It's been too long.
And I still have little to say, besides that CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE. Oh, yeah, and that SCHOOL IS OVER until February! ^_^ Life is soo good right now. No worries (aside from passing my classes, which I now have no control over), all relaxation (aside from the occasional anger directed towards those around me) and peace (aside from the frustrations of having to share life with people who....hmmm... annoy me).
Also, I love sleeping in. Last night was the first time in a while that I feel like I slept exactly how much I needed to.

[intermission for nail painting]

And, of course, I messed them up. I hate that I can't paint my nails without screwing at least 2 of them up. I don't understand... >.<

*sigh* moving on. At least they're pretty at a glance. I really like blue nail polish.

I decided that I'm going to use this entry to write about my Christmas lists, since I'm bored and thinking about presents makes me happy. (why yes, I am a sometimes-embarrassed materialist, any other questions?)

From ThinkGeek.com, in order of priority:

1. Whiskey Stones. Oh yes. Best idea ever. Though I don't like extremely cold drinks, these will be most excellent for the occasional too-warm drink, which I otherwise would have placed temporarily in the refrigerator. Also, they look straight-up awesome.
2. Inanimate Character Stickers. Because who doesn't want a cute stapler/mug/phone/whatever-else-you-
   could-possibly-think-of?!?!
3. Levitating Desktop Globes. I've always wanted a globe, and navy/silver is a pretty nice color choice. Oh, yeah, and they levitate. Just sayin.
4. Ice Invaders Ice Cube Tray, or any other cutely-shaped ice-cube makers. Ice is good.
5. Ceramic Noodle Cup. Because you can always use more cups. And, well, it's got some cool Asian writing on it.
6. Pac-Man HotHead Potholder. Meh. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a pretty great idea and all (or it wouldn't be on the list, you know.), but it's on the lower end, obviously.

And that's actually all I have time for, folks. I'll have to leave the rest of my materialism for another time, because I'm going to a cello recital.

What is your favorite thing about Stan?
Hard question... You know I'm terrible about favorites...
I love so much about him! His honesty, how intensely and actively he cares about me, how sweet and adorable he is when we're together, how completely he loves me, how happy he makes me... I could go on. I think my favorite thing about him is his capacity to love. He's not always sweet or kind (unintentionally, perhaps), but he's always trying to know me deeper and to understand me better. He really wants to know what I think about things; to know me perfectly, and to then be able to love me perfectly. I can't even really describe the feeling I'm trying to express; it' just that... I love how much and well and deeply he loves me. Maybe that's my favorite thing. Maybe I'll think of my favorite thing tomorrow... I don't know.
He's a pretty exceptional person, and I'm really just happy that he wants me, out of everyone he could have.

Are you still glad you transfered to MSU? (or is it USM? ...I suck.)
=] it's USM. And yes (to being glad, not to you sucking). It's been a little harder than I had anticipated, the whole starting-over-without-any-friends thing, and with me going to France in the spring, I haven't been trying as hard as I perhaps should have been. Next fall will be even better, though. I'll actually get a job (yes money!), plug in more quickly to things, anything, really, going on around campus and stuff, and already have the beginnings of a few friendships.
But as for now, being able to see Stan whenever I want to is amazing, and the education is fine. French class still sucks (this will be my last semester with the teacher, no matter what), but Spanish is great, and the core requirements are way easier, which is fabulous.

What's one thing that you've thought about telling me that you didn't? (and no, "I thought your orange hair in 10th grade was SO ugly..." come on. something good. =) )
Okay, so I didn't honestly think it was terrible. Looking back... maybe not the best color or anything... but I kind of liked it.
so... okay. Honestly, I'm pretty jealous of Anna and Rachel.
1- they get to hang out with you whenever they want.
2- you had them this summer and last year and now.
3- aaand you're sisters and don't have to worry about losing touch or not getting to see each other for long periods of time.

