Sick of Home, or Home-sick?

I'm realizing more and more now that I actually enjoy being at home.  It's really rather strange, because in high school I couldn't wait to be on my own.  I guess distance really does make the heart grow fonder.  I find myself missing my house, my parents, watching tv with my dad-- all the simple things that used to bore me so when I was a full time resident.  I've become so lame. Or perhaps I've just grown up.  

Golden Haze

What an unexpectedly pleasant afternoon I've had-- bonding over Chinese food with my coworkers, experiencing my first almond blossom Italian soda, reading a short story book in the coffee shop next door, and no commitments for the rest of the evening.  Absolutely delightful!

Mental Transformation

I honestly feel like I'm just now beginning to live.  I'm not positive how this monumental realization came to me, but after four torturous years of struggling, something finally clicked.  My summer began as another all-or-nothing extravaganza, but somewhere along the way the truth revealed itself to me.  Now I am looking forward to entering this school year as a whole new me; not as someone who has undergone a drastic physical transformation, for the physical can only accompany the mental, but as someone who has finally learned to live.    

One More Time With Feeling

It's rather unnerving how a mere feeling can unexpectedly creep in and completely dominate your every thought.  It began with no concrete evidence, no reason.  An unfounded feeling.  A song on repeat, a new book, a classic drink; I painstakingly collect evidence that confirms my original disposition.

Perpetual butterflies.    

Taking the World By Storm.

Tackling challenges head on.  Grabbing the bull by the horns.  Whatever you want to call it, I'm taking advantage of this opportunity presented to me, and it feels amazing.  I'm being assertive--slightly out of character for me.  But thus far it's paying off, and I'm going to continue to test my boundaries.

Drops in the River

Today was such a lovely day! My sister is here until Wednesday because of my mom's graduation, so we spent the day on a family outing.  First we ventured to Great Falls, MD to see the waterfalls (duh) and the views were absolutely breathtaking.  We also packed a picnic lunch and got harassed by a hungry pack of geese.  It was nice to immerse myself in nature for a little while, but I would like to go back in the near future for a more intense hiking experience.  A few trails, for example the Billy Goats Trail, are a treat for experienced rock climbers that I would definitely like to try someday-- once I learn how to rock climb, of course. 


After spending the afternoon walking the trails of Great Falls, we drove into Georgetown for dinner.  Until this evening, Georgetown has been far underrated in my mind.  But today I realized just how beautiful the area really is!  The streets are filled with trendy young people, especially because the university is right around the corner.  There are tons of cute little shops and restaurants that make me swoon-- especially the Urban Outfitters that I dragged my family into today, though all I could afford was a pair of earrings.  We wandered the streets for a little while looking for a place to eat, when all of a sudden we turned onto a side street and saw a charming little cafe called Snap.  The menu consisted of crepes, paninis, bubble tea, and smoothies.  After a delicious meal of crepes and bubble tea eaten in the patio behind the cafe, we walked back to the car and headed on home.  Again, I would love to ride the metro into DC another time this summer to pay another visit!  Maybe try Georgetown Cupcake?  I'm curious to see what the hype is all about.  


Anyway, here are some pictures I took of the Falls!

Ticket to Ride

Reading Jack Kerouac's On the Road truly makes me long for travel... I can't wait for Spain study abroad! 
In other news, my sister and I purchased these knock-off Samoas made by the handy Keebler elves on our last grocery trip.  Too good to be legal. 

Perspective

My freshman year is 5 exams away from being over.  Say what?! How did the time escape me so quickly? Wasn't it just yesterday that I unpacked my belongings, my life, into that tiny, un-airconditioned dorm room?  I had 4 magical years awaiting me; 4 years of carefully walking the line between freedom and obligation.  Those 4 years have now dwindled down to 3.  Time passes far too quickly for my liking.


Last week I completed one of my final reading assignments for my Intro to Hispanic Studies course.  The subject of the piece was Ecuadorian illegal immigration to the United States-- depicting both the trauma immigrants experience on the voyage into this country and the hardships they face if they do succeed.


This article got me thinking about a friend of my grandmother I once met years ago.  I know little more about this woman other than her status as an illegal immigrant and that she earned her living by taxying friends around in her car for a few dollars fee.  I came to meet this woman when my grandmother called upon her to drive us to the mall for a shopping trip.  Though I was aware she was an illegal, nothing about her status particularly struck me as extraordinary; living in a community heavily populated by Hispanics, I was accustomed to these kinds of stories.


