I Found the Rain down in Southern California ... like Toto only different ...

You know how sometimes when you go shopping, and you somehow end up looking at the TV's and you have about a 5 min standstill because you can't believe how big they are and you just have to take a moment to take it all in ... my Sis and bro-in-law have one of those. And right now I cannot think of a better way to really kick off my Christmas break than watch movies on this giant, and I am quickly realizing everyone and their mother is in the movie Galaxy Quest.I'm in San Diego, enjoying the rain? This weather is wacky - 50 degrees in Jersey, snow in Seattle, rain in San Diego, what is going on. Either way, finals are over and I've finished my first semester in Seminary! I came home Sunday, and it was fabulous. I was able to catch up with some friends Monday and left Tuesday for San Diego!

Coming from a life elsewhere and returning home brings with it many contemplations.
#1. Not only do I get asked how seminary is, but I have to say I feel some pressure to qualify my school. At home the stigma it has of purely academic and lacking ministerial qualities runs rampant. Or at least at times it feels that way, but it could very well be one of those things you always feel you need to justify when really people are just curious. Either way, I really love my school. It isn't perfect, but then again what is perfect? It has it's problems, as we all do, which in some ways makes me think it's healthy. I don't know exactly what people are looking for in a seminary as a whole, because just like everything else you're going to find a problem with it, and then the question is really - what are you going to do when the problem arises? If you want to know more, let's meet for coffee. But bottom line, I am truly enjoying my seminary experience.

#2. Sexism. I've always realized it as an issue, but not until now have I really seen it as my issue. In academia I feel like it's almost healthy competition - to show equal aptitude (if not superior :) ...), or not even take genders into account but function simply student to student. But I don't see how that can really happen in the real world. Gender always plays a role. I realize race as well, but we'll leave that for another time. Earlier this semester we had moderators from PCUSA's General Assembly come for a Q & A, and one lady raised a point about how sexism is still an issue - as men and women graduate with their MDivs, and start looking/waiting for a call, male candidates find placements quickly while women who are equally capable and in some cases more so, are still waiting. I don't really need to start worrying about this for a couple years, but the fact that this is still an issue is surprising. Perhaps a more fitting complaint would center around dress code. Just think about it. For working in a church, or any profession really, the expected appropriate attire always seems a few steps up for the female. Skirts, heels, fitted shirts/blouses. And this in relation to a man's polo shirt and trousers? hmmmm ... All this to say I don't have a solution. I know this country is making changes, and I know that in individual cases it isn't that big of a problem, but it's still a problem. Just another one of those hurtles in life, I guess. I just know that some day I want to write a book - a book so good people can't ignore how good it is, and therefore won't really even care who wrote it but will just be thankful it has been written.

#3 How do you make sure to be yourself wherever you are? I can never be completely sure. There are always those small things you forget about yourself until you're around those people who bring it out in you. Hooray for sisters!

Bostacular

Thanksgiving - Boston style. I really like Boston. I think I could move there and be happy. Granted, I could probably move a lot of places and be happy, but it's such a nice size for a city, and nearly surrounded by water which is fabulous. I miss seeing a lot of water around. OH Seattle - only two more weeks before home-time!

Anyway, I went with my suite-mate Margaret to visit her Uncle and cousins, which was really fun, and it was fun to simply be in a family atmosphere. We didn't get to see as much of Boston as I would have like (like Cambridge for instance ...) but that just means I'll have to go back! It's amazing how much history can be in one place. I mean I've been to Europe, but this is like birth-place-of-our-country history. In a sense all of this only existed in my 7th-12th grade US history memory. Now it's alive again! And just like it looks like in National Treasure ...

So now back to work ... I actually am quite busy this week. I joined a group on campus called Seminarians for Peace and Justice, and as today is/was World AIDS Day, we organized a Taize service in the Chapel. Along with that, I organized the Alternative Christmas Market, where we are selling fair trade products and alternative gifts (like $10 donated to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen), which is awesome but needless to say, a little time consuming. Here are some of my products, if you're interested ...

The bottlecap earrings I've made to support my friend who's living in Bosnia (thus 'Bottlecaps for Bosnia'). I love making stuff. And the card on lower right I designed to go with donations to local organizations. I love making stuff. Did I mention that? Hmm ...

I also took a fabulous walk today with my friend Rachel Daley. She is fabulous, and all around very much fun. I like seminary a lot. I love learning what I'm learning, engaging in heavy theological and ethical discussions, and generally this community. Also challenging a community like this to be aware of the world around them (locally and globally) through things like the Alt Christmas Market or the Taize service. We need to be agents of change. And that goes for each member of the body of Christ, not just those destined to be the workers in the church, but definitley them for sure.
Oh and please pray for me, I'm suffering from a severe case of camera lust. I love love LOVE photography, and would LOVE a new camera. But if I had one I probably wouldn't get ANYTHING done.

