TESOL: And just like that, it’s over

Posted by the brookses on August 13, 2010 · Comments Off

Eoghan and Hannah on the swings near the mess hall.

AS ALWAYS, TESOL WAS A BLAST THIS YEAR. And with its sudden end comes an explosive mix of emotions. Cortnie and I would have been alright to stay in Montana a little longer. If we hadn’t jobs and an apartment to come home to, then we probably would have stayed. The sense of community is so strong while living on the YWAM base that we–especially Cortnie–didn’t want to return to Portland. The fact that Eoghan is spending all his time with us–his parents–used to be a good thing. But now I wish there were other kids his age who knew his name and would call to him from across the street, the way Eoghan’s friends in Montana would everyday. This point, more than any other makes me upset about living in Portland–so far from our deeply-rooted networks of friends and family in Montana and California. There are many kids for Eoghan to play with around this city, but no one remembers his name. (And I know if we drove home to California or to the Lakeside base today, as soon as we would have arrived a few voices–both big and small–would be calling “Eoghan, Eoghan!” and it would be as though we had never left.)

Huckleberry picking with a few students

I joked with some of our students, “We should make this a two-month school. That way, we work half as hard and stay twice as long.” One of the hardest parts to our departure was how we were so busy to the very end. The last two days were a mad scramble to close the school, pack our things, and jump the train to make it home on time. There were a lot of folks we never said goodbye to. And a number of them won’t be in Montana next year, some won’t even be on the continent. So that’s kind of rough.

So now we find ourselves back in Portland with a lot of new feelings and distant friends, and we have a lot to process now as we look to whatever may be next. Do we plan for full-time missions with YWAM? Short-term trips teaching ESL overseas? Do we move home for a few months to have the baby? Do we do as the Asians do, and have the baby in Thailand, or Korea, or Nepal? Do we stay here in Portland continuing to work and save, and make new friends, and have the baby here instead?

Watermelon at Montana Night: A BBQ and shindig for the whole base

One great thing has been how our feelings have changed since returning to Oregon. We’re remembering how much we love this city and why we came. We’ve already met some amazing new people and are inspired to try a few new things during a new season. Speaking of seasons, we’re also excited about foraging the city for fruits and herbs and things. We’ve scoped out a beautiful fig tree around the corner, and a giant-sized plum tree nearby. This will be an exciting new season as we glean from our surroundings and find fruit for the future. [andrew]

Movie night at Theron & Nicola's: Theron did his DTS with Cort in 2003, and Nicola did her TESOL with us in 2005. They lead the School of Worship and are having a baby next month!