Well, let’s say just say that I will be teaching later than sooner.

I should have known it was too good to be true. Basically, I will be looking for another teacher prep program.

My teaching interview didn’t go well at all. I was as professional as I could be, and answered the questions as best I could, but it was hard to give a good impression with a smug, “good-ole-boy” sitting in front of me. Sadly, I knew exactly what he was doing for the entire condescending interview. Everything that excited me about being a teacher and everything that the admissions officer lady built me up about their program, he tore down completely.

Now, I know I shouldn’t let one person determine my future, and I’m not. I’m still going to pursue my certification. But this man is on their front line, and he IS indicative of their program. I also don’t need two people telling me two different things. I’ll take my 5k for the program elsewhere, and work with people who will tell me the truth the first time around, thanks.

So, we’re making a new plan. It involves me going back to school for graphic design and photography, which excites me to no end. I’m happy with my decision to postpone. I’m not worried, I know how to work hard. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.

I spent five days in San Francisco that spanned over this past weekend.  I had a fantastic time!  It was really cold, pretty much the entire time I was there.  My friend Ozreiuosn put me up for 5 days and showed me around the Bay Area.  Mucho kudos to her!

Things I did:
Visited the Sunset area
Walked on the Golden Gate Bridge
Geeked out in Japantown
Played on the beach in Alameda
Got my ear pierced in Berkeley
Karaoked with some Consumators/GT!ers
Visited SFMOMA
Visited Golden Gate Park
Visited Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
Ate free chocolate at the Ghiradelli factory
Shopped my ass off

I took some fun and awesome pictures that you should zoom over to my Flickr and check out.  They tell my story the best.  I’m sure I’ll make it back to the area eventually.  It just adds to my love for visiting California.

It’s not hard people. 

1) Hold the door for people running to the elevator.  You can give up 2 seconds for them to get on.  Like you want to get to work that badly anyway.

2) If you have an overpowering odor about you, wait for an empty elevator.  This is also true if you have a large load, such as a cart.

3)  IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ABOUT TO GET ON THE ELEVATOR DO NOT PUSH THE BUTTON SO THE DOOR CLOSES ON THEM.  IT REALLY FUCKING HURTS TO HAVE AN ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSE ON YOU.

That is all.

1) You can insult my appearance.  Fine, I know it could use some work anyway.  Whatever.

2)  You can insult my behavior.  I know I’m a dork.  I don’t care.

BUT HERE IT IS.  You can pretty much bet on, that if you insult my intelligence, I’m going to take your ass out.  And you better hope you stay as far away from me as possible.  Consider yourself warned.  Do not fuck with me.  You don’t know me, you don’t know who I know, and you don’t know what I’m capable of. 

You’re not the only educated person on this planet.  You’re not the only one with connections.  So I suggest you back off.  You’re not the one in control anymore.  Let it go.  Be an adult and grow up.  Yeah, it’s hard.  Suck it up.

We went to Missouri this weekend and had a great time.  We spent most of it at Damion’s parents and just hung out.  On Saturday we even took a walk to the park and let the kids play.  I got some really fun shots of everyone.  I even got a sunburn on my chest! The first one of many this year, I’m sure.  xD  I’m super pooped today though.  But! I’m off to San Francisco on Thursday and I’m super squeeeee about it.  I can’t wait!

Really.  I am!  Eventually, anyway.

On Friday after work, the love of my life asked me to marry him.  He made a short little RPG computer game leading up to some really nice words telling me how much I mean to him and him asking for my hand.  Of course I said ‘yes.’  I was crying and all I could do is hug him.  I was so happy I was speechless.  Afterwards we went to the mall and he let me pick out my ring.  See?

We’re so so excited!  We’re not sure about a date, and it’ll probably be a long engagement.  But it’s a promise, and that’s what matters.  <3

Lexipants has been pretty grumpypants this week.  I’m actually going to blame it on PMS, because there seems to be no other reason that I’ve been sad, angry, snappy at friends, and super emo this week.  All I can say is I get like this sometimes.  My closest friends and relatives know this.  I have no excuse for myself. That’s why they’re closest to me, because they can tolerate my huge mood swings. 

So if you made it into the line of fire, I apologize. 

