Rest and Reconnect: A Lesson About Kiasu

It’s reading week and that means lots of studying! I have so much to catch up on but am starting with talking about rest. I am wishing I was this temple cat that I saw in Chiangmai, Thailand.

Something valuable I learned during my time studying abroad is that if you don’t rest and reset, your body will make you. I have gotten sick twice, once with a stomach bug and then a cold. I have also had off days where I have felt lonely and haven’t felt connected. In these days I have learned that it is okay to stay in bed for the day. Resting is not a day wasted. Resting allows us to reconnect.

While studying abroad, I have felt that I have to get the most out of the experience by doing all the touristy things, finding the best spots in Singapore, and  traveling around to neighboring countries…. on top of studying. There’s something that describes this feeling and it is called Kiasu. Kiasu is a Singaporean concept meaning the fear of losing out. You take every opportunity to compete, in fear that you will lose out on the benefits of lost resources.

It is hard not to feel here as many exchange students travel frequently. I see all the cool places they have been and I can’t help but feel like I should be taking advantage of my proximity to all of these other countries. Additionally, there is an extra layer of FOMO which is different from Kiasu. FOMO is the fear of missing out. Missing out is different than losing out because it is not competitive. For example, I see all of the amazing events at Hope and sometimes I wish I was there!

Grace and patience have been the most important traits that I have had to show myself. I have learned that it is okay to just be. It is okay to do what I think is best for me and not go with the crowd. It is okay to be content in Singapore by finding small things to admire. I have actually reconnected with reading and have read 3 books here! I have read The Wake Up, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and I am in the middle of Babel. Studying abroad is about finding your footing and feeling comfortable in a new place. It is about admiring the little things, cultivating relationships, and finding yourself.

Safety in Jordan

Right after I arrived in Jordan, my host dad told me a story about some travelling he had done while visiting a friend in an unsafe area.

“My friend had five locks on his door,” he said. “Five locks! He was afraid to be outside after dark. We could hear gunshots outside. He was afraid for his life. Living like that cannot really be called living.”

My dad wasn’t describing Amman, where we live. He wasn’t even talking about traveling through other locations in the Middle East known for being unsafe. No, he was describing his trip to Chicago, Illinois. The irony in this conversation struck me: while I was at home, everyone was worried about my safety in Amman, but in Jordan, I was being told that Chicago, U.S.A., just a few hours from my school, was the place I should really be afraid of.

My awesome host family

I’ve been thinking about this conversation recently, because it feels like whenever I open U.S. news, there are articles about yet another mass shooting or act of gun violence. Before I came to Jordan I was worried about if I would be safe here. Would I be targeted for harassment because I am a woman? Would Jordan be drawn into one of the many conflicts raging in its neighboring countries, or be victim to an act of terrorism?

But now that I’ve been here for two months, I feel a lot safer here than I do at home. Part of this is due to my American privilege; a huge part of Jordan’s budget comes from American funding, so it is in Jordan’s best interest to take extremely good care of American citizens in its borders.

Beyond the politics of safety, Jordanian culture also supports security. I did not realize the way that gun violence permeates U.S. culture until I lived here and realized that it is not normal for news of yet another mass shooting to be a regular occurrence. There have been over 130 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year. In Jordan? Zero.

This is not to say that Jordan is perfect or that it has no safety issues. There are adaptations I made when living here to make sure that I am safe; for example, when I need to drive somewhere I try to carpool with friends, and if I am going by myself, I make sure to take an Uber instead of a yellow taxi so that my location will be tracked. There are certain political subjects (e.g. the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or criticisms of Jordan’s monarchy) that I would not speak loudly about in public. It is also important to understand cultural norms: it can be seen as a sign of flirtation for a woman to smile at a man, so when I’m walking on the street I normally avoid making eye contact to make sure that I don’t put myself in an uncomfortable situation.

