Camp is OVER!

Tamsyn and I

I'm back. I'm healthier. I'm tired. I'm frustrated without reason.

I have a very interesting time at camp. And by interesting, i mean, well, not totally fulfilling, yet not a lose of a week either. When you think camp, (or church camp i guess) you think of hanging out with friends, eatting BBQ and listenitng to a good preacher try and change your life for the good. Which ususally happens!

This camp was different. We did have lots of time to hang out with friends, and we did BBQ once. And the speaker...well...he neeeds some more training before he does anymore camps i think. He was not a preacher. He walked in on our first session and said "I'm not a preacher, i'm not going to preach to you. So, what questions do you have for me?" and that was it. I as well as most of my friends, were a little stumped as to what he was talking about. The speaking never really got much better then that. He told us his testimony and then just wanted us to ask him questions, which usually, he deflected and turned into questions back to us. He was an odd bird i tell you.

We arrived at camp on tuesday evening aroun 5:00. We were able to get settled in and had dinner at 6:30. It was beautiful there. It was a game reserve that had Springbok, Zebra, Ostrich and Elk type animals on it. It also had an Eagle bird sanctuary which was pretty cool.

Wedneday we had breakfast, then the session, then we had free time till the evening session after dinner. So a few friends and i walked around the property to see if we could see any animals. We did not see anything except a few Springbok and a few Ostriches far off. And we saw the birds, of course.

It was a nice hour and half long walk. Then we got back to our campsite and lunch was about ready. So we ate and then i got my blanket and brought it out in the grass and layed out and read my book. It was delightful. The sun was warm there was nobody around so it was nice and quiet. It was great! Eventually Simon came over with his guitar and started playing and then a few other started to gather around and sit on my blanket. My reading had to stop. We soon i had a good group of about 10 people sitting on the grass and my blanket chatting. It was nice, although, i must i admit, i was a little pertubed by the fact that i could not ready my book anymore.

We dicided that we wanted to play a game so we went indoors where the table was. We had again, picked up UNO and were playing it nearly once every few hours. I played most likely 50 games of UNO over 3 days. And i am the fastest shuffler and dealer, so they don't like to try, they just make me do it. My hands actually hurt after the week was over.

It was soon time for dinner and then the night session. Which, really was even more dissapointing. People were falling asleep, walking out, just not paying attention. It was ridiculous!

That night we all hung around our rooms. The building we slept in was a square building with a wood burning fire place in the middle and then rooms surrounding it. Each room had 3-6 beds in it and had it's own bathroom per room. The girls were split up into two girls a room and the guys had 4 to a room. So at night, we would light a fire and all sit around it and just talk and hang out and have fun. This night, Wednesday, we brought out the music and some started dancing. It was hilarious and fun. Then i brought out the two fake snakes that i hhad brought and that started a whole other round of hilarity. We had so much fun with those. We would just start throwing them on people and then wathcing them scatter. At midnight, most people went to bed, but a few of us (5) decided that we were going to take a walk. the moon was out so we could be able to see pretty well. We walked down to the field where the animals usually are and were able to see all the zebra and springbok and elk like animals. It was awesome. However, a bit scary. I did not like being there in the dark so much, but it was two girls and three guys, so that was fine, i guess. We came right up to one of the Zebra's and i was shaking. The guys kept telling me that if i was too noisy the zebra would charge me. Now that i am in my right mind, i know that is not true, but in the dark, surrounded by the animals, i believed them. I about cut the circulation of one of the guys arm from squeezing it so hard.

The next day, Thursday, it rained all day. It had started raining about 2am and didn't stiop until late in the evening on thursday. Despite the rain though, it was a nice day. A lot of UNO playing and just haning out. I really didn't do much. Towards the end of the day, around 5pm i layed down to take an hour nap before dinner at 6pm. I was still trying to get ove my cold and the medicine was helping but i just was not getting much rest,so i neede a nap. However, instead of waking up at 6 for dinner, i woke up at 9:30, when people came back to "the village" as we called it to start the fire. I had missed dinner AND the session. I was mostly upset about dinner. I ate two cookies and my weight in marshmallow's and was fine though. =) God provided!

So that evening, again we were all hanging out around the fire. At midnight, they decided to bring out the projector we had with us and we all watched a movie. It's a south african comedian movie. It's about this guy that does stupid things and makes a fool of himself and other. Kind of like candid camera is, where they surprise people, but this guy is the host of it, sort of. Whatever, i had already seen it but stayed up just to hang out with my friends. At 1:30 we all went to bed. I got up at 6am to get a hot shower and pack and then was able to go over to the dining hall and have my devotions outside witht he peacocks. Oh! The Peacocks! There were about 15 of them runing around the whole camp. One of them opened up it's feathers twice, but that is all. They are so pretty. AND LOUD!

