Jessica Rae-Ann Petersen

What I've been doing the last couple of months..

2011-06-26T22:40:00.000-06:00

So I'm sure those of you who read this when I started this blog in Ecuador know that I lost weight when I was there. But I gained it all back when I came here. Well I've started the journey again...this time in the United States, and I want the change to be permanent. Here is the beginning thus far...

(sidenote: some of the words are cut off at the end of the video, not sure why)

Snow and Weekend Trip Home

2011-02-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well we've been having some fun outside in the snow and when the snow has completely melted and it's bascialy spring. This was one of those days I cam outside to sun myself and this was an adorable sight of Josh holding nephew Cole pushing niece Kate! So funny!

Cole is obsessed with eating snow, but honestly, who isn't when they have the chance? I follow his lead.

I was home this last weekend and my lovely horse Buster and I went for a bit of a walk. Love that horse and kinda wish I had him here in Utah. I have some other pictures with me and Boo Boo as well when Mom was riding Buster we would hang out. They're both so feisty that's why I love em!

Jackie and cute baby Kate in her bear outfit.

Cole making the snowman

Swinging Kate

Jordan trying to grow a mustache

Buster and me

hey Boo Boo ( you have to say it with a Yogi bear voice though)

I should have more traveling pictures I suppose, but you don't wanna see that, cause it was way too long in the car and waking up way early. But it was fun and now am looking forward to getting back into my routine. Especially running, cause I get lazy when I'm on vacation.

To the Date of Today

2011-02-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Valentines day is coming up. Which reminds me I have to send out some of my cards. Not hallmark (cause I can't afford that), but the lovely little elementary school cards. I love those and wish that tradition could carry on through school into adulthood. If everyone had a list of all their friends and gave them cards and candy! I like it and vote it should be a requirement. We'll see how that works out...

Updates for me are similar to what they always are, running, working, and no dating :) I was able to work every day last week, and the week before a lot. So that is good news, I just hope I can keep that string of good luck. I've been applying to lots of jobs, but nothing yet. I really have been considering the peace corps as a viable option for my future. It's adventure for a 2 years and 3 months guaranteed! I'm still milling around with that one in my head. The future is still cloudy, let's just leave it at that.

There are some solid things I can look forward to in the future, including a half marathon and 1 week on a houseboat in Shasta with the family. That is gonna be way fun. On the running side of things from the first of the year I have ran a total of 54 miles! I've only missed a few days and most have been on the treadmill, but when it gets warmer I will get out there! I've upped my mileage a bit though, because I've been watching Biggest Loser when I run. When the trainers yell at the participants I think of it as me and it makes me push myself! Love it! I've also been working on the splits after running, I don't know why, but I just like being flexible, has to be from all those years of dance when I was little.

Last night I finally learned how to play the card game Bang! I've heard of it a couple times when I went to Provo recently, but never had the chance to play it. It's like playing Mafia, but you need the actual cards to play. It takes awhile to get the instructions and card uses down, but it's a really fun game when the speed of play picks up! I guess I need to add that to my list of games to eventually have in my life. Monopoly was obviously already number one on my list of games :)

I might be going home for a weekend to see my friend Tammy's parents get baptized in a few weeks! That will be really exciting. The road trip in it of itself will be exciting as well! Hopefully will have some pictures for that. I think I'm gonna start carrying around a disposable camera since mine died. Just something to have in your bag all the time to snap the shot, but not worry about breaking it! Excellent plan!

Espero que todos en mi vida les vayan bien y les quiero mucho!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Isn't it great that we can start over every year. It's an annual clean slate. I love it! Well for this year I have some fun goals, which include finding a full time teaching job, maybe date somewhat, do another half marathon, and if I'm really lucky go on a traveling adventure. I was lucky enough to go to Mexico this last summer, that rocked.

I've started running again, and have only missed one day. Baby steps right? It will be awesome, I'm thinking about running the Park City half in Utah, cause Jackie said it was a pretty good one. I want to PR from last year of 2:40. It's in August so I think there's a good chance of improvement.

Christmas was fun at home, I got to ride my horse a couple times and see all the family. I even traveled to Sacramento for a few days to see friends, then I flew back to Utah from Sacramento via Seattle for New Years here. My bag got lost in the hustle and bustle of changing planes, since I only had 5 minutes to catch my flight, so they delivered it the next day! yeah everything intact. New Years was fun at home in Utah with snacks, Dick Clark's Rockin Eve, and watching parts of Inception while playing Apples to Apples. I win :) I'm so competetive...which reminds me I was thinking about getting some sort of basketball activity going for church cause I'm dying to play some team sports and nobody seems to want to organize the activity. I'm on it!

The last 2 days have been great because I got to see 2 great friends I haven't seen since I graduated BYU 3 or 4 years ago! But it was cool because it was as if no time had passed. Jana and Eila and I met up at the Smith Field House at BYU for a bit of a jaunt. A mile or so, but Eila went for 2. Then we ate in the skyroom of the wilk, where Chad Jana's Bro met up with us! Love that kid, haven't seen him since...before his mission? Not even sure! After eating we all still wanted to hang out, so we went to the Carl Bloch exhibit, which mostly is paintings from the life of Christ. It was my second time and so awesome! I might be going again this Saturday with people from my ward. Carpooling that's always a fun time for bonding :)

I came back the next day as well for Jana's cousins party and that was fun. Just spending time with friends is so great! Especially when they know you and have your sense of humor. You can really relax and enjoy yourself, you don't have to analyze what people are thinking and all the social hooplah.

