"Flungers, Signs and French braids"

It has been very exciting being a student again! So many new things. New relationships, new rules, orientation, campus tours, work duties, oh and don't forget the accents. There are so many different accents here. I think that it is one of my most favorite things ever. Its like an orchestra of language here. There are more people from Korea this quarter than there has been for a while. It has been very fun, entertaining and amazing!

We had to have a Housing meeting on Sunday and everyone from my particular building had to come. Very interesting... It took about 2 hours. I do have to admit it was kind of boring. But my building manager did share 1 particularly funny story about clogging the toilet. When you are a family I guess it is safe to say that you can potentially talk about anything... So he said that if in the middle of the night that if we happen to clog the toilet, not to wake him up but to use a "FLUNGER"... he also used hand motions. Our building manager is very funny. He is Korean. A very brown Korean. Which is not very common outside of this island. Koreans like to be white and mostly you will see them walking in the sun with long sleeves, pants and an umbrella. On registration day me and one of my roommates went to the housing table to get our keys and our building manager was checking us in and giving us our keys. He asked my roommate what she was to be called. She said, "Leslie". He replied back, "Lesalee". He looked at me and said, "you Cwain". He rocks!

There are always opportunities to run into new people. You can pick up a game of frisbee, chat with someone standing in line. There is always a line for meals. Or just be passing through campus. Yesterday as I was about to go meet at the flags so we could walk down to go swimming at the peer. On the way I stopped at a friends room to see if she wanted to come. On the way back down the stairs I overheard a gal hollering to see if anyone knew how to french braid. I did. So 5 mins later I had a new friend nick-named Thunder from the land down under. And her hair looked amazing by the way. What a joy to meet so many different people from all over the world. I really do love all the amazing culture all around me.

One of my new favorite games is called SIGNS. And it's absolutely the best with the Koreans. It is a group game played in a circle. Every one has a chair except for the person in the middle who is standing. Everyone has a sign... peace sign, hang loose, touch your nose, make bunny ears. We try to be as creative as possible. The person in the middle closes their eyes while we pick someone to start the sign. Whoever starts is as discreet as possible and does their sign and then someone else in the circle, hopefully without the person in the middle seeing. This gets to be very funny as the guesser is turning in circles trying to follow where the sign has gone. If the guesser in the middle sees someone make their sign but doesn't make another sign in time the middle person can tag them. But if the guesser doesn't get there in time to tag and the sign was passed and received the game continues and more laughing is the result. It is awesome! Super fun and the Korean students are the best at it. Kind of like a mime game. So other than the laughing there are really know words spoken.

We are now 2 days in and I have been super, super blessed to be here. My staff and leaders have made me feel so at home and so welcome here. I love the sense of family and community. I am doing my best to take it one day at a time. And not focus so much on what I am doing next, or what is going on back home. I want to get out of this experience as much as I possibly can. The sun hasn't been out much since I have been here. A little the first day I arrived and for about an hour today. I will post some sunny pictures when I can take them. Tomorrow morning there is an opportunity to sit in the prayer room from 7-9am. So right after breakfast that is where I will be. It is so good to be in the same place with Aaron Barker. His worship and how he leads you into the throne room, is like embracing an old friend. Especially if you haven't seen him for a while. I am so looking forward to getting to know God so much more during this quarter.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Philippians 3:7-8