smorgasbord

I am always at a loss as to what to call my blog posts - frankly I think most of them should have the above title, since they are rarely focused on anything specific.

So - Here is the motley crew of pictures and stories for you.

I am starting to get into a schedule...of sorts. It is so strange not having a jam-packed-I-don't-have-time-for-hygiene schedule. It's really nice, but it's been so long, since I have had a normal schedule, that I don't know what to do with myself. So Sleep is taking over. A lot.

I've been writing my book quite a bit actually, but I am making no promises, because as soon as I do - writers block ensues. I've started doing english conversation tables, for both general students and will be starting for the dancers. I also just started teaching ballet to two of the girls in my ward. I also try to spend as much time in the gym as possible. The food is fattening, and I actually have time to devote. Plus I have to work really hard to keep up with these dancers - I'm starting to use muscles in ways I didn't think were possible.

I was given a ticket to YogiTee - a show performed by a French dance company that fuses break dancing and modern dance. If I could choose, I would like to move like this/be in a company and/or choreograph like this. It was so amazing I cried. And if you watch the preview, you'll realize it's because the technique is so fabulous, not because the story-line was heart wrenching. Although that was good too. From what I understand it was very much insect/hive roles/hierarchies. Enjoy.


Before the concert however, two of my dance friends took me out to dinner in Ximen (the most wonderful, dangerous for your wallet venue of good eats and shopping) Where they treated me to authentic Taiwanese cuisine. It was delicious and I enjoyed the evening very much.

Karyn and I also went to the Chiang Ka-Shek memorial to see her friend perform in a large military festival. It was so cold that day, and very crowded, but it was really fun, and we were able to meet more friends.



Food diary - So the motto since getting here, is just try everything. Well almost everything. I am not sure if I will ever eat blood soaked rice patties (Scratch that - I did end up trying it before I finished the post....not bad, but not something I would catch myself craving), or the chicken feet, and pig snout. but everything else - I just point at and put in my mouth and see what happens. So far the results are all positive. Like I love pig skin - but I never would have ever thought to eat that. So here you go - all the new delicious eats!



A delicious sweet bread from the 7 eleven - Taiwanese make such delicious bread.


Dongua - (I'm not sure if that is how it is spelled, but it is winter melon herbal tea with jinju(spelling?) Which is literally pearls or beads that are kind of like glutinous mochi (rice) balls that you suck up through your straw. I am an addict. I will miss this SSSSOOOOooooo bad when I go back to the states.




Mr. Donut - America has nothing on Asian donuts. It's one of my favorite treats here. These ones are made from rice so they are really chewy and doughy. At first I was like 'That is the wimpiest donut I have ever seen. Most of it's not even there! WRONG. BEST DONUTS EVER! If you ever see the sign below, you know you are at a Mr. Donut shop and you must go and eat one. You probably wont find one unless you are in Asia.


MOS BURGER. Yet another thing that I don't think we have readily in the USA. Really good, generally seafood Japanese burgers. Delicious. This one is shrimp and other stuff inside a bun made of sticky rice. How clever and oh so good.

(A building just a metro ride away from my place - a lot of the buildings here light up. It's a lot like Disneyland)


So now that it's been almost a year - let me catch you up.

I am currently in Taiwan, yes, studying dance. I am attending the university my Mentor and Professor attended. She asked Karyn and I to be the first ones to go. We are the guinea pigs, and this is how this trial run is going.

After a very long plane ride, with a stop in Hong Kong, I arrived in Taiwan. When the plane flew below the cloud cover, I could hardly believe my eyes. It was like I was flying into the jungle - No joke, with colorful, crumbling buildings all around. It was beautiful, just not what I was expecting. I think I thought this would be like Hong Kong, very industrial and flashy.
I figured that this must just be the rural area where the airport was located. Once in the terminal, I noticed the very strong scent that is Taiwan. It's musty and wet, and reminds me of mushrooms and foliage - it was so strong and prominent. I immediately loved it.



(Karyn expressing joy in front of a tree at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial - A huge happy hello!!!)

There was this Japanese girl on the flight who gave me an evian water because her sister was one of the flight attendants and she thought I was a cute little american. So I drank it to be polite, but I had already gone through so much liquid prior to this that I was in desperate need of a bathroom. However, when I found the bathroom in the terminal, I was a at a loss, and there was a line forming behind me. The picture and the video more accurately describe my reaction.







http://youtu.be/z1jaCR_rAzg

Unfortunately - I can't embed the video, but you know how it goes. I was awkwardly letting people go in front of me, and hesitating. Finally the one stall with a normal toilet opened up, and I found relief. It wasn't until I got onto campus that Karyn taught me how to use these toilets. Now it's totally normal and I don't feel strange about it at all.



