Highlights of 2011 & Questions of 2012

Last year was, the most challenging, exhilarating, and adventurous year of our young lives. Here are the highlights:

1) The Hub Winter Camp

We went up to Buck Creek Camp in Enumclaw, Washington with a bunch of crazy junior high and high school students. We played four square and ate all the peanut M&M's our stomachs could stomach. Garrick and I each stayed with a cabin of students and got lots of sleep! ;) For me, it was the last retreat with all of my girls. Can't wait to come to The Hub when we're back in the states!



2) Mother's Day in Kirkland

My parents, Garrick and I had brunch at Anthony's Homeport on the Kirkland waterfront for Mother's Day. Breakfast is our favorite food and activity. Mostly because bacon, cheese, and potatoes rock. Paired with my parents, it's impossible not to have a good time. After brunch we walked around the marina and had a quick photo shoot. My dad and Garrick wanted to keep posing for more photos, but modeling isn't their strong point.


3) Biking Trip on Whidbey Island

For our 3rd Anniversary, we camped at South Whidbey State park and biked the hills, valleys, and coastline of the island. Although at one point I sat on the side of the road and threatened to call a cab, I am proud to say we did it! Garrick acquired quite the biker tan line and my legs have never looked better. Again with the our love of breakfast, we ate at the Kneed & Feed in Coupeville, home of the best cinnamon rolls! All in all, a yummy and butt-kicking anniversary.



 4) Baseball

Garrick and his friend Jefff (yes with 3 f's) Rodland coached for Bellevue Baseball Club's 13U team. To say that Garrick likes baseball is not true. He loves baseball. I got to sit in the stands and chat with the team moms. This is especially fun if Garrick corrects the player who's mom I'm sitting next to. Jefff has a lovely wife Lindsay, and we had fun cheering on the team and our husbands!

5) Family

Two little boys and a red Ford truck is a recipe for cuteness. Recently we've been able to Skype with the two in the photo and Brayden makes lots of funny faces and shows us his toys, and Ryan smiles, waves, and says, "oh!" We lived with Garrick's family, in his old bedroom, for the three months before we left, only 10 minutes away from my parents. And, once a month we ate dinner & corn with my grandparents. We miss our family!


6) Going Away Parties

From The Hub sharing funny stories about Garrick, to all of my great girlfriends, we often were overwhelmed by the love we felt before we left. Can't wait to see all of you later this year! Our time apart has made us realize you're not that bad. ;)

7) Hello, St Andrews. Nice to meet you!

By far, the night we arrived in St Andrews was one of the hardest we've had here. Garrick thought it was fun to camp out on our living room floor, and I soaked my sleeping bag with tears. Garrick said about a week later that he was impressed with how fast I recovered and says I have "emotional whiplash." Whether we're playing Euchre, listening to Mark speak at Trinity, or walking on the East Sands, St Andrews is quickly becoming a place we'll miss. Because this whole blog is about our move here, I'll leave it at that.

Just four months ago we planned, packed, and planned some more for our year abroad. Scotland was all we thought about. What would our life be like? Where would I work? Who would be our new friends? What church would we go to? Would we like Scotland?

Now that we've finally settled in, it's time to start thinking about next year already. We don't know where we'll be 9 months from now, but we know we'll be together. :)

I feel like I'm performing CPR on this blog every week. Ask us anything your dying to know and we'll write a response! We need active readers!!

Andrea vs. Wild

At 9:15 AM, I leave our flat in my "wind outfit": North Face jacket cinched around my head, wellies, and umbrella in hand. I make it one block before I decide to turn back to my warm and inviting bed. Roof tiles, branches, and garbage twirl around in the air, head-level. I don't want to make my debut in news as the girl who got knocked out by a roof tile. I try to take just one more step, and it's me versus the Scottish wind.

I lose.

Back under the covers, I phone work and the roof has come off the Meerkat enclosure. We're not opening until noon. Getting ready for work and then finding out you can go in late is almost as exciting as a school delay. Except, money is at stake.

Garrick and I walk to town around 11:30, get coffee and then I'm back behind my little desk in the gift shop, reading.

