I have wanderlust. As a child, I traveled regularly, and I believe it is what started my wanderlust. I would like to visit other places in the States, but mainly, I want to travel outside of the States. Of all the places I'd like to visit, California has never been on my list. Yet that is where I'm going to spend my summer. Tomorrow morning I leave to live in the desert for 11 weeks.
I've never wanted to visit California because of all the hype people make about it. I have this attitude, no attitudes not the right word. Let's see what's the right word? Desire, that's it. I've this desire to not like what everyone else likes. For instance, I don't like warm chocolate chip cookies (actually I've never liked warm chocolate chip cookies), I'm a closet chocolate lover because I don't want to be stereotyped as a girl who loves chocolate (I'm picky about my chocolate too), I preferred glasses over contacts long before glasses were popular to wear (they were more comfortable, and I thought they made me look studious), and I despise Mac's (the company thinks way too much of themselves). So I've never had a desire to go to California because so many people have such a love and desire to go there. Plus the climate and region are not my type.
I prefer cool weather over heat. I also love green foliage--green grass, green trees, green leaves, green everything. When J sister and I were driving today everything was so beautifully green--I love that about my states. I also love the seasons--spring, summer, fall, and winter. I love them all; I love the changes; I love what each one brings. And I love farm country, and the people which come with it.
California has none of that. (Happy cows do not come from California!)
I'm not going to California to see celebrities or visit the beach or get famous or get a tan or surf. I'm going to work with young girls and to be completely outside of my comfort zone and to learn different activities and to be stretched and to learn and to grow in my walk with the Lord. My reasons are different than most others, and for me, the reasons behind this travel experience make a world of difference and make California bearable.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Fine Arts in This Day and Age
I was sent the link of John Adam's commencement speech. Read it; it's worth your time. Below are some of my favorite quotes from the article
"A life in the arts means loving complexity and ambiguity"
"And it means that you value communicating about matters of the spirit over the baser forms of human interaction, because you know that life is not just a transaction, not simply a game about winning someone’s confidence purely for purposes of material gain. "
"We can hear or see just about anything online now, but how often are we bowled over, how often have we been forced to stop all other discursive mind wandering and just sit there in astonishment, listening or looking in rapt amazement? "
"So if I can leave you with some words of wisdom . . . I would probably urge you to do one thing over all else, and that is never to consider yourself sufficiently educated."
"A life in the arts means loving complexity and ambiguity"
"And it means that you value communicating about matters of the spirit over the baser forms of human interaction, because you know that life is not just a transaction, not simply a game about winning someone’s confidence purely for purposes of material gain. "
"We can hear or see just about anything online now, but how often are we bowled over, how often have we been forced to stop all other discursive mind wandering and just sit there in astonishment, listening or looking in rapt amazement? "
"So if I can leave you with some words of wisdom . . . I would probably urge you to do one thing over all else, and that is never to consider yourself sufficiently educated."
A Rainy Day
Rainy days are my favorite. I enjoy the short summer thunderstorms which come, but my favorites days are when it rains all day. And it's cooler. And you have nowhere to go. And you have nothing to do. You can spend the day sleeping, reading, watching movies, and absolutely relaxing.
Today was somewhat like that. It has rained all day. I slept in. I watched a movie. I read. I relaxed. However, I've been out and about, I've places to go still, and I've things I should accomplish.
What made today so relaxing?
Maybe because I watched a stupid movie with sister J, and we made fun of it the whole time and completely enjoyed it. Maybe because I ate an almost perfect sub with an almost perfect pickle at Jimmy Johns--Milo's makes the perfect sub and perfect pickle, but Jimmy Johns is a close second. Maybe because sister J and I drove and listened and sang along with classics while enjoying each other's company. Maybe because I slept till 10. (Yes, I know that for most people sleeping in till 10 is not sleeping in, but I'm a morning person, so I don't like sleeping the day away.) Maybe because I finished rereading Harry Potter 7 at 2 AM, and that I had read most of it in one sitting. (I love Harry Potter, and I can't wait to see the last movie!). Maybe because I found more shorts which fit and will work for the summer. (I hate clothes shopping). Maybe because I know when I get home tonight, I'm going to watch a good movie, and then fall blissfully asleep in my bed. Maybe because I could be in my town, and it was not infested with people. Maybe because I don't have any homework to complete. Maybe because it's summer. And maybe because it rained all day.
