Officially
Officially, I am attending the U next year (I even sent out the lovely little card thing today with the confirmation agreement). Both Stanford and Columbia decided they did not want me to attend, making my life considerably easier than I could have imagined. My mother is slightly heartbroken that I will not be at Columbia next year, but I don't think it will take her all that long to get over her grief once she realizes that I'll only be two hours away.
Overall, I am just relieved. I want to go to the U, but having to explain that I turned down Stanford or Columbia was not something that I was looking forward to. So, thanks to both admission boards for deciding I wasn't worth it.
I don't think it occurred to me how much the entire situation had been exhausting me until I arrived home last night after our little Debate get together, and I crashed for ten hours. I know the weather is not helping my mood, so I hope it's sunny tomorrow; otherwise, I am so going tanning. Fake sun is better than no sun at all; I don't care if I get skin cancer.
I saw Crystal on Thursday, and it was very exciting. I recommend
Children of Men to everyone; it is simply stunning, my little crush on Clive Owen withstanding. And the debate get together last night was quite fun; I miss the little ones even Tom, who talks more than my brother.
And to make the rest of you happier due to the nasty weather: a wonderful Costa Rica picture.
Labels: college plans, debate, kara, school
Pictures!
This is about to become the most random post this blog has ever seen.
This is Tri-Lam, isn't he cute?
These are my Rain Boots. I splashed through a ginormous puddle today, and didn't get wet.
OK, OK, one more of Tri-Lam. This is Tri-Lam with his Betta Bowl Buddha. I respect his religious beliefs.
Who now?
Forever, yes, I know. Sorry, everyone, but look, I'm here, and I'm going to
try to post with more frequency than I have as of late. So here it goes.
I thought about doing a massive Costa Rica post, but then I realized, it would be way more fun to tell you everything in person with pictures and other fun things. I'll simply say, I had lots of fun, there were times when I missed all of you like crazy, the sun was nice, but I'm glad to be back home. You can see the pictures over on Facebook as I slowly load them since Facebook hates me right now and isn't allowing massive upload.
My college update is this: excluding the pretty-much-impossible scenario of Stanford accepting me when I check on Friday (1PM), I will be attending the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts next year. I'm really looking forward to it; my intended majors are two things that I know I will enjoy studying, English and Geography, and I've accepted the fact that I'm going to be poor for the rest of my life. Yay!
In other news, today we had to identify 133 out of the 192-ish countries in the world in Human Geo and I didn't do too badly, 125/133. Most of them I missed were in Asia, as in Lebanon and Syria, Georgia and Armenia and Qatar and UAE; I also confused two in Africa... Oh well. I aced the "stans" (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, etc) and Central/Southern Europe; I do know the difference between Slovenia and Slovakia. Hey, this is exciting for me; see my intended majors from above.
Otherwise kind of a blah day and tomorrow doesn't seem to promise anything overly exciting other than the political geography discussion. I'm sick, I know, shut up.
Labels: college plans, costa rica, kara, school
Advice to My Future Hamline Peers!
Hey guys! So! I went through room selection and remembered some of the questions you had, and now finally have answers to them. Here it goes:
1. Any where in the Heights is cool your first year because it's mostly first years in those dorms. It avoids the whole creepy-older-guys-hitting-on-you-as-you-walk-to-the-bathroom deal. Plus also, I'll be right next door to the Heights next year!
2. If you have the chance, sign up for a block plan instead of a "x meals per week" plan. The 150 meal block plan averages out to 10 meals per week, and you can use them whenever you want during the semester instead of being locked into 10 meals per 7-day period. You can also change your meal plan the first week of each semester if you think you'll need more or less.
3. Sign up for Advocacy and Action or Arts Community floors. You'd enjoy those. I'm on the "Quiet Floor" and the only difference I can see is that my floor is a bit more boring that the others. There's a library with a quiet study floor, if you're worried about quiet study time, so it's worth it to have exciting people on you floor when your not studying. Don't get me wrong, the people on my floor are nice, but we never do anything beyond say hi in the hallways. "Pride and Prejudice Polite" floor, if you know what I mean.
Umm, that's all I can come up with right now. I'll add more if I think of anything, and if you have questions, post them and I'll find an answer if I don't know it.
