study abroad program

I know I haven't written in forever, but no one reads this thing anyway.... so, here it goes:

About a month or so ago, I received an email from Angelo State that included a flyer for their upcoming study abroad programs. I've always heard of what a great experience studying abroad is, but I honestly hadn't given it much thought. For no particular reason, other than the fact that I had nothing else to do, I began to browse through which countries they were going to and what subjects they would be focusing on. As I scrolled down the list, I saw New Zealand, and got excited. Then I realized that the subjects that were to be studied are Literature and Film. Then I was ecstatic. By the way, my major is Communications: Radio and TV, so this ties in perfectly! If I was accepted into the program, I would receive 6 hours credit toward my advanced Film and Literature classes. So, needless to say, I clicked on the link, and read all about the program.

Here are some snippets from the actual brochure:

• "The flight to New Zealand will take the students through Los Angeles. In preparation for the course on film in Oceania, students will spend two days in Los Angeles to visit a Hollywood film studio where many Pacific Islands films were produced." (A real Hollywood studio!)
• "From Los Angeles, the group will fly to Christchurch on the southern island of New Zealand and visit Film South New Zealand, an organization that promotes the country to international filmmakers."
• "The group will then travel by train and ferry to the capital city of Wellington, on the northern island, to visit Film Wellington New Zealand, the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Film Archive and the Weta Workshop. "
• "The group will also meet with faculty at Victoria University of Wellington. While at Massey University, students will be housed in dorms on the Manawatu campus."
• "Students will attend regularly scheduled classes and lectures given by Massey University faculty. A number of day excursions will also be organized."

I know I've been to New Zealand before, but never in my life would I be able to experience these film opportunities again!

I've officially applied for the program, personally contacted the trip director, and submitted my essay. Application deadline isn't until November 20th, so I have a while before I hear back from them... but I'm checking my email like crazy. =]

I want this! So bad! And, to make things even better, there are tons of scholarships to apply for once you're accepted into the program, so I wouldn't have to pay for everything!

If I do get accepted, and can't afford to go (even with scholarship money), I will take out a loan if I have to. I honestly cannot pass this opportunity up!

back from vacation...

My sunday school class took a trip to San Antonio this past weekend to spend a day at Fiesta Texas. Our group consisted of the 2 teachers, Lou and Cam (who are both around 70 years old... but boy are they a hoot), and 6 students. Ryan got the chance to take off work and go with us, and I'm glad he did. It was a really fun time.

We left Friday evening around 6pm, and arrived at the church around 9:30pm. I say church and not hotel because my pastor was the youth minister at Grace Baptist Temple in San Antonio before coming to San Angelo, and they were gracious enough to house us for 2 days/nights. They recently finished building at their new location, and boy is the building beautiful. I regretfully didn't get any pictures... =/

It was really cool though, because in the back corner of the church down this long hallway was a small apartment for missionaries passing through and what not. It was like a hotel suite, we had a shower, a bedroom (a bunk bed and a queen bed) with dresser drawers and everything, then in the next room was a fold out couch, television, and a full out kitchen. Us 5 girls took over the apartment, and the poor boys had to sleep on air mattresses in a classroom down the hall. It was great. =]

We went to HEB late Friday night as a group and bought supplies for breakfast the next morning. I woke up an hour before everyone else with intentions of helping Ms. Cam cook breakfast, but I actually ended up doing most of the cooking. We had pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon. I was pretty impressed with my cooking skills. Everyone just assumed that Ms. Cam did the cooking I guess, and they were all thanking her and telling her how good it was. I smiled.

After we ate, I got my New Zealand fanny pack ready and we headed off to Fiesta Texas! We got there just before it opened, so we had to wait in line for like 30 minutes. It was worth the wait though because we got first dibs on the newest roller coaster called "The Goliath". I really didn't want to go on it because it was HUUUGE and had some crazy twists and turns, but when it came down to it, Ryan convinced me. Oh my goodness... speaking of Ryan, he barely fit in the seat on the coaster! He was buckled in with some help from a crew member, but he couldn't fit his arms in between the over the shoulder handles... so, hilariously, he stuck his arms straight out during the whole ride. By the time it was over I was a little hoarser and my pony tail had gotten stuck in the seat! How in the world does that happen? Anyway, once they released the safety locks, we managed to set my hair free, haha.

