Hello for one last time, this time not from across the pond!
Scottish word of the week: Nae'bother: v. don't worry about it
Picture of the week:
What I've been up to - in bullet points
Tuesday 12/8/09- Wednesday 12/16/09
Studying
Taking exams
Studying some more
Taking more exams
Sleeping
Thursday 12/17/09
Packing!
Friday 12/18
Saying goodbye to Aberdeen
Having a wonderful goodbye dinner with friends
Saturday 12/19
Having one last final hurrah of traveling to St. Andrews
Sunday 12/20
Taking the train down from Aberdeen to London
Staying up all night in Heathrow
Monday
Flying home!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK - A SLIGHT MISADVENTURE IN ST. ANDREWS
When you really think about it, Scotland is known for a few things: Whisky, Haggis, Kilts, and Golf. I've already visited a distiller, tried haggis, saw many people parading about in kilts, so I thought that it would be a great time to see a proper golf course. And in Scotland, the most famous course is the Old Course in St. Andrews.
I got into the town and saw the cathedral and castle and then set off to find the Old Course. Being a male, I failed to ask for directions and set off in a direction. On the bus ride into town I saw something that looked like a golf course on the coast, so I set off in that direction. Soon enough I was walking across fairways and on the greens. I had my Scottish tunes playing and was having a superb time.
Then the snow started. Snow in Scotland, especially on the coast, is a rarity in December. But it came down quite fast; soon enough my jeans were wet and my back was covered in snow. Happily I strode up to the clubhouse and went into the shop.
While there I found an interesting fact out: this was not the old course. I had walked 1.5 hours through a snowstorm in the middle of December to the wrong golf course. With a laugh I turned around and made my way back.
(It turns out the course is right smack dab in the middle of the city.)
Random Section of the Week - Reflections on a semester abroad in Scotland
What is the nature of change? Such a simple word, yet an incredibly complicated concept to fathom. Sometimes imperceptible, slowly altering ; sometimes instantaneous, transforming rapidly. Both easy and hard to quantify, and some of the time one can't quite place how it came to be. It is the sort of thing that just seems to happen.
The fact is this: I am not the same person that I was before coming to Scotland.
Yet if pressed, I couldn't say how I am different. Of course, there were situations over the course of the semester that accelerated the pace of change, yet if I try to sort of add all of them up they don't equal the difference. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The best way that I can describe it is that I am surer of who I am, why I choose to be that way, and how the lessons that I learned while very young have formed me. I've made these realizations by getting away from the familiar and diving in headfirst into the unknown. Everyday I've been faced with new situations and have been forced to define who I was going to be in that situation. Lessons of responsibility, work-ethic, patience and love taught to me by family and friends were not forgotten - I can look back on my choices this semester and not feel ashamed of my conduct.
When I am old I will remember these few months as some of the happiest of my first two decades of life.
This is it - the beginning of the end. Two weeks. Enjoy!
Scottish word of the week:Braw: n. fine. Tis a braw day for sport! Picture of the week:
The Plaza deEspana in Seville. What I've been up to - in bullet points
Monday
Turning in the MB3005 essay
Transcribing lectures from MB3005 for 8 hours
Tuesday
Transcribing lectures from MB3005 for 10.5 hours
Getting packed for Spain!
Wednesday
Transcribing lectures from MB3005 for 2 hours
Enjoying my third to last train ride of the semester
Studying in the airport
Waiting at La EstaciondelSur in Spain for my 1 a.m. bus to Seville
Thursday
Feasting on a ham and cheese bocadillo (sandwich) at 3 a.m.
Meeting up with my friend from Hope, Katherine Garcia!
Drinking Cafe con Leche as a substitute for sleep
Walking through the streets of Seville
Admiring the geometry of Muslim architecture in la Alcazar, a palace
Gazing up at the ceiling of the world's 3rd largest cathedral
Eating Tapas!
