I can't believe how quickly time is passing as of late. The semester flew by, Christmas flew by, 2010 is sneaking up on me. I started work at the law office on Monday and I'll be working New Year's Eve at the Marriott tomorrow night (the theme this year is flappers and gangsters, it should be a lot of fun). On New Year's Day I leave for Vermont and on the 2nd I fly from Burlington to Buffalo for a week-long service trip with new friends from Saint Mike's. While there I'll be working in either a boys' or girls' Catholic school (placement hasn't been assigned yet). I'm really looking forward to it but I am getting a little bit nervous--a feeling that I didn't expect to have before leaving.

When I return from Buffalo I'll have just over three weeks until leaving for Fiji/Australia. I think that it is really starting to set in that I'll be halfway around the world for an entire semester; I have to apply for my visa upon getting home from NY, and then I have to PACK. How do I pack only a couple of bags for an entire semester abroad!? It should get interesting...

I'm creating a new blog especially for my time/experience abroad, keep a look out for it--it will be coming SO SOON!

I head home from school in 5 days and it still really hasn't hit me that I won't be coming back until September. It's honestly been a really tough semester but the last few weeks have made me feel a lot more content about the friends that I have and the experiences that I've been through... I've gotten a lot closer to certain people and I've realized that the only one who can justifiably judge my actions is me (though I now know who to confide in and who genuinely cares about me and how my actions affect me).

I had a lot more to write but I'm sleepy and have 10 pages to write for my American Theory final (due tomorrow).

(Thanksgiving Dinner with my SMC Family)

Eleven hours of homework later and STILL I've never felt better. Treating myself to a bubble bath, a full-body aromatherapy lotion rub, and a facial was the perfect way to end my night. What a day.

I feel like my life has been a huge blurry jumble of emotions, events, and areas of anticipation lately. I've got so many things on my mind and can't believe how quickly this semester is flying by. Sunday I had a pre-departure meeting with everyone else at SMC that is going abroad for the spring semester and it really started to hit me that I'll be halfway around the world in only a few short months. It is now less than three months until departure day and I have a lot to do before I go.

Despite the stress that has been surrounding me lately, I can't help feeling strangely content. I think I'm just euphoric from the incredible smell of this lotion.

I'm leaving for Fiji/Australia in less than 4 months. Still hasn't hit me yet. I'll be gone from February 5th until June 27th. While abroad I'm planning on:

visiting friends in New Zealand

visiting the Great Barrier Reef (doing a 4-day trip with my program)

attending Rugby games (hopefully an All-Blacks game in there somewhere)

sky diving

visiting Tasmania (maybe?)

checking out the outback!

learning to surf

picking up some Aussie slang

checking out the Sydney nightlife

attending some sort of show at the Opera House

The list goes on and on. If you have any recommendations or ideas that I haven't said, let me know :)

Summer whizzed by and here I sit, in my cozy Pontigny bedroom, on the third day of classes. Overall, my summer was spectacular: summer camp was the time of my life this year thanks to my amazing campers and co-counselors that I spent the 8 weeks with.

After the 8 weeks of camp ended, my last week of summer was spent making a roadtrip to Florida with a few of my closest.

The Florida trip was an absolute whirlwind... Chelsea, Lawless, and I drove from Vermont (after moving into our new rooms) to North Carolina to pick John up. Afterwards, we drove to Georgia and spend a night at Christina's house with her family (who are all gorgeous, by the way).

We spent 3 nights at a campground called Raccoon River in a giant tent. Days were spent on the beach at a state park in Panama City Beach, where the water was clear and the sand was white. John and I had a snorkeling endeavor and we all just relaxed and enjoyed the last days of summer listening to "Toes" (our anthem) and not worrying about a thing.

We had some crazy nights and then drove the 30 hours back to Maine, where we spent a night at my house and ate the most delicious, non-fried-chicken, meal of my life.

I moved back onto campus for good on Saturday. It has been quite a transition but I'm managing.. Sunday night Alicia and I went to see Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley with a couple of guys at the fairgrounds. It was a great show and such a fun time.

My class schedule this semester is packed.