This Saturday there are three parties down in Provo, all dancing :) An appearance is a must! Maybe even country dancing after? I like it!

So the other day I downloaded all the pictures off my phone and here are some I just like :)
1. Me and mom
2. Shaely and Eliot
3.Roli and me
4.Me and Tati
5. Me and Buster(love my horse)

Utah

2010-11-10T01:37:00.000-07:00

Well it has snowed twice in the past few weeks, which gets me excited for winter, but I've forgotten about the cold that comes with it. Especially at night when your body heat just isn't enough to warm up the bed. I have made several strides to get to know people in my new ward by going to service activities and ward parties. One we went on a trick or treat food drive (people were a little confused because as we were all dressed up, and we came early) and people responded very generously. The next thing I did I went to my ward Halloween party as the Johnny Depp mad hatter! So much fun, but hard to make friends when you don't even look like yourself. I brought Kristina with me and we ended up being invited to go country dancing that same night! Love it! So the social part is coming slowly, but surely. I did go to a ward Family Home Evening where Sarah Larsen performed songs from her CD Find a Grove. I highly recommend listening to her music. It made me think about how much I'm loved by my Savior and that He does know who I am. I am not alone in this world and never will be. I felt so calm and happy about the testimony I have of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Living with Josh and Jackie right now we are doing a thankful tree and writing down things we are thankful for during this season of gratitude. I'm thankful for the opportunity to live in a home with family I love. I'm thankful for the many years of school I have attended that have helped me become a more rounded person and also has taught me to never stop learning. (I recently started French on a free library site, can't get enough of languages!) There are so many things to be thankful for each and every day, I will enjoy my continued listing of them on the tree we've put up in the living room :)

NEW ADVENTURES

2010-10-04T10:21:00.001-06:00

Okay it's here! I'm finally leaving! The date is set, the clothes are out(well at least more organized than usual) and I'm filling up boxes baby! Who knows what is gonna happen in the next few little weeks. I am a little disapointed to leave because I just discovered yesterday that my favorite author in the world, Tamora Pierce, will be in Portland October 18th, and I alas, will not be. So frustrating, maybe one of my siblings will go and have her sign a book for me? That would be exciting! But still so disapointing!

Despite that, I'm excited to go. I haven't packed to move in like 2 years! So we shall see what I forget and what I should have left behind. I want to bring all my books, but we'll probably only take about 6 or 7, and then a couple suitcases of clothes for now. I am taking the mini cooper of my mom's though! Only for a little while, but I will be stylish for a little while anyway. My main focus is to get a job there, and goodness I hate that part. Can't wait to go see old friends though and make some new ones, best part of all!

I did make applesauce with mom and dad yesterday. It contained red hots, which gave it a pinkish hue and a little extra festive flavor. I got to peal the apples with a fun contraption that you turn, and it cored them at the same time in less than 10 seconds! SO much fun. But the rest of my life will be packing for the next few days! Wish me luck!

The randomness of my life.

2010-09-26T21:25:00.000-06:00

I just like this picture me and Kristina took in Mexico.

Today I made some delicious brownies (the ingredients of which include Oreos!). I found them online and they are super scrumptious, but I have decided they still do not surpass my obsession with cake. I went to a wedding reception this weekend and we were there for 3 hours before they served the cake, but I had to leave before then! SO DISAPPOINTING! I have decided that when I am married, at the reception, the first order of business will be to cut the cake!

Another crazy thing today, is that I received an email, from a possible long lost relative! She introduced herself as somebody doing work on the same last name as me and saw my name for contact info. I emailed her back introducing myself, and we shall see if we're related or not, but it's kind of exciting to see something like that happen. It's just like the movies. My life, it turns out, sometimes is just like the movies.

I was also going through some of mom's pictures on her phone and found some that needed to be shared from the Scandia 10k in August with my brothers. It was so much fun with all those people there!

1. After the race, we're still cool!
2. Me and the 4 bros before the race :)
Me, Josh, Jackie, Candice, Matt, Jackson, Seth, and Jordan! What a bunch of troopers!
3. All four siblings before running (I know they're in a random order)
4. This is one of the only pictures of me running a race where it looks like I'm running not speed walking.

Changes

2010-09-09T12:51:00.000-06:00

I have done some pretty amazing things in my life and met some pretty amazing people. My question is... What do you do when you've finished most your goals you had in life? I mean that little check list of things a person is supposed to do is finished? I finished college twice now, and have traveled. I go to church, don't do drugs or anything illegal, I exercise and am active in parts of my life to be considered a "well rounded" person. I' m looking for a job but in this economic climate it is extremely difficult. I would like to date someone, but that is out of my control...
So I've come to the conclusion that the next steps in my life are on me. I can't control when boys want to date, me and I can barely control the job situation (I just keep putting the applications in). I keep asking the simple question "What am I supposed to do now?" I keep getting the stupid, generic answer "whatever you want." SO ANNOYING! and yeah...I don't believe that. If I could do whatever I wanted I would have a teaching job and would be dating the most amazing guy ever who spoke many different languages, or at least understood my need to learn them and the deep rooted desire to see the world, but that isn't what has unraveled here. I would also be able to date characters from books :)

Facts: I will be moving soon
I have family support for what I do(yeah!)
I don't have a car
I don't have a boyfriend
I don't want to get married
I have limited resources
I don't have a job where I will be moving
I have 3 or 4 places I could move in with friends or family
I speak Spanish and English
I like nutella
I have an amazing horse
I'm a messy person...

