ImagiNation

Compromise

2010-11-05T10:16:00.002-04:00

I wanted to make this new part of my blog about my AmeriCorp VISTA experience. I suppose what I'm about to write really is still. I'm broke. As a volunteer I am to live at or under the poverty level so that I know what is like to live like the people I help. Over the weekend my boyfriend's car broke down. Well actually it was his mother's car, I actually am driving his car. I feel as if I should give the car back to him. I also have the feeling that with both of us driving it, that car is sure to die soon too. As I mentioned in the Wheel of Life entry, I want nothing more than to move out of his parents house. It has been years since I have had a place to call my home. For years I have had a place to live, but nothing about it is mine.

So now what do I do? My job requires that I have reliable transportation. My brother's girlfriend wants to sell me her car-- but if I do that there is no way I can move out. At least I cannot think of any way to get both the car and move out. Being poor sucks. It is so hard to go without just basic things. Sometimes I have to go to corporate offices for meetings and I feel poor because my clothes are cheap.

Perhaps I should just get some of my things out of storage and put them up in his room. Though there really isn't any extra space for that. At least if I buy the car I will have something else to make mine.

Community Garden

2010-11-04T13:35:00.002-04:00

I had this idea. Poof! there it was suddenly in my head. In order to make this whole VISTA experience really mean something to me I knew I could not simply just do what the VISTA before me left behind. That is her legacy. She made our non-profit into a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site. We do taxes for those that make under $50,000 a year for free because everyone is entitled to it. So great, I get to learn tax law and how to file taxes. It is really a great thing.

But it is not my passion. I love to garden. As I mentioned before, I don't have one of my own. And neither does St. Anthony's, the site of our ESL school and across the street from the Sister Visitor Center. But I'm going to CHANGE that! They have accepted MY idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to do something constructive with my life! Yay!

Things I've Learned from the Federal Reserve part II

2010-10-19T13:55:00.004-04:00

I'm guessing not everyone is hearing the buzz about the dangers of predatory lending, also known as Payday loans. Another wonderful speaker I had the pleasure of hearing spoke of an successful alternative to such practices, Eugene (Jack) F. Webb, President of the South Region of BankPlus. But first things first, why are Payday loans bad?

According to A Study of the Payday Loan Industry in Missouri, "in the past few years the payday loan industry...has grown significantly, both nationally and in Missouri. In 1996 there were an estimated 2,00 payday loan outlets nationally, and by 2008, that number grew to an estimated 22,000."

I recently attended a public hearing because in the state of Kentucky, because Kentuckians have paid upwards of 400 percent interest on more than four million loans for an estimated $158 million in predatory payday loan fees in 2008. Proponents if payday loans often state that they are useful as an occasional source of short term credit. The thing is many customers use these services multiple times in a year.

According to KCRL County Data Report, the U.S. Department of Defense recognized the problems associated with these loans and sought and won federal legislation capping the annual interest rate that can be charged to military families at 36 percent. This was defined as a matter of national security because payday loans were causing the disintegration of family finances and impairing military readiness. People feel that this should apply to everyone.

Payday loans are also known as deferred deposit transactions, allowing people to borrow money against future earnings, by writing a postdated check for the amount due. The problem lies in that many people just can't pay it all back because of the high interest rates. Basically the entire system relies on the consumer's failure to repay and result in repeat borrowing.

For example say your car broke down and because your hours were cut you do not have the money for the repairs at the moment, but you have to get the car fixed asap so not to miss any work. You decide to go to a payday lender for a $250.00 loan. It cost more than you had anticipated to fix your car and now your rent, credit card and phone bills are due. Unable to repay the loan you end up paying $54.00 in interest every two weeks. Let's say this continues, and 18 months later you pay off the loan. The total loan cost would be $1944 with $1695 in interest (452% APR).

So where are people turn when you don't have family or a saving account? The program offered at Mr. Webb's bank. At BankPlus you can get a $500 or $1000 loan based on your credit score with a fixed interest rate at 5% for 12 or 24 months. There is a required 3 hour financial literacy class and half of the proceeds go to pay down debt while the other half go into a savings account. There are no fees other than the interest rate. While the bank really doesn't make any profit initially it does create customers, ones that so far appear to stick around.

Who Knew I Could Learn So Much From the Federal Reserve

2010-10-19T10:28:00.006-04:00

More and more I find myself headed into the corporate offices of the banking world. Me, dressed in my blue jeans or cheap slacks next men and women in designer suits all enter the elevators together but it seems that only I exit on the Federal Reserve floor. Needless to say, I find that I am usually the youngest and often the only person representing a non-profit at many of these seminars and meetings. But it is great! At first I thought so because of the free lunches and breakfast, but they honestly bring great speakers that don't just talk about change but actually doing something to make it happen.

The first really great speaker I saw a couple of weeks ago was Saundra Davis. She is a nationally recognized financial coach, educator and consultant. As President and CEO of Sage Financial Solutions, she provides financial coaching for individuals, small business owners and community based organizations and is also a co-founder of EARN'S Wealthcare Financial Coaching Project.

A lot of what she covered had to do with what the difference is between financial counseling, planning and education can be. It the end they can over lap and compliment each other but the main focus was on coaching. This is because it is rooted in behavior change and trying to empower the client rather than simply telling them what to do. A financial coach is to help the clients identify their specific financial and life goals through motivation, accountability, resources and help. This is done by asking questions such as: what about this is important to you? What next? What else? Finding this information can be accomplished several ways but the one that caught my attention the most is through the Wheel of Life.

The Wheel of Life is an exercise that cuts a circle into eight sections that, together, represent one way of describing a whole life. The exercise measures your client's level of satisfaction in these areas and is meant to be a snapshot of the moment. The categories can be changed but the ones given are Fun and Recreation, Physical Environment, Career, Money, Health, Friends and Family, Significant Other/Romance and Personal Growth. Then the you rate the way you feel about these areas from one to ten. Ten being the best and the outer part of the wheel and one the worst, closer to the inside of the wheel. The goal is to make your wheel whole.

To use my life as an example, I feel that in the Fun area I'm at about a 7, Physical Environment is a 4, Career 6, Money 5, Health 4, Friends and Family 7, Significant Other 9, Personal Growth 6. Now why do I feel this way? I know that I have an extreme amount of fun- concerts galore, beer, parties, etc. So how could I improve this or is it important to me to improve it? Yes, I would like to have even more fun because who doesn't. Often I cannot go out because I live too far away and don't feel as if I should spend the gas money nor do my friends want to drive out to see me.

This leads to the Physical Environment topic. I currently live with my boyfriend and his family. I am very grateful for everything they have given me and for all that they continue to do for me. But as I near the age of 30 I want to have things of my own. Seriously, about the only thing that is mine at the moment are clothes that are mostly too small for me and my bicycle. If my boyfriend and I were to suddenly develop problems and break up, I would have no where to live and no car. I have lived for almost the last five years with my belongings in storage because I just do not have any where else to place them. I have no place of my own. Again, since this topic is ranked as one of my lowest I would love to improve it. My boyfriend and I are hoping to move out next month so I feel that my desire to both be closer to town and the ability to walk around naked will increase my mood and my need for more independence.

On to Career and Money. I ranked my career at 6 because I am finally making progress in that area, though I still have further to go but for the moment I'm very happy where I am at this time. This ties into the Money category because as an AmeriCorp VISTA I am to live at the poverty level. I actually make less than minimum wage. This fact weighs heavy on my mind and on my plans to move out. I have to budget and stick to it! I cannot see how can achieve my goal without it. I am eligible for food stamps and know that this will save me money and I have applied to defer my student loans as well.

So... you can see how the Wheel of Life works. It forces you to think about your life at this moment and decide what you want to change, how it relates to other parts of your life (because they too can be improved) and makes you analyze how to change it.

Can I even remember how to do this?

2010-09-15T15:48:00.002-04:00

A few years have passed since I last blogged. But I'm going to try it again for I am now living my dream! I'm an AmeriCorp VISTA working at a non-profit after having a string of jobs I hated during the last 3 years. I have an amazing boyfriend that I live with---and his parents. Anyway, as a VISTA I work to fight poverty so I thought I would track this endeavor, good and bad, to hopefully prove to myself that I CAN change the world. Even if its just a little bit.

Warning!!

2007-11-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

While reaching for my purse on the floor in one of those high chairs at a bar, I fall. The chair goes flying backward into the rest of the crowd. I lean towards the table. It wobbles, the candle and all of its wax, splatter on my purse. Glasses half full also crash. All I can say is that my ass is killing me today as was my ego last night.

My warning to you- just get off those high seats before trying to reach for something on the floor.

A video blog on my blog

2007-10-23T22:10:00.000-04:00

So I first picked this video because she had a review of the film Once that I talked about earlier. Then she goes on with a rant that I have heard before from my other Asian friends- it's quite funny actually.

Fun facts from 1981

2007-10-22T21:05:00.000-04:00

The space shuttle Columbia launches for the first time.

Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first female Supreme Court Justice.

Prince Charles and Diana Spencer marry July 29.

Luke and Laura of General Hospital most watched wedding next to Charles & Diana.

Dynasty premieres.

The first DeLorean sports cars roll off the assembly line.

August first 1981, the birthday of Music Television.

Rick Springfield takes job as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital.

Pac Mac is introduced in the U.S. and sparks a huge craze.

Poland government crushes the Solidarity movement.

First reports of deaths at the time from disease what we now know to be called AIDS.

52 hostages released after 14 months of captivity in Iran.

John Hinkley attempts assassination on Ronald Regan on March 30.

Nutra Sweet hits the markets.

Pope John Paul II is shot by crazy Turk.

Walter Cronkite steps down from CBS, Dan Rather takes over.

"Physical" by Olivia Newton-John spends 10 weeks at #1 on the charts (half in 81, half in 82.)

Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda both win best actor awards for On Golden Pond.

Porky's released in theaters, introducing us to Kim Catrall. To this day it’s still the highest grossing movie from Canada.

Tom Cruise makes his feature film debut in Endless Love

I was born!

Lost in a maze of....corn?

2007-10-13T09:52:00.000-04:00

This is where I'm going today!!!

Crazy?

2007-10-09T18:01:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder if there just might be something psychologically wrong with yourself? This morning sometime before the sun came up I had another one of my spider dreams. If I've never mentioned this before, I have been having dreams with spiders and the occasional bed full of insects since I was in high school. In real life, I'm not that afraid of spiders or bugs. I mean I'm not about to get a pet Tarantula or anything, but I don't freak when I see one on the wall. When I was a kid I even liked to throw ants into their webs so that I could watch them roll them up for dinner (ahhhh, childhood). The first dream, which my mother even remembers for I- well, I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to the dream: the first one never felt like a dream (like all the others to follow), more like I had just dozed off while laying on my back. Next thing, this huge spider (I'm talking the size of a human hand) comes falling from the ceiling right on my face!!! I wake-up screaming. My mother thinks there is an intruder and rushes into my room. There she finds me with the lights on, breathing heavy, shaking my blanks. I glance her way, "Mom!!!! Watch out for the spider!!!!" I yell. It felt SO real.

10 years later the same thing continues to happen. Sure I don't typically scream anymore. Most of the time I wake up seeing the spider or, as I mentioned before, various other insects, I tell myself that I'm just seeing things and fall back to sleep. Last night was not one of those nights. Last night was a turn on the light and shake the blanket. Though oddly enough, this morning I had some kind of "bite" on my abdomen. It itches badly I might mention. Maybe I was finally bitten by a spider last night.

