As I Was Saying...

Hi everyone! Lots to catch up on eh... I've been home about 5 weeks. It feels like forever. I have nostalgic moments for America. Last week I saw an advert on tv that had a shot of a car driving down a road with traffic lights suspended over it, and I just went "aww, America!" and then ensued 3 days of really missing the USA and everyone I met there. This has been slightly harder no longer having access to the university computers, nor having a landline to call all these people. But hey... there's always post. oh no wait, they're all on strike. So.... Anyhow, this isn't to say I haven't settled back in fine (though it took a good long while to get over 8 hours of jetlag and remember that these are trousers, not pants). Apparently though my accent is very amaerican when I say "Oh my gosh"; thank goodness I did not pick up the hand movement that generally goes with this phrase. So news in general is this. I have 2 jobs. I'm a administrator and classroom assistant in a Montessori nursery 10 minutes from home, and in the afternoon I work in an after school club 5 minutes from home. I have to say it's slightly dull compared to camp, a lot less crazy and less christian, but it's good. It suits my timetable well and it pays the rent. Index started back up 3 weeks ago and has been balls of fun ever since. I really miss it when it's not on. Lots of people have left and lots have just arrived, so as always this is a period of transition and being on the core team adds to this transistional phase, but I love every minute of it. Our series this first term is Jesus in His own words. Of course it can be interesting to know what others think of Jesus, but what He said about himself is so much more important and frankly, all the more interesting too. So Mikey's teaching us through the book of Matthew. I have been pushed in many ways even this past month back, and some things that happened at camp, even though I didn't know why they were happenening then, I know why now. As things happened, my confidence grew and I pushed myself. This confidence has come in handy. I am assistant play leader at the after school club which means I have more responsibilities, including speaking to parents more, dealing with challenging behaviour more, and I have the experience and the confidence to do these thnigs now, even though they can still be scary. It's all come in handy at church too, as I stood up for the open mic night with Alan and David and rapped Baby got book, as well as standing in front of the church (400 people-ish) to give an announcement for Index. Can I just say I'm glad that service is over. I graduate next month officially with a ceremony and all, which mum, dad and Joe and Ben are driving up for. Excited? Oh yeah! My friend from high school, Chloe is now in Edinburgh for the semester, and stayed with me for 2 weeks whilst looking for a flat. My flatmate Will had a friedn staying for the same reason at the same time, we also have Chris who is subletting from Arpita, and Katy's mum, Mary (our landlay) stayed for a long weekend. So our flat has bfelt slightly youth hostel-esque, but I am glad to say it is back to its normal fairly calm, clean self. I miss mountain dew. But I'm loving my diet irn bru again. it's so good. I'd better be off. I'm meeting Brittany for coffee then have Nadia over for dinner. What should I make? Something Jamie Oliver? I made Hamilton Squash for lunch, it was yummy!! I got his new book... divine! Regardless, I need to get more vegetables. I'm still recuperating from a quasi-veggie-less summer, and haver at least 6 or 7 each day. In fact, the majority of what I eat is veggie. Oh and quinoa. It's cool, it feels bouncy in your mouth!!!