new territory

I made it to the end of my first week at Bridges for Peace. I feel like myself again. I didn't actually realize how much I didn't feel like myself for the past six months until this week. I have discovered how much I really need to be in a "work" environment with other creative types—it feeds my soul. Being able to bring back more clothes from the states helped a lot as well. When I first came, I brought only practical clothes—jeans and t-shirts and basics. Now I have some of my fun work clothes and it's amazing what a difference it makes in my attitude; I just feel better about myself whenever I'm dressed nicely.

Word had gotten around before I arrived that I'm also a massage therapist. On my first day, I "worked on" three people, the first of which could not speak any English, but she was having problems with her back and the personel director sent her to me. That was interesting to say the least.

It's been cold and rainy all week and I haven't really enjoyed the 25 minute walk to work in the cold rain. My hair has enjoyed it even less. I try to be thankful for the rain, knowing the dry season is coming, but it's hard when you're huffing and puffing up a big hill, carrying fully loaded backpack and purse, wishing that there was such a thing as a really good umbrella that could withstand the wind. There's a guy from Britain that started the same day as I did and I figure that the cold rain is God's way of welcoming him into the land, so I'll have grace for a while, but I really hope the sunshine comes soon.

Most of the week was going well, and then yesterday happened. I caused everyone's Photoshop program to crash. We won't go into details on that one, but thankfully the Lord helped me figure out what I did and how to correct it, although it took a few hours to fix. In my department, there is one woman from South Africa, one from America and one guy from New Zealand. In the office there are people from all over—Germany, Britain, Canada, Australia, and a surprising number of folks from Texas. It's a job to get used to all the different accents.

We only work half days on Friday and today was special because we celebrated Pesach (Passover) at the distribution center and had lunch together. Pesach begins next Wednesday and lasts for a week. During the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a giant tent in fron of my door for a whole week. During Pesach, there will be no leaven (yeast) nor anything made with leaven in any of the stores or restaraunts. It will be interesting to see what kind of alternatives the bakeries and pastry shops come up with.

I'm starting to yawn and my eyes are droopy, so I think I'll call it a day. Shabat Shalom, y'all.