A note of thanks.

I don't know if it's because I'll be leaving this place in just over a week.

Maybe it's because this crazy, wonderful, and new experience will be over before I know it. Maybe it's because I've been going through the pictures and things I've accumulated here lately. 

But today at church we heard a message on this verse:

"A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven" John 3:27

And sang these lyrics:

"Hallelujah, for all you've done" 

And I was overwhelmed with so much thanks and gratitude to my God, my Father in heaven who provides.  

Several times during this trip I got to feeling lucky. Lucky to be in such a beautiful place as Australia. Lucky for the chance to travel. Lucky for the good weather on all of my trips. Lucky for having been matched up with the most loving and caring host family. Lucky to have found community here. Lucky to have met all the wonderful people that I've known here. Lucky to have great friends and family back home who show their love and support for me. 

But then I stop, and remind myself that none of these things are luck. They are God-given. For as John says, I have not received one thing that is not from heaven. I have seen God's loving and guiding hand throughout my travels. And today, as I should be everyday, I am floored. 

It's been an unforgettable semester full of growth and discovery, and I will be sad when this era of my life becomes just another memory. But I also look forward to going on in faith, to test His good and perfect will for me. Wherever that may lead me.

There is no denying it:

My God is so good.
He is so good to me. 

The Adventures of Flat Jin and Eunice

If you have no idea who flat Jin and Eunice are you can read all about them here. 

I'm going to tell you guys the story of how flat Jin and Eunice almost drowned in New Zealand.

As some of you may know, I went to New Zealand over my Easter Break.  I probably shouldn't try to do New Zealand justice with words because simply put, I have no such talent in writing.  The lyrics to Starfield's "Filled with Your Glory," however, is probably the closest expression of what I saw and felt in New Zealand. Secretly, this is where they wrote the song. So secret that Tim and Jon Neufeld don't even know. :P

Anyways, so back to flat Jin and Eunice.

I introduced my flat friends to my travel buddies Iana, Sara, and Courtney for the first time on this trip. Initially I was pretty nervous about bringing them out of my bag for fear of ostracism and judgment, but the moment to explain came when flat Jin and Eunice defiantly popped out of my bag while we were unpacking in our first hostel.

"Linda.... what is that?" I heard. And in my mind I was thinking, "Alright. Well, this is it. The moment of truth. I can explain this. I can explain this and still pass as normal!" hahaha. But honestly, I had nothing to worry about in the first place. My new friends and old friends got along swimmingly :)

We stopped by many places in the South Island of New Zealand via the "Kiwi Experience" hop on hop off tour bus. One of the towns we stopped by was called Lake Wanaka. It was a small town with a beautiful blue lake set against the backdrop of many mountains. My friend Iana took an amazing panoramic photo that I'm using right now as a timeline cover. Go check it out :)

Lake Wanaka

As we were taking in the picturesque scenery on the docks, I spied ducks bobbing up and down with the current of the water.  It reminded me of my friend Eunice because she. loves. ducks. So naturally, I took out flat Jin and Eunice and attempted to take a decent photo of it and the ducks in the background

One of many attempts.

As I was passionately engaged in my new project, I felt the popsicle stick handle slowly slip out of my hand as the wind suddenly picked up. It was a very slow motion "noooooooooooooo" or "thissss wouldddd happeennnn tooooo meeee" moment.

Flat Jin and Eunice went overboard and were now also bobbing up and down with the ducks, face up. It was quite a sight to see-- to see your friends' faces just surfing the waves of a famous tourist attraction. If I weren't in so much shock and panic, I would have stopped to take a photo.

But by this point, I was pretty distressed and panicked.

This was my panicked train of thought: "What have I doneeeee? What do I doooo?" "I have to jump in, don't I?" "It's not that deep, it's not that cold" "Wait, but I do have another set at home" "Agggh, but Eunice made these for me." "those freaking ducks!!"

I began to roll up my pants and started mentally preparing myself for a little dip in the cold water until Iana, the voice of reason, pointed out that flat Jin and Eunice would probably wash up on shore again pretty soon. And that they did.

So with no thanks due to drama queen panicky Linda and with a little common sense provided by Iana, flat Jin and Eunice were rescued :)

ta-da!

So this is the story of how Jin and Eunice, you guys swam with the ducks in Lake Wanaka in spirit. All thanks and credit should be addressed to my clumsiness.

I am counting down the days until I get to see real Jin and Eunice. They are definitely harder to throw into a lake. That's what I like about them <3

Welp.

I finally got my graph theory final over with today, and void of feeling any joy or excitement I am just numb with fatigue. My poor, aching, and aging body can't handle all-nighters anymore.

I came home right after finals planning to take a nap, but I couldn't fall asleep. In the evening, I went back into the city to have a farewell dinner for one of my friends leaving for America this week (My life right now is a less scandalous version of And Then There Were None. All my friends are leaving me one by one :/). She chose a restaurant in the Greek precinct for us to try, which was perfect because I had been meaning to try the food there. I had the most delicious baklava for dessert. But, my friends ordered something even better. It was called a galaktoboureko. Try to pronounce it! Here's a hint: Initially, I thought I heard "galactical burrito".

I could blame it on my lack of sleep... I could.

It's one thing to walk around bryn mawr campus looking like a crazy scary stress monster after having pulled an all-nighter, but it's something else roaming the city of Melbourne as one. The system here is so strange. They asked us to go to the Royal Exhibition Building which isn't even on campus. It's a world heritage site-listed building located ten to fifteen minutes east of our school.

I walked into the giant hall in a sleepy daze, and I thought I was dreaming.  It literally looked like I had come to take my N.E.W.T.s at Hogwarts. Just rows and rows of at least 2,000 desks and chairs all waiting to be filled by students through seat assignments. I was number 890. In hindsight, I guess it was pretty cool taking my exam in a historic site. It'd be the equivalent of taking my finals at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Anyways, I'll feel a bit more free and ecstatic after I sleep this off. Yawwwwwwwnnn. (<- reporting my yawns to you all in real time). Onto Chinese, Education, and African Drum and Dance it is!

I envy all of you on summer break. It is a cold and dreary winter here in Melbourne.

Oh how the tables have turned! Permission to point and laugh/cackle granted. :'(