Que es verde con moro?

As many of you know, I have just begun my summer in Ecuador. Less than one week into the trip, I already have too much to say with too little space to share everything. So far, this trip has been one of many firsts. First time traveling alone internationally, first time meeting new friends, first time not being able to flush my toilet paper, and first time living with a new family. I've seen active volcanoes, llamas, shrunken heads, and the equator. Meals occur late, eating takes forever, and everyone-and I do mean everyone-eats verde. Con moro, con queso, frito, y mas.

What is verde? Well, simply put, it is a plantain. Sometimes it can be sweet, sometimes it is mashed, sometimes it is grilled...the possibilities are endless. It comes mixed with cheese, or with rice, or fried to a crisp. But it's special because it's the main staple of food for the Ecuadorian people. It has nothing to do with race or class, it is just a tradition. A beautiful tradition.

Everything about Ecuador is beautiful. The flowers, the houses, and especially the people. Today I had the privilege of visiting Damien's House, the foundation where I will spend my mornings. The foundation serves adults suffering from Hansen's disease, or leprosy. There are a few more than 60 patients that call Damien's home. Only two are actively undergoing treatment; the rest are cured. Luckily for all that live there and work there, the disease is infectious, not contagious, so conditions are safe. Hansen's disease is particularly awful. Not necessarily because of it's impact on the body (although that is terrible too), but because of the stigma. Since the times of the Bible, lepers have been damned and rejected by society, cast away to exile. But these people were the most beautiful people I have ever met. For those who could see us, joy spread across their faces and shown in their eyes. And for those that were blind, holding a hand was an immense comfort. I have never felt so welcomed, so loved, and so touched in my entire life.

Little experiences like these are what makes a person who they are. How one chooses to react in a situation and live through it defines character. Seeing how the work of one person-Sister Annie-forever changed the lives of 60 intelligent, loving, faithful people really speaks highly of the sense of humanity and hospitality many people can share when given the opportunity. I am not sure what I will being doing at Damien's house during these next 14 days of practical experience. I may be crafting bracelets, creating hammocks, assisting with debridement, or determining dosages. Whatever it is, I am ready to dive right in. I feel so blessed and overwhelmed with happiness and appreciation to be given this opportunity. As much as I know I can give to these people with my time, I am so much more excited to see what I will learn from them in return.



Laundromats

When I was a little kid, I always used to be afraid of laundromats. I suppose I read Corduroy too many times; I was afraid a machine would suck up my own teddy bear, or maybe even me. Corduroy's story may have a happy ending, but I never thought those places were worth the risk. Since my younger days, I have set foot in a laundromat twice. The first was last summer when I lived in Des Moines and my apartment didn't have laundry, and the second is right now. The walls are a teal blue like Tiffany's, yet dragonflies are buzzing in the corners and the Pac-Man machine appears to me 30+ years old.

I have 25 minutes to sit in this little one-room building. So many different people are here. There's the lady with a fresh mani and pedi reading magazines in the corner, another sleeping, about to knock over her V8 can as her arm moves when she inhales. My favorite person here, though, is the little redhead running around. I'm guessing she is 4, and she's absolutely precious with her Sprite can and her "pretty and purfect" cat shirt. She keeps pointing at me because my hair is curly like her own.

This little girl isn't afraid of the laundromat. She runs up and down the isles yelling colors out as she sees them spinning through the glass doors. She jumps into the hampers and tries to climb into Mr. Pac-Man's virtual world. Her mom and grandma seem exhausted by her energy, and I don't blame them one bit. This little girl isn't afraid of anything here; she is happy and curious and ready to explore every corner of this place.

Her attitude is refreshing. It may seem weird to be influenced by someone so much younger than me, but there is something about her that makes me want to reevaluate my priorities. I want to learn how to care less about the small stuff. It's time to stop worrying about last semester's GPA, quitting my job, and losing important people. It's time to start living with peace, joy, and faith.

