The "Intraview"

Or is that title too cheesy? I thought it was kinda relating to how we're both interviewing each other, which is already atypical, and we're the ones running or "intra" in relation to the blog. We are not interviewing someone outside of it. Yes? No?

Anyway... We figure it's time that our four readers got a chance to see what's going on with the two of us. I (Edmund) also just wanted to reconnect again.

So I guess the way it's gonna work is that Edmund will ask a question, Kathryn will answer and then ask Edmund a question. We'll keep editing and posting until we're finally done and you all can get a real-time update. Here it goes!

Edmund: So Ms. Scharnhorst, let's start out light. Maui or Germany? Family aside of course.

Kathryn: HA. Okay. *clears throat.* (I always find it annoying when people to the asterisk action thing but it was necessary. I actually did clear my throat because I just ate a Brötchen with butter and salami which necessitated the throat clearing. Mmm Brötchen). Brötchen give Germany a point. The word Brötchen literally means little bread because that's what it is. It's a miniature loaf of bread. And there's a baker like every five feet here so Germans get them fresh baked all the time. They're super delicious with meat or cheese or jelly or just butter. Yum. German food beats nasty Hawaiian food any day. Although I do miss seafood. There's fish here sometimes but I'm landlocked so none of it's fresh. It all tastes really fishy which is gross. But I'm not so into food that I would choose one place over the other. All in all it's really hard to say. I'll say what I find better about each place. Actually I'm not supposed to call anything better or worse just "different." But it annoys me how no ones allowed to disagree with anyone over anything nowadays, so I'm going to anyway. :P That smiley face doesn't accurately convey what I wanted to convey. Oh well. I already predict this is going to be a meandering novel when I'm done. Germany: The food already wins. It's all so delicious. I'm going to have a ton of recipes with me when I come back and throw regular German dinner parties. Also, I LOVE seasons. The only reason I'd like a little more sun is because my hair has gotten so dark and I hate it. But other than my vanity, it's amazing. Everything is so gorgeous as it changes. I took a billion fall pictures, and snow pictures, and when spring comes I'm sure the flowers will be amazing too. Also, Germany is so old. The history is amazing. The terrible parts of German history aside, Martin Luther is from here, and there are some incredible churches. And the really german architecture is so cool. I could just stand and stare it. And it's just amazing to think that this same society has been here for thousands of years. And just the culture is really fascinating and so much less irritating than Hawaiian culture. What I find better about Maui: It's so clear coming over seas that America was founded as a christian nation. The church is almost purely an institution and a tradition here. It's so dead and so not a real part of anyone that I've met's life. Religion as a topic doesn't seem that controversial here, because there doesn't seem to be anyone really on fire so as to make it controversial. People accept it as part of their culture and history, but I haven't met one on fire person. Whereas on Maui, there are tons of true members of the Body of Christ. And on a less important note, I do miss the ocean. Not terribly. It's not an ache or a longing or anything, but somedays I just want to go float in the water and see a turtle or something. But what I've really been learning and realizing being here, is that I am not of this world, just as Jesus it not of this world. Heaven is my home. (One of my favorite songs is "In Exile" by Thrice. Check it out). Everywhere has something wrong with it. And what I don't like about both Maui and Germany I'll probably find anywhere I go. People seem to be living in this strange dream world. They ignore, or are oblivious to, the real world. People have no idea what MATTERS. It drives me crazy when people waste so much time and effort on such ridiculously trivial things. Things that will fade. It's hard to convey exactly what I mean. I guess in conclusion it's hard to say. I'm a bit biased towards Maui so I'd say Germany. But to be completely honest, neither haha. I'm going back to home sweet Seattle. :)

Kathryn: Edmund, as a super rugged native, what has been your biggest cultural shock since moving to the Mainland?

