Sad article ...

I thought those of you who were in South Africa would want to see this. Claire, especially, won't be happy, since she lists "baby elephants" as the first thing in her list of things she loves ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23341840/

:-(

Pride and Prejudice

I forgot to tell you today -- I watched the last episode of P&P last night. I now know why you and Claire think the BBC version is so much better. I loved it! I was disappointed it was over. We'll have to watch it when you get back. They start Emma next week. I plan on watching that, too. So, is Claire reading Emma or a different book this semester?

I hope you're feeling better! Buckle down and work extra hard for a few days so you're caught up, so you don't have to fret about being behind. And, have fun with the groupstays and community service project!

Oh, and take lots of pictures, write in your journal, and mark on the map all of the places you're going!

Talk to you soon! I love you to the moon and back!
Mom

Thanks for the post on Queen of Travel!

OK, I'm not paying attention! I just saw your post on your Queen of Travel blog! Yea! I'm so glad to hear you're loving your new teacher, all of the girls, and are having a great time! Tell Charlotte she must let someone use her video camera to record your stomp dance! I can't wait to see it.

I hope you're over you food poisoning! Be sure to use the SteriPen for a full 90 seconds per water bottle AND your cambelback! And, I hope Adia is doing well after her surgery!

Hey, just curious ... can you get to your gmail account? If not, let me know if you want me to create a yahoo account for you so you can send email, too, and read people's emails in addition to the blog.

I'll post more tonight. Gotta go meet the gals for our daily walk. Btw, I've also been hitting the gym doing leg weights and the nasty stair-climber. Not sure I'll be totally ready for the Inca Trail, but I'm working on it! But, I'm sure I'll be huffing and puffing at the back of the group.

Have a great week! I miss you tons! So do the puppies! And, love you to South America and back!
Mom

fotos

Here is an update in images on the happenings of my life. Track starts on Monday!!! The ones of my high jumping are from last year.

Hope you're feeling better!

I'm sorry to hear you're sick -- that sucks! I saw a post from Alex's dad saying one girl was still "puny" -- I think he meant "puky", and based on Charlotte's post, I figured that was you. :-(

Claire sent mail this morning, and said everyone is feeling better. I hope that really means everyone! If you have a fever, though, go to the doctor's to rule out malaria from Africa. I'm sure you don't have it, but you need to be checked if you had a fever.

Take care! Have fun at the group stay! I sent you a package to Quito -- hopefully you'll get it soon. I plan on sending something to your homestay address, too.

Love you to South America and back!
Mom

on jenna..

so i dont understand blogs at all but i finally am able to see this blog thing Jenna! so right now we're in quito.. Jenna is at the hostile I'm at the internet. poor jenna is feeling sick, but she'll be ok it's a bug that's going around that basically we think is food poison......but you get better in a day or 2! so hang in there jenna! loves lottie!

Did you see the moon eclipse?

We saw it here. Despite the forecast for rain today, it was a beautiful day, and although the clouds started forming in the afternoon, we did get to see it here.


(Photos taken close to Karen's house...)

Here's a link for more info if you're interested ...

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2008Feb21/TLE2008Feb21.html

It was sunny all day in the Pacific Northwest

And yes, Jenna, it's true. There was a glorious blue sky, a high of 57. and the sun, OH THE SUN! Although it was never able to reach it's full summery height, it left marvelous shadows throughout the day from it's diagonal placement in the sky. And now, I write this blog to you as it sets over Lummi Island. The Sound is quiet, and you can assure Sarah that Madrona's were gleaming accross the bluffs of her property today.

I thought this was noteworthy, because the sun has hidden it's treasures from us for weeks now. I am running out of the leftover Vitamin D I had saved up from Africa.

It was my birthday on the 16th~! I am now 18 and can proudly sleep with whoever I'd like....
Anyways, I had an EPIC day for my birthday, filled with adventure, FOOD, and Indian things.

I also had the best Chinese food of my life yesterday. We went to Dim Sum in Vancouver and kicked it around China town. I am still dreaming of Lotus Buns.