A Date with Your Family

2007-10-08T15:55:00.000-04:00

Ahhhh, the autumn has arrived. Soon, it will be Halloween and before you know it, the holiday season will be upon us. Here is an enlightening Mystery Science Theater 3000 short, "A Date with Your Family" to remind you just how to behave when having dinner with your family.

Just what is this feeling?

2007-10-07T23:01:00.000-04:00

I think I might be home sick. I think I miss Louisville. Or maybe I'm just incredibly bored up here. It may be the last one, or one other guess is that I'm having withdrawals from being around people all the time. I lived in a house with four other people last year, then this summer I was constantly with all the kids in my Indonesian class. Now I live with one other person, who isn't here all that often. I'm only taking one class and there is only so much extra studying I can do to get ahead. I have a lot of free time. Dare I say too much? Sure I considered getting a job, but since I'm leaving Madison at the end of December I figure no one would want to hire me. Also, there are a few weekends I would want off when friends visit or if I get the chance to go back to Louisville. Poor me, right? What a problem to have. I've been trying to live it up because, hey, when is this ever going to happen to me again? Probably never.

Additional things I've learned while in Wisconsin

2007-10-02T21:19:00.000-04:00

~ The driver seat in my car is NOT good to sit in for 8 hours straight

~ You CAN live without a t.v. (as long as you have the internet)

~ Sometimes building an event up in your mind is NOT a good thing

~ I definitely want to live in Louisville when I graduate

~ Craigslist is great

~ Tickets to a college football (especially Big Ten) game are ridiculously expensive

~ People you have known for awhile can surprise you- in very good ways

~ My friends are awesome and we have SO much fun together- I think I miss them

~ Cardboard cut-outs of people are great to have at a party

~ Sleeping on two air mattress' stacked on top of each other is actually pretty comfortable

What is happening in Burma

2007-10-02T05:54:00.000-04:00

Because I feel it is my duty to inform people of Southeast Asia, check out this stuff on the unrest in Burma (aka. Myanmar)

New York Times article

BBC news

Or if you would rather watch it...

Also, if anyone is interested in more information about Burma/Myanmar, let me know- my education should be put to use. Also I just read the Amy Tan novel "Saving Fish From Drowning" and most of it takes place in Burma. Not my favorite novel of her's but it's deals with some of what is going on in Burma.

The Borneo Project

2007-09-23T23:05:00.000-04:00

An Iban Dayak community in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo describes ten years of struggle to protect ancestral rainforests, using letter writing, blockades, community mapping and legal action against Borneo Pulp and Paper and the Sarawak government. They won a landmark court victory in 2001, which is now threatened in the Federal Court of Appeal. It was produced and filmed by 'The Borneo Project', an activist group located in Sarawak. Basically the video details a longhouse community in
Sarawak and the government taking their land.

This is also a good example of the language I am studying- while it is Malaysian, many, many of the words are the same in Indonesian.

2007-09-22T10:50:00.000-04:00

Southeast Asian Night

2007-09-22T10:11:00.001-04:00

I figure I wrote enough (aka bitching) about having to put this shin-dig together last April that one may want to see some of the good that came out of it. This is the Indonesian group PERIMAS and the Saman dance they performed at the SEA night.

Educational

2007-09-20T23:08:00.000-04:00

I'm always about learning new things, like this educational footage on spiders that I stole from my friend Liz:

Once

2007-09-20T22:30:00.000-04:00

Today I saw the film Once. Not knowing it was a modern musical, I walked away thinking two things: I want the soundtrack and they sure did sing a lot in the film. I recommend a viewing.

Here's one of the songs

Seen anything lately?

2007-09-13T14:54:00.000-04:00

Since I'm back in Madison, I've had quite bit of free time- as I haven't started my job yet, nor have I received my scholarship money to pay a tutor. So what have I been doing? Going to the movies. Lots of movies...

Hairspray Not bad...but not as good as the original. This version just didn't have the, well, the John Waters quality to it.

Becoming Jane I cried. Then again I always get sucked into Jane Austen. But honestly, if you have ever read or watched a Jane Austen film/book... then you have pretty much already seen this movie. With the exception of the ending, which I will not give away.

3:10 to Yuma Ahhhh Christian Bale as a cowboy... mmmmm.... oh sorry. This is a really good film, Bale is great as is Russel Crowe- they make their characters believable. Though for a man missing half of one leg, Bale's character sure can run fast.

The Ten It's about the 10 Commandments- so there are 10 stories. Some are really funny. Others aren't so much. I'd wait to rent it, but it's worth seeing at some point.

Death at a Funeral Absolutely hilarious! I would see it again. It's the story of a British family's funeral and all that could go wrong just might!

Shoot 'Em Up The title does not disappoint- there is a lot of gun action. At first I kinda liked it, then I didn't, then I did. Surprising this film carries a political message about gun control and who really controls the protection of the 2nd Amendment.

I love these guys

2007-09-11T17:23:00.000-04:00

I highly recommend watching their show. Oh yeah, they're the Flight of the Conchords

Things I've learned while in Wisconsin

2007-09-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

* Now-a-days people prefer to send a drunk text message rather than drunk dial

* I can actually learn another language

* Friends are WAY better than boyfriends

* People in Wisconsin have no idea what I'm saying when I say "Louisville"

* People in Wisconsin love a girl that says "y'all"

* The Big East gets little lovin' in a Big Ten school

* I don't appear to have the best judgement when it comes to the fella's

* The family dog was put down (tear)

* While I miss my family and friends, I really like to "move" to new places

* My new house mate has weird stuff in the fridge (there is some plant-like thing floating in a jar)

* I'm at that age where I need to look for a ring on a guy's finger when at a party (I turned him down, but a married guy tried to make-out with me at a party I was night Friday- it was later when I told someone that I found out)

Live from Madison

2007-09-08T05:16:00.000-04:00

Okay, so it's has been awhile since I last posted, well anything. I'm back in Madison Wisconsion, after an almost 3 week break to finish my language requrirement.

Thiller.... Prison style

2007-07-25T20:53:00.000-04:00

I think I may just give up on Indonesia and end up in the Philippines- this is suppose to be from one of the prisons there. Of course, everything from the internet is true...

Is that okay?

2007-07-23T01:25:00.000-04:00

There has been a bit of drama in my life lately. The details seem less and less important as each day passes and I realize that I am not exactly the person I thought I was. I am breaking up with my boyfriend- we had a big fight that lead me to view him in a different light, and frankly, it is not something I trust. It just seems a little odd that one event can change so much- but it can.

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you

2007-07-10T18:53:00.000-04:00

The Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) students are a pretty big bunch. We have 3 levels, most of whom are like me, in the 1st level. Several of us go out (those that are over 21) after class on Friday. (We usually start at the Student Union, call the Terrace, which has a nice view of the lake.) The 1st level is divided into two classes. My class has become pretty tight. We have study groups together, go out to eat, go to the farmer's market on Saturdays, etc... Not to mention it is really interesting to learn about why these people are learning this language. Most will be traveling to Indonesia pretty soon. There are others like myself who don't know when they are going, or if they will ever get a chance to use the language.

Truely Changed

2007-07-07T22:06:00.000-04:00

I grew up a little shy and quiet. With each passing year I become more out-going and to say the least, loud. So this weekend I thought I would relive a bit of my past and stay in on BOTH a Friday and Saturday night. Tonight, I began to think about it and I believe it could be almost 5 years since I last did this. Use to be, I loved my weekends home alone. I suppose it was because it may have been a break from what I can only imagine may have been social anxiety. Only now, I'm itching to reach for the phone all my class mates here in Madison. I think it is even more painful to sit at home because I don't even have a television. What, read on a Saturday night? Wow, what a concept. Anyway, what I guess I'm getting is that it is always interesting to realize you have changed.

Learn Indonesian

2007-07-06T16:32:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feqhvOm_t9k

She's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but you can have some idea about what I'm learning...

This Dorm's Life

2007-06-25T19:25:00.000-04:00

As a first time dorm occupant, I have discovered the problem of having dishes, but no sink in which to wash them in. There is a kitchen in the basement of the building- the problem is it is 4 floors down from my room. It is stupid to walk down there to wash just one bowl and spoon, but it is just as difficult to go down there with three bowls, a plate, cups, etc... you get the picture. The communal bathroom on my floor also has a large kitchen-looking sink. Am I allowed to wash my dishes there? I hope so, because I have. I also had a very Kramer-genius moment yesterday. Why not wash my dishes in the shower so that I can kill two birds with one stone!!! It worked pretty well, I have a "shower basket" where I place my shampoo, conditioner, razor, body wash & puff, but there is extra room. Just the right amount of room for three bowls and all my plastic forks and spoons- though now I'm sure that anyone who visits me will not want to eat off or out my bowls.

Actually, now that I think of it, this just makes me sound really lazy- and yet genius.

Just another one of those odd things that happens to me

2007-06-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I ended up hanging with some so-called friends. To make a semi-long story short, they ended up leaving me at my house (which isn't a bad place to be left) but they also left behind this douche bag who had been hitting on me all night. Up until then I was okay with it because, hey, free drinks. Anyway, a couple of my housemates were still up as after hours were at the house. Slowly the other people began to disappear and soon it was just the two of us. That's when I announced that I was going to bed and that it was nice to meet him. That's when he thought he was coming to bed with me, you know, because it was SO late. I let him know that our couch was quite comfortable. He responded by trying to kiss me- I turned my head. He then put his teeth on my cheek. He didn't bite me, just had his teeth on me. I'm not sure how long it was for- but it was long enough for me to make my uncomfortable situation groan, tell him he's a freak and ask who puts their teeth on someones cheek? He was apparently offended by my question and decided to leave.

Mad City

2007-06-20T19:48:00.001-04:00

Madison has been pretty amazing. The city itself is not that large, but like most capitals it has a lot of character. The State Street Mall area is pretty happening. The street itself is closed off to all traffic except buses and bikes, as there is nothing but shops, resturants and bars on the street. This is the most predestrian friendly town I have ever seen! And it has to be one of the most healthy- I don't think I've seen more than 5 heavy people since I've been here. Everyone rides a bike and I mean everyone. The city is also nestled between two lakes. I'm hoping I may get to go sailing for the first time before the summer is over! The only downside I see of this place is that stores close rather early, even Walgreens.

The University of Wisconsin's campus is huge and typically holds around 40,000 students, which is more or less about double of what I'm used to at a college. Not to mention, it appears that the entire campus is in one area, medicial school and hospital, law school, a giant barn for farming research or somethig like that (I'm just guessing)- all in one area, another thing I'm not used to in a college campus. Oh and their student unions serve beer and not just at resturants, but in the food, grab-and-go, sort of food stands. No wonder this school is the number one party school.

I'm living in a dorm, with a my own room. Having never lived in a dorm, I have to say it's not too bad and I'm right on campus so I can walk everywhere I need to be within about 10-15 minutes. Speaking of walking, I don't have a car up here. While I never really used my car whenever I was in Athens, it was nice to have, just in case. But just as in Athens there is a high cost for parking your car, anywhere, and besides I would probably only used it to drive back to Louisville for the Police concert in July. As for my classes, I am actually enjoying taking a language for the first time ever. Who would have thought that I just needed to sig up for an intensive program?

