So this week has seemed to go on forever, it's been insane with everything going on this week. It's the week before my internship and there's been a lot of stuff going on.
We put a laminated map out and asked people to mark where they have been, and where they would live/vacation and study. It was a really cool project because by the end of the day the map was covered with all different colors. It was also interesting to see the different places that people have been and to even hear the stories that went along with them. For example, someone marked off Iraq and said that it was the war zone. It was interesting because I didn't really know much about where he had gone. In some ways it was frustrating because Ireland, Italy and England consistently would be filled up when there are so many other places in the world. However, when people would come along and put down Kenya or Thailand for where they want to go, it was really even more interesting. We may do it a few more times in the coming semester and next year which would be a fun project.
The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
missed blog is missed...
so i missed yesterday...and todays it's going to be super short because i'm tired and in pain...o well, sue me.
I'm going to bed now...
I'm going to bed now...
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
long days of class are long - day 3
Today was such a long day. tuesdays and thursdays i have 9 hours of class and it is never ending, or so it seems. I take Culture of Spain, Business Mgmt, and Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods from 9:35-2:10 then I have Macro from 6:45-9:55. It's a lot of class in a day, not to mention getting everything else that I have to get done in between. It's all good though. I'll only retain like 50% of what I'm learning but i guess that's how it goes. I actually enjoy my classes for the most part. I would like it better if we didn't have homework...or grades for that matter, but that besides the point. We can't all get what we want.
Tomorrow's going to be an early day...so i'm keeping this short, even though I said it would be longer. Although tomorrow I'll be sitting at a table for 4 hours, so I'll be able to write a long blog then.
Ciao!
When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.
— Unknown
Monday, November 7, 2011
short blog is short - day 2
Longest day ever...and it's still going.
I'm working on defining like 100+ definitions for macro at the moment...I'm going to work on that and do a long post tomorrow.
Today was so busy but a lot of fun. I learned a lot about the Mount community, learned what it's like to wear fatal vision goggles. bonded with Amanda and was ready to shoot a few people. I also had a class about my trip to New Zealand...o yea, it's official! I'm going to NZ!!!
Now...i'm writing those definitions. Argggghhhh
tootles!
I'm working on defining like 100+ definitions for macro at the moment...I'm going to work on that and do a long post tomorrow.
Today was so busy but a lot of fun. I learned a lot about the Mount community, learned what it's like to wear fatal vision goggles. bonded with Amanda and was ready to shoot a few people. I also had a class about my trip to New Zealand...o yea, it's official! I'm going to NZ!!!
Now...i'm writing those definitions. Argggghhhh
tootles!
· The one who’s chasin’ doesn’t know where the other is taking him. And the one who’s being chased doesn’t know where he’s going. – Sam Shepard
Sunday, November 6, 2011
fail blog is fail...day 1 again?
SOOOOO clearly I kinda suck at this. But I'm going to give myself a mulligan and try again...I'll even start over completely.
I'm going to keep this short since I do need to go to bed. But I'm excited for what's actually coming. I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I have so much going on in my life right now. I've got a ton of stuff coming up and going on, I've got class work, International Education Week, I'm applying for jobs in all different places, I decided to start the push-up challenge, work on the blog again...a whole host of things. I'm going to really commit here. I've decided to leave notes all around my room reminding me to post a blog and to keep up with the challenge.
November 6...Mulligan Day!!!
I'm going to keep this short since I do need to go to bed. But I'm excited for what's actually coming. I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I have so much going on in my life right now. I've got a ton of stuff coming up and going on, I've got class work, International Education Week, I'm applying for jobs in all different places, I decided to start the push-up challenge, work on the blog again...a whole host of things. I'm going to really commit here. I've decided to leave notes all around my room reminding me to post a blog and to keep up with the challenge.
November 6...Mulligan Day!!!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Day 18 - 'Rising': Tribute on hallowed ground
At this moment I have a zillion thoughts running through my head. I'm trying to make sense of all of them and figure out where they all fit in. It's hard but I'm working on it...ish.
I just spent the last 2 and a half hours(on and off) watching 'Rising': Tribute on hallowed ground which is about the new World Trade Center Site. It is fascinating to see how everything is unfolding nearly 10 years after that fateful day. I have always been awestruck by buildings and watching them come together. The idea of giant hunks of metal and wood and stone coming together and building any structure has always intrigued me. Watching the program just opened my mind to how immense this project is. Learning about the measures taken to make it safe in a way that other buildings have not been before, combined with how it will mimic not only the twin towers but also the Washington Monument was crazy to fathom. I think it's interesting how all the different silhouettes came into play in order to build it. Also, that the main top of the building will be exactly as tall as the twin towers were and that when the final antenna is put on it will be 1776ft. tall is so crazy to imagine. This "office building' will be a work of art and a commemoration to what makes the United States, the United States.
Another part of the program that I really loved was watching the part about the museum and memorial. Part of the reason that I was so entranced by it was that I have been listening to my brother talk about it for the past few years. Listening to him talk about it has come to be, and now actually seeing it...so crazy. My brother has been a project manager on the site for the past few years and I'm really proud of him. I have seen how much crap he goes through, but I know that it must be rewarding for him to know that he has played a key part in everything.
