Well, this week has been sufficiently stressful and busy with a dash of fun.

Highlights of the week:
I started Tae Kwon Do - and I love it! It's a great workout and I get to relieve a stress at the end of my busy days, Mondays and Wednesdays. And, I get to hear the Korean words, which remind me of the great time I had in Korea with Yein. I miss her so much.

I got hired by New Haven Reads! And I will be working four hours a week. Getting paid to do something you enjoy and love doing is the greatest thing ever! I'm so excited to meet my students!
I had another Rush Meal with Living Water and Susie and Jason were so nice. They are such nice people and I was so lucky to have had the chance to eat breakfast with them.

This morning, I woke up at 11:45 and then went to breakfast with Vivian. Surui showed up from doing his laundry too. We had a good time :) And now, we are in the library for a homework marathon. I really need to study for Arabic. But I'm doing this entry first. and now i am here the library with Josh and Vivian. Whooot!

I just read from a section of Matthew 6. A few favorite verses are:
"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men....But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."
And the Prayer:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

I think this traditional prayer sometimes loses it's relevancy in our mind. I feel as if sometimes I just recite it without thinking about the words. My eyes glaze over it and my mind just says ohh it's the same old prayer. But it's not. It's something to be taken seriously and slowly and it is something glorious to be revered.

I'm really thankful for the Internet and Facebook because I don't know what I would do if I couldn't be in contact with my friends back home. I also want to thank Sarah for emailing me and keeping in touch with me :) And Tracee for her counsel and comfort when I was totally an emotional wreck.

Well, I have an Arabic test on Monday - I better go study for that. I texted Nate yesterday! "Ahlan wa sahlan" :) I'm glad he's enjoying his time with Anne in their first days of marriage. I am so happy for them that it makes me so giddy! Hahaha :)

And, I dropped Intro to Cog Sci. I realize that balance is what I need to strive for. If I want do other things besides academic work all the time, I need to drop it. Sleeping only five hours a day is not healthy and sleep is very important to me. And besides, I'd rather enjoy and do well in my other courses than stretch myself too thin and try and get five credits. I'm still adjusting to the college life.

And, last night, I watched She's the Man with Josh, Vivian, and Surui and Zak. I love that movie! And it was for English class so I don't feel as guilty watching it. :)

I also wrote a really long letter this week. I don't know why I wrote it. It was so random. I was sitting and waiting for my interview with Brian at NHR and the idea just popped into my head. It's still in an unaddressed envelope in my folder. I realize that sometimes we do things in the whim and sometimes those things should not be mailed. I'm going to mull over it a couple more days and then decide whether or not I want to mail it. Weighing the unknown consequences can be very difficult.

Oh! And I talked to Anh until 2 AM last night. Haha or this morning I guess. It was nice to catch up with her and ask her how she's doing. Girls' League is in good hands :) I miss her sweet bubbly personality.

And I called Nancy too but I think she was too busy moving in. I'm so excited for her! yay ucla! :) <3 Good gracious, I miss her so much. Her sarcasm, her smile, her killer hugs AND HER BAKING SKILLS. :D :D :D

That's what I miss too. Bear hugs. you're-hugging-me-so-hard-that-I-can't-breathe bear hugs. People here are not into bear hugs. I miss Sundays at Midcities.

But I'll be back for Thanksgiving :) yay!

Friends I've made here at Yale are great and I'm enjoying getting to know them better! :) I still feel as if there are walls that I put up. But, I have to be open to new experiences.