tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90374820168276787942024-02-08T04:13:52.296-08:00The Chronicles of MeRandom rants and every day life, and perhaps a little craziness may ensue while living abroad.Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-56227330281799461672012-01-23T18:21:00.000-08:002012-01-23T18:21:25.222-08:00Happy Lunar New YearYou see, a year ago I probably would have said "Happy Chinese New Year," but since I'm in Korea, it's not exactly Chinese, is it?? It's the year of the dragon, which I am also a dragon by the Chinese zodiac, so I'm thinking this year might be rather lucky for me!<br />
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I'm going to try to write more this year, and I know I said that last year...However, seeing as I'm interested in writing as my career, I figured I should write more!<br />
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I was just doing some light research on online dating, particularly when it comes to women (and women my age), and found some interesting stuff! It may not be as academic as I would have liked, but I was just thinking about it lately.<br />
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The people from <a href="http://www.okcupid.com/">OkCupid.com</a> have <a href="http://blog.okcupid.com/">a blog</a> where they gather data from their users (all of it is anonymized and randomized) to track various things. One post has lots of charts on sex, and the next correlates questions asked to different aspects of life. For example, if you ask "Do spelling and grammar mistakes annoy you?" then "the odds of him or her being at least moderately religious is slightly <b>better than 2:1.</b>" ...wait, what? Why can't you just ask outright? i suppose with everything you find on the internet, you might have to take it with a grain of salt.<br />
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I also stumpled upon this <a href="http://www.comscoredatamine.com/2011/07/males-more-likely-to-visit-personals-sites-in-the-u-s/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=%24{datamine}&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+comscoredatagems+%28The+comScore+Data+Mine%29">graphic</a> showing how men are more likely to visit personals sites than women, but I was more interested in the fact that women aged 25-34 were the most likely to visit these sites. I'm surprised that women so young are more likely to visit!<br />
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I may do some more in-depth research on this topic later, but I thought I'd just put it up here. There are lots of infographics about this topic, and here's a <a href="http://manvsdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/online-dating.gif">link</a> to one that is pretty interesting!<br />
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Sorry if this seems sporadic, but just wanted to put something up here that was more focused than my normal life!!Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-84321486073142862072011-09-27T05:09:00.000-07:002011-09-27T05:09:13.113-07:00What's this? Another post? Impossible!Wow, another post in only a few days?! What is this madness?!? (*snirk*)<br />
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Lately, I've been longing for <i>a way out.</i> I'm tired of all this loneliness, frustration, worry, and longing for home. <i><b>Any</b></i> kind of home. Right now, it's mainly my childhood home, since that's where I'm most familiar at the moment. It's just difficult knowing that a home is <i>grown</i> and <i>made</i>, it's not instantaneous... well, at least not for me. If it <b>is</b> instantaneous, you're the lucky one. <br />
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All these difficulties in being here have made me rewind my memories back to when I was "studying abroad" in Finland (being originally from Finland, "studying abroad" is a loose term). It was just as difficult, even though it is my "home country." (that's a whole 'nother story in and of itself) I just <i>couldn't</i> get the hang of things, and I'd never been so depressed in my life. However, as a disclaimer, I <i>was</i> in high school, when our developing brains are still largely based in the emotional part of our brain (the hypothalmus? I forget which part of the brain it was...), so our emotions feel amplified whereas the rational side of our brain doesn't kick in until later in life. [THANK YOU Life Sciences Communications 350 -- a class that was based on how the brain processes images and how you feel about them! One of the best classes I ever took in college!]<br />
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I digress.<br />
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So in high school, it feels like it was worse than now (I don't know if it's just because of my developmental stage at the time, or if it really was. *shrug* I don't know). I was just about getting over it when I had to leave at the end of the year. At that time, I was finally feeling comfortable with everything, and my friends, etc., that I almost was <i>sad</i> in leaving.<br />
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This is also the time I came to be a Christian.<br />
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Now, it seems, I'm in a similar predicament. However, now I have more resources (by way of support) and a more rational brain to work with. I no longer feel like the world is caving in because I'm just-so-emo! *sarcastically cries* <small>(though, I admit, I still do feel that way from time to time)</small><br />
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So how do I take my experiences of the past and apply them to today?<br />
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Well, I'm a <i><b>MUCH</b></i> different person than I was back then (thank God!!). I long for that child-like faith I had back then, when I could <i>feel</i> so much. Now, it's more difficult.<br />
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<small>Especially since I have been presented with the <i>way out</i> I've been longing for, but not actually expecting to get... Not sure if I should go for it...</small><br />
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I'm still not sure what to do. I'm trying to do little things- like doing things I like, creative things- which tend to fall behind when I'm like this, trying to be around other people when I have <i>no</i> desire to, etc. Baby steps, I think. Baby steps.<br />
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Because I'm tired of falling apart.Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-91494065141909415592011-09-23T23:05:00.000-07:002011-09-23T23:05:46.302-07:00Creativity and Life in South KoreaI know I promised many months ago that I would update several times a week, every week. This has not happened, and I'm not sorry. I wish I could be sorry, but I don't feel like I <i>owe</i> anyone a mundane, sub-par, albeit "foreign" (literally and figuratively) blog entry. It's also the fear of reverting to my teenage, emo blog posts from my livejournal blog back in the day. I also am more careful what I post online, as I understand the repercussions of what I say.<br />
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In a nutshell, I'm not sorry I haven't posted, and yet afraid to post because of the fear of dullness.<br />
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Though I can hear my friends and family saying, "But you're living ABROAD, which many people don't get to do, and you're afraid of being DULL??" Yes. I am.<br />
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Today I watched a <a href="http://www.ted.com">TED Talk</a>, which I often like to do to feel enlightened, and managed to come across Elizabeth Gilbert (author of <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i>, a book that thoroughly moved me) talking about creativity. Particularly about how creative genius works (in her opinion), as the Ancient Greeks and Romans envisioned it, as an otherworldly thing on loan to you from an "unknown source" to enjoy and use. It is a thing <i>apart</i> from yourself, which is often internalized by these artists/creative people that often leads to their ruin (Kurt Cobain, Mozart, Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, etc.). As a Christian, I see this from God's perspective, that this bit of talent/creativity/whatever you want to call it, as a gift from God, and to be cherished. (please forgive the awful grammar of that last sentence!)<br />
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It really is an interesting idea. I have aspirations to possibly be a science writer. I had planned on updating this blog on a regular basis to maintain my writing skills (which my mother says are quite good...but being my mother, I don't know if she's just saying that or if it's true.). But yet that hasn't happened.<br />
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I think it could be that this transition into my own life, apart from my family and the place I consider "home," has been more difficult than I anticipated. I thought that I could be this adventurous, fabulous woman, traversing the globe in search of amazing things to do and see. <br />
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This has not happened, and it's a little troubling. I feel like I haven't lived up to my friends' and family's expectations of me being that globe-trotter.<br />