I'm still alive, I think.
Hey all! I've been on spring break, so I didn't write anything. Now that I'm back, however, I thought I'd re-assert my contributer-ship on this blog. Here's a run down of the past week or so:
*Went home, saw my homies (hee)
*Did taxes
*Did FAFSA
*Cursed FAFSA
*Went shopping, pre-spending tax return money! (OMG, I bought a ton of cute spring clothes, a pair of rainboots, a fish, and a pair of jeans-in my size-for 15.99!!! SCORE!)
*Waited for help when our van broke down in the PetSmart parking lot.
*Ended up going home without the van, only to go back to St. Cloud the very next day to tow it to a garage and get it fixed.
*Looked for a job
*Celebrated Grandpa's birthday. CAKE!!
*Got a peace lily from my grandma
*Got sick, the full package. (Didn't eat for 30 hours, slept for most of those 30 hours.)
*Went back to Hamline
*Got the room I want for next year!!!!! WOO HOO!!
*Found out that because of this, I will be paying $1,000 less in housing costs next year. Nice.
Pretty good time over all, I guess. Hope all is going well for everyone. Anything you want me to expand upon? Leave a comment.
Yup, yup, yup!
Hey guys!
I didn't get into Carleton, so Hamline is for sure.
Yay!
-Sara
Ohmygod.
So. I recently learned that I have to do a 20 hour clinical this summer before next fall. For those of you that don't know, a clinical is when an education student goes to watch a teacher teach in order to learn what teaching methods are effective.
Sooooo... I thought that we had to do this 20 hour clinical here in Moorhead... but I was wrong. So I get to go home after Norway instead of coming back here. That made me happy.
So today I called Melby (who was on vacation in Florida... oops) and was like "so... I have to do these clinicals... would it be okay if I came back for them?" and he said YES!!!!!!
aka, the Band Goddess will be returning for the last two weeks in May.
*bounce*
*bounce*
*bounce*
So here's the deal; while I'm there, I'll have to be professional because I'm there for school. Before 2nd and after 4th hour, however, I'm free. God, I'm excited. I get to spend 20 hours with Melby. My life loves me.
:D
Time for a change
So I was getting sick of seeing Pelk's face everytime our blog loaded, so I decided to write something...(jk). I do feel like writing something though, but I guess I'm not sure what. I guess I don't have too many perplexing thoughts...so I'll just ramble on.
I've done a lot of analyzing lately. I always analyze. I've been thinking about why I do the things I do...there's always a motivation and oftentimes I'm unaware of what it is when I'm actually completing the action. Looking back on what I've done and my motivations for each action is frustrating and oftentimes sad. I do things for dumb reasons sometimes. And if I want to dig even deeper, then I analyze the motives for my motivation. You could keep going for a long time...I know I have. I just have to remember not to concentrate on this kind of stuff for too long or I get depressed and confused.
So, moving on to a totally different topic:
I've known about the requirement for a passport for Mexico and Canada starting in 2008, but it didn't upset me that much until just recently. So what is the point of this new regulation? I'm not quite sure...to keep terrorists out? Well, if they plan on keeping the border control the same as they have it now, the passport will not do any good. When I walked across the border of Mexico and the U.S. there was a quick and carless glance at my DL and then I was shooed on. So if they are only going to give a quick and carless glance at a passport what's the point? Passports will not keep terrorists out, nor is the threat that great for terrorism from either of these two borders that we should require any more security. All passports will do is hurt Mexican workers who work across the border from affording to come over to the US to sell their goods. What about those Mexicans who get a shopping pass to come over to the US to shop? No longer...it is a barrier for Mexicans. I think it is ridiculous. It's just another way to discriminate against Mexicans, because clearly Mexicans are much more unlikely to be able to afford a passport than are most Americans. Ok...that's enough venting. Tell me your view...I'd really like to know what you all think.
