Dear friends and family,
My To-do-before-we-go list is getting smaller, but it still is substantial! I’ve realized that it takes a village to send me off. (Note: this list is not inclusive, but I don’t have the time to make sure I mention everyone.) John helped me get my car ready for long-term storage. Mark J. and Sue H. are colleagues sharing wisdom from their sabbaticals, encouraging me to really get away and make the most of this sabbatical opportunity. Janet is house-sitting, reading through my long list of notes. Beth H. and Mark J. prepared thoughtful cards with something special for Anya. Karen and Ed prepared a beautiful card. Carol sent a card with 3 Bible verse promises for this sabbatical journey. There has been friends gathering before we leave, Scott, Ruth, the Boysens, the Middleton-Youngs, Ann. Matt is helping me get my research laptop tuned up.
It’s a good thing I have a research laptop, because my laptop for work shut down out of the blue. Fortunately, Mark B. at Trinity was able to diagnose a battery problem, but I can still use my laptop with out the battery. Now I had backed up just recently, so I didn’t freak out, but it was one more thing on the home stretch.
My unplanned trip to Trinity today for the laptop gave me time to practice Pimsler’s Norwegian language learning. I can tell you in Norwegian, “Yes, I would like to have something to eat and also drink later,” (but it will take me some time to get the words out!)
With our preparations, I also had numerous offers to take us to the airport! And, I had 3 offers to pick us up in Norway! Wow! I even have lunch and dinner offers on the day we arrive. My adviser, Knut, and his wife Berly, will host us for lunch. My PhD student-colleague, Tina, will host us for dinner. This is good because grocery stores are closed on Sunday. We are so blessed!
In my preparations, I emailed Knut, asking if I should bring a Maasai dress. He said that he was not a good source for clothing advice, but when I clarified that it would be a “costume” for either an international student event or to highlight his Maasai research project, he thought that would be good. So, space and weight available, its going to Norway. (I have to tell you about Knut’s research project someday. It is another amazing connection!)
Anya decided not to leave the journey to my viewpoint alone, so she has started her own blog. Check it out at” http://recentlyrelocatedtonorway.blogspot.com/
With blessings,
Beth