After the first few roller coasters, the other 4 people in our group wanted to buy what is called a "flash pass"... they're like 30 dollars (apart from your ticket to get in) and you can schedule a time for you to be at a ride, and it gives you permission to cut in front of everyone else in line.

I was not about to spend more on that thing than I did on my ticket, so Ryan and I branched off from the group and went to the water park. I'm glad we did, because we had a lot of fun! Besides, I'm not a huge fan of roller coasters in the first place. Ryan and I floated around the "lazy river" like 5 times, and we went and hung out in the wave pool for an hour or so. After that we just walked around and looked at the shops, and rode a few more rides before leaving for dinner.

The whole group went to Lou and Cam's nephew's house for dinner (it was like a 20 minute drive from the park), and boy oh boy was the food delicious! Their nephew is married to a woman from Thailand, and she made us an oriental feast! Egg rolls from scratch, fried rice, lo mein, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork, and some sort of sweet potato casserole. I was in heaven.

After eating and taking a short nap on their comfy couch, we went back to the park for the laser light/fireworks show. I honestly wasn't expecting much from it, but the show was entertaining, and the fireworks were the best/biggest I've ever seen. It was a lot of fun. =]

I fell asleep pretty much as soon we got home from the park, and I woke up an hour earlier than everyone else yet again, except this time was to take a shower and get ready for church.

We went to their college age sunday school class and they only had 2 people! I thought our class was tiny... Needless to say, they were happy to see us. We stayed for their morning service, which was a lot like ours... I have a feeling my pastor models a LOT from theirs.

Okay, so the weekend was grrrreat for me, because I seriously love Chinese food... I could eat it every day. For real. After church on Sunday morning, we went to this place called "Wok Inn", and for five dollars I got an order of orange chicken (delicious) and a huge mound of fried rice with unlimited egg drop soup. Okay, I know egg drop soup sounds disgusting... but don't knock it til you try it.

My mouth is watering as I'm thinking about it now. Bro. Lou made a joke as we left the place... "You 'wok inn' and they roll you out!".... haha, Lou is so cheesy... it's almost ridiculous.

We got back to San Angelo around 5:30pm Sunday evening, and I took Ryan to work then went back to church for choir practice. I'm glad I did, because I got to play with the newest addition to our church family, 2 month old baby Madyson. =]


I will try to post pictures from our adventures as soon as Ryan puts them on the computer.

<3

Unite and Conquer

is going to be AMAZING!

September 5th, West Texas Boys Ranch... Third Day, Skillet, Pillar, Addison Road, Jaymes Reunion (JUST TO NAME A FEW!)

I am completely STOKED. I bought my ticket last week at the Family Christian Bookstore.

Pretty cool deal, Air1 radio station is actually having a contest for all of its listeners to win a trip to San Angelo (haha, they must not have an idea of how lame this town is) to go to the festival.

the link for more information is:

www.uniteandconquersa.org

you should go check it out!

Sometimes I just feel like crying...

and other times... it just happens... no warning... I'm just driving down the road, and I burst into tears. Am I a chick or what?

Currently, I feel like crying because I charged my bank account 8 dollars last night for a cd off of iTunes, and Ryan pissed me off shortly after so I slammed my lap top shut, and I just realized that doing so messed up the downloads.... I only got three of the 15 or so songs. Ughhh. So frustrating.

Another reason I feel like crying is because of how my parents portray my relationship with Ryan. Well, Ryan blew out a tire on his vehicle on the way over to my house today, so we asked my dad if he could help us change it out. Turns out, the guy who sold Ryan his P.O.S. sports car failed to include a spare tire in the deal. Well, my dad asked if he had a jack (I think that's what it's called) so he could get a closer look at the other side of the wheel or something... and Ryan was like "ugh, I don't think I have one of those either..." and my dad chewed him out. He was like "That's just stupid... you don't go ANYWHERE without a spare tire and a jack"... and he shook his head and walked off.