As I was watching it, I was thinking back to the trips that I have made to Washington D.C. to the Mall, and to other memorials around the world. I feel as though I can compare the World Trade Center Memorial to Robben Island in South Africa. It is one of those things where when I was on Robben Island, people we met spoke of what they went through and what they remember. I feel as though for me, I will one day walk through the memorial at the World Trade Center and be able to say "I remember when..." To me, that is a very powerful thing to swallow and to grasp. It's hard to believe that that is in fact something that I will one day be doing. We grow up listening to the people around us telling us stories from when they were younger of momentous moments in history. This is one of those things. This will be a mark on our generation for the rest of our lives. It's literally breathtaking to grasp that concept.
All in all, I "enjoyed" watching the documentary. I learned a lot about the other buildings on the site and not just the museum. I also was able to make more connections between things I heard and read and saw. I want to watch the rest of the series because I think it is important to watch and to learn.
I just spent the last 2 and a half hours(on and off) watching 'Rising': Tribute on hallowed ground which is about the new World Trade Center Site. It is fascinating to see how everything is unfolding nearly 10 years after that fateful day. I have always been awestruck by buildings and watching them come together. The idea of giant hunks of metal and wood and stone coming together and building any structure has always intrigued me. Watching the program just opened my mind to how immense this project is. Learning about the measures taken to make it safe in a way that other buildings have not been before, combined with how it will mimic not only the twin towers but also the Washington Monument was crazy to fathom. I think it's interesting how all the different silhouettes came into play in order to build it. Also, that the main top of the building will be exactly as tall as the twin towers were and that when the final antenna is put on it will be 1776ft. tall is so crazy to imagine. This "office building' will be a work of art and a commemoration to what makes the United States, the United States.
Another part of the program that I really loved was watching the part about the museum and memorial. Part of the reason that I was so entranced by it was that I have been listening to my brother talk about it for the past few years. Listening to him talk about it has come to be, and now actually seeing it...so crazy. My brother has been a project manager on the site for the past few years and I'm really proud of him. I have seen how much crap he goes through, but I know that it must be rewarding for him to know that he has played a key part in everything.
As I was watching it, I was thinking back to the trips that I have made to Washington D.C. to the Mall, and to other memorials around the world. I feel as though I can compare the World Trade Center Memorial to Robben Island in South Africa. It is one of those things where when I was on Robben Island, people we met spoke of what they went through and what they remember. I feel as though for me, I will one day walk through the memorial at the World Trade Center and be able to say "I remember when..." To me, that is a very powerful thing to swallow and to grasp. It's hard to believe that that is in fact something that I will one day be doing. We grow up listening to the people around us telling us stories from when they were younger of momentous moments in history. This is one of those things. This will be a mark on our generation for the rest of our lives. It's literally breathtaking to grasp that concept.
All in all, I "enjoyed" watching the documentary. I learned a lot about the other buildings on the site and not just the museum. I also was able to make more connections between things I heard and read and saw. I want to watch the rest of the series because I think it is important to watch and to learn.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Day 17- Ever have those moments...?
So I looked at my computer clock and it said 11:05...it's now 12:20. How'd that happen?
Today was crazy!!! It's fun shopping with other people for their stuff and helping them organize themselves instead of thinking about what you need. I'm so not ready to think about what I'm going to be bringing back to school and I might be shopping with mamma tmrw...soooo it's going to be interesting.
Today was crazy!!! It's fun shopping with other people for their stuff and helping them organize themselves instead of thinking about what you need. I'm so not ready to think about what I'm going to be bringing back to school and I might be shopping with mamma tmrw...soooo it's going to be interesting.
| “Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” | |
 James Dean |
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Day 16
O geezum! Move in day for school is Sunday...that's crazy. I can't believe that this summer has literally flown by. It has been littered with ups and downs but over all, it was pretty good. I unfortunatley didn't get to do some of the things I wanted to, like go to cali or a few other things. but, I realized that there was a lot of things that I did get. I did get to go to Boston and see the MV and I did get to buy a car. This week is a bit of reflections, goign over what's going on in my life now and what will be coming up. I'm excited for all that's going to happen. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day but it should be fun too. I'm going to be hanging out with anne...who's somone that I should def. talk about soon, seeing as she is the best friend...but that'll happen soon.
So will my update!!! I promise!!!
I've been working on notes about this weekend and it should be up either tomorrow or thursday!
"When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through."
— Nicholas Sparks (Dear John)
So will my update!!! I promise!!!
I've been working on notes about this weekend and it should be up either tomorrow or thursday!
"When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through."
— Nicholas Sparks (Dear John)
Monday, August 22, 2011
It's Monday...and tomorrow's Tuesday- Day 12
"cheers to the freakin weekend" This weekend has been awesome! I've had so much fun and it's been so busy
I've had such a good time and enjoyed spending time with the people that I love. I can't wait to see what the rest of this week will bring and what I'll be doing come this year. I know that I have to talk about the past weekend and I will. I'm just going to need a little bit of time to process everything that has gone on and I'm going to have a post up probably tomorrow about it. Cheers!
What does it matter how one comes by the truth so long as one pounces upon it and lives by it?
Henry Miller
I've had such a good time and enjoyed spending time with the people that I love. I can't wait to see what the rest of this week will bring and what I'll be doing come this year. I know that I have to talk about the past weekend and I will. I'm just going to need a little bit of time to process everything that has gone on and I'm going to have a post up probably tomorrow about it. Cheers!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Day 11 - Long Weekend!