James' Celebrity Look-alikes
Rhinorrhea
So...James decided that "runny" nose is a ridiculous label for rhinorrhea (technical term thanx to Kayla). Rather, he believes that a nose that is leaking mucous should be called "drooling." I thought this was completely ridiculous, but he insists that it only social conventions keep us from calling it such. I believe that drooling only applies to the mouth because it is referring to saliva. Your nose does not drip saliva, nor are the mouth and nose even part of the same system...the mouth is part of the digestive and the nose is part of the respiratory system. The two fluids have different purposes and compositions, mucous is for protection and does not digest like saliva does. I came up with this analogy...you don't say that your butt is puking when you have diahrrea. The two body fluids are different, therefore the actions of expelling each fluid is labelled differently.
So why I am I posting this? Well James wanted me to. He wanted to know everyone's feedback...he didn't trust that the people in the van with me weren't swayed by my presence. He had even wanted us to ask the toll booth lady...anyway...post what you think...
NM
So...I realize that I have not written in a very long time. This would be why I decided to quickly type something. A lot has been going on...especially since I just finished my spring break. So here it is in a nutshell:
1. 24 hours in a car...1600 miles
2. Drunk New Mexican who hit a parked car
3. Cold nights
4. Tiling and shingling
5. Talkative older New Mexicans
6. Sledding on sand dunes
7. Getting stopped at a checkpoint
8. Hiking in the mountains
9. Mexico and margarita
10. 2 very drunk guys from Alberqurque
11. Spicy Mexican food
12. Sonic
13. Semi-farmer's tan
14. Jesus on a motorcycle
15. Souvenier shopping at WalMart
16. Another very long drive home
There you go...that's about it.
Tomorrow, tomorrow!
Let's talk about last night first. Rianna, I think that is the best time I've had in a very, very long time! (Not that I don't love you Crystal, but this was fun). I've missed you lots and lots; in fact, I miss all of you lots and lots!
Now, today, I'll be packing! Actually, that's not exciting at all. We'll be going through everything I need to bring to Costa Rica; so that when I wake up at an ungodly early time tomorrow morning (yes, 4AM is ungodly early), I will have everything packed. By the way, does anyone know how long an iPod battery can last? Because, I plan on killing mine, and I don't think I've ever used mine for more than half the battery length and it's been close to six hours. Oh well... I'll find out tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, there begins my "grand adventure" with the 43 other people on the Spanish field trip next week. I've become cautiously optimistic about the whole scenario, which is better than not sure I wanted to go at all which was how I was last week at this time. It doesn't matter, in twenty-four hours, I'll be at MSP airport looking for my plane to Houston. At least I'm in Qualley's group for this trip; although, considering CaLyn's my roommate, I probably didn't have any other choice.
I'm going to go relish my last little bit of freedom before my mother wakes up and forces me to start packing.
Labels: costa rica, kara
Put your left foot in, put you left foot out...
...you put your left foot in and you shake it all about. You do the Hokie Pokie and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about!
I'm about ready to do the Hokie Pokie today. Seriously. Today is a good day, especially right now. I got a perfect score on that Anthro paper (You know, the one that I almost sold my first born to the devil to complete? Pretty sure the only thing that stopped me was the fact that I have no first born.), A on my Anthro test, A on my Art history test, and perfect score on my Stats test. The only class I don't know I have an A in is World Politics, and that's because we don't have the tests back yet. I have pretty much straight A's. Woo Hoo! Besides that, I am done with work for the next week, because after Art History today, I have SPRING BREAK!!! Oh yeah, baby! Added to this, I now know I have roomates for next year. If (knock on wood) everything goes as planned, I will be rooming with 3 of my friends here in a Quad. A really nice quad. With a seperate room for our beds and a bathroom. I'm pumped right about now. Whatelse whatelse whatelse. Did I mention SPRING BREAK starts today? I'm totally leaving here at 3 and coming home. I'll see Kara when I get there, and then a half hour or so later, my mom and brother. Later in the week, I'm going shopping in St. Cloud with my mom and sister. Ariel and I have been pre-shopping on the internet, and already know where we want to go. I'm super excited. Oh yeah, and SPRING BREAK is this next week. Incase anyone missed the last two times I said it. Excitement coming out of my eyeballs. Anyone who wants to hang out, give me a call.
Sarah, how was New Mexico?
What if the Hokie Pokie really IS what it's all about?
Speeches are evil.
That is all.
