once again its been a while
I should be working on my reading right now instead of doing this, but I want to write about what has been going on.
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before, but I have been volunteering at the SB Rescue Mission. I spend a couple of hours in the evening with homeless women. I have learned a great deal from them. I have become friends with them. I love them.
I went back for the first time since before Christmas tonight. It has been almost four weeks. Something I learned early on last semester is that people move in and out of the mission. Women are there for a couple of weeks and then they stop showing up. Most of the time they have gone to another city other times they just stop coming to the mission.
Four weeks is a long time at the mission. Before break I knew all 15 women. More than half of them are gone. I can pretty much guarantee that I will not see any of them for the rest of my life.
I know I've written about Yaya and her mother. I got really attached to yaya and she was pretty attached to me too. She was comfortable enough that when she was had the stomach flu my last time there she let me help take care of her. I was really looking forward to seeing them tonight. Well they are gone. Her mother is engaged and has gotten a condo with her fiance in Ventura.
When the house mother told me this I was really torn. On the one hand I wanted to be really sad that I didn't get to see them anymore and that I didn't get to say goodbye. On the other hand I was excited that they had move beyond the mission. That they didn't need the services offered there anymore.
Its just sad knowing that I may not see them again. They are close, but our paths probably won't cross. I know ultimately that I am happy for them its just that I miss them already.
I have a lot to think about from the mission, but I don't quite know how to articulate what I'm thinking right now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I also just realized that I have not really let you all know what has been going on for a very long time.
After my 11.9 entry a lot happened. A wildfire raced through my campus destroying much of the landscape and many buildings. As such the campus was closed for an extended Thanksgiving break. My big paper was due right when we got back, so I was forced to work on it over my break. This meant that I did not get to enjoy my break at all. I watched a few movies with my family and I took a break on Thanksgiving day, but the rest of my time I spent working on that paper.
The paper turned out well. I would have liked it to be a lot better though. It would have been helpful to know German. There were definitely times when I questioned everything and I was not sure about anything I was doing.
I have decided that a life of research and writing is not for me. Maybe that will change but right now I would much rather teach than write for the rest of my life... and we all know how much I 'love' teaching...
My biggest loss in the fire was my sculpture. I had just finished part of it and had made the second part ready. Both pieces were destroyed. It was heartbreaking for me. We finished the class by creating a wire sculpture. I love the way that mine turned out.
Hmmmm, what else has been going on?
I did not get on the Russia team. My interview did not go very well and one of my references never turned in their reference form. I kinda figured that I would not be placed on the team. I didn't really feel that I got to tell them why I wanted to go to Russia. All I could say was that I have wanted to go my entire life (really the spark was ignited when I saw Anastasia the first time in elementary school), I couldn't tell them much more than that. I was not surprised when I got the rejection email. My housemate was more upset about it than I was. Later I talked to Nick (housemate's ex) about it. He had been on the team one year and led it the next. He told me that he could make a couple of phone calls and change that decision right away if I wanted. I told him not to worry about it. When he found out who the team leader was he said that I wouldn't want to be on a team with them anyways.
Then the whole formal thing happened. The guy (Jason) that I was going to ask ended up asking my housemate. I went with my group of girls and had a lot of fun. I'm really over Jason. He stayed with us during the fire and is now our fifth roommate. I really like having him around but just as a friend. We have a lot of fun. He and my housemate are in this weird limbo stage where they really like each other and hang out a lot, but aren't dating or together... A little weird sometimes. So that's the deal with Jason.
So after formal my group of girls and their dates came over to my apt to hang out and play games. Once everyone got settle I got comfy in some lounge pants and joined in the game. Well a few minutes into it someone comes to the door. I tell them to come in and its Nick. He is dressed up in a little collared shirt and sweater vest and nice pants and shoes. He looks super cute when hes like this btw. I had a small crush on him before (and a little during) he was going out with my housemate. I'm still sitting on the ground while he is looking surprised to see all the people there. I ask what's up, then realize that I should get up to talk to him. So everyone is sitting in a circle in my living room watching this happen. He stands really close to me (like noses inches apart) and puts a hand on either my hip or lower back (I don't remember).
