Fall Break: Amish Country!

Today was our day off for Fall Break... and I went to Pennsylvania to Amish Country!

I had a ton of fun today with Mika, my friend from Japan, some South Korean girls from my cross-culture communications class, and a bunch of other International Students from American University.  We left around 9:30 am and got back to campus around 8:30 pm.  The trip to Pennsylvania took about 3 hrs or a little less.  

We first stopped at an Amish family's home where the 40 or so of us (one coach-bus full) ate family style of the family's delicious cooking.  Unfortunately, I have forgotten the family's name (it was difficult to pronounce and our leader kept mispronouncing it), but they had six children, the youngest of whom was 5 yrs old and whose name was Lavern.  He was a sweetey.  Anywho, for lunch we had bread and yummy sweet peanut butter, applesauce, cabbage with pepper (coleslaw), mashed potatoes with gravy, chicken, meatloaf, cooked greenbeans, sweet lemon tea, and corn (not on the cob).  For dessert, they served us apple pie, cherry brownies, and carrot cake.  Everything was DE-liciuos!  The chicken was the most tender I had ever had - it literally fell off the bone on to my plate - and the mashed potatoes were the smoothest I have ever tasted.  It was a fabulous meal, all around.  

After we finished eating, the family members who were there (not all six of their children were present, only three, I think) sang us two songs.  One was a version of "Jesus loves the little children" (first sung in German and then English), and then one that I didn't recognize.  We then had the opportunity to buy some of their homemade goods.  I bought some blueberry jam and three little decorative corn cobs (the purple, yellow, and orange kind).  

We then boarded the bus and drove to the Mennonite Education Center to use the restroom and pick up our tour guide (a Mennonite lady) who guided the "coach operator" - NOT "bus driver" - through the Amish neighborhood.  We saw many buggies, a some children walking home from school with a little red wagon full of youngsters, many horses, cows, chickens, and laundry lines.  Also, I learned that all Amish houses have green shades.  They use the same earthy shade of green.  We also got to go to an Amish farm where we petted horses and cows, and I bought a red sunbonnet and a postcard!  I love the sunbonnet.  It's fun.  =)  They had some beautiful "quillows", which are quilted pillows that unfold into a quilted blanket, but they were a bit beyond my cash range and I have no place to put it currently as everything I have I must store while I am in Chile.  I will have to go back and get one another time.  I also was tempted to buy an Amish romance novel.  They looked fun, but again, the college time constraint and weight of a book, dissuaded me.  Next time!  

Last, we got to go on a buggy ride which was more of a wagon ride with a nice weather-proof wagon with benches on either side pulled by two horses (ours were Alice and Albert).  Mika and I got to sit next to the driver who was a nice Amish guy who said he was 80, I think.  He was quite nice and kinda funny (he kept mentioning how he couldn't believe that the semen of a little donkey, and a horse can create such a big animal like a mule).  We enjoyed our ride, then got to eat fresh ice cream, pretzels, and potato chips (also freshly made) from the tourist stop that the buggy rides were part of, before heading back to DC.  Apparently Amish Country is the #5 tourist destination!  

I highly enjoyed our trip and just wish that it could have been longer.  I learned too much to include in this blog entry, but here is a good website that tells a bunch about the Amish people and culture.  I really hope to go back again and visit the Mennonite Education Center (we only had time to use the public restrooms), and take more time to enjoy the Amish farms that welcome visitors.  

The most surprising thing I learned was that the Amish do not send their kids to public school but have one-room school houses where the teacher (an unmarried female - if she marries, they have to find a new one) teaches K-8.  School ends for kids after 8th grade, but as our tour guide reminded us, you can have really smart, insightful Amish or you can have really old-fashioned, not so brilliant Amish, as well.  But when I really understood the truly secluded nature of the Amish was while telling our buggy driver where we were from and that we were "undergraduates at American University."  "So, what does undergraduate mean?" He asked me.  It was with that simple question that I finally understood.  The Amish know what college is, but they don't know what an undergraduate is because they have secluded themselves from the modern world.  I was so surprised, I didn't know what to say.  How do you describe what an "undergraduate" is?  The answer I ended up giving him was something like "it means we haven't been to college before" or something like that.  

