2014: What happens in Paris doesn't always stay in Paris

A call to be brave
I was sitting on one of the pews, the second last row near to the door. The pastor was sharing his experience to the Anglican congregation in Paris; it was the last Sunday in 2013. I could connect to what he was telling us: his family migrated to Paris from London a few years ago, not knowing what life would look like in the new country. 

The reason I could relate myself to that was because I did exactly the same thing last autumn: made a commitment to study, moving to a new country/continent completely foreign to me, leaving all the familiarity back in Asia, to enter a new journey I knew nothing of its end. 

Some 2000 years ago a man named Joseph experienced the uncertainty of following what was told to him: taking a divinely pregnant virgin woman to be his wife is one thing,  taking care of her and the holy child she conceived was another, besides he had to take them to a journey to Bethlehem for Mary to deliver her child and later on a flight to Egypt because Herod was searching for that child to kill him.  Yet, there was no recorded response of his; we took it that he obeyed. 


A call of faith
Some close friends knew the personal encounter I had that led to my brave decision of being back to school in this foreign land.  Yet I think being brave is not about being fearless; rather, despite the fear, in my personal experience, there is always a Person whose strength and calling just way too greater, beyond any fear you could ever have, along with His nature of an infinite presence -- the same God who called Joseph 2000+ years ago.    

I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds it.

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.  - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Back to December: 'till we meet again.

Glasgow, Scotland
Day 94 



Catching up over whatsapp yesterday with a best friend who lives in Houston, from family updates, to US politics to... snowy Christmas!   


My first Scottish December: a storm 
This won't be my first Christmas away from home. But yes, this is my first December in Scotland.  And it began rather in a unique way.  

I was on my way back to Glasgow from London, with a sleeper departed at almost midnight on Wednesday the 4th.  The train was already stationary when I woke up at 8 AM the next day, practically in the middle of nowhere. We were stranded. Someone said something was broken, but then the train staff explained (with my limited ability in understanding his Scottish accent) that something collapsed and there was no way through to the Glasgow Central Station.  The plan is to change direction to Edinburgh, and passengers are to find their way to Glasgow Queen Street Station from there. 

Ok. I got it. I told myself. Don't worry, you'll be fine. You've been to Edinburgh and you know how to get on the train to Queen Street. This is your first long trip on a train, in a foreign country.  Perfect.  You won't forget this experience.  And only another woman on the coach, but I think these men look alright.  
I was busy with my own thoughts as I observed how calm people were; for five hours we were stranded on the train, without certainty of what the authority would do -- yet a different cultural dimension I noticed in the laid-back Scotland; in where I moved from and lived for the recent nine years, a train breakdown is considered a major national disaster, with the event becoming headlines in the media, forcing the CEO to step down.

Adjusting with the local weather is not all.  As I was pondering about my first encounter with the harsh weather of Scotland, I recalled a conversation just a day before, with one of my flatmates (who is also my classmate):

Xin Yi (in her usual Malaysian/Singaporean style of English) : "You're going to London alone?! Alone on the train?"
Me : "Yeah."
Xin Yi : "Arent' you scared??! This is UK, this is not Singapore, you know."
Me (softly, with an acute honesty): " .... Actually... yes, I'm scared. (sighs) But I think I'll be fine. ..... 
I should be back in Glasgow at around 7 am tomorrow. Otherwise, can you call the police if you don't see me by lunch time?" (half-jokingly)
Xin Yi : ???

Although Xin Yi spent her time working in Singapore not as long as I did, we both knew how safe the small country is, how well-known its reliable structure and hence what it means for us adjusting with the life in the UK, safety-wise.  She's got a valid concern there.  Moreover, an industrial city, Glasgow has its own place for crime rate.  And my upbringing background is not helpful at all -- raised as the center of attention in a close-knitted family, with a protective mother, I'm still learning to be more a street-smart kind of person.  


Yet another 'storm'

A different kind of 'storm' came to me later at the end of the week.  As I was hugging my Scottish adoptive parents goodbye at their home last Sunday I was suddenly hit by a strange storm of sadness – I don’t know where I’ll be next year.  One year feels way too short to fall in love with people and this city, only not to know for sure if I am to leave them behind or being with them at the end of the journey. 

A couple of close classmates told me, maybe it is way too early to let my heart be ripped off by this thought. Maybe it is.  But I knew I’ve made one of my best life’s decisions by coming here.  And I’ll do the same thing all over again if I could. 

End of Term 1
Time flies when you're having fun!  This is our last week of class, after three exams this week we will be done with Term 1. 
Heeding my mentor’s advice on the modules and exams, sleep deprived, group study – all done with full force of anxiety – had practically filled my last three weeks of this term.  

I can say that I enjoyed being back in school; look forward to the second term on the 6^th January.  'Till then, I'll enjoy the break by visiting friends in the region  :-) 

I don't know what the future holds, but I hope you'll be part of it.
See you again, Glasgow!

The Piano Guys - Angels We Have Heard on High