I will admit that I am quite excited for my time off from Les Roches. My summer schedule is finally full again. Full of wonderful things! It feels like May is here already though I am not so sure why I feel this way when it is actually the..oh it's the 29th already! wonderful! I just felt like I needed to get to May and everything would feel better. I think it is because June is just going to fly by with exams and working in a la carte, though I have to admit that these days of doing nothing have flown by rather quickly. Once May hits properly it will be the home stretch! I'm so excited for it all!! I get to see so many people I care about!! Next week is going to fly by like this week has been and that will put me already a whole week into May! Crazy! Then back to academics for presentations galore and some last project work. Hopefully those two weeks will go by fast enough. Lots of exams too actually. Then one week left of May! I can't believe it is almost over already!
Anyway, today I am going up to Montana to try to talk to some agencies about apartments AGAIN and hope they have something available by now. See you all soon!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Just something I read today
"Don’t focus on the things in life that you do not want to have happen, instead focus on where you want to go"
Sunday, April 26, 2009
My Ankle
3 Legs
Ya, so on Friday night I fractured my ankle. I was playing around, I guess, and tried to kick my friend in the but, playfully of course, and I landed funny on my ankle. I have an air cast and crutches for 3 weeks. I don't really know how to deal with this situation since I really have never been injured before. I don't like the restriction on my physical abilities. I want to stay active, so I think I will just have to be creative in how I exercise now. Also, I won't be able to participate in practical, so I'm trying to shuffle things around for that. I can't perform for dance either, which is a really big bummer.
It's Okay
My mom told me that something positive will come out of this, and I do believe that. It is the tough stuff that makes us stronger. And as Albert put it, since I have never been injured before this is actually a good experience since it is new. It will show me how I deal with this stuff and what I can do with it. I think I sound a bit rediculous since some people hurt themselves much worse and have permanent damage, but it is just very different and new to me. I always prided myself on being physically able, so I think I just need to accept this.
Acceptance
I was thinking this morning about acceptance and I realized that I can accept people very easily, but not situations. I have always believed that situations can be changed for the better. But then I also think back to trail when I had gotten to a point where I realized that no matter what my situation, the only thing I could do is be happy about it and make the best of it. I think, specifically, back to my first long trip when I fell in a river and everything got wet and I had a moment where time slowed down and there were clearly two options, cry and get uncomfortable, be homesick and lonely etc, or just accept it, know that things will dry, it is only temporary and it is only water.
Growing Older and Bitter...Not Yet
This was also the time when I had stopped complaining, hardly ever looked at things negatively, and always automatically saw the good in every situation. A lot of that has changed recently. I have been trying to identify the cause of my turn toward a more negative mentality. It is in my control to change it of course, but something, in me, or externally, influenced this regression. I can partially attribute it to the company I have been keeping. Not the most positive, actually some of the most negative people. I am now trying to restrict my time spent with them, but it is hard when one is your roomate. I think it is also the effect of society, since I am in this school that has a very "pretentious" and closed minded mentality at times, something I was able to escape whenever I was out camping. A low judgement zone, the woods. A third aspect is being away from the person who I feel most stable and happy with. This situation has to be accepted somehow I know. I am working on that. The last reason/ influence on my outlook, was that I was doing very little of the things that made me really happy like dancing, painting, and camping.
Progress
I started dancing again and felt a huge lift and positive energy return to me. It gives me perspective. I need to tackle the other ones. The awareness of the negativity from my roommate actually helped a lot because I was then able to change my negative thoughts into positive ones and ask her, whenever she complained, "what do you like about the situation?" I think it is helping a bit. I just have to stick it through the society, but I try to surround myself with more open minded people, which helps. The long distance relationship thing is probably my biggest challenge right now, and when I sit and ask myself how I can deal with it better, what would make me happier right now, it is just to have faith in it, not to worry about what could go wrong or how much better things would be if he was here. It is to be happy that he is in my life at all and the situation is what it is right now. For the last topic, I will be painting more since I cannot dance right now, and I will go on crutch hikes, apparently that is a better workout than regular hiking, and I'll certainly have the time. It will be like a vacation where I can really focus on my own thing, reconnecting with what I love, reading more too.
Well this turned into a pretty in depth post. I guess I just needed to write it all out, to help me organize and understand what I need to do for myself right now.
Thanks for listening
Ya, so on Friday night I fractured my ankle. I was playing around, I guess, and tried to kick my friend in the but, playfully of course, and I landed funny on my ankle. I have an air cast and crutches for 3 weeks. I don't really know how to deal with this situation since I really have never been injured before. I don't like the restriction on my physical abilities. I want to stay active, so I think I will just have to be creative in how I exercise now. Also, I won't be able to participate in practical, so I'm trying to shuffle things around for that. I can't perform for dance either, which is a really big bummer.
