What A Wonderful World

Hello all! I have to say that I had a kick ass 21st birthday! I actually didn’t get that much sleep; I desk attended until 3am and then was woken up at 8 by the construction. I decided to make the most of it and go to the gym and get a good workout. I basically lounged around like a lazy bum. I took a trip to the store to buy wine though, which was fun. After, my parents came here and took me out to Margaritas. I had a Russelrita, which was amazing. After, I got ready to go out with my friends. We went to Lab N Lager first, where I had the chocolate cake shot on the house, followed by a grape flavored drink, then a Sex on the Beach. After that, we met up with Dan and went to Vandetta, where I had a Swedish Fish shot on the house, followed by a Sprite and Stoli. We actually met up with several other people we knew there, which was pretty cool. We also sang to the songs playing on the jukebox. We were going to go to Railroad, but I was starting to feel the drinks hit me, so I thought it best to head back to KSC. My amazing friends walked me back and made sure I made it safely into my room, which I did. Today I only had a little bit of a headache, and slept in to about 11. I once again took it easy, relaxing when I could. I made spaghetti and had a glass of wine. I realized that I really like blush wine, even more than I like white wine.
It still feels weird to be 21, though I don’t know why. I think it may because I spent last semester in a country where I drank every weekend, and once I came back, I drank for special occasions. I actually found out today from the liquor store people that NH actually has a clause that stipulates that drinking can be done underage in a private setting with parents permission. For example, if you are at a wedding, or your family is having a get together with alcohol, you can drink underage provided that your parent/guardian allows you to. I never knew that! It really is neat. Too bad I didn’t know that before (though my parents probably wouldn’t have believed me anyway).
Anyway, I really had an awesome birthday, and now I am once again desk attending. It’s all good though, I will have a big paycheck this week for all the work I am doing.
I seem to have misplaced my camera cord, but once I find it, I will link the pics of my 21st birthday. They aren’t too crazy, I promise!

Happy 21st birthday to me!!! Here’s how I spent my 21st birthday: Well, my RA staff members brought me a cake after staff meeting tonight (which was delicious), then my Lindsey gave me my present, a KSC shot glass and a Victoria’s Secret gift card, then I had desk attendant duty from 9-3am. Fun. It feels weird to be 21, I don’t know why it does, it just does. Maybe it’s because when I studied away I went out almost every weekend, so not having done it here yet makes me curious. It’s like a special club in a way, like a secret society. Anyway, tomorrow night I am going to go out with some friends, so it should be fun. Saturday night I am desk attending again, from 9-3am, but at least it won’t be my birthday.
This first week of classes was really stressful. I had so much work to do. It’s funny, because this week is the long weekend and I really don’t have that much to do, yet during the week the teachers pile on the work. I would rather have work over the weekend than work over the week. I am doing the best that I can, but I am sleep deprived and losing my voice. I need sleep. Amanda told me I was grounded and that I can’t go out to the bars until I get sleep. Haha.
I had an ice cream social today, and it went pretty well. Alot of my residents showed up, which is great.
Now I feel kind of sad that my birthday is among me, because from here I only get older.

So classes have officially begun!!! Move in weekened was pretty stressfull for all of us, we had so much to do. Plus, we RAs in Huntress had to move from Huntress to Fiske, so that added to it. RA training kept us busy, that’s for sure. I was without internet for a bit, and while it was hard, I realized I can get so much done without it. I was quite proud of myself, although I was almost dead from boredom. Anyway…
Classes seem to be going well. I mean, it’s only the first few days, so it is really hard to tell. Monday I had my Intro to Art class, which I thought would be totally uninteresting. My professor is very interesting, he makes learning about boring, ancient art fun! He tells us about the culture and history of the country in which the art originated from, so we have a better understanding of the meaning behind certain art works. He really makes it interesting.
On Tuesday, I had my first ESEC Methods class. This is essentially a course in which I will be writing and executing lesson plans in a real classroom. It meets from 8-3, but we had about an hour break for lunch, which was nice. Thursday we are starting at 8:30, so I can sleep in a little! Tomorrow I have art again, plus another ESEC class. I am looking forward to it!
In other news, I am sick with a cold. It is rare for me to be sick this early, so it is just bad news all around.