Now that I have read this article, however, I am suddenly awed by this woman.  Despite her status, I had never bothered to consider what she had experienced just to reach the U.S.  Had she laid face down in the bed of a truck covered by straw and hay?  Had she endured days, weeks even, in the cramped, hidden quarters of a ship?  I honestly don't know how she journeyed here, but to think that she may have experienced anything of the sort is mind-blowing to me.  To think that hundreds of thousands of people currently residing in the United States are harboring such traumatic personal histories that others will never understand-- that I just can't even fathom.

Throw Me Something Mister!

Mardi Gras 2011

DONGLOVER!

You've seen him on College Humor.  You've seen him in Derrick Comedy.  You've seen him as the slow, but ever lovable, character Troy on Community.  You may even know that he is a writer for 30 Rock.  But if you are yet to hear Donald Glover spit some rhymes, you are definitely missing out.
I myself am just discovering the full scope of Glover's talent.  While Troy has been my favorite Community character from day one (my friend Matt and I even greet each other using the Troy and Abed handshake!), I was unaware of his second career as a DJ and rapper.
I am not usually a big fan of rap/hip-hop, but this man's stuff is good.  After downloading his latest two mix tapes, I Am Just a Rapper and I Am Just a Rapper 2, I learned that he largely samples indie music, including Sleigh Bells, AnCo, and has even remixed a number of songs from Sufjan Stevens' "Illinios", cleverly titled "Illin-Noise".  Not to mention he dresses straight out of an American Apparel ad, rocks thick hipster frames, and has an amazing body (see: Community's Bottle Episode).  AND he likes James Blake's "Limit to Your Love" and Yung Humma's "Smang It".  I am officially in love.  
Now here comes the best tidbit of news, at least for me.  Prepare to be insanely jealous, because donald glover is coming to William & Mary on march 26! Yes, William & Mary, the very nerdy, very twampy school I attend.  Yes, I will be there. Yes, it will potentially be the best day of my life.  

Hipster glasses?  Yes, please!

When the Weather is Anything but Frightful

It's strange how something as simple as the weather can have such a dramatic impact on mood.  On beautiful days like today when the sun asserts it presence, but not too offensively, and a shy breeze gently rustles the fallen leaves, I can't help but to feel simply content.  There is an indescribable beauty to sitting cross-legged on the grass in my comfy blue jeans, watching my peers equally enjoying the day.  And despite the fact that it is only mid-February, I've been experiencing such a pleasure all week!


It's days like today when I'm happy to be alive. 

Hey, Matthew

Long time, no talk!  Yes, I know it's been quite some time since my last update.  But in my defense, this here institution of schooling has been keeping me too busy to even think about updating!  Blogger fail.
And the disappointment continues... I don't actually have any substantial topic to discuss at the moment, but for my whopping 3 followers I promise a detailed, well thought out, and coherent post very soon(ish)!  For now, however, I leave you with a song that some friends and I discovered on our weekend trip to the beach.  Pedophile, much?

Rhyme and Reason

Cliché, I know, but after today’s events I simply cannot neglect to document my beliefs about negative body image in current society.  “Today’s events” simply means a quick shopping trip to Old Navy, but what begins as a short shop often results in feelings of misery and despair. 

While I am not fat, I am certainly not thin.  It is safe to say that I represent the average American woman.  There are days, however, when I wholeheartedly believe that I am physically comparable to Shamu.  I feel like the world is ruthlessly analyzing my every flaw.  During these instances, I force myself to realize the reality of my situation, the situation that I believe pertains to all women, regardless of size: that is, the unrealistic, harsh, and unfair expectations placed upon us to be thin.  And the assertion that we are somehow less beautiful or unworthy of happiness if we fail to meet society’s harsh expectations. 

Countless times a day we encounter messages that tell us we are not good enough.  Every gossip magazine is plastered with headlines of just “How to Get that Bikini Body in 2 weeks!”, and “How [insert celebrity] Lost the Baby Weight!”  The celebrities inside are either praised for their fit physique or slaughtered for, God forbid, not being a size 2.  As a result of the constant pressures, we submit to extreme measures in order to achieve acceptance from our peers.  We diet.  We obsessively exercise.  We invest money in quick fixes.  We spend hours in front of the mirror, wishing desperately for our love-handles and our cellulite to just disappear.  We learn to accept starvation and deprivation when we really should be learning to accept ourselves.  We thrive on self-hate.

I would be a downright liar if I even suggested that I am unfathomed by society’s vicious cycle; I buy into this shit like it’s a Best Buy sale on black Friday.  I am well accustomed to the hateful emotions than can be triggered by a fitting room.  But I think it’s time that we, as a culture, learn to disregard what we have been force-fed into believing.  You don’t have to be skinny to be beautiful.  You don’t have to fight against your natural form.  Beauty exists in diversity.