The title of our blog, "Wind, Wellies, and Water Closets," could not have been more accurate. When thinking of the title, I used wind merely for alliteration purposes and pictured more romantic wind. I don't know what that is, maybe the kind of wind that blows leaves around gracefully and wisps your hair ever so slightly.  Not the kind that makes your eyes water, ties knots in your hair, and propels your neighbor's garbage at your head.

So this ends my post about the weather. And I think I need to change my blog title to, "Tornadoes, Wellies, and Water Closets." If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16385049

A Highlands Christmas and Hogmanay!

Christmas

On December 24th, we traveled in a Mini MPV with 5 other friends to Grantown-on-Spey, a small town near Inverness. We played tetris to fit all of our baggage in the car and then drove up the A-9! We arrived at Corrimony House around noon the weekend festivities began. 

Corrimony House



Our beautiful room



Christmas morning Garrick, Lindsay and I woke up early and baked a breakfast casserole and cinnamon roles! We all brought a white elephant gift to exchange and Garrick got chocolate and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and I got a puzzle of the UK.

Everyone displaying their gifts!

We hiked, relaxed, watched Star Wars and LOTR, and all helped out making food. On the last full day we drove up to Inverness and Loch Ness. Bob, Adam, and Raymond all jumped in Loch Ness and came out without a scratch from Nessie! We also visited Urqhuart Castle:

The Highlands are majestic and rugged. We will definitely go back soon, maybe in the summer next time!

Hogmanay

Hogmanay is a Scottish word for the last day of the year and usually is celebrated well into New Years Day. Garrick and I hosted appetizers, dinner, and dessert at our flat before we made our way to town. Then we stopped at different pubs along the way before counting down at the fountain!



All in all, we made the best of the holiday season here and are so grateful for new friends to celebrate with. Our families were sorely missed, however, and I am excited to announce that my parents arrive on January 22nd! We can't wait!

The Twelve Differences of Christmas in Scotland

Lights adorn Market Street, "A Very She & Him Christmas" plays in our flat, and the town is deserted, as most students have gone home. It almost feels like Christmas. We recognize that we can celebrate Christ's birth anywhere, but we're a little sad to miss out on watching our nephews open gifts, eating our mom's cooking, and taking part in our usual traditions. As this is our first holiday season abroad, we have some updates:

1) Cheese plates and minced pies are all the rage. Enough said.

2) Boxing Day is celebrated on the 26th of December. Traditionally, this was a day to give gifts to the needy or to those in service positions. Now, it's become a major shopping holiday.

3) A few fairy lights displayed in the window is decorating. Chevy Chase is not from Scotland. I have seen a few lights in front windows, one small display of Santa's backside going down the chimney, and one lit tree. People do not decorate their homes!

4) Amazon and USPS make Christmas cheap and easy. They both offer free shipping and mailing! Brayden got his Thomas the Train set and our families got our Christmas card without breaking the bank.

5) There is no winter break for post-grad students. Garrick has his final paper due Thursday night, and over the break he needs to study his languages, catch up on reading, and apply to grad schools.

6) People still send us cards and gifts. Who would have thought we were worth the extra postage? It's been the highlight of our day coming home to cards on the floor of our entryway. Thank you to everyone who has mailed us something! For those who haven't, we're not friends. ;)

7) Garrick developed the talent of guessing Christmas gifts. Nothing deflates Andrea more than excitedly shopping and wrapping gifts and then having Garrick guess each one within 10 minutes.

8) Thank you, BoB. The Box of Broadcasts is an online resource available to students and has everything that has ever aired on BBC within the last decade. That means we can watch "The Santa Clause," "The Grinch," "Little Women," (Garrick watched it and liked it,) and any other Christmas movies our festive hearts desire.

9) Nativities can include meerkats, aliens, and lobsters. The Scots must be bored with the three wise men. It's perfectly normal to have strange people/animals present at Christ's birth.

10) Baking Christmas cookies eases homesickness. Andrea spent the day with three friends baking Christmas goodies: cream cheese filled snicker doodles, salted caramel brownies, chocolate covered cookie dough balls, and MORE. It was fabulous. And fattening.

