Last weeks in South Africa!!

I'm headed back to the states in 12 days!!!!!!!!!!

:)

Music for ya

This is everything pop should be in our generation.

Alphabeat For the Win!

WAHHH!! I lost my camera in Paris =(

Guys, I am SO sad.

I lost my digital camera, with all my Paris pictures on the shuttle bus from Paris to the airport... HOW FREAKING SAD IS THAT!?

WAHHHHH. I lost all my pictures... I'm really sad... but I think I'm going to get a new camera... but still... all my memories.

----edit----

Because I need a camera here since I'm doing a lot more travelling, I'm going to buy a new one either at Jessops or amazon.co.uk. I'm deciding between these two. They're exactly the same price and same functions. Only difference is color. I have also recently found out my parents have the exact same silver one. In Europe, its called the IXUS 80 IS but in America it's the SD1100.

Silver- it's classic and simple and won't stand out, i might really hate pink in 3 years so the silver one would be a safe bet
Pink- it's cute and very distinct, i won't mix it up with my parent's camera. thieves might target me because it's so flashy though



Vote and help me. I'm leaning towards silver.

love love looove

So, I've realized that I'm a lot more pessimistic than I thought I was. About people. 

And I don't mean that I constantly expect the worst or have really low expectations, but it's almost natural for me to assume that most people have underlying motivations that aren't really that great. Even when people do something considerate, I have a hard time believing in good intentions, whether or not people genuinely mean well.

But I have a story.

Recently, some of my friends have been getting their clothes stolen from the laundry room. The thing is, we're the only ones that live on the island. We don't have a dryer- just racks (very big racks), so we all have to hang our clothes out to dry. I usually just borrow a rack and take it to my room, but on one specific "laundry day," I had no time to take everything to my room. I was already late to class (I had a presentation!) but still had 3 weeks worth of clothes in two dryers. I was panicking and grabbing my clothes and literally throwing everything into a big pile on top of a drying rack so I could get to class on time. There was no way I could pack everything up and take it to my room and make it to class reasonably late, so I decided to leave my stuff in there.

There was another girl in the laundry room, Mimi, who was hanging her own clothes neatly, and she was watching me. Mimi is pretty quiet. I never really see her and we don't have any classes together, but I've spoken to her a few times. As I was hurrying, I was telling her how I was going to be late to class and I had a presentation and had to leave my clothes in a big heap and that it would all be wrinkled and I was going on a trip the next day and it wasn't going to dry on time... blah blah. Basically, just complaining. 

And to be completely honest, I was slightly hesitant to leave all of my clothes with her when I thought about the situation. I didn't really know her, and clothes was going missing every week. I judged her on what I thought I knew-- that I considered her as kind of a "bad girl" based on what some of the other Japanese students that go to school with her had said, and just from my initial impression.

Either way, I had two options: getting to class 15 minutes late when I had a presentation at the beginning of class OR losing a pair of jeans. So as soon as I emptied the dryer, I ran out of there and straight to class.

As soon as I got out of class I went directly to the laundry room. I walked in and my stomach dropped! My ENTIRE pile of clothes was missing-- 3 pairs of jeans, a few sweaters, over 10 t-shirts, a dress, and blouses. The two racks were still there, and I literally just stood, staring at the space where my mountain of clothes was supposed to be.

I was almost about to start crying (I'm so pathetic) when my mind registered one of my red sweaters, and I realized that right in front of my face, ALL of my clothes was hanging neatly and perfectly on two drying racks. My mom wouldn't have sorted that pile out. I couldn't believe it. There wasn't even a note, or anything that would have let me know who was responsible. They just did it, and didn't expect anything-- not even recognition.

Anyways, as insignificant as that probably sounds, I thought that was awesome. But at the same time, I was like eeehh I suck. Not only am I so stinkin judgmental, but I was totally owned (in a good way). Yeah, I do nice things, but I don't really. I can't remember the last time I sacrificed an amount of time or energy/sleep for someone or something that actually set me back and really affected me. (And I say those two things because those are both high on my priority list). But isn't that what a sacrifice is supposed to be? It's not supposed to be convenient, or on your way to the grocery store, or fit perfectly into your schedule, or wrapped in saran wrap because it's your leftovers.

It's supposed to look a little bit more like staying up late to be with or pray for a friend that needed it, and actually worrying about finishing something the next day and having to trust that God's got it. And maybe going hungry for a day because you gave your 3 meals to someone that really needed it, not the part you didn't want/ were too full to eat.

