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So Spain was great and I really love it there. I think i might study abroad in college I loved it so much. Thehis amazing cheese Brebeuf group was Me, Meredith, Hillary, Danielle, Melissa, Michael, Peter, and Patrick. This really was a great group and we becaem really close. The food in Spain is amazing, but there is no way that they eat healthier than Americans, well most Americans. The only reason they aren’t fat is because they walk everywhere…and i didn’t see one fat person at all. It was weird. But over in spain they really love their carbs and chocolate. When I was over there I really missed honey-nut cheerios. But my favorite food I ate over there was a bocadillo con queso, basically a baguette with this amazing cheese and olive oil. It was great! Then, we of course hit all the tourist spots like La Rambla, la playa, Montserrat, Manresa, Parque Guay, Casa de Gaudi and more. Casp, our school, was a lot different than Brebeuf, but I did like how they got out at lunch time. The classes were rather boring becasue most were taught in Catalan, not spanish, and no one in my class talked. Another weird thing is that the students don’t leave their classroom and their room is basically bare besides desks and a dry erase board. My host girl was kinda weird and I didn’t really connect with my family but I had a great time otherwise.
Lets see then when I got back on friday from spain , I had orientation at bloomington for Ciudad Real this summer. We met our small groups and I think that I got the two cutest guys in my group. And one of my teacher guys says that he runs in Spain so thats good to have a runner there with me this summer =]. and my friend who went there last summer is going to tell her family to request me. and that family has family in barcelona so that means if i go with them i have a chance of visiting my barcelona friends!! gahh i am so excited for the summer. and then in August, hopefully 4 of my barcelona friends are coming back to indy and i think Sonia might stay with me after hil leaves for college. This summer will be great.
Then i guess when i was gone everyone was asked to prom and i was left without a prom date =[. So i pretty much decided that i was going to go Stag, but then good for me bad for him, i heard charlie broke up with his girlfriend so i txted him. Lame i know. and asked if he would want to go to prom with me. Haha and he said yeah so like the day before the last day tix being sold I got a date. Now i am looking for a dress, which sucks, cuz i found one online but it isn’t in stores… But i have faith everything will work out.
So basically thats it for now. Umm im probably forgetting some things but i think this is a long enough post! laters!
My Beginning Place lies in the West. I look within myself to see where I am going and if I am becoming the person, I want to be. Qualities that I possess are independence, strength, fearlessness, and respect. My independence allows me to take action by myself if others are not ready to let me start my journey. My strength allows me to continue along my journey if others try to hold me back or obstacles get in my way. Fearlessness lets me make decisions when I come to a crossroad along my path. My ability to make decisions without sacrificing my morals and beliefs is my respect. I will complete my journey with my respect intact. I believe that I am a partial person and I lack strength from the South, where innocence and trust can be found. I need to gather medicines predominately from this area.
I first started the search for my talismans by discerning between the clues given to me. After figuring out most of the clues, I decided to obtain them. My journey in search of the talismans was not done alone, but accompanied by fellow classmates and friends. I was not influenced by whom I was with though. It gave me comfort knowing that I had someone by my side that could help me. I had different people by my side throughout my search and felt that I helped them as well. At the beginning, I went for talismans with clues I could easily decipher, but then as I went through my search I realized that I needed to go for my true talismans. I then changed my course of action and got the remaining talismans that meant the most to me.
The talismans I collected were Compassion, Discernment, Humor, Joy, Faith, Heart, Patience, Perseverance, Wisdom, Strength, Humility, Integrity, and Insight. Thirteen talismans. Of these thirteen talismans, I realize that I only need Discernment, Humor, Faith, Patience, Perseverance, Integrity, and Insight. This brings my total down to seven. Seven symbolizes “a state of unrest because something cannot be solved in the usual way… sin and redemption combined”. I think that in relation to my journey, seven suggests that I am at a point of a tough decision, or trial, that I have to overcome right now in order to continue along my path. The struggle that I think this is directed to involves certain relationships in my life and trying to break free of the impact they wish to enforce on me. The five I chose to do without I feel that they are important, but I do not need them at this time. However, since I did take the time to go and get them, I will save them for later use or even another journey.
