30 June 2008

What I have learned in the past few days:
1. I absolutely loathe economics. It is right up there with math, physics, and philosophy in my mind.

2. My Spanish skills have degenerated to the point where I can only really understand five year old children. Which is a pity considering that I used to be getting pretty good (aka...slightly better than pitiful). Oh well, I guess this means I should just bust out my textbooks and start studying again.

3. Food poisoning makes for an incredibly lousy time overall.

4. My father just not understand the worldwide popularity or importance of football (soccer). In fact, I think it is really hard for any American to understand just how popular certain sports are over in Europe because we really don't have any equivalent. Yesterday, he was rather flummoxed as to why someone would delay a trip just to watch a football game. I spent the better part of an hour trying to explain to him that it wasn't JUST a football game, it was a matter of national pride for both teams. Anyways, it was a brilliant game. I watched it when we got home and was on the edge of my seat until the last minute. Brilliant.

5. I realized that I have doubts about taking the FSOT next summer. What if I get moved on to the next level? What if the impossible happens and I get offered a spot in the A100 class after graduation? Am I willing to give up the freedom that being a 20-something offers for the strict responsibilities of an overseas government job? I'm not entirely sure. Part of me just wants to jump into the FS and get started, for the excitement of traveling and contributing to something 'better' seems almost too much to think about. On the other hand, I would like to travel on my own, do reckless things which I can later frown upon/reminisce about, and just enjoy myself with few worries. Oh well. I suppose it all depends on whether or not I pass the written test and if/where I get into grad school. Up until recently, I had my heart set on SAIS. But the thought of living at home for two more years (which I would have to do, since SAIS is fairly close, and I would save about $20,000) is slightly horrific. So right now, I am fairly keen on LSE. It is in London, so housing will be expensive, but I'll be done in 11 months.

Oh the possibilities.

28 June 2008

Yesterday at roughly 7:30PM, my cousin Matthew had his first child, Colin Alexander. My grandmum should be pleased; he is her first great-grandchild.

27 June 2008

There are 68 days left until I leave for Oxford.

It is incredibly strange to write those words as, for the past three years, this trip has loomed in the distance. Even now, I still don't believe that it's actually happening, not really. I keep thinking 'if I go to Oxford' instead of 'when I go.' For the most part, I knew that I would get in. I mean, looking at some of the people who went last semester, it was pretty obvious. But there was always a part of me that doubted... However, this entire thing is becoming increasingly real as I make the final preparations to go. I still need to get the visa ($200 just to stay in the UK. It's madness!), new glasses, and what not. Oh, and I suppose I have to find someplace to stay during the winter holiday. Yeah, that might be something to start looking in to. I mean, I already know of two places to stay, unfortunately both places would be extremely awkward. Oh well. I'll think of something.

I've had to refrain from looking at pictures or thinking too deeply about my year abroad, since the mere thought of traveling is almost painful. It has been almost three years since I last went. Three incredibly long, tedious years. I mean, I have no idea what I did before I went to London in 2003. That was the start of this...disease. After I found out that the outside world was much more exciting than Laurel, Maryland, I realized that there was no way I would be able to stay here for very long. Back in high school, I woul have a countdown going starting in December after we had gotten back from our last trip and going until the next November when we left again. The last few weeks of school were always the worst. The moment we stepped foot at BWI, it was like I could breathe again.

Judging from these past experiences, I fully believe that August is going to be a hellish month. The countdown from 30 days will be absolutely unreal. My brother will probably step up his campaign to have my parents simply leave me in Europe without a return ticket. His latest ambition is to become president one day. It was only the other day when he marched into our kitchen after having spent the past four or five hours in his bedroom fixing computers and proclaimed, "It's a bad day for America, my friends. Why? One word: outsourcing. These days, they are outsourcing everything to do it cheaper, more efficiently. I knew this outsourcing craze had become absolutely out of control when my parents decided to outsource the responsibility of having a daughter by sending her to Europe." Oh, John. However, even he will be bearable towards the end.

I suppose that my excitement would be better curbed if I had something to occupy my time. However, I've yet to find a job and my internship for ATHGO at the World Bank Headquarters only lasts a week. Still, I have about 600 pages of reading before the internship starts in two weeks time, so I guess that will provide at least some distraction.


Listening to: 'Come Alive' by Foo Fighters

15 June 2008

Starting Over

I am starting over when it comes to this blog. It's time for a fresh start.

