Here I Am!

Well, it's 9:00am on Saturday in Pakistan. I arrived yesterday morning at 7:00am and waited around for my luggage for about an hour. When I walked out of the airport, a woman from the school called out my name (I wonder how she knew who I was? Maybe I just stand out that much...) We hopped in a van-type thing and headed up, around Islamabad, into the Himalayan foothills to the school. It was hot and humid, very much like Texas in August, and I'd soaked through my salwar kameez before I ever even got my luggage.

I have my own "flat" in a gorgeous complex with most of the other staff. It's about a 5 minute drive from where we live to the school, so you have to hitch a ride and time it right to be able to get to and from the school with whoever has a car. During the school year, there's a bus that goes back and forth a few times a day.

I was wide awake when I arrived yesterday, having slept very well on both my flight from LA to London and from London to Islamabad, so I was able to stay awake all day and go to sleep at night after dinner like a normal person, which was my plan. So yesterday I got tours of the school, the housing complex, and the little down you can walk to down the road.

We went to a store there where I picked up a few essentials - Lays potato chips, Honey Nut Cheerios, and apple juice. Down the street, you can buy chicken. Live chicken. Which they will kill, clean, and gut for you right there, then you take it home and boil all the meat off the bones to eat. I hear in Islamabad, and maybe Murree proper, you can buy frozen, meatless chicken. I think I'll hold out for that. At least for now. One day I'll experience picking out my own chicken to have killed, but I'm not quite ready for that yet. Accross the street from the chicken place, they have goats tied up for the same purpose, or they have pre-prepared goats - their skinless, gutless bodies hanging by their hairy tails for you to choose from... I'm sure I'll get used to it.

This morning I got a ride over to the school to use the internet (which is where I am now, obviously), and saw my first monkeys! We saw 3 playing in the baptismal oustide by the basketball courts. They are so fun to watch! Though I've been told they are annoying, can be dangerous, and can be rabid. I'm up in the computer room now, and can see the baptismal and basketball court out the window. When I looked out a few minutes ago, there were then at least 6 more monkeys playing in the baptismal and on the court. One monkey climbed up the hoop, sat on the rim, and then climbed in and hung onto the inside of the net. I have a feeling I won't get tired of watching them any time soon.

The school grounds used to be a retreat area for the British Army, so not only is it old, it's also beautiful. It's very foggy up here, very green, and very lush. Walking around, I can't help but think that I'm somewhere between Hogwarts and "Gorillas in the Mist." I've had all the formal tours, but I can't wait to explore more!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the official business - orientation. The students will also start arriving this week. I've met most all of the staff at least once, and everyone is very friendly. The school secretary is from Oregon, but it seems that most everyone else is from New Zealand or the UK.

We're driving into Murree today to do some more shopping. I'm sure I'll have more stories to tell, and will certainly keep you posted!

It was very, very difficult for me to leave San Jose, and almost more so during my layover in LA, because I knew it was the last time I'd be close to anything familiar. Once the plane took off for London, though, I started looking ahead. I haven't felt homesick or lonely at all yet, but please pray that some good friends will come along and relationships will develop with people I can trust and relate to.

Alright. The monkeys are gone and this post is long enough. More to come soon, I'm sure!