24 hour flu

i stayed on the couch the entire day yesterday. my mom made all of my favorite foods, since she spoils me when i come home, and not only did I not eat them, I did not even enjoy the smell. i did not even go to the airport to pick up my roommate, lauren, who flew in despite the blizzard warnings.
i felt better this morning, so i tried to do my long run with caitlin at the gym. quite a miserable experience. i had to bike for basically half of it because i did not have the energy to be completely upright, and my stomach did not have the tolerance for bouncing.
tonight, though, we are going to curl up on the couch and watch elf. im very excited about that.

God is So cool

yesterday morning I was running, and I wished I was carrying a camera. I was going through the orange groves, and the trees were covered with oranges. the street was lined with palm trees on both sides, and in the distance, I could see the snow capped mountains/ hills. I kept thinking how creative and awesome our Creator is. It was such an enjoyable view.
Granted, it would have been significantly more enjoyable had i not been running 14 miles :)
Yes, marathon training, blah, blah, blah. only 6 more weeks though.
P.S. its the Huntington Beach Marathon. Feb 1.

Utah prep

im not really preparing for finals like I should be because I want to be finished studying and doing homework. Luckily, I only have two left. I am getting ready for Utah, though, because it is really cold here in Riverside (i know, finally). Unfortunately, our heater is broken. Good timing. Today Lauren and I turned on the oven and stood next to it for warmth while chatting about our day. We then cleaned the apt, which was much needed, and now I am blogging. I wish I blogged enough that I did not have to summary update blogs and could just write about random, funny, daily happenings instead.
Ill just list some of those things from my semester:
- i was getting onto the 91 when going to church earlier this semester, and someone was in my blindspot, so i almost cut him off when i merged. he was more than furious, and he stayed next to me, staring me down and throwing up his hands in frustration. I felt horrible, of course, and kept trying to apologize with hand motions and my "im sorry" face. But a couple exits later I was getting mad and started giving him the "leave me alone, you jerk" face. He then proceeded to pull out a gun and hold it up to his window. yes, a gun. crazy man. ugh. I was so annoyed and afraid that I exited the freeway. I did not call the cops, though, which you are apparently supposed to do since that is a felony.
- i got nominated for Homecoming Queen and Ms. CBU, but did not win either time :)
- my flag football team did not make it to the championships, which was the first time that has happened in years.
- I am going to a yoga class. yoga is so hard. but im the only girl in it... and no, thats not why im going
- I am also training for a marathon. training for a marathon is so hard. but i like the mental game and the physical challenge of it all. ill probably never do it again though.

"autumn"

it was 103 degrees at 2 pm today. tomorrow is october, and i will sweat if i just stand outside. alot of people will be personally offended by my attitude, but i do not like california right now. I want to wear a scarf without the risk of heat stroke. i want to see leaves turn orange and red instead of seeing grass turn brown from lack of hydration. i want to want a hot shower and chai. i want fall.

the weather aside, i have had a good senior year so far. im busy, but who isn't? i am now working in ISP, which is the office that organizes service trips overseas (as well as in the US). though i work alot alot, i really enjoy the people and the purpose of my work. football season is exciting as usual, even though i think i broke my toe during our first game. and i am living with lauren in a one bedroom apartment that has excellent central air and a shower that does not drain well. i really have nothing exciting to report, but i figured it was past due for an update. hope everyone is doing well!

running buddies

caitlin is one of the people that is pretty much always willing to run (not a surprise, considering she just did her third marathon in may). mostly she is doing me a favor to keep me company since she is technically much better than i am, but we both really enjoy getting out.
i actually like running alone, but when i run for distance, i prefer a partner for motivation and company. this morning cait and i ran from my house to Mt. Ogden park and back. its 7 or 8 miles (not positive since we took back roads). i had to walk for like 100 ft at one point while trying to get up the hill behind Weber State, which if you know that hill, you know why i had to break for a moment. it was mile 5 ish and the shade was gone by then. killer. however, the rest of the run was pretty enjoyable. Utah is stunning, cait and i were able to chat when we were on level ground, and we found sprinklers at the end that we were able to run through.
stretching was a necessity


alfalfa (sarah's new puppy) loves eating plants. leaves are his particular favorite.


i was pretty relieved that i could still run distances, especially with the hills and elevation here.