I had my devotions, and was soon joined by a few people. We had a nice chat waiting for breakfast. Then we after breakfast we had our last session and then loaded up the buses and drove back to campus. It was good.

We arrived back at campus about 1:30 and unloaded our luggage and all went to have lunch.

Later that night Emily came and picked me up, as i was going to spend the nigth at her house and get my laundry done and just relax quietly, away from these school people!

It was nice. We went and picked up dinner and then went back to her house to watch movies and eat and just enjoy relxing.

The next morning i didn't really do much except watch two movies and finish my laundry. I had made dinner plans so around 4:45 i was dropped back off at school, where i unpacked, got ready and was picked up about 5:30 for dinner. I went out with some friends and didn't end up coming back to campus until 11:00pm. It was great to be out and feel like a normal person again.

Sunday i woke up at 9:30, went downstairs for some toast and then came back to bed and read my book for a while. At 10:15 Chantel came and got me and we watched a movie. Ten i went back to bed and read some more. Around 1:00 after lunch Chantel and i watched another movie. Then i got back in bed and read the rest of the night. I also took a nap, so that broke things up a bit. ;)

This morning i awoke at 7:20, got in teh shower, got ready and went to class. I have two classes on monday, then a free period and then two classes to finish off the day. I have two papers due tomorrow but i needed the library to work on them so i was not able to do it over the weekend. So that is what my afternoon will consist of.

I got my essays back for english that i had done. Remember i had 6 essays to turn in? Well 4 of them were for english. I got A's on two of them and then the other two she wants me to clarify some things and then resubmit them. She said they were good, but could be better. We shall see what i get on those. I will have to do that tonight as well. Oh formy essays, i had taken a few of my blog posts from here and turned them in so that i could see what she had to say about my writing. I know i am not the best at grammer and things like that, but i think that i did pretty well.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will upload more when i have time.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the time at camp. I appreciate you showing me your glory through nature and frienship. I had a great time. And this weekend was wonderful. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Thank you for being here with me and giving me the strength to care.

Help me get through this week and all the assignments that i have to do.

I love you,

Heidi


Van


Mini bus seats


Packing


Emir packing the trailer


Johan and Shawn trying to zip the pink suitcase they shared. LOL!



Tamsyn and I


Emir and I


Lucien and I


Garth and I


Peacocks!


Outside dining hall


Peacock


Peacock


blanket where i read


Blanket where i read


Simon


Lesiba - Gertian - Josh


Megan


Adrian


Llwelyn


Posh


Josh


Lesiba


Donovan



Like i said, more pictures to come later...i am tired of waiting for them to upload. This here blog has taken two hours.

no more monkey's jumping on the bed!

So i saw the Dr, and the Dr. said....

i am sick.

He said that i have a bad cold and then he gave me some med's. I had walked in and told him i was sick and had a cold. Why is that i have to pay money to a guy to just have him write on a paper some scribbles and i still don't even get the medication, i have to go somewhere else to get it.

frustrating when you are super sick.

Thankfully i was escorted adn chauffered around by my wonderful friend Tamsyn. She is awesome and i really appreciate her! I don't know how i would have gotten all that done without her.

This morning my voice is back by a little. Not a lot. It still goes out around every 3rd or 4th workd i say, but it's getting better.

I have graduated into a new hacking cough from my chest, which is not good.

I leave for Camp in 2 hours and i don't know that i will be up for anything camp like. Hopefully i don't go there and just lay in bed the whole time, cause i could have done that here in my dorm room.

I will update when i am back from camp either friday or saturday. i'm not even sure.

I have no idea where we are going, what we are doing or when we are coming back. But trust me, i packed enough! My bag so far is the biggest out of everyones!

Proud? YES!

drugs! Yay for drugs!

Last night, around 8pm i got a call from mom and dad which was such a lessing. You know how when you are not feeling well, all you need is ahug from mom and sometimes that is as good as medecine, well, in my case i have to be ok with just hearing her voice. It worked! I felt better the rest of the evening! While on the phone, they said that i didn't even sound like myself. So, you know that's a bad cold.

Although, i did try something else. I drank a cup of coffee. I know i should have done tea, but i just could not get past the thought of it. Sometimes tea is just disgusting to me, and other times it is all that i could want or crave. Last night was a coffee night. I had one cup and realized how much better i felt. So a while later i had another cup. Sadley, after drinking that cup, i realized that it was midnight and i needed to go to bed. So i popped in my nyquill gel tabs and tried to sleep.

Nothing.

I am nearly sure that sleeping pills and a cup of coffee negate each other. I was wide awake yet totally sleepy at the same time.

If i lay on my side, my nose is too clogged to breath out of so i have to leave my mouth open, which means i droool. If i stand up and blow my nose, i can't get it to stop dripping. Better to just let it sit there. I finally was able to figure out that by laying on my back with my hear straight up i was able to breath out my nose. It was horrible. It took me about an hour to fall asleep. But once i was out, i was OUT!