Edmund: I'm sure we can all recognize that I'm hardly native, even though that's been hard to explain to the people of Vermont. However, I would argue in defense of my ruggedness. While it may be the specific people I'm around or the demographic I'm mixed into, but I find that people are lacking in that quality. I'm not sure there's a term for it, but I'm used to the spontaneous/rugged/relaxed mindset of Maui. I actually didn't really realize it until recently, and I didn't even think about it until now. I had taken the Maui attitude as lazy, but I suppose I was just fighting it too much.

Other than that... With the interconnectedness of the modern world, I'm not sure "culture shock" is the appropriate term. Perhaps you could use it for a person moving to Germany or China, but honestly, I felt that I fit in as soon as my cab arrived at UVM. However, UVM is something of a self-sustaining microcosm that limits my perception of the outside world, but I find it's been wholly enjoyable.

Now I'm just stalling. Shocking... Shocking... There has to be something... I'm really not sure. I can't really think of many changes outside of food or weather, and I appear to have adapted rather well to most other things.

I guess I could take this time to describe my spiritual landscape and such, then.

While the people around me are experiencing the ups an downs of moving and experience the "free life," I think God has made me immune to these problems so that I might be able to feel my spiritual landscape/experiences most keenly. While I only hint at my downs, they were there. I guess this doesn't give me much right to express my highs, so I think I shall be more objective.

Burlington has it's own fluctuating history. The state was overwhelmingly conservative until there was a call for liberals to move to Vermont in an effort to sway the vote. The effects are ridiculously evident, but I do not blame the spiritual condition of the place on this. It is merely an interesting parallel. However, it has since become and remained a liberal beacon. Surely they are doing what they think is best in the face of human morals, but this includes an effort at disillusioning the population. A noble goal, I agree, but I think people equate Christianity with oppression. Surely, I agree that (to quote Kathryn's facebook) "religion is death." Except, they have decided to kill religion and take the stance of self-defense.

However, I think there is hope. While people may be hardened to Christianity, Spirituality is stressed in wellness. While people try to fill the spiritual gap in their lives with other things, it may be better that they are searching for something at all. I also think that for Christians who do take up the challenge, it is a good place to grow in Christ. It is really evident that the Church is the remnant. And those who do hoist the flag of Jesus the Christ are genuine because there is nothing to gain from a religious facade.

Now, these thoughts may not be very coherent, but in my defense I say that it is a difficult idea to make into words.

Edmund: So Kathryn, what is one thing that God has shown you through Germany that he couldn't somewhere else? Or just tell us something that God has really imprinted on you. Or how you've changed since leaving. (This is to help prepare us all for what you've become.)

Kathryn: I think I've already indirectly answered the first two questions. God has really shown me that Heaven is my home. I don't belong here, I'm a foreigner (not just in Germany, but in the world in general). This has really taught me to be more heaven focused. Because who doesn't long for home when they're away? By realizing where my true home is it makes it so easy and obvious to yearn for Heaven. (I'm not sure if Heaven should be capitalized or not. In german all nouns are capitalized so it's confusing me). Also, it's shown me how ridiculous any other option besides Jesus is. Everyone yearns for Jesus without realizing it, and when they don't know that Jesus is the answer, they seek truly ridiculous substitutes. It's like they're blind but still trying to build houses and lives without having any idea what's even important and what's not. I don't even know. As far as what I've "become," I don't think I've become anything really. It's hard to answer that question objectively. I still have a half year anyway. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Kathryn: What do you really, honestly see yourself doing for the next ten years? Not IN ten years, FOR the next ten years. As of right now what do you think will happen?

Some Questions in need of Biblical-ness

On marriage. (danger, danger)

Paul says that it would be better if people would abstain from marriage and, as I understand it, that people who marry were not able to quell their desires, so they are given a sanctified setting through which to vent their fleshly yearnings. But then in Titus, it explains an elder, a spiritual elder to be exact. An elder should have experience dealing with money and managing finances. An elder should be the head of a family. But the only environment suitable for intercourse and children is marriage. So how does the Church, the body, produce elders to lead and to act as “apostles” to instill the younger sheep with the “healthy teaching” as described in Titus and Timothy? Is it that certain people are called out of the population to become parents and leaders of their household? And if so, then why does Christianity propagate the idea of marriage as a paradoxical, glorious norm?

