I didn't want to post anything earlier this week without being able to give you good news. But I'm going! I got an email this afternoon from ILP, accepting me for the Spring 2009 semester which means I will leave sometime in January or February and returning in June.

Now, I still need to fill out a 15 page document and make a payment in order to officially reserve my spot so I still don't know exact dates. But. I've been accepted! And I'm so excited!

I'm excited to meet my students and fall in love with them. I'm excited to teach them and learn from them. I'm excited to take pictures of everything I see and blog about my entire experience. I'm excited to explore. I'm about to live my dream. I'm excited for everything. I'm excited to just crash and burn while I'm teaching because... (sigh)... I don't speak Mandarin. I'm excited to learn more about myself and the world. And cultures. And people. And history. Everything. Learn. Grow. Discover. Accomplish. Live. Laugh. Love. Ardently.

To do list:

1. Pick a program: check.
2. Pick a country: check.
3. Apply online: check.
4. Get academic reference: check.
5. Get character reference: check.
   
6. Go to interview: check.
   
7. Apply for passport: check.
   
8. Get accepted: will know next week.
   

So I'm a college student. Yep. I go to college. I learn. Lalala. Nothing too special about that.

Things I am happy about right now:

• Pretty sure I'm getting "a little kitty kiiitty". You basically just have to hear me say that.
• I'm enjoying school, and the knowledge I get from it. Like the other day, in my Interpersonal Communications class, we were learning about relationships. There are different kinds you see. Like, I-It (generally consist of strangers, maybe a server. Someone you don't treat like an individual, they are just there), I-You (most of your friends/acquaintances. You recognize them as an individual), and I-Thou (basically your family and best friends, you know their hopes and dreams and they know yours). I had a job interview. The guy treated me like an "It". Well, I didn't appreciate that. So I don't care if they give me the job.
• I'm making many new friends. People from school. People from church. People I like. People who like me. Friends.
• I filled out a Passport Application. I'm not entirely sure where I'm going. Or when. That's why I'm getting a passport now. How about we put a vote on it? When you get the chance go here, here, and here. Pick your favorite and tell me why. And please! Comments mean a lot to me and so does your opinion! Also, if you know of any other programs along these lines, I'm interested!
  
• Took my first test today, I really think I did well. I'll let ya know.
• I have two job interviews this week/next week. Woo!
• I put bed risers on my bed. I feel like a princess.
  

Things I am unhappy about:

• Some friends seem to be disappearing out of my life. Some seem to be popping in every once in a while. Teasing me. They love me, they love me not. Please make up your minds. It's hard not knowing if you'll be around or not.
• I don't get to read as much as I want. I mean novels. Those beautiful stories I hunger for. Last night I was talking to some friends about books and movies. Before this conversation, I considered myself relatively well-read. Ooh-ho-hoh no. I was sadly mistaken. It made me desperately want to sit and read for days. Not so I could catch up to them in their knowledgeable ways. They talked so highly of classics like Moby Dick and Crime and Punishment. Jane Eyre and Persuasion. All books I've wanted to read but just haven't had the time.
• I saw a really big scary spider in my room yesterday. No really. This one was really bad. Like, huge. I'm not exaggerating this time. Ew. I'm unhappy about this because I think he was in the mafia. So he probably has friends. Who are his size. ACK!
  

Things I've been thinking about:

• I have this one friend who seems to read me like a book. I don't even know him that well. Maybe he's just really that perceptive, or maybe I wear my heart on my sleeve but he knows when I'm not myself. Also, every time I talk to him, he says something that is a huge answer to a question bobbing around in my soul. On any other day, if he said what he did, it would be nothing special. Wouldn't think twice about it. But the other day a simple, "You are awesome, thanks for being yourself" was a big deal to me.
• I'm friends with these two people (the ones I was talking books with as I mentioned earlier). They are brother and sister. They have an awesome relationship. I can't really put my finger on what makes their relationship so interesting to me. They're best friends. The word patience comes to mind. It makes me wonder what their childhood was like together. What drew these two siblings together instead of others in their family? Or is their entire this close with each other?
• There's nothing wrong with being yourself. Even if it makes other people unhappy. Especially if it makes other people unhappy. I learned this again. I won't change who I am because someone doesn't like it. What I like, or what I don't. What I do or don't do. What I believe in. And I believe in a lot of things. Possibly a whole post's worth.
• Also, I think it's very fashionable to wear your heart on your sleeve. Maybe you get hurt more but you learn, grow, and become a lot more too.

The end.

