15 weeks until graduation! (May 9th)
9 weeks of class left (or 1 quarter from February 2 - April 1)
2 classes left
1 Gigantic Project & Presentation (sometime in mid April)
Wow...I can't believe grad school will be over in just a few weeks! Now I have to figure out what I am going to do with my life- maybe go back to school and get a Ph.D.? The thought has crossed my mind...but I think I would like a break!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I am a legend in a small village in Thailand
A couple of nights ago I was talking to one the girls who went on a Thailand trip with me a few years ago. She went back to Thailand two Mays ago (or 1 year after I went for 3 months). Anyway, we were talking about Thailand memories and she tells me this story...
She was sitting in her host families hut talking with her host family (through a translator) and they are telling them stories about different things that have happened in the village. I guess the topic got onto when Brad, Shannon and I were living in the village because the host mom starts telling this story about "the tall American girl who fell through the porch of her sister's house into a big pile of mud while the whole village was watching" and another women in the room utters "Erin" (in a Karen accent I am sure). My friend said she almost lost it, because her she is sitting in the middle of nowhere hearing a story (an embarrassing one at that) about someone she knows.
Anyway, I couldn't stop laughing as she told me the story! Of all the stories the villagers tell people I was sort of hoping the one about me falling off a porch into a giant pile of mud (need I mention that I hurt myself really really badly) would be the one they wouldn't tell. Oh well, at least they remember me right?
She was sitting in her host families hut talking with her host family (through a translator) and they are telling them stories about different things that have happened in the village. I guess the topic got onto when Brad, Shannon and I were living in the village because the host mom starts telling this story about "the tall American girl who fell through the porch of her sister's house into a big pile of mud while the whole village was watching" and another women in the room utters "Erin" (in a Karen accent I am sure). My friend said she almost lost it, because her she is sitting in the middle of nowhere hearing a story (an embarrassing one at that) about someone she knows.
Anyway, I couldn't stop laughing as she told me the story! Of all the stories the villagers tell people I was sort of hoping the one about me falling off a porch into a giant pile of mud (need I mention that I hurt myself really really badly) would be the one they wouldn't tell. Oh well, at least they remember me right?
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Top Eight of 2008
I love lists (once again another reason I am weird I know!) so I thought I would make one about the best things that happened in 2008. (It also seemed like a good idea to reflect on 2008 as I head into 2009) So in no particular order here they are...the highlights of my life for the last year!
1. I ran a half marathon...that's 13.1 miles! (For all of you who run marathons I don't want to here about how that is not all that far...I was proud of myself and really sore for a few days after). The day was blustery to say the least...wind, rain and cold...but it was pretty cool. I will be running the 1/2 marathon again in about 28 days. My goal is to beat my time from last year, which should be interesting since I haven't been able to train much lately because I sprained my ankle (a funny story I will save for another day!)
2. I finished my first year of graduate school! (and as of this writing have about 13 total weeks of class left!!) It is going by so fast, but almost not fast enough now! Please don't ask what I want to do when I finish...I still don't know (but that seems to be the story of my life!). The options (or hopeful options) are...working at APU, working at a non-profit missions organizations, or moving overseas to do something crazy (like live in th jungle).
3. Bangladesh...pretty sure I will not go back, but it was an amazing adventure! From missing flights, hanging out in Hong Kong, incredible heat and humidity (this place beats Thailand any day!), speed boat rides across huge rivers, hanging out with college students, building 10 homes for cyclone vicitms, and hanging out with my boss as she puked her guts out...it was an adventure all the way!
4. Wakeboarded way better than last year! (I still stink but hey I only get to practice about 1 week a year and I was proud of myself!) I love being out on the water...even just being in the boat is good with me. Anyway...this makes my list because I love my time out on the water and it is always a highlight of my year to hang out at the Delta!
5. Went to New York, New York. Had so much fun! Ditched classes (I told my professors so I guess that really isn't ditching) and did all the fun stuff....saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, sat in the 3rd row at an amazing opera house and saw my first opera (I LOVED IT!), rode the subway too much (we need one in LA so bad!), went to the top of the Empire State Building, saw the Statue of Liberty, went to Ellis Island, went to Dean & Deluca (amazing!), hung out in Central Park for a little, and ohhh soo much more. All that to say...NYC is not my favorite place in the world...to hectic and materialistic...but fun to visit!
6. Went to Vermont (this was for school) in the fall....so beautiful! I highly recommend a visit. Sorry not too much to say...I was at a Legal Conference (it was a little boring, but I got out of a huge amount of class work for going...well worth the cost of the plane ticket!)
7. Several of my friends, from my original Thailand team, came out to visit! I got to be a tourist in So. Cal. which was fun! We hung out at the beach, played cards, saw Wicked, and did a whole bunch of relaxing. It was so great!