And that's my goal for the summer. Live and let live, love and let love. Like the curly redhead, I'm going to be friendly to everyone, explore people and places I'm not yet familiar with, and stop being afraid of how the past has influenced me. Thanks, cutie.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Personally Professional

I've been doing a lot of goal setting in my classes lately. My CAPS prof as well as my Study Abroad Experience instructors seem to be oh so interested in my goals as an up-and-comming professional. I guess it's an easy assignment to grade. But, as I sit in Panera devouring my asiago and veggie cream cheese bagel, I'm starting to realize that the practice of goal setting can be very beneficial. Regardless of my unwillingness to accept it, there are only 8 days left of classes this semester. With the school year drawing to a swift close, I want to set goals for the summer. Next year is going to bring a lot of big changes, so a strong personal foundation will be essential for survival. The best thing about goals is that they can be anything; they can be serious, ridiculous, frivolous, huge, small, or a combination of any of those lovely adjectives, and then some. The following is a simple list of the goals I'm setting for this summer to bolster my sense of self, happiness, and connection to the world in which I am slowly becoming an adult.

*Read the newspaper
*Be joyful in my work at Dellwood
*Pack light for Ecuador
*Take a crash course on speaking Spanish
*Write letters to my favorite camp counselor
*Be open to, and trusting of, new relationships
*Craft
*Intentionally spend time with childhood friends
*Go to church
*Frequent the farmers market
*Take my mom to Eloise Butler
*Run at least 10 miles a week
*Keep in touch with my Drake family
*Explore Minnehaha Falls
*Be thankful

I don't know what next year will bring. I don't know what the summer will bring. Heck, I don't even know what tomorrow will bring (besides watching pole vaulting in the Jordan Creek Mall). But I do know that I want to enjoy whatever life throws at me. The good, the bad, the sad, whatever. Go set your own goals.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Just Some Mid-Morning Greek

I love yogurt. I really, really do. Especially greek yogurt. I don't know why I ever became so fond of the stuff, but all I know is that if I was stranded on an island with only an assortment of yogurt for the rest of my life, I'd be perfectly ok with that.

As I sat in bed this morning, too lazy to get out of bed and be productive, I decided to fix myself a nice breakfast of yogurt and cereal. Strawberry Chobani and Lucky Charms, to be exact. And I read. Lately I've been reading Cold Tangerines. Smoons lent it to me to read before bed, but I love reading my favorite parts over again in the morning. There's just something about reading when the birds are chirping in the background. So here's what I reread and reflected on this morning:

"Life is a collection of a million, billion moments, tiny little moments and choices, like a handful of luminous, glowing pearls. And strung together, built upon one another, lined up through the days and the years, they make a life, a person."

Crazy, isn't it? I've been struggling lately with appreciating all the pearls in my life. I want them all, the whole multi-strand necklace. Now. But that isn't how it works, nor do I really want life to work that way. I want to learn to take time to examine each pearl for its luminous glow and imperfections. A few scratches here and there won't make my necklace any less beautiful, but if I pay attention as each pearl is strung, I may be able to avoid preventable damages. My breakfast this morning, the perfect atmosphere of the birds chirping, Jason Mraz filling the room, and sitting in that one perfect comfy, warm spot in bed was the last flicker of shine this weekend's pearl needed before being strung.

So here's to the weekend. Here's to Friday-to Street Painting and Froyo with Ann and Smoons. And here's to Saturday-to soup, salad, and breadsticks with Nate and Benito, and to Hope with Smoons and Emily. And lastly, here's to Sunday-to brunch with the kid who constantly challenges me to evaluate my life and character, and to Honor Board. This weekend is just one pearl, but my strand is definitely coming along.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Back in Business

So, according to my post history, the last time I blogged was on March 17. Well, until tonight, I didn't have a blog app on my iPad, and the normal blogger platform wasn't conducive to my blogging needs. But, I finally found an app, so we're back in business!

Over a month has passed since I've had the ability to share my experiences on here, and, unfortunately, too many things have happened for me to write about all in one post. Remember when I said I wanted to blog so I wouldn't forget everything I've done? Well, here is a prime example of why I am in dire need of my constantcreativity workplace.

