Ello.
Its a rainy Tuesday and all I want to do is sleep, but I have so much going on in the next couple of weeks its like I have no time for anything!
I traveled down to Marietta this past weekend to visit my long lost friend from home, Hannah. I arrived pretty late Saturday night and we got up pretty early Sunday to do some hiking in southeastern Ohio. We ended up at Wayne National Forest after I got us lost and Hannah slept the whole way! We hiked for the entire afternoon up and down a lot of covered trails full of leaves. It was beautiful! Afterwards I met my parents by beachwood for dinner at Olive Garden where I ate entirely too much!
Monday was mountain day! The best day at Lake Erie College. All the students on campus are woken up by bag pipes and drums around 7 am. Luckily I live off campus and didn't have to deal with the parade, but I did head out for the mountain day scavenger hunt. A bunch of teams came out this year and competed for over 1000 dollars worth or prizes! My team missed a few clues so we ended up not winning...
The rest of my day was filled with staring at the computer screen and returning emails and getting homework done.
Today however; I found out through an email that my passport is in the mail and should be delivered sometime this weekend. All that is left to do is get my visa (which is very expensive, especially since I have to get it Ultra Rushed) There will be a lot of little things I have to get done in the next few weeks. I leave in t-minus 20 days!!! AH! Birthday countdown is 7 days!
Game tonight, HOME!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hurricane
"Today has been very eventful" and it was only 1030 am when Rachel and I were practically in the middle of a monsoon. The day started off with a great volleyball workout and the weather was perfect, especially for the first day of fall! Rachel came to the house just has the thunder had started. We waited it out and thought we could get a nice long hike in before my class and her meeting that afternoon. On our drive out to P. Glenn, the sun was shining and it continued to radiate its heat until about an hour into our hike. We had just made it down a steep and slippery slope covered with leaves and loose rocks when we heard the first bit of rain. We continued to trek along across the creek and then we heard thunder. It was pretty loud, enough for Rachel to give me the death stare and I said "OK Let's go." We turned around and started to make our way back when it started to down pour. We knew we had to make it back to that steep slope before the rain drenched it enough to turn it into a full fledged waterfall. We did have to jog quite a ways, but luckily we made it just in time. With the rain coming down hard we scaled (yet again) another hillside and made it to the field where we had to walk, slowly now since we were already soaked, quite a ways to the car. By the time we were back at the car the sun was out again, shining just like it had this morning. The thunder was still present in the distance so it was pointless for us to head back into the woods. Inclement weather, as my dad said, is dangrous.
The hike was great if you ask me. Hot, humid, rain, thunder, and rough terrain all make for a great parallel experience to the amazon. Rachel on the other hand, while angry about the rain and her wet feet, swore to me that she would never hike with me again. We will see about that.
I have a lot to catch up on tonight as far as homework goes, but atleast I am almost moved into the new house!
This weekend my plan is to head down to Marietta to see Hannah! She agreed to go hiking with me all day on Sunday somewhere in southeastern Ohio or even West Virginia! I'm real excited!!!
Time for volleyball!
The hike was great if you ask me. Hot, humid, rain, thunder, and rough terrain all make for a great parallel experience to the amazon. Rachel on the other hand, while angry about the rain and her wet feet, swore to me that she would never hike with me again. We will see about that.
I have a lot to catch up on tonight as far as homework goes, but atleast I am almost moved into the new house!
This weekend my plan is to head down to Marietta to see Hannah! She agreed to go hiking with me all day on Sunday somewhere in southeastern Ohio or even West Virginia! I'm real excited!!!
Time for volleyball!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Long weekend.
This past weekend we traveled to the upper peninsula of Michigan to play NMU and Mich Tech. We lost both in 3 although I think when we get our shot to play Mich Tech at home it will be a different outcome. The UP is beautiful. We did some team bonding along the shores of Lake Superior and I got some great pictures! It was alittle upsetting that my room mate Krista couldn't come because her ankle is messed up from our game against Hillsdale the previous weekend. The bus ride was about 14 hours back to Lake Erie and we drove straight through the night. I brought my body pillow so I could lay out on the floor, but barely got any sleep because I felt so claustrophobic. I got to spend the entire day Sunday with my family because my dad had the day off of work. It was nice and I took a great nap with my puppies. Now its back to the school week and reality. I have a lot of studying to do this week so I can keep up with everything before I head to the Amazon.
The ambassadors got our first round of questions in from the students this evening and I already answered them! I actually can't wait to get more, such a nice break from studying and school.
I head out for my hike on Wednesday this week and I already have Rachel, my room mate, reluctantly on board!
See you!
The ambassadors got our first round of questions in from the students this evening and I already answered them! I actually can't wait to get more, such a nice break from studying and school.
I head out for my hike on Wednesday this week and I already have Rachel, my room mate, reluctantly on board!
See you!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Day 1.
Today as I was surfing the internet searching for information to prepare me for my study abroad trip to South Africa I realized that I have a lot going on in the next few months. I wanted to get a blog going for when I head to South Africa anyways just so I can look back at all the experiences I had, but right now I am becoming slightly stressed from school, volleyball and training that I need a way to organize my thoughts.
Starting with volleyball. So far this season we accomplished one of our goals and that was beating Notre Dame College. We, the Lake Erie College womens volleyball team, have never won a match against the falcons and this year we took it in 5 games with a score of 15-11 in the final game. Lauren, my best friend since oh I dont know... the 7th grade? is on the opposing team so it's always fun to play against her :) Now that we have started play in the GLIAC, which is the most competitive and strongest D2 conference (so everyone says), we haven't won a game. The teams are a lot bigger than us and hit a lot harder. We are having a tough time now, but if our team can bring it together I think we could really shock some teams. We leave for Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech this weekend, which is about a 12 hour bus ride... atleast I'll get some of my homework done? As for my school work. My classes are pretty tough because I am finally into my major (environmental science), but atleast I am interested in the material!
