Today was the first day I forgot to take my umbrella to class. It was also the first time it poured during every step of our hour long walk to class. While it was cold and I was obviously soaked from head to toe, I actually enjoyed walking in the rain. There's something about the rain that brings me peace.--reminds me that God is good and showers us with his love. But seriously. I love it. While most of the time I prefer to sit on a porch or in a room with big windows and watch the rain, it was refreshing to feel God's creation literally falling down on me.
That is, until I got to class. At that moment, my love for the rainstorm disintegrated as I realized I had to sit in my soaking wet clothes for the next three hours--simultaneously trying to express myself in a language I don't understand. (Side note: There are two things in life I very very much dislike. Being cold, and being wet.) I had a really hard time sitting in class. Besides the fact that I can't sit still for 3 hours on any given day, the cold and miserable aftereffects of the rain screamed at me to ditch class for the day. I didn't, and surprisingly I survived.
Throughout class today I was distracted. Distracted by being cold, distracted by being wet, and distracted by the fact that I was complaining while there were people outside that had no choice but to be in the rain.
These past two weeks have challenged so many views I have on life. I've read/listened to lectures about the possibility of God being a women, the possibility of God creating Eve first, the possibility that non-profit organizations are a primary cause of poverty because the government doesn't want to completely eradicate poverty, the fact that Christopher Columbus committed genocide, and the potential positive repercussions of making all drugs legal. --and of course so many more things I haven't even started to process yet.
I'm learning, growing, being challenged and stretched, and trying to keep my two feet on the ground when someone suggests something that has been out of my realm of possibility. I've moved out of my "honeymoon stage" and into a stage in which my "normal" is life in Costa Rica. Every day I wake up and remind myself what a blessing it is to be here. I need Jesus. He comes to me.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” --Matthew 11:28-30
*I decided a long time ago that I want to make the most of my experience here. It was hard to really know what that meant before I got here because I didn't quite know what to expect. Now that I do, I have decided that I don't want social media to be a distraction for me while I'm here. With that said, with very few exceptions, starting this Monday I'm going to be off of Facebook until I get back to the states. If you would like to contact me, you can do the following things.
No pressure to keep in touch while I'm here. I know life is busy! However, I can't say i'd be opposed to you hitting me up on my 21st birthday on November 9th. (:
---Comment with your email address and I will have blogger email you when I post an update.
---I'm not sure how much I'll be on, but my skype is AshleySettles
---Email me: adsettles@yahoo.com
---Snail Mail!
Ashley Settles
That is, until I got to class. At that moment, my love for the rainstorm disintegrated as I realized I had to sit in my soaking wet clothes for the next three hours--simultaneously trying to express myself in a language I don't understand. (Side note: There are two things in life I very very much dislike. Being cold, and being wet.) I had a really hard time sitting in class. Besides the fact that I can't sit still for 3 hours on any given day, the cold and miserable aftereffects of the rain screamed at me to ditch class for the day. I didn't, and surprisingly I survived.
Throughout class today I was distracted. Distracted by being cold, distracted by being wet, and distracted by the fact that I was complaining while there were people outside that had no choice but to be in the rain.
These past two weeks have challenged so many views I have on life. I've read/listened to lectures about the possibility of God being a women, the possibility of God creating Eve first, the possibility that non-profit organizations are a primary cause of poverty because the government doesn't want to completely eradicate poverty, the fact that Christopher Columbus committed genocide, and the potential positive repercussions of making all drugs legal. --and of course so many more things I haven't even started to process yet.
I'm learning, growing, being challenged and stretched, and trying to keep my two feet on the ground when someone suggests something that has been out of my realm of possibility. I've moved out of my "honeymoon stage" and into a stage in which my "normal" is life in Costa Rica. Every day I wake up and remind myself what a blessing it is to be here. I need Jesus. He comes to me.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” --Matthew 11:28-30
*I decided a long time ago that I want to make the most of my experience here. It was hard to really know what that meant before I got here because I didn't quite know what to expect. Now that I do, I have decided that I don't want social media to be a distraction for me while I'm here. With that said, with very few exceptions, starting this Monday I'm going to be off of Facebook until I get back to the states. If you would like to contact me, you can do the following things.
No pressure to keep in touch while I'm here. I know life is busy! However, I can't say i'd be opposed to you hitting me up on my 21st birthday on November 9th. (:
---Comment with your email address and I will have blogger email you when I post an update.
---I'm not sure how much I'll be on, but my skype is AshleySettles
---Email me: adsettles@yahoo.com
---Snail Mail!
Ashley Settles
Latin American Studies Program
Apdo. 54-2070
Sabanilla, San Jose COSTA RICA
---I will most likely be posting my updates to twitter.
¡Tengo un buen dìa!
Sabanilla, San Jose COSTA RICA
---I will most likely be posting my updates to twitter.
¡Tengo un buen dìa!
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