This has been a whirlwind of a weekend! So much has happened and now i'm going to go to bed earlier than I have in the last few days which is wonderful!!!!! I can't wait to talk all about my driving, Boston, Ben, seeing the MV Explorer, meeting so many cool new people and connecting with others I had only met in person. Spending the night at different apartments, literally feeling my legs and arms decompress after tons of walking and running, and dancing and standing. So many mixed emotions going on right now and I can't wait. At the moment, I could talk all about it but I'm really tired and I need rest for the drive home tomorrow. Toodles!!!
"A person's a person no matter how small"
~Dr. Seuss
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Better Late than Never - Day 11
Hi y'all!
I'm in boston!!! YAY!!! and this blog post is late...oops. But it's ok. I've been crazy busy all day...well not really. I ended up leaving for Boston at 1ish and it took 5 hours for me to get here...argh!!! The ride was good though. I spent the ride catching up with friends, listening to audio books, and singing along to music. It was a good ride all in all. The best part about it was trying to figure out how my Bluetooth worked. It was really funny but made talking sooooo much easier. I'm really glad I ended up getting it, I could talk to people and actually hear them and they could hear me. Much better spending the $40 on the Bluetooth than the $600+ on installing the Sync for my phone. But anyways, I arrived in Boston and we just chilled for a while and got dinner and drinks and all that jazz. It was pretty sweet. But now it's sleepy time because I'm uber tired.
I get to be on the MV tomorrow!!! Horray!!!I can't wait!
Adventure is worthwhile in itself.
Amelia Earhart
I'm in boston!!! YAY!!! and this blog post is late...oops. But it's ok. I've been crazy busy all day...well not really. I ended up leaving for Boston at 1ish and it took 5 hours for me to get here...argh!!! The ride was good though. I spent the ride catching up with friends, listening to audio books, and singing along to music. It was a good ride all in all. The best part about it was trying to figure out how my Bluetooth worked. It was really funny but made talking sooooo much easier. I'm really glad I ended up getting it, I could talk to people and actually hear them and they could hear me. Much better spending the $40 on the Bluetooth than the $600+ on installing the Sync for my phone. But anyways, I arrived in Boston and we just chilled for a while and got dinner and drinks and all that jazz. It was pretty sweet. But now it's sleepy time because I'm uber tired.
I get to be on the MV tomorrow!!! Horray!!!I can't wait!
Adventure is worthwhile in itself.
Amelia Earhart
Thursday, August 18, 2011
AHHH Quick Blog - Day 10
Leaving for Boston...YAY!!!
No idea how to get there/where I'm going/what to pack...UhOh
So I'm attempting to pack, and by attempting, I mean I'm not really packing at all. Which is probably a bad thing, but o well. It should only take me a few minutes to pack...I hope. I'm packing light because I'm only going til Monday, but I still need to figure out everything I need to pack and what I am going to wear.
I can't wait to see everyone and get back on the MV for the first time in a little over 8 months. It's unreal. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the same feelings going on the MV now that I did every time I went back on the ship in port. Like I'm going back home. It will also make things a bit more real I think. Sometimes I feel like SAS never actually happened, but then I think of all the amazing things that I did, and saw and the people I know and it becomes real. But there's always the sense of awe. I'm excited to get back on the ship. I can't wait. It should be a fun and good time. Seeing everyone for the first time will be awesome too. *Side note-I'm really, really, really tired which is why this blog may not be super coherent and I'm slightly drunk with excitement* Anywho, I think it will be nice to finally get back there after forever and a day, so yay!!
Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure.
Irving Wallace
No idea how to get there/where I'm going/what to pack...UhOh
So I'm attempting to pack, and by attempting, I mean I'm not really packing at all. Which is probably a bad thing, but o well. It should only take me a few minutes to pack...I hope. I'm packing light because I'm only going til Monday, but I still need to figure out everything I need to pack and what I am going to wear.
I can't wait to see everyone and get back on the MV for the first time in a little over 8 months. It's unreal. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the same feelings going on the MV now that I did every time I went back on the ship in port. Like I'm going back home. It will also make things a bit more real I think. Sometimes I feel like SAS never actually happened, but then I think of all the amazing things that I did, and saw and the people I know and it becomes real. But there's always the sense of awe. I'm excited to get back on the ship. I can't wait. It should be a fun and good time. Seeing everyone for the first time will be awesome too. *Side note-I'm really, really, really tired which is why this blog may not be super coherent and I'm slightly drunk with excitement* Anywho, I think it will be nice to finally get back there after forever and a day, so yay!!
Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure.
Irving Wallace
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Apparently I Can't Do Math? -Day 9
So I guess yesterday was actually day 8 and not day 7? O well, either way, that means I made it more than a week! Or that I officially had a week of posts? I don't know. Either way, I was super confused when I saw that there was 8 posts and not 7 like I thought. But alas, such is life, and I also don't think I have real grounds to complain.
Which I guess kind of brings me to what I want to talk about in today's blog...although it wasn't the original intention, I think it works better. Ever have those moments where everything is just not what you want, like your day/week is just terrible? All you want to do is literally scream or cry or tell everyone to fuck off and leave you alone? Definitely a pain in the ass...I hate those days/weeks...and even summers. I'm pretty sure my summer has been full of those moments. I have literally had moments where I just want to give up and run away. I haven't, don't think I can. It's not really me, nor am I one to just give up. But then there are those moments where things happen that just make you smile and make your day all better and make all the bullshit worth it. The moments where the weight is lifted off your shoulder and things are all ok.
