Saturday, Schmaturday.

How funny is this picture? Look closely at the labels. Gina's friend took this picture and e-mailed it to her. He wanted us to know that it was destiny that we are flatmates!

In-Service week is officially over (even though I was at the school today and will probably be there tomorrow). It has been a massive amount of work. I was expecting a little disorganization and craziness because the school is so tiny and has had a lot of turnover recently. But, I was not prepared for the extent of disorganization. I am person who thrives with boundaries and rules, and while I appreciate having creative control of my classroom...well, I like rules! Needless to say, this has been a long, hard week. And it ain't over yet.

School starts on Wednesday, and there is still a ton of work to be done. Student enrollment goes up and down every day, so I'm still not sure how many kids I'll be teaching. Right now I'm thinking it's about 16?? I'm teaching 7/8 Language Arts, 9/10 English, 11/12 English, 9/10 History and 7/8 Bible. What is cool though, is that my classroom will be like the UN. Every single student is from a different country/culture. Most of their parents work at NATO or an embassy. They all speak different languages and come from different religious backgrounds. I'm excited about the diversity--I'm already jealous! These kids are barely 14 years old, but they speak 3,4,5 languages and have lived all over the world. As soon as I get a permanent list, I'll post their names--they're all so beautiful.

On a completely different note, I'd like to request that you keep my brother, Nathanael, in prayer. He left today from Texas for Iraq. He'll stop in Germany for a day or two, then go to Kuwait for processing. Then he'll be stationed in Baghdad. He's so brave, and I'm so proud of him, but we all know that this is a dangerous and scary situation. So please, pray for his protection, as well as for the protection of his company.

Love you guys!

Ariel

Frankfurt International Airport

Ooops! I wrote this in the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, and I meant to post it here, but I guess I forgot. It's kind of late, but I'm going to post it anyways, since everyone keeps asking how my luggage situation turned out!!

Well, it’s 2:24 am my time, and I’m sitting in the Frankfurt Airport. Everyone around me is perky and awake--it is after all 8:24 here--but I’m sleepy! I’m waiting for Gina--my new flat-mate and fellow teacher--to join me, and then we’ll make our way to our connecting flight that will take us to Lisbon. I wanted to write before I got swept up in the whole I’m-in-Portugal thing, because I don’t want to forget the small miracles that just took place!

In my last post, I mentioned Lufthansa’s new luggage restrictions--a whopping 44 pounds worth of luggage per person. I was struggling about how to send some of my belongings to Portugal, and everything was just so expensive! Just when I had resolved to suck it up and send one box through the USPS, which would have been about $170, Gina e-mailed me. The church in Cascais has assigned each new teacher a sponsor to help us acclimate to Portugal, and Gina’s sponsors are actually US soldiers who are based here in Portugal. They offered to let us send our bags to them, as it may be less expensive since it’s sent in the military mail. When I took two 30 pound boxes to the post office to send them, it cost me a total of $33. How amazing is that!! I may not get those boxes for a month or two, but I just packed them with my winter things anyway. ****Update, I already got them!****

Even though I was able to send some things ahead, I still found myself frantically repacking my suitcase about a half hour before I needed to leave for the airport. I was 10 pounds overweight in my checked luggage, and my carry-on bag was already bulging. My father told me to sit down, and he repacked it and made it work. I was still a bit nervous though because my carry-on bag seemed very, very full.

I got to the airport about 2 1/2 hours early, and it took nearly 45 minutes to check-in. The man in front of me went to the desk, where I heard the attendant say that he could not check in yet since his flight didn’t leave until 5:40 pm. That was exactly when my flight left, but the attendant who helped me just let me go ahead. (Yay for not having to wait in that long line--again!) She took my 15 kilos of luggage and checked it, and then gave me a special sticker okaying my carry-on bag.

Security took another 40 minutes, so it was quite a long trek before I actually got to sit down and take a breather. After another small wait, they started boarding my flight. I muttered a prayer that God would give me favor and a very strong person sitting next me to lift my carry-on bag up and down (no joke, this thing weighs about 80 pounds!). I was still nervous, because even though I had my little approved sticker, my carry-on just looked sooo full.

