Road or Wild

So before school ended I was in my advisor's office helping grade some papers, and he was asking me what music he should play. I said Bob Dylan of course, and so we got to talking about similar artists and my love of them. He decided that I seem to like this "Americana" thing.. and I'm not so sure, but he said he thought that I am probably one of those people who want to just pack up and head out on the road. Well, the only thing I could respond with is that I have indeed read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac... how is that for americana? (not quite but you get the progression right?) Then he suggested that I read "Into the Wild".. so I went to the library and picked up a copy.. 

So far if I compare the two.. I am much more inclined towards Kerouac. I have only read the first couple of chapters of Wild, but the way that it is written really to me is not good. It starts out by introducing the (non-fiction) character Chris and how he went up to the wilds of Alaska with little to no supplies, and then a few months later was found dead. So now the rest of the book will be a sort of mystery of why did this guy go out there, and what was he looking for. If the author had not started with his death, but with the beginning of the journey, I think that the reader would become more attached to Chris. We would have been sad when he died, instead of matter-of-fact about it. I guess it is just not drawing in that emotion factor. Kerouac did that well, and he really got the reader to know the characters well and see what they were about and why they were out there, even if it was, just because. 

spring break how could I FORGET YOU???!

Went up to Illinois to see Emma and Christian and Will and also Ruth, Matt, and Aidan came over from KY! So just fun times at the apartment. It was good to see the sisters, and their boys. I wish I could see them more, but living 8 and 16 hours away doesn't really help the situation... 

when I got back to Omaha on saturday, I met up with Beth, who was in town for a few days, and we ate dinner at Nicolas!!! mmm so good!

sleepover

Well after banquet we all went to Jess K's house and stayed the night.. and WHAT besides eating, and watching MTV could we do?? Well take pictures with photobooth! yay probably one of the best things that they put on these nifty imacs! love it

spring banquet

Here is a couple of shots from spring banquet last night. We had our banquet at the Joslyn Castle and then we all went ice skating. I went with Jess, Jess, and Sherilynne.. 

That first pic is of me and Jess in the atrium, and then me and John (he is on the next EDGE team with me), and then us girls with our friend Paul, recreating a picture from last year. 

The Joslyn Castle is so sweet too! If you ever have the chance to go there and tour it, I totally would!

walk

We had a really really nice day one day, so I convinced Hannah to come out on a walk with me. I think this was right before spring break, cus she had to pack, but I said no! haha

We walked around the neighborhood and took some pictures at the catholic church right next to Grace. 

James E. Smith World Affairs Conference

In the beginning of March, me, Hannah, Sarah (another IS major), and Mike all went to Kearney for a world affairs conference. It was pretty good, the Ambassadors from Egypt, Indonesia and France were all there, plus some consolate generals and some other people who are very involved in world affairs. They talked about the War on Terror and democracy and others talked about the Middle East, or the EU, and we heard some talks about torture and Guantanomo (sp?) Bay and human trafficking. It was all really interesting.. what do we do with all this information? How do we help? We had a lot of good conversations come out of this weekend..

Also we stayed in a Lutheran church there in Kearney, and their youth room had a projector with guitar hero hooked up... so OF COURSE we had to play!  That first picture is us out seeing the cranes, then Mike playing guitar hero (hilarious), and Hannah playing it. Its kinda funny, but I had this natural ability to play this game really well.. it was quite funny! 

OKC

Jess and I went to OKC to see your good friend Beth in february... 

We did all sorts of okie stuff.. like check out the oklahoma city bombing memorial.. drink yuckie bubbly tea... and just ya know have a great time! It was fun, but I think that is because we like to see Beth, not because OKC is all that great... haha

je viens la France

Well, it looks like Hannah and I know where we are going to go, and for how long! Finally! 

We are going to go to missionary language school (thats a link btw) in Albertville, France... for four months. From Sept. 2 - Dec. 20 are the dates that we will be taking classes. We are going to go  a couple weeks early though to travel around, and Mike  (our advisor and buddy) wants us to visit some people that he knows in Germany. We'll be taking 35 hours a week of intensive French there so hopefully we'll know it pretty well when we are done, and then I will be going back to Mali about 6 weeks after we get back, for 6 months! So I should have a pretty good grasp of French when I get back! THEN I'll have another year of school left (yes I'll be a fifth year senior).. and after that... who knows! I know mom and dad are wishing that I knew that already, but things can change, and I'm open to whatever God will want me to do... so we'll see I guess!

I'm pretty excited though... but this means I'll be home all summer, and that means I'll be getting a job.. (I know, shocking! it shocks me too..).  But, I do need money.. so what else am I going to do? 

In the meantime I am starting a 10 weeks long french class held by alliance francaise d'Omaha.. should be interesting.. I'll be taking it with my advisor Mike, which will just be hilarious. 

Also I am teaching ESL (english as a second language) at Christ Community to international students... (I'm not the only teacher, there are a lot of us). It's pretty informal which I like, because then we can just talk to the student and get to know them which is awesome, and it's fun to teach english! I'm thinking that I should get my ESL endorsement, but we'll see... 

its definitely going to be an interesting rest of 2008!

Its odd

today I was at Coram Deo (the church I have been going to) and I had this thought that it was so odd. I find it odd that one person gets up in front and talks for 45 or an hour and we all just listen. I know that is how it goes, but it doesn't have to be like that. As I sat there, I imagined myself standing up and asking a question or challenging something that he said, and how if I did do that, everyone would think I was totally out of line, or just crazy. I guess I just like the small groups better because I feel like it fosters more growth in that you are able to challenge more. I don't want to just listen to some guy who is a pastor and have to take everything he says for truth. because I don't think everything he says is right. hmm... what am I saying exactly? 

here I go

un jour je pourrai écrire ceci sans utiliser un traducteur  

Well, it's almost a new semester and it's a new year. I've never really been into the holiday of New Year's but it's an idea that is growing on me. It's always nice to know that we can grow and change and become whoever we want to be every year. Except I like to think that way everyday. I feel pressure because there are so many things that I want to do, but I don't know if I'll be able to do them, I feel like it's too much for me to accomplish. I feel overwhelmed at times, and feeling the pressure from parents and people around me to make money or to do something that impresses people, but what about what makes me happy? Do I even know what that is? Probably not...

here is what I think should happen:

actually use my painting talent

learn french and know that I can

cut my nails

make better t-shirts

be more creative

read my Bible more consistently 

travel

I know that for sure, I love to meet people from other cultures or ways of life. It fascinates me that who we are and what we do and say is such a product of where we are from, who our parents are (or aren't), and who is around us.

I want to be good at writing, not just complaining and whining.

Thats a lot of things I want... now the question is, what am I going to do about it?