Please Hurry Fall...It's Way too Hot

110 degrees...that was how high the heat advisory update I received said it would get this weekend. Really? It's so hard to function in this heat, I don't know if I can handle 2 more months...it needs to start cooling off sooner.

Summer classes are over and hopefully I made an A in my gender communication class. We find out grades later this week.

Here's an update on the internship front. I had an interview this past week with Texas Monthly magazine at their Austin office. It was definitely not what I expected to be doing for an internship but it sounds really interesting. Plus the staff in the office seem really nice! I'm still waiting to hear from 2 PR firms in the Austin area. Hopefully I can get an internship settled before classes start on the 25th.

Our apartment is coming along nicely! We went to Round Rock for Ashton's birthday and decided today to stop at IKEA and get some ideas. Well we ended up buying some curtains for our downstairs living room that I love! We just need some more wall decorations and we'll be done...and I need to print pictures from my trips to Peru and New York so I can put my picture frames back up.

After my interview, which was in Austin...in the middle of the afternoon...in August in Texas...lets just say I think my AC kicked the bucket again (or I just need freon but I don't know how to see about that). I decided it is definitely time for a new vehicle, my 1997 Honda Accord still runs really good but it's just getting to old and not running as well as a newer vehicle would. I'm starting the process of really looking for a car (not brand new of course, just newer than over a decade ago)...I'm aiming for mid-semester for the new vehicle. It would be great if I could get a car for graduation but I don't think that's going to happen, so I'm taking matters into my own hands. Right now I really want an SUV...I'm tired of not being seen by other drivers. I'm jumping between an Hyundai Tucson and a Nissan Rogue (or a Murano if I can find a could price for a used one). Hopefully I'll get to do some test driving when I go home in 2 weeks to see if I really want an SUV.

Well this week should be pretty dead at work...no classes and all. But staff will start coming back! Desaree, our grad assistant, will be back Monday! She has been in Argentina all summer working on her thesis. And they might start interviews this week, so who knows how this week will be.

Hope everyone enjoys their week and a half off before fall classes begin! Wish me luck on the internship and car situations!

Where Did Summer Go?!?!

One week. That's all that is left of summer school, one week. I'm really sad I didn't do more summertime things once I got back from Peru. I understand I spent 5 weeks of my summer in a foreign country where it was winter. And I also understand I spent a total of about 2 weeks in my hometown. Fall classes start in 3 weeks, don't get me wrong I am beyond excited to start this final semester. However, I realized earlier this week that this is my last summer as a student. This is the last summer I could randomly take off for a week or longer from work and know I would have a job to come back to. Seriously only working on campus can you go to another country for 5 weeks and still have a job to come back to.

I'm slacking on keeping up with this blog. I really need to do better but it's been a crazy past week so here are some updates.

We have officially moved into our new apartment Copper Beech Townhomes in San Marcos on Mill Street! No more smelly apartment with crazy bugs because we lived by the woods. These townhomes are beyond wonderful! I am definitely spoiled living in this townhome as a college student (my student loans are paying my rent). Once I graduate and eventually move away I know I wont be able to afford to live in such a nice place so I plan on enjoying this year, maybe longer, here. It's way too nice for any college kids in my opinion.

Still waiting on word for an internship. I emailed them all last week and got basically the same response, notifications for interviews will be sent out "early to mid-August." I'm starting to get really nervous that I wont get an internship. I'm basing my entire last semester on getting an internship...that's a lot of pressure.

Well I better get back to looking for academic journals for a paper for my gender communication class. I love this class and highly recommend it to any Comm Studies majors or minors at TxSt...Dr. LU is awesome!

How Many Days Until December 17!?!

It's been about a week since I posted a new blog. Not much has really happened; school, work and packing to move have consumed my life...back to the normal routine of life as a college student.

I applied for internships about 2 weeks ago, I probably should have applied for more though. Most of the response emails said they were evaluating resumes and would do interviews at the end of the month...I really, really hope I get an internship; I've been trying to base my life around obtaining an internship. Today I talked to my mom and reality set in that I really can't plan my life anymore like I use to. I can't try to get a new job until I know if I get an internship because I don't know what my hours would be at the internship. It really is a pain because I was hoping to work a lot before fall starts to save money...guess that wont be happening.

I guess I should explain the title of this post. I haven't been extremely thrilled about graduating early since I found out that I was. Now that I decided to not attend graduate school in the spring I've realized how much of a school gets in the way of trying to find a full time job...or a job that could turn into a full time job for after graduation. Also, being in Peru was felt like I wasn't in school (even though I was taking classes). That was the first time since my freshman year of college that I wasn't on the Texas State campus either working or working and taking a class. I was spoiled with that long of a break. Now that I'm back in on campus taking a class I hate it, I'm over school...I'm ready to be done (this is not a normally response from me I know). Don't get me wrong I love my gender communication class...once I get to the class, but I'm really bitter about having to go up to campus to go to class and doing homework is not something I'm really thrilled about.