I got an e-mail yesterday from Sarah's mom with a picture of you guys in Tena. I can't deny that it made my stomach lurch with an inkling of regret. To think, what could've been. It's exactly the mindset I was trapped in for a while at the begining of our Africa semester. Those three words "What Could've Been" are poison to my psyche.
But please don't think I am jealous!!! I am unbelievably excited for you. I'm not lying when I say I thought of you guys every day.

I won't post any pictures here, but if you go to my facebook and check under my albums "when in town" and "artsy/portraits" you'll be able to see what I've been up too. But guessing from the lengths of some of your posts here, I doubt you'll have time on the internet for much any other than reading blogs and sending out e-mails. Don't worry. I can share all of the happenings of my life to you when you come home, and you can gaze as me idly as you dream of a different continent! :P

Love You much Wata.

~Didingwe

Kassie Update X

JENNA JENNA JENNA
oh, jenna.
HOT DAMN POST TEN! WOOO!
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile! Not that you don't have other people keepin you company :) It's super weird seeing other peoples' posts! I love it but at the same time I'm like HEY MY TERRITORY STEP OFF. and AUGH NOW MORE PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO MY BUSINESS. haha. Naw it's awesome. I hope they're as entertained as you might be. ^_^

I was really excited to see your post Jenna dear! I love to to pieces MORE. You know what I'd do with the pieces I love so dearly? I'd THROW them up into the air like CONFETTI then I'd make a jennafetti angel in it. But then I'd have to clean it up and it would take FOREVER because I wouldn't want to use a vacuum.

Man oh man jenna so cool! "We had clasess, then we went EXPLORING." HOT DAMN. and then you got to PLAY IN MUD. AND LEARN TO STEP DANCE AUGH XD My kind of school, darlin. I'm so happy you're having an awesome time! And I would love to visit you!! :D

What classes are you taking this semester? I vant DETAILS, dahling, details.


Well things have gotten a lot better with Liz and Amanda. I think it was because the first week or so of school and we were getting back into the swing of having roomates and each other etc. There's not really any tension anymore. They still leave the lights on and have the TV loud haha but I just put in my headphones and cover my eye with my elbows. :)
That guy Efrain I told you I met--he and have become fast friends! He's really nice and still quiet. But I know how you make you silly shy people TALK. MUAH HA HA HA.
That Saturday he invited Amanda, Liz and I to a club on Tuesday. So on Tuesday we all went to the club. Club NV. haha. It was actually on Mardi Gras so we dressed in the appropriate Green, Gold and Purple :) It was loads of fun. I only had one creeper hit on me but I told him NO THANKS and then I'M WITH HIM (pointing to Efrain) and then he left me alone. Liz got hit on TONS. And Amanda a few times. Not my cup of tea haha.
AREN'T WE CUTE? purple, gold and green! go team! wooo :)
Napkin Nights is this company that takes pictures for clubs. "For all the nights when a napkin is all you have to write on." Catchy, huh?
It was more fun then I thought it'd be! At one point Liz and Amanda got carted away by drunken boys, ass-dancing, those poor ladies. That's when Efrain sidled his arm around my waist and asked if I would dance in front of him. I thought he meant ass-dancing so I ever so bluntly, kassie-style, said "No, I don't like to dance like that." I have to admit, his hand felt quite nice on my waist. But that was the end of that. Turned out he didn't mean ass-dancing....he just wanted to dance close.
At one point He did this really funny dance move where he pretends to be rowing in a boat, then suddenly it starts filling with water so he motions bucketing it out. You'd have to see it, it was really funny. He did silly stuff like that throughout the night. So I was thinking Points for Sillyness! woo!
That was about two weeks ago. And I've totally developed a crush on him! augh!
I saw him again that friday, at another party at The Egg, which was actually loads of fun. It was a mardi gras shindig thrown by one of the RA's in my dorm, Meka. She's cool. I was one of the only white people there! So out of my element haha. But it was fun. At some point in the night I was definitely the ONLY whitey there :P
Then that tuesday he and I went to Club NV again, it was the first time we'd hung out 1-on-one. And it was fun! I'm really myself with him, which is nice. With most people I feel I have to tone it down, which is LAME. So at this point I was sure I was interested in him but not so sure if he liked me.

