Travel Without Rest

January 10, 2013

   I had such a mix of feelings coming on the planes over here, it's not even funny. I did get nervous at intervals (secretly I wonder what must be wrong with me that no panic has set in yet). I also got excited, and elated, and hyper but tired with headaches that were pure bliss. I'm pretty sure that's what jetlag feels like, because nothing else seems to fit.
   I also had a major hard time with keeping up with my group at times, but that was mostly because I was used to sitting on the plane, and then suddenly I would have trouble shifting gears to get moving again. I am going to be so sore and tired tomorrow, I'm certain of it.
   I'm in the apartment with three really awesome girls, I have the feeling that this roomate thing is going to go great. I'm sure we'll have qualms, as everybody does, but they're likely to be minimal and not the 'teacher coming home drunk at midnight alone' scenarios. Mostly I worry that I'll be the one that needs to have a talking to, that's how nice and put together these girls are.
   I did have trouble in my suitcase; my shampoo bottle broke and spilled everywhere. It was so nasty, normally I would just call the affected items unusable and cry as I tossed them away; but there are things that I definitely need to try to save, so I will be washing all said items that I think I can salvage tomorrow.
   I'm glad I brought the paper I did, I'm a tiny bit worried that I might have been the only one to bring some for out school.
   I took a crack at my Lithuanian Book of Mormon today. I feel pretty good about it, some words I'm sure I can grow to recognize in time. For now I'm on verse four of the first chapter of First Nephi. I didn't want to push it too far, as I don't want to overstress my brain into not remembering what I read in the first place. Plus, my back hurts from a lack of proper sleep and staying up what feels like too late.
   Lithuanian food is awesome. I've only had these perogi things and chocolate and cookies so far, but it's so good. I already love this country.
   Apparently you can't flush the toilet paper here though. It's weird, not overly gross though. I fear we may not have much in the way of hot water...
   Our native coordinator is super nice, but he has a really thick accent, and I can't tell what he's trying to ask or tell me half the time.
   One big bonus is I have a few more days to prepare before meeting the kids. I'll need the rest after that trip, you have no idea.
   The apartment's really nice, I pulled off a door handle by accident though. It's cool, it's just because the doorknobs aren't nailed or screwed into the doorframes, so you need to be delacate. It slides back on when it's taken off too, no harm done.
   I want to write more, but I'm seriously aching for sleep. It's already 9:15 pm over here in Vilnius, and I was tired already at 5 pm.

Elizabeth (Zabe)