I got a full 7 hours and then had to get up for classes. I took a shower and got ready and walked to my classess all without seeing anyone. They were just starting class when i got there so i didn't talk to anyone. Half way through class i had to leave and take a coughing break. It was horrible!

After class ended i walked over to my room to get the number of my Dr to see if he could get me in today and i saw someone in the hall that i could ask for a ride to get me there if i got an appointment so i went up to her and opened my mouth to talk and...nothing. I had NO voice. I tried to talk, but ended up just having to mouth the words. It was horrible. Not haveing talked before then, i didn't realize that i had no voice.

I was able to make an appointment and i have a friend taking me. I am skipping one of my classes but honestly, the first two i had a hard time concentrating anyways. The teacher excused me and i found someone to take notes for me.

It's now 11:30 and my voice is still not back. I am currently drinking a cup of peppermint/spearmint tea so hopefully that will help.

I leave for camp tomorrow and need to know that i am not going to be sick the whole time. That would be miserable!

Thanks for all your prayers. I'm sure they will kick in soon!

Dear Lord,

I have no voice and i have no desire to pay attention to anything. Thank you for having the Dr. avaliable for me today. I really appreciate it. You know that today is the only time i could go and you made it so the appointment lined up with my ride. You are so smart!

Thank you for letting me see another day, now lets work on letting me smell!

Love you!

Heidi

still sick.

It's now 8pm on Sunday night. I just got off the phone with my dear auntie and here sister, also my dear auntie. Lovely conversation and a much needed one. I needed a little "home" pick me up! My head feels as though it needs to drain a lot more before we are going to be over this head cold and i am not looking forward to it.

I have gone through one whole bax of tissues. And now, i'm onto a roll of TP. Not the normal TP you find in the states, this if you do recall, is the awesome BUTTSOFT. We refer to it at the "magical toilet paper" cause as soon as it hits liquid, it disappears! If you think that through...it's gross, i know! So with my nose, i am contantly feeling as though i could just use my palm and get a better cleaning effect. Thankfully i have not gone that far. I did try to use a baby wipe instead of the TP and do you how hard it is to blow you nose into something that is already wet? It's like...disgusting, yet, not. blech...it was too hard to do.

Now i have a red undernose aka my Philtrum, as wikipedia told me.

On the good side of things, i found out that i don't have 6 essays due tuesday. I only have 5! I was mistaken on the date of one of them! YAY! And i have completed 4 of them already so that is awesome! Well, actually i have completed one that is not due till next week, when really i should have been working on the one due tuesday. I just was in a goove and wanted to keep it going! Silly, i know.

I watched the movie Notting HIll today. I love that movie. So funny! So sappy! Nearly made me cry, but i think is because i'm sick...cuse i don't cry at movies. Or at least that is what i tell people.

i really have nothing else to say. If i don't get off now, i will start rambling and you all know how long i can ramble!

Oh, but i did want to say, has anyone read the Ted Dekker trilogy Black, Red and White? I read the Black book this last week, then this afternoon i read the Red one. I don't know. I can't say that it really has me sucked in, as in i could put them down at any time, i am curious to know how it ends. What fasinates me more is how much can be written and how far along the story is NOT. It's like all these little details. i don't know...what are your thoughts on it?

I did read his book called Blink and that wa awesome, i loved it. I will bring White with me to camp and see if i can get through it there.

Dear Lord,

I am still sick. I am still not liking it. The meds seem to be working, but only for the few hours they are supposed to. I need to get better, for real!

I have class tomorrow and i am not looking forward to it. Please help me to have a good attitude wether i'm sick or not. I need to choose to be happy. I sometimes i can only do that through you.

Camp is this week. I'm not sure what to expect but i pray that i will see you in that place touching the lives of my friends and fellow students as well as myself. Help me to focus on you and what your will is for my time there. It will be an experience to remember. I just know it.

Sick or not, i will do my best to consentrate on you and get out of the time there what you will have for me.

I love you!

Heidi

sick

I'm so sick. There has been a nasty cold going around and i finally got it. I feel horrible. I am sneezing and coughing and can't sleep even WITH sleeping pills. Please keep me in your prayers as i need to get better fast because i have 6 papers due on tuesday. With my mind currently how it is, i will not be able to sit long enough to write anything let alone make it something worth reading. This is a nasty cold.


Dear Lord,

I am sick. I don't want to to be. Take it away please.

Heidi

Boyrista!

My friend just opened up his own coffee stand! If you are in the area please go support him! He is a great guy, loves the Lord and is doing a wonderful job with his new adventure.