After an exhausting week that isn't quite over yet, and one hell of a Relays week looming in my near future, a photo post is all I've got in me. Time to join Smoons and hit the sack early! Nighty night, sweet dreams!



snap back jersey night




mags in minny at moa




my little gingy




the whole fam at Founders Day, Great Gram included




formal in Omaha




cap attack




black v-neck night





vettie and smoons, together forever. DG formal in a deathly storm

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Luck O the Irish...oh wait

Today is March 17, 2012. Most of the world is celebrating in honor of good old St. Patrick with some green beer or maybe a Reuben. Heck, if I had enough energy after my drive home from Iowa, I might have even made myself some green gluten free pancakes. But the real reason why today is so special has nothing to do with orange hair, freckles, or a green suit. It isn't about pots of gold or corned beef. Today is a day to celebrate something much more real: a birthday. 
The individual who was born on this day 20 short years ago recently said something very wise. Her insight made me realize why I value her friendship so much. Here's what she shared with the world when referring to a weekend chalk full of DG love:

"I believe that one of the most valuable things that you can give someone is time - to listen, to talk, to play, to just be together. I am so glad that this weekend allowed me to invest in so many of the people who continue to be main characters in my story this semester. I am beyond grateful for the person that they've helped me to become." 

There's no denying that this girl has invested more in her college relationships than anyone I've met thus far. She cares. She encourages. She inspires. She isn't selfish, or short, or frivolous; rather, she is intentional and aware of the effects her advice may have on those who look to her for guidance. All of these strengths manifest themselves through the time she spends with her friends. Through friendship frolics, friendship froyo, big bed sleepovers, and costume creations, she leads by example. Today is a day to remember all of the good she has done-all of the light she has brought to Drake and Delta Gamma. Today is her birthday, after all. This year is only the second year I've been lucky enough to celebrate this special, special day, and I can't wait to celebrate it far into the future.

So here's to Sar-my sisterfriend, conejo comico, and dearest friend. Happy birthday, girl. I love you. 

May we take a million more pictures before we graduate! #pewpewpew #tktktk #sisterswag

<3

Crush and an Ode

It's always nice to have one of those weekends. You know, the ones where you devote all of your time to the most important people in your life? Well, I finally had one of those weekends. It was long overdue, an probably one of the best weekends of the semester. Behold the picture slideshow! 

 RyFly, Max, and a best friend from high school. Who doesn't love spontaneous visits from long distance friends?

 Smoons, RyFly, and Max...the most influential people of this year. 

 Smoons, the girl who knows me best. She's there when I need her, even when I don't know it. She's not a blood sister, but it's totes fine. 

 Sarah and Shelbs...Resident Assistants represent! 

Favorite pic of the night. 

I couldn't know two people more opposite from me, and yet these two have taught me some of the most valuable lessons I've learned at college. Yeah, I'm really lucky.

Now, while having fun is important, I just can't handle the idea of not studying for an entire weekend. Sar and I have been holding each other accountable for studying medmicro, and I think it's really going to help us. Between a Saturday morning study sesh at Starbucks and an hour-long chapter meeting in Bulldog, I managed to write an essay about our study material and draft an ode. To which lecture notes am I referring to? Whelp! Herpesviridae lecture notes, of course.

So here's to Bennett and Nate, who wanted a public account, and Smoons and Kitty who will always have my back no matter how many drug names we have to memorize. 

Ode to Herpesviridae

Ye old Herpesviridae

how you get in my way.

WIth your latent creeping

and your eight forms of being,

I really hate your anti-kill powers.

You don't look like flowers.

No! On the contrary! 

You look like a sore or a wart or a pock

or a rash that itches, so you need oatmeal

from the kitchen. 

I hate the fevers, the malaise, and the anorexia

and the stares that scream, "what the heck are ya?!"

So beware the Herpevac, Varivax, and Zostavax

because thanks to them, your pruritis will be getting the ax.

