What a crazy adventure this has all turned out to be. Our fears that returning to the USA would plunge us into a mundane malaise have certainly been unfounded. My studies keep me more than occupied - between classroom time, reading, and research I've got about 50 hours a week just on schoolwork. Finding a church community to get plugged into here has been perhaps one of the only things that has been easier than expected in Massachusetts. For this we are thankful!
After much stress, impatience on our part, and not a little fear, Amy has been employed full time. In exactly the position she had hoped to find! It's not 100% ideal - she'll have a substantial commute, but it's almost as good as we could have hoped for.
In what has become a tragic comedy of errors, we still don't have 2 vehicles fully operational even yet. Between waiting for parts and then waiting for the garage to get around to it, I'm starting to sneak late-night looks on auto-trader again. Unbelievable.
To end this post on a positive: New England really is spectacular in the Fall. The neat old homes, the beautiful foliage, and the (finally!) cooler temperatures are a winning combination. For a visit.
Andrew
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Taking the Plunge
Well, classes have started at Gordon-Conwell. The content is most interesting. The professors are inspiring (most of these guys are The World Expert in their field). It's all a bit humbling - my fellow students are from all over the world, some are operating in their 4th or 5th language. Some of my fellow students are coming from impressively hefty backgrounds, too (like, a college professor and an investment banker). Overall it's an amazing place to be. The work load is not unreasonable - a gigantic emphasis on reading and a good bit of writing research papers, which thanks to my history background is not as daunting as it is to some. So the opportunity to study at this school is the good news.
The bad news is that Massachusetts continues to find new ways to annoy us and, whenever possible, take money from us. We have still not been able to sort out our second vehicle with repairs and the MA vehicle inspection. Amy continues to seek full-time employment. Its annoying to have such significant and time-consuming distractions at a time when I'd really like to be focusing on the whole purpose for our being here (which is NOT to pay for Massachusetts to invent new ways of legislating my life - talk about a nanny state...). Massachusetts has some beautiful areas and some great history, but all of it seem to me at the moment to be best enjoyed as a visitor passing through. Preferably from a free state like New Hampshire.
Andrew
The bad news is that Massachusetts continues to find new ways to annoy us and, whenever possible, take money from us. We have still not been able to sort out our second vehicle with repairs and the MA vehicle inspection. Amy continues to seek full-time employment. Its annoying to have such significant and time-consuming distractions at a time when I'd really like to be focusing on the whole purpose for our being here (which is NOT to pay for Massachusetts to invent new ways of legislating my life - talk about a nanny state...). Massachusetts has some beautiful areas and some great history, but all of it seem to me at the moment to be best enjoyed as a visitor passing through. Preferably from a free state like New Hampshire.
Andrew
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Unsettled Settling
It has been a long time since the last post. I had thought to add one last comment in July once we moved in to our new home in Massachusetts. However, June, July, and August have turned out to be three of the more difficult months of our lives so far. So I think I might pick back up again for a while.
We had housing plans fall through at the very last minute at the beginning of July. We desperately worked to line up new housing plans, but this caused us to delay the final move-in date by almost a month. We moved in to discover our new place required a lot more work than we had expected for the rental rates. The net result is that we arrived in Massachusetts already feeling like we were behind schedule in our preparations for seminary and in finding work. Since our arrival, almost everything has taken longer and turned out to be far more expensive than we had anticipated. I believe our 're-entry' shock has finally caught up with us! Actually attempting to settle back in the USA has turned out to be much more complicated than we had expected - not that the first few months of settling in Scotland were a breeze! It feels like we solve one problem only to graduate to a bigger one. I know that we will eventually get through all of this, but in the moment there are times of serious discouragement.
Andrew
We had housing plans fall through at the very last minute at the beginning of July. We desperately worked to line up new housing plans, but this caused us to delay the final move-in date by almost a month. We moved in to discover our new place required a lot more work than we had expected for the rental rates. The net result is that we arrived in Massachusetts already feeling like we were behind schedule in our preparations for seminary and in finding work. Since our arrival, almost everything has taken longer and turned out to be far more expensive than we had anticipated. I believe our 're-entry' shock has finally caught up with us! Actually attempting to settle back in the USA has turned out to be much more complicated than we had expected - not that the first few months of settling in Scotland were a breeze! It feels like we solve one problem only to graduate to a bigger one. I know that we will eventually get through all of this, but in the moment there are times of serious discouragement.