Here is his blog

http://boyrista.blogspot.com/

the address is

21639 Renton-Maple Valley RD, Maple Valley, WA 98038

which means, that if is right behind the Maple Valley Market, and the Texaco. You know, by the Foley's Fruit Market on the Maple Valley Highway sort of across the street from The Testy Chef???

If you stop by, tell him you are my friend! And you were recommended to go there from someone in AFRICA! YAY!

Even if you don't drink coffee, i'm sure he would give you water, and a nice little conversation to go with it!



Dear Lord,

Be with Levi and this new adventure in his life. He is trusting in you to be there for him and his stand. Keep him safe and put people in his life to be a support.

Bring him lots of caffine addicted customers that come not only once a day, but maybe even twice!

Thanks for everything you do!

Heidi

homework...blech!

Here is my list of homework that i have to do today, just in case you were wondering.

New Testament:
Read the books of Matthew and Mark
Complete study guide homework of 25 pages
Complete outline of research paper for the book of Matthew (3 pgs)

English:
Write two essays 2pgs each
Complete self test for lesson 6
Plan outline of 2 more essays to be completed this weekend


Hebrews:
Complete study guide homework of 45 pgs
Start reading through Hebrews text book and prepare to do a research paper on it

Psychology:
Start and finish 3 pg paper on the development of a 3yr old and how psychological motives are influenced by psychological motives. (not really sure how this is going to turn out)
Study guide homework of 30 pgs

Soteriology:
I dropped this class. I will audit it when i have the chance, but my other homework comes first.






Now, mom mentioned that i had not been leaving each blog with a prayer. And for that i am sorry. I have forgotten the last few times i have written. I shall resume again. Thanks mom.



heidi
Dear Lord,

I have a lot of homework. I don't like homework as you well know. Give me the ability to stay awake while reading and the interest in each subject in order for maintaining a good momentum this evening while working. You are a good and strong God. Send all the sleepiness away so that i can complete this all.

I have a long day tomorrow. Please be with me and help me to know how to handle everything that comes my way.

Thank you for being there for me in my thoughts and prayers. You are wonderful to me and the changes i see in my life are only there because of your love for me.

I love you.

Heidi

Thoughts i would talk about if i was in the mood.......which i'm not.

1. There is a ringing here on campus...or next to the campus...or something. It's like a horrible high pitched ringing that won't stop and has been going on for the last 2 hours. It is unlocatable. It is so annoying. I keep thinking my ears are going to bleed if this keeps up...that's what happens in the movies.

2. I hate starting over. I have been working on a research papaer the last few weeks and i just today decided that my thesis statement is stupid. So i have changed that. Which means all my research that i have done so far, no longer points in the same direction as the paper is going. Lame.

3. I went back to the "After School Program" with Boost Africa again yesterday. It was my first time back since i have been back in Cape Town. I loved it. When i left there were about 25 kids, since we were just starting it up. Now there are on average anywhere between 80 and 110. It's crazy! We had about 90 kids there yesterday and had so much fun! More to come on that one...i have a request for ya'll.

4. I get to make dinner! I made plans with friends Adrian and Tash to go to their place to make dinner! I miss cooking so they let me come over and cook for them! So fun! Not sure what i will make yet. I have two weeks.

5. We have camp next week. Every year they do a camp and have a speaker. The whole student body goes somewhere for 3 days. Not sure what to expect but i am being open minded.

I promise.

6. The weather is still cold. It rained today and didn't get above 16 deg...which in F it is.....uumm....62ish. cold.

7. Just found out today that i have a Psychology paper due on friday. Yuck!

8. I'm running out of Starbucks coffee. As you can imagine, that is the base of all my prayers as of late. Keep me sustained Lord!

9. I have to write 4 essays this week. If i get even one spelling mistake, as in i use the word 'then' rathern than 'than', i only get 10% for the paper. blech!

10. My tan is fading. Stupid winter. I'm nearly white again.

Home

People. Good News! I'm coming home!



...in 3 months.


BUT! I'm staying home! Great News! You know all that stuff i told you about me staying here two years and getting my AA? Well...it has been negated. I have made up my mind that i would rather be home. This place in wonderful and i love the people and the country. I would actually live here! But...living on campus in a dorm eating their food and sitting in boring classes all day seems not my best choice at this time.

I will be moving home in November and totally excited about it! My car! My beloved car! Oh how i miss you big heap of old parts!

I have considered what i'm going to do with myslef, and at this point i'm not sure. If you have any idea's please share. I will look for a job to start in January. Maybe nanny, maybe not. Maybe waitress for a while, maybe not. Maybe go to Massage Therapy school. Maybe not. (although if you know anyone that wants to pay for me to do that, tell them they could be my practice dummy's for the whole year! Kind of an awesome deal, i would say!)

