a post

I have jet lag. Sydney is a half hour ahead of Adelaide...so that is a completely ridiculous statement, but I'm going with it. I'm tired.

I flew into Sydney yesterday afternoon, was picked up and driven two hours north to Newcastle. This is Annette's home town! She's the Aussie that joined the Nea Zoi staff in Athens this summer. I got to have dinner with her family last night, stay with her parents, and speak at her church this morning. Took the bus back to Sydney this afternoon, and ready for meetings and things to start tomorrow.

It was fun to speak there ... they are doing a missions month, so it was perfect timing. I shared about what's going on in Athens and some stories of some of the girls. It was a good opportunity for them to hear specifics and see photos of what she's doing. (You can see some photos here if you want!)

After church I had lunch with her parents and her best friend Michelle and Michelle's fiance - fish and chips on the beach, complete with a bite of a deep fried Mars Bar! I am pretty sure that was the foulest thing I had ever tasted...not a flavor I desire to have anywhere near my mouth ever again. (Except the chocolate was good; I licked it out of my piece.) :)I was talking to someone the other day who was a missionary in Africa. Like, she lived in a hut and did her laundry in a barrel and cooked over a fire. That is just a whole different level of missionary. I lived in a city with grocery stores and I had electricity and my biggest hardships were not being able to flush my toilet paper and not having a clothes dryer. :) I told her, admiringly, that I could never do what she did. I'm a total crap missionary in comparison. But then she said, "Well, I could never do what you do."

Oh. Ok. To each his own. I work in the sex industry...I guess that's not really normal either. It's cool that we are all equipped for different service. We each have different gifts and can handle different things. The way different parts of the body should work!

Speaking of which, the other day Andrew introduced me to an older couple, some friends of the family, and said "This is Kelsey. She works in brothels." Sweeet. Thanks honey.

sorry in advance

Yesterday I bundled up, knowing it gets cold by the afternoon and the evenings are still downright chilly. I'm collecting Andrew's sweatshirts and socks that he's had to loan me because I left my house unprepared. Well, yesterday, I was prepared! But, yesterday it was 31 degrees - almost 90. My long sleeves and extra layers were completely unnecessary, and the night was one of those glorious warm summer nights.

Today it's raining.

So goes springtime in Australia. You have to pack your whole wardrobe for an Aussie spring, I'm told. Good thing I have five suitcases worth of clothing. ;)

Here is a new Australian (or warm climate) creature that I learned about the other night when Andrew had one on his car. Apparently they are harmless and people don't mind them running around the house at all. I find this to be quite unsettling.









Ready? Are you sure?








The Huntsman spider ... aka the "giant crab spider." It can grow up to 10 inches in some areas!
I hope you are enjoying learning about the Australian culture! Sweet dreams! ;)

this and that

Hi, I don't have much to say. I'm in Adelaide this week...sorting through suitcases, going to spin (cycling) classes at the gym, hanging out with Andrew... I could stay here. :) But it's back to Sydney on Saturday, for the second half of the whirlwind - ten more days of speaking, events and meetings.

It's trying to be spring; the mornings are warm and sunny and then the clouds and cool winds come by the afternoon. All the shops have their Christmas decorations out this week; it's weird to think that Christmas will be a summer holiday this year! (Well, until Christmas Eve - then it's to Seattle. But at least for the season leading up it will be getting hotter.)

I've commandeered Andrew's guitar and had a brief lesson today from his brother in law. I really miss playing and can't believe I led worship once upon a time - that would be frightening these days. I'm excited to work on it again.

Also there are great places to hike in the Adelaide Hills, with great views at the top and sometimes a kangaroo or two along the way. I've quit running, I think (finally); my last run was in September here ... so I'll have to press hard into the cycling and hiking. After years of deteriorating knees I am finally taking the doctor's advice (5 years later) and quitting. I think. It's an odd feeling and I miss the flexibility and just the feeling of it, but I'd like to be able to walk in 20 years. I had been holding onto the dream of just one more triathlon - even in Greece I looked into doing one - but maybe it's not meant to be. I know I don't sound very convincing, and I've tried to quit before, but I think it's for good this time. We'll see. ;)

Here I will leave you with a picture of a kangaroo I saw the other day:
Mmmm.

What should I call my newsletter? Also, pesto is a very dangerous substance.

I am working on my monthly update letter. What should I call it? Like "The Sydney Scoop!" or "Aussie Update" or something much more catchy. (But not "Kangaroo Krack-Up," which was Janell's suggestion.) I don't even know if there's a real job for me here yet, but clearly this is an important aspect of my ministry! ;) Suggestions???

Andrew finally got my stuff out of Adelaide customs yesterday. Took a whole week; they ended up charging me tax on some items that was 4x what the items were worth, throwing in a whole load of additional charges, and taking my Knorr pesto sauce mix packets. You know the powder kind that you mix with milk and olive oil? So yummy. And also, clearly, a hazard to the whole country of Australia. They were "seized for destruction." Who knew powdered pesto was such a dangerous contaminant! Thank goodness, they saved us all.

hi Mom

I am here...briefly. My first three weeks here look like this:

Melbourne > Adelaide > Sydney > Brisbane > Adelaide > Newcastle > Sydney > Canberra > Cooma > Adelaide

Tomorrow doing a workshop on trafficking at a Bible college in Sydney. Another event and many meetings in Brisbane. Then more speaking, churches, more events, and lots and lots of meetings.

My unaccompanied luggage that arrived in time for me on Tuesday is still being detained by the Port of Adelaide customs, I sure am loving them right now. So I leave tomorrow for Sydney and Brisbane with the same suitcase of clothes I kept for my last week in Greece! Ha.