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I also have been finding my health to be not as robust as it has been in the USA. I've gotten several colds, a sinus and ear infection, pink eye, and now I have skin problems on my hands (and face...partly due to a mosquito problem). I have a feeling that my skin problems could be a physical effect of my current feeling of apathy (to put it lightly), but I have no way of knowing.<br />
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I need <i>help</i> to get by. I'm currently seeking it out, so no worries, but I reflect onto what Elizabeth Gilbert said. That my creativity (which I've been <i>craving</i>) is not to be internalized, but to be recognized as a gift from God, and to use it for what I need it for.<br />
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So, in that, I'm hoping to update this blog more (I'm pretty sure I said that last time too). If not to update my friends and family about the goings on in my head, but also to have some sort of a creative outlet, which may be just the thing I need to survive here in Korea.<br />
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In conclusion, here's the Elizabeth Gilbert talk. I highly recommend you watch it.<br />
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It seems that I have fallen off of the bandwagon of updating that I had hoped to be on before. Life got a little crazy but I will explain in full. I'm hoping that this post won't be a super long one, but I'll try my best to wrap up my first few months here!<br />
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When I first got here, I wrote a post about my first day at school. It was alright, but at first I wasn't really "teaching" anything. My co-teachers would teach most of it and I would just stand there and pipe in every once in a while. I thought that was how it would always be. A few weeks of this go by, and my main co-teacher tells me that now <i>I</i> will be doing most of the teaching, starting on the next Monday (I think it was Thursday when she told me). I was a bit surprised at the sudden change (which seems to be a common habit here), and I asked why I wasn't teaching before. She told me that she wanted me to "take it easy" at first. Alright, I'll give her that much, but a heads-up would have been nice! So I taught mainly for a few weeks, but then me and my main co-teacher had a bit of a falling out. It's mainly just a personal conflict of interests, but we're working on it. It turns out that the way to a Korean woman's heart, is through her stomach. I started getting her her favorite doughnut once a week for a few weeks and now she's more friendly with me now! Who knew??<br />
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Overall, I'm starting to like my school. To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of kids when I got here, but now they're growing on me. My kids make me laugh and they like me a lot. Every day I hear at least one "Laura Teacher, I love you!!" and a hug to go along with it! I do have my favorite students, and my favorite class, but I try not to let it affect how I teach. I want the students to learn English, and have fun with it. Which leads me to my next big project at work, <b>summer camp</b>.<br />
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I have to teach three weeks of summer camp this summer. I have to come up with the curriculum and lesson plans by the <i><b>30th of this month</b></i>. I'm currently working on getting the themes of my camps down, and then lesson plans. I think that I'll do my first week as: "Travel the (English speaking) World!" -- this is to introduce the students to different styles of English, as there are many teachers from many countries who are often "criticized" for not speaking "American" English. The next week will be a "Pirates" themed week. This is just a fun way to teach them pirate words! The last week will be a "Week at the Movies" kind of thing. I'm still working out the details of this one, but I think I'll show snippets of a movie (probably something from Disney), and teach them movie-theater vocabulary. I'm mainly doing this movie-week because it's my last week before vacation, so I want to make it as relaxing as possible, heh. I'm hoping that this summer camp will be a chance for me to prove that I <i>CAN</i> indeed teach, without a co-teacher, and have fun while doing it! A chance to spread my wings a little bit, figuratively speaking.<br />
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After summer camp, I'll be going home to the States for 2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to it, seeing as during these past 3.5 months here I've been getting homesick a lot. I think it's partly because of the culture shock factor. There are different phases, and I think I hit the second phase (disillusionment- where you hate everything about the culture) pretty hard. I think I'm over it now, seeing as I'm getting out and doing new things and meeting new people. For instance, I started taking a Korean class about a month and a half ago, and I've met some cool people through that class. **I'll post some pictures later, as soon as they download off of my camera...** I've also started a hot yoga class, which is interesting since my Korean isn't nearly that good that I can follow the teacher's instructions. I usually just watch what everyone else is doing and they correct my posture occasionally. It works out! Hopefully I can burn off some of the weight I've put on since I've gotten here, heh heh!<br />
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I think that's a good start to catching up on posting! Maybe I'll post again tomorrow between work and Korean class, but we'll see! Hopefully it won't be another three months before I post again!Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-16156183429598477142011-03-03T19:00:00.000-08:002011-03-03T19:00:07.747-08:00Waah Finally Here!I'm going to update quick, for my followers!<br />
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I made it to Korea and I got a job at a local Elementary school, just across the river from downtown Seoul. I live in a district called Dang-juk. It's a rather lively place, maybe not so bustling as downtown Seoul, but then again, I haven't been there yet, so I can't say! I teach 3rd and 5th graders, with two co-teachers, one from each grade. My 5th grade co-teacher is my main co-teacher, and she helps me with anything I need! She's very nice, I'll have to upload a picture sometime!<br />
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On my first day, Wednesday, I met with the Principal, and he seemed pleased. He took me out to a welcome dinner, Korean barbeque, of course, and he was impressed that I drank beer and could use chopsticks! I also heard said that if I like my students, that he'll like me. Ok, Got it. (*snirk*)<br />
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My apartment, if you can call it that, is really one room with a bedroom and a ridiculously tiny kitchen (by that I mean I have a stove, a sink, and a washer under the stove, and very few cupboards). I also have a small refridgerator, not much bigger than the one I had at University, a bit of a bummer. They also got me a closet, and a desk and chair. They also bought me recently a microwave and some dishes (the dishes were a bit of a struggle to get, but I eventually got them!).<br />
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So I may not be updating as much as I would like, since I can't get internet or phone coverage until I get my Alien Registration Card, which may take me a while to get (probably 2 weeks). At least today I got a desktop and internet at work, so I can at least stay in touch with some things until I get my own. (and Skype, so I can at least call my parents somehow!)<br />
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I'm expriencing a bit culture shock, but nothing too off-putting. I think it's really just the suddenness of it, and being, esentially, alone here in a foreign country. The food is great, at least. Good thing I like spicy food!! haha! I'm hoping to explore my neighborhood this weekend, if not downtown Seoul. I'm also going to try to find a Korean class, hoping that will help me get used to things a bit.<br />
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Korea is different from China, but there are still some similarities. Korean people are more polite, and you bow quite often, where as in China you don't bow to anyone. I'm still getting used to it, and it will be ok, I think.<br />
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Well, I should be off, lunch is coming soon (which is very good!! It comes out of my paycheck, but $2 a day shouldn't put too much of a dent in anything!). I'll write when I can, bye!Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-49834072350531474452011-02-19T22:13:00.000-08:002011-02-19T22:13:48.936-08:00On BraveryStop calling me "brave." Really. I'm not.<br />
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Many people, upon hearing that I am going off to South Korea by myself, without knowing <i>anyone</i> (something my extended family seems to be worried about), I hear that I am "so brave!" Well, if you know me, and my history, you'd really see that this choice to go and teach English abroad has nothing to do with bravery, but within my nature.<br />