I am officially back in Keene! My parents and grandparents helped me move my stuff up to my room, and it was pretty relaxed as I had virtually no unpacking to do. I am in Huntress for this year, but because it isn’t ready, we are temporarily living in Fiske. I really hate living out of a suitcase, which is basically what I will have to do until next Friday. As far as RA training goes, it seems like it is going to be alot less stressful that last years. For one, breakfast isn’t mandatory, which means I can sleep in! We get a later start to our day, instead of beginning at 8 everyday, we start at around 10:30. Plus, we have area time in the morning, and the night is ours to do as we please. It also seems very organized in terms of substance as well, as each day we focus on a different aspect of our job description. I also am reporting some changes, although they have not been officially confirmed, I have read the RA handbook and these things have been mentioned. For one, we will no longer be using radios, we get cell phones! Also, we can stay in our room during duty time, but we still have to be available and be doing rounds. Lastly, our duty starts at 8 pm! This makes me very happy! There isn’t much to report for the first day of RA training, just that we received smores and a personalized tote as part of our welcoming back package. Really cool.

I will be back in Keene officially in 3 days! I am so excited. It’s been almost a half a year since I spent a great deal of time on campus, and I can’t wait to return. I can’t really believe that classes are starting either; it feels like I’ve been on vacation since January. I started putting all my stuff that I am bringing together, and I’m proud to say it is not alot of things this year. Since I will have my own bathroom this year, my mom bought me complete bathroom decorations and necessities. I collect rubber duckies, so my mom bought rubber duck themed bathroom decorations. Walk into my bathroom, and you’ll see my shower curtain, soap dispenser, rug, and trash can all in the form of a rubber duck.
I went to Keene last Sunday for a barbeque. My friend Marie (the one that went to Quito with me) was having a party and invited all of us up to her house for a barbeque. The weather was alright, it did drizzle a little but other than that was okay. For dinner, we went to the Elm City Brewery right at the Colony Mill. I have never eaten there, but the food was actually really good. They brew their own beer and rootbeer, and they had the best cream soda. I took a cream soda and cheesecake to go.
Lindsey and I are going to have our last girls night tomorrow, it should be exciting! We went to the Mall of NH last week, and I saw a couple of pairs of shoes I wanted. Now, I am an impulsive shopper but I am also rational at times, so the way I justify buying shoes is this: If I see them and like them, I go home and think about whether I really want them. If I can’t stop thinking about the shoes, then I know I can buy them Shoes really are my weakness.
Meanwhile, I am extremely excited because there is a great possibility that I am going to return to Quito after I graduate! I was originally going to Seattle to visit my uncle, but he is coming here to visit when I was going to visit him. So instead, I think I am going to go to Quito for a bit if I can afford it. I am really going to save money this school year so I can go. Speaking of which, I spoke with my host mom again tonight, and she was still sweet as ever. She was just telling me how my host father is going to Mexico to speak at a conference, and then in September she is going to northern Colombia for a week. It all sounds so exciting!!! I am also very excited because I found out that Shaw’s sells many food products that I thought were only available in South America like chifles and guanabana juice. It really made my day.

Lindsey and I saw Mamma Mia the movie yesterday and I can’t stop singing ABBA. I saw the play a few years ago and I couldn’t singing the songs then either. I must say though, the play is much better than the movie (there is barely any sexual innuendo in the movie). Needless to say, my friends and family are pretty much sick of ABBA at this point, and I’m sure I got a bunch of stares earlier today when I drove down Main St. in Nashua with my windows down blasting the Mamma Mia soundtrack and singing along to the songs.
Tomorrow we are off to the flea market. Oh, how I love fake designer bags.
I talked to my host mom today online for about an hour. She was telling me about her trip to NC to visit her daughter, and then about how she got stuck in Houston because two volcanoes erupted and it was dangerous to return with all that ash still in the air. It really makes me sad to talk to her, I miss her so much. I miss all my family there. They treated me like family, like one of their own. I can’t wait to return there. I am going to save as much money as possible so I can move there after graduation.
I decided I am going to be super organized this semester. I was in Christmas Tree Shop yesterday and bought a new makeup holder. This one is so much better than my old one. I used my old one for my lotions and sprays, and it works so well.
That’s all for now. I started reading Angles & Demons and I can’t put it down, I need to finish it and see what happens. Plus, I need to get to bed so I can go to the flea market tomorrow, and I can’t bargain well if I don’t get sleep.