Monday, June 20, 2011
Dad says I'm the first of his kids to get "Weihai"
Due to reasons unexplained to me (probably a shortage of teachers) I have been reassigned to the Weihai Guanghua International Language Programs school in Weihai City, Shangdong, P.R. China. This was my first preference (Zhongshan was my second) so I am very excited! Weihai has lots of historical sites and is the closest school to Beijing (less expensive travel costs) and the Longmen Caves, an ancient Buddhist site that I would love to see.
Monday, June 13, 2011
ACT, Seminary Graduation and More!
This past weekend has been a crazy one for me. On Saturday, I took the ACT. I feel pretty good about it but we'll see if the scores prove different.
Yesterday, Sunday, I had my seminary graduation (and therefore my "high school graduation"); I also received my Honor Bee, which is an award given to a young woman in my Church who has completed her Young Womanhood Recognition for Personal Progress award plus 40 hours of service and has reread The Book of Mormon; and I was released from my calling as the Laurel Class President (Laurels are the young women 16-18)so that I could enter the Relief Society. My bishop is transferring my records to the Young Singles Adult branch. I'm growing up so fast it's crazy! I don't feel old enough to be in Relief Society.
On another note, I am now registered at the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China. I feel so official.
The picture is me, Sister Laura Bice, and my Bishop, Bishop Hart. Sister Bice and I worked together to achieve our Honor Bee: I am transcribing her autobiography.
Yesterday, Sunday, I had my seminary graduation (and therefore my "high school graduation"); I also received my Honor Bee, which is an award given to a young woman in my Church who has completed her Young Womanhood Recognition for Personal Progress award plus 40 hours of service and has reread The Book of Mormon; and I was released from my calling as the Laurel Class President (Laurels are the young women 16-18)so that I could enter the Relief Society. My bishop is transferring my records to the Young Singles Adult branch. I'm growing up so fast it's crazy! I don't feel old enough to be in Relief Society.
On another note, I am now registered at the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China. I feel so official.
The picture is me, Sister Laura Bice, and my Bishop, Bishop Hart. Sister Bice and I worked together to achieve our Honor Bee: I am transcribing her autobiography.
The Pfeiffer House Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
6.7.2011
Will and I went to The Pfeiffer House Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain in downtown Fort Wayne. It's located in a Victorian mansion: inside, the original light fixtures are still in use! It was very quaint and the owner was so incredibly sweet. Will and I want to go back just to support him because he's the type of person you want to do well in life.
Will ordered a banana soda and a strawberry cream soda float (soda with ice cream in it); I had a huckleberry soda float and a blue raspberry soda float. Everything was yummy and classic.
We fully enjoyed ourselves; it was a unique and exciting experience we will cherish.
Will and I went to The Pfeiffer House Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain in downtown Fort Wayne. It's located in a Victorian mansion: inside, the original light fixtures are still in use! It was very quaint and the owner was so incredibly sweet. Will and I want to go back just to support him because he's the type of person you want to do well in life.
Will ordered a banana soda and a strawberry cream soda float (soda with ice cream in it); I had a huckleberry soda float and a blue raspberry soda float. Everything was yummy and classic.
We fully enjoyed ourselves; it was a unique and exciting experience we will cherish.
1 Year Anniversary with William Ramos
On May 7, William took me out to IHop to celebrate our 1 year anniversary since we wouldn't be seeing each other the next day, which is our actual anniversary.
It was delicious and we had a great time chatting and catching up (it was the first time we'd seen each other since he returned from school for the summer).
We've now been together 13 months and counting!
It was delicious and we had a great time chatting and catching up (it was the first time we'd seen each other since he returned from school for the summer).
We've now been together 13 months and counting!
Jefferson Pointe Mall with William
5.28.2011
Amidst a week of dangerous thunderstorms and flooding, my wonderful boyfriend, William, took me on a quick date. During a respite from the rain, we went to the Jefferson Pointe outdoor mall in Fort Wayne. Our favorite store is Barnes and Noble, where we read children's books to each other.
We had a fantastic time; it was just what I needed to bring sunshine back into the gloomy world.
Here he is, being cute (as usual):
Amidst a week of dangerous thunderstorms and flooding, my wonderful boyfriend, William, took me on a quick date. During a respite from the rain, we went to the Jefferson Pointe outdoor mall in Fort Wayne. Our favorite store is Barnes and Noble, where we read children's books to each other.
We had a fantastic time; it was just what I needed to bring sunshine back into the gloomy world.
Here he is, being cute (as usual):
Cedar Point Amusement Park
I just realized I have never blogged about this. So, I will do that now.
On May 23-24, Molly, Allison, Mom, and I went to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH-HI-OH! It was AH-AH-SOME! Cedar Point is famous for having more roller coasters than any other park in the world: 15! The Dragster, which goes from 0-120 and lasts for four seconds, was closed, un(fortunately) so we didn't ride it. But we were able to ride all the other coasters, including the Millennium Force, which is rated the best steel roller coaster in the world. It was a thrill, for sure. Our mutual favorite was The Maverick, which has an hour forty five minute wait and a 95 degree drop; plus, it started raining just as we pulled out of the gate so we were pummeled by fat, stinging raindrops. I even had a few welts afterward, but it was great!