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You see, I am a child of immigrants. My parents and I came over from Finland 20 years ago (21 this August). Wanting to keep up my Finnish language skills (which we have spoken at home always), they would send me to Finland every summer to see my extended family starting at the age of <b><i>eight</i></b>. This went on until I was about 15, when I "studied abroad" there for a year, staying with my uncle (which is a whole story in and of itself, but I digress). My grandparents have seemed to be oh-so-grateful that I seem to be the only one in my family who goes to Finland to visit every year (usually summers, but this year I ended up going in January as I have mentioned before). <br />
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Well? What do you expect? This has been hard-wired in me ever since I was a very little girl. Every summer-sent to Finland. I mean, is that so hard to understand? It has nothing to do with <i>me.</i> It's just the way it's "always been."<br />
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When I started college, my father took a job in China and I have been to China several times, including a semester during which I studied Chinese. Asia seems to be my new frontier, so to speak. I fell in love with Asia since I have been there, and have many Asian friends.<br />
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Therefore, taking in my past of traveling, and my current love of Asia, is it so hard to rationalize that I put the two together...while getting paid for it (a definate bonus)? The idea isn't so hard to figure out, at least to my knowledge. It may be more difficult for those who have not had the same experiences as I have. (not that I meant that in a boasting way at all!!!!) Since I have no outstanding talent in anything, what else would I do? <br />
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So to say that I'm "brave" for doing this crazy Asian adventure, keep in mind my past history, it's really not so "brave" at all. <b>It makes sense.</b> In fact, I'm absolutely <i>terrified</i>. I get scared at every major juncture in my life, such as: starting high school, "studying abroad" to Finland, starting college, and now this. I don't deal with transitions well. It's just a fact of my life. I have often been very "self-aware" of where some of these issues come from, but this one I'm just not so sure <small>or at least I haven't figured it out yet</small>. I am being shaken to my core at this major life change. I've spent most of today in a semi-panicked mode because I realized that I only have a week left here in the States, with my family and friends (and dogs). I've pondered and worried about every possible scenario that may happen while I'm gone <small>(like what if something happens to my dog, what if something happens to me, what if something happens to my <i>mom</i> etc.??)</small> It is only by the Grace of God that I am sitting here somewhat sane right now. <br />
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This is perhaps the biggest change of my life. Though I've always had the feeling that this will be a <i>good</i> thing for me. That something <i>good</i> is waiting for me out there (I'm hoping it's a future life partner, heh, but I digress). I'm taking it a day at a time. Trying to think positive. Trying to lean on God's support, since I certainly can't do it alone.<br />
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Am I "brave?" Absolutely not. I am a terrified wreck. Does this mean I'm chickening out? <b>No. Way.</b> I'm in it all the way, and I think it'll be a <big><b><i>blast</i></b></big> (once I stop worrying about it).<br />
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<small>I won't be translating this into Finnish. Sorry Grandma.</small>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-42205872613184512562011-02-16T17:46:00.000-08:002011-02-16T17:46:44.193-08:00It's official!So now it's official. I will be in South Korea on March 1st (less than two weeks from now!). I will go and get my visa tomorrow, and now I have to worry about packing! I have no idea what to pack, but I'll figure something out!<br />
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I also have a hard time realizing that this is a long-term deal (well, at least a year). I have a feeling that this is just a short visit and I'll be back. I guess it will just take some time to come to terms with. I have a feeling that this will hit me when I'm on the plane over to Korea. We'll see how it goes!<br />
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<i>Nyt on virallista. Ne haluaa että olen Etelä Koreassa 1.3. (joka tulee aika pian!) Menen hakemaan viisumin huomenna, ja nyt täytyy huolehti pakkaamisesta! Ei oo aavistustakaan mitä pakkasin, mutta keksin jotakin!<br />
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Mulla on myös vaikea ajatella että tämä onkin pitkä-aikainen juttu (No, ainakin vuoden). Mulla on semmonen tunne että tämä on lyhyt-aikainen juttu, ja tulen pian takaisin. Kai se kestää vähän aikaa tottuu siihen ideaan. Mulla on semmonen tunne myös että sehän iskee muhun kunnes olen lentokoneessa. Katsotaan miten menee!</i>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-83349335032111771302011-02-09T07:59:00.000-08:002011-02-09T07:59:00.851-08:00Got my Contract!/Sain Kontraktin!Short Post today!<br />
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I got my contract today! Now it's real! It seems pretty straight forward, just gotta sign it! Now I have to figure out my Visa situation...hmm...<br />
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<i>Lyhyt Postaus Tänään!<br />
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Sain kontraktin tänään! Nyt on totta! Kontrakti vaikkuttaa ihan selvältä, tarvitsen vain alekirjoittaa sen! Nyt täytyy keksii miten minun viisumi menee...hmm...</i>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-58298865881797349562011-02-08T08:06:00.000-08:002011-02-08T08:06:00.650-08:00Sorry!!/Anteeksi!Hello all!<br />
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Sorry I kind of went silent after I left for Finland! I was waiting for official word from Korea and was really worried for a moment...but more on that later.<br />
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My trip to Finland was good. It was good to see my family before I leave for Korea, since I don't know when I'll be back there again. I also saw some friends from my time in high school over there, as well as one of my American classmates (from my university's Chinese class, heh), so that was fun!<br />
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So Korea.<br />
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I had all my paperwork ready when I left for Finland, except my Degree Confirmation Letter. My Letter came, got Apostilled, and the whole packet sent out while I was in Finland (thanks Mom!). I hadn't heard any official word that I would get the job, and I was getting nervous. My advisor (my contact with the company) also gave me some other options, such as private schools or deferring until <b>AUGUST</b> (which was NOT going to happen!). I got word yesterday that the Seoul Ministry of Education (SMOE) approved my application and my Notice of Appointment (NOA) was sent out. (According to Fedex, it should be here tomorrow!!) So it's official: <b><i>I will be in South Korea on March 1st.</i></b> It's such a relief to officially have the job, but now I have to figure out my visa situation (which I guess will be explained in my NOA), what to pack, etc. It's starting to sink in, but I won't <i>fully</i> accept it as real until I get my NOA in hand.<br />
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I hope that this experience in Korea will be the start of something new. A chance for me to spread my wings and figure life out on my own. That's not to say that I won't miss my mom or anything, but I'm hoping that I can be a single, independent woman and live the best life that I can. :) :)<br />
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<small>I'm just a little bit excited, heh...</small><br />
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I'll let you know how everything goes in this final planning stage. They've advised me not to book my flights until I have my visa, because if my flight is late, then I won't get a penalty (or something of that sort). I can't wait!!<br />
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<i>Suomeksi<br />
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Anteeksi etten kirjoittanut mitään sen jälkeen kuin lähdin Suomeen! Minä en ollut varma oliko mulla se työpaikka tai ei... oli pikkasen huolissaan, mutta ennemmän siitä myöhemmin.<br />
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Suomi oli ihan kivaa. Olipa kiva nähdä sukulaisia vielä kerran ennen kuin lähden Koreaan. Näin myös muutaman kaveria, yksi lukiosta suomessa kunnes opiskelin siellä, ja myös yhden Amerikkalainen yliopisto luokka toveri minun kiinankielen tunnilta. Oli ihan hauskaa.<br />
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Niin Korea.<br />
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Ennen kuin lähdin Suomeen, mulla oli kaikki paperihommat hoidettu, paitsi minun "degree confirmation" kirje (siis se kirje joka selitti että onkin yliopistosta valmistunut). Kuin olin Suomessa, kirje tuli, sain Apostillen, ja koko paketti oli lähetty (kiitos Mami!!). En ollut kuulut mitään pitkään aikaan, ja tuli vähän pelko että onkohan sitä paikka olemassa vai ei. Minun advisori (minun kontakti ihminen siellä firmalla) rupes antaa minulle muita vaihtoehtoja, niinkuin privaatti koulut ja myös että odottaisi <b>ELOKUUHUN.</b> (kiitos, EI.) Sain tietoa eilen että Seoulin Yleiskoulun Ministeriö (SMOE englanniksi) hyväksyi minun hakemuksen ja lähetti minun NOA (englannkisi, siis se paperi joka selittää mitä nyt tapahatuu). Ja FEDEX:in mukaan, se tulee huomenna! Elikä nyt on virallista: </i><b>Olen Koreassa 1.3.</b><br />
