Thanksgiving

In the mounting tension of the cold war, I (nearly) forgot to tell you about the holiday! Yes, America realizes that the last post was the day after Thanksgiving (commonly known to the host nation as Black Friday) and nothing was mentioned about the fact that this was the first Thanksgiving for Spain and the first American Thanksgiving for Korea. So here is how it went:

It was early on in the UN saga that the first words regarding this milestone weekend were said. America believes it was Korea that first mentioned it. Korea had heard from school one day and came home all confused about this: "Friday...Black...?" America knew exactly what it meant immediately.

"Oh you mean Black Friday, right?" America was right, Black Friday was the topic of some sort of conversation at school that day and America went right into explaining what it was all about.

Spain, a week or so later: "There is a Black Friday?" And again, with some weird sort of pride, spoke up about the momentous occasion.

Both of these conversations ended with, "If you want to see what a crazy American is, go to the mall on Black Friday!" There was a bit more talk about Black Friday between then and now, but first, on to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was first mentioned in the UN around the time Thanksgiving rolled around in Korea, early October. Spain and Korea were in the conversation at the same time and America had mentioned that when Thanksgiving in the host nation people don't feel hungry for three days. Spain listened in disbelief and did not believe that this was at all possible.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and three and a half days off school finally arrived. The UN was once again, packed into the UN-Mobile to head north to visit those Netherlanders to start the eating season. The amount of food and people and the organization of the whole feast was quite a spectacle in and of itself but half way through the meal, sitting right between Korea and Spain, America looks over at Spain and says, "Do you see now why people are not hungry for three days?" Spain nodded, again with disbelief, that this was indeed possible. And at this point, Spain had already cleared a heaping plate and was trying to ration the second helping all while America was also trying to tell the country that there were four different desserts to choose from. ...Or indulge in. Most definitely Spain was enthralled with this 'real American tradition'.

So there the three member nations were...stuffed (Fiji had fed the masses with those who seek to end world hunger). And it was on to Black Friday. America had an ally come and stay the night in the UN HQ so that when the clocked ticked that magical hour, America, it's ally, and Korea would rise from the dead and go shopping.

Fiji took Spain shopping at midnight when the sales started and Spain got to see the Crazy American first hand: a fist fight at Walmart. (Now, was that a safe thing to do...Walmart on Black Friday? ...Probably not but Spain is all for anything American). Kudos goes to Spain because Spain first shopped with Fiji, came home, and a few hours later, went shopping again with allies and stayed out till 6:30am!

(Back Story: Spain, about a week before had asked America if the country could go Black Friday shopping with some allies and "they want to sleep on the street". America, without hesitation, adamantly said no and that was the end of that discussion. America could not even imagine explaining that to Spain's home countrymen: "Dear ... I'm sorry to have to send you this email, but it seems to be that Spain got murdered/mugged/robbed/hurt in some form/(fill in the blank) while sleeping on the street waiting for a store to open. ..." That was enough to satisfy Spain and the topic was never brought up again.)

Anyway, America, it's ally, and Korea got up at 4 and were quickly out the door and shopping by 4:30, coffee by 6am, and back home by 8am with treasures in hand. The best deal of the day was $150 off one item. The best shop with sales was Bath and Body Works were one of us saved over $120 in one purchase. Korea thought it was nuts when America finally pointed out that the mall, at 5:30am, was just as busy as a Saturday night when a blockbuster movie comes out.

Crazy Americans! It was a good day all around. The UN (plus one) hung out, laughed, and decorated for Christmas, wrapped newly bought presents (and some that were stashed from earlier Christmas shopping) as one big happy coalition and none could be more thankful than that than America.

Oh wait, one moment of tension that was released today (the next day). America collects a city and brings it out as christmas/winter decorations. Well, one building is an embassy and since there were no Korean flags that came in the box, this year it ends up being the Spain Embassy for lack of a more meaningful option. Korea wasn't so keen on that idea but Korea also discovered today that one of the buildings has Korean writing all over it: its a Korean market!

Today, America is thankful for America. More specifically, that there are crazy American's to watch at 5:30am on Black Friday.

Ecclesiates 3:8

Well, back in the day the US was in a stalemate with Russia and for the most part people in the world just lived with bated breath.

Korea and Spain had entered into a cold war a few weeks ago with America forced into the facilitator position and Fiji trying not to get involved any more than it had to be. Nothing too major happened because as that weekend drew to a close, tension was all released, decisions had been made, and the member nations had made amends and peace resolutions where needed. Then there was peace in the United Nations Headquarters once again.

America had learned a valuable lesson. America blogged about that in the previous post.

Fiji had learned a lesson. Made decisions. And then cooked dinner (the Fijians and their eating!!).

Spain had learned some important life lessons that will not soon be forgotten. Spain is a much better person because of it too.

