Life... has been strange lately.
I have made new friends at GV, and that's amazing, but at the same time, I have this sinking feeling that I won't see them after this summer. I know that probably isn't true, but I can't control the situation, and it makes me incredibly uneasy.
Also, I didn't win the poetry contest, which would normally be fine, but the poem was so much of who I am, that it kind of hurts, and feels more like rejection that I thought. I know that that is ridiculous, but it is still the same. :/
And, knowledge isn't the same for me as it was before. If I knew something, it could override my feelings. Like the fact that I know those previous two are ridiculous, but I can't get them out of my head now.
I am extremely excited for the baseball season to start again, and that one of the guys from last year is coming back, but I am incredibly nervous for that too. I have the same employees from last year, which should be great, I don't have to train them, but at the same time, they do all of the bad things that they used to. :/ And as for Mauricio coming back... well... yea, that is a whole different story.
Well, there's more, but I'm trying to finish up all of the junk I have to do for the last two weeks of school. :( Not super exciting.
<3
kate

25 things I'm thankful for

As those of you who see my facebook have noticed, I'm not enjoying life too much right now, so I've decided to post 25 reasons or things to be thankful about.

1. I love my jobs. I love Van Andel, although it's not giving me hours, I generally enjoy being there. As for Whitecaps... well, 'nuff said.

2. I have a car that runs. Maybe not well, but there are plenty of people who have no car.

3. I am overweight. I could be extremely emaciated and dying in a different country. That being said...

4. I just got my membership back for the Y, so I can get healthy and in shape. Super super thankful.

5. I randomly saw someone from highschool and we hit it off again. We're going to hang out.

6. I have the ability to go to a university. I may gripe about classes, but honestly, I'm super thankful that I am intelligent enough to go, and have the opportunity.

7. It's kinda low on the list, but not in my heart... (so cheesy). I have a fantastic family who supports me and loves me. Sometimes I don't appreciate it, but I always should.

8. I love what I want to do. I am absolutely loving this translation thing, even though it gets difficult...

9. Heat. Yea, although it's set super low, it's still there.

10. which brings me to ten. My blankets. I love them. They make me happy. I should post a picture of my t-shirt blanket.

11. I love my friends. Sometimes I feel like I don't keep in contact well enough compared to how much I appreciate their presence in my life.

12. I have an aptitude for language.

13. I am not afraid to use words in the wrong context, as seen in 12.

14. I make a lot of mistakes. This seems like it wouldn't be something to be thankful for, but I learn a lot. A LOT.

15. I have hot water all the time. :D

16. I have a change jar. I complain about not having money all the time, but compared to most of the world, I'm ridiculously rich.

17. I have my own computer. It might not work all the time, but at least it works some of the time.

18. I live in a country where I can do what I want(besides streak. Not that I want to do that, but hey.) when i want.

19. Freedom.

20. I have great besties. I love you guys. You keep me sane, and drive me nuts. ;)

21. I have a nose that lets me tell just how cold I really am.

22.Gas is cheap. Relatively.

23. My parents don't make me pay rent. I'm spoiled.

24. I understand most sports. besides rugby (to me it looks like smear the queer. pardon our horrible playground game name.) and field hockey, which i have never seen, and feel it would be quite easy to get.

25. Roof. I have a roof. Not tin, not wood, well, maybe. but it keeps me safe from snow and rain and wind... etc.

26. I don't worry where my next meal is coming from. Something I continually take for granted.

I know I said 25, but 26 works too. This really helps raise spirits... I would suggest it when you're feeling down.

I love you, and I miss you Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Kate

Je ne sais pas

Well guys,

We're a month into the semester and I'm bogged down.

I'm off to do homework.

Well, I'm back. A little later in the day. First Spanish presentation down, and it went bastante well. I had a little anxiety attack at my Spring Break meeting... a lot of people I didn't know, and they didn't make me feel too welcome. But then when we finally met our group that's going to Houston, everyone was really nice, and I felt a lot better. I actually got a little excited for this trip! We're going out into the Spanish speaking community and that means... I GET TO SPEAK SPANISH! :D
No, that's not exciting to me at all.

I think I'm getting the flu from the Lausman family. I'm getting a little sick. That could also be due to the abounding sleep deprivation experienced this weekend.

I'm a little random tonight. Perhaps because I'm extremely tired... once again due to the sleep deprivation from this weekend.

I'm quite confused on many things.

Love you all,
K

Restarting

Well, as you see from my immensely large post. I'm home. I got into the states a while back, it's almost been a month. I expected this transition to be difficult, but not as hard as it's been.

It's been such a bittersweet experience. I love being home, don't get me wrong. I love seeing my mom and my dad and all of my friends, but there's just something so contagious about the Dominican. I found someone I love and now he's thousands of miles away.
I love some of my classes, but taking 17 credits is a lot, and I'm only heading into my third week. It just leads to a lot of anxiety that I have trouble dealing with. I don't know what it is about the States, but I'm constantly nervous, constantly trying to calm down... and it's not working. I walk into my classroom, and I instantaneously have a headache.
What's more is that I have a job that gives me three days a month. I can't live, let alone save for a plane ticket with three days a month. And trying to get a job is ridiculously hard in our economy. I have turned in a ridiculous amount of applications and I don't get any response... it's simply frustrating.
Well, that's just me... a little vent about coming home. I hope you don't mind.
well, i should write my paper now.

I've returned. :(

Well, this has probably been one of the most interesting and most boring weeks of my time in this blessed country. I have had a few firsts, namely being an emergency room visit, and hopefully a last, namely being an emergency room visit.
Well, I'd been sick ever since I returned from Haiti with those red spots (mosquito bites... supposedly) and about a week after that I decided to go to the doctor to check out my fevers and ridiculous headaches. She proceeds to tell me I probably have Dengue fever. I freaked out. I went home and took a nap and when I woke up I honestly thought I was going to die, so, doing the logical thing, I called Luis and told him to come over. He arrives, and immediately decides to take me to the emergency room since I looked like death. I get to the ER and they take my blood and check it out. No dengue. So, all in all, I just went to the emergency room for a very large headache. and... it only cost me 30 dollars!
Well, that's all for now.
Oh! i have 3 A's so far!
Love you all,
I'll see you in a few weeks!