My future is uncertain
Usually after writing down my dilemmas I feel better or something becomes clear to me, but nothing yet. Maybe I'll keep adding to my list of facts. That's always nice to see what is true in your life. Overall, I hate that everyone else has something figured out...stupid organized people. Fact: I will figure something out!

Helvetia Half Marathon!

2010-06-16T15:29:00.001-06:00

This last weekend, June 12th to be exact, I ran my first half marathon! The official chip time was 2:40:22. So crazy. I really wanted to do it in less then 2 and 1/2 hours but, I hit a wall around mile 9 or 10 and had to intermittently walk and run. The last mile I ran the whole way, but it was hard. It was one of the most mentally engaging activities I've ever done.

It was a crazy day because I started off the night before on a bad note. I didn't get off work in Florence until 10 and I had to rush home and get my stuff and make the 3 hour drive to Portland. Thankfully Isaiah let me go before him so I could take off that early. So after I spend my time chatting on the phone to pass my time on the way to Portland, I finally pull into the crazy apartment complex my brother Jackson lives in. Talk about a maze of cars and parking spaces. It worked out cause he talked me through it, right to his apartment door where the two big labs greeted me with uncontrolled enthusiasm, and a very tired mom.

I didn't sleep much throughout the night because I kept dreaming I was going to sleep through the whole thing! Agh, that would have been awful. Luckily Jackson and Janale helped me continue the cycle of no sleep by waking me up around 4:30 am when they got home! Thanks guys! haha. That was a definite sign Jackson would not be running with me for the 10K the following morning. I woke up again wide awake at 5:30 am but just kinda layed on the lovely comfy couch for another 45 minutes when my phone finally went off. When I did get up I had to remind myslef I hadn't run it yet, despite my very realistic dreams that I had.

I was basically ready, but had to do my hair and brush my teeth. I bobby pinned it back so nothing was coming out. Stole an overly ripe banana from the kitchen, hoping it would help me from getting cramps while I ran the 13 miles! agh, I kept trying to prevent myself from freaking out over the length, but the thought kept popping in my head. I woke up mom and asked her if she knew how to get there cause I sure didn't.

After she told me the five minute trip directions she asked me if I wanted her to drive me since I would be by myself til the end of the race. My five year old self wanted to say "YES! Of course you need to come and watch me leave and then wait 2 and 1/2 hours for me!" but I held back and said the responsible adult "no, I'm good." Then I walked to my car and made the drive. I left at 6:15 and little did I know the hour and half head start was not enough. All the other 4,000 contestants wanted to get off at my exit and park as well. So it took me an hour to get there, park, and a lot of freaking out. I had to jog to registration and got my stuff put away, fighting the masses of people going the opposite direction! ugh, get out of the way dumb people! Anyway, had my ipod, and # all attached, I had about 10-12 minutes to mentally prepare for the road trip ahead.

I finally was going with the masses of people headed toward the starting line. Lots of people were talking and jostling each other. I just headed for the middle of the pack and listened to one song over and over. I think it was Martina McBride, but it got me pumped up. Then the mass of people started moving. "Here we go, I thought" Then I decided to take each mile as one less I had to do. That first mile, I was so excited because I no longer had to run 13! I only had 12. And that's how it worked the rest of the time. There was a helicopter overhead taking pictures of this giant moving beast of people. I did not wave, cause I was in a zone man! We headed over an overpass and to the left all the 10K runners turned left, while the more crazy runners kept going. It was beautiful field and countryside just like where I grew up in Junction City, so it felt like home turf. Then came mile 4, oh the hills begin.

The first few hills were not that bad and I was passing people. There were even people on the sides of the road cheering friends and family on, I just imagined the signs said my name and I got encouragement from that. Two very big hills were my Mount Everest. I had decided I didn't want to walk any hills. I did it too! They were extremely hard and I may have been moving at a snail's pace, but I was still running! I had some ZZ Top playing for one of them, which made me think of Dad and him listening to it on his motorcycle. I also was imagining him there cheering me on, telling me to keep going, and that was great.

I didn't drink water at the first couple stations, but after those hills, oh boy I looked forward to them. I drank the electrolytes mostly. So after this really big hill I can see runners going down this road to the left. Yeah! the turn around! Little did I know that I had to turn right, go downhill a mile and come back up before I could follow those runners to the left! Ugh! I was soooo frustrated and angry I wanted to yell and scream. I hated watching all those runners coming back the direction I was heading. I really wanted to ask if the turn around to come back was coming up soon about every 10 seconds, but I gritted my teeth and kept my mouth shut. After hitting the turn around my mood brightened and I enjoyed the trees that covered me from the sun and the pretty forest surrounding, the uphill wasn't even that bad. (I hate doubling back)

Now I was on my way back (mile 8) and I could see glimpses of the stadium and the freeway we had crossed at the beginning. Oh no, my body seems to be feeling symptoms of fatigue. I had been happy about my pace and consistency, but yeah right after one of the water stations, I had to walk. (mile 9.5 or 10) I wasn't out of breath but my legs had lost the will to keep going. No music or thought process could keep me going. I tried all my songs, but there was no use. Now every time I saw a new aide station I made myself pick up the pace, but right after I would walk again.

