una semana mas

In less than a week I will be in Spain!!

I moved the last things out of my apartment yesterday, it was sort of a weird feeling knowing that that chapter of my life is over. My roommates were wonderful and I wouldn't trade my first year here for anything - they all helped me grow so much.

I was luckily able to take off work in order to prepare for my trip, get everything together, and spend some time with my family before I go. I am getting nervous the closer it gets. I have only been out of the country twice (well three times if you count the Bahamas) a week in Canada and a week in England. I have a feeling Spain is going to be very different from both of those experiences. However, there is so much for me to do before I leave that I hardly have time to get nervous.

Next time I write I will be in España - I am so incredibly excited :D

Sarah

Finally finished :)

Wow. I have survived my first year at UNT.

I have definitely come a long way: going to orientation scared out of my mind, not knowing a soul, moving into my apartment with three wonderful girls, the first day being attacked by a squirrel, joining a new church, making new friends, getting a job as a waitress, getting my nose pierced, going to actual football games! quiting my job as a waitress, and becoming a receptionist (much better fit), taking the entrance event, turning 21, playing in the snow, struggling through two semesters of classes, and stretching my mental capacity to overflow.

All I can do is smile...(and wait for my grades to post on myUNT)

Good luck to all of you that have a final tomorrow, you're almost there!

Sarah

another week down

So I now have offically less than a month until Spain! I am getting really excited, but also extremely nervous. I have had more time to process and digest the fact that one of my best friends is no longer going. I have a meeting this coming Wednesday that will hopefully answer any remaining questions.

One of my friends gave me a starter for Amish friendship bread. I had never heard of it before, and it seemed pretty strange at first, but its actually really cool. Its a recipe for bread that takes 10 days to make, and it ends up multiplying so you can give it to other people to make. Supposedly ( I can never say that word after watching that friends episode where Joey keeps pronouncing it wrong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmfxNwR_xY&feature=related) it was started by the Amish, but I don't know if I believe that.

This is the last week before dead week then finals, trying to stay serious and not get caught up on the fact that its summer, and so nice outside!

Sarah

racing till the end

This week has flown by. Registering has continued to be a stress. However, I was able to register for one advanced art history class, history of photography which I think will be really interesting. I still need to get into the renaissance class, and it's still full. I am just going to keep checking it and hopefully people will get dropped when the first payment is due (that's what everyone keeps telling me at least.)

Bekah is probably not going to Spain anymore due to some very unexpected financial issues. She and I were going to be roommates in Spain, and she is really the only person that I know well from the trip, because I haven't taken time to get to know anyone else. Guess its funny how things work out. I know that God is going to teach me a lot through this experience but I am pretty scared that I am not going to have her as my security anymore.

These next few weeks are going to be hard. The last push before finals, move all of my stuff out of my apartment, pack, and jump on a plane.

Sarah

well polished weekend

I came home this weekend to relax a little, and also because my parents wanted me to clean out my old room so they can put our house up for sale. I was a little surprised that they decided to sell the house seeing how bad the real estate market is, but sometimes I just have to trust that they know what they are doing...even if I can't see it.

Today my little sister and I went to get our nails done. It was very relaxing and a real stress reliever. This is a really funny video about getting your nails done - girls you can relate, guys I am not so sure you'll find it quite as hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsWrY77o77o
It wasn't that bad at all, however the lady that was doing my pedicure kept complimenting my big toes...I never knew I had such pretty big toes.

I guess tomorrow I will be cleaning out my room before I head back to Denton, but for now my sister and I are going to dance around her room to "bleeding love." I love that song so much, but I love my sister even more.

Registering for classes has proved to be a nightmare - I will hopefully expand on that topic when I have some better news to report. As of now...all of the advanced art histories I need are full, ugh.

Sarah

Worst week ever

Alright so it was not technically the worst week ever, but it was pretty bad.

Due to a series of circumstances I missed my advising meeting on Monday. I felt awful about it, and wasn't sure how our rescheduled meeting would go. Luckily it went extremely well, and Dr. Owen (my adviser) was very understanding about having to reschedule. She helped get all of my questions answered and went question by question through my entrance event with me. That was a huge relief off my chest.

On Wednesday night I got food poisoning. I woke up Thursday morning feeling awful, and it just got worse throughout the day. It was the worst I have felt in a long time - I'll spare the details. Because I wasn't able to get out of bed I ended up missing all of my classes on Thursday. This normally wouldn't be a big deal but I had two tests that day. I told my professor that I was sick and he let me know that I didn't need to come to class. I have a feeling that he didn't believe me, I wouldn't believe a student that happened to get sick the day on the test...but I was so sick I didn't even care.

