Schedule Spring 2013

Bridal Show

So the Bridal show that I modeled in was pretty fun. I got into it because I am friends with the formal wear store in Scappoose. And they had posted about a week before needing someone my size and I didn't respond. But then when they needed someone 4 days before the event i figured they were desperate so I offered my time. She jumped on it and then it was like oh man what have I gotten myself into. So that Thursday when I was going to road trip with Thad and Jay anyways I made them go with me to the formal wear store and hold my purse while i tried on the dresses. They fit pretty okay. They were both like 4 inches too long so it was good that I had just bought silver heels for $8 at goodwill that were.. 4 inches! Yay! But it was pretty fun to try them on and make the boys wait. :-)

The whole expo was pretty fun though. They had different booths and one had free mini cupcakes which were to die for. I definitely did not eat 4 of them. And before the expo they did my hair and makeup. I ended up with "renaissance braids" which I learned just means Princess Leia braided buns. But it was still cool. Everyone was really nice which I was a little surprised at. I would have thought that the modely people would be kinda... less nice. But they were all great! We helped each other lace up the dresses that had lace up backs and checked everything so we looked good and then we walked the catwalk! It was cool though a little embarrassing. But I was glad there weren't very many people that I knew there. I also had to stand on a pedestal for like 20 minutes because people couldn't get into dresses fast enough to come take my place but oh well. It was kinda cool. Overall I was glad that I went and had the experience. I would probably do it again because everyone was so chill and cool about it. But then again it was a small town expo so not too high of expectations. But it was a fun way to spend a Sunday and to try something new!

Bridal Expo Pics During and After

Another OC Essay Thing

In no means my best work but it's for a stupid online class.

One event that significantly impacted my life was my decision to participate in the Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps for a summer. This is an activity that takes you away from your family to tour around the United States to perform a 10 minute marching band like show. This organization stays at schools and other facilities for at the most 2 weeks at a time in the same location but most often moves every 2 or 3 days. We would wake up in the morning at 7 AM and not be able to go to bed until 11PM. During this time we would rehearse in between 95-103 degree weather on most days in the sun and without breaks. It was by far the hardest experience of my life. Unless you have seen or participated in one of these programs it is impossible for someone to understand the magnitude of just how hard a summer like this can be. One of my jobs as a percussionist member was to load and unload 17 large instrument on an off of a semi-truck each time that had two levels every time that we moved locations. This was always a large task and never very much fun and was always frustrating to do because with only 7 people it took anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. During this summer I had been going through a rough patch in my life emotionally and after only 2 days of participating in this program I wanted to quit. I have always been someone who sticks with things eve when they are not fun and I am never someone who gives up easily but I wanted to quit. What I realized thought was that if I quit I would be letting my team down. They were relying on me to be there and to do a job and by quitting I would be leaving my responsibility for someone else to do. And because of that reason alone I decided to stick it out for the whole summer. And the happy ending would be to say that it got easier and more fun and I was glad that I stayed with the group. However, it never got easier and it never became more fun. But because I had dedicated myself to the cause I stuck with it. I learned a lot about my own personal strength that summer. I was having a hard time emotionally going into it and I still was when I came out. But I learned my own ability to push through hard times. It has a huge impact on who I am today because I know that if I put my mind to it, no matter how hard something is for me, I can accomplish it. The experience also taught me about the level of independence that I can have. I learned I don’t need to rely on a significant other in order to be my own person. The experience that summer was definitely not a good one, but it has given me something that I can use to go forward when I am scared or fearful of failing. Now when I look at a big task before me I can say to myself that if I did a full summer of drum corps, I can do anything. 

Coffee!

Today we went to brunch at Ermas and i decided to try coffee because i could and it's a pretty french thing to have coffee. So i decided to give it a go. With 1 cream and 1 sugar. And I discovered... I really like it! I had vanilla cream and it was really good! I was really surprised! I had always thought I wouldn't be able to do coffee that wasn't super done up! YAY! I can be social and everything! I'm so grown up!

