I'm Well Aware, Delaware

I seem to have fixed my new blog look the best I know how, though I realized only 15 hours into the process that what I really wanted was polkadots. But we're all gonna have to live with the dots for a while because I'm too exhausted with the process to fix it anytime soon.

My post about Delaware will probably be as short as my trip was and as exciting as Delaware is capable of being. Jacob insisted I come with him on this overnight trip, probably for two reasons: a) He wanted company to ease the nerves involving his big test and b) He was concerned, as he should have been, that I would light a match to our new apartment and walk away. 

So I halfheartedly followed. Jacob thought he was so funny by starting every sentence with "I'm well aware, Delaware, that _______" and then filling in the blank with something totally unrelated. This was how we spent the 4 hour drive down. 4 hours because it was Friday night on the New Jersey turnpike. Awesome timing, us. 

Probably the most notable event was that I locked my keys in the car and it took 5 phone calls to find someone willing to bail me out. 2 hours of my life that I spent reacquainting myself with country life, though. We both forgot how slow and simple things can be--and it's how I've spent most of my life. I miss the way grass smells and talking to friendly cashiers. But I found myself a little itchy to get back to big city life after only a few hours.

While Jacob was in his 9 hour test, I went to the mall. Because in a place like Delaware, there are two options--historical monument and mall. Not plural. One historical monument, one mall.

 I spent the hot part of the afternoon at the mall, mostly looking for a comfy pair of shoes. FYI--Delaware is sold out of Birkenstocks. However, the lady at the flat iron counter grabbed me and made me sit for a hair curling session. The lady at the Dior makeup counter made me sit for a makeup tutorial. I found myself thinking, Am I really that pathetic? Do I have "Help me!" written all over? Don't answer those questions. It passed the time, at least, and Jacob liked the makeup so much he went and bought it from Dior lady. 

The one monument. "The First State!" It was sort of interesting for a few minutes. With comfier shoes, it might have lasted a whole 30 minutes.

Killing time at the Delaware river, watching a wedding party and lots of dogs. Regular, mutt style dogs whose owners aren't wearing designer shoes and carrying little pink poop bags. They even ran without a leash!

*********************  BEGIN NEW TOPIC NOW*****************

It's hard for me to describe my neighborhood to anyone, mostly because it's nothing I've experienced before. It's not like living in a neighborhood that's 80% Latin and we are the minorities. Here, everyone is a minority. There are no dominant ethnicities. Keep in mind that this is unique to New York City, where most people live in a dominant ethnic group. Harlem is predominantly black, Forest Hills is Asian, etc. We are dozens of nationalities all at once.

It's considered one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city, closely behind a few spots in Queens. This has advantages and disadvantages. It's a very safe place, though. We have never questioned or felt concern for our safety here.

A lovely reminder about parking:

Right outside our doors last week we had a Bangladeshi street festival. Jacob and I walked around anyway, well aware that we were literally the ONLY white Americans in the entire group. ONLY.

Three ladies cuddle together and eat ice cream cones. Ice cream is extremely popular among our Muslim neighbors.

I saw a blonde lady yesterday. I pointed her out to Jacob and said, "What is she doing here?? She's in the wrong neighborhood!"  It took me a minute to realize how ridiculous I sounded.

*************SOME THOUGHTS ON RELIGION***************

My favorite part of living here is my ward. It's one of the most genuine, welcoming congregations I've been to. It's in an old Protestant church that's been refitted for LDS services. It's beautiful and vintage-y. The congregation is like my neighborhood--so diverse that there are no majority groups. White, Latin, Black, Chinese, etc. Elder Hallstrom from the Seventy showed up on Sunday and talked about diversity and our ward. He mentioned that it's a great way to learn teamwork and how important individual members are. Also, that the church is for everyone and people usually feel very comfortable in a diverse congregation. I appreciated his words. I also accidentally ran right into him in the hallway, so that's real special of me.

I mentioned that we are in a safe place. We are also in a very religious, pious place, where people are practicing their religion in public ways. They wear special clothes (so do I--but they are much small and not noticeable.) They observe the Sabbath (so do I--but I use electricity and cook whatever I want.) They pray openly and meticulously (....I guess I kind of do but it's no comparison.) I'm just saying', in some circles I am considered a super straight-laced, tightly wound church geek. In these circles, I am a lazy Christian heathen. No one is judging or calling me out--don't get me wrong. It's just that in a place where so many world religions come together, I've realized what a difference there is in our worship styles. It makes me not want to complain about the service I give or the commandments I follow, because I see so many that follow a much stricter regime and do it so wholeheartedly. With really hot clothes on all summer.