Home for Christmas

          About a week ago, I was talking with one of my roommates who will also be studying “abroad” in New York next semester.   She realized how few weekends she has left at Bethel before she leaves, and we started talking about our upcoming semesters.  She asked me if I’m nervous for Guatemala, and I told her I really wasn’t.  When she asked me why I wasn’t, I had to think about it for a little bit because that is definitely not like me to not be worried about something this major coming up in my life.  I think over the past year and a half I’ve gotten a lot better at handling different obstacles that get thrown at me without completely freaking out.  I told her that I’m studying abroad whether I freak out or not.  I don’t have a choice.  I’ve realized that freaking out is only going to make my time here before I leave less enjoyable.  Kate finds it funny that I freak out more over a discrete test than I do about living in a foreign country for 4 months…yeah I don’t really know why that is.  To be honest, up until now I haven’t really had time to think about my upcoming trip.  My fall semester was super crazy with two math classes and two Spanish classes along with a couple other easier classes.  I was just focused on getting through the semester, and I did it!!  I had my last final this afternoon, and I am now home!  I’m looking forward to my Christmas break followed by a hopefully relaxing January class with plenty of time to hang out with people before I leave for Guatemala.  Please pray for me as I prepare for my trip that I will continue to trust God with all details of the trip.

I'm Going to Guatemala!

I know, I know.  I'm not leaving for Guatemala until the end of January, so this blog seems a little premature; however, I do have a couple reasons for starting this so soon. 

• I generally try not to leave things until the last minute. 
• I need to make sure I know how to work things on this blog so I can help my roommate set one up for New York.  (Kate, I'll get to use my "teacher voice" to help you!!)  
• I'm sitting in my room at home right now realizing that this trip is coming up SO fast!  
• I need to be able to help my parents so that they know how to read this before I go.

I've been realizing the past few days how quickly this trip is coming up.  I have three weeks left of first semester, Christmas break, a three week interim class, and then I leave for Guatemala for four months!  I can't believe it!  I'm really excited, but I haven't had much time to think about it because this semester has been so crazy.  I'm going to Guatemala with a group from Bethel.  There are 14 students going along with an on-site coordinator.  While in Guatemala, I will be living with a Guatemalan family.  There are two Bethel students with each family which will be really nice.  We will be taking classes at a language school.  I'm really excited to improve my Spanish a ton.  One of the things I'm most looking forward to about school is that classes are one-on-one with a Guatemalan teacher.  I will also be working/helping at a school.  I don't know all the details yet, but I'm really starting to get excited!!


-Greta