So hard to walk, especially with people passing me. It was comforting to know there were lots of people there and I wouldn't be last despite my walking. It was also nice to think of the people waiting at the finish line. Nana and Grandpa and Mom and Jackson and Janale and Eliot.

Thoughts like these would keep me going. We hit a gravel road, which was a nice change of pace, and I made sure I was jogging towards the end of mile 11 cause I saw the cameras. Who wants a walking picture? Mile 12 I hit the pavement and ran the rest of the way. So hard, but I pushed past my negative thoughts about walking. I mentally hated and loathed the runners who were walking back and had already finished. They had their medals and free hamburgers! Some had words of encouragement, but most not, so that justified my hating them.

I was extremely hungry this last mile and that was part of my motivation, I could eat if I hurried up and finished! Coming into view of the stadium I saw Nana and Grandpa standing outside looking for me. I waved my hand to let them know I was coming. Good thing they are taller than most :) I tried to give them a smile and attempted a hi five to grandpa, but it didn't work out so well. I continued on through to the stadium through the serpentine finish line crowded with people, where I fived some kids and picked up to a fast run to finish strong. I knew mom would be at the end with the camera and I saw her there as I sprinted by . Yeah for photo finishes! "oh done, I can keep walking or just stop if I want" I smiled to myself.

Grabbed some water from the table overflowing with dixie cups, but no oranges to suck on! Sad. The massive amounts of people hindered fast movement, but made may over to mom, who lamented no picture of me,(later found out she did get one ) and we headed over to Nana and Grandpa and to get my stuff. Jackson showed up a few minutes later to congratulate me. My legs and arms weren't sweaty but salty! Like I'd been in the ocean. I was really glad I'd rolled up my sleeves to avoid the farmer's tan. I got a little burnt, but it was worth it.

So the rest of the day was eating at Sonics (hamburger, fries and chocolate banana milk shake!) and being excited it was all over, but I could gloat over my 13.1 mile triumph the rest of my life! That's right! My movements were somewhat slower, but soooo worth it! I'm glad I trained all that time and that Jackie and Josh inspired me to do it! Thanks Nana, Grandpa, Jackson, and MOM for coming and watching me sweat to the finish! Love you guys!

2010-05-06T21:12:00.000-06:00

I've been watching some really good movies; on tv, renting, and movie theatre going. First of all is Clash of the Titans, such good action and includes the main character from Avatar. Following that would be Sherlock Holmes, the music AND the acting was awesome. Love Robert Downey Jr. Same reason I'm excited to see Iron Man 2. Jude law rocks it man! Him and Rachel McAdams. I do love the bad guy as well. He does a good job.

Prince of Persia: basically just excited to see it.

Phat Girlz: saw it on tv and it just made my heart happy :)

My Life in Ruins: awesome, might be better than big fat greek wedding. Definitely think the guy is hunkier.

I do want to see Invictus still and Blind Side, guess I get side tracked.

Anyway, good movies good times, we shall see what comes next.

The Lightning Thief

2010-04-23T12:25:00.001-06:00

I've recently been reading Percy Jackson's The Lightning Thief series and have made some realizations. In the third book the characters run into the hunters which are basically immortal girls that work for Artemis, the goddess of hunting and who never got involved with a guy. The whole book you encounter different jabs and comments directed toward men and how they will always fail you. In the end they made one exception for Percy because he had proven himself somewhat different.

I have to say that I somewhat agree with the hunters. I do have to say girls can be the same way and let guys down as well, but I think it would be kinda great to just be an immortal group of girls going on quests and adventures. Never involving yourself with men in any way and being content.

Either way it was a good book and interesting questions to consider even though I'll never have to answer them.

Lions

2010-03-19T14:18:00.000-06:00

So today, as I was teaching, I finally came to an understanding why Lions reject their teenage/younger lions from the Pride and they have to find their own way in the world. I no longer feel sorry for them or misunderstand the parents. I fully support them and that group decision to kick them out. You want to know the reason why and how I came to that conclusion? Well... because teenage anything are so annoying and can't really comprehend what real reality is. They think everything should be gifted to them(hunting and meat done and brought to them). They need to be kicked out to realize how lucky they are and prove their worthiness, and this only happens as they get older and realize how lucky they were. Only when they are fully mature and accomplish something, and only then do females deign to even consider looking at them or considering them as possible parts of the pride.

Can you see how this is comparative to teenage boys(actually girls too)? I think they need to have a few hard knocks of real life and then they can actually appreciate what they have. Too bad I can't be the one to deliver a few of them. Just thought I would share my ever evolving wisdom that is formed from teaching school and adolescents.

Cooking with Shaely

2010-03-10T22:33:00.000-07:00

Shaely and I were making chocolate chip cookies :) Fun times :)

Pride and Prejudice enthusiasts

2010-03-10T00:54:00.000-07:00

I just watched the best movie I've seen in awhile! It's called Lost in Austen. This girl somehow gets trapped in the book and she kinda messes it up. But it's great because she does all the things the faithful fans have always wanted to do, either in the book or in the movie. For example the part where Colin Firth goes swimming in the pond in the 8 hour version...yeah she has Darcy hop in the pond, without any other reason but that she asked. SOOO funny! I really liked it and if you like Pride and Prejudice you might enjoy it as well.