I just wanted to let you guys know that I imported all of my old blog posts.  I mean we’re talking like back to 2002.  So If you wanna read about my crazy college life, check back to those.  It’s amazing how much I’ve changed.  I didn’t realize it until I went back and read everything.  It’s interesting, you’d be suprised.  So go.  Read it.  Now.

I haven’t imported some stuff from other blogs, because I’m not sure who is stalking me, and I may say some bad stuff about them on those.  I may say, “eh, fuck it” later, but for now, I’m in a nice mood.

Also, I don’t care where you’re from, ranch makes everything better.

Also x 2, my new Bento box came in the mail today. So. Ex. Cited.  Picture is up on Flickr.  All the way from Japan baby!

me: oh, dude did you hear about that mormon raid in west texas?
Stephanie: Ugh omg thats alll they talk about on CNN lately, haha. Thats craaaazyyy
me: well, yesterday i got swarmed by mormons!  swarmin mormons!
i was walking to my car for lunch and they were all walking to the capitol for their little protest
Stephanie: Whoa!!
Dude, I seriously want that on a tshirt. Swarmin Mormons
me: hahaha
Stephanie: With a vector image of them in their little mormon dresses holding signs
me: it was scary, they all looked like they were straight out of 1907
if i didn’t know better, i would have thought they were amish
there were like 10 girls walking with 2 guys
creeeeeeepy
Stephanie: that IS fucking creepy!
me: i was looking all cute in my capri slacks and flowy shirt with makeup on and my hair did
AND big sunglasses
AND heels
i couldn’t RUN
Stephanie: HAHAHHAA
omg that is awesome
I mean, terrifying
me: HAHA
Stephanie: awesomely terrifying
me: if you make that shirt, i’ll wear it
Stephanie: Hahaa omg I just might have to
me: hahaha
DUDE it should be like a softball team shirt
we can have numbers on the back
Stephanie: hahahhaa
OMG!
That is awesome!!! We’ll be the Swarmin Mormon!
s
me: YESSSSS

I was about to enter my third year of college and felt entirely clueless.  I had just turned 21 years old.  A four year old relationship had crumbled and promptly ended right before my very eyes.  I made the decision to study abroad nine months earlier, not knowing exactly what I was getting into.   I knew I wanted to study Spanish, and I wanted to travel very badly.  But I couldn’t have better timed something I needed so much.  This was a cultural and personal learning experience I will never forget. 

I knew as soon as I stepped onto the bus at the San Jose, Costa Rica airport, that I was in for a huge experience.  I would only be gone for five weeks, but on our way to the city, I knew I was in for an eye opener.  The landscape was incredibly beautiful, but on the side of the road were shacks and makeshift houses.  They looked abandoned, but clothes were on lines just outside.  I met my house parents whom I would be living with, and was a little overwhelmed that neither of them understood English. 

My advanced Spanish classes began, which were entirely in Spanish, and I was scrambling to keep up.  I could barely tell my house family to come pick me up after my first day of classes ended.  I was completely immersed in a foreign land with a foreign language.  Little by little I started understanding more.  Before I knew it, I didn’t even have to think and translate what I wanted to say before I said it in Spanish.  There was one instance where I overslept and missed my bus to a weekend outing.  I was able to get myself to the bus stations, repurchase a ticket by myself, and find my friends on the beach we had intended to visit.  This was a huge accomplishment for me.  I was amazed with myself, and very proud. 

I would love to tell you that I experienced a cultural influx, but the culture of Costa Rica is very similar to Mexican culture.  There are some distinct differences of course, but to me, I felt right at home with the people, since my mother’s family is Mexican Hispanic.  Some differences I did enjoy from the United States were the timeliness, the food, and the landscape.   Everything in Costa Rica is so much slower than the U.S.  No one breaks their neck to be on time.  If you were 20 minutes late for an appointment, you were on time.  The food in Costa Rica is so fresh and inexpensive.  Their meals are plain, but extremely delicious.  And finally, there is no way to verbally describe how beautiful a Costa Rican sunrise in the mountains can be.

I know this may not be a typical education experience, but it holds a special place in my heart.  It showed me the world is a bigger place than the United States.  I reflected on the important things, both large and small, and learned so much about myself.  I learned a language more fluently than I possibly could if I had not lived in another country.  I wouldn’t have such a consideration for my experiences had I not experienced the world this way.  And I would do it again in a heartbeat.