I have also considered this here blog! Would life be as interesting living in the states? Would i have anything to say if i kept this going? Would i feel as though i could not say much and be super personal cause, well...i could just happen to bump into you later? I don't know what i would talk about. Maybe life after african dormitory life would be far too boring. We will see how that goes.

People, i need your opinion here! Please comment and let me know what you feel i should do, or if you have some amazing job opportunities you know of starting in January, or if you just want to pay for my to get my masage therapy lisence. I'll take it!

Please, let me hear from you!

My Holiday Weekend

This weekend was a 3 day one because today, Monday is Women's Day here and we did not have classes. I love 3 day weekends. If feels right. If an when i ever get a job again, i think working 4 ten's would be the best!

Friday i stayed in and watched a movie with a friend. I was going to go to church that night but decided that since i was still getting over my jet lag, that i should stay in. Getting home at 11pm is just too much for me when i start getting tired at 6pm. It turned out to be a nice evening. A friend ended up needing to talk so i'm glad i was able to be here for her.

Saturday i slept in a bit. I had to be in the library at 10am. I told the staff that i would work it because they all needed the day off. It's only open till 1pm so it wasn't bad. I was on youtube most of the time. After that i sat in my room and read my book. At 5:30 Mary, from Boost Africa came and picked me up. She had invited me over to her house for dinner and a movie. It was very nice of her and dinner was excellent. We ate and then watched a movie. It was her, her husband another friend named Jonathan and myself. It was a nice evening.

At the end of the night, Mary told me that i should just take the baakie and drop jonathan off at home and then keep it for the weekend. People, i had not driven Lil Bitty in 3 months. I was SCARED! Now i had to drive it at 11:30pm with a passenger that i had just met a few hours earlier. Man i was nervous. I was scared that i would mess up the clutch and forget what i was supposed to do and that i would drive on the wrong side of the road and that i would crash or get hi-jacked and die and then nobody whould know anyting about me cause the only id i have on me is the american lisence and nothing that says i am supposed to be at CTS or that i know anyone and then i would be a "jane doe" or whatever the african equvalent is to that and i just toally freaked myself out.

Guess what. I did fine.

I drove like a CHAMP! It was old news by time i was out the driveway! Lil Bitty and i were back in business! I dropped Jonathan off and headed home. Singing to myself, as there is no radio in there. I got back to campus just fine. No hi-jacks or anything! No flat tires, nothing! Good night!

Sunday morning i got up early and got ready and left campus at 7:45. I headed over to Greg and Emily's house to ride with them to church. There were some guest's in town who were going to speak at this church. The girls were staying at Greg and Emiy's house so it was great to get to know them. They did a great job preaching. Sarah is 26 and is a fully appointed missionary with Assemlies of God and Jessica is 23 and she is a MAPS missionary so only here for two years. They really are amazing.

After church, we went out to lunch and then headed back to the house. I had brought my laundry so we just hung around, watching movies and tv and just chatting. It was a great afternoon. We ended up sitting and playing games for a few hours. Greg and Emily had never played Spoons before so we girls schooled them on that. They were quicked learners and we ended up all having a lot of fun. Then we played a game called 'Trash Train' with domino's and that was really fun! After that we watched another movie and then i headed back to school. The girls had to get up early to get a head start on their 20hour drive home so i left and came back to campus.

Monday morning i woke up at 9:30 and just tayed in bed and read my book that i have been reading. I wanted to finish it. I am reading 'Blink' by Ted Dekkar. It was REALLY good. I really enjoyed it. I would read more of his stuff. I ended up reading until 1pm when i finally finished the book.

I made a phone call to see how my friend was that went home for the weekend and she had just left her house trying to get a taxi to come back to school. So i got dressed and went and got her in Lil Bitty. Then we went to the mall and did a little shopping and then came back to campus. I got back and one of the other girls wanted a ride to the store so i took her and then came back. I gotta use the freedom of having transportation as much as i can. I love driving a stick. Well...this stick. I don't know that i would do well on any other vehicle. This old nissan is pretty basic and easy.

Now it's going on 8:30 and us girls are going to watch a movie. Then i need to do some english homework and get to bed. We are starting a work out video in the morning at 6am in the lounge so i need to up for that...since it was my idea. Ugh.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Here is a picture of my wall above my desk. I put up some pictures of Matthew, my nephew. Having a cement wall maked picute framing a little hard, but i think i did well with the page protectors. I have a few more pictures, but i ran out of covers.





Dear Lord,

Thank you for being with me this weekend and for letting me meet Sarah and Jessica. I appreciate them and see how much they are doing for you. I am honored and inspired by knowing them.

Please be with me this week as i have a test and lots of assignments due. Please help me to use my time wisely.

Allow me to see any opportunities that i have to honor you this week.

I love you,

Heidi

Day in the Life...

Just for fun, I shall walk you through my day. Cause I’m sure it was way more exciting than yours!

