| dddzhirty |
[Jul. 31st, 2007|07:48 pm] |
I just purchased my ticket to New York, from which I'll fly to Paris to Antananarivo (capital of Madagascar) to Fort Dauphin (where I'll be). I start flying at 7 a.m. on September 4th and stop flying at 7:35 a.m. on September 6th. GOOD GOD. Only now is a bit of anxiety setting in (perhaps because the idea of 48 hours in transit makes me nervous in itself). BUT, I'm pretty sure a few butterflies in my basket are going to be a pretty small blip on a trip that is going to be very, very big in my life. Can't wait.
In other news, summer so far has been quite solid. It's the kind of summer where I'm quite happy in my everyday goings-on, but don't have tons to report when people ask what sorts of things I've been up to. Mostly I go to my jobs. Being a naturalist has enlivened my passion for conservation. Being a lifeguard has quashed any belief I had in suburban youth. Good balance.
Radio DJ's bug me. Too much talking just to fill the air.
Life picks up after this week, what with everybody coming home, a trip to Seattle to see my roommates, the State Fair!, gathering gear for Madagascar, etc. And working, working, working. August is looking to be action-packed and fun-filled! |
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| whoaaaaaa it's summertime |
[Jun. 13th, 2007|10:45 pm] |
Some things amaze me. The passage of time is a classic. When in the world did we get old enough to finish two years of college?
Transitions freak me out a little bit. I'm sure all of the jumping around of college life has helped, but honestly, I'm already having trouble remembering what it was like to have to study millions of hours every day. it's strange. I really felt like I was losing my sense of balance in life at the end of spring term (aka drowning in work), and thought I'd have to try hard to remember what was actually important. But work goes away, and it's suddenly not so hard. I guess that's kind of reassuring.
My new job is going quite well. I'm really not sure how I ended up there, but I get to be outside with people and that is pretty good for me. And I'm learning to love the city, which is something I've never come close to experiencing before. It will be nice to try living in one in a few years. For now, I just get to listen to my coworkers (who are all older and hippier than me) talk about it.
I'm starting a bit o' part time lifeguarding soon as well. eh.
Being at home is okay, but it is definitely the last time I'll be home for an extended period of time. Feels a little binding these days.
I'm also working on conquering one of my greatest middle/high school fears: running. It was time. As with many things in life, it's nice to figure it out on my own terms.
Negative: Plymouth makes me miss a few people who used to live here with me. Do not get me wrong, I am loving those who are here, but you just can't get around wanting to go to Caribou Coffee or Wayzata beach or some other insanely suburban location with the old budz.
Another thing I want to admit: I don't really feel those can't-wait-to-get-back-to-school emotions about which I sometimes hear. I rather like having a breather. My thoughts on this matter are subject to change after seven Carleton-free months.
hope all is well! c'est tout! |
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| sticking your head in a bucket |
[Apr. 30th, 2007|09:28 pm] |
Well, a journey it has been. But my summer plans have finally cemented: I'm going to be an Interpretive Naturalist with Minneapolis Parks and Rec. This means working at a bunch of different parks on a bunch of different projects. Mainly education, with some sweet things like leading moonlit canoe trips and working at an archeology field site mixed in. Way psyched. And I would like to think that the past few months of applying to everything and getting rejected from much of it for many different reasons ("actually, we want you to start may 15th. oh, your school doesn't get out until june? oh. guess we'll find someone else") has been a nice real-world lesson for me. Even if you think/know you're qualified, jobs get to pick who they want. End of story.
So, that's the plan. Being at home, working in Minneapolis. I'm working on something part-time in addition, since everyone knows that money is the name of the game. Also, will be getting lots of shots so I won't get malaria in Madagascar. yesss. With my new job and study abroad this fall, I'll be spending most of June-December 2007 outside doing nature-related things. oh MAN.
Only five more weeks of Carleton, and then I won't be back to January. This term has been quite interesting. I'm taking the hardest classes and most credits I've ever taken. Spending six hours straight in some computer lab working on some project or some paper has become routine. The thing is, I'm also the happiest I've ever been at Carleton. I like my volunteer work and my friends and my major a bunch. Crazy busy=happy.
It's also kind of nice to not have synchro. I can't even put my finger on what made it a bit of a drag this year (time commitment? too-small team?), but for once I'm relieved to have it be over, instead of missing it like I used to. Huh.
Here's something I've been feeling lately: it seems to early to be making long-term decisions about life. We're only nineteen or twenty, and this is when we're supposed to be focusing in on exactly what we want to do? Mr. Zwach used to tell us about how "sophomore" means "wise moron". We really have little to no wisdom about what life will be like, yet we're supposed to decide what to do with ours. HMM. College student drama. but seriously, I love biology, and specifically biology, but within it...ecology? genetics? neuroscience? education? Looks like time will have to tell.
