Friends & Faces

This post is specially dedicated to dearest Eu... who has been kindly keeping me accountable to my blog and updates. :)

As you requested... here are some faces to match some friends I have come to know and be encouraged by in this past month or so.

First-years from Regent:
Clockwise from top left: Constance (S'pore), Kaman (HK), Dave (Calgary/HK), John (US/Korea), James (US/Korea), Alfred (US/Korea), Brian (US/Korea), Ingrid (US/Korea)

A couple of us just after OT Foundations lecture...

We also get together once a week for an informal study group to sharpen our learning and pray and share our week together. During these times, we often remind ourselves not to get overwhelmed or puffed up by our learning of God and His work. Seems kinda ironic, but it is one snare to be aware of in this academic environment. Touching base and maintaining our relationship with Christ ought to still be centre. It's the highlight of the week for most of us... or me at least!
My lovely room-mates from St. Andrew's Hall chilling over bubble tea - all young UBC undergrads, younger than my own sis!! :p
Priyanka (India), me, Lily (Canada/Taiwan), and Sanjana (Holland/Bangladesh)

Lily is an awesome cook and we have loads of fun cooking Asian whenever time permits! :) This definitely contributes to me not missing local food that much... Vancouver has just about anything Asian you need!

All being said, one thing I am especially thankful for is for fast friends and people with whom I can go to when I need something or just when a day hasn't gone too well... those comfort levels usually take some time to reach.

I remember reading once that photos only tell the happy stories, not the sad ones. So though the photos don't show here, there were definitely periods of adjusting I had to go through during the first few weeks... getting used to culture, the way things work, feeling swallowed in large social settings with totally unfamiliar people, even being not understood by the way I spoke.

But God has brought (and I believe will continue to bring) really wonderful people into my life here thus far... and truly that makes a HUGE difference in how quickly one settles in a new environment. More than I thought it would! I realise I do need love and acceptance. Though I tend to forget it at times. :)