Uh oh ...

The Word of the Lord:

"Hear, my child, and be wise.
and direct your mind in the way.
Do not be among winebibbers,
or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and drowsiness will clothe them with rags."
-Proverbs 23:19-21

Thanks be to God.

Well, given my last entry - apparently partially about winebibbers - and given my addiction to buffalo wings (and the way I inhaled them last night), the outlook is grim. Yet on the other hand, maybe it all makes sense, because no one goes into ministry for the money ... well, I mean I could probably name a few ...

Pictures for fun:
I forgot to mention a Hodge Hall tradition - we have a painting at the base of the stairs that is re-done each year, themed for the girls from our floor, and painted in community. Hooray for floor art!
Hello fall! Miller Chapel from the inside and out. Apparently it made Martha Stewart's top 10 places to get married ...? I don't think she realizes half the congregation won't be able to see anything ... but it is gorgeous!

I just don't understand these phenomenons ...

1. Karaoke - カラオケ
What is it about our age bracket that screams 'let's sing in front of strangers!'?!? In perusing facebook photo albums of my peers, and seeing the culture first hand (yes I went, but I have yet to sing ... apparently it's only a matter of time) it just seems that the 'just graduated college' crowd through to probably 'I'm gonna have kids soon' age have a fascination with Karaoke. It's just strange. Especially since whoever made up the books for Karaoke should have been edited, by the 'these songs should NEVER be sung at karaoke because they are too long and slow and long' editor. But that apparently did not happen. Most of the time it feels like that bad dj you experienced at a wedding once. Playing somebody's classic song of romance that no one wants to dance to, or can even remember the words too.

2. Beer, Beer, and more Beer,
I can understand a beer. Maybe a couple beers. But when it becomes a 'necessity' for having fun, or rather the phrase turns into, 'I haven't had enough beer to party yet' --- What is that about? If you like the taste of beer, you shouldn't be abusing the amount of it. And at parties, people delude themselves into thinking a party isn't a party unless you have alcohol. What? Are you sure? Have you ever tried that before? Because they can still be pretty awesome. I mean heck, we could all just pretend like we're drunk and probably have just a good a time, and not be regretting it in the morning. If I were in psychology, I would say that most of these people use it as an excuse to act a little crazy. But what if we all just decided to act a little crazy anyway ... boost up the confidence level a bit, be more comfortable with our awkwardness because we're all a little awkward. Worried that you don't dance well? I'm pretty sure majority of people don't dance well. With the right amount of creativity and excellent facial expressions I'm pretty sure people won't care if you're even in time with the music.

3. Girls Who ...
My suitemate and I have begun a list. It's more of a list of attributes we find rather destructive that we would not like to emulate, and feel are unhealthy for other girls to form. That being for themselves, for guys, and for the girls they leave in their wake. For example, girls who overtly flirt with many, many, many boys, and have very, very, very few close girl friends. It's probably obvious how the former effects the latter, and I could probably go on forever about how I think it's affected society. Yet I feel that throughout history women probably have used the same tactics, so this isn't anything new ...

4. Gunshots in songs? Who thought this was a good idea?!?
Paper Planes. I am morally opposed to this song. I don't even know what the point of it is, after reading the lyrics - which also makes me wonder what the younger generation even does with lyrics, but that's probably an age old question as well. But seriously, gun shots - like we don't desensitize our culture enough? I was at a party, of seminarians mind you, and the song comes one, the hand-shaped-like-a-gun goes in the air, and everyone has a good time. REALLY!?? All I could think was, if this was on in a club, and someone got shot outside, no one would know ... I just really, really do not like where this is going.

Words words words ...

My days have turned into something like this:
Wake up, go eat meal, read, go eat meal, read, go eat meal, read/realize I won't be able to focus on more reading so watch movie with friends. That is a lot of reading. And the hard part is most of the time I don't know if I actually understand it, and am dreading the idea of having to read it again. This usually has to happen as I go fishing for quotes to use in my paper.