Getting a leetle long. Lots of words about Dara. Better go study for my Regression Analysis midterm. And a scary one it shall be. see you all this summer! |
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| ...and I washed it, and now I'm wearin' it! |
[Feb. 26th, 2007|08:18 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  first-born | ] |
L to the J, J to the L...
Life is so PENDING right now. I don't know where I'll be/what I'll do this summer, where I'll live for 2/3 of next year, or where LIFE will take me. Or even what classes I'll get into for next term (waitlisted for two out of three, yesss).
Seriously. I don't know how everybody applies to college and just waits for months to see who takes them. That's a real big choice. I'm honestly not planning on getting into any of the silly things to which I applied for this summer (and it's only a summer!), but I'm still having anxious dreams about it. I can only make tentative plans until I know my fate for sure, and I'm worried that there'll be no dece jobs left by the time I start to look for them. That's a little ridiculous. Good thing I'll probably know within a couple weeks.
In other news, life's just fine. As my LJ-stalker A.Wong tells me, these are some pretty good times and you'd better enjoy what you can. On Friday I'm going on an airplane to Ohio to watch some amazing synchro (and, like, compete in regionals and stuff). Then finals, a short spring break, and synchro nationals in Boston. Then it will be SPRING and all shall be well.
I was reading about Twiggy, the model from the sixties, and something about her popularity strikes me. I know we hear about how the media influences us so much, etc. etc., but with Twiggy, they honestly said "OK, no more curves, sticks are going to be beautiful now" and everybody said ok. Sure, there was a woman-power movement behind her too, but the stick image has stuck. Hmmm...maybe I'm just getting a little sick of listening to those obsessed with their bodies. Let's all just love what we got, k?
Aight, best get back to business. Parting recommendation for nerds: the "protein primer" movie on Youtube. (it's the one from AP bio!) |
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| oreo milkshake the cow |
[Jan. 8th, 2007|10:59 pm] |
sometimes, I just feel like updating my LJ.
It's winter term. Good so far. Yesterday I did pool-related things alllll day, some of which was with the crazy olympic synchro coach. She dances wildly on deck and then turns it all into a routine. so, that was good times. I'm excited to step it up and have synchro be fun again, as the low-keyness that was fall didn't really do it for me.
Madagascar is a done deal now...yay! I'm majorly pumped, even with the barrage of forms they're making me fill out (you agree not to sue us if we kill you, you'll probably contract malaria, don't expect to communicate with home, etc). Adventure! With lemurs!
Summer plans are in the works, maybe. The internships to which I'm applying are all pretty dreamy, so I've got my eyes open for backups. Hmm.
My roommates and I have taken to discussing genetic oddities all the time, as we are all in the same genetics class. I like occasionally pretending I'm normal and thinking how dorky we all are. But, okay, think about this: what if you were female on the outside and in mindset, but later found out you were male on the inside? Can you imagine the identity crisis? p.s. that's a real syndrome.
Also, I realized today that I have loved every French teacher I've ever had (save one), and I like that French lit classes can get away with realllllly odd books just because they're in French. Read: I have five books for the class I'm in now. On the cover, four have an oddly expressive face or an interpretation of a face, and the fifth has a butt.
I'm off. Hope all is well with my friends out in LJ-land! |
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| HOUSE |
[Nov. 24th, 2006|12:18 am] |
oh man.
home is the good life.
Monday morning was not the good life. three and a half hours of orgo exam that was positively killer. that is all I have to say about it. Then, I came home, and since then, my agenda consists of eating delicious meals (when I am hungry, mind you, and not when the d.hall says I will eat), crocheting like a mad woman, workouts with my sister, and seeing my favorite people! and BODY WORLDS this Saturday. It's too weird to think that just a few days ago, all I could think about were reaction mechanisms and NMR spectroscopy and the like. I think some of what makes such tough schooling possible is that you let it occupy your mind so much of the time.
So it's good to be home. Even if it isn't really home anymore, but you know. Existential crisis, etc. etc.
If all pans out absolutely ideally, I'd only spend about half of 2007 in Minnesota. Ohio and Boston for synchro for about a week of March, somewhere in the U.S. (first choice is a program on the coast of Oregon) doing research for summer, and Madagascar in the fall. Of course, I have yet to be accepted (or, uh, finish my applications) to the latter two adventures...but currently the prospect of solo travel (upon which I have never embarked) remains unbearably alluring.
I really wish I still got to see my sister all the time. Knowing that she's taking on those formative years at WHS without me at home makes me die a little inside. Something abot siblings are supposed to be our strongest connections through life, eh?
Oh, Thanksgiving was nice. Cranberry things galore. (wow, I much prefer using that word after cranberry things than my old mantra of "orgo galore-go").
okay kids. hope to see you all soon!! |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 25th, 2006|10:33 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  happily distracted | ] |
Hmm...no focus, no focus at all. hello LJ!