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<i>Sehän autta jo paljon että tiedän on mulla onkin se työpaikka, mutta nyt tarvin huolehti visasta, mitä kannata pakata, jne. Se rupee tuntuu että tämä on nyt todellista, mutta en täysin usko ennen kuin mulla on se NOA paperi kädessä.<br />
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Toivon että tämä Korea reissu tuo jotain hyvää minulle. Että voin nyt kokeilla olla aikuinen, ja jatkaa tästä eteenpäin omilla ehdoilla. En sano etten tulee koti ikävä, mutta toivottavasti tästä on jotain hyvää.<br />
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<small>Jännittää kyllä vähän...heh.</small><br />
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Ilmoitan miten tämä loppu vaihe menee. Sain myös tieto etten kannata varata lentoliput ennen kuin saan visuumi käteen, etten tule mitään "rangaistuksia" myöhäistä lennoista. En jaksa odottaa!!</i>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-20863395497399552182011-01-03T09:36:00.000-08:002011-01-03T09:36:01.568-08:00Almost There!/Melkein Valmis!Ok, so the last of my paperwork is coming together. I had to wait until all of my grades are in (no thanks to professors who like to wait until the last minute), to get my letter saying that I did complete all of my degree requirements and did, in fact, graduate. I also ordered my final transcripts, and that's about it! I just need to send my letter back to Madison to get the Apostille (which I got the next day last time!) and then compile all of the papers together and send them off to Korea! Waah! <br />
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<small>Though I am a bit nervous since they sent me an email claiming there are only 150 spots left.. My mom tells me it's just a scare-tactic, but I'm still nervous if I will, indeed, get a job...Trying to just focus on the positive.</small><br />
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I also leave for Finland on Thursday. I figured that I should go and visit my family before I leave for Korea, since I'm not sure when I'll be able to again. (especially since I'm not sure if I'll have free flights through my dad's work anymore...) I'm debating on whether or not I'll bring my netbook with me (I'm only away for a week or so). I will be bringing my little video camera I got for Christmas, so I may be posting some videos! (waah!)<br />
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I also have all the <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/us">Lonely Planet</a> books for Korea and Seoul (and a Phrasebook)! I also have a book on modern Korean History. When I lived in China, I took a Chinese History class before I got to China and it helped me to understand the culture better. I just have to get around to reading it! heh heh.<br />
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So that's about it! I'll post as soon as another development happens!<br />
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<i>*Suomeksi*<br />
<br />
No niin, viimeiset paperihommat on kohta valmis. Piti odottaa kunnes minun viimeiset numerot oli julkaistu (joka kesti aika kauan koska jotkut professorit eivät tehny ne aikaseksi mutta ihan viimeisen tinkaan) ennen kuin pystyin tilamaan semmosen kirjeen joka sano että tein kaikki hommat valmiiksi ja että valmistuin. Myös tilasin minun viimiset "transcripts" (eli semmosen paperi joka näyttää kaikki kurssit ja numerot) ja eihän ole paljon muuta! Vain täytyy lähettää minun kirjeen takaisin Madisoniin saamaan sen "Apostille" (joka sain seuraavana päivänä viimeistä kertaan!). Sitten täytyy kerätä kaikki paperit esiin ja lähettää ne Koreaan! Waah!<br />
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<small>No totitesti sanoen, sain sähköpostin että ei oo enää kuin 150 paikkaa jäljellä. Äiti sanoi että se on pelottava niin että ihmiset saisivat paperit kuntoon nopeammin... silti vähän pelkään onkohan paikka minulle... Täytyy vain ajattele positiivisesti.</small><br />
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Olen myös menossa Suomeen Torstaina. Ajattelin että kannatta nähdä sukua ennen kuin lähden koska en tiedä koska pääsee uudestaan (varsinkin kun en tiedä saakohan niitä ilmaisia matkoja Isän työn takia enään...). En ole varma otanko minun netbook mukaan vai ei. Otan ainakin minun pikku videocameran (sain joululahjaksi!) mukaan, eli saattaa laittaa videot tähän!<br />
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Sain myös ne <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/us">Lonely Planet</a> kirjat Koreasta ja Seoulista (ja myös fraasikirja)! Mulla on myös Korean modernihistoria kirja luettavaksi. Kunnes menin Kiinaan, otin Kiinan historian kurssi ennen kuin lähdin, ja autto minun ymmärtävän Kiinan kulttuuri paremmin. Täytyy vain lukea sitä! heh heh.<br />
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Eiköhän se on siinä. Kirjoitan jospa jotain uutta tapahtuu!</i>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-17411332981793919912010-12-16T10:33:00.000-08:002010-12-16T10:33:17.680-08:00Paperwork/PaperihommiaJust a quick update before I continue studying for finals! My FBI Background check came back all clear, (did I say that before?) and I sent it back last Friday to get it "authenticated." It came back yesterday (Wednesday). That was fast! So now I can get the Apostille on it, and I can be one step closer to having all my paperwork together.<br />
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It's also starting to hit me that soon I'll be off on my own. I'm trying not to worry about it too much, with finals and all, but it crosses my mind now and then.<br />
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What else has hit me is a cold! I have been fighting back as hard as I can, and I seem to be getting somewhat better. (I think the stress of it all has been getting to me!)<br />
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That's about it! I'll keep you posted! :)<br />
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*Suomeksi*<br />
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<i>Nyt pikku "update" siitä paperihommista. Sain sen FBI Criminaali historian takaisin, ja mulla ei ole mitään huolehdittavaa. Lähetin sen takaisin että saisin sen autentikointi Perjantaina, ja tuli takaisin Keskiviikona (olipas nopee'!). Nyt olen lähempänä saamaan sen "Apostille," ja saisin sitten kaikki nä paperihommat hoideltua.<br />
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Myös on iskenyt minuun että olen kohta lähdössä asumaan ihan ite. Yritän että en siitä huoledhi kauheasti (varsinkin kun mulla on minun koe viikko menolla). Välillä tulee mieleen kuitenkin.<br />
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Mulla tuli just flunssa!! Olen yrittänyt estää sen, ja vaikutta että paranen pian. (luulen että tämä flunssa on stressistä kiini...)<br />
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Eipä tässä ole paljon muuta! Näkemiin!</i>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-5831501708171901782010-12-08T16:22:00.000-08:002010-12-08T16:22:53.378-08:00Blog re-dedicationHi all (my one follower, and I think I know who you are!)!<br />
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This blog is now going to be my travel blog...again. This time it will be different, rather than the sporadic posts from last time.<br />
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<b>First Difference:</b> I'm going to be in Seoul, South Korea teaching English.<br />
<b>Second Difference:</b> I'm going to try to update at least bi-weekly, if not daily (and you can hold me accountable for that!)<br />
<b>Third Difference:</b> I'm going to try to take lots of pictures and video (which is something I'm not too familiar with, so please forgive me if it looks weird).<br />
<b>Fourth Difference:</b> This blog will truly be bilingual. I want to use this blog as a way for my family abroad (in Finland, if you must know) to see how I'm doing. I know the translations will be bad (seeing as my Finnish Grammar is horrid), but it's understandable (so I'm told). I may not translate everything right away (depending on my schedule) but I'll try!<br />
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So right now, update-wise, I pretty much have the job set. I haven't signed anything yet, seeing as I have to get all my paperwork in order. They want quite a few things from University (final transcripts, my DIPLOMA, etc.), but I can't do anything until I graduate in less than two weeks. I'm just twiddling my thumbs in the meantime, though it KILLS me to not to be able to do anything! I also had to get an FBI Criminal Record Check, which sounds rather scary saying so, but I have nothing to hide. (It came back all-clear by the way. heh.) However, I need to get it Apostilled (which seems to be the international version of a notary), BUT I need to get my FBI CRC authenticated before I can do that. SO I need to send it back to the FBI, get it authenticated, send it to my state's Secretary of State's office, get the apostille, get my other papers together, and send it to Korea. *Phew!*<br />
