2nd Job

Mom and I wandered through Medora today. The Chateau de Mores (where I will be working -- look it up) has an even more beautiful view than my window and the house and history are fascinating. I have so much to learn from the people here and about the history.

We also wandered through town for most of the afternoon and ended up in one of the gift shops. Mom started talking to the man that runs the store and now I may have a 2nd (part-time) job lined up for the summer, too. This should be good because I'm not sure what I would do with three full days off otherwise. It looks (right now) like I'll be working 6 10 hour days (possibly some work in the evenings) and have a day off to go to the grocery store in Dickinson, explore the park, or whatever else I might want to do.

Anyway, I'm tired (my body clock is still in Central time), so I think I'm going to bed. I plan to go to the Lutheran church in the morning, so I'll let you all know how that goes.

Medora: Day 1

I arrived in Medora, North Dakota around 5 PM yesterday. It was a long drive from the Twin Cities to Medora (6:30 AM CST to 5:00 PM MDT). However, North Dakota really isn't as flat and boring as some people might think. The western half is quite beautiful and hilly -- the speed limit's also 75 mph for those who are curious.

The dorm room is small (for those of you who know West Hall at Dordt, think one of the rooms for two people). Thankfully, I'll have AC this summer, since it will get quite hot eventually.

I start work on Monday at 7:30 AM and work until 6:30 PM. It'll be 4 10 hour long days and then I have to find something to do with my free time. Mom and I are going to the Chateau de Mores today to see the women homesteaders exhibit and then at some point we'll have to go to Dickinson to go shopping (there is no grocery store in Medora) and I have to drop Mom off at the bus stop.

Last Weekend

Well, it's the last weekend before exams and my mom and little brother are coming in about 40 minutes to get all of my stuff and take it home. It's a little depressing to have to still be here without my stuff, but on the bright side, I'll have A LOT more space. Also, rearranging all the furniture will be a lot easier once my stuff isn't an issue.

I've been trying and trying all week to get my passport, but first I had trouble printing pictures and then I found out that, because I was under sixteen when my last passport was issued, I need my birth certificate in addition to my driver's license and passport. So far, I haven't had any travel adventures, but getting the IDs required to travel has been a little bit of a hassle.

I have so much to do as far as homework is concerned in the next week -- including about another 50 pages of writing for my Screenwriting class. I love that class, but I think the amount of work left just might kill me -- or at least make me very sleep deprived.

Bridge to Terebithia and paper writing

Well, I'm sitting on the couch trying to write a paper and watching Bridge to Terebithia at the same time, which probably isn't the best idea. However, I'm within about 500 words or so of being finished with the paper. Unfortunately, the topic for the paper (Herbert Butterfield) is a person that my professor knows a lot about -- most of the sources I came up with, he wrote... So this paper is a pretty intimidating challenge.

It's still hard to believe that the school year will be over soon. Last night I was feeling a little depressed, so I spent most of the night watching Howl's Moving Castle (I should have been doing homework). But, I'm confident that I will be able to finish the paper in the next hour/hour and a half and then I can focus much more on packing. Mom and Sam will show up on Friday to take most of my stuff home, then I'll be home for Tulip Time the next week.

Watching movies like Howl's Moving Castle and Bridge to Terebithia makes me wish that I was making better use of my creative talents. Unfortunately, I have very little spare creative energy because I have to write papers and write a movie script (a large undertaking, I must admit). Hopefully this summer I will have the opportunity to write more poetry and fiction...that sounds so good.

Back to Butterfield and reality...

The End of the School Year is Approaching

Although it sometimes doesn't seem like it, the end is approaching more quickly than I had expected, and it seems more difficult this year because of all of the other stuff that I have to plan for in advance. I have a lot of paperwork that needs to be filled out for MESP and I have to figure out all the logistics of getting me to and from North Dakota and to and from the Middle East.

It's hard to believe that this weekend and next weekend are the last ones that I'll spend with some of my friends until graduation (which is also approaching quickly...). It would be fun to get together and hang out, but we're all so busy that there is no time for that.

I'm hoping to get most/all of my homework for the rest of the school year done in the next couple days so that I can pack next week without worrying about homework. Everyone else in my apartment hasn't really started packing yet, but at least most of my stuff will be gone when they do.

Less than two weeks and I'll be home -- excited and nervous for the summer and fall.

Reliving Childhood

Tonight, I was reminded of one of my favorite TV shows when I was little: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Needless to say, I've had the song stuck in my head since getting back from NISO rehearsal and I haven't gotten very much done.

However, I have figured out my independent study for my English major. This summer, I plan to read books about the American Civil War and historical fiction based on the time period, as well as write two or three original pieces of short historical fiction. Since I'll only be working four days a week, I figure this might be a doable project.

I still have so much to do to get ready for the summer and for fall semester. It feels like the mountains of paperwork will never end. And I have to fill out this paperwork and finish up all of my assignments and tests for this semester at the same time.

Either way, it's a "Middle Eastern" week. Wednesday my Modern Middle East class is having a Middle Eastern dinner and Friday is the Cultural Fair on campus -- the Middle East will be represented there, too.

The Best Laid Plans

It's been awhile since I've posted on here, but I've been hard at work today researching and writing papers. This is a welcome break.

I found a job for the summer -- an internship with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and I start in May. This isn't what I had planned for my summer, but I'm looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing different things. This summer will certainly stretch and challenge me in new ways.

I found out on Thursday that I have been accepted to CCCU's Middle East Studies Program (MESP) based in Cairo, Egypt for the Fall 2009 semester. I originally applied for the program back in January, and while my friends Cheryl and Betsy were accepted at the Early Application Deadline, Ryan and I had to wait. I was very disappointed and questioned why I hadn't been accepted, but I dealt with the disappointment and learned to trust God for his perfect timing (Proverbs 3: 5-6).

At the regular application deadline, I honestly wasn't expecting to be accepted to the program. I didn't want to be disappointed like I had been the last time. This time, though, I was accepted (and so was Ryan). Four people from Dordt will be on MESP next semester! :)

The end of this semester is bittersweet. Some of my good friends plan to study abroad in Spring 2010, so unknowingly, this has been our last semester together. We'll make what we can of what's left and we'll see each other at graduation next year, but it's hard sometimes to grow up and move on. It's definitely been a rollercoaster. I've had some great "highs" and some terrible "lows," but I wouldn't trade this semester for the world. I've learned so much, not only academically, but also about God and his goodness! However, I'm ready for this semester to end and have my adventures begin. There's so much beautiful and vivid culture to experience, so many things to see -- and so little time to do it!