Confessions of A Working Girl

Tonight the college hosted a psychic medium. Do I believe? I’m not sure. It’s hard to believe when a little over 70% of the stuff she said could have fit into my life just as easily as into the person she was talking to’s. Her name was CJ something, I think. What amazed me the most was that she said that she gets $75 for a half hour session! Since she was here for an hour, the school payed her $150, at least. Probably more since it was a group session.

It was interesting, if nothing else. But I’m still not sure whether or not I’d believe. Arra went with me, and she agreed with me–most of the stuff that was said would have fit her life too. Especially when the psychic said something about cider. When I was at Arra’s house for the fair, her father used a cider press to make cider. It was neat to watch.

I have a ouiji board at my house. I’m not sure whether I believe that completely either. The boards can be uncanny at times…but I always heard that you have to be careful since an evil spirit could potentially get through the board to harm you…

Vermont schools apparently all (or almost all) have a week off in the middle of October. My week off is this week, so I’m back home for now. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to see Ki! I really really hope so, ’cause recently I’ve realized that I’ve missed her more than I thought.

I wonder what it will be like next year then, when I won’t see her for a whole year, never mind a couple of months….

I went to Tai Kwon Do club tonight, and we had new materials. New paddles to kick, a rubber gun, a rubber knife, and a re-breakable board.

It’s odd…the re-breakable board is made of plastic. When you kick (or hit) it the two pieces come apart. But then you slide them back together and its one board again!

When I first saw the board and tried to kick it, it hurt! So when we had to try again, I was like “This isn’t going to work.” Matthew asked “What did you say?” And then he made me say “I will break the board.” And you know what? I did! Twice! Once with a downward kick and once with a side kick. The funny thing is, it doesn’t hurt as much when you break it as it does if you just kick it.

My goal is that next year, I will not be in the U.S. Not that I don’t like the U.S., but I want to travel and experience other cultures. And its slightly cheaper to do so while you are a student…thus, study abroad.

If all goes as planned, I will spend the fall 2010 semester in Spain, and the spring 2011 semester in Japan. My only worry is that I might get homesick, since both of those countries are far, far from New England.

At the moment, the semester in Spain (or any other Spanish speaking country) is mandatory, since I just decided to double major. I am now majoring in Criminal Justice and Spanish for Business. Part of the Spanish major is that you have to spend a semester abroad in a Spanish speaking country.

The semester in Japan is just ’cause I want to.

Currently, I am still looking through catalogs and brochures to try to decide which study abroad program is best. So far, for Spain, I like the ISA program. Part of the reason, I admit, is the study abroad fair. At the study abroad fair, the representative was very helpful and cheerful, and so I immediately (or almost immediately) decided that I liked the sound of that particular program. Too bad they don’t go to Japan as well–I’ll have to find a separate program for that.

And your fingers too, for that matter. When I glanced at the clock before I started practicing, it was just after 7. And now, when I finished practicing, it is 8:25. Wow! No wonder my shoulders hurt!

It was the oddest thing today…when my shoulder started hurting was when I wanted to practice more! I ended up running through almost all the material I had here—twice. I’ve never had that happen before, when, after I’d practiced everything I wanted to keep going and practice more. Which is why I ran through the stuff a second time. And even then I felt like I wanted to keep practicing! But I’d already run through everything but Follies twice, and I didn’t really feel like playing through them all a third time. In other words, I kind of wanted to practice music that I did not have.

But not seeing how I could possibly achieve that, I decided that that was enough practicing for the night.

I never thought that playing the violin would make a difference in how fast I type. Usually, I think, it doesn’t. But since I was just playing violin, moving my fingers fast for the reel and the other fast songs I know, my left hand is still going fast! The problem now is that my right hand doesn’t seem to be able to quite keep up to that speed…and it’s also my right hand that is making more mistakes…

On the subject of computers, dad said that Kana really likes the computer. So I guess it’s all right. After all, we have to sell my first car…so somehow it seems sorta ‘fair’ that I also get rid of my first computer. Which reminds me…I better tell Kana that I named that computer when I got it….

Sorry for the odd title, but I’m still jumpy and nervous. See, about an hour ago at 10:30, all of a sudden the fire alarm went off! It always makes me jump (well, perhaps I shouldn’t say ‘always’ since this is only the second time that I’ve heard it). Anyway, the fire drill only lasted a few minutes. What was weird was when I opened the room door, there was someone from Public Safety standing in our suite. That seemed odd, since we’re on the fourth floor. I started to wonder if perhaps his job was to search the rooms real quick and that’s why they set off the alarm. It’s possible–plus when I texted Arra, she said that she’d just had a fire drill as well! (She’s in a different building than Vivien and I).