It's Okay
My mom told me that something positive will come out of this, and I do believe that. It is the tough stuff that makes us stronger. And as Albert put it, since I have never been injured before this is actually a good experience since it is new. It will show me how I deal with this stuff and what I can do with it. I think I sound a bit rediculous since some people hurt themselves much worse and have permanent damage, but it is just very different and new to me. I always prided myself on being physically able, so I think I just need to accept this.
Acceptance
I was thinking this morning about acceptance and I realized that I can accept people very easily, but not situations. I have always believed that situations can be changed for the better. But then I also think back to trail when I had gotten to a point where I realized that no matter what my situation, the only thing I could do is be happy about it and make the best of it. I think, specifically, back to my first long trip when I fell in a river and everything got wet and I had a moment where time slowed down and there were clearly two options, cry and get uncomfortable, be homesick and lonely etc, or just accept it, know that things will dry, it is only temporary and it is only water.
Growing Older and Bitter...Not Yet
This was also the time when I had stopped complaining, hardly ever looked at things negatively, and always automatically saw the good in every situation. A lot of that has changed recently. I have been trying to identify the cause of my turn toward a more negative mentality. It is in my control to change it of course, but something, in me, or externally, influenced this regression. I can partially attribute it to the company I have been keeping. Not the most positive, actually some of the most negative people. I am now trying to restrict my time spent with them, but it is hard when one is your roomate. I think it is also the effect of society, since I am in this school that has a very "pretentious" and closed minded mentality at times, something I was able to escape whenever I was out camping. A low judgement zone, the woods. A third aspect is being away from the person who I feel most stable and happy with. This situation has to be accepted somehow I know. I am working on that. The last reason/ influence on my outlook, was that I was doing very little of the things that made me really happy like dancing, painting, and camping.
Progress
I started dancing again and felt a huge lift and positive energy return to me. It gives me perspective. I need to tackle the other ones. The awareness of the negativity from my roommate actually helped a lot because I was then able to change my negative thoughts into positive ones and ask her, whenever she complained, "what do you like about the situation?" I think it is helping a bit. I just have to stick it through the society, but I try to surround myself with more open minded people, which helps. The long distance relationship thing is probably my biggest challenge right now, and when I sit and ask myself how I can deal with it better, what would make me happier right now, it is just to have faith in it, not to worry about what could go wrong or how much better things would be if he was here. It is to be happy that he is in my life at all and the situation is what it is right now. For the last topic, I will be painting more since I cannot dance right now, and I will go on crutch hikes, apparently that is a better workout than regular hiking, and I'll certainly have the time. It will be like a vacation where I can really focus on my own thing, reconnecting with what I love, reading more too.
Well this turned into a pretty in depth post. I guess I just needed to write it all out, to help me organize and understand what I need to do for myself right now.
Thanks for listening
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Let it All Go
Hey everyone
So I've been quite busy recently and really need to relax. I am really feeling the pull to have some alone time since I am always with Steffi and rarely have time to be by myself doing my own thing. Hopefully I will find an apartment soon and all will be well for next semester.
I'd Rather Be Dancing
Honestly. I love practice and training. I will be happy when all my projects and exams are through and I can just chill with dancing. I actually just canceled my run in the 10 K race because my knees just aren't taking to running right now. They'd rather be dancing instead, which is what they are going to be doing actually.
Thinking Ahead
Otherwise I am doing the regular. Looking at different opportunities for the next stage in my life, my next internship. I have been checking out some options and have some ideas that will set me up well for the future. They also keep me in warm places! I'm also trying to plan some fun things for Albert's visit to the states, so if anyone has any ideas, just send me an E-mail, since I don't necessarily want him to know about them. I also really need to renew my passport soon...
So I've been quite busy recently and really need to relax. I am really feeling the pull to have some alone time since I am always with Steffi and rarely have time to be by myself doing my own thing. Hopefully I will find an apartment soon and all will be well for next semester.
I'd Rather Be Dancing
Honestly. I love practice and training. I will be happy when all my projects and exams are through and I can just chill with dancing. I actually just canceled my run in the 10 K race because my knees just aren't taking to running right now. They'd rather be dancing instead, which is what they are going to be doing actually.
