The Sky

I will just go ahead and warn everyone now - I will probably take about 6 million pictures of the sky here in Klaipeda. Seriously. Because we're so close to the sea, the clouds seem to hang quite low, and they move very fast with the offshore breezes. The last couple of days have been simply idyllic weather-wise, and the clouds have a very sheep-like look about them, like they've gotten lost from their herd.

Things school-wise, as you may imagine, are rushing along. Today we had day two of orientation, which included a basic Lithuania language lesson. I now have no excuse for not utilizing the mini-buses that are the major form of transport in town (known by the LCC expats as "pocket-rockets." Don't ask me why). Still, I have not yet mangaged to muster the courage to flag one down, probably because I'm not confident that my weakly muttered, "sustokite cha" (Stop here) will actually cause the bus to stop where I want it to!

Beyond the language and culture lessons, though, basic orientation to Klaipeda has included a lot of walking. This is good because I've resumed my addiction to European cappucinos. Tonight I enjoyed my cappucino in the company of four other staff & faculty members from LCC: two Lithuanians, one German, and one other American (who's been working in Canada). We five women went out to dinner at a very stylish place near the river. It is really wonderful to be part of a diverse community, but one that is centered around a common goal. We'll be learning more about LCC's mission and history, but today we got a mini-version of the school philosophy and it is so exciting to me. (See the link to the LCC website at the left for more info).

I am just beginning to get excited about the section of freshman seminar that I'll be teaching. I will have 12 incoming freshman and it is the goal of the class to create a tight-knit community amongst those students, as well as the more basic goal of orienting them to university life. It is highly encouraged that teachers spend time with the students outside of class, socializing and being a mentor to them. I am not sure if I'm up to the challenge, but that is really what I am here for - to invest deeply in students lives. Any and all prayers for these twelve, who I don't yet know, will be apprecitated greatly!