I am pretty much recovered now, just feel a little weak and achy still. Today I am going to try and reorganize my room, and school work - hopefully reset myself to finish the rest of my semester strong.

Sarah

Spring Break

Its already Tuesday night...and Spring Break (don't know why I feel the need to capitalize that) justs keeps slipping away. However I am thoroughly enjoying this time off from school.

I am staying in Denton due to work, but I am not being worked to the bone like I was during Christmas break. I feel very relaxed and like I am able to get my feet underneath me again. I have done lots of laundry, cleaned my room, started catching up on reading assignment, spent more time reading my Bible, and even worked out a couple of times. I feel very productive and I think that makes me less stressed. Sometimes when you go on a huge vacation you feel more stressed when you get back than before you left - glad that is not the case.

The Monday after Spring Break I have the meeting with my adviser to discuss my entrance event and lay out my degree plan. I am a little nervous about it, but am excited to see when I will be able to graduate.

LOST continues to be amazing...anyone who is not a fan should start watching it, you'll thank me (they now have all of the episodes online at abc.com)

Take time to rest and stay safe!

Sarah

A blizzard? In Denton? WOAH!

Well as we all know the weather has been just a little crazy this year, but nothing compares to last week. A blizzard hit Denton, Texas. Okay not an actual blizzard, but the closest thing I have ever seen in Texas. I was going to my 12:30 class and it had been snowing for maybe 10 minutes, everyone was excited and shocked as we road the bus to class. When I got out of class at 2, inches of snow covered the ground. I got a phone call from my friend asking me if I was alright, and she told me that campus had closed.

As I was riding the bus home from campus I realized something; snow brings people together. We were all on the bus for about 45 minutes because the traffic was stopped and cars were spinning in place, but it didn't matter. Everyone was talking and excited, people were explaining what they had heard on the weather that morning, or what a relative had told them. It seemed like the first week of school again, everyone was happy and had no inhibitions. When we finally got to my complex everyone piled of the bus their hands to the heavens in disbelief. People were smiling and laughing - then the inevitable happened. A huge snowball fight broke out, with total strangers.

I left the fight to get something to eat and bundle up more. One of my roommates and I ate lunch, drank hot chocolate, and watched a movie. We later went out and played in the snow for hours.

I think UNT needed a snow storm.

Sarah

Just the mundane

Well, this week has been uneventful.

I got the tests back from both of my art history classes. Sure enough, I did better on the one I studied for more. Its difficult with both of the tests on the same day, but next time around I will be sure to start studying earlier to give myself more time to divide between them.

I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I am a huge LOST fan. However this season I have not been able to watch it until Friday nights (which kills me). I have a Bible study that I go to on Thursday nights, and I have work 8-5 on Fridays. So I can't wait to go home and stream LOST after work today lol.

I am going home this weekend to see my little sister! I am really excited because I haven't seen her since my birthday. I always love going home for the weekend, but I always feel stressed when I get back. I have lots of laundry to do, and my room is a mess again...but I think that its more important to see my sister :)

Take time to appreciate the little things
(something I have been learning)

Sarah

Testing on my Mind

This week has been a little stressful for me. For the most part because I had two tests on Tuesday in both of my art history classes. So I had double the slides to memorize and double the articles to read. Despite my efforts I ended up studying for one test more than the other, so I'll just have to see how the grades turn out and adjust my studying methods accordingly.

Back in the First of February I took the entrance event for the art history program. This is a test to see where you are and assess your strengths/weaknesses. No one gets denied into the program however you need to do your best. Going into this test I was really nervous because I haven't had survey I and II in over a year and a half. I couldn't take the entrance event last semester however because I still needed to take art appreciation for art majors. Not to scare any art history majors out there, but it was probably one of the hardest tests I have ever taken. The essay questions were pretty difficult to answer in that format/time restraint (and some of them I didn't even know how to answer.) Needless to say, I have been less than excited to go over my results. Yesterday I received an email from the professor who assessed my Entrance Event and she said that I did well, so it doesn't look like I will be the first one denied into the program like I was afraid of.

My health psychology professor posted our first test grades on webCT after telling the class that we all did terrible. Luckily he had mercy on us and granted the class a 17 point curve. He did say that not all of the bad grades were due to the test being too hard and that we needed to study harder for the next test lol. When I went to check my grade after class today I knew that I had done poorly because I studied really hard and but still felt very unprepared. To my surprise I ended up getting an A on the test :) (with the generous curve of course!)

The first round of testing is behind me and I am still alive :)

Sarah

new semester - new start

This semester has been such a whirlwind. I can't believe that it’s already a third of the way through.

I ended up quitting my job at Bochy's when it just became too much for me to handle. Luckily I was able to get a new job within a week of my last day at the restaurant. I now work as a "service assistant" for a broker's firm. It is still hard work, but a very different working environment. I love the people I work with, and the desk job is not as fast pace/high energy.