Today was somewhat like that. It has rained all day. I slept in. I watched a movie. I read. I relaxed. However, I've been out and about, I've places to go still, and I've things I should accomplish.
What made today so relaxing?
Maybe because I watched a stupid movie with sister J, and we made fun of it the whole time and completely enjoyed it. Maybe because I ate an almost perfect sub with an almost perfect pickle at Jimmy Johns--Milo's makes the perfect sub and perfect pickle, but Jimmy Johns is a close second. Maybe because sister J and I drove and listened and sang along with classics while enjoying each other's company. Maybe because I slept till 10. (Yes, I know that for most people sleeping in till 10 is not sleeping in, but I'm a morning person, so I don't like sleeping the day away.) Maybe because I finished rereading Harry Potter 7 at 2 AM, and that I had read most of it in one sitting. (I love Harry Potter, and I can't wait to see the last movie!). Maybe because I found more shorts which fit and will work for the summer. (I hate clothes shopping). Maybe because I know when I get home tonight, I'm going to watch a good movie, and then fall blissfully asleep in my bed. Maybe because I could be in my town, and it was not infested with people. Maybe because I don't have any homework to complete. Maybe because it's summer. And maybe because it rained all day.
Monday, May 23, 2011
"I'm a goofy girl"
Cindy tells me regularly that she's a goofy girl. I usually agree with her because the statement tends to follow goofy statements and/or actions. I've become attached to Cindy during these last nine months, and saying goodbye tonight was tough. At least I'll be reunited with her in September. (By the way, Cindy is my little sister through Big Brother Big Sister.)
I'll manage through the summer, but I'll miss her and her funny ways. Especially the way she lights up at our house, and how excited she gets when she sees my parents and my sister. She loves my sister, and I think my sister loves her back. I love the way Cindy has become a little sister to all my family members who've interacted with her regularly. I'm sad about both of us being gone this summer because she won't be able to meet my other family members, and she'll have to be with her dad and step-mom all summer.
See, I know I'll make it through. But will Cindy? I'm not sure what I can and cannot disclose, so I won't disclose anything. But I will say that when I was driving away, I wanted to take her away from everything. I felt horrible leaving her off, and than escaping to my home. I felt bad that she's stuck, and there's nothing she can do; I felt awful that I could drive away from it all and return to my home where I could shut everything away and forget it all. I started BBBS to make an impact in a young girl's life and to be an example of Christ's love, but how could I know that she would make such an impact in mine? How could I know that I would become so protective of her? How could I know I would fall in love with her? Cindy, in all of her goofy ways, has caught my heart.
I'll manage through the summer, but I'll miss her and her funny ways. Especially the way she lights up at our house, and how excited she gets when she sees my parents and my sister. She loves my sister, and I think my sister loves her back. I love the way Cindy has become a little sister to all my family members who've interacted with her regularly. I'm sad about both of us being gone this summer because she won't be able to meet my other family members, and she'll have to be with her dad and step-mom all summer.
See, I know I'll make it through. But will Cindy? I'm not sure what I can and cannot disclose, so I won't disclose anything. But I will say that when I was driving away, I wanted to take her away from everything. I felt horrible leaving her off, and than escaping to my home. I felt bad that she's stuck, and there's nothing she can do; I felt awful that I could drive away from it all and return to my home where I could shut everything away and forget it all. I started BBBS to make an impact in a young girl's life and to be an example of Christ's love, but how could I know that she would make such an impact in mine? How could I know that I would become so protective of her? How could I know I would fall in love with her? Cindy, in all of her goofy ways, has caught my heart.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Not Just One Reason
I'm not starting this blog for one specific reason. One reason is that I need to write regularly and consistently because right now, I'm a horrible and disconnected writer. Another would be I need an outlet for all the thoughts and ideas which run through my head. Instead of scribbling down the idea which I've been pondering for days on a sheet of paper which I'll later misplace, I thought it would be better to blog about them, and then I wouldn't misplace them. Another would be to see if I could actually keep the blog going. I've journaled on and off throughout my life, but my hand gets tired of writing. Plus typing is faster and easier to rework. Another would be because I want to keep certain people updated on my summer adventures. I'm positive I'm going to have quite the adventures and experiences this summer, and I would like to share them with others. There are more, but for now, I'll stop listing the reasons I started this blog.
