Life and Blog Update

My application for the Fulbright Teaching Assistantship is nearly complete. I should receive my UNL transcripts tomorrow 9according to FedEx tracking!) and I can send all the materials on Tuesday. HOORRRAAAYY! I will be sure to let you know what the say.

THE MOST EXCITING UPDATE RIGHT NOW IS..............
...CLE IS COMING! That's right, my faithful prayer partner from Abel Hall; my CP sermon-note-copying pew-mate; my UNL-SOM emphatic relief; my sense-of-humor-sidekick; among the best of best friends I have, CLEARTHUR is coming over to play! He comes in May for 3 weeks. I am so incredibly excited! Cle and Cree united again to rock the Austrian culture and teach them about Cwee and Cwe!

Now the blog update...
Changes are still coming. Most you cannot notice and probably will not notice, but they are things that will make blogging run more smoothly at least from my end. Thanks for continuing to bear through this with me.

Things you will notice-
World Clock-One of the most popular questions I am asked when in conversation with someone State side is, "So, like, what time is it there?" Here you have it. I am 6 hours ahead of the Eastern Time zone and 7 ahead of Central. Your clocks are included for easy reference.

Poll-In honor and respect of Erin, I've decided to continue the blog poll here. We'll see how long I can manage to keep up with it. Leave comments about WHY you chose a particular answer and I will also share my answer.

ACHTUNG! BAUSTELLE!

That's right, the blog's UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Amy's recent changes have encouraged me to do some fun blog reconstruction. It might be a slightly messy process as I cannot sit and work through all the details long enough to finish the work. Just bare with me. It'll be cleaned up eventually.

As they say in German, ACHTUNG! BAUSTELLE!

Soap Box

One of my favorite times of every day is when I get home and change into comfy clothes while enjoying a cup of coffee. Today, it was a macchiato. It was delicious. The rest of my day is filled with "work" and then a movie this evening. We'll see just how productive I really am. Is it bad that I am skeptical of myself? I prefer to consider it honest self-reflection.

Seriously, life is good. As challenging as ever, but good. Sulamit leaves Friday for the States. It's a little strange to be prepping her with fun cultural clues. While we laugh over the details, I realize I'm going to miss her for the weeks she is gone. I'm still unsure about my own next transatlantic adventure. I am clinging to the ideal of June-July. A few weeks in Nebraska and a few weeks in Maryland, allowing me time to enjoy both "homes". This plan would put me in Nebraska for Debbie and Justin's wedding. We'll see. It really depends on my next semester of German and financially, if it is possible/plausible.

My days here are filled with working and learning. Both classrooms are still going well. My heart broke last week for the Austrian students and the way they are treated by their teachers. I heard another teacher call yet another student stupid. It hurts to hear such words being spoken to any child; to any person. The teachers wonder why certain classes have a harder time concentrating and behaving themselves, while they sit in the conference room talking about how "stupid", "terrible" and "hopeless" these kids are. I don't get it. THEY don't get it. The more you call someone hopeless, the more hopeless they are going to become. You who read my blog know better than most that my passion lies in youth. Teenagers are such a precious generation. They are not a lost-cause and they are not destined for failure. They are ambassadors with a message of love, hope, and life. They are ambassadors for a Kingdom unshakeable. They are ambassadors destined to rearrange the chaos of this wretched, insubordinate world. They are ambassadors who are designed for success and they will seek the standard of Heaven to fall into the world. This generation is a throne room generation. This generation is changing the world. Pray for these workers, that the harvest may be gathered and kept. Pray for these Princes and Princesses to know their seat is established, and to spread this truth in courage and authority! They are a "dancing generation" filled with prophetic praise and purpose! Their time is NOW!

That being said, I'm going to see what I can accomplish this afternoon.

Why Austria?

Social Welfare System!

I have to say, one of the single greatest things about living in Austria is the health care. My health insurance is cheap and covers EVERYthing. And, I mean EVERYTHING! I've only been to one doctor since being here but I think I might go more often only because I can. Dentist, orthodontist, surgeon, family practitioner, eye doctor, ear doctor, internal doctor, foot doctor, so on and so on. Okay, so maybe not, but it is a nice feeling to know that if an emergency were to arise, there would be little to no financial effect. I'm going to miss this when I leave. Mostly, I am going to miss the low-cost of the benefits.

Though I'm obviously bored this afternoon, things are going well.