I always draw the line at the point where I could be really uncomfortable, or where its a terrible inconvenience. I mean, I'll take some inconvenience. But it's never really hard for me. Sacrifice. I mean the word immediately makes me think of a couple of stories in the Old Test and um one huge one in the New. I don't know what a sacrifice is.

And I can't believe I have only just started to realize this and that it came out of a pile of wet clothes.

Now I'm going to stop procrastinating and get to my paper! Sorry this is so stream of consh. Slash rand. Ciao!

Final Video

Hey guys...thought you might enjoy seeing your pretty faces in the final version.

still mad dan chang didn't sing...



you can see all the team fun videos from the year here, if you're bored


you can also check out our new iTunes U account here

lala, doesn't it look like i've been having fun? :)

Fall Retreat Video Reject

I forgot my line. I was supposed to say "I'm making the most of my retreat" and then I got down to the pub and totally forgot the one sentence I was instructed to say... hahahaha oh well... at least I didn't film myself sideways the whole time... *ahem*

The Depth of His Love

Can someone just answer this question for me? How do I let God take on the guilt of my sin when I feel that no one else (especially God) deserves it? Is it suppose to be a beautifully cathartic release? If anyone willingly took on this burden, I would surely give them my life, and yet I'm faltered by the injustice of it all...

A Historic Day

JSO, you beat me to it. THE election day post.

I can't believe this. Aren't you guys nervous, apprehensive, on EDGE!? I couldn't pay attention in any of my classes today, and I couldn't eat dinner! (I'm hungry now though). I tried to take a nap so I could stay up later tonight and be alert, but I couldn't even fall asleep!

By tomorrow (hopefully) we will know the next president of the United States of America for the next 4 years! But really, 8 years. A sitting president's chances for reelection are very high. (I mean even George Bush was reelected. But Kerry was such a weak candidate.) SO we are potentially electing our president for the next 8 years.

Omg.

Omg.

Oh. my. gosh.

Is errrbody ready?!

ITS ELECTION NIGHT!!!

is errrbody ready??

I'm staying in the BoKaap right now, which is a mostly Muslim neighborhood. I'm staying with the cutest, little old granny everrrr. She is also one of the strongest and most remarkable women I have ever met. Her husband, 3 kids, and 2 grandchildren all had spinal palsy...and she took care of them all until they passed away. It was so incredibly sad to hear her story...and yet she is such a strong woman. Two of her grandchildren currently live with her, and she is raising them too. So yeah, its been an interesting experience staying with her. She is a very devout Muslim and she prays 5 times a day. She showed me pictures of her pilgrimage to Mecca, and I've been learning a bit about their culture. Shes also a GREAT COOK!!

Anyways, I'm staying up to watch election reruns tonight!!! The kids on my program are having an election night party whoo! Polls close around 1-2 Am our time...so its gonna be a long night! I'm excited!!! :)

Gradient Reflection

At this very moment, you'd probably need a gradient to color me in. I'll admit, i'm half dazed right now typing this post, but i'll probably feel differently tomorrow. Anyway, i'm quite pleased right now because I met more people at church today and got to know the few I know already better as well. Conversations have stopped being focused on general questions of Europe and Manchester. I'm actually getting involved in their lives and hence, the adaptation is commencing. Want to know what I'm most excited for while abroad? Christmas in England! Imagine my friends, walking down a London cobblestone street as soft snow flakes fall on your nose. You're walking by lamp-lit stands of the Christmas market as groups carol nearby. It's all magic. It's what Christmas should be for everyone..

Woman Traveling Solo

According to the all knowing Rick Steves (greatest guidebook writer ever), for women traveling alone there are certain precautions they should take.

These are my three latest purchases from amazon.co.uk:

A Lifeventure combination lock to store valuables in the hostel security lockers.


A money pouch that you wear under your clothing when traveling.


A wedding ring to ward off unwanted attention for a woman travelling alone. "Oh my husband's waiting for me at the hotel. He's a retired professional wrestler with psychological problems."


I'm actually not kidding at all. I really did purchase all of this from amazon.co.uk. My order should be shipped to me in 5-8 business days.

I am so ready.

The British Hit (Episode 2)

Two things in the UK right now that have made an impression on me are 

(1) the new Snow Patrol CD: http://www.snowpatrol.com/default2.aspx

(2) and the new bond girl: