In the middle of culture shock

I'm still in the middle of culture shock. It's still a bit baffling when the food for evening tea (or what Americans call dinner) is set up buffet style and there doesn't seem to be a queue (line) or any other sort of organized order to get food. That's what happened last night for tea and again for tuck (evening snack). One of the residents, a very nice man, we'll name him "Greg," looked at me and told me to jump in...that there was no queue. I told him that I was beginning to realize that, and that I was still trying to get used to the English rules of queuing and when there wasn't one and when there was one and how to opperate in a queue, etc. He gave me a smile as if to say, "I know what you mean, but I don't know what you mean because all of this is completely normal to me."

...And then there's the driving. The white line in the middle of the road...the one that is supposed to keep people in their lane and from making head-on collisions...is more of a suggestion, or a basic guideline, rather than being a rule or a law. Some will park their car in the middle of the lane, and drivers will have to drive into the lane of on-coming traffic in order to dodge the parked car. Sometimes this happens on both sides of the road, so a driver will have to drive down the middle of the street with parked cars on the left and the right. If a driver is on a road that doesn't seem to be too busy (or, it isn't busy where the driver is), the driver will drive in the middle of the road...straddling the white line. Drivers also go back and forth from one lane to another, especially at round-abouts and other intersection-like places. And let's not even begin to talk about speed limits.... OH! And there are some places where the road goes from two lanes to one. Not one lane for each direction...but ONE lane. It's expected that each car will take turns: first the car headed north will cross the bridge on the one lane, then the car going south, then the car going north.

Despite the differences in driving styles, I've not been scared out of my mind yet. In fact, I've enjoyed riding in the car. It's a bit of an adventure.

Uh Oh--there goes the bell. I think it's about time for me to get ready to head down for lunch. Yes, lunch is called lunch in England unless lunch is going to be on Sunday, or if it's going to be a nicer, finer meal. In that case, it's called Dinner. And Breakfast, as far as I can tell, is always Breakfast. There is a mid-morning tea, though. Today (Monday, 31 August) is Bank Holiday, so I won't get to experience my first tea until tomorrow.

CHEERS!!

EDIT::I've lost a few pounds already! It's the walking about, the vegitables, and the smaller portions, I'm guessing. I'm also not doing any late-night snacking like I used to. I ought to keep this up, eh?

Hello from my room...at Yeldall Manor!

I made it to the UK. The flight was bearable (long and boring, and I couldn't get much sleep) and I made it to Heathrow just fine. There weren't any problems with my visa, and I didn't go through Customs (I hope I wasn't supposed to).

I met Ben and volunteer, Stuart, at Heathrow. We had a coffee, then got in the car (yes, the steering wheel was on the right side of the car) and we drove away. Ben drove on the left side of the road, and he didn't mind driving in the middle of the road...like, straddling in the white line. Oh, and he went above the posted speed limit. White lines and speed limits are suggestions and guidelines...not actual rules and laws.

It's a little hard to understand everyone. The accent is kind of thick, but not unbearably hard. I have enjoyed meeting everyone and eating with them, walking around this acrage (it's BEAUTIFUL!) and experiencing the weather.

AH. The weather. The English have been asking me about the weather. The English, according to Kate Fox, love to talk about the weather. I didn't put 2 and 2 together, and I wish I had earlier. I don't think I've offended anyone because I've been telling them that I really enjoy the weather. I do, too. It's much cooler, and I really do like cool weather. Nah...I don't think anyone's offended.

My room is quite nice. I'll post a video or photos or something soon. The light bulbs, locks, outlets, etc. are not like America, and there is no central heating. I like all of this. This is nice....

People have been nice, too. Welcoming, or they don't say much. When they don't say much, I understand they're keeping their privacy, and they might be trying to respect mine. I won't be the gregarious American who comes in full of hugs and handshakes. 'Tis not my style.

We went shopping today in Maidenhead. I loved it! The shopping center is NOT American. It's much like...well...Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. I really enjoyed it.

Let's see.... The food is good. I've had some traditional English food, like pies, custard, prawns, BLACK CURRANT BEVERAGE (which I LOVE!!).

Tell you what: my laptop is about to die again, so I need to turn this guy off and give it a charge. I'm not sure if I can plug my laptop into the wall with the adaptor and without the converter. My laptop might be "dual voltage," but I don't know that, and I don't want to blow my laptop to pieces. I turn it off, and that seems to keep the laptop and the wall outlet happy.

Cheers, Mates. Write to you later. Going to bed so I can wake up ready for Church!

There Is So Much To Say

WOW.

I leave in four days. I will be getting on a plane in FOUR DAYS.