My experience with the Amish has made me look at my own lifestyle and compare the Amish life with that of my modern one.  I really think we are missing out on the self-accomplishment and connection to the earth that the Amish have (they also tend to be very environmentally friendly, some even have solar panels), but I appreciate that I may experience and travel the world.  So I guess the challenge is to find a harmony between the two: celebrate and remember the simplicities of life, but also enjoy the opportunities for learning and the complexities that it has to offer.  

I didn't take many pictures as Mika took tons and her camera was faster, so when she shares them with me I will include a link to this blog post.  Have a great weekend, Everyone!

Love, Kaia 

A good website to learn about the Amish.

A cute, educational video that I found on Youtube (the girl in it is not Amish, as they believe that having their image taken is against one of the 10 Commandments):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=silrxmvg9m0&feature=related

I'M GOING TO CHILE NEXT SEMESTER!!!

Kaia's going to study abroad in Chile!

This is such big news that it just HAD to have its own post.  I found out Tuesday that I got in to the Santiago, Chile study abroad program that I applied to for next spring!  The program will go from February 2oth, 2009 to June 12th, 2009 and I will be taking four or so classes in Spanish and a Spanish-learning class, will do an internship, and will stay with a host family during that time.  There will also be at least two trips to different parts of Chile that I plan on going on, too!  

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!  WOOHOO!  I've been wanting to go since last January.  Now I just have to brush up on my Spanish!

Happy Ramadan!

As part of my Contemporary Arab World class, we had to do a group presentation on a topic related to the Arab World.  So, a bunch of us after class one day decided to form a group and chose Ramadan as our topic.  My group was me, Jenny (a sophomore from Washington state), Vivian (a junior), Chourouk (an Algerian senior), and Zaid (a Saudi Arabian junior/senior?).  

Chourouk and Zaid are both Muslim so the three of us non-Muslim group members decided to partake in Ramadan for a day and use that as part of our presentation.  Chourouk also invited us to several events to celebrate Ramadan.  One of them included a discussion about Ramadan and the reason of fasting, which included representatives from the Catholic and Jewish student groups on campus.  

Chourouk also took us to the Islamic Center (the mosque in DC) for the Eid morning prayer.  Eid is the first day that Muslims stop fasting so it is a very momentous occasion.  Here are the pictures we took at the mosque and two others from this past tuesday of us making Algerian spring rolls for our class presentation.  

Ramadan

Other excitments:  I got rain boots and a new comfy chair from Ikea (only $99 and WELL worth it), and will be going on a day trip with the International students to Amish Country next friday for fall break!

Economic crisis, Ramadan, and kicks

The Economic Crisis:  Every macroeconomics class, my prof. explains the latest on the economic crisis - the biggest crisis since the Great Depression.  It's quite interesting and great to be able to understand what's going on from a professional.  For macro, we are required to either volunteer in a soup kitchen for two days, interview a small business owner, or go to a legislative hearing.  I, never having done the latter, decided to search out one related to macro to go to.  

So, I tried to go to see the Full House Finance Committee hearing about the economic crisis, but unfortunately didn't get in because everyone else wanted to be there, too.  Bummer.  But it was cool to go to the Rayburn Office House Building and have Representatives and aides and lobbyists rushing around.  I also got to see Bernanke, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Paulson, the Secretary of the US Dept. of Treasury walk by into the hearing.  I did get into the overflow room, but unfortunately found the speeches a bit above my understanding and the chairs were so comfy... so decided I had better get out before I started falling asleep amid all the suited people who were actually intensely paying attention.  

It was a bit of a bummer, not getting in, but I thought I might as well explore the rest of the building while I was there so I decided to visit my Rep.'s office.  Funny though, as soon as I found the place, I open Rep. Earl Blummenhauer's door to find a teacher that worked at my middle school and high school sitting on his couch!  We were equally surprised to see each other!  As it turns out, he is one of the NEA representatives and so four times a year gets flown out to DC to do a bit of lobbying.  We took a picture together and he said he'd try to get it in the Grantonian, so we'll see.  (^_^)

Ramadan: For my Contemporary Arab World class, my group is doing a presentation on Ramadan so for my part I decided to fast for a day and take a video journal to document my experience.  After the first day, I liked it so much that I decided to try a second day.  So here is the link to the video, I only have edited the first "entry" or so.  Apologies that the last entry is so hard to hear.  I basically said that as the day wore on it got easier and easier to not eat (I wasn't hungry) so that by the time I could eat, I felt I could go a little longer without.  I also said that although today (last Friday) was more difficult than my first day, I really enjoyed the experience and would like to do it again next year and hopefully participate more than just two days.  