Thinking Ahead
Otherwise I am doing the regular. Looking at different opportunities for the next stage in my life, my next internship. I have been checking out some options and have some ideas that will set me up well for the future. They also keep me in warm places! I'm also trying to plan some fun things for Albert's visit to the states, so if anyone has any ideas, just send me an E-mail, since I don't necessarily want him to know about them. I also really need to renew my passport soon...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Vegan Mac N' Cheeze
Food Experience
Hey everyone. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying life. I thought I would enjoy my life a bit more today by finally eating my vegan, gluten free, mac and cheeze I brought from the states. Yah...not so much. I donno what was going on there, but it really didn't taste good. It was the instant cheeze, which sounded good from the ingrediants, but was not. I have had really good vegan mac and cheeze before, but not from a dry mix. Don't do it.
School
In terms of school and all that I am under a heavy load of work these 2 weeks. Once next week is finished I will be able to breath for a while. I just have to finish up my kitchen project, and for me that simply means entering a bunch of stuff into an online program that calculates the cost of the recipe. Then I have to finish up my nutritions project, which I am not really worried about, but I just need to sit and do it. And then for extracurriculars I am thoroughly involved in the dance class and have bits and peices of the part I am supposed to choreograph down. Very cheerleading-ish. Wonderful!
Another Exemption!!
I did manage to get exempted from my last two weeks of practical, which is right before my finals exam week, so I'll be hopefully making some money and getting really good marks because of excess study time. We will see I suppose.
Weather
Otherwise is is still cold here, as in it was wet snowing the other evening, but it is warming up nicely at least. Positivity! My lung capacity seems to have decreased since I got back, maybe it is readjusting to the altitude, but I gotta get my running lungs back for my race on the 26th!
Hey everyone. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying life. I thought I would enjoy my life a bit more today by finally eating my vegan, gluten free, mac and cheeze I brought from the states. Yah...not so much. I donno what was going on there, but it really didn't taste good. It was the instant cheeze, which sounded good from the ingrediants, but was not. I have had really good vegan mac and cheeze before, but not from a dry mix. Don't do it.
School
In terms of school and all that I am under a heavy load of work these 2 weeks. Once next week is finished I will be able to breath for a while. I just have to finish up my kitchen project, and for me that simply means entering a bunch of stuff into an online program that calculates the cost of the recipe. Then I have to finish up my nutritions project, which I am not really worried about, but I just need to sit and do it. And then for extracurriculars I am thoroughly involved in the dance class and have bits and peices of the part I am supposed to choreograph down. Very cheerleading-ish. Wonderful!
Another Exemption!!
I did manage to get exempted from my last two weeks of practical, which is right before my finals exam week, so I'll be hopefully making some money and getting really good marks because of excess study time. We will see I suppose.
Weather
Otherwise is is still cold here, as in it was wet snowing the other evening, but it is warming up nicely at least. Positivity! My lung capacity seems to have decreased since I got back, maybe it is readjusting to the altitude, but I gotta get my running lungs back for my race on the 26th!
Monday, April 13, 2009
It Wasn't Quite the Right Time To Leave
A Perfect Week
I thought I would show you some pictures from y trip. I definitly could have taken more pictures of interesting moments, but I just don't think to bring my camera. I like memories better. But these are for you:
A warm welcome!
There was also a massouse waiting for me and gave me the BEST full body massage I have ever had. Perfect after traveling for 2 days.
This is a shot of part of Albert's backyard, complete with DELICIOUS mango trees!
After chilling around his area, including a visit to a HUGE mall, he took me on a little surprise get away to a place called Sophie's Garden in Tagaytay, which I think I need to go back to or work at since it is almost exactly what I envisioned myself running one day. They grow their fruits, vegetables, and herbs and serve them yummy and fresh to you for meals! Amazing and delicious. I ate seafood while there and had this amazing dish called Pusit, which is made with fresh squid. I got sick the next day so I don't think it agrees with me, since I ate it again at Albert's and also got a bit sick, but man it is SO good! As is fried Tilapia and rice. Probably the simplest dish there, but I could totally live off of that!
Here is a shot of the room we stayed in there. It was so flowy and beautiful and bright.
The other side.
The awesome shower. The pebbles on the floor give your feet a nice massage while you shower.
Pretty toilet
This is the path to our room. It felt so nice to be surrounded by plants, and heat.
Sophie's is also known for its immense flower gardens everywhere!!
Albert enjoying the place :)
I just appreciated this upon entering the property
This is inside the nursery. I thik this is all herbs. There are other outdoor gardens for the more mature plants.
Me outside the bakery in all joy and ecstasy!
Albert inside the bakery. The bread here was so good and fesh!