What can I say? I got a little pee on myself

2007-06-05T16:56:00.000-04:00

The other day I had a lot of caffeine and a lot of water. Needless to say, I had to go. And I had to go right then. So I find the nearest restroom on campus, and just my luck- one of those bathroom trolls had visited. You know, when the only available stall has pee all over the seat, toilet paper covers the floor and a nice little turd is waiting in the bottom of the bowl. As many other women do in public restrooms, I squat or try to hover over the toilet to pee. So what happens? I lose my balance and in an attempt not to touch the foreign pee, my very own gets all over me. I'm talking running down my leg. I also get a nice size wet spot in the middle of the back of my Bermuda shorts. I wash it off, only to make a bigger wet spot.

Did I mention that I then had to walk clear across campus to get home after that?

School's out for summer

2007-06-05T16:34:00.000-04:00

Ahhhhh, finally I can take a deep breath and enjoy watching trash television again without feeling guilty because I should be reading for a class. Well, at least for about 8 days- then I'll be on my way to Wisconsin to learn me some Indonesian. And even those eight days will not be stress free. First, and I feel most importantly, I have to get my financial aid all under control. Second, I have to try and find another intensive Indonesian language program for the fall in hopes that I don't have to stay in Athens for another year to just take the language. Trouble with that one is there does not seem to be such a thing during any time of the year except the summer. Third, I have yet to find a place to live in Wisconsin. Fourth, I have to obtain my high school transcripts so that the psychology people can complete my Learning Disability assessment (the testing was pretty interesting- no ink blots though). If it turns out I am LD, then my second problem above may just disappear. Fifth, I have to finish packing my belongings and find a place for them while I'm in Wisconsin and my car, nor my mother's, is big enough to hold my bed, desk and hope chest, which probably means two trips to Athens, unless I can talk my uncle into helping me. Sixth, I may have to have one of wisdom teeth removed because the gums around it got infected and I do not have dental insurance.

Did I mention I have to do all this in EIGHT DAYS? Yikes

Torn- between which fun place to be

2007-05-15T13:03:00.000-04:00

The weeks are dwindling away and soon I will be finished with my classes at Ohio University (in theory, anyway). I had SO much fun over the weekend here in Athens, with all my housemates that I'm torn between going home and staying here to play with them this weekend. Such hard decisions one must make! I was suppose to stay in Athens this weekend because of the International Street Fair, but since my student organization has become inactive (because someone missed a meeting) we no longer have to do anything for it now. Which is fine with me.

Anyway, over the weekend I attended a David Bowie/Glam party, a Stepford wives themed cocktail party, a house party, Palmerfest (where ALL the houses on Palmer St. buy dozens of kegs and everyone hangs out on the street getting drunk), a cookout and a birthday celebration. No wonder I'm so tired today.

Would it be mean?

2007-05-03T12:10:00.000-04:00

Would I be a complete bitch if I didn't take the person I said I would to Cincinnati so that I can leave town earlier? (I drive past Cincy on my way to Louisville.) My class is getting out early, so I could leave about 2 hours earlier than I would without him. I'm not really one to go against my word, but this guy did completely ignore all my calls last week when I needed help for the SEA night (he's from Malaysia).

Lookin' back

2007-05-03T11:58:00.000-04:00

The other day, while working, I completed all I needed to do and suddenly had a couple hours of free time. Next thing I know, I'm reading some of my older on-line journal entries from 2004 on. I have to say, that while been aware that I've changed since I've moved to Ohio, I really didn't know just how much until I read my own words. I've really grown up, I think I may be able to officially claim myself as an adult. I was so surprised to find just how scared I was about, well, everything. Whether it was speaking in front of people to standing up for myself or even just doing things alone- I've become independent. I think "I'm going to make it after all!"

I've been accepted into SEASSI

2007-05-01T13:36:00.000-04:00

SEASSI- Southeast Asia Studies Summer Institute.
I will be in Madison, Wisconsin for about 2 months this summer learning to speak, write and understand the Indonesian language at the University of Wisconsin. Part of me is a little excited, as I love to travel and stay somewhere for an extended period of time. I also like meeting new people. On the other hand, a small part of me was hoping I wouldn't get accepted and then I could go ahead and move back to Louisville, get a job and start my life without school. Although, the whole "without school" thing wouldn't really be true because I would have to find some other way achieve the language level that I need to be in order to graduate.

At least I hear it's not too humid up there in the summer.

Do you really want people to be honest with you?

2007-04-24T12:25:00.000-04:00

I always tell my friends and family to be honest with me. For the most part, that's what I want and that's what they want from me. It's been a pretty good system and I'm the kind of person who tries not to take things too personal, because you can simply agree to disagree on some topics. But, and yes there is a but, I don't get where all this negativity comes from when it comes to my boyfriend. On the one hand, they really like him, SO much more than my last one. So this is where my confusion sets in. It seems that every time he comes up in a conversation, it turns out to be something negative and usually it is about little things. Why? With the last boyfriend, I could understand the negative comments because they made it very clear from the beginning that they didn't like him and the comments never seemed to bother me (not to mention he wasn't very likeable around them). With this guy though, it's different- it just feels like they are trying to find things wrong with him or something and I don't understand why. The thing is, I don't want them to stop being honest with me and I appreciate some comments because, after all, I believe love can make you blind.
The main problem I have with these kinds of comments is that it starts to make me jealous- and I am not like that. I believe that jealously is a trust issue. Their comments make me think things that otherwise would not have ever enter my mind OR if I had some of these thoughts, I certainly wouldn't dwell on them AND if they bothered me enough I would bring it up to the boyfriend. It's not like I'm naive or anything, I know shit happens but when I hear these comments over and over again, it makes me question him- it makes me not want to trust him.

Oh and is it SO wrong for me to want to hang out with my boyfriend when I come into town? I am, after all, in a long distance relationship. I don't see him everyday, sometimes weeks go by without seeing him. Yes, I want to hang with my friends as well. So why can't all of us hang out together without there being conflict?? Some friends don't mind this, while others do. It's not like I never had to hang out with their boyfriends, and then again, my other friends can't compare their relationships with mine on some levels (even though they try to) because they were NEVER in a long distance relationship before, so they don't know how much work it takes. I honestly have a hard time trying to juggle every one's request, especially given the fact that I can only come into town on the weekends which gives me limited time. Then after living on very little sleep during those weekends, I drive back home for 4 hours and get up Monday morning to start the week. I'm so exhausted on those Monday's that I seriously consider not going back home because I try my hardest to accommodate everyone and end up not having any fun, only frustration. I know this makes me sound like some selfish asshole but who else am I going to complain to about this? It has become one of those "we agree to disagree" issues with some friends. Plus, I'm going home the next weekend and I have the feeling that I'm going to have to deal with this issue some more.

Yes, you're our second choice

2007-04-19T14:29:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the big event- Spring into Southeast Asia. All the planning and stressing will be over by 10pm! As I believe I have mentioned before, one of our biggest problems has been with the catering. The last couple of years we have been forced to use the University's catering service because new rules and regulations. The thing is, they are not the best at cooking Southeast Asian/foreign cuisine. After several other student groups/organizations have complained about this fact the mother group (ISU- they give all of us little groups money for these events) finally decided to do something about and get some of us exemptions from having to use the University catering. To make a long story short- we got an exemption, unfortunately it was only for ONE of the two caterers we wanted to use, which means we would have to continue going with the University catering. Fast forward to this week, we find out that the University catering found out about our exemption and went ahead and cancelled our reservation with them- without informing us. Ugh.

We were suppose to have a taste test with them last Friday but I was out of town because my Dad was in the hospital and I forgot to schedule a time. So I go down the hole that is University catering's office and talk to sweet Maryjane. Rewind to about 2 months ago- when we first met Maryjane, she was on the verge of tears when we set up our reservations because of the comment cards from the previous year concerning the quality of their SEA food. Not this time. Maryjane was not to happy to speak with me. I apologized for not setting up the taste test- and all I wanted was for her to answer was one question- can we have 2 buffet lines.

Could she answer this? No, not without wanting me to admit that she/University catering is our second choice and having to explain the entire situation to me for 15 minutes. How did I respond to this? "Yes, you're our second choice. The situation is what it is- now, is it okay that we have two buffet lines?" She said yes and I left. And I swear, when I walked out her office she said "Suck my dick". Why do some people just take things that should not be personal, personal? Is it so awful to ask to have a caterer that makes Asia food or is actually from Asia to cater rather than have one that does not make this type of food on a regular basis? I don't think so.

A funny thing happened on the way to the bathroom

2007-04-19T12:46:00.000-04:00

The Monday of last week ended on at very interesting note. I began the night with a couple of friends and some margaritas- then we went to another bar where the overwhelming urge for a White Russian took control. I had to have one, which led to two and then, well, you get the picture. So later that night I get home with the worst case of hiccups I've had in a really long time, I mean they really were starting to hurt. After trying all of my own cures to no avail, I made myself throw up (it worked). Then I went to bed. Only I didn't stay in bed.

Sometime around 5am I apparently made my way to the bathroom, only I didn't make it. No, instead I went into the room next to the bathroom... one of my housemates bedrooms. Now I'm not sure if I turned on the light, but I do know that I immediately realized that I was not in the bathroom. So what do I do? I duck down as quickly as possible, hoping she will not see me and think she was just dreaming. Only she did see me.

Housemate: K, what are you doing?
me: silence, still squatting at the end of her bed.
Housemate: K, I know you're there. What are you doing?
me: continued silence
Housemate: Seriously, what are you doing.
me: giggle- get up and leave.

I completely forgot about this event until I came home the next evening and they asked me about it.

Do the Chicago Cubs grow up to become the Bears?

2007-04-05T13:07:00.000-04:00

The Meeting

After waiting outside the director's office for what felt like 15 minutes (it was likely only 3) he finally called me in.
"So lets talk about your study habits"
Huh? What? Sigh of relief. "What do you want to know?" I answer happily.
"You have been making good grades in all of your other classes, so what are you doing differently when it comes to studying a language?"
"The main difference is that I can sit and read/study for my other classes for hours and then I know it, I don't have to go back until it's exam time. The language, on the other hand, I study something over and over again and then its like nothing sticks. Maybe I'll remember just one or two new words after hours of study."
"Hmmmm. Well, when I was in the Peace Corp... (yada, yada, yada) turns out I have a slight hearing problem. I think you should get tested, since the University offers such services for free, for a learning disability. They may just be able to unlock your problem with being able to learn a language."
Huh? What? "Okay." Whatever they want me to do, it will be done. Perhaps I am LD, especially when it comes to grammer.

Dread

2007-03-27T12:25:00.000-04:00

I did not recieve the B- I needed to get in my language class. I immediately told the director of my program and we will be meeting tomorrow. Since he has allowed me to begin the new quarter, I'm hoping this is a good sign, but I'm not holding my breath. Yikes!

Like the sands of the hour glass...

2007-03-14T23:41:00.000-04:00

Ahhhh, just when I thought my spring break would be more than just one week this year, it's not. From what I've heard from all my classmates that took our Indonesian final early, it's super duper hard. So I decided NOT to take it early and stay until Friday so that I can study more. Oh well.

Last weekend, I came home for a friend's wedding and to celebrate my b-day with my peeps in Louisville. It was a blast (as was the weekend before my some of girlfriends came to celebrate with me in Athens). Last weekend I lost my wallet, this weekend I fell- hard. I have a bruise almost the entire length of my fore-arm. And yes, I had been drinking prior to the accident---BUT I did not have my own shoes on as I forgot mine in Athens and had to borrow a friend's for the wedding (I didn't think pink Chucks would be appropriate). Anyway that's the excuse I'm sticking with! The most interesting part of not being able to come home early is that I really disappointed that I can't spend time with the boyfriend. I say this because I don't typically miss people (other than my mom and that's ONLY when I get sick) and I miss him. I've really fallen for him, and only hope he doesn't turn out to be a turd like the last one.