This morning, I woke up at 6am. My alarm was set for 7:30, so I didn’t appreciate my bladder waking up before it was supposed to. I went pee and then went back to sleep. I finally awoke to my alarm, like a regular young person. I’m TOO young to be having to pee all night long. At least it was only once, and I did get 7 straight hours in first.

7:30 my alarm went off and the first thing I thought about was…I gotta pee again. Darn it! But after that…I walked carefully to the ladies lounge. Carefully not because I needed to be quiet…but more because I was scared. You know, the first night of having a new pet is always a scary one. (or at least I would think so…I only ever owned fish…I don’t really care for anything with fur) I wanted to see if Jezebel and Delilah had made it through the night! I crept to the door and slowly peeked my head around the corner. YAY…no floaters!!!! They were there like good little girls. Just hanging out on the bottom of the bowls. I said good morning, made sure they were still alive and kicking…or…flipping? Fed those ladies and then went to take a shower.

See my friends, class starts at 8am, but on Thursdays, which are sort of my new favorite, I don’t have a first period class, so I get to sleep in and enjoy the bathroom all to myself and the dorm is quiet and lovely. I showered, came back to my room and blasted my music and started to get ready.

Then it dawned on me…I wonder if they put away the breakfast stuff after 8am cause people are supposed to be in class and done with breakfast…hhmm..i better go check. So I put my sweats on and went downstairs. Bingo! It was still there! I made me some toast, cause here at CTS you can’t have enough bread in your body apparently and smothered it in peanut butter (i needed the protein) then went back to my room.

I dried my hair and then sat down to check my email. I had plugged in my straight iron while I checked my email so that it could warm up a bit. I got done with my email and went to use the flat iron and gosh darn it…i forgot to turn it ON! So….i spent 5 minutes on facebook while it heated up. Then I quickly finished my hair, changed into real clothes and headed out to class.

Side note: I have decided that I no longer want to afford make-up. It’s expensive, and annoying. So. I have stopped wearing it. Sort of. I have been here exactly one week as of last night, and I have put on my make-up only once. And that was just cause I had to get up in front of chapel and read a story, in the dark chapel, where nobody can see you anyways so really it didn’t matter. Anyways, I have used my mascara like twice, and my chap stick like once…and THAT IS IT!

i.just.dont.care.

end side note.

PS to the side note: I think that if ever get a zit…I would most likely wear make-up. But I have not had one in about a month, so….i don’t know when that time will come, I just want to cover my butt now…I’m not saying that I will never ever forever more not wear make-up, I’m just saying that once a week is way more than is needed. Right now.

End side note: f’r real!

Where was i….

Going to classes…right!

So I left my room. Now I was headed to English class and then after that I had another free period, so I only brought my book and a pencil. Not my backpack with everything in it. I guess I was not in the mood. We are working on spelling in English class. It’s very interesting, cause, well…I’m a horrible speller. I hate it. I don’t’ know where I would be without spell check and honestly, sometime I even get words wrong WITH spell check…they give you choices…and…well….reasonable deduction is not really my thing.

We did the assignmen then dragged out the lecture so that she would not assign us anything else.

Then it was chapel. Nothing really to say about that. It was good. We had two missionary girls speak. They are from the states and are fully appointed missionaries. One girl is 26 and the other is 23. They live up towards Jo-burg. I was proud of them, and they sort of inspired me a bit. They did a good job.

After Chapel, it is tea time, so I went, grabbed my muffin and coffee and headed upstairs.

Do you know what? In the lounge, right on the table, was a tin of rusks from Emily! What a sweetheart! I LOVE her rusks and boy oh boy these were good ones! Anyways, so I put my coffee down, cause there was nobody else in the lunge and went to my room and got a bag. I then proceeded to put 10 of them (the rusks)in the bag and then put them in my room and then came back and sat in the lounge eating the ones still in the tin..cause, well, I wasn’t’ ready to eat my stash yet. Besides, there were like 40 of them! And they are my favorite! And nobody had seen them yet so they didn’t know how many were there to begin with! Gosh!

Then I looked over and Jezebel was staring out her bowl at me…and then I thought…well…yeah, this is something YOU would do….what is this Bible school doing to me! And yet…I just kept sitting there eating them out of the tin. A few other girls came and joined me and they turned the tv on cause guess what they wanted to watch…TYRA!

Are.you.kidding.me.

Tyra? Really?

It was ridiculous! And yes, I did stay and watch, cause, again, the rusk tin was there and I could not move it without being noticed now. However, I did make my complaints know that I thought Tyra was a waste of our Bible minds. Too bad I was watching it with the school cleaners, and not any students.

Moving on.