I was right to be nervous! As soon as they scanned my ticket, and I started down the gang way, a woman called me back to tell me that my bag was too full, and that I would have to check it. I was devastated--this was what I was trying to avoid in the first place--it would cost me over $500 to check this little (but heavy) bag! When I asked about the cost, she told me not to worry--since the lady at the check-in desk had given me a sticker, I was not responsible and they’d check it for free!!! I didn’t need anything in that bag for my flight anyway, and now I wouldn’t have to cart it around all night. I’m telling you, God was totally listening to my little prayers (and my grandma’s--she was up all last night praying!).

I sat in an aisle seat in the very front, with no one in front of me! They ran out of economy class meals, just as they got to my row, so we had first class meals instead (yum!). Really, everything was perfect! And, in true Ariel fashion, I was surrounded by three little girls--all under the age of 3. They were actually pretty good--with only the occasional cry or scream. I am so grateful that everything has turned out perfectly-I couldn't have asked for anything more!

Love you all,

Ariel

Wooohoo For Pictures!

A typical street here in Portugal...supposedly, pedestrians have the right of way...but I don't believe it!

Vasca Da Gama's Tomb--Very famous explorer from Portugal we all learned about in grade school!

The Cathedral at Belem

The Cathedral (oops, Gina's in the picture!)

The monastery and cathedral in Belem! Lisbon is behind it.

The world!

A beach here in Cascais. This beach is about a fifteen minute walk!

Me and an ancient fortress (maybe 13 or 14th century?? can't remember!)

Big, scary, prickly plant!

I'll have more up soon!

Life Lessons in Cascais...

I've officially been a resident of Portugal for one week now, and already, I've learned some very important life lessons.

1. Portugal is not America.
This is actually a little mantra Gina and I have going. Anything that seems like it should be one way, I am quickly learning is not that way at all. For instance, milk comes in boxes. And they don't have to be refrigerated. You buy 6 boxes in a pack, and drink them as you need them. Or, drinking coffee on the go is considered insane here. I have met Americans living here who have literally been stared down for carrying a to-go coffee mug. To the Portuguese people, drinking an espresso, "um bica," is a set time to sit down and relax. In America, we're hitting up Starbucks and the Dunkin Donuts drive through 5 times a day. Not so here...Portugal is not America!

2. The ocean and/or sun may change locations at any give time.
Okay, so this is not entirely true, but it certainly seems this way! Whenever Gina and I set out to walk some where (we don't have a car, but fortunately everything seems to be within walking distance), we may stand at the top of a hill, see the ocean, and set out in that direction. Then, at the top of the next hill, even though it seems we've been following a straight line, we'll see the ocean in a completely different direction. You'd think we'd be able to rectify this by looking where the sun is...but well, I was never a girl scout! I've got the N, S, E, W thing down, but it still doesn't seem to help. So, be aware that the ocean is elusive, and the sun will probably try to trick you!

3. Don't let your ankles bite you.
Now, I'm not really sure what this means. But we've been told this many, many times. If I had to guess, what people are trying to tell us is to watch out for ankle-biters--as in watch out for dips and holes in the cobblestone roads and sidewalks. Everything is cobblestone here. It's very pretty, and in down-town Cascais (the most historic part) there is even a very pretty pattern of waves put into all the sidewalks and roads. But not all the sidewalks are in the best shape, and they seem to randomly rise up and fall down. They can very easily cause you to stumble and/or fall...so I'm guess that is what they mean by don't let your ankles bite you. It seems very unlikely that there are little ankles running around biting people!

So now for a little update...

I've been to the school, and my in-service week starts next week. They seem just a bit disorgnaized--in fact, I don't even know what I'm teaching yet. It may be 7th and 8th grades--all subjects; it may be 7th and 8th Bible and English, 9-12 English, and Publications; Or, it may be 7th and 8th Bible and English and 9-12 History. So, everything is still a bit up in the air, but hopefully we'll be able to get things sorted out!

