Term 2 Week 1: 8 - 13 April

On the first evening of the official start to the second term (and my last ever second term in Stellies-- eek time is moving too quickly!) I had supper with Dana. I was placed in charge of making the flapjacks while she made choc-mint muffins. Not altogether the most nutritious supper (although we do make flapjacks using banana as a substitute for eggs) but very student-friendly and Dana's current two staples I discovered. We got rather distracted looking at old photos on Dana's laptop (one of which I managed to send to myself but then she deleted it-- I think she did not want me to have the blackmail). We found some from the student formal at the church back in my first year when we first met. She commented that back then I was just "The random girl ruining the photo with her friends". That may seem harsh, but it is partly true, I had only really spoken to Nienke and Kayla. I think Dana and I only had our first proper conversation on the evening of the formal itself. I remember thinking at the time that we had rather a lot in common and that I should like to get to know her better. It's so odd to think there was a time where we were shy of one another. Now she is one of my closest friends who I see almost every week and has just about as good an idea of what's going on in my head than I do. I am so glad that we are friends, although there is quite a lot of teasing and leg-pulling that comes with being Dana's friend which I never would have guessed from meeting her at first! By the way, I will find and attach said "random girl" photo if I can find it. 

Another big event in the week was going back to the school for service-learning. It was a bit of a shock to the system after having been away for so long, but the children were really excited to see us again and so that made up for it quite a lot. 

I see that in my notes I have listed "Matisse fell asleep on the couch and even curled up on my lap" as being something to write about. For some context-- Matisse is a cat. Technically he is still a kitten being not yet a year old. He is skinny and has rather a small build and one would not exactly use the word "cuddly" to describe him. Being so young, he has quite a lot of energy and uses it to pounce, bite and jump. Yes jump! He quite frightens Tao, which is problematic since he lives just downstairs and often slips in through the door when she isn't looking. Once, he slipped in and I heard Tao shouting at him in my half asleep state. Eventually, she gave up and called me to help. Remarkably, he curled up next to me on the bed and fell right asleep while we both had the rare Saturday morning lie-in. He has never sat still for more than thirty seconds I think, which is probably why I listed this as something significant to write about. 

Something else I did this week was to phone Caroline. Our calls have become much less frequent as time has passed; there was a stage where we would call every two to three weeks, but since then it has become about once per term. It is still quite something to be in contact with a good friend on the other side of the globe and I never doubt that she would drop everything to answer a phone call or fight a bear for me. Caro is quite a unique friend and very endearing. We chatted for a good hour and she had a lot to say about the number of bicycles which she has broken or had stolen while she has been in the Netherlands. Counting the hired bikes, she has made use of six in the last five months. Her parents are understandably at their wits end and she is desperately trying to be more careful, although none of the mishaps seem really to be her fault. She said' "I don't understand it, which bicycle deity did I offend?!" and at this point, I am rather inclined to agree that if such a thing as "bicycle bad luck" exists, she is cursed with it. 

On the Saturday, I attended Auntie Jean's eightieth birthday party. Come to think of it, I am not sure that I've ever been to an 80th before! The theme seemed split between "blue" and "chocolate"-- two of her favourite things. It was really quite a wonderful time listening to all the stories and hearing Rebecca Gray play the most beautiful cello piece. It was also rather special to meet the mother of the two boys who now live in Auntie Jean and Auntie Myrtle's old house. I had the sense sitting there and seeing so many of the people whose lives have been impacted by Auntie Jean, that nothing we do is ever wasted. And I was strangely reminded of that quote by CS Lewis, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption."

I think Auntie Jean has lived life trying to see people like that and it certainly shows. I want to try and do the same, for all people I interact with and not just the children in my class or people I see at church. 

The other rather strange thought that popped into my head was, "I wonder who would be at my 80th if I make it that far?" Now I have no way of knowing, but I certainly hope that Liesje and Dana would be there. 

I also went to a barn dance/ sokkie at a church with Andrea, Julia and Claire on the weekend. It was rather a lot of fun! I had forgotten how much fun barn dancing could be! It is so much less intimidating than sokkie, we really ought to have one of those at Equip. It is always so pleasant to see Andrea and Julia, we have such good conversations and I enjoy their company. I do hope that I will get to see more of them while I am home this recess. 

Me being "that awkward girl". Please note that the judgemental look on Dana's face is very typical of her. It makes me laugh now! 

A very sleepy Matisse 

Post sokkie photo