#LifeLessons For Real

There are two things that I have learned so far.

1. Patience and Work will take you far.
2. Have an open mind and low expectations, and everything that happens after that will be great! :-)

It may not look like much to show for a year of work, but it's more than you think.

Calvin College etc.

I'm really, really glad that I went to the Calvin conference. Not only did I get to meet and bond with a ton of super cool people, but it also helped to remind me of why I chose Rotary. Before I went, I didn't really want to do anymore. I wanted what was safe and comfortable, and couldn't think of any good reasons how doing so much paperwork could ever be worth it. Now I am pumped again. I realized how great a time everyone has, how it changes your life, and why I want to be a member of the awesomeness.
     I have come to realize that many of the best things are like this, because you can't just fall into them. Like running. When I go to practice now, I feel great, but when I first started, it felt like hell. You have to work for the joy, but when you find it, it's the best kind.

Pictures:
-The variety show cast. (They did a really great job!)
-The Brazil vs. The world soccer game (the world won! :-) )
-Rotary!!!

Calvin College Conference- Day 1

So this is the big woo-hoo, The mother is all conferences, the thing we've been waiting for since we turned in our applications, and I just can't believe that it's here already!!
The inbounds that I have come to know and love will be leaving next week! So this is the last time that I will see them! It is also the last time that I will see the other outbounds, at least for a whole year. They have helped me to get through so much! They have showed me that I'm not alone in the struggles I face almost daily. I hope I can keep in touch with them throughout next year, because I think I will need some mental support from people going through the same things as me.
This conference is so good, and has taught me a lot. But, I'm really tired, so I'll post more tomorrow.

"Don't let the hippos eat your tomatoes."

S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G

Let's do a cheer! S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G {Yay}

I know it's really girly, but I actually really like shopping. The best part is, that it is an essential part of preparing for RYE, or "your year" as it is called in the bis, since, you have to be in love with the clothes you take.  So far, I have purchased the following:

1. Cute, billowy shorts that are supper comfy! Worst comes to worst, I can just wear them as pajama shorts. 
2. Knee-length gray caprices with a little room to... let's use the word "grow".
3. A pair of super comfy and cute Levis.
4. Underwear. {he he} a necessity
5. A PJ set for when its hot. Also super comfy and not too cute. ;-)
6. and finally... drum-role please... a super-wonderfully amazing camera! It's a far better camera than I ever thought that I would buy, since I am not currently much of the photographer, but I'm glad I got it. It has Wifi, a USB cable/charger, and like ten-million modes. Plus you can take it in up to 50 ft of water, and drop it from up to 7 feet!!!! (Which is the really cool part)

Don't you worry. I'm totally in love with all of it. <3

The Big, The Bad, and The Beautiful

I had this really long research paper to do on Chile. The point was to get me to learn more about Chile, and to eliminate some of my fear through this. Both of these goals were accomplished! Sounds great... right? It would have been fantastic, except that I kind-a put it all off until the last minute. So, it was reeaally awful. I have spent the last 3 days working on it, and did nothing else. I know that this was not a good strategy, but... the days got away from me and before I knew it, the project was due! If you have this same project, do not do what I did. Set aside time every day to work on it. It may seem like a lot at the time, but trust me, it's so much better than doing it all the last minute.

On a lighter note, If you would like to read as much (or more) about Chile as you ever wanted to know , I can email you my amazing project! However, I cannot post it here, because it is 35 pages long {someone just whistled}. However, I can give you a sneak preview. 

If you are doing this project, I know what you are thinking, and that my friend, is called plagiarism. Seriously though, you can ask me as many questions on it as you want. 

Willow Wonders...

Lately I have been trying to think of presents to bring to my host family. I think the main one that I have definitely decided on, is bringing three of my favorite American board/card games. My family is big into games, so it would be something personal, plus I could show each of my host families how to play their game! So far, the one game I know that I am bringing is called Trans America. It is a train track building game that I have been playing ever since I was 5 (when I couldn't read). Because it is simple, fun, and American, it will be perfect.

Now I just have to think of two other games that I should bring. Two of my ideas are Pit and Dixit. If you have any ideas, please shoot them at me! I also would like to bring some kind of regional food/candy to share, but I don't know what I can have on the plane or what's American. Some of my other gift ideas are, CD's, cook books, post cards, and 4th of July decorations. 

     I have these really amazing Rotary Pins to share that I made, but I only have 100 of them, so their going to be the pins I give to people that I really get to know. However, I also need to have like 500-1,000 different pins to give to everyone. The only problem being that I am out of ideas!! All the seemingly easy ones have been used, and I just cannot think.

So... If you have any ideas, please let me know! I always love any comments. :-)

Esterdayyay

Pig Latin. Pardon me.
Iay entway otat aay otaryray eetingmay esterdayyay. Tiay asway unfay, saay sualuay. Iay avegay aay peechsay. Utbay, tiay asway otnay lannedpay. Tiay entway ellway, ndaay heytay avegay emay $375 utoay hetay indnesskay foay heirtay eartshay. Luspay, 5 eoplepay oughtbay aay hirtay! Luspay Iay oldsay aay otlay foay rufflestay! Esterdayyay asway aay oodgay ayday. :-)
That was fun. Hope u could read it!!

     On a more formal note, after I typed that, it occurred to me that my brain was in Spanish Mode. Not just normal Spanish Mode, but like some super crazy Spanish Mode where all the words that I have ever learned started coming back to me, and I was thinking in perfect sentences! It was pretty crazy and I think it occurred for two reasons. One reason is that I think the Pig Latin served as a brain exercise, that got my cranial juices flowing, and opened up my brain. The second reason, is that because it was fun, I was more relaxed and so more words came to me because I was not stressing over the Spanish. So, the lesson I learned from this stupid blog post is that I just need to ree-laaax and try to have more fun. Who new Pig Latin could be that useful!