8. Moved into an amazing apartment with three amazing girls! They are definitely my saniety on nights when school is driving me crazy. I love my house and am sad that in just a few short months we all won't be living there anymore.
There are so many other great moments of 2008! Thanks for letting me share...I wonder what 2009 holds, but I guess we will find out soon enough!
1. I ran a half marathon...that's 13.1 miles! (For all of you who run marathons I don't want to here about how that is not all that far...I was proud of myself and really sore for a few days after). The day was blustery to say the least...wind, rain and cold...but it was pretty cool. I will be running the 1/2 marathon again in about 28 days. My goal is to beat my time from last year, which should be interesting since I haven't been able to train much lately because I sprained my ankle (a funny story I will save for another day!)
2. I finished my first year of graduate school! (and as of this writing have about 13 total weeks of class left!!) It is going by so fast, but almost not fast enough now! Please don't ask what I want to do when I finish...I still don't know (but that seems to be the story of my life!). The options (or hopeful options) are...working at APU, working at a non-profit missions organizations, or moving overseas to do something crazy (like live in th jungle).
3. Bangladesh...pretty sure I will not go back, but it was an amazing adventure! From missing flights, hanging out in Hong Kong, incredible heat and humidity (this place beats Thailand any day!), speed boat rides across huge rivers, hanging out with college students, building 10 homes for cyclone vicitms, and hanging out with my boss as she puked her guts out...it was an adventure all the way!
4. Wakeboarded way better than last year! (I still stink but hey I only get to practice about 1 week a year and I was proud of myself!) I love being out on the water...even just being in the boat is good with me. Anyway...this makes my list because I love my time out on the water and it is always a highlight of my year to hang out at the Delta!
5. Went to New York, New York. Had so much fun! Ditched classes (I told my professors so I guess that really isn't ditching) and did all the fun stuff....saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, sat in the 3rd row at an amazing opera house and saw my first opera (I LOVED IT!), rode the subway too much (we need one in LA so bad!), went to the top of the Empire State Building, saw the Statue of Liberty, went to Ellis Island, went to Dean & Deluca (amazing!), hung out in Central Park for a little, and ohhh soo much more. All that to say...NYC is not my favorite place in the world...to hectic and materialistic...but fun to visit!
6. Went to Vermont (this was for school) in the fall....so beautiful! I highly recommend a visit. Sorry not too much to say...I was at a Legal Conference (it was a little boring, but I got out of a huge amount of class work for going...well worth the cost of the plane ticket!)
7. Several of my friends, from my original Thailand team, came out to visit! I got to be a tourist in So. Cal. which was fun! We hung out at the beach, played cards, saw Wicked, and did a whole bunch of relaxing. It was so great!
8. Moved into an amazing apartment with three amazing girls! They are definitely my saniety on nights when school is driving me crazy. I love my house and am sad that in just a few short months we all won't be living there anymore.
There are so many other great moments of 2008! Thanks for letting me share...I wonder what 2009 holds, but I guess we will find out soon enough!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Uggg!
I have hit the breaking point (well not quite yet...I haven't cried yet, but I am getting close!). I am so over grad school right now! Part of it is the fact that I am so close to being done that I can taste it, but at the same time I can see all the assignments and reading that have yet to be accomplished and it is all a little overwhelming.
At the moment I am taking a break from the hours of reading and writing that I are still on my agenda for the evening, which will be early morning by the time I am done. I promise I am not complaining...it is all just a little too much at the moment. Thoughts of what am I going to do when I graduate, will there even be jobs available with the economy the way it is, shoot I really should work on my resume, Thailand, did I already read this chapter, and maybe the assignment is due tomorrow instead of next week...are running through my head while I attempt to write about my leadership achievements and challenges...not a good combination!
It is at this moment that I remember why I never really wanted to go back to school, yet at the same time I remember how all of these late nights and stressed out days will not seem so bad in a year or two (or hopefully even after graduation!). Honestly, I feel like I just need to make it to Christmas and then I can breath...only 24 more days!! LOL!
Alright, no more whining...I am going back to the ultra boring book I am reading about restructuring organizations!
At the moment I am taking a break from the hours of reading and writing that I are still on my agenda for the evening, which will be early morning by the time I am done. I promise I am not complaining...it is all just a little too much at the moment. Thoughts of what am I going to do when I graduate, will there even be jobs available with the economy the way it is, shoot I really should work on my resume, Thailand, did I already read this chapter, and maybe the assignment is due tomorrow instead of next week...are running through my head while I attempt to write about my leadership achievements and challenges...not a good combination!
It is at this moment that I remember why I never really wanted to go back to school, yet at the same time I remember how all of these late nights and stressed out days will not seem so bad in a year or two (or hopefully even after graduation!). Honestly, I feel like I just need to make it to Christmas and then I can breath...only 24 more days!! LOL!
