just because i should
I probably should write a novel about all the things that I haven't updated about - that's too much to actually do right now, but at least I can try to write a little something!
I just got back from a week in Zimbabwe and a week in Poland, filming stuff for work. Awesome! I don't know why I wrote it like that, as if the people who read this don't already know. Anyway, I had been really nervous about the trip, but it turned out to be completely fantastic. I adjusted more easily than ever, and actually made some good friendships super quickly because I somehow miraculously skipped the uneasy-beginning part and went straight into being myself. That might not make sense, but just believe me that this was the most comfortable I've felt with people I hardly knew, ever. So that was cool. On the Zimbabwe part, my job was much more vague, but I did my best and learned a lot about the camera, which was helpful in preparation for the Poland part, where my job was much more serious. On this team, we laughed A LOT, made some good friendships because of that laughing, didn't shower a whole lot or look very good, mostly hung out with people in Howard, and I had one very lonely but still good day at a different project. Here are some pictures from that part (I didn't take many photos in Zim):
Then I went from Zimbabwe to Poland, which is a very strange route to take and felt super weird to be walking around in Poland...?! And I was nervous because the Poland part was important and I had a big responsibility here! BUT it turned out to be actually SUPER awesome. The Salvation Army in Poland is a very interesting case, being run out of one room and having only ONE person in the whole operation that speaks both English and Polish (and they always have English-speaking officers in command because there ARE no Polish ones yet!). I was glad to have Kristin there working with me and figuring out interviews and story details, so I could focus on getting decent shots. And I think we succeeded. It's not what the Into the World videos usually are (look at how successful these poor countries are, let's give them money to live!), but if we're really about storytelling like we think we are as documentary people, then this should be good. It's a good story, and it's a story we've never told before. So that is cool.
I also really appreciated the Poland team. The devotions that team did were really good and just what I needed. I also got to build up a few friendships, and made friends with the officers there (and one of the main leaders at the corps). I mean, I met a lot of cool people but those few were the ones I feel like I actually built a relationship with. I was crazy and talked too much, but luckily, they loved me for it. The officer there loved me the best of all, which is ridiculous but I think I was the only one who laughed at his jokes, and he seemed a lot like daddy (he was a military history buff and loved telling me about that stuff, and I'm used to listening to that stuff, and he was kinda awkward and had a geeky sense of humor like daddy too), so I think it kinda makes sense even though I wasn't there very long.
Here are some pictures from Poland (though we had internet there so you may have seen some instagram ones already :) ):
haha I really meant a ")" plus a ":", but it looks like a backwards frowny face...
So there's that! It was a crazy and good two weeks. So strange to do so much stuff in such a short time! But there is a lot of good stuff at home that I am glad not to be missing out on (picnics and 4th of july things, the Jamboree & CMI, normal summer-y stuff that I feel like I haven't done in a long time [where's the slip-n-slide?]), so I'm excited for all of that.
Work is kinda weird this week, I mean besides randomly not being on a different continent, also yesterday David had a meeting with some people about rearranging things so that I won't be an assistant anymore. Turns out, the way it might actually work out is only if I add a lot more graphic design kind of stuff to my job, soooo I guess we're gonna do that? I don't know much about graphic design but they're gonna help me and get me trained in what I need, and it won't be all of my job, just part, and video will still be at least half of my job. Crazy. But I guess it's pretty close to actually happening? And then I'll have enough money to actually afford an apartment, soooo that will be pretty sweet. I was kinda shocked though, because I thought this job-change thing was going to be a long way away, but apparently not. ?! I don't know! But I'm grateful.
The bad part of this week is that David had to run off to Kansas yesterday because his dad was about to die, and then this evening, he did. :( I don't really have anything to say or any way to help him out, so it's just plain sad. So I'm just praying for him, I guess that's all there is.
I got an awesome present for being in the top 5 of the Chief's Challenge! It's a table-in-a-bag from Crate & Barrel, and then some plates, and also a little orange lantern (the same kind that mommy got me for my birthday!). Awesome bonus for losing 24 pounds! Kinda makes me want to be fat again so I can win next year, too. Haha! :)
I'm super excited for this weekend, hanging out with Amy (and everybody else at some point in the weekend), and summery things and the boat parade! :D Fun.