For Rianna
Our question was a full page long, with an extremely vague quote about the connection between college and vocation; developing vocation, etc. We were to pick one quality of a list of qualities and apply it to our future vocations, explaining how they go together and what any of that had to do with college. Evil, evil essay. I took a full day just to decipher the question. But, here goes:
College is that bridge between two banks of life: childhood and adulthood. The shores of our youth are adorned with seashells and plastic shovels. We reside within sandcastles, under the close watch of our elders, bravely guarded from the ravages of the river; protected from the waves of danger, derision, and detrimental decision-making. Eventually, however, the time comes for us to find our own fates, to build our own castles. We move to cross the shore – wondering all the while how to manage our new domains. The decisions are ours to make. The future is ours to forge. Dangerous differences separate unprepared dependency from deft independence. Instead of swimming alone, breathlessly crushed beneath waves, college, as a bridge, offers us a chance to walk safely across into our
newfound sovereignty. Along this bridge, we may gather up new stones and sturdy sticks to build ourselves new castles- replicas of our dreams, but more sturdy, more real, and free from any doubts of erosion. “Awareness of the importance of… social connection,” is one type of stone by which we may build our second stronghold. Through college, I plan to make this move from an insubstantial dream of sand, to a solid citadel of definition and reality, collecting the pieces of definition and learning that will help me to build permanent walls for my vocation. For me, these walls will consist of thickly packed paper and ink. Already, I have begun to collect “stones” to help in the development of my desired vocation as an author, but my education at
Hamline University will be the laying of the foundation upon which I may organize and set these other loose stones.
A profound relationship between the individual and society is necessary to the success of any writer’s career. As an author, understanding my audience is the only way I may begin to affect my audience. People of different ages, demographics, and upbringings will each respond uniquely to certain situations. Already, I have begun to develop this sense of social connection: this idea that, what I do and say will affect others, and that all people are intrinsically tied to one another in behavior and action. Writing will be my means, as a vocation, of entering in on this social dialog and impacting society on a larger scale. Works like Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring each had a forceful impact upon society because each of these writers knew well what type of society they were impacting. Social connection and writing work hand in hand, in that writing is such an integral part of social connection: just one way for a single individual to impact greater society. Social connection serves as a reminder to us of just how greatly we impact one another through our day-to-day interactions. An ancient Zulu proverb states “
umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu: a person is a person through other persons.” Humans are all interconnected. We are dependent upon one another socially, physically, and psychologically. What affects one of us, affects all of us. Indeed, this is social connection. As a writer, I recognize my role in society as an instigator of change, through my contribution to this social dialog. In this way, I may affect one and, equally, all.
Being raised the daughter of a United Methodist pastor I have come to develop a distinctive appreciation for social connection. Through this upbringing, I have been adopted by dozens of parents and grandparents; each with a distinct impression of the world and each with an individual lesson to teach about life. I do not know where I would be without
Murriel’s baking tips, Jim’s fishing trips, or Mary’s loaned books; nor do I know who I would be without
Murriel’s sensibility and humor, Jim’s intense respect for nature, or Mary’s passion for history. Each of these people, and so many countless others, has deeply affected my life and my concepts of humanity. Having been raised with “big ears,” as my Nonna would say, I have learned to collect and appreciate each of these lessons. Through writing, I hope to pass on a few lessons of my own: conglomerate stones to help others build their homes. Good writers must be able to see and understand the complexity of each human being and the lessons which each has to teach, so that they may not only develop effective plots and characters, but ones that are worthwhile. Herman Melville once said that, “to produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” While my novels may not be centered on white whales or fearless sailors; my perceptions of social connection will help me to develop these “mighty themes,” and deepen their impact on others, because I have come to understand how others may best be impacted. At
Hamline, I hope to crystallize my social sensitivity and awareness, interacting with a new variety of age groups and cultures as I come into my own independence. College life and the social connections of college life will strongly influence my world outlook – an outlook which will be filtered through paper and passed on in words as my passion gels into a vocation.