Valentine's Day! Hot Damn! SF knows how to celebrate! check out this video I took with my cellie:

Every Valentines's Day SF has a PILLOW FIGHT down on the embarcadero! SO MUCH FUN. That white stuff on the ground? FEATHERS. haha! I didn't actually go in and fight. I wasn't interested in getting beaten because I knew I'd just get pissed off haha. I went with Liz, Amanda and her new friend Jose. Jose is super cool. He's from Mehico :P He had a super nice Canon Digital SLR with him, I was practically drooling. At one point he went into the fray to BATTLE and I was like I'LL HOLD YOUR CAMERA :D haha. I couldn't figure out (a) how to turn it off or (b) where the lens cap was SO I started taking pictures with it!!!! YAYERS. I forgot how much I missed a GOOD CAMERA. Adjusting the focus and all that jazz...it was too much fun. I got some good shots too. I need to give him my e-mail to he can send me them! eee!
At one point I went into the fray to get some different pictures. I got hit in the back of the head, the back, the face and Jose's camera got hit! haha. It was cool. I got a really fun shot of a guy falling, and then his friends WAILING on him. It was soooo funny!
After the pillowfight, we went to Naan and Curry and chatted for awhile. It was fun! After we went to his apt which is actually quite nice! a small kitchen, which connects to where the hallway is, to the center room with a door to the bedroom. Small but totally livable. The hallway has a tall & long closet with mirrored doors which is really nice. He's been there not even a month so it's not so furnished. But we hung out and chatted awhile more and it was fun. He decided to have a shindig at his place friday and for us to invite people. So I invited Efrain, his roomate Elect and my buddy Sebastian!
AND I MADE COOKIES!
White Chocolate Chip + Macadamia Nut happen to be Efrain's favorite...teehee. They were fun to make! I was quite popular in the dorm kitchen haha. I brought them to the party and everyone said they liked them :D Jose even asked to keep the extras ^_^ There were only three left out of about 3 dozen. I gave him two and kept one for myself :)
Elect (Efrain's roomate) is allergic to nuts! So I told him next time I'd make non-nut ones :)
So there was Jose, Amanda, Liz, Dennis, Efrain, Elect, Sebastian, Miranda, Myself, and two of Jose's friends (Josie and Mark?). At one point Amanda was kinda drunk and somehow invited Sam and Tracy, which was weird. Sam was cool, and we chatted like we'd seen eachother last weekend haha. Tracy though, I think he's obnoxious. But whatever. I drank water the whole night because I didn't want to walk home tipsy or anything.
Liz was kinda rude after Efrain and Elect left because they don't drink or smoke, and she was like "They were so boring, such downers! They didn't do anything." And that irritated me soooo much. They're just shy, geez.
I tried to be a bit more flirty with Efrain that night because I'd been pretty casual other times. He didn't seem to mind it, but wasn't exactly receptive or reciprocating. So that night and the next day I was totally bummed because I was sure he wasn't interested in me. I texted rachael when I got home (at *cough* 3am *cough*) (and of course she was awake) and was like RANT SOB RANT. Ok, so I wasn't devastated, but bummed. So she "talked me down" and yadda yadda.
Did I tell you she was dating Gunner? Yeah, they're an item. I checked the last post and it doesn't look like I told you. do you need some space to get over the slight shock?




