Part 2: the halfway point

Here I am, sitting at my desk, checking the dates for my final exams and securing housing for second semester back in Minneapolis. Everything around me is screaming "You're almost done!" I don't like it at all.

Even life at my homestay is joining the chant. Now, don't get me wrong. Everything is going really well. I'm very lucky to have been placed with my host family.

But, the other day, I feel like my host mother, Valerie, and I encountered the first sign that we are truly comfortable with each other: we disagreed.

My host mom is pretty religious. She prays, loves worship music, attends service, and is very involved in her church. None of that bothers me at all...okay, so maybe sometimes the evangelical worship music grates on my ears. But the other day on the news, they were doing some story on christianity in the states, and showed clips of big amphitheater worship services. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but Evangelical Christianity in the U.s. scares me. I don't like. Well, of course, I tried to explain my view, and was stopped short by my host mom stating that she was an evangelical. Whoooops. Major foot in mouth moment. I had no idea that she was.

Then I tried to explain that there was a difference...because there is. Unfortunately, the language barrier kept my message from coming in clear, and my host mom just thought I was over generalizing. I don't think I am. I am afraid of any religion that thinks the Bible should be taken literally, that homosexuality is a sin, and that evolution is a sham. I'm sorry everyone, that's just how I feel.

Later that night, I messed up again. It was my host sister's birthday, so we all sat together to watch a movie that I brought. I thought that they would like it, since it's set in Paris, and lots of the dialogue is in french. Unfortunately, I forgot that a lot of the humor is a tad risque....which my host mom did not appreciate. When I asked if she liked it, she flatly told me no. Whoooops again.

But, that was one weird night out of many wonderful ones. And I'm trying to think less about time, and more about experiences. I guess maybe I just had a few downer days.

Well, that's all for now.

Until next time,
Love,
Becca