I Always Wanted To Be Claudia

Last night I was wondering why I even bother making new friends.

Lately new(ish) friendships have been hurting me. Just like junior high, it’s never quite possible to make it into the clique, and even if you are accepted, you might be spit out again without notice. Like an amoeba that circles and surrounds an object, but never allows the object to permeate; eventually, the amoeba retracts its embrace, and the object floats alone again.  (I’m a melodramatic nerd, and likely paranoid as well). But…

Where is the group of friends for every occasion? Where are my Kristy, Mary-Anne, Stacey, et al? Where is my Baby-sitters Club?

I’ve got some solid friendships already, but those tend to be singular, and really, those hurt me enough as it is (and I let them down as well).  Why would I want to find a group of people that could hurt me? Why would I risk more relational pain? Heck, why even bother making friends with new individuals?

Well, hopefully because sometimes the risk pays off.

I had the pleasure of having breakfast with a lovely woman this morning. I’ll admit, I’ve been eyeing her at church.  She is quiet and composed and, well, lovely. Outwardly, she seems quite the opposite of me.

Despite apparent contrast, conversation was fluid; she is insightful and funny and open. It could be the start of a beautiful thing.  She even gave me a hug (I wanted one, but didn’t want to initiate, so I’m glad she did).

It may not result in any group inclusion, but perhaps my chances have passed for a Baby-sitters Club anyhow. I need to become okay with that. Maybe I should go read Nancy Drew instead. (Really, follow the link and read that description, the quoted part… who wouldn’t want to be that girl?).

Jennifer

Out for beers

I did something this evening that’s difficult for me: I invited myself out. Ha. Maybe this is difficult for a reason; but anyway, I did it. I hung out with the boys. We drank beers and talked about girls. I loved it. Not only did we go to an area of the city I’ve never been to, but it was refreshing to hang out with them. I had a boys night, basically. First we drank beer and played PS3 , then we went out for more beers in the wide-narrow alley, which I’ve been meaning to visit, as it is.

In short: It was great, and totally worth the risk of the self-invite.

Sara

Let the festivities begin!

In my world, many people are always coming and going. It is interesting to me that God has called me to such a place, as one of the most traumatic experiences from my childhood was the fact that I would always make great friends, and they would always move away. Here at the castle, we have different schools starting at different times and I usually have about three months to hang out with the students (and sometimes staff) before they return to their homes. A lot of people here don’t really interact with the students for this very reason. They get close, develop a sweet friendship, then they leave and are never to be seen again. Not this Canadian!! It might have something to do with my people-person husband who loves meeting new people and hearing their stories. He thrives on things like this, where I’m happy either sitting at home alone, or having people over. I think he pushes me in the right direction.

All that being said, I intentionally hung out with one of the students from another school, who is leaving this Sunday. She is from the states, and is incredibly funny. We hit it off right away, but haven’t had a lot of time to really hang out. So, we planned a date. We were going to just watch a movie or something, then I decided that we should do something off the list. Two items in one night!! WOOT! So, we are friends (even on facebook which makes it official) and she is still leaving, but will be back in Switzerland for six months next year. So, I will see her again. Not going to lie, pretty excited about that. I decided that intentional friendship is the best kind, whether it’s with new people from all over the world, or people you have known for years and love a lot.

Stephanie

Welcome to The List II

6 women (see “Participants”)

3 continents (see the locations in “Participants”)

27 challenges (see “Items of The List II”)

1.5 months (December 1, 2009 – January 15, 2010)

many reasons (see “What Is The List II?”)

1 blog (bravo! you’ve found it!)

hopefully regular updates and reflections on how we’re all faring with this undertaking…