I've found that t I'm ready to let myself smile at the simplest things and that people can just make your day so much better. One of the people I often turn to is my friend Nimish. Nimish has been there at some of the toughest points of my life. He has been a shoulder to cry on, a person I can get angry with (usually when I'm angry at the world but he lets me take it out on him), someone I can talk to when I'm driving and bored, and most important of all, he can make me laugh and smile with the simplest thing. I have literally texted him saying that I was mad/sad/frustrated and told him to make me smile and the response will be something along the lines of "and?", "so?" or "Smile!" Something simple, but for some reason, I can't help but start laughing at the ridiculousness of the conversation. I have a handful of friends like Nimish and it has always amazed me how the simplest things can make everything negative go away. It's true that sometimes we cherish those most important to us in the bad times. I think it is also those bad times when we realize who matters most to us and who we matter to. And sure, the negative and frustrating and bad things are still there but for those few minutes, everything that has gone wrong is put into perspective and I'd rather be happy than anything else, so I'm ok with it.
The highlight of my day today? My second time going to Starbucks. It was only 11am...but it had not been a very good morning up until that point. I love going to Starbucks...as my friend Ben made up a "Starnut." It might be a little sad, but I'm ok with that. *side note: I say "ok with it/that" a whole lot, just something I noticed* I don't really know why I like going there so much, maybe because I actually feel welcome and I can almost decompress even though I'm only there for 10 minutes tops usually. It could also be because they have good coffee and treat you more like a person than a customer. Either way, today they proved that they are even more amazing than I thought. I went this morning at 8:40 the way I do every morning. I've taken to letting one of the barista's there make me a new drink every time I go and she's working. So I go this morning and she's there, and I pretty much started a debate about what drink I should get. It was settled on a chai something or other. So I got it, tried it, liked it, left and went to work. Where I was actually going to drink it. About 15min into work, my coffee got spilled and went alllll over the floor. I was not a happy camper. Then I ended up being told to leave work only 2 hours later which meant that I was only working 2 hours instead of 5-8. Really not happy now...but I decided to go to starbucks on the way home. I showed up and it's the same team from 2 and a half hours ago. I walked in and the person that had taken my order in the morning asked how I liked the drink and I told her what happened. About 2min later, the barista that makes me a different drink every time saw me and went "You're back!" and asked me how my drink was, I didn't have a chance to answer because the other girl told her how it was knocked over. Everyone was insistent that I needed a new one and I had to try it again so I could actually drink it. I laughed and just went with it. My drink was made and the girl handed it to me with a smile and just said "it's on the house." That right there, made my day. Few places that I frequent would literally provide me that attention even if it was the same people I was seeing every day. It was that simple gesture that made my day so much better. From then on out, everything seemed ok. I was not worried, I just went with it. It's just one of the reasons why I've learned that you can't sweat the small stuff, and it really is all small stuff.
Which I guess kind of brings me to what I want to talk about in today's blog...although it wasn't the original intention, I think it works better. Ever have those moments where everything is just not what you want, like your day/week is just terrible? All you want to do is literally scream or cry or tell everyone to fuck off and leave you alone? Definitely a pain in the ass...I hate those days/weeks...and even summers. I'm pretty sure my summer has been full of those moments. I have literally had moments where I just want to give up and run away. I haven't, don't think I can. It's not really me, nor am I one to just give up. But then there are those moments where things happen that just make you smile and make your day all better and make all the bullshit worth it. The moments where the weight is lifted off your shoulder and things are all ok.
I've found that t I'm ready to let myself smile at the simplest things and that people can just make your day so much better. One of the people I often turn to is my friend Nimish. Nimish has been there at some of the toughest points of my life. He has been a shoulder to cry on, a person I can get angry with (usually when I'm angry at the world but he lets me take it out on him), someone I can talk to when I'm driving and bored, and most important of all, he can make me laugh and smile with the simplest thing. I have literally texted him saying that I was mad/sad/frustrated and told him to make me smile and the response will be something along the lines of "and?", "so?" or "Smile!" Something simple, but for some reason, I can't help but start laughing at the ridiculousness of the conversation. I have a handful of friends like Nimish and it has always amazed me how the simplest things can make everything negative go away. It's true that sometimes we cherish those most important to us in the bad times. I think it is also those bad times when we realize who matters most to us and who we matter to. And sure, the negative and frustrating and bad things are still there but for those few minutes, everything that has gone wrong is put into perspective and I'd rather be happy than anything else, so I'm ok with it.