Alright, no more whining...I am going back to the ultra boring book I am reading about restructuring organizations!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
I never thought I would really have to do this...
I can't count the number of times throughout my growing up years I have gone through the exercise of "What would you grab if there was a fire and you had to get out of your house in 10 minutes." But, I guess I never really thought that it would actually hit so close to home.
I don't have tv at my house (we can't afford cable and there is no reception) so the first and only thing I had heard on Friday about any fires was that there was a lot of damage done up in Santa Barbara. Then on Saturday my dad called and he asked me if there was a lot of smoke up near me. There was nothing but blue skies! Little did I know that fires were raging in Orange County.
Because of my proximity to some very dry hills and mountains my dad suggested that I pack up anything that I would want to take with me. At first I didn't think I would do it, but as I was driving home the wind was picking up and helicopters were hovering over the mountains behind my house. I thought maybe a little preparation might be a good idea.
I walked into my room and thought about what I would take. First thing I packed...my hard drive for my computer and all my papers from grad school...they are irreplacable! Second set of things...all my journals (so many memories). At that point I looked around my room and tried to remember which of the pictures I have all over my room are ones I have taken and have saved to my computer and which ones I have gotten from other people and probably can't replace...i grabbed a few that I knew I would never be able to get again. And then began to think...what else? What other pieces of my life are replacable? I almost grabbed my oldest pair of Rainbows (that have traveled the world with me) but decided against it. The last thing I grabbed was my little stuffed lamb that I have had since I was a little girl...that could never be replaced.
At that point I realized how much I had that I really wasn't as attached too as I thought. I can live without 12 pairs of shoes, books, cds, dvds, and furniture. The stuff that matters is the memories....the pieces of the places I have been and the people I love.
Thankfully, as of right now Azusa Canyon remains fireless (and I pray it remains so), but I think I have a little bit of a new perspective on life...the things that matter and the things that really don't.
My prayers are with all the families that have lost their homes, their possions, and some of their priceless memories!
I don't have tv at my house (we can't afford cable and there is no reception) so the first and only thing I had heard on Friday about any fires was that there was a lot of damage done up in Santa Barbara. Then on Saturday my dad called and he asked me if there was a lot of smoke up near me. There was nothing but blue skies! Little did I know that fires were raging in Orange County.
Because of my proximity to some very dry hills and mountains my dad suggested that I pack up anything that I would want to take with me. At first I didn't think I would do it, but as I was driving home the wind was picking up and helicopters were hovering over the mountains behind my house. I thought maybe a little preparation might be a good idea.
I walked into my room and thought about what I would take. First thing I packed...my hard drive for my computer and all my papers from grad school...they are irreplacable! Second set of things...all my journals (so many memories). At that point I looked around my room and tried to remember which of the pictures I have all over my room are ones I have taken and have saved to my computer and which ones I have gotten from other people and probably can't replace...i grabbed a few that I knew I would never be able to get again. And then began to think...what else? What other pieces of my life are replacable? I almost grabbed my oldest pair of Rainbows (that have traveled the world with me) but decided against it. The last thing I grabbed was my little stuffed lamb that I have had since I was a little girl...that could never be replaced.
At that point I realized how much I had that I really wasn't as attached too as I thought. I can live without 12 pairs of shoes, books, cds, dvds, and furniture. The stuff that matters is the memories....the pieces of the places I have been and the people I love.
Thankfully, as of right now Azusa Canyon remains fireless (and I pray it remains so), but I think I have a little bit of a new perspective on life...the things that matter and the things that really don't.
My prayers are with all the families that have lost their homes, their possions, and some of their priceless memories!
My name is not Katie!!
Alright, so I haven't given up drinking coffee yet! And maybe if I had I wouldn't be writing this little blog right here!
This morning I ditched church to go to a great little coffee shop to work on an assignment that is due tomorrow night. (I am just waiting for all the comments about me ditching church!! LOL!!...just FYI it is not something I do very often). Anyway, I walk in to this place (where I go fairly often) and one of my favortie baristas is working. I have no idea what her name is, but since moving up here her and I always have conversations when she is making my coffee. About a week ago, I stopped by to do some homework. I ordered my coffee and she (my favorite barista) was making my coffee. While we were talking I thought she called me Katie, but I wasn't too sure so I ignored it (the typical Erin response when she isn't sure what someone said...just nod and pretend like you know what is going on...this gets me in a lot of trouble!!). So back to today...I walk in and the first words out of her mouth are..."Hey, Katie! How are you?" I respond with, "I'm good, how are you?" But my mind is racing with thoughts about what I should do. Do I correct her? Do I just let it go? If I let it go, I think of the very awkward situation that will happen at some point where she finds out she has been calling me Katie and my name is Erin. Ummm...what should I do? In typical Erin fashion I continued the conversation as if my name was Katie.