Vintage Dress

2010-03-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

I did my hair all vintage style for church today!

Family History

2010-03-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

Grandma Jackie

So today I was really getting into my family history because I had found some of the stuff in boxes that hasn’t been looked at for years. First of all props to Mom for having SO MUCH information! Seriously she is amazing in what she was able to track down. Not just the names and dates of people, but she has pictures, marriage certificates, and so many other things that make these people so real. So far it’s gone back to the 1600’s! That is so awesome. I think my hair style was inspired too because it was in a short 20’s style bob. I was going for 40’s but it didn’t work out.

While perusing some of the family articles I came upon a letter written to Mom from Grandma Jackie in 1983. Naturally I’m interested because it comes the year before I was born! I love to see what people write about people before they know them. She was talking and asking mom and dad, when her granddaughter finally arrived, Jackson and Josh were the only kids at this point, if she would put Billy-Ray in her name, or Rae. She had wanted to use it with Tina or Tonyia, but hadn’t. I was sitting there, all excited because she was talking about me J Mom and Dad named me Jessica Rae-Ann. My family knows the story of my first name and Jackson and Man From Snowy River, but it’s different to read about it! Because Rae if from my Grandpa and Ann from Grandma Jackie. SO cool, people putting in requests even before I was born.

On a different piece of paper in the letter was a poem written by Grandma Jackie. She told Mom she didn’t know why she wrote it, but felt she needed to and to send it to mom. It’s all about her first husband, my Grandpa William Daggett. It is so cool because she wrote it in 1983 and had married Grandpa November 3, 1952. He died five years later and 31 years later she wrote this down. You can hear her emotion and voice through the words. I just wanted to share this with everyone. It’s very romantic and sad and the real life stuff is even better than the made up kind. Just be glad I typed it up, cause I had to have Mom interpret some of the hand writing.

“My Bill”

Over twenty years have come and gone!

They say time heals all-- Wrong!

You are just a memory and yet

I can still see your smile,

Smell your smell and hear

Your voice.

I’ve lived around your memory

Life taught me this.

But the world has never been bright and new again.

And yet, oh how I wish I could somehow

See you again,

Feel you.

Oh Bill!

Even now, a lump comes in my throat

And I can’t help the tears streaming down my face.

We were awfully young,

But we loved each other so.

Oh Bill, why?

We had something so special.

And you know, babe, I love you still,

After all these years.

You’ll always be my white shining knight

After you, who could compare?

I tried, honestly tried with other men,

But after all, who could ever measure up to you

and they, every one of them sensed it,

So, now I’ll go on alone!

Jacquelyn

Update

2010-03-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I no longer am in Ecuador, but I thought I might update every so often even though my adventures are not quite as fun as here. I live in Florence, Oregon and have been sewing A LOT! Image to the left is my first purse. That's the most exciting point in my life right now. But I'm glad I can at least follow directions. I'm looking for jobs teaching everywhere and am looking forward to riding horses this summer.

I have been teaching swim lessons two days a week and that is fun. Especially when you can see the progress of your students.

I have also decided to do a half marathon this year. I guess I can update on that running as well. It is going to be really exciting, but hard to run. Especially when you have that option to do the running tomorrow and that turns into the next day and the next day. It will be in Hilsboro, Oregon on June 12th. 13 miles of fun I tell you what. Hopefully I can be in shape again, I have to train for hills on this one.

Some other of my day to day activities include watching my favorite Spanish telenovela: Zorro la Espada y la Rosa. It's very dramatic and kind of repetitive because the characters can never stay out of drama, but I look at it as a learning experience. If I ever need to tell someone off in Spanish for stealing my fiance, or kidnapping me, or not telling me he was Zorro sooner, I will know how.

I also continue to be the only member of my family who has not reproduced :) Yeah for nieces and nephews! I will always be the favorite aunt! wahhaha.

That's about it for now, but I will share more later, even if it isn't super exciting :) Reality blogging hehe

Waterfall!

2008-06-26T09:17:00.000-06:00

So I went to Giron which is like an hour away by bus, super fun stinky bus! Anyway it was a rainy day, but I got even more wet after hiking up to the waterfall. With all the rain it was a super strong waterfall and the mist was crazy. In one of my pictures yo can see me fighting against the wind. Anyway I ate hornado! Roast pig is delicous. Especially when you eat it with your hands. So that was a fun day trip and the muddy roads really made me apreciate the truck we were driving up in. A couple times I was like please don't get stuck, cause I didn't want to get out and push.

Recently I have begun to Monopoly. The other day Roli and I searched like 6 different stores all over town for it. Of course we cold have bought the 25 $ version, but we're cheap and bought the 6 $ version. So now we play it like almost every night, and I basically almost win. It's all about getting the monoplies early, but they've caught on to my sneaky little game and now won't sell me anything, so I need a new strategy. It just makes me think of playing when I was little with my brothers on the floor and the banker was under the table with the bars so we couldn't get to the money. Good times Good times! Anyway, I go home in like 3 weeks and I'm realy excited! July 16th I come into the Salt lake airport at like 9 am. all night flights rock! Anyway here are some pics from the waterfall! and a video!

