Je ne parle pas francais

Translation: I do not speak French.

Okay- so that isn't really true. I do, in fact, speak French. However, that is exactly how I felt when I received an email from my future teammate, Dieu Merci. I was really excited about the email, except for the fact that it was in French. It was just a very real reminder that I need to review my French before I leave. I have no doubt that it will be fine- I'm fairly proficient at French. After the first few weeks I'm sure it won't be a problem at all. It does make me a bit nervous though. There is a very big difference between writing a paper to be graded and writing an actual letter. There is also a very big difference between using a limited vocabulary with other English speaking college students to discuss what we did last weekend and trying to have meaningful conversations on a very limited vocabulary. So to those French speakers out there- I'd love parler francais avec toi for some practice.


I'm getting closer to my fund raising goal- I'm only a couple hundred away. It is amazing that I have been able to raise enough money in such a short period of time. Thank you, thank you to all of you who have helped out. It's been a very different experience not having a full time/steady job for the first time since I was 15. Its been tough- but also humbling. I am trying to save money to make sure I have enough for college next year, but there are people in the world who are just trying to work (and don't even think of saving) to make money for food. The people living in our society are really blessed. It has also been a very good experience in faith. I try to be really self sufficient- I work hard to make sure I have enough money. The idea of not working and just trusting that my financial situation will be okay is incredibly scary (all of the possible scenarios come to mind- what if my car needs repairs? I can't work without my car. What if something happens and I need to see a doctor? I have a really ridiculously high copay. What if my financial aid package is next to nothing? Wait a minute, that one is a given!). God is continually challenging us in new ways, and while this may not be the way I want to be challenged- perhaps it is the way I need to be challenged.