Better? Sure? Alright awesome.
Anyway :)
So yesterday I was all bummed, convinced that Efrain wasn't interested in me. I don't think I've really told you about him...
Well, he's about 5'2"-5'3", really fit and lean, great smile that creases at the corners, brown-black eyes and a really great energy about him. He's super nice, chill, and sweet (from what I can tell). He's really laid back all the time but he lights up when he's dancing. It is. so. adorable. His pants cover his ass! haha :)
His main interests seem to be cars and dancing, haha. His major is Industrial Design with a focus on automobiles. He's from Miami (haha another Florida boy!), Puerto Rican. He prefers pie over cake, dogs over cats (not sure how he feels about pugs), coffee over tea, the beach over a pool. He's never, ever, seen SNOW. I'm geekier than he is, haha!
I'm trying not to get too excited or like him too much yet (and failing, c'mon, it's me ;P) because the skeptic in me is like "Honey, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment." and the romantic in me is saying "But what if it's MEANT TO BE?!" and the optimist in me says "Hopefully it'll turn out well :)" and then the realist finalizes "If it's meant to be, it will be." It's all very confusing :P
And yet.
Last night, at like 9:20ish, he called to invite me to a movie!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Now that I've regained some composure, maybe I can tell you about it. har dee har har
(Is this post long enough, is it? HUH?)
He told me on friday that he had loads of hw to do for a class the next morning at 8:30, and he hadn't even started it. The boy didn't leave until 2am! Silly. So on the phone I asked him how his homework went and he was like, "I didn't end up doing it. There just wasn't enough time. I slept and skipped the class to finish the hw. Which I normally never do, I'm kinda a goody-too-shoes when it comes to school." and so I joked, "Ah, I'm a bad influence on ya then, huh?" and he laughed, "No, no, I had a good time last night." And I was more excited than I should've been haha.
So we ended up seeing Jumper, which was ok. Not the best, not the worst. He paid! Which was nice. I thanked him, and he said, "No problem, consider it a late Valentine's Day present." And I laughed and said, "Thanks, but Miranda was already my valentine so you missed out on that." and he laughed. I'm such a stinker :P

On another note,
School is goin alright, I need to apply myself which I seem incapable of haha.
I'm making some friends, kinda. There are girls in the dorm I chat with alot, like Mandy. She's super cool. And this girl Emily in my illustration class is really cool. mhm. :)
MY LITTLE SISTER IS TWELVE. AUGH. Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Well I SHOULD go do homework. haha :\

LOVE YOU LIKE A FAT KID LOVES CAKE! HOLLA! <3
And on a ending note, watch this video!!!
http://cache.valleywag.com/assets/resources/screenclean.swf

Liz thought it was "gross" because she's DUMB. haha. People just don't appreciate pugs like they ought to :)
love you TO PIECES more than you love me TO PIECES. HA!
^_^

--kassie

Valentine's Day

HAPPY ONE-DAY-LATE VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

yeah i know its a day late but i figured i'd say it anyways.

i mailed u a letter yesterday! yay!

i miss u!

Africa photos from Nikon?

Hey, sent you email, but not sure you can read it. In any case, when I looked at the Africa folder in the various 10xNikon folders, there weren't any files/photos. Do you know where you copied them? Don't delete from the card(s) you have with you, if the photos are still on the card(s).

Love you!
Mom

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, at least this holiday away from home is only a "Hallmark holiday". :-) I hope you're having a great day!

Love you!
Mom

MY LOVE

Jenna! My love, I hope your first two weeks/ orientation is going alright.

I want to know everything. How is the new teacher? Have you seen Dawn yet? Are the girls nice to you? Are you playing nice with the other girls? Do you just love South America? Because I am still so very jealous. (Regular school is quite lame and absurdly unproductive.)

I am reading Canterbury Tales right now, I thought you would like to know.
Mid-evil times writing is so funny.
One of the stories these men fall in love and get all flowery and gushy the second they see just a glimpse of this women's body.

I also read Huckleberry Finn in English class, it wasn't as fun to read as I had hoped, but I liked how there was a lot of fun little underlying themes and that author Mark Twain I find to be an interesting character.

You are about the only person I know who I thought might want to hear about the books I've read, and that's about the only thing I can think of possibly telling you that's worth my time right now.

Have you started reading any good books? I loved all the books I was able to read at The Traveling School, but since your transportation is different in South America the story may be a bit different.

