I can't believe a month of school has already gone by! Time seems like it has gone very quickly, and yet not. It also seems like it's gone very slowly. Anyways...this weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving.
You'd think it wouldn't matter to me since I'm American. It's not really my holiday, the Canadians think. I say that I have enough things to be thankful for that I can have two official holidays to celebrate it all. Before I tell you the things I'm thankful for, let me ruminate on the holiday of thanksgiving. First off, like I said, I have lots to be thankful for.
Secondly, I don't really feel like holidays are important for their dates, but I do think they're important for what they represent. On one hand, I don't feel like any holidays are really important because I drift around. I haven't been in the States for American thanksgiving for the past three years, so it doesn't really bother me to miss it. On the other hand, any national holiday that celebrates family and friends and belonging in community makes me feel that drifting more keenly. It doesn't matter if it's "my" national holiday or any other, but sometimes a holiday makes me feel alone. I think I'll be fine, that I will enjoy introverted time, and then when the day comes, I feel alone. I guess I should learn to know myself better and schedule accordingly.
However, the lonely days drive me to my real Home, my Father God. And once I get over my lack of family nearby, I really enjoy my alone time. Today, I baked cookies, bread, and my first attempt at granola. I feel quite accomplished. Plus, I've been getting to eat some good leftovers from my housemate's delish cooking.
In addition to these things, I'm thankful for:
Plans tomorrow: bike ride in the morning, dinner with friends in the evening, movie at night.
Friends: here in BC, Dordt friends, people I grew up with. They're all important to me, and they enrich my life!
Family: my dad, mom, and brother. Also extended family, like grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles, cousins, and all the others. I'm thankful for visits to and from them, and for a diverse group of people to teach me more about God's love.
In with family are the people who aren't family by blood but they may as well be. My big brother Edo and all connected to him, the exchange student we had from Germany, my Nicaraguan host family, and the Fluits who have taken me in here in BC. These are people who brighten my day and fill me with happiness.
Food: I love pretty much all kinds, and I never have worried about having enough. Thank you, Jesus.
Lovely scenery: Lately the weather in BC has been great, and I drink in the sights and smells with joy
School: I get to learn stuff I've been waiting to learn half my life! And I like what I'm studying, and the people I'm learning with
Work: I get paid to interact with students as well as work at sports events (free men's volleyball games, woot!)
I could go on and on, but these are some of them for now. More will be given in November, my next go at a holiday just for saying thank you.
