Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.
And the rest of you.
I am proud to announce that I have officially completed my first semester of college. I am alive and I have survived!!!
Tuesday felt a bit stressful. I was pretty nervous that I hadn't studied enough for my Text Studies final- There was a lot that was going to be on it, and there were some plays we read that I had a really hard time understanding... (Death and the King's Horseman by Wole Soyinka and The America Play by Suzan Lori-Parks, for example). However, our professor led a totally chill final, plus, I found out by the final's contents that I had studied enough. Exactly enough, actually. I think I did well!!
I didn't have a whole lot of time to study for my Intro to Production final... I didn't think I needed to be too worried, since the final was short. I was right. Everyone was super relaxed about the test, including me. There were a few questions on our 20 question multiple-choice/short answer test that made me really worried though.... It took me a good 5 minutes of staring at the test to remember what one of the terms meant....
I made myself study for my Spanish final that evening, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. The hard work paid off, however, because that night I got to hang out with Jessie, Jinny, Sneha, Kate, and two new friends- Joyce and Sarah. We stayed up late and had a blast! I went to bed much earlier than they did though. They went to get food at around 1am, but I went to bed. When I first woke up Wednesday morning, I noticed Jinny finally coming back to the room. They stayed up until 7am!!
Wednesday was pretty torturous, to be honest. Everybody was leaving, and I was watching everybody leave. I finished my own packing, and cleaned up the room from top to bottom after Jinny left to go to Palm Springs with her family. I then tried to do more studying for my Spanish final.... but I could see everyone going away... bit by bit.... It took a lot of willpower to have patience enough to study.
On the bright side, I met up with Thomas before my final! We got to hang out for a short while just to say bye and Merry Christmas. I also met up with a newer friend, Brenan. I think that's how he spells his name...
Speaking of friends, my friend Tyler was taking the Spanish final with me!!! It was the biggest final I've had out of all of them... and by biggest, I mean by how many people were in the room. Half of all the students at USC taking Spanish 3 were in the room, which clarifies why Tyler was there with me. Nevertheless, it was fairly easy, and I finished just fine. And I practically ran back to my dorm room with joy.
Free!!! Free at last!!!! Able to go home and all of a sudden done with my first semester!!!!
I want to say that the time flew by... In some ways, it did. In others, it certainly didn't. It feels like it's been a while and that so much has happened. But at the same time, my lack of specific stories and the weather in LA hardly ever changing makes it seem like it hasn't been quite as long as it has. I don't know what to make of it...
What I do know now that I didn't at the beginning of the semester is what I'm up against with this whole college thing. I know the type of person I am better, and I know the type of person I want to be even better than that. I guess I've got more specific goals now, and much more clarity on how to get to them. Not crystal clear still... but a better idea. It's like I've been traveling at night. I knew before what my destination was, but wasn't sure what road I was on or if it was the right one or where to turn. Now, I'm making the same journey in the daytime... but in a horrible fog. I've got a better idea of where I'm going, but I'm still not certain. You know?
Anyways, I practically flew to the airport, and I wish I literally had because my taxi driver almost made me throw up. Yay for LA drivers... blech.
For once, I had a nice amount of time to hang out in the airport before my flight! Plus, a couple things happened there:
1. I saw my friend Brenan! It was quite a surprise, especially because I saw him earlier at school. We had a pretty short conversation, but it was still quite a fun coincidence!
2. I made a friend with the guy that worked at the Lemonade restaurant. On my way to the gate, I was passing through to get a better look at the food (and see if it was the same as the Lemonade on campus). I met a worker there because I almost ran into him, and then we had a short conversation on the "No alcohol past this point" sign. I was confused because there was a bar less than 20 feet away, on the other side of the main walkway where people go to their gates. Also, normal Lemonades sell alcohol?!? Apparently they do... And apparently there's no alcohol allowed on that walkway. So there ya go. Anyways, I went back to the same store after I found my gate to get food from there, and had another chat with the worker. The gist of it was, "So you came back!!!" and me telling him that I have a Lemonade on my college campus. He asked which campus, seeming surprised, and I told him USC. He proceeded to mutter the acronym "USC" to himself for a few minutes afterwards. But yeah. Made a friend.
