Orientation!

Hello everyone! This week has been an exciting one. Joshua had and is still in the midst of a long, very informative orientation. We have made our way through library tours, Divinity school tours and many many sessions. I (Alissa) got to spend this week with him, learning all that he was learning. It has been very helpful to me, allowing me to meet the people he will be spending his time with and getting oriented with what his life may be like during the day. Joshua and I began the week apprehensive to meet people and not sure how to begin conversations but as time has progressed so have our skills. We have spoken with students from all over the world all coming to Yale to study the same thing. The Divinity school has chapel everyday, varying in denominational format, yet this week chapel has been conducted in the Episcopalian tradition. Each day after chapel, coffee hour is held outside, weather permitting. Neither of us are coffee drinkers but they have tea as well which Joshua has enjoyed at times. The rest of the sessions have been what you would expect at a grad school orientation and I have skipped some that Joshua had to go to. The best thing this week has been the food. They have been serving us very well and we have gotten a taste of some of the classic food here in New Haven. This city is known for its food and if you talk to anyone from around here one of the first things they do is tell you about all the restaurants that you need to go to. There is a huge international food presence and we got to experience some of that. The first day we had some Mediterranean food, which we both agreed was not our favorite. We have had "soul food" and the local international food carts. There are a couple of places on campus that are prime locations during lunch time, as 8ish food carts line up and serve a large plate of food for about $5. Joshua and I both tried the Kati Rolls (also called Bengali Burritos) which were very good. Yesterday we were served New Haven pizza. Pizza is a huge deal around here as they claim they are the inventors of what we know as pizza. Each person has an opinion whether Pepe's or Modern is the best. We got to try multiple places and I think I would say Pepe's is the best. I would never say it to a native but I didn't think the pizza was the best I had ever had. It's good though. It's thin crust, wood cooked and I generally like the thick, hearty pizza. Joshua also thought Pepe's was the best. We got to spend an evening at the Chi Alpha leader's house (the people we spent the night with at first). They got together a bunch of people who are affiliated with the Assemblies of God or want to get involved in that ministry. We are excited to begin helping on Friday nights with that! There was a jazz festival downtown a little bit ago that we went to. It is a nice walk (a little over a mile) and free entertainment.

The Jazz festival

 

If you guys would continue to pray for things to work out with our jobs that would be very appreciated. At this point, I am not sure what I am going to be doing. I have not yet heard from the original school I was hoping to work at so I am looking at some other positions and going to be putting out applications. Joshua is looking forward to school starting. Next Wednesday is when classes begin! It is going to be a lot but we all know he is going to do great!

Joshua and Alissa