Mondays:

9:30-10:20 American Literature II

11:45-12:50 Critical Theory

1-2:05 American Theory and Methodology

2:30-4:10 Honors Colloquium

Tuesdays:

2:30-4:10 Age of FDR Seminar

Wednesdays:

9:30-10:20 American Literature II

11:45-12:50 Critical Theory

1-2:05 American Theory and Methodology

4-5 Radio

Thursdays:

12-12:50 Writing Center Internship Course

2:30-4:10 Age of FDR Seminar

Fridays:

9:30-10:20 American Literature II

11:45-12:50 Critical Theory

1-2:05 American Theory and Methodology

My classes seem interesting so far and I like every professor that I have, but I've already got hours of reading and studying to do and it is only day 3. I'll also be working in the writing center for upwards of 3 hours a week which will leave my schedule crammed. I'm happy that I have a couple of days to relax, though!

More to come!

My life has been a bit of a whirlwind as of late. As I write, at 8am, I can hear the buzzing of my brother's hair being cut off while I wait until departure time. I'm heading to New York City with my parents and brother for the weekend. We're simply planning on walking through the city, doing some shopping, and visiting with a bunch of family members for my great-aunt's 90th birthday party. Will be interesting to say the least.

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Summercamp is officially in swing. Week one ended successfully and I have to say that I am extremely excited for the summer to unwind. I am working with 4 counselors that I have known for a while but have never worked alongside, with a group of kids that I had recognized but, again, had never worked with previously. They are sixth-graders and extremely energetic. We have more class-clowns than any one group of children should include, which only makes my live exponentially more interesting as I spend 10-hours a day laughing at them. All of the boys are athletes, with a couple exceptions, while nearly all of the girls are girly, nail-polishing, card-playing, gossip queens. I get the daily gossip from three of them each morning and it reminds me of being that age with Chelsea, Margaret, Sarah, Krissy, Jenn, and many others. I'm looking forward to seeing the summer unfold!

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My computer has been down for about 2 weeks now. I am ordering a macbook on Tuesday and can't wait to have a working computer again. I'm currently typing from my dad's, though he usually leaves it at work, meaning i rarely have any way to get onto the internet. I can't complain, though... I haven't really missed it much (other than losing what little bit of touch I have with some people at school).

When I reminisce back to some of my High School days I can rarely remember how I felt or what went on from moment-to-moment. I realize that a lot of this is because I was sleepwalking through my high school educational experience. Today I woke up mentally and physically exhausted after my first 10-hour work-day of the summer (I have 8 more weeks of them up ahead), and realized that I have that same sleep-walking feeling inside of me now. Despite 4 hours awake and 2 cups of coffee, I feel slightly numb and as if I am going through the motions. My days, from here on out, will generally consist of either 10 hour days at rec, or 4 hour office shifts followed by 6 hours at rec. 10 hours. Plus 2 hours daily at the gym. And probably a few more hours reading: at least while I power through the final 2 books in the Twilight series (yes, I know). I hope this isn't mistaken for a big, long complaint--that isn't what I am meaning to portray. It's just curious that this feeling is so familiar, and yet i don't truly remember the last time I felt this way. I think that the stories I've been reading are latching onto me emotionally, and the exhaustion is not truly letting me see past them. I'm beginning to temporarily lose touch with everyone outside of the workplace, as I always do during these 8-weeks of summer, and it really is too bad. I'm content with everything for the moment, though... honestly. But a nap would probably help. Or maybe some sunshine.

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Or maybe I could use something more.

I just found out that St. Mike's approved my study abroad application! A few weeks ago I heard back from AIFS (my program provider) and found out that they accepted me too! I will OFFICIALLY be spending my spring semester (early Feb-late June) in Fiji/Australia/New Zealand. I can't wait.

I started bikram yoga today. The place that I'm going to had a beginner deal and I only had to pay $30 for unlimited classes for a month. Basically, I'm saving $100 by paying for a monthly deal this way. It kicked my ass today, but I'm planning on going at least 3 times a week for as long as I can manage.

Josh is helping to design a tattoo that I'm planning on getting a little bit later on, probably once school starts up in the fall (maybe before?). If it all goes as planned, I will have pictures up at some point later on!

Went to a bonfire last night with Josh, Helen, and a handful of old friends. I miss stuff like that at home, I always have a great time.

Overall, happy to be home and loving the warm, sunny weather!

It's time for a summer goals list:

-Work out every day that I can (at least 6 days a week)
-Eat much healthier
-...and therefore lose a good amount of weight
-Work hard and make/save as much money as possible for Australia
-Once it gets warmer, go to the beach and relax at least once a week
-Get to some concerts/shows
-Visit Julia in DC
-Visit Justin/friends in Mass.
-Visit Vermont
-See Felicia in NYC during the 4th of July
-Do Bikram Yoga a few times (at least)
-Go for more bike rides and walks outside
-Get a camera and take loads of pictures

etc. etc. I'm sure I'll add more later!

