Apparently I'm Boring

I feel the need to write an update, even though not a lot is going on. Fall break begins tomorrow, which is exciting because I'm looking forward to a week of sleep and relaxation :) Tons of people are leaving Lithuania to go exciting places like Spain, Ukraine, the States, Latvia, Germany, etc...whilst I will be in my little flat allll by my lonesome. Chad will be around, so I've promised to help him study Lithuanian so we're both awesome in class the following week. I'm so proud of my progress with the language. As lame as it truly is in the big scheme of things, I was so proud that I was able to translate a paragraph for a student email announcement from Lithuanian into English. And, when I see movies in the theatre, I pay attention to the subtitles and am so pleased with myself as to how much I can recognize! My friends may address me in Lithuanian and I am able to understand them, though most of the time I have to answer in English because my confidence in speaking is not as high. I just have to get over it and start spouting off in Lithuanian, or I won't learn as quickly as I potentially could be...

The heat is going on today! I have a radiator in every room, so I'm hoping that the heat won't cost me a fortune, but if it means not walking around my house with a blanket on my shoulders like a cape, I'm looking forward to it! My bed is amazingly warm and comfortable, so there is no problem at night, as it's waking up that is so hard to do when I know that outside the world under my covers is cold :(

I need to go shopping this week as well, as I have only a handful of sweaters, and it's getting colder. Thrift store!! Also, my precious jeans I bought here last year are worn out, so I need new ones. Oh! A side not about that...Levi's is pronounced "Lehv-is' by Lithuanians, not 'Leev-eyes' like we say. The migration office lady last week giggled when she read my last name, as there are no 'w's in Lithuanian, and so they convert them to 'v's, so my name was Miss Levis and she laughed and said to her co-worker "Pavarde Levis!" and pronounced it like the jeans brand, which apparently was hilarious...

There and Back Again, a Latvian Tale

So yesterday I went to Liepaja, Latvia. I got a call from Regis and Ruta asking 'want to go to Latvia? bring your passport, we'll be there in 3 minutes' - so naturally I jumped up, grabbed my passport and threw on a coat. How could I pass up two more stamps on the pages of my passport? It took about a little over an hour to get there, we passed through customs and into Latvia...and I learned so much more about the difference between a study abroad's experience on a tour bus going to pre-determined places with money and what not and going with spontaneous Lithuanians in a car to a smaller city...

After we started driving in Liepaja, we thought we'd stop for tea at a pub somewhere...then we thought 'wait, we're in a different country, how are we going to pay for stuff?' - then we thought 'wait, chelsea has credit cards, perfect!' - so we stopped at kind of a rip-off of Hard Rock Cafe, where we had to pay .10 Latvian cents to use the restroom (that's $0.17) and extra for ketchup for our french fries, which took forever to come. All was well though, as the fries were good. We walked around a square with a church in it for a bit taking some pictures, and got back into the car cause it was freezing.

It was funny to read the signs, because some of it is familiar to me because of the similarity to Lithuanian words and so I was able to make some of them out. When we started driving home we discovered Latvians like their roads to turn right, and right only. I got to learn the meanings of the area's road signs though, so it was semi-helpful because they are different than the States' signs in visual appearance, but mean the same things. Overall, the trip was really fun because of the randomness and good company :)

Questions & Answers

Another relaxing weekend in Lithuania...but I must remark that talking to friends back home or here even, I am still confronted with "are you homesick yet?" and "why did you come back?" and I often have to think about how I feel about answering. I am not homesick because I talk to my friends and family almost every day online or via Skype, and I have friends here to make it easier to adjust. I wake up every morning and have to remember that I will not hear English when I step outside my door. On my way to the bus stop, I walk past signs in Lithuanian and people on their separate paths to work or wherever their day will take them.

I am in Lithuania...in Eastern Europe, across the Atlantic Ocean from my home country, in a distinct culture interacting with people from different countries every day. I love it here, for all the reasons I just mentioned. I have always yearned to live in Europe for some time, and my semester here last year was just not enough. If anything, it made me fall in love with the place and people I met and only made me want to come back more. It's only October, and I have lots of time left here, but I'm making sure to reflect on the time spent with friends and here in general.

On a side note, Ieva taught me how to make sushi and they turned out great! Smoked salmon, crab sticks, avacado & cucumber with sticky rice and seaweed...Mmm!

Cuteness Galore!

Finally! I have adorable sheets and pillows that now adorn my bed, making it more my own! The general feel of the apartment is browns/yellows/blues, so I went with a brown/cream color combo and oh do I feel so much better about looking at my bedroom. I got some other things like throw pillows and a fuzzy blanket and more candle holders and a lamp...so now the whole place is a tad more Chelsea :)

I'm so pleased and feel like my apartment is more mine than ever.

Rain, Violins and Spiritual Reflections

Rain rain rain is setting in...with winds and darker days...autumn is on its way and winter lurks behind...Beautiful to gaze at from my window and nice to walk in for pleasure, but when walking to the bus stop for work, it somehow does not feel as cozy :)

The Los Angeles Collaboration, which consists of two Azusa Pacific music professors, came to Klaipeda last week and treated the community to a free concert of piano and violin music. Alex Russell, the violin player, is Colby McLellan's cousin - so it was a funny coincidence to have him come to Lithuania while I am here. The concert was wonderful, with classical and modern pieces and many from the LCC and greater city community attended.

Also noteworthy this week were several spiritual discussions with my friends. There was no arguing or fighting involved, but discussion of disagreements, opinions, and beliefs about Christianity, spirituality and the Bible. One lasted several hours and was so interesting...I even pulled out my Christian doctrine & apologetics notes from my computer to back up points. It was so refreshing to have a conversation that was unthreatening to both parties, with critical thinking points brought up on both sides and ultimately intellectually challenging. I feel as if I am being made to think about what I believe and why I believe what I do, and that they are being challenged in the same manner - positively of course. Questions are asked and opinions are varied, but I have really enjoyed these talks because I feel like everyone is comfortable enough to say what they think and ask what they want, without feeling like anyone is completely disregarding their side. For example, tonight's topic was favorite Bible verses, and regardless of how founded anyone is in the Christian faith, each person had something to contribute. I'm sure things will come up again, and I look forward to it.

Tomorrow Rasa and I go to Lithuanian Linens & Things, JYSK, and get me a comforter...I'm cold!

Officially Official

I officially have cards! Like, business cards with my name and title and phone number on them! I had no idea they were coming so I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my mail box this morning at LCC...I've handed several out already :)

'Yes hello, I'm the Volunteer & Service Learning Coordinator. My card...'