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It'll be fine, as my mom says.<br />
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Yes, I am aware of the political situation over there right now. No, I'm not afraid. Yes, I'm a little nervous, but that's not going to stop me. I know that *if* something should happen (which I seriously DOUBT) that I could get out of the country fast. So no need to worry about me!!<br />
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That's about all I can write about now for that, I'll probably spend my 2 months or so before I leave talking about how I'm preparing for it.<br />
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Take Care!<br />
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<i>*Suomeksi*<br />
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No niin, tämä blogi on nyt (taas) minun matkailu blogi. Aloitin tämän kunnes menin Kiinaan opiskelemaan, mutta nyt olen lähdössä Etelä Koreaan opettamaan Englantia. Viimeksi en kirjoitellut kovin useasti, mutta nyt aion tehdä useita muutoksia.<br />
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<b>Ensimmäinen Muutos:</b> Olen menossa Etelä Koreaan, Seouliin.<br />
<b>Toinen Muutos:</b> Aion kirjoittaa tähän AINAKIN kaks' kertaa viikolla, (voi olla että kirjoitan päivittäin)<br />
<b>Kolmas Muutos:</b> Aion panna paljon kuvia ja videoita (vaikka en oikein osaa videoo niin hyvin kuin valokuvausta, että voi oll huono alunperin!)<br />
<b>Neljäs Muutos:</b> Aion kirjoittaa tämän blogin Englanniksi sekä Suomeksi, että mun Suomalaista sukua myös pystyy seuramaan minun seikkailuita. (Varoitan että mun kielioppi on todella huono, mutta minun kirjoitukseni on kuulemma ihan ymmärettävä...) Käänöksiä voi kestää vähän kauemmin laittaa tähän (Englanti on mulle helpommin, ja myös riippuu miten mun aikataulu menee). Jos ei oo suomeksi vielä, tuuthan takaisin vähän myöhemmin sitten.<br />
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Mutta tässä vaiheessa, mulla on se työpaikka (periatteella), en ole vielä alekirjoitanut mitään. Yritän nyt saada minun paperi hommat hoidettu ennen kuin lähden. Ne haluaa että saan paljon papereita minun yliopistolta (loppu numerot, minun DIPLOMI, jne.) mutta en pysty niitä hakemaan vasta kuin koulu on ohi kahden viikon päästä (vähemmin!). En siedä oleskella vaan odetelen! Myös piti hakea FBI:lta minun kriminaali historia. Sehän kuulostaa aika huonosti, että pitää hakea minun historia maan isoin poliisi palvelusta (periatteessa). Mulla ei ole mitään piilotettavaa, eli no hätä. (sehän tuli takaisin ihan hyvin, että mulla ei ollut koskaan mitään rikoksia, heh.) MUTTA tarvin hakea siihen semmosen "Apostille," joka on semmosen tarkastus että paperi on virallinen. Mutta pitää lähetää sen takaisin FBI:lle ja hakea semmosen autentikointi ensin. Sitten tarvin lähetää sen minun osavaltion ulkomaan "secretary" (nehän hoitaa ne Apostille:t), ja sitten laittamaan sen ja muita paperit Koreaan. Huh huh!<br />
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Kaikkihan tulee selville, niinkuin äitini sanoo.<br />
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Kyllä tiedän mitä Koreassa nyt tapahtuu poliitisesti. Ei pelota. Kyllä vähän jännittää, mutta menen kuitenkin. Ja jospa joitain sattuu (joka en usko tapahtuvan), pääsen pois maasta nopeasti jos tarvin. Ei tartte huolehdi minusta!<br />
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No nyt mulla ei oo enää niin paljon kirjoitettavaa! Meinaan käyttää tämän ajan lähtöön ennen kirjoittaa miten valmistaudun Koreaan, jne.<br />
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Näkemiin!</i>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-21789595977541926032010-09-25T20:16:00.000-07:002010-09-25T20:16:08.237-07:00Moving Blogs?Hello there (my very few readers),<br />
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I've been looking into domain names and Wordpress lately. Why? Well, since I'm planning on working abroad, at times, I'm unable to publish on my blogs. I've done some research, and it seems the best option is to just get a domain name (which means money), and use something like Wordpress to make it all pretty-like. I'm hoping to have some kind of published, current work out there on the internet if I plan on being an artist/writer/etc. (I got this advice from a company I talked to at a career fair, and it's a good idea!)<br />
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I'm looking to combine <a href="http://laurarting.livejournal.com">my</a> <a href="http://minako06.livejournal.com">3</a> <a href="http://laura-chronicles.blogspot.com/">blogs</a>. All of which are not accessible in certain places.<br />
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The question is, that if I move to a more permanent home, would you all follow me? Would you be interested in reading about my ramblings, art, and other things? And if you know, which web hosting service should I use? I'm looking into "green" web hosting (just because I can), specifically GreenGeeks.<br />
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I've also come down with a nasty sore throat, as well as my nose is starting to run (with sneezing). Ugh. I don't think I should be making any of these decisions whilst taking cold medications...heh.<br />
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Now I leave you with a video (which really can't go wrong in this day and age) of puppies and a kitty. BOTH!<br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7bcV-TL9mho?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7bcV-TL9mho?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-15693761753186069822010-09-07T18:59:00.000-07:002010-09-07T19:03:27.059-07:00They say that home is where the heart is, I guess I haven't found my home.<small><font color="purple">Title: Ingrid Michaelson: "Are we there yet?"</font></small><br /><br />Sorry I haven't posted here so much, but I usually post over at my LJ... I'll try to make this a mirror!<br /><br />I have a hard time with transitions. Any transition, really. Big ones particularly freak me out. Guess what? I'm going through a big one right now. I will soon be going off into the real world (well, half-way across the world, really.), and that's especially hard. Some days I don't mind it, in fact, I can be pretty excited about it. Yet, there are days where I have panic attacks about it. My mental state is rather fragile yet, and I worry that I will only get worse when I go abroad...alone...by myself. <small>I worry too much anyway.</small> I think that having a dog with me over there will help a lot. Spending the summer with my own, old dog really helped. However, my own dog is rather old, and retired. I want her to live out her last years in peace, without taking her with me (even though she still has a good many years left, and is perfectly healthy). I was going to take her grandson, but he isn't really what I'm looking for. My mom even threw out the idea of his sister, but I think my mom wants her. This dog thing is really worrying me, because the logistics aren't there for me. I know this is a few months from now, but I don't know if I could be there by myself. <br /><br />I've even started pulling away from relationships in my town. I mean, I'm going to be going far away, and I know that I will lose most of those relationships anyway (which is my logic). However, with my mental state being as it is, this isn't healthy for me right now. I <i>need</i> relationships with others, and I'm <b>definately NOT</b> talking about romantic ones. I <strike>need</strike>, no, <i>crave</i> relationships. I've been pulling away for too long, and I've let my baggage get the best of me for too long. I'm hesitant to start new relationships, but I need this. Though this is also difficult, because of many reasons which I might not write about here. I could use prayers...Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-72311347316312434932010-04-29T07:52:00.001-07:002010-04-29T07:52:08.013-07:00Many the Miles (4/27/10)<span xmlns=''><p>As I write this post, I'm sitting in the basement of my dorm (yes, I still live in the dorms as a Senior, and plan to live in them next semester, even if it is my last), trying to get a head start on my finals-studying. I'm extremely tired, and I have laundry in the drier next door. As I sit here contemplating marketing concepts (guess which class I'm studying for?), I am feeling a bit philosophical. It could be that I'm just utterly exhausted, and I tend to get kind of loopy when I'm tired, but let's just roll with it. <br /></p><p>I am graduating in about 8 months. That may not seem like a lot, but it will go by soon. <br /></p><p>I'm also trying to get summer employment, which has been nerve-wracking, in order to prepare myself for my possible career. (That's being an ESL –English as a Second Language –Teacher.) The reality of my impending graduation is looming, since I'm going to great lengths to get this particular summer position to get classroom experience, which I am lacking. I'm grateful that they're considering me at all. After all, I just sent them a rather open-ended email a little over a month ago on a whim, and ended up getting an interview, and possibly some classes. The only problem is that it would overlap with my last week of classes and my "finals week" starting next week. That's why I'm trying to get a head-start on studying NOW, while I still have some semblance of time.