Discernment (Eye): The act or process of exhibiting keen and wise judgment
This is important for me to have so that I can make decisions that will help me reach the end of my journey instead of leading me astray. The eye symbolizes being able to see the right choice.
Humor (Smiley Face): The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd
Along my journey, I think that Humor is important so that I am able to enjoy the journey while I am taking it and so that I do not become too intense about finishing it. The smiley face represents laughter and being silly.
Faith (Star): Belief that is not based on proof
Faith is required so that even if the end is not in sight, that I know it is in the distance and if I just keep going I will eventually come to the finish. The star symbolizes that even though we can’t see them during the day, or are hidden by clouds, they are still there and on a clear night, still shine brightly.
Patience (Spool): The act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped for
Being able to calmly go throughout my journey without growing weary of the distance and tasks set before me. I need to be patient in order to not freak out if I have not completed my journey at such a time. The spool is patience running thin, but is key to lasting a long time.
Perseverance (Pebble): Steady persistence or determination in a course of action
I must keep going along the journey and that is why I need perseverance. If something tries to hold me back, I have to keep at it. I cannot be deterred from my path and perseverance lets me keep going. A pebble lasts a long time and is not easily shaped by other elements.
Integrity (Light): Adherence to moral and ethical principles
Knowing I can honestly and ethically completing my journey without cheating or coping out; that I am capable of completing my journey the right way. The light is what is known to be good.
Insight (Mirror): An instance of apprehending the true nature of something
Insight lets me know who I am and what I am reaching for. It shows me what and who I am capable of doing and becoming. The mirror allows us to see our true self and is key to insight.
The search for my talismans was a success. I felt awkward at first and was not very excited about the activity, but I was able to complete the task and have some fun while doing it. It helped to show me what I must work on in my life so that I can become the young adult I want to be. I think that the South can strengthened by trusting others and letting them help me instead of taking on every problem by myself. By creating new relationships and improving old ones my heart can grow.
My overall self and where I am on my journey is acceptable to me. I think that I am in a healthy place and am looking forward to the rest of my journey.
Home from Spain and other Happenings…. »« Trip to the Doctor’s
Well my cartilage piercing in my ear got infected like 2 weeks ago. It wasn’t that bad, but then my glands started to swell and really hurt and I got a bump behind my ear on my neck. After like a week of pain my dad finally called the doctor. I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to take it out because I’ve had it for 2 years and my nervous habit is to fiddle with it. Well the doc checked it out and she told me I had to take it out and she would give me some antibiotics for it and it should be good as new minus the hole =[. After that my mom made me get a check up and the doctor was like before you go to spain it would be a good idea to get these two shots and we want to give you this one later as well. Well, my mom, being the woman she is, convinced herself that I should get all three and the doctor was like okay. So I had to get 3, THREE!!!, shots. They were for hepatitis A, meningitis, and HPV (the gardicil one). Ughhh my arms hurt for the next 4 days and my brother kept trying to punch me. But to make it all better my bestie, Rose, and I went to Target and I got A Knight's Tale, with Heath Ledger, for 5 dollars!!!! OMG!! it completely made my life.
Another note: My mom always blares her crappy music at top volume and I came home today to find that my dad had gotten her wireless headphones so now I can live in peace. Its getting better all the time. =]
Supernatural Aid: Medicine Bag Scavenger Hunt »« Dead Beat Brother
So this past Monday, March 9th, my dead beat brother dropped out of school. He says that he is going to get his GED and get a job. Which is legit because hes taken a few practice tests and passed them, but hes still “looking” for a job. Then he says hes going to take some classes at IVY Tech and go there for like 2 years and then he wants to transfer into IU or join the Coast Guard or something. He’s like “I’ll be at college before you” and I’m like “yeah but you’ll still be a highschool reject.” But first off his grades all throughout highschool were shiit. I don’t think he had one A in anything. His Cum Gpa is probably a 1.3, no joke. But even if he does go to IVY Tech chances are that there is no chance he’ll be able to get into IU. He thinks his life will be easier now that he doesn’t have to go to school but I’m waiting for life to wind up and just slap him across the face. Hes a dirty hippie and hes going to wind up failing at life if he doesnt wake up to reality. Seriously, what a joke.
