Alphabet Soup

Can you imagine what Greek alphabet soup would look like?  Ridiculous, that's what.  I'm currently trying to memorize the lower-case versions of the alphabet, and my handwriting (which is already atrocious) is now even worse.  I would show you, but, well...

In other news, classes start tomorrow.  The week starts off with Entering Christian Ministry at 8 am, followed by chapel, then Church History.  Sounds like fun, right?

Tuesday's schedule is even better: Greek at 7:45 am, chapel, then Intro to Theology and Worship, followed by a four-hour break until Congregational Studies begins.  Wednesday adds Old Testament Survey to the mix. 

Believe it or not, I'm actually excited for most of those classes.  I'm especially looking forward to Greek, despite the horror stories I've heard.  Maybe by the end of the semester I'll have changed my tune, but I'm reveling in my blissful ignorance for now.

Friendship House is wonderful.  The community here is great--just walk down the hall and you might find a movie night, an ice cream run, or a 14-mile bike ride at 7 am.  (All of those things have happened in the past 48 hours, by the way.)

To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the seminary at all when I first arrived.  But this place might just grow on me after all.  I told my mother this morning that I'll stay here until graduation, or until God tells me to leave, whichever comes first.  I don't know what God has planned for me, but I can finally trust that it will. be. epic. 

So, what's new?

It just fit.

Everyone's been asking me "why seminary?" since I've moved to Holland.  To be honest, that whole discerning process is very much a blur right now.  I've managed to come up with an answer every time, but explaining how I got here is difficult.  All I can say is 'well, it just fit.'  It felt right.  I haven't managed to get a straight answer out of anyone else, so who knows what the 'proper' reason for coming to seminary is.  I sure don't.  All I know is that I'm here, and I'm going to give this my all until God sends me somewhere else. 

Living in the Friendship House is getting a lot better.  I finally have all three of my roommates here, and the newest one is a first-year student, who also came here straight from college, so it's nice to have someone to share that experience with.  I'm still in that awkward phase of trying to meet people, but so far I have met some really nice guys, who happen to live downstairs.  The Friends are really sweet, and I think this will be a good way to keep me grounded.  To be honest, I was really nervous moving in here, and I'm still a little nervous, but I'm hoping it will be good.

I also saw some good friends from Knox this weekend, and tonight.  (I keep forgetting it's Monday.)  The InterVarsity crew went through Holland on Friday, and Jamie stopped by tonight.   It's so nice to see familiar faces, and speak the Knox language.  I didn't realize how much of a bubble I had until I got here, and everyone speaks differently and acts differently.  It's probably sad to say this, but I think I'm going through a little bit of culture shock right now.  I'm the only one here from a secular school [that I know of], and it's a little disconcerting. 

All in all, I think this will be an interesting experience, to say the least.