At least I think it's day 42?
I have to admit I've been getting pretty lax on writing my daily journals. When you come to the end of a trip like this, it just seems like a waste of precious time.
Speaking of time, it is currently 3am here and I am up writing a screenplay. Well, taking a break really...I am at 80 pages right now.
I've discovered something really interesting through this class too-I'm great at writing characters! I mean I already knew that I could write up a character bio for acting purposes but I mean really, I feel like I do a really good job making people.
Not that that's great for much practically, however it is something that I can be confident about which is really encouraging.
In case you don't know, I'm not great at much. I'm decent at lots of things.
So this class has been a ton of fun and I hate to see my creativity playground leave so soon, however it is nice to see the other side of the script, if you will.
Prague is gorgeous as ever. Every day closer to the end makes my heart break a little thinking about how I could possibly say goodbye to this city. It's like no other place on earth.
And now I bet you can tell, I write in only two lines or so at a time. Thank you screenwriting. Haha! I didn't notice that before now, it's kind of weird. But I guess it's easier to read?
Here's Elyz saying:
Smirk doesn't mean what you think it means.
~Elyz~
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 36 (Prague, CZ)
For all you out there wondering when I was ever going to post again, Congrats!
Here it is. Be happy.
I actually have been writing a ridiculous amount lately but it's all been channeled to my screenplay "BOHEMIAN." So I have a good excuse for ignoring my blog.
Prague is wonderful. I love it here so very much. It's weird though, as everyone's thoughts turn to leaving, I'm not sure how to describe the feeling. I want to be home with my friends and family. I also want to be here, with these friends and in this place with so much to teach me.
It's paradoxical.
I have this paralyzing fear that I'll come back and turn into "Old Elyz" again. So maybe that's why I'd like to stay...
When we were in Cesky Krumlov a friend wondered aloud what would happen if someone decided to just stay. It's an incredible thought. It's like quicksand of the imagination. To stay, to write and act and serve...here.
And then reality kicks you in the face with a Bachelor's Degree and an Apartment Lease and your pitiful friends and family who would be devastated. So for all those friends and family--I'm not staying, don't freak out.
But the thought is overpowering.
Adventure. Discovery. Freedom. All the things I've found here and found in myself are so heavy, I'm not sure I'll be able to adapt to America again.
Another friend here who has been many places and served in the Peace Corps as well said that she felt like she'd been so many places that none of them felt like home anymore.
Being a Christian I don't mind that as much, but it's still a striking statement. Your home is everywhere and yet nowhere. I am sure that my Home is with my Maker, but while I'm here it all feels like a foreign land.
I said I'd die for Christ in class the other day. I don't think I've ever been more filled with the Spirit. And simply my being able to say that is an encouragement to myself that I have changed. Not that I wouldn't before, but that I'd say that to a class full of not-necessarily-Christian peers.
Not to say I've arrived or am some super-Christian now by any means. But I know whom I serve and it's good to know that my tongue is learning some discipline.
The people here are getting restless. I can't believe no one thought to use this opportunity as a reality show! 50 NCSU students living in the same Hostel for 6 weeks straight! People are either loving or hating each other at this point, which makes everything a bit more complicated.
But life is beautiful like that, and complicated.
Anyway, I'll try to post again later. I've got a concert to catch today!
The Roma,
~Elyz~
Here it is. Be happy.
I actually have been writing a ridiculous amount lately but it's all been channeled to my screenplay "BOHEMIAN." So I have a good excuse for ignoring my blog.
Prague is wonderful. I love it here so very much. It's weird though, as everyone's thoughts turn to leaving, I'm not sure how to describe the feeling. I want to be home with my friends and family. I also want to be here, with these friends and in this place with so much to teach me.
It's paradoxical.
I have this paralyzing fear that I'll come back and turn into "Old Elyz" again. So maybe that's why I'd like to stay...
When we were in Cesky Krumlov a friend wondered aloud what would happen if someone decided to just stay. It's an incredible thought. It's like quicksand of the imagination. To stay, to write and act and serve...here.