The city is so incredible. It's so rustic, while being metropolitan. I have hardly seen anyone that isn't Asian, and it's so cramped and chaotic. I absolutely love it! The buildings are old, colorful and falling apart. What I would consider the ghetto in America is the heart of this big city - but I feel so safe and these crumbled buildings are beautiful to me.


Campus is GORGEOUS! And it is so nice to be at a University solely dedicated to the arts. There are murals, statues, fountains all over campus, all the students dress like rock stars (but that is how most of the citizens of Taipei dress), and we all have this common ground called the arts.

The food is out of this world. Although I think I am going to get so fat, because they fry everything, use copious amounts of oil and all the food is fatty. Already I am becoming best friends with gym. Oh and not to mention that all the dancers look as skinny as professional ballerinas(Most of them are that good too). Asian metabolisms. No wonder they can eat like that. However I am keeping a food diary - or more like a photo diary to record all the delicious good eats here. The food is so cheap - the below is a handmade waffle cone with fruit and ice cream. I thought it was going to be the size of a small cone. Oh no...it was half the size of me, and it was a little over $2.00 in USD. Karyn and I have to eat out every meal since we are living in a dormitory, and we can get a huge meal, typically for about $1.50 (Large bowls of dumpling ramen....mmmmm!). The below are some of the delicious things Karyn and I have eaten so far.



The Ice Cream



Chocolate Cake



Dumplings



Ramen - Best ever!



Strawberries with sweetened condensed milk -my favorite dessert right now



Baozi - (Pronounced bowdza) Steamed bun with meat inside. It's what they eat for breakfast over here, and it is my favorite!!!

So here is the day I left Cedar City - Some of the dancers brought me an ice cream cake as a goodbye!



Miss my Gracie and Park!!!



I spent the night in Las Vegas, and the next day when I checked in at the airport really early for my flight, my dad surprised me by flying into the Las Vegas airport and we had Valentines Day Dinner together, before I left for Taiwan. Best Valentines Day Ever!!!!



So long story short - I love Taiwan! It's so fun and interesting, exciting and energetic. The language barriers haven't been a huge problem, just frustrating. Most everyone can speak a little english, and often they're really good. I just really wish I knew Mandarin. But in all - Taiwan is wonderful!

Life in the Fast Lane

So it's been like 6 months since I last posted....let's be honest - I'm not really an avid blogger...although I love reading the blogs of others.

The title of this blog is Quest For College, which I came up with when it was the only thing I could think of. So that's the topic.

School is insane....INSANE! I didn't think it was possible to get any busier, but I've managed. For example: One of my friends posted on facebook that his day was crazy because he was going from 6am - 11pm. And in my head I was like...."Chhhh. Dude that's nothing. I'm going from 6am -2am today." And then I remembered that that is nothing to be proud of, and I'm just a moron.

So what am I doing you ask that keeps me so sleep deprived?

- Dance (secondary) Education Major.
Honestly it feels like a double major because I have to do secondary education and certify in dance education as well.

- President of Songs of the Heart Choir (replacement of HOPE)

- Member of the Institute Council

- I work as an RA

-This year I have anywhere between 10-20 hours of Dance rehearsal outside of class.

- Going to New York twice this semester for dance:
- Performing Alwin Nikolais' Imago with fellow dancers in NYC
- NCUR : My piece from the student dance concert was accepted into the National College of Undergraduate Research to be presented as a dissertation...this one is taking a lot of time.

Here are pictures of my piece - I'll post the actual video of the performance/video I made at a later date.








Next is just pictures of the dance concert from the fall and last years faculty.












And the last order of business from a ridiculously long post that probably no one read all the way through:

-I just got accepted to go dance in Taiwan for a study abroad!!!!!

No amount of exclaimation marks will account for my excitement. I get to go with one of my favorite dance friends Karyn, who I danced with (unknowingly) and shared a mutual best friend (also unknowingly) when we were like 11. Wierd right? Totally rad? Oh yes.



So that's it friends - perhaps I should title this blog Quest For Simplicity....I'll get there someday right? Life is crazy and faster than I could have ever imagined, but I am really, truly happy. I'll try to blog again in smaller increments! Loves!

For Lindsay Part 2 -Fall Semester

Since Lindsay told me I needed to post again here it is - This might be the only post that happens this semester. We'll see how it goes, and how much time I have.



What am I up to?



- Continuing my Dance Degree at SUU

- Working as an RA (which means I live on campus)

- Working as a student mentor

- President of the Songs of the Heart (The insitutes advanced vocal choral)

- Institute council/representative

- A member of the Orchesis Modern Dance Company (of SUU)

- Rehearsals for the student and faculty dance concert (about 17 hours a week)

-Trying to put together a video dance production in 2 weeks. (aaaaahhhh!)



It's been a lot better than I thought it would be. It's incredibly exhausting and I often sleep for obscenely long amounts on the weekends, but I am really enjoying myself. I have come to the conclusion that I have a really bad habit at overscheduling myself. Not just a little but a lot. There's just so much to do I can't help it. It's worse at a University because there are so many opportunities to get involved. I always tell myself that next semester I won't do that again - But it's very much like saying you're going to start the diet...next week.