My classes this semester are wonderful. I am only taking 12 hours, which makes it a lot more manageable. I really like both my Mexican Art and Roman Art classes, although they seem very different there are surprisingly a lot of similarities.

February 3rd I turned 21! That was pretty exciting too. I went to The Melting Pot (a great fondue place) the night before with a small group of friends. My boyfriend also came in town, so that was really special. At midnight when I turned 21, everyone celebrated with a glass of Champagne.

I am excited about the semester. I feel like I am starting to get my feet under me now; with my job, and classes both falling into routine.

Oh! I also finalized my plans and decision to go to Spain this summer. I am really excited about that as well. I have to admit, I am very nervous, but I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Hope this semester is off to a good start for everyone else :)

Sarah

stuck in a funk

I have been constantly working during the past two weeks, and I think it has really put a toll on me. I feel really worn down, and don't have much motivation right now. Even though I have been working so much, I really wonder if my boss appreciates all of the hard work I am putting in. I keep getting asked to come in when I am not scheduled, and then put on a guilt trip that I am letting her down (even though I have worked multiple times when I wasn't scheduled). On top of that I found out that she made some snide remarks about me to the cook last night. It wasn't anything huge, just wish that she would have come to me instead of telling the cook. I feel like I really will have to find another job if things don't improve, and I know I am not the only one that feels this way. However, I was really encouraged to see that I am only working two days next week, so hopefully that will give me some rest. Plus the first week of school isn't usually the hardest.

None of my roommates have been at the apartment for the last 3-4 days. So I have been a little lonely, but haven't really been able to go home because of how much I have been working. I think I am going to go shopping a little, probably not the best therapy, but I deserve it (and I still haven't spent my gift card).

I can't wait for classes to start, I think life will begin to fall into routine. And all of my friends will be back :)

Enjoy your last days of the break, and don't forget to buy your books!

Sarah

A breather, well sort of

Well finals came and went, and I actually survived my first semester at UNT. I wasn't overjoyed with my grades, but given the circumstances I think I did pretty well. I got a B in a class I was expecting an A in, but I also got an A in a class I knew I would get a B in, so I guess it balances out. I ended up getting a C, and have really been beating myself up over it - but I am finally realizing that all I can do is my best.

The C I got was in Spanish, which is ironically my minor. However the school I transfered from was very small and did not have a good spanish department. The foreign language department here is incredible - which also means its incredibly hard lol. I think my spanish grade next semester will be much better because I have a new motivation. I am going to study abroad in Spain for five weeks this summer!!! I am really excited about that. One of the reasons I transfered to UNT was their great study abroad options.

The holidays are always stressful for me. I guess they are stressful for a lot of people. A part of me wishes we didn't have a break between semesters, but I know I really would die if that were the case. During the breaks from school I feel like I am being pulled in a million directions, by all of my family, friends, and now work. And it always seems like no one appreciates the time I do spend with them, which makes me sad. More than half of the break has past and I don't know where I have been, here and there and no where really. I have had to work so much this break which has put an added stress to my life - but the money did help with christmas presents.

That reminds me...Santa was good to me :) I got a nice winter coat from my boyfriend, my family got me perfume, jewelry, a gift card, a crock pot, and a fondue cooker. Everyone did so much this year, just reminds me of how extremely blessed I am.

I am excited about next semester because I am working less, and taking less hours in school. I am really excited about the art history class I am taking too - art of ancient Rome, and Latin American art, they sound really exciting. I had the professor this past semester for my art appreciation class so I know his teaching style, granted it will probably be a little different when he is not teaching 300 students.

I went to another funeral recently (about a week ago). No one I really knew, it was my best friend's great grandmother. But I am really close to her family because I lived with them this past summer. I have come to this realization that as I get older death will become more and more a part of my life. Its weird to think about, but it also relieving to know that we aren't meant to live forever, and that there is a plan in all of this.

That also reminds me, I saw P.S. I love you last night with one of my roommates. It was really sad, but one of the best movies I have ever seen. This blog is very random and written in stream of consciousness sort of like that book by Faulkner, but not as creative or interesting. I guess most blogs are written like that though.

I feel like I have been stretched too thin this break. I haven't been reading my bible like I had wanted, I haven't been working out much either, and my room is a mess. Plus one of my roommates I haven't seen in about two weeks, which makes me really sad. I don't go in to work until around four today, so I think I am going to clean my room and do some more laundry.

This is an extremely long post, sorry...but I guess it makes up for the lack of posts this break.

Hope you had a wonderful christmas, and actually make a new year's resolution! (Mine is to only eat one sweet a day - I eat so many sweets now, and found out I have a cavity)

Sarah