I MISS YOU!

Plain and simple, please reply with any and all possible details you may have.

I would love to hear about all your adventures and live vicariously through you.

That's always fun.

I hope you're having fun!

Tell me anything and everything when you're done with your two weeks of fun and exciting orientation!

YAY I FIGURED OUT THE BLOG!!! WOOO!!!

Yes, you read the title correctly. I figured it out! YAY! hehe. Now I don't feel so stupid. :) Alllllllllllllllllllrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhtttttttttt!

I still can't believe you're in South America (so cool!). I'm majorly jealous. Bellevue is boring as usual. The weather is crap (of course), gray & rainy the usual. And Tolo was this past Saturday & WOW it was SO BAD! It was kinda fun at the end for like 30 mins when basically everybody was gone & there was just a few of us going crazy. They played techno the whole time & nobody knows how to dance to techno (they just wanna grind on eachother) so like everybody left. It was kinda funny actually. So it wasn't that great, but it was only 5 bucks so that's ok. Mid-winter break is next week! YAYYYYYYYYYY!!! I'm pumped. I'm going to Whistler :) so we'll both be outta the country! (Canada & Ecuador... u still win). I MISS U TONS ALREADY!!!

Soooo I think you're still on that 2 week "get to know the girls" part of the trip. That's cool. I bet the girls are great. And that's really cool how you have the same teachers basically. They sound really fun.

My teacher Mr. Becker had a baby! Well his wife did. :) He's my history teacher. I think I told you about him. But yeah, he came back today & everybody was extreeeeemely happy b/c our sub was EVIL! Sooo, I'm glad he's back at school again.

Ummmm, what else has happened.... OMGSH Olivia landed w/ her legs locked in gymnastics like a week ago & she fractured her tibia & tore her ACL (:O). So she had surgery today!! :( She's lying in bed right now, me & Carissa brought her a cake to make her feel better. But she's ok, just on some pain meds (a little groggy hehe).

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand.... Valentine's Day is on Thursday! & yes i am still sending you a valentine! I'm gonna send it either tonight or tomarrow :). I can't wait for you to get it. You'll love it hehe.

Tennis starts on the 25th (next next monday) & it's gonna be borrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiinnngggg w/out you! I'll say "hi!" to Coach O for you. I'm sure he'll miss his lefty :).

Ok, my mom is bugging me about her having to use the computer for something important soo I guess I'm gonna have to stop. Lame. But I'll update again soon. I MISS YOU TONS!!!! Can't wait till you can use the internet & write about your trip so far! I bet it's amazing! HAVE THE BEST TIME EVER!!!

<3 Kenzie

ORIENTATION

JENNA!!!

How goes it? You've survived the worst of it, I promise! (: Are you hot and sticky and covered in bug bites? If your not-lucky!!

How are classes? How are the girls? How is Cara? Who's your mentor? What's going on? What's next!! I'm just brimming with questions as you can see. (: I expect a full report.

I'm sure you can imagine things are not at all exciting around here. I'm just now recovering from a very icky flu that kept me inside all weekend and am very grateful that the snow day we're having(this is like, our fifth one, we have gotten so many snow days this year-craziness), and then this weekend I get to have surgery on my leg, over midwinter break. Woohoo! You know, when I actually look at it, it looks pretty bad huh? I'm not that bugged over it. I could tell you all the gory/interesting details about my surgery but something tells me you don't really want to hear it. 

Keep seizing the day over there and keeping this blog thing updated and making friends and all that jazz. I'll come out and visit you this summer even if I'm in a freaking wheelchair! (:

-Christine

Tee hee!

News from home (2/10) ...

It's been a bit more than a week since you left for Miami, and it seems like forever! I hope you're having a great time, that you're enjoying getting to know the "new" girls, that classes are going well, and that your gear is working out for you. Not a lot of new things going on here.

