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The freedom of being in a big city.

I love cities. I didn’t realize just how much I love the freedom of being able to walk everywhere and hear the sound of traffic outside my room, and how much I enjoy the hustle and bustle that is so much a part of big cities. The last few days I’ve taken lots of walks, even if it’s been really cold.

And it’s pretty safe here also. I asked someone if it was dangerous to walk outside at night on my own, and she said that it was totally safe. And that is the feeling that I’ve had when I’ve been walking around in the day time. I haven’t felt the need to clutch my handbag tightly and be aware of everyone around me at all times. It just feels safe, and that’s really nice.

I also found online a gym that offers Les Mills classes (for those of you who are unfamiliar with what that means, in Fortaleza, Brazil, I used to do a class called BodyCombat which is like an aerobic class based on various martial arts, so punches and kicks and jumps. I absolutely loved it! Best exercise I’ve ever done. And they also have a few other types of classes I would do as well). It’s literally 10 minutes to walk from where I’m staying. I hope I can negotiate with them to let me join for the 7 weeks I’m here at a price I can afford. It would bring me so much joy (and would be good for me too, although I am getting a lot of exercise walking up and down three flights of stairs multiple times a day).

This weekend had been quite chilled (this evening I learnt a new card game called “phase10”), but tomorrow we start having teaching and outreach. Our schedule is around 50 hours a week all included which is a lot, yet that’s what it was in Kansas City so I think I’ll be fine. Looking forward to getting stuck in and learn and find God’s heart in what I hear and learn. I’m excited and I will keep writing....for those who are interested in reading, but as always, mostly for myself...

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