Everything is Attractive

Do you ever get in those moods when suddenly, everything seems appealing all of a sudden?
It's the strangest thing walking around campus and suddenly, you realize that the world is filled with attractive men. This may be a by-product of being too long on the dating scene but you know, it could be just a friendly little reminder from the Universe that the world is full of beautiful things, including beautiful men.
... It's ok if you disagree with me here.
In other words, how about this weather, huh?
Seriously, I'm having a tough time keeping my eyes where I need to be walking because I can't stop watching the sky. The mountains get all misty and mysterious in the mornings on the way to school and then, on the way home at night the sky erupts into flamboyant and joyous sunsets.
LOVE IT. ( I tend to ignore the parts where it gets really, really cold.)
Other than that, I'm grateful for:

• walking to campus with a hot-balloon accompanying me on a chilly morning. Totally made my day.
• people who make classes fun. the funny ones that make you laugh out loud, even though everyone else in the room is quiet.
• friends that no matter how much time has passed since the last time we've seen each other we can still chat for twenty minutes in the freezing cold. And it's still fun.
• prayers that are answered in the least expected of places.
• the fact that no matter how busy I feel like I am, somehow, everything gets done. MIRACLES are real, people.
• finding a fellow Scandinavian aficionado in the upper echelons of BYU administration and chatting for an hour just about Norway. <3
• eye makeup. Let's face it, it's my art form. I excel at it and I thoroughly enjoy my ever-increasing supply of every color and shade known to man.

J'adore la culture de Tahiti

I have a delightful story for everyone.
...No, I did not suddenly learn French... (Thank Heaven for Google Translate.)
No, this story is about Tahiti.

They speak French there.
Yesterday, my History 202 professor invited us TA's over to her house because they were hosting a dozen Tahitians for the LDS General Conference. Apparently her son served his mission there awhile ago. Anyways, they made a ton of food, real Tahitian food, and were going to do a performance for everyone. Dr. Frederickson's philosophy is one of "the more, the merrier" so she invited us to go.
It was SO much fun!
We got there just as the girls were about to do their dance. There was this adorable little girl, around 11 or 12 and she was amazing. I definitely can't move like that. After the girls did a couple of dances, they pulled people from the audience and had a sort of "dance off", where they showed the audience members how to dance and everyone just danced together. One girl pulled me and my roommate up and we were laughing and dancing. Not everyone can shake their hips like that. Let me tell you, it was one heck of a workout. You are constantly moving your legs! And hips!
After the dancing, we had food. Real Tahitian food. There was sooooo much foooood. Seriously, so much. Mind you, I didn't eat everything. They like raw fish, so I avoided that. But everything else was really good. I had taro, and pork and curry and a soft, breadlike thing covered in coconut milk; and potatoes, and a noodle and shrimp salad. Not quite what I expected, but it was so good. It was real culture! And even though we couldn't communicate (again, that darn French language) it was such a neat experience to be there and be with them.
Bon Appetit!

"Happy is what happens...

...when all your dreams come true."
This line from Wicked has been in my head all week. I got to see the show this summer in San Francisco, which you have all heard about. I couldn't shut up about it. Anyways...I don't really agree with it. If you wait until all of your dreams have come true, then you have missed out on living. Happiness is found in the process of fulfilling your dreams, not the end result. That is something I have to constantly remind myself. I am always planning, scheduling, but if I don't step back and enjoy what is happening right now, it will be gone before I know it and I won't have any memories to look back on. I am scared of not living my life in the best possible manner, of not being of the most use to people and not loving everyone as deeply as I should. This may seem to be coming from out of the blue, but some things have happened this week that have made me think about how short life is. A friend's little sister passed away in an awful car accident this week. And this December is the year anniversary of my great-grandmother's passing away. I wasn't super close with either of these people. And I know that where they are now is a very happy place. But I empathize so deeply with the people left behind. I keep thinking of how they must feel and how sad it is. People really mourn. And seeing their sadness makes me want to live my life in such a way, and this sounds wierd, but in such a way that people will miss me when I am gone to.
This week has also made me realize just how grateful I am for the gospel. I have seen what deaths have done to people who don't have these truths. There is a hopelessness that is only helped by knowing that one day we will see our loved ones again. And that is another reason to live the best life possible, is so there will be nothing standing in our way when we are reunited with those we love and care about, and those who we have missed so much.
Anyways, I hope I didn't bring anyone down, reading this blog. This is just what has been on my mind lately.
Love ya'll

TRC at the MTC

I did it, I did it, I did it!
Woo!
Ok, background so ya'll can understand me. I am in Norwegian 340, also known as Norwegian Literature and this is the class that all the RM's take so they can get credit for the classes that I have already taken. Anyways, there is a kid in my class who is the Norwegian teacher at the MTC. He mentioned they needed volunteers to help the missionaries teach the lessons to. I was nervous. I couldn't take anyone with me. (I can't find any norwegian speakers when I need them, go figure.) So I would have to go alone. Alone, all by myself, in a foreign environment, surrounded a foreign language. So I kept putting it off. I had all sorts of excuses. Mostly I was worried that I wouldn't understand anything. But I did it last night. I went, I sat and listened to a native speaker being taught by the elders. IT WAS AWESOME.
I totally knew what they were saying. I am just a little slower in responding. It was a good experience.
Missionaries are awesome, the poor things! They were trying so hard!
So the lesson to be learned?
Go out and do something that you have been putting off because it is good for you.
true story.
:)