Having begun to develop my sense of vocation and my appreciation for social connection, as well as an understanding of their relationship, I can only look forward to increasing my perceptions in each of these areas through my college experience. Social connection recognizes the importance with which each human and their calling or vocation may affect society. As an author, writing is the way in which I impact society most and best. Each of the lessons I have learned so far is a stone I have picked up along my journey from shore to shore, but without a college education to cement these stones together and lay the starting foundation, all I have is a stack of stones. Through college, I may transform these stones into something solid and definite: my castle, my vocation.
For Sara
Our question delt with critical listening. Essentially, it said that we are taught how to think and read critically, but what does it mean to listen critically. Additionaly, how do we balance listening to the voices of the masses versus our own internal voice. Looking back now, this essay sucks and I can't believe they gave me as much money as they did. I must be a good interview. Here goes:
“Follow your parts,” was all the band director ever said before he started a recording of some college band playing the song we were working on. Follow your parts. This task requires the band member to pick out their own instrument, amongst a dozen or so others. The same can be said for listening critically to one’s life, picking out the one voice that calls to each individual amongst many others shouting around them. At the same time, one must look to the piece as a whole to find guidance as to where one fits in the grand scheme of things.
I spent the last four years of my life attempting to make sense of these voices as I began my search for an occupation. Many around me told me exactly which fields to pursue, anywhere from medicine to mortuary science. “You’ll make good money doing this, you’ll gain a good reputation doing that.” Such aspects may be important to some extent, however they become a sort of disease, prohibiting one to pursue their calling, if such standards become all the individual lives by. In order to live a complete life, one must look to that which brings a sense of self, that which completes the person. As a compassionate debater with a knack for knowing my limitations, I found myself naturally drawn to law. While I realize this now it wasn’t always so easy for me to accept. Late nights and angry people? No thanks, I’ll become a scientist. The study of law presented me with an opportunity to pursue my passion, defending those unable to do so themselves. Once I overcame my obstinate self, I succumbed to the calling, the one voice out of many telling me to do otherwise.
Once one learns what their part is, one must look to those around them to find where one fits in accordance with the world around them. This involves input from many different sources. As a child we learn from our parents what we can and cannot do in public. As we get older, teachers, coaches, grandparents, and other mentors join our parents in guiding us as we attempt to figure out life for ourselves. Older still, we begin to rely more on peers and less on mentors. Throughout life, I continue to find that the more I think I know, the less I really know. It is the people around me, mentors and peers, who correct, me guide me, and shape me into the person I am. To some extent, it is those around me who enable me to listen to myself. As headstrong as I can sometimes be, their voices check my obstinance, and listening to their voices, strengthens m ability to find and listen to my own.
Band teaches one many things, the most important being listening skills. The ability to listen objectively and analyze one’s own part, as well as the parts of others, so that everything comes together harmoniously. Such is life, listening to ourselves and others in a manner that allows us to live together, teaching and learning from each other to achieve the best of our potential.
http://www.myheritage.com/collage">My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com Get one for yourself.
A Bonny Lass
I felt that, as a Sara(h), I should contribute for the good name of both of us Sara(h)'s, because we both still love all of you and one another (miss you dear!) and thus, to clear our good name, I present you a gift. In honor of Criminal Masterminds (and because I obviously failed at Word of the Thursday)
Criminal Mastermind of the Week!(This way, I can post it anytime in the week, and it'll all be good)
http://www.geographia.com/bahamas/annebonny.htm
A true Criminal Mastermind and one of our own! Anne Bonny was one of the Best Pirates ever, AND she managed to completely avoid a hanging beside her buddy Mary Read! ARRR!
-Sra
The latest in my favorite MSN articles
Well, Kelsi, did you do any of
these? Actually, it's funny, because Sarah and I may ar may not have discussed some of these options a couple of different times. Read it Sarah, you'll laugh.
Let's see...plans for the weekend...
30 Hour Famine (Well, kind of, because I have medication to take, and I can't take it on an empty stomach. So, I'm limiting myself to rice cakes and water for 30 hours. It's the thought that counts, right?)
30 Hour Famine Benefit Concert
Bowling!!! (I'm so excited. Really.)
Homework
That about sums it up. So yeah. On a different note, I think, Sara, we're the only people who contribute to this blog that still draw breath.
Have a good weekend everyone! Love to all! (I found my other pants Max.)
