Put Another Shrimp on the Barbie

Dear Blogging world,

Sorry I haven’t been blogging since I arrived in Austria. This will be a long post, for sure.

The truth is this: coming here has been a lot harder than I imagined. I have been very homesick (mostly for Kameron, I think. Sorry everyone else.) I basically came here all by myself, so I felt very alone with very little contact to the world back in the States. Everyone around me was speaking German and it was easy to feel like there was nobody to relate to in this city.

So let’s start back to the first day.

I flew from Salt Lake to Chicago, Chicago to Frankfurt, and Frankfurt to Innsbruck. Loooooong flights. I tried to sleep on my longest flight to Frankfurt, but despite my greatest efforts, it didn't happen. Which would explain why I was (and still am) so jet lagged. I arrived in Innsbruck at around 10:00 am, and was picked up at the Airport by Andreas (our program director here). He is an extremely helpful guy. He helped me buy sheets. But then I was left on my own. I had no internet connection, no phone, no idea where I was, and no roommate yet. 

It. Was. Terrible. 

I have never felt more alone in my life. The internet was the one way I had planned on talking to people once I got here, including the senior missionary couple I had been in contact with. I had no way of telling my mom I was safe, no way of finding the church, and I didn't know what I was going to do about it. I walked all around the city looking for some place with a wireless connection, but no luck. Finally, I came back to my building and found a very nice girl that lives on the floor below me. She let me use her computer to email Kam and my mom, and then let me use her phone to call Elder Glover. So, prayer answered. From there I tried to sleep, but that was off and on. But I had made it through my first day. 

The next day was Sunday, and also General Conference. The Glovers offered to come pick me up and take me to the church. So, I got to watch the Saturday afternoon session and the Sunday morning session...in English! Woo! Conference is amazing. It was nice to be around people as well. The elders showed me that night where to buy a bus ticket, how to get back to the church and how to get to the University the next day. Again, prayer answered.

Monday was the absolute longest day. We (me and the other girl from USU, who has become a good friend now) had to get registered at the school, with city hall, sign contracts for housing, get an ID card, set up a bank account...everything. So we ran around town for most of the afternoon. There were a few issues with the bank account, but hopefully everything is worked out now. I went to FHE that night, and while most of it was in German, it was still nice to be around people and feel welcomed. 

Then yesterday was the best day. We did so much walking and exploring around the city. Marissa, the other girl from USU, had met a girl from Innsbruck on a website for writers. We met up with her in this awesome cafe called Triebhaus. She brought a friend and we talked with them for about 3 hours. They were very nice, offered to help us with anything, and their English was very good. After that, the Glovers took Marissa and I to buy phones, or as they call them here, Handys. We found a good deal, purchased them, and then the Glovers took us on a little tour around parts of Innsbruck. We ate dinner, (I had a Sandwich Kebap, which is hard to explain but also one of the most delicious things I've eaten) got some history lessons from Elder Glover, and then got some gelato. So overall, a very good day. 

School doesn't start until Tuesday next week, so we're trying to find things to do with our time before school starts. More exploring, most likely. I think we're going to wait to travel until we've gotten settled a little bit. It's a lot to take in. I'm getting less homesick, which is good. I still will have waves of it where I miss people and home incredibly much, but overall, I'm doing much better. And it will only get better from here. :)

I love you all, and bless your hearts if you made it through this whole post. It will probably be more of a journal for me than entertainment for you. I've posted pictures on Facebook, so check those out. For now I'll leave you with one or two of my favorites I've taken so far. :)

KISS: Keep it simple, stupid. Great advice. Hurts my feelings every time.

Day three: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

The Office. 

Everyone loves it now. 

And I hate to be THAT person, but I totally loved it before everyone jumped on board. 

When I was in Jr. High and high school, I was pretty much known for my unhealthy obsession with The Office. I had an equally unhealthy (if not more so) crush on John Krasinski. Before Jim and Pam became Jim and Pam, I would spend so many hours watching fan-made YouTube videos about them. I could quote any episode, and peg a quote no matter how obscure it was. I would TiVo a late night talk show anytime there was even the slightest mention of the show or any of it's cast members. It seriously occupied my thoughts for the majority of every day. 

Now that I've told you a slightly embarrassing part of my past...

Luckily I'm not like that anymore. It probably wasn't the best thing for me to be doing. 

