In Retrospect

As of just over a week ago, I finished uni...forever!

In some respects the last 4 years seem to have gone exceedingly fast, yet when I think back to before I was at uni it seems like forever ago. This last year at teacher's college was the best year of uni I have had. Doing my BA at Auckland was good, but I sometimes felt dwarfed by the size of the campus, the amount of people, and the enormous choice of what to have for lunch!

This year at Epsom there was only one cafe (two if you count the upstairs and downstairs counter of the same building), and it's much harder to remain anonymous due to the lack of people compared to Auckland! But that's what made it so good. At any given time there was always someone I recognized and could chat with, and I made some really good friends I know I'll keep in touch with. I think part of the 'community' vibe at Epsom occurs because we all have a similar occupation in mind, so everyone has something in common. Overall, this year was a much bigger workload than I have experienced in the past, but I learnt so much that I'll actually use in my career, and I am still keen to learn more.

Teaching has been my dream for a long long time, so it's a strange feeling to actually be achieving that. The only downside is that being a qualified English teach means everyone picks me up on my spelling and grammar mistakes! (Although I think I bring a part of that on myself ;) ).

But seriously, in some ways it feels like I am finishing my dream by actually making it here, but in other ways it feels that I am merely at the starting post. I can't wait to meet the students in my classes next year, I know it won't all be easy but it's actually the challenge that I am looking forward to!

This is also nearly the end of mine and Rhett's first year of marriage. Again, it feels like it's gone by so fast, yet it feels like so long ago that we weren't married. I have learnt so much more about Rhett AND myself this year, and I feel like we have made it through so much together already. Going to the U2 concerts this weekend made me think of all the significant events that we have encountered together, (eg. going to South Africa, friends weddings, Parachutes, Christmases to name a few), and it makes me so excited for all the things we will experience together in the future! I am so happy I get to share my life with someone so special.

And coming back to the U2 concert, (how could I not talk about that?!) ...... wow. What i love most about U2 is that through their music and their positive messages, they really inspire hope and they make you feel like you can make a difference in the world for the better. To be in a crowd of 45,000 people singing the words"In the name of love" at the top of our lungs is an amazing feeling. I walked away from the concert with a positive buzz that hasn't left me, and I hope it never does!

I have decided that my passion for experiencing and making music has been taking a backseat for me lately, because of the lack of time I have had for just about everything this year. Without trying to aid the cliche, I want to make it a New Year's Resolution follow this passion more actively in the coming year.

I think it's compulsory to say something just a tad nostalgic at this stage of the year, so I want to say thanks to all the friends and family who have meant so much to me this year, and I look forward to next year!

Also, thanks to the loyal people who actually do still check my blog! I'm surprise myself that I can still remember my password!

Peace out!

Update!

Hey everyone,
Just thought I'd give you all an update of what I've been up to...

The holidays finished way too soon, it's funny how after the first few days it becomes very very easy to slip into a routine of laziness. Oh well!

I went back to uni for three weeks, and in that time had two big assignments due in, so became a very stressed out individual for a short time! It was great to go back to uni though, got to catch up with some good friends and play some pool :) Oh, and learn some stuff.

Recently I went on a self prescribed caffeine detox regime, meaning no coffee, 'V' or Coke for a week (which turned out to be nine days, yay me!). And I felt better for it!

This past week was my first week on practical at Edgewater College. So far I am really enjoying it, although it's been so busy and tiring! The students I have are fun to work with, and the teachers are great too. Got 4 more weeks there, then a break, then another 2 weeks. Then not long til I am qualified!

Anyway, that's it for now.
Thanks to the dedicated people who still check my blog! Spread the news that I've updated.... :)

The Holiday Dilemma

It's a strange feeling to be on holiday. Albeit I will still be working a few days, the thought of having "free" days with no burden of assignments, early mornings or caffeine overload guilt, is both liberating and irritating. Being someone who constantly has a billion things to do, means these small windows of relative freedom leave me pondering. There are a few things I have to do that I stored up on my imaginary "to do in the holidays" list, but I don't want to do them all in the first few days for fear of feeling completely lost at the end of the three weeks. For some strange reason (and I don't think i am the only one) I have realized that I find some sense of security in knowing there are things that have to be done, and can only be done by me.