What question were you afraid I'd ask? and what's the answer?
It wasn't so much that there was a specific question I was afraid you'd ask or anything (I really doubt there's anything important that you don't already know), but the idea of being obliged to answer any five questions that are asked is a little daunting.
Let's see... I don't think there's any question I'd be afraid to answer online, within reason. And, knowing you to be a reasonable person... I guess I didn't have much to worry about.

And honestly... why won't you dye your hair red again?
Seriously? Okay, well, the first time, the color was a little less than desirable. Last time, it lasted way too long. If I was absolutely sure that both the color and duration were optimal, then I would probably do it again.


• Leave me a comment saying, "Knowledge is Power"
• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity
• Update your journal with the answers to the questions
• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

It's been over two weeks since my last post, which I find kind of tragic. Stan's been pushing me to write again for probably a week now. But just because I've been slacking off here doesn't mean I've not been productive. I have been stranded on a deserted island, grown a thriving farm, bought a lovely aquarium, and built up a zoo worth $650,000, while making over a million dollars.

I've also been learning a lot. For example- adult female blue whales are longer than the males. Yellow anacondas can give birth to up to 100 snakes in one litter. Pink cows give you strawberry milk, while brown ones give you chocolate milk. A male giant octopus dies after impregnating about six females. A whale's gestation period is approximately 12x as long as that of a bald eagle. And you can get yams from cats. Don't ask me how though- that one's still beyond me.

Like I said, it's been a productive few weeks.

I've also been doing the normal things- going to classes, Café Español, a couple of concerts, a few wonderful dinner dates, taking an insane number of tests, skipping classes, building up a tumblr profile, trying to find my nail polish remover, etc.

But now I'm back. After having bragged to you about all I've been up to, I've once again decided that I quite like writing, and that I've missed it, despite some evidence to the contrary.

So I'll be back soon enough. For now, I have to make sure nobody steals my cabbage.

Is it lame that I'm excited about going to Astronomy lab?
Probably.
Maybe even more so, since the reason I'm excited is that the people there- my lab partner, I guess, and the TA/instructor- are the only people on campus I've met on my own, and actually have the potential to be friends. Well, not even friends, but... friendly acquaintances? I think it's a little bit sad.

I'm watching The Invention of Lying.

I imagine life would probably not be as good if we couldn't pretend. Or tell stories. Or make up jokes.
Life would be sadder without lying. Of course, there are the obvious up-sides to not being able to lie. Parts of life would be happier without the lies. But there are many happy things, too, that come from little lies. Example: my parents not thinking they've failed as parents (which would be the mistaken conclusion they would draw from absolute truth-telling). See?

I'm okay with lying sometimes.

Je toujours ne peux pas l'écouter sans devenir heureuse. Ici sont les mots.

Ce soir, je t'attendais de Michèle Torr

Le vent peut bien secouer les branches
Sur la rue les volets sont clos
Sur une nappe blanche
Quelques roses se penchent
Sur un couvert dressé pour deux

La mélodie que tu préfères
Repose sur le bord du piano
Tout est prêt je l'espère
Je n'ai plus rien à faire
Que d'ouvrir car j'entends ton pas
Et te voilà, mais ne prends pas l'air étonné

[Refrain:]
Car je savais et je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais
J'étais si sûre que tu viendrais
Oui je savais et je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais
J'avais raison de t'espérer

Nous nous sommes fait beaucoup de peine
On s'est quittés pour quelques mots
C'est de l'histoire ancienne
Je sais bien que tu m'aimes
C'est pourquoi je guettais ton pas
Et me voilà, là devant toi
Tendant les bras

[au Refrain]
Car je savais et je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais
J'étais si sûre que tu viendrais
Oui je savais et je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais
J'avais raison de t'espérer

Oui je savais et je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais
Pour te garder à tout jamais
Oui je savais et je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais
Ce soir je t'attendais !