Song of the day.
Favorite moments:
"Are your friends really your friends?
Are you still waiting for the end of the day?
Hey, hey, when will you learn to love what's sent from up above?
...
But it's a facade like the sky, like the moon, like your eyes
...
Oh, I wish I had someone.
Who would want you as you are?
What can you give they couldn't get from someone else?
What life of ease, what wedding bells, what pretty stones, what precious wealth?
...
It's called a come on, come on, come on baby
Does your heart echo like a hall
'Cause there's no one there at all"

I'm not creative enough to step away from the tradition of the random 100 facts in celebration of the 100th post. I sure hope it doesn't bore any of you to tears.

1. When I was about two years old I got drunk after I got into the window wash.
2. I was rushed to the hospital to get my stomach pumped.
   
3. As a child I was very quiet and shy.
4. Most people I meet now don't believe this.
5. I went to the first three days of Kindergarten in pull-ups.
6. When I realized that all the other kids really WERE using the potty, I grew a desire to wear the big girl panties.
   
7. For the majority of my childhood, I would only consume macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and watermelon sandwiches.
8. I hate watermelon unless it's on a peanut butter sandwich.
9. I only like extra crunchy peanut butter.
10. I get that from my stepmom.
11. I only say stepmom because I have to. If I didn't have to differentiate between my two moms, I wouldn't. They are both my mom.
12. In fact, "step" isn't really part of my daily vocabulary.
13. I did gymnastics until I broke my arm in the fourth grade by falling off the high bar.
14. I wore a Snoopy sling for months.
15. When they said I didn't need it anymore I cut it up into small pieces and lit those pieces on fire.
16. I was way too cool for that stupid Snoopy sling.
17. I grew out of the hating Snoopy stage.
    
18. I believe in Christ, His gospel and church.
19. Those beliefs make me the happy one.
    
20. In elementary school and junior high I was involved in musical theatre.
21. I still have a passion for acting, singing, and dancing.
22. I'm not too great at any of them. Except maybe singing.
23. I have a fiery passion for music of every kind.
24. I think the passion was always there, but my piano teacher was the one who lit it on fire.
    
25. I've played the piano for ten years.
26. A year or two before I quit taking lessons my piano teacher told me she had come close to quitting many times and that my talent, dedication, and success was one of the main reasons she kept sticking with it. The second she said that, I knew I wouldn't play for anyone except her.
27. I still feel guilty for quitting.
28. I've played lacrosse since I was in 8th grade.
29. During my senior year I pretty much single handedly started a lacrosse team at my high school.
30. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
31. The wonderful coach of that team started calling me Megs.
32. It's my favorite nickname.
    
33. I grind my teeth when I sleep. This causes me to have frequent headaches.
34. Because my jaw muscles are so exhausted all the time, I rarely chew gum. It intensifies the headache.
35. My jaw pops every time I open it, but only on the left side.
36. Almost every one of my joints pop with out much force.
37. I have arthritis. I know when the weather is about to change.
    
38. If given the choice, I will always pick something that is on my left side. Or the bottom of a stack.
39. When I'm shopping at the grocery store, I never take the front item. Especially if it's chips. It's because the ones in the back are touched less.
40. I will always pick odd numbers. For instance, the T.V. volume must be an odd number.
41. The only exception to this is when eating. Equal/even amounts of food to each side of the mouth.
42. I love alliterations and use them frequently when I'm writing creatively.
43. I love poems and short stories.
44. I took a creative writing class and wrote a few short stories and some poems.
45. My teacher bribed me to submit them to a teen literary magazine.
46. I have no idea if they got published or not. I don't really care either way.
47. Writing has always been more of a stress outlet for me than for an audience.
48. I also experiment with art as a stress outlet. I find it soothing.
49. There are millions of books on my reading list. I often go to the bookstore and drool.
    
