Culture

Well, Monday nights I have a class called Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling. It is hard to say for sure, since we have only had two classes so far, but I am really enjoying this class. It is helping to give me more perspective about and thoughts to many of my experiences while I was in the Middle East last semester. We have been talking simply about the importance that culture and even non-verbal cues can have in our interaction and communications with other people. I think I realized before that communication and culture are important when dealing with people, but this class is pointing to an entirely different side that I have never thought of before. That even though I have an idea about the importance of culture in an individuals life, that even my own ideas about their culture can effect the way I am interacting with them and that the way I perceive my own culture is viewed by others has an impact on how I interact in different cultures and groups. I don't think I was completely ignorant of these ideas before, but I have never sat and really consciously thought about them before. To be questioned and probed for my views on these topics has been good for me, to think about how I am portraying myself to others and how my own cultural understanding is involved in everyday events.

I am a grad assistant

Yes that is right I have been given the opportunity to be a grad assistant for my winter session course and it is an eye opening experience. Part of my responsibilities is grading papers and evaluating group presentations. It is a little odd as many of the students taking the course are friends of mine that I have spent 3 years in classes with. I found it strange that it is harder for me to grade their papers than to deal with them face to face as we critique their presentations. I am relieved to find that they have all been receptive to the comments and not defensive or hurt by the comments we have made about their performances. But when grading the papers I find it much more difficult to maintain an objective mind because I can not interact with them and let them know why I am grading them the way I am. Helpful advice given to me today was to always err on the side of grace. I have also gained a greater respect and admiration for my teachers seeing just a little bigger piece of what they endure while trying to help us grow and stretch our minds. Grading is difficult work. I want to maintain a high standard and expectation of the work I know college students should be capable of, but also be gracious and encourage them at the same time. God said that to those that much has been given much is expected, but we can each only work as best we can with what we have been given, so I am confronted with the thought of how do you judge fairly on a flat scale when each individual is gifted and talented in different and varied ways. How do I maintain a standard to judge and grade everyone by when God has made them all so different? As Paul tells us not all can be eyes of feet for the body needs all the different parts to work properly.

Classes already

Yes it is true I have started back to classes already. I could not believe my eyes when I got around to registering for classes. In the three years previous that I have been at Grace I can not remember classes ever starting back this soon, but low and behold they did this year. It is a double edged sword heading back to classes. One because I wish I could have had a little more time to unpack (which is not entirely done yet) and recoup a little from all the travel. The other because it was really good to see old friends and get a chance to catch up on the time I have been gone. To see so many familiar faces and smiles has been a good way to get back into the swing of school.

It was weird that even though I am back to class with all that comes along with that I feel I am able to relax more here than I could when I was doing absolutely nothing over in Israel. I am not sure how to explain it, I tried to explain it to my roommate and don't think it worked so well. but I will try again, I think it has something to do with being comfortable in your surroundings. Even though I was in Jerusalem for three month and got to know my way around a little I was never comfortable with my surroundings as I am back here in Omaha. So even though I am a little busier than I was there I am able to relax more and enjoy what I am doing because I am more comfortable where I am. If that makes any sense you can read between lines well.


So far the class has been amazing. I am taking 1 & 2 Samuel as a winter session class and it is awesome, because I actually just finished reading through both books in December fully for the first time ever. So it was kind of amazing that I could walk right back into school and take a class on those two books. I also got registered for the Spring Semester and placed my book order. It amazes me every time at how expensive education is. Many times it almost doesn't seem worth the price tag that goes with the diploma. Well, I better get back to the homework I should be doing instead of rambling away. God Bless you all.