8 F, feels like -1 F

My google home page says so, and so do my cheeks after walking 10 min to Grainger.

35 (non @ers) braved the cold and came to learn about what @ is. Under one hour. No stutters, no gliches, inspiring stories...

We did have one question before the opening power point: So, what is AIESEC?

I'm sure Sara was thinking...Perfect segway...

I'd say we're on the right track.

apparently it's consuming my thoughts

I finished my study abroad application at midnight last night and went to bed. I woke up this morning to go to work at 6am and recalled the dream I had last night.

I was telling these three aiesecers that I finished my study abroad application and gave it to them for some reason. They handed it back to me and sat down and tried, for the rest of the dream, to convince me to go on a traineeship.

Luckily, I plan on doing both. But if drilling the traineeship experience into people's minds is what people wanted...I'm pretty sure I just proved that its working.

oh, really

"A romantic comedy that's both romantic and funny!"
-assosiated press

Well, let's hope so.

a little behind

Y es, I realize a lot of people have already seen this. If you haven't please do. I'm always turning up my thermostate to 78 when I get home because I'm always freezing. I think I'll start leaving it at 68 where my roomate always moves it when I'm not home.

If this doesn't freak you out, there might be something wrong with you. If you don't do something about it after being freaked out, then there IS something wrong with you.

one foot in front of the other...

I think i've talked about "setting goals" more in the past month than the better part of my life. Continuing the trend... I set a goal for mis clases de espanoles today. I will speak outloud at least once per a class period. Okay, with 20% of my grade being participation, i may need to up that later on... but i figure its a good first step.

I'm trying to change myself from a Spanish listener to a Spanish speaker. hmm...

just loving life...

No classes Tuesdays or Thursdays...kinda starting to love it. There are $1 waffles around the corner... Its crazy how fast the semester gets underway. The next two weeks in my planner are packed already- but I'm kinda excited.

"i can't make it"

Missed roomates bday (again) for WSC.
Missing roomates bday dinner for first GMM.
Missing last roomates bday party for Roks.

mannn- feeling like a pretty lousy friend right about now.

smirnoff [insert flavor] vodka

I met with an old spanish TA today. She challenged me to take on Ecuador with little or no use of english as she filled out my Spanish Proficency Form for study abroad...

nervous.

All of my roomates are home now- although we've all been so busy we haven't seen eachother much yet.

content.

Tomorrow kicks off one hell of an @ semester, even though i feel as though it has already started in some ways. I want everyone to feel all of this energy I have inside of me coming off of WSC.

bursting.

I got my books, school supplies, and dropped one class yesterday.

anxious.

My mom called and the hiking backpack I ordered for South America came in today.

stoked.

Things are buzzing right now... and not in the way things normally do on a friday night.

My first steps...

Who's with me?

Put on hold

dinner with the padres...always interesting.

Tonight was swiss steak, green beans, french bread with a side of "let's rethink your summer/next schoolyear's plans katy." I found my self once again trying to organize my thoughts in the most clear cut, convincing way as possible...but all that was happening wasthat I was on my feet with a stream of words coming out of my mouth, explaining myself, defending myself, trying to make them see...afraid to stop speaking for the fear of them throwing disaproval and misunderstandings and lack of support back in my face.

I cringed when my mother said...you plan on working abroad?

ogod. at that moment i wasn't sure that anything i've explained or rexplained to them about what i'm doing at school or what i plan to do in the futre has stuck at all.

A rush of relief flooded over me when my dad knew what i was talking about and new what @ was- in some respect.

The room went silent when it was decided to have this conversation of "katy's spring break, summer, and fall plans and logistics" tomorrow evening after dinner.


I have some preparing to do tomorrow when they are at work. This will happen...they will see...

Second Wind

Time doesn't stop for anyone. We can either be there, physically present, going through the motions; or we can be there- moving, struggling, learning, loving, inching forward moment by moment.

Sitting here at home has been really weird the last 2 days. I've been filling up on everything i feel that i don't get to do enough of at school. I've watched two black and white movies, slept full 12 hour nights, and I'm almost done with Franny and Zooey.

Just a few weeks ago i was really contemplating how i was going to get through next semester in many aspects; job, school, aiesec, etc... I was wondering how i'd have enough energy and wondering if i was spending enough time on my heath and well being. Thank god for christmas break. Yes, having those thoughts is one thing, but having those thoughts when your sleep deprived, spending 9 hour blocks of time in the library, and struggling through finals kindof adds some added aprehension with goin into the next half of the year.

Thank goodness for confrences. Someone said that if they could drop into a confrence randomly on a weekend they would. How true. It has been explained idk how many times in our gmm- confrences - 200 passionate people all together - the room is buzzing... but it's the truth. The amount of dedication, passion, and just all around amazing people spending 5, or 7... days together, eating, working, talking, driving, dancing, laughing, collaborating, singing... it leavings a footprint on you. A footprint you realize even more when you leave. It all started catching up with me during the closing ceremony. Tears rolled down my checks thinking about the stories that were being told, about week that i've had, about how lucky i have been, and what an insane year and a half i've had so far in Madison. Never would i have imagined my life to be where it is right now and where i'm going soon enough- to be the case 2 years ago.

Well now it's 2007 and big things are going to happen. I feel that some things that are coming up this year i've been anticipating for a good five years of my life. Other things have been brought to my attention in just the past few months- and i'm more excited then ever. New year resolution?

Take 2007 one day at a time. Let the days, the people i meet, the experiences i have wash over my body and slowly soak into my being- letting them stay with me and my mind grow because of their pressence.