Ce matin, je suis allée au zoo avec mon petit ami, et bien que nous nous sommes amusés, nous n’avons pas vu des chiens de prairie. Je pense qu’ils se sont endormis, parce qu’il faisait froid dehors. Mais nous avons vu des singes mignons et des singes drôles, et le céphalophe. Mais le céphalophe se couchait, et nous ne pouvons guère le voir. J’étais un peu triste, mais ce n’était pas grave.

Et puis, nous sommes rentrés a les appartements, et je suis allée au bureau de Prof Rowland, parce que nous avons eu une réunion. Après avoir parlé avec elle, je suis allée au bureau d’Éric Hacher, dans le bureau des affaires des étudiants. Après avoir parlé avec lui, je devais rentrer chez le bureau de Prof Rowland, mais elle est déjà parti. Alors, maintenant je dois attendre encore une semaine pour savoir ce que je dois faire le semestre prochain.
Et je m’ennuie tant de cette merde ! Je veux savoir, totalement et définitivement, ce que je dois faire- quels cours je dois prendre, quels examens je dois passer, tout.
Tout ça m’agace.

Mais, il y avait un fin heureux de cette histoire… Quand je suis rentrée aux appartements, j’ai écouté une chanson qui me plaisait. C’est le titre.

Maintenant je dois envoyer un email à Prof Rowland et expliquer ce qui a passé.

Five things you will find if you open my purse.
1. lots of pens
2. sunglasses
3. my little yellow notebook
4. my wallet
5. cinnamon altoid mints

Five things in my bedroom
1. a bunkbed
2. my clothes
3. Amil
4. my shoes
5. my backpack

Five things I’ve always wanted to do in my life, but haven't yet
1. own a horse
2. live in the country
3. have nice handwriting
4. adopt
5. get married and live happily ever after

Five things that make me very happy
1. people
2. taking pictures
3. writing
4. playing ukulele
5. watching happy movies

Five things I’m currently into
1. learning Japanese at livemocha
2. writing
3. career tests
4. yelling at people in the Admissions office until they do what I want them to
5. hats

Five things on my To-Do list
1. talk to Twilia Morgan about my credits
2. finish my homework
3. go swimming
4. take more pictures
5. start working on Chrismtas presents. =]

Five things some people may or may not know about you
1. I'm starting to make a website for my pictures and writings and etc.
2. I like artichoke.
3. Next semester, I'm going to be in France, and probably will never want to leave.
4. According to numerous personality tests, I'm an ENFP. Extrovert, iNtuitive, Feeler, and Perciever. It makes sense.
5. I hate sponges.

Five things you enjoy doing during your free time
1. talking to Stan about life
2. doing random weirdness with friends
3. shopping. It's unfortunate, really, how much fun it is.
4. taking pictures!!! but there's nowhere around here that I'm familiar enough with to be able to just go and take pictures.
5. dreaming

What's happening to movies today? Where are the happy, redemptive, conclusive endings that I love so very much? Are movies ending less happily? Or is it just that I've been watching all the wrong ones? Adventureland, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee... yeah. Oh, and Coco Chanel, which I never would have seen in theaters, but I'm glad I watched it.
Now I'm taking career tests online and getting fed up with all the questions... I think I need to go to bed.

I think I had the one of the most interesting language classes of all time on Thursday. I'm sure there have been more interesting class periods, due to rabbit trails and/or back-of-the-class conversations and everything. But it was definitely the most interesting one in which the subject matter was actually discussed. We had to read a short story, San Manuel Bueno, mártyr, by Miguel de Unamuno. It's about this priest whose main problem is that he doesn't believe in eternal life, because he doesn't believe in Catholicism. He's in this little (fictional) village in Spain, Valverde de Lucerna, in which there is a lake and mountains. This place most likely has something to do with Lake Sanabria, a lake in Spain which is said to have a submersed city in it.

today
So, what was interesting about the story was the priest and his commitment to making sure the village kept on believing in eternal life and in God, though he remained convinced that neither existed. And there were some cool metaphors with a lake and mountains. But you really have to read it to catch the full effect. So... if you speak Spanish, read it! If not... your loss, I guess... I'm sorry...

