Day 33

So this past Monday marked 4 weeks since I left home. That means that I only have 3 months left... I'm 1/4 the way done. When I think about it, it doesn't feel that long ago that I left home, but then I realize how much I've done so it makes perfect sense.

I wish I updated this last week because I'm having trouble remembering what I did two weekends ago. Saturday 12 September a lot of the study abroads and the interns took a day trip to Palanga which isn't too far away from Klaipeda. We enjoyed walking around, had a picnic on the lawn of the big castle amber museum. There was a wedding that day so we got to see the whole wedding party get their pictures taken. We spent a few hours by the Sea and went on the pier, then walked around the town and had chocolate covered waffles... so delicious :) That night I stayed in Karklu dorm in Ashton's room. We did some homework, played cards, and just talked. It was a good time. :) Sunday I woke up and did homework, then went to Salvation Army church at night with an ice cream social afterwards. Some toppings that I've never had included raspberry jam! A new favorite.

Last week was busier than what I've experienced so far. I had play practice for The Crucible for the first time, and it's going to be interesting playing a 72 year old woman. My voice has to completely change! I also had my first stressful moment involving my photography and TEIL praticum classes so Thursday wasn't the best day. For some reason I thought that being here would be less stressful (even though it makes total sense that it would be stressful because it's so different here). The main point is that God is good, and I'm so thankful for His faithfulness.

Last weekend was fantastic. Friday afternoon I went to get some "fast food" with a few study abroad friends. In the evening I went to watch the sunset at the Sea with Ashton, her roommate Tania, and another study abroad Rebecca. It was nice time of debriefing from the week and taking pictures of the sunset on the water. At night I watched A Bronx Tale with Vilma and some other friends. Saturday I woke up and participated in the Intercultural Olympics. Team America didn't win, and unfortunately I had to leave early on to go to play practice. Afterwards, I went to Karklu to make borscht, a Ukrainian soup made of beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes, tomato sauce and water. It was actually pretty good! I came back in the evening to go to the gym with Vilma and we had pizza and Slovakian wafers for dessert. :) It was a great night. Sunday I woke up and did homework, then went to Salvation Army church and went to the Sea to watch the sunset with some friends -- seriously has become a favorite thing to do here.

This week wasn't too bad... I had too good of a weekend so it was hard getting back into the swing of things. I'm really liking my Lithuanian class and it's awesome to have 2 Lithuanian roommates to ask how to pronounce words. I help them with English, they help me with Lithuanian.. it's a good deal. Tonight we are leaving for Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It's about a ten hour bus ride so we'll arrive in the morning, and I think Saturday we'll drive to Riga (the capital of Latvia) and return on Sunday! It will be great and I'm really looking forward to it.

Next time I will post pictures. :)