Dear Family and Friends,
Well, I am now officially a hooker. I didn’t really mean it to turn out this way, but things just sort of fell in place. You might say I was destined for the job. Its actually not that bad, lots of close contact and sweaty bodies. By now I hope you’ve realized that I am indeed referring to the rugby play position called “hooker” where this particular player is the center front of the scrum and her job is to “hook” the ball back to her teammates. The coach says I “have the build for it” so I guess that is that. My first game will be next Saturday, where OSU’s B side (me and the rest of the rookies) will play the Naval Academy’s B side (yes that is the naval academy in Annapolis). The game that everyone’s hopes lay on is the game between our A side and their A side, the B sides are just playing for practice (very good idea actually). So, more info pending next Sunday.
My current big school project is my city report on Qingdao, the home of the famous Tsingtao Beer (which is spelled wrong by the way, but that’s how westerners spell it). All in Chinese of course. The oral part isn’t too long, but then I have to write the full part out (about 4 pages) in Chinese characters. I will have to send a copy of it to Mr. Kuo (a Chinese friend of mine for those who don’t know) after I’m done and see what he thinks of it. Sorry, no body else would find it interesting, seeing as how it is in Chinese.
We had our first Arabic quiz that was actually a big part of our grade on Friday. As far as I know I did well, but I won’t get it back until monday. Things are falling into place with Arabic, since we’ve now gone through almost all the alphabet. But there is still a long way to go, and a long way from knowing the letters to forming them into coherent thought.
Hinduism is our current focus in comp. studies, and Buddhism is on the horizon. I know I say this because I’m biased, but it seems to me that no religion offers as good a deal as Christianity. Not like I was considering converting or anything, but why would I ever have reason to want to? Where else can you become the child of a God who is in total control of everything in and outside the universe, and furthermore has promised that all things in that universe will work out for good for those who love him and follow his commands? And the whole eternal life thing. In a lot of other religions you just get eternal bliss, or eternal women in the case of Islam. How boring would that be? I’d rather stay on earth. But God’s children, we will rule from heaven, and eventually have a new earth to live on. Like I said, I’m slightly biased, being a Christian myself.
Ok, who hates squirrels? (I see your hand waving frantically Mr. Carswell). My advice to you is NEVER come to Ohio State. This place is squirrel haven, squirrel city, squirrel paradise. There are so many around I almost ran over one on my BIKE yesterday. Now how could you almost run over a squirrel on a bike? Come on! Anywhere between the north edge of the oval to south campus, you can stand in any one place, look around, and see at least four squirrels. Believe me, I tried it. Sometimes, in places like the oval which is just a lot of grass and trees, you can see 10-12 squirrels all at once. It is a good thing that I don’t mind squirrels. And they completely ignore all humans unless you get within 2-3 feet of them. I almost caught one with my bare hands once (not that I actually want to catch one). They are like pigeons, only they are squirrels. At least they don’t deface everything like pigeons do.
With that last bit of groundbreaking news, I shall say farewell for another week. Please pray for me, I need strength and focus to get my homework done, while balancing that with healthy living (getting enough sleep and exercise), and with worshiping the Lord on Sunday instead of doing homework.
God bless, stay safe and well, love you all.
Lydia Thomas
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 1:3
“I don’t suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it” – Tom Ford
“Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youthAlbus Dumbledore