Getting Settled and Learning Greek

My first week of Greek ended yesterday, and I have to say I've learned a lot already.

It turns out that I really rather enjoy Greek, I think mainly because I love learning and this is something entirely new to me, but also within my capabilities. Every day we have class from 9 to 12:30, with a break for chapel, then several of us take a half hour break for lunch and get together to work on our homework together, which usually ends up taking around three hours. So, almost my entire life is Greek right now.

Luckily, I rather like my classmates, and I am enjoying getting to know them between translations. Spending so much time working on Greek with these other people this week is forcing me to settle in, which is a good thing, I think. I'm already feeling more comfortable at the seminary and my apartment and I'm getting used to living here.

Things have been made slightly more difficult for me this week through a large act of clumsiness on my part. I have a storage unit in the basement, and I am keeping my moving boxes there (I know I'll need them again). So as I unpack boxes, I take them down three flights of stairs. Well on Sunday afternoon I was carrying a rather large box and I couldn't see my feet. This became a problem when I missed the very last step I needed to take and fell, rolling both of my ankles.

Luckily, a man who lives on the first floor heard me fall and my moans of pain and came to offer assistance. I managed to get myself back on my feet and hauled myself back upstairs where I stayed off them and iced them for the rest of the evening. The next morning I was rather pleased that I did not have to walk too far to get to class, as I still was in a lot of pain and my ankles were both considerably larger than they should be. I usually only roll one ankle if I do that, and it's been an adjustment dealing with pain in both of them.

I'm healing rather well, however, and every morning I wake up feeling a little better. In a week or two they should be entirely back to normal again. I might start practicing some ankle strengthening exercises though, when I can, because this kind of thing happens to me more often than I'd like.

One thing I'm really enjoying here is the fact that my faith is really part of my daily life at seminary. It's different to pray together before every class and to go to chapel every day, but I really love it. And another reason Greek is fascinating to me is the way it brings insight into the reading of the Bible. My class had a discussion about the translation of Ephesians 2:10 yesterday that hinged on one simple preposition, and could have very different meanings for our understanding of faith and good works. While in some ways, understanding the intricacies of the language the Bible was written in just bring up more things to disagree about, it also provides a deeper understanding of the writers who were helping to form our religion and understanding the intricacies gives me a lot of respect for translators as well as a better understanding of the mysteries of our faith. And it makes me excited for the learning ahead of me while I'm here.

I did do one thing this week that had nothing to do with Greek, at least. Last night, when I was taking a decided break from any Greek at all, I was invited to dinner and the Clippers game with the Summer Samplarians. The Seminary Sampler program is one they do here every summer which introduces high school students to the seminary and allows them to explore their own faith, and I met last year's group when I was visiting last summer. We went  out to dinner and then to the game and I had a lovely time getting to know the students, as well as several of the counselors who are students of the seminary. It was a nice break  and it was a great evening to spend outside, because the rain finally stopped and it was just beautiful weather.

This weekend I will still be working, although I'll have a fair bit of time for rest as well. I have to do a translation of I John 4:1-6 for a review of all the Greek I've already learned, and I have to finish making myself a budget so I know how much money I need to borrow to get myself through the Greek session. I'm about to make my first step into debt and paying for school myself, which is a little scary, but I've got some people here who can advise me well and I think I'll be able to do well with it.

Then I just have five more weeks of Greek and I am curious to see how they go. Dr. Bryant, our teacher, is very good trying to make sure everyone has a way of learning that will work for them as well as making it exciting to see what every translation has in store.

Wish me luck and send up prayers,

Kathryn