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Wow. So, life has been quite the roller coaster in the past two months. A GOOD roller coaster, I promise you… one that has come to a temporary coast 
Lets see. This summer was probably the most intense summer I’ve ever had. You can read back in my other posts about the first half of my summer… when I got back jet-lagged, missing my Egyptian and Sudanese friends, and Cairo 2009 team, and dealing with stuff I’ve never had to deal with. There’s a new part of me… and I just needed to figure out how that fits into my life in Seattle. And I still am figuring it out..
Life kind of hit me with a ton of bricks. I went back to work and was told I wouldn’t be rehired for the new academic year because they are only accepting work study students… nothing personal. I was flattered, really… they tried many ways to put my skills to use in that office but because of the money crunch on campus. So, that was stressful. Considering I have more payments than ever to make these days… OH the irony.
I had to find another roommate for the house. Which was freaking me out quite terribly because rent was due on August 20th, bills were coming in, and yeah… basically this is where I was tell God, “OK! LORD, THIS IS WHEN YOU COME IN…heeelloooOOOOoooOOOO”. I have little faith, really. Although, my faith has grown, I tell you. I honestly felt guilty, to come to God with a laundry list of things that I need. My prayers seemed so selfish. But God is good… because he answered each and every one of those prayers.
Right now, I honestly feel so so so spoiled. I got a job, by the grace of God. And not a lame one. One that is going to count when I type up my resume I’ve been blessed in so many ways its ridiculous. I have filled the roommate quota, I have a job, I’m living in one of the most beautiful places, surrounded by beautiful friends, and blessed with an amazing family. No, really, my family is awesome. Its only at home where I can open the front door to my parents cooking in the kitchen, with tango music in the background then proceed to sit down and eat cheese and drink wine. Its a little European escape. But anyway, God has been saying “yes” to a lot of things, which makes the “no’s” really clear and I have peace about them…
My heart has really grown for Seattle. I think God has shown me how much I love the people of this city… and I feel that even though I might leave the country for a while, Seattle will always be where I come back to. Since Cairo, I’ve become a friendlier person… more prone to demonstrating random acts of kindness to the strangers around me on the bus, or more prone to smiling at those who hardly get any attention. I have this curse… where I want to be friends with everyone. Which can be a bad thing sometimes, but usually is a good thing.
I’m excited, because the church I love so dearest seems to have the same love for this city. I see broken people and places… but I know God has a plan.
A while ago, I saw something shocking. Really shocking. Basically, a man lit himself on fire and jumped out of a window. I only saw his body lying on the ground, burning. Yeah, its morbid… but it represented something deeper to me. It meant that in the Udistrict, there are more hurting people like him… and I want to stop them before they do something so horrific. I would hate to hear the story of that individual, and to think about the “should haves” … I dread those. I guess that’s why I want to be everyone’s friend. Because everyone hurts sometimes ( I think thats a country song somewhere, or I think it was on the bilboard of a chiropratic clinic), and I’m also a do-er, which means I want to fix it all.
I also have realized that there is power when communities come together. When I was in Cairo, I experienced a truly fragmented community… where no on talks to each other to understand differences to see that in reality, everyone doesn’t hate you. Yes, there is racism and things aren’t perfect, but I know that just TALKING is something that brings understanding. Something I truly hate is when people judge others with poor judgment and without knowing their full story. Judgment, in general, should be taken with a pinch, but if you are going to formulate an opinion about a person, at least get to know them. Its like politics. People will see you as ignorant and stupid if you say something like “I think they shouldn’t legalize marijuana because it looks funny…”. SAME WITH PEOPLE.
Anyway. That’s the serious stuff. Life is good… I’m being stretched every which way. And I count it as a blessing.
Random things in my life? Well, I got a new cell phone… haha. It took me a while to do. I was kind of attached to my old one. Had many memorable photos.
I realized that the only colors I really like are: blue, green, purple, some shades of pink, and of course the standards of brown, black and white.
I’m reading a good book about Africa right now…
I’ve been watching Friends episodes in French to help me with my French.
I went Salsa dancing… two men asked me if I have a “novio” (boyfriend). I said yes… but I don’t. Sorry Fransicso and Elvis (yes, those were their names…).
School starts tomorrow. Praise Jesus.
OK. I must sleep my beautiful friends.