And even though I'm not the faithful watcher of The Office that I once was, it's still my answer when I'm asked, "What's your favorite TV show?" It holds a special place in my heart. 

And I still have an unhealthy crush on JKras. :)

For your reading pleasure, here are some of my favorite Office quotes:

"It happened on company property WITH company property, so we're fine." -Michael

"I don't think you know what double jeopardy means." -Ryan

"Sorry...what IS 'we're fine'?" -Michael 

"Yeah, I went hunting once. I shot a deer in the leg. Had to kill it with a shovel...took about an hour. Why do you ask?"-Dwight Schrute 

"I've been Michael's number two guy for about five years. He's like Mozart and I'm like...Mozart's...friend. No! I'm like Butch Cassidy and Michael...is like Mozart. You mess with Mozart, you're going to get a bullet in the head, courtesy of Butch Cassidy!" -Dwight Schrute

"I suggested we flip a coin, but Angela said she doesn't like to gamble. Of course by saying that, she was gambling that I wouldn't smack her." -Pam Beesley (Halpert)

"I come from a long line of fighters. My maternal grandfather was the toughest guy I ever knew. World War II veteran. He killed 20 men and then spent of the war in an Allied prison camp. My father battle obesity and blood pressure all his life...different kind of fight." -Dwight Schrute 

"Andy Bernard does not lose contests, he WINS them...or quits them because they're unfair." -Andy Bernard

"I wish I could help, but I can't. Well, I can...but won't. Should--but shorn't." -Michael Scott

"C'mon, Michael." -Kevin Malone

"What part of 'shorn't' don't you understand, Kevin?" -Michael Scott

Waltzing Matilda

Day two:  A picture of you and a person you've been close with for awhile.

Chelsea Johnston. I have been friends with this girl since before I can even remember. From the time our moms visit taught together when we were two ("There are babies on the ceiling!") to now, where we're both grown up and going to college and being adults. She's been there for me through thick and thin. We've had a lot of thick, but I think the thin shines through. I think I've laughed my very hardest with Chelsea. We have COUNTLESS inside jokes and I'm so grateful to have such a funny, beautiful, awesome friend in my life. :)

Thirty Days

I've been doing a poor job of posting on my blog.

 The main reason for that is simply this: writer's block.

 However, I recently started reading my future sister-in-law's blog, and she is doing a "thirty days of introduction"...thing.

Each day is paired with a picture and something to write about it. Naturally, I'm stealing this idea. So, thanks, Lauren, for unblocking my writers block. :)

 Here is goes: Day One: A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

Facts: (I realize that I already have a blog post with fifteen facts. I'll try to make them different for you few people that regularly read my blog.)

1. Sometimes I miss being blonde. Then I thinking about going back, and I don't think I'd ever actually go blonde again.
2. I've lived in Utah my whole life and I've only been to one of the awesome national parks we have.
3. I'm an English major that happens to be a horrible speller.
4. I've always wanted to be a twin.
5. I love dogs. I've always known this, but lately I've been making Kameron look at pictures of dogs and I literally freak out while looking at puppy pictures. We're talking involuntary squealing, people.
6. I hate shopping for pants.
7. I will rarely make a semi-big/big decision without asking the opinion of someone I trust.
8. I'm not a drink-the-milk-after-you-eat-cereal kind of girl.
9. I believe there is no greater feeling than to laugh so hard you can't breath.
10. I have a fairly large collection of Beanie Babies.
11. If I have a lot of things to get done, I'll usually resort to doing none of them. I'm more productive when I have one or two tasks to accomplish that day. Otherwise I just want to sit around and forget about stuff.
12. I LOVE finding new music.
13. I don't mind when people say "Legit" but I can't stand when they say "Legitly." Just say "Legitimately." Please.
14. I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate.
15. I love to read, but do it near enough.

There you have it! The start of my 30 day...thing. (And I just realized I'll have to finish this in Austria. Crazy.)

"She needs to sort out her priorities..."

Ron Weasley. He said it best.

I just finished packing up my room to move home.

And the thought just hit me.

This will be my last time living in Logan.

Almost five months ago, I started dating Kameron. As soon as I found out he would be graduating and getting a job in Salt Lake it really got me thinking. Early on I knew he was the type of guy I could see myself marrying. If I was to marry him, that would kind of throw a wrench in my future plans. No more Utah State. Maybe no Austria. No next summer on the A-Team.

So, I needed to sort out my priorities.

