Karin's time with Mercy Ships

Back to school  This last week we had another opportunity to meet with the Academy team here, and work through a few more of the details of school life. Since we will have very small classes, we participated in a few small group and larger group challenges, to think through the different group dynamics with each size group. (With marshmallows along the way, I wasn't complaining:D) Challenge: to build a tower with marshmallows and spaghetti, and then built a structure to support textbooks, using only hard lollies, marshmallows, frosting and pretzels..!  Barbecue We have definitely made the most of the Texan cuisine here, looking through my photos, I seem to pose with food more than I need to... Stanley's Barbecue is apparently #2 in Texas for authentic barbecue, so why not? I'm not sure I'm fully converted, but I might need to sample a few more times...;) On our last day of onboarding, Dr Andrew invited us New Zealanders and a few others to his house for a ki...

The last 4 weeks feel like they have flown by; so quickly, this place has become home. I almost don't know how I managed to live without 20 other people in the house! Texan times:  Rodeos in Texas are the real deal! Tassels, spurs, cowboy hats, yeehahs and everything fried and covered in cheese... need I say more? I keep asking whether the hyper-Cowboy look is put on for these events, but apparently this is pretty standard Texan style... Almost as authentic as my outfit... Driving to the rodeo, we passed through a lightning storm. We braved the rain a bit until it stopped, and during the rodeo watched the most incredible lightning lighting up the sky. Yes, those are steel seats... health and safety much? 4th of July celebrations - 'yard games', fireworks and good ol' fashioned hamburgers. Who could ask for any more? Room mates - Susanna, me, Whitney, Lydia Our elementary teaching team The past few weeks' training:  * Week 2: Foundat...