Also, on the subject of actually playing out the sacrament of “marriage.” I don’t know of any biblical place that dictates any kind of marriage “ritual.” So why does modern Christianity subject itself to such lifeless acts? Surely the profession of marriages and the witnessing of some act, such as baptism is a spiritual resignation to God and to the Body saying, “I am dead to the world.” I wish that you could prove me wrong, I really do. Just maybe some verses on… anything really. I just have been mulling it over for a while and feel that marriage is something that spiritually binds you to your spouse, and is not something of a confession to Christ and the Body? Of course, I allow for some of the faults of marriage, especially as having many legal/financial benefits, as well it’s degradation into something easily thrown away, to the modern understanding and adoption of the practice by the world as well as “adopted Christianity.” I really couldn’t think of another term. Is there another term for Christians who have kind of “adopted” the beliefs of their fore bearers? I feel like second-generation or “generational” might be appropriate words.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts on marriage. And no, I don’t think marriage is an inherently bad thing. You would be hard-pressed to find something I thought was bad in itself.

Also, I'm sorry if it seems that I am asking questions that step outside of some unwritten bounds. The funny thing is, I don't think people take me seriously when I say that I am willing to be proven wrong. Sometimes I even hope to be proven wrong. Why would I like to see the entity with which I identify as so flawed? Alas, I am do not view myself as some spiritual leader, and as such, I suppose that means I need some guidance.

I apologize if I have ever offended you, and in advance for when I surely do so, accidentally.

-Edmund

Arrival

So I just read Edmund's little thing and it made me smile quite a lot. Thanks Efmund :)

I'm currently writing this from my new bedroom in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany. After a week of hardcore sight-seeing, an insane amount of traveling, and no sleep at all, I finally made it.

First I'll talk about D.C. After twelve hours of solo (for the first time) traveling, I arrived in D.C. I had this stereotype in my head of a bunch of socially awkward Germany geeks but actually it was a really diverse group. People from all over the western United States, all different styles and accents and personalities. It was pretty cool. However, it was seriously lacking in Christian fellowship which I've grown so accustomed to. My bedmate was a girl named Leilani from Seattle who was really cool. It was rather ironic I thought. From the second we landed it was go, go, go. We were there Sunday night through Wednesday afternoon and they to show us every single possible thing. I went to the State Department of Foreign Affairs, the Smithsonian, the Archives, the White House, the Capitol, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, including JFK's grave and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the German Embassy, and the Senate building where I met Senator Akaka. I think that's all haha. It was really cool but sooo exhausting. And the jet lag had me up till two in the morning almost every night. Only to get in a few hours for breakfast and departure. The day we met the Senators they gave us a list of appointments with the address of the Senate building they were in and a map and we had to navigate D.C. to find it. It was fun but we had to dress nice which included the most horridly uncomfortable death ballet flats ever. Some stupid girls wore heels. That was also the same day we saw all the memorials. It was literally 14 hours of non-stop walking in really painful shoes. I have really bad blisters. Every night around nine we would all meet for a little meeting on advice about Germany and information and whatnot. Not really that helpful actually. My superior intellect made such things common sense. Just kidding. Kind of haha.