I danced on the mattress with the door closed, my headphones on, the music resonating in my head. That was my exuberance for yesterday, and it was wonderful. Today is harder, because it's kind of a gross day. But Stan got ice cream, and we'll make cookies with it, and sit together, and watch a Disney movie, and life will be perfect again.

I was going to write how important it is for everyone to have their things, their exuberances or whatnot, but I think that's pretty obvious. People need something to help them cope with the difficult things, to kind of validate every hard day and verify the goodness on the better ones.

I should make a list or keep notes about my something(s). It can be more than one, of course.

I logged into my myspace today, for the first time since high school.
I kind of cleared it off, since it is clear that it's not going to be something I keep up with anymore. I also started reading through the blog I had there. My last entry was after Mexico senior year. But this one was kind of funny- it's from November of 2006. I find it weird to think that I was even conscious of life at that point in time. So very much has changed about my actions, my plans, my desires, my thoughts, and my opinions, that I find it hard to associate myself with the girl I was during my senior year of high school. I'm not really trying to be excessively clever or anything, but it really is a strange juxtaposition, reading about her life and thinking about mine.

Anyways. This part made me laugh a little at my silliness (not all of which I have grown out of) :







At this point, I went on to talk about friendship or and stuff that I was absolutely certain was captivating and insightful.
I think I was more sure of myself (at least in my writing) when I was younger. Which was both good and bad for me. It made for some funny and occasionally interesting writings, but there was a considerable amount of confident naïveté. (isn't that a pretty word?) And people were impressed, or so it seemed, so I assumed I was perpetually right. I think this is why I almost always feel silly when I reread things I've written. It's usually a, "really? You actually thought that?! What's wrong with you?!" kind of thing, the kind of thing I will more than likely think about my lj's, a few months or years down the road. But I still think it's good to write it all out. It makes me happy and lets me remember what I thought about things and why... and then, usually, why I changed my mind.

[Still reading through myspace...]

=] And these made me laugh again, so I thought it would be good enough to post:

Dear God
Did you mean for giraffe to look like that or was it an accident.
Norma

Dear God,
I keep waiting for spring but it never come yet. Don’t forget.
Mark

You don’t have to worry about me. I always look both ways
Dean

Dear God,
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones why don’t keep the ones you got now?
Jane

Dear God,
I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church.
Is that okay?
Neil

Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy
Joyce

Dear God,
I bet it’s very hard. For you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nan

Dear God-
Please put another Holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Ginny

Dear God,
If you watch in church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes
Mickey D.

Dear-God-if-we-come-back-as-something-please-dont-let-me-be-Jennifer-Horton-because-I-hate-her.
Denise

Dear God,
If you give me genie lamp like Alladin I will give you anything you want except my money or my chess set.
Raphael

We read Thos. Edison made light. But in Sun. School, they said you did it. So I bet he stoled your idea.
Sincerly,
Donna

Dear God,
If you let The dinasor not exstinct we would not have a country. You did the right thing.
Jonathan

Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year.
Peter

Dear God,
I don’t think anybody could be a better God. Well I just want you to know but I am not just saying that because you are God.
Charles

Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother.
Larry

Okay, (probably) the last one (but more important than the last one, because i'm going to talk about it afterwards [man, I feel like a teacher] ) from myspace :

