Ups and Downs

Its amazing how quickly life can change.

Two weeks ago I was at Wellesley, happy about the day we got off because of the blizzard and loving the two and a half feet of snow covering my windows. That weekend was happy and wonderful and spontaneous and full of lots of fun.

This weekend I am home. Normally that would be a great thing, but this trip was rather unexpected and unasked for. A week ago Thursday my grandpa fell out of bed and broke his hip. He had surgery Friday morning, and just wasn't able to recover fully. They took him off of all of the monitors and everything so he could be comfortable, and on Sunday afternoon he passed away. This week has been hard in many ways. It was mostly hard being away from my family. Even though I knew it would mean missing class and getting behind, I knew that I had to come home.

It has been amazing to be able to spend time with my family, especially because I didn't expect to see them again until this summer. One of my favorite parts has been hearing stories about my grandpa, many of which I've never heard before. For example, when the game Monopoly first came out his family couldn't afford to buy it, so he borrowed his neighbor's game and replicated all of the pieces so he would have his own. He also helped start a potato processing plant in North Dakota, which I thought was pretty cool.

Mostly I knew my grandpa as a missionary. For most of their adult lives my grandparents lived in Africa, mostly in Nigeria and Cameroon. I've always loved hearing the stories about how he would hunt wild boars and hippos, how he helped start radio stations and built schools and delivered a baby or two when he had to. My grandpa was an amazing man, and I've loved this opportunity to learn more about his incredible life.

Anyway, that's about all I have to say. I just wanted those of you who keep up with my blog to know what's going on in my life. And my family and I would still definitely appreciate your prayers!

Road Trip: Part 2

Even though classes started a week ago, I still want to update you guys about how the rest of my road trip went! These first two paragraphs I wrote a few days ago, and the rest is just a summary of the second part of our trip.


So, I've finally found a couple of things that I don't like about roadtrips. One, not everywhere you stay has internet. I know that sounds really ridiculous and "first world" of me, but it was a little frustrating because I was getting important emails about scheduling work and classes and things this semester and I couldn't check my email for almost 3 days.

Second, I don't like being hit by a dump truck. I really don't like being hit by the same dump truck twice. He was trying to change lanes and apparently just didn't see us. (Even after he hit us the first time!) We're all fine and the car is mostly okay, but there is definitely some damage on one of the rear doors. (Good thing we had a rental car and not our own!)

One of my favorite things that we were able to do while we were in Virginia (visiting my mom's brother and sister-in-law) was to go to Luray Caverns. I believe its one of the largest caves in America, and it was spectacular. We went on about an hour long tour walking through the caves, and its hard to even describe what it was like. It felt like we were on a set designed for a movie or something, not in a place that was formed naturally. Here are a couple of pictures, although of course they're not anywhere close to the real thing.

This was actually a pool of water, so the rocks you see on
the bottom are really a reflection.

Another one of my favorite parts was driving through more mountains (Hurray!). My mom probably didn't appreciate it though, because she was the one who got to drive through all of the steep hills and sharp turns and switchbacks. It was pretty amusing to watch our path on the GPS nearly double over on itself as we drove along the road.

Finally, after another 9 hour drive or so (during which occurred our aforementioned run-in with a dump truck) we made it to Boston! Well, actually to a little town outside of Boston called Framingham, but close enough. We arrived on a Thursday night, so all day Friday and Saturday we were able to spend doing various things exploring Boston itself. It was very illuminating for my parents, my dad never having been in the area at all and my mom only having been here once before (in August, dropping me off at school). It was very interesting for me, too, because I don't often get a chance to do touristy things in the city. We visited Faneuil Hall and got a tour of the state house and walked part of the freedom trail (which was a little miserable because the windchill must have been close to 0). We visited the aquarium, got a tour of the USS Constitution (or "Old Ironsides") and ate at a fabulous sea food restaurant. Overall, a very fun (but very exhausting) couple of days.

This is me inside part of the captain's cabin on the
USS Constitution.

My favorite parts of the aquarium were definitely
the jellyfish and sea horses.

On Sunday we finally made it to Wellesley. It was fun to show my parents around, although by that time all of us were pretty tired from the whole trip, so we didn't do much on Sunday. And Monday I started classes. My parents were still around that day, so basically they came with me on campus doing whatever I needed to do, and when I had classes they just found a place to sit and relax for a while. It was a little strange having them there, because last semester they were always so far away, but it was kind of fun for them to experience what a normal day is like for me.