Then yesterday after doing several things in the morning we headed back to Dulles Airport. We got there about three hours early but only ended up waiting like fifteen minutes. It took a while to get through security and another while to wait for my subway sandwich. Which reminds me, in D.C. we ate really crappy food and at one crappy food court you had to go through security to get in. Every single place we went we had to go through metal detectors and scanners and the whole shebang. It was ridiculous. But then at 5:15 east coast time I left the States. It was a seven hour direct flight to Frankfurt which I did not get one wink of sleep on. When I finally staggered out of the plane (after being awake 24 hours and sleeping only three or four hours a night for four nights) I was so insanely tired I was getting dizzy and having trouble walking haha. We then had to wait at the train station for a few hours to catch a train to Duesseldorf to meet up with our host families. It was an hour and a half beautiful train ride through the German countryside which I tried so hard to stay awake for but I couldn't. At Duesseldorf I met my family and they were very happy to see me and I them. One thing I learned right off the bat is that in Germany all the water is sparkling water, and it's nasty haha. If you ask for water at a restaurant or whatnot they don't have regular water. I'll have to acquire the taste I guess. I fell asleep again in the hour car ride up to Castrop. Castrop is a really adorable city actually. With old very German looking buildings right next to very modern buildings. I'll take some pictures tomorrow. I live in the third floor of an apartment. I got to the apartment and showered and took a two hour nap. My host sister baked my a heart shaped cake that says "Wilkommen" or welcome which was super sweet. I'm going to enjoy it tomorrow. And finally my family took me to eat at an Italian place which was good and where I met these two other German girls who are nice and think it's the coolest thing ever that I'm from Hawaii. I can already predict that my Hawaiian status will be a leg up in making friends haha.

Now I am pooped and am going to spend my first night in Europe.

Auf Wiedersehen,

Kathryn :)

Dear Kathryn

So for those of you who don't know... If anyone reads this, haha. Kathryn flew to Washington DC recently for some cultural training or whatever before she moves to Germany. Unless I misheard that. But I'm not very proficient at goodbye's. I also failed to give a speech at her birthday party, which I had meant to do. Also... with everyone wondering if we're an item... it would be good to clarify how I feel about her I guess.

I guess I should start with... We are not courting, haha. No but on to seriousness.

Kathryn is one of those people that I wish I had met sooner. We met in our AP English class senior year. But we didn't really talk to each other for half the year. However, she was one of the very few people who actually stated her opinion in that class.

We were fast friends and really got to talk when we both went to the same art show alone. We awkwardly gravitated to each other and took (as I remember it) two or three rounds about the artwork. Talking most the entire time. After striking up a conversation, the art really became secondary. I don't quite remember what we talked about until the subject of Christ and the Bible came up. (This was near the end of a period of time when I was very detached from Christ and living quite on my own will) We talked for the next hour or so about how much similarly we viewed Christianity and the Bible.

The topic of God has since been quite the bonding point between us. Oh, and the constant jokes about our soulmate-ism. (I don't think she knows this but I was seriously encouraged by friends to date her) We are quite alike. Both of us hate being emotional and loathe crying. We see things in similar ways. Yet the most striking thing is how often in our pasts our personalities and experiences have matched up and developed.

We also had more than a few bonding moments when we worked together on the biggest project of our senior year. Our partner essay about a poet. Unfortunately, seeing things in a similar light also brought us both to find little merit in the poetry of William Wordsworth. I still wish we had chosen Thomas Hardy, whom I love. But anyway, there were a few sleepless nights brought on by our routine of taking three hour conversation breaks after every hour of work. (I also had my first experience with sleep-talking) We wrote the paper in two days and scored a B. Totally worth it.

Our love of music has also played a role in our friendship. It's hard to find someone who says they love music and actually goes out and looks for it. Of course, it's also a stumbling block and idol for both of us.

All in all, God has been the greatest factor in bringing us together. And how glad I am at the whims of God's good pleasure. It has been a very encouraging relationship in possessing similar emotional tendencies and viewpoints. I have also been encouraged to never fear expressing an opinion. I've also strived toward being able to humble myself always.

I guess my main point is that I am so happy we met. And I believe she is one of the few people that I'll really keep in contact with. Not that I don't have other friends... it just really seems that way... since NO ONE IS JOINING OUR BLOG. But yeah, I really wish we could have met sooner. I'll miss her. There. I admitted it. Done.