On a more serious note, I'm also really concerned about a friend of mine at school. He's actually one of the few people that known here in Athens for the entire time I've been here. He's a fifth year senior, incredibly intelligent, has like 3 majors (maybe more) and is just a fun person to be around. But in the last maybe 3 or 4 months he has lost about 150 pounds and from what I can tell it's NOT because he's on a diet or exercising, if you know what I mean (sniff, sniff). I asked one of his friends the other day when we were hanging out if they are concerned about it and this person said they were. Though I have the feeling they aren't THAT concerned since they join in on the fun and he seems to pay for a lot of it. Now, I'm not the kind of person who judges or cares if someone wants to do drugs-- but if a friend of mine begins to have a problem with it and it begins to affect their work or school life, I feel compelled. Should I say something to him? Sure I run the risk of him not wanting to be friends anymore, but I'm willing for that to happen- though it would be sad. I mean if he was one of my friends that I have known for a long time, I would have less of problem with it. I guess what I want to know is if it is my place to say something.

Quiz time! Or rather prostratination time!

2007-03-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

***Your Love Life Secrets Are***
Looking back on your life, you will have a few true loves.
You've been deeply wounded in the past, and you're still recovering from that hurt.
You prefer a quirky, unique person to be your lover. You're easy going about who you're with, as long as they love you back.
In fights, you love to debate and defend yourself. You logic prevails - or at least you'd like to think so.
Getting over a break-up doesn't take long. Easy come, easy go.
Your Love Life Secrets, Revealed http://www.blogthings.com/yourlovelifesecretsrevealedquiz/

You Are 12% Capitalist, 88% Socialist

You see a lot of injustice in the world, and you'd like to see it fixed.As far as you're concerned, all the wrong people have the power.You're strongly in favor of the redistribution of wealth - and more protection for the average person.

Are'>http://www.blogthings.com/areyouasocialistorcapitalistquiz/">Are You a Socialist or Capitalist?

Your Envy Quotient: 22%

You are an occasionally envious person, but jealousy doesn't usually get the better of you.You're wise enough to know that envy feels horrible - and does nothing to improve your life.A little jealousy is normal: so go ahead and let yourself feel it. But don't let it bum you out!

How'>http://www.blogthings.com/howmuchenvydoyouhavequiz/">How Much Envy Do You Have?

More busy than an one legged man in an ass kicking contest

2007-03-05T16:43:00.000-05:00

Man, where has the time gone?

So, about all that back hurting stuff, well I ended up pulling a muscle in my upper back about 4 days after posting that message and left basically unable to move or sleep for about 4 days. But all seems to be ending on a positive note for the most part. It looks like my student organization will get all the money we need for our event AND a little bit more. Yay!!

Then there is my Indonesian language class. I found out last week (Monday) after a meeting with my advisor (the prof. I worked for last year and is now the director of my program) that I should/could technically get kicked out of my program for having received two C's in my language classes last year. Thinking quick I told him that since only 10 hours of our language counts toward the degree, he could look past it. He liked that idea. BUT, I got a C last quarter because I was under the impression that as long as my GPA does not fall below a 3.0 then I would graduate without any problems. My advisor/director of the program last year NEVER said anything to me about this last year- which is also another good defense. Anyway he said I HAVE to at least get a B- this quarter or SOMETHING could happen. Here's for hoping. All I can say is that since then I have never studied so much in my entire life on one subject.

Oh, and tomorrow is my birthday. I'll be 26. That just sounds so much older than I feel. I feel as if I should be more of an adult than I am or something like that.

It's not always good to be the king

2007-02-09T14:59:00.000-05:00

Next Friday my association (you know the one were I'm president) has to turn in a budget proposal for our annual "Spring Into Southeast Asia" event. I'm stressing out over this. And last night I hold a meeting only find very little attendance- its not cool. I didn't even choose this position and now I have to all this work (with pretty much only one other person helping me) and no one cares. My back starts to hurt every time I think about it.

A Lecture that Changed Lives

2007-02-01T23:39:00.000-05:00

As a second year graduate student I am required to give a lecture about what I've learned or a paper I've written, etc... Other students mainly talk about their thesis work, if they are working on one. I am not writing a thesis, so I decided to talk about my trip to Viet Nam. Since no one really cares about what any of us have to say (because no one is required to see us lecture) the crowd at one of these talks averages to about 5-8 and usually only consists of other students from our program. Wednesday, it was my turn.

As I have mentioned before I have really come a long way when it comes to public speaking. No longer do I have anxiety attacks or sweat like I've just run a marathon before speaking. Now my face just turns red.

So what happens? Some professor decides to give her class some extra credit for attending MY lecture? Why me? Because mine just happened to be that day. So I had to talk in front about 20 people, most of whom were strangers.

An Awkward Moment at the Keg and Other Stories

2007-01-23T12:51:00.000-05:00

A Midnight Guest
Imagine being incredibly tired one day and falling asleep around 7pm. Next thing you know it's one a.m. and you're ready to get out of your day clothes. Unable to go back to sleep, you decide to read a bit. Soon three a.m. rolls around and your ready to sleep again. Into the covers you snuggle, listening to calming music that drowns out your housemates and you shut your eyes.
Then, you hear something. Something is opening your door. You can't see because it's dark and you don't have your glasses on. Unsure of what is really going on you ask, "What are you doing?"
A whispering voice answers, "Shhhhh, she might hear you. I have to hide under your bed."
"What!?! What are talking about? Who are you hiding from?"
"We were having a food fight and then we starting play wrestling and I ended up pushing M into a desk. She's going to come after me, I have to hide," your housemate says. Then he makes his way under your bed. "Just act like I'm not here."

So you try to do just that, but can't help to laugh when he drunk dials a friend. Soon, you hear something else from under the bed- he's snoring! Completely passed out. You try to wake him but to no avail. So you get up and look for your cell phone since you haven't checked since 6pm and call a friend to tell them what just happened- all while your housemate is still passed out under your bed. A half and hour passes when finally you can wake him and convince him that the other housemate is not going to get him anymore.

An Awkward Moment at the Keg
There is a tradition at Ohio University of Family weekends- there is a Dad's, Mom's, Parent's and even Sibling's weekend at some point during the year in Athens. Last weekend was Dad's weekend. One would think that this would not be very popular with the college kids who probably don't want to have to cut their party time short to hang with dear old Pops. ON the contrary, my friend. In Ohio, or at least in Athens County, there is this law that allows kids 18 and older to drink alcohol at a bar as long as a parent is with them. This accounts for the bars being packed on a weekend that brought us 4 inches of snow.
Anyway, there three of us ladies stand in line for a fill of our Dixie cup whe the conversation turns to a male friend of ours, "Yada, yada, yada, you're a slut!"
"What!?!" The male in front of us says, not our friend, which the statement was intented for. Then he continues, "I know you can't be talking about me because I'm a virgin"

Cricket, cricket.

Finally, one of the Dad's at the kegs breaks the silence, "So, how about those Cubs?"

Bee-like

2007-01-11T13:46:00.000-05:00

These last couple of weeks have definitely kept me busy- back to school (I still haven't completely unpacked after more than a week), buying books, getting back into the groove of studying, trying to eat healthy and NOT drink so much and fit in some exercise classes. Yeah that's right, I'm one of those people dieting for a New Year's resolution. Actually, I'm pretty happy with the way I look; I'm just trying to be healthy, especially since I got so sick this time last year due to what I can only assume was because I wasn't eating very healthy. My diet of Ramen noodles may not have a lot of calories but it also doesn't have any nutritional value either. This year it's all about vitamins, eating veggies, and some exercise (which I get walking to school and around town everyday). I also discovered that our student gym has free workout classes! When I first entered the school in 2005 I signed up for a yoga class that cost me about $30- it was over crowded and the instructor was just a little bit too out there for even me (there is only so much I hear about moonbeams before I was to puke). I had no idea that they have about a dozen different exercise classes to choose from for free until my housemates invited me to come along last week. Now I'm hooked and my body is sore.

So far I've been gone out drinking once since my return to Athens (truely an accomplishment according to my fellow classmates). I went to Las Vegas High-roller themed party last Friday night. We all got dressed up, (think rat pack)- I bought some cheap champagne to drink, asked guys if I could blow on their dice ("the lady is a tramp") and called everyone fabulous. Saturday night I resisted the urge to bar hop, stayed in and watch a couple of movies. Then Sunday a bunch of worked out for 3 hours! Talk about being sore!

While I wait...

2006-12-28T23:39:00.000-05:00

It's quiz time

I'm 44% Brutally Honest

YOU ARE 44% BRUTALLY HONEST

Honesty is important to you, but generally, you try not to be brutal about it.You'll sugar coat the truth when you need to... and tell a white lie when necessary.

How Brutally Honest Are You?

Because I'm actually waiting while I color my hair-According to this my hair should be PINK

Your Hair Should Be Pink

Hyper, insane, and a boatload of fun.You're a traveling party that everyone loves to follow.

What's" Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

What a tool

2006-12-20T01:07:00.000-05:00

I went to my boyfriend's company holiday party on Monday night- it was by far one of the best holiday parties I've ever attended. First the location itself as to be commended as it was at a night club.
Two fairly interesting events happened to me while at this party: One, the owner is the drummer in a band so naturally they performed at the party. After making the comment to my boyfriend that I thought the band was talented but I feel that the lead singer is a complete tool (Vince Neil called and wants his sound back), he left me at our table to get us a refill. No more than two seconds go by and the singer jumps down from the stage, puts his arm around me and sings the song to me. And not just a couple of lyrics, but an entire verse! I just wanted to say, "get your arm off me, you douche bag!" But I couldn't say as my boyfriend's employer is the drummer. The next interesting thing to happen is dancing with this sixty-some number year old man who works with them. This man can dance- moves like James Brown and he would drop to his knees and hop right back up (I only hope that I can move like that when I'm that age!) Anyway, so he asks me to dance and I'm having fun as he twirls me around, then he get a little closer to me and like that song says, "I felt a poke coming through". So he acknowledges it and tells me not to worry about it, we're just having fun. Then he tells me to spread my legs- I must have given him an odd look because he quickly explained. "No, I'm going to slide through". So I spread my legs, he gets on the floor and I try to pull him through. Only the top of his head basically hits my crotch and I fall down. eeek! Good times!

The expert

2006-12-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

That's right, I work at a video store. Therefore I am now certified to critique films. So here is what I've seen lately:

The Constant Gardener- really great, though pretty slow in the beginning. I'm always for movies with a message.

Little Miss Sunshine- seriously worth owning when it comes out this future Tuesday to DVD. Incredibility funny and touching.

Casino Royale- I love James Bond films. Every year during the Thanksgiving weekend I watch the marathon of Bond movies and started when I was like 8. This movie is pretty good, dare I say even up there as one of my top 10 Bond films. The opening scene is awesome. The only problems I have is one, he drove a Ford and two, there wasn't any of those famous Bond gadgets. I mean sure some of the gadgets have pretty hokey and unbelievable, but that's what makes Bond films fun- that sometime cheesy factor. Daniel Craig is amazingly hot and quite worthy of having a women exclaim, "Oh, James!" I also had a little problem with the way this Bond treated the Bond chick.

Match Point- It was good, but I didn't care about any of the characters. The plot was sort of interesting, but when you don't care about them it doesn't matter. I don't know if it was a lack of chemistry between the actors or what but something just didn't do it for me.

Pride and Prejudice- As a fan of Jane Austin and the other P and P movie with Colin Firth I have to say that I liked this version. It was pretty. And whoever played Mr. Darcey was great (I don't feel like looking it up at this moment).