One downside of this trip was that I felt a little overwhelmed and unorganized before the semester even started. The first day of classes came very quickly because I was so wrapped up in our trip, and I felt rather unprepared for it. I'm finally now starting to settle back in and get back into my normal rhythm . Overall though, it was such an amazing experience, and I feel very lucky that I was finally able to go on a road trip like I've always wanted! Obviously I couldn't go into a whole lot of detail in two little blog posts (okay, so maybe they aren't so little) so if you have any questions please ask! My classes this semester are promising to be pretty fun, so I'm definitely looking forward to that! (And, as always, I will update you later :) )

Road Trip: Part 1

I have learned something very important over the past few days. I love road trips! I was a little worried about three days straight in the car, but it was actually mostly enjoyable. Near the end of our last day I just wanted the day to end, but that was because I was exhausted from lack of sleep and we were nearly to my brother and sister-in-law's house in North Carolina. I just wanted to get there already!

For the most part though, I loved driving through the country and stopping to see family and watching the scenery. We ate deep dish pizza with a cousin in Chicago and we stopped to see some cousins near Nashville. We watched the snow melt, and then the grass get greener, and then the snow reappear when we got to the mountains. We watched the sun rise once or twice as well. My favorite time while we were driving was on Friday morning, we were going through the Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. It was absolutely gorgeous! It was in the 30's or 40's and sunny, but there was freshly fallen snow all around us.

This weekend staying in Jacksonville has been a nice break from the car. Of course, it has also been wonderful to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law. We got to see the base where my brother is stationed (he's a Marine), which was really interesting. Today we even got to go to the beach! It was only in the 60's and windy, but it was sunny and the weather felt amazing to us folks from Minnesota. Definitely the warmest weather I've felt in quite a while.

This is their dog, Juliet. Usually she's terrified of the water, apparently today is the first time she's ever willingly gone into anything larger than a puddle.

The water was freezing cold, but it felt wonderful nonetheless to have bare feet in the sand and waves.

Tomorrow we leave for some more driving. Hurray! (I'm only being slightly sarcastic...) We're going to stay in Virginia Beach for a night and see yet more cousins. I never realized until this trip how many cousins I have scattered across the country! Our hotel is directly on the beach, and I'm pretty sure in the middle of the boardwalk, so I am excited for that.

That's about all I have to say for tonight, I should probably start getting ready for bed. We're going to try for a fairly early start in the morning. I'll keep you updated on my adventures when I can!

Bittersweet

Leaving is so bittersweet.

I have been home for over 4 weeks, secure in the fact that I had lots of time to spend. But now that I only have one more day, it feels like I barely just got here.

I suppose I'll get used to it eventually, but so far moving between two different places so often is a little disorienting. Just as soon as I get home and start to feel at home, its time to pack up again and leave. Its so sad to think of all of the time I didn't get to spend with my friends and all of the things that I could have done that I probably won't be able to do for the next 5 months. I guess that's the nice thing about home, though, I know I'll always be back.

The sweet part of the bittersweet is where I get to go. On my first ever road trip! I have always wanted to go on a road trip! I am so excited. I have a feeling that I will feel slightly different after several days straight doing nothing but sitting in a car, but this is one thing I am thrilled to be able to cross off of my bucket list. Well, I don't actually have a bucket list, but if I did going on a road trip would definitely be on it.

*lapse of time for increasingly frustrated attempts to upload a picture onto blogger*

Okay, here is where I wanted to insert a map of the route we will be taking. Unfortunately my computer is not cooperating, so you will have to bear with my muddled explanation in lieu of a beautifully illustrated map. Basically our ultimate destination is Wellesley, to bring me back to school, but on the way we are visiting lots of family. Our first stop will be in Chicago, and we will stay the night a short drive away in Indiana. Next we will be visiting some cousins near Nashville and spending the night, and then on our third day we will be arriving in Jacksonville, North Carolina where my brother is stationed. (He's in the Marine Corps, for those of you who don't know.)

We will be spending the weekend with my brother and sister-in-law, and then off to Virginia Beach to see some more family. Because nobody goes to the beach in Virginia in January, we got a really good price on a hotel directly overlooking the ocean. At least the scenery will be beautiful, if not necessarily the weather. Our last stop will be a couple days with my aunt and uncle in Bridgewater, Virginia, and then on to Wellesley! That's perhaps the part I'm most looking forward to, even though it means the end of our trip and the end of my freedom for another semester. You see, my dad has never been to Wellesley, and I am very excited to show him the place where I spend so much of my time. My mom has only been there once when I started school this fall, so it will be nice for her to be able to explore some more with a more knowledgeable guide (namely me.)

And then, after 5 days in the Boston area, I will be starting classes and my parents will be leaving for another two day drive back home. I'm not looking forward to that part.

But for now, I will get back to packing. (Well, to be honest, I will start packing.)

Hurray for adventures!