So this is my life right now...college limbo. Stuck between being a final semester senior still trying to get by a juggle a lot and a graduate.

Just FYI it's 149 days left.

Hello School, Hello Work, Hello Reality

I've been back in San Marcos for 3 days now. It was really weird driving back, I forgot how long of a drive it was (especially when it's raining...I-10 through Houston in the rain is not fun). I thought I would do a lot of a reflecting and thinking on that drive since it's 4.5 hours but I just enjoyed rocking out to my iPod and the good radio stations I could find.

Getting back to the apartment was weird because Ashton was studying for a final and Rachel was gone, so I was just left to unpack. Every few minutes Ashton and I would take a break and talk about different things that have been going on and the new apartment issues (still can't move in until August 9).
TIP* if you left for a month and closed your vents in your room...don't forget to open them before you try and sleep in your room, it gets hot if you don't.

So I decided that I had by Sunday night to complete my cover letters for my internship applications and will send them out Monday morning before my class at noon. Mission accomplished...I wrote about 9 or 10 cover letters on Saturday while my roommates were enjoying Six Flags.

Here is a break down of the order I need to accomplish things:
1) Complete cover letters and submit internship applications by Monday, July 12

2) Start summer 2 and work again

3) Start looking for a new part-time job. (Hopefully I have time to get applications in the morning before my class since I work in the afternoon)

4) Get boxes for moving

5) Start packing for stuff to go into storage...for a week while I'm in a hotel

Hopefully I will be able to add into this list "Prepare for internship interview." I know I'm cutting it really close since fall semester starts in a little over a month. I need this internship for credit so I will only have to be on campus for three classes instead of four. So my last semester might seem like it's going to be easy but I'll be taking three classes, working at least 20 hours a week and interning about 15 to 20 hours a week if all goes according to plan.

Speaking of graduation, while I was hiking up to Machu Picchu 2 weeks ago today (wow that's crazy to think about...a week ago I was just now getting back to the U.S). As I was hiking with Sierra I made a decision that has taken a huge weight off my shoulders...no graduate school for me, at least not this spring. There is no way I could study for the GRE and have my application done by the October deadline for spring with everything I need to do.

I don't think my heart is all the way in to the idea of grad school; school is safe and I can't be safe forever so why not take the risk of looking for a job like every other college grad (I think this new take a risk idea came from my study abroad, so thank you ISA for making me stop being safe). I think it's for the best. I know I want to go to grad school just not what for yet. And I think it will be good to take a semester away from school after graduation to work and get everything in order. Hopefully by next spring I'll have an idea about what I want to go to grad school for before I take the GRE and get even further into debt.

Well it's back to the Texas State campus tomorrow. The start of my last month working at the University Honors Program, I've worked here for 2 years and they have become my family here in San Marcos...it'll be hard to leave and start something new. It's also the start of my last six months at Texas State, it will be bittersweet for sure. Hope I'm ready for the roller coaster that the next few months will bring :)

158 days until graduation!

A Fresh Start, Sort Of

I've been back in Texas for four days now. It's starting to feel like my trip to Peru was a dream (one reason why I'm glad I started the blog). It was such a crazy, world-wind experience for five weeks. It was an AMAZING experience and some of the things that I did in those five weeks I will probably never have the chance to do again.

Now it's back to the reality of school, work and my crazy life that revolves around those two aspects. I've decided to continue writing on the same blog with all of my Peru blogs on it so that if someone ever comes across this blog that doesn't know me can see how that trip has changed my life, even if I don't even know how it's changed my life yet.

Here's an update since my last blog while being stuck in the Miami airport:
My mom and step-dad picked me up from the Houston airport around midnight on the 4th of July. I managed to stay awake for most of the drive but the last hour I crashed. We got to Orange close to 3am and I stayed awake long enough to eat something really quick then proceeded to go to bed expecting to sleep until late. My body, however, had other plans and I woke up around 9am. Started washing my nasty clothing, some of which still smelled like Machu Picchu. I think it was good for me to come to Orange for a few days longer than planned, I think it is easing me back in American society without being to overwhelming (my hometown is very small and very simple, not to many things to stress yourself out with here).

Finally got my car back and I drove up to the Creek where everyone was at and sat out by the river most of the afternoon. And then drove back to Orange for a peaceful night without anyone around, while I finished laundry. Then drove back the next day and proceeded to stay the entire day on the water, I no longer look like I spent five weeks of summer in a country currently in winter.

My car is now getting the windshield fixed and then I'm going to get it inspected before I leave to drive back to San Marcos tomorrow morning. My older sister and soon to be brother-in-law are on their way to Orange for the weekend (this house is big but not big enough, they are stuck on an air-mattress until I leave tomorrow). I still have to pack my clothes in a new suitcase because my blue one just is not going to cut it anymore, plus it smells.

