Dreaming Big

I do not remember a time in my life when a year has passed without my going on some kind of vacation. Some years, my family has done really large trips while other years, I've just spent a week or two visiting family in Alabama. For the first time in many years, I've yet to go anywhere this year. I had planned to be boarding a plane next month traveling to Indonesia. However, things do not always go as we plan. Due to various reasons, the trip to Indonesia was cancelled & I will not be going there after-all. As the trip to Indonesia began to look less likely day by day, I began giving greater consideration to flying to Dallas or to Virginia to see some of the Nepali students that became my brothers last semester. However, just as I lead a busy life, they do also. Seems no one would have much time to visit with me. With that being said, it seems pointless for me to spend a large amount of money on a flight, hotel, car rental & food & not even get to see those I have made the trip for. Over the past year, I've grown very close to many Nepali's. From the moment I first began to learn about Nepal, there was an urge to visit the land. The more I've seen pictures & videos of Nepal, the more interest I have in the country. As I've built friendships with so many Nepalese, my desire to go there has only intensified. I wish to meet the mothers, fathers, sisters & brothers of these wonderful people. I long to let the landscape take my breath away. I am eager to sit down & enjoy Nepali food with my hands amidst other Nepali's. I want so badly to ride an elephant inChitwan Park. I want to clothe myself in stunning sari's (saree). Mainly, I want to take in all that Nepal has to offer. Though I'm disappointed that I've yet to go anywhere special this year & I won't be, I trust I am making the right choice. I've decided to forgo one of my vacation weeks this year & carry it over to next so that I may go to Nepal. God-willing, as long as I am able to save enough money for a plane ticket, I will be up in the air flying across the world next summer or fall with the destination place being Kathmandu. In the meantime, I will continue to befriend Nepali's, learn more about their culture & home & hopefully, pick up some of the language. I'm ready to tour Nepal in 2011-the year of tourism for the country!!

I Could Really Use a Wish Right Now....

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars, I could really use a wish right now, wish right now"- lyrics from the song "Airplanes"

I too, am looking for a wish to be fulfilled. As everyone knows by now, I absolutely love Lady Antebellum. After seeing them early this summer, I was elated upon learning that they would be returning here this month. Yes, Lady A will be back here in STL on September 30th & the Fabulous Fox Theater. I want nothing more than to go see this amazing group yet again. However, I must ask myself...do I need to spend the money on it? The answer (sadly) is "no". I'm going to hold out hope that I somehow manage to score some tickets so I'll be seated there at the end of the month hearing one of music's finest. Wish me well!

Summer Whirl

Summer has come and soon it will end. The summer has been nothing at all like I planned on it being. I expected that I would spend my summer at home-relaxing, taking it easy. As I recently shared with my family, I think I have been more active this past year than I had been the previous 30 combined. Do not misunderstand me, I have loved every second that I have been able to enjoy time with students. However, sometimes I am in great need of rest. Which, I've not succeeded well in getting. I figured that with so many students having left LU for good & many gone elsewhere for the summer, there would not really be anyone around for me to share my time with. While I did not see much of Lindenwood students, my entire summer has been devoted to meeting & getting to know students from other campuses (Fontbonne, UMSL, Maryville & Wash-U...for those unfamiliar with St. Louis, all are universities in the area here). I've met students from Nepal (of course!), Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea & Thailand. We have dined out together & some have welcomed me into their homes & prepared meals for me. Though these last few months did not go as I intended them to go, I am very grateful that I've been given the opportunity to get to know all of these wonderful people. Now, I have even more friends!