"you are my biggest fan"

yesterday my roommates and i watched "That Thing You Do," which i have not seen in years. the characters have tons of one-liners that are hilarious.
movies, roommates, the beach, the pool, bbqs, reading and running have pretty much been the only things that have consumed my time during the last week and a half. it is so weird not having a job. i should not complain, as it has been really relaxing at times, but weird nonetheless. tomorrow im flying back to utah, and i am really excited to see the family, friends and mountains that i have missed for the last couple of months.
to say the least, my transition back from India was not hard or shocking, which i kind of thought it might be. the whole unemployment thing has made things pretty laid back though. i kind of feel like the trip was just a dream. i have been trying to figure out what i learned and felt about the whole experience, as well as how i am going to apply those lessons to my routine, comfortable, lovely life back in the states (analyzing all of that has been the hard part).
having said that, here are some pics of my life from the last couple of days. i actually feel slightly lame posting these immediately after posting pictures of under-privileged children and hundreds of people at a Muslim mosque. just dont judge :)

I went to the beach by myself to just read and relax. i hate sand, but i love the ocean. and tyler lives in costa mesa, so i also got to meet up with him to eat and chat for a while.












jeremy and i went to an Angels game on Wednesday. who knew there would be so many people at a game at 12:30 pm in 100 degree weather.





we went to a free art walk on Thursday night. downtown riverside is actually really fun (as opposed to many other parts of riverside)




















then for the 4th we went over to ryan's house and had a little bbq. jeremy's artichoke dip in a bread bowl was voted the "most tasty", but carly's fruit was voted "best presentation." everything was so good though.




we played apples to apples and then sat on the curb to watch fireworks. jeremy and ryan wore matching stripes and cut off shorts, which they also wore last year on the 4th. they are ridiculous... but hilarious. lauren and i decided that when you change the color on the picture, the boys kind of look like they are living in the 70's

overview

study break-- Tera and I walked outside for a minute right before it started pouring rain


driving in India would stress me out! they seriously do not have traffic laws



the Taj is pretty much amazing. we were so lucky that there was a slight breeze because I was sweating like crazy (and so was everyone else that crammed inside to look at the tomb... i know because i could smell them)



we have been doing a kids club for the past three days. we sing songs, tell stories, and do crafts. the people with whom we have working have amazing hearts, and their translating skills have been so helpful!



yesterday, Alicia, Tyler and I went to my favorite restaurant for lunch. Alicia lived here for two years and will be here for a month this summer. I am finally feeling better, and I was really encouraged being able to talk through what I have been learning and noticing during the trip.

namaste

we do something different everyday, so its really difficult to summarize the trip.
the food, heat and i have not been getting along so well, and i am constantly being challenged to be patient, loving, prayerful, faithful, and intentional. externally, everything is fantastic- our contacts, our living situation, the people, and our daily activities have been enjoyable. internally, whether it literal or figurative, everything is getting jumbled. my stomach and body ache regularly. at the same time, my thoughts and faith are being twisted frequently as well. i love it though. so much to learn. ty and i were able to go to a local coffee shop tonight and just talk through what we have been thinking about and noticing, which was so enjoyable. he also downloaded pictures today, so you can see just a couple of the things we have been doing.

tyler, zack and myself in the library (which is the main part of the first floor at our contact's home)



ally and me dancing to music with the kids at the orphanage we visited



the winning team from our photo scavenger hunt yesterday. we had to take pictures at certain places or doing certain things all over the city.

I love mangos. I hate delhi-belly.

We have been here a little less than a week, but it feels like way longer. I don’t mean that in a bad way; I think we just got settled pretty quickly and do so many things every day that I can’t believe it has only been 6 days. The team is doing so well. We have gone to markets, temples, coffee shops and an orphanage yesterday.

Naturally, I could write forever but I will just tell you about the temples. The first one was Hindu. Just as I had been warned, every one of my senses was over-stimulated. People were everywhere, bustling through the hot, humid, incense-filled air in the temple. We walked barefoot on the warm marble floor and watched as people desperately wrung bells to awaken their gods. They offered food and flowers to the idols and knelt or bowed in reverence. Ironic that the idols and people are clothed in bright colors and candles and flowers are scattered everywhere, but it was one of the darkest places I have ever been. The Sikh temple was crowded, loud, and had a certain aroma as well, but there is much less desperation and individual focus during their “worship.” I can’t really describe everything very well, and those experiences only account for about 3 hours of our trip. Just wanted to fill you in a little, though. Ty has been capturing the trip on his amazing camera. Check out his blog for more pics. www.tylerhoehne.blogspot.com.

"s"

quick post. we got here this afternoon, drove to the house where we are staying, walked around the market, and went to a local coffee shop. as i was walking through the market, i was thinking about how to describe everything. many people have tried to describe it to me, and while all of their descriptions are true, no words or pictures can actually encompass what it is like to be here. nonetheless, half of the words i thought of begin with the letter S.
Sweat. Smog. Smells. Sounds. Stares. and for the parentals, i'm safe and sound... and i love you.