The highlight of my day today? My second time going to Starbucks. It was only 11am...but it had not been a very good morning up until that point. I love going to Starbucks...as my friend Ben made up a "Starnut." It might be a little sad, but I'm ok with that. *side note: I say "ok with it/that" a whole lot, just something I noticed* I don't really know why I like going there so much, maybe because I actually feel welcome and I can almost decompress even though I'm only there for 10 minutes tops usually. It could also be because they have good coffee and treat you more like a person than a customer. Either way, today they proved that they are even more amazing than I thought. I went this morning at 8:40 the way I do every morning. I've taken to letting one of the barista's there make me a new drink every time I go and she's working. So I go this morning and she's there, and I pretty much started a debate about what drink I should get. It was settled on a chai something or other. So I got it, tried it, liked it, left and went to work. Where I was actually going to drink it. About 15min into work, my coffee got spilled and went alllll over the floor. I was not a happy camper. Then I ended up being told to leave work only 2 hours later which meant that I was only working 2 hours instead of 5-8. Really not happy now...but I decided to go to starbucks on the way home. I showed up and it's the same team from 2 and a half hours ago. I walked in and the person that had taken my order in the morning asked how I liked the drink and I told her what happened. About 2min later, the barista that makes me a different drink every time saw me and went "You're back!" and asked me how my drink was, I didn't have a chance to answer because the other girl told her how it was knocked over. Everyone was insistent that I needed a new one and I had to try it again so I could actually drink it. I laughed and just went with it. My drink was made and the girl handed it to me with a smile and just said "it's on the house." That right there, made my day. Few places that I frequent would literally provide me that attention even if it was the same people I was seeing every day. It was that simple gesture that made my day so much better. From then on out, everything seemed ok. I was not worried, I just went with it. It's just one of the reasons why I've learned that you can't sweat the small stuff, and it really is all small stuff.
| “In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.” | |
Charlie Brown |
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
1 week...and nothing or was it anything?- Day 7
It's been a week officially since I started this!!! Awesomeness! I'm actually really proud of myself because I always say I am going to start a journal, a blog, a whatever and I make it maybe a week before giving up. But I'm really proud of my weekiversary!!! *Side note: So I've heard of people celebrating b/c their relationship lasted a week...but like celebrating celebrating with flowers and a gift and a nice dinner and everything...I mean really? after a week!? Pretty sure that if it's only been "official" for like a week, you can't have had tons of "real" dates. I don't get it...a month maybe...but a week!?* Anyway, I've loved watching this blog over the week and seeing myself just kinda blurt what's been on my mind but I have definitely sorta had some sort of direction in the blogs I feel. Ok, probably not, but whatever.
Anyways, I'm glad I made it a week and I'm hopeful that I'll keep it going. Especially knowing the direction that I actually want the blog to go by the end. I'm excited to see my style evolve and just watch where it takes me. Yay! Although, even though I know where I want the blog to be at the end of the 366 days I mean it loosely. I want to be a better writer, be able to make my thoughts more cohesive, and just know myself better. I will not attempt to saw where I actually want to be at the end, i.e. location, school, job, etc.
Which kinda brings me to what I was thinking about writing about. Have you ever thought about nothing? In high school I had a teacher tell us to "write about nothing" in our journal entry for the day. *Side note: It may have been write about anything but it was sophmore year and that was 5 years ago* **Side note to side note: I kinda like the idea of side notes, do you? I think I'm gonna keep them going* So she told us to write about nothing or anything either one and I did. I literally sat there and described the word. We were given creative power. Normally it was things like "what was your reaction to character blah's reaction to event shaboogie" or "write about some of your goals for the future." You know, english and life related stuff. We were rarely given super broad topics. I kind of ran with this one. I'm not sure she was expecting it from me, but I think she liked it. It's crazy to think about the absence of anything or the existence of something. Thinking about what it directly links to and why and how is something that I like to think about it. It's also sort of deep too because you have to actually write about something that by definition cannot really have a definition. It's confusing and wonderful and amazing all at the same time. It's like a brain teaser that can't be solved and I like it. You could debate about it for eons and no one could ever really be wrong. Crazy right?
There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein
Anyways, I'm glad I made it a week and I'm hopeful that I'll keep it going. Especially knowing the direction that I actually want the blog to go by the end. I'm excited to see my style evolve and just watch where it takes me. Yay! Although, even though I know where I want the blog to be at the end of the 366 days I mean it loosely. I want to be a better writer, be able to make my thoughts more cohesive, and just know myself better. I will not attempt to saw where I actually want to be at the end, i.e. location, school, job, etc.
Which kinda brings me to what I was thinking about writing about. Have you ever thought about nothing? In high school I had a teacher tell us to "write about nothing" in our journal entry for the day. *Side note: It may have been write about anything but it was sophmore year and that was 5 years ago* **Side note to side note: I kinda like the idea of side notes, do you? I think I'm gonna keep them going* So she told us to write about nothing or anything either one and I did. I literally sat there and described the word. We were given creative power. Normally it was things like "what was your reaction to character blah's reaction to event shaboogie" or "write about some of your goals for the future." You know, english and life related stuff. We were rarely given super broad topics. I kind of ran with this one. I'm not sure she was expecting it from me, but I think she liked it. It's crazy to think about the absence of anything or the existence of something. Thinking about what it directly links to and why and how is something that I like to think about it. It's also sort of deep too because you have to actually write about something that by definition cannot really have a definition. It's confusing and wonderful and amazing all at the same time. It's like a brain teaser that can't be solved and I like it. You could debate about it for eons and no one could ever really be wrong. Crazy right?