My sister Kana is turning 12 tomorrow! I’ll have to remember to call her. According to my dad, she’s been pushing really hard for a computer. My reaction was ’she’s 12. I didn’t get my first computer till I was almost done with high school!’ But my parents seem to like the idea. So they thought that they’d give her my old computer. They told me that. They didn’t ask. It’s like, yes, it is my old computer, but it’s still mine! When I said something to that effect, my dad said ‘its not like we’re leaving you with no computer’ And I said ‘yeah, but…’ *blows a raspberry at dad*

My other problem with giving her the computer is that my stuff is not off of it yet. I can’t remember what exactly is on my old computer, but stuff still is. My parents were all ‘oh we’ll give her a non-administrator account’ But that doesn’t mean that she can’t access my files!

Sometimes I hate being the oldest. Things I had to wait a loooooooonnnnnngggggg time to get, my siblings get years and years before I did. For example, this thing with the computer. I was 17. Kana is 12. See the difference? Arrgh, sometimes it makes me want to hit my head against a tree. Although that never seemed to help Charlie Brown–and it hurts.

Here’s hoping that the fire alarm doesn’t go off again anytime soon…

2 Comments » Dad:

October 6th, 2009 @ 9:39 am Just because the others get stuff (and yes, it’s only stuff…and stuff doesn’t really matter) before you did, doesn’t change the fact that you’re my first born and oldest, and that you were the first one to get everything both good and bad. Consider yourself a trail blazer.

I’m sorry if you didn’t feel that I asked…I thought I did.

P.S. Rasberry right back at ya…

Michelle:

January 29th, 2010 @ 1:29 pm I love your blog! I especially agree with how it stinks being the oldest because your younger siblings gets stuff so much earlier than you did.

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned where I was from, or where my school currently is. For the same reason I changed all the names. But each state is really big and has multiple colleges, so I feel safe saying that I’m currently in Vermont. And this weekend, I went to the Tembridge Fair.

 ”Sai” drove “Arra” and I to Arra’s house Friday afternoon, after classes. Arra’s house is much closer to Tembridge than our school, so I was going to stay there for the weekend. Sai and I met Arra’s older sister (older by one year), “Adele”. Then Sai left, and Adele brought Arra and me to the restaurant where their parents were waiting.

Apparently, Adele goes to school in New Hampshire, and does not visit home as often as Arra does. So it was an unusual occurrence that both Adele and Arra were home for the weekend.We got to the restaurant–and that was the first time I had met Arra’s parents. I was a little confused at first, because at the table when we got there there was two sets of older couples, not one. The other, it turned out, are grandparent type figures to Arra and Adele, since their biological grandparents are dead. I was a little surprised when I was told that Arra’s parents would be paying for the meal–I didn’t have to.

When we left the restaurant, I was surprised again. Arra and Adele received a hug and a kiss from their grandparents…then I did too!

On Saturday was when we went to the Tembridge fair. The first thing that surprised me that day was that Arra’s mom handed me $20. She said something along the lines of “Its your first time at the fair, get something to remember it by.” She gave Arra the same amount, but I was still completely shocked.Then, I didn’t even have to pay the admission price to the fair (which was $10) because Arra’s dad did!

We wandered the fair for a while. One of my favorite parts was the little museum. In the museum, there were some ladies doing, not latch-hook, but something similar. Just hooking, I think. It’s used to make rugs and stuff. I really liked it, and want to try it. My only problem is that the lady said that a kit would cost about $40, though maybe, since I’m a student, I’d only have to pay $30. That is definitely something that I want to save up for! It looks fun…and then I could either sell the final problem or give it as a gift.

The other thing that interested me at the museum was the organ player. At least, the first time that I went into the museum there was only an organ player. The second time I went in, there was a fiddle player as well! I was really interested, since I try to play the violin/fiddle. I talked to the man a bit. He plays so much better than I do right now. When he heard that I could play, he offered to let me play right there. I wanted to play greensleeves…but I couldn’t remember all the notes. So I went back to the first song I ever memorized—The girl I left behind me. I played it fairly well, but when he took the fiddle back, the man played it even better, much more smoothly. At least I think I know the sound of it now.

Arra and I met up with Sai at the fair. We had to wait for her to finish helping out one of the barns, then the three of us bought tickets to go on rides, and we just wandered around. It was a little of a relief being just the three of us. While we had been wandering around with Adele and Arra’s parents, they kept bumping into people they knew, and kept introducing me. I don’t remember very many of the names of the people, unfortunately. But they all seemed like very nice people.

When we left the fair, we went back to Arra’s house (well, Sai stayed at the fair). Arra and I took a walk up a hill. I don’t think I like that hill very much. It was wicked steep and was a little trouble to traverse. And we went to check on the chickens. Arra’s family owns several chickens. Then Arra made us grilled cheese. Interestingly, she put garlic in it. But it was really good.

It turns out that I had sunburn. I’d forgotten to bring sunscreen or a hat, so my forehead, nose and ears got a little burned.