XOXO Pharmacy Girl

Just HOPE

Sometimes life is rough. Usually it's fantastic, but everyone has those days. I hate having those days; well I hate letting them get me down. So, for the next 32 days I'm going to try my best to nip sure-to-be-crappy days in the bud. 

Now, I've decided that the best ways to avoid becoming a Debbie Downer is to approach each day on a case by case basis. Really, discovering the cure to crappiness is one big adventure; you never know which door to open, which stone to overturn, or where the yellow brick road will lead. But you just have to trust and have a little HOPE that things will get better and everything will be a-ok. Cue Pinterest quote:

Today I created my first Resolution Recipe. Bon appetit! 


Servings:


 1 + how every many people you sunshininess will affect


Ingredients:


Lunch with Ryan
A minute with Mags
Revive at Hope
Meow meow with Ann
Chirp chirp with Smoons
Sour Brite Crawlers
Mismatched socks
Potato cravings


and the most secret ingredient of all...


A Sar who loves you no matter how big your flaws are; a pink flamingo who wont gobble you up like the rest of the fishies in the sea; someone to share your sparkly scales with, even when someone makes you ink 

Directions:


Slowly add each tiny thread throughout the day, waiting to add the next until the previous is fully appreciated. Mix thoroughly, twisting the threads until an unbreakable cord of love is wound. Taste test and share with the rest of the world, and you will soon feel peace. 

It's late-definitely past my bedtime. Especially since sleep has been quite the stranger lately. Restless nights and crabby-until-I-get-my-coffee mornings have made me reevaluate my life this week, and it's only Wednesday (although, I guess technically it's Thursday now).  So instead of sleeping, or hanging out with the friends I come to appreciate more every single day, I've been doing a bit of soul searching. And by that I mean quote creeping on Pinterest, of course. Here's what I found for today. After some humbling reflection, I've realized how important this message is.

I've spent so much time this year focusing on what I want. On getting accepted to "grad school," bringing Alpha Mu Gamma to campus, being elected to a position in Delta Gamma…I could continue the list forever, and then some. But now that I've been accepted into my pharmacy program, Senate approved AMG, and I've become the Honor Board Sophomore Member, I feel like I'm at such as loss. I've worked and worked and worked and reached my goals, so now what? I struggled most of last weekend and this week with finding a way to answer that question and fill the strange void in my stress-o-meter. Believe it or not, I finally found an answer: all I needed to do was count my blessings. I needed to remember what I've had all along…what's helped make me, well, me and bring me to where I am today. Here are just a few.


1. My parents. They push me hard, even when they don't know they are doing so. I love making them proud. 


2. My DG sisters. I've spent so much more time with Sar, Kathy, Ann, Rachel, Ame, ERob, and Kitty than I have in the past, and I love every moment of it. I can't wait to get closer to these lovely ladies this semester and last year.


3. My St. Pascal friends. Through thick and thin, Curtis and Brittany have stood by me since Day One of kindergarten. They're great. I appreciate them more than they'll ever know. 


4. My smart pen. Sometimes it's just so dang difficult to pay attention to Senchina when he wears an earring to class. I think he's deliberately trying to distract me. Man, you've just gotta love technology.


5. My Drake fam. I love my big, and I love my little. We don't always get to spend time together, but when we do, I'm reminded why Drake is so great. 


6. My study abroad advisor. I can't wait to get out and see the world. I've already begun checking countries off my travel bucket list, and this summer I'll get to cross off one more. I'm going to start a countdown soon.


7. My teddy bears. Sometimes you just need a good cuddle. No one knows how to snuggle like a teddy.


8. My staff. Being a resident assistant is really something else. No typed description could bring it any justice. But I have a wonderful staff, and I couldn't be more grateful for the few that have really been there for me lately.


9. My orgs. Colleges Against Cancer is starting to play a bigger role in my life. I usually am unable to attend meetings, yet I still feel like a member of the club. I can't wait for Relay for Life. I seriously couldn't be more excited.


10. My church. Hope is the best part of my week for so many reasons. If I could build a fort under the twinkle lights, I'd live their forever just to hear Pastor Mike share is wisdom. 


