Sunday, June 28, 2009
I think I've finally caught up with life...
So it's been a while since my last blog...in fact I think it was in November some time last year. A lot has gone on since then. I have returned home from Europe, gotten engaged, gotten married, and moved to New Mexico for the summer. I am going to try and update this blog on a regular basis so that I might fulfill Heidi's request :)
The wedding in late May was wonderful, thanks to all the help of family and friends, in particular, my mother. Oliver and I then took off for Kona, Hawaii to spend a week snorkeling with Dolphins, sunbathing, sea kayaking, cliff jumping, and dining on some of the best seafood possible. After the honeymoon we flew to Seattle for our second reception. Oliver's parents had done an incredible job planning this reception and it turned out beautifully! It was located at the Salish lodge just right above the awesome Snoqualmie Falls. Unfortunately, normal life had to set in again and we were only able to spend about a day and a half in Seattle. However, I was looking forward to seeing our new studio apt that we would be spending the summer in, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Since we got here, Oliver and I haven't kept still for too long. I started working as an assitant director of a kids camp run by the local YMCA. In the evenings I work as a cashier for Smiths...neither of which have anything to do with what I'm studying, but I know if I want to I can still make each day enjoyable and I know I will get something out of them...of course in addition to the 10% I save on groceries and the free membership I have at the YMCA (which is really why I'm working there). Oliver and I have started working on some mutual hobbies. I'm teaching him how to play tennis, while he's returning the favor and teaching me how to rock-climb. I've gone twice now (only at a climbing wall at the gym) and I really enjoy it.
This last week was interesting. One of the teenagers (about 12 or 13 years old) slapped me across the face, for no apparent reason, and as Dad suggested I didn't know I had signed up to work with juvenile delinquents this summer. Later that day the brakes went out on the car I was driving and we slammed into the back of a bus. I guess all that mayhem could have explained why I refused to sell tobacco to someone under the age of 21 (but over 18) at Smiths' that night, not realizing that the 21-year-old rule applies to selling alcoholic beverages, not tobacco.
Well, I suppose that is all for now. I hope all of you are doing well, especially Natalie and the baby. I can't wait to see you all in about 2 months!
The wedding in late May was wonderful, thanks to all the help of family and friends, in particular, my mother. Oliver and I then took off for Kona, Hawaii to spend a week snorkeling with Dolphins, sunbathing, sea kayaking, cliff jumping, and dining on some of the best seafood possible. After the honeymoon we flew to Seattle for our second reception. Oliver's parents had done an incredible job planning this reception and it turned out beautifully! It was located at the Salish lodge just right above the awesome Snoqualmie Falls. Unfortunately, normal life had to set in again and we were only able to spend about a day and a half in Seattle. However, I was looking forward to seeing our new studio apt that we would be spending the summer in, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Since we got here, Oliver and I haven't kept still for too long. I started working as an assitant director of a kids camp run by the local YMCA. In the evenings I work as a cashier for Smiths...neither of which have anything to do with what I'm studying, but I know if I want to I can still make each day enjoyable and I know I will get something out of them...of course in addition to the 10% I save on groceries and the free membership I have at the YMCA (which is really why I'm working there). Oliver and I have started working on some mutual hobbies. I'm teaching him how to play tennis, while he's returning the favor and teaching me how to rock-climb. I've gone twice now (only at a climbing wall at the gym) and I really enjoy it.
This last week was interesting. One of the teenagers (about 12 or 13 years old) slapped me across the face, for no apparent reason, and as Dad suggested I didn't know I had signed up to work with juvenile delinquents this summer. Later that day the brakes went out on the car I was driving and we slammed into the back of a bus. I guess all that mayhem could have explained why I refused to sell tobacco to someone under the age of 21 (but over 18) at Smiths' that night, not realizing that the 21-year-old rule applies to selling alcoholic beverages, not tobacco.
Well, I suppose that is all for now. I hope all of you are doing well, especially Natalie and the baby. I can't wait to see you all in about 2 months!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Rome and Greece
I spent the last four days in Rome. It was really cool to see the Colloseum and Forum and eat the delicious gelato (although coldstone is still way better) but all in all I feel like Rome is kind of just another big city now.
This morning we flew from Rome to Greece. I somehow got my luggage below forty pounds and made it on the flight in time.
I loved Greece from the moment I saw it. The people here are so much nicer than the French!!!!! The food is incredible! And some people even bought us free dessert (well they turned out to be creepy men who did it, but we did not know that before we ate it and then ran out of the restaurant). Anyways, tomorrow we are going to the Acropolis! I cant wait!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Germany and cute Christmas markets!
This week was full of new adventures, sights, smells, and languages!
On Monday I had religion class followed by an interesting FHE activity. We went down to the Madeleine chapel. This is a huge Roman chapel that is dedicated to Mary Magdelene. The Catholic way of worship is so interesting. We also went to the street that has this huge Napolean statue. This was located on the most expensive street in Paris. The purses there go for around twenty five hundred dollars. Hahahh, it kind of makes me sick. While on my way to the metro I saw a big protest going down the street. They were chanting something about illegal immigration and they were completely surrounded by cops. It was very interesting. After FHE I attempted to get home in time for dinner, but there had been a fire in the Metro and after about two agonizing hours of completely packed trains and terrible body odor, I finally made it home! I love public transportation sometimes!
On Tuesday we left our house at five thirty in the morning in order to get to the train station in case the metro was still burned out. Fortunately it had been fixed, but that meant we were forty five minutes early. Since we were so early I decided to take a nap my sitting on the hard medal bench in the middle of the station. Now, somehow the grosse European Pigeons that are all around the city manage to get into this underground stations. Well apart from this being very unsanitary like I realized when I woke out of my semi sleeping stupor that a bird had gone to the bathroom on me. Um, grosse.
