Hello from Sac town!

May this blog reminisce of the word Today! 

Today, I stand in the middle of my fifth week of school at Sacramento State University.

ahhh

Today, I found out I have a B+ in Medical Physiology which is a big deal people! Lets hope to keep it that way until the Final!

Today, I found out I suck at history, politics, government, you know anything that is pretty important for life or for my government class. A struggle, nicely put. Okay this class is kicking my ass! But one day at a time, like most things in life, and the job will be done.

Today, I got a call from the Football Director, asking me to come in to interview for the position titled "Assistant of the Football Recruitment Committee"! I wanted to scream HELL YES, into the phone... Then he proceeded, "I'm hesitant to bring a girl into this position for last girl was distracted with the football players themselves and we had to let her go"
Quick on my feet I said, "No boys, only books for this girl" The cheesy comment, and assertive behavior got me the interview I suppose!

Today, I have been awarded an Internship on campus called the "Green Army". Which basically is a student spirit group to spread awareness of Sport games, and anything Sac State has to offer for the students. I also get to ride in the "Green Army" bus which is pretty rad!

Today, I have finally made my first friend, her name unsure of, but whatever day 1 of friendship its okay to have forgotten. right?

Sacramento State is a commuter school, which is the pits, 5pm and this place looks like a desert, and myself left to be social without a soul in sight. It was a struggle. It remains a struggle. Everyone lives 45minutes or more away, most live with their parents still.

Then there is me.

Social life I have always had a A+ in, this adjustment is hard.

I wake up and walk out of my house to young families herding their youngsters into the car for school, 89 year olds watering their grass and waving their frail arm in the air shouting "have a good day!".

I wave back, crinkle my nose.

It's cute?

This IS my home now.

It's odd, this isn't the college life I adapted to when living in Santa Barbara.

So Today, I thought...

What am I good at? How can I make money? How can I meet people?

So here.

My business card. Carissa's Ciddy Care. Once these bad boys arrive, I hope to walk house to house and spread the word that I live in the neighborhood and I KNOW you have children so let me watch your kids! 

As I wait, I began to stalk houses that have children, like a creep, I have jotted down the house numbers that have youngsters. First I thought it wouldn't be easy, but when the kids are DARTING at me as I drive by while I'm on my way to my 8am classes, I think "hey easy after all"

And maybe just maybe I can teach these kids a lesson or two of Looking both ways before crossing the street!

I want to get my face known in the neighborhood, so like the goober I am, when I leave my house...

My windows remain down

I wave at everything that moves

I listen to tasteful music

I smile

I drive slow

I make complete stops at all stop signs

So other then the mass amount of bird crap smothered on my car 

I think I'm doing good.

Today, I chose to stay here in Sacramento for the first weekend, I chose to try and have a social life in the town I reside. The past weekends I have ran away from my loneliness to

Santa Barbara

Chico

Saint Helena

But Today, I chose to give Sac a try this weekend. 

Today, I understood the excitement on my fathers face as we meet weekly for our lunch date.

It's fun.

It's relaxing.

It's interesting that my 60 something year old father's day is amplified but simply having lunch with his baby. 

WOW.

Until Today, I didn't understand a good conversation. A time to unwind, nourish the body with good food and company. 

Today, I smiled when my dad hugged me and said "See ya next week" As I grow, I understand the goodness of a parent. The wholesome they can add to a child's life.

Today, like everyday I think of my mom.

Everyday without hesitation I talk to my mom. My best friend, the reason I have hope for my future. 

Today, I miss my mom, my mommy, my momma llama, my Cher. I miss eating like a horse, and laughing at her goofy attributes that she adds to life! 

Today, I have made a countdown.. A way I have found that keeps me alive, to look forward to the good. The great. The moments that leave memories.

*one week from Today, is Hannah's Birthday, one of my dearest friends that sadly lives miles from me. It's her 21st birthday soon. Soon we shall obviously be reunited.

*three weeks from Today, is Alicia a former roommate of mine, 21st as well. So looks like a trip to Santa Barbara is in the plan to reunite with the b-day girl and my old Happy House of Santa Barbara California! 