That's what I did tonight. A huge wave of relief washed over me after I thought about all of the things I'm thankful for. I'm living the good life as far as I'm concerned, and I refuse to keep losing sight of that because of futile concerns. Try it sometime. 

The Day after Valentines Day

I love Valentine's Day. It's my favorite holiday, hands down! It's not because I have a significant other to celebrate with, but rather because I have friends whom I love dearly. Valentine's Day is for everyone! Here are a few of the reasons why I looooooooooooooooooooove the Day of Love.

 Starbucks Cups

 Sparkle Hug Critters

 Flowers from Campus Organizations 

 Roses from my Singing Valentine

Valentines for Friends

Spread the love, kiddos. All day, every day. Not just on Valentine's Day. 

Hell Week: Priorities

DAY FOUR


Officially in the homestretch. Can't. Lose. Focus. 


Tip #1: Study for important exams instead of checking future-determing emails. All emails will still be viewable after the test is over.


Tip #2: Spend time with friends who respect such decisions. 


Tip #3: Regardless of the news in the morning, don't post results on Facebook. 


Tip #4: Don't EVER let your daily diet consist of a caffein pill, coke, fruit cup, carrots, coffee, chips, and coffee. Just don't. 

Have faith, be happy, love the people who mean the most. They're more important than a billion-dollar education anyway.

Hell Week: We are Young

DAY THREE


I really like Pinterest. It's possible that I even love it. Recently, there's been a certain quote that has been catching my eye every time it is pinned in a new font or color. It goes something like this:

As I got ready for bed tonight, my head hurt and a crabby cloud loomed over my entire dorm room. I started listening to my new favorite song when I started to blog, and my spirits immediately lifted. After humming along a bit, I realized my day wasn't bad at all. By all accounts, it was amazing. So amazing in fact, that I'm purely exhausted. Thus, I only have one tip tonight. 


Tip #1: Look for the good things in every day. I promise you'll find something.


Here's a list of all the good things that occurred tonight: the coffee shop actually had my pink grapefruit juice, I didn't fail my ochem test, I had a wonderful lunch with my DG sisters, I worked on my study abroad application, I chatted with my daddy, I got coffee with Mags, I had some great laughs with Sar, and I listened to all my Glee tracks. See, what a great day? All thanks to a little inspiration... 

we can burn brighter than the sun

Hell Week: The First Plateau

DAY TWO

Assignment # 1 completed. Paper turned in neatly stapled. Staff meeting endured with positive attitude. Back to the books.

Tip #1: Take a break. If your head hurts, go to sleep. Naps, my friends, naps.

Tip #2: Listen to cravings. Want chocolate? Flan? Soup? Tapioca? Bread? Well, eat it.

Tip #3: Don't let the stress drag you undersea. Have a friend chop off your crabby claws. 

Tip #4: Do your work. Get it done. Study. Drink caffiene. Study. Eat. Study. Just do it.

Tip #5: Be confident in your knowledge. You have study swag. Know it, live it, love it, share it.

Tip #6: Smile to yourself knowing that your best friend is also sporting friendship frizz and sweatpants. When she offers to tuck you in with sinus meds, a water bottle, and some T-Swift for the second night in a row, don't object. 

I wish I were saying goodnight, but infrared spectroscopy is calling my name. Wish all of us lowly pharm kids luck tomorrow, world. 

Hell Week: Confessions from the Inside

DAY ONE

Today is Day One of Hell Week. It may sound silly, but this week is my first legitimate full week of grade-influencing schoolwork. From here on out, I have a speech, or paper, or test every day. Each of these pieces will count for roughly a quarter of my final grade in the class, so I have to kick butt. Not to mention I have duty, staff meetings, student senate meetings, sorority meetings, etc. up the wazoo. Goodbye, social life, family, and friends; and hello, stress! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I secretly love the stress…even though I stress about stress. Keep up, kid.