I just got back from a week in Zimbabwe and a week in Poland, filming stuff for work. Awesome! I don't know why I wrote it like that, as if the people who read this don't already know. Anyway, I had been really nervous about the trip, but it turned out to be completely fantastic. I adjusted more easily than ever, and actually made some good friendships super quickly because I somehow miraculously skipped the uneasy-beginning part and went straight into being myself. That might not make sense, but just believe me that this was the most comfortable I've felt with people I hardly knew, ever. So that was cool. On the Zimbabwe part, my job was much more vague, but I did my best and learned a lot about the camera, which was helpful in preparation for the Poland part, where my job was much more serious. On this team, we laughed A LOT, made some good friendships because of that laughing, didn't shower a whole lot or look very good, mostly hung out with people in Howard, and I had one very lonely but still good day at a different project. Here are some pictures from that part (I didn't take many photos in Zim):
Then I went from Zimbabwe to Poland, which is a very strange route to take and felt super weird to be walking around in Poland...?! And I was nervous because the Poland part was important and I had a big responsibility here! BUT it turned out to be actually SUPER awesome. The Salvation Army in Poland is a very interesting case, being run out of one room and having only ONE person in the whole operation that speaks both English and Polish (and they always have English-speaking officers in command because there ARE no Polish ones yet!). I was glad to have Kristin there working with me and figuring out interviews and story details, so I could focus on getting decent shots. And I think we succeeded. It's not what the Into the World videos usually are (look at how successful these poor countries are, let's give them money to live!), but if we're really about storytelling like we think we are as documentary people, then this should be good. It's a good story, and it's a story we've never told before. So that is cool.
I also really appreciated the Poland team. The devotions that team did were really good and just what I needed. I also got to build up a few friendships, and made friends with the officers there (and one of the main leaders at the corps). I mean, I met a lot of cool people but those few were the ones I feel like I actually built a relationship with. I was crazy and talked too much, but luckily, they loved me for it. The officer there loved me the best of all, which is ridiculous but I think I was the only one who laughed at his jokes, and he seemed a lot like daddy (he was a military history buff and loved telling me about that stuff, and I'm used to listening to that stuff, and he was kinda awkward and had a geeky sense of humor like daddy too), so I think it kinda makes sense even though I wasn't there very long.
Here are some pictures from Poland (though we had internet there so you may have seen some instagram ones already :) ):
haha I really meant a ")" plus a ":", but it looks like a backwards frowny face...
So there's that! It was a crazy and good two weeks. So strange to do so much stuff in such a short time! But there is a lot of good stuff at home that I am glad not to be missing out on (picnics and 4th of july things, the Jamboree & CMI, normal summer-y stuff that I feel like I haven't done in a long time [where's the slip-n-slide?]), so I'm excited for all of that.
Work is kinda weird this week, I mean besides randomly not being on a different continent, also yesterday David had a meeting with some people about rearranging things so that I won't be an assistant anymore. Turns out, the way it might actually work out is only if I add a lot more graphic design kind of stuff to my job, soooo I guess we're gonna do that? I don't know much about graphic design but they're gonna help me and get me trained in what I need, and it won't be all of my job, just part, and video will still be at least half of my job. Crazy. But I guess it's pretty close to actually happening? And then I'll have enough money to actually afford an apartment, soooo that will be pretty sweet. I was kinda shocked though, because I thought this job-change thing was going to be a long way away, but apparently not. ?! I don't know! But I'm grateful.
The bad part of this week is that David had to run off to Kansas yesterday because his dad was about to die, and then this evening, he did. :( I don't really have anything to say or any way to help him out, so it's just plain sad. So I'm just praying for him, I guess that's all there is.
I got an awesome present for being in the top 5 of the Chief's Challenge! It's a table-in-a-bag from Crate & Barrel, and then some plates, and also a little orange lantern (the same kind that mommy got me for my birthday!). Awesome bonus for losing 24 pounds! Kinda makes me want to be fat again so I can win next year, too. Haha! :)
I'm super excited for this weekend, hanging out with Amy (and everybody else at some point in the weekend), and summery things and the boat parade! :D Fun.