<br /></p><p>I'm also looking at a Summer RA position (not affiliated with the university), for some summer camps at these apartments which the university sometimes uses for housing when the dorms fill up. This RA position includes a room in one of their suites and a meal plan, as well as a stipend. I'd be working 25ish hours a week as an RA, but I'm willing to do so if it means I will have a confirmed place to live over the summer (no subletting problems!). The interview I had with them this morning seemed to go well, the interviewer having liked some of my answers. He seemed to like that if I could be any part of a ship, I would be the crow's nest. *shrug* We used similar questions when my student org interviewed possible officers for next year, last week. <br /></p><p>I'll hear about both jobs on Thursday; for the RA position, it may be an offer letter, for the teaching position, my possible class schedule. I'm very anxious about Thursday. Then all will be revealed.<br /></p><p>This summer may well help my progression into my chosen field (which doesn't have much to do with my major, oddly enough). Then that leads to my post-graduation plans. <br /></p><p>My "plans" are very flexible right now, but I do plan on using a teacher placement service that I have available to me, starting next semester. I'm hoping to get to China or Korea first, but Japan and Taiwan is also a close second. In my Chinese class, I often feeling longing for my beloved Zhong Guo ("zhong" = Middle, "guo" =country, therefore China calls itself "middle country"). I miss the food, the awesome people I met there (many of which are not there anymore), and just how easy it is for me to live there. Being a bit of a "hidden immigrant" in the US, it's a bit tiring to always have to explain that I'm from Finland, and REALLY, I am. Whereas in Asia, I'm obviously foreign, which is such a relief! I'm allowed to make mistakes (in language, etiquette, etc) and <em>it's ok.</em> Here, if I do, people would think I'm strange. <br /></p><p>I often don't talk about Finland to my friends here in the USA, because they often can't relate to me, no matter how much they may be want to. Also, some people don't believe me, and yet others think I'm bragging if I do. The boasting issue is a big reason why I don't like to talk about my travels. I've had brilliant* experiences, and I understand that many have not. (*I think how the Brits use "brilliant" is fantastic, so I'm going to try to ingrain it into US culture, heh). I also know that I will continue to have these experiences after graduating (me planning to go abroad and all). It's a fine line to walk, culture-wise. <br /></p><p>This post is a bit scatter brained. I think I'll leave my half-awake rantings here.<br /></p><p>~Laura<br /></p><p>*NOTE: Title of this post comes from the Sara Bareilles song of the same name, which appropriately describes my feelings towards life right now. I highly recommend a listen.</p></span>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-27053376002455324122009-04-21T11:17:00.000-07:002009-04-21T11:18:16.026-07:00"...Feel the morning (whispers) though a sunny day"<small><font color="purple">Volbeat: "The Human Instrument"</font></small><br /><br />I can't believe that I'm 21 now. My birthday celebration was great last Saturday, good times with good people! I even made a new friend (a friend of a friend), and it was just fun! Yay for being now fully legal to do pretty much anything in this country, woo. <br /><br />Oh yeah! My friend couldn't get into the bars (she wasn't 21 yet, but will be in a week and a half), so she called the guy she liked, and now they're officially dating! (he asked her out, it was a really cute story!) The bummer thing is that she was one of my last single friends, so now I'm one of the few that's not in a relationship. It's ok though, I know now's not the best time. Every guy I seem to even remotely like, in the tiniest bit gets a girlfriend. I guess I'm like Chuck in the movie "Good Luck Chuck" except that I don't have to sleep with the person, heh heh. (good movie btw) Besides, I have a feeling that I'm going to marry a foreign guy (that is not American or Finnish, no offense to anybody who IS though), so I have at least that to look forward to. &hearts<br /><br />I also can't believe that the semester is almost over, but I really can't wait for summer. Why you ask? Well, I'm *hoping to* go to <a href="http://www.ruisrock.fi/index_en.php">Ruisrock</a>, this big rock festival in Finland. I'm also hopefully going with a friend from the US (studying Finnish, will be in Finland for a summer program) and my second cousin from Canada (who is also really cool). The more I check out the bands, the more I'm excited! I've always wanted to go to one of the many Finnish rock festivals in the summer, and now's (maybe) my chance! Woo! Now it's hard to concentrate, but at least I just bought the Danish band <a href="http://www.volbeat.dk/">Volbeat</a>'s CD, and I'm enjoying it. (one of the songs my dear friend Tiina posted, and I remembered that I liked it!) Plus they're one of the bands that will be there, so that'll tide me over until this summer. I'm so excited!! Woo! /o/ \o\ /o/Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-19471986729980291372009-02-02T14:42:00.000-08:002009-02-02T14:43:06.087-08:00Another week.So I've been (trying to) go the gym every morning. It worked out pretty well last week, and I had planned to go this morning, but I realized that I had forgotten to do a small essay/study for a quiz for today. I pretty much decided to stay home and work on that stuff instead. TOMORROW, I plan on getting up at 6:30am, get to the gym by 7~7:15ish and go on the elliptical/bike for a half an hour or so, and get home. Luckily, I have class at 11am Tuesday-Thursday, though I have class at 9:55am MWF, so I don't have as much of a break between workouts and class then. I'm trying to lose weight, but not because of my body image...well, sort of. I'm just <i>tired of it.</i> I'm tired of trying to hide my flaws, and whine about it. I've also noticed some joints starting to act up. So to put less stress on myself <b>and</b> my joints, I'm going to watch what I eat, work out, take care of myself, etc. It's not that I hate how I look, but I'm just <i>done with it.</i> The Bible says that our bodies are "a temple" so I should take care of it, right? Right.<br /><br />It seems like I'll be headed for China again for Spring Break. My dad, however, will be in Finland. My mom and I didn't want to go to Finland, seeing as it's crappy that time of year (all gray, muddy, and all around icky), so we decided to go to China by ourselves. There are still some things I haven't seen in the city my dad lives/I lived (like some ancient gardens) and my mom's never been to Shanghai, so we're going to just hang out around there. Now that my Chinese is decent, I can get around a bit easier. I'm kind of excited to go back, mainly because I miss the <big><b>AMAZING FOOD!!</b></big> *drools* Some people are nervous, but most Chinese things are cooked (the Japanese like raw things, and even that's not bad, I love it). As long as you have an open mind, you probably won't have a problem. Heck, I've eaten lamb barbecue on the side of the road at 2am, and it was freaking amazing. *sigh*<br /><br />That's about it. The only reason why I'm writing is because I'm just trying to get out of reading 100 pages of International Business, heh. (I don't HAVE to read it, but I feel like I'm behind in the lectures) Oh yeah, I have to read a few pages in Soil Sciences (one of two Soil Sci departments in the country, I guess). oy.<br /><br />Oh, and I've also decided that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJcDmxhmTDQ">Hedgehogs</a> are <i>incredibly</i> cute. Maybe I'll have one as a pet someday. :DLaura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-11257455282168836242009-01-10T17:57:00.001-08:002009-01-10T17:57:26.798-08:00Upon reading "Blue Like Jazz"I've just finished reading Donald "Don" Miller's book, <i>Blue Like Jazz</i>. On the cover, it says "Nonreligious thoughts about Christian spirituality," which intrigued me. My friends had all recommended it to me (as well as any other Christian I've spoken to...well most of them.), so I took my Christmas money and bought it.<br /><br />This book reflects my own "journey" and some of the doubts I've been having. Can I still be "indie"...ish, and still be a Christian? <i>of course</i>. Is loneliness normal? <i>no, it comes from sin</i>. This leads me to a realization which this blog post is about today: <br /><br /><i>Loneliness</i>.<br /><br />If you've paid attention to this blog, or know me in general, I've been a bit of a recluse this past semester. (a <i>recluse</i> is someone who shuts his or herself in their room a lot, somebody asked, so I put the definition) Every day I came home from class/other responsibilities, and was just <i>exhausted</i>. What also exhausted me was <i>being around people</i>. I avoided other people, even ignored them, because I thought (as Don Miller put it) "the play was about me." That I was the lead role, and all other people were the supporting actors/actresses. Unimportant. Not Useful to my character development. This is <b>so</b> not true. It's not <b><u>healthy</u></b> to be alone so much. I've started chattering to myself a lot, seeing things, imagining things that seem real. Don Miller, having gone through a similar stage, even <i>saw</i> Emily Dickinson when he visited her home. Like actually saw her, though he was going a bit crazy at the time, like I am. I've been <b><i>craving</i></b> social interaction. I <b><i>need</i></b> to be around other people. I laugh more, am happier, and can grow in my walk with the Lord through others. I'm kind of in a transition phase right now, which was put on pause due to my crazy semester (I changed Bible Studies, am changing campus ministry groups...), but I <strike>want</strike> no <i>need</i> to get back on track with my social life. It's been getting sad. I've spent my whole winter vacation at my house. I mean <b>C'MON!