My favorite way to spend my free time

It has been SO wonderful to be home these last few weeks! I have spent tons of time with family (although not as much time with friends as I would like) and plenty of time home by myself. I know that probably sounds miserable to some of you outgoing people that like to be busy every moment of every day, but for me it has been paradise. I have had a lot of time to watch mindless tv, waste time on the computer, and read books for no reason other than that I enjoy them. Reading for pleasure and not for a class? What a concept!

However, I have also been doing some productive things. For a few days I was knitting like crazy, and I made my very first hat! I know, its a very cheesy picture of myself in the mirror, but I was proud of my hat :)

I have also been doing lots of cooking and baking. Here is an experiment that my mom and I made, they're called mini crostatas, and they're filled with either Nutella or strawberry jelly. So delicious!

I don't even remember all of the other little projects I have been working on, but the flour and the glue have been flying! (Hopefully not at the same time...) 

So, as many hours as I have been spending sleeping in or watching tv or doing absolutely nothing, I have also  been exercising my creativity. Its so nice to have the time to put my mind to doing something besides homework.


Coming Soon: My very first road trip! I am SO excited! I'll tell you all about it later, but I already leave in less than a week! I will miss home, but I am thrilled that I have this opportunity. My last hurrah of winter break before classes start yet again! Stay tuned.

More Pictures!

Finally, I'm home! (Well, I've been home for quite a few days now, but I haven't had time to write until now.) It is so wonderful to be able to just relax and spend time with my friends and family and do those little projects that I have been meaning to do for weeks.

Christmas was so wonderful! Now that I don't get to see my family as often, time spent with them is very special. Overall, I had an awesome (but busy) Christmas. I'm sad it is over, especially because my first day home was the 21st. I felt like I didn't get to experience Christmas this year for as long as normal. However, now that we are done with cleaning and cooking and shopping and present wrapping and celebrating (as fun as all that was) I have much more time to relax. The 26th was the first time that I can remember not having anything at all that I had to do. It was wonderful. In a month I will probably be ready to go back to class, but for now I am very grateful that I have so much time off!

Anyway, the main point of this post was to let you all know that I updated my pictures page. You can find the link to it on the top of this page. I added lots of new pictures, so even if you have seen it before you should definitely check it out again. And if you have any questions about any of them feel free to ask! I  always think pictures are one of the best ways to understand a place (besides going there in person) so hopefully you guys enjoy the little glimpse of Wellesley and of Boston.

Have a great break if you happen to be a student like me, and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas

No more finals! Hurray! It is one of the best feelings in the world to know that I will have absolutely no homework for the next 5 weeks! (Although I will feel even better once I actually know what my final grades are...)

As usual, I've been wanting to write for a long time, I just have not had time. For the last few weeks my more responsible half has been telling me that I should be studying and writing papers instead of blogging. So, that's what I've been doing! (Well, mostly.)

Anyway, I have a great story from this weekend that I wanted to share with you guys. I'm pretty sure I mentioned in another post that I'm in the Guild of Carillonneurs here on campus, which basically means that I take lessons on how to play the carillon. (And by the way, if you don't know what a carillon is, now would be a great time to look it up! Otherwise this blog post will be rather difficult to understand.)

Well, in the Guild of Carillonneurs we also get to take field trips, and this Saturday I was able to go on my very first one. We went to this town called Norwood, where they have a bell tower in their town hall. We played a Christmas concert there (hence the title of this blog post).

They had fewer regulations at their carillon, so were actually able to go up where the bells are and look at them. While it was somewhat terrifying because we were at the top of a bell tower on a scaffolding with no railings, it was also awesome! I had my camera with me so I took pictures. Isn't it so great that I get to learn how to play this instrument? I believe this carillon has about 50 bells, the largest of which weighs nearly 4 tons. (Ours here at Wellesley is somewhat smaller).

One of the best parts about going to Norwood was that I got to play a real carillon for the first time! I am currently only an apprentice in the Guild, so I can't play the Wellesley carillon yet. (Which makes sense, because it would be really annoying of us to make the entire campus listen to inexperienced carillon playing.) However, apparently the town of Norwood doesn't care that much! I only played two really easy songs, but it was so great to be able to play an actual carillon for once (I've only ever played on practice keyboards). The first song I played was Ding Dong Merrily on High, which I thought was fittingly ironic.

Anyway, that's pretty much the whole story. Not actually all that eventful or interesting, just something unique that I get to do, so I like talking about it!

And just for good measure, here's a couple pictures I took on campus when it snowed a couple weeks ago. These last few days it has looked nothing like this, its been raining almost every time I go outside. Is it strange that I miss Minnesota winters? When it does snow here though, it is beautiful!

I will be home for the next few weeks, so hopefully I will have more time to blog (and maybe even see some of you that are back in Minnesota!)

Oh, and Merry Christmas!