• The puppies are doing great. Lazy things, though. They're sacked out in the TV room right now, Chloe is laying on her back with her feet in the air. Silly.
• The weather still sucks. It's been cold, windy and gray. Tons of snow in the mountains to the point that all three passes were closed for several days.
• Yesterday was caucus day in Washington. HUGE turnout on the Democratic side. I heard estimates of double the turnout in 2004, which was a record then. Maine is having its Democratic caucus today with huge turnouts as well. Obama won Washington on the Democratic side. Still a bit unclear on the Republican side with no candidate getting 30% of the vote. McCain is said to have wrapped up the nomination on the Republican side, but I hear rumblings from non-McCain supporters that it might not be a done deal yet. Romney dropped out last week. Ron Paul is getting read to drop out. Obama and Hillary Clinton are essentially tied for delegates at this point. It will be interesting in the next few months.
• I've started back at the gym. I figure I have to get in much better shape to do the Inca Trail. I've started too late, but better late than never.
• No Chuck or The Office this week. I missed the first two episodes of Lost, so I'll probably wait until you get home to watch. The episodes are online. Oh, and the writer's strike might be over soon. You still haven't missed any new shows though.
• Tim Gunn was on The Daily Show last week. Pretty funny. Let me know if you want me to tell you who is getting kicked off. I did see something in the paper today that said Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) judged the finals at Bryant Park and said that she would have worn any of the outfits by the winner. Hmmm ....

I'm planning on sending a care package tomorrow. You might not get it for a few weeks. But, it's on its way. In the meantime, have a great time, study hard and enjoy the new group! I miss you tons!

Love you now to South America and back!
Mom

Jam and Jenna!

Okay, I apologize for the title. But I didn't know what else to put and I thought, what the hell? So I realize you are probably still in that two weeks where you can't call or email anyone back home. I am sure it is easier this time around though since you know the world is, in fact, not ending and that you are going to have the time of your time. Hopefully you are imparting some of the wisdom on the other girls who are doing this the first time around.
Just wanted to let you know that I am doing well and that I completely agree with Em's quote. God, she said it so damn perfectly. It is so much harder to be inspired here but I realize finding passion in a life not filled with Nelson Mandela and zebras is, in itself, an adventure. I am back at school and finding it not so bad. The people are not bothering me as much as they previously have; I am enjoying just living in my own state of mind away from all the meaningless drama. I have discovered first-hand that there are much more important things in life. I am just writing a lot and also cutting myself some slack to relax. Africa was exhausting! And of course I still do my work but I am not so planned about when I do it. I know it'll get done so I am allowing myself to be a second semester senior. I am telling you this for I know you are probably really meticulous about your work at your home school too and knowing that you are the same person as me, well, I assume you have struggled with the same feeling that everything must be done at a certain time and place and bam! I would always get my homework done right away so I wouldn't have to think about it anymore. I didn't like having it on my mind. But you and I both know that we will get our work done. And now that I have found better things to occupy my time with, if I take a little break, I am all good. And it so much less stressful let me tell you! It's harder to do this while traveling I am sure but definitely try it out when you become a junior!
I cannot believe you are in South America right now. Once you get internet access after the 2 weeks, the absence of emails in my inbox will no longer go unnoticed so you better send a ton. Say hello to everyone for me. And that I miss them and wish I could be there with them.

You Rock Jenna. Just had to say it.

Love, Justine

A mi companyero viajado,

You're probably in the jungle right now; hiking through the most magnificent rainforest on earth.  I shiver from excitement.

I started regular school last Tuesday.  So now, it's almost been officially one week of Emily being back at school.  Horrah!  I haven't gotten back into old, shallow, cynical, angry, antisocial habits, but I've noticed myself falling into a classic negative thinking trend that high school so generously brings upon us.  I'm working on that though. :)

Been doing photography in my visual communications class and paintings/drawings/other in my Studio Art class - I'm currently on a rolling creative slam.

Do you remember I told you about that dream with Gharret from the Drakensburg?  The dream where I decided to write it all out.  Well that little "dream-story" has turned into a 17 page Emily-masterpiece and I'm now having my mom professionally edit it.  You never know... maybe I might try and publish it.  Of course... not without your opinion first!!

