A Balancing Act

Hey y’all,

So sorry it has been so long since I last updated! All of a sudden it’s the end of January?? I don’t know how that happened so quickly. I’ll update you on the highlights of my month.

I came back to Durham at the beginning of the month and spent a few wonderful days working at the library, working on a puzzle, watching lots of Psych, and hanging out with friends.

Then school started and I haven’t done anything fun since. (Just kidding) (But not really kidding)

Second semester as a Duke graduate student, and they really don’t let us slack at all. We’ve hit the ground running! I sort of want to avoid talking about school work because I feel like it will just depress me a little bit. There’s a LOT of work to be done this semester, and I’m already quite far behind on my reading. I’m finding my schedule is also a bit more demanding this semester, which has already been kind of stressful. But enough about classes and work. (But I suppose I should update those of you who don’t know about which classes I am taking: Continuations of 3 of my classes from last semester- Old Testament, Church History, and Hebrew. And one new class- New Testament! They are all really great and my professors are brilliant. Despite the overwhelming-ness right now, I know it will be a semester filled with lots of learning!)

Now for fun things. The 504 had a very fun birthday celebration a few weeks ago! All of our birthdays are within two weeks of each other, so we had a great night filled with friends, games, and maybe some adult beverages ;-) Some pretty impressive games of Trivial Pursuit happening in our apartment. We know how to party! Hehe.

We also went to a really fun worship night at my friend Michelle’s house last weekend. That was wonderful! Lots of great music (which has been stuck in my head all week) and great conversation too! I learned how to make guacamole (It’s super easy! Who knew?)

Let’s see. What else is happening? I was sick this week, which honestly was no fun. But I’m on the mend, and was actually feeling really good today. I also passed in my first Church History paper of the semester this morning, so that probably contributed to my good mood. Ha.

ALSO! Big news!! I will be going abroad this summer to Guatemala and Mexico City to serve the church! I am very excited that I was chosen to participate in this. I will be gone for ten weeks (four weeks in Guatemala and six weeks in Mexico) when I will be learning Spanish and working in a Methodist Church. I met the woman I’ll be traveling with, and she seems very nice. I feel so blessed to be able to this work through Duke Divinity School. Now I get to brush up on the little Spanish I know (and I’m currently, like right now, installing the Spanish Rosetta Stone that I bought a couple of years ago on my computer. I think I have the motivation now to really use it!!)

What I have learned this month is that this semester is going to be a balancing act. I could easily (very easily) get bogged down by reading and writing, and spend all of my time working. However, I can’t do that. I have to make sure to spend a sufficient amount of time with my friends so that I stay happy. Not that I don’t love reading all the time… but it’s important for me to spend weekend nights socializing and fostering the friendships I have made thus far. Not only will I be balancing school with fun, but also with my extracurricular activities. I’m still singing in the Divinity School Choir and the St. Luke’s choir, and singing/worshiping with these people are some of my favorite parts of the week. I’m also performing in Broadway Revue this semester, which has been a challenge, but I think in the end I will enjoy the experience. I’m doing a lot, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want to make the most of my time here, which is already flying by.

Some fun Anglican/Episcopal things- I’m leading chanted Morning Prayer next Friday. I’m nervous already, but I think it will be ok! T.J. says that I will be “enCHANTing.” Ha. Ha. I was also asked to the “Sacristan” for my class. I feel like this was quite the honor! Luckily, I don’t really have to do too much [yet] except learn from the 2^nd and 3^rd year sacristans. For those of you who have never heard this word “sacristan” before (like me!), I basically will help set up for and clean up all of the AEHS Eucharist services- the first one I helped with was yesterday morning. I’m going to learn SO much!!

Well, I think that’s about it from my end. It’s very very icy here tonight, so the roommies and I are spending a very chill night doing nothing. It’s wonderful. :-)

Here’s the song that has been stuck in my head for most of the week (thank you Michelle and your worship night!) hehe. 

Peace, Love, and Smiles y’all

Christa

P.S.- Words of wisdom from my Church History preceptor: "Nicht essen den gelben Schnee."