"I was wondering if you all wanted to go out tonight"
"Well we just got back from the formal and I know I'm tired"
"Where are the other girls?"
"They were planning on going down to the beach"
"Well do you guys want to go out?"
"We just got back and we're tired and they're not back yet. Maybe another night"
So then he heads toward the door and I say "Goodnight, we'll have to go another night"
So he leaves and someone asks "Who as that?"
"Oh that was Nick"
Then Deb says "Oh, that's Nick!" bc I had mentioned him a few times, but she said it like something was going on between us. A couple of the guys who don't know me very well gave me a weird look and the whole thing was a little embarrassing.
I was not planning on telling my housemate about all this bc things have been awkward between them and it was just not something that needed to be shared.
A little while later she and Jason get in. She storms into her room upset about something. We continued our game, with Jason watching, and we can hear her talking on the phone with someone. A minute or two later she comes out quickly and asks me if Nick had been over. I got up and went into her room and explained what happened. Apparently he had already had quite a bit to drink that night and had also called her several times asking where she was and asking her to come over bc he wanted to snuggle or make-out or something. They had been broken up for a couple of months by now. It was just super awkward
Break was nice. The first week I helped my mom put Christmas gifts together. Then I got sick after Christmas. I spent most of my time watching tv and sleeping. I also made quite a bit of jewelry <-- my newest hobby
Now I am back in Sb. My second week of school is almost done. Here is the schedule:
Monday:
Work 8-1030
Orchestra 620-850
Tuesday:
Work 8-11
Imperialism/Independence 115-305
Internship 315-505 (every other week)
English/Irish relations 6-9
Wednesday:
Work 8-1030
Mission 6-8
Thursday:
Work 8-11
Imperialism/Independence 115-305
Orchestra 620-750
Friday:
Work 8-1030
I will also be working in the sculpture studio and doing an internship at (hopefully) one of the museums in town.
That is roughly what is going on right now. I rarely think of David and other than hugging one time in church we never talked over the break
I'm pretty much over guys right now, but you know as soon as I say that someone is going to waltz into my life and I will be infatuated for a short time....
I'm going to get back to my reading now.....
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before, but I have been volunteering at the SB Rescue Mission. I spend a couple of hours in the evening with homeless women. I have learned a great deal from them. I have become friends with them. I love them.
I went back for the first time since before Christmas tonight. It has been almost four weeks. Something I learned early on last semester is that people move in and out of the mission. Women are there for a couple of weeks and then they stop showing up. Most of the time they have gone to another city other times they just stop coming to the mission.
Four weeks is a long time at the mission. Before break I knew all 15 women. More than half of them are gone. I can pretty much guarantee that I will not see any of them for the rest of my life.
I know I've written about Yaya and her mother. I got really attached to yaya and she was pretty attached to me too. She was comfortable enough that when she was had the stomach flu my last time there she let me help take care of her. I was really looking forward to seeing them tonight. Well they are gone. Her mother is engaged and has gotten a condo with her fiance in Ventura.
When the house mother told me this I was really torn. On the one hand I wanted to be really sad that I didn't get to see them anymore and that I didn't get to say goodbye. On the other hand I was excited that they had move beyond the mission. That they didn't need the services offered there anymore.
Its just sad knowing that I may not see them again. They are close, but our paths probably won't cross. I know ultimately that I am happy for them its just that I miss them already.
I have a lot to think about from the mission, but I don't quite know how to articulate what I'm thinking right now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I also just realized that I have not really let you all know what has been going on for a very long time.
After my 11.9 entry a lot happened. A wildfire raced through my campus destroying much of the landscape and many buildings. As such the campus was closed for an extended Thanksgiving break. My big paper was due right when we got back, so I was forced to work on it over my break. This meant that I did not get to enjoy my break at all. I watched a few movies with my family and I took a break on Thanksgiving day, but the rest of my time I spent working on that paper.
The paper turned out well. I would have liked it to be a lot better though. It would have been helpful to know German. There were definitely times when I questioned everything and I was not sure about anything I was doing.
I have decided that a life of research and writing is not for me. Maybe that will change but right now I would much rather teach than write for the rest of my life... and we all know how much I 'love' teaching...