Listening and watching flamenco in a nearly impossible to find restaurant
Riding on my second 1 a.m. bus in two nights
Friday
Sleeping better on the bus due to the fact that Katherine had an extra pair of ear plugs
Sleeping on the bus to Toledo
Tagging along with a guided tour of Toledo's cathedral
Seeing paintings by El Greco, a famous artist who lived in Toledo hundreds of years ago
Walking along the trail of Don Quixote to get a view of the city from across the river
Eating sausage and mash in the hostel
Saturday
Strolling through El Puertode Sol and La Plaza Mayor
Pondering a single brushstroke on a white page at La Reina Sofia
Reflecting on yet more art in El Prado
Striding down the streets of Madrid
Cheering for Real Madrid!
Sunday
Eating Tortilla Espanola for breakfast
Walking through the Campodel Moro and El Retiro with Spanish families
Running through the airport to catch my flight
Having a safe return to 68E!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK - SATURDAY IN SPAIN!
I can recall only a few days where nearly everything has gone right. Saturday happened to be one of those days.
It started with a hearty breakfast in the Hostel, and continued with sunshine and warmer temperatures as I walked through Madrid. When wandering through art museums I actually felt like I was communicated ideas rather than feeling like I was aimlessly gazing at colors on a canvas.
In the botanical gardens there were countless varieties of roses and the tallest cacti that I have ever seen. I've decided that I'm going to have a small but well-tended garden today. In a restaurant I had a taste of my first ever calamari sandwich. I decided that I might have to have another if I get the chance. In the streets of Madrid I saw an Aston Martin. I decided that I will never be able to afford such an automobile.
The Real Madrid match was perfect - exciting and high scoring. We sat next to the opposing fans who were the object of considerable heckling from all of the Real Fans. And Real Madrid won.
To top it off, I found 30 euro on the ground in El Prado.
What a wonderful day. Random section of the week - On Football in Europe
Going to the match was quite an experience, in a number of different ways. First, the quality of the soccer was incredible. The speed of the game was lightning fast - the ball traveled back and forth like quicksilver. Watching the teams play was almost like watching a skilled pianist. Play jumped back and forth with speed and precision; the theme of patient attack was repeated over and over again; and all of the different elements came together to produce a wonderful product. I am now able to see why they call football (soccer) the beautiful game.
However, what was not beautiful were the antics of some of the fans. I would also like to think that grown men don't shake their fists and shout at those they disagree with. I would like to think that young children don't resolve problems by flicking off the other person, or that they don't yell what I'm guessing are obscenities in Spanish at someone that they dislike. I would like to think that people are able to realize how ridiculous they are at times.
Yet if I'm honest with myself, I share the same problem. When competing I am often get carried away. After playing (and losing) several (or was it twelve) games of Settlers of Catan against my little brother Mark I flipped the board over angrily, scattering the pieces of the game all over the floor. My Uncle Kevin Holleman, a doctor, also happened to be there and said to me - "You shouldn't be so upset about a game. I had to tell someone in my office today that they had cancer this week."
Competition is a funny thing. It brings out the best and the worst. But after the buzzer has rang (and during the game too, for that matter) things need to be put into perspective.
This past week I realized how much work I need to do to feel the semblance of preparedness for my exams, which are on December 10th and December 16th. So I got my academic game-face on. I didn't get around to as much of Aberdeen as I would have liked, but it was a wonderful week nonetheless. Enjoy!
Scottish word of the week: Kirk: n. A church. Picture(s) of the week:
I was able to commandeer an entire reference room in the library. If you're in the mood for a great combination, try salted potato chips and nutella (idea courtesy of Jess Kohnen). Salty and sweet to perfection. What I've been up to - in bullet points
Monday
Practicing 4 hrs. of piano
Turning in my problem solving questions for BM3006
Enjoying Thanksgiving at the Christian Union! And winning a quiz on America!
Working on my photobook
Tuesday
Enjoying the last of the MB3005 Practicals
Starting work on my essay. Here's the title: Nucleocytoplasmic transport of Rev in HIV-1, or, There and Back Again: A gene's tale. Hopefully my marker doesn't find the reference to The Hobbit improper for a scientific essay...
