on the hunt

So, work at Sylvan is great. Very fun. I love working with kids. Why didn't I realize this when I was getting a degree? Not that I'd trade it for ICS -- I learned how to think and look at the world in a whole new way, and that is much more valuable than training for a career.

Unfortunately, the jobs I want right now all have to do with child care. I realized at Sylvan that I LOVE teaching young kids. Why didn't I realize I want to be a preschool or kindergarten teacher until AFTER I graduated?!

I'm considering going back for education...I'm in no rush for my Master's. And I could just transfer all my GE's. Maybe? Who knows.

In the mean time, Sylvan is not giving me as many hours as I hoped. I'm looking for another job.

I just got hired to work for After School All-Stars every afternoon. I'll be on homework support, assisting Kelli teach arts and crafts and journalism, and just floating where the teachers need me. I have Sylvan for the weekends, and I'm trying to find a part-time job for the mornings. Maybe Borders? We'll see.

I'm hoping my work days will run from about 9am-5pm. Trav and I are making a deal with his sister to buy the groceries and we'll cook dinner every night. Help the kids with their homework. We're still catching up on Lost. He's giving me skate lessons, and I'm teaching him to sing. He's still meeting with the missionaries, and we go to the family ward every Sunday.

Life is good. I'm not worried.

beach babies

same beach. same week.

just a little bit of change to spice things up.

guess i'm going brown for a little while!

p.s. it is a LUXURY to have TIME

the future

Why does it look blurry even with my glasses on?

Today I am mailing my application for grad school.

But honestly? I don't want to go yet.

I want to go because I want to go, and not because I feel like I have to or because I just don't know what else to do.

The latter two are poor reasons to do anything.

update

Hokay, since I basically took a semester-long hiatus from this little blog, and I don't know if anyone has followed my tumblr much, I figured I would post an update here for any friends who still check up on it from time to time.

This past semester was...different.

Last June all of my roommates left within a week. One of them came back in the fall. And I got three other new ones (who were great, by the way). But a good share of my friends were gone to other schools, to home, on missions, or at BYU Jerusalem. Had I not made some great friends in the summer (see below), I am not sure how I would have stayed very sane during the week.

(the return of ting shen and ice skating. LtoR: ting, ian, trav, me, jolie, kara, robbie, cassie, ryan)

(Rachael! My room-roommate. Best closet to share. And sometimes we accidentally dressed like twins!)

(Jane Jung. Not another person like her.)

(Bonnie before singing with the choir for Devotional)

(Sunday Dinners - Kara and Cassie)

(Art nights. LtoR: Ian, Nathan, Scott, Berries, and Cassie)

(And of course, the epic Harry Potter Christmas Party)

Besides all these wonderful people, I had Travis. By far the kindest, most patient, wonderful, generous, and well-balanced human bean I ever did meet. And he's pretty cute too. And a total goofball. And the best friend I've ever had. I spent my weekends with him and his family, and let me tell you: Waylen is the coolest eight-year-old on the planet.

(Waylen and his "imaginary friend")

So, I had my friends, I had my sanity. I finished school and my family joined me for graduation. I couldn't be more relieved to be done with school. I pushed myself. I don't think I'd go back and redo it, but it was definitely a decision that came with consequences. I had to make priorities. And unfortunately, that meant that a lot of my contacts back home got left behind. I didn't have time to "keep in touch" during the semesters. I barely had time to see the friends I lived a few houses down from! I took maximum credits and worked maximum hours. And now I feel so good to be done. I think I work best at maximum intensity. And now I have more time to enjoy. I have a job teaching at the Sylvan Learning Center in Honolulu. I have a nice house up in the mountain with pleasant roommates. I've got a car. And I've got time. That one word that makes all the difference. I'm excited to have more time to do things I've always wanted to: write, read, garden, catch-up with old friends, and offer more service.

(My parents and I at graduation)

Right now I'm still in Iowa at my parents', but I return to le aina this Friday. I'm excited to get back to my little room in my nice house, to get back to a steady job, to have sunshine and blue skies again. I'm excited to get back to the family ward Trav and I have been attending. They just don't do church anywhere else quite like they do in Hawaii. I've never felt sooo welcomed into a new ward before. All the members there are great and so loving. Trav is having fun learning, and I'm cherishing my new perspective. Hopefully Waylen will continue to come with us from time to time -- I think he'd have a blast in Primary. But, we'll see. Only Time will tell.