On the upside, holidays mean I get to see Rhett more often, I get to have a tidy house, I can read for enjoyment, and don't have to feel guilty for watching Dr Phil (or should I?).

Anyway...

I've heard the saying "you are what you read", which I tend to agree with. But what about "you are what you listen to"?

I spent a good 3 hours yesterday dissecting Ray Lamontagne's album "Trouble". The songs on this album all have a certain 'antiquity' about them. Maybe its his voice, or the recording, but whatever it is, I could (and did) listen to him for hours on end without irritation.

I say "dissected" because I was earnestly trying to learn how to play and sing them, the chords were easy enough (even for my meager guitar ability), but there was an essence that I couldn't re-create however much I started, paused, and rewound. I'm going to keep trying, merely for the sake that I love these songs and relish the thought of being able to replicate them on my own.

It got me thinking (and if you're anticipating a spiritual analogy then you're right), about the series that we are doing in Cession at the moment - The art of being ekkleisia. Meaning - what is 'being' church?

The longer I spent trying to work out the integral parts of these songs, I realized that they only work as a whole. I couldn't work it out bit by bit and have it sound like it was meant to, and even when I learnt the whole thing and played it out in my mind I was still thinking of it's many parts. It didn't spoil the song for me, if anything I grew to appreciate it as a whole. It was designed by someone who felt the emotions being poured into it, it had a pattern which was sculpted so it would portray the right meaning, and it was crafted in such a way that each little bit is so very important, yet cannot create the same ambience on its own.

Maybe this is what the church is like?

Awwww

WHAT'S IN THAT BOTTLE RHETT??

Small post promises big things!

As most of you who read Rhett's blog will know...... we now have internet access at home! So if all goes to plan you will be hearing a bit more from me......

Procrastination

Hey y'all.

This post is being generated from my current paradoxical state of fatigue/caffeine hype, with an intermingling of procrastination to spice things up.

In normal Sarah-speak: I have an assignment to start and finish today so intend to combat the late night I had with a bottle of V. I can't tell whether it's helping.

But on a completely different note: Here's a poem I wrote in English (teaching) today:

I wrote a note
(Nothing)
Just for you
My pen was a ribbon on the paper
My thoughts echoed around the blank page
(can)
Knocking into the lines, margins, eachother.
The message was clouded
Covered in dust, that couldn't be shaken.
(tear)
But maybe,
(me)
Maybe you could grit your teeth and live the cliche, read between the lines, see into my mind.
And understand the words I just can't bring myself to say.
(away.)


Maybe it's time to get onto that assignment.....

My Personal DNA

Hey! These are my results for my personal DNA test......

My Personal Dna Report

I am a 'Benevolent Creator'.

I'm still here!

The main reason I am writing this post is because my wonderful husband threatened to delete me from his links if I didn't post soon!

Also I checked my sitemeter, and as it turns out there are people still visiting my blog daily, which means I'd better put something here so that they have a surprise when they arrive.

So..... ta da!

Update:

I am a happily married woman now! Go to Rhett's blog to see photo's (you'll have to scroll way down). Married life is so so so awesome!

I have started my teaching course in Epsom, which I LOVE! I have met lots of cool people already, and it's such a good feeling knowing I am finally getting to do what I've spent the last 5 or so years longing for. My first practical starts 20 March ( so soon!) and is at St Kentigern's College, which I am both excited and nervous about.

Cession is great as usual. I have taken on the "contact" ministry, which is all about making sure people feel at home at Cession, and if anyone needs anything eg.meals, making sure that their needs don't go unfulfilled.

Will expand on each of these things in separate posts later on.

Also related to Cession, I spent my first night (which will be the first Sunday night of the month from now on) teaching in the Kids Encounter group. It was really really fun, (and challenging!) Kristen does an amazing job with organization, and she still needs helpers if anyone's keen...... ;)

I am actually supposed to be doing an assignment right now, so will have to keep this short. But there is still hope for me in the blogging scene!!! :)

Catch up with you all soon....