the most beautiful word in the norwegian language

i really hate that word, pooped, but i couldn't think of any other word to describe how i feel. i am pooped. what an exhausting week in every sense of the word. it's 9 o'clock now and today i have been (surprise upon surprise) in the kitchen most of the day - doing dishes. i also had Bible study and i hate that sinking feeling that more often than not arrives in my stomach after i've taught, causing me to evaluate everything that came out of my mouth. anyway, it's over with, hallelujah. monday we have a lovefeast for the students so another staff, thomas, and i walked around town asking asian restaurants if they wanted to donate anything for our asian themed party. in the process, i found a pretty cheap restaurant ($14 a meal) and shared dinner with two other for-en-ger (as we're often called, aka foreigner) friends, played cards for a couple hours, and am now getting ready to watch a movie.

i have to admit, i'm extremely prideful. i know. i don't need anyone to tell me - i think about it quite often. but i'm learning that my pride has got to leave. i left team expansion 2 years ago burned out and depressed because of my pride, because i didn't want to admit i couldn't handle everything on my own. this whole kitchen thing (have i said that i'm now known as "the kitchen girl?" disgusting.) has left me never even wanting to be near food (my children will be born self-sufficient and we will only eat food that comes straight from the ground, cooked over an open fire in the middle of a field. they will never even know what a kitchen is.) and also really drained. i don't want to be drained. i want to have energy to hang out with the students (by the way, i have the two best girls - karen amalie and marianne), time to spend quality time with friends, and i want to actually be home once in a while. so, all that to say that i'm learning to cut the pride and say "nei."