"I Have a Question, Please"

I repeat this phrase "I have a question, please" to my roommates so many times in a day that they have now started to tease me mercilessly about it and remind me that I don't have to say that every time I have a question for them! I really do ask a multitude of questions every day that I'm here!

Today was wonderful, for many reasons. This past October, I put down a deposit worth 2 months of rent ($800 total) for accommodations here in Prague that my school had directed me to, but after reading countless negative online reviews of the place (it was basically a long-stay hotel type of place), I chose to find my own housing. I was told I would only get a partial refund on that deposit, but today, they decided I could get a full refund! That's a lot more money back in my pocket, which, as a college student, especially makes a big impact.

I found a beautiful park right by my school, and so I wandered through it for a little while this afternoon. I need some sledding partners, because I found this fantastic sled run in the park! It's long and steep, and quite slick, so all I'd need is a piece of cardboard or something to slide down on! Perhaps I can convince my roommates to join me in the cold...

For some people, this may not be the case, but I have never enjoyed being alone. Of course, I like my own quiet space and need time to myself, but I don't like sight-seeing or traveling alone. But today, I felt this sense of peace as I walked around by myself. As if I felt comfortable in my own skin. I am not the type to strike out on my own and look around by myself, but I've done a lot of that lately and it surprisingly bothers me less and less. I've started to enjoy it! Most nights, I go out with my roommates (as I did tonight), but in those random times between classes or between appointments, I have time to myself and rather than spending it on the computer or watching a movie, I try to fill the time with some little adventure of my own.

It seems that some of the best adventures come from what would be an average, mundane thing back home. Figuring out the grocery store, navigating the public transportation, walking in the park...all of these things feel much more exciting and rewarding when you're doing them for the first time and on your own. I don't really feel as lonely as I did even a few days ago, because I have made friends and my roommates are amazing people and I can Skype home often. Going to bed or waking up in the morning can be tough, because I remember that I'm far from home, but I eagerly fill my time with new things: going to art exhibits, watching rugby games with my roommate, taking pictures, things like that. I know that if I were not staying busy, I would probably feel terrible, so I'm working to fill my time. I don't say "no" to new opportunities!

I know this post was long, but I had so many things in mind for this post. So much happens in just one day while I'm here! I am extremely excited, because I just heard from a local non-profit organization here in Prague that mainly helps Burmese refugees find work that they would love to have me as an intern there, which is a huge answer to prayer. I had contacted them before I arrived, saying I would like to intern there (it's a requirement of my Global Studies major that I intern abroad, and so I absolutely needed for this to work out!), and now they said I can start next week! God has taken care of me every step of the way, and I don't regret for a minute the journey that I took to get here to Prague (because many of you know how frustrating it was at times to plan this trip). I worked hard to get here, and it's still tough at times, but it's already been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.