For now I'm staying with a family from Andrew's church while in Adelaide; they are gracious hosts and hosting me free of charge for the next couple months. Wish I had a few more days to settle and kick the jet lag (got here last night), but off I go...

Deep breaths

goodbyes

I'm leaving tomorrow. For a whole new life, basically. Ok, bye.

Where did the time go?

Miss them already...

I have two full days left in Athens. Tomorrow is my goodbye party, Monday I'll tie up some last minute loose ends, and Tuesday I fly.

Even though it's been a quick transition and the past few weeks have flown by, I feel like I've had the time I need for good closure with friends, work, etc. I've felt twinges of sadness here and there, knowing I'll miss this place (and especially these people), but I'm ready. Some GREAT friends have helped me with the packing and cleaning, and since I am leaving my furniture for the couple who will be moving in next month, it's a pretty easy move logistically.

I'm trying to mentally prepare myself to go through the process all over again of learning my new surroundings and making friends. I was prepared when I came to Greece; I'm feeling a little less ambitious about it this time. It will be nice having Andrew there; here's to hoping I don't drive him crazy with my temporary dependence. ;)

Anyway, somehow weeks have turned into days and suddenly I'm staring my departure in the face. I alternate between confidence, freaking out, and excitement, and sometimes it's a little too much so I completely ignore it all. :) It works for me. I'll hit the ground running there with IT stuff, so it may be November before I can sit and process and make decisions. Stay tuned, I guess ... that's what I'm doing!

...and what I'm most looking forward to

These are the things that are going to make me feel right at home in the next few months!

English! - there might be an accent and they might say funny things, but I'll take it. Shopping in English, church in English, eavesdropping in English, instruction manuals in English, customer service in English...THANK YOU!!!!!

Driving - even if it's on the wrong side of the road. It means I am free to come and go as I please. I am not at the mercy of striking transportation workers, I don't have to carry 12 bags of groceries on the long walk home, and I can leave the perimeters of the city center WHENEVER I WANT!

Real grocery stores - big, beautiful, and almost anything I want. I can't even imagine.

English - it's a really big deal.

Restaurant variety - Thai, Indian, attempted Mexican, even Greek if I need it ... I want it all!!

And, well...
:)

Rent a friend?

A friend posted this article ("Is a rented friend a real friend?") on his blog about a website where you can "rent" friends. I eagerly checked it out, wondering if this could be an option for me in Australia.

Um, just kidding! What a strange - and depressing! - way to have to meet people! How bizarre.

3, 2, 1, blastoff

Ready for shipment! 2010

I've got a week to go, but my stuff does not! Stacie came over a few times this week and I am indebted to her for life as she basically packed all my belongings for me. Haha. I did help. :) Thank the Lord for friends who love packing and organizing! Two days and we knocked it out; tomorrow these babies are headed south.

Greece-bound, 2008

I came to Greece two years ago with three suitcases plus a carry on and a backpack (see photo). I'm leaving with five suitcases and the backpack. No matter how much stuff you get rid of, it still seems to grow!

Speaking of getting rid of, all my other belongings are sorted and designated as 1) pack (in my one remaining suitcase), 2) give away, or 3) throw away. Two (skinny) girls came and took most of the clothes I got rid of (YAY for being able to clothe my friends and YAY for my clothes fitting skinny people!). (Hopefully my clothes will still fit ME after this last week of eating all my favorite foods!) The throwaways have been thrown, the give aways are being given, and my worldly possessions are dwindling...until we meet again.

Top 10 things I'll miss about Greece

Since everyone keeps asking, and "my friends" doesn't seem to satisfy as an answer ...

10. constant excitement - You're always on your toes here, with strikes, demonstrations, and just a general unconventional way of going about things. Never a dull moment! (And, on second thought, I really won't miss this at all.) :)
9. language - Greek is hard. But there is something satisfying about learning and being able to communicate in another language that you never get to experience as a tourist.

8. periptera - I will miss these kiosks!

7. sandal man - There is this guy in Plaka from whom I buy these great Greek-made sandals. They aren't the most flashy, but they're made for lots of walking and they have gotten me and my bad feet through two summers. There is definitely a price to pay (usually in the form of nasty attempted kisses), so I suppose it's not the sandal man that I'll miss, but the sandals themselves!
6. fresh produce - Who doesn't love the weekly neighborhood λαϊκή (farmer's market)?
5. close proximity to Europe and elsewhere - In less than two weeks I'll be located at the bottom of the earth. Really wishing I could have gotten to more of the amazing cultural destinations that Europe (and beyond!) has to offer while I was so close, but so thankful for those I saw!
4. public transportation - Visiting other cities I've paid $4 or more to ride the metro, trains, and buses. In Athens, 1 euro will get you 90 minutes on any combination of the metro, buses, and trams. Since I live centrally, getting around is really easy here. Even when I can't get to my destination by public transportation, a taxi usually isn't more than 3-5 euros wherever I need to go.

3. Greek food and the taverna experience - I love sitting in a Greek restaurant (taverna) with a group of friends, ordering the familiar dishes, and sharing everything family-style. This doesn't always fly everywhere you go. The combination of the great food and the ambiance and being with friends is one of the things I'll miss the most.
2. beach & islands - I think this is self explanatory! Though my job isn't pretty, I tried to escape to the beach or a close by island on free weekends to get out of the city. I discovered that I love swimming in the warm Mediterranean! What a blessing to live in a country with such beautiful places.

1. my friends. They will still top the list. I have old ones, and I will make new ones, but these ones have shared much and been the highlight of my two years here.