And kicks...: Today was my last day of self defense class, and the day of the big test: the simulation.  Two police officers covered from head to toe in thick red padding were the "aggressors" and "attacked" the "victim," me, wearing a padding helmet with a metal grill, and elbow, knee and hand pads.  We, the "victims" had to get away from them using the techniques we learned.  It was scary, but really satisfying to know that I could defend myself.  I really liked to use kicks, and at one point, somehow managed to kick and punch the guy at the same time!  It was funny.  Afterwards, we got to see the video of each of us to see how well we had done.  It was really good and rewarding.  I definitely feel more confidant about myself, but will continue to use all caution to avoid a real situation like that.  

That's my life in a nutshell, currently.  This week isn't so busy, but next week I have a paper due Monday, a midterm Wednesday, and a paper due Thursday, so should be hectic.  I just gotta try to prepare so that my life won't be as sleep deprived as it could be that week.  =)  

Oh!  And good news!  I finished my application for studying abroad in Chile next semester, so all I need to do is send it in!  Yay!  Let's just hope I get it!  I want to go SOOOOO badly!

'Till later!  

~ Kaia 

Sophomore Year!!!

Picture # 1

     Picture # 2

<--- Picture # 3

Biology Hike (Picture #1): This is me on the annual Biology Department Hike that I went on with Professor Tudge (my UC bio prof. from last year) and his family, the UC Bio kids from this year, my friend Andrew (we were neighbors last year), and some other Biology students and professors. We hiked around a national park not too far into Virginia.  It's a special area as some of the plant and wildlife there don't live anywhere else.  It was very beautiful and fun, if not a little difficult.  (^_^)

The die-hard bed lofters (Picture #2): From right to left: me, Aiko (my room mate), Ko (a friend of Aiko and me, he is from the same university as Aiko, in Japan), and Khileen down in front (my good friend and fellow DC adventurer, and also a UC bio classmate from last year). This picture was taken at 1 am when we'd finally finished lofting my bed.  We started at 3 pm but it took several tries and re-do's (this year's bed is smaller than last year's) to get it done.  

Letts 414! (Picture # 3) This is our room (mostly my side of it).  We have a nice view of some trees, part of the library, some professors' offices and the wellness center.  We also have lots of food, cooking supplies (Aiko likes to cook, occasionally), and tons of Japanese stuff and food (Aiko has a big collection of Japanese food).  We like it!  

Besides the pictures... Overall, I am really enjoying this year.  I love my room mate!  Her name is Aiko Ohta, she is a sophemore, and is from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.  I met her last year when she asked me if I knew where the hot water was at the café, and we've been friends ever since.  Last semester she helped me with my Japanese and I helped her with her English and this year we are enjoying being room mates!  She's only here as part of a special program with her university and AU, where you study two years here at AU and two at her university and get one degree from each school.  I could do it, too, but I've already studied in Japan.  So this means that this is her last year at AU, and as we're both hoping to study abroad next semester, this will be our only chance to room together.  =(  She's hoping to go to Belgium and I'm hoping to end up in Chile for the semester.  We're both still filling out the application forms for it.  

Also, I like all of my classes this year!  Yahoo!  Here is my schedule:

Mon:

9:55 am - 11:10 am   Macroeconomics: I was taking another class but it was SO boring that when Andrew told me about this one, I switched and bought the new books within the hour.  It's MUCH better and more interesting than my previous class, but has a ton of reading and more work to do.  So I guess it's better as it challenges me more and I will learn more from it.

2:10 pm - 3:25 pm   Great Books that Shaped the Western World: I really like this class.  We already read the Iliad and are almost finished with the Odyssey.  Next we'll be reading Oedipus the King, and a bunch of other classics including Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing.