America thinks that Korea had also learned some lessons although because Korea is not very expressive, it was hard to tell.

The weekend ended and the next week started to unfold. America was pretty sure at this point that the past was in the past and at the end of the first few days of the week, the headquarters definitely had a different, lighter, more positive aire to them. It was incredible! The four member nations were working together as if they had been a coalition all along. But under the surface, there was still mounting tension that America and Fiji hadn't fully nipped in the butt (and most definitely needed too).

Now, if one thinks about it, one may not be surprised to learn that there are plenty of miscommunications that happen within the walls of these united nations. And the four member nations were walking into one large miscommunication without America or Fiji noticing (or Spain either for that reason). Korea seemed to change the most on the outside but on the inside Korea hadn't changed as much as it had seemed. Therefore, the new resolutions that came out of the cold war were pretty much counterproductive in a MAJOR way.

Well, Korea made itself clear a few days ago and the UN has to rewrite the peace resolutions and I'm sure this will take a bit more time. Grrr....right before the UN celebrates Thanksgiving and right as the calendar steamrolls into the busy holiday and end of semester season! America will definitely be posting minutes about how this all unfolds but in the meantime, America wants the readers, citizens of the world, and all those who believe in the church universal to keep us in the thoughts and prayers. All the member nations are intact and no one is at risk of a hot war (fyi).

Brilliant Epiphany

America learned a valueable lesson this weekend despite all attempts by past professors (sorry Dr. W), this was a lesson America was doomed to learn from the School of Hard Knocks. America learned what freewill is really all about, or rather, has a better understanding of what freewill really means.

It used to be that freewill meant the ability God gave us to choose and that this was given and applied to concrete things: things such as career and whether or not to believe in God, that sort of thing. As America grew up and understood more finer points of life, it became clear that freewill also incorporated the ability to choose what to do or not to do when following through on these sorts of commitments for example, following God, what exactly to do and not to do when calling oneself a Christian. Then there were the points in time where freewill meant to make any decision whatsoever with or without consulting God — isn't that what freewill is anyway???

Well, this is all very well and good, and for the most part America still believes these are important aspects of freewill but to take it one step farther, and after the weekend's events, the ability God gave each individual to freely choose, America thinks, has the most to do with feelings: not how to feel as a reaction, but what to feel proactively — God always meant us to be proactive, Paul writes about that a lot, specifically in Philippians 4:8. Freewill must mean that we have the ability to choose what we feel and as a response to that, our actions flow without choice, lest we become a hypocrite and in reality, not choosing what we said we chose (are you confused yet?).

Dispite difficult situations, if America chooses to look at situations optimistically, the actions that flow from that choice will already be chosen, just like if one chooses to follow a certain political/philosophical thought, the actions that support that philosophy calls for will also be followed based on the previous choice of following that thought. Freewill then, has less to do with our daily decisions and more to do with what we choose to feel and what we choose to commit to.

Most people who have been married a significant amount of time will be quick to say - or should be quick to say - that loving the person they are married to is frequently enough, a choice and not something they feel. As a result of that choice, the one will do things toward the spouse that reflect the choice to love. Therefore, the things they do are not the choice, the choice is what they choose to feel...not how they choose to feel. See the difference?

Today, America would like to thank, not a country, but a few States within her own country that reflect the fact that this has been told to her a number of times but thanks to this weekend, Spain, Korea, and Fiji brought home this brilliant epiphany in a much clearer light: Iowa, Michigan, and Florida (to some extent).

It Must Also Be Said

America does not say this enough. America doesn't think any parent - biological or rent-a-nation parent - can say this enough. So America is making it public record.

America loves Spain and Korea. America loves their uniqueness, their color and zest for life, and the things that drive America nuts. America can remember what life was like before Spain and Korea joined Fiji and America in the house and those days were quiet and dull and the house was too big for the two countries. And the fact that Spain and Korea have joined the UN has been an absolute gift from God, an unbelievable gift.

Has it been stressful? Absolutely.

Has America wanted to leave and find a quite place anywhere but the house? Absolutely.

Has America had no answers for something one country needed or wanted? Most definitely, yes.

But America also believes that things are both hard and easy, stressful and relaxing, good and bad to the same extent. With these countries and situations, highs are so high and America understands God works the most in the lowest lows, so getting up in the morning to embrace of all the joys and all of the challenges, even the challenge of when to leave each day — 7:23am or 7:43am — is not a problem at all for America.

America loves these kids and understands what lies under the roof of the United Nations Headquarters each night. It wasn't long after the fourth member nation joined the UN when America looked around the living room while watching a movie and realized that more hopes and dreams sat in the room with the country than could ever be imagined.

