Navigating

There was so much to say in class today! In particular, on the topic of maps, I am proud to say that I am very good with maps. When I am familiar with the territory, I am also good without maps. Familiarity, however, comes with time and experience.

As I recall my arrival in St. John's, Newfoundland, I remember not knowing how any of the places we first went were spatially related, even though I had looked at maps before I went. The college campus didn't make sense. I couldn't figure out which doors went where. It was not until I walked the routes a couple of times with more observation that I began to figure out relationships I could remember, and I would still remember how to get around if I went back today. It has been nearly two years since I was there.

Only a few days after our arrival, I went with my fellow missionaries to the Confederate Building for Canada Day festivities. We met up with a couple of friends there and for one reason or another decided to walk to the bay (which is really a small inlet of the Atlantic Ocean). We could see it from where we were standing, on a hill at least a mile away. I can still envision the distance. I can still smell the air. I can still see Signal Hill.

We walked straight away, through the field, across a major street, through another field until we found residential streets. We seemed to be following a stream that kept appearing every so often. I was entranced by the plant life simply along the residential streets. Our path was not planned, but we were guaranteed to arrive downtown if we simply continued to head eastward. It was a bit nerve-racking and tiring, but so worth it for the experience of blazing a trail. I felt confident and safe doing it even though I knew I was completely vulnerable.

I had similar experiences during my study abroad trip in Germany. My host pointed out various landmarks to me and tried to orient me on the way back from the airport, but all to no avail. I was completely disoriented, yet again. I followed Tini to campus the first couple of days, taking the bus route she told me to. I remember that I followed her home through many tiny alleys and short-cuts, but how it all worked out was beyond me! Eventually, we turned the corner where she had parked her car the day before and I finally knew where I was.

I took the bus again. I still didn't quite gather what was where. We rode the U-Bahn (subway) into the center of town and then off toward a friend's house. I had no idea where I was in relation to campus or to my apartment for the month. After a party that evening, Tini continued to try to help orient me. We walked in the dark around this corner and that and never went the direction I expected. I obviously still didn't know where I was.

It took me much longer than I had anticipated to figure out it. A lot of that probably had to do with a lack of sleep, too, though. It was when I started putting together the puzzle for myself, when I chose to walk all the way to school and all the way back in the daylight that I understood where I was. It was when I realized that this is where the party was last night that I began to piece together the path we had taken the night before. It was when I remembered little bits and pieces that I understood my surroundings.

I never got hopelessly lost. I always kept my head on straight enough to find familiarity. If nothing else, hop on the nearest U-Bahn and take it to Kröpcke. From there, I know how to get home.

Poor LauraLee... such was not the case for her...