About Me: The Basics
Name: Rebecca
Gender: Female
Height: 5'8
Eye Color: Golden brown
Hair Color: Dark brown
Age: 19
Birthday: 2 July
Zodiac Sign:
Cancer
Grade: Junior undergraduate History major
Are you named after anyone? My first name is a direct tribute to my maternal grandmother, while my middle name (Catherine) was an attempt to appease my paternal grandmother, as it was the name of her own mother. Unfortunately for my parents, it didn't work.
Do you live in the moment? As a History major, I have a natural inclination to look towards the past. This is not the healthiest thing to do, so I have made a concerted effort in the past year to start living in the moment. However, due to recent events, I've had to start living in the future and considering what I will do with my future, which makes for a very confusing situation.
Do you consider yourself tolerant of others? I consider myself to be pretty tolerant. I put up with a lot. What I am not tolerant of I usually re-assess, occasionally leading to toleration. I try to keep an open mind when it comes to other people and situations.
Smoke: No. I have asthma and my previous experiences with smoking (by way of hookah) have all resulted in my gasping for air.
Drink: Yes, I'll admit. I do and can hold my alcohol. I usually end up drinking at school, but not while at home. It makes for a fairly crazy two or three months (I don't drink every weekend) and then a quiet six or seven before things pick up again.
Have you: Pulled an all-nighter? Yes. Too many for my own good, in fact. Those straight A's this year didn't come from getting lots of sleep.
Had a dream that came true? As of right now, no. But I am still waiting for the re-occurring Bill Murray dream to come true any day now.
Ever been in a mosh-pit? Intentionally? No. But in 11th grade on the day before I took the SAT's, I went to a concert and ended up in the middle of a mosh-pit that developed around me. It was perhaps the most exciting and terrifying thing I had done up to that point.
Ever had a dream that kept coming back? Reference the above dream question.

Thought Provoking:
  1. If you were given a canvas and watercolors, what would you paint? Considering my absolutely abysmal artistic abilities, probably a stick figure of a person and a tree. It is doubtful whether either would be immediately recognizable.
  2. What do you regard as the most repulsive form of music? White supremacist music. Absolutely disgusting.
  3. Whose mind, besides your own, would you like to control? No one's. We may have limited rights in this world, but everyone should be able to control their own mind.
  4. What is the most dangerous occupation? At the moment, I would say that it would have to be being a soldier in Iraq.
  5. If you could project yourself into the past, where would you go? Truthfully, I would have to say I would wish to go into the Renaissance. I want to see what life was really like.
  6. What are you thankful you're not doing right now? I'm thankful I'm not in class. Not that I would have class at 12:14AM. But all the same, I wouldn't want to be forced to listen to someone right now.
  7. What is one object in your home that you are embarrassed to own? Of the things that I am embarrassed to own and can mention, it would have to be the original Britney Spears cd.
  8. Fill in the blank; When I dance, I look like _________. Someone having severe seizures. Indeed, previous attempts at dancing have earned the concern of others for my own physical safety and health.
  9. Who is one person you wish you'd never met? That will remain a secret known only to me.
  10. What was the happiest age of your life? Yesterday, today, tomorrow. All times have a purpose, even if that purpose is not immediately apparent.
  11. What commercial do you find most annoying? The Burger King commercials with the BK 'King'. I have had nightmares about that freakish...creature.
  12. What one person or thing reminds you of the 80s? Jasy. I'm not entirely sure why. I just get the 80's vibe from her.
  13. What is college really good for? Learning who you are.
  14. Where is the most beautiful place you've ever been? Edinburgh. The entire city was so utterly beautiful to me that I will never be able to fully put the reasons why I think it is so wonderful into words. I felt so alive there.
  15. When is the angriest you've ever been? Probably during senior week, due to the events that shall not be mentioned.
  16. On a scale of 1-10; how much do you trust people? It depends on the person, but if 1 is not at all, then lets say a 5.
  17. If you were forced to choose your own death, how would you die? Just something quick
  18. What is your greatest addiction? Diet Coke
  19. What issue are you sick of hearing about? The current political 'war' between Democrats and Republicans. Some people only care if their candidate becomes President, or if their party wins.Why does it matter what political party our next president belongs to? Seriously, the person who wins should not be chosen on whether or not they are Democrat or Republican, but on who is best for the job.
  20. What language would you like to master? Spanish, Italian, and Arabic
  21. Do you have any collections? If so, what? I used to collect seashells. As of right now, however, I don't have any collections.
  22. At what point are we good enough? When are we self-improved enough to accept ourselves? We are never good enough to accept ourselves. It is impossible (and perhaps ill-advised?) to settle for how we are. We should always try to better ourselves, not towards perfection, but towards making our life better in general. No one is perfect and, therefore, everyone has something that they can improve upon.
  23. What impact do you want to leave on the world? I just want to make a difference. It doesn't have to be a big one, but it has to be at least something.
  24. Why is it so hard to let go? To go with the flow and not be in control of everything. Because everyone likes to have at least some measure of control. I feel that no one is capable of letting go completely. Everyone has to have something they control. And if you think about it, everyone controls at least something, be it their clothing or what they eat. Leaving that up to fate/chance/someone else would be...strange.
  25. Have you ever regretted something that you didn't do? Yes, immensely. However, the things I regret tend to be more getting more distant, as I have been taking more risks lately.