Sunday, April 29, 2012

Group date, nice tip, lucky

Goodness me.  The latest and greatest:

  • I turned in my senior portfolio on Thursday. It felt very Mmm Mmm Good.  I've had a few moments where it's hit me that my days here are few.  Most of the time it doesn't feel real, but I've had glimpses of it lately.  It feels good to be wrapping up this phase of my life.  It's been many things.  I've met so many cool people, taken wonderful classes, learned so much from my life experiences up here, etc.  I'm grateful for my time here.  I look back and some specific things that I've learned, and I don't know if I could have learned them anywhere but here.  God knows what He's doing...all the time.
  • Today was my very last day of work at the Fun Park.  Honestly, it was kind of nice.  haha There are many people that work there for whom I'm so so thankful.  I have dear friends there and it has been a great job for me.  I really really needed a job this year and was blessed with one that came with a jackpot of good people/friends with it.  As a bonus (literally....you'll see), I got a $15 tip for hosting a birthday party.  Not a bad way to finish your last shift eh?  
  • The group date that my institute teacher has been planning for a while finally happened tonight.  it makes me laugh because it's been being planned for a long while.  But it happened!  There were many other couples there--all cool people, wouldn't you know it?  I felt flattered to have merited an invitation because it was a really fun group of people that they'd invited over.  It was a surprisingly fun night.  My date turned out being really great.  Also...bold boy from the previous post showed up with a date.  He didn't stay long at all but we talked for a little bit.  It wouldn't be my dating life if I actually understood what was going on.  It's just a pattern, unfortunately. haha 
  • I've been playing the mandolin a lot lately.  It's been really soothing to me.  Having only taken mandolin lessons for a year, I find a lot of satisfaction playing the most random songs on such a random instrument.  I'm currently really enjoying playing a Mika song. haha 
  •  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
  • Oh wow....the bullet above is literally because I fell asleep last night while writing this post.  I think it's funny so I'm not deleting it. haha
  • So while the weather here in Blowgan is pretty Mt. Pleasant, every now and then my roomies and I all sleep in the living room together and...I wake up shivering. haha Awkward. So I go to my room, get in my warm bed and hit the 'on' switch on my heat blanket.  I love, love, love it.  And my first thought it always, "Oh dear, Africa is going to be a doozy." haha I really haven't ever thought of myself as high maintenance, but I think I'm going to feel high maintenance when I realize how many little things I'm just going to have to go without.  No, I don't mean a heat blanket,  but I just used that as an example because I felt kind of guilty getting into a bed whose temperature I could control.  I pay close attention these days to the things that I plug in, for example, the things that I don't even think about.  We're awfully lucky.  I'm excited slash nervous to experience life with significantly less conveniences. 
Well I have other things to say but they fall under the category of a "loves" post...which hasn't happened in a while, so perhaps I'll save it for a later date.  Happy Sunday!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Wonderful male, La laurea, Waking up happy...

  • So this one time...err...two days ago...I went to a flick called "The Lucky One". Did I hate it? Negative. Movies like this make me want a boy like that. You know, the... he's says all the right things, is insanely kind, and puts forth legitimate effort to be with you type. Yeah, those guys that seem fictional because they're THAT wonderful. Yes, that movie made me want one.
  • Graduation is approaching like a moving train which...if you've seen Unstoppable, you can go ahead and ask Denzel because he can submit to you that it's fast. haha I have some big projects to submit this week and can't wait for that feeling when the weight is lifted and I can just work on packing and cleaning the massive, ancient house that I'm living in. :)
  • So my little sis has decided that she wants to be a photographer when she grows up and my mom wanted pictures of me since I'm graduating, so two birds were pelted with a singular stone. Kenzie took some pictures and we played "Americas Next Top Model". It was fun. I kept asking her if I was "still in the running toward being Americas Next Top Model". haha Here's the finished product:
  • I always love going to church but today was particularly lovely for some reason. Really good comments, and I just got a lot out of it. I was talking to a woman that I really admire last night and she said something that has been continually resonating in my head. She said, "You know that your relationship with God is good, if your prayers are just as sincere when times are good as when times are rough." I loved that. Perhaps part of the reason it struck me is because as I look back at difficult experiences/times, my prayers are very distinct for me. The closeness that I felt with Heavenly Father was so clear and so real. It made me feel like I should step up my game. My dependence on the Lord should be the same regardless of how well things are or aren't working out for me. I could do better in this regard.
  • I was skyping with a dear friend from the mission a couple of weeks back and he said some really interesting things. Sorry, I've had phrases whirling around in my head that I've thought were so beautiful, and thought I'd share. So this member friend has made some choices so that he now is not able to fully participate in the gospel. It was sad to talk to him. His eyes seemed dimmer somehow and his smiles seemed more labored. He's not able to hold a calling right now or comment in the meetings. He said, "When I can hold a calling again, I'll be grateful for that opportunity. When I get asked to give a talk in church, I'll be thankful for the opportunity to do so." When he said that I thought, "How many times do we complain about our callings or hate that phone call when we're asked to speak in church?" We should be thankful for the opportunity to serve and share our testimonies. It was a beautiful thought. I'd never thought of it that way before.
  • Last story. I feel like this blog will be lengthy and laborious to read...sorry! haha I've been sending some of my favorite talks to this same guy that I skype in Italy. He kind of quit reading his scriptures, going to church, etc. I asked him to start reading again and just promised him he'd feel better and feel more hope. Well one day I got a message on facebook from him and said, "I read the scriptures last night before bed. I feel different today. I woke up happy." Isn't that so sweet? I loved that. It's true too. When I'm more diligent and sincere about doing the daily things--scripture study, prayer,etc., I feel more like myself. I feel happier. It's easier to help people--easier to want to. There really is an internal happiness from doing what's right and honestly working on your relationship with Heavenly Father. I'm so glad he recognized that--and shared it with me. It was a great reminder.
Anywho that seems like a sufficiently lengthy post for the day. Til next post, Mals

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Internship, tom foolery...

