So I didn't post yesterday. I know. I should feel ashamed.
But here's a post to make up for it.
Day 2 - drive from Buffalo, WY to Salt Lake City. We started out with a GORGEOUS mountain view from Jenna's house. Situated right on the edge of town, the view of the Bighorn mountains was just what we needed to motivate us to wake up and get moving.
We were soon off to our drive through nowhereness, WY. The landscape was enough to enjoy, however, as we drove through several mountain passes. Driving into SLC was the most exciting however, as the mountains had grown (it seemed); We also passed a ski run from the 2002 Winter Olympics - a highlight from the road at least.
We finally pulled into SLC around 6:30, checked into the hotel, and microwaved our easy-mac. From there we decided to just head to the Mormon Tabernacle. It was fairly close by, and was free. Plus, if you know me, you would know that I love architecture.
Putting our slight fear of Mormon convertists aside, we entered the Tabernacle and received a guided tour. It. Was. HUGE!!!
From there the tour guide told us to head to the temple grounds across the street. After taking maybe just 6 photos, two girls came up to us and started talking to us. (Yes, I know what they were probably trying to do.) But they were so sweet and were not imposing and pushy at all. They very willingly took us all around the grounds into different buildings, giving us all the background of every one. They could have been official tour guides themselves.
After being graciously lead around, they suggested that before we leave we walk over to the other side of the temple to view the reflecting pool and a beautiful lit view of the front of the temple. Needless to say, it was a beautiful sight to behold.
After Chelsea and I took about 700 photos (collectively), we headed back to the hotel for a night of hot-tubbing and sleep!
This morning was an early start as we began our trek across the "desert." Since when does the desert mean 40 degrees, cold, and RAINY?! Just wondering. Because that's what we had virtually the entire way across. It was patchy rain and clouds, occasionally letting the sun poke through for a half our period or so.
The real excitement, however, came as we got to the California border.
(We got stopped at the agriculture "stopping point." (Which I thought was a toll booth at first). "Do you have any fruits in your car?" he asked. "I quickly answered 'apples & grapes'." "I'll need to see the apples." So I bent over the seat, opened the cooler, and pulled out the two Pink Lady apples purchased far away in Watertown, SD. The guard then checked our apples... Good news: Our apples were safe to enter California! Thank Goodness! (I just don't know how we could have made it the rest of the way today without them.)
But wait...there's more excitement. About 5 miles after that stop, it began to...not rain, not even in sunshine rays...it began to SNOW! It wasn't so terrible at first. Just a few streams that seemed like rain. But the farther we went, the bigger the flakes got and the whiter the ground got. Not after long Chelsea and I were ready to start singing Christmas songs. For about an hour we drove in what seemed like a really good snowstorm. Chelsea kept her calm and cool while driving, while i clung onto whatever I could, trying not to completely lose my sanity. (YOU try driving in a snowstorm with 5% grades down a mountain!)
We winded our way down the mountain, and finally the snowflakes turned into rain. And then we went farther and the rain turned to patchy fog. And then the patchy fog turned into....SUNSHINE, PALM TREES, AND GORGEOUS WEATHER??? Seriously, what is up with you California? Are you really that hot n' cold? (Nice pun, I know.)
We finally made our way to Sunnyvale, to the home of Chelsea's great aunt. It has been a BLAST here so far. As soon as we got here, they fed us. And do I ever mean FEED us!
Dinner turned to chatting in the living room - about San Francisco and their travels abroad (and boy, do they ever have stories!) Chelsea's great aunt is a firecracker - and a hilarious one at that. Some of the stories she told about her and her husband's travels and adventures together were side-splitting. Then we learned that she is an artist - in the true sense of the word. She paints (many BEAUTIFUL paintings), she makes lamp shades (also BEAUTIFUL) and just about anything else you can imagine. We kept saying "We're just trying to figure out what you're NOT talented at...and we've got nothing."
