slovakia...

There are times when Slovakia just pops into my mind, and it'll feel like another lifetime ago, almost unreal. Then there are moments where I find myself just remembering all the memories, feeling like it was just yesterday, and missing every second of it. Times when I wonder how all the little kids we met are, how the teenagers are, and how Otto is doing there. Those are the times when I wish I made more of it, and it breaks my heart that I didn't.

Looking back on it now, I'd go back and do it all again in a heartbeat - even all 39 awkward, long, repetitive Canada presentations.

Like seriously, it's cheesy, but it's true. I can close my eyes and still remember walking down those streets in Lucenec bright and early in the morning to meet up with the others, buying instant coffee from the vending machine of our random hostel place just because it would warm us up during our 15 minute walk...and hey, it was only like 50 eurocents? man, i don't even remember :( ...carrying my purple duffel bag thing to carry my clothes/ Bible/ team stuff for the day...wearing a kajillion layers. Then walking to the place where everyone else was staying...walking into the dining hall and eating breakfast with warm milk..and suchh good yogurt..talking about random musicals with everybody. Writing quotes in the quote book...planning each Canada presentation until finally perfecting it in the end. Going to ...shoot what was the grocery store called?! to buy milka bars..and going to random cafes to buy cappucinos and gelatos just because we could. Planning for crisis centers...and reality klubs...meeting all those teenagers and kids, then having to say goodbye..twice. Then having team time in the guys' smelly room at night...interesting team games that had everyone cracking up, doing team devos...going through James and 1 Peter..Eating more milka bars..and lots more walking. Seeing castles, eating tons of sourkraut...doing more reality klubs and meeting some creepy guys along the way... Eating gigantic pizzas in Nitra and seeing some castles...finally heading home, and taking long trains from one country to the other (just like in the books)...Man, I miss it like crazy.

Mmm, I guess that's why I don't like to think about it. It's like that Summer Girls song, by LFO..."My mind takes me back there oh so quick..."