Which is better, sunrise or sunset? I thought about that a lot tonight. Don't really know why. This is what I've discovered. Both are amazing to watch, both have their own glory and splendor. I really like watching sunsets, because I like the look of the clouds right after the sun's gone down, but the sky's still brilliant. You can see the darker blue of the clouds illuminated by the last pink or golden rays of the sun. And I also like it right before the sun sets, because then I feel like it's the last hurrah or something. Okay picture a nice countryside (the definition of "nice countryside" is relative, so I'll let you pick the location and imagine it for yourself), and imagine it's almost dusk. There are no clouds in the sky, and you can see for miles. (I watched the sun set on the way to Mississippi over Christmas break, and that's what I'm basing my image off of.) So you can see forever, but there are mountains in the far distance. Just imagine the sun right before it goes down, in all its glory. And then it's over and the clouds... oh, wow, the clouds. They're ready to show off after the sun has done it's bit. And then after it's all dark, the moon begins to rise. Have you ever seen the moon rise over a beach? It's magnificent! At first, it's just the top, a little sliver across the edge of a coastline. then it gets larger and larger until it creeps off the coast and jumps into the air.

But then sunrises... they're beautiful as well, right before the sun rises, or right after... depending on the location and the weather. Some days, we turn into the school parking lot, which faces east, right after the sun comes up, and it's just stunning. It's more bright and innovating and vigorous. It makes the day look alive and ready to begin. It also makes me think, "you know, it's gonna be an okay day aftter all."

Really, aren't the planet spectacular? In Astronomy, we've been talking about stars and the sun and the moon and the planets, and it's all kind of amazing. Think about how there are these planets just flying around in their orbits, traveling these same paths year after year, wobbling around in tilted spirals, being circled themselves by up to 63 (Jupiter) moons... It's just crazy- like some kind of astronomic (proportionally speaking), cosmic dance, with the spinning and the evading and the being pulled close and everything.
I like the idea of the planets constantly dancing, but not in the traditional sense of the word- I don't like thinking about them in Elizabethan garb or at a club or something. But, the crazy, spinning insanity of being twirled in a dance mixed with the elation of being immersed in the music and the rhythm and life of the dance.
Yes, it's abstract and probably explained poorly, but ahhh how I like it.

I feel like I just met my inner (or, in this case, "former") child. I've missed her exuberance. I want to be exuberant again. Not that I'm not exuberant anymore... just not as much.

I'm going to go jump on the bed now.

I just realized that I have never really listened very well, when I'm listening to music with words. I pick up a scrap here, a line there, and think that I really like the song. Example : Eighth World Wonder by Vanessa Carlton. (lyrics below) I like "I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder," but that's really all I like about the song. I mean, it's fine. But it's not as spectacular as I remember it to be, which is a little sad. Even "A Thousand Miles," though I still like the song kind of a lot, has kind of lame lyrics. "If I could fall into the sky, do you think time would pass me by?" What does that even mean?! I mean, I understand the being willing to walk a thousand miles just to see someone... but the falling... I guess I never got it, but was distracted enough by the pretty piano interludes and the idea of what she's trying to say that I let it go, or didn't think about it, or something.


Eighth World Wonder - Vanessa Carlton

Woke up early this morning
Made my coffee like I always do.
Then it hit me from nowhere.
Everything I feel about me and you.

The way you kiss me crazy.
Baby you're so amazing.

Seven days and seven nights of thunder.
The water's rising and I'm slipping under.
I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder.

I guess that I'm just falling.
Deeper into something I've never known.
But the way that I'm feeling makes me realize that it can't be wrong.

Your love's like a summer rain
Washing all my doubts away

Seven days and seven nights of thunder
The water's rising and I'm slipping under
I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder

It's only been a week but
It's coming over me
It's making me believe that
You're the one for me

Seven days and seven nights of thunder
The water's rising and I'm slipping under
I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder

I guess sometimes I listen to music for the feel of it, and when that's the case, I don't pay too much attention to the lyrics. It happens most when I'm driving, I think. Like... The Veronicas, PANIC! at the disco, Creed, etc. Those are some of the almost-entirely-thoughtless times, when I'm driving and tired, when I don't want to think about something, or when I'm angry. Then there are the "chill" songs. Nickel Creek (sometimes), Libera, Diana Ross (well... only this song, actually), Ben Folds, Death Cab for Cutie, Carla Bruni, Hem, almost anything from the Elizabethtown soundtrack... that's the stuff I've got playing at the moment.
=] and now it's Landon Pigg, though this is the only song of his that I actually know. I found it because of that AT&T commercial... You know it? I like it. Makes me smile.