Chelsea and I will head to San Fran tomorrow for some sightseeing, then head down HWY 1! It's so surreal to think that we're in California. We're both having a great time and it's hard to keep from being too excited about whatever comes next!
For now, however, it is 1:30 am CENTRAL TIME! And even though 11:30 feels early to be going to bed, my eyes are growing harder and harder to keep open; not to mention that Chelsea has already zonked out beside me anyway.
PICTURES AND VIDEOS TO COME SOON! (turns out that it's a lot of work to edit the 500 I've taken so far! Not to mention putting together a video for each day of our travels..)
Day 2 - boring and exciting, all in one.
There’s something to be said about living on the edge of town. We woke up this morning at Jenna’s house – I’ve been there once before, but the view out of their living room window took me away, again. The picturesque view of the Bighorn Mountains caught my attention. It was a beautiful view to wake up to.
By 8:15, Chelsea and I were heading down I-25 for day. Once we hit Casper (which is a beautiful city, by the way) we caught a short-cut, which took us through and around some beautiful mountain ranges.
I’ve always said that I’m not much of a mountain girl. And to an extent, that’s true. I could never live in this kind of mountainous area (mainly because I feel like everything is so isolated). But driving through the mountains today has in a sense proved me wrong. But after the nothingness that is North Dakota and South Dakota, it’s nice to have something to look at.
Soon we came to Rawlings, WY – the town that connected the shortcut road and I-80. After gassing up, we drove across the road and broke out the cooler full of food. Turkey & ham sandwiches, chips & salsa, fruit – and of course the mountain dew.
Our trip to Utah was not very exciting until we hit Utah - and then it literally transformed from hills and small mountain ranges to ... well ... Utah!
Driving by the Olympic Ski run was exciting. And after getting "lost" at the SLC airport, we found our hotel, quickly settled in and grabbed a bite to eat, then headed to the Mormon Tabernacle and Temple Square, which was beautiful, amazing, huge, and historical. Two lovely Mormon girls quickly found us and gave us our own personal tour - it was nice to meet them without feeling like they were pushing Mormonism on us. We could tell they wanted us to explore and discover Mormonism, but they were very kind.
The Temple area was exquisite, as was the reflecting pool outside the temple. We had a great time wandering around before going back to our hotel for some R&R, including hot tubbing and sleep.
Journey Day 1
WE MADE IT! .... to Buffalo, Wyoming, that is.
From South Dakota, through North Dakota, and back through South Dakota again, we enjoyed the drive. Sort of. Sometimes North Dakota can get boring. And we also discovered that Custer's National Forest isn't really a forest. But once we hit the Black Hills, our spirits brightened.
MY day started at 6:30 am - packing up the last of my things. I kissed Watertown, SD goodbye (not without several tears shed as I watched it disappear in my rearview mirror) and headed north to Fargo, and west to my alma matter of a city, Bismarck. Somewhere along the way,my Odometer read this. I thought it was photo worthy:
After stopping at my "other" home and eating Lena's good hotdish for lunch, I stole Chelz away for the next week. From there, she took the wheel with a deathgrip. It was WINDY!!! And by windy, I'm pretty sure the genius' who nicknamed Chicago the "windy city" were highly unaware of the winds produced in North Dakota. MY GOODNESS they would rip. But Chelsea's grip was able to loosen after not long, and the rest of our drive continued through the nothingness that is the Dakotas.
Until, that is, we hit Spearfish. We saw the grandness of the Black Hills and enjoyed them thoroughly, as they were a welcomed change in geography.
We found a gas station, which luckily had a microwave - we had hoped for that, since our "dinner" for the night (and for the next 3) was Easy Mac. So as weird as we felt, we stuck our bowls of noodles & water into the station's dinky microwave and made ourselves some Easy Mac.
