Home Sweet Home

It's been almost a week since I arrived back in my good ol' Mountain Home, after a crazy semester at BYU! Already, I've gotten so much done concerning my mission. I am positive that nothing could have been better than having this month in between school and my MTC report date, dedicated to preparing.

Also while I'm here, I am back working at the Base Pool, which keeps me on a schedule and gets me a little extra money (any is a blessing!). I love teaching kids how to swim! It makes my day to see how excited they are to be in the water. :) And it also doesn't hurt that I get to be in the water myself! I've missed swimming so badly, and am pretty surprised at how smooth my strokes feel even after five months with no swimming. But how am I going to survive a whole year and a half?? I'll be jumping in the first pool I find once I'm back haha

Today I got to see my awesome little nephew Kru, and I felt like a million bucks with how excited he was to see me. My favorite thing would have to be him yelling "I love you" over and over as I'm leaving for work, and then later as he was heading out the door, he comes running back to me asking for a hug. I give him a big bear hug and let go, but he hangs on :) I love him!

Weirdest thing that happened this past week:
My friend Nora and I are checking all the fluids in my car, and as we are in the garage getting some coolant, we hear the sound of glass falling/crunching. I look over at the window, and stare at it with shock written all over my face. The window was broken! How did that happen? We never even heard a crash!

I walk around to the outside just to see what could have broken it when I see Nora, who had gone to investigate on the inside, staring at the ground. She slowly said, "Christina? You might want to come see this..."

In my mind I'm freaking out about how maybe the car was damaged or something, but as I come around the corner, I end up in the same bewildered position that Nora had been.

There, lying on the ground in the midst of broken glass, was a headless squirrel. No blood, no gore. Just a squirrel without a head.

And that's the end of the story. Or at least it leaves you in the same predicament we were. How in the world did that squirrel come flying through the window, when did it, and why did it have no head??!

Sadly, our detective skills were inadequate, and we never were able to figure it out. The good news to the story was that the missionaries were able to come over and board up our window, and we happened to have a board EXACTly the right size.

Stamps are Great Reminders

I currently have three different stamps on my hands from the different things that I went to this past week. Every time I look at them I'm like "Yeah! This weekend was a success!" Here's what happened.

First stamp: I went to a Korean Festival at BYU Friday evening, and it was crazy! There were probably 200 or more people there, packed into this little area with not much walking space, and booths that had lines longer than they were actually worth. So the only advantageous thing that came from going was I got to write (trace) my name in calligraphy! Though, I guess I can't really be sure that it's my name... But it looks cool anyway!

Second stamp: An awesome guy, Nate Wallace, took me to the salsa club Friday night as a date. I had a blast! I am really terrible at dancing, just because I become too self conscious to really let loose, but I don't think I did too bad! It was just hilarious, because neither of us knew what we were doing. So we just did whatever we wanted. Great guy, great date, and the ice cream afterward definitely added some points. :D

Third and final: Saturday night, I got to go on another date with a different awesome guy-- Tanner. We went to eat at the Thai Kitchen first, which was pretty good though the spicyness made my stomach complain for a while after. Then it was off to Classic Skating! This was actually the third time I'd been to this place on a date, but it was so much more fun this time! I make it a point to at least try the skates first, but I'll usually just upgrade to blades. I convinced Tanner to try them out with me, and we were able to get the hang of it. I now can at least skate around for a little while, though we still switched to the blades so we didn't have to try so hard. It was hilarious, because both of us fell a few times (and guys, that's a PERFECT excuse to hold a girls hand). I just love those kind of dates, where both of you feel just as embarrassed, so it's okay.

Dating Advice?

On a side note... I just want to mention how this semester has been dating-wise. Now, I am NOT bragging, and I don't want to come off that way at all.  But starting from the very first day that I got back from Christmas break, I have been on a date almost every week. And the amount of dates versus the amount of weeks? Almost double. Crazy, right? I'm freaking out about it, because this is not usual for me at all. 

I was thinking about it last night, and how it probably has something to do with the fact that I'm about to go on a mission, which is sooo frustrating in multiple ways. But I will save those thoughts for my missionary blog (segoviakoreabusan.blogspot.com).