Borat- It was funny but honestly when it comes to gross-out, reality-like, crazy movies, I thought the Jackass movie that came this year was funnier and is better at offending people.

Just wondering

2006-12-14T01:24:00.000-05:00

Why do creepy guys call a chick's place of employment and try to flirt with them on the phone? Do they honestly think that we want to hook up with them?

Why does Comedy Central have to play a Girls Gone Wild commercial at EVERY commercial break late at night? Seriously, there has to be someone else willing to advertise during those time slots. And why do those commercial have to be SO long?

Why do parents treat you like your 17 when you come back home for more than a week? I got sent to my room for not "doing my chores" the other day. But if I had started cleaning anything with a parent in the house they would complain that I'm not doing it correctly and probably take over. On the other hand if I clean when no one else is there, its just fine. I don't mind helping out while I'm staying with them, they have really helped me out lately, but I really think my Mom makes more of a mess while I'm at home on purpose- just so she can make me clean more.

That's odd

2006-11-30T00:57:00.000-05:00

I wrote an entry last week that Blogger lost half of... I swear I published it anyway. Today, I check it out and nothing's there. Odd. Oh well. The last couple of weeks have been really busy for me. Preparing for the end of the quarter, presidential duties of my student group, packing for my month back home, applying for a job in Louisvile so that I'm not just sitting at home with my parents, etc...

So here's an update: Some stupid drunk chick bumped into my table at a bar a week or so ago- beer spills all over me. She doesn't apologize and just walks away. After drying the 5 huge wet spots all over my shirt and jeans I realize that my purse is filled with beer- and my cell phone is swimming in it. While I've never had any complaints about Verizon Wireless, they do not have any locations remotely near Athens. My phone has absolutely no sound- I can't hear anyone, nor can they hear me. I drive to Columbus (the nearest store, only an hour away) only to find that it can't be fixed and I have to purchase a new one. As I've mentioned before, I don't have much money. What to do? Go without a phone, while in a long distance relationship? Spend money I don't have on a phone I don't want and then wait 3 days to have it delivered? Drive three more hours to Louisville and beg my Mom to work something out with me? I go with the latter and end up in Louisville.

Meanwhile, my landlord has decided to no longer accept our rent money late (some of us in the house have to live off of our loan money, which we only get at the begining of a quarter, which just so happens to be two months before our quarterly rent is due). They use to let us bring in a note from the university that tells them that we get our money in January- you get the picture. So we ALL have to pay the rent on Nov. 15th or the entire house is fined $1500. Oh and they only gave us 10 days notice about this change in policy. This only ends in more begging of my mother. I'm pathetic.

So now I'm back in Louisville and started my super job at a video store, which a very kind friend hooked me up with. Though I have to say it- I'm 25, have a B.A., working on my Masters and making minimum wage. Oh and I was suppose to have an unofficial internship at Papa John's International department, only to have them call me this week and tell me they can only do it in the summer. But at least my finals are over and I get to spend time with my boy here in Louisville. Not to mention I get to watch my Cards play with other people who actually care about them and NOT have to hear people talk about Ohio State.

Freak out

2006-11-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

To kind of continue from my last post- I think I'm kinda freaking out a little. Much like I did when this time of year before I graduated from Louisville (just a small side note here- it really sucks watching Louisville football games here in Athens. When you're in a town 1 hour outside Columbus no other football teams are even worth looking at, which only adds to my love/hate relationship with OSU.) Anyway, I know I'm tired of school, but I have NO IDEA what I will be doing or even where I will be at in about 9 months from now. Its both exciting and scary.

Just going through the motions

2006-11-02T12:37:00.000-05:00

Things just seem to happen to me without too much effort on my part. Sure there is a bit of decision making, as choices always need to be made. As this quarter is coming to an end, I am just now beginning to feel the consequences of my decision to enter graduate school for the first time.

I always knew I was going to go to grad school- I just never knew what I would study or when I would actually go. I had three reasons for choosing Ohio University: I got a scholarship, I always wanted to have that away-from-home college experience, and I knew there was about a 99.9% chance that I would get to travel over the summer. But my choice had really very little to do with what I would actually be studying.

So far the course work hasn't been too challenging- with the exception of having to take a language. I knew that part of the program would give me trouble. I have absolutely no motivation to learn any of these languages when I know I'm likely to never use it. (Mainly because a two year program is NOT going to allow me to learn enough of a language to actually use it for research or making business deals.) Because I dropped Thai and switched to Indonesian I have to take some sort of intensive language course this summer in order to fulfill my two year language requirement. This just so happens to be in Wisconsin. Or Indonesia. Since I traveled last summer there is no way I afford to do it again this summer. Not to mention, from what I hear about the program in Indonesia, I don't think it would be for me anyway.

Sometimes I feel like this program is a bit of a waste- other than walking away with a Master's, I really have no idea how my knowledge of Southeast Asia will help me in the future. Then again I thought the same thing when I got my B.A. in Anthropology. Anyway, where I really think I'm going with this is that I think for the first time in my life I'm tired of being in school. I'm tired of being broke. I'm ready for a change and I hate that it has to be delayed because of a language program.

Who knew halloween could be so fun?

2006-10-31T12:02:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a blast!! I was going to post some pics while at work today, but I forgot my thumb drive. This is probably for the best because no one at work needs to see pictures of me drinking. So it will happen later today... I hope...

Holiday. Celebrate!

2006-10-26T14:03:00.000-04:00

Last year I stayed away, having experienced it before. This year, on the other hand, is really my last chance to partake in the craziest weekend Athens has to offer. What's this I speak of you ask? The Halloween celebration that put Ohio University on the top of party school lists! I have three friends coming up from Louisville to visit me. Pictures will surely follow. I'm going to be a newsie.

And on a totally unrelated note, I now have a boyfriend. I've mentioned him before- the one that I made-out with in a car and gave me hickies about a month ago. Yeah, he's the lucky fellow.

Look Mommy, I'm a big girl now!

2006-10-17T13:39:00.000-04:00

As I was sitting here preparing for a presentation for my class this evening I realized that I have indeed changed since last year. I am no longer petrified of speaking in front of people. Last year, at about this same time, I was writing about presenting in my political science class and because I was so nervous I had to have a little drink before going to class. And look at me now, I don't even get nervous at all. I suppose having to be the M.C. in front of 250 people really put aside all my fears of public speaking.

Quiz time!

2006-10-17T12:50:00.000-04:00

Never Date a Scorpio

Jealous, paranoid, and possessive - deep down, your Scorpio will never trust you.And even if you are very trust worthy person, Scorpio's paranoia may drive you to act out.
Instead try dating: Aries, Gemini, Libra, or Sagittarius

What Sign Shouldn't You Date?

You're 40% Pure

You Are 40% Pure

You're usually the typical girl or guy next door...But you also have a secret naughty side!

How Pure Are You?

You're a Wild Drunk

You can get enough drink. Seriously, you'll just go puke and start pounding them back again!

What Kind of Drunk Are You?

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion:
You have medium extroversion.You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time."
Conscientiousness:
You have medium conscientiousness.You're generally good at balancing work and play.When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it.
Agreeableness:
You have medium agreeableness.You're generally a friendly and trusting person.But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.
Neuroticism:
You have low neuroticism.You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.
Openness to experience:
Your openness to new experiences is high.In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

With a smile on my face

2006-10-12T20:22:00.000-04:00

Sitting in class taking notes about Ayuthia
Listening to the professor explore its greatness
It just suddenly appears; a smile on my face
Walking to class
Trying not to slip on the bricks
Again it happens; a smile on my face
Apa itu ibunya, yang duduk di sebelah teman saya?
What did the Indonesian teacher just say?
I ask with a smile on my face
Sitting on the couch, watching t.v.
The flowers he gave me are in the view
It doesn't matter, I have a smile on my face

Oh yeah, I'm an idiot

2006-10-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

I'm not quite sure if I mentioned this before, though I'm sure I did, but I was convinced that I was going to receive more money with my scholarship this year. Turns out that when I see a dollar amount in black and white I think that I will get that amount every month and forget to read the rest of the information around it. Even though the rest of the letter CLEARLY states that I will get the same amount as last year. So I'm back to living on $200 a month. The best part is that I spent money like I had it during the entire month of September, so now I'm not left with much. Good thing I like to eat Raman noodles. I'm also going to donate plasma- you get $30 bucks everytime you go, so if you see me with track marks on my arm, I don't have a drug problem. I'm just poor. I have never wanted to get a job so badly in my life!!!

Round 3

2006-10-12T11:52:00.000-04:00

It has come to my understanding that my before mentioned friend or frienemy (from the entry Round 2) didn't like or was embarrassed about what I had to say. Let me just put this out there (because I am not speaking to her anymore) first, there are like 5 people who read this and of that only maybe 2 actually know who I am referring to and of those 2-they already share my EXACT same opinion on the situation, so they are NOT learning anything new. I believe that I kept that entry quite discrete and vague as no names were dropped- my name is not even listed anywhere on this journal. Nor did I say anything remotely mean, unless saying that I want this person to eventually find happiness is evil.

Student Finds Living Near Court St. Interesting

2006-10-05T12:57:00.000-04:00

ATHENS, OH. Today began like many others for the graduate student living at the intersection of E. State St. and College Ave- by the sound of the street cleaners at 5:45 am. Sure this student doesn't have to get up for another couple of hours, but, boy, it sure is fun to watch the sun rise! This student also enjoys watching her neighbors, the ACACIA fraternity, yell and fight with drunk guys who walk by their house at 2 am.
"I just can't hear enough people shout, 'Fucker!' or 'Asshole!' in the middle of the night. The other night, they must have been around an Asian friend because I heard them joking around and call him 'Soy Sauce' and 'Sunshine Eyes'. Those frat boys are always joking around, calling people names," stated the student during a recent interview.

Does this mean I'm a dork?

2006-10-03T13:02:00.000-04:00

I'm seriously considering skipping a class tonight to study for another one.

Oh and check out this article by the Onion- it made me laugh:
Nation Sickened by Sight of Happy Young Couple

Round 2

2006-09-28T13:09:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, the fight. Without going into too many details (because there are many) let me just pose this:
Have you ever had any experience with a female (or a friend of any gender) that can get so wrapped up with the person they are dating (or in this case, he has made it very clear that they will only be "friends") that they are willing to ruin every other relationship in their life? This has really been her pattern since high school and we've encouraged her to seek professional help- as it seems pretty clear that there is more to it than just being in love. Yet, this time I am really starting to get tired of excusing her for her behavior and treating her friends with respect only when she is single (which only happens for a month here and there) or when she wants something. I really hate to admit to that, mostly because I still want her to find some self-worth and to see that she has so much more to offer but after ten years of her only being a friend when its convenient for her is wearing thin.

Reasons why I'm 25 going on 15

2006-09-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

I got a couple of hickies this weekend
I got in a fight with a friend
That friend's sister has now began to berate me on the comments of Myspace
Said friend also deleted me as a friend on Myspace, after I took her off my top 8- as if Myspace actually has some deeper social meaning
I made-out with a cute boy in a car

But its Michael Bolton?

2006-09-26T14:14:00.000-04:00

"How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?" This Michael Bolton song is all the rage in bars and at parties in Athens! What's up with that? I know a lot of other songs from about 10 years are coming back- but Bolton wasn't even cool then with college kids, why would it be now?

