From the Swiss Alps to the German Fields

Hello friends. Sorry for the infrequency of posts on this blog. This last week, I spent four days in the Swiss Alps, hiking from one lodge to another with some relatives. Even though legs were sore by the end of this mountain tour (on the last day we hiked 1000 m up and then 2600 m down back into the valley = sore knees), it was so worth it. I just loved being outside in God`s creation and found the whole trip to be mentally refreshing. The best way to tell you about all the beautiful mountains and flowers and experiences would be with photos, but they have not been uploaded yet, so that`ll have to wait for another post.

After returning from the mountains, I said goodbye to my beloved homeland and took the train to Germany, to a beloved family whom I lived with seven years ago. Wow, seven years seems like a long time ago and much has happened since then and changed, both in my life and the lives of the people here. Yet, I quickly felt comfortable being here again and I`m enjoying just being for a bit and spending time with the family here without having to plan much or trying to fit in lots of visits in a short time (like I did while I was in Switzerland). And, of course, I`m enjoying the fact that I can spend a few days in a lovely old house, surrounded by a lush green garden, a typical German village, and flat fields of wheat, corn, and sugar beats.

This morning, I attended a church service with Uli and Inge at the FEG (which some of you are familiar with). It was such a blessing and encouragement to me being at a church service again, after not having been for the last few weeks. (The time that I went to the church service at the senior`s home with my grandma doesn`t count - the only good things about that service was that my grandma was glad to go and that the organ and flute music was enjoyable.) Anyhow, I hadn`t realized how much I had missed spending time in worship and in God`s Word with other Christians, in a place where Christ`s presence was very much felt. Just what I needed.

The sun shining into the window is beckoning so I am going to end here. Until another time!

Switzerland

Here I am, in Switzerland, eating plenty of yummy food and visiting with many of my relatives. The weather here has been sunny and usually 30 degrees which I am quite enjoying. The heat has mostly been bearable because of the delicious ice cream I`ve been served and the times I`ve been swimming with various relatives - once in a lake and twice in the river Aare. I`m not really in the mood for writing and, besides, I don`t want to bore you with all the things that my relatives are up to (which are interesting for me and my family, but not so much for the rest of you), so here are a few photos.

The city of Bern, with the River Aare in which I went swimming. Or, rather, in which the current pulled me along.

Some of my relatives from my mom`s side who I had dinner with last night.

The view from my Auntie Käthi`s porch where I am have been staying mostly. Yes, those are the Alps in the background.

A typical Swiss farmhouse in the village of Bleienbach. These types of houses are everywhere around here, especially in the villages, and I just love them. One day I will have window boxes with red geraniums in them.

This is the same farmhouse zoomed in a bit so you can see the rather untypical sign marking the front of the house.

Did I mention that Switzerland is beautiful? If you don`t believe it, you should come see it for yourself sometime!

On to New Adventures

Hello Friends and Family. It has been two years since I last flew off to a foreign place. And now before me stretches another summer of travel. First to the homeland of Switzerland to see my relatives, then to Germany to visit friends, and, finally, to Morocco, to explore a new culture (and visit a friend!). My bags are sitting packed in my room and I'm about to head out to the Vancouver airport. If you happen to be curious as to what sorts of things I'll be doing and places and people I'll be seeing, check this blog once in awhile and I'll try to keep you posted!

The Last Few Days

I'm not really in a blogging mood, so I'll mostly let the photos tell the stories of the last few days.

Tuesday, Heather and I drove into St. John's, the capital and only city in Antigua. We walked down Market Street, poked our heads into some shops, and bought fruit from a fruit and vegetable market. As you can see, the streets were narrow and busy. And hot. After an hour or so, we were ready to drive home down the country roads and past the colorful villages.

That evening we met Dr. Gilbert and Vem for dinner at Club Havana. Sitting on the roof terrace under a coconut palm we were visited by a little green lizard and a million mosquitoes as we enjoyed some lovely seafood dishes.

Here are some of my favorite Caribbean foods: pineapple, mangoes, and finger bananas. And papays - the one Mr. Reynolds gave us is still ripening on the back deck.

Wednesday, Dr. Gilbert took Vem, Heather, and I to Nelson's Dockyard. This is where the British kept their Caribbean navy during the time that Antigua was a British colony. We checked out the docks and wandered through the little museum exhibit on the history of the dockyard.

Dr. Gilbert and Vem opted for food and drinks at a little dockside restaurant while Heather and I visited the stores and took lots of photos. Here is a pic of the ceiling of the restaurant. We all left our signatures, too!

Then Dr. Gilbert, being the wonderful tour guide he was, drove us up to Shirley heights where we had a view of not just the ocean, but also most of Antigua. This shot shows English Harbour in the foreground and Falmouth Harbour in the background. The body of water in between is actually part of English Harbour and is where we just were - Nelson's Dockyard.

Heather and I, sitting on top of the world.

I'm having a wonderfully relaxing time. I placed my watch in a drawer when I first got here and I haven't taken it out since. We've been to one beach or another every day. I've seen my first cockroach (and watched Heather pull out the BOP and spray the pest until it was dead). I've had my first coke and run (Liz, you're right, I enjoyed it. However, I did have coconut flavoured rum which might be what made me like it so much). My shoulders are glowing red and sensitive, my legs are covered in mosquito bites, and I have not touched pants, shoes, or a long-sleeved shirt since arriving here. One of highlights has been spending time on my own with God on the little rocky beach by the house without a time limit: reading my Bible, praying, listening. I am blessed with so much!