We remained at the park from 10-8 that day.
The following day, we drove up to East Harbor State Park and played on the beach by the lovely smelling Lake Erie (sarcasm). We enjoyed ourselves while we built a sandcastle, waded out to the breakers, "boy scouted," and compared our wicked sunburns (trust me, they were really bad).
We stopped for ice cream at a cute little shoppe with 51 flavors on our way home. It was a very nice vacation.
(A couple explanations: The picture of mom by herself is her standing by her favorite ride; in the picture of a giant T against the sky, I am the second to the left, in the green dress.)
On May 23-24, Molly, Allison, Mom, and I went to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH-HI-OH! It was AH-AH-SOME! Cedar Point is famous for having more roller coasters than any other park in the world: 15! The Dragster, which goes from 0-120 and lasts for four seconds, was closed, un(fortunately) so we didn't ride it. But we were able to ride all the other coasters, including the Millennium Force, which is rated the best steel roller coaster in the world. It was a thrill, for sure. Our mutual favorite was The Maverick, which has an hour forty five minute wait and a 95 degree drop; plus, it started raining just as we pulled out of the gate so we were pummeled by fat, stinging raindrops. I even had a few welts afterward, but it was great!
We remained at the park from 10-8 that day.
The following day, we drove up to East Harbor State Park and played on the beach by the lovely smelling Lake Erie (sarcasm). We enjoyed ourselves while we built a sandcastle, waded out to the breakers, "boy scouted," and compared our wicked sunburns (trust me, they were really bad).
We stopped for ice cream at a cute little shoppe with 51 flavors on our way home. It was a very nice vacation.
(A couple explanations: The picture of mom by herself is her standing by her favorite ride; in the picture of a giant T against the sky, I am the second to the left, in the green dress.)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Vaccinations
Last Friday something frightening happened to me.
I received my first vaccinations.
Yes, I know immunizations are typical here in the United States and I'm sure all of you have had some in your life; but you see, my mother has always been wary of vaccinations and so none of her children received them until they left the country for missions or travel. Although ILP cannot recommend I receive any vaccinations, www.cdc.gov recommended that I guard against viruses with which I may come in contact while overseas.
I got a tetanus, HEP A, HEP B, and a MMR. The tetanus hurt like a bee sting and it's still bruised. Because of my mother's opposition to vaccinations (due to a negative reaction one of my brothers once had) I had preconceived notions about the side effects and reactions to getting malicious diseases injected into my body: I feared permanent paralysis, serious mental disabilities, and even death, to name a few. Also, my mother and the doctor neglected to tell me that a natural side effect of a tetanus shot is a heavy limp due to the disease being shot into my muscle. All that said, when my left arm began to feel like lead I began to imagine all the above reactions were happening to me.
And then my mom calmly said, "Oh, and the tetanus shot will make your arm heavy. So make sure to work it out for the rest of the day or you could get a Charley horse in it."
Ah, thank you, mother. Better late than never, right?
The only other side effects I experienced was slight disorientation. I'm usually absent minded but that day I honestly could not focus on anything; it was the strangest feeling. Normally, my mind wanders to other subjects, places, people, ideas. That day it just wandered...nowhere but everywhere all at once.
Needless to say, those close to me thought I was pretty hilarious. But, I'm still alive and disorientation and humiliation for a day is better than the 7 shots to my stomach I hear I'd have to get if I contracted tetanus.
It's just one more completed step toward China!
I received my first vaccinations.
Yes, I know immunizations are typical here in the United States and I'm sure all of you have had some in your life; but you see, my mother has always been wary of vaccinations and so none of her children received them until they left the country for missions or travel. Although ILP cannot recommend I receive any vaccinations, www.cdc.gov recommended that I guard against viruses with which I may come in contact while overseas.
I got a tetanus, HEP A, HEP B, and a MMR. The tetanus hurt like a bee sting and it's still bruised. Because of my mother's opposition to vaccinations (due to a negative reaction one of my brothers once had) I had preconceived notions about the side effects and reactions to getting malicious diseases injected into my body: I feared permanent paralysis, serious mental disabilities, and even death, to name a few. Also, my mother and the doctor neglected to tell me that a natural side effect of a tetanus shot is a heavy limp due to the disease being shot into my muscle. All that said, when my left arm began to feel like lead I began to imagine all the above reactions were happening to me.
And then my mom calmly said, "Oh, and the tetanus shot will make your arm heavy. So make sure to work it out for the rest of the day or you could get a Charley horse in it."
Ah, thank you, mother. Better late than never, right?
The only other side effects I experienced was slight disorientation. I'm usually absent minded but that day I honestly could not focus on anything; it was the strangest feeling. Normally, my mind wanders to other subjects, places, people, ideas. That day it just wandered...nowhere but everywhere all at once.
Needless to say, those close to me thought I was pretty hilarious. But, I'm still alive and disorientation and humiliation for a day is better than the 7 shots to my stomach I hear I'd have to get if I contracted tetanus.
It's just one more completed step toward China!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)