This would make my mother proud

2006-09-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was too much fun and quite random, as nothing went as planned. Not to mention, like most weekends here in Athens, it started on Thursday night. I was supposed to go a movie on Thursday night with some of my housemates, but we had some time to kill so when a friend stopped by and said he was going to Tony's (a bar) one housemate and I went along. The plan was to have just one drink, but Tony's has a minimum of $10 (without tip) if you pay with a credit/debit card... so you thinking great buy a drink for your friend and it will be taken care of...not when beer cost $1 and well drinks are $2. Even if you're paying for someone else it comes down to about 4 beers each (due to tax). Anywho- there was no going to a movie that night.

Friday was a little rough since I have a 9am class- but more so because of the lack of sleep rather than the drinking. For my first act as President I tried to get the first year and 2nd year students together for Happy hour. I decided to get here just a bit early, to be safe, and ended waiting for a 1/2 hour before anyone showed- but it went quite well and everyone is interested in doing it again. Then a couple hours later I went out with some of our neighbors and a housemate- well the neighbors were all dressed up. Something that is VERY rare in Athens. Ladies do not normally do this when going out on a Friday night. Their idea of looking nice in Athens is a t-shirt and jean skirt. So my housemate and I go back home so that we can dress up too (aka. wear what I would normally wear on a Friday night back home). My heels were way cute- but dangerous. Once my heel got stuck in the brick road and I had to actually take the shoe off and put quite violently to get out. Then on my walk home my shoe slipped on the bricks and fell to one knee- in the middle of the road! After that a couple of us went to someone's house were I had to hear some arrogant PITT fan tell me how over rated Louisville is- to which I rightly predicted that we would beat Miami and that Michigan State would beat his team.

Saturday was lovely. Louisville beat Miami!!!!... I need to find someone new to watch sports with here- my last friend graduated. My housemates and I were going to go to a house party, but ended up staying staying at home beause people came to our house. I was sitting on the front stoop, talking to random people, met some guy who tried to kiss me after like 5 minutes- to which I even said to him, "Who kisses someone that quickly?" Sad thing is, that I hung out with him for a couple of hours and don't remember his name. He didn't live here anyway....I think.

Presidential address

2006-09-14T13:21:00.000-04:00

Unlike the last election I was in (the one where I was not present for the voting nor put into office)- I am now the President (Chair) of the Southeast Asian Student Association. It is not all that glamorous though. Basically I got the position by default as I am just about the only 2nd year student that is involved in the organization. But you better believe I'm going to let the power go to my head and boss everyone round!

Is this house tilted?

2006-09-12T13:55:00.000-04:00

Every couple of days the rugs on the floor of my room move to the left. What's up with that?

Why my new housemates are so much than the last one!

2006-09-07T13:56:00.000-04:00

Don't get me wrong, my last room mate was very polite, considerate and really a great person, but the people I live with now are super duper!

We clap- at a t.v. show, someone says something clever, whatever
They watch all the shows I like to watch
We sing show songs together
They like to party
They like to drink
They are not afraid to say whats on their mind
No one takes anything to personally
We laugh, a lot
Their friends are very cool
There are always new people around
The location of the house is awesome- half a block from the bars and campus
They make good food for all to eat
Everyone cleans up after themselves

School's back in sucker!

2006-09-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

Yes, today was the first day of class for my second year as a graduate student- oh boy! My weekend was filled with pre-school parties and my best friend came to visit from Indianapolis. Friday I partied with English grad students (grad parties are not quite as wild as the undergrad, to say the least- I think there was even a baby at this one). The next night was an early 90's/late 80's party. Everyone was suppose to dress up, only my friend and I were the only ones to do so. I had on some nice high waisted jeans (pinched cuffed, of course) and my friend looked a lot like Blossom. It was slightly embarassing to go to a bar before the party, but it was more fun than not. The next night, Sunday, was filled with more parties, bars and friends.

As for an update on the pervy professor from the Vietnam trip- well, no one from our group has been able to get into contact with my room mate (which isn't all to odd because she was starting her clinicals in nursing school this year, so I'm sure she's really busy). Our plan was to NOT turn in our assigned journal in protest to his harassment, but that has begun to fall through. The others are breaking down and are going to turn one in. I was also suppose to go visit most of them in Sandusky, Ohio, but then again I would be staying with my room mate, who no one has heard from yet.

This year I'm working for my school (aka School of International Affairs) at the front desk for my scholarship. I think I'll like it better than working for a professor like I did last year, simply due to the fact that I have a set schedule. No longer will I get some random e-mail or phone call telling me to pick up a book at the library or to meet someone, somewhere for something. Not that working for the professor was interesting and all- I just don't think being "on call" is for me.

2006-08-16T07:10:00.000-04:00

At the beach- the nice one not the public one where dozens of people try to sell you things
Image outside a museum
You guessed it, a rice paddy
Fishing village

2006-08-16T06:57:00.000-04:00

On the river in Hue
Display at the My Lai museum
River in Hue (people actually live in these boats)
In a fox hole at Khe Sanh

2006-08-16T06:49:00.000-04:00

At the Ming tomb
Vietnamese water puppets
Hanoi
The view from our hotel in Hue

Picture time!!

2006-08-16T06:24:00.000-04:00

In the mountains near Khe Sanh
See that bike thing- yeah, I was on one of those at the time of this pic
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur
The view from our hotel room in Hanoi- they do not waste any space

My Old Kentucky Home

2006-08-16T00:52:00.000-04:00

August 13, 2006 was officially then longest day of my life. Due to the time different between Asia and the U.S. that day literally lasted 36 hours because you cross the international date line. I was at Bangkok's airport by about 6 am, was in Kuala Lumpur by 12 pm, there was a short stop in Tai pei (Taiwan) near 10 pm, then the 12 hour flight across the Pacific Ocean and was in L.A. around 7 pm. This is all happened in one day. I'm a little mad at myself for being so cheap and NOT taking a direct flight to Louisville from L.A. NO, I have to save a little cash and fly to St. Paul then to Detroit (where I almost miss the flight because I have 15 minutes to get from gate 11 to 73 and have to take a pit stop because of all that airplane food I've mentioned before) and finally to my beautiful, beautiful Louisville. Oh and because of all the new regulations, (which really aren't a problem for just domestic flights) I'm sure I smelled awful to whomever I was sitting next to. I couldn't have mouth wash or toothpaste, hand sanitizer, body spray or perfume, deodorant (because I use a gel kind) and they took away my lip gloss- dear god I have some nasty looking lips right now.
Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures tomorrow!!

Trains, boats, motorbikes, and tuk-tuks

2006-08-12T07:51:00.000-04:00

So the last 3 days can be placed up there in that most sacred spot where only my bestest of best days can go. Thursday my friend took me shopping to malls and markets that can only be described as some of the most swank this Kentucky girl has ever seen. She also showed me how to use the Skytrain- awesome (I just love public transportation, any place where I don't have to worry about driving and finding a parking spot is a-okay with me). We shopped till we dropped, literally, I think I went to bed at about 9 that night.

Yesterday and today (Friday and Saturday) I explored Bangkok on my own! And let me just say this- sometimes there is nothing better than being alone. I saw everything I wanted to see. I ate where I wanted to eat. I think my days of group trips are over. So my friend's driver dropped me off at a pier on the Chao Praya river, when not only tourist but actual locals take express boats all over the city. I purchased a day pass so that I could come and go as I pleased. I went to the China Town area, saw some more incredible temples, checked out a fort, cruised the river a bit, walked aimlessly around mutiple streets and headed back to the swank mall for a late lunch and to take in a movie. I was hoping to see a Thai film, but the only one showing at that time was You, Me and Dupree (not too bad- but not that great ethier- cute). But it really wasn't the movie, but the theatre- holy moly! You would have thought that I was going to see a ballet or something this theatre was so nice. And before the movie begins everyone has to stand to show respect for the King. It was interesting to say the least. Today was more of the same- only this time I randomly got off at different stops on the Skytrain and walked around. I've also been eating some of the BEST food of my life! Everything is so fresh here. I've had Chinese, Indian, Sushi, Thai (of course) and all of is awesome. Since today was my last day I treated myself to a couple of beers (ahhh, nothing like a cold beer on a warm day) at lunch, which seemed to impress the owner of the Indian resturant. So he asked me to dinner- only I was suppose to have dinner with my friend and her family (and I wouldn't have gone anyway) but she isn't home yet- so I'm writing this.

Speaking of being at my friend's home, i got into a bit of trouble yesterday because I came home after dark (maybe 8 pm at the latest). They never said anything to before about having to come in a certain time and I'm 25. But they are letting me stay here and have really gone out of their way to my stay pleasant. So today I bust ass to get before 6 and no one is here. I just feel like there is so much I'm missing of Bangkok because I can't go out at night and this city is suppose to have an amazing night life.

I'm sad to be leaving tomorrow morning but I'm excited to give my friends and family the gifts that I got them and see my dog!!!

One Night in Bangkok

2006-08-09T10:04:00.000-04:00

I said good-bye to everyone in my group yesterday. It was sad, but I've already made plans to visit them in Sandusky before I start class in September! Due to the time difference in Kuala Lumpur (that's where we flew to from Ho Chi Minh City) I only had a hour to catch my flight to Bangkok- I barely made as KL's airport is huge. Once in Bangkok, I call the girl I lived with all last year. She told me to take an airport "Limo" (because it is safer than a taxi at night) to a hotel and that they would pick me up there. Well the "limo" turned out to be a Mercedes! This girl was riding in class, plus it was still pretty cheap.
My friend's house is REALLY nice. To be honest, I feel a little out of place. Not because they are not super duper nice to be, but because they have a driver and "help"- as in maids, who clean and make all their food. It was like having dinner at a restaurant tonight, only in their home. This morning I went with her family to the Monk's hospital to pray for her great grandparents (who have passed). If you didn't know this, Buddhist monks in Thailand are not allowed to buy things for themselves, so it is up to the people to give them food and whatever else they may need. They had about 8 monks praying in a beautiful chant that was in harmony. My friend also took to a couple other temples and (I saw one big gold Buddha today). I also asked my friend, since she's Buddhist and all what she thought about American's purchasing Buddhas just for decoration. She was a little confused by it when she first saw it, after all, Thai's don't put pictures or figures of Jesus up in their homes for fun. In the end the only thing that really offended her are the Buddha heads that people display- she it would be like someone just showing Jesus' head as if it's be cut off. I really love Bangkok. It's much more modern than anything I saw in Vietnam- which may or may not be a good thing.
Oh yeah, today I got a traditional Thai massage! I didn't find until after that my friend told them to take it easy on me, because it didn't hurt at all. But it was cool because they used these hot small clay pots filled with something that smelled like Vick's Vapo rub and would wrap in cloth and use it to massage you.

Miss Saigon

2006-08-07T23:43:00.000-04:00

To begin with my room mate and I have not spoken or been around the Professor for a couple of days now. We have all kept our distance and the guys on the trip are making sure he doesn't come close to any of the females. So please don't worry.
It is actually August 8 here at 10:30 in the morning and in a few hours we are leaving Vietnam. I will be heading to Bangkok, Thailand to visit with my old room mate. And even with all that has happened I will miss this place. The night before last my room mate and I went out dancing and ended up hanging out with some Dutch guys, who oddly enough, were staying in the same hotel as us! We really had too much fun. The club wasn't too different from ours in the states, but one nice change is that the guys don't get all up on you while you are dancing. Speaking of polite guys- the Dutch were rather cool, unlike many American males you meet in bars or clubs, once they found out we weren't putting out they didn't turn into jerks or stop talking to us.
Ho Chi Minh City is really great. It has been nice to stay in one spot long enough to explore on it our own. I've started to do a bit of shopping, but am waiting to do the majority of it in Bangkok. Vietnam has kept out all Western fast food places with the exception of KFC- where we have eaten, strictly for scientific purposes only, of course. I ate at Pho 2000 yesterday (its whree Bill Clinton ate when he was here). I also had my ao dai (the tradtional Vietnamese dress) made yesterday, though I must admit it was not made as good of quality as the dress I had made in China.

