Monday, August 31, 2009

Newness

"Are those flashcards for a Spanish class?" I asked.
"Yeah. Pretty nerdy, huh?"

And thus, a new friend was discovered.

College is fantastic for making new friends. Everything is new. Everything is fresh. Everything is bright and exciting and waiting to be discovered. And everyone else there is new. Everyone is fresh. There are bright and exciting people waiting to be discovered. People are so interesting. So diverse, so different, so intriguing. People are so quirky and strange. Full of wierd ideas, strange backgrounds, different goals and odd hobbies. And I love it all. I love people.

I love the freedom to be whoever I want to be. I love the freedom to start completely new and fresh. I love talking to new people, learning new things, joining new clubs and groups. I love watching Risa grow and discover more of herself. Stretching, blossoming, thriving. I love college.


(Swirls at ARC)

Thursday, August 27, 2009

El Sabor de La Amistad


Si amistad fuera un sabor, sabria a mi frappiccino mocha de chocolate con leche de soja. Divino.
If friendship had a flavor, it would taste like my chocolate mocha frappiccino with soy milk. Divine.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Musings

- Musings on Life and Pain -
* Woke up early and went running
* Cried during worship at church
* Came home and practiced "I'm Yours" on the guitar
* Made tenitive photoshoot plans with a dear friend
* Went to work (for 7 long hours...)
* Came home with a free smoothie

My legs are sore from running. They hurt. But my muscles feel alive. Alive. Pulsing. Healthy. Young. Craving more.
My fingers have new blisters from new guitar chords. They hurt. But my songs are improving. Singing with the family familiar pop songs is fun. Alive. Healthy. Young. I'm craving more.
My feet are tired from too much Jamba Juice. They hurt. But my wallet is happy. My customers are happy. Smoothies are fun. Coworkers are fun. It's alive. Vibrant. Healthy. Young. Yes...I'm craving more.

Sometimes things hurt. Sometimes things are simultaneously painful and healthy. That's how life is. Life hurts. Life is healthy. And yes...I'm already craving tomorrow.



Saturday, August 15, 2009

Two years in a nutshell:

Fall 2009:
English Writing 300 - College Composition
Statistics
Spanish 4
Political Science 302 - Introduction to Foreign Government
Digital Photography

Spring 2010:
English Writing 302 - Advanced Composition and Critical Thinking
Philosophy 310 - Introduction to Ethics
Anthropology 310 - Cultural Anthropology
Social Studies 310 - Peace and Conflict Studies

Fall 2010:
Chemistry
Journalism 310 - Mass Media
Biology 370 - Marine Biology
History 300 - Western Civilization

Spring 2011:
Biology 430 - Anatomy
Music 370 - Guitar
Dance 310 - Jazz Dance
Political Science - Intro to International Relations
Physics 311 - Basic Physics

*Random, exciting electives TBD... :)

Friday, August 14, 2009

Ten thousand lightning bugs


Last night, all I wanted was to curl up in a little ball and cry.

Tonight, I have that song lyrics stuck in my head: "Cuz I get a thousand hugs, from ten thousand lightning bugs, and they try to teach me how to dance..."

--

God is good, really good, and even innocent little song lyrics can bolster hearts and souls.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Comfort

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Goodbyes

- Andres -

- Felix -

Last year, on September 19th, I flew home from Spain.
After spending a month in a completely foreign culture, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion when I had to leave it. There is no way for me to explain it. There is no way for me to describe my morrina. My "pain-one-feels-for-a-place-far-away." It was one of the strangest, most powerful feelings I've ever experienced; an overwhelming homesickness for a place not my home. On the plane home I cried and cried. Cried for people I had come to love so intensely. Cried for a culture I couldn't remain in.


And then, this summer, some of that culture came to me. Four students from across the world came to live with us for six weeks. Two of them, Andres and Felix, are from the very island I grew to love so dearly. The eight of us have laughed together, fought together, cried, played, explored, learned and grown together. We visited Sea Ranch, San Fransisco, the Jelly Belly Factory, Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory, Hollywood, surfing competitions, the Sierra Nevadas, just to name a few. It was wonderful. And in the midst of many difficult personal trials...I was, in a sense, back "home." A different, strange, wonderful, happy, home.


But today Andres and Felix flew home.
I stood on a hill overlooking the San Fransisco airport and watched their plane take off and soar into the smog over the Golden Gate Bridge. I knew these six weeks would fly by...but now my spanish brothers have flown away. When we had to say goodbye at security, Andres and I kept each other from crying by comforting each other, "one more year...just one year! Next summer. Maybe next summer!"

Tomorrow we drive to San Fransisco again to take my Belgian brother, Ruben, home.

But all is not depressing and sad. Blanca, my dear Spanish "sister" is still here. School starts in a couple weeks. And hey! Facebook is a-m-a-z-i-n-g for keeping in touch with overseas friends!
And yet, goodbyes are so hard.