It always makes you wonder as well, if you wrote like the authors you are forced to read, what kind of grade you would receive. I'm convinced that if I wrote a paper like Tillich writes, I would get an automatic rewrite. Not to mention he's used 'concupiscence' at least 5 times ...

e.g. from Michael Crichton's (RIP) history (via wikipedia):
Crichton admitted to having once, during his undergraduate study, plagiarized a work by George Orwell and submitted it as his own. According to Crichton, the paper was received by his professor with a mark of "B−". Crichton claimed that the plagiarism was not intended to defraud the school, but rather as an experiment. Crichton believed that the professor in question had been intentionally giving him abnormally low marks, and so as an experiment Crichton informed another professor of his idea and submitted Orwell's paper as his own work. ^[7] His issues with the English Department led Crichton to switch concentrations from English to anthropology.

And lastly, try to keep a straight face when your prof uses this in lecture:

de⋅my⋅thol⋅o⋅gize (demythologization)

/ˌdimɪˈθɒləˌdʒaɪz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [dee-mi-thol-uh-jahyz] verb, -gized, -giz⋅ing. –verb (used with object)

1. to divest of mythological or legendary attributes or forms, as in order to permit clearer appraisal and understanding: to demythologize the music dramas of Richard Wagner for modern listeners

2.to make less mysterious or mythical so as to give a more human character to: to demythologize the presidency.

–verb (used without object)
3.to separate mythological, legendary, or apocryphal elements from a writing, work of art, historical figure, etc.

New Shoe New York

You may think I have an addiction to traveling to New York by now, but I tell you it is not ...

I visited yesterday to check out a church that I would like to do my field education at, called West End Presbyterian Church, just next to Columbia and Central Park. I met with the pastor earlier this year, as well as the current intern, and am pretty excited about the opportunity. It's very different from home/UPC: the congregation is very small and very diverse. But it almost makes it feel like a family! I am more or less excited simply for the opportunity to adventure into new territory and see what I can learn. And Spanish might be on that list ...

Bianca and I also got to see Atsuko, a friend we know from our summer travels/UPC as she and her husband Pat were in town for the NY marathon. I canNOt imagine running all over the city, let alone longer than 5 blocks ... kudos to all that do. I really only run away from things. I ALSO bought some sweet new kicks for $10!! unbelievable, please see below:
And lastly, a few highlights from this week:
In speech class yesterday we were each to read a piece of scripture, and mine was a part of the sermon on the mount. I would like to say that preaching is one of those things that I may be a little to critical about, because I feel like people should be both engaging with the text as well as real with the people they are speaking to. And this often doesn't happen. Too much theatrics makes it unrealistic and too human/buddy buddy removes the pure wisdom that the scripture can have. You know what I mean? So I'm hoping that the way I choose to read my piece falls in the good balance. Reaction? Let's just say that one peer of mine said that if I were to start a cult, he would join.

Oh, and I joined a contemporary worship group on campus called 'The Well' and I get to lead worship next tuesday! I've just realized that this is kind of a dream of mine ... getting to be on a worship team, and then actually getting to lead one night! Woohoo! I've got to go practice then ...

...should I have mentioned something about the elections and this momentous time in history? Because Obama is great, that is all acknowledged, but I'm ready to see what the next 4 years actually have to offer. And I'm a little pissed with Washington's voters on other issues.

Reading Week ... riiggghhhtttt ...

So midterms are this week. In preparation for that, the school gives us the week prior off - no classes, use this time to study. Study? Really? Alllll week? hmm ... I do have two papers, a take home midterm due and two in-class midterms upon my return, so it would probably be in my best interest. But when fellow students call it 'fall break' and the people you work for on campus laugh a little when you say you're going to study, it loses it's studious luster. Now don't get me wrong, I wrote a paper, I had full 5 hour study sessions ... here and there ... but who says that can't happen alongside a trip to NYC, another to Washington DC, and of course the highly anticipated release of High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Let's just say my week was rather phenomenal.

Met up in NYC with a friend for the day, visiting from Washington (state that is, they always seem to get that wrong over here ...) via Virginia. Took a free trip sponsored by the American Jewish Committee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which I would highly recommend if you get the chance. In my opinion my visits to Dachau and Normandy were more impactful, but this one does a really good job of taking you through the Holocaust from multiple angles. However, this being on Thursday (and a 13hr trip) I wasn't quite in the zone to go see HSM3 midnight showing as some would expect me to - sorry to disappoint. BUT I did see it Friday, and I am very VERY pleased with the outcome. I recommend it almost as highly as a trip to the Holocaust museum ... almost ... I'm sorry, I just can't help myself ... I am more than a fan, and I am well beyond 15yrs old, but who cares ...

On Reading.

The words I never knew:

Anathematize:
a·nath·e·ma·tize [uh-nath-uh-muh-tahyz] -tized, -tiz·ing.
–verb (used with object)

1.	to pronounce an anathema against; denounce; curse.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to pronounce anathemas; curse.