2008-06-23T11:28:00.003-06:00

kay sorry I will have new post, it just deleted it all so tomorrow there will be new stuff, sorry

Birthday!

2008-06-05T10:31:00.001-06:00

So I had such a great birthday and good friends to share it with. On my actual birthday I went out with roli to a fancy restaurant. On saturday I had a party in the apartment and went out dancing! wahoo It was fun and I was tired after. I got sick the week after and am still harboring some phlegm. yuck! Anyway I am coming home in about a month and am excited to go home, but sad to leave my friends. so here are some pics of it all!

Beach TRIP!

2008-05-09T10:02:00.000-06:00

So I went to the fabulous beach here in Ecuador. In the city of Montanita. I took a 6 hour bus trip with my friend Jasmine and we made it during the night. Can I just say I hate national music here in Ecuador and movies that have so much action there is no dialogue and there is a reason they didn't make it in the box office. I was subjected to both on my trip there and back. But, it was great once I was there. I stayed in a house with some guy friends the first night and a hotel next door the next night. It was super fun. We had mosquito netting that looked like it was a princess bed. Double purpose! looks cool and protects you! haha. Anyway, I got a lot of beach time in the morning, it was so nice! I even found a couple sand dollars! Some were still alive so I threw them back. I could have learned to surf because apparantly there are no sharks here, but I didn't feel like eating seawater up my nose that day, so watching the amateurs was fun! I got a trenza in my hair too! It's when they rap hemp and some beads around a piece of you hair. The guy said it could stay for up to a year! haha. We'll see. I like it though. I got a fake tatoo as well! I had a lot of fun walking around and buying jewelry. I stayed in the actual town called Olon, which is like 2 minutes away from the action in Montanita, so We HITCHHIKED! wahoo! It was a first, but we ended up doing it like 5 times. I think the bathing suits helped, just kidding(well one time I was wearing my bathing suit). Anyway, there aren't really frequent buses and taxes are people in old cars say taxi. So you can just flag someone down and sometimes they charge you a quarter other times they think you're cute and just drop you off. It was fun. I stuck my thumb out and everything, finally I can use my hitchhikers thumb!
Anyway, I got sunburnt, but it has turn to a lovely bronze color! haha. I want to go back, I couldn't remember why I had to come back to Cuenca when i was there. It was like there was a memory block on the reason to come back. So me staying with the boys created soem jealousy issues with the boyfriend since I had a fiasco with two, before. basically they were fighting over me like a teenage flick! Que ridiculo! Anyway, it was worth it and invite anyone who wants to come visit me to the beach! love you all and hope to be planning a trip to a waterfall nearby to show you the pics!

2008-04-09T16:48:00.001-06:00

PS the llama pictures were great cause I was thinking ¨llama face!¨from emporer´s new groove. it was great at the time, don´t worry I laughed!

I´m still alive!

2008-04-09T16:34:00.000-06:00

So I know it´s been a few months and it is all my fault and I´m sure some of you were wondering if I got lost, but nope, just lazy. So one major festival I have to relate is the one calle dCarnival. It is in the beginning of February. The problem with this is that the natives are so zealous about the activities they start in January. THey throw water baloons. It doesn´t matter old, young, dressed up or not, they will nail you. I got hit 9 times! Yes, I counted. One time after church in the back of the neck. It hurt a lot the next day. the problem is they throw them from moving vechicles so it adds a bit of velocity. Cowards. I had a few choice words when I got nailed, but what can you do. So the days of carnival, if you are smart you hide in your house. I went to play despite the freazingness. The first day Rolando got me soaked head to toe, I got him back plenty, but in less time. Thanks to my skills learned growing up with vengeful brothers always trying to catch me for something my evasive maneuvers worked quite well. Roli only caught me cause I came back towards the house. One of the days I went to Gualeceo(a town) where they throw you in the river and then throw flower on you so you have to go back in the river to wash off. Some places they throw paint or rocks, I like the place they throw flowers. Anyway I planned ahead and brought a change of clothes and was going to change to my swimsuit there. Bad mistake, I was in the back of a truck and everyone started throwing water baloons at each other before we got there, therefore, soaked freezing Jessica. Oh well.

End of February I did two things, I went to Inca Perca ancient inca ruins, and I joined a gym. Still going by the way. Some of the pics below are of those ruins. I went with my two buddies Myra and Tatiana. we had fun. We´re kinda the 3 musketeers we go to the gym and do lots of stuff together. That was fun. I faked being a college student and so I kinda look latin I got in for a buck instead of the 6 dollar gringo price!

In January I started classes at the university again and it´s more fun now that I know what I´m doing. I also moved out of the house and got my own apartment! It´s cool, although I had to learn how to adjust the propane tanks for hot water. You learn something new every day. I also took another trip to a place called chobshi. It is ruins of the people who were here before the incas called the canaris. The river pics are from there. It was great but lots of climbing. As usual in all the pictures I am being a dork and had a lot of fun at the same time.

Latest news is that roli made me dinner and there is a picture of how he arranged it so fancily. cool, I know, don´t worry he isn´t coming home with me although I wish he could meet everyone. Except for that whole not speaking english part. Anyway that´s about it for now. General conference was fun, I chatted with the gringo missionaries and made chocolate cookies which turned out really hard, I blame the altitude. i did make my first apple pie though, that was a success. I didn´t get seconds. anyway I love you all and can´t wait to visit and talk to all of you again in July when I come back!

