September 7, 2008

So, it’s a Sunday. I just got back from swimming at Suck Creek, which runs at the bottom of the Signal Mountain (they like to think it is a mountain, but really just a large hill…) and feel like I have millions of microscopic creatures crawling on me. It is an awkward combination, you are sitting in the creek, (which pools to make a “swimin howl”), you half feel like paradise, till you look down and see beer cans, graffiti on the rocks and hear the road about thirty meters to your left. My other favorite swimin howl is out ther cawled Bow Crik, where the red-necks meet the nature. Cigarette in resting between gapped teeth, tattoos and piercing and Bud Light in a cozy, the locals venture to a beautiful river with huge rocks to jump off, rope swing and small cliffs. To avoid meeting the entire community, I learned that Fridays (my day off!) are the best for these types of adventures.

Although Chattanooga (pronounced Chaddanooga by the locals) isn’t super red-neck (or “country” as they call it), I have experienced little tastes. I live in a wealthy community on the “mountain”, so many of the stay at home moms work out and eat organically, if not people are generally fitting the southern stereotype, loving fired everything, bisects and gravy, and tons of sweet tea!

Chattanooga is actually similar to Tacoma, but instead of the rich living around 30^th, they live on Signal Mountain and have views of the Tennessee River and the entire city. There are sections of the city that are kinda ghetto, with lots of poverty and high population of black people (can’t think of the politically correct way to say that…). The city is trying to revive the older places and there is lots of new shops and restaurants coming up and rebuilding of the worn-down areas of the city. Also, there are lots of unique old houses (just like in Tacoma) full of character! The house I’m living in was built in 1920’s. The Funk family is slowly but surely restoring/remodeling it, and it looks incredible. Also, there is woods behind my house that venture down the mountain with hiking and mountain biking trails which awesome!

I am loving my job, but it is exhausting! I have to be super social and have been out with tons of freshmen. I am trying to help ease their transition, explaining how awkward freshmen year can be, how long it takes to make friends, how even if you are struggling, that it isn’t a reflection on their character, but is a part transitioning. Daniel and I (the guy intern) are trying to build community within the freshmen (which is harder in a school with 10, 000 and no orientation) so we had a four-square tournament for freshmen, “delicious circles” where they would eat a snack and answer the random question on the table (ex. What is your dorkiest collect? What is your biggest pet peeve?) then switch groups. It was tons of fun! I almost peeded my pants playing four-square... so that is a good sign. I am leading a bible study of freshmen girls. I honestly have such a heart for them, just cause of all of our stories… how hard my freshmen year was and how much I needed someone to help me sort through those first weeks, talk out decision and just to tell me that I would find my place in this new setting.

Also, I'm working on planning “Adventure of the Week” because there are so many people I have talked to who say they experience God the most outside and love love to do anything outdoorsy, but people often lack motivation to initiate and organize. Last Saturday we took a group white water rafting, which was awesome! Most adventures won’t be as intense, just a day hike or going to a swimming hole, or rock climbing or something… so that is fun!

Overall, work is awesome, but it is exhausting to always have to be “on” with people and it is hard to stop thinking about work, and peoples stories and relationships. Hard to leave work at work and not keep thinking about it when I get home or into the weekends. So I have to make sure I'm sleeping and exercising and taking time off so I stay sane!

I am learning lots and having lots of fun! There is so much outdoor stuff to do here and glorious weather!!! They say this summer has been relatively mild for TN and it feels amazing! It is bright and sunny almost every day and warm! I get to wear dresses and tank tops and shorts all the time and am loving it! Also, when it rains, it pours!!! And it is warm rain! I have never experienced warm rain, so the first time it rained I went running outside. Within two minutes I was absolutely drenched, jumping through puddles and could hardly see. The roads became lakes in a matter of hours. It was awesome!

I have not fallen for anyone yet, but the boys are pretty good looking down here. In my job, the rule about dating is I get one chance (meaning don’t just go on dates unless it is really worth it) which is a good policy cause dating students could get awkward. But I will say there are some fun guys, but most have never seen more than an inch of snow…that might be a problem.

Oh yeah, I went to BOOMSDAY. It was a fireworks show on the river in Knocksville, TN for Labor Day. It was quite the experience… There were over 300,000 people there, walking anywhere was like herding cattle. I had to find a big guy and followed closely behind him as he navigated the crowd. I also experienced some of the most red-neck people I’ve ever seen. It was awesome! I was fully amused as I people watched and overheard their conversations…“I reckon we goina hav mes a picnic. Gots me ther a funnel cake anna laywn cher. Me anda kids goona watch us a fiyerr show.” I love anything quintessential!

Another random story…I went to Nashville for a Thursday evening and saw Gavin Degraw in concert (which was amazing!), but we kept inching our way up the crowd and I got about ten feet from the stage, then he leaned out into the crowd. It was actually hilarious to see everyone reaching for him, then I realized that I could maybe touch him too so turned into a crazy super fan and started reaching, but am short, so couldn’t get it. I’ll have to jump! I thought, so I did, multiple times, until VICTORY! I touched his pinky! It was awesome and I still haven’t washed my hand…

Anyways, enough stories for now… I miss you all!