4 pm - 6 pm   Workstudy at CDC (Child Development Center): the daycare on campus for the 

2 - 5 yr. olds of the staff, professors, students (but we don't have any), and community members.  I did this last year, and think it is the best job on campus!  Now three of my past professors' kids go there. =)

Tues:

8:30 am - 9:45 am   Greatness in Music: taught be a blind professor who is really funny and a great teacher.  We listen to music, learn about the elements of music (texture, etc) and a brief race through music history, and basically study how and why some music is great.  It's very interesting and fun!  I've learned a ton already:  Beethoven and his 9th symphony (specifically the fourth movement) are awesome!

11 am  - 1 pm   Work at CDC

3:35 pm - 4:50 pm    Contemporary Arab World: a very interesting class.  We are learning about every aspect of the Arab World as possible.  Our professor is from Israel and we also have a student from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and one from Algeria, so we have a lot of good resources just within the classroom. Unfortunately, the professor is a bit disorganized, which makes things a bit difficult, and we have a ton of reading.  But despite that, I still am learning a lot.

Wed: 

8:30 am - 11:10 am    Cross-Cultural Communications: this is probably one of my favorite classes!  The professor is from Denmark, I think, and is really interesting and funny.  We are looking at how different cultures interact with each other and how things like time and body language can be thought of differently in different countries.  There is a ton of reading for this class, too, which is a bummer because it's all so interesting, I want to read it all!  I think everyone should take this class because what we learn is also helpful for Americans, what with there being so many different nationalities here.  

Also, in this class, we are required to complete a group project where we study some conflict around the world between two nations or groups and analyze it.  One group will work with a group of students at a University in Oman to do a special group project through video conferences and such.  The professor assigned groups and I am in the Oman group!  I am really excited because I've heard that we will be going to the State Department for the video conferencing!  I'll let you know more details when I find out more.  

11:30 am  - 1:30 pm     Work at CDC

8:10 pm - 10:40 pm   Gospel Choir: I'm in it again this year, but this year I am the official Librarian for Gospel Choir and type up the lyrics for each song so that I can send them out to everyone.  I also get out the music at practice and help coordinate events and such with the other E-Board (Executive Board) members for Gospel Choir.  And this year, Aiko's in it, too!  We both love it!

Thurs:

Same schedule as Monday

Fri:

Same schedule as Tuesday

So there you have it!  My schedule and all the details.  I am also volunteering with DC today... DC tomorrow, a group of AU students and George Washington University students who provide service learning opportunities for high school kids at a school in Anacostia (one of the poorer areas of DC).  We do this by chaperoning them on community service projects and providing a time for reflection and leadership/lifeskills learning once a week.  So I'll be doing that when I have time.

Also, I am a committee member on the Eagle Endowment Fund which is a student-run foundation that gives out grants to student organizations or groups that are trying to make a difference in their communities.  We specifically look to help groups become sustainable.  I help to look over grant applications and choose who to give the grants out to.  It's kinda cool and a good learning experience.

So yeah, that's my life in a nut shell right now.  Oh, and Aiko and I are taking Rape Aggression Defense Classes that are provided for women on our campus for free.  This morning was our first class and we learned how to be a safer person, in general, but also how to block, parry, and punch in case of an attack.  It's pretty fun and really cool.  Today was the first class, then we have tomorrow, and next weekend Saturday and Sunday.  It's about four hours long each day.  It's fun though!

And also, last Sunday my friend Khileen, Aiko and I went to see Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Shakespeare Theater on 9th and G street.  It was really great!  All the actors were men!  If you want to see for yourself, go to http://www.shakespearedc.org to see the picture of Juliet.  Look for the adam's apple!  

Well, hope you all have a great weekend!  

~ Kaia

 

Recent Excitements!

Tuesday I went and heard Her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete, the first lady of the United Republic of Tanzania, speak here at AU. She spoke, in her native language, about her efforts to educate the children of Tanzania, especially girls, and

Wednesday was Campus Beautification Day and I helped plant one of the trees at the playground of where I work (Child Develpment Center - CDC). I then went to work and we took the children to the site to help by putting mulch around the trees (we are currently relocated to another building due to reconstruction). When I went to work on Thursday, one of the teachers told me that they had done a short segment on the whole project on TV! So, here is the address: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=70552. I hope you can see it! I'm at the very end, helping two of the kids put mulch at the base of one of the trees.

