On the Way

Via Rob:

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article750838.ece

Really, really intriguing.

I’m back from Poland (and have been since August 18). I finished my time in Europe by spending a few days near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, visiting my friend Alex, whom I met during the Polish language school in Kraków. It was my first time visiting West Germany (that’s “western Germany”, DJ), and I loved it.

Coming back to the States, I had less than 24 hours at home before needing to drive from Chicago to New York. (This was due to a change in seminary orientation scheduling after I had already purchased my plane tickets to/from Poland.) As a pleasant surprise, I was even able to lunch with Archbishop JOB and my friend Nick Bellack prior to driving east!

I spent the night near Cleveland (at Nick’s) to split up the drive to New York. His folk’s place is right off the interstate and about halfway between the Second City and NYC. It was such a joy to catch a few zzz’s (being jet-lagged and all) and breakfast on the back patio before the second day of driving. Thankfully, the drive through Pennsylvania was quick and without much traffic, even though there were several sections under construction. After the Poconos (and then continuing until I reached the seminary in Yonkers), the road got a bit more crowded. It was stop and go over the Tappan Zee. Thankfully, I didn’t have any car troubles, and my bike remained attached securely to my vehicle, thanks to the help of my brother-in-law, who lent me his bike carrier.

We had a few days of orientation, which were full and didn’t offer a lot of time to get moved in, but helped to paint a picture of what the seminary is and what it desires to be. Classes began yesterday, and I’m looking forward to the routine. I’m not looking forward to being stressed out about the amount of work I’ll no doubt have later in the semester.

I’m grateful that (in addition to my classroom studies), I’m already learning/being challenged in regard to humility, meekness, etc. I’m thankful for the not-so-pretty aspects to living in community.

My friend Nathan Shackelford blogged this. My life is better for having seen it. Incredible.

The greenback’s been gaining some momentum in the last week it seems. We’re back up to US$1.00 = 2,18 PLN and stronger than the Canadian dollar. (Euro: here we come.)