There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein
Monday, August 15, 2011
Baby Countries and dinner at Vermillion - Day 6
So today was a fun day. I spent the morning and part of the afternoon working on my research project. Sounds boring but now that I'm really getting into it, I'm actually really interested in what I'm writing about. I feel as though I also have a vested interest and that it is in part my responsibility to share history and information that people may not know about. I'm writing about South Africa and their economic history. However, there is also much history in the country itself and it is actually a "baby." The Republic of South Africa was actually only formed in 1961, so really it is only 50 years old and it is even younger if you are dating from the first democratic election in 1994 when Mandela became president. Crazy isn't it? We always think of history as dated and taking place a while ago and yet South Africa is literally growing up right now. People always say that the United States is a young nation and it is when compared with many European countries. But, if you put it next to South Africa and other African Nations, the U.S. is more like a teenager in comparison. It's a bit unreal to think of how much it has changed in such a short period of time and I love learning about it. Yes, I totally just nerded out there...but isn't that kind of cool to think about?
On a different note, my mom and I went to dinner tonight at this dinner called Vermillion NYC. It was so good. It's a really cool fusion of Latin American and Indian foods. The executive chef Maneet Chauhan has been on "Iron Chef" and "Chopped" and a 5-course tasting menu that featured 10 different dishes was what we ate. It was awesome! I found it through groupon as a way to try something new. It was a place I would probably never have tried after looking at the menu prices, however, the groupon made me decide to give it ago. It was amazing! I can't wait to go back. Everything was sooooo good and the staff was awesome! Our waiters name was Nathan, and he was so chill and did an awesome job. It was awesome because I'm pretty sure it would have been easy to dismiss us given that we were using the groupon so technically we were eating at a discount, but it was not like that at all! My mom and I were treated amazing and they really take care of you there. Nathan told us about everything we would be eating and then literally walked us through each course once we received it. He also helped us make choices when it came to choosing out options for the "chopped" portion of the meal. It was definitely some of the best treatment I've ever gotten at a restaurant and even if the food was just good and not awesome, I would probably still want to go back because of the way we were treated. If you want to splurge on a really great night out, I would totally suggest going to Vermillion.
Now that I turned my blog into a food review...it was a good day. I enjoyed myself and learned a lot, such as that people in some midwest cities expect you to stop and talk with them a lot when it comes to the relationship between a diner and their server. I found it interesting and would have expected that more so in New York. But in retrospect it does make sense for NY. Here, people want you to watch them and be aware of their presence and be ready when they need something and leave them alone otherwise. Although, I think I'm learning that I like it when people are willing to have a conversation with you and be willing to hang out and answer questions or just even bullshit with you for a bit. You never know, you might learn something interesting.....
Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire
On a different note, my mom and I went to dinner tonight at this dinner called Vermillion NYC. It was so good. It's a really cool fusion of Latin American and Indian foods. The executive chef Maneet Chauhan has been on "Iron Chef" and "Chopped" and a 5-course tasting menu that featured 10 different dishes was what we ate. It was awesome! I found it through groupon as a way to try something new. It was a place I would probably never have tried after looking at the menu prices, however, the groupon made me decide to give it ago. It was amazing! I can't wait to go back. Everything was sooooo good and the staff was awesome! Our waiters name was Nathan, and he was so chill and did an awesome job. It was awesome because I'm pretty sure it would have been easy to dismiss us given that we were using the groupon so technically we were eating at a discount, but it was not like that at all! My mom and I were treated amazing and they really take care of you there. Nathan told us about everything we would be eating and then literally walked us through each course once we received it. He also helped us make choices when it came to choosing out options for the "chopped" portion of the meal. It was definitely some of the best treatment I've ever gotten at a restaurant and even if the food was just good and not awesome, I would probably still want to go back because of the way we were treated. If you want to splurge on a really great night out, I would totally suggest going to Vermillion.
Now that I turned my blog into a food review...it was a good day. I enjoyed myself and learned a lot, such as that people in some midwest cities expect you to stop and talk with them a lot when it comes to the relationship between a diner and their server. I found it interesting and would have expected that more so in New York. But in retrospect it does make sense for NY. Here, people want you to watch them and be aware of their presence and be ready when they need something and leave them alone otherwise. Although, I think I'm learning that I like it when people are willing to have a conversation with you and be willing to hang out and answer questions or just even bullshit with you for a bit. You never know, you might learn something interesting.....
Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Tell Him what you want, then keep your eyes open-Day 5
Today at Mass, the priest gave a very interesting homily that I think can apply to all aspects of our lives. The priest referred to the Gospel when he spoke of how what the woman wanted and what Jesus wanted had to match up before change could come. As the story goes, Jesus saw what the woman wanted but not before teaching an important lesson that we are all important and we have to be open to change.
I think that this is an important philosophy to apply to our own lives be it religious or not. So many times people have a bit of a "my way or the highway" approach. We must be willing to look at others and see what they want and can contribute before we make a final decision. That was the point of today's gospel as well. To simply sit and demand and expect A, B, and C to just happen the way we want, doesn't necessarily work. It is important to recognize what we want but know that what we want or what we think we want may not be entirely true. I am grateful for all the people in my life that have enabled me to really open up and learn that the "me, me, me game" doesn't necessarily work. I think we have to understand that things happen for a reason and while we can have some control, not everything we want will happen.
I think that this is an important philosophy to apply to our own lives be it religious or not. So many times people have a bit of a "my way or the highway" approach. We must be willing to look at others and see what they want and can contribute before we make a final decision. That was the point of today's gospel as well. To simply sit and demand and expect A, B, and C to just happen the way we want, doesn't necessarily work. It is important to recognize what we want but know that what we want or what we think we want may not be entirely true. I am grateful for all the people in my life that have enabled me to really open up and learn that the "me, me, me game" doesn't necessarily work. I think we have to understand that things happen for a reason and while we can have some control, not everything we want will happen.