Practicing 3 hrs. of piano
Attending a lecture entitled Development of the Aberdeen Clipper: Innovation by Design. There were many neat paintings of ships, of which I'm a big fan.
Wednesday
Pushing through the weekly Wednesday lecture marathon
Practicing 4 hrs. of piano
Watching the weekly Hitchcock movie. This week it was North by Northwest, which is a brilliant film.
Thursday
Feeling extremely confident on the BM3006 formative exam despite only studying 1.5 hrs.
Working on the MB3005 essay in the library
Practicing the piano for my lesson
Playing well in my lesson!
Celebrating Thanksgiving (on the day of) with a slice of sweet-potato pie
Friday
Attending class
More essay writing
Attending more class
Making and enjoying yet another culinary staple: cheese and bacon pasta with cheese and bacon pasta sauce. Delicious.
Playing settlers
Saturday
At the library from 12-8:43 working on the essay
Listening to the Hope-Calvin game on the radio online. The last three seconds nearly killed me.
Finishing the essay! It is complete with a picture of Bilbo on the cover page. We'll see how that goes...
Winning 2 out of 3 in settlers!
Sunday
Taking the bus from Aberdeen to Methlick
Attending Methlick Parrish Church
Celebrating the Sabbath with the Canlis family
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK - Sabbath with the Canlis Family
and
Random section of the week - On Cars and Computers
During a chapel service last April a guest speaker, Julie Canlis, gave a sermonette on how God pursues us in different ways during different seasons of our lives. It was mentioned at some point in her introduction that she lives just outside of Aberdeen with her family, so after the service ended I introduced myself, explained that I would be studying in Scotland the following semester, and recorded her email address.
During October, out of the blue, I sent her an email reintroducing myself and asked about visiting the church. After exchanging emails it was decided that Nov. 29 it would work to go out to Methlick (20 miles away) to visit the church.
At the time I had no idea of the enormous blessing that I was going to receive.
When I arrived at the church this morning I was greeted by Matt Canlis, Julie's husband. He gave Andy and I a brief tour of the church (churches have been at this site since around 410 A.D.), we said a brief prayer for the service, and then took our seats. It was previously arranged that I was to play the prelude, so I played for around ten minutes then returned to my seat. The Parrish is the smallest in Scotland, yet the church did not feel empty. On the contrary, there was a spirit of vibrancy in the air. Children piped up during the children's sermon to answer questions, the singing of the advent hymns was enthusiastic, the sermon was thought-provoking, and the fellowship over tea and biscuits was genuine. Amazing things are happening at Methlick Parrish Church.
From church we walked to the Canlis household, which was a mere two minutes away. It is hard to describe how nice it was to be in an actual home. (I'm sorry - Burnett House does not count.) Toys littered the floor (there are four children under the age of 10), happy photographs sat on shelves, art (as opposed to movie posters) adorned the walls, and shelves of books with well-worn bindings were tucked in every corner; upon entering one could tell that this was the residence of a very happy family.
After helping butter and cut bread slices, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of French Onion soup. Conversation at the dinner table wandered leisurely from subject to subject; we started with telling our stories and eventually progressed to discussions about history, consumerism, and theology. An idea that I hadn't heard before (which I agree with) was the contribution of the car to the individualistic culture that is found today. People gained the mobility, and consequentially the freedom to make their own choices about where to shop, what to eat, and where to go. Along with increased mobility came a lessening of community, ultimately resulting in rootless people - those who are everywhere yet nowhere, present yet absent, occupied yet never truly engaged.
The equivalent of the car today, Matt argued, is the computer. People are able to create virtual realities for themselves which they too often substitute for reality. Face-to-face interaction is substituted with virtual interaction. Inevitably something is lost.
At this point in the conversation I asked him for his opinion on Facebook. Despite living in many places around the world, undoubtedly making many friends in each location, he does not have a page. I completely agree with his reasoning: his relationship with God, his family, and his Parrish come first; time spent on Facebook is time that is spent away from them is time spent away from the top three priorities in his life.
