So begins a week of living out of my car

My dear friend Maddie took pictures of Jordan and I this week. I'm in love with her photography skills. 

I had to say goodbye to this girl this morning as she left for Ecuador. It's going to be weird not spending everyday with her.

"Well I guess it's not surprising but it's Spring and I should leave"

Social Entrepreneur

Tonight I received a phone call informing me that I received an internship with Vittana! I applied through Students for Social Entrepreneurship and got chosen to be on one of the teams for next Fall. I couldn't be more excited. And the company I'm going to work with sounds amazing. 

Visit here to check it out: Vittana

I'm going to work with this micro-lending company to give loans to students in developing countries. Seriously can't wait. 

p.s.-the packing has begun.

The Finish Line

Last Sunday with the Roomies

I did it! I finished my finals. I took those tests and wrote those papers and I am done with Winter semester 2010 (besides a little teeny self-reflection scheduled Wednesday night, but that doesn't count). And the best feeling is being done with Science forever... There is a reason I'm a Journalism major.

So, it's now on to packing up all of my belongings into little boxes, cleaning, laundry, checking out, getting everything ready for my departure (which is an entirely separate and long list) and bunking on couches until I leave for Spain. 

Dear Icelandic Volcano,

Please stop erupting. I would be rather upset with you if you hindered my travel plans next week.

Sincerely,

me

Escape

I tend to often escape the life I've led for the past year or so and pick up a new one. This lifestyle that began at a young age due to several moves has instilled in me the need to see new things, experience life, and just go. I've literally started over each year for the past three years. (China, college, missionaries) I've forgotten what it's like to live around people I've known longer than a few months. I also think it's instilled in me a fear of being trapped. 

But, I'm looking forward to returning next year to familiar faces. It'll be nice to not have to completely start over for the fourth year in a row.

The home stretch

The last day of classes is here. Winter semester is just about over and I am once again left wondering where the time went. I'm always amazed at how each semester is so different from the last. Honestly it scares me how much can change in so little time. And once again I am about to say goodbye to this place and these people for four months and move on to a new and completely different chapter: Summer 2010. I will put my Utah life on pause and say hello to Spain, Europe, China, and Cambodia. 

But for this next week I really should be focusing on the finals breathing down my neck. And the list of things to get for my mom. And packing. And cleaning. 

But really I just want to be spending time with the friends that I won't see all summer long. 

But I should study. 

Finals week=biggest internal battle of the semester. 

St. George Easter

Friday morning I squished into the back of a car with four other people and ventured to the far away land of St. George. My cousin is from there and him and his friends planned out an adventurous weekend for us consisting of  off-roading, camping next to waterfalls, hiking Angel's Landing in Zion's park, exploring narrows, having a condo to ourselves (all thanks to my aunt and uncle who decided to get re-hitched in Vegas a few weeks ago and moved back in together), and enjoying the sunny weather that doesn't exist these days here in Provo. 

"All good things are wild, and free" -Henry David Thoreau

An extended Family

Being here at college in Utah has taught me so much about family. It's taught me how to live without my immediate family and how to cherish the few precious minutes I get to spend on the phone with them. It's taught me how much they mean to me. It's taught me to be independent. 

I've also learned a lot about extended family. I always grew up far away from my cousins and aunts and uncles. I loved family reunions but those were every 3 years. Coming here to school I've gotten to spend so much time with my extended family and my cousins are my very best friends. Tonight I saw a cousin of mine that I haven't seen in 12 years. And we talked like old friends. There's something about family bonds. No matter how crazy, insane, dramatic, or weird your family is... every one is still there for each other. And I love the relationship between cousins. Love it. 

In a way, my extended and immediate family have swapped temporary places. My immediate family is extended across the world. And my extended family lives 30 minutes down the road. 

Everyday I'm reminded how lucky I am.