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Saturday, August 13, 2011
Performing the Impossible
I firmly believe that anything is possible and "if you can dream it, you can do it." In a conversation I was having with a friend today, she asked what I wanted to do with my life. At first, I hesitated and I couldn't really think about what I wanted to do and I just floundered. After about 4 or 5 minutes I simply went with what I was thinking. I just kept going and going. I decided that I was going to make something of myself and at the same time do something that would help people. I was really able to formulate what I wanted to say and what I wanted to do. I felt a sense of accomplishment after I had finished. My friend even said to me that based on how proud and happy I was she could see me doing it. I was so excited and happy that she was so supportive and she saw my vision. It really meant a lot to me. I created a short list of some of the things I wanted to accomplish and I feel that I will. I plan on one day writing them down and possibly sharing them all here once I can finally figure out putting them together. To me, it is a bit of a bucket list, but I want to have parts to the bucket list. I have also found that sometimes things that would be on a bucket list, we don't think of having on a bucket list until after we do them. When I went skydiving, it wasn't until after that we actually talked about the fact that so many people have it as something that they want to do.
I think it is important to have an idea of what you want to do in your life but be aware that things can change. I have changed what I want to do and where I want to go about 199 times since going away to school and I feel as though it may change again. I have learned that it is important to go with the flow yet still be aware of your place in the world.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
~Walt Disney
I think it is important to have an idea of what you want to do in your life but be aware that things can change. I have changed what I want to do and where I want to go about 199 times since going away to school and I feel as though it may change again. I have learned that it is important to go with the flow yet still be aware of your place in the world.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
~Walt Disney
Friday, August 12, 2011
Technology- Day 5t
Do you ever sit and wonder at how far technology has come? I'm writing this blog from my phone wich is crazy. the fact that the calculators we use today hve more power than the first computers used to send space shuttles t the moon is crazy to think about.
I just think it amazing to think about al we have the power to do with a device the size of our palms. I use my phone for nearly everything...one second I'm on the phone with my mom and the next facebooking a friend in India while figuring out how to find the restaurant I was supposed to be at 20min ago. Insta communication is akin to insta gratification. Something so wonderful and awful at the same time.
I just think it amazing to think about al we have the power to do with a device the size of our palms. I use my phone for nearly everything...one second I'm on the phone with my mom and the next facebooking a friend in India while figuring out how to find the restaurant I was supposed to be at 20min ago. Insta communication is akin to insta gratification. Something so wonderful and awful at the same time.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Be Someone-Day 3
Ever have a moment where you're like...I want to be someone! Not so much in the "I want to be famous and I want money and blah, blah, blah." No, more like "I want to matter and I want someone to know who I am."
I think there's an important distinction between the two and it is something that I am coming to understand and know more about as I know more about myself. Personally, I do want to be someone. I want to make a difference, and I want to matter. I think it is in the little things that we can make a difference. People have the choice to choose what they believe in and who to believe in. The beauty of the human person is that we are able to make that choice and that choice shapes who we are.
Sometimes at school when I talk to someone about SAS they go, "O yea, I heard about you from so-and-so" or "I saw something about what you did." I think that that's awesome. I"m not saying it's awesome because I like knowing people were talking about me, but awesome in that I love that people are learning about something that I did and the opportunity I had. It helps to make me someone and in a way establish an identity. It gives me the ability to ask people what they heard and to also share more with them. It gives me the ability to share knowledge that I have learned. When I hear someone say something about a country I went to that is either untrue or misconstrued, I feel fortunate that I can share with them why what they say is not necessarily what they think. This also lets me establish myself as someone. When I share my experiences and really show people my passion, I am able to grow and learn more about myself. I am also much more aware of the "power" that I hold and that it is a gift I have to be able to talk about these countries.
Long story short, I guess, is that I want to be someone, I want to matter. I know that I do matter and I am someone and I have mattered to lots of people and that to me is a great gift and privilege and it is my hope to continue to do that.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies
within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
I think there's an important distinction between the two and it is something that I am coming to understand and know more about as I know more about myself. Personally, I do want to be someone. I want to make a difference, and I want to matter. I think it is in the little things that we can make a difference. People have the choice to choose what they believe in and who to believe in. The beauty of the human person is that we are able to make that choice and that choice shapes who we are.
Sometimes at school when I talk to someone about SAS they go, "O yea, I heard about you from so-and-so" or "I saw something about what you did." I think that that's awesome. I"m not saying it's awesome because I like knowing people were talking about me, but awesome in that I love that people are learning about something that I did and the opportunity I had. It helps to make me someone and in a way establish an identity. It gives me the ability to ask people what they heard and to also share more with them. It gives me the ability to share knowledge that I have learned. When I hear someone say something about a country I went to that is either untrue or misconstrued, I feel fortunate that I can share with them why what they say is not necessarily what they think. This also lets me establish myself as someone. When I share my experiences and really show people my passion, I am able to grow and learn more about myself. I am also much more aware of the "power" that I hold and that it is a gift I have to be able to talk about these countries.