Now, I'm not claiming that Facebook is a bad thing, for I believe that it isn't. However, I believe that it must be used with caution. I often find myself wasting time on the site, time that could be better invested in other places.
Following dinner time was spent relaxing with the family. Conner and Madeline both play the piano, so it was enjoyable hearing them play and playing for them in return. I jumped on the tramp, helped hang up Christmas decorations, played the piano for the singing of Christmas Carols (we made it all the way through the 12 days of Christmas), and listened to the reading of a chapter from a wonderful children's novel. Before I knew it it was 5:00 and dinner time. After a delicious casserole and more good conversation we had to leave to catch our bus and said our goodbyes. While walking down the driveway I turned around and saw the four children in the back of the family van with their arms waving wildly back and forth like windshield wipers, waving us off. I did the same, and the family passed out of sight.
It was an incredible blessing to spend a Sabbath with such a wonderful family - I won't ever forget it.
I was in Aberdeen for the entire week! What! Actually, it was nice to just relax for a weekend, sleep in, do homework, etc. So I'm afraid that I don't have too many epic pictures or dramatic stories...enjoy!
Scottish word of the week: Wellies: n. Tall, rubber rain boots. It's been quite rainy here, and the sidewalk in front of our flat isn't well drained at all. An extremely large puddle forms after every rainstorm which I have christened "The Burnett Moat". I could use a pair of wellies to walk through it. Picture of the week: My glorious abode - Burnett House, Room 68E
Notice the designer curtains.
What I've been up to - in bullet points
Tuesday
Showing up late to a tutorial only to find that I didn't miss anything.
Practicing the piano for 4 hrs.
Receiving a package from my Aunt Patty. A significant proportion of the 400 g Toblerone bar has already been consumed...
Starting up a photobook from www.blurb.com! (If you'd like one, ask me about it and I can give you details...)
Wednesday
Enjoying the Wednesday lecture marathon
Practicing the piano
Cooking up for the first time my "signature" recipe: pasta with cheese and bacon sauce with additional bacon and cheese added to the pasta. I'm counting on my good genes to get me past 50.
Working on my problem solving worksheet
Thursday
Practicing the piano for 7 hours
Trying to play in my lesson...the brain was rather fried.
Watching Hope volleyball advance to the final four!
Friday
Attending 2 BM3006 lectures back-to-back
Practicing the piano for 6 hours
Attending a lecture for fun! It was the Lister Medal award lecture, given by Prof. Hugh Pennington. He received the medal for his work on the E. coli 157 outbreaks in the U.K. My favorite quote from the lecture: "People are good at learning things, and even better at forgetting them"
Playing settlers with Bruce and Mark
Saturday
Sleeping in!
Practicing the piano for 5 hours
Watching Scotland vs. Australia in Rugby
Relaxing with friends
Working on my photobook!
Sunday
Going to a service at King's College Chapel (which is 500 years old this year) that was a part of the Aberdeen Music Prize
Practicing the piano for 5 hours
Having a great conversation with the older brother
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK - RELAXING! I just looked back at the calendar/diary and I've been gone for the last 8 weekends. I needed a little bit of a break, and it has been ever so nice to just relax in my room. I've worked on my photobook, wrote in my journal, done some homework, talked to family, and spent time relaxing with friends. Not catching trains, lugging a backpack around, or spending money on hostels/food has been very, very nice. This next week I'm planning to explore Aberdeen! On the docket is an exploration of Seaton Park, watching the sun rise over the North Sea, visiting the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Art Gallery, and walking through Dunthie Park. I'm also bringing my camera with me everywhere, so there will be plenty of photos. RANDOM SECTION OF THE WEEK - MY LATEST "PROJECT"
During the summer when I was all laid up and had nothing to do I stumbled across a neat idea. It's called 101 goals in 1001 days. It's rather self-explanatory - you just make up your list and get going. I thought to myself, "Why not?" So I made my list. Here are some of the highlights:
Benchpress 200 lbs.