I've been thinking about my music lately. I have 3556 songs on my iPod. I probably don't know around three hundred of them, and that's quite a few songs to just have, yeah?

Anyways.
I should be doing my General Health homework. I'm supposed to write down everything I eat in one day and then analyze it through some website.

OR I could learn some more Japanese. Justin left his Japanese book here, and I'd really like to learn some more. I've been using Genius to practice and study and everything. I can count to ten!!! Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyuu, juu! And then... juuichi, juuni, juusan, juuyon, juugo, juuroku, juunana, juuhachi, juukyuu, nijuu!!! I'm getting there!

Happiness.

You know, my mom is kind of (really) silly. I don't know why I thought of that. Maybe it has something to do with her on facebook. Oh well. I don't mind, usually. It's just kind of odd sometimes. I wonder if she knows... probably not.

I'm going to do French homework instead. =] We've got a test tomorrow. This is the easiest French class I've ever taken, I think. We're not actually learning anything, since our teacher doesn't know how to teach yet. And even if we were learning anything, it'd be stuff I've already learned, since the class is apparently made up of people who barely know any French. But they think they're the shit because they have watched a few French movies and eaten baguettes in France or something like that. I mean, really, kids.

I gave myself some bangs.

My iPhoto program kind of sucks. It keeps shutting off... Grrr anger.

I fixed it.

And now I'm loading pictures onto facebook. I took pictures this weekend, when Stan and I went sailing with his grandparents and his brother. =] It was lovely.

I'm tired and cranky. I'm going to stop writing now... maybe I'll do some more tomorrow... or soon, hopefully. I haven't written in a bit, and I'd like to be a little more consistent. We'll see. =]

I'm really only writing this entry because I like that line. It's happy. Makes me think of outside, watching soccer games, sitting by the creek, chilling around the campfire... all happy times. Just happy.

I want to cut my hair. Not all of it. But I think I want bangs again. I'm not talking BANGs... Just... something normal. Simple. You get the idea.
Kirsten Dunst
Jennifer Aniston
(which I actually thought was with two "n"s. But it's just one.)
Zooey Deschanel. I don't know how it's possible to look good with bangs like these, but she does it.

Let's go to the movies. I will hum you a song about nothing at all.

I think that's enough wasted time for now...

Okay, no, one more- Reese Witherspoon. Okay, that's it!

"Bussing" is a weird-looking word.

I am so excited about my Spanish Literature class. First of all, the teacher is wonderful- she's lively and enthusiastic and entertaining. The people in the class with me aren't to terrible, either. I mean, of course there's the normal amount of dim lighted bulbs, but I'm sitting at a table with at least two interesting people. Today, my table was Robert, Constantino, Erin, Chelsea (not me), and me. The other Chelsea was just kind of "meh." Today was her first day, so maybe she was just getting into the swing of things, though. Robert annoys me. He's older than most people in the class - maybe mid-twenties instead of early-twenties - and (judging by his left ring finger) married, neither of which I hold against him. But he thinks he knows more than he actually does, I think. Constantino is very chill, which is good. He also seems to be interested in learning, not just showing off what he knows, like the rest of the class. And then there's Erin. She's friendly and energetic, speaks wonderful Spanish, laughs at the same things I do, and has really cool handwriting.

Hmmm other notable classmates... Indira is from Columbia, I think. I guess I don't really have anything to say about her, come to think of it. I just remembered her name. Samuel is from Ghana, and he was in Stan's mom's house the day after my first day of Spanish class. I think she knows him from church. We drove him to the airport in Jackson once, I think. Anyways. There's Kurt, who's also a French major. Nothing else notable about him. He's quiet and doesn't know much Spanish.