Andrew
Monday, May 24, 2010
End of the Road - Almost...
Fort Wayne, IN.
3 countries, 29 states, over 10,000 miles by car, about 14 weeks on the move. Talk about a re-entry experience. From Idaho we drove across Montana (getting snowed on in one memorable mountain pass) into North Dakota (which welcomed us with the heaviest rain I think I have ever attempted to drive through - but now I've been in all 48 of the lower states). North Dakota surprised me with how different it is from South Dakota - overall, much more interesting terrain, at least what I could see from I-94. We proceeded down to Minneapolis, Minnesota and enjoyed reconnecting with one of Amy's good friends and met a great couple who have been a part of AMI's board of trustees. Minneapolis is an interesting city - some beautiful old neighborhoods, fascinating industrial heritage, and a pretty happening arts scene. There are also a large number of gigantic old church buildings, including the oldest basilica in the USA. Someday we'll have to see about visiting St. Paul, on the other side of the river.
Yesterday (Sunday) we drove the final leg through Wisconsin and Illinois back to Indiana. Chicago traffic was typically ridiculous, Wisconsin surprised by having dumb speed limits, but overall a pleasantly uneventful drive.
We're done with the major part of our travels, but we still have the move to Boston to finish things up. Somehow I had forgotten that upon our return we would not only have to unpack the car, but also the shipment of stuff that we sent from Aberdeen back in January.
At the moment we're wilting in 90(F) high humidity, very much missing the mild climes of Scotland!
Andrew
3 countries, 29 states, over 10,000 miles by car, about 14 weeks on the move. Talk about a re-entry experience. From Idaho we drove across Montana (getting snowed on in one memorable mountain pass) into North Dakota (which welcomed us with the heaviest rain I think I have ever attempted to drive through - but now I've been in all 48 of the lower states). North Dakota surprised me with how different it is from South Dakota - overall, much more interesting terrain, at least what I could see from I-94. We proceeded down to Minneapolis, Minnesota and enjoyed reconnecting with one of Amy's good friends and met a great couple who have been a part of AMI's board of trustees. Minneapolis is an interesting city - some beautiful old neighborhoods, fascinating industrial heritage, and a pretty happening arts scene. There are also a large number of gigantic old church buildings, including the oldest basilica in the USA. Someday we'll have to see about visiting St. Paul, on the other side of the river.
Yesterday (Sunday) we drove the final leg through Wisconsin and Illinois back to Indiana. Chicago traffic was typically ridiculous, Wisconsin surprised by having dumb speed limits, but overall a pleasantly uneventful drive.
We're done with the major part of our travels, but we still have the move to Boston to finish things up. Somehow I had forgotten that upon our return we would not only have to unpack the car, but also the shipment of stuff that we sent from Aberdeen back in January.
At the moment we're wilting in 90(F) high humidity, very much missing the mild climes of Scotland!
Andrew
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Northern Idaho
Today is our last day in northern Idaho. This has been a great time - we had the opportunity to meet and spend some time with the family of one of our co-workers (he is currently serving in Estonia) and have finally had the time to explore an area of the country that we've only ever visited on the way to somewhere else in the past. Well, I suppose we are visiting on the way to somewhere else this time, too, but we've had time this time around to slow down, spend time with people, and even managed a nice hike (with our host).
This evening we are looking forward to a more informal time with Community Presbyterian Church. We're looking forward to spending time with some great people, and also looking forward to the final 'official presentation' of this journey.
The ups and downs of the road will once again head into a dip as we take our leave of the family we've been staying with here in Idaho. At the same time, we'll be on the 'up' of some spectacular mountain scenery and the anticipation of seeing one of Amy's good friends and meeting some of our board members face-to-face for the first time after much long-distance correspondence.
Time to pack up for the work ahead this evening!
Andrew
This evening we are looking forward to a more informal time with Community Presbyterian Church. We're looking forward to spending time with some great people, and also looking forward to the final 'official presentation' of this journey.