AH! I can't believe this is happening. I'm excited, fo' sho', but I'm also anxious (which is to be expected). More than anything else, though, I have a mental check list of everything that needs to be done. I have to go to the bank, Lens Crafters, Creekside, Reinhardt, Old Navy, I would like to go to my high school one last time, blah, blah, and more blah. AH! AAAHHH!!!

Yesterday was my last day at Old Navy. It was a good day. I was hoping to go out with a bang, but I didn't go out with as big of a bang as I was hoping. I went out with a ... pop, I guess. I did cry on my way out and I had to go to the fitting room to recollect myself twice. Old Navy in Cumming has been so good to me, and I wish I could show everyone there how much they mean to me and how much I appreciate their generosity, kindness, support....

Then today was church, and Pastor Jason and Ric commissioned me. Did I spell commissioned correctly?? And I saw a lot of people for the last time for a year.... I didn't get to say goodbye to everyone like I had hoped, but no matter. I will see them later, most likely.

Then there was a final family gathering this afternoon. My grandparents had me over for a Sunday dinner. It was nice. I'm looking forward to seeing them at Christmas...via Skype (because I'm not coming home)...and sharing with them all of the cool stuff I've seen and done and experienced. I'm also looking forward to sharing with them selected stories of horror and dismay at what kinds of things I've seen and had to do.

I continue to think more and more about this experience. I don't know what to expect anymore. I have ideas of what I would like to experience, but I have no idea what I'm going to actually do and see and learn. I want to go to England with little agenda, and I want God to take a strong hold of my mind and heart and do what He will. I want to leave England with clarity and confidence, and a stronger understanding of God's will for my life, what is and what is not right, and what is simply okay with God (neither right nor wrong). Mostly, though, I just want to meet people and learn from them and impart some amount of compassion. I'd rather not go to Yeldall Manor with the idea of changing lives and squelching the darkness that has grown within them; I would rather go to Yeldall Manor and help the residents change themselves, and help them see the light within themselves, and encourange them to make their light brighter. I can't make the darkness go away, but I can encourage them to make their own light shine...which, in turn, makes the darkness go away.

Does that make sense?

Here's a thought that I had in church: if women and femininity were prefered in Biblical times and in the society/culture that was in place during the time when the stories and occurances and events took place, would Jesus be a woman?

I would like to know your thoughts on the above question....

Nine Days....

I have nine days until I leave. I'm super excited, some anxious...but more than anything, I simply can't believe this is actually going to happen.

I suppose everything is said and done when the plane leaves the ground at take-off.... I said that at the beginning, but I'm beginning to say it again.

AH!! I'm going to go to England for a year-long mission trip, serving God by serving others, doing what little I can to help the staff and the residents, in hopes of bringing a smile to the face of Jesus!

Now...if only I could find my battery charger for my camera...AND do this...AND get that...AND pack the other.... So much to do in such little time.

Sabatical

I'm beginning to look at the year ahead as a sabatical, and not just a mission trip. Most certainly I am going to England to serve God by serving others; that is the primary reason for going. There are, however, a number of other reasons. This is an opportunity to, hopefully, clear my head of a number of distractions and take the time to really think, research, PRAY about some things that have plagued my mind for years, but have really started bothering me a few months ago. This is an opportunity to get away from a lot of things. There will be plenty of distractions in England, and all of life's most pressing questins will not be answered in a fortnight. I do believe that, with time and patience and this opportunity to slow down and...well...shut up, I can finally begin to look for some answers, and ask myself and God some really hard questions.

Why do I feel the way I do about...?

...And why is it that I have never...?

...And who am I, and who is this person, and who is that person...?

...And what is God's plan for my life...like what am I supposed to do with my time and what am I supposed to do in order to pay the bills...?

...And when am I going to meet...?

...And...am I really...and what does God think about...?

There are so many wonderful things that can come out of this year. The closer the day comes, the more I'm realizing that this is most certainly something that I need to do for myself, for God, and for my relationship with others. I have a small...SMALL...list of expectations, and those expectations may be met. There will be more to happen in the first month than I can even imagine, let alone the eleven months to follow.

***

In other news, the traveler's medical insurance should be purchased today! After that, I should be sending a check or something to Time For God. Things have really come together very quickly, and very unexpectedly, too. I got some very surprising news from a number of people a few days ago regarding funding and contributions! Very surprising, indeed...!!!

This is going to happen.

I will be in England before the end of this month.

This is going to happen.

Folks,

I'm going to England.

God has really shown me that He will take care of the things that I need for Him to take care of. I've been so worried about the funding for this mission trip, and God has provided. I really don't know what else to say except...wow.

WOW.

I'm on Skype

wllmbillyjones

SKYPE ME, KIDS!

I'm still on AIM, too.

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