I honestly think she just got me and my friend Katie's name mixed up. (Katie and I tend to go there together quite often). But, anyway...this isn't the first time that this has happened. In fact, my neighbor thought my name was Ashley until one of my roommates corrected her about 2 weeks ago. I guess I just don't look like an Erin!
This morning I ditched church to go to a great little coffee shop to work on an assignment that is due tomorrow night. (I am just waiting for all the comments about me ditching church!! LOL!!...just FYI it is not something I do very often). Anyway, I walk in to this place (where I go fairly often) and one of my favortie baristas is working. I have no idea what her name is, but since moving up here her and I always have conversations when she is making my coffee. About a week ago, I stopped by to do some homework. I ordered my coffee and she (my favorite barista) was making my coffee. While we were talking I thought she called me Katie, but I wasn't too sure so I ignored it (the typical Erin response when she isn't sure what someone said...just nod and pretend like you know what is going on...this gets me in a lot of trouble!!). So back to today...I walk in and the first words out of her mouth are..."Hey, Katie! How are you?" I respond with, "I'm good, how are you?" But my mind is racing with thoughts about what I should do. Do I correct her? Do I just let it go? If I let it go, I think of the very awkward situation that will happen at some point where she finds out she has been calling me Katie and my name is Erin. Ummm...what should I do? In typical Erin fashion I continued the conversation as if my name was Katie.
I honestly think she just got me and my friend Katie's name mixed up. (Katie and I tend to go there together quite often). But, anyway...this isn't the first time that this has happened. In fact, my neighbor thought my name was Ashley until one of my roommates corrected her about 2 weeks ago. I guess I just don't look like an Erin!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
You know your addicted when...
Ok, so I don't know if any of you have ever felt this way but here it goes... So all my life I have had this fear (fear is not the right word, but I can't think of the right one) of being seen in the same restaurant or coffee shop or grocery store on two consecutive days or sometimes even in the same week, the worst would be on the same day! I know I have gone somewhere earlier in the day and then had friends suggest that we go hang out there later that same evening and I will do all I can to avoid the return visit. I don't want people to think I can't cook for myself, or that I am lazy, or just I don't know...even that I eat out alot (which I really don't) but anyway to the point of the story.
This morning I went into the Starbucks down the street from my house (just fyi I usually switch off Starbucks each time I go for the reasons/fear stated above) and there is a huge line. I am usually not in a rush so the lines don't bother me and this morning I was already late to work so I figured that a few extra minutes wouldn't kill me. So one of the employees notices that the line is getting really long and comes over to a register to help out (I think the girl at the register was fairly new and/or hadn't had any coffee yet because she was moving fairly slow!!) anyway...the girl who had just walked over asks the two people in front of me what they would like and she writes it on the Christmas cups (hello it is not even Thanksgiving yet...we shouldn't be drinking out of christmas cups!) and then turns to me and says...Do you want your usual, venti iced skinny vanilla latte? I sort of looked at her with a bewildered look like "are you talking to me?" and then realized that was exactly what I was going to order! It sort of weirded me out. I mean I have been so careful to never go to the same Starbucks at the same time of day...but it didn't work...the girl knew my order!!
So all that to say that today's incident proved my suspicion that I am addicted to coffee! I don't really now what I am going to do about it...probably wake up tomorrow morning and go get another venti skinny vanilla latte...heck I can even go to the same Starbucks without fear...I've already conquered my fear!
This morning I went into the Starbucks down the street from my house (just fyi I usually switch off Starbucks each time I go for the reasons/fear stated above) and there is a huge line. I am usually not in a rush so the lines don't bother me and this morning I was already late to work so I figured that a few extra minutes wouldn't kill me. So one of the employees notices that the line is getting really long and comes over to a register to help out (I think the girl at the register was fairly new and/or hadn't had any coffee yet because she was moving fairly slow!!) anyway...the girl who had just walked over asks the two people in front of me what they would like and she writes it on the Christmas cups (hello it is not even Thanksgiving yet...we shouldn't be drinking out of christmas cups!) and then turns to me and says...Do you want your usual, venti iced skinny vanilla latte? I sort of looked at her with a bewildered look like "are you talking to me?" and then realized that was exactly what I was going to order! It sort of weirded me out. I mean I have been so careful to never go to the same Starbucks at the same time of day...but it didn't work...the girl knew my order!!
So all that to say that today's incident proved my suspicion that I am addicted to coffee! I don't really now what I am going to do about it...probably wake up tomorrow morning and go get another venti skinny vanilla latte...heck I can even go to the same Starbucks without fear...I've already conquered my fear!
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