I say all of this as if I spoke an incredible amount of Spanish, when, in reality, I just try not to speak in class unless I've planned/written it all out. At least I sound intelligent in Spanish class, which is just fine with me. Today I talked a lot about the poem we were supposed to read, and was rather proud of myself. I ended up being wrong, but it was still a pretty good interpretation, I'd say.

In other news, I'm hoping the application for the Abbey will be online soon. I want to get that taken care of, and to know. Soon... Dr. Mackaman (the Director of the Abbey Program) said that it would be up this week, but it's not... not yet.

I will be trying to put pictures up as soon as possible. I lost my camera cord, so I don't know when I'll actually be able to do that, but I'll work on it. =)

I'm feeling a little melancholy, and it's not because I don't have many friends here, which surprises me. Well, perhaps it is, but I'm not worried about that, for some reason. I'm (understandably, I think) worried about losing my friends at home. But I'm not worried about making new friends... I think I should be. I haven't made any kind of effort to do so. And I don't really even know where to begin. There's not really any kind of group I can chill with casually in order to befriend people. There's RUF. I was thinking about giving that a try for a while. It would at least get me meeting people. I think I might do that. I guess I should check into when it starts... and where... and... yeah. For now I'm waiting for Stan and Chris to get back from orchestra, and then I'll take Chris... somewhere. I forget. To make another key for Claudia's - my - apartment. But I don't know where. My lips are chapped, and my face is dry.

Boston- Augustana
Mr. Curiosity- Jason Mraz
I Love Her- Ben Harper
Say Goodbye- Chris Brown
Sunflowers- E. Holt
Such Great Heights- Iron and Wine
Baby It's Fact- Hellogoodbye
February Song- Josh Groban
Solo Por Tí- Josh Groban

On N'Oublie Jamais Rien- Helene Segara & Laura Paussini

I feel like a cool person, because my last post was about my trip to New York, and the one immediately following it is about my trip to Mexico. =)

I've been in Mexico for exactly four weeks. [Well. I had been. Now I'm in Mississippi, at school, which I can write about later.] The church sent me, paid for the food, gas, plane, etc, plus a bit of a stipend for "personal expenses" above and beyond what I actually need. But that is pretty unimportant, after all. The point is that I went through the church, and that it was considered an internship. Most of what I did was to work with the Vacation Bible Schools in the villages around Xocenpich.

Lana. I read Veronika Decides to Die in the airplane. Though I wouldn't do it again, I'm glad that I did actually read it.

I was trying to write an overview, and then decided that overviews are really boring, both to read and to write. Instead, I'll make a list!! I like lists.