</b> heh.<br /><br />So yeah, this post wasn't about anything in general, I guess. Just a realization of how important a social life is. I'm tired of being a recluse.<br /><br /><small>I've also been trying to lose weight, like for serious. Pray for me?</small>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-26810882636395443772008-12-24T23:23:00.000-08:002008-12-24T23:24:21.679-08:00Happy Holidays!Since most of you should know my leanings this holiday season...<br /><br /><big><i><font face="papyrus">MERRY CHRISTMAS! <br />HYVÄÄ JOULUA! <br />FROHE WEINACHTEN! <br />圣诞快乐!(sheng dan kuai le)</font></i></big><br /><br />I'm exhausted from making 3 different kinds of casseroles (lanttu/rutabaga, peruna/potato, ja/and porkkana/carrot), and liking rutabaga/"lanttu" casserole for the first time in my 20 years, baking a "lihapiirakka" (I guess you could call it a meat pasty, or a meat pie. But meat pies remind me of Sweeny Todd...), we made a "mystery pie" since we couldn't make Christmas tortes, so we added apples to the crust... baked rolls and Christmas cookies (I also made some for our dogs and for the dogs of our family friends)...ate so much food! Didn't get too much in the way of presents, not that I was expecting anything. I asked for a new coffee maker, which I got, and a new lens for my camera (a 50mm lens if you're wondering, supposedly good for portraits). I also got a $50 Visa gift card and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schnauzer">schnauzer</a> puppy calendar from a family friend.<br /><br />Seeing as my Christmas celebrations are done (we're Christmas Eve folks, as is tradition in Finland), I'll be wishing you all the best for this holiday season and for the coming new year!Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-90022954935112423852008-12-21T20:32:00.001-08:002008-12-21T20:32:58.988-08:00Another year winds down...I was thinking today, that it's December 21st, that means the year is almost over. How quickly it went by! I swear, time goes by so much faster as you get older!<br /><br />What a year it's been! I spent 5 months in China (of all places), had a blast, went to Finland, got joint issues (98% resolved now), started back at UW, had possibly the best semester of my college career grades-wise (I got an A in Chinese, woo!), dealt with some crap with myself and others, and...yeah. CRAZINESS. It's been a good year, I think. I've grown up a lot, and have gotten a lot more stable on my own two feet. That's not to say that there aren't still issues to work out, there'll always be issues, but I feel like they're not the end of the world. I can still function well with them (or without..). <br /><br />As for this next year, I have some ideas about "resolutions." Well, I don't really like resolutions, because I never keep them. However, these are more like next semester things that could be more long term:<br /><br /><b>A.) Catch up with my friends i.e. be more social.</b> This past semester I was a bit of a recluse now that I got my own room at school, but I realized that <i>I miss people</i>. I miss being around them, laughing with them, having <i>fun</i> with them. I miss that, I do.<br /><br /><b>B.) Keep up the good work at school</b> Because at the moment, with two classes with grades submitted, I have a 3.3 semester gpa (which is the best that I've had since high school), but that could change depending on my other classes as they appear. (O Chem lab, and my English class have yet to submit scores...). I have a large load on my plate next semester, with the most credits I've ever had, but with light days in between...which leads to the next one:<br /><br /><b>C.) *Possibly* Start a TCK/CCK group on campus</b>. If you know me, I may have mentioned my being a <a href="http://www.tckid.com/">TCK/CCK</a> (<b>T</b>hird <b>C</b>ulture <b>K</b>id/<b>C</b>ross <b>C</b>ulture <b>K</b>id). I've found that on campus there are actually are a number of us, with those who possibly don't even know that there's a name for the restlessness/out of place-ness they feel. So, if I have time (time's the big issue), I'll try to start it up. I also have great resources to help me (see the link). The thing is, the TCKid.com website have this "local leaders" thing, which can help me out with this, but I'd probably end up being the Wisconsin "local leader" which is a big responsibility, whereas I feel like I could help out more on campus...We'll see.<br /><br />and last but DEFINATELY not least...<br /><br /><b>4.) Get closer to God.</b> I feel like I'm not at a place in my life, where I can <i>accept</i> God again. I'd been living too long for myself, having "earthly" fun and it didn't help the loneliness/emptiness I felt inside. So, I'm going to make a good effort into spending more one-on-one time with Him, since I've found a great church and through that a bible study. I just need to spend some quality time with the Lord, to get to know Him, and to let Him into my life more. Pray for me?<br /><br />I know it's a bit early for a "New Year's Post" but I was just thinking about it...*shrug* Have a happy holidays!Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-11341750286098042082008-12-16T17:48:00.001-08:002011-10-16T06:31:51.088-07:00heh.Yeah, my organic chem exam was 102/200, but my total class score isn't looking too good. I think I may have failed oraganic chemistry. It was a bitch anyway. I took my Chinese exam today, and I've done relatively well in that class (I've gotten no lower than a 90 on my tests/quizzes, and all A's on my homework.), so I'm hoping that it will kind of cover it. o chem=3 credits, Chinese=6 (which is a ridiculous amount anyway, but it tilts the odds in my favor).<br />
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Also, before my Chinese exam, I met with an Global Studies advisor-man, because I really REALLY want to work abroad when I graduate. I'm looking at German-speaking countries, and especially trying to find this three-month bible college in Austria that I heard about, with a program in English AND a program in German, which would be awesome. The advisor-man (who was very young, and open minded! nice!) said that a big problem for people who want to go abroad, especially to Europe: A.) have loans (which I thankfully do not have), and B.) Visa issues. The thing is, since I'm a dual citizen with Finland, which is an EU country, I don't have to worry about visas. SWEET. I also talked to him about starting up a <a href="http://www.tckid.com/what-is-a-tck.html">TCK</a> group on campus. There are a lot of people dealing with issues that go along with it, without knowing that <i>they're not alone</i>. The advisor-man seemed to be really for it. And he also liked the fact that I'm so multi-lingual, and told me to keep going with Chinese. <small>Though I sometimes wonder why I'm studying it...I don't even like it that much...I mean I do like it, but I don't LOVE it as much as studying German was, or even Finnish..</small><br />
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*snirk* Typing "advisor-man" is fun...<br />
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Well, I have an exam on Thursday which I should be studying for, especially if I failed o chem, to get the GPA to go in my favor...Pray for me?Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-89822196876054058952008-12-06T11:54:00.000-08:002008-12-06T11:55:21.958-08:00Itsenäisyyden Päivä/Independence DayMy lovely friend <a href="tii-nanni.livejournal.com">Tiina</a> wrote about today's importance to Finland: December 6th is Finland's independence day (from Russia for those who don't know).<br /><br />There are no fireworks, no fanfare, and perhaps very few parties (if any). In fact, it's a very solemn affair. You see, Finland was rocked by several wars, which I have no doubt that every Finn has some familial connection to these wars. (The Winter War, the Continuation War... aka WWI and WWII, to my understanding--Tiina, feel free to correct me) In fact, all of my great grandfathers fought in those wars, all but one survived (I have that great-grandfather's violin, I cherish it). My great-grandmothers were also involved, my grandmother's mother was a "lotta" in the war while raising 3 kids on her own (kind of like a nurse, how I understand it). My maternal grandfather remembers being evacuated out of the Karelia (Karjala) region of Finland that was given to Russia.<br /><br />As for me, most people don't even know I'm even FROM Finland. Sometimes they don't believe me when I tell them (well, then they ask if I speak "...uuh, Finland-ish?" It's Finnish). Even in my own room, the only "Finnish" things are some artwork from two Finnish artists: a piece by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tove_Jansson">Tove Jansson</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaj_Stenvall">Kaj Stenvall</a>. I sometimes feel as if Finland isn't even my "isänmaa" or "fatherland" anymore. I know all my family is over there (with the exception of my mom and dad and some 2nd cousins in Canada), but they don't know me. They never will. They don't even <i>try.