Behind the Curtains

            Hey guys, so normally I try to stay pretty optimistic while writing these blogs to inform you about what’s going on without making you worry about the details. However, today I am going to be honest. I’m going to take you behind the curtains because there are some things back here I need to show you. First of all most of my time is spent in language study. Even though language study does take up most of the day what I really want to talk about is what I am doing besides language study.

            When Brady and I are not studying language we are walking around our hometown trying to talk to people, or visiting a nearby city I like to call LB. We know enough language to start a conversation and introduce ourselves but that is where it stops. If we were not going to the same places then I would consider heading out pointless because we can’t really build friendships. But since we are heading to the same shops and places we are starting to build a familiarity with the people who work there.

            Living with Brady is an experience; I don’t really know how to describe it. The man really complements my weaknesses and vice versa but he has a different personality that I’ve never lived with before. His daily routine is constantly evolving as I am trying to build up consistency. I say all of this because if I don’t embrace who he is our get stuck in my own ways I feel either anger towards him or I experience loneliness. The more I pray the more things make sense and I understand Brady more. Please pray that I would receive some guidance from my Daddy so that I don’t make a mistake and feel hatred or loneliness.

            There is something I haven’t mentioned to you guys just because I was afraid you would worry about it. I’m talking about sleeping. Sleeping always seems to be an issue here not because it’s too hot, though that is sometimes the case. It’s normally a combination of things. For instance I may sweat while I sleep therefore I can’t get back to sleep until I get up and get a drink of water. Other times language study just gives me a headache that prevents deep sleep. A bit more honest answer would be that my thoughts about school, home, or living in a foreign land prevents me from sleeping or maybe gives me nightmares. Please pray for these things especially the thoughts.

            We have progressed in our language study enough that we are going to take a three day hiking trip to an undisclosed isolated village this Friday. Initially I was tremendously frightened of this but the more time I thought of it the more I realized that this is something that could be very beneficial. Brady has been super excited from the get go and I’m glad that I will get to help him out during this experience. Please pray that my fears would continue to be removed as the date approaches.

Besides that we just study study study. I should have mentioned some of this earlier but I very much dislike talking about the negative aspects of things when there are so many positive stories I could tell. Thank you guys so much for your support and I think of you (my family and friends) back home constantly. I love each of you.

P.S. I got an Asian name today it’s 戴馴揚 sounds like (Dye Shwan yuung) and it means Mr. Dye, humble and enthusiastic 

The Death of Something Great

Hey everyone, I know I’m a little bit late with the blog but I’ve just been too occupied with language study to think about what to say. The past two and a half weeks have been wake up, study language, and then practice it on your own. I wish I could fill this blog up with interesting stories but I’ve honestly been spending most of my time studying language. Brady and I are taught by either Jon or Sofi for two sessions a day at two and a half hours per session. Then after dinner I usually pick up the flash cards and hit it up for another hour or so.

Studying language all day does make one thing more interesting, sleeping. Sometimes when I go to sleep I will see my friends from America and they are speaking English and then all of a sudden things turn black and I just hear a word I’ve been studying repeat over and over. However, when I wake up the next morning and the teacher asks me what that word means I am quick to respond.

Brady and I have been trying to practice our language among the locals but are kind of wavering in our success. Some locals feel obligated to help out, others find it funny to see foreigners stumble over simple words and help us out just to hear us say more. Unfortunately we do not know enough to actually communicate with them beyond simple phrases. Today was the first time we learned simple conversation sentences like “how are you?” and “Do you like ____ I like ____” so maybe now we can grow a little closer to them.

Normally I like to describe what I’m doing here in Asia in this blog, more than what I’m thinking about; but I would like to make a quick exception. I’ve been talking to my Daddy about what I will be doing with my life after College, because I have had a hard time thinking about saying goodbye to my life down at Bolivar. That’s when He told me something, “The death of something great, gives birth to something greater.” When I asked my Daddy what I will do after college He responded with one word, “Japan.” I know my College days are winding to an end but what is starting now and will take place after College is, and will be, so much greater.

Some things I am learning besides the language is the importance of family. I believe that my Daddy will give me time after college to build up the relationship I have with my family and maybe even start a family of my own. But enough about my thought’s, I’m living out an awesome opportunity as we speak, and I plan on taking full advantage of it. I very much love East Asia and the people that live here, and hopefully with the language I am studying I will begin to start building relationships with them soon.

P.S. The internet restrictions have been decreased now that we know the best method of language study. I will be able to keep more in contact through Facebook and hope to post my pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.473543359323135.113818.100000024262502&type=3