The Young and the Restless

2006-08-06T03:04:00.000-04:00

Can you hear the dramatic music yet? As I mentioned before things are rather interesting with this group. The bad thing is, is that it really has cut into the entire experience of being in Vietnam making it hard for me to write about all that I've seen and done. Here is the basics: We (as in all 8 students) are seriously considering charging our professor with sexual harassment. Let me tell you why-

He rearranges our hotel rooms at every stop so that his room is next to my room mates and mine room.
Then he would come into our room and sit on our beds WHILE we are still getting ready- I'm guessing to watch us put on our make-up or something. And while I know we could and should have said something, it is sometimes hard to say things to a person in a leadership role. Especially if you have a certain amount of respect for them
He would ALWAYS have to sit next to my room mate on the bus, where ever we ate, even when walking around a city or museum
I lost my respect for him when he asked just my roommate and I to go get drinks with the former Vietnamese director of the program. When a male student asked to join along he was told that private matters were going to be discussed (so why were asked to come along?) Then he and the other man, basically made us feel like escorts. We were videotaped.
My room mate was suppose to be his assistant, which is why he had her sit nex to him the entire time- which is why I sat next to her the entire time, because while we waiting for the rest of the group in the airport in L.A. she told me that the professors intentions may be questionable.
He got up and left us at dinner a few nights ago because my room mate was talking about her child and boyfriend and he felt it was not appropriate. He says because he was raised as a strict Catholic and it is right to speak of such matters with strangers! We are hardly strangers, it was because she was talking about her boyfriend and he is deillusional and thinks they are going to run off together.
Then a couple of nights ago he made a pass at another female student. She was checking her e-mail and he (while drinking) came up behind her and talked to her about my room mate and would keep dropping his key under her chair to get closer to her.
My room mate woke up on the bus to find him rubbing her hair and legs.
Basically he makes all the females feel uncomfortable- throughout the entire trip.

Oh my, My Lai

2006-08-05T01:47:00.000-04:00

So I promise that this will be my last depressing post about the war. We went to My Lai (sounds like Me Lie) about 5 or so days ago. On March 16, 1968 (two day before my Mom turned 18) a unit of the US Army basically murdered 504 innocent people who the majority were elderly, women and children. The museum there is filled with pictures taken by Army photographers as well as from Life and Time, etc..., capturing every moment of this horrible event. Images of mothers trying to protect their babies laying dead because the bullets would go through both of them. One soldier shot himself in the foot so that he would not have to participate. Apparently it all began because some one in leadership went nuts and thought it was a good idea because a couple of their fellow soldiers we killed the day or so before. Like I've said before, I've been to historic battle scenes before, but these bother me so much more because it could have been my Father out there doing these things.

Things are getting pretty interesting with my group- I'll tell more later. We are finally in Ho Chi Minh City now and there are internet cafes everywhere. Just to catch up a bit though, we have been to Da Lat (I think its my favorite place so far, it's in the mountains and was actually around 60 degrees). I got sun burnt laying around the pool in Hue- We stopped at a beautiful beach- I am unable upload picures because none of the computers around here seem to have USB ports- I love the food, but we have been getting the same things at almost every meal, so for the first time in my life I can say that I'm getiing tired of eating shrimp and rice.

Do it your Hue (sounds like Way)

2006-07-30T12:21:00.001-04:00

We are now in the ancient captial of Viet Nam. What glorious city. Mainly I like because it is not as humid (did I mention it was hot and humid here?) But this place has personality... and our hotel has 4 stars. Which means we are not sleeping on beds harder than bricks, we have shower curtains, water pressure, toilet paper, NO two inch cockroaches, and last but not least there is a pool! Sure I sound like a snobby Western, but, oh sweet Momma, there is nothing like a softer bed to sleep on!!!! The country id also starting to look more like it does in all those American films. You know what I'm talking about... Jungle, beach, natives living in huts and of course as we have seen all along, rice paddies. Did I mention humidity?

I'm Melting

2006-07-30T12:21:00.000-04:00

Well I actually wrote this a day or so ago, but the small town we were in didn't have the most reliable internet- so I have to rewrite it... (at least what I can remember, anyway).

We saw Khe Sanh today. A man sold dog tags. The color of the earth could only be only be described as a shade of blood, literally. I've been to historic battle fields before, but for the first time in my life I actually knew of someone who fought there. One of the professors of my China program was in a medical position. He shared his stories with us students then, but only now do his "stories" have a real meaning. I am filled with a lot of sadness and confusion. Why? The United States dropped more than 15 million tons of explosives on Vietnam- the equivalent of the power of 400 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs- over the entire country in an attempt to prevent a Communist victory (Duiker). On the other hand the Vietnamese people are eager for peace and a normal relationship with the U.S. This is not because they have short memories or do not harbor a certain amount of anger or bitterness toward the U.S. government. Rather it is rooted in the historic Vietnamese tradition of making peace with enemies (Ngo). And then there is just knowing someone who was there because it's just what he was suppose to do. I'm confused because I want to side on the American's but also on that of Vietnam. One of the Vietnamese directors had to hide for NINE years while growing up here due to the war. Could you imagine being in hiding for almost ALL of your childhood? Could you imagine giving up your your life between the ages of 18-25 for a war that couldn't be won?

Good morning Vietnam!

2006-07-28T21:17:00.000-04:00

After a couple of days in a bus we are at the 17th parallel- aka the DMZ or the middle of the country! Hanoi was pretty great, it reminded a lot of Kunming (the city in China that I was at the longest). We got to see Ho Chi Minh (literally, these communist countries preserve their leaders and show them in a glass case), he sends his love! The homes here are not all like I expected them to look like. They are actually pretty nice for such a poor country, though that could be because we only see the ones near the road. The countryside is SO beautiful! And now that we are in the narrow part of the nation their is the South China Sea to one side of us and Mountains to the other. Speaking of the sea, we went to the beach two days ago. It was interesting to say the least. You know when we go to the beach its a time for relaxation and fun- here its the same only there are people constantly walking up to you trying to sell seafood or other goods. And I mean constantly. The saddest part was seeing children pick at the food that others had left behind. Its really hard not to want to just give them a wad of cash sometimes.

The group that I'm traveling with are really great- unlike my last trip like this all the people actually are here by choice which makes such a difference in their attitudes. I hope to write some more this evening as we are getting ready to leave in a few!!!

From Asia with Love

2006-07-25T06:55:00.000-04:00

After about a million hours on various airplanes all over the Pacific Ocean, I'm finally in Hanoi! Yay! I will write more tomorrow (I hope).... I would say that I miss y'all, but I love it here WAY too much! I never realize just how much I missed being in Asia and how much it feels like home. (Oh, Kuala Lumpur was very cool. I have a picture of myself in front of the Petronas towers (the building in that Sean Connery film) and went shopping a very upscale mall- there was Hermes, Gucci, Burberry, etc... ahhhh. Such good times!!!!

Thai video

2006-07-22T09:20:00.000-04:00

The Rockstar sent me this about Thailand- Its funny and kind of informative! I leave in 2 hours!! eek!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3eRE2aH7NI0&search=Gerhard%20Reinke%20

Just 3 days away to Southeast Asia!

2006-07-19T15:56:00.000-04:00

So I'm finally in my new place (I LOVE my new housemates!). I take the final for my class tomorrow, then I'm off to Louisville and Saturday I leave for L.A. for the BIG flight to Kuala Lumpur. Check out this site for more info about my trip, though I'm going to post my itinerary below:

22 JULY 06 SATURDAY
Flight from Louisville to Memphis, then Memphis to L.A. 12:30- 4:25 (don't you just love those time changes!)

23 JUL 06 SUNDAY
1:40 AM Depart L.A. for Kuala Lumpur
12:15PM Arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport- Overnight in Kuala Lumpur

24 JUL 06MONDAY
KUALA LUMPUR-HANOI
10:00AM
Departure for Hanoi on Malaysia Airlines Flight #752
02:25PM
Arrival at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport
Mr. Dinh Quang Thu, Head, Office of International Relations, Hanoi University of Education, will meet the group
04:00PM
Arrival and check-in at Ho Guom Hotel
07:00PM
Dinner at Dinh Lang Restaurant

Overnight Hanoi

25 JUL 06 TUESDAY
HANOI
08:00AM
Breakfast at Ho Guom Hotel Restaurant
09:00AM-12:00PM
Courtesy call and meeting with HUE Rector Dinh Quang Bao and other University officials
12:30PM-02:30PM
Lunch at a Hanoi-area restaurant(details to be announced later)
02:50PM
Return to Ho Guom Hotel
03:00PM-06:00PM
FREE TIME ( NO SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES )
07:00PM
Dinner at Hanoi-area restaurant(details to be announced later)
08:00PM
Water puppet show

Overnight Hanoi

26 JUL 06 WEDNESDAY
HANOI
07:00AM
Breakfast at Ho Guom Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Departure for Ministry of Education or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (details to be announced later)
09:00AM
Meeting with Ministry of Education or Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials (details of meeting and agenda to be announced later)
12:00PM
Lunch at a Daewoo Hotel Restaurant
02:00PM
Return to Ho Guom Hotel
04:30PM
Visit National College for Early Childhood Education and courtesy call on Rector and other College officials
05:00PM
Return to Ho Guom Hotel
07:00PM
Dinner at Indochine Restaurant

Overnight Hanoi

27 JUL 06THURSDAY
HANOI-CUA LO
07:00AM
Breakfast at Ho Guom Hotel Restaurant
09:00AM
Departure for Cua Lo
12:00PM
Lunch en route in Thanh Hoa
04:00PM
Arrival and check-in at Hon Ngu Hotel
06:30PM
FREE TIME (NO SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES)
07:00PM
Dinner at Hon Ngu Hotel Restaurant

Overnight Cua Lo

28 JUL 06FRIDAY
CUA LO-DONG HA-LAO BAO-DA KRONG
07:00AM
Breakfast at Hon Ngu Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Departure for Dong Ha (capital of Quang Tri province)
12:00PM
Lunch en route in Dong Hoi (Quang Binh province)
01:00PM
Resume trip to Hue with stopover at Ben Hai river, Hien Luong Bridge, 17th Parallel and DMZ (North-South temporary demarcation line in accordance with the Geneva Accords of 1954)
04:00PM
Arrival and check-in at Phuong Dat Hotel
04:00PM
Visit Dong Ha town center and public market
07:30PM
Dinner at Phuong Dat Hotel Restaurant

Overnight Dong Ha

29 JUL 06SATURDAY
DONG HA-KHE SANH
07:00AM
Breakfast at Phuong Dat Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM-09:30AM
Visit Madam Nguyen Thi Binh Museum; seat of revolutionary government in South Viet Nam during War of National Liberation
10:00AM
Visit Da Krong bridge, Ta Con museum and Khe Sanh battlefield, all along the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail
12:30PM
Visit Lao Bao Trading Center (near Laos-Viet Nam border)
02:00PM
Lunch en route at a local restaurant (after lunch, take a side-trip to La Vang Holy Land and Quang Tri citadel)
07:00PM
Dinner at Phuong Dat Hotel Restaurant