I don’t want this post to sound naive; I understand that safety issues exist everywhere, and Jordan is no exception. But Jordan’s culture of hospitality is such that if I need help, I have always felt confident relying on complete strangers. And I think that is what makes me feel the safest here: I have never felt like I have to rely only on myself when I feel unsafe. I can always call my host mom, or get a friend to stay on the phone with me, or walk into the nearest shop and tell the cashier that I need help.

I guess the point of this post is—don’t let U.S. (mis)perceptions and stereotypes of a region determine where you go. Do your research and learn what the culture is actually like. You might be pleasantly surprised.

He says: No hero dies revered in the second

scene. I will wait for the rest. Maybe I would

revise one of the acts. And maybe I would mend

what the iron has done to my brothers

Darwish, Mahmoud. “I Have a Seat in the Abandoned Theater.” Translated by Fady Joudah. The Butterfly’s Burden, Copper Canyon Press, 2008.

Adventures From the Last Few Weeks

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your Mountain is waiting so… get on your way!”

Dr. Seuss

When I told people I was spending a semester in Denver most people told me that I should plan on moving here after I graduate because of all of the cool opportunities that are here. And while I whole-heartedly agree about the opportunities and beauty of the mountains, it is really expensive to live in Denver, so I decided to make the most of it while I am here. In the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to do so many things and after talking about my internship, I figured I would share the fun things we have been doing. 

The first day I was in Denver way back in January before my dad left to fly back to Michigan, we decided to find something to do that morning. One of the top-rated things is a place called Dinosaur Ridge Trail. It is a short hike up a road where there are fossils in the rocks and history about the area. A few weeks ago, a few of my housemates and I decided to go check it out. My honest opinion is that it does not live up to the expectations I had. Everyone said it was super cool and you got to see a lot of cool fossils. As an average person walking alongside these rocks there were not that many fossils to see. But my guess is that if you were to take the bus tour with someone who knew the area and what to look for it would probably be much better. So after that short hike we drove over to Red Rocks and hiked on some of those trails. It was a beautiful day and those trails are some of the best short trails that do not require much effort. Plus, it was close which meant we did not have to drive far to get there.

Later that week as part of my internship there was an intern outing day, where we went out for part of the morning and did some reflection. There is a super cute park that has swings to sit on and a playground for young children. Because it is in the art district there was also a lot of graffiti on the buildings too which was fascinating. In the short period of time that we were there, I saw multiple parents with their young children riding their bikes or learning to skateboard, as well as lots of dogs. One good thing to know about Denver is that it is dog central. Never in my life have I seen so many people with dogs out and about all the time.

Once a month, the Denver Urban Semester Program does an outing to different places. For the month of March, we went to the Botanic Gardens. While it is still early in the spring and the ground is still pretty dead, there is still a lot to look at and so much to look forward to when everything blooms. Although, that will not be until after I leave Denver. They had a tropical greenhouse area that reminded me a lot of Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids Michigan, but this one was much smaller and did not have the butterflies. It did have some pretty cool mini greenhouses throughout the outdoor sections, one of them being full of succulents ranging from really small to pretty big. But I think one of the coolest things to see was the outdoor spaces for the Japanese gardens, and ponds that in the summer are filled with flowers, lily pads, and fish. There is a historic house that is along the backside of the property which is a hundred years old, which is not very common especially in the Denver area where a lot of things are becoming more modernized. Needless to say, there is so much to see in the Gardens.

And to bring in the month of April, with a 70 degree day, we decided to go to the Denver Zoo! The Denver Zoo is a non-profit organization meaning it is all run by donations. This blows my mind because of how many animals they have and the amount of land that is needed to keep some of the animals. The elephants alone have 10 acres of land for their enclosure. That alone blows my mind. They have 6 male elephants that can choose which area they want to be in every day. While we were there we got to see a training session with Billy who is one of the 6 elephants. Before the show started, he was walking around close to everyone and waving back to people who waved to him. Along with the elephants we got to see giraffes, penguins, giant snapping turtles and even got the opportunity to touch a snake! It was a super fun day to go see the animals and enjoy the warm weather that the weekend brought – especially now that it is back below freezing temperatures. 

And to finish out the weekend, we had to make one last ski trip while we are here in Colorado! 

