#BooksWithBeddes: Eat, Pray, Love: What's in a Word?

"Then he went on to explain, in a mixture of English, Italian and hand gestures, that every city has a single word that defines it, that identifies most people who live there. If you could read people's thoughts as they were passing you on the streets of any given place, you would discover that most of them are thinking the same thought. Whatever that majority though might be--that is the word of the city. And if your personal word does not match the word of the city, then you don't really belong there." (pg 103)

So I know it's been awhile since I read Eat, Pray Love (EPL) told you all about it but I came across this post that I had yet to post. (No worries, I have two more where this came from.) I think my thought-process what along the lines of spreading out the quotes from EPL to prevent chick-lit overload. Truly, humans can only take so much rom-com or chick-lit stuff.
Ahem.
Back to the quote at hand.
Isn't this the most intriguing idea? This concept that every city has a word--one word--that defines it and most of the people who live there. If this were true, it makes an interesting argument. Have you ever been to a place and just immediately been felt at home? Maybe the word that defines you is the same word that defines the city. Oooooo.
The only glitch in this idea is, have you ever tried defining yourself in one word? It's hard. I see myself on a spectrum. And I am rarely definitive on any one concept. But I like the idea of one central word that all other descriptive words depend upon; the keystone of your personality, if you will. It must be nice to know yourself so well, as to describe yourself in such a parsimonious package.
Therefore, because I think it's a good idea, I'm going to issue a challenge. The challenge is thus: that each of you lovely readers must find your word--the word--that defines you. And then tell me about the adventure that such a search is bound to be. I am going to do the same. Once I find my word, to be sure, I will let you know. And since it's me, you can be sure, it will be a funny story

iic Competition: People's Choice

http://www.youtube.com/user/msebyu#p/u/10/38GZFI3M7Xk

Hey everyone. This is a teaching competition that I wrangled my roommate into. To win the people's choice awards, we need to get the most original and unique views. So basically, a lot of people have to see our video and a lot of different states/countries need to see it. So...if you have friends out of state or outside of the US? Send them the link. I'd be eternally grateful. I'm sure I could make some sort of AWESOME thank-you gift. There is a window of time: April 1 (today) through April 7. So, click the link, watch the video and tell your friends. :)
Thanks again very sincerely.

http://www.youtube.com/user/msebyu#p/u/10/38GZFI3M7Xk

I got it!

If you haven't already heard, it's official!
I am going to be an intern at Springville Junior High next year.
This means, I am going to be like, a real teacher!
I will have my own classroom.
With students. Real students.
While I will be student teaching, it's more autonomous that just normal student teaching.
If I don't think much about it then I don't freak out too much.
It's going to be a learning experience for sure!
Here is the school website.
http://sjhs.nebo.edu/
Did I mention that I am terribly excited too?!

An Ideal Weekend

Well, to be honest, it isn't quite looking up to be the idyllic ideal weekend. Grading deadlines are looming ever nearer...
HOWEVER

My roommate whipped out this little gem. While I only watched bits and pieces of it, I feel like it's going to be an Oscar Wilde Weekend. So word clever. LoVe It.
Recommendations?

• So watch something that makes you think. Be it lots of words or challenging topic or foreign language. Just do it.
• Bake something. Doing things with your hands relieves stress and impresses all of your friends with your handy skills.
• Be helpful and honest. You really can't be one without the other.
• Lastly, laugh. Life isn't worth it if you can't find something to have a good laugh about.

I am going to try to accomplish most of this list, hopefully more, to the tune of 75 papers calling my name to grade. Ah, the life of a history TA.
ALSO.
This just in: Today I was hired on as the program facilitator for the BYU Norwegian Study Abroad! Do I know what that means yet; no, not entirely, but you can be sure that I am super stoked about it!!! I will let you know more as soon as I know more. Keep an eye out.
Have a lovely weekend. Even ideal, if you can manage it.
:)

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! New goals and new friends and new classes and new adventures.
SO MUCH NEW STUFF.
I'm excited!
Also, the new year means I will be more diligent with my blog. More on-the-ball, you might say. I am also tempted to be more crafty, so hopefully there will be some cool stuff to show you.
Have a lovely new year everyone!

Hallelujah, It's Friday

TGIF
The week is practically over and it couldn't have come at a better time.
I have decided that the next couple of goals shall include:

• Whittling down the stuff I have to take to school to ONE bag.
• Actually trying to get up at the right time.
• Getting to bed at a decent time.
• Looking pretty for school.
• Staying on top of the schedule.

That is the plan.
Fortunately, I have the whole weekend to put it off.
Happy Friday, ya'll

Dig a little deeper

I took my little sister to see The Princess and the Frog. I was excited to see it. Everyone else in my family had seen it before me. I think that this movie is something that I need to see again to fully appreciate it. I will know what to look for. Regardless if it was a Disney movie, I still cried. Ha, it shouldn't be a surprise, but I did.

I finished reading the Book of Mormon! Last night! I am so excited about this because I think it was the first time that I can remember reading it all the way through, all by myself. It made me incredibly happy and I feel complete. :)

And I proved that I can accomplish a goal!

I tried to stay away from Facebook. That didn't work to well. I even had Denay change the password. I will try again, this time for real. Usually when I have school, I can concentrate on necessary things, but I am here at home and usually I have nothing to occupy my time with. Hence checking Facebook too often. I am excited for school to start. New classes and this time I am going to start my secondary education classes. I am nervous to be a teacher in a year. Teaching is such a huge responsibility! My mom had me come visit her school and sit in on some history classes. Mount Ogden is a inner city school. Maybe not all schools are like that, but there are enough students that don't want to go to history classes. I am nervous. I want to change students lives, and makes them socially responsible people who want to do good in the world too. But at the same time, I can't do everything. At some level, parents have to educate their children too.

Tonight I am going to a mocktail/moustache new years eve party, 1940's style. Pictures forthcoming.

And I am going to dye my hair again. Again, pictures forthcoming.

Gah, my sister is watching Jurassic Park and the raptors are about to make their entrance and I am getting antsy. So intense.

Anyways, see you next year! Have fun!

Change of pace...aka...change of color.

In a world of ever-changing settings, I have decided to contribute by dying my hair, again. I don't know why I do this, oh wait, yes I do. I like to shake things up a bit every now and then. And changin my hair is the easiest way to do that. I think to an extent its also a matter that I crave attention, and changing my hair also is the easiest way of getting attention. Everyone is all like, "you did your hair!!!" and it makes me smile. Both on the outside and on the inside. Actually, the bishopbric didn't even recognize me today. Which can be seen from both a good and bad perspective, I guess. But now, my hair is miraculous shades of brown and blonde. and various other colors that I am pretty sure I still have in there somewhere. I like it. But then, I love almost everything that I do to my hair. I was half giddy on Friday after I did it.



Even after all the fun events of the weekend, I hit a downfall on Sunday. We have a new ward, and its been a beautiful day and all, but somehow...I can't help but feeling blue. And I HaTe that!!! I love being happy and helpful to people but when I don't feel like that, and when I don't know why, I get so frustrated!!! AHHHHHGHGGHH. Blah.



Not to leave this blog on a bad note. I am going to start yoga! Its going to be amazin! And I am going to start going to the gym again. I haven't been for awhile because of finals, and family visiting and all. Which really isn't an excuse, because true devotees go no matter what. But the truth is, I got lazy, I guess. But have no fear! I will get back into the swing of things. And that will help releasing endorphins...which make people happy. YaY.



P.S. There is a new guy in the ward who looks like Robert Downey Jr. when he was younger. CHeaayah! Hahahahaha.