I forget what compelled me to start looking into study abroad, but I suddenly can't think about anything else since I found this program. Ecology and Conservation in MADAGASCAR with intensive language study in FRENCH. Field-based with an independent project at the end. ahhhhh. Something nice to think about to get me through the rest of this term. Send me good karma for the application process and perhaps I'll send you a postcard next fall. :)
Carleton is good this year. I enjoy my room (windows on three sides and our own heating and A/C system, bitches) and roommates so much and feel my fun quotient is just higher than last year. Synchro's fun and I heart the team. AND the music...copacabana and numa numa! tooo entertaining. Organic chemistry is DEMANDING and tough but I'm learning things at least. French and psych are fine...though I wouldn't mind being fluent right now. My other recent desire is to be my chem or French prof when I grow up...they're inspiringly high-energy! (and they say things like "to go to a Fischer projection you just have to SQUASH the molecule! lay it down and SQUASH it! and they bring Elise orange juice when she's sick). Just celebrated one year with the boy. long time! he's good too.
There we go. DSA in a paragraph. Also, I miss people. Not in the wake up every morning and think of them way, but when I think of them, I really miss them. I'm just sad that I don't get to permanently exist with some of my high school friends anymore.
I need plans for next summer. I don't think camp again, though it's still up in the air. Hmmmm...
Maybe I should actually do work now. Story of my life. but I am going home in 3.5 weeks already! time goes fast. au revoir les enfants! |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 30th, 2006|10:13 pm] |
hi!
Well, LJ, it's been a while. Hmmm. Things are good. My summer was spent among awesome 12-14 year-old girls and wonderful co-counselors. And I was in the lake all day. Simply wonderful. I miss it.
Going back to school in a week and a half, which should be great. Thinking about living in my sweet new room with my sweet roommates and pet rat brings me immense joy.
I'm typing with nine fingers right now because of my "sprained" pinkie finger that is all taped up. "Sprained" means it got pelted with a football several weeks ago at camp and never became un-crooked and the doctor said "hmm...it isn't broken but it looks pretty messed up. let's tape it." Sometimes I wonder about the authority of medical personnel. Other exciting health news includes an outbreak on my ankle of "poison ivy or something like it" (thank you again, doctor and camp) and waking up this morning covered in HIVES. what? Couldn't figure out why. My body clearly cannot handle Plymouth.
So...just living the limbo life, after camp and before school (and it's State Fair season!). I'd like to think I'm better adjusted to change after moving a billion times in the last year. Thank goodness for being able to just pick up where I left off with so many people. It's lovely and reassuring.
I'm off. Laterr. |
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| write me a letter and i'll love you forever |
[May. 31st, 2006|10:34 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  go go go | ] |
DSA, signing in.
I am still at college. I should be either playing in Plymouth or counseling in Laporte, but here I am. Studying and writing papers. Three more days of super hard-core brain engagement. Then I get to go home Saturday night, frantically finish packing, and up to camp Sunday morning. All the other staff get there TOMORROW. No fair, Carleton.
However, today was the last day of classes and we had a nice little campus-wide picnic with inflatable bouncy things and caramel apples.
This whole going-away-for-the-summer thing makes me very sad about interaction with friends from home. Hey, I'll see you for a couple hours now, and I guess our schedules don't really overlap much so...see you in December! LAME. I'm home August 20th-September 9th, so all you who don't go to college so so early best be in touch.
Hmm...I'm kind of glad I've gotten past the new freshman high-on-Carleton stage to the little-more-jaded-but-happy stage of college life.
When your hundred-degree dorm room cuts into your sleep patterns, a little Tylenol PM sure does the trick.
For my Intro to Judaism class, I recently wrote five pages about the way in which Zakharya ha-Rofe's midrash of Genesis 29:29 was influenced by Maimonides's thoughts on prophecy. USEFUL. This reminds me of trying to explain a liberal arts education to my co-worker at Build-A-Bear last year. She wanted to know what I would BE when I got out of there. I don't think my education will have any technical application, but Carleton is sure teaching me how to write a mean analytical essay. Look out, world.
OUT. |
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| nourse, bitches |
[May. 12th, 2006|02:19 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | vindicated | ] |
So, thanks to the lovely hordes of Carleton students studying abroad fall term, a few good rooms were left for sophomores. So next year I'm living in NOURSE, an amazing, never-thought-we'd-ever-get-into-it dorm. In a two-room corner triple. We're going to have a big couch and a rat and three giant windows.
Take it, Res Life. Way better than being an RA.
also, my good friends at Res Life fined a few friends and me $600 for throwing water balloons out the window. okay. SO much love in my being for those guys.
Other than that, things are dece. The next three weeks just might kill me, but at least I've accepted it. Twins game tonight and big synchro party tomorrow. And I'm almost a lifeguard.
Everyone come visit me in Northfield so I can be jealous of you being finished with school!
That is all. hasta. |
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