We then got on the train, and had to leave one of our members behind, who had not made it in time. We took the train to numerous little cities including a place where we came across this amazing piece of artwork called the Well of Moses. We then went to a place called Dijon, where mustard originated from. It was there that the girl we had left behind randonmely ran into us. hahhaha, lucky day. After that we rode the train to Colmart.
Colmart is the most charming little city. Since it is so near Germany and used to be in Germany it is full of cute little houses, flowers coming out of the windows, and of course christmas decorations and little Christmas markets everywhere! I had my first taste of German spice bread and gingerbread cookies, but unfortunately I am afraid I have been spoiled by Mom's cooking and nothing tastes nearly as good as her gingerbread! After Colmart we went to a similar town of Strasbourg, which had an incredible Cathedral that was built during the high gothic period. I love knowing about all the architecture and what time period it represents. In Colmart and Strausborg there is something called the Petite Venice, which means there are canals going all through the city and it is just beautiful!
That night since the rest of the group was going home, other than myself and five other girls we went to a modern museum in town that had a free Jazz concert. I was excited to hear an American made music style performed in France, but was quickly disspointed to hear this ridiculous modern attempt at Jazz. It was positively ugly and so we left half way through. After that we had a delicious German dinner at a cute little restaurant overlooking the canals and bridges. I had my first taste of German winerschiztel and saurcreut. It was great!
After that it was freezing outside and so we decided to get to the hotel. We had had to book a hotel out in the boonies because for some reason everything in town was full. We had gotten instructions from the lady at the train station, and after taking a forty five minute bus ride, we got off at the instructed stop and realized that we were in the absolute middle of nowhere. After attempting to find the hotel for a while we went to another hotel to ask for directions. When they looked at us with confused expressions I knew there was something wrong. Yea...we were in the wrong city alltogether. Hhahah, trouble was since this was a small town all the busses had stopped running...so after about a four and half mile walk in the freezing cold and rain, we found the hotel. Upon arriving we found there were only smoking rooms available, and one of our room's locks was messed up so my friends could only get in when they asked the clerk to let them in.
Well I dont have time to type more, but hopefully more will be coming tomorrow.
On Monday I had religion class followed by an interesting FHE activity. We went down to the Madeleine chapel. This is a huge Roman chapel that is dedicated to Mary Magdelene. The Catholic way of worship is so interesting. We also went to the street that has this huge Napolean statue. This was located on the most expensive street in Paris. The purses there go for around twenty five hundred dollars. Hahahh, it kind of makes me sick. While on my way to the metro I saw a big protest going down the street. They were chanting something about illegal immigration and they were completely surrounded by cops. It was very interesting. After FHE I attempted to get home in time for dinner, but there had been a fire in the Metro and after about two agonizing hours of completely packed trains and terrible body odor, I finally made it home! I love public transportation sometimes!
On Tuesday we left our house at five thirty in the morning in order to get to the train station in case the metro was still burned out. Fortunately it had been fixed, but that meant we were forty five minutes early. Since we were so early I decided to take a nap my sitting on the hard medal bench in the middle of the station. Now, somehow the grosse European Pigeons that are all around the city manage to get into this underground stations. Well apart from this being very unsanitary like I realized when I woke out of my semi sleeping stupor that a bird had gone to the bathroom on me. Um, grosse.
We then got on the train, and had to leave one of our members behind, who had not made it in time. We took the train to numerous little cities including a place where we came across this amazing piece of artwork called the Well of Moses. We then went to a place called Dijon, where mustard originated from. It was there that the girl we had left behind randonmely ran into us. hahhaha, lucky day. After that we rode the train to Colmart.
Colmart is the most charming little city. Since it is so near Germany and used to be in Germany it is full of cute little houses, flowers coming out of the windows, and of course christmas decorations and little Christmas markets everywhere! I had my first taste of German spice bread and gingerbread cookies, but unfortunately I am afraid I have been spoiled by Mom's cooking and nothing tastes nearly as good as her gingerbread! After Colmart we went to a similar town of Strasbourg, which had an incredible Cathedral that was built during the high gothic period. I love knowing about all the architecture and what time period it represents. In Colmart and Strausborg there is something called the Petite Venice, which means there are canals going all through the city and it is just beautiful!
That night since the rest of the group was going home, other than myself and five other girls we went to a modern museum in town that had a free Jazz concert. I was excited to hear an American made music style performed in France, but was quickly disspointed to hear this ridiculous modern attempt at Jazz. It was positively ugly and so we left half way through. After that we had a delicious German dinner at a cute little restaurant overlooking the canals and bridges. I had my first taste of German winerschiztel and saurcreut. It was great!
After that it was freezing outside and so we decided to get to the hotel. We had had to book a hotel out in the boonies because for some reason everything in town was full. We had gotten instructions from the lady at the train station, and after taking a forty five minute bus ride, we got off at the instructed stop and realized that we were in the absolute middle of nowhere. After attempting to find the hotel for a while we went to another hotel to ask for directions. When they looked at us with confused expressions I knew there was something wrong. Yea...we were in the wrong city alltogether. Hhahah, trouble was since this was a small town all the busses had stopped running...so after about a four and half mile walk in the freezing cold and rain, we found the hotel. Upon arriving we found there were only smoking rooms available, and one of our room's locks was messed up so my friends could only get in when they asked the clerk to let them in.
Well I dont have time to type more, but hopefully more will be coming tomorrow.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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