Maryland

Tomorrow night, I will have been in Maryland for two weeks.  Let me tell you about my life in Maryland so far...

My mom took me grocery shopping before we left, and between that and a lot of left-overs from my landlords' family party they invited me to (they are Indian...so Indian leftovers!), I am doing just fine.  Ramen still happens to be one of my favorite meals.

Last Sabbath, my friend Stella and I hiked around "The Great Falls."  I think this might have been what my other friend, Keith Bowman, told me about.  He called it "The Niagara Falls of Maryland."  I've never seen Niagara Falls in real life, but this was decently impressive, especially since it had rained a lot.  In fact, we got caught in a little thunderstorms while walking back.

This week, we've been having extraordinarily long meetings.  This is what helps me get through it.  You like?

 But wait...the drama unfolds!  Poor Canoe-Man!

 This is supposed to be where my landlords' put my mail, but since there were baby birds in it when I came, they decided to let them grow up first.  Today was the day.  When I came home from work, I saw this little guy, and heard his mom calling him a little ways away.  It didn't take long before he listened, jumped...and sort of flew!  Aww...I will miss hearing their little cheeps whenever I walk by.

One highlight was visiting the Filipino SDA Church last week, complete with potluck!  I was mostly motivated because I missed my Filipino friends from Yap, but I'm also tempted to join just so people can have a chuckle when they vote me out of my home church in Georgia.

Walking around my neighborhood. At first I thought it was cold and unfriendly.  No one was outside, and when I did see anyone, they never made eye contact or smiled.  I figured I must be in the North, so I should get used to it.  But as the weather has gotten warmer, I've noticed people becoming warmer as well.  Kids play in the streets.  People mow their lawns.  Neighbors smile.  I'm relieved.

I also have become a weekly or bi-weekly regular at Brookside Gardens.  That place waters my soul with all the green trees, colorful flowers, fresh smells, and beautiful landscaping it needs to survive indoors 38 hours a week.

At work, we all have to wear name badges.  Some people put it on a retractable thing on their belt, some on a clip they can hang from their shirt, and others keep it on a lanyard around their neck.  I was using the lanyard that they gave me until I saw some older ladies at worship with some blingin' beads instead of a lanyard.  I mean, as blingin' as you can get here. :)  But it was enough to give me an idea.  So that evening, I went home and found one of my Hawaiian shell leis, and clipped my name badge on.  Now I can pretend I'm going to a luau every time I go to work. :)

In general, I like a lot of things here.  God has been really good.  I do feel lonely sometimes, especially when it's cold and rainy, and it's a bit frustrating being so dependent on my GPS.  But overall, it's been a smooth transition so far.