WOO!! So Friday, March 6th, was my broskie, August’s, B-day. He turned the big 2-0. Boy I love this kid. So, he came home from IU on Friday to have a birthday dinner and open some presents. Then yesterday, August and I went back to B.town for his super bday bash that his friends were going to have for him at their house. The house belonged to his friends, matt, jake, dustin, and i think one other person, and this annoying compulsive liar guy. Well, we went to their house early to help set up and prepare and I wasn’t really any help so I did my calc homework. Let me tell you, I didn’t feel like a nerd at all. Then my favorite of my brother’s friends, Matt, made me and the guys enchiladas. This guy is a great cook. After that we waited for the party and it was pretty sweet, my friend Gaby was there and she came with her friend Abby. I hung out with them most of the night and had a lot of fun. There was this one creeper dude that was just really awkward and wouldn’t stop following us, but Spencer eventually asked him to leave because he was just pissing off a lot of people. There was also this really cute guy, who will remain nameless, who ended talking to me later on in the night. I was soooo excited! He thought I was one of his friend’s girlfriend, but I corrected him and we had a quick chat. He asked me about school, and being the honest young woman I am, told him I was a junior at Brebeuf. He said Oh. Can you say total heartbreak? (but that didn’t stop me from facebooking him hahah lame) Well later in the night there was a really great band but at some point cops came because of a noise violation. A lot of people were freaking out, but it was all good. I was super psyched to see a bunch of old Brebeuf grads at the party. I ended up getting to bed at 5 a.m. and woke up at like 10ish and had breakfast made by Gaby. The party was a super success and August had a great time. It was fun to party with my bro and his friends. I really love them and they are a lot of fun. It was a great getaway for the weekend and ended with a car ride home with my brother’s friends Drew, with a quick stop at Taco bell where he threw up. I felt so bad for him, but we talked the whole ride home. Nice!
The best way to describe my mother is Crazy. She is mentally insane and it is really pissing me off. Seriously, and it seems to be getting worse as the time goes by. Today I asked her for an idea about what to get my spain host and she was like a picture frame, yeah its a dece idea, but I don’t want to get my family that. So she started to shit her pants about it saying if it came from someone else youd like the idea. BLAH BLAH BLAH! like half the time i dont even listen anymore and just let her talk. Once she has some stupid idea in her head she doesnt let it go. Like the other day I told her i needed a new pair of pants, so she decided to get out her old pants for me to try on. Her clothes are ugly and i told her i dont want them, but she still wanted me to try them on. I was like I am not going to wear them, there is no point, I want to get my own pair not ur ugly hand-me-downs. She finally left me alone saying if they were someone elses pants, but no, no one else would have those ugly pants so that situation is not possible. She’s crazy and self-absorbed and doesn’t listen to anyone else about anything. I hate her. Pisses me off…. Well that was a good rant. thanks for uh reading.
So I officially am going to Spain for the summer. I even found out my location. I will be going to Ciudad Real, Spain, which is about an hour south of Madrid. I am kind of bummed I’m not going to Valencia because Valencia is by the beach, but I am still very excited. Also, I found out that this girl I did TI club volleyball with in 6th grade and havent talked to since is going. We’ll be bringing back the memories for sure. I can’t wait. 7 weeks away from home. What a gift. Now all I have to do is send out letters asking for money. So don’t be surprised if you get a letter from me in the mail. ADIOS!
