Luckiest. Weekend. Ever.

After LTM ended on Sunday, it hit me that I dind't have much time left to hang out before my flight and that I just really didn't want to leave.

I call united airlines at 6:30. They told me I can change my flight...as long as I pay a 100 dollars change fee plus the difference of cost between flights...in total, 600 dollars.

I not so politely declined their offer and proceeded to emotionally throw all my shit in my suitcase, say my goodbyes, and run out into my cab to newark airport.

I get to the airport at 7:20 and my flight was scheduled for 8:00. As I'm using the self-check in, I change my mind and decide to try my luck on the nice woman behind the register. Asking very sincerely if there's any way to get onto a flight tomorrow. She looks at me and must have realized my pathetic state of not wanting to leave, and she took it upon herself to help me. Clicking away at her computer, she spoke little, and I waited patiently hoping she'd be able to fenagle a ticket for tomorrow.

It's your lucky day, she finally says, and I begin spewing thank yous her direction before she can finish a sentance. Then she says she has a surprise for me, and hands me a free flight voucher to anywhere in the US! My 8:00 flight was overbooked, and they'd been looking for people to take one tomorrow. She wanted to suprise me because she said I reminded her of her daughter. What a great woman.

So free flight voucher in hand and a grin across my face I hope a cab right back and get a free extra night in the JC with some of my favorite people.

So today, I fly into Chicago and run to my gate to catch my Madison connecting flight, only to hear the ends of another message saying that the Madison leg is over-booked and they're giving out MORE free vouchers...all we'd need to do is wait around another 3 hours to catch the next flight. Why not?

1 extra night in the JC and 2 free flight vouchers later, I meander to the airport chilis to entertain myself with dinner and a drink, and the nicest man starts talking to me about his 7 kids, his grandkids who are my age, his life, company, travels, and inventions. I of course tell about my amazing luck this weekend. At the end of our dinners, the waiter brings out our checks, and this man takes my bill and said he'd like to keep the lucky day going, thanks me for the conversation, and pays for my meal.

so 1 extra night in the JC, 2 free flight vouchers, and a free dinner later, I'm finally home.

figuring life out

The last month has forced me to figure out some stuff. When you drop a major that you really hate, but that would gaurantee you graduation by May 2008, and you're left with the possibility of starting from scratch, and having to stay in Madison for 2 more years, and feel stuck and lost with different interests tugging you in all directions, things can get intense.
When you find out your dad's moving back to Madison in May, it gets a bit more intense.

I dropped my economics major and felt lost. I knew what I didn't want to do, which is a start to figuring out what I actually want to do. I knew I lov art, and theater, and also knew I couldn't imagine myself pursuing either of these as a career for the rest of my life. I knew I wanted to be in the place that would let me most effectively contribute something positive to the world.

I know I'm creative, and have been told I'm pretty good at figuring out systems. I also know that I cannot be working a corporate job at a desk from 9-5 for the rest of my life. I know I hate economics, and I know I need to be seeing a direct result of the work I'm doing to feel like I'm making a difference.

That's a start.

So, I left for China giving in to the thought of a mass comm major, which would keep me here another year. I felt unsettled and a bit sick to my stomach.

If nothing else, China trip came at a perfect place and time to figure stuff out. A series of experiences and people during this trip made me figure out where I needed to be and what I was most passionate about and able to contribute to.

I came back knowing what I wanted to do...and simply had to figure out the best way for me to get there.

So I will be graduating in May 2008 with an International Studies and Spanish degree, and pursuing a career in educational policy.

That sounds about right.

China Trip in Pictures

Words and Snow

It is blizzarding. In April. Each snow flake kills a piece of my soul.
But even the weather won't get me down, because life is falling in place pretty sweetly these days.
Looks like I'll be a May 2008 graduate! Saweeeet.