a dull lull of a week

Week 3, and still alive? It's getting harder and easier - and yes, definitely feeling contradictory. Just keep praying!

Last Sunday, the commissioning Mass went smoothly, for the most part, and my "family" brought me lilies and a card reminding me that whenever I needed anything they were there for me. Then we all went to dinner at a nice little Italian restaurant right by the Cathedral - it wasn't Carrabba's, but it sufficed. :)

Monday was busy with a retreat, led by yours truly! We worked with juniors from an all girls high school, and the girls were really great - cooperative, respectful, and enthusiastic. I was a little nervous, and while no day is ever perfect, I was pleased with the outcome of the day. The teachers were really great as well - they had made a salad for us to eat for lunch (quite tasty!) and we got to sit and talk with them...except they spent half the time talking about ticks, boils, and ringworms...YUCK! I'm not sure why I sat there as long as I did.

Tuesday we had lunch at the Catholic Education Office for our area, and got to hear a bit from one of the staff members there regarding retreats and more efficent running of them. Kinda boring, basically. That night I made dinner (yes, I cooked for 14 people!!!) and it turned out all right! No one died of food poisoning! I made spaghetti, diced beef in basil tomato sauce, and roasted vegetables (Mom, I know you don't believe this). Let's just say I was quite pleased with myself :)

That night the girls apparently decided to all go see the movie I had seen the last week on Valentine's Day, Jumper, and I was chatting with one of the ladies who lives in our house and so missed the invite and departure - which was fine, I didn't want to go anyway, but boy, did I feel a bit abandoned! However, it was quite positive because then I got to spend a night with the boys, and I learned a few things! Some of them I probably didn't need to know, but like they say, boys will be boys.

Wednesday and Thursday were pretty uneventful, just planning retreats and taking care of business. Wednesday, we made our way down to the Cathedral for a holy hour of adoration in the Crypt, something that's on every week. We usually try to go, but sometimes the team can be a bit resistant. I really like it because most of my friends head there as well, so it's a chance (sometimes the only one) that we can all catch up afterwards.

Thursday, per the usual itenerary, Rachel and I got ditched for footy, a Bible course, and meetings, so we coaxed a few of friends to come down to the next beach over from us, Coogee, and went for dinner, followed by some delicious ice cream and a nice lazy lounge on the beach - it was wonderful! The moon was beautiful that night, very full and bright.

Friday we had our first all boys retreat, and I was a little nervous, because when the boys walked in they seemed like a pretty rowdy bunch, but the little guys in my small group were angels! Year 7 - they were all still young and innocent. Lucky me :)

That night, some of the team went down to the beach for a late night swim in the pool. These pools are pretty cool in that they are filled by the waves - that night the waves were really rough and I was wondering if the pool would even be there because the tide was rising. It was, but it was too cold for me! Instead I just spent the evening chasing seagulls down the beach. Which, apparently is an American thing. So says Rachel, who also knew another American who did it. Therefore, because she's only seen Americans do it, it's an American thing. Eh, who cares who does it, it's fun!

Saturday I spent the day catching up with a few friends over breakfast, lunch, coffee, and gelato. Sarah, the friend who came to Indy in January, took me to her favorite cliff that overlooks the ocean, and below it the waves crash in from two sides - it's BEAUITFUL! I'll have to go back and take some pictures. Shame on me, I didn't have my camera!

That night, one of the guys I live with needed someone to drive him and his buddy in his car to the train station so they could head over to Kings Cross, a popular area on weekend nights in Sydney, and since I was the only one home, I did it!!!! I figured since I had drive in Perth for about 20 minutes, that qualified me for the roads of Sydney....EEK! I was pretty nervous, but the thing is, it's not terribly different to driving in the States. Just on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road. But that's all fine, just use the wrong side of your brain! Honestly, with an intense amount of focus, I didn't find it too difficult. Except that his car, not the newest of vehicles, stalled on me twice. Hmm, so some power (God? do you reckon He'd take the time to affect our cars?) decided I was such a pro at driving in normal conditions that a trick of some sort must be thrown in to the works, just to make sure I didn't go thinking I was tough stuff, successfully driving on the left side of the road. So this is the part where I officially thank you, Dad, for making me drive that 1989 Chevy Celebrity, even which it stalled on me a lot (but only broke down once), because in such a time as when I was in a foreign country driving at weird relations to the center line, I could casually use the knowledge I gained from those Chevy experiences to avoid almost certain death on the Australian roadways. *phew*

Sunday morning I woke up with 7 minutes to get to Mass. Good thing the church is a hop, skip, and a jump (very literally) below our house, and also good thing I used to do this all the time at Millikin, waking up with 5 minutes to get to class. I'm a pro at that! Then I spent the day sort of lounging in the house, trying Vietnamese food that our in house Vietnamese man made, and avoiding my chores. Then I spent the night catching up with another friend. It was the weekend of socialization!

So now starts another week, one that should prove to be relaxing - probably the slowest week we'll have until after World Youth Day. Looking at our schedule, it is thoroughly packed! With prayers and some sleep now and then, we should make it. God willing!

Speaking of God's will, some people may be aware that I was, for no other reason than Divine Providence, filmed in a promotional DVD for World Youth Day last semester after I curiously wandered into the room in which they were filming it. Well, it just so happens that that DVD has been seen all over Australia, possibly throughout the world, especially in schools, because the information on it regards registering for the event. On the clip, Adrian, the guy who hosted it and a good friend, says, "Missy, you're coming to World Youth Day, aren't you?!" (now, please note, this was BEFORE, I knew I actually was) and lying through my teeth, I exclaimed, "I sure am! God willing!" Well, apparently that is a very American thing to say. Who knew? Well, this DVD was shown at a camp the CYS team went to just a week or two before I arrived (SO glad I wasn't here for that embarrassment!) and they all thought it was SO FUNNY that I said "God willing!" complete with an American accent. The point of my story is that it is the new catch phrase of the CYS team. Don't forget, they all put on the accent while saying it. Funny, but irritating? All I have to say is it won't last long. God willing.

Until I write again, may God bless you!