Now I'm just getting use to having my phone going off constantly again, with messages, email, updates and all that jazz. I think that has been the biggest culture shock so far...my annoying blackberry (that I missed while in Peru but currently dislike)

So this is my new blog, about my life post Peru and pre-graduation..my fresh start with a new outlook on a lot of things. I am going to try and included useful articles and tips for other students that are in the same situation as me, graduating in six months with no clue what will happen next (it's okay though because there are a lot of us in this situation so we can stick together).

163 days until graduation on December 17, 2010 (yes this blog will include a countdown :])

Day of Goodbyes, Airports and Delays

So yesterday was my last full day in Peru. Emmi and I some how managed to get the entire program together at Senor Limon for lunch Friday. It was great to see everyone one last time and have some good cebiche again.

It didn't really hit me that I was leaving or that I was sad about leaving until we were all outside saying goodbye to each other. I'm really going to miss all the ISA kids, we've all been through this crazy, intense but AMAZING 5 weeks together. It's something that connects all of us for the rest of our lives.

Last night Emmi and I gave our host parents a picture of us with them. And in there entire house it is the only picture frame out. I think it's really hard to get pictures of Alejandra and Hector (Hector ran upstairs when Alejandra took out her camera to take pictures with us). Afterward I went straight to bed. Vicki woke me up at 3:05 this morning because I had to be at ISA by 3:30. I said bye to Emmi; it was really sad leaving her behind at the house, we did so much together over the past 5 weeks! I'm really going to miss her and we will see each other again because it would just be weird to not talk or see her sometime. Skype is a great invention!

So once we got to the airport Courtney and I had to wait in line for American Airlines for almost an hour then go straight through security and to our gate. We had enough time to grab a snack, some gum and me a book to read (Chelsea Handler's Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea). Once we got to Miami I checked my phone and received my first text messages in 5 weeks, they were not what I was expecting. Before I left Texas in May I set up notifications for my flights to my phone. That was a smart idea. My 2:55 flight to Houston was canceled because something was wrong with the plane. My mom luckily got a call while I was in the air and was able to change my flight to go to Dallas then Lake Charles, which would have been amazingly awesome if I made it there. We made it through immigration fairly quickly but then came trying to get our luggage. It took them about 30 minutes to get our luggage out of the plane, here starts my trouble. I still had to go to rebooking and get my luggage rechecked; I missed checking into my new flight by 2 minutes. The American Airline agent said she could have tried to get me on it but she didn't think my luggage would make it.

So no more flights to Lake Charles were available and I even looked into flights to Austin just in case Haley could get me and I could at least go to my apartment in San Marcos and somehow make it down to Orange to get my car. Nothing was working all the flights to Dallas and Houston at a decent time had crazy connections that weren't worth it. So I have now been sitting in the Miami airport for 3 hours and my direct flight to Houston doesn't leave until 10:30pm. I'll be in Houston by midnight and Orange by 2am...my experiences with flying back to Texas have always been interesting.

Now I have to figure out something to occupy my time and figure out a cheaper way to use wireless (Skype wi-fi is useful but expensive) and the TV at the gate I'm at is on CNN talking about the oil spill and Michael Jackson...looks like it was a good idea to buy that book.

Cusco, the Sacred Vally and Machu Picchu!

I updated to early on Friday because for dinner our family had Antequecho, also known as cow heart. It was actually pretty good. And our family gave us Mate de Cocoa, which is supposed to help with altitude sickness in preparation of our trip.

Saturday
We had to be at the ISA office at 3:30 to fly to Cusco by 5:45. It was pretty cold in Cusco when we got there because of the altitude but we left immediately for the Sacred Valley. We took an hour bus ride through Cusco to get to the Sacred Valley and made a couple of stops along the way. We went to a place called Nelly’s House in Chinchero, where they show how they hand weave alpaca and wool items. I definitely bought myself an alpaca wool blanket!!! I was excited.

We arrived in Urubamba, which is apart of the Sacred Valley and hiked through an old Incan village. We climbed Ollantaytambo ruins, which they said was preparing us for hiking around Machu Picchu the next day. My lungs could tell we were at a different altitude for sure. We had an amazing lunch buffet and went to a local bar to try Chicheria, which is beer made from different corns, and played sapo (kind of like Peru’s version of washers only way more difficult)

Our hotel in Urubamba (the Sonesta Posada Yucay) was amazing! I actually took a bubble bath for the first time in 5 weeks!