Overnight Dong Ha

30 JUL 06 SUNDAY
DONG HA-HUE
07:00AM
Breakfast at Phuong Dat Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Departure for Hue (imperial capital of Viet Nam)
10:00AM
Arrival and check-in at Century Hotel in Hue
12:00PM
Lunch at Tropical Garden Restaurant
01:30PM
Visit imperial Citadel with and its ten fortified gates
03:30PM
Visit Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang (currently under restoration, through the auspices of UNESCO and a consortium of US philanthropic organizations)
06:00PM
Swimming at Thuan An beach
07:30PM
Dinner at Century Hotel Restaurant

Overnight Hue

31 JUL 06MONDAY
HUE-DANANG
06:00AM
Breakfast at Century Hotel Restaurant
07:00AM
Departure for Quang Ngai province (via Danang)
08:30AM
Stopover and swimming at Lang Co beach
09:30AM
Resume trip to Danang
11:30AM
Lunch at Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant
01:30PM
Resume trip to Quang Ngai
04:30PM
Stopover at My Lai/Song My Village Museum
06:00PM
Arrival and check-in at My Tra Hotel
07:00PM
Dinner at My Tra Hotel Restaurant

Overnight My Tra

01 AUG 06 TUESDAY
DANANG-NHA TRANG
06:30AM
Breakfast at My Tra Hotel Restaurant
07:30AM
Departure for Nha Trang
12:00PM
Lunch at a seafood restaurant en route
04:00PM
Arrival and check-in at Vien Dong Hotel
04:10PM- 7:00PM
FREE TIME (NO SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES)
07:00PM
Dinner at Vien Dong Hotel Restaurant

Overnight Nha Trang

02 AUG 06WEDNESDAY
NHA TRANG- DA LAT
07:00AM
Breakfast at Vien Dong Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Departure for Da Lat (with brief stopover in Phan Rang)
12:00PM
Arrival and check-in at Golf #1 Hotel
01:00PM
Lunch at Than Thuy Restaurant on the banks of Xuang Huong Lake
02:00PM
Visit Lang Biang Mountain, home of the Lat an ethnic minority group
06:00PM
Dinner at Hong Ngoc Restaurant

Overnight Da Lat

03 AUG 06THURSDAY
DA LAT
07:00AM
Breakfast at Golf #1 Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Visit Da Lat University and courtesy call on Rector Nguyen Huu Duc and other University officials
11:00AM
Stopover at Prenn Waterfall
12:00PM
Lunch at open-air restaurant en route
02:00PM
Visit Emperor's Palace and Love Valley
04:00PM- 06:30PM
FREE TIME (NO SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES)
07:00PM
Dinner at Golf #1 Hotel Restaurant

Overnight Da Lat

04 AUG 06FRIDAY
DA LAT-HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
07:00PM
Breakfast at Golf #1 Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Departure for Ho Chi Minh City
12:00PM
Lunch at Lien Do Restaurant en route
03:30PM
Arrival and check-in at Vien Dong Hotel
06:00PM
Departure for Binh Quoi Cultural Village
07:00PM
Cultural presentation (Vietnamese traditional wedding ceremony)
08:00PM
Dinner at Binh Quoi Cultural Village Restaurant
09:00PM
Return to Vien Dong Hotel

Overnight Ho Chi Minh City

05 AUG 06SATURDAY
HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
07:00AM
Breakfast at Vien Dong Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Departure for Tay Ninh province (near Viet Nam-Cambodia border), home of the Cao Dai, a home-grown and "exotic" Vietnamese religious sect
12:00PM
Lunch at a restaurant in Tay Ninh, en route
02:00PM
Visit Cu-Chi Tunnel complex, home and headquarters of resistance and NLF fighters during the French war of reconquest and the American war
04:00PM
Stopover at Cholon Market in Cholon, HCMC, Viet Nam 's famed Chinatown
07:00PM
Dinner at Van Xuan (Ten Thousand Springs) Restaurant

Overnight HCMC

06 SUN 06SUNDAY
HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
07:00AM
Breakfast at Vien Dong Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM-06:00PM
FREE TIME (NO SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES)

Overnight HCMC

07 AUG 06MONDAY
HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
07:00AM
Breakfast at Vien Dong Hotel Restaurant
08:00AM
Visit HCMC University of Education and courtesy call on Rector and other University officials
11:30AM
Lunch at storied Continental Hotel Restaurant
02:00PM
Visit Reunification Palace, former American Embassy in the “Republic of South Viet Nam” (a building in the same complex was inaugurated as the new US Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City by then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 1998), the War Museum, Fine Arts Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral
07:00PM
Farewell dinner and exchange of gifts at Royal Rex Court Restaurant

Overnight HCMC

08 AUG 06TUESDAY
HO CHI MINH CITY-KUALA LUMPUR
06:30AM
Breakfast at Vien Dong Hotel Restaurant
07:30AM
Assembly at Vien Dong Hotel lobby, payment of “incidentals” and check-out
08:00AM
Departure for Tan Son Nhat International Airport
09:00AM
Check-in, payment of airport departure tax and completion of other pre-departure immigration formalities at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
11:00AM

Then I'm off to visit my old room mate in Bangkok, Thailand!

The Hippies that Live Here are Wrong about Not having A/C

2006-07-14T19:30:00.000-04:00

Every time you move your body, you sweat
Fans are NOT "close enough"
What's the point of taking a shower when you start to sweat the instant you step out
Humidity makes the sheets on your bed feel like they are always wet
No, wait, your sheets ARE wet- with sweat
Water into sweat time: 30 seconds
I'm buying more gas than ever before just so I can sit in my car with the a/c on
Time before hair spray fails: 20 minutes
Dog hair sticks to sweaty legs, as does grass, hair, dust and lint

Single White Female

2006-07-12T10:33:00.000-04:00

I've been answering ads for housemates from the newspaper. It has been interesting to say the least, but I found a place! Yay! My search only took two days but I made the right choice by picking this house with 3 other ladies and one guy. I saw a sign in their window yesterday while walking to school and left a note on their door (no phone numbers where given). The guy called me and I went over there later that night, with wine in hand. I open the door say my name and "I brought wine!" Everyone cheered (they had some friends over) and two hours later they took the sign down from their window. The house is really nice- completely refinished on the inside, has a/c, cable, internet and 4 really fun-loving people that I will live with for the next year. Plus, it's super close to both the campus and the bars. Downside is no closets and parking close to the house- and the rent is a bit more than I would have paid for my current place, but it is still much cheaper than living in the apartment complex I was in before. So this weekend I'm moving- yet again.

Home sweet, Home???

2006-07-09T11:48:00.000-04:00

I have completely moved into my new place, which is why I haven't been posting anything on here lately. I now live in a house, have a bigger bedroom and no a/c. And after only a week I have everything in its place, except for decorations (pictures on the wall and such). I came Louisville this weekend to party with friends and relax by the pool- when I was awakened by a phone call this morning by my new housemate. The landlord is selling the house that I JUST moved into!!!! I have been there for 9 days and now I have to find a new place. Oh and I'm leaving for Southeast Asia on the 21st, so I might have to move before that. This gives me a whopping 12 days! Ugh.

25

2006-06-21T23:26:00.000-04:00

Today, I had some very adult moments- and I liked it. I love being able to express exactly what I want say. This was not something I was even remotely able to do just a couple of years ago. There is something to said about knowing who you are and what you really want that produces a pure blithesome state. Who knew being honest with oneself was so rewarding. That and I had some mild food poisoning which is still bothering me, to say the least.

You've been schooled

2006-06-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, my break is over. I'm back in Athens taking the all exciting class of World Economic Geography. I also happened to get lost on my way to class. The building that I thought it was in, as you might have guessed, it wasn't. I ended up sending 20 extra minutes wondering around campus sweating like a whore in church until finally I found it. Plus, I have started to move into my new place across town- which is actually a little exciting. Then, on the other hand, its a little sad because I'm leaving my room mate. She is actually leaving for Thailand on Wednesday so the next two days will be our last living together. While this isn't goodbye forever (I'll be visiting her in Thailand in August) it will be for a while.

On a different subject, why do I like guys who do not live where I do? I have yet again started dating(?), well I've started something (actually, I'd rather not define it because that's when things get complicated) with a guy in Louisville. The funny thing is I actually went to high school with him and according to some rumors he got interested in seeing me because of my myspace page. So this boy and I hung out quite a bit on my week off and already there was drama. To make a long story short: he hangs with the same group of friends since high school (I know them as well) but this also means he has dated a few of the chicks in that group so when one of those females started drinking- she started drama (not with me, but him). And even though I'm not the jealous type, I am the type that doesn't like being disrespected, plus, I don't live there. I honestly wonder if I don't subconsciously seek out some long distance thing because I don't what I would do if I was actually in the same town as the person I was with, I mean what does one do when they have the opportunity to see the person any day of the week if they wished? I don't know if I would even want that or could handle that. But as I said before I don't want to think too much about it, because I'm not even sure what it is.

The big break

2006-06-12T17:31:00.000-04:00

You know what I just realized? I just completed my first year of graduate school. Crazy. I am burnt out at the moment. I feel lucky just to get a complete sentence out of my mouth. So now I'm back in Louisville trying to make the most of my one week break before I have to go back for class in the summer session. Ugh. But yay for having a week off! And double yay for hangin' with some old friends and feeling like I'm 17 again.

Procrastination is winning- by about a thousand points

2006-06-05T01:55:00.000-04:00

Around me lies five dead friends. They have done their best to help in my battle against the wicked and evil Procrastination. Their shiny green uniforms still glisten under the desk lamp. While all share the same name, I remember each with fondness and perhaps regret. Regret that I did not use them to their full potential. But there is also hope- for there are more of these soldiers waiting in the holding box. Yes, this post is for you, my friends, whom I simply call The Dew. Others may know them by their proper name, Mountain Dew.

Arjuna's Wedding

2006-05-30T12:54:00.000-04:00

Tonight is the big show! First it's the group puppet show, then, our individual performances.

On a totally unrelated note, I am addicted to myspace right now. A couple of my girlfriends have just recently set up a page (I've been on there for a while now) and told me about all these kids we went to high school that are on there. I've had one mini reunion after another.
(If you are extremely bored take a look at my myspace profile here.)

I had mucho fun with my friend over the weekend. (The pic on my myspace profile is of us taking jello shots and, yes, that's jello on my lip.)

she blinded me with science

2006-05-26T02:18:00.000-04:00

Is technology not the greatest thing ever!?!
I got a call from one of my soon to be housemates only to learn that he will not be living there by the end of the summer because he is buying a house. After making sure that everything will still be alright for myself to live there, I sent a message to my other future housemate about finding someone to take the departing housemate's place. To which he has already responded, only hours later- (and this is were the wonders of technology comes in) from Russia.

Yikes! Stripes, fruit stripe gum!

2006-05-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

As with the end of most quarters/semesters I am working over time to get everything completed. Why I continue to procrastinate is beyond me. Tomorrow I'm giving a 20 minute presentation on human rights in Burma (or should I say the lack there of). Not to mention, I have 12 days to write a 20 page history paper and prepare for an exam in that class. 14 days to turn my final paper on Indonesian puppet theatre (plus, next Tuesday we are putting on our group and individual final performances- in front of people) 15 days before I have to turn a 15 page paper in my human rights class. But I am happy to announce that the whole Thai class dropping has come through- I'm out!! Needless to say, I have to get back to work.

Yay!

2006-05-23T22:57:00.000-04:00

One of my best friends is coming to visit me this weekend!