Long story short, I guess, is that I want to be someone, I want to matter. I know that I do matter and I am someone and I have mattered to lots of people and that to me is a great gift and privilege and it is my hope to continue to do that.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies
within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Writer's Block-Day 2
I had about 15 different ideas of what I wanted to write about for today's blog. Something about starting the new blog, something about work, something about reading, something about quotes...and a bunch of others. go figure, they're all gone now...awesome.
I guess I'll write a little bit about what I want to write about. I want to write more about SAS and more about what I did and have been doing. I want to write about how I noticed that I have changed now that it has been almost a year since I first got on the ship. I want to write about people that have changed me and made me who I am. And i want to write about simple little things. Originally, I was writing this blog and going to pick one thing that I am grateful for and write about why. I did that for about 2 weeks in a journal and it kind of faltered. What i'm realizing is that if I were to do that, I would put myself in to a bit of a corner. Now I'm pretty sure that as I keep writing my blog everyday, I'll find it embedded somewhere with in that day's blog post. I've also decided that I will *try* to post a quote or something at the end of each blog as well. I literally find my walls, and drawers, and bags, and mirrors, littered with quotes that for some reason meant something to me. I think quotes are awesome and have the ability to make a big impact with few words.
Looking forward to the next few weeks...doing a big project at work re-doing our wedding forms and getting ready to create a showcase presentation, it's taking time and effort but I'm really excited and enjoying watching everything that I'm doing come together; going to Boston next week to see the MV Explorer and see a lot of SASers from my voyage and others, I can't wait to see everyone and see the ship again; school starts in a few weeks too, Senior Year commences and I'm excited, not really sure what to expect, my 21st birthday is soon too, it's something that I am excited for but am not overexcited by the whole "o yay alcohol" thing, I think there is something to be said about having had the chance to go to so many countries where alcohol is a part of their culture and customs when someone is younger than 21. Other than that...I guess everything else coming up remains to be seen.
Ciao!!!
Ralph W. Sockman: "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength."
I guess I'll write a little bit about what I want to write about. I want to write more about SAS and more about what I did and have been doing. I want to write about how I noticed that I have changed now that it has been almost a year since I first got on the ship. I want to write about people that have changed me and made me who I am. And i want to write about simple little things. Originally, I was writing this blog and going to pick one thing that I am grateful for and write about why. I did that for about 2 weeks in a journal and it kind of faltered. What i'm realizing is that if I were to do that, I would put myself in to a bit of a corner. Now I'm pretty sure that as I keep writing my blog everyday, I'll find it embedded somewhere with in that day's blog post. I've also decided that I will *try* to post a quote or something at the end of each blog as well. I literally find my walls, and drawers, and bags, and mirrors, littered with quotes that for some reason meant something to me. I think quotes are awesome and have the ability to make a big impact with few words.
Looking forward to the next few weeks...doing a big project at work re-doing our wedding forms and getting ready to create a showcase presentation, it's taking time and effort but I'm really excited and enjoying watching everything that I'm doing come together; going to Boston next week to see the MV Explorer and see a lot of SASers from my voyage and others, I can't wait to see everyone and see the ship again; school starts in a few weeks too, Senior Year commences and I'm excited, not really sure what to expect, my 21st birthday is soon too, it's something that I am excited for but am not overexcited by the whole "o yay alcohol" thing, I think there is something to be said about having had the chance to go to so many countries where alcohol is a part of their culture and customs when someone is younger than 21. Other than that...I guess everything else coming up remains to be seen.
Ciao!!!
Ralph W. Sockman: "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength."
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Day 1
So this is something that I have been planning on doing for a while. I have created a new blog called Sea's 366 Moments (seas366moments.blogspot.com). I have yet to really do anything with it, although I have been planning on doing it since probably mid-Spring. Alas, I let life get in the way and this new project get a way from me. This will be day one. I will be posting every day for the next year. Some of them may be short, some long. We'll all have to wait and see where it goes because even I am not sure.
Let me explain the name, Sea's the Moments was my Semester at Sea blog that I kept during the duration of Semester at Sea. Granted, I did not blog as often as other did, but I also did not want to blog every day and take away from the moments that really struck a chord. Because Sea's the Moments is so important to me, I wanted to incorporate that into the new blog. There are 365 days in a year...generally. 2012 is, however, a leap year...366 days. Sea's 366 Moments...the birth of my new blog.
It is my hope that I will be able to take this blog and watch it grow and mature in a sense. It will cover the end of my summer going in to my senior year of college. My entire senior year of college, and the summer following, and who knows, I may keep it going.
I am excited for this to begin and I hope you are too.
And as always, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Well Lao Tzu, here's my first step.
Let me explain the name, Sea's the Moments was my Semester at Sea blog that I kept during the duration of Semester at Sea. Granted, I did not blog as often as other did, but I also did not want to blog every day and take away from the moments that really struck a chord. Because Sea's the Moments is so important to me, I wanted to incorporate that into the new blog. There are 365 days in a year...generally. 2012 is, however, a leap year...366 days. Sea's 366 Moments...the birth of my new blog.
It is my hope that I will be able to take this blog and watch it grow and mature in a sense. It will cover the end of my summer going in to my senior year of college. My entire senior year of college, and the summer following, and who knows, I may keep it going.
I am excited for this to begin and I hope you are too.
And as always, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Well Lao Tzu, here's my first step.
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