Anywho, I'm quite excited about life and where mine's headed. I'm very happy and looking forward to good things this next year. I'll keep you updated. =)

here's to rama

“Rama’s nature was quiet and free…He knew when to save and when to spend…He could read hearts. He knew his own faults better than the failings of others. He could speak well and reason in a chain of eloquent words. Half a benefit was more to him than a hundred injuries…and he didn’t believe that what he preferred from himself was always best for everyone else.

Rama was kind and courteous and never ill. To harsh words he returned no blame. He was warmhearted and generous and a real friend to all. He tried living right and found it easier than he’d though…He would not scold the whole world nor take to task the universe, and so his pleasure and his anger never went for nothing.

Rama would not work very long without a holiday; he wouldn’t walk far without stopping to greet a friend, nor speak long without smiling…He loved Sita well; he lived his life for the sake of her being a part of it. He would often find a new gift for his friends. He did not fear to pass a whole day without work…Rama’s way was noble.”

 Ramayana (My favorite read of the year. The greatest epic of adventure, trust, loyalty, wisdom, and love. Goal for 2010: Search for wisdom in all good books and mediums. There is goodness sprinkled in all the world has to offer. We just have to make the time to search for it, and listen.)

in review

So, I figure I'll be starting this little bloglog back up again. I'll have more time to think, more time to write. Anywho, here's a look at the past year....

So, I thought I'd hop on board with all the year-end hubub. This past year was...great! I was a mess most of the time in 2008, and even though I had a fair share of grief, 2009 done me good. Let's review a few of my favorite moments (and series of moments.) In no particular order(ish):

10. Working at the RWC. Best job ever. Hands down. I started in August of 2007. Worked there alll fall, winter, spring, and summer. Coolest (and nerdiest) coworkers. Greatest boss. Hours of laughter at staff meetings and trainings. I've never learned more and had the best time doing it.

9. Hikes. Doesn't matter who I'm with. Something about my feet in the earth, getting my hands dirty, pushing my to its limits and finding out there's more. All that time traveling for my hand to dive down into the soil and back up into the skies, and to come out feeling more like myself and more like the earth, and everything's beautiful.

8. Dance parties. Thank you Cassie for invitations to much needed stess relievers. Dressing up, and boogying down. P.S. Jolie -- why didn't I know you then? I met See Bee way back! Bahhh why didn't we all play sooner!

7. The Outback House. Katie, Rachael, Jane, and Collette made it the funnest, cleanest, most comfortable, and absolutely lovely home. Sharing five closest. Dinners together. The random screams coming from Katie's room. Jane's crazy jokes and late night talks. Rachael making a rap video. Collette and I being married. Oh, and art time together.

6. Tie-dye party in my front yard. The most gorgeous summer day. Lots of great friends. Good music. Everyone coming from the beach, from work, everyone just stripping off their jackets and their shoes. Rolling up their sleeves. Basking in the sun waiting for all to dry. How groovy the clothesline looked with it all hanging up. It was just one of the most peaceful afternoons.

5. Living around the corner from Alyssa. Watching Season Seven of Gilmore Girls every day after school (when we still had time). Nightly hangouts in front of Sam's Store. Her roommates thinking I lived there. Others thinking she lived at my house. The times we squished onto Collette's bed for homework and late night talks. Mornings and afternoons at Hukilau. Trips to town, just to wander: Greek food, the library, and some Menchie's. THANK YOU MENCHIE'S.

4. Biking up North Shore all the way to Shark's Cove. Acai bowls. Back to Keiki's for a day in the sun. Getting absolutely fried. Fighting the wind the whole way back. A stop  at Turtle Bay, water, and some free pineapple. Getting face-licked by a wookie dog. No really, click here.

3. Iowa for a couple weeks. Mini road trips with my sister. Field of Dreams. Ice cream capital of the world. Spending afternoons with the twins down at the creek. Dipping in my ankles. Swinging. A backyard picnic party. Harry Potter. Family photo shoots. Catching up with the cousins. Growing corn in our own garden. Cleaning out Gram's old house. The Renegade Garden out back. Knowing I'll never live here again, but still loving the visit.

2. Ridiculously amazing beach days with good friends. Back to the house for talks on the living room floor. FUN PIX. Ice skating. Adventure lists. Shopping malls. Shokudo and honey toast. New friends. A new home. Beautiful, beautiful people.

1. Oh, and falling in love. =)

the time has come

So, you know me and my whimsical ways. Always changing up this worn little blog. Always after something new. Off to a new blogosphere adventure:

yes. i hopped on the tumblr train.

check out musings and photos there from now on (probably) (at least for awhile).

http://littlemisserika.tumblr.com/