out of the country...

Sorry I am so far behind on updating the blog.  I am currently in the US for the holidays.  I'll be back in Lithuania Jaunary 5, so look for some new posts after that.

PS- Hi Krisi!  :)

Thanksgiving Day

Some of the American expats have a tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving at McDonald's each year.  We choose McDonald's not because of its amazing food, but because, other than us, it is the most American thing in Klaiepda!  :)

me, Christine, the Staves, Steve, Dennis, and Vern

After dinner we went back to the Dintaman's place for pumpkin pie.  The kids were playing with this silly stretchy ball thing and put it on Greta's head...she looked so funny!  :)

The Help

We have been waiting for MONTHS for the movie "The Help" to come to our theater here in Klaipeda.  I devoured the book in one weekend early in the school year in anticipation fo the movie coming to town.  It finally arrived in mid November.  After a particualry sucky day at work two of my best friends here at LCC and I went to see the movie - the 9:30 showing (the only time it was shown btw).  There were only two other people in the theater with us.  It was great movie, a great spirit lifter after my horrible day, and just plain wonderful!  :)

Kim, me, & Rachel

Time to fluff the trees!

Student Life began a tradition last year of "fluffing" the Christmas trees in preparation for the decorating day that happens at the end of November.  We combine our Student Life meeting for the week with our social gathering for the month and have a "Fluffing Party!"  We bring treats and spend a couple hours getting all the artificial trees ready to go...lights working, limbs fluffed out, etc.  We have about 20 trees on campus, so it takes a bit of time.

Yummy treats!

Olena & Amanda

Margarita and Andrew

Amanda fluffing!

Bethany fluffs the top branches!

Vaida fluffs away!

Res Life Thanksgiving

The RDs and I made a Thanksgiving meal for the Res Life staff the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  We had a lot of fun making and then sharing this delicious meal with the students.  Alex started us off by telling why we celebrate Thanksgiving and then we shared what we were thankful for while enjoying our dinner.  After dinner we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" with the RAs in the Res Life resource room...a great evening!

A plate of deliciousness!

Roma on the laptop...looking for music?

Chatting after dinner and before dessert!

Zhenya and Ira talk while playing with Alex's cat

Alex showing off the gorgeous pumpkin pies!

Pure bliss!

Turkey Night

Sometimes I take too many photos of an event and sometimes I don't take nearly enough.  My "Turkey Night" was a case of not taking enough photos!  I hosted a gathering of friends a couple weeks after fall break to try some Turkish food.  I made the menu that we made in our Turkish cookign class while on fall break.  It was a fun evening of Turkish food and music.  I only have one photo from the evening to share!

Marlene, me, & Kim - the Scarf Sisters.

When some of us went to Milan for my birthday last March we bought all bought Italian scarves and called ourselves the "Scarf Sisters."  In keeping with that tradition I bought them scarves on this trip as well. 

Mug n Muffin

We do a program a couple times a year called "Mug n Muffin."  Faculty/staff women bake loads of muffins and the RDs make hot drinks.  All of the female students are invited to come on a Satuday morning to hear several campus women talk about a topic.  This semester the topic was "Contentment" and I was asked to speak.  There were 3 other women speaking with me.  We each took a bit of a different foucus in our sharing.  I focused my sharing on my experience in coming to terms with being still being single at this point in my life and the contentment that has brought (also the wonderful opportunities it has brought as well!)  It enjoyed sharing this bit of my journey with the students.  I think they appreciated my sharing and one even asked to have tea with me at a later date to talk more.  I enjoy the opportunity to share about how God has worked in my life and was very pleased to have been a part of this event.

Gals came early and saved their seat with mugs of coffee.

The women who spoke that day - Ksenja, Rachel, me, and Grazina

Using my scarf as a visual aid

Listening to Rachel share some of her story

Rachel & me

Latvian Independence Day

Our Latvian students celebrated their country's independence day with a celebration in Neumann Lobby.  It was fun to hear them share about their country and watch students play some Latvian games.

Roberts sharing about Latvia

Students playing a "London Bridge is Falling Down" type of game

Talent Night

Talent Night was a big success...as usual!  Our students are wonderfully talented and I so enjoyed watching them!

Alex dressed up as Marilyn Monroe to be an emcee.

Ni singing

Some great first years showing off their talent!

Some smooth singing!

Two of our study abroads singing a folk song!

Ina - from my FYS sang "Dancing Queen"

Coffee Night

The Enns Hall Res Life team hosted a coffee night in the Res Life Resource Room.  They invited me to join them for the evening.  I mostly sat drinking coffee and working a puzzle with students.  It was a fun and relaxing evening.  I only took one photo the entire evening though!  :(

Students hanging out in the resource room drinking coffee and chatting.

First Year Seminar gathering

Last week my First Year Seminar class and I were FINALLY able to have a gathering outside of the classroom!  We had planned it two other times this semester, but it had to be cancelled because of various campus conflicts.  I, of course, wanted to cook for them, so they all came to my place for dinner.  I enjoyed having them over and I think they had fun too!  :)

Zydrune, Dasha, and Luidmila

Oleksandr, Katia, and YauHeni

Milda, Vlada, and Virginija

Victoria and Ina

It was YauHeni's birthday, so he wore the birthday hat the entire evening!

Tradition in this area of the world is that the birthday person makes the first cut of the cake.

After his first cut, they had me cut the rest of the cake.

TriS group

Marlene and I were asked this fall to lead a TriS group.  TriS is part of our Study Abroad (SA)experience.  Each semester we have a group of 15-25 North American SA students come to LCC.  They live in the residence halls and attend classes at LCC.  The TriS part of the program consists of 3 meetings with a North American family to process their LCC experience.  We met in October at my place to process their cultural adjustment.  This month we met to discuss their Fall Break trip to Russia and next month we will meet to process re-entry to the US.  I have really enjoyed getting to know this group of young people and am going to be sad to see them leave at the end of the semester.  Here is a group shot we took at Marlene's place last week.

front: Iulija, Amanda, and Jared

back: me, Lina, Hannah, Kimi, and Marlene

Sunday afternoon sculptures

The Sunday after Fall Break I had a free afternoon, so I spent a couple hours wandering around the city.  It was a beautiful afternoon - sunny and brisk!  I spent some time checking out the new sculptures in the Old Town area and wanted to share some photos of them...

Me in my new hat!

Parting shots

I was sad to leave Turkey.  We had a very fun time filled with wonderful foods, beautiful sights, and friendly people.  I was really able to let work fall to the back of my mind and truly just enjoy myself!  Here are a few photos from our last morning in Turkey...

self portrait by the window in our room

We spent our last liras on tea and baklava

Bethany & Amanda

me with my last cup of apple tea

The father of Turkey...his photo was everywhere.  This was in the airport.