That's what I thought...
Okay, so here's the reason I ask. I had to do this assignment for my Anthropolog class where I interviewed my grandma, and I asked that very question. I, of course, had some events in mind. My list was as follows:
1. World War II (I pulled a Sara here)
2. Cold War
3. Vietnam
4. Kennedy Assassination
5. 9/11
Well, let's just say I was wrong. Here was my Grandma's answer:
1. The New Deal/ Works Progress Administration.
That never even crossed my mind. I just wanted to see if other people had the same ideas I did. Thanks!
Just Curious.
I asked my grandma this question yesterday, and she gave me an answer I didn't expect. So, here goes.
What would you classify as the top historical/political event(s) that have taken place since 1930? (limit of 5)
Now I'm curious to know if your lists are anywhere close to mine. Humor me? Please?
Money-Money-Money... Mon-ey!
Hey guys!
My Hamline interview was yesterday.
I got up at five, curled my hair, donned my suit, and left by six. The roads were really slick:
But the sunrise was beautiful:
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We spent most of the morning wandering between information sessions (Have you filed your FAFSA? What activities would you like to consider? Study abroad, anybody? Internships?) and stealing donuts from the breakfast bar. I was really worried about impressing my inquisitors, mainly because of the sum of money involved. This was my one shot at a full ride... by eleven o'clock, I had worked myself into a complete frenzy. I curled up on a stair step to scribble out nonsense speeches about team leadership and pancakes. Luckily for me, Amanda O. showed up around that same time. She asked me about my interpretation of the essay question, and I remembered that I hadn't brought a copy for myself. Thus, I ended up more productively rewriting my essay on spider man notebook paper.
The interview itself went over really well. I forgot my spider man notebook in the lobby, but that was okay, because my little review had me ready with answers off the top of my head. Instead of fumbling for papers, I greased myself off with face-to-face answers. My interviewers were really nice: one student (sorry Rianna! I don't remember his name... he was a Biology major though?), and two professors (um... an Education Professor and, from the English department and Women's Studies, Veena Deo. She was so cool!). By the time I started speaking I was fine - just like at speech meets, etc. and the whole thing was more like lunch with old friends than an actual interview. They asked me what my favorite book was (That's so hard to choose! I think I'll have to say Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame... his commentary on social justice is so profound...), and, playing off of that question, whether or not I spoke French (je ne parle pas Francais, but I would like to. I took two years of Spanish, but haven't had the scheduling space to continue... Yes, I agree, it is so important to learn other languages in a world that is shrinking so quickly! Also, I found that the more Spanish I studied, the more English grammar I understood...). They asked me about my activities, how I balanced my obscene schedule, what I would contribute to the campus (THANK YOU RIANNA!!!!), and how I had been impacted by social connection (the only question that had anything to do with my essay... very slick). The whole experience was a lot of fun. I'm glad I went. It just gave me one more new view of Hamline as a whole.
-Sara
P.S. Sorry I didn't find you Rianna! The whole day was so crazy and so busy! We didn't leave until 2:00, and even then it was to make it home on time for the WM Cast Party. Thanks again, though, you're tips were really helpful. I kept reviewing what you said in my head! Love you dearly.
Fun Stuff
Even college kids get a break for snow every once in a while:
The bunny and his..."bunnies."
Jessica as a Mermaid
The Hitler Bunny
All in all, it was a good time had by all. Now that I'm dry, I'm about ready to just curl up and watch a movie. I love snow days. Really I do.
I had my offical Freak Out for the year. It came a little earlier than usual, but it's over now. I began thinking ahead, and I should never do that, because as soon as I do, I start to worry. I ended up having a conference with my First Year Advisor/Professor, and we got it all figured out. In a little over three years, I will graduate with a double major in Political Science and Management. And I'll have some time to take some other extra classes. Apparently I was the first freshman of hers to freak out this year. Don't I feel special.
Hmmm...not much else going on I guess. I want to go shopping in the worst way. I've been shopping on-line at vairous stores, and I found a couple dresses I really love. Now I just have to go to the stores and find them. My goal this summer is to try to be a girl. It'll be tough, but I think I can handle it. I think I'm going to make me some hot chocolate now...