Thanks for reading, until next time,

Aurora Franzon 2024

Partnering Organizations to Make a Difference

“One human can change the course of human history – all it takes is the right idea, at the right time, in the right place. And the right place is where you stand at present, the right time is right this very moment and the right idea is the one that defines your existence the best.”

Abhijit Naskar

It’s crazy to think that there is only a month left in the semester. I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to do a semester in Denver because it has given me so many experiences and chances to meet people from all over that I would not have had otherwise. 

Last week I had the opportunity to help with an event during my internship. Denver Rescue Mission has partnered with many different organizations throughout the country to help serve our guests and participants. This last week two companies, Generous Coffee and Sackcloth & Ashes, did a blanket drop and coffee donation. 

Follow Generous Coffee on Instagram! (Top right picture is when they came to Denver Rescue Mission)

Generous Coffee is a for-purpose coffee company founded by Drew Scholl and Ben Higgins. When they founded the for-profit company, they decided that they were going to call it for-purpose instead. The money that they earn through their sales of coffee beans, merchandise, and in their coffee shop, which is located in Golden, Colorado, is given to nonprofit organizations around the country to help in more ways than one company could alone. One of the biggest needs at Denver Rescue Mission is always coffee. All the shelters combine use an average of 200 gallons of coffee a day. Because of this need and the desire to help a local non-profit, Generous Coffee made a coffee donation and served coffee to our guests during the lunch period on Tuesday, March 21. Everyone I met from the team is incredible and has a heart to serve people all around the world. And fun fact: for those of you who are like me and had no idea, Ben Higgins was on the show The Bachelor, so I guess I met a famous person. That was not really the point though. Everyone who drank some said that it was incredible. If you are in the market to try some new coffee, I would highly recommend buying some from Generous Coffee. You can get your daily coffee fix while also being part of something much bigger and helping people all over the world. 

Check out Generous Coffee
Follow Sackcloth & Ashes on Instagram!

Sackcloth & Ashes was founded by Bob Dalton after his mother ended up on the streets in 2013. Shelters all around the country are always in need of blankets; so, Bob decided to start a company where for every blanket sold, another is donated to a local homeless shelter. And when I say local, I mean local to you the buyer. The blankets are sustainably made from recycled materials and do not use any new dyes, making it even more planet friendly. Currently they are doing a campaign called “Blanket the United States.” The goal is to donate one million blankets to homeless shelters by 2024. For the blanket drop at Denver Rescue Mission, they donated 1,000 blankets to our guests at our community center and at the shelters. Sometimes when I hear about companies like these, I wonder how much actually gets done with the second item. Seeing the reality and the heart that Bob has for people helped me realize how important it is for me to work to create a better world. Talking to Bob and Brock, who is the videographer for Sackcloth & Ashes, sparked an interest for me in the work they do. Since then, I have been thinking a lot about my future and what my plans are for after I graduate; this is a company that I would be thrilled to work with. I have said for a long time that I do not know what I want to do with my career, all I know is I want to help people, and this is a company where I could do that. Again, I am going to promote them too. They have so many amazing blankets, even Star Wars designs if you are into that! And it truly makes it worth spending the money on them knowing that you are not only getting a really cool blanket, but you are also helping someone else in need.

Check Out Sackcloth & Ashes

Meeting people who are changing the world is incredible. They inspire me to follow the one thing I know I want – to help people. It is possible to make a difference in someone’s life that you will never know and I am blessed to have grown up with a lot of privilege. And now, I want to take that privilege and use it to help others, and to make the world a better place for people all over the world. I’ll just have to wait and see how God uses me to make those changes. 

Thanks for reading, until next time,

Aurora Franzon 2024

Nooks and Crannies of Liverpool

Classes have ended, all my assignments have been turned in, my bags are packed, and my semester in Liverpool has come to a close. I started this blog post on my flight from Switzerland to France and after a lovely three days in Paris, I finished it while en route to Scotland for several days of hiking, exploring, castles, and a Dermont Kennedy + Noah Kahan concert, and I’m finally posting it from my Air BnB in Aberdeen. I’m excited to be back in the UK…I caught snatches of Scottish and Scouse accents in the airport and realized how much it had become a home away from home. 