11) We're spending Christmas in the Highlands! Yes, we're going further north than we already are, in the winter! We rented a cottage near Inverness with 2 other couples and are leaving on Christmas Eve and spending 4 nights. Pictures to come!

12) Merry Christmas from Scotland! We love and miss our friends and family from Washington. We hope you enjoy celebrating and being together with those you love.

Leave a comment and let us know what you're doing this Christmas!!

The Cathedral, St Andrews, Scotland

Ceilidh's = Laughter, Cardio, and at times, Rugby!

Anxiety. It happens when I think about dancing. I've even stayed home and told Garrick to go to dances without me, fearing that I'd be pointed and laughed at for my horrible moves. Well, December 10th, 2011 changed all that. I went to a Ceilidh.

Our church, Trinity, hosted a Christmas Ceilidh at a social hall near our flat. I naively wore a sweater and boots, not knowing I was in for the biggest cardio workout I've had since moving here. Garrick and I stepped out onto the floor for the first dance, and watched intensely to the demonstration. It was over too soon and the band began to play. We clumsily tried to follow, stomping, spinning, waltzing, marching forward and backward, and laughed so hard that we couldn't concentrate. Honestly, I haven't laughed myself into abdominal pain for a long time. I can understand why this tradition is still valued today: It's good for your health!

Take a look at this video. It's one of the dances we did. Pay attention to the spinning couple at the front of the two lines. Garrick was a little enthusiastic during this part and I felt like I would fly across the room at multiple points!

It was great to share this unique experience with our friends and also a great way to meet new ones. Many of the dances are group dances, which allows for quickly-made friendships! One in particular was Alex, a female student from Austria. We exchanged numbers and I am excited to spend more time with her!

Walking home that night I didn't even need to wear my wool coat. Garrick and I woke up the next morning with sore arms and feet. At church that morning. Mark Stirling, the pastor, announced that the Ceilidh had been a success. He also joked that at times, he couldn't tell if it was dancing or rugby taking place. One thing is for sure, this AG girl danced and had a great time!

3 Months Along

No, I'm not pregnant. ;)

I walked though town with my beautiful friend Elissa last night and asked her if she ever finds it hard to believe she lives in Scotland. She laughed and said, "All the time."

When we first arrived, we saw the movie "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" at the old theatre in town. (Garrick says it's in his top 5. He's said that about 30+ movies...) Afterward, we walked out into the night, groggy from jet lag, and both forgot where we were. And then, pleasantly remembered: SCOTLAND!

Three months later we're happy, healthy, and thankful for our new Scottish life.

Here's an update about what we're up to:

Garrick attended a conference on Monday in Edinburgh put on by the Society for the Study of Theology. He mailed in an abstract for a potential paper, it got accepted, and then he realized that he had to write the paper. Because I don't speak "scholar," I'll interview Garrick.

What was your paper about?

"It's about how John, the author of Revelation, is both a theologian and pastor. More, how this should be instructive for how pastors and theologians approach what they do today."

What was the conference like?

"There were 30 papers being presented. It was for post-graduates. The president for the Society for the Study of Theology was there. He was a good guy, very interesting. It made me excited to be in academics because there are a lot of exciting things going on right now. There is definitely a shift to a more holistic approach to theology and biblical studies. It's cool to think I could possibly be apart of that."

Where did you stay?

"We stayed in an Augustinian Friary in the west end of Edinburgh in a neighborhood called Broomhouse. It was really fun. The Friars are nice and Barnaby is a student in the MLit program at St Andrews and we stayed with him. They were very hospitable and said they were happy to never have to be up at 3 AM with crying children due to their vow of celibacy. Classic!"

Meanwhile...

I slept in Monday and then packed for a girls night with Mary Blake and Lindsay. The first snow of the year dotted the ground and I walked into town to catch the bus, first stopping by Starbucks to get a red cup! Sadly here in Scotland, they don't have peppermint flavoring...

At the bus station I waited a few minutes until the bus to Guardbridge pulled into Stance 1. The elderly male bus driver made it clear to me through his gruff voice and harsh words that absolutely NO hot drinks are allowed on the bus.

