Well I'm here; Black Mountain, NC. It was a long ten hour drive but we stopped for iced coffee, so all was well. As of right now, I have spent a little over a week here at YMCA Blue Ridge. Now let me tell you this... it threw me way out of my element when I arrived here. I have never been so overwhelmed or nervous for anything. It was so unlike me. I like to think of myself as a loud, outgoing, and friendly person. However, the first few days here I was so in my shell that it honestly scared me. I had never experienced that feeling before. Being a week into this adventure has really helped me. I have opened up and met some really cool people. I am beginning to feel like myself again. Who knew this would throw me off so much. I am glad I have been able to let lose over this past week and become comfortable here.
The people here are so amazing. Everyone is so so friendly and comfortable in this environment. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I am so blessed to be here right now. I have made friends from all over the country and world! I love hearing where they are from and what they are doing in school. I love seeing different personalities come out. It has really opened my mind and reminded me to be welcoming to all. My roommate is Tew. She is from Thailand, and this is her first time in America. She really seems to like it here. Her English is not the best, but we do our best with communicating. She is so nice and helpful. She will be here until the end of August. I am lucky enough to be sounded by 13 different countries while I am here. I am living with kids from Thailand, Japan, China, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Russia to just name a few. There are seven kids from Russia here, and I think it's safe to say they will have the biggest impact on me (besides the Americans). They are the most outgoing kids. There is truly never a dull moment when they are all together. Their English is not the best, but in the last week alone they have improved so much. They want to leave here knowing English pretty well. I am also trying to pick up on simple words. They laugh at me when I am trying to pronounce a new word (the roles have now reversed). They love having fun and just hanging out with Americans. Just yesterday I sat down and Michael (his American name) was able to show me where he is from on Google maps. I then told him about President Lincoln (who he knew) and about the Civil War. He just ate it up. I am so blessed to be able to be given this opportunity to met all these wonderful people. Without Blue Ridge I would never be exposed to this kind of culture. It's truly an unbelievable experience.
On Friday we went into Asheville for a Drum Circle downtown. It was a lot of fun. There was dancing and music and the international kids just loved it. They told me that that was true freedom. Being able to do something so opened and out there. They informed me that nothing like that would be see in their countries. It's just an eye opener on how great we really do have it here... Afterwards we got ice cream (I have loved showing them bits of what makes America so fun). One of the guys from Turkey offered to even buy my ice cream because I have helped so much with communication. I have really been trying my best to slow my speaking and listen to them speak so not only are they learning but I am too. It's litte things like that that show me I am blessed.
*look at that view*
Also, on a side note, I found a really great book store in Asheville called Malaprop's Bookstore/Café. The book is called Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (also wrote Gone Girl). It is a great mystery novel and has drawn me in from page one.
That is all for this week. I will be posting every Sunday, especially while I am here. If you feel someone would enjoy hearing of my time here, feel free to tag them so they know this blog is here! Also if anyone has any questions regarding where I am, please just comment and I will answer all questions in my next blog.
-PK #PrayForOrlando
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