My biggest loss in the fire was my sculpture. I had just finished part of it and had made the second part ready. Both pieces were destroyed. It was heartbreaking for me. We finished the class by creating a wire sculpture. I love the way that mine turned out.
Hmmmm, what else has been going on?
I did not get on the Russia team. My interview did not go very well and one of my references never turned in their reference form. I kinda figured that I would not be placed on the team. I didn't really feel that I got to tell them why I wanted to go to Russia. All I could say was that I have wanted to go my entire life (really the spark was ignited when I saw Anastasia the first time in elementary school), I couldn't tell them much more than that. I was not surprised when I got the rejection email. My housemate was more upset about it than I was. Later I talked to Nick (housemate's ex) about it. He had been on the team one year and led it the next. He told me that he could make a couple of phone calls and change that decision right away if I wanted. I told him not to worry about it. When he found out who the team leader was he said that I wouldn't want to be on a team with them anyways.
Then the whole formal thing happened. The guy (Jason) that I was going to ask ended up asking my housemate. I went with my group of girls and had a lot of fun. I'm really over Jason. He stayed with us during the fire and is now our fifth roommate. I really like having him around but just as a friend. We have a lot of fun. He and my housemate are in this weird limbo stage where they really like each other and hang out a lot, but aren't dating or together... A little weird sometimes. So that's the deal with Jason.
So after formal my group of girls and their dates came over to my apt to hang out and play games. Once everyone got settle I got comfy in some lounge pants and joined in the game. Well a few minutes into it someone comes to the door. I tell them to come in and its Nick. He is dressed up in a little collared shirt and sweater vest and nice pants and shoes. He looks super cute when hes like this btw. I had a small crush on him before (and a little during) he was going out with my housemate. I'm still sitting on the ground while he is looking surprised to see all the people there. I ask what's up, then realize that I should get up to talk to him. So everyone is sitting in a circle in my living room watching this happen. He stands really close to me (like noses inches apart) and puts a hand on either my hip or lower back (I don't remember).
"I was wondering if you all wanted to go out tonight"
"Well we just got back from the formal and I know I'm tired"
"Where are the other girls?"
"They were planning on going down to the beach"
"Well do you guys want to go out?"
"We just got back and we're tired and they're not back yet. Maybe another night"
So then he heads toward the door and I say "Goodnight, we'll have to go another night"
So he leaves and someone asks "Who as that?"
"Oh that was Nick"
Then Deb says "Oh, that's Nick!" bc I had mentioned him a few times, but she said it like something was going on between us. A couple of the guys who don't know me very well gave me a weird look and the whole thing was a little embarrassing.
I was not planning on telling my housemate about all this bc things have been awkward between them and it was just not something that needed to be shared.
A little while later she and Jason get in. She storms into her room upset about something. We continued our game, with Jason watching, and we can hear her talking on the phone with someone. A minute or two later she comes out quickly and asks me if Nick had been over. I got up and went into her room and explained what happened. Apparently he had already had quite a bit to drink that night and had also called her several times asking where she was and asking her to come over bc he wanted to snuggle or make-out or something. They had been broken up for a couple of months by now. It was just super awkward
Break was nice. The first week I helped my mom put Christmas gifts together. Then I got sick after Christmas. I spent most of my time watching tv and sleeping. I also made quite a bit of jewelry <-- my newest hobby
Now I am back in Sb. My second week of school is almost done. Here is the schedule:
Monday:
Work 8-1030
Orchestra 620-850
Tuesday:
Work 8-11
Imperialism/Independence 115-305
Internship 315-505 (every other week)
English/Irish relations 6-9
Wednesday:
Work 8-1030
Mission 6-8
Thursday:
Work 8-11
Imperialism/Independence 115-305
Orchestra 620-750
Friday:
Work 8-1030
I will also be working in the sculpture studio and doing an internship at (hopefully) one of the museums in town.
That is roughly what is going on right now. I rarely think of David and other than hugging one time in church we never talked over the break
I'm pretty much over guys right now, but you know as soon as I say that someone is going to waltz into my life and I will be infatuated for a short time....
I'm going to get back to my reading now.....