So back to my summer adventures. This summer, I'm heading out to California to work with kids ranging from 4th-7th grade for 11 weeks. For those of you who know me, you know working at this place is completely outside of my comfort zone. I'm not the kind of person who likes hot weather or being outside all the time. I enjoy being outdoors, but this will definitely stretch me in ways I can't even begin to imagine. I also love to read, watch movies, and visit with my family, and I'll be able to do none of that this summer.
In preparation for this summer, the company has been sending me copious emails which I must read and then take a quiz over the information. (I'm done with school for the semester; I don't want to be taking any more quizzes.) The quizzes, however, are the least of my worries. I'm reading the company's philosophy on dealing with kids, rules, regulations, standards, and I'm freaking out. They're telling me things I have to tell the kids to uphold and listen to which I don't believe should be upheld and listened to.
One of the quiz questions asked, "List an area of your upcoming responsibilities in which it may be hard to be part of the 'real' team." Here is the company's definition of being a real team member, "Being a 'real' team member means you understand why we’re doing what we are doing, and you enthusiastically and wholeheartedly work at doing your part so that the whole team can be successful!"
I didn't dare answer that some of their policies regarding counseling struck the wrong chord in me, so I said I was leaving my comfort zone, and not having spent a large amount of time in situations like the one I'll be in this summer I'm not yet sure which responsibility will be the hardest for me to carry out wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. I couldn't tell them I already disagreed with some of their philosophy. I haven't even made to the job yet! Which brings up the point of me judging people and places too quickly. Which is a whole other discussion.
But enough about my summer. The reason for this blog post was to state some of the reasons I started a blog, and now that I've done that, the post is finished. I just got side-tracked about the summer because it's one of the many thoughts running through my head which needs an outlet. And I tend to get side-tracked easily.
Should make for an interesting journey.
So back to my summer adventures. This summer, I'm heading out to California to work with kids ranging from 4th-7th grade for 11 weeks. For those of you who know me, you know working at this place is completely outside of my comfort zone. I'm not the kind of person who likes hot weather or being outside all the time. I enjoy being outdoors, but this will definitely stretch me in ways I can't even begin to imagine. I also love to read, watch movies, and visit with my family, and I'll be able to do none of that this summer.
In preparation for this summer, the company has been sending me copious emails which I must read and then take a quiz over the information. (I'm done with school for the semester; I don't want to be taking any more quizzes.) The quizzes, however, are the least of my worries. I'm reading the company's philosophy on dealing with kids, rules, regulations, standards, and I'm freaking out. They're telling me things I have to tell the kids to uphold and listen to which I don't believe should be upheld and listened to.
One of the quiz questions asked, "List an area of your upcoming responsibilities in which it may be hard to be part of the 'real' team." Here is the company's definition of being a real team member, "Being a 'real' team member means you understand why we’re doing what we are doing, and you enthusiastically and wholeheartedly work at doing your part so that the whole team can be successful!"
I didn't dare answer that some of their policies regarding counseling struck the wrong chord in me, so I said I was leaving my comfort zone, and not having spent a large amount of time in situations like the one I'll be in this summer I'm not yet sure which responsibility will be the hardest for me to carry out wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. I couldn't tell them I already disagreed with some of their philosophy. I haven't even made to the job yet! Which brings up the point of me judging people and places too quickly. Which is a whole other discussion.
But enough about my summer. The reason for this blog post was to state some of the reasons I started a blog, and now that I've done that, the post is finished. I just got side-tracked about the summer because it's one of the many thoughts running through my head which needs an outlet. And I tend to get side-tracked easily.
Should make for an interesting journey.
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