There's only one thing that I need to say before I spill my beans and that's 'Happy Chinese New Year!'- I'm a bit late but happy year of the rabbit(?). I think we just had the year of the tiger so you can say goodbye with a bowl of Frosties or something.
So, 'what's been going down?' I hear you ask......well I've managed to put a deposit down for a house which is very good news. At first, the issue of a house was a bit of a palaver because one of the two guys I planned to live with started to consider leaving the course at the end of the year. This would mean going travelling and there being no chance of us getting a house whatever the decision. Before he actually decided what to do, some friends on the course asked if I wanted to live with them, so when he did decide to quit, I had a fantastic offer (which I was very happy to accept!). The other guy lives in Oxford anyway so he is living at home next year which means it's worked out nicely for all of us.
At church I decided to join the welcome team. I'd been to St. Aldates most weeks during the first term of uni and I knew enough people to get by but I didn't feel like I was giving anything back to the church. I didn't just want to go, hear a sermon, listen to some worship music and then toddle off home because I could do that from my room via the internet and not have to worry about the 'getting home' part. I went along one Sunday evening and asked if I could join and they were really grateful that I wanted to do it so I knew it was the right move. On my second time I was giving the bread out for communion! Didn't expect that one! It was kind of a last minute thing which meant I may have forgotten to wash my hands....... I blessed the bread before giving it out so I don't think there's much cause for concern! I am getting to know people a lot better within the church and a lot faster than I would have done so I'm glad I've started doing it! I'd recommend it-even if you only did it once!
Last weekend I went home for my dad's birthday meal. It's funny because I was thinking about where my home actually is. When I go home, it's great but it feels like a holiday rather than going home. It's weird! My family are there and I have a place there but I don't know if it's my home. At first this confused me because whilst I was in Finland, I knew my home was England and I had the longing for 'home'. Here it's different. I miss Worcester but it's not the same. I guess that I always knew my Finland trip was for a certain period of time and I knew that after 6 months, I'd go home. It's not the same here because I'll be spending the best part of at least 3 years here. The old phrase goes 'Home is where the heart is' and I think that's very true. Oxford is where I work, sleep, eat, socialise, laugh, live. In that sense, it is where the heart is. And I'm comfortable with that. This may not be great reading for you but for me it was good to realise. I think I'm the type of person who like to do things whole-heartedly if I can and sometimes things stop me. I need to see where my heart is before I do anything because commitment is very important. For me to live here 100%, I need to know my heart is here. My point is that 'making your home' is important (my point is also very unclear!) and that people should do it more instead of trying to have several- because you might end up without a 'home' altogether. This might make a connection with someone.......somewhere........on a year out or moving away etc.........or maybe it won't but I'm cool with that too :)
Take it easy
No comments:
Post a Comment