What. A. Doozy. This whole graduating thing has proven to be a we bit of work. haha I sometimes feel like I have a million things going on and don't know how to balance it all. I hear it just gets worse once you have kids and goods like zat. So I'm hardly complaining, but just trying to adjust with class. haha

Today I took two tests--both in classes where I really need to do well. I think they both went quite well. I literally felt a weight lifted when I finished taking them. Now the projects that I have to do can be counted on one hand and I feel like I can do it. :) Not to mention the fact that I'm up and relocating to Africa in a couple of weeks. I really don't have time to process it at all. It doesn't seem real and I think a part of me isn't capable of grasping it right now. But once I'm on the plane, or rather, my first night sleeping under that mosquito net, I'm sure reality will dorsal fin me to the face. Why a dorsal fin? unknown.

For my senior capstone, I've had to do 40 hours of service (a bit like an internship) with a particular organization. I was assigned to work with the English Language Center--but specifically with the refugees here from Burma. Every Wednesday and Friday for the last few months, I've been going to two hour long classes where I've been teaching some of these refugees in their homes about finances.
Being that they've been in refugee camps for so long, you can imagine what a doozy the adjustment to the US would be. The concept of money and money-management is very foreign. I taught them how to read their bills, write numbers out longhand, write checks, and balance a checkbook.
It's been so rewarding for me to help these women. They're such kind people and are so willing to learn. I've found the experience so rewarding and would love a job where I can come home feeling like I've benefited people who appreciate what I can offer them. Sometimes I go to my Fun Park job and deal with snobby people who expect everything of us (as employees) and are sometimes quite mean. So volunteering my time with humble people who have gratitude for and desire to learn has brought me so much joy and fulfillment.
I have this thing where I kind of fall in love with people easily. (this is perhaps a flaw to my character)  It's just not difficult for me to genuinely care. These people are no exception. I know all of their names, their children are sooo cute, and my heart always gets a little sad when I have to leave for the day. haha I took pictures...yes, for my project, but because I really have loved being able to help these people and I want to always remember them. yes, Mallo=Sap. There you have it! Cat's out of the bag!
It's not all stressville at our home. If you've taken the color test, you'll understand what it means when I say that I'm a flaming yellow personality. I can work hard, yes. But I require a good amount of play time and social interaction. (I'm also white and blue, but the yellow portion of my personality is...pungent.) Anywho, I was home for the weekend playing "tricks" with my cute little nieces and...one thing led to another and...we might have done the same with each other. haha

haha Oh dear, this actually happened. There is nothing photoshopped, no optical illusion, but this is, in reality, what took place in our home. I've told you before, we die laughing the majority of our time together. I wouldn't have it any other way.Check it out, 2 posts in a week! This is a big deal for me these days. haha Love to you all. Over and out! Malloir Falloir

Sunday, April 15, 2012

lasts, Matty, 3rd world future home

Tis I. Yes, it's been many moon since I blogged. So here's a massive post about the random goods that have been going down. Finals are approaching and I'm missing Christmas vaca with my fam more than ever. Sleeping in, doing P90X, and abounding hilarity seem much more socially appetizing than studying boresville textbooks and filling arcade games with tickets for a living. haha But zero complaints, just increased love and appreciation for these gems:My roommates are hysterical. We've gotten so much tighter this semester. We die of laughter 92.4% of the time. We celebrated "Mallory Day" a few weeks ago. We sometimes pick a roommate and dedicate a day entirely to them. Yes, one might suggest this is similar to the whole birthday shabang. But no one sees this day coming. They bought me the sweet nectar that people usually call Orange Juice. We went to a movie, and out for pizza. It was not a disappointment on any account.
I went to my last USU basketball game. We won. :) I'm mostly ecstatic to be graduating but there have been little moments when I have been able to freeze time and really stop to cherish this time that I have. I have LOVED the basketball games here at school. They're so fun to watch and after going to BYU-Idaho for several years (where sports are nonexistent) I've loved going to a school with school spirit...even if it's quite rambunctious. haha
This is errbody singing the Scottsman.
I went to a Matt Nathanson & Kelly Clarkson concert with Ms. Ashlee. I haven't seen Kelly since my senior year of high school and her vocal expertise has hardly diminished. I've been listening to her album non-stop. She's amazing. And Matt...well...just look at him. He's darling. So funny, good tunes, and a consistent good time. If you ever have the opportunity to hear him live, do it.
My summer in Africa is approaching very berry quickly. I've been so busy with school, my internship and work that I haven't really had time to stress about it. I've found a few skirts (because I have to wear skirts everyday...sounds very familiar), have met the team that I'll be going with, and feel like I'm already in love with the Ugandan people and we haven't even met. It doesn't seem real that I'm going to be LIVING in Mbale, Uganda. I can't believe it. It's funny to talk to people about it because many people have zero interest in doing something of the sort. It's funny how we all have different interests and some people just don't ever want to go to Africa. haha Which is okay. But it really is a dream come true. I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to go help people full-time. I know it will change my life. I sure hope that it will change many of theirs. My team is trying to raise money for projects we'll be starting this summer. If anyone is interested, feel free to watch the video on last summers projects and donate whatever you can/you'd like for this summers projects. It's just a way for you to get involved if you're interested.

There are more updates to post about: More awkward dates...because I attract those haha, I could ramble about my internship with Burmese refugees for eleventy hours, etc. But I'll call it quits for tonight. Love to you all, Mallo