*seven weeks from Today, Home, for turkey day! Then I get to see my Mom, my Pete, my Holly, my Al, and my pups! Thankfully! 

*ten weeks from Today, Christmas break begins. Which marks the end of the semester AND awards me with a wonderful cruise with my dad to the Caribbean.

~Not to shabby of a life~

_________________________________________________________________

In closing Today, I have been reminded of the small things.

The things that make me smile.

Somethings that many of us forget.

Today, I list my small happy things! 

A happy text from my closest friends.

A smile from my professor for a job well done.

A piece of gum to stimulate my mind throughout 8am class.

A extra 5 dollars found while doing laundry.

A reason so smile.

A electric toothbrush.

A desire to make small moves, striving towards big outcomes.

A heart that's okay with giving.

A hand that's okay with lending.

A upbringing that constantly wants me to thank my parents.

A extra scoop of coffee grounds, to add to my pep for the day. 

A tiny handful of candy corn, since its almost Halloween.

A deep breath.

A tear, a small happy tear, that signifies, even alone, in this new place, new school, new lifestyle, new adventures, new faces...

It will all be okay.

Today has blessed me. What has TODAY brought you?

Summer has ended.

Memories of the unthinkable. Adventures one only dream of. Places visited that left visuals planted. Moments I wont forget. Summer 2012, thank you!



After Sri Lanka, it was all about good company, late nights, BBQ's, big smiles, sunshine, and relaxing!

I did just that, Hannah(one of my dearest friends I met in Santa Barbara) and Holly(my best friend from Texas) coordinated to both come and hang with me in Northern California for a week or so. TIME OF MY LIFE.

We covered it all.

Wine tasting.
San Francisco.
Gorgeous Valley Views.
Touristy things.
Shopping.
Late night chitchats.

~and~

Spending time with each other!

Summer has hit the spot, was filled with some of the people I hold closest to my heart. 

This summer was unique, for myself it was important. Each year I come home I realize we've become one step closer to reaching graduation, entering grad school, having a career, a spouse, a family. To me that is frightening. Summer time is a reward for an accomplished year, as well as a stepping stone to the next level. 

That's huge! 

Not to long before we reunite and one's become engaged, married, awarded a killer spot in their career, has started a family, falls off the face of the earth, becomes the next Albert Einstein and the list goes on. 

Trembling.

Yet thrilling. 

Where will each of you be next summer?

..................................................................................................................................



SHOCKINGLY! I am now a Sacramento Hornet. Last minute change of plans landed me back in California. I welcome myself to California State University, Sacramento. Yeee.

My thoughts and feelings now are much of that uneasy, unsure, and anxiousness level. Lots of change in such a short time has me going 3977339 miles an hour. 

Representing:)

The thought of not having a house full of roommates, having my own room, plethora of parking, spotless house(not apartment).

I have entered the life of an "adult" whatever that may mean.

I'm in a neighborhood with all ages, even 89 year olds. In a city that caters to more then just a college town.

I have forcefully grown up over night.

And.
that.
scares.
me.
to.
death....

Monday I'm thrown onto campus, a large campus with 28,000 students, classes to find, times to meet, and life on the line.

I'm terrified for this is real, no more time to screw around, the clock starts now. 

I am excited more that nervous-excited, but excited. I will be honest, I have melted a few times for the factor of fear has hit me...hard. 

I like the "new" I enjoy change, that is why I attended 3 high schools, but college, is scary!

One step at a time.

So Home, three bedroom two bath house, and 3 housemates total, not 8. 

Real life, big girl life is getting well, "real". 

Cute&Cozy Casa!

Big change from the vastly beautiful Santa Barbara, California that I dearly miss, but like my momma said "It's time, adulthood welcomes you". Shivering while typing this, it's all settling in



slowly. 

My journey has came to an end, I can’t believe 4 weeks ago I was just arriving to Sri Lanka.

..................