Over the last three months, I’ve cultivated a familiarity with this place. Streets and parks and shops and bus stops that were once unknown became a part of my weekly rhythm. As I reflect back, here are glimpses of those ordinary places that hold some of my favorite semester memories.

1. Lark Lane

A smaller version of 8th street a five minute walk from my flat. Shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, live music, a vintage market…I always discovered something new. I savored the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted here and read Virginia Woolf while eating almond croissants and people watching from a window seat.

2. Sefton Park

My usual morning running spot. With each passing week, the frozen nut-brown landscape of winter softened to muddy greens, lavenders, and yellows of spring. People multiplied day-by-day like the daffodils swaying along the paths that crisscrossed the stream.

3. Halfway House

The home of the post-political science class pub ritual with my British classmates. Memorable conversations were tossed back and forth across the corner table with lots of laughter.

4. St George’s Quarter: Liverpool Public Library and Henry Bohn Books

I’m a bit obsessed with books and libraries and bookstores, but I didn’t know about either of these gems until my last week in Liverpool. Had I known the library existed earlier, it would have become my go-to study spot. And the bookstore? I would have bought more books than my already brimming suitcases could manage on the flight home. Books lined the shelves floor to ceiling, spilling over with cheap paperbacks from the 70s but also well-worn collectible volumes. I bought an illustrated pocket Bible, an early copy of a novel by one of my favorite authors, George Eliot, and a complete illustrated set of Beatrix Potter, all for £10. 

5. Frontline Church

Sundays in Liverpool settled into a rhythm: worship music while making French toast, 35 minute walk through Sefton and the neighborhoods on the other side to get to Frontline (an incredibly welcoming, friendly community), post-church student lunch, and a walk back from church the long way, often stopping at a park bench to call a friend or watch spring unfurling in the park. 

6. Calisa’s

A traditional British tea shop down the road from campus. Early in the semester, my theology classmates warmly invited me to join their post-lecture Monday afternoon walk to the cafe for lunch. Conversations here were sweet and easy. We shared laughs and stories over warm drinks and biscuits and bowls of steaming vegetable soup. 


New Scouse/UK Word/Phrase: Crack on. A very British thing to say indeed.

Kodak Moment: Hiking above Nyon Switzerland in the alpine meadows. I got caught in a snow/hail/thunderstorm and was freezing but felt so thrillingly alive. When the storm blew over the grey clouds that had been obscuring the mountains all morning slowly cleared and the snow capped peaks were breathtaking above the lake. 

Someone new I met this week: No one again, unless hostel roommates count?

Word of the week: Adventure.

Ramadan

I walk from one epoch to another without a memory

to guide me. The prophets over there are sharing

the history of the holy … ascending to heaven

and returning less discouraged and melancholy, because love

and peace are holy and are coming to town.

Darwish, Mahmoud. “In Jerusalem.” Translated by Fady Joudah, The Butterfly’s Burden, Copper Canyon Press, 2008.

Ramadan mubarak! Ramadan is the holiest month in the year of the Islamic calendar, and I’ve been hearing about it since I got to Jordan. Getting to experience Ramadan in a majority Muslim country has been so enriching and exciting, and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences in this post. I’m no expert, though, so if you want to learn more about the religious or historical context for Ramadan, I’ve added links that explain more at the bottom.

What Is Ramadan?

Before I came to Jordan, I thought I understood Ramadan: a month when Muslims fast during daylight hours. With my limited understanding, I only considered the difficulty of fasting, without knowing much about the religious or cultural context.

Turns out, there’s a lot more going on during this time! The best comparison I can make to Ramadan for Christians is a combination of Lent and Christmas. Just as many Christians fast in some capacity during Lent, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking during the day in Ramadan. And just like Christmas is a time of joy, Ramadan is also a season of community, gathering, and celebration.