America had, sitting next to her, the hopes and dreams of one set of parents who had entrusted one of two children in their family. There, watching that movie, sat at such a tender age, a child two parents had let go of. So many unknowns, a precious gift full of possibilities and talents that had come to live with virtual strangers in a land so far away. America has often wondered what hopes and dreams the parents had for this beautiful individual.

On the other side there sat another precious gift another set of parents had let go of. Bursting into adulthood and independence, trying to grasp all the things going on in a language, cultural norms, and a physical environment largely unfamiliar, there sat a bundle of joy two people experienced taking home from the hospital so long ago, an experience they would only have one time. And what was to become of this young person? What would the next five, ten, or fifteen years bring?

And there, sitting next to me, sat two lives America (and Fiji) were responsible for. It isn't that the two countries can't take care of themselves, they are wonderfully able to manage, be responsible for, and follow through on their own personal lives and work. It is gravity of making sure their launch into adulthood and their launch into the rest of their lives is in the direction that is best suited for each of them. This is the launch that happens daily — no matter where we live, who we live with, or what our current situation demands of us. We each make decisions every day, large and small, that help define and direct who we are and where we go. We choose our values. We choose our friends. We choose who and what to serve. We choose whether or not to follow our dreams. Most importantly, we choose whether or not to demand more of ourselves. In the end these are the things that determine the quality and depth of life.

I love these two kids. And I am thankful for (leaving the names out) both Spain and Korea and I appreciate and treasure what both sets of parents have entrusted to Don and I. We do not take this lightly but we open our home and embrace it with all that we can.

"Oh My Word"

So the UN left early this morning for school. OMW...is all America has to say.

If you've been following this UN Saga then you know this is the ever present issue, all the world apparently hangs on it. America left early purposely just to show Spain and Korea what would happen if the system was ruptured. Oh yeah, like the world was really going to end. America figured that if the UN left early the UN-Mobile would just be tied up in traffic with four-hundred-million other people trying to beat the bell in an effort to start the day off right.

America was right. The UN-mobile left a whole whopping four minutes early...7:26 which probably ended up being 6 or 7 minutes earlier than normal. And we sat in the middle of the road waiting for the traffic to clear so the UN-mobile could turn into the school's driveway.

Mostly, the UN left early because everyone was ready and America didn't want to wait, America wanted the day to move along swiftly.

America wasn't bothered by it. It was way to early to be bothered by such a trivial issue. Spain and Korea were going to be to school on time. America was more concerned with that morning's cup of coffee (the alternative to a morning nap which has the chance of ruining a perfect hair day) but America also knows that of all the things going on in the world this is an important issue to some countries.

The UN, well, three member nations of the UN, waited "ever so patiently". Normal chit-chat went on about after school activities during the drive to the school and then we approached the school and saw the endless line of headlights pouring into the driveway. And then we waited for God to part the sea:

Spain voiced an opinion and so did Korea. America let it go because these are the natural responses, the natural course, of how these things go. But, these things also need to be wrapped up and done with.

Then America finally spoke up. "This is the end of the discussion." Both countries have gotten their way, everything was attempted. We now will leave at the normal time. America will just have to find something to do to fill five minutes of time in the morning.

All-in-all, Spain and Korea got to school about one or two minutes earlier than normal. Hardly even noticeable to the naked eye.

Today America is thankful for Greece. They have real problems.

Trick Or Treat, Smell My Feet

The United Nations has survived Halloween.

It wasn't difficult. Spain had been talking for weeks about anything and everything Halloween: What is it all about? Where are the greatest parties? What do you do? What are we going to do? And on and on... (America is glad it is finally over!) Halloween isn't much more than Trick or Treating here at the United Nations and when that was discovered by Spain, the country probably went through an economic depression. "But it's Halloween and it's in America! Everyone talks about going to America for halloween and you don't do anything?" Nope.

Spain finally found something to do. Spain and some allies went trick or treating, which Spain kept referring to as 'Trick and Treating'. This gave him an ear full from America: "It is trick OR treating...OR. You either get a treat or you trick, not both!" (No, Spain was not allowed to terrorize the world around him, it was treat or nothing. The UN does not promote in anyway terrorism to any extent...even if it is par for the course on a pagan holiday.)

Korea couldn't have been bothered by Halloween. Even though no homework was to be had, Korea still did not have any desire to participate in anyway other than passing candy out the door so Korea and America watched psychological thriller, Hitchcock's Psycho in between trick or treaters.

America had a great time bonding with Korea and was totally content that the evening entailed just that. Gasps were heard at every tense moment and in the end of the 'who dunit' mystery, Korea and America had closure and nothing kept us up all night. <>

Sad thing though for the United Nations: Spain donated a dish for dinner that Fiji and America made and Spain was out trick or treating during the dinner hour and missed the entire thing. Sad note also, Spain likes thriller/scary movies and wasn't home to watch. Oh well, perhaps next time.

Today, America is thankful for Japan...they always seem to be self-controlled.