Travel to Paris
Swim in the Ocean
Visit 3 national parks
Go camping
Read 20 books off of the A.P. list
Etc.
Some of the goals are flippant, some serious. Some can be done in an afternoon, some will take the duration of the project. I'm done with 14 of the goals and have another 87 to go in a 1 year, 8 months and 18 days. Doing the 14 has been incredibly worthwhile so far, and I'm looking forward to these next 87 tasks. If anybody's interested in the project, here's a website about it: http://www.dayzeroproject.com/. I'd highly recommend the project to everybody!
It just hit me this week that there's less than 40 days until I'm back to the States! Time flies! Anyways, it was a great week. Enjoy!
Scottish word of the week: Brig: n. A bridge.
Picture of the week:
What I've been up to - in bullet points
Monday
Attending class
Practicing the piano
Enjoying a practical for MB3005
Starting work for my essay on Friday
Tuesday
Enjoying yet another practical for MB3005
Registering for (and getting in to!) all of my classes for next semester. On the docket: Health Dynamics, Piano Lessons, Native American History and Literature, Religion and Politics, 20th Century Ethics, and Physics II.
Practicing the piano
Wednesday
Sitting through the weekly Wednesday lecture marathon
Partaking in the weekly Hitchcock movie night. The Man Who Knew Too Much is a wonderful film.
Thursday
Sleeping in a bit
Researching for my essay
Practicing the piano
Having a wonderful piano lesson!
Researching still some more for the essay
Friday
Attending BM3006
Cramming for my essay
Actually writing my essay - I felt that it went very, very well!!!
Practicing the piano
Having breakfast dinner with friends (brinner)!
Saturday
Waking up at 6:30 to catch the 7:52 train to Edinburgh
Consuming 3 baked potatoes topped with chicken, pasta, mayonnaise and corn in one sitting.
Grimacing for the Fijians as they were crushed by the Scottish in a rugby match
Walking up and down the Royal Mile
Relaxing at Deacon Brody's with friends
Sunday
Climbing the Edinburgh Craigs in time for Sunrise
Worshiping at St. Giles Cathedral
Tagging along with the Sandeman's Tour of Edinburgh
Coughing up a chunk of change to see the castle and have a glance at the crown jewels
Taking a stroll down memory lane in the childhood museum
Coming home to Aberdeen after a great weekend!
Monday
Attending lecture and scheduling exams
Practicing piano for 4 hours...it was wonderful
RECEIVING A PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!!! (THANK YOU AUNT LYNNE!!!!!)
Taking with Mark, Bruce, and Matt
Doing a big pile of laundry
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK - SCOTLAND VS. FIJI
The match was an incredible experience. Every fourth fan was proudly dressed in a kilt and the saltire was everywhere - on hats, shirts, and blowing in the breeze as a cape. The atmosphere was electric as a band of 75 bagpipes marched into the stadium, the shrill tones filling Murrayfield. During the singing of the national anthem I tried to hum the tune, but gave up halfway and just enjoyed the experience.
Rugby players are a different breed. Every single one is a hunk of pure muscle. The biggest players were around 6'5'' and weighed probably 250-280 lbs. They weren't a slow, lumbering 280 pounds - they were a fierce middle-linebacker 280 pounds, and they could really move across the field. Rugby is similar to football in that the objective is to get the ball across the goal line, but it differs in that there aren't "downs". Play is continuous unless a pile forms (which they often do) or the ball goes out of bounds. If the first happens a "scrum" happens, in which the players mass around where the pile initially formed and collectively push against the other team. The team that last had possession of the ball is able to work ball to the back of the scrum, and play continues. If the ball happens to go out of bounds there is a throw in. The receiving players are lifted up 10 ft. into the air to catch the ball - it really is quite a sight.
