good news from the library

You know those weeks when the good news just randomly comes and ends up neutralizing the stress? I think this week is one of those. Besides the wonderful weather we've been having (a lovely mix of sunny and rainy days) and the fact that I am going home in 10 days, I just got a fabulous piece of news. I got an email from BYU financial services, and I figured it was because they wanted me to pay my study abroad application fee (which they do), but when I logged on, I had a message that they had more money to give away, and are giving me a half-tuition scholarship for next semester! Based on an application I submitted in March, I just made over $1000. Now that's a good deal! Also, it just kind of made my day!

And now, its back to chemistry problems, stock market analysis, and cleaning the apartment...

Break the fast!

I did it! I survived our stake's media fast with the last 2 weeks of school-only internet, church-only music, no TV and no movies. It was rough, and the music was definitley the hardest part, but my roommates and I all made it through. We started going crazy after about a week. We found some creative ways to stay busy, so here is just a sampling of the escapades in #2 during the last 2 weeks.

Getting accepted into the PR program!!

fort-building with every surface in our living room
empty-the-cupboards jell-o with all of our leftovers or un-identified food inside-- cereal, tortilla chips, marshmallow, carrots, etc. Its a delicasy!

We also got really good at spelling words with our bodies, discussing the meaning of life, making a cooking show, interpretive dancing to classical music, making abstract art for our wall, and rubber band face, which I tried to explain to Mom, but it really has to be seen to be understood, so here is a visual of me breaking the record.

Conference, in general

I had the chance to go with my roommates to both sessions of Conference on Saturday. We had fabulous seats and it was so wonderful to hear the words of the prophet live! The weather was wonderful, and it felt just like a Seattle fall day.
We watched the Sunday sessions in pajamas with cinnamon rolls in the apartment. What a great weekend!

Erin and John-- I'm excited for your new temple!

ode to midterms

Oh midterms, how I love you so,
but sometimes I just wish you'd go.
You come barelling at me like a comet,
Long days in the library make we want to vomit.
The Testing Center walk of doom
just fills my whole day with gloom.
After sweating and fretting in that uncomfortable chair,
and wanting to pull out clumps of hair,
I throw my test across the table,
and get out of there as fast as I'm able.
I barely glance at scores on the screen,
because most days they make me want to scream.
But what is this?
Something must be amiss!
There is an "Awesome!" by my name!
I wish the Testing Center wouldn't play this game.
I walk away with a delightful skip,
I guess that studying made for a good testing trip.
From music to grammar to chemistry,
Midterms please don't toy with me!

If you didn't catch that, its midterm season. I've already made 2 fairly successful trips to the Testing Center this week, with one more tomorrow and 2 early next week. Yay exams!

where in the world...

Ok, so I am currently feeling overwhelmed by too many opportunities, which I guess is a good thing, but still kind of crazy.

The current decision is what I should do this summer. I've narrowed it down to either a field study doing PR for NGOs in South Africa for 3 months, or a study abroad to Mexico where I take classes during spring semester in Provo, then go to Mexico for 3 weeks to work with people in poverty and build schools/volunteer in orphanages/put in irrigation pipes, etc. Both things sound absolutely amazing, but I can't decide which one I would rather do.

beard buster

This weekend our ward/apartment complex had a shaving cream fight-- the event of the semester. Our apartment still smells like man, but it was totally worth it. Here is the before and after. Can you find me and my roommates? Hint-- look for Cindy LouWho-esque hair.

back to school...

What a day! Its back to school time, which meant a hike to campus to my peppy new playlist. Five classes, 9 hours on campus, and 16 almost twin spottings later, I trekked home. Even though I'm exhausted and definitely not used to being in school again, I'm super excited for all of my classes this semester. Check back and see if I'm still saying that in two months around midterms, but for now they all seem really interesting with great professors.
At least I didn't get lost and look like a freshman.