Also I cut my pair of Aeropostale $5 skinny jeans. I put them at Capri length for now. Then I will see if i want them changed. But they seem a good length. They look cute as bermudas though too. So we will see. I have another pair that I plan on making cut off shorts because they are distressed already kinda so I think it will be good.

I got real Piza today. Sunshine. I have been craving it for forever! Now i am satisfied :-) I also got my tires changed over and Mom and I went to Goodwill and I got a cute pair of sparkly silver pumps which are adorable and totally me. I also got a pair of cute brown boots with no heels which I had been looking for for a while.

I have also started planning Megans Bachelorette party a little! :-) So that will be fun!

Abroad Meetings!

So I've done all the forms that i can do for abroad. I gave an academic reference form to my french prof yesterday (I had to run after her in the parking lot because she left so quick!) and she is going to do that soon. I also ordered a transcript to be sent yesterday. I met with the abroad adviser/coordinator for Western today. We sat and looked at the classes that I could take and what would transfer over. I told her I am more into taking less classes and taking what sounds fun for the experience not necessarily what will transfer. She seemed a little shocked that my parents think that's good and support it but she was glad for me. I put in 7 classes though I will probably only take 4. The program likes you to take 5 but WOU will let me just take 4 because it will transfer back as 18 credits because it is taking semester credits and making them quarter credits. I put in that i wanted to take these classes as options.

FRE/HIS 328 Provencal History and Culture through its Monuments
Introduction to the History of Provence and a study of its most exemplary monuments. Typically includes excursions to sites in Provence.

LIT 373 World Literature Classics
The Great Books of World Literature from Homer to the present day. A course that explores the art of storytelling at its finest in diverse cultural contexts, where the truths of the human spirit are revealed through the narrative imagination. Sophocles, Shakespeare, and Dostoyevsky are just a few of the major voices studied in this seminar. See syllabus for more details. Each semester we will focus on a selection of works.

FRE/LIT 315 Readings in French Literature I
Readings in French literature, from the 16th to the 18th centuries, and introduction to methods of literary analysis for students with the equivalent of at least two years of college-level French.

HIS 301 European History: 1870–1918
Major social, economic, political, and diplomatic developments in European history from 1870 to 1918.

And i put in to the program the different options for classes i would like to take

FRE 401 Translation and Stylistics I
Translation from English to French and French to English of literary texts, with constant reference to technical and theoretical considerations.

FRE/FLM 355 France as seen through its Movies, post WWII to the 1970’s
Study of the different facets of France — from literary imagination to social issues, from the 1980’s to today — through a varied selection of films.

FRE 335 Phonetics
Phonetic theory illustrated by aural practice and pronunciation. Intensive practice in sound reproduction and fine-tuning the ear to new sound combinations.

So we will see! I can't take them all but it is all about getting pre-approved and then seeing what actually will work time wise and if anything will transfer which isn't my biggest worry but meh! I figure I will wait and see what classes really go through and then decide. I am really excited!!! I am happy to be approved by WOU and be getting free stuff from the abroad program! Today they had people visiting from the program and I stole a pen and some candy and a pamphlet. Get ALL the goods! Now I am waiting for the WOU abroad coordinator to get the syllabi for the classes from the college and then we will sit down and really see what will transfer as what and what I really want to take and get everything written down and signed. A lot of times colleges will screw you over when you go abroad because they say that things will transfer as other things when they don't. But WOU seems good about getting everything in writing. So that is nice. So now I just wait for her to email me about my next meeting! YAY everything is going GREAT!!!

Also i checked in on my petition to the resistrar to drop 2 classes after the drop date and not get a W or be responsible for a grade. And the GRANTED IT!!! YAY! Now the classes are invisible and it is like I never took them!

How I Feel Life is Going