Setting Things Ablaze

Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's okay. The journey changes you-it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you...Hopefully, you leave something good behind.-Anthony Bourdain

It's amazing how fast your life can change. Two weeks ago I was still in the small town of Libby, Montana, packing for a year in Manchester, England. I then spent eight days in Chicago, engaging in discussions about topics of varying degrees of intensity. Now, I am in Manchester, England. I am living with two nuns, Sister Jean and Sister Lynfa. Sister Lynfa has been out of town since I got here, so I haven't met her yet, but Sister Jean is very nice. They make wine, and they are going to teach me how to make wine in a week or two. One of my fellow YAGM's, Izzy, is staying with me for a few days because her hostess is out of town, and yesterday Paul and Mark, a couple from the church where Izzy and I will be working, came by with their friend Caroline and they took us to brunch, and then they took us to the Gay Pride Parade. I've never been to a Gay Pride Parade before, but it was really fun. Manchester knows how to throw a parade. This morning we went to church at the church where we will be working, and met a bunch of new people, and one of the ladies from church came over after church and made us lunch, which was delicious. The people at church are all very nice, and welcoming. I think I'm going to LOVE this. Now, if I can just convince the two very large, very unwelcome, spiders to leave my bedroom, that would be lovely.