checking in...

Okay so it's been weird since I have been back, re-adjusting to living here. I have to get my mind once again to think in non-English mode! But there were a lot of things that I missed in the short time that I was gone that I am so happy to be able to partake in once again (the yummy coffee and pastries, my wonderful friends here, the culture in general). It's just interesting how only being gone a few weeks can make you feel almost like you're going through culture shock all over again! But the city has been so good to me and very welcoming. The weather has been so gorgeous the past few days! Definitely very much like spring. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and its just beautiful!

This weekend I am going to Portugal to go to the beach! I am definitely looking forward to laying on the sand, hanging out, and seeing a new country. I will take pictures too so you all can share in the fun. Have a great weekend!

i'm back!

Well I was in the states for a while but I am now back over here! Still trying to get over jet lag. Anyways,  it was a fun visit. I got to go to California for the first time. I also got to be in my brother's wedding. I now have a sister in law! yeah! Here are some pics from the wedding festivities.

Getting our nails done!

Bridesmaids with the lovely bride after the rehearsal dinner.

I loved the flowers! They were so pretty and smelled so good!

The bride and groom!

Me, Mandy, and Amy

So yeah it was a fun time and I had a good visit. I got to see a lot of my favorite people, eat a lot of my favorite foods, and just relax! Now I am back over here and looking forward to what's next. Hope you have a good weekend!

He ls Good

The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will go through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the darkness
If You want me to

When I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
Gonna look into your eyes and see you never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to you
And I will walk through the valley if you want me to

Yes, I will walk through the valley if you want me to 

ok

yeah so I took a quiz to find out what flavor of Pocky I am! Pocky is this amazing asian treat that I  looooove!  Just wanted to share with you....

what flavor pocky are you?
[c] sugardew

hope and a promise fulfilled

God sent His Son,

They called Him Jesus.

He Came to Love,

Heal and forgive

He Lived and Died

To buy My pardon

An Empty Gave is there to prove

My Savior Lives!

Because He Lives,

I can face Tomorrow.

Because He Lives

all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future,

and life is worth the living

just because He Lives!

butterfingers!

No, not the candy either, although now that I´m typing that I could totally go for a butterfinger candy bar. Anyways, yeah so I was skyping with my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Darrell (pretty much like a video chat thing) while eating a bowl of cereal. Well, I don't know what happened, but the next thing I know half a bowl of cereal was all over my computer. Thanks to the quick thinking of Laura, and Uncle Darrell's advice from half a continent away, I think it's all good now. But it was just really funny. Is Europe turning me into a klutz? I think the jury is still out, but leaning towards yes on this one!

Well, I got my grades back from my exams. By the way, grades are different here. I got my tests back and there were just numbers at the top, not percents or a letter or anything. After my prof explained, it's pretty close to percentages though, but I was just a little nervous when I got my paper back and there was a big fat red "9" at the top!

So yeah, I can´t believe that it´s already mid March! It's very spring-like here, with the trees getting ready to bud, the pretty green grass, and people just seem happier and like they are coming out of their winter hibernation. Although it seems a little early for this Michigan girl, I 'll take it!

aw yeah

Well it´s official! I am done with language school! I feel like my finals and presentation went better than I was expecting. It´s very freeing to not be worried about the grade. But who am I kidding, I´m still interested to see how I did overall and everything. I obviously hope to keep learning through language partners and other forms of exchanges. But it´s kind of a weird feeling though to be done with school...again. Next week is Holy Week, and apparently there are a lot of processions of the Christ and Mary figures. It should be an interesting time, that´s for sure.