10 Miles later we were at the border of our first "exciting" state . . . Wyoming!
We saw signs and passed through towns such as Aladdin & Sundance (as in Butch Cassidy and) From there, we meandered our way up to Devil's Tower for a quick history lesson, some fun photo ops, and some gorgeous "scenic" views. (But the best is yet to come!)
*many more pictures to come!*
We pulled into Buffalo, WY into my former roommate and dear friend Jenna's house. Situated right on the edge of town, we are excited to wake up and see a stunning view of the Bighorn Mountains.
Our day will begin early, with us leaving town hopefully around 7:30 a.m. From there we will make our way down to Salt Lake City for some other excitement!
From South Dakota, through North Dakota, and back through South Dakota again, we enjoyed the drive. Sort of. Sometimes North Dakota can get boring. And we also discovered that Custer's National Forest isn't really a forest. But once we hit the Black Hills, our spirits brightened.
MY day started at 6:30 am - packing up the last of my things. I kissed Watertown, SD goodbye (not without several tears shed as I watched it disappear in my rearview mirror) and headed north to Fargo, and west to my alma matter of a city, Bismarck. Somewhere along the way,my Odometer read this. I thought it was photo worthy:
After stopping at my "other" home and eating Lena's good hotdish for lunch, I stole Chelz away for the next week. From there, she took the wheel with a deathgrip. It was WINDY!!! And by windy, I'm pretty sure the genius' who nicknamed Chicago the "windy city" were highly unaware of the winds produced in North Dakota. MY GOODNESS they would rip. But Chelsea's grip was able to loosen after not long, and the rest of our drive continued through the nothingness that is the Dakotas.
Until, that is, we hit Spearfish. We saw the grandness of the Black Hills and enjoyed them thoroughly, as they were a welcomed change in geography.
We found a gas station, which luckily had a microwave - we had hoped for that, since our "dinner" for the night (and for the next 3) was Easy Mac. So as weird as we felt, we stuck our bowls of noodles & water into the station's dinky microwave and made ourselves some Easy Mac.
10 Miles later we were at the border of our first "exciting" state . . . Wyoming!
We saw signs and passed through towns such as Aladdin & Sundance (as in Butch Cassidy and) From there, we meandered our way up to Devil's Tower for a quick history lesson, some fun photo ops, and some gorgeous "scenic" views. (But the best is yet to come!)
*many more pictures to come!*
We pulled into Buffalo, WY into my former roommate and dear friend Jenna's house. Situated right on the edge of town, we are excited to wake up and see a stunning view of the Bighorn Mountains.
Our day will begin early, with us leaving town hopefully around 7:30 a.m. From there we will make our way down to Salt Lake City for some other excitement!
Planning, planning, and planning!
It looked easy. It seemed easy. Just plug in one point to the next, and plan out your trip. But it was so much more than that.
Dad and I spent two hours solidifying the trip.
The first matter - how to get the best friend and I together. Meet in Fargo. Would she come down to Watertown and we'd leave from there? But I94 is faster from Fargo than going south and over. But then we'd be going right back through Bismarck. But Chelsea needs her car for when she flies back from LA to Fargo. Figuring out a plan to begin the trip was the majority of my first hurdle.
I will be driving to Fargo and over via '94, taking hwy 85 south, connecting with I-90 in Spearfish, SD, and then driving farther west to finally hit Buffalo, WY in our first day. Where I pick Chelsea up is TBD - probably Bismarck, as she thinks she will have a relative drive her car out to Fargo during memorial weekend.
My former roommate Jenna will host us for the night - well, her and her mother. We will have lodging for the night, and the next morning we will get up early to leave again as Jenna leaves to teach Kindergarten.
For the next 8 or so hours, Chelsea and I will drive south to south and west to Salt Lake City, UT, home of the Mormon Tabernacle, the 2002 Winter Olympics, and apparently a beautiful peace garden. Hopefully we'll have some daytime left to enjoy some sights before turning into our hotel for the night, which is apparently a pretty snazzy hotel for $60.