Cupidity:
cu·pid·i·ty /kyuˈpɪdɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kyoo-pid-i-tee]
–noun
eager or excessive desire, esp. to possess something; greed; avarice.

Concupiscence:
con·cu·pis·cence /kɒnˈkyupɪsəns, kɒŋ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kon-kyoo-pi-suhns, kong-]
–noun

1.	sexual desire; lust.

2.	ardent, usually sensuous, longing.

Thanks Augustine, I'll try and incorporate these into my growing vocabulary. Or maybe not.

From my window.

I like seeing the seasons. This tree is now nearly bare. Which is sad, but also a marker for seeing the way things change, the way life changes, and I know I'm not stuck in the same old routine, but that something new is about to begin.

Those moments.

Do you ever get those moments when you relate absurdly fictional characters to Biblical ones? I mean, let's just take a look at the anointing of Kind David. It's like Ender's Game in a way, how Ender is more or less pre-chosen whereas his sister and brother were rejected - and for good reason. But 'they' knew it by the time they were like, 6! And how many times in reading Harry Potter did I come to the conclusion that all he REALLY needed was Jesus ... but that's another story.

Do you ever have those moments when really all you want to do is add things to your Amazon shopping cart, not that you're actually going to spend that $80 on cd's, but those things seem like they'd just be such great items to purchase? Or you basically get infatuated with new music (well, new-to-you music) that you've found because 'listeners also bought' them and you actually somehow fit into that category because Amazon is totally getting it right ...

Do you ever have those afternoons, full of good intentions of studying, which turns into studying with friends, which turns into studying with friends at a nearby park, which turns into great discussions of the pressing topics of our generation within/out the church, and no studying actually gets done, but you feel like you just grew up a little, or have a greater vision for the future?

I guess today was all of those moments ...

The sun and the rain and the appleseed ...

For being from a state that ships it's apples all over the country, I honestly can't remember a time I visited an apple orchard. Raspberries, sure. Strawberries, definitely. Apples? Maybe I just don't remember because apples aren't quite as delicious ('Red Delicious' should not be named delicious. Golden on the other hand I can understand). But orchards are great! 3rd Hodge (my dorm floor) traveled to Terhune Orchard for some apple picking! It was an attempt to bond, as well as to bond with 4th Hodge, from which about ... 2 people showed up. So 10 girls and 2 guys, hey - odds in their favor. The apples were delicious, and if you eat them in the orchard then you don't have to buy them ... I mean you've got to taste to make sure the product is good, am I right?

I also got to borrow my friends excellent Nikon SLR for the weekend, so we'll see what kind of photographer I'm turning out to be ... I think most of my talent was in photo shop ...



I'm also making more jewelry. This is mainly to raise money for my friend who moved to Bosnia this past week for a 2-year commitment with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), but really it's a guilty pleasure. If you see something you like, or know someone who might be interested, let me know. I'm thinking $10 a pop, (they come in pairs, unlike in the picture. I mean most people have two ears ... sorry Van Gogh ...) and any more would be generous donation to my friend Jessica and her mission in Bosnia. Here's a pic of what I've got so far!

"At the blast of your nostrils the water piled up"

I just found my favorite verse from Exodus (so far). It hails from ch. 15 v. 8a in case you'd like to take a look for yourself. Did God sneeze the Red Sea into parting? You tell me.

I don't think I've ever read this much in my life - which is in a way very taxing, but also rewarding not only because I'm learning things but because I can't think of a better sense of accomplishment than finishing a book. That actual cover-to-cover moment of truth. There should be a parade every time that happens. But it almost feels like there IS a parade because it's rewarding in itself!

But with much reading comes its exciting and ever present comrade, procrastination. Therefore I make cards, do art, modge-podge leaves that are beginning to turn so I can put them in my room, and paint those 3-for-$1 IKEA frames that are so easy to decorate. The opportunities really are endless. I'll try and contain myself, but here's documented proof that I was not studying at 11am today, and was in fact creating a tiny photo studio on my desk ...

In Water, Was I Spoiled.

A Psalm.

The refreshing waters of dewy mountains
Sweet springs of life attached
How I lament the absence of thy presence
In this land so far away.
I had taken for granted the fresh flowing joy poured out from kitchen faucets
And now taste the bitter tinge of Jersey flow from glass or bottle alike.
Oh! For a Brita to return it's taste, and make sweet the earth's milk.
But alas, for the cost of such a deity would be too much from mine own assets.
A memory, sweet memory, is what flows on distant shores
And is held in the hearts - and belly's - of so many.

Selah.

In The Beginning ...

