not freeze to death.

I've survived my first test and my first big project! At least I hope I did, I haven't actually gotten any feedback from either. Anyways, the sun is still here but it is so cold! My roomate laughed at me when I came back from my first class this morning, grabbed a blanket and curled up to try regain feeling in my fingers. So first action: put away all flip flops, t-shirts, and skirts. Oh wait, I can't do that because all that will leave me with is a few pairs of jeans and a couple of brown sweaters, oh and I do have two pairs of tennis shoes. But the point is that I am not prepared for the artic winter that I can feel lurking around the corner. I'm barely even prepared for the beginning of October. As for other news, my room is still clean, we've been having tons of fun with the campus directories that we got last week, there's not one page that isn't highlighted or scribbled on or anything. But don't worry, we haven't been playing the 'pick your future husband' game, at least not more than once. I also get to sleep-in tomorrow! Although I'm really excited, I'm a bit sad too. Today was my last day as a mini-teacher in the second grade. The kids all signed a card for me with a gift certificate for pizza. And I got to read them my favorite book today, "Click, Clack, Moo. Cows that Type." Very fun.

breathe again.

I feel so free! I just gave my first speech and turned in my first major paper. Both of these things have been hanging over my head just like the storm that brewed all weekend. And guess what? The sun is shining through my window! The lightening and thunder are gone, and I have time on my hands. Time to blog. Time to email. Time to call home (yes, Brenna, you can tell me about your volleyball game now...I really hope you won!). I even cleaned my room and took out my trash. It's so wonderful. And for the moment I'm not going to even give a single thought to my first test that is coming up in two days or the number of essays that will need to be written soon. So please don't think that I've abandoned you or forgotten about anyone or anthing at home. I'm still as homesick and missing you as before.

get used to dark hair.

Before and After
I decided to try a new color. Angela wanted to dye her hair auburn so I decided that I might as well join in. I picked a color that's basically a medium golden brown. At first Angela was the only one that was nervous, but then I realized that no one had ever dyed anyone's hair before except for me. Not a problem right? Except for the fact that I was the one getting my hair permanently dyed. Thankfully, Heather is very good at reading directions. So about 12:15 my hair turned from a boring, sunbleached, ash brown. Both Angela's hair and my hair turned out pretty good, although I think she's a bit worried about sending a picture to her mom.
Other than that, nothing to exciting has happened, except for maybe the extreme humidity that we had today. The power went off earlier and I think that we'll probably have a thunderstorm tonite. Yipee! That means I'll have another excuse to be distracted from huge paper that I have to write tonite!

catch a cold.

Angela, Heather and me out in the storm.

stay away from the farmers (just kidding).

So last night, my friend Angela and I got so tired of sitting and trying to be too distracted to do homework that we went to the campus center to find some food. On the way back to the dorm we noticed tons of beautiful lightning across the entire sky. After bringing some of our things back to our rooms, we stepped back outside to watch the show. A few minutes later it began to sprinkle so we decided to go to the library for a few minutes to print out some homework. By the time we got to the outside door to head towards our dorm, it was pouring. We could see the wind pushing the rain, making it seem that it was raining even harder than it was, if that's even possible. We debated waiting it out or sending someone to bring us an umbrella, but finally I managed to drag Angela through the door. By the time we had made it the half block or so to our door, the two of us were completely soaked. We stumbled up the stairs to our room laughing and once we got there, Angela and my roomate decided that it would be fun to run back out in it. Of course, I am not one to miss out on excitement, so I followed along. At first being the tallest object in the middle of a parking lot in a lightning storm worried us, but the huge puddles were calling. Even though the rain slowed down after a little while, we continued to splash and run and of course twirl. By about 11:30 we finally came in for a hot shower, after which we were able to start our homework.
As far as other news, I've started working in the classroom for my education class. I'm mini-teaching in the second grade class of the local christian school. I usually go for about an hour and a half 4 times a week. So far I've done a lot of one-on-one stuff like flashcards and practicing spelling words. The kids are a lot of fun and the teacher is wonderful, but it's so weird to be called by my last name. I first introduced myself with just my first name but that's not what they want you to do. I think it will be a while before it doesn't throw me off when the kids call me "Miss". I'll only be working there for a few more weeks and then I can sleep in again. Oh and this morning, it was still raining so I borrowed a friend's car to go over to the school. But they have been working on the roads around campus and our parking lot was blocked in. I thought about driving up on the sidewalk to get to another parking lot, but the security is always making a huge deal about the fines that will be given out to people who do that. Finally I went in to talk to someone who told me just to do it and try not to get caught. I don't think I would have been as worried except that it wasn't my car and I really don't want to have to give up the little money I have. So anyway I finally made it to the road and then the stupid signs in this town threw me off yet again. They don't have numbers intersecting with letters like most normal cities. The have numbers that are placed and repeated randomly intersecting with more random numbers. "just don't pay attention to the street signs" my roomate tells me. The problem is that there isn't a whole lot of ways to figure out how to go anywhere without street names, that's why they have them, especially since all the houses look the same. So I did actually manage to make it to the elementary school only a few minutes late and I made it back on time to school, so I probably shouldn't complain too much.

get enough sleep.