After Sophie's we went to Albert's aunt's place. She is an srtist and her home is FULL of her artwork! Amazing peices too. This was me attempting to capture the brief downpour. If you look at the table you can kind of see drops...
Thier porch. You see that painting of the woman and the bass? It's in the back on the left. That's what she was working on when we got there.
Some more of her art and the bass she was painting.
I think this is after I finally got to chill at the beach and get burned hahaha! We actually spent the first day there enjoying the company of some neighborood friend's of theirs. We played in the pool, sipped Cosmos, ate delicious food. Then we all went out on the boat for a sunset cruise, which included Albert and the other boys doing a bit of cliff jumping, which I do love to do, but opted to stay dry as the sun went down. I did, however, get to play around on the jet skii (my first time!) The next day we just hung around the house, walked to the beach and layed around. these people serve so much amazing food. Oh you think you're done eating? Nope, here's another course.
One of the views on our way back to Albert's place. Pretty, huh? Hehehehe!
Those are the pictures. Afterwards we picked up a Bocu Pie from a stand on the side of the road. Hot fresh and delicious. It is a coconut pie with fresh coconut meat inside!! Oh my goodness! Good Friday was spent lazing around, perfect! And Saturday we went to a different mall where I picked up some pretty cool stuff that I haven't seen around me like an awesome ipod cover and some flowy pants, which I sported on my flights the next morning.
All in all, and EXCELLENT investment in time, money, and emotion, and that was only 1 week. I'm sad and glad to be back in Switz. I'm happy that it is warm because I think I would have had some adjustment issues, emotionally, if it was still freezing here. I loved the Philippines though, as a place, not just my outings and vacation like time. I don't know what it is. Maybe it reminds me of Dubai a bit, when I lived there. I love the fresh foods, the ability to have a garden all year round, the cheap prices of things, the style of clothes, the unpretentiousness of it all.
This also really supported my theory that I do, infact, have to live in a warm place.
Last Words
At Camp Warren, one of the staff once made a little speech to the campers and staff about how he goes through the school year, working, studying, whatever, and he has this little cup inside of him that slowly empties. Whenever he comes back to camp it gets refilled again so that he is spiritually rejuvinated. He can go back into the world of stress, school, and society, able to stay true to himself and remember about true happiness. This is how I feel. My cup was filled up and it has been needing a refill for more than a year, I could tell.
I thought I would show you some pictures from y trip. I definitly could have taken more pictures of interesting moments, but I just don't think to bring my camera. I like memories better. But these are for you:
A warm welcome!
There was also a massouse waiting for me and gave me the BEST full body massage I have ever had. Perfect after traveling for 2 days.
This is a shot of part of Albert's backyard, complete with DELICIOUS mango trees!
After chilling around his area, including a visit to a HUGE mall, he took me on a little surprise get away to a place called Sophie's Garden in Tagaytay, which I think I need to go back to or work at since it is almost exactly what I envisioned myself running one day. They grow their fruits, vegetables, and herbs and serve them yummy and fresh to you for meals! Amazing and delicious. I ate seafood while there and had this amazing dish called Pusit, which is made with fresh squid. I got sick the next day so I don't think it agrees with me, since I ate it again at Albert's and also got a bit sick, but man it is SO good! As is fried Tilapia and rice. Probably the simplest dish there, but I could totally live off of that!
Here is a shot of the room we stayed in there. It was so flowy and beautiful and bright.
The other side.
The awesome shower. The pebbles on the floor give your feet a nice massage while you shower.
Pretty toilet
This is the path to our room. It felt so nice to be surrounded by plants, and heat.
Sophie's is also known for its immense flower gardens everywhere!!
Albert enjoying the place :)
I just appreciated this upon entering the property
This is inside the nursery. I thik this is all herbs. There are other outdoor gardens for the more mature plants.
Me outside the bakery in all joy and ecstasy!
Albert inside the bakery. The bread here was so good and fesh!
After Sophie's we went to Albert's aunt's place. She is an srtist and her home is FULL of her artwork! Amazing peices too. This was me attempting to capture the brief downpour. If you look at the table you can kind of see drops...
Thier porch. You see that painting of the woman and the bass? It's in the back on the left. That's what she was working on when we got there.
Some more of her art and the bass she was painting.
I think this is after I finally got to chill at the beach and get burned hahaha! We actually spent the first day there enjoying the company of some neighborood friend's of theirs. We played in the pool, sipped Cosmos, ate delicious food. Then we all went out on the boat for a sunset cruise, which included Albert and the other boys doing a bit of cliff jumping, which I do love to do, but opted to stay dry as the sun went down. I did, however, get to play around on the jet skii (my first time!) The next day we just hung around the house, walked to the beach and layed around. these people serve so much amazing food. Oh you think you're done eating? Nope, here's another course.