I went to poetry night at Fantasia coffee house earlier this night.  It's not the one I took you too (that's Three Trees), but it's quite similar.  There was a featured poet tonight who was from New York and had won the Nation Poet Slam contest.  His words, performance and presence was simply, ineffable.   His name is John Sanz, and he is now my favorite poet that I have ever seen, if not my favorite poet of all time.  

Tell Claire that, truly, because of her, I am now a lover of poetry and am taking a Creative Writing class for my English credit at school.  The class is basically like a continuance of what we were studying in the Fall.

ANYWAYS - you are now deeply involved in the wonders of experience and I'm sure these mumblings of mine are far from tickling your excitement.  But I want you to remember an important lesson that I've learned/am learning:

~Life is not always a phenomenal, international adventure.  Sometimes we just have to live our daily lives in the smaller sphere of locality.~  

You will come back to this when you return (far from the time you read this), and have to live in understanding of this principle.  Trust me, I struggle with it every day.  EVERY DAY :P  However, it doesn't mean that life is most often monotonous, boring or ordinary.  Your life is in your hands and yours alone and you can decide upon your attitude and actions towards your state of "living".

Ukuthanda Sisi,

Didingwe, Ahbleza, Emily

I Couldn't Resist

Kassie Update IX

2.2.08 7:03pm

JENNNNAAAAAAA
Thanks so much for calling me on the way to the airport! It made my night! :)

Miss you loads dearie! It's cold and rainy here. Bah humbug. Thank goodness I have my wool coat. Which DOESN'T get soaked super easy like Liz thinks.

I am having serious Liz issues. She's really pissing me off. I ranted to my mom for like a half hour while I made casserole in the kitchen.

It really started when I told her I wasn't planning on sharing my food at all. She seemed really, really irritated. And every now and then she makes a snide comment. Last weekend we were at Goodwill and she pointed out a hand mixer, saying "Hey maybe we need one of those." I thought this was RIDIC because they didn't even have anything as basic as sugar, for baking and such. You don't really use hand blenders much for anything that isn't sweet, in my experience. I told her, "Nope, I already have one." And she responded, "Oh, are you gonna let us use it?" But she had a really nasty tone to her voice. Then the other night I told her, "Hey, I'm going to make fudge tonight!" And she said, "Are you gonna let us have any?" Like I'm against her and Amanda, and that I'm rubbing MYFUDGEMINE in their faces. I played it off cooly, "Yeah, that's why I told you about it." I'm already tense with her, as much as I was HALFWAY through last semester! It's only been a week! Egats!!!!!!
So there's THAT drama :(

Amanda is barely around. So there's not really anything there. Except her incorrect english is getting on my nerves more often. Eek.

Something else is that our sleeping schedules are completely different. I am trying to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier so I get more sleep, and have a better sleep schedule for my body to stay healthy, balanced, etc. Liz pretty much does whatever.
So Kassie tries to go to bed at about eleven, obviously in her PJs and having washed her face, curled in bed with her eyes closed. Liz and Amanda stay up, leave the lights on, whether they're playing a video game or watching a movie or just chatting with people on their laptops. They don't turn down the TV or their music. *stab*
And then when I get up in the morning, I do my best to be super quiet. I do not turn on the lights, I plug my headphones into my laptop etc. It's just really fustrating.


Man oh man...When I was ranting and raving to my mom, she was really concerned and asked if I knew if there were any SINGLE dorm rooms available that I could move into. There is already enough tension between me and Liz that moving out would just be epic. I cannot even imagine. *sigh*

I just really need to find a peace, or what not, find a way to help me just really chill out. Relax, etc. Bah.


SUBJECT CHANGE.
Today I was in the shower, and the water had just gotten hot. I was brushing my teeth and, suddenly, the power went out! So I'm just brusha brusha brusha, in the semi-dark, only the window light providing some depth. Then I washed my face, and as I grabbed the shampoo the lights came back on. It was just so random :P
Turns out some RAs were messing around with the switchboard, because room 307's power randomly goes out. and it's only that room! I'm kinda friends with those girls, and they come use the outlet in front of my room sometimes haha.