I think my dad is just frustrated, because he knows that Ryan and I are in a serious relationship and he wants my future provider to be a little more responsible than what Ryan has shown him so far.

And, I can't get mad at Ryan because he's already upset that he blew his tire out... and it's just a mess.

His dad is supposed to call us in the morning after he talks to someone about the tire (which means he'll be staying up pretty late in New Zealand time)... and then I'll have to go pick him up and drive across town before going to work at 1... so overall, it's just inconvenient for everyone.




Okay, this probably breaks some copyright laws, but I have to share the lyrics to a song that made me burst into tears when I heard it.

I was making deliveries for work, while driving down Knickerbocker (pretty busy street, about 7 total lanes of traffic) and this song came on the radio. I honestly don't know why I cried... because really, I don't cry often... but before I could realize what was happening... my cheeks were wet. God just touched my heart.

Here's the song:

(copied directly from air1.com)

Jonny Diaz - More Beautiful You
From the album More Beautiful You


Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body your hair
Are perfect just the way you are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel that you are

Chorus

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forgets
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with his light he will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

Label: INO Records

I'm all caught up in this show...

I've been watching MTV's 16 and Pregnant for the past couple of nights... and some of these girls are wack! Out of the 6 girls they documented, only one gave the baby up for adoption. One of the girls was a junior cheerleader in highschool, and was still wearing a size 2 while she was 5 months pregnant! That's insane! When she actually had the baby, she was like "Oh, I've never held a baby before..." WOW, you would think that since she got knocked up and planned on keeping the baby from the beginning that she would find a cousin or friend's cousin or something to get associated with the idea of motherhood.

I don't know why I watch the show, really... it just pisses me off, lol.

BAHAHA! This chump spent +$500 dollars on a PS3 and then later in the episode, he bought her an "engagement ring" from Wal Mart and he spent a whopping $21 on it.

I can't do anything except shake my head....

summer break...

...is going by too quickly!!! Work has been keeping me busy, and before I know it, it's the weekend. Don't get me wrong, that's great, I love having the weekends off, but I find myself dreadfully looking at the calendar and I see fall semester quickly approaching.

I went with Kasey this morning to register for her classes, and just being back at school made my stomach hurt. I know I'm going to get my degree, because I'm determined to get a good job... but I've never actually enjoyed going to class. Oh well... 3(ish) more years left...

I believe I'm going to be alone a lot this week, because West Side and Johnson Street are leaving for camp on Sunday, and Julie leaves tomorrow to go visit her friend Kara for a week. Ryan will be here, thankfully... but he is getting a lot of hours at work. This leads me to believe that I will be able to get a lot of scrapbooking done, and I might just start a new book.

Mom is sick, so I think I should start cooking something.

I might write some more tonight....

ta ta for now <3

entertainment

Oh, how I love movies!

I went and saw "My Sister's Keeper" in theaters with Cortnee and her mom Thursday night. I hear the book was really good, but the movie was a bit different. I loved it though.

It's hard to get through to some people however that just because a movie is sad does not mean that it is incapable of being a good movie. Every now and then, I believe it's good to just let loose and cry. You know, it's quite good for one's sanity.

I've been reading the 6th Harry Potter book, because the movie comes out like what, next week, and I like to know what is going to happen before it does. =]

I really do love the series. I know some people (including most people at my church) don't like the idea of it because of the magic and dark arts and what not, but I believe that if one can read it knowing that it's fiction, and can keep a clear distiction between that and reality, then all is well. Oh well, I suppose it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Speaking of tea... I'm craving it. Hot tea with milk and sugar. Yum! The thought of hot tea makes me miss New Zealand... and the Marlars... a lot.

This time last year I was beginning my 2nd of 5 weeks in the beautiful country. I wish I could go back... and soon.

I suppose I'll just have to reminisce with photos and my journal.

By the way... I ordered a scrapbooking kit from the Home Shopping Network last week... it has 10,000 pieces to it! I'm stoked! I'll be able to get all my New Zealand memories into one huge book now! =]

Well, Kasey just got here... I guess I should get back to watching Harry Potter. haha.

<3