But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. At exactly 11:50 am on Friday, I will be free from school, and the wonderlands of Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn Fabrics will be awaiting me, along with Brenton Skate Plaza where I will spend the evening ice skating with my sisters. Yes, I legitimately already have a countdown bookmarked on Safari. To get me through each day, I'm keeping my sights set on Friday and posting quick blog blurbs. Welcome to day one.

Tip # 1: Make a schedule. Make it beautiful. Make it unique. I love looking at mine.

Tip # 2: Stay on track. Stick to the schedule. Avoid distractions.

Tip #3: Don't worry about faltering a bit. The world will still turn. Obviously from today's timestamp, I'm already off schedule. Just keep on trekking.

Tip #4: Be realistic. About workload. About study partners. About time management skills.

Tip #5: Support someone else. Chances are, 115 other people are experiencing the exact same set of responsibilities. Give a hug. Send a text. Rub friendship elbows. Whatever it is, just do it.

Tip #6: Sleep. Go to bed. Get up early. Nap if needed. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Goodnight, moon.

The Circle is Round

Tonight, this snowy Saturday officially became a Froyo Funday. That's what I'm going to call any days I stop into Orange Leaf with my pals from now on. In case you haven't been to Orange Leaf before, or if for some ungodly reason you haven't ever even heard of froyo, I strongly urge some exploration. Every visit is different; I don't think I've ever had the same combination of flavors once. Talk about a real treat!

Today's adventure was special because we all made a new friend. It's siblings weekend here at school, and there are so many munchkins running around (granted, they're pretty much all in high school, but still). So Sar and Mags and I all took a trip to Orange Leaf to meet a friend's younger brother. He was quiet, but I really think he had a good time.

The whole night got me thinking about a lot about friendship; well, the friends I've made at college, to be specific. I've been in a real camp mood today, so all that was going through my head at Orange Leaf was the friendship song I first learned at Camp Lakamaga. You've all heard it:

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, but the other's gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That's how long I want to be your friend."

Cheesy? Obviously. Meaningful? Definitely. I had to refrain from posting the entire song because I love it so much. I'm extremely thankful for the friends I've made since coming to college last year. I love them all so much. I'm equally appreciative of the opportunity to meet new people that has risen so often recently. Regardless of who may come or go throughout the course of my life, here's to the ones that I hope will last forever.

⚓

The Grace of Active Perspective

I'm not really a quote person, but I've always wished I was. A lot of my friends decorate their walls and notebooks with beautifully handwritten passages, and I love looking at them. The most creative thing I've ever tried was writing a quote on a bro-tank for the world's greatest camp counselor, and results were questionable at best. Last night in one of my classes, a teacher included a quote in a powerpoint that really caught my attention…

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." -John Homer Miller

I loved it. Still do, in fact. I'm really trying hard this semester to live with this exact mindset. There are so many variables in my life right now that I literally have no control over. Instead of stressing over them so much, I'm trying to see the positives.

Actively altering my mindset has been difficult, and I've gotten off track quite a few times. I've come to find it definitely makes me sad when I watch my friends or sisters or classmates let life's little negatives get them down. I just wish everyone had the grace to realize how rewarding looking on the bright side can be. So here's a bit of advice from someone who wants to be a Positive Polly instead of a Negative Nancy: don't worry if you don't make the grade, get offered the job, or don't finish first; everything will be fine. John Homer Miller and Bob Marley know much more about this than I do, so give them a chance and listen to their messages.

First post. Day 1. The beginning. Hopefully the start of something great.

I love writing...always have. Yet for reasons that may or may not become clear in future posts, I've yet to allow room in my life schedule to ever pencil my thoughts on paper. I guess that's a shame, because memories of life's little pleasures fade away quickly, especially when one is consumed by collegiate chaos. But I don't want to forget the small stuff, ever. So, after an afternoon of good company and welcomed adventure, I've decided to commit my memories to paper. At present, that is my only expectation for this blog; I don't know what it will turn into, but I'm excited to find out. So be ready for a few posts, a couple of photos, and the occasional crafty tutorial. Let the adventure begin.