I love the rain! Its finally seeming to cool off. We've been having thunderstorms for the past two days and it has rained off and on, but in the afternoon it always seems to be hot. The rain makes up for it. I don't know what I'll do when it starts snowing as much as it rains at home. And when I actually have school when its snowing! I can't imagine sitting in class when there's a snowman to be made and a snowball fight to start. My roomate is probably going to have to drag me out of bed the first time it snows. All my life when there was a chance of snow, I slip out of bed and open the blinds, just a crack. And if there was even a single snowflake in the air, I would hop back in bed and not get out till 9. But now everyone laughs at me when I tell them that I've never gone to school when its snowing.
Anyways whether it does get hot today or not, its going to be a great day, because today is the one day of the week when I don't have my least favorite class. And I get to do my laundry today!

eat popcorn with chopsticks.

I finally got off campus! I convinced some friends to go to a big concert type thing that ran all weekend. It was hot, dusty, windy, and overall just gross, but it was fun to be away from school and not spend the whole weekend at my desk doing homework. I actually only watched one concert, Caedmon's Call, because I met up with my cousin and left early. It was nice to finally be able to spend some time with someone that I knew and was comfortable with, plus she has to love me because we're related. And on Sunday afternoon I visited all of my grandparents and had a big family dinner with a ton of cousins and aunts and uncles and anyone else who just happened to show up for free food. :) But again, it was fun and relaxing and my grandma makes great food...soooo much better than the food I eat here. I was able to see my cousin's new baby, Madelyn, who is adorable. Oh and the best part? On my way out, my grandma filled up a box of bars from her freezer. Tosha bars, rice crispy bars, seven-layer bars...now if I can just keep them away from my roomate.

take more pictures.

Here's another picture of my room, my roomate's in the pink and the one in the blue is girl from third floor. She always comes down and keeps us from doing our homework. Not that we'd do anyway... :)

remember my new phone number.

You can all sleep well now. I actually had some success in the phoneroom. In fact, it was almost enjoyable, I got to know a couple of my coworkers and they actually made it kinda fun. Although I did get hung up on once. And from now on, I'm going be so much nicer to telemarketers. No more hanging up on them, no more laughing at them or making them repeat their entire speech. Don't worry I'm not going buy anything, but I know how tramatizing it can be. I mean really, next time someone mispronounces your name, think of me.
But by far, the best thing that happened to me was that I got mail! Not one, not two, but three!!! I've been looking in my box every day since I've been here. Everytime I confidently walked into the mailroom, hope beaming from my face. Everyday, I was dissapointed, while my friends got package after package, letters from family members, friends, and their banks. But today! Today I got mail! I was beginning to wonder if I had gotten someone else's mailbox and key, someone who was mean to their parents and had no friends, who didn't deserve any mail. But no, they had my name on them! Someone does love me. Brenna...hurry and send me another card!

be convincing.

So my first day of work could have used improvement. About the only good thing that I can say about it was that I survived. I don't think I'll change my major to communications or whatever would involve working in the phoneroom for the rest of my life. I really don't think I would change my major to something that would require me to work in the phoneroom for more than what I have to do this semester so that I can buy new clothes and food and go to movies. I do have two friends that have to work in the dishroom early in the morning, and at first I thought that was the worst job on campus...but maybe not. If only I could get enough donations so that I would feel like I actually earned my 6 bucks or whatever. But no, I got nothing. Not one in a whole hour of agony. But looking on the bright side, I did get one maybe...yah right, like that'll ever happen. That's what people say just so that they won't get called again. It wouldn't have been so bad if the girl right next to me, also a first timer, hadn't earned way more than her 6 bucks on her first call. I hate asking people for money over and over. When people say no they mean no, they don't mean ask me again or call me later or send me a letter. But thankfully, tonite, I have a planner party (doesn't sound too fun, but its better than calling) so I have to be an hour late, and than a fire safety meeting which I'll have to leave early for. Yipee for excuses!