Arra, Adele and I played monopoly. But not just any monopoly–Disney monopoly! I’d never played that version before! We ended up playing until midnight. Adele dropped out somewhere around 10 though. We called the game a tie, but I think that Arra actually won.

Then, today, I went to church with them. It was the smallest gathering that I’d ever seen at a church–about 10 people. But it sounded like a nice service. Then I went with Arra and Adele to visit a family friend that was in the hospital. So I met yet another new person.

Arra’s father took out a cider press, and made homemade apple cider. It was really sweet, even if there was no sugar or anything else in it except apples.

Sai came over to Arra’s for lunch, then we walked up the stupid hill again, then we came back to school.

Arra’s family was really nice. The only thing I felt a little bad about was that Adele slept on the couch in the living room so that I could sleep on the bed in her room. She said that it was no big deal, but I still felt a little bad about that.

All in all, it was a very good weekend.

2 Comments » wenc:

September 20th, 2009 @ 4:51 pm It’s actually Tumbridge, but since I can’t get this site to work the way I want, I’m not going back to edit it.

Michelle:

January 29th, 2010 @ 1:45 pm I think it’s actually Tunbridge, lol. I have been there too. I have been reading your blog at work study, while I’m waiting for stuff to scan. This is my favorite post so far, I really like your writing style.

Waiting always makes time seem longer, doesn’t it? Time stretches and stretches and did you know that on one of the walls in the campus center at my school there are 156 bricks?

 When I finished with classes at 12:15, I went with Vivien to the blood drive. I wasn’t going to give blood–I hate needles–but she was. And since she suspected that there would be a wait, she thought she would get bored. We both did.  We got to the campus center–where the blood drive was–around 12:30. Vivien got number 63 for waiting. The first hint that the wait might be a little long was that when we got there, number 54 was still waiting. While sitting there waiting, we met two other girls who were also waiting. Funny, but we never actually asked for each other’s names, despite the two hours we were talking. 

Yes, it was two hours. Over, even. Vivien’s number didn’t get called until close to three. And she didn’t get done actually donating blood till about 4:10. I was astonished that it took so long. I thought the whole point of blood drives was to get blood donated quickly. When we finally left, there were people still waiting. O.o 

On another note, that boy from Tai Kwon Do–Matthew? I figured out which class of mine he’s in. He’s in my touchstones of western literature class. And he sits diagonally behind me. Why didn’t  I notice earlier? Perhaps detective wouldn’t be a good idea for a job choice if I miss that much.  

Speaking of classes, I was debating maybe changing to a double major. Criminal Justice and Spanish for business. I mean, I’ve been taking spanish since 7th grade so I’m not completely horrible at it…

I joined the Tae Kwon Do club at my school. Tonight was the first time I went. I went not really knowing much about Tae Kwon Do, except that it is a martial art, and that the kid in charge is in one of my classes. I had to sort of laugh at myself.

The day that the clubs were recruiting people, I walked over to the Tae Kwon Do table, because it sounded interesting. The paper on the table said to call “Matthew”  for more information. So I asked the boy that was standing there, “Are you Matthew then?” he said yes, and I started to introduce myself. “I’m Wen…” His reply? “I know, you were in my class this morning.” I was like Ooooooooh. I felt so stupid. I quickly said something along the lines of “This year I’m all confused!” and then left.

I did go to the Tae Kwon Do meeting though. It was fun! We practiced three kicks and two punches. And we’ll be learning more. Matthew said that eventually, we may even have more than one meeting a week, depending on how many kids show up. Tonight there were only seven of us, but that was fine. I don’t remember anyone else’s names, of course, but I know what they look like! 

As I’ve mentioned before, my roommate Vivien and I get along pretty well. But every so often it seems like she’s mad at me. I don’t know if that’s true, or not, but… Take today for example. I had music on when she came into the room. I went to go fill the ice cube tray (the fridge she brought has an actual working freezer! Yay! Frozen grapes! ^_^ ) and I come back and she’s putting on her headphones. I said “Oh, sorry is my music bothering you?” If it was, I would have turned it off (I forgot my headphones at home, silly me) She mumbled something I didn’t quite catch. It sounded sorta like “I don’t want to listen to that right now.” Perhaps she’s not really angry in situations like that, but it really does seem it a little. In a way, its weird. One minute we’ll be getting along, the next it’ll seem like angry silence. Maybe I’m reading into it too much. 

 Anyway, one of the songs that popped on from my playlist was ‘Someone in a tree’ from Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures. The theme of the song is interesting. Instead of saying that the main part is the event, in that song it says that the main points are the little things. The song says (and this is a direct quote) “It’s the pebble not the stream, It’s the ripple, not the sea. Not the building but the beam, Not the garden but the stone, Not the treaty house but someone in a tree.” My dad and I both think that its a neat idea. The idea that its not the main event that causes things to happen, but the small things. Also, at one point in the song, the person in the tree says something about “If I weren’t whose to say things would happen just this way?” I like that view point.