Li Yin's Wedding

When I first started college and talked to upper classmen or friends who had graduated from college, they always talked about how strange it was that all of their friends were getting married. They told me that once I graduate college, I'll most likely be attending a lot of weddings. I had wondered if they were right about that, but they certainly were! This summer was full of them.

In the middle of August, I got to attend my best friend Li Yin's wedding and participate in it. It was so fun to help her prepare a little for the wedding and see the ideas come to fruition. I arrived a couple days before the wedding to help prepare for the wedding. The friday before the wedding we went to the farm to help set up the reception with the tables and set up the lights. Her wedding was on a farm of a friend of her husband's, and it was an absolutely beautiful setting. The weather could not have been more perfect for the set up and for the wedding.

The rehearsal dinner that night was great! It was at Jon's father's house. There were a lot of people there, and almost every one of them told a story about Li Yin and Jon, including me! I'm not much for public speaking so I was pretty nervous. But it wasn't too bad. The stories were all great and so sweet. You could definitely see how many people loved Li Yin and Jon. :)

The next day was the wedding! It was amazing! One of the best weddings I have ever been to. Below are a couple of pictures of the set-up. Jon made those doors standing there in the field so that Li Yin would still have the effect of the opening doors like in the church and the surprise of seeing the bride for the first time. It was a great idea.

 

 

Li Yin's wedding ceremony was set up in a circle around the altar made by Jon. I loved the set-up.



 

 

The wedding included lots of dancing, fun, laughter, and even surprise fireworks! I had so much fun and I know Li Yin and Jon enjoyed every second of it. The groomsmen gave great speeches during the reception. It was hilarious and I was laughing to the point of tears.

 

Li Yin and I before the wedding:

 

 

I wish Li Yin and Jon many years of happiness together! You both deserve the best. :)

Por fin!!!

After searching for computers all summer, I realized within the past month how little I actually know about computers. What I thought the memory was was actually the hard drive, and what I thought was the hard drive was the memory. So I had those two totally mixed up. It turns out that I didn't know anything about processors, the operating system, etc. So I went to different computer stores and asked the opinions of the employees there, and they taught me the basic stuff that I needed and wanted to know in order to get the kind of computer that I wanted. I also tried getting opinions of friends on facebook, but that only confused me more because every one had such a different opinion.

So after a year of not having a personal computer, I finally have one! :) I decided to get an HP because I am familiar with it and it seems like a decent enough of a computer for me. It's an HP ProBook, and it's really nice so far. I am busy setting it up and personalizing it by adding some pictures and music, etc. So far, so good. Now I have a web camera instead of having to attach a separate one which makes me happy. One less thing to worry about.

Now, I'm happy to know this big purchase is behind me. *Sighs in relief*

Success!

After two months of searching for jobs, and being stubborn about not going back to Olive Garden, it is time to be realistic. Since I am not looking for a long-term job or too permanent job, it narrowed my search quite a lot. I wanted to be able to experience something other than the restaurant work, and I thought I was going to get it with a staffing agency that placed temporary workers in offices. But that didn't work out for me, and I couldn't wait for that any longer. So I decided to go back to Olive Garden. Lo and behold, they do not allow you to work there full-time any more. Which is okay now, because I was thinking of only working part-time and finding a job for the day time. Working there will give me quick money and I'll get a little bit of exercise running around the restaurant like crazy.

After waiting so long, I finally was able to interview with another physical therapy company on Tuesday. I hadn't expected the phone call because I was under the impression they weren't in any hurry to hire and I didn't want to get my hopes up. I received the phone call right when I was about to apply to other part-time jobs that I knew I wouldn't like. I had the interview on Tuesday and earlier today I received the phone call telling me I received the job! I'm so happy about it. And everything just fell into place this week. I'll be able to go to Li Yin's wedding with no conflicts on both jobs. And I'll be able to go to my cousin's wedding too. Such a blessing from God. :)

Although these past two months have not been easy, I think having two jobs will make it easier (although there will be stress added as goes with any new job, especially the juggling act of two jobs). It'll make it easier in the fact that time will pass by quicker and I will be doing something (and earning money at that!).

It's been a good day despite over-sleeping and being late to work this morning. Haha.