2008-04-09T09:29:00.000-06:00

Left:my kitchen Middle:stove and stuff Right:Roli and me

Left:food he made for dinner Middle: LLamas!llama face! Right:Claiming territory

Left: cool trees in the canyon. Middle: On top of the wall Right: Canyon
Roli cooking and to the right me posing! cute!

Top left: cool mud wall

In the canyon to the left

Below being sacrificed by Tati

Right bottom: I am indiana jones!

Below: Face of the Inca, Can you see it? Middle: hanging on for dear life.

then I repeated the pic, oh well i'm not perfect

2008-01-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

I love christmas, but goodness it was too short. Only a week and then I came back. New year's was good here. They burn human size manican's that represent all the bad from the previous year. Kinda feels like home since my brother's are piros and there were a bunch of fire works. Oh I got my first midnight new year's kiss, wasn't as cool as I though it would be since I can kiss my boyfriend whenever, but it' s a check on the list of the things I've wanted to do my whole life.

So I'm finishing up finals at the university and I get a month of till the next cycle, but I still teach in the afternoons. Hopefully I get to go to the beach for the weekend to hang out in a couple weeks. There is a thing called Carnival here where they just eat and throw water baloons at poor unsuspecting streetwalkers. It doesn't start till first week of February, but yes they like to get a jump on the baloon throwing early! ugh. yes I've been hit in the leg! I was so mad, but what can you do when they drive away in a car? Any way here's a picture or two of christmas and me and roli! Hope to write more when something exciting happens.

Oh I did go to the hotsprings again, still gross,but cute little town and great french fries after!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-12T06:16:00.000-07:00

I just love singing Christmas Carols, but what´s funnier is when you can´t remember how they start in English anymore because you´ve sung the Spanish ones so much. Qúe ridículo ¿verdad? I get to go home in 10 days, but it will take me like 2 to get there! Sick! Oh well hopefully I will be supplied with enough pirated DVD´s to make everything alright just chilling in the airport. It´s possible I will have someone to pick me up in Columbia and show me around the capital, but if it doesn´t work out I´m getting cosy on the plastic chairs baby!
Update on Baños. WEll, they are hot springs, and the water from the volcano flows into cement pools, but goodness gracious they are not the cleanest pools I´ve ever seen. And I would like to add, there is a reason speedos are restricted to only professional swimmers that need them to race. There needs to be a label ¨Not for recreational purposes!¨Sick, anyway pools were dirty full of people. But still fun, I just pretended I was at Fern Ridge, the lake in Oregon where we always go and people say is dirty. The water was perfect temperature despite the cleanliness factor. I kicked everyone´s butt when we had races though. Finally all those years of swim team come in handy! I even tried the butterfly, although I hesitated to submerge my head in the murky water. In the end, good experience but I would like to stick to the wonderful hotsprings of Utah that, at least the ones I´ve been to, are clean and not crowded with people.
I also had a chance to go to the hippie market, I even bought a cute belt made of seeds from fruits. Super cute! I actually discovered another market while walking around, so that will have to be our next trip. OOH! and for those of you who have read Anne of Green Gables and know how many times she was proposed to? Yeah I kinda feel like her, not that so many people have proposed to me, but still it´s fun when someone wants to marry you! NOT THAT I WANT TO MARRY HIM, just fun little comparison between my life and literature. Don´t worry I´m coming home without a ring, I still have adventures to go on! Anyway TTFN.(Ta ta for now, winnie the pooh)

2007-12-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

SO 20 days until Christmas if you weren't counting now you know! Wahoo. Plus this Saturday promises to be an exciting one. I have finals in the Abe Lincoln afternoon classes this week, Saturday I teach till 12:30pm then some of the friends and I are going to the hippie area of the city for compras!(to buy jewelry!) sweet, then I'm going to Banos the hotsprings with tons of people, it's at the base of a mountain. Makes me think of the beginning of the movie Volcano when the couple gets boiled by lava when they are swimming. Yuck, but still excited to go. Then hopefully some sort of baile or activity at night. OH and thursday a whole lot of fun playing basketball! We'll see if it turns out to be as fun as it should be, don't worry there will be pictures! These new pictures are of me after the Cuenca futbol game when we tied, I was just excited about my new shirt. This is a picture of my friend monica and me, we're tight! yo

2007-11-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Okay so, I can kill bugs if they are a normal size and I recognize what type of bug. Well here where the lovely Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle ooze has gotten to the bugs and ginormasized them to abnormal proportions I can´t seem to kill those ones. So last night after a wonderful wet game of basketball and soccer outside in the rain I came home excited and hoping for hotwater for a great shower, to sleep well for the lovely 7 o´clock class I get to teach on Friday´s. Well little did I know I had a friend who wanted to join me. So I just give a little scream so not to wake the neighborhood, but there is something crawling around trying to escape the shower and come after me. I throw my clothes back on and run out. Guiermo is just arriving home so I solicited his help in eliminating this really a lot of legs thing. Just imagine if it has a lot of legs it has to be huge. Well maybe the size of a big person´s thumb but still with all those legs moving around yuck! Anyway turns out he´s just as scared of them as me! So we asked his mom and she got the broom and killed it. I didn´t watch but I did hear repetitive hits, meaning not just one try to kill it but many. A formidable foe indeed! Turns out is was a centipede! Aren´t those poisonous? Good thing I ran away right? Anyway you know that feeling! Afterwards I thought I saw something crawling all over the place or something trying to get me. Yuck, makes you do one of those full body shivers! Anyway that´s the adventure from last night, let´s see how today goes. Can´t wait to go home to the US and shower with simple bugs like spiders! Can´t believe I´m saying that!