And then reality kicks you in the face with a Bachelor's Degree and an Apartment Lease and your pitiful friends and family who would be devastated. So for all those friends and family--I'm not staying, don't freak out.
But the thought is overpowering.
Adventure. Discovery. Freedom. All the things I've found here and found in myself are so heavy, I'm not sure I'll be able to adapt to America again.
Another friend here who has been many places and served in the Peace Corps as well said that she felt like she'd been so many places that none of them felt like home anymore.
Being a Christian I don't mind that as much, but it's still a striking statement. Your home is everywhere and yet nowhere. I am sure that my Home is with my Maker, but while I'm here it all feels like a foreign land.
I said I'd die for Christ in class the other day. I don't think I've ever been more filled with the Spirit. And simply my being able to say that is an encouragement to myself that I have changed. Not that I wouldn't before, but that I'd say that to a class full of not-necessarily-Christian peers.
Not to say I've arrived or am some super-Christian now by any means. But I know whom I serve and it's good to know that my tongue is learning some discipline.
The people here are getting restless. I can't believe no one thought to use this opportunity as a reality show! 50 NCSU students living in the same Hostel for 6 weeks straight! People are either loving or hating each other at this point, which makes everything a bit more complicated.
But life is beautiful like that, and complicated.
Anyway, I'll try to post again later. I've got a concert to catch today!
The Roma,
~Elyz~
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Day 15 (Prague, CZ)
Cathedrals.
So we went to the cathedral inside the Prague Castle yesterday and it inspired me to write this blog.
Imagine, if you will, the Notre Dame. Probably one of the most well-known churches in the world, correct? Imagine the sheer size of the building, the intricacy of the stained glass, the weight of each cyclopean block it is built with. Now imagine the years upon years that it took to build the monstrous church. Imagine the money spent and the hours it required and possibly even the injuries incurred during the building process.
What a waste.
Can you even imagine what all that money and effort could have done if spent reaching out and serving others rather than building a fortress to shut the members off from the "tainted" world? What a monstrosity to our own pride and selfishness. I walked into the huge church and wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Look at this cage we've built for ourselves. I'm not saying we shouldn't build churches at all but just look at all the time and money we've wasted trying to look prestigious to a world that Jesus already told us was going to hate us.
Who are we trying to fool?
Even those who do not believe as we do have told me several times that their main problem with Christianity is that the Christians are hypocrites. Even while I've been abroad I've spoken with a peer who said that it shocked him to see just how the American church shuts itself inside its own walls and refuses to do what the Bible clearly teaches Christ has asked us to do. To go and to serve.
I hope we never put saving face over the Gospel of Christ and serving others. Take a look at yourself, and I will too even though I know it's not pretty. What are we giving up? Correction: Are we giving anything up at all for the sake of Christ?
Let's start now.
Convicted,
Elyz
So we went to the cathedral inside the Prague Castle yesterday and it inspired me to write this blog.
Imagine, if you will, the Notre Dame. Probably one of the most well-known churches in the world, correct? Imagine the sheer size of the building, the intricacy of the stained glass, the weight of each cyclopean block it is built with. Now imagine the years upon years that it took to build the monstrous church. Imagine the money spent and the hours it required and possibly even the injuries incurred during the building process.
What a waste.
Can you even imagine what all that money and effort could have done if spent reaching out and serving others rather than building a fortress to shut the members off from the "tainted" world? What a monstrosity to our own pride and selfishness. I walked into the huge church and wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Look at this cage we've built for ourselves. I'm not saying we shouldn't build churches at all but just look at all the time and money we've wasted trying to look prestigious to a world that Jesus already told us was going to hate us.
Who are we trying to fool?
Even those who do not believe as we do have told me several times that their main problem with Christianity is that the Christians are hypocrites. Even while I've been abroad I've spoken with a peer who said that it shocked him to see just how the American church shuts itself inside its own walls and refuses to do what the Bible clearly teaches Christ has asked us to do. To go and to serve.
I hope we never put saving face over the Gospel of Christ and serving others. Take a look at yourself, and I will too even though I know it's not pretty. What are we giving up? Correction: Are we giving anything up at all for the sake of Christ?
Let's start now.
Convicted,
Elyz
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