And it took a good long while for me to really understand what was most important to me. I remember sitting down on the floor in my living room talking to good old Zack Wilson. I remember expressing my worries to him. I had only been dating Kam a few weeks, but I had really begun to fall for him and had no idea what was going to happen when he moved. It occured me that I would never live in the same city as Kameron again unless this relationship ended in marriage, and I got worried that our relationship couldn't handle all of the "See you next weekend!"s that come from a long distance relationship.

So what did I want?

It would have been fairly easy to back out of the relationship at that point. I could have just assumed it wouldn't have worked out, told him I couldn't do the distance thing, and moved on.

Thank heavens I didn't.

In a very short amount of time, I began to realize what this kid actually meant to me. He wasn't someone I could just say "see ya later" to. He was so much more. In an equally short amount of time, we talked about marriage.

Now I seriously had to sort out my priorities.

Only this time, it was easy for me.

I absolutely love going to Utah State. It has been my home away from home, I've met countless friends I'll never forget, I found out who I really was, and I grew more than I ever thought possible. I can't begin to explain my attachment to this school.

But I love Kameron more.

That's what it comes down to.

I love Kameron more.

I feel like lately I've been getting a lot of people telling me they can't believe I'd leave Logan. That they never saw me leaving. That it's absurd that I'm dropping all my plans.

But hasn't my plan been to

marry a worthy man in the temple

since the age I even knew what the temple was?


So, yes, I'm leaving the place that has helped shape me to the adult I am today.
Yes, I'm leaving friends that I'll miss more than ever.
No, I may not get my degree from the school I've grown to adore.

But I will give it ALL up to marry an incredible man for time and all eternity.

And so that's what I'm doing.

I'm not settling, I'm progressing.

Once an Aggie, always an Aggie.

Ain't it the Truth

Today I found a list of truths for mature humans.

And I shall share it with you.

1. I think part of a best friends job should be to immediately clear your computer history after you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment in an argument where you realize that you're wrong.
3. I totally take back those times I didn't want to take naps when I was little.
4. There is a great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Mapquest really needs to start their directions at like #5. I think I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there will always be a time at work where you just know you won't do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after BluRay? I really don't want to start my collection over...again...
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save the changes to a ten-page technical report I swear I made no changes to.
14. "No not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this. Ever.
15. I hate when I miss a call by the last ring, but when I immediately try to call back and it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving the house feeling confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I bet that on any given Friday or Saturday night, more kisses begin with Miller Lite than with Kay.
20. I wish Google Maps had an "avoid ghetto" option.
21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize that I had no idea what was going on when I watched it when I first saw it.
22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-packed bags than take two trips to bring my groceries in.
23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
24. I have a hard time trying to decipher the fine line between boredom and hunger.
25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand what they said?
26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in the front. Stick together brothers and sisters!
27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty and you can wear them forever.
28. Is it just me, or do high school kids get dumber and dumber every year?
29. There is nothing worst than that millisecond you are sure you are going to die when you lean your chair back too far.
30. As a driver I hate pedestrians. As a pedestrian I hate drivers. But no matter what mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.
31. Sometimes I'll look at my watch three consecutive times and still not know what time it is.


I hope you enjoyed as much as I did. :)

Have a wonderful day, my lovelies!

Looking on the Brightside

I have been trying incredibly hard to refrain from posting about my wedding 24/7.

I always got a tad bit annoyed with people that would update Facebook statuses, constantly blog, and never shut up about their wedding.

I get it now.

And things are really going my way! I bought a designer wedding dress off of KSL classifieds for a grand total of 60 dollars. SIXTY. I love it, and I can't believe I got such a steal. Savin' money all over the place! Everything's working out.

But today there was a slight bump in the road with wedding planning.

Kameron and I had our eyes set on this gorgeous barn in Mapleton. (Some of you probably know it.) I've gone to several concerts there, and my brother had his wedding dinner there a few years ago. It would be perfect for a winter wedding and with all the plans that I had in mind.

But then it fell through.

I guess Mapleton City won't let them rent it out anymore.

I was (and still am) so sad about it. It was exactly the place I wanted to have my reception. So now I'm trying to find a different place that I like even half as much that is still a good price.

While I'm still super bummed about it, my mom said something that I really loved.

"At least the groom is still available."

So, that helped me really remember the important part of my wedding. It's not where we have our reception but that I'm getting married to Kam in the temple.

I guess that's reason enough to be happy. :)