</i> I do have some lovely friends there, but even that number has dwindled from when I lived there for a year in high school. <br /><br />So all I can do on this day is remember those who have been lost, and what an impact these things have had on Finland's history, remember my family members who have been affected by tragedy, and do some homework due on Monday.<br /><br />This post was supposed to have a point, but I guess it doesn't, sorry.Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-79127971780428034022008-12-02T15:26:00.001-08:002008-12-02T15:26:12.166-08:00Broken1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.<br />2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.<br />3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?<br />"Happy is a Yuppie Word" by Switchfoot<br /><br />WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?<br />"On the Border" by the Eagles<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?<br />"Baobabs" by Regina Spektor (WHAT? the song is about love anyway..)<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?<br />“Spiderwebs" by No Doubt<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?<br />"Everlong" by the Foo Fighters<br /><br />WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?<br />"Koti-Ikävää" by Various Artists ("homesickness?" i guess you could translate it that way..)<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?<br />"If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow<br /><br />WHAT IS 2+2?<br />"Road Runner" by Aerosmith<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?<br />"Samsonite Man" by Alicia Keys (HA HA)<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?<br />"Kiss the Girl" from the Little Mermaid (appropriate I guess?)<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?<br />"Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?<br />"Curb" by Nickelback<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?<br />"C'est Si Bon" by Louis Armstrong (teehee)<br /><br />WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?<br />"These Words (I Love You) by Natasha Bedingfield<br /><br />WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?<br />"Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" by the Cranberries<br /><br />WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?<br />"Back to the Ground" by Jamie Cullum (HA HA HOW APPROPRIATE!)<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?<br />"Landslide" by the Dixie Chicks<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?<br />"What About Me" by some dude...I have no idea who it is...<br /><br />WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?<br />"Kuurupiiloa" by Irina ("Hide and Seek")<br /><br />WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?<br />"7 Days to the Wolves" by Nightwish with the new singer, not as good as the original.<br /><br />HOW WILL YOU DIE?<br />"Symphony #41 in C, K 551, 'Jupiter' -1. Allegro Vivace" by Mozart (I actually played this song in high school..)<br /><br />WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?<br />"Return the Favour" by the Hives<br /><br />WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?<br />"Just a Girl" by No Doubt<br /><br />WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?<br />"We're All to Blame" by Sum 41<br /><br />WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?<br />"Tip of my Tongue" by the Beatles<br /><br />WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?<br />"A Home" by Dixie Chicks (uncannily true..)<br /><br />DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?<br />"Viidestoista Yö" by Juice Leskinen ("The 15th Night" by one of the greatest Finnish musicians of all time...)<br /><br />IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?<br />"Planet of the Sun" by Negative (Finnish Band)<br /><br />WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?<br />"Oceano" by Josh Groban (what??)<br /><br />WHAT WILL YOU RE-POST THIS AS?<br />"Broken" by Norah JonesLaura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-90100884529530992008-11-30T19:21:00.000-08:002011-10-16T06:28:44.296-07:00ThankfulnessI know it's a little late for a Thanksgiving-esque post, but a recent comment on my Facebook account kind of made me think about it.<br />
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About a year ago, I struggled with depression, heck, I still do to a degree. I had gotten so low that I had a pair of scissors to my arm and a voice in my head saying, "Cut yourself, you'll feel numb, you won't feel anything anymore." Fortunately, this scared me very much because that voice wasn't my own. I called my mom, my therapist, and two close friends-- one of which came to my dorm immediately and prayed with me. (Bless her soul!) Because of this, and past bouts with depression, I am truly thankful <i>for my <b>very life</b></i>. If God hadn't stepped in at that critical hour, I honestly don't know if I'd be sitting here writing this today. <br />
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Because of these past experiences, I had to make some changes in my life, particularly the <i>people</i> in my life. It was a very painful thing to do, but I feel it was necessary. I'm a lot better now. I did get into a touch of a backwards-slide when I went abroad (drinking, smoking-->which I quit..), but now I'm continuing some of the changes and am continuing on my road to living a life that is pleasing to the Lord.<br />
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My church has been a huge influence on my life. It's been my rock during this past year when I've been going through all sorts of crap. Last week's sermon about Soft Hearts ( <a href="http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/resources/sermon_lib.php#426">podcast/mp3 here</a> )really hit me. I've hardened my heart to the world that's hurt me, pushing everyone away...even my God. I'm slowly on the way back to Him and trying to find some new, solid relationships in my life, as it seems that I'm not the only one that's made changes. But that's not the point I was trying to make... My church gave us the opportunity to share what we're thankful for on a video to be shown this Sunday (which I was unfortunately unable to see!) and I was in it. A dear friend said in response to my status of being pathetic (an entirely different blog!): "but you looked great on the [church] video today, if that helps..." And it really did. It reminded me of what being <i>thankful</i> is all about.<br />
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Also, my friend has cancer. She's doing better, but her struggles really makes me realize how thankful I really am for my life. <br />
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Now I leave you with my favorite song, "I'm on my way" by Rich Price.<br />
<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Rich+Price/_/I%27m+on+My+Way">Here it is</a>, on the right- side of the page if you want to listen to it, <b>which you do.</b>Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9037482016827678794.post-91492734894858155212008-11-22T19:40:00.000-08:002011-10-16T06:26:57.342-07:00Extroverted IntrovertSo people seem to think that I'm "out-going" when I don't feel like I am. I was taken aback by this observation of the girls in my Bible Study during our "girl's night."<br />
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I tend to be "out-going" when I'm in situations that call for that: parties, get-togethers, interviews... However I spend many-a-night alone, in my room, on purpose...well, sort of. After a long day, there's nothing I like to do more than to chill out, watch some tv/a movie and go to bed (and perhaps a cold beer when I'm eventually of-age to legally do so, 5 months or so from now). It's not that I don't enjoy people's company, I do, but it's just that I haven't found the right company. I don't really have any friends that I can just go to their room to hang out, or call when I'm bored, etc. I do have friends I see occasionally, but if I want to go get coffee with someone, <i>I'm</i> the one who has to initiate it. Always. It's been like this since I can remember. However, I think my lack-of-invitations lately is due to the fact that I'm sort of mid-drift between campus christian groups. I haven't found one where I really feel at home though for me that' s a difficult concept anyway.<br />
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I just would like to have people who call me because they want to talk, and invite me to things that I may want to go to; rather than going by myself to everything always, and feeling awkward (though I'm a rather awkward person).<br />
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Am I "out-going?" I don't know. I don't like to think I am, but I am when I have to be. I get things done, and I can stand on my own two feet...though I don't want to have to always be alone.<br />
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I'm a bit of a conundrum, and I don't know what to do about it. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. When it's in the Lord's Will for me, then it is, if not? Well, never mind then.<br />
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P.S: I'm reading <i>Twilight</i> by Stephanie Meyers (the book with that movie out now), and I'm liking it. He frikkin' <i>glitters.</i> Read the book and you'll understand.Laura Ahlgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172086034042931236noreply@blogger.com1