The following day will be our longest, as we'll drive from Salt Lake City straight across the desert through Nevada. Making our way through the width of California, Chelsea and I will then head to Sunnyvale, CA, where her great-aunt lives for the night.
Our final day will start with a trip back to San Fran, to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, see the Full House house, and then take our time driving down the Coastal Highway. We might also stop at the Monterey Bay to see if we can catch a glimpse of any whales or dolphins. From there, it's straight down the coast, driving with mountains, hills, and palm trees on one side, and the ocean right on the other.
Four days. Four long days. Four exciting days. Four days full of driving, best friend laughter, singing crazy songs, sleeping, eating munchies, and simply enjoying each others' company.
It will be four days I will never forget.
Chelsea will then spend through the 31st with me and my aunt/uncle in Ventura, then the evening of the 31st, we'll drive down to LA to spend the night at my friend Deana's...the next morning we will leave at 3:30 am to head to LAX.
This will be an unforgettable experience. :-)
A dream come true - BFF roady to take place in 2 weeks!
So my last post I shared I had found an internship for the summer. In Cali. 90 miles north of LA to be specific.
Originally, we had planned on me flying out there, but since having a car is something of a necessity, plans changed. Dad threw that at me on Sunday night, mentioning that I will need somebody to go with me. (My first thought: "AWESOME! ROAD TRIP!") So as I drove to vespers (in a hurry, since I was yet again late...only because I forgot I was parked in hell), I kept thinking how cool this road trip would be with Chels, since I had always dreamed about taking a cross-country roady with my best friend.
That very night, Chelsea and I had went to vespers together. After which, just as my dad threw the news at me, I threw the idea of a road trip to chelz. Her reaction: "Perfect timing! but I don't know if I have the money for a flight back." She wouldn't have. Flights, for the most part, were in between 120-160$, which aren't that bad....but for a poor college student, it was a little more she can afford to spend. She had asked her mom if she could use the credit card and pay her back once her first paycheck of the summer came in. But even that was iffy. So she had told me on Tuesday that chances are probably "no."
My dear friend Sara and I then started planning out the trip. She had mentioned she wanted to come with me and I was excited for her to come along, since our "buddy" title is "travel buddy." But there's something to be said for counting your chickens before they hatch. (So sorry, yia yia! I really am!!! good news: traveling BACK is still open! 2nd week in August: keep it open!)
Today things started to really fall in place. Chelsea called me late this evening. After rushing to find my phone, (which in this crazy mess of boxes and packed up belongings is difficult to find) I started spouting off about how my room was a disaster and I had much to get done. When I was done throwing my stressed-out rants about packing and cleaning at her, she's like "Are you ready for this?" I was expecting a resounding "no" from her, nixing our trip. So outloud I just said, "Yes or no. Just tell me," fully expecting the latter to be it. Then she said the craziest thing: "I am booking my flight out of LAX as we speak...." I do believe "Shutup!" was the first word out of my mouth. The next half of her sentence was even more unbelievable. "....for $40 dollars." At this point I cannot remember whether or not I actually used words, but I believe my expression was something to this effect. "SHUTUP, NO WAY, AWESOME, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, THANK YOU DEAR GOD, THIS IS AMAZING *SCREAMS AND SQUEALS OF EXCITEMENT*".... all whilst jumping up in the air and repeating over and over expressions of disbelief. The next half an hour we talked about how excited we were, then some more about how crazy that $40 dollar ticket was. Remember, just the previous days, they were all $120. For the same day. The same flight. But for some reason, God and the airlines agreed that $40 would be a decent price.
And so begins our journey out west together. I am currently planning out which routes are faster, easier, better for my car and our sanity. It's more work than I anticipated.
What I'm most excited for is our journey down the coast of California from San Fran to Ventura. Taking Hwy 1, we'll be driving the coastal highway for 7 hours. 7