Also, after the planting, there was a picnic for all the Beautification Day volunteers and so I got to go and ate my lunch with Professor Tudge, my UC Bio professor from last semester! He's so great. His daughter goes to CDC so I get to see her a lot but not Tudgie! He's fun. So anyway, there was a raffle for all the volunteers and Tudgie won (after three years of patience) a big pot of flowers and I won a $50 gift certificate to the local florist which I will use to buy a plant for my room in the fall.

Thursday night we had two prospective AU students in our room for the night and took them to the Mall to get icecream.  It was fun and they were really nice.  

Friday Abdul and I went to the Celebration of Africa which was put on by the African Student Organization.  They had a fashion show, food, and live music.  Here is a picture of the fashion show.  

Saturday was my Gospel Choir's Spring Concert which went well.  I'll publish a clip from the concert later - doesn't seem to be working now.

My roommate, Shirin's, sister is going to be staying with us on Thursday and possibly Friday night so that should be fun.  Then next week is the last week of classes, and then there's finals, my last of which is May 5th and then I go to San Fransisco for a week on the 9th!  Yay!

But until then I have a lot to do, so I'd better go.  

~ Kaia

Nigel!!!

On the left is a picture of Nigel, Abdul, and I that we took by climbing (with MUCH difficulty, into a tree, hanging the camera on a branch with MUCH MORE difficulty, and somehow managing to get it to twist in the right direction to get us. It was goofy fun. =P
On the right is the beautiful Supreme Court.

From March 23rd to March 29th, Nigel came and stayed with Shirin and I! During the day, while I was in class, he went to the Smithsonians, toured the monuments, went to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of DC. When I didn't have class we went and saw a movie, went out to eat, goofed off in my room, ate dinner at TDR (Terrace Dining Room - the campus cafeteria), and went to the Supreme Court!

Shirin was extremely kind in allowing him to habitate here for such a long time, and everyone enjoyed meeting my younger brother. (^_^)

I loved having him here and really enjoyed my time with him and hear that he had fun, as well!

I love you, Nigel!

Georgetown Gospel Fest 2008!

This is a video of "My Help," one of the songs we sang at the Georgetown Gospel Fest that Nigel was able to come to (he recorded it for me). Sorry if it doesn't sound so great, the acoustics plus my recorder and their sound system made things a bit difficult. We had a lot of fun singing, and enjoyed sitting in the beautiful castle-like hall. I'm pretty sure that where the concert took place used to be a chapel, but you can see for yourself.

Enjoy!

Calculate your ecological footprint!

Here's a cool game that calculates how many earths it would take if everyone lived like you! I thought I was pretty green, but playing this game showed me the ways I'm not, and gave me pointers on how to become more green. Lots of fun, and you'll learn some surprising things!

Have fun!

http://www.sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences

~ Kaia

I'm on the website!

Here's the webpage of the University College program website that I am on! It's a picture of me and a quote I wrote about what I got out of the University College Program (UC). In UC, you live with and next to all your classmates for one class (mine was biology), have a sophmore mentor that took the class last year, are taught by the heads of the department, and go on feildtrips each week related to your subject. It was really fun!

http://www.american.edu/learningcommunities/go/testimonials/

Gospel Choir Sextet

Here's the video of a Gospel Choir Sextet I was in. It's on youtube under "The Storm is Passing Over," which is the name of the song. Gospel Choir was invited to perform at a Greek Muticultural Potluck Dinner and only six of us could make it so... a Gospel Choir Sextet. Enjoy!

~ Kaia

Next year's new roommate and room (and therefore, address)!

Next semester I will be rooming with Aiko Ohta, a frosh from Niigata, Japan (the prefecture north of Gunama, where we lived). She is here for two years on a double major program with a school in Tokyo: two years here, two years there, two majors. Anywho, I met her last semester when she was asked me to help her find the hot water and I tried my Japanese on her. We didn't see each other much until I walked into Math class this semester and found her already there waiting for class to begin! So now we get together once a week to talk, work on Japanese and English and occasionally get together on the weekends. She's really nice, very sweet and has pretty good English! I'm really excited!