Can you still feel the butterflies?

I received all of my grades already! Finals week ended today, so that is pretty crazy. I'm stoked about them though... I got A's in my Teaching Writing and American Studies courses, A-'s in my Glamour Seminar and Buddhism, and a B+ in Brit Lit. Brought my GPA up to a 3.62 so I'm no longer worrying about straddling the line between being an Honors student or not.

I'm home finally, too. Drove back down yesterday and arrived around 9 last night. It is nice to be home, but I miss Justin and Julia and others already. I've had an extremely busy day though! Woke up around 9 and started what will be a strict summer gym regimen. I'm planning on going at least 6 days a week... I want to lose a significant amount of weight by Australia in February. The diet I planned on starting didn't exactly go as planned, though. I went out for lunch with my dad and didn't resist my craving for cheese and French fries. And working at the Marriott tonight didn't help either, as I was passing hors d'oeuvres and can never resists gorging on them. I need to work on that.

I ate lunch with my dad's friend JJ, who will now officially be employing me in his law office for the summer. I start training next week, doing typical chores like filing and answering phones. I'm really excited, though... I haven't had a job like this before and I think I'm going to enjoy it. All the guys there are really nice. I think it'll only be 10-15 hours a week but maybe more, at least until summer camp starts up. I'm taking it as it comes.

Working the Rustic Overtones show last week was a lot of fun. Han and I went downtown with a couple of the guys in the band to get coffee and check out the record store, and then we hung out with them in the Green room until being kicked out due to our under-21 infliction. It was great, though. The guys are hilarious and we hung out with them and their openers after the show for a while. And, as always, they were great live. I may be helping out more with shows in the future... fingers crossed at least.


Like I said, I started at the Marriott again today. It's nice to be working again but it's gonna take me a while to get used to the physical aspect of working there. I'm hurting all over! Fun times anyway, though. Working my brother's senior prom tomorrow night, too. It'll be an interesting time!

I finished my study abroad application and am just waiting for Saint Mike's to send my program my transcript... then it'll be entirely finished and I'll just have to wait for an answer. I'm so so so excited about it and just keep getting more excited as time passes. Liz and I talked for a while because she spent last Fall in New Zealand and she made me feel so good about choosing Australia. It will be an amazing adventure!

AND I cut all of my hair off. It is now about chin-length and I'm planning on dying it either really light or really dark soon. Haven't decided yet. Any opinions?

I haven't written in a long time but I suppose that I've had an exciting/typical couple of months. I suppose I can start with the least recent and move forwards...

A few months ago was the housing draw. I drew for a suite with Julia, Christina, Chelsea, Robyn, Alicia, Shauna, and Nicole. We got an 8-person suite in Pontigny (one of the newest buildings on campus... also where Justin and the guys will be living next year too!) We're on the first floor, opposite the RD, but I'm pretty excited--should be a fun semester with a new group of people... I'm always up for change.

A couple of weeks ago I registered for classes. Next semester will be stressful but my classes sound interesting! This is what my typical weeks will look like:

Monday:
9:30-10:20: American Literature II
11:45-12:50: Critical Theory
1:00-2:05: American Theory and Methodology
2:30-4:10: Honors Colloquium

Tuesday:
2:30-4:10: Age of FDR

Wednesday & Friday:
9:30-10:20: American Literature II
11:45-12:50: Critical Theory
1:00-2:05: American Theory and Methodology

Thursday:
12:00-12:50: Teaching Writing Internship Course
2:30-4:10: Age of FDR

This and 5+ hours of work in the writing center is what will take up nearly all of my time in the fall. BUT, my spring semester will be a relaxing, incredible semester in Sydney, Australia! I'll be spending 10 days in Fiji for orientation, and then spending the rest of the semester taking only 3 classes in Sydney. I'll visit New Zealand for my spring break (I hope!) and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm just about done applying at the moment--I have one last essay to write and i have to get everything settled with my advisor (today) but I'm almost there!

I spent Spring Break in Washington, DC with Julia and Jake. We ate incredible food, visited all of the monuments and museum's, and relaxed for the week. I don't think that I've eaten so many varieties of food in such a short period of time. I think that we had Indian, Pakistani, Lebanese, Mexican, American, Italian, Japanese and Greek. Just reaffirmed my love for all things edible.