Buying and Cooking food for myself is AWESOME. I cook such yummy stuff. Candied Yams, Corn and Tomato Soup, Hamburger Casserole/Goulash, Teriyaki-Marinated Steak, BBQ Chicken Wraps. Dayum.

I have to go to a floor meeting! BRB DAHLING

Next Day. 2.3.08 10:51pm

WELL THEN
That was quite a long floor meeting, hmmm?
The floor meeting was actually pretty cool because our RA Francis had us play this game called "slaps". Sitting in a circle, you constantly slap your legs, for a beat. One person starts, counting off from one and slapping one knee in the direction one wants to send. The next person says two, three, and so on. But! On Five and multiples of five that person has to POINT to someone, and that person continues with the next number (six, eleven, etc). And on multiples of Seven, you layer your arms on top on eachother a la genie, and the bottom hand points towards the person who continues with the next number (eight, fifteen etc). A mistake takes you out of the circle. I hope you kinda understood that...
Anyway, I totally won. It was awesome. It actually got down to Francie and me, haha. Pwned!

After the floor meeting Liz, Amanda and I went to the Egg, where the Academy has their shindigs. The shindig was uber lame, but I ran into some people I had a class with last quarter so we were all able to chat and so that was fun. I ended up approaching this guy Efrain, because he was breakdancing(which is just plain awesome) and he was by himself. Turns out he's kinda shy and quiet so I ended up doing a lot of talking. Quite a feat for me, I know. He's puerto rican and about 5'3", if even haha. Just a lil guy! But he was super nice and didn't seem to mind my rambling (he didn't up and leave, at least). Which was refreshing, because I've found not a lot of people can "handle" my blunt, talkative and random personality.

Today was super chill. I got the homework I wanted to get done, done. W00t! I'm doing better at being on top of my assignments. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow if I want to stay ahead.

Travis is a really good band. Yum. And so is Kathleen Edwards.

Tomorrow is my mom's bday! I sent her a card on.........friday? So it might be on time or it'll be a day late. I hope she likes it! There's a orange tabby cartoon kitty hugging a pillow and the inside says "Sending you a big hug!" Awwww, aren't I sweet?

Gawd I'm tired! I don't really have any pictures to post yet, haven't done too much.

Um um um blah blah blah I like cooking and apple juice and fudge (It's almost gone! eek!) and drawing and ummmm.
movies.

meeeeeeeeeeee-eeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnd mrs,
mrs jones.

alright. ENDING POST.

Love ya loads dearie! stay safe!
<3kassie

Map from Grandma and Papa

Just a reminder to use the map that Grandma and Papa sent you to mark all of the places you go. It will be a great momento of your semester.

And, Sarah's mom got an email from Jennifer saying that you're not staying in Tena the first two weeks, but some place north of Quito. Let me know the name of the town and the place (hostel?) you're staying so I can use the Google to look it up on the internets. :-)

Love ya!
Mom

Waiting for your call ...

Hey, I forgot to follow our advice to new students and parents and talk about which phone to call first (doh!). On the weekends and during the weekday, call my cell phone first. Call the home phone in the morning (before 10:30 am your time) and at night (after 11pm your time).

Jennifer sent mail saying we'd get a call from you today, but not sure when. Hopefully I don't miss your call!

Love you!
Mom

Missing you already ...

I heard today you were lounging around the pool in 80+ degree, sunny weather! I'm very jealous!! But, I guess you deserve it after only getting a few hours sleep last night. Did they ever tell you why your flight was delayed so long?

I hope you're enjoying seeing Claire, Heather, and Charlotte again, and enjoying getting to know Cara and all of the "new" girls. I know you'll have another terrific semester! I can't wait to hear how it's going in a few weeks!

Chloe, Emma and Pooka miss you too!

Love you!
Mom