Ramadan decorations in Taj Mall
Ramadan lights in Aqaba

During Ramadan, many people’s work schedules change to make fasting easier. In Jordan, working hours will typically start around 10am and end around 3pm. And for many restaurants, the workday doesn’t really start until sunset and continues all night!

Ramadan as a Foreigner

For non-Muslims living in Jordan, it is important that we also remain flexible and adapt during this time. Part of respecting the culture is not eating or drinking in public during fasting hours. Many businesses and most restaurants and cafes are closed during the day. Finding transportation can also be difficult right before and during iftar, and it’s important to time commutes carefully because the roads get more dangerous when a bunch of hangry drivers are trying to get home to break their fast.

Post-iftar ice cream

If all of this makes you think that Ramadan is frustrating to experience as a foreigner, think again! At nighttime, the streets are lit up and crowds of people are outside at all hours eating and socializing. It’s easy to stay up later because work and classes are also starting late, giving you plenty of time to sleep in. I’ve been calling my friends in the U.S. more during Ramadan because the time difference is easier to navigate when I can stay up late.

The best Arabic TV dramas release new seasons during Ramadan because people are watching television to take their minds off being hungry. Iftar is often a huge family gathering, where people stay up late into the night drinking tea, smoking, and talking—I’m writing this post at 11pm on a weeknight, and the large group of relatives gathered in my host family’s living room show no signs of leaving anytime soon! And don’t even get me started on Ramadan foods: qatayef (sweet stuffed pancakes), lokma (small donuts soaked in syrup), fresh apricot and tamarind juices, lentil soup, dates…

All of this combines to make Ramadan unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in the U.S., and completely unforgettable.

Helpful Vocabulary

Suhoor: pre-fast meal eaten before sunrise

Fajr: prayer at dawn; marks the beginning of fasting

Iftar: the meal eaten after sunset to break the fast. It is common to eat iftar together with extended family and/or friends.

Adhan: the call to prayer

Ramadan mubarak: a greeting that translates to “Blessed Ramadan”

Ramadan kareem: a greeting that translates to “Generous Ramadan”

Learn More

Want to learn more about Ramadan? Here are some sites I found helpful:

What Is Ramadan? Fasting, Dates, History, and More (learnreligions.com)

Why Do Muslims Fast? – Islam Question & Answer (islamqa.info)

The History of Ramadan | Muslim Charity | Muslim Aid

(Mis)adventures in a Dresden bus station

Last Friday, I decided to spend a day in Dresden, Germany. The city is about a two-hour bus ride from Prague through the scenic Czech countryside. Ever since reading Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughter-House Five, which chronicles Dresden’s fire-bombing, I wanted to visit the city. So, I boarded my bus at 8:25 am and pulled into Dresden at 10:30.

Dresden is known as “The Florence of the Elbe” because of its major art collections and picturesque buildings, most of which was rebuilt following the bombing of Dresden by the Allied forces in Feb. 1945. This bombing was one of the most controversial Allied actions during the war, and it killed an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 civilians. Since then, Dresden has restored itself as a major tourist destination.

Dresden really is beautiful – I understand why it got its nickname. I spent the day church-hopping, wandering the city center, and admiring Rembrandts and Caravaggios at the impressive Zwinger Palace complex.

The building on the right has a mosaic called the Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug).

My original return bus was scheduled to leave at 7:35 pm, but rain, the approaching dark, and a quickly dying phone battery drove me to decide on leaving sooner. I booked a new bus for 6:00 pm – and that’s when things started to go off the rails.

When I got to the bus station, I couldn’t find my platform, so I found what I thought was an information desk. They directed me to a platform across the street, and I sat down and waited. 6:00 pm came and went: without my bus. 6:05. 6:10. 6:20. And still no bus.

My phone was now at 4% as I walked back to the information desk, which I was no longer sure was an information station, as people were coming in and out dropping off food boxes and picking up food.

Spring in Dresden!

I asked about my bus, showing them my bus ticket on my dying phone. “I’ve never heard of that bus line,” said the woman behind the desk.