-Edmund

PS: I'll mail you your book and send you a letter and whatever if you give me your adress Kathryn. Oh yeah, and blog about DC.

Awkward Inroductions

Okay here's my first post. I feel really self-conscious already.

First and foremost, I'm going to strive for this blog, and more importantly my life, to reflect the grace and love that God has shown me. It's inexplicable, unending, and vital for me to hope to live another day not steeped in sin. Jesus Christ is hands down, no question, absolutely the most important thing in the universe. This includes in your life too whether you realize yet or not. And having made that clear I hope this will keep my accountable when I'm tempted to indulge in my old ways.

God has changed my entire world view, including how I view music. I love music but for too long it has been quite the idol in my life. I love complex melodies and harmonies and beautiful lyrics that captivate the soul and provoke deep and intelligent thought. And of course I very much enjoy crazy sick beats, hardcore screaming, and synthesizers. I like to think I am very eclectic in my musical taste. The only music I really do not enjoy is R&B, whiny country, and vulgar, pointless, idiotic music. Otherwise I'd love to learn more artists. I've wasted a lot of time on the internet looking up obscure, random bands. Particularly from overseas. But, like I said, since God invaded my life, I feel really uncomfortable listening to music with swearing, innuendos, and hopelessness. So you won't be finding any of that on my playlist. And if I ever am tempted to ignore things like that and pretend I'm comfortable hopefully this very detailed pledge will prevent me from doing so. Oh and don't get me wrong, I still listen to plenty secular music. As long as it isn't blasphemous, bring it on.

Now maybe a little about the rest of my self. I'm turning 18 on friday and I only kind of know how to make friends. Hahaha. I used to be monstrously awkward but Jesus has helped me out a lot in that area as of late. I have a strange mind that most people don't really get. But of course I need to uphold that feminine mystique, and definitely won't reveal myself to anyone who asks. 'Tis a privilege you must earn. :)

Now for the gallantries! I have been blessed with a full-ride scholarship to live and study in Germany all next school year. I leave on Saturday for a week in Washington D.C. In D.C. I will meet with the other scholarship winners, tour the capitol, and get like a pre-departure orientation kind of thing. Then in the evening of August 5 I depart! Arriving in Frankfurt airport in the morning (Germany time) of August 6 my host family will pick me up and so my adventure begins. For the first two weeks or so I will be going to a language camp for a crash course in German and German culture. Then I will start school a German High School, called a Gymnasium. Yikes. Oh yes I forgot to mention that I don't speak German... Of course I know some basic phrases, a brief overview of grammar, and some random vocabulary. But I'm teaching myself as fast as I can before I leave. In fact, as I write this I'm listening to a German podcast. It's really helpful. I can understand about every fifth or sixth word. Should be interesting when I get there. Especially when they expect me to participate in school. Hahaha. But I'm not worried. As I stated a couple paragraphs ago, God is my All in All and won't leave me high and dry. I'll be leaving my earthly friends and comforts, but my most important Friend will be with my every step of the way.

So all in all, it should make for some amusing posts and pictures. I just bought a digital camera which I plan to make good use of. I'm extremely excited. I'm extremely nervous. It should be wonderful.

Until next time,

Kathryn

Early Morning Post

My Plans For The Future

Maybe a casual early-morning post isn't the best venue for this... but I feel like talking about it so I'll take advantage of that.

So I guess I'll start with what I'm most excited about. This fall I will be attending the University of Vermont. The campus is beautiful and talking about it makes me gush.

The fifth oldest campus in the states.

