work/play

    Another week, bringing another bunch of stories and memories with it. I feel more settled than I did a week ago. The town is more familiar, I know my way around the land, and I've actually been off property now a couple times, which is such a stress relief. And I'm realizing now for the first time that I will certainly miss these folks once I'm gone.

Ok, stories. Last Saturday, we all finally got off the land and into the busy streets of Comer, busy like one stoplight in the whole town busy. But we did find some cultural nightlife at Carmine's Pizza, where we discovered there was a karaoke contest happening, so of course we had to stay for that. I braved the crowds of cowboy hats and big hairdos, every person singing something with a little to a lot of twang thrown in, to get up and sing some Hall & Oates disco music. Lots of Georgia eyes looking at me under hat brims, wondering if I was flamboyant or just a little "special." But I denied them all, and had fun too. And I'm pretty sure we're going back next weekend.

Sunday all the refugees came up to the K-house for dinner and worship, and then we started another work week. I taught my first class on Monday, which was predictably stressful but lessened by my class being the children's class. I teach three kids from Burma (Joseph Hla, Maung Nay Sar, and Nan Yae Aye), and we have fun every class reading dr seuss books or playing games with prepositions. They especially love their times tables, oddly enough.

And I work in the garden and do random maintenance jobs around the land, or work in the childcare building hanging out with the littler kids of the bunch. I also found out that I'm going to tutor Joseph in addition to his classwork, because he's been here a while now and will be missing out on a year of public school, and needs to catch up. He's a lot of fun, and is quite the calm 10 year-old. And I play ping pong after class with all three, which is nice to be a friend as well as a teacher.

It's getting warmer here, which is incredible for January. I might get addicted to Southern weather by the time I leave. Also, it has been brought to my attention that I may be developing an accent/using the word "folks" excessively, and thus proving myself to be going native. Well, for those doubtful folks who say so, such statements are true and by gum I'll keep on staying true to them :o) A little Southern charm never did no harm.

On Thursday, we gathered in the library to have two of the volunteers share their spiritual journeys, which everyone will do eventually. I was one of the two this week, and so I got to talk for a half hour about my life and what I've been through faithwise and what I'm going through now. After, I felt more connected to the people here, especially the Partners, who all came up and hugged me when we were done talking. Sam also shared her story, and that was nice to find out more about her life just by listening. I'm excited for the next two people to share.

Then yesterday, in spite of the rain, most of the volunteers went out for drinks in Athens, a larger city nearby. We went to a nice pub/coffee bar with about 30 taps of fine beers, and sat in the big booth playing table games and talking. Some of us wanted to go out dancing after the night wore on a little more, so Liz, Leslie and I split off from the group to head to the Loft to dance the night away! It was very reminiscent for me of the November roadtrip and dancing in Cory's house in Boone, not caring what it looked like, just feeling the music pounding my blood and my heart beating my body black and blue. Plus, this time we had fun observing a lonely cowboy, boots, hat and all, trying to dance his cowboy heart out to hip-hop. Quite the spectacle.

Finally, today I went with Bernard to Springfield Baptist Church in Comer, where he and I were the only white guys and were welcomed by everyone there. I think I'll keep going back, even though the services last usually till 1:30 or 2. It seems like the sort of place where you can learn everyone's name really fast, because all the people introduce themselves.

And there's the dinner bell, so I'll head up now for another Sunday meal with the refugee families, good cookin' and warm hearts. Love to you all,
-Caleb-