Well, that was promising. They let me charge my phone and gave me a glass of water. I sat in what I now realized was a social welfare outpost, half-laughing at the prospect of being stranded in Dresden.

10-minutes to 7:00, I got my phone back, now at a healthy 23%, and asked where I could buy a new ticket. “The office closes in 10 minutes,” said the woman. “Come on, I’ll walk you.”

After walking through the entire bus station, across the street, and down a side street, we made it to the bus ticket office, where I bought a ticket on the last bus with open seats to Prague that night: a 7:20 pm bus.

I did make that bus. And I made it back to Prague 15 minutes earlier than originally planned, $50 poorer, but also maybe a little bit wiser.

Now, I’ll never go anywhere without a portable charger. Now, I’ll never go anywhere without expecting the unexpected. This misadventure was a healthy reminder that nothing can ever be planned perfectly: the best-laid plans and all that.

It was also a reminder that there are good people everywhere. On the walk to the bus ticket office, I thanked the woman for helping me. “It’s what we do,” she said, explaining that she is part of a Christian group that offers social services across Germany. I don’t think the job description included escorting clueless American students through the bus station, but she took me under her wing just the same. And for that, I am grateful for my misadventure.

Hello Again

Hello. It has been a little while. Let’s catch up. Here is a quick little update.

I roasted my first pan of vegetables, and I really enjoyed it. I then roasted my second pan and liked them a little less. I traveled to Ireland to meet up with some amazing friends. Then traveled to Zürich to do the same with more amazing friends. I laughed a ton with those friends and savored the familiar community. My experience of the Swiss and Irish countryside has deepened my admiration for creation and its Creator. (If you are searching for more context, I did my best to provide some in the caption of each photo).

“I am very grateful for my friends.”

– me… often

I have consumed too much Biscoff butter; too much perhaps for an entire lifetime, but I am working on it. I have completed midterms only by the grace of God due to the procrastination that seems to plague my academic life… also working on it. 

The face of someone who knows she should not be eating Biscoff butter our of a jar after soccer practice but does it anyways.
Midterm grind was intense.

I have enjoyed lifting weights…a miracle. I have interiorized (memorized) the Lord’s prayer in German. A very lovely process. My morning quiet time has become more and more filling as the coming of spring has brought a lovely morning breeze. When the sun shines, it changes things; a reminder that the Son changed everything during this Easter season. 

  • The Son changed everything!

Nenfa and Sam were a little sick but have since recovered. I have enjoyed getting to know my four-legged siblings. They love to run, to eat, to sleep, and to keep me company. I have tried to teach them a little English, but they have yet to try and teach me any German. My host continues to be the best dog mom and encourager. I have also enjoyed getting to know her.

I am still playing soccer weekly with an amazing group of women. We were given the opportunity to play in an International Women’s Day soccer tournament hosted by Adidas. I was living a dream full of smoke machines, free Adidas track suits, and a fleet of photographers. I know, I too was not prepared for the hype. 

I have also picked up watercolor painting again and enjoyed making a travel journal. I have consumed both my first matcha latte and energy drink in Germany; both did not disappoint. I purchased a kite, went on a hike, and almost got attacked by a swan all in the same day. Those were very memorable moments!

  • Lovely set-up
  • Epic quote and coffee spot. “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
  • I will say it… I love matcha lattes
  • Don’t be fooled, this is not a beer. This is the most popular energy drink among the hip crowd in Berlin!

I hope these very vague and scattered sentences have helped to paint a picture of my past few weeks here. I hope the photos have also helped to paint a more literal picture of the sentences I have shared. 

As the semester enters into its second half, I am excited to share more of my experience in Berlin. Thank you for following along. 

I have also realized the staggering number of random animal photos on my camera roll:) Hopefully no context is needed to enjoy these images.

A Full Circle Moment

If you decide to go to a country where you have been learning the language, you may just have a moment like this! I have been hoping to come to Japan ever since I was a little kid. I remember when I first started listening to the language, listening to Japanese music and watching children’s anime (haha yeah I was not popular in elementary school), I found the language really beautiful.