Gina and I are all moved in to our apartment (I'll post a few photos for you!). Our address is:
Rua do Outeiro Lt 9 2º F
Alto da Castelhana
2755-287 Alcabideche
Portugal
Yesterday, we went to Ikea and loaded up on things we still needed like bedding, towels, laundry hampers, etc. I'm trying to conserve the moola a little, so I didn't spend too much, but I got enough that it's starting to feel more like I live here as opposed to living in someone else's apartment. There is still an abundance of white walls though, and they're bothering me...so I may have to invest in a few posters or something.

I've met three other young women my age here. Two of them, Ashley and Stefanie, are 23 and from North Carolina. Both of them are working with Young Life here, and have been really nice. Ashely took us to lunch and Ikea yesterday, and was just very sweet! Emily is 24? and from Oklahoma, and she is working with a Baptist Missions Organization out here. It's very nice to be able to start making some friends!

I've taken some beautiful pictures here, but I can't seem to download them onto my computer. I'll try again soon, but in the mean time, I have a few photos of the apartment that I took using the camera in my macbook. One is of my bedroom, one is of my living room, one is the view off of our veranda, and the other shows the apartment buildings surrounding us.

Please keep both Gina and I in your prayers! I've definitely been in honeymoon mode since I've been here, but there are little things that are a bit frustrating to deal with, and with school starting soon, I'm sure that will just all escalate. Today, all the new teachers are being taken to the government offices to apply for a tax ID number. Once I have that, I can open a bank account, have the internet installed in my apartment, etc...I pretty much can't do anything until I have that number! I've heard that some people get it right away, on the spot; but, I've also heard horror stories where it has taken months to get it. So please, keep that in prayer as well.

I do have skype (when I can borrow wireless connections from my neighbors!), and my ID on that is SuprDuprMe. That is also my AIM name, if you'd like to be in touch! Otherwise, e-mail always works, and I've always been a huge fan of snail mail! Warning, I love to get mail, but you should check out how much it weighs before you try to send it...it can be expensive!

I miss you all and am so thankful for all your love and support. I do have an extra bed here in the apartment, if anyone's up for a visit....!!!

Love,
Ariel

I'm in Portugal!

(The photo is the view outside my bedroom window!)

Hey!

I know it feels like forever since I wrote last, and I've actually been in Portugal for 5 days now; however, I still do not have access to the internet (apparently it can take up to 2 or 3 weeks to have someone come install it). Right now I'm borrowing wireless from the neighbors! :)

So Portugal is pretty much amazing. It's so beautiful--everyone kept telling me it's hot--but all I've experienced so far is perfect weather. It gets about 80F in the day and around 60F at night. Zero humidity! It actually feels a lot like Southern California.

When we first got here, we were staying with the Bests--a family from the church here. Our apartment was having some updates done, so we just moved in yesterday. We're living in Cascais (pronounced "kash-kaish"). It's actually a beautiful apartment--very clean and quite large for what we're paying. Downstairs and a little down the street is Pingo Doce, a grocery store with fresh produce and meat (and fish, which apparently I'm going to have start eating). Then about an 8 minute walk from here is the school where I'll be teaching. I'm heading over there in an hour or so, to start setting up my classroom.

My roommate, Gina, is great! We're really enjoying each other, and it's so nice to have someone be as confused as I am :) We're trying out our Portuguese skills, which right now, are not so great. But I've got "thank you," "excuse me," and "sorry" down!

We've done just a little sightseeing in Lisbon (about a 30 minute drive or train ride from here). We went to Belem--an old area in Lisbon with a 15th century cathedral and Vasca de Gama's grave. We also went to a bakery there that is famous for the "pastel da belem" also called a pastel da nata. It's kind of like a creme brulee in a pastry--super yummy.

I promise I'll write more soon--I've got to get running to the school soon! I'll have pictures up asap!

Love you and miss you all!

Ariel

p.s. I can't get take-out coffee here. What am I going to do????????!!!

One Hundred and Forty-Four Hours!