In other news -

The Weddings:

Rachel and Jayne both got married, and I was lucky to be able to go to both. Absolutely amazing experiences. Here are a few pics from both (I was having issues with my camera at Rae's wedding so those pics are rather blurry.)

For Lindsay

(Hiking Kannarraville Falls)

At the request of Lindsay, I'm blogging. I either have too much or nothing interesting to divulge whenever I blog. Hopefully I can find a happy medium. So this is life so far:

-I am currently working as an R.A. (aka Resident Assistant), and an Assistant Summer Conference Planner.

-I've accepted the request to be the HOPE choir president.

-I've accepted the R.A. position for the 2010-2011 schoolyear

-I've gotten a job for the 2010-2011 schoolyear as a mentor

So starting this fall I am going to be really busy. It will be fun, just really really busy. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I will have 2 jobs, HOPE, dance rehearsals, and also classes and homework. Say goodbye to clean laundry.


In other news, my latest adventures include:

-Hiking Kannaraville Falls

-Teaching myself how to do acrylic nails. (That's going to take a while)

-My roommate schooling me in the ways of Cricut.

Spring Semester Thus Far

Blogging.....it shouldn't be such a struggle but it truly is. I can never find the time to blog. Or when I do find the time to blog....I can't think about anything to blog about. So here's just a little jumbled randomness.

Spring Semester = I feel old,and disoriented.

Why you ask? Because of time. The older I get, the more time flies by. I seriously felt like it was the second week of the semester, and just yesterday I realized I had to have all these midterm papers and tests next week. Aaaah! I honestly feel as if every semester gets faster and faster. If I'm not careful I'll blink and be 78.

Time flying means some good things. Like the end of the semester...which means I get to move out of my house. YAY!!!!! I seriously live in Satan's House. In that sense I can't wait for the semester to be over.

Dance is going really well. I have learned so much, and improved so much, and yet I know I still have so much to learn. I've really enjoyed my dance this semester. That is probably in part due to the fact that I am not taking 19 credits. (Dumb idea. Don't ever do it.) Plus I have amazing instructors and so much opportunity to get my work out there and particpate.

This semester for example I got to participate in Alwin Nicholais' IMAGO. It was a choreographer from the 60s...which has a large influence on the piece. You will see exactly what I mean. The dance is based on an imaginary world, much like OZ or Willy Wonka's Oompa Loompa's. Often times they would perform for children to spark their imagination. Our University got a grant to do the piece, for the Faculty Dance Concert this year, a concert with the Ririe Woodbury Company, and then taking it to New York next Spring to perform it there. We are even wearing the original costumes which are like 60 years old. SO COOL! Which includes little white cones on our head, with clown make-up. At this point I have not even the slightest idea if I'm going to New York since there are two casts, but it's a really big honor for the school, and such an amazing experience for me. It really has taught me so much, both good and bad about myself, the professional world, and the art with which I practice everyday. Here are some pictures and videos of people and companies who have done it in the past.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awszvKgl9fA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm1FA_-RTyU&feature=related


The next opportunity I've gotten which I am absolutely ecstatic about is Dance in the Environment. An alumni of the SUU dance program came to my Modern Dance Class, and auditioned us while we had class. She lives in St. George and has been setting choreography on groups of dances in the environment with costumes, and make-up. She goes to a lot of different places to do this, so there's quite a bit of diversity. Then we take photo shoots, and video, and later combines all the dances on stage. For example we are doing a dance to music box music in the snow up in the canyon. Then we will have a big performance later. If Tim Burton did a dance it would be reminiscient of this. I absolutely love it! I'll post pictures as soon as I am able.

There's a lot more to blog about, but I'll leave it for next time, since I've already blogged a novel.

Let it Snow

This is a really random short post. Today was the last day of finals for me, and even though it's over, it was a dismal week, and definately today was the worst of them all. However tonight, I happened to have one of the best nights of probably the whole semester. I had a HOPE performance down in St. George, and we sang Christmas carols and drank hot chocolate on the way down. It was a good performance, and then we went out for 5 Guys Burgers. Oh my heck! I don't think I have ever had a burger that good! Amazing! But that really isn't what made it an amazing night. A few of us drove to the Temple (St. George) and looked at the lights, and it started snowing,the most beautiful fat fluffy flakes, all lit up by the temple. It was like being in a snow globe. I don't like to be cold, but it was so gorgeous and magical that I didn't notice the cold at all. We ran around for probably 20 minutes catching snowflakes in our mouths, and walked around after that just watching the snow fall and chatting. It was absolutely enchanting, and turned my miserable day into one of the best nights in a long time.

(This isn't a picture I took. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera, so this is the closest to what it looked like.)