Amazon | 世界に一つだけの花 | SMAP, 槇原敬之, 工藤哲雄, 都志見隆, SMAP | J-POP | ミュージック
The album cover for a song I really liked as a kid

However, my initial interest in the general culture and language led me to enjoying another facet of pop-culture which was manga (Japanese comics). My aunt had quite a lot of manga and would lend me them to read whenever she was in the area (she lived 2 hours away). I fell in love with this rather strange 12 volume series called しゅごキャラ！Shugo Chara! which is a kids manga (but I think it is beautifully profound).

オープニング しゅごキャラ 全巻セット vrfilms.in

After borrowing them from my aunt and reading them all in one go, I used all my birthday money in fourth and fifth grade to buy all 12 volumes myself. At the end of a couple of the English version volumes, there are previews of the next volume that were left in Japanese (I guess the translator got lazy). I remember looking at them, and thinking “One day I’ll be able to read this.” I started working towards that goal right then.

全ての女子にエールを送るミラクルファンタジー『しゅごキャラ！』がよみがえる！｜今日のおすすめ｜講談社コミックプラス
A scene from the first volume

After coming to Japan, I searched every book store for this series. From new book stores to the old ones. Everyone seemed to have a vague memory of the name and yet it was no where to be found. After going to about 20 different bookstores I realized that all the volumes were on Japanese Amazon (haha!), so I bought them all at once, and read them all in Japanese in less than 2 days.

I think if you decide you want to do something, you can just about do it. Don’t say you can’t do something before working at it. I taught myself a language, and now here I am in the country reading my favorite childhood series in its original language with no problem! There is a lot of power in just deciding you can do something. I guess it’s time to make a new goal!

A Spring-Break Reset

This past week I was on spring break, which just so happened to line up with Hope College’s spring break. Because of this lucky timing, my sister, who is a freshman at Hope, and my mom came to Prague and I was able to show them around the city I am calling my temporary home. 

At first, I was a little disappointed that I was going to stay in Prague for spring break when people from my program are everywhere from Morocco to Sicily. I was jealous of everyone who would be sitting on a beach soaking up some sun. 

But when I first saw my mom and my sister in the hotel lobby, all those feelings melted away. It was so good to see familiar faces. While I’ve made great friends this semester and I love seeing these new relationships develop, it was refreshing to be in the company of people who know me. 

At Prague Castle, in front of the St. Vitus Cathedral!

We had a great week together. I got to show them my apartment, my school, and my neighborhood. We took a day trip to a Czech town called Český Krumlov, which is situated on a bend of the Vltava River and is home to a 13th-century castle. We also traveled to Terezin, the only concentration camp on Czech soil, for a sobering but necessary dive into history. We ate the most delicious meals on a food tour, explored Old Town and Prague Castle, soaked up art at the Mucha Museum, and took in the blooming trees on Petrin Hill. 

My mom left her mark on the John Lennon Wall- in lipstick.

The best part of the week, however, was catching up with my mom and my sister. Even though technology has made keeping in touch with my family so easy, FaceTime doesn’t replace the ease and magic of face-to-face conversation. Having them here this weekend made me realize how much I’ve missed the familiarity of family and friends, even as I am so grateful for all my new experiences. 

This week was a much-needed reset. It was nice to take time and be a tourist in Prague. During the week, I get bogged down in class and internship responsibilities, and many of my weekends are spent in other places. This week, I got to slow down and delve deeper into the city. I also was grateful for the break from the busyness of travel and school and friends. Even though I want to take advantage of every minute while I am in Prague, I know that I cannot go-go-go. I need time to recharge. I need time with people I’ve known my whole life. 

Pretty Prague: a view of the Castle and Cathedral from the base of the Charles Bridge.

This week emphasized these facts. For me, it was an opportunity to reset before taking on the rest of my time abroad (I cannot believe I am already halfway through!). I am grateful that my mom and my sister visited me and that I spent a week in Prague, seeing all the sites. 

Now, I am ready to take the second half of my semester head-on!