“Traveling is not just seeing the new; it is also leaving behind. Not just opening doors; also closing them behind you, never to return. But the place you have left forever is always there for you to see whenever you shut your eyes.”

Good-byes have officially started...and they're tough! This past week was my last week working, and some of the families I've been working with for over a year and a half. I love these kids--they're like family, and it was very hard to leave them. I miss them already!

Needless to say, it's been quite the emotional week! Only six days to go, and I still have a million things to do...here's the update!

1. Visa: Went to the appointment on Wednesday and quickly found out that they had forgotten to put my name down on the list. Thankfully, however, I had showed up a half an hour early, and they were able to take me right then--the only opening they had that day. I went in and spent about an hour with a woman named Sila (which, btw, is such a beautiful name!), and we discussed pretty much everything. I had all the necessary documents, and after answering all her questions, I handed her $121.58, and she told me I'd have a visa in about 2 months. Great news! When I'm approved, I'll just have to send my passport back to the consulate, and they'll stamp my visa in and send it back. When I was there though, Sila mentioned having to get a Residency card...guess this is a process that may never end!

2. Moola: Big, big thank you to the people who have committed to monthly pledges! Your gifts are so appreciated!! I've re-crunched the numbers, and as of today, I am still in need of about $2000 in pledges. So we're definitely getting there! It's been less than 2 months, and we've raised $6000--you all totally rock :)

3. Luggage: Okay, so this isn't really an update--more of just a huge annoyance to me! I just found out that Lufthansa has changed their luggage restrictions for international flights. Now, I can only take a TOTAL weight of 44 pounds. Forty-four pounds for one full year's worth of stuff. So, naturally, I looked into what it would cost to check two forty-four pound bags, and was shocked to find out that they charge 10 euros per kilo I'm over. So for 44 lbs (20 kilos) at roughly 17 dollars per kilo, it would be $340 for an extra suitcase! I've also looked into shipping through UPS, FED EX, DHL, etc., but they're all very expensive too (up to $1,000 for one 50 lb. box!). I've even looked into shipping some boxes by boat...but it's all very complicated with customs. I might give in and pay about $150 to ship one box through the USPS, but I'm still not sure about that. Basically, I'll probably be living on two outfits for a year :( Oh, my poor shoes!

I cannot believe that I'm leaving in just 6 days...144 hours! I really shouldn't have converted it into hours, as that just makes me panic a bit more! I'm so excited, but very overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done in the next (gulp!) 144 hours, so please, prayers would be nice!

Love,
Ariel

12 Days!

I'm at 12 days and counting! Ahh! I'm pretty much completely overwhelmed and frantic--but very excited. I wanted to let everyone know how the whole I'm-moving-to-Portugal Process is going...

1. Visa Process:
So, I've been waiting for forever to get my fingerprints back from the FBI so I could go apply for my visa. Well, they finally came on Thursday, and I have my appointment with the Portuguese Consulate in Newark on Wednesday, August 6. I have everything else they say I need to apply, so hopefully it'll go smoothly. But some extra prayers for that would definitely be appreciated.

2. Support Raising:
Can I just say that you all have completely shocked me with your generosity and wonderfulness?!! I can't believe that in less than 2 months, my support is almost two-thirds raised. As I mentioned before, I had to have half of my budget in cash before I left ($4000), and the other half I had to have either in cash or in monthly pledges. To date, I have raised all $4000 of the first half in cash, and almost $1500 in cash and pledges towards the second half. This means that I still need to raise about $2500 in cash and/or pledges in the next twelve days. Again, seems a bit impossible--but so did raising $8000 in less than two months--and we're almost there! A big thank you to all of you who have donated and helped with fundraising--you're all amazing!

3. Speaking of which...
Huge shout out to the Kiwanis Club of Dover and Randolph!! They graciously allowed me to speak at their annual barbecue this past Wednesday night, where I gave a brief description of what I will be doing in Portugal. They have very generously decided to donate towards my support, and I am extremely grateful!! So Thank You!

That sums it up for now...Now I'm just trying to figure out how to fit my whole life into two suitcases that only weigh about 40 lbs. each!

Love always,
Ariel