And now I know where I will be living next year! I will be in the same Dorm but on the fourth floor in room 412, which looks away from the courtyard and looks towards the health center and Cathedral (at least I hope I'll be able to see it!). It's a room over from the Girls bathroom and the Resident Assistant's room is three rooms down or so, so it should be a good place to be - I hope!

My new address for next year will be:

American University, Letts 414
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016

Notice: all that's changed is my room number!

Have a great day, everyone!

Love, Kaia

Long time no post! : Vicente, Founder's Day/Inaugural Ball, Japan, and Spring Break - Oh, my!

Yeah, been a bit busy lately. Apologies for the lack of posts but as you can see I've been doing a lot. So, The picture on the bottom left is from the World Affairs Council Conference which I was able to go to because of my wonderful Granddad. Vicinte Fox, the past president of Mexico was one of the speakers. It was an amazing conference and I enjoyed all of the speakers even if I was only able to go for a day. The woman beside Fox in the picture is my friend from Uruguay who is an intern with the UN (I met her there).

The picture on the bottom right is from the Founder's Day/Inaugural Ball that was held in February at the Italian Embassy. Usually it is the Founder's Day Ball, but this year we inaugurated our 14th president, Cornelius Kerwin (an AU alumni and faculty member), so things were a bit more formal and spruced up. =) It was fun to find myself dancing next to the Dean of my school.

From Feb. 29th thru March 6th, I was in Japan for my classmates' HS graduation ceremony. This (top picture on the left) is one of many that I took with numerous students, some of whom were in my class, but all were in my grade. I had a fabulous time and enjoyed every second of my time there. I even forgot English! =P

Last picture on the upper right is from Spring break: went home to Portland, Oregon to crown the next Rose Festival Princess Ambassador from Grant High School... Taylor Allen (the girl in the brown dress between the bright blue gown and the tux). She is a friend of mine (not the one who introduced me at my Rose Festival Assembly last year) and was a fellow recipient of the Bank of America Student Leader Award.

Sunday, March 23rd Nigel comes to stay with me for a week! Also, March 29th, my Gospel Choir will be singing at the Georgetown Gospel Fest which Nigel will get to see, and so I am SUPER excited about that. Our Spring Gospel Choir Concert will be April 12th at 2pm in the Kay Spiritual Life Center here on campus (I know you will all be there in spirit). (^_^)

So, I am fully recovered from my previous post's described attempts at defying gravity (sorry for scaring everyone!). I'm surviving my classes pretty well, enjoying most of them (spanish class - NOT SO MUCH!), and really enjoying my work at the daycare on campus. Spring is here so things are looking and feeling good, again! Yay! Oh, and happy Persian New Year, everyone!

Love, Kaia

My attempts at "Defying Gravity"

("Defying Gravity" is a song from the Broadway musical "Wicked" for those who didn't know.)




<-- Me and my battle wounds (you can't tell very well from the picture, but my left eyebrow is still a little swollen and definitely still bruised, along with my nose and the bump on the back of my head).
--> My current, safely-grounded bed (climbing up my ladder to my loft after Thursday morning was NOT an option). I like to call it my cozy sleeping hideaway. Not the comfiest, but it works for now.

So for those who have not heard, I've been pretty sick lately. I woke up Wednesday morning feeling feverish and unwell and then Thursday morning I ad Shirin take me to the Wellness Center after I fainted a few times in the bathroom and got some nice lumps on my eyebrow and the back of my head, and a cut on my nose (and some minor bruises and bumps here then there). The Wellness Center is on campus and just around the corner from my dorm so it was not the greatest distance. The doctor said that I have/had the flu and determined the fainting was from dehydration.

So, after only one missed class, and a whole day and a half of sleeping and drinking (water of course), I'm feeling much better but still cough my head off every once in a while. My battle wounds are still there and just as comfortable as ever, but everyone's been extremely nice and wonderful. It's like I have 10 or so parents/doctors to make sure I'm drinking enough and taking care of myself! So don't worry. I have learned my lesson well. ALWAYS drink enough water, but ESPECIALLY when you have a fever.