I read this story and wanted to share it…
February 18, 2009
Associated Press
The coach never considered any other option. It didn’t matter that his DeKalb, Ill., High School basketball team had ridden a bus two and a half hours to get to Milwaukee, then waited another hour past game time to play. Didn’t matter that the game was close, or that this was a chance to beat a big city team.
Something else was on Dave Rohlman‘s mind when he asked for a volunteer to shoot two free throws awarded his team on a technical foul in the second quarter. His senior captain raised his hand, ready to go to the line as he had many times before.
Only this time it was different.
“You realize you’re going to miss them, don’t you?” Rohlman said.
Darius McNeal nodded his head. He understood what had to be done.
It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs were playing a non-conference game on the road against Milwaukee Madison. It was the third meeting between the two schools, who were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states.
The teams planned to get together after the game and share some pizzas and soda. But the game itself almost never took place.
Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.
Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39.
“She was young and they were real close,” said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital. “He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn’t have time to grieve.”
Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and Milwaukee Madison dressed only eight players.
Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.
The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out. His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.
“We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench,” Womack said during a telephone interview.
“No,” Franklin replied. “I want to play.”
There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn’t on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.
Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.
Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn’t so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.
“I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, `We’re not taking it, we’re not taking it,” Womack said. “The refs told them, no, that’s the rule. You have to take them.”
That’s when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal’s hand went up.
He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.
His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.
It didn’t take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.
They stood and turned toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.
“I did it for the guy who lost his mom,” McNeal told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “It was the right thing to do.”
Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke open the game in the second half to win 62-47. Afterward, the teams went out for pizza, two players from each team sharing each pie.
Franklin stopped by briefly, thankful that his team was there for him.
“I got kind of emotional but it helped a lot just to play,” he said. “I felt like I had a lot of support out there.”
Carlitha Franklin’s funeral was last Friday, and the school turned out for her and her son. Cheerleaders came in uniform, and everyone from the principal and teachers to Johntel’s classmates were there.
“Even the cooks from school showed up,” Womack said. “It lets you know what kind of kid he is.”
Basketball is a second sport for the 18-year-old Franklin, who says he has had some scholarship nibbles and plans to play football in college. He just has a few games left for the Knights, who are 6-11 and got beat 71-36 Tuesday night by Milwaukee Hamilton.
It hasn’t been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck together through a lot of adversity.
“We maybe don’t have the best basketball players in the world but they go to class and take care of business,” Womack said. “We have a losing record but there’s life lessons going on, good ones.”
None so good, though, as the moment a team and a player decided there were more important things than winning and having good stats.
Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they’ll never forget.
“This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime,” Rohlman said. “They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they’ll remember what happened in that gym that night.”
So I can’t believe I haven’t written about this yet but… GUESS WHOS GOING TO SPAIN!
I was accepted to partake in the Barcelona Exchange trip this spring break with Brebeuf. Which is what the above countdown is for. I get to spend to weeks in the catalan capital, barcelona and attend school at CASP. Lucky for me and the other students going, we only have school for the first week and the second week is a holiday so we get free time to explore! I cannot wait!
Second I found out last week that I was accepted into IU Honors, which is seven weeks in the summer, where I will live with a host family in either Spain or Mexico. My fingers are crossed for Valencia, Spain but it is in the hands of the moderators where I will be going. Either way I will be happy to be gone on such a wonderful trip. Now I just have to raise money for the trip because the total cost is $4400 for Mexico and $5900 for Spain.
I cannot wait for these trips and hopefully I will come back to school fluent in SPANISH!
So my super cool lab partner, Rose, and I worked on our stupid lab for like 4 hours today. it sucked. plus we had to sneak into school because rose forgot her lab notebook, but it was open so there was no need for my super steath skills. But anyways, i feel like this beautiful day was wasted because i never got to go outside, but while working on our lab we did watch the fifth harry potter which was pretty cool. my favorite character is the lady who escaped from azkaban… bellatrix lestrange or something or other. So thats pretty much it. Also, my super awesome friend Joanie made me this CD and I super love it but dont know any of the names to the songs. I have been listening to it all weekend. Well SUPER!!
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