Where to begin...I'm broke.

So, if you haven't heard...I'm off to far far away land...wait this is not Sherk. Oops

Actually, I'm going to Argentina to study abroad with Academic Programs International (API) during the fall semester. This has been something I've been working toward for a while and the thought has always been in mind to study abroad when I choose my major sophomore year. Finally, I made the steps to take this adventure during my junior year at Texas State. I had an incredible group of RA co-workers at Arnold/Smith Hall that really encouraged me to make this step.

During the Spring Semester of 2011, I narrowed my choices of where I wanted to go in the world to either South America, Africa, or Asia. I didn't want Europe because I have been there before in the past and also it seems everyone and their mother goes there...literally. Then Central America was out because I have been there twice. Honestly, Australia was out because I know English and I didn't think it was enough of a chance. I decided on South America, specifically, Argentina because I wanted a place where I don't know the language well/ at all - check! I wanted a place where I'm actually going below the equator (season switch-a-roo) - check! And lastly, I wanted a place no one I know personally has been - SUPER check!

My mind was set on Argentina...then came to time to research and narrow down programs with Texas State or a non-affiliated programs that actually go there. API was the winner!!! Woot! And a student has to apply to get in which I did, obviously. So, now came the long process (I mean terribly long....) of filling out the application with API but not only that, I needed to get this plan of studying abroad approved by Texas State. That meant going to Study Abroad Office often, Financial Aid Office often, School Adviser Office often...I think y'all get the picture. By the time school was over, I was still faxing and emailing information over to API because a big chuck of my application had to be done by May 15...I was leaving school May 16...and I finish my finals ended on May 12. There wasn't a lot of time left plus add on my lovely RA duties (haha) and checking people out (haha) and study well enough on my finals (HAHA)...I was basically a wreck near the end. Oh man, I have to give it up for my friends/co-workers...made my stress a lot easier to deal with.

Alright, now we have caught up with the present...like right now...this moment.

Sorry, too serious.

The here and now, I am currently very broke. (hence the title) This pass Tuesday, I brought my flight ticket. THAT WAS NOT CHEAP and WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST OF MY PROGRAM....(my mind was saying Damn...Damn...Damn like when on the Martin Lawrence show his mama's bird died hahaha). I was very sad to see my bank account dip so low because of that ticket! However, getting this ticket meant 2 things.

1. This is really happening.
2. For real, there is no turning back.

I'm really about to take a jump, hop and skip over to a country I hardly know. - Yeah you crazy
Now the only things I'm waiting on is aid from Texas State and buying my cell phone. But overall, I think this can be something I look back at and say yeah been there or even take my kids to meet my host family I will be staying with. This blog will definitely help me remember the good, the bad, and the ugly time there but if it didn't have all of that it wouldn't be much of an adventure now would it? :)

p.s. Everything before this blog (date-wise) is from my freshman year when I had to create a blog for my English class. I decided to revamp it in order to use for my study abroad updates. So if y'all check it out great...if not so what, who cares as my friend Alyssa says. Stay tuned for more post to come and let me know what y'all think of the blog set up and content in this one particularly.

Hair?!?!

Well, yall know I trying to get Dreadlocks. This is so exciting and a journey at same time. I got them back in January. And its now the end of April and my hair is pretty long now. Locking of the hair usually takes 3 months to 6 months. Most of my hair i think is getting there because its starting to bud. That means hair starts to get nappy and thick in a certain spot for a while then starts to grow together which is locking. I am planning to get my hair to shoulder length which I'm excited about!! A lot of people in my dorm keep saying i have really good hair and it grows fast. And everyone says i look like Lenny Kravitz when i wear my aviators :). I think that pretty awesome.

Summer is getting closer...

I am so ready for these summer days coming up. I must survive these next 2 and half weeks for school finals. Then that will be it!!! I haven't had thoughts about summer but to just have fun. However, my parents and I both think taking summer classes will speed up the process in me getting out of college sooner. Also, I will probably be working out the family restaurant which is always a new experience depending on who is working that day. My cousin in Florida also wants me to come out there to see her and her son. That would be a wonderful idea, relaxing time on the beach. At the same time, my aunt in Wisconsin wants me to come and visit her. I never been up to the north of the US, so that would be nice to visit too. We'll see what happens.

Exam Schedule

So, at first i thought i had three exams on the May 12th. That is also the last of all final, so i thought i going to go crazy studying. The exams i thought i had all that day were English, Math, Communication. English i really can't study for because its going to be an impromptu. Then for Math is will be over all the stuff we learned all semester. This exam will suck a lot haha. Then for Communication is will also be over all the stuff we learn this semester. Which i do not think will be a big deal if i study more then i did last time for my other test. However, i saw that English and Communication where both at 8 am. I kind of started freaking out about how will i know what test to take at what time. In the end, I wrote down the dates of my finals on the wrong days. English is on the 8th, which is much better. :)

pt 5... best for last, The Kills

So the night is going great so far. Everyone is on top of everyone else, so it terribly hot. However once in a while everyone is getting drops on water on their heads. And throughgout the night we were steady but surely getting closer to the stage which was amazing. This group has so much energy for just 2 people. The guy was doing some cool tricks with his guitar and the girl had alot of head banging action. This band is pretty talented in their art. The first time i heard of the Kills was from a show on the CW. The sound is called Sour Cherry listen to it everyone. And also listen to their whole recent CD. I believe live music is creating a moment and for us listener we must live in that moment with the bands. Love life, love music... then end.

pt 4... yeahhh, The Horrors

First i'll talked about Alyssa. From what i can tell on Friday she is into Photography, which is awesome. We found out that we don't live far from each other on campus. I'm in Butler and she is in Sterry. At the concert, she also told me she had a university star pass which means she can go on stage if she had a camera too. And she did between her and david booth. She said she was really nervous and i kept telling her that she'll do fine and it was a really cool oppunitunity. Alright now when the second band come on stage they seemed a little creppy. Ha of cousre they would be with their name the Horrors. Shockingly their music was pretty good like the Magic Wands, the lead singer was throwing up his hand awkwardly haha. More to come... for the last band.

Pt 3... of a great night, Magic Wands

Well, so after the first band got on stage i was a little freaked out. Its because they had like a stuffed animal tiger heads on two mic sticks. I thought the their eyes were going to light up or something haha. The Magic Wands were really cool sounding. I really liked their energy of kinda techno with a mix of Daft Punk and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It started to be seems like it was getting hotter inside Emo's. However it was more body heat inside the place plus i don' t think there was any A/C in this place...joy. Everyone go listen to Black Magic by Magic Wands good song. This was always the moment where this pretty girl Alyssa introduced herself to me. What a moment!!!
More to come...