Summer

It has been a long two months. Too long. I've gone through a range of emotions.....feeling useless, awkward, sad, depressed, happy, excited, anxious just to name a few. I think it's all due to the adjustment from going from working non-stop Monday through Friday (sometimes into Saturday) and being busy on the weekends too, to doing absolutely nothing and being bored out of my mind. I like my down-time, but I only like it so much. I want to be productive. I want to be useful. I don't like it when I feel like I'm not contributing anything. 

But it's been a good summer regardless! I've gotten to reunite with my family and with my friends, and that has been wonderful. Being able to go to Chesley's wedding was a highlight! I had a lot of fun that weekend and it was so good to be able to see her get married. Here is Chelsey and Roger at the altar:

This made everyone laugh once they knelt down....unknown to Roger:

Me and the beautiful bride at the reception:

Everyone reunited again!! Courtney, Laura, Amanda, Li Yin and Me:

I wish we all lived in the same city again!

Next wedding: Li Yin!! :) Cannot wait.

Home Again

Since coming home, I have been trying to keep myself busy and look for jobs. At first, it was hard, but now I have some possibilities. Like a job interview with a company that places people in offices as receptionists, secretaries, etc. either as a temp or part-time or full-time. They told me I will have to take a Microsoft Word and Excel test. Not sure entirely what that will entail but I hope I know enough to pass. They said I would be there for a couple hours and have a short interview after the test. I also might possibly have an interview with Campbell Clinic next week for physical therapy technician! I haven't exactly gotten confirmation but the guy I talked to on the phone sounded pretty promising (if he follows through on his word). I would prefer this job because it'll be much more related to what I'm interested in doing, but the other job would do just fine too. I could learn some more office skills.

I have also been trying to keep myself busy by making some of the recipes from Pinterest that I have found. Like this:

Pan-roasted Chicken with Lemon Garlic Green Beans

It turned out to be really good except I should have marinated the chicken longer for more flavor. Oh well. Next time!

I also made yeast rolls to go with it. They were good as well, but nothing special.

I was able to visit Knoxville last weekend to see all my friends (except Amanda, but that's next weekend!) and attend one of their weddings! It was so good to see them and I had a really good time. Laura and I at the reception:

The beautiful bride, Jenna, and her ecstatic husband, Benjamin!

Memories

Here are some pictures from the last couple week in Peru. I had a great last two weeks and had some good memories.

Some students from my favorite class at the colegio. I know you shouldn't have favorites, but I couldn't help it with this class. I mean, look at those faces!

Making tortugas (turtles) out of styrofoam plates! The kids love art work.

Estela is a wonderful cook! She was like a mom to me when I was in Peru, taking care of me when I got sick, talking to me, helping me with my Spanish, etc. I miss her!

A delicious dish made by Estela! Papa a la huancaina (potatos with a creamy cheese sauce on top) and goat, beans, and rice. Deliciousness!

Nestor and I on a date night out. It was a really good night.

My dinner on date night. Salad with anticuchos (cow heart; I know it sounds gross, but it's really good!), french fries, and sangria. Loved it!

Odana and I on my last friday night at my favorite restaurant, Caramel Cafe.

Returning Home

Returning home and being away from Peru hasn't exactly hit me yet. Although there are a lot of differences such as flushing the toilet paper in the toilet and not putting it in the trash can, I still can't get over that. It's a lot quieter, less dusty meaning I can walk around the house without shoes on which makes me very happy.

Leaving Peru has got to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Although I know I will go back, it is still hard to be away, especially from Nestor. I am very thankful for today's technology of the internet and skype otherwise this long-distance would be much harder.

It has been great to be home. It's nice to be able to sleep in a soft, comfortable bed and to not wake up to the sounds of chickens. It's nice to be able to have all the right materials for baking and cooking and knowing I don't have to boil my water to make it clean. It's also nice to have my own transportation and not to rely on colectivos, micros, combis, taxis, etc. (Although I do like the public transportation despite the uncomfortableness of it at times, I do like driving my own car.)

I don't know why but I expected to feel different coming home, but so far, I haven't. I feel the same as before I left, apart from the sadness. Maybe I will feel something within time, but it doesn't feel like it so far. Everything just feels the same.

The only downside (apart from missing Peru) is searching for jobs. I don't like searching for jobs, applying, not getting responses, and waiting. Waiting. And more waiting. I want a job as soon as possible without going back to working at a restaurant. I would rather have a better job than that. I've had enough of Olive Garden. I would just also like a different experience. Which means I better get back to the job search.