Next, I cut 10 inches of my hair off! It sits above my shoulders now and I've dyed it 4 times recently... I become a bit compulsive with changing my hair once I get started. I'll probably cut it one more time before summer, and maybe dye it darker again. Who knows.

Last weekend was one of the most eventful of the semester. Friday night was Lupe Fiasco on campus. Allie and a friend came to visit as prospective students, and they hung out with friends while I went to Lupe with some others. It was decent, not amazing, but fun nonetheless. Asher Roth was meant to play on campus but due to a bunch of controversy he was asked not to. There were rumors that he would play on campus but he didn't... School wasted 7 grand due to breaking the contract and asking him not to play. A lot of people were pissed. Oh well.

Saturday was UVM's Springfest. Christina, Hannah, and I got there around 12:30 and hung around until 6. Random stuff went on all day but the highlight was Ratatat playing. We were up at the front by the stage for a while but after being knocked over multiple times we moved so that we could dance. They were great, a lot of dancing was done, and great food was had. Also, UVM has a hula hoop team! Kinda crazy.

That night was fun too. Reconciled with Mary the day before over tea, and hung around with her and Grant and Christina all night. Danced a lot at the Turtle Underground up north and then got busted at a party, which was too bad. Didn't ruin the night though... the rest of it was typical but fun.

Tomorrow Rustic Overtones are playing at the Higher Ground downtown and Hannah and I are working as merch-girls for them. We're gonna hang around and sell t-shirts and watch the show for free. I'm really excited! Haven't seen them since the fall when we played 4-square and such.

This Saturday is P-Day, and should be a great time. We only have a week and a half left of classes, and then I've got a paper and two final exams the week after. I'm done on Tuesday afternoon, though, but I'll be sticking around until Friday. I'm so excited for summer--the weather, the lack of homework, seeing everyone from home, everything. I think that I'll be working for my dad's friend in his law office but if not I'll be at summer camp and the Marriott. I'm hoping I'll be able to make a good amount of money so that I'll have enough Australia!

Everything else is going well for the most part. Things are wonderful with Justin and I really couldn't be happier.

I suppose that this is just a bunch of rambling. Oh well!

I'm well into the second semester of the year and so far it has been a ridiculously hectic, busy time for me. I'm taking five classes and they all require a whole lot of work:

MWF 10:30-11:20 I have British Literature II with Christina Root, my advisor. The class is a lot bigger than the one I had with her last semester and I have a little bit of a harder time speaking out in class. My appreciation for poetry has gone up, though, and I have it with John and Julia which is a plus.


M 5:00-6:00pm & W 1:00-1:50 I have American Studies I, which is basically a survey of the 1960's in the United States. The class is insanely interesting most of the time and sitting through class is like sitting through story time (college style--immense note taking included). My professor is a really cool guy and I'm actually planning on picking up an American Studies major to go with my English major--the two overlap quite a bit. Pretty exciting!

TTH 10:00-11:40 I have a 400-level Honors English Seminar on Glamour with a man named Joel Dando. The class is small and a lot of fun for the most part. Joel himself is a great guy and I believe that it is his last semester on campus. Christina is in the class with me, too. This week we focused on a movie called Paris is Burning--a documentary about drag queens in 1980's NYC.

TTH 1:00-2:15 I have Buddhist Religious Thought. The class is interesting but goes by pretty slowly, as the style is almost entirely lecture-based. I've learned a lot, though, and it just makes me want to go to Tibet or India and study Buddhism more. I got a 97 on the midterm this week and I'm pretttttttty excited.

TH 2:30-4:30 Is my Teaching Writing course that is supplemented with tutoring in the writing center on Wednesdays 4-6. The class is probably my favorite of the semester and teaching in the writing center is really cool as well. Tomorrow in class we are receiving the results of our Myers-Briggs personality test and for the semester we are writing a short memoir.

I'm also involved in Little Brother Little Sister this semester and am subbing for a girl who is abroad in London. My little's name is Aubrie and she is in 5th grade. She is a very competitive tomboy-ish girl but she is hilarious and way too knowledgeable for her age. So far we've gone bowling and pet-store window shopping, and have played a whole lot of air hockey and pool. Christina and Chelsea both participate in LBLS so the three of us have a good time hanging out with our littles together.