I finally got to read more of Pride and Prejudice on my flight. Yay :)
And then I was home. Just like that. It was wonderful and something I've been looking forward to for ages.
Since then, I've been pretty busy!!! Got to see most of my friends at an Alumni Lunch at TKA, then went to see Frozen (FINALLY) with some of those friends right after!!!
Analysis of Frozen: (No spoilers)
First and foremost, I loved it. I felt like the general gist of both the movie and the short film that came before it was an attempt to transplant classic Disney (the type in The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast etc.) into the modern era. That said, Frozen is very modern in style and themes. VERY modern. However, it's still a classic fairy tale, and you still get that out of it. It's like... animation steampunk or something. Overall, a graceful blend of classic Disney and the values of our modern era.
It makes me think deeper about our modern values though... Especially feminism and what we value in women nowadays.
As far as the story- Loved it. Characters- Amazing. Soundtrack- Fantastic. Animation- Stunning. Especially all the snowflakes.
Conclusion: Go see it!!!!!!
Thursday and Friday were full of shopping for me, after the movie Thursday. I got a lot of my Christmas presents through clothes with my mom and my aunt. I love my new clothes though!!! My favorite item at the moment is an army-green jacket with red and grey sweater sleeves.
Friday afternoon I went to my beautiful friend Abbey's house. We went to a nail salon and met up with Annie, Rae, and Kristina, and got our nails done! I got a pedicure, they got manicures, but that's ok. My feet needed the pampering more than my hands after all those gross dorm room floors. Merry Christmas to me!
We all slept over at Abbey's that night. I've missed my girls so incredibly much so getting to spend a night with them was a huge blessing. I love them so much!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
Saturday I paid for my lack of sleep. I got back home around 12:30pm, but had an appointment with the eye doctor at 2. I've decided that eye appointments are my least favorite type of appointment. Dentists are fine as long as they aren't numbing or drilling something. Doctors? No problem. I can handle shots. Eye doctor?.... Nope. I hate the bright lights and the puffs of air they put in your eyes and trying to discern which letters are clearer when they look practically the same and the office that lost your record of appointments when they renovated the area.... At least my doctor was nice.
I got home and packed... eventually... Had to get some help on the clothes from my grandmother and a shot of coffee. Grandma and Grandpa were over for dinner though, which was lovely!
We finished packing, I painted my nails, and then my family had an early Christmas where we exchanged our gifts with each other. :) I loved it. I love everything I was given and I love that my family loves what I gave them. (at least, I hope they do. If they don't they faked it well).
This morning we got up at 4am to fly to Montana. I finished Pride and Prejudice on the plane!!!! I finally understand why people love Mr. Darcy... I'm totally ashamed of myself for saying it, but I might love him a bit too. Also, I really want to play Elizabeth or Jane on an onstage version of Pride and Prejudice.
Once we got here, we spent the day playing in the snow and learning about my family history from my grandma. And, of course, eating too much and spending great time with family.
So that's where I write to you from now- warm and safe, in Montana.
I'm on vacation, I'm relaxed, and I'm free for a few weeks. It feels really nice... almost a return to normalcy.
Though... what is normal anymore? Normal is very slowly becoming how life is at college.... but being back and being back in Montana feels normal as well... It's a different kind of normal, maybe, but one that I gladly accept.
Before the break is over, I've got a lot of goals to complete. I want to set myself up to go back to school in January prepared and well set-up for a kick-butt second semester. How ironic that winter vacation is my opportunity to be even more proactive!!!
But, at least until we get home after Christmas... I'm going to relax and have fun.
Goodnight, and Fight on.
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