Moving on to another reason I wanted to start a blog. I was recently chosen to be an i2P (impossible2Possible) Youth Ambassador. i2P is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to inspiring youth around the world through adventure and educating them on social issues like biodiversity. This October (in a few short weeks) I will be traveling to Brazil with 3 other Youth Ambassadors (Jessie, Isaiah and Sierra) to trek for 8 days along the Tapajos River in the Amazon jungle. Along the way we will be communicating with over 13,000 students (the last number I heard, which is probably still growing) about the importance of biodiversity around the world and problems like deforestation and food that effect the Tapajos communities.
Trekking for 8 days is going to physically and mentally demanding, not to mention very hot and humid. I have been training for a few weeks now for the trip along with playing volleyball. Our training consists of strength, flexibility, upper body cardio and hiking (with 30 lbs on our backs). The hiking is probably the most important part because that is what we will be doing for a majority of those 8 days of trekking. So far its been tough to find people to hike along with me, although I don't mind going by myself, but the company is nice! My mom and dad both have hiked with me once and I want to add that I appreciate everything they do for me and all the support they have given me throughout my entire life! My puppies (coco and sugar) have also tagged along once. This past weekend one of my room mates, Rachel, headed down to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a few hours and hiked down the Standford trail in search of a waterfall (thanks Sandi for the directions!). We would have found the waterfall an hour earlier had we not run into a 3 foot long black snake that happened to cross our path (I'm pretty sure we will see even bigger snakes in the amazon). Once we spotted it we turned and ran putting us way of course, but thats where the fun is... getting lost!
Another aspect of getting ready for the journey is the vaccines. Now I am no good with blood or needles, as my room mates know, but I didn't think a few shots were going to be that bad... Well I was wrong. Krista, my other room mate, came with me for moral support and to drive me home just incase I were to pass out. Well I did end up fainting, right there in the chair... I'm not sure what it is with me, but I just can't handle needles.
One other problem that I have had is with my passport. I was denied because I had a headband on in my pictures. How was I suppose to know?! I sent everything back, so hopefully I'll get my passport in another week or so and then all I have to get is my visa which should only take about 5 days.
Thats all I have for now. I know over the next few weeks we will be getting a lot of information plus I have a lot of exams and our first home game is coming up soon! (and my birthday is only 20 short days away!!!!)
B
Starting with volleyball. So far this season we accomplished one of our goals and that was beating Notre Dame College. We, the Lake Erie College womens volleyball team, have never won a match against the falcons and this year we took it in 5 games with a score of 15-11 in the final game. Lauren, my best friend since oh I dont know... the 7th grade? is on the opposing team so it's always fun to play against her :) Now that we have started play in the GLIAC, which is the most competitive and strongest D2 conference (so everyone says), we haven't won a game. The teams are a lot bigger than us and hit a lot harder. We are having a tough time now, but if our team can bring it together I think we could really shock some teams. We leave for Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech this weekend, which is about a 12 hour bus ride... atleast I'll get some of my homework done? As for my school work. My classes are pretty tough because I am finally into my major (environmental science), but atleast I am interested in the material!
Moving on to another reason I wanted to start a blog. I was recently chosen to be an i2P (impossible2Possible) Youth Ambassador. i2P is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to inspiring youth around the world through adventure and educating them on social issues like biodiversity. This October (in a few short weeks) I will be traveling to Brazil with 3 other Youth Ambassadors (Jessie, Isaiah and Sierra) to trek for 8 days along the Tapajos River in the Amazon jungle. Along the way we will be communicating with over 13,000 students (the last number I heard, which is probably still growing) about the importance of biodiversity around the world and problems like deforestation and food that effect the Tapajos communities.
Trekking for 8 days is going to physically and mentally demanding, not to mention very hot and humid. I have been training for a few weeks now for the trip along with playing volleyball. Our training consists of strength, flexibility, upper body cardio and hiking (with 30 lbs on our backs). The hiking is probably the most important part because that is what we will be doing for a majority of those 8 days of trekking. So far its been tough to find people to hike along with me, although I don't mind going by myself, but the company is nice! My mom and dad both have hiked with me once and I want to add that I appreciate everything they do for me and all the support they have given me throughout my entire life! My puppies (coco and sugar) have also tagged along once. This past weekend one of my room mates, Rachel, headed down to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a few hours and hiked down the Standford trail in search of a waterfall (thanks Sandi for the directions!). We would have found the waterfall an hour earlier had we not run into a 3 foot long black snake that happened to cross our path (I'm pretty sure we will see even bigger snakes in the amazon). Once we spotted it we turned and ran putting us way of course, but thats where the fun is... getting lost!
Another aspect of getting ready for the journey is the vaccines. Now I am no good with blood or needles, as my room mates know, but I didn't think a few shots were going to be that bad... Well I was wrong. Krista, my other room mate, came with me for moral support and to drive me home just incase I were to pass out. Well I did end up fainting, right there in the chair... I'm not sure what it is with me, but I just can't handle needles.
One other problem that I have had is with my passport. I was denied because I had a headband on in my pictures. How was I suppose to know?! I sent everything back, so hopefully I'll get my passport in another week or so and then all I have to get is my visa which should only take about 5 days.
Thats all I have for now. I know over the next few weeks we will be getting a lot of information plus I have a lot of exams and our first home game is coming up soon! (and my birthday is only 20 short days away!!!!)
B
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