Who knew seminary was such a party? I can't tell you how many people I've met over the last week and a half. No really, I can't tell you because I don't remember at least half of their names. But I'm getting better! Classes are awesome, and to put to rest all of those who worry about my faith and love for Jesus while I'm here, fear not. In one of our orientation meetings one prof said something along the lines of, "contrary to what your family, friends, and pastors may have told you back home, we are not out to destroy your faith". And its true! The faculty is amazing, the student life is hoppin', and SO friendly - and worldly! Iceland? Malawi? Puerto Rico? We ate lunch today with Hungarian theologians. What?!

So aside from the book store not having a book that we are required to write a paper about due next Friday (Barth - very heady) everything is amazing! ALSO this week the NJ transit offers FREE - I'll repeat that - FREE rides for students! So, of course I went to NYC for the day on Wednesday, when we basically have no class (don't worry, I'll get all my reading done). Pictures? SURE!Taking the 'Dinky'Bead stores galore!

A Glass elevator! at the Mac store. It was awesome.
Get it? Enchanted? In Central Park?!?
I've heard a sermon on this one - couldn't resist.

And so you have it. And today we had a dance party. What a way to start the year. And hey, look we've decided to decorate our suite with paper cranes from the ceiling!

Is a member of the public library!

Look! Physical proof that I am in Princeton. Well, kind of. I guess I should take a picture of me holding it ... I WAS going to scan my ID card but then realized that probably wouldn't be a good idea ... having my student number, name, and picture who knows where on the internet. Mhmm, it's official I've started using my brain again which is good since classes start Monday.

It's weird though, going through the orientation process again - only this time they call you Juniors even though I have not been previously through 2 years ... but I did pass through 2 time zones so maybe ... ? And then your second year you are a middler - which I think sounds Tolkien-esque but then again I'm half wishing to get both a Masters in Divinity AND Divination, so maybe my brains a little different.

Alright, heading out to the Presidents house - yeah that's what happens when you're in a class of less than 150 people - wow I was just informed of that and that is ridiculous after UW.

It's the Final Countdown ...

Okay. Here we are. Less than a week until lift off. The coffee dates and last goodbyes are trickling into place, and the suitcase is on the brink of explosion. Leaving/arriving on the 8th. Well, apparently according to the Beijing Olympics (and my Chinese heritage?) 8 is pretty lucky, so we'll see how this goes. For a first taste though, check out the picture I have of the apparently prophetic road signs near my neighborhood. See you on the other side!

Just flew in from London ...

Well, time to get back to regular life. But that also means not living out of a suitcase, wearing alll the clothes in my wardrobe (not all at once...), and eating out of a refrigerator. There are benefits to everything. Some last entries about the trip with pictures:

Gathering for our tour at the Acropolis, early in the morning. Best way to beat the crowds and the heat, as well as make it to Corinth for the afternoon
The Acropolis in the morning
Our "normal" photo ... I was going to have them pose grecian style, until a lady came up and told us "normal pictures only " ... sheesh ... we were pretty upset. Or at least Vancil and Hil are, Bianca's just doing here hair and Peg's being conversational ...Walking in the footsteps of Paul, right? Well here I am walking in CorinthAnd here is a view of CorinthAnd what would at trip to Greece BE without a good ol' bungee jump off a bridge in Corinth? Hey, they did it in the Amazing Race!And the Canal ... I was NOT about to jump this ...So after Athens, B,H and I still had a day in Athens. We went with our friends Mark and Greg to see some of the sights on the ticket we'd bought for the Acropolis the day before (it included like 6 different places and was good for 4 days ... not wasting that). And it was HOT. What relief to go to London! So much cooler, AND everyone speaks English. But here's the flight from Athens to London ... ewwwwww feeeeet ... Even better all the SIGNS are in English!! Woohoo! We met up with one of Hillary's friends and stayed at his house in Lewisham. I love taking the Tube, I like walking around London, I love Hyde Park, I love the theatre (more than the theater), pubs, HP sauce, heck I should just move there someday. We visited Hillsong London on Sunday night ... ... met up with Greg again since he was also stopping in London on the way home and had delicious Indian food. MMMM Indian food. We also met up with Bianca finally, and unfortunately all she ever got to see of London was from the Underground ... you win some you lose some. We then visited Hyde Park, the Whole Foods by Hyde Park, Peter Pan in Hyde Park, and ended the day with Les Miserables!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! I brought my book just in case. It's SUCH a good book, and SUCH a good SHOW!! Recommended for sure.
Well, I don't know if more will show up here this summer, or if I'll just show up again when I start Princeton in the fall. We'll see! Hope you've enjoyed the pictures, and maybe a'll see you soon!