Well, when I was lost I had wanted to study a slew of things. Among them being dietetics, religion, greek, philosophy, sociology, dance, design, anthropology, etc. And before that I wanted to be a doctor, hahaha. But here's where it gets serious. I recently have decided to become a nurse. I would like to become internationally licensed and travel. I don't know if I'll do mission work. However, it seems like people are kind of assuming that's what I want because I say I want to be an international nurse. But hey, maybe. And this is where it gets bad. The nursing program (which is ranked #6 in the country) is full and I will have to transfer in next year. So in the meantime I will be doing prerequisites and it may take some extra time. But I'm really not that worried about spending an extra year in college. Especially if I have a career waiting for me afterward.

The medical school!

Other than that I have always wanted to open a coffee shop. A very quaint place with a full-service kitchen and night events. Oh, and no internet access. I don't really like net-cafes. Oh and most importantly, the best coffee. In seattle. It'll be original.

As for today... I'm going on a hike that I'm really, really excited for. I'll definitely blog about it later. Maybe by then this thing will finally get interesting.

-Edmund

The Male Representative Debriefs

Edmund Truechild Pfleegor

While I am new to this whole blog thing, I think the best place to start is with some Author Bio's.

Someday we'll be savvy enough to have a permanent link to our ultra-slick, artist designed Bio page, but for now we start small.

We don't have the kind of friends who would actually keep up with our blog activities, so perhaps better people will be interested in our romps across the world and our civil, Christian conversations. (ooh, alliteration) It would amuse me if our blog went big and we made someone famous but the point of this internet community (of two people at the moment) started as a joke, yet has become a very practical way for Kathryn and I to keep in touch while living thousands of miles apart.

I have a lot of time to day-dream at work so I have this really awesome imaginary blog in my head where there is a public and a private message board. Regular musical highlights. Intriguing and requested album premier reviews. And very interesting photo blogs about of our adventures. Oh, and a better place to post my writing. Yet for now I just have to settle for interesting content and networking until I can figure out this modern madness.

So I suppose I should finally get to talking about myself.

Edmund Truechild Pfleegor (for real this time)

My middle name comes from the King James Version of Paul's description of Timothy as a "true child." Other versions usually dubbing Timothy "genuine child."

(Had I been born a girl, I would have been named Elizabeth the Faithful Pfleegor. My parents have given me a love of interesting names.)

Despite the popularity drop our blog may suffer, I am wholly dedicated to Christ and as such, a hypocrite at times. My love of music is not always edifying to God, however blasphemy in my music will not be tolerated. I would steer clear of disgusting themes, so if I ever post something gross by accident please inform me. It was probably an accident. Anyway, I have an undying passion for the understanding of God's Word in a spiritual manner. I used to pursue the understanding of the Scripture for the sake of understanding and education, yet now I realize that to understand text written by the spiritual revelation of God I must discern it with my spirit.

That's just a taste of my mission statement. If I had a mission statement that is... And I'm sure I could write whole posts and start many conversations over it, so I'll savor it.

I do love writing and always have. I hope I could post some of my writing here and get some constructive criticism. I have also recently delved in Performance Poetry but I don't believe I will be doing much more of that...

So as this is turning out to be my life in bullet form, I'll move on to my attitude toward the near-future. I haven't been wholly satisfied with living on Maui since I was in middle school, but am ecstatic and beside myself to be moving to Vermont this summer.

Ridiculously beautiful. Can't wait.

(I plan on making photos a huge part of the blog in the future. I suspect most of the entries will be annotated photographs.)

I am also dedicated to healthy living and am going to be living in a health-oriented community whilst in college. People say I'm ridiculous, but I lost sixty pounds so I'm happy...
...
...
Truth be told I gained the "Freshman Fifteen" before even leaving so it's more like I lost 45 pounds... But hey... I had at one point lost sixty pounds.

Other than that I guess I should mention that I am emotionally shy and standoff-ish at times. However, if I have an opinion and stating it doesn't put my emotions on the display I will state it. However, I hope to cure my hatred of hugs soon.

Whew, this blog thing is going to get the better of me... I know it...
-Edmund