First things first, I finished my fourth week at the children’s orphanage, and have completely poured my heart out to as many of the children as possible. I have never felt a feeling like I did at the orphanage. These children truly warmed my heart. I divided my days at the orphanage with the babies in the morning, and the toddlers for a short while in the afternoon. I’ve shed many tears, for I pray that each and every one of them will receive a family to be loved unconditionally.   

 

 Obviously I got attached, too attached for my liking. If I were out of school, financial stable, I would hands down, without question have brought home a dumpling or two.

The feeling of entering a Children’s Home all 80+ eyes glazing on you, the feeling is indescribable. I have never encountered the feeling of “love” in such a way. I woke up each morning in a rush to get to the orphanage. I loved entering the home with screams of “Sister, Sister,” the babies smiling from ear to ear with arms dangling in the air to be the first to be held, being tugged on, hung on, and swung on. I could see in the children’s eyes this twinkle of happiness that someone was here to hold, play, and love on each of them!

Leaving was difficult, harder then I could ever imagined. I cried as I held the youngest ones, praying 6 families, just 6 would take these tiny toots home and love, as each one deserves. I told each of the 6 (5 girls, 1 boy) how special they were, how pretty or handsome, I reminded them I would love them forever. Yet my words mean nothing, I could feel each ones tiny hand latch on tightly as a tear trickled down my face. I had been there for ones first step, taught two to clap, one to army crawl, and my favorite....one to blow kisses.

Astonishing feeling, being the first to witness such big steps, I felt like for 2 weeks I was the mommy to 6 babies, and I couldn’t have asked for a better task.

I made a poster, a collection of all my favorite snaps of the babies over the 2 week period to give to the nursery. I thought, “If I were a orphan, I’d like to see pictures of myself when I grew old”, So I did just that. Turned out beautiful, all the staff was in awe!  

For the Toddlers~ Before I left, I sat on the ground, eye-level, and hugged all 24 of them at once, tickling, laughing, and loving one last time. Their caregivers told them what was going on(how it was my last day to play), the smiles turned into frowns, unsure how to express their sadness, we all just remained hugging. I left by high fiving each one, the American “happy” way to leave toddlers I suppose!

I was teary-eyed, headed to the van to head back to the house, then I was stopped by the oldest orphan at the home, age 17, she handed me a bracelet, a letter, and a firm hug, she paused, stepped back and said “Sister, the Children’s Home will never forget you, I hope you don’t forget us, I wrote you a letter, and would love to hear back.” I smiled, crocodile tears filled my eyes, and I told her “You each have a special place in my heart, I’d love to be your pen pal, and make sure where ever life takes you, you reach for the stars, for you are one special girl.” She nodded and smiled, she hit my soft spot, she ended my time at the orphanage in such a remarkable way. She’s enlightened me fully.

Ultimately, my heart has been crammed with the most precious, inspiring, loving, and tender children, I’m thankful for my time allowed, and the act “to love” has just reached a whole new level.

As I make my way back to the States, I recap of my time in Sri Lanka. I did it!!! We did it!!! Jen and I could agree that we have reached an understanding to life that has greatly benefited us. We have encountered some of the most eye-opening moments thus far in our 20 years of life, we have touched individuals in a way that brings only the biggest smile to our face, and most importantly…. We feel accomplished, more than satisfied. We left Sri Lanka in a positive manner. Friends were made, relationships were built, love was shared, and it all happened with a smile and from the goodness of our hearts. I could not have asked for a more surreal 3^rd world experience!

Venturing back was dreaded, the sound of China and long lay overs didn’t sound to appealing. But. This time it seemed different. Reaching America, home sweet home, was enough of a reward to complain. Despite the awful food, traveling home was all right. The first non-rice, curry, or noodle meal with the fam was grater than taste-buds can describe. I couldn’t be happier after my hot shower, and to be in my mommas arms, telling her of my adventures, and starting to stir up my thoughts for my next voyage.

The Sri Lanka Excursion has ended. I’m so very blessed for a safe and sound time in Lanka land, as well as a safe return to the home land.

~till next time~