Friends! and Florida

Last month I spent a week in Florida. I went down for a good friend's (my Canadian family) wedding, but got to spend most nights at my awesome friend, Whitnie's house. We had a marvelous time together: drinking coffee, late night talking and praying, eating awesome food, laughing and taking pictures. She's been a marvelous friend over the past six years I've known her. I was sad when she moved out of Alaska last summer, but it's one friendship that has stayed strong across the miles. 

Whitnie was able to get a day off work while I was there, so we set out for a day adventure in Mobile, AL. First on our list of places to see was the U.S.S. Alabama, a battleship used in the Pacific during World War II. We skipped the guided/numbered tours and just set out to explore the ship ourselves. We wandered around finding all kinds of nooks and rooms with cool stuff in it. It was pretty amazing. It was hot that day and I was getting dehydrated, so we didn't stick around to explore the submarine, but next time we will! 

love the USA!

thanks to the random guy who took our picture

Outside the entrance was this giant, mock shell that I just had to hug. I did get something all over my arm and shirt because of it. :( but it still needed that hug. Haha. There was also a big bell in the front of the building. Not sure if you were supposed to or not, but they did leave the metal ringer thing inside it..... so yes I rang the bell. :) 

And Whitnie rang the bell too! Love her expression below. :D It was a pretty epic day. After the Alabama, we wandered around downtown Mobile, where we met a couple from Austria. We chatted with them for a few minutes, during which I invited them to Alaska and they invited me to Austria. :) Then we went to a small cafe for shwarma and kebabs! It was Whitnie's first Mediterranean food. It was pretty tasty! Tho' I have to say the falafel I can get here in Alaska is way better! 

Tutoring Makes Friends

Last fall semester, I took a class about 2nd Language Teaching. Part of the requirement was to tutor an ESL student currently at UAF for 5 hours during the semester. Because they had surplus of ESL students who wanted a tutor, I was assigned two! Mine were both from Japan, though they had never met until arriving at UAF. Mika, Tsukino and I had a great time together and we spent more than the required 5 hours together. 

We spent a lot of time just working on pronunciation, talking, reviewing their homework, writing essays and having a good time. They were glad to have an American friend they could talk freely with. Mika decided to come back to UAF for the spring semester as well, so we got to spend even more time together. She came to church with me a couple times and I was able to share the Gospel with her as well. 

I am so glad for the opportunity to meet and become friends with Mika and Tsukino! Even though it was part of school assignment, we became good friends. We are still in contact and Mika can't wait until I come visit her in Japan. :) 

Don't overlook opportunities to help someone! You may become great friends, all from investing a little of your time. 

our last evening together before Mika left Alaska

Downtown Fairbanks

The Vagabond has Returned

It's been a while.... I was down in the Lower 48 for much of May and part of June, without a computer, hence the obvious lack of blog posts. But never fear, I am alive and well. And working on getting back into a routine, so hopefully you will be hearing from me soon with a real post. Though I had thought of taking a break from blogging... since there's only 3 or so faithful readers, that I am aware of. Maybe if there were more, I'd be more faithful in writing..... If I could be convinced there are more than 3 of you reading my boring, ahem, interesting posts......