So much for blogging, let's try novel writing?

I am really not very good at this. That much is clear.

My last post, "Things I've Learned", has sat as a draft for about three weeks now, sadly. I hit "Publish" after writing that much (even though I wasn't finished), but it never cleared and actually published apparently. So I apologize fully for leaving my loyal readers in the dark for about a month now. Shameful. I'm going to attempt to fill in the gaps with this post and give you an idea of why blogging has been knocked down a few priorities. That being said, I am SO thankful for all of the texts, messages, and even mail from home! They have meant so much and have truly been a huge encouragement.

Experiences
Ohh where to start? Everything here is a great experience. To name a few...

~Singing at the Fishermen's Mission: Rhona, a lady from the church, asked me upon my arrival if I would come sing a few songs for a thank-you luncheon for the volunteers that work at the Fishermen's Mission in Aberdeen. Sure, I thought. So, that Monday, we went up the road to the city and I got to sing some old Scottish folk tunes and old hymns to a bunch of lovely Scotsmen and women. Part of that can be seen here. :)


~Leading worship at the church: This is obvious, but I have to include it. What other twenty-year-old gets to lead a body of believers to the throne of grace every Sunday? Ok, maybe some. What other twenty-year-old gets to lead a body of believers primarily made up of older, wiser, and Scottish people? Definitely not many. The congregation of Stonehaven Baptist have truly been a blessing in areas they don't even know about. Their exuberance and resonance for music on Sunday mornings could put some teenage church camps to shame. Not that it's a competition- we are all ONE in Christ- but you get the idea. I appreciate their patience with my occasional lack of rhythm, clarity, and/or lyrics. It's been a blessing to get back to the depth of some old hymns and find new ways to apply more contemporary worship as well. I am thankful for Nathan's patience in working with me as well since we have had maybe one week in which everything has gone "as planned". Maybe next week he will get an accurately timed service for future planning purposes. I also appreciate the lessons he has taught me about effective worship and the thoughtfulness he brings to each week's service. All things that will undoubtedly change the way I think about and lead worship when I come home.

~Holiday Zone Time: We had a blast teaching the preschoolers through 5-year-olds at Holiday Zone Time (think VBS) earlier this month! I got to be in charge of music, so that was good fun. I have some great preschool songs about how great God is to get stuck in my suitemates' heads this coming year, hand motions included. I loved seeing the kids get excited about the music and the motions, but more importantly I loved watching them listen to the lessons about God's faithfulness and remember the stories later in the week. We made some great connections with the kids from the community and their families, and I am excited to hear about what God does through those relationships in the autumn when the year-round Zone Time starts back up again. I'll be putting up a video of one of our songs later unless I can compress it to blogspot's restrictions, but here's some pictures:

~Ceilidh: Yep, I got to experience traditional Scottish dancing. Think contra-dancing with a few more hops and spinning involved. We had one of these dances at the end of our Zone Time week as a send-off for the American team that came over to help us with the week. It was a great evening for all...lots of food and fellowship and a game or two that left me with bruises the next day. All worth the laughter. Pictures here:

~Piano Lessons: Since Zone Time, I've had the opportunity to teach piano lessons and basic music theory! I have truly found my element. I mean, I've known this for a bit now, but getting to actually apply it has confirmed that I am on the right track as far as my university studies right now. The combination of the musical skills I've developed and my Type-A personality have definitely destined me for #teacherlife. Make that #musicteacherlife. The high I feel when I finish a lesson is probably nothing compared to the obliteration my students feel (from too much information), but God has definitely made it clear that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. In what capacity or where is still a mystery, but I'm glad we've got the basics figured out. Funny thing is, I am really enjoying the adults I'm teaching, almost-dare I say it-more than the kids? Who knows, maybe He just knows He'll have to give me a lot more patience than I currently have to work with kids forever and isn't going to do that? Time will tell :) Here's pictures of my "classroom" and some students in action:

That's all for now, but know that this is only the tip of the Scottish adventure-berg. :) More (hopefully) coming soon!

Things I've Learned...

  I thought I'd be a bit more general with this post and see if I can cut down on length. Fingers crossed.
  Here are a few things I've learned, observed, and been told since arriving in Scotland.

Basic Stuff:
  -They don't say "yes ma'am" and "no sir" here. It has something to do with "ma'am" and "sir" being reserved for nobility and royalty in times gone by, and I've been told by locals more than once not to say it. This Georgia peach has just been trying to be polite like her momma taught her, but I am slowly making the adjustment.
  -Fun words and sayings. Krystal actually had a mini Scottish dictionary for me upon my arrival, so I need to  find some good ones in there for you to enjoy. "Chuffed" and "bletherin" are my favourites so far I think. Also notable are "midges", the little flying pests similar to "skeeters" in the South. :) Locals say they are "going to hospital" rather than "going to THE hospital". An umbrella is a "brolly", which I love. There are many more I'm sure I'm forgetting, but I have a few more weeks to share them!

  -Food. I did try haggis, but it wasn't done traditionally apparently so I have to have another go at it. I'm told to decline any colored pudding I'm offered. Black, white, purple, the lot. Google it if you're wondering. I plan on staying away from it all. They butter EVERYTHING here. Seriously, the Scots and Paula Dean could go head-to-head. Sandwiches and burgers come with both pieces of bread buttered, so either order something else or see if they can do it without, which is normally not worth the weird looks you'd get. Juice or "squash", rather, is generally uber-concentrated and has to have water added to it before drinking it. They don't refrigerate eggs, which is the strangest thing to me! Go figure? Cookies are biscuits, fries are chips. Lunch is dinner (sometimes) and dinner is tea, unless it's afternoon tea. What? Definitely some good Lord of the Rings jokes there. Tea and coffee are second to breathing, and they don't really believe in artificial sweeteners. Fortunately they do sell it, however, and that was one of my first purchases for my morning cup-o-Joe. I have enjoyed the produce here though-it is all amazingly fresh. The fruit especially is GREAT. There's more I know I'm forgetting, but I'll mention it soon enough I'm sure.

  -Nature. Is incredible. You can just see for MILES everywhere you go, which makes for fantastic drives no matter where you're headed. Clouds move incredibly fast and the weather changes at the drop of a penny, several times a day. We've really only had about three rainy days though, so I can't complain. I definitely prefer this over the Georgia heat and humidity. :) The climate here on the coast makes everything green. That can be seen just below and all over Facebook. The flowers are SO fresh in supermarkets and even better outside in gardens and on the hills; I feel like I'm in Alice and Wonderland at some points.

   -Cars and such. I've gotten used to driving on the wrong side of the road, but not quite to the steering wheel being on the wrong side. I generally head for the right side and meet a laughing driver who ask if I plan to drive. Whoops. I'll get the hang of it eventually. I've also noticed a greater variety in colors of autos here, which I didn't expect. Neutral colored cars are definitely a majority, but when you do see colored cars it's a different hue than you'd see in the States. There is also a car that is two-tone pink and white that we call Madeleine's car. Not something I see at home. Roads are windy and narrow and hilly. Drivers are brave souls. Especially double-decker bus drivers. Oh, also, I saw my first Toyota pick-up truck in town yesterday. Hallelujah.
  -Walking. Being in a small town has been great! I love being able to walk practically everywhere, no doubt about it. Walking is not just the most common mode of transportation, it's a lifestyle. I've already gone on several walks with friends with no specific destination in mind. A walk and a wee blether on a fine afternoon? I sure don't mind.