The ups and downs of the road will once again head into a dip as we take our leave of the family we've been staying with here in Idaho. At the same time, we'll be on the 'up' of some spectacular mountain scenery and the anticipation of seeing one of Amy's good friends and meeting some of our board members face-to-face for the first time after much long-distance correspondence.
Time to pack up for the work ahead this evening!
Andrew
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Eastern Washington
Ah, Eastern Washington. Well, not as far east as, say, Spokane. It's been a more laid back week, primarily because we've been in the same place since last Saturday afternoon. We've managed to visit our two favorite area locations - Barracuda Coffee (twice so far!) and the Mongolian BBQ (now under new ownership). Great coffee, and spicy noodles. Yummy.
We've had another glass replacement on the car. This time, a rock chipped the windshield driving up the I5 back in Oregon. I tried having the chip repaired, but the repair ended up failing and yesterday afternoon as we prepared to head out to an appointment we found the windshield had split. A rather spectacular failure from such a small repair. Anyway, we received a new windshield today at no cost out-of-pocket to us, so I guess it's a happy ending. Plus, we got rid of the final strip of annoying after-market window tinting, so that entire question is now answered.
With the MegaTransect nearing its end, we've started working in earnest on the next Big Project: finding a place to stay in or near South Hamilton, MA. I'm feeling pretty hopeful that something good will turn up - we've made a few inquiries already, and although we haven't found a place yet the fact that right at the start there have actually been places worth asking about seems promising. If you or anyone you know has a medium-sized house in or near South Hamilton that you'd be willing to rent to a poor seminary student at a mega-discounted price, let me know!
Andrew
We've had another glass replacement on the car. This time, a rock chipped the windshield driving up the I5 back in Oregon. I tried having the chip repaired, but the repair ended up failing and yesterday afternoon as we prepared to head out to an appointment we found the windshield had split. A rather spectacular failure from such a small repair. Anyway, we received a new windshield today at no cost out-of-pocket to us, so I guess it's a happy ending. Plus, we got rid of the final strip of annoying after-market window tinting, so that entire question is now answered.
With the MegaTransect nearing its end, we've started working in earnest on the next Big Project: finding a place to stay in or near South Hamilton, MA. I'm feeling pretty hopeful that something good will turn up - we've made a few inquiries already, and although we haven't found a place yet the fact that right at the start there have actually been places worth asking about seems promising. If you or anyone you know has a medium-sized house in or near South Hamilton that you'd be willing to rent to a poor seminary student at a mega-discounted price, let me know!
Andrew
Monday, May 10, 2010
Turning East
Saturday we reached another major milestone in the MegaTransect as we departed Seattle and began the long journey east towards Boston. We enjoyed a good-weather day getting out of Seattle, but ran into unexpected rain on the desert side of the mountains. On the plus side, that means Washington's eastern desert is all in bloom and looking quite spectacular.
This week we're staying put in Kennewick, WA. We've enjoyed catching up with many of our friends and supporters at Westside Church in Richland, WA, and are looking forward to making more connections over this coming week. The advantage to staying put for a few extra days is that we're more available and flexible for everyone's busy schedules, and get to spend more face time with everyone who wants to see us.
The extra time we've got right now makes us feel like the journey is beginning to wind down. In fact, we've got almost the entire USA to drive across before we're completely finished, with two more major stops along the way. We will return to Fort Wayne next week, though, and that will pretty much be the end of the MegaTransect in terms of visits and speaking engagements. So the end is nigh!
Andrew
This week we're staying put in Kennewick, WA. We've enjoyed catching up with many of our friends and supporters at Westside Church in Richland, WA, and are looking forward to making more connections over this coming week. The advantage to staying put for a few extra days is that we're more available and flexible for everyone's busy schedules, and get to spend more face time with everyone who wants to see us.
The extra time we've got right now makes us feel like the journey is beginning to wind down. In fact, we've got almost the entire USA to drive across before we're completely finished, with two more major stops along the way. We will return to Fort Wayne next week, though, and that will pretty much be the end of the MegaTransect in terms of visits and speaking engagements. So the end is nigh!
Andrew
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