Day One...

I  have to start w/ a sigh.  What a day getting here was.
I tried to go to sleep the night before by 10p...but I couldn't sleep.  I had my alarm set for 2:30a but couldn't sleep past 2a.  I got up and my friend's husband (who works in San Jose, where I flew out of) picked me up at 4:15a. I always forget that when I travel, my body gets a bit whacked out...stress and such.  So my tummy was 'off' and without thinking, I had thai food for dinner the evening before, so my bowels were off.  Oh, yeah.  Good way to start a trip.
We made good time and were at the airport early for my 7:40am flight.  No worries.  Boarded fine, left on time, good flight, hallelujah.  I was really praying for a good landing because w/ my tummy, if we had a bad landing, I'd be yanked for the rest of the day.  The food on the plane wasn't free, only sodas were free.  Good thing I had brought an apple and some nuts, but by the time we landed, I was hungry!
I was the first person the waiting YWAM people had all day!  That was fun, but there were actually several of us on that plane.
After getting to the base, I have to say, registration was less than wonderful.  I am sure they tried very hard and organized as well as possible for so many new students, but they took our luggage from the airport and didn't tell us where to find it or where it went.  The couple registering for the class in front of me had funky insurance so it took forever for them to register...one of those, 'if I had been here two minutes earlier' things, I would have registered first...but...trying NOT to be cranky and tired from not eating, I sat quietly and tried to be patient...NOT one of my strong suits.  Finally, I got registered, found my luggage and a kid in great shape helped me to my room.  I say 'great shape' because we are on the side of an inactive volcano mountain.  Everything on this campus is at an incline... oh, yes...the Lord will have me get in shape yet! ha!
It was so much hotter than I expected.  I never have minded humidity... but 83 degrees at home is certainly not 83 degrees here... oh my gosh, it felt like 95.  Plus, the humidity made my bangs curly... my bangs!!  Like, it is THAT humid!!!  Dry side of the island, my foot!  So now after the week it took me to put my dreads in, I am seriously thinking I will take the whole weekend to take them out... hope I can get to a Walmart for some conditioner and other products.
I have, in one day, experienced that feeling of, 'oh, crud, so much of what I brought was wrong.'  you just don't know until you know... I can't see wearing jeans here.  Granted, I haven't gone thru a January evening yet, but, it's sticky, like Japan... I just don't see it.  I also brought cotton shorts, like, casual work out shorts, not quite sweats, but thick cotton.  Oh, no.  No.    And my brand new sleeping bag is not polyester inside, it is a soft material...so... it's warm.  Hahahahahahah.  Oh, my.  ALL OF THIS WILL BE FINE...it's just that stuff you can't possibly know... oye.
So we finally get some lunch...kim chee and korean bbq chicken, omgosh, the chicken was so good and I praised God for the protein!!!  Until they hit my unsettled bowels about an hour later while I was walking around checking out the campus.  Where are the bathrooms?!!  Can I make it to my room waaaaay over there?  "Oh, Lord, please.... pleeeeeaaase."
I met a few of my room mates and had dinner and a walk w/ two of them.  I can already tell I am in love  with Sumalee.  She is from Thailand.  The cool thing is she is 51!  So much for being the oldest one here!!  There are families and people of all ages here...age is no factor.  I was so excited because until late last night...I was the only white chick in my dorm room. The other white chick is from Switzerland... so technically, I think she is whiter than me! ;)  Last night at dinner, I was the only white person at our table.  I had a moment.  It's so stinkin' cool.  There are over 150 Korean students starting a bi-lingual DTS (disciple training school) this quarter, so it is overwhelming.
Sleeping was...okay... I thought I would sleep like a rock...but the campus was crazy w/ registration (right below our window) until late, and without exaggeration, screaming, laughing, clapping, you name it.  I was trying to go to sleep at 7p, 10p our time, but my ear plugs...didn't help.  My bunk is also smack in the middle of the room, no, really.  So, lights, talking, you name it... I felt it.
But God is goood!  And things will settle down!  I have a beautiful view and am looking forward to finding my own quiet spot.
Thank you for my 'adjustment' prayers... I need them!!
Please pray for my body to adjust, for my heart and attitude... and for my dreads to come out easily ;)
I appreciate it so so so much... xo