Sunday – Machu Picchu!!
We had to leave our hotel by 4:30 so we had an awesome breakfast at the hotel. We didn’t leave at 4:30 and had to get to Ollantaytambo to catch our train to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. So Michelle was telling us to prepare to sprint through the town because our big bus couldn’t make it into the town but luckily a bus for the train came and met us part of the way. From the station we had to take another 30-minute van ride to where the actual trains are and then we had an hour train ride to Aguas Calientes. It was really amazing to ride a train through that area; it was beautiful. From there we took a 20-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu!! It is so beautiful there and pictures can’t do it justice. It was a great and surreal experience to be there, it didn’t seem like it happened.

We ate lunch there and Hunter, Jacob, Sarah, Sierra, Kate and I wanted to climb the top of Machu Picchu. I almost didn’t make it up because the top of Machu Picchu is 10,000 feet above see level and my lungs felt like they were being crushed by a giant rock! So we climbed about 3,000 feet up from the ruins to the top, I think. Thank God for Sierra she really pushed me and didn’t let me turn around because she knew I would regret it. She stayed behind with me and it took us about 2 hours (probably a little more) to get up but it was SO worth it! I’m really amazed that I can say that I climbed to the top of Machu Picchu!

Me at the top of Machu Picchu with the Inca ruins and Huaynapicchu in the background (I know my hair is in my face but it doesn't matter!)

It is amazing the people you meet around the world. I had a TX State shirt on and got stopped by a group of people that went to UT while we were walking to get dinner in Aguas Calientes (by the way our food was great!). Our second hotel was pretty nice too, Inti Inn). We all crashed that night after hiking around all day.

Monday – back to Cusco
We literally traveled all day to get to Cusco and took almost every kind of transportation that day except airplane. On the train we had really good conversations with Michelle about ISA and other things (I think I might apply for an internship with ISA since their office is in Austin). And we also all talked about the different Inca facts we had learned; for example, you only see about 40% of Machu Picchu, majority of the walls are below ground and you cant see them. I know some other stuff but I need to sit down and think about them first.

Once we got to Cusco close to 4 o’clock we got to relax at our hotel for a little while then went on a walking tour of Cusco. It’s a very touristy city because people stop there on their way to or from the Sacred Valley but it’s also very pretty. Michelle was our guide and it was interesting to hear about how the Spanish destroyed all the Incan temples and built Catholic churches over the sites and that’s why there are so many churches in Cusco. After the tour we had our goodbye dinner with the entire program at a local pizza place, it was really good but I don’t think I ever imagined eating this much pizza while in Peru.

Tuesday – Free Day in Cusco
We went to the Inca ruins at the top of Cusco that was an Incan fortress. It’s also where they have their big sun festival every June and we missed it by 3 days! They were still cleaning up. You can tell the fortress was huge! We walked to a part where the rocks are like a slide and of course we had to participate in that. I think we were pretty entertaining to the locals there, we had to epic fails there (Brandon and Alex’s falls were extremely entertaining!)

That afternoon Emmi, Christa, and I went to some museums and to walk around Cusco a little more. The street vendors in Cusco are everywhere! If you go be prepared for them. We went to Qorikancha, which is a site of the Incan Sun Temple in Cusco. The Spanish had majority of the temple destroyed and a church built on top of it of course. It was also made into a convent called the Convento de Santo Del Cusco. Later we went to a local Mercado and I got some gifts buts still need to get a few more.

That night majority of the program went out to eat. It was great to sit and talk with everyone one last time since we are all leaving Saturday. And it’s always interesting to talk to Michelle and hear her experiences and advice on things.

Wednesday – Back to Lima
We traveled all morning again back to Lima. It’s kind of depressing to go from these amazing and beautiful areas of Peru and then go back to Lima. Not that Lima isn’t nice and has it’s pretty parts and days but the lack of sun and green can get depressing and bring you down. Don’t get me wrong I loved my experience in Lima but I probably wouldn’t spend more than a few days here before going somewhere else.

My thoughts ---
So the program is winding down. I have 2 full days in Lima before I fly back home. I am so excited to get back to Texas and have the sun and heat, even though I know it’s really, really hot there I still miss it. It’s going to be really weird and sad not seeing the ISA students anymore. We are going to try and get everyone together one last time on Friday since majority of us leave Saturday. Tears have already started flowing and I have a feeling Friday is not going to be any different. I’m really going to miss everyone, my host family, Emmi (my roommate) and yes I will miss Lima. This has been the best experience I could have ever had. I love that I picked Peru, even though I have moments where I don’t like Lima. And really loved my excursions to the jungle and Machu Picchu, it was definitely worth it. I appreciate this trip, the people I’ve met, the things I’ve been able to do and the 5 weeks I’ve been gone. I know I’ve changed from this trip but I guess I wont know how much until I get back home and have the reality of life and school (and graduation, ahh!) hit me.

Hopefully I can post one more time Friday before I leave, if not I will try and post Saturday when I get back home!

P.S. my new picture at the top is my PERSONAL picture of Machu Picchu :)