I hope I didn't alarm anyone too much. I plan on continuing my sleep/drink/study pattern throughout the wonderfully free weekend and will go pick up my prescription for a flu medicine tomorrow. Oh, and I managed to take my Spanish test today and think I did okay despite the fact that I didn't really study at all because I was busy recovering. So yay!

Anywho, my little sleeping hideaway calls so I must answer. 'Night everyone and happy February!

Love, Kaia

Highlights and Future Excitments

Mayor Tom Potter, Karin, and I in DC.

The highlight of this month by far has definitely been getting the chance to spend the afternoon and evening with my friends; the current Portland Mayor Tom Potter and his wife Karin Hansen. They are extremely kind, and wonderful people and were here for the national mayoral conference. I first met them through my position as a Multnomah Youth Commissioner at City Council meetings, and then as I worked with Karin to get the Youth Bill of Rights passed by the Portland City Council in August 2006. Because of the Mayor's strong advocacy for youths' rights, I interviewed him for my senior thesis and then was invited to present my findings to City Council last January. As a Princess, I got to eat breakfast with them when we visited City Council, and then I seem to keep running into them around Portland.

Anyway, when they heard I was going to AU they mentioned they would be coming to DC for the conference, and I hoped I would get to see them but never thought that I actually would! When I went home for Winter Break Karin found me on Facebook, and then when I went to see Tom at a City Council meeting earlier this month, sure enough, they were still coming to DC and were hoping I would be available some evening. So, Thursday evening they invited me to come with them to Tom's meeting with Congresswoman Patty Murray of Washington State and then to dinner after. It was so cool! Tom introduced me to her and then he talked to her about Portland issues that concern Washington for which he was hoping for funding and support. It was very interesting although I wasn't always sure what they were talking about exactly. It was only about 15 minutes as then she had to go, but after she said farewell to Tom, she turned to me and said with a smile, "And good luck to you in your studies. I hope you do well," or something like that. It was quite the honor.

It was still early for dinner so I went back to their hotel with them and Karin and I decided to go and see the Jefferson and FDR memorials. Karin has been to DC several times, but never had the chance to do the site-seeing. It was freezing! But we enjoyed our long walk around the lake and made it to the restaurant where Tom and Dan, their DC expert and master scheduler/escort/cool guy (not quite sure what his official title is, but he's from Portland but does a lot in and with DC), were waiting for us. It was a great restaurant with delicious food, and we had a fabulous time talking and laughing all throughout the evening. Tom and Karin were extremely kind to invite me to dinner. Oh, and on the way out, Tom gave me his stretchy gloves, as I didn't have any myself! I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my time with them and learned a lot in the process. As Dan says, I only had one class at AU, but then Tom, Karin and Dan took me to "Lobbying 101" from the Mayoral prospective.

I am still enjoying my memories of that night, but also am starting to look forward to all the other excitements I have in store. Time is moving so fast! First of all, Granddad has been very generous and made it possible for me to attend this year's National World Affairs Council meeting at which Vicinte Fox will be one of the speakers. Unfortunately, I will be unable to make it to all of the days as I have classes Friday, but I will still get to hear Señor Fox and attend Thursday's conference so I think it will be worth it.

Secondly, for those who have not yet heard, I will be in Japan from February 29th to March 6th so that I may attend the graduation of the group of students who welcomed me into their classroom and group of friends while I attended High School with them. I have always wanted to go to their graduation, so am extremely excited to have that opportunity. Even though I will be missing 2 ~ 3 classes for each subject, my wonderful professors are being very supportive of my trip and have made it clear that it will not be a problem.

After returning from Japan March 6th, I will be back at school for Friday, and then the very next day I will fly home for Spring break! I was not planning on returning home, but the Rose Festival Princess Coronation for Grant happens to fall right in my spring break! Yay! So this means that I will be crowning the next Grant Princess Ambassador on Monday, March 10th around 3:30 pm!

A week after I return to DC, Nigel will be coming here to spend his spring break at AU. Then there is the end of the year and I will be coming home sometime after May 8th (the last day of finals). So, as you can see, I shall be busy, but will have a blast in the process!