One of the views on our way back to Albert's place. Pretty, huh? Hehehehe!
Those are the pictures. Afterwards we picked up a Bocu Pie from a stand on the side of the road. Hot fresh and delicious. It is a coconut pie with fresh coconut meat inside!! Oh my goodness! Good Friday was spent lazing around, perfect! And Saturday we went to a different mall where I picked up some pretty cool stuff that I haven't seen around me like an awesome ipod cover and some flowy pants, which I sported on my flights the next morning.
All in all, and EXCELLENT investment in time, money, and emotion, and that was only 1 week. I'm sad and glad to be back in Switz. I'm happy that it is warm because I think I would have had some adjustment issues, emotionally, if it was still freezing here. I loved the Philippines though, as a place, not just my outings and vacation like time. I don't know what it is. Maybe it reminds me of Dubai a bit, when I lived there. I love the fresh foods, the ability to have a garden all year round, the cheap prices of things, the style of clothes, the unpretentiousness of it all.
This also really supported my theory that I do, infact, have to live in a warm place.
Last Words
At Camp Warren, one of the staff once made a little speech to the campers and staff about how he goes through the school year, working, studying, whatever, and he has this little cup inside of him that slowly empties. Whenever he comes back to camp it gets refilled again so that he is spiritually rejuvinated. He can go back into the world of stress, school, and society, able to stay true to himself and remember about true happiness. This is how I feel. My cup was filled up and it has been needing a refill for more than a year, I could tell.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
2 Secs
I just wanted to drop a note and say that I am horrible with pictures because I was taken to a beautiful part of the Philippines and went jet skiing, sunbathing, sunset boatriding, and other such wonderful things and left my camera in my bedroom. Yay me. I'm back in Manila and have internet for a second. Not much time still, but I wanted to post something.
Albert took me to a place called Sophie's Garden in Tagaytay which is an organic herb, fruit, and veg garden resort, that serves its food fresh from the garden! SO good and SO healthy too! We stayed in the most romantic little house in the forest under palm and bamboo trees. Absolutely breath taking. They bake their own bread their and we went to the bakery before leaving and got a few loaves! So good, whole wheat and whole grain. They don't serve red meats or pork, so there was plenty for vegetarians. And a great spa I might add.
So far so good!
Albert took me to a place called Sophie's Garden in Tagaytay which is an organic herb, fruit, and veg garden resort, that serves its food fresh from the garden! SO good and SO healthy too! We stayed in the most romantic little house in the forest under palm and bamboo trees. Absolutely breath taking. They bake their own bread their and we went to the bakery before leaving and got a few loaves! So good, whole wheat and whole grain. They don't serve red meats or pork, so there was plenty for vegetarians. And a great spa I might add.
So far so good!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
In Amsterdam!
I'm in Amsterdam airport now!! I thoughtI would just blog sort of real time for all you who are worried about my life (aka mommy and daddy). I also wanted to be able to post before calling in a friendly spiteful way teehee!! I have a 30 minute internet card so gotta be quick. I left Bluche yesterday and it was awesome. I love it when time does it's thing and you aren;t feeling it creep by slowly. I ended up running into Dominic at the train station in Sierre and some other students I didn't know. Got to GVA and found a few chairs to crash on. Tried desperatly to find comfort in those chairs, but I think they make them so that people WON'T sleep on them. There was a group of people sleeping on the floor so I thought I'd give it a go!
Would have been fine actually the ONLY issue was the marble floor was really cold, so I moved back to the chairs after an hour or so. Sleep came and went in 30-45 minute increments which was real good. Check in and security was super fast since it was so early! The flight was as long as I kept my eyes open for, so about 15 minutes. In reality I think it was 1.5 hours or something. This is where I am now. Not the best picture, but it is my view from my internet spot.
The next leg is the most exciting. I love the longer flights because they are more entertaining and I can get more sleep. Then I'll land and WOO!! So excited!
Would have been fine actually the ONLY issue was the marble floor was really cold, so I moved back to the chairs after an hour or so. Sleep came and went in 30-45 minute increments which was real good. Check in and security was super fast since it was so early! The flight was as long as I kept my eyes open for, so about 15 minutes. In reality I think it was 1.5 hours or something. This is where I am now. Not the best picture, but it is my view from my internet spot.
The next leg is the most exciting. I love the longer flights because they are more entertaining and I can get more sleep. Then I'll land and WOO!! So excited!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)