The ball is advanced by one player running forward until he meets the opposing team, but at the instant before he is leveled to the ground he pitches the ball laterally or backwards to another member of his team. In this manner the ball travels, slowly advancing forward, unless a hole in the defense forms. If this happens, the player rushes into the teeth of the opposing team and is often taken down quite forcefully. On the rare occasion that he breaks through (which happened once or twice for the Scottish) the stands erupt into cheers.
Overall it was quite the spectacle. The size, skill, and power of the players was something else to see. I'd highly recommend it to anyone. RANDOM SECTION OF THE WEEK:
They say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder", and I think that it's true. Since coming here I've realized something with even greater clarity: that I deeply love my family and friends. Mom and Dad, Steve and Mark, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and Friends I truly love and cherish each and every one of you. It's been a joy keeping this blog for the past two months, and it's going to be a joy writing it five more times.
Scottish word of the week: Ceildh: n. a traditional Scottish dance party. Dancing is accompanied by violin, piano, and bass. Pronounced Kee-lay.
Pictures of the week/Question of the week:
WITH OR WITHOUT THE HAT?
OR
(It's only a rolled up piece of paper... :) )
What I've been up to - in bullet points
Wednesday
Enjoying another triple of lectures in the morning
Trudging to Foresterhill for another Personal Tutorial
Practicing the piano
Discovering at Choral Society that in order to sing in the concert you need to have black shoes, socks, trousers, vest, dinner jacket, and bow tie to complement a white oxford. I have none of these.
Enjoying yet another Hitchcock film: Rear Window.
Planning Paris!
Thursday
Running (yes, literally running!) to the train station
Flying out of Edinburg to Charles de Gaulle Airport
Riding up the Eiffel Tower
Enjoying a wee cup of coffee in a Cafe
Friday
Gaping at Versailles, the golden palace of Louis XIV, the sun king
Strolling through the gardens of Versaille
Visiting Mona and Venus in the Lourve
Listening to An American in Paris whilst being an American in Paris on the steps of the Sacré-Coeur
Saturday
Wandering through the Latin Quarter
Pondering beneath the original casting of The Thinker by Rodin
Checking out Napoleon's Tomb
Sitting quietly in Notre Dame
Shuffling around mounds of books in Shakespeare and Co.
Listening to Chopin being performed live in Paris
Relaxing in another cafe...with another wee cup of coffee
Relaxing with Australians in the hostel
Sunday
Walking down the Champs d'Elysees
Standing beneath the Arc d'Triomphe
Snapping photos of Moulin Rouge
Flying back to Scotland!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS!
I've already shared what I've done - now I'm going to share what I thought.
The entire city is beautiful. Streets are clean, boulevards are well kept, sidewalks are clear. A sense of ease pervades - cafes are on every corner, people lean up against buildings to smoke cigarettes, and lovers sit together on park benches. Gliding through the city is the Seine, along which temporary photography exhibits stand next to more permanent museums. Sculptures of stone and metal watch over the city - St. Michael vanquishes demons and Louis XIV oversees his dominion. As the lights in the sky fade the lights of the city come to life, casting a warm glow on the stone buildings.
This dream, Paris, floats above a high octane motor which is also Paris. The Metro crashes as it arrives. Cars honk. Tourists camera flashes go off. Shop keepers yell to advertise their prices. Mopeds zoom by.
The heart of Paris is neither new nor old. Double decker buses drive by the cornerstone of Notre Dame, and the Mona Lisa is protected by a wall of bullet-proof glass. Old and new are (and have been for quite some time) happily married, and the result is an incredible city - Paris.
Random section of the week - I'll be naïve until I'm 95 I may have lost 65 euro over the weekend.
I'm disappointed, yes, but if given the chance I would do so again. This may seem foolish, but allow me to explain. Only at the end of the story pass judgment on my actions.
On Friday night I was walking around in Montemarte, which is by the base of the Sacré-Coeur. Out of the blue a man wearing a red Ferrarri hat asked me, "Do you speak English?". "Yes", I replied. After hearing my reply, he desperately told me his story.