Things I did in Mexico

• Met some great people
  Across the street from where I stayed was a clinic-Clinica Bethesda-and there were three nursing students who were studying there. Of the three of them, Yanelly and I became closest- she was by far the easiest to talk to. Minerva was really sweet, but she didn't talk so much. And for kind of a long time I was afraid of Elena. She never talked very much, and I felt like she didn't like me... plus, her eyes never really opened all the way, which was just kind of freaky.
• killed lots of bugs.
  I wrote an entire journal entry about the bugs (and scorpions) I saw there... there were so many!!
• Preached.
  In Spanish. Oh yes.
• Saw some old friends
  Pedro Pablo and I talked for maybe a half hour. David, of course, talked with me. I talked with Juanita, also, and I saw Marta for a while.
• Held a 12-hour old baby.
  Juanita's son -Elder Hebram- was born while I was there. He was so tiny and fragile and lovely...
• Taught.
  Of course there was a significant amount of ESL teaching in Xocenpich and Xcalacoop, but I also taught music, in Piste and in Xcalacoop.
  In Piste, it was in association with their VBS. I had four half-hour sections with different age groups, in which I taught them basic chords, where notes are on the piano, a couple of simple songs, etc. There were 120 kids in all. It was insane.
  In Xcalacoop, I taught music twice. Once to Karen and Omar, and once to a class of nine students. (Jahaziel, Selene, Karen, Mayrandi, Libna, Gerson, Omar, Ismael, and Nehemías) Most of them also came to my ESL classes, which were a lot of fun. Jahaziel and Selene are older than the rest, and I got to have some actual conversations with them. The others were just funny, mostly.
• Played volleyball
  Pretty much every time I was in Xcalacoop, we played volleyball at one point or another. After the church services, after VBS, after the ESL classes, etc. I miss playing volleyball. And sports are always good for when you don't know kids very well.
• Walked
  I went with the nurses on walks a couple of nights- it was hard, because right now is pretty much the peak of their rainy season. So some nights it rained, some nights I was out of town, some nights they had surgeries to clean up after, but the rest of the time, we walked. Usually we went towards Piste, but one time we just walked around the town, back to the Colony and then to Juanita's house.
  I like walking around in Xocenpich.
• Spoke Spanish
  I was pretty happy with the progress I made while I was there. Lots of talking to the nurses, to the kids, to random people at the VBSes, etc. I really liked it. And, to go along with that...
• Translated
  There was a woman from Lebanon, OH, who came (Leslie was her name) to visit with her friends. She's been going twice a year for eleven years, yet knows next to no Spanish. I was shocked. But... the point is that I translated for her when she taught music to the kids in Xcalacoop, and when she taught it to the nurses. And it went well!

I'm sure I'll write more later, but I'm going to go get ready for Spanish Lit now. =)

I like New York City. It was kind of brimming, radiating with energy and life. It's hard to believe it's been almost three weeks since we left there. Life moves on so quickly. I'm in Hattiesburg now, mostly chilling at Claudia's with her and Justin while Stan practices violin, then spending time with Stan whenever he's got it. ^_^ I like Stan. I like being here a lot...

This afternoon, Stan and I leave for camp in Canton. A week from two days ago we come back, then a week from yesterday is Preview Day at USM. I'm just the slightest bit nervous about that. I have to figure out what classes I'd like to take and stuff.

Anyways… I don’t know how much I want to write about New York. I mean, it feels so long ago now- I feel like it’s something I should catch up on later, when I’m looking back and shocked/appalled at myself for not having written anything. But… until that point, I think I’ll just kind of keep up with now.

This morning, as I have been sitting alone in what will eventually be my (and Ana Cristina's) room, I’ve been listening to The Prince of Egypt, and remembering how much I really like that music! It’s weird how much you’re capable of forgetting. No, I guess… It’s weird how much I’m capable of forgetting. ^_^ And kind of ridiculous. I wish I had a better memory. Maybe it's something I can work on and get better at. =] That'd be nice... I wonder how one goes about intentionally improving their memory.

There's either a really weird bird or a screaming child outside the window. It stopped now. I'm going to go with the bird idea. Seems more likely.

All we can do is nothing worth
Unless God blessed the deed;
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
Till God gives life to the seed;
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.

I remember this hymn from Nicholas Nickelby. It was beautiful. The one man singing it by himself in the street while the Christopher Plummer character reevaluates his entire life. It was a kind of intense moment.

Not the best moment to end on.
I decided I want to memorize the words to "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" and "La Mer." Same song, essentially, but in different languages.

No, it was definitely a child. I can hear it crying again, and it sounds pretty much the same, but more distinct. Kind of like it's closer, or just louder. And it went on for longer, so I could tell for sure.

Last night, when Stan was practicing with the quartet, I got to hang out with Claudia for probably an hour and a half to two hours, altogether. I definitively decided that I like her. She's been nice, and just... she just seems like a cool person to get to know. I'm getting excited about this fall! Oh, and she said she is going to France in the spring, too. So... it would for sure be amazing if I go then... I mean, it was already going to be amazing... but now... I guess now, not going would just suck that much more. I really hope it works out.