So then, it was my free period. I went to my room and decided that since the next period I had a UPE (remember, those are my unit tests that I have to take every few weeks) that I should study. So I grabbed my book and was going to head to the library cause honestly, I don’t get much studying done here in my room. It’s too stimulating! I grabbed my book, then thought to myself that I should pee. You know how you can feel that you might have to pee in like 15 minutes, but you don’t have to really bad right now? Well, yeah, that was me. I thought, I should go here, but then, there are restrooms over there, so maybe I will wait. But…what if I have to go really BAD when I am walking there. But…that is ridiculous, it’s not that far of a walk. Just like 3 minutes. So I left, without peeing. And walked to the library.

Once I got to the library, I decided that I should check my email. I was having issues with it in my room (as always) and so I got on the computer and checked it. Nothing.

After that, I got up to go to the back of the library to study, and then it happened. I had to pee. NOW! With book in hand, I left the library. I walked over to the bathroom and what do ya know, the maintenance team was in there fixing something. Big sign on the door saying NO ENTRY. UGH! I walked around the corner and looked and the restrooms that are just single stalls right in the hallways. Not like a big bathroom with all the stalls like I tried to get into. But…there was a class next to the bathroom and I kind of figured that it would echo, and that is like stage freight galore, so I couldn’t do it.

Do you know what that meant? It meant I had to walk back to my dorm. That is what! PLEWHEY! At this point, I am standing in the courtyard, between the two bathrooms and trying to decide what to do. I then decided that I would put my book in my classroom, cause it currently was empty and then I walked over to my dorm. But…on the way, I got stopped by a friend. He asked if I wanted a banana. Strange question, I know. But I said yes (cause you don’t turn down the offer of fruit around here…it’s like gold!) he asked what I was doing and I said trying to get to a restroom. He asked why. I said to pee. End of conversation.

I was finally upstairs in my dorm and walked into the bathroom and guess what…no toilet paper. Stupid school. I checked the stall next door. Nothing. The stall on the other side. Nothing. Stupid girls. So I left the restroom, walked down to the other bathroom and finally found a roll in one of those stalls. They even had an extra roll! Whoo Hoo! I grabbed it and walked back to my other stall. (yes, it’s mine.don’t argue with me.) I FINALLY got to pee. YAY!

(in your head, while you are reading this, I know you just sighed in relief cause I got to pee…don’t deny it. You said to yourself “finally!” ) ha…I know it.

So now, it’s noon. Out of the 50 minutes that I had to study, I have 25 left. I leave my dorm, walk back to the other side and go to my classroom. I sit down and start studying. Did I tell you what I was studying? I don’t think so. I had a test in Psychology. It covered only one lesson, but that was a long lesson and there were 30 men that we had to know, as well as the rest of the information. And these men, you know, like Skinner and Pavlov and dudes like that, they were complicated men! And 30 of them! What a crazy test it was going to be! How am I supposed to remember every guy and what they contributed. Anyways, I studied, and soon other students started to come in the classroom. They, however, were NOT interested in studying, they were interested in talking! But me, being the genius that I am (side note: you should all know that I just spelled genius wrong and had to use spell check for that one!) came up with a brilliant plan. I offered them all a piece of double bubble gum! I had it in my bag and with it being “American” they all took one! And that stuff is HARD…and hard to chew and it’s huge! Their mouths were so full! They were quiet for like another ten minutes! HA!

Class starts. We get the test. It’s 16 questions. 16!!!!! Normally they are between 50 and 100. We got 16. There were only two men mentioned. Skinner and Pavlov. The ones I knew before I even ever started this class! I finished my test. Everyone finished their tests. Then the teacher asked us to switch papers with someone else, yeah, like in 2nd grade. We graded each other’s papers. Ugh. I got 15 ½ . so, not too bad. Don’t ask me about the ½, it’s confusing.

We were done with taking and grading our test before the class period was even half over. So the teacher let us leave early. I had a class right after lunch in that same room so I just left my things there and went to the library. After all that studying (for nothing) I needed a release. I walked into the library and grabbed a puzzle and started it in the back room. It was great. I needed to not be thinking and for some reason I don’t really need to think with puzzles. I am just naturally good with them. Ha!

Soon the bell rang, and it was lunch time! Oh yippee. Life is so great. More school food.

I walked over there just to hang out with friends, but kind of knew I would not eat, and it turns out that it was something that I didn’t like, imagine that, so I let my friend have my lunch. She appreciated it and so did I. I sat with her while she ate it and then headed up to my room to grab my water bottle before class started.

I made my way back over to the classrooms and went and sat in class. There was still a few minutes, but I was ready to get it over with. It was Soteriology. I hate that class. I understand NOTHING. Class started and I doodled 3 pages in my notebook. I learned nothing and when I tried to pay attention, I could understand nothing. It’s so ridiculous…that class….and me in it.

That ended…finally!

I came back to the dorms. Ate a rusk from the tin, said a hello to my fish, and went to my room.