Obediently, I went to throw it away and he then yelled again that if I held onto it really tight, I could keep it.

Strike number 2 occurred when I pulled out a twenty to pay for my bus fare. He refused to take it and told me I couldn't ride the bus.

I went back into the station and asked the woman behind the help desk if she had change. She didn't, but said the drivers would. I told her I had just been refused and she said, "That was Charlie. Wait for the next driver." I guess Charlie has a reputation.

I handed my twenty to the next bus driver and was again scolded that he would not accept my money. So, thanks to the Blue Stone Pub down the street, I got change and took the THIRD bus to Guardbridge.

I didn't let mean old Charlie ruin my day.

Mary Blake and I watched Modern Family, ordered pizza, and then Lindsay arrived after work. What a fun group of girls! And the best part? We all can relate to one another because our husband's are in the same program.

Hitting the 3 month mark makes me feel feel both proud and thankful.

I am proud of Garrick for his dedication to excellence in his studies. He's in his "happy place" here and has acclimated very well.

I am also proud of myself. I thinks that's okay to feel sometimes. When we got married at age 20, I laughed at Garrick when he talked about possibly living in another country. And now look where I am! I've found strength that I didn't know I had and have learned more in 3 months than I have in the last 3 years!

And finally, I'm thankful. Thankful for things that I may not have recognized in August:

-Walking 3 miles a day
-My turquoise scarf
-Taste Coffee
-Being New
-Living in the moment
-Maisha Curry
-My strong and amazing family
-Pictures of my nephews
-Laughing
-My best friend and husband, Garrick Allen
-My new identity in Christ that does not include my salary, possessions, or status

We'll see how much we've changed at 6 months along! As always, please comment!

Thanksgiving Scotland Style

We had a first on Thursday. We spent Thanksgiving without our families, football, or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I'll admit, I woke up feeling a little grumpy that morning. Garrick wasn't a saint either, so we both decided that we would make the best of our day. And we did!

Haley and I woke up early, met for coffee at Zest and carried our food and prep items on the bus to Leuchars, Scotland, to the abode of Adam and Lindsay Harger. We spent the morning converting ounces to grams, plucking turkey feathers, and listening to fun tunes, namely "Moves Like Jagger." Pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes were my contributions, and I need to take a moment and give a shout out to Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pie recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-pie-recipe/index.html. Cream cheese pumpkin goodness!

The boys arrived after a three-hour lecture, and of course came into the kitchen trying to sneak bites. I put a stop to this! Soon card games began, as this is a tradition for most people. Then, hunger struck...or should I say, slightly irritated moods. Again, we found out this is a tradition for most people! Finally 6:30 arrived. The bountiful table had everything an American stomach desires on Turkey Day:

Turkey

Gravy (Homemade form the turkey neck and other organs by the brave Lindsay Harger!)

Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Corn Bread Stuffing

Baked Apples

Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

Blueberry Cobbler

Apple Crisp

Whipped Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream

Mulled Wine

Coffee/Tea

Hungry?

After we couldn't fit another spoonful into our mouths, we incorporated many of our own Thanksgiving traditions. Garrick prayed before the meal. The Morehouse's read Psalm 100.

Then, we all shared what we are thankful for. Two common themes became readily apparent: First, gratitude for God's provision and guidance. And second, we all recognized that 3 months ago we were all strangers. And now, we were family. Originally from Washington, California, Indiana, Colorado, Minnesota, and North Carolina, we all sat at an oak table in Leuchars, Scotland, and shared a special holiday together.  

The rest of the evening was spent asking questions of the group such as, "Would you raise your children in the town you grew up in?" And, "What did your life look like at age 16?" By 11:00 PM we caught the bus back to St Andrews, as it was a school night. I called home and got passed around the Stevens' Thanksgiving and loved hearing the voices of my loved ones.

But guess what? On Friday night, we had Thanksgiving Round 2! With over half of the food left, we had the best meal of the year again. And what better way to conclude the evening than with Buddy the Elf? We laughed and laughed.  

Take a look at our beautiful friends, photo credit Haley Goranson:

I would love to hear about your most unique Thanksgiving! Please comment!