Well, I have probably rambled on for far too long. Forgive me for these two lengthy posts, and thank you for your patience and long attention span. One of my resolutions is to update my blog more frequently with shorter posts, so we'll see what happens.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Love, Kaia

A Year in Review and a New Semester

Christmas Morning with the Snow at Aunt Lory and Uncle Don's house with my family, Oma, Opa, Granddad, Aunt Karen, Uncle Jesse, Cedar and Sage, and the dog, Emily.

Andrew and Abdul at Abdul's first AU basketball game.

One of Abdul's amazing snow pictures.


Happy New Year Everyone!

Yes, it has been two months or so since I wrote, but a lot has happened! Finals came along and I was sick for a while before that, but I made it through my first semester in college and enjoyed a nice and relaxing three weeks at home. It was great to see my family and friends, and nice to have NO HOMEWORK over break -- the first time in my entire life!!!

I had my wisdom teeth removed, went back to Grant High School and got to play in the Winter Concert with Wind Ensemble, played in the snow on Christmas day (YAY!), had fun in San Fransisco, and ended the year with a Pink Martini concert that had my bro and the Royal Blues and Jane Powell (actress and singer from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," and "Royal Wedding" with Fred Astaire). It was a great way to end an AMAZING year.

And I seem to have started the year off right, as well! This semester I am taking quite a lighter load compared to last semester (thankfully), which gives me more time to do the multitude of other things I am planning on doing.

Here is my schedule:

Mon: 8:30 - 9:45 am Finite Math (algebra, the easiest math - yay!)
10 - 2 pm Work (at the Children's Development Center, the on-campus childcare for 2.5 to 4.5 year olds)

Tues: 8:30 - 9:45 am Literary Imagination (hereafter called LI: English class where we learn to interpret and and read lots of cool books)
12:45 - 2 pm Living in the Environment (also known as LITE: an Environmental Studies class)
3:35 - 4:50 pm Spanish (a MUCH better teacher than last semester: I am doing SO much better in this class this semester)

Wed: 10 - noon Work
3:35 - 4:20 pm Spanish
8:10 - 10:40 pm Gospel Choir (YAY!)

Thurs: 8:30 - 9:45 am Math
10 - noon Work
7 - 7:55 pm Samba Class (at the campus gym - really fun and a great workout)

Fri: 8:30 - 9:45 am LI
12:45 - 2 pm LITE
3:35 - 4:50 pm Spanish

Sun: 11 - 2ish pm Choir practice, Mass, and Starbucks afterwards with the choir. Yes, I am going to church on Sundays now, and yes, it's a Catholic church. But it's all in the name of music. I am playing my flute there (and singing) with the choir. I found out about it and was invited by my friend Myonnie who I met on the plane coming home. She lived went to Japan with the JET program (so we practice Japanese together), plays flute, and lives in DC so we have a lot of fun together. Yet another learning experience for me.

Another exciting thing for this semester is that Andrew (the computer guru and fellow UC bio student) has a new roommate! His name is Abdul and he is from Kuwait. He is a senior, studying business information systems and is really cool! He has already become a part of the family! His English is perfect and he's quite fond of meditation, photography, and puns. (^_^)
It was so cute to see him when it snowed! Apparently it doesn't snow much Kuwait, so when it snowed here the other day, Abdul's face lit up and he was outside and taking pictures in a second. Here is one of the pictures he took. Some of the snow is STILL here, sitting on random lawns or patches, much of it iced over as it is FREEZING here.

Other excitements: the other night I was almost asleep when I was awoken by what at fist smelled like cologne. But then it got increasingly nasty smelling so I got up to find that it was coming from my heater! I ended up having to sleep in my friends Blair and Alisa's room on the floor. Shirin's grandparents from Iran are in town so she has been gone frequently (they are very nice, by the way. I had the pleasure of meeting her Grandmother when they came to pick Shirin up), so she was not here. It was only yesterday that the fix-it people finally got to my request and came to clean my heater out. They don't know what caused the smell: after a night with the window open, there was no scent in the morning, but they did a much needed clean out anyway. The best part is that they found two very nice necklaces in there as well! I checked with the previous occupants of this room and they don't recognize them so I now have two new pieces of jewelry!