I then sat down and watched The Net (oldie but goodie) and laughed at how awesome I used to think that movie was. And in ways, it still is, but for different reasons.
After the movie was over, I got up and went to my sink to get some water and stepped on a cord. Which hurt yes, but more importantly, told me that I left something out. I normally put all my things away. I followed the cord and found my flat iron still out…and…plugged in…and…ON!

People…I nearly burnt down my cement room! I had left it on a wood shelf…do you realize how disastrous that could have been? I would have lost my bag of rusks, i'm sure of it! Thank you Jesus!!!!!!

I unplugged it and am letting it cool before I put it away. Goodness…where was my head this morning!


burn marks on the furniture. not cool.

That was about 20 minutes ago and now I am writing this here note to you all! And by note, I mean book, practically!

So that is/was my day! It is now 7:00pm and I need to study and do some homework. I have a test next week in Soteriology. Good times!

Hey did you know that Monday is a holiday? It’s called Women’s Day! Ha…the men don’t have one.

Did you also know that this is post # 100!!!!!!!!!!! I have written on my blog 100 times! It feels like so much more…sad.

I am going to start saying prayers at the end of my posts, cause then if you read them, it will be like we are praying together!

Dear Lord,

Today was interesting. Thanks for letting me live another day and be in a place where I can learn more about you. I appreciate all that you have done for me. I am aware of the blessings I have in my life and thank you for them all. School is hard but if I keep looking to you I will get through it, day at a time. Thanks for reminding me of that when I need it.

Please be with my friends Verl and Sherri Potts today. Sherri’s sister came to live with you last night and she is missed here. Please just hug Verl and Sherri right now and don’t let go. They need you. Please let them know that I am thinking of them and that we are praying for them here on this side of the world.

Tomorrow is Friday and it’s going to be a long day. Please help me get enough sleep to be sufficient.

And if you could align my bladder and alarm, that would be much appreciated.

Thank you for being you. I love you with all my heart, dreams and desires.

Heidi

Something smells FISHY!

I bought some friends today!

I was just out with a friend going to the store to pick up a few things and i saw a pet store! So, after said shopping was done, i wandered over there and bought two goldfish! They are wonderful!

Jezebel, now she is kind of calm and quiet and will slowly float around the bottome of the bowl, and then all of a sudden..ATTACK!...she is up to the top of the bowl and then back down. Sneaky little girl....ready to pounce on a moments notice!

Delilah, she is a crazy girl! She is all over, workin it around all sides of that bowl. She longs for attention and if you give it to her, she is all about putting on a show! Typical Delilah!

You might say...i understand they are Bible names, but, why did you choose the bad girls?

To answer that you really got to see them...when they swim, they shake their little booty's and THERE IS NO DANCING IN BIBLE SCHOOL!

Those little Hussies!

So therefore, any other name just would not befit them.

Old friends, please say "hello" to Jezebel and Delilah, my new friends!

Blow it out your rear!....or...ON your rear!

Some people warm up by the fire.
Some people warm up in front of a heater, or ...what are those bar things in front of windows? Like the kind that make scary noises....i forget.
Some people use heating blankets and some use hot water bottles.


I...use a hair dryer.

I have a fabulous red hair dryer to match my not so fabulous red flat iron which in fact does not match my black curling iron. I mean, come on....a red curling iron? A little TOO girly if you ask me!

'hair dryer' is just not quite the word that i like to use to describe this thing. It is more of a ....heat goddess....yeah, that sounds about right.

My heat goddess dries my hair, yes, however, before it does that, it must first dry my body, cause a towel on a wet body in the middle of a cement room the temperature of a walk-in fridge does nothing. I aim that thing up and down my legs, on the bottoms of my feet, under my arm pits...along the tail end of my rear! ooohhh....so warm!

Then i proceed to get dressed, making sure to use the dryer on my socked feet just before they slip into my UGG's...and no, I'm not saying that i don't also blow that thing right INTO my UGG's... and then I dry my hair.

That is the morning routine.

In the evening it's even better!

I dry my hair again! Cause i heard that like you lose %99.9 of your body heat out your head...or something like that, and so why not shoot a hair dryer there when you don't have a hat? That seems like logic to me.

So night, i flip that 'on' switch and get to shootin! I warm up my head, then my feet, then i take it to my bed and warm my pillow, with blankets pulled back i warm up my mattress, then pull the blankets over and just let the thing blow under the covers, making sure not to miss the feet section.

For good measure, i will then blow it over the top of the blankets, and then quickly turn it off, put it away and jump into my warm covers. At this point, i have about 3 minutes to fall asleep before the covers are cold again...but ooohh...those 3 minutes are glorious!

Someday, when back in a first world country, doing things like normal people do, i'm sure i will miss my hair dryer heating extravaganza nights....well...i'm nearly sure.