31 Aug 2009

What an insane week! It started off really rough. I didn't realize how hard it would be to adjust to a new area after six months. I feel like a greenie again. The culture and the people couldn't be more different from the people in Windsor it's amazing how much variety you can get in such a tiny state! (We were thinking yesterday about how many Connecticuts you can fit in one Utah. We decided it's at least 3 or 4.)

My new companion is Sister Baird. I've decided she's not really human I think she's a translated being or something. Really. So obedient and so hardworking, and she's happy ALL THE TIME. I have a lot to learn from her. And already have learned a lot. It doesn't even occur to her to be offended by anyone she just smiles and loves
everybody especially when they're rude. I've decided she's a Mormon hippie. (Except
for the obedient/hardworking/non-smoking part of course.) Missionary work is all about peace and love here!

It's interesting how I find myself changing and adjusting to adapt to each
companion not just in the missionary work, but my attitude and my personality changes with each new companion. President Pehrson told us once that missions are the place not just to find yourself, but to define yourself. Really, this is a process that involves agency. I get to choose exactly who I want to become, and what I'm going to take from each companion to make myself into the new person that I will be after my mission.

Fairfield is on the southwest coast of Connecticut, near the New York border. The best part about it is that we're close to New Haven! This means we get to go explore Yale on an upcoming P-day!!!!!!!!! Does anyone else think that's the most exciting thing in the world, or is it just me? Anyway, yes, our area includes the towns of Fairfield and Easton which are in the New Haven stake. We drove through New Haven on the way down here. It's beautiful. (Of course.) AND, we are on the coast. I have yet to go contacting on the beach, but look forward to doing that very soon.

Fairfield is a pretty wealthy place. Rumor has it Fairfield County is the wealthiest
county in the nation, or something like that. The city of Fairfield is a lot bigger than Windsor and the culture is different because it's so close to New York. Needless to say, people are always in a hurry to get somewhere and a lot of them are commuting to Manhattan. A little different from Windsor Locks, where half the people don't even have jobs or anything to do except sit around and smoke. Much easier there to find someone willing to talk to you. :)Anyway, Fairfield is a lot closer to what I thought all of Connecticut would be like, and probably closer to what most people think of when they think of Connecticut--lots of rich and educated people, Ivy League students, etc.

I LOVE meeting new people and telling them what my name is. If they're a member, of
course it's all about, "Are you related?" and their disappointment when I'm not.
If they're not members, they can't pronounce my name correctly. Munson Real Estate
and Munson Chocolates are huge here and no one has ever heard the name Monson. So people automatically hear "Munson" and say it that way. If I'm really in the mood to push it, I'll point to the name tag and say, "Two 'O's." But most of the time I just don't bother. It's too much work. If you won't read the tag, just call me Sister and that's fine! As long as you don't insist on calling me by my first name. (This applies to strangers, not family members.) It happens more than you might think. People sometimes feel uncomfortable with the title of "Sister" for someone so young or for someone who's not a Catholic nun, so they'll ask for our first names and try to use them. No, random old man on the street, please don't call me Kaelynn. Really. ONLY on a mission, would you ever get offended by someone using your first name.

Life is good. I'm so blessed! Love to everyone,
Sister Monson/Munson/Monster/Manson/meh, whatever.