Anyway, my roommates are always asking me, "How do you get dates?? What do you do?" And all I can say is, "I have no freaking idea!" But, if I were to offer advice to girls about getting guys to take them on dates, just go out and meet someone new, and then meet their friends. And continue that process for eternity. (Or at least until you meet The One :D). The more people you meet, the more likely someone will want to get to know you more. Valid reasoning right? 

That's about all the advice I could ever give on dating, because I don't really consider myself a great example. But hey, I'm gaining experience and having fun with it. So girls, go get those boys, cause this kind of story really is possible. 

Also, please don't hate on those girls that do go on lots of dates, because I know that dislike tends to be an emotion directed towards them. I felt that way before, and now that I am that girl I realize that's not saying anything bad about their character. I will judge no longer! 

Wait, WHERE??

I have officially not kept my resolution to blog every week, seeing as how it's been three weeks since my last one. I have definitely thought about it though, so that should count right? But I can't NOT blog today, seeing as how I just found out what I'm going to be doing for the next two years of my life. !!

This past week, I was anxiously waiting for my mission call to come in the mail, and it almost drove me crazy! Since I live in Provo, mission calls usually arrive from Salt Lake by Wednesday. So I had my roommate check the mail, but it didn't come. I was pretty disappointed, but figured it was late because of the crazy snow we had that week. So I cancelled my call party and hoped it would be here on Thursday. 

Thursday came, and went. No call. By now I'm just a wreck, not able to concentrate on anything. Of course everyone is asking if I got it or where I'm going, and I just feel like crying as I tell them I don't know yet. 

As Friday rolls around, I'm feeling a little dejected as I check the mail. But it CAME! I ran inside and immediately opened it, had to read it three times before I really believed what I read, and then immediately tried to get a hold of my parents. However, my mom is in Oklahoma with my brother, and neither of the phones I called worked. So I'm sitting here without anyone to tell, or any way to tell, and I'm bursting! My brother finally answered his phone, but said he is at work, and he doesn't know when he will be back home, so I have to WAIT to tell ANYONE because I wanted my mom to be the first to know. 

My roommate came home, but I still couldn't tell her until my mom called which was pure torture for both of us. Finally my mom called at 7:30 pm (that's three hours after I opened my call) so I was able to reveal where I was going! I then proceeded to tell her and everyone else I came in contact with that I'm going to the...

Korea Busan Mission!!!

I cannot even wrap my mind around it. Everything about it is completely different from anything I have ever experienced or even wanted to experience: language, culture, people, food, weather, religion, everything! I'm freaking out! 

One thing that really gives me comfort, in assuring me that this is not completely random, is the fact that my dad has been to Korea before and even learned a little Korean himself. He was able to tell me that knowing Spanish really helps in writing how to pronounce Korean since Spanish vowels don't change like English vowels do. So that's great! At least I'll kind of be able to use it while I'm there. 

I have so many more thoughts going on in my head, but I'll save them for another day. Expect that the next couple posts will be related to this topic!

Mariah's Gift - Book Page Necklace

I have so much to say! It's no good when you don't blog for a whole week, especially when it's the first week of a semester! Now I've got to relate all the interesting things that happened! But really, there's only one that I'm going to post about right now, and that is my present to Mariah!

It's been quite a while since I first posted that I was making it, but I couldn't post what the present was until I had given it to her, in order to not spoil the surprise. And then I had a busy week of school, so I'm just barely getting around to it.

I made a necklace for her, after reading another person's how to. Here's the site so you can make your own! Mandipidy - Book Page Necklace

All you need is a 30-inch long chain, some pages of a book (or printouts), pearl beads, jump rings, and a clasp. Also some Modge Podge for the finish of the paper cutouts, and a lighter if you want to burn the edges like I did. Make sure that when you get the jump rings, they aren't the coiled ones, because those do NOT work (I speak from experience). 

This is a picture of my finished project:

I am so proud of myself for making this. And the reason both I and Mariah love it so much is because I made it special to her. For example, the pages that I chose are things that are a part of her life. There is: German, Italian, Music, The Hobbit, Marvel, the Book of Mormon, and a dictionary definition that pertains to her. It's awesome! So when she wears it, it isn't just a stylish accessory, but it symbolizes pieces of her heart.

