Family Ties

Well, it's been a while since I moved to Utah, and it's been an adventure living up here -- I often feel like a stranger in a strange land. Compounding the "strangeness" of situation is living on campus at BYU, a unique institution and in a category all it's own. The experiences I have had are rewarding, and I feel like I've made several large forward-strides towards where I see myself in 5 years.

The Fall semester has just ended, capped by the stresses of the Final exams, and all the stigmas attached to them. Now I'm taking a break here in Provo, with family members having flown in from California, and having driven from Texas.

It has been just over 24 hours, and already my laughing muscles are going to be sore. We have a knack for finding the humor in just about any situation, and making light of serious situations. It's one thing that I truly love about my family - we are never together without having had a good laugh either at ourselves or about a funny situation that has happened to one of us during the past few months.

The funny thing is, that I haven't given a lot of thought to what it is that I want for Christmas - my focus and feelings have been centered on family, and how much I've missed being able to laugh with them. I think that spending time is one of the most renewing things that I could possibly do - and it's all about the small moments... the almost indefinable feeling of belonging somewhere. I can't imagine what it must feel like to lack that feeling - either to be a refugee from war, or an orphan.

I'll count my blessings, and thank my lucky stars for the family that I have, and the tremendous opportunities that I've been given for having them them around!

Change of Address forms please?

I've changed locations... from Keller, Texas, to Provo, Utah -- and at the same time I've changed my job location from "Tax Preparer" to "Student."

There have been a number of significant changes in my life in the past few weeks. Starting on the 19th of April, I flew to California, to undergo a procedure known as LASIK to correct my somewhat flawed vision. 2 days later, I flew from California, enjoying 20/15 vision in both eyes (Dr. Ellis was the surgeon - whom I highly recommend to everyone who is considering LASIK). I landed in Salt Lake City, bags in hand, ready to begin a new chapter of my life... that of Student at a University, which would be a first for me.It's been two weeks, and my vision has only gotten better... I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to bother with glasses or contacts! Even better, I can wear any pair of nice-looking sunglasses I like!

Another first for me is living in a dorm situation, with a number of roommates, all of whom come from relatively different back grounds. On top of that, I am now employed by the University as an RA... which means i have the added privilege and responsibility of watching out for another 20 or so people. It's been a lot to take in, for such a short amount of time.

I'm taking 2 classes during this term... which is about limit for an RA... and for a short term like Spring. CHum 284, is a Web-Page Building class... they teach you how to make your own web pages, and take them to a more professional level. It's really enjoyable for me, and I look forward to class. Spanish 321 is a different story for now. As I mentioned before, this term is a bit short... and Spanish 321 is designed for fluent Spanish speakers. This is all well and good...except for the fact that the majority of the class is returned missionaries... only SOME of whom actually bothered to learn proper grammar (the why and wherefore of speaking like a Latin). I spent more time learning that than anyone else I knew in the mission... and still I feel like I'm at the edge of my abilities. I'll reserve judgment on this class until I get a better grip on things!

So the first week of class has gone by... and tonight is the first time that I get "desk duty" as an RA -- another facet of this adventure that I call "College." The dimensions, the depth, and the breadth of my world have all increased... I feel a bit like a fish who has been kept in a tank all his life, and just got dumped in the ocean. Water is water... but the environment takes some getting used to.

For the mean time, I think it'll be a good long while before I can get some