after I get rested, its all that everyone said it would be. I've got a huge semester ahead of me, I'm realizing bigger than I thought, but it's going to be an adventure! I love you and miss you all very much.

-Hailey

Prayerful Preparations

As my Christmas break winds down and I am 12 days away from flying out, I'm finally getting down to it and getting all this blogging stuff figured out. I hope you enjoy following me this semester as I travel the countries of South America, grow in new friendships and experiences, and try to stay focused on my studies in the meantime. I am more than excited to share it all with you and promise to keep up with this journal of sorts as often as I can. Thank you all for the love, support, and encouragement!


Love,
Hailey