He is a Jew from Motreal, Canada, and had just arrived in Paris with his girlfriend. When she went to withdraw money from an ATM the machine "ate the card", losing their only source of money . In order to stay in their hotel for one night, they had to pay a bill of 65 euro. He contacted the Canadian counsulate and they said that they couldn't do anything for him until the next day. If they couldn't pay the bill, they couldn't stay the night.
What he was asking me to do was to withdraw 65 euro from an ATM to lend to him, which he would pay back the next day outside of Notre Dame at 9 p.m. I was initially very skeptical, but as I heard his story I began to feel compassion for the man. To me it seemed that there was no lie in his eyes. He even said that (being a Jew) he would swear on the Torah. I explained to him that I am a Christian, and that I would trust him. I agreed and we walked towards the ATM.
In order for the exchange to be made, I initially demanded collateral. After all, I had met the man only ten minutes ago. He had on a nice, silver watch, which I suggested that he give to me. I gave him the money, and he reluctantly gave me the watch (his girlfriend had given it to him a year ago) and we parted ways. As I walked away with his watch in my pocket, something stirred inside of me. I turned around and gave him back the watch, saying, "I trust you." We parted ways and I walked back to my hostel, he to his hotel.
The next day at Notre Dame I arrived at 8:45 p.m. and stayed until 9:30. For 45 minutes I stood shivering under a light post right in front of the cathedral. He did not show up. I walked back through the Parisian night alone.
------------------------
As I walked back through the cold I was upset. I had shown kindness, maybe even mercy, by withdrawing the money for him - a complete stranger. I demanded nothing of him in return; I gave him my trust. I simply trusted that his word was his bond; I trusted that he would meet me at nine sharp outside of Notre Dame and that I would be repaid.
There are too many thoughts that I have had about the situation to post on the blog, but I will leave you with my conclusion to the matter.
I WILL BE NAÏVE UNTIL I'M 95
To deny that people are selfish, greedy, and sinful is delusional. Taking even a brief glimpse at newspapers and TV sets confirms this: in my lifetime Madoff stole billions, Enron duped the Wall Street, and the Credit Crunch have all occurred. And these are only the big scams - countless robberies and scandals have taken place that haven't been on the news. People cut in line, receive but fail to give, and act only in their own interest. When such a portrait is painted optimism seems to fail. Is it worth placing faith in people?
This was the question that was running through my mind as I walked back through the cold night, and is a question that I will continue to think about. My answer to the question may change in twenty years, but I dearly, even desperately hope that it won't.
I believe in people. I will continue to believe in people, even after being wronged. I will continue to believe that if I treat them the way that they should be treated, which is the way that Christ would treat them, that they will act in the way that they are supposed to act. I believe that it is the few bad apples that we hear about and we don't hear enough of the good. I believe that I will be let down time and time again, for people are sinful.
My belief in people may have cost me 65 euro, but that is a price that I'm willing to pay. In fact, I'd be willing to pay more. Faith in people is worth far more to me than money. (For that matter, what is money? It is simply a means to an end, not a god. No, it does not grow on trees, but not having it isn't the end of the world.)
The cost of the alternative, to me, is much more terrible. Looking at the world through cold, hardened eyes is something that I never want to do. When I look at a stranger I will continue to believe that they have a spark of goodness inside - that they can and will act unselfishly. I believe that what we need to do, as Christians, is show them how to act in such a manner.
What is to say that the man was at a different spot at Notre Dame and we simply missed each other? What is to say that he meant 9 a.m., not 9 p.m.? What is to say that extenuating circumstances kept him from making it there on time? And if he was a con artist, what if he saw that there is a different way? What is to say that he did not experience grace? In the worst of all possible situations he was a completely consciousless person that ripped me off and had no second thoughts. If this was the case I truly pity the man.
Looking back I am proud of the way that I conducted myself. If given the chance, I would do the same thing yet again. You may call me foolish; you may call me vain; but I have been and always will be an incurable optimist. Whatever the personal costs, I plan on being naïve until I'm 95.