50. Something tells me I wont get to all of them.
51. I daydream about my future everyday.
52. I look at my niece and nephews and wonder what my kids will be like. What kind of mother I will be.
53. No matter where I am, I always sleep with my back towards the entrance of the room.
54. I feel like if I'm not constantly progressing in some way or another, I'm moving backwards.
55. I hate cold weather.
56. I must have at least two sons and one daughter because I already have their first and middle names picked out.
57. Future Husband has absolutely no say in the matter.
58. Well, unless he likes the names. Which he will, or I wouldn't have married him.
59. I have a pretty good idea of what kind of person Future Husband will be.
60. I have a hunger for traveling and experiencing other cultures.
61. I say hunger because I feel like I'm living without a major necessity having never left the U.S.
62. My best friend and I share this hunger. Ever since we met we've had this joke that once we both graduated high school, we would get enough money for a plane ticket and work our way around the world. Nomads.
63. We both know that the other is in no way joking.
64. I love school supplies.
65. One of my very favorite movies is You've Got Mail. I identify with Kathleen Kelly.
66. Not in the emailing and falling in love with a perfect stranger who happens to be the man who puts me out of business kind of way. More in the I love books and simplicity and Jane Austen and daisies and bouquets of newly sharpened pencils way.
67. I love pictures because they seem to speak without words.
68. I have a coat hanger in my room.
69. It holds purses and scarves... and coats.
70. I pride myself in saying that I have a childlike sense of adventure and curiosity.
71. Speaking of pride, my sisters say that I will grow up and have 12 kids and a perfect garden and wonderful kitchen and so on. The epitome of a soccer mom.
    
72. I always bring it up in a mockingly bitter tone when my future is being discussed with out my input.
73. One time after I did, my sister said that an emotion is visible on my face every time I say something about it and that emotion is pride.
74. She's right.
75. It's because I can't think of anything better to do with my life then raising a happy family.
76. It's also because they believe I'll be good at it.
77. I bring it up in a bitter way because I hate being so predictable.
78. I am actually accepted by both the pirate and ninja communities.
79. I have never lost an ugly face war.
80. I would almost always rather listen to oldies music than the music from the decade I was actually born.
81. I write in my journal almost every single day.
82. Sometimes I read it and realize how far I've come.
83. Sometimes I read it and laugh.
84. Sometimes I read it and want to throw it away because no one should have to read THAT!
85. But I never do.
86. Because what if my great grandchildren read it and can relate to my craziness?
87. I'll tell you what. They'll know that they are doomed to become like the giggling old lady in a rocking chair that pinches their cheeks and won't stop talking about rainbows and butterflies.
    
88. Sometimes I have panic attacks.
89. Don't worry, it's rare and I'm learning how to keep it under control.
90. I love hugs.
91. I love rings.
92. I love collages.
93. I love photo booths.
94. I can sew a pillowcase.
95. I can bake some great chocolate chip cookies.
96. I can't take a shower that lasts longer than 15 minutes.
97. My favorite colors are yellow, orange, and green. They are the happiest colors. Friendly.
98. More of my personality comes out when I'm extremely tired.
99. I have a razor scooter with a basket and bell. I ride it often.
100. I will never half-heartedly commit to something that's important to me. Sometimes I'm even a bit of a perfectionist.
     

In high school, there was this bench. It was right outside of the cafeteria. "The Bench" is where I spent my lunch hour every day during my junior year. It was more than just a bench. We formed friendships and memories there.

I remember one day, after school, we sat on the bench and talked for a few. We all ended up on the floor, unable to stop laughing. I can't remember why.

This is the last of The Benchers. Missions are wonderful, but I already miss those friends.

Caley, Cam, Laney, Megan, Bridget, Dave, Sam, Mike (not a bencher, but still awesome)

Every once in a while, The Benchers get together and have a cereal party. A cereal party is usually on a Saturday morning or a holiday, such as today. It consists of unlimited supply of cereal, cartoons, movies, video games, friends, laughter, and silliness. Pajamas are required. It wasn't quite the same with out this guy today. He left in early August.

This kid is bangarang.

Surprise! The festivities started early with six close besties and this, on Friday afternoon.

"My name is Optimus Prime. We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron."

New boyfriend? Perhaps. Oh, who am I kidding? How can you resist those guns? (Haha! Get it?!)

Pinata! Pinata! Pinata!

I wish I had taken a picture of all who were there. My friend from Layton drove all the way here just for me. I'm loved.

Saturday was a happy birthday! It started with a delicious breakfast with Laney and Caley. Got distracted on the way home and went for a test drive.

Sasha.

The sky looks cool through the mirror.

Then I saw it again. I will never tire from that movie. Ever.

I will never ever ever grow up.

A friend of a friend was having a back to school party. That's where I met the teeter totter. Also where I met a new friend. From Australia. With an accent. Yep, that just happened. I wish I could talk like that. Or maybe I just wish I could hear people talk like that all the time.

One of my favorite birthdays. Throughout the day I said many things like, "Can you drive? It's my birthday." or "You should let me eat some of your french fries. Why? Because it's my birthday."

I got two other surprises here and here. Thank you! =)

And one of my best friends sent me this.

Yep. It fits.

Song of the day. -- OH MY AWESWOME!