Wow, so the goal was to update my blog more often than what has happened. This is an update but also a Christmas Letter.
The Semester began with much excitement and many challenges. I began to experience culture shock within the first week of being here. The temperature reached 110 Fahrenheit.(44 Celsius). For someone who is used to being on the go and simply drinking more water this was a hard adjustment to make. There were several times when as my usual self I would venture out with a goal in mind only to discover that it was too hot to be out and I was feeling sick. One time in early October I decided to venture out at 4:30 for a walk to Walmart which is 20 minutes from my place. I arrived there and began to feel sick because I overheated and therefore needed to wander around Walmart for an hour before walking back so as to not overheat. My roommate often cautioned me about the heat and being careful.
It was a nice reprieve from the heat to be able to go back to Abbotsford for Canadian Thanksgiving and for my sisters wedding. the wedding was beautiful and I am very happy for my little sister who got married.
A week after arriving I was rear ended and so my car was written off. It began when I went out to explore the city and try and figure my way around. I was stopped at a stoplight and stalled my car. Before I was able to move an SUV came up behind me and ran into me. When we pulled over to exchange information. The comment she made was that she saw green. I was struck at how funny this was as I had heard how fast Californians drive. After everything was said and done I was amazed at such a comment and can only say "WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA" The ordeal of having to deal with the insurance agency was challenging and multicultural. The write off of my car turned out to be a blessing in disguise because of the challenges of student loans.
Ah Student Loans!! Anyone who has had to deal with the government agency of student loans has had the pleasure of dealing with their beauracracy and paperwork. The semester began with needing information from the school which they could not provide as they were in the middle of an audit to be able to give student loans to their US students which included the Canadian ones as well.
What to say, the first semester is complete. It has been a semester filled with challenges, triumphs and joys. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first classes. I have had a couple entry level courses and a couple second year courses.
The community learning and classes have been amazing. I have seen the value of coming here for school. The Lord truly was directing my steps. He knew what classes I have needed. The classes have helped me grow in amazing ways both personally and professionally. This semester I had Mentoring and Connecting( a first year class designed to help you make it through seminary), Interpersonal Communication, Research and Testing (a stats class on how to do testing), Church and God's Mission, and Clinical Assessment(how to do the paperwork of counselling and suicide intervention) equaling 10 units. I really enjoyed my classes and the work that it took to do them and know that I am better prepared to become a counsellor now. I am looking forward to my classes next semester although it it going to be a very busy semester as I have more classes and units. I am taking Counselling couples, Psychopathology(all about diagnostics), Human Sexuality, Counselling Families, Counselling children and pre practicum plus getting ready for practicum next semester. This all equals 13 units and 9 units is considered full time. Even though it is alot I am eager to learn all of these subjects and know that they will help me grow. The reason I must take them all this semester and am not able to spread them out a bit more is due to my hopeful graduation date of May 2012 and practicum next year which is very busy.
Through the Christmas Break I am looking forward to time spent relaxing and with friends. I have decided not to go home for Christmas this year because I need the time to get some real life stuff done like looking for another car and getting a head start on some of the reading for the next semester. Through my Christmas break I plan to do a lot of Cross Stitch, Pleasure Reading, work on a couple puzzles, hang out with friends, sleep in till all hours of the day, and listen to the IHOP webstream. There are several families staying here through Christmas so the plan is to spend Christmas eve and Christmas day together having dinner together and hanging out.
The Lord has been good throughout my time here and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing what God will do over the next year and the next three semesters (that is all I have left-amazing). I am excited to be back in school learning and growing. i have also come to see that the friends I make here will last through the years and challenges to come. The Lord has been good and has given me many blessings as I began school again. I am leaning on him to carry me through this time here as I finish my schooling. Even though there have been challenges I do not regret moving across the country and into another country to finish school. The Lord knew that I needed the community here in Fresno for the support and learning for where he is taking me. After the experiences that I had at Providence I know that the Lord has truly led me here and has his hand in it. He has provided restorative experiences and has provided me with a new way of learning and leaning on people. I am praying that he will continue to carry me through. My prayer through this time is that I may be found leaning on my beloved as I come through this time in my life.
Praise for
a great semester
new friends
financial provision
an awesome roommate
a church community to fellowship with
Pray for
a good car to carry me through- the bus system here is pitiful
continued financial provision
continued strength in the coming semester
strengthened friendships
I will remain faithful to the call he has placed on my life
I thank you all for your prayers and support over the last semester and ask for your continued prayers and support as I carry out the call he has placed upon my life. Pray that I will remain faithful and strong through the difficult times. May the Lord Bless you and Keep you. Merry Christmas all