If I were to do anything differently, I would put the same picture on both sides of the circle cut outs, so that when it flips around you can't tell. It's a hassle having to make sure they are always flipped the right way.

So if you need a gift idea, this is a great one! You can do a bracelet version too, or maybe even earrings.Just experiment with it and make it special to the giftee.

Time Travel- What Could Be Done?

I watched one of the best movies last night, as far as being emotional, action-packed, thought-provoking, sci-fi, romantic, etc. You must watch this movie! Here's the trailer, though I don't think it does the film justice.

Deja Vu is seriously worth two hours of your life, if not more. My mind was completely blown by the whole idea. I'll try not to give the whole story away, but the main theme is based around time travel.

That's where I want to go with today's post. Time travel-- is it possible? Okay, so maybe I won't start with that question, because honestly nobody knows. There are so many different stories incorporating this interesting fantasy. Why is it so attractive to our minds? The idea that we can change our past, or change our future. The chance that what we do is not set in concrete, forever unchangeable.

The idea that rather than be accountable, we can make mistakes and then go back and do it again. Something that all of us wish were possible. And yet this goes directly against the point of life: to live and learn. If we could go back and change our mistakes, would we learn from it? Perhaps in the moment we would understand why it was a mistake, but in the long-run, the consequences are what teaches the strongest lesson.

However, in the case of Deja Vu, it is using time travel as a way to prevent catastrophes. So what about these situations? If time travel is used, not for personal gain, but for others? This is where I'm open to anything. It could be the same, what's done is done. But it's saving lives, while capturing the bad guy. What could be wrong about that?

I've got no answer for this, so if you do then I would love to hear it! Time travel is one of the most interesting fantastical notions.. Another story that I enjoyed with time travel was the book Ben Franklin and the Chamber of Time. Cool stuff!

Best Scrabble Game You've Ever Seen

Today was the last day with my family... and now I'm back in Provo!

We played scrabble today.. and it was the best game of scrabble I have ever played (with a real board and no dictionary). Usually it always seems to be three letter words, and its really hard to get to the edge of the board. But this time the whole last half of the fame was crazy difficult because we were already to the edge. Here's a picture of the finished game. There are some pretty good words on there.

Pretty much as soon as I got back I went on a date sledding. It was a blast! I wiped out my first two times down the hill, because I was on a bent sled so it always went right-- right into all the disrupted snow of course. But after that it was great! The park was a sledding paradise, with hills all around, plenty of room for everybody.

Now I'm hanging out with my best friends, Apt 107! These guys were the first friends I made last semester in Centennial Apts. where I can just head over to the place anytime. I love chillin' here!

As the last day to be able to just enjoy the day without school worries, I spent it well!

I'm no Chess Player

I am terrible at chess. That is all.

I guess I'll tell you about my sad games, both against my mom. First of all, whenever I play with her, it takes forever because she thinks about every turn for five minutes. So the first game, I would do other things between each turn and then she wouldn't remember to tell me that I was in check. Then, after I've already gone ahead with my plan that required two moves in a row with the same piece, she tells me "Oh, you're in check!" So then I have to move my king rather than continue with my other move, which results in my queen being killed. This happened multiple times, all with special pieces.

I was then put in check-mate, when I should have been check-mating her.

The second game we both had the same strategy, which was defensive. For the first half of the game, neither of us got anywhere. It ended with her having her king, bishop, knight, and pawn while I had my king, queen, and pawn. I then made a dumb move that got my queen killed, so I gave up.

What I learned from this experience. Never challenge anyone to a game of chess, because I would probably not win.

However, I would like to play more often so I can get some practice.

Bolivia - I'm Going There Someday

Another chill day with the family. I just spent at least two hours with my dad looking at different places in Bolivia on Google Earth. It was really great to hear his stories and see the places he was talking about at the same time.

My father is from a little town called Tupiza, right in between some mountains. It's literally impossible to expand because it's squeezed in there as it is. The whole geology of it is very interesting (I actually did gain something from taking that class last semester!) and I am interested to know how it happened. My dad pointed out that there two strips of red mountain, and in between them is normal, so what event caused those rocks to change? Somehow the mountains were petrified into solid rock, in small strips. I may just go to my former Geology professor and ask him, because it looks really interesting!