iTunes

i am waiting for songs to download. iTunes is so convenient but slightly dangerous. i bought a bunch of songs yesterday to keep myself entertained during the approximate 24 hours of travel that are in my near future. sadly, my battery died in the process, though, so i came back to school this morning to download the rest.
Gavin Degraw was my first purchase, naturally, and i am going to have to agree with Mel. Its not exactly what i expected, but i have listened to it 3 or 4 times now, and its growing on me.
Also, some of my roommates made mixes for me last night while i baked cookies, so i am excited to listen to those.
All i have left is to do is laundry so that i do not have to do it when i return. I will probably talk to my mom again (for like the 5th time in the last 2 days) and go to dinner with the girls tonight before i leave.
I am a little nervous actually. Maybe not nervous-- just anxious to get the trip started already. I dont really want to think about it or plan for it anymore, i just want to be there.
Well, im going to go for a run for the last time for 3 weeks. Then take a long, comfortable shower, also probably for the last time for 3 weeks ;)

i dont have internet

at the condo that i live in. i would complain but it is pretty much the best situation ever, so complaining is not a thought or an option. sometimes its kind of been a blessing actually. we did not have tv either for almost a month (and 3 of the 5 roommates were gone) so i got to have lots of quality time with the pretty girl with the sweet teal-ish sunglasses. that is my roommate Erika.
When i wasnt with her this past month, i was probably with the other beautiful brunette, carly. both of them are such great girls and i have had so much fun with them so far this summer. this is kind of a special shout out to them because im leaving tuesday for "South Asia" and im going to miss them tons.
Last weekend we went out to lunch then downtown to this old used bookstore. it was a really enjoyable saturday. luckily Erika always has her camera for photo sessions.



















also, i never post. i read posts. on sunday nights when i come to coffee depot with carly to use the free internet. i have had the urge to blog all week, so now i finally have my chance.
summer has been wonderful. it was blazing in riverside for about a week, then the next week it poured rain and there was a random tornado, and this week has been mild and lovely. i work two on-campus jobs, so i have a 5-10 minute commute to school and am so blessed to have people that will employ me basically full time despite my ridiculous schedule. i am not exactly sure what i do with my nights, other than wednesday nights, when i have small group. other than that, i get a great combination of alone time and friend time.
i leave tuesday night for my isp trip. i am so ready. i was packed a week ago (yeah, i over plan, but i surprisingly have not overpacked-- i have a carry-on size suitcase and a backpack-- for 3 weeks). its going to be hot and humid but i am so excited to experience a different people and culture. it should be humbling, challenging and thrilling.
i will be back in utah around july 7th, so i will get to tell many of you all about it in person. Horray!
anyway, that is pretty much it. i will try to post once when im gone, so for those loyal friends that still check this, check it again please :)

0:9:35

that was the average time of my mile when i ran 13.2. yes, i ran my first half marathon yesterday. i got to huntington beach at 7:00 am and it was about 45 degrees, raining and windy. basically miserable weather. but after the first mile, though i was drenched, i was warmed up and didnt even care that water was gushing between my toes.
i am well aware that my time was not very fast, but i honestly don't care. in the days leading up to the race, my biggest worries were honestly that i would a) not finish in under 2 hours and 10 minutes (10 minute miles) or b) would really have to go to the bathroom right in the middle of it, which is the worst time to stop. as i said, got the goal time and luckily, didnt have to go to the bathroom.
i just wanted to post a quick update, and i will post pictures when my friend emails them to me. for now, im going to write a paper about Kenya.

im it

so apparently, i got tagged by my lovely roommate courtney. i havent read her blog in a while, but today i checked it, and she listed 8 things that people dont know about her (i knew 6 of the 8). at the end, she tagged me and hillary kell. i will attempt to enlighten some of you, but no guarantees.
1. i dont like feet (not near me or on me or anything)
2. i have two fake teeth
3. i am not a fan of the really flowery, berry scents (ex: most of bath and body works)
4. i have never toured the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake
5. the bottom of pools scare me
6. i had headgear for a year. proud of it.
7. i didnt get my license until i was almost 17
8. i do not enjoy tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, or ham

i dont know who else to tag. ive never been great at this game, i was always too slow.

oatmeal banana chocolate chip cookies

my roommate lauren and i love them. ive eaten three today. i try to make myself feel better by telling myself that im getting fruit and fiber or something, but im sure if my new years resolution was to lose weight, the cookies would not be part of a road to success.
thankfully, that is not one of my resolutions, but blogging more frequently is one of them. im going to start small and just go for a short list to update those of you who still actually check this blog.
1. i got an A- in a class. they wont give you an A+ to give you a better GPA, but they will give an A- to kill it!
2. i had two friends from cali come to visit during the break, which was so fun and appreciated (as it made the break more entertaining)
3. i turn 21 on Monday
4. my mom tore her ACL skiing
5. i appreciate everything my mom does even more than i thought i did
6. i went snowboarding alone yesterday; the snow was amazing but im sore today
7. Dash Cain is the smartest two-year-old i know
8. next semester's classes are going to suck. bad.

and when i say update more, i mean like once a week. im sure amy boyd will leave mean comments as a form of accountability should i slack. the rest of you may feel free to do so as well.
ill leave you with a picture of me and sarah on Christmas morning. we opened stockings and presents then made snow angels in our back yard. i think we did the same thing when we were 7.