FRIENDS

2007-11-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

EXCITEMENT! So I love the TV show friends, and thanks to the copyright thieves of Ecuador I am able to purchase the whole series if I want to. Well yesterday, strolling down the cobblestone streets of historic Cuenca, with my boyfriend, I bought one season of Friends for 5 bucks! Sweet. So worth it cause I was cracking up by myself in my room. I´m sure the family thought I was nuts, but most people do. Anyway, I was excited about my exploits, I also acquired 2 new sets of earings that are very native like. I´m a fan. It´s been nice weather lately, no rain for 2 whole days crazy I tell you! I get to play basketball for a couple hours tomorrow night, Christmas and New Year´s are coming, "can life get better? I submit that it cannot!" (Brian Regan, if you haven´t heard him get on it!)

2007-11-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

So I forgot to add to my blog that I am in a relationship with a very cute Ecuadorian boy named Rolando. I call him Roli for short like Roli poli oli haha. Anyway today is our anniversary! That was the weirdest thing to write ever. I´ve never had one of those before. We´ve been together for a month! Craziness I tell you what! I need to put better pics of him and me up but there is one of us holding hands already up. Anyway that´s the info.

Pictures!

2007-11-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

So I've finally gotten around to adding the pictures! There are a bunch of Cuenca, which makes it look very picturesque which is funny to me cause I 'm so used to seeing the trash on the streets. Life is good and it's almost CHRISTMAS! Yeah for that. I just gave three tests yesterday and now the fun job of correcting all of them! super fun! not. There are also pictures of me getting my package and my pure ecstasy eating candy from the US! Good times all around! Other pictures are of my friends while we were playing sports! I love basketball! Happy Thanksgiving too! Eat lots of turkey and mashed potatoes and yams and pumpkin pie and fudge and whatever else I don't have down here. It's okay we're going to have a type of Thanksgiving lunch on saturday. we'll see how it measures up! haha.

2007-11-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

Correos!
Well after two hours of fun! I tell you what, nothing like chilling with a bunch of frustrated Ecuadorians wanting their packages. Luckily after taking a taxi to the postoffice I got there earlier than I thought. I thought it had been 11 o´clock but it was 10 luckily and I was able to work everything out. First you give them your passport, and a copy(don´t forget the copy) and a dollar for who knows what. Then you wait 15-20 minutes, then they decide to send an inspector. When the inspector comes they obligingly open the package for you , how nice so everyone in the room is able to share the moment with you! After seeing what you can´t touch yet, they close the package again, having verified, no there isn´t anything valuabel. Fine says the lady. Alright wait 20 more minutes before they remember you and then the lady takes your information and efficiently hunts and pecks on the keyboard entering your information in record time. She tells you it will cost 10 dollars of taxes, less than I thought it would be so fine. Oh just kidding after another 20 minutes go by, because they have to walk very slowly upstairs to the "other" office (take a break from this hard work they are doing) and then return with a paper, and says oh by the way it will be 20 dollars instead. At this point I just grab the paper and my passport to go to the bank. Oh yes this tale does not end at the lovely post office. We get to go down the street to the bank! So I walk, ask random security guard where the supposed bank is, and he cordially looks me up and down and then tells me where it is. Inside the bank I ask which line to enter, but after entering the line, luckily the security guard says you need to go to the corner to copy that piece of paper. Of course! Why wouldn´t I? so I step graciously out of line and find the little whole in the wall (literally) copy center and copy for 5 cents. Again I return to wait in line and finally am gratified to give them my money and return with excitement to the postoffice. I throw the paper at the HELPFUL gentleman, grab my package and bolt while all the others are still milling around waiting for this great system to process them. I leave and decide against the bus, no sense going through all that and having someone steal it from me so I hail a taxi and lie and say I only have 1.50 and avoid paying the huge amount of 2.00 to take me home. Wheeww! Goodnes what a trip but it was all worth the package and treasures inside. Halloween Candy, that by the way is almost gone! AND Pens, papers, a new journal, and pants! SOmething else to wear oh glorius mail! I´ll get pictures of this scene up later but for now I´m sure you can imagine my pleasure!

Kristina had one so I wanted one too

2007-11-07T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I´ve been reading Kristina´s blogs and updates and thought they were pretty fun and I could look at all the pictures, so I´m joining the club. I probably won´t be as diligent as her but what can you do? Today is the 7th of November and I have high expectations that I will be able to get my package out of Correos(the post office) today. They are only open Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10am-12pm. Good luck with those hours. I´ve been waiting to get my package for 2 weeks. I work on mondays in that time, wedensday´s I only have an hour to get there. SO if not today then Friday for sure, unless they plan to have a random national holiday, which seems to occur quite often. The president must be like, ¨hmmm... I feel like a day off, what´s tomorrow, Friday? alright fiesta it is!¨ I swear that´s what it seems like. Anyway we´ll see what happens and you all might see pictures, either of my sad face when I don´t get it or my happy face when I do