A Wonderful Day

Two blog entries is one day! As soon as Heather and Burton returned from writing their last exam, we got into our beach wear and headed out. All six of us squeezed into the rental car - Burton, his sister, Vem (one of Heather's classmates), Dr. G. (one of their professors), Heather, and I. After trying to avoid the goats and the millions of potholes on the roads, we arrived at Devil's Bridge. I'll let the photos tell you the rest.

Here's Heather walking across Devil's Bridge, a rock bridge.

Heather and I with waves crashing beneath us. It's so good to be together again!

Walking around the peninsula: Vem (far left), Dr. G. (kind of hidden), Burton, Jill, Heather.

Then we went to Long Bay, also known as Pineapple Beach. Here are Burton and Jill enjoying the sun. The dark patches in the ocean are the coral reefs where we went snorkeling. What a neat experience to glide through the water and see all kinds of fish swimming around you! The coral was not as colourful as I had expected but it's shape and texture was fascinating and varied. So much fun to explore! We hung out here for several hours.

Before heading home, we stopped at St. James, a nearby beach resort where Jill and I had been yesterday. We joined in on a volleyball game that some Antiguans and Americans were playing and then jumped into the ocean for another swim, just as the sun was setting. Then we came home and made pizza. Here we are on the back deck ready to consume our dinner. It was about 8 o'clock but already pitch black. We had some good conversations about God's guidance and hearing Him speak to us.

Goodnight ta ya'll! (That's how Jill and Burton talk - they're from Tennessee and it's starting to rub off on me!)

Adventures in Antigua

Narrow, windy roads. Goats wandering across the street. Humid air. Juicy mangoes and pineapples. Brown, slender mongoose. Ocean waves breaking. Fans blowing. Cars whizzing past on the "wrong" side of the street. Bright flowers. Vegetation I had never seen before.

These are just some of the sights, sounds, and tastes that I've experienced since arriving in Antigua. And, even with Heather and Burton having to study for an exam all day yesterday, I have somehow managed to experience so much already. Attended a white coat ceremony for some of the medical students at Heather's school. Got a tour of her campus, met many of her classmates and professors, sat through a two (or was it three?) hour ceremony, and never felt so white in my life before (everyone there was either African-American or super tanned).

Yesterday, Heather and I visited with Her Excellency, the Governor General of Antigua. Heather's friend and neighbor is a retired Antiguan and he and the governor general have been friends since they were little. We went over to his house to meet her and she turned out to be a most pleasant lady. Just before we left, Mr. R. walked with us through his orchard (full of trees and bushes I had never seen before) and he plucked three papaya to give to Heather.

Later in the day, Burton's sister, Jill, and I spent some time at a beach by a resort. And I got to see and touch that which I have only ever seen on travel brochures or my friends' honeymoon photos: white sandy beach, blue lawn chairs under palm trees, ocean water that was warm (but just cool enough to still feel refreshing)...

Heather is writing her last exam right now. Then we're going off to some other beach for some snorkeling!

Where is she???

Hi! I'm back. My apologies for not updating sooner. Last I wrote here I had just arrived in P.E.I. In a nutshell, I quickly fell in love with PEI (just as I did with New Brunswick); we slept one night in our car by the side of a road in the midst of red potatoe fields and two nights in a lovely Victorian B&B in Charlottetown; we explored several incredible beaches, found a cute fishing village, ate lobster, walked through the haunted woods of Anne of Green Gables, took a picture of Green Gables from the back (too cheap to pay to go in), ate lobster, listened to a Maritime band play in an Irish pub, and visited the room where the idea of the Confederation of Canada was birthed. Here are some pics to give you a taste of the beauty and tranquillity of this province:
Yup - the dirt roads really are all red! We drove down this one and walked past the little graveyard, through the wet grass, and down a little cliff to find a pretty spot to eat our breakfast.This is what we found - it was pretty much amazing.
A fishing village.

The lobster that AmyLou and I ate in Charlottetown.

Yeah, I almost didn't want to come home after such an amazing time in the Maritimes but once I was back in Vancouver I was happy to be here again. For the first time in over four years, I am spending the summer in Vancouver, living with my family. I've just completed my second week of work at a daycamp in West Vancouver - supervising and taking 30+ kids on fieldtrips every day is pretty crazy and sometimes tiring, but I'm loving it. The children are delightful and there is never a dull moment. We've also been having a lot of visitors from out of town staying at our house which has also made home a busy but fun place to hang out. Two of my roommates from my 3rd year stayed here last weekend so we could all go to Melissa's wedding together. I almost feel like I am having too much fun. :) I'm enjoying the fact that my job is just a daytime thing and that my evenings and weekends are free from homework or prep work!

What will happen to this blog now that my 2007 summer adventures are over? Or are they even over? Chances are I won't be writing quite as often, but I know that God will continue sending adventures my way, whether big or small, and at times I may feel inclined to share them. So keep checking back once in a while!