I seriously want to go there though. Like now, ASAP. But I just have no way! I'm going to have to wait at least three years before I could even think of taking a trip down there, and by then I could be married, so that would put a flaw in any plans.. But gah, I need to go visit and meet that half of my family! I feel so disconnected with them, like they aren't really my family, just some people who I hear stories about sometimes.

It will happen. Just you wait, in five years or so, I'll be blogging about my experiences with my family in the third-world country of Bolivia-- my heritage.

Music, Music, Music

Today wasn't a crazy eventful day, just one of those good, relaxing ones! I was able to do some of a puzzle, play games with my little cousin Diana, watch a movie, and continue going through my music to see what I have and don't have.

Music is something that has been a big part of my life, but not in the way that most people who say that mean. I wasn't and am still not someone who listens to music all the time, and would die if I didn't have my headphones. When I was younger, my mom didn't allow me to listen to the radio at all, or even any music that wasn't religious. Anytime I tried to listen in my room, she (with ears like a dolphin) would call out, "Christina! Turn it off!"

So my childhood music was playing the piano, church music, flute in band, and some violin which didn't last very long. If you ask me about a popular song in the 90s, I probably won't know it.

However, the last couple years I've been able to actually pay attention to popular music, and over the past years I've finally found favorite artists and styles. I love being able to hear a song and know who it's by!

Currently, I'm trying to explore new artists and feel what kind of genre I like best. Whenever people ask me what my favorite genre is, I reply that I don't really have one. I always say that I just like songs I can sing to. One friend replied that you could sing to any song-- however, that's not true! What I mean by saying that statement is this: to me, the lyrics are the most important part of a song. I want to be able to hear them, understand them, and connect with them. And when I do, I will want to sing along! So it has to be something reasonable-sounding when it's sung. NOT screaming or husky voices.. None of that. And I'm not a huge fan of long instrumental solos either, at least in popular music. 

My current job gives me a lot of time to get to know songs. I'm custodian working night shift, 10:30pm - 1:30am, and I clean the racquetball courts. Now these courts are awesome for singing in because they make everything about eight times louder. It's fantastic!So I get to belt my music nonstop for three hours without any distractions. That's one reason I'm still working there.

My favorite artists, the ones I can listen to everyday at work, are currently

• Regina Spektor
• Ingrid Michaelson
• A Fine Frenzy

Yes, they are all female artists.. I'm working on getting more male voices in my musical collection.

Because not many people are familiar with A Fine Frenzy, here's a sample of her work. This was the song that first struck me, resulting in my devotion:

One other type of music that I really enjoy listening to is soundtracks from movies. My cousin Mariah was the one that got me addicted on these the past year, as she is a music whiz and loves all that stuff. At first I was just infatuated with the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, but now I've been listening to any and all soundtracks! Some other good ones (though nothing can top LOTR) are Stardust, How to Train Your Dragon, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

I'm excited to be able to learn more great songs and artists, and appreciate this form of art even more than I have in the past. I'd love for you to tell me, what are you interested in and why?

New Year's Resolutions

It's the NEW YEAR!! Happy first day of 2013! In honor of the holiday, I'd like to give my New Year's resolutions so that I'm not only held accountable to myself, but to you guys as well!

My goals for this year:

1. Read the Book of Mormon every day in English AND Spanish
2. Pray morning and night
3. Serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
4. Study and know Preach My Gospel before going on a mission
5. Blog at least once a week (my weekly letters on my mission blog will count)
6. Be able to pay for half of my mission
7. Get at least a 3.7 GPA this semester
8. Exercise at the gym at least three times per week
9. Swim two times a week
10. Give plasma to earn money, as much as I can
11. Become the best friend I can be to everyone
12. Finish Book of Mormon in Spanish
13. Write in my journal about the whole year-and-a-half that I've missed
14. Flat stomach
15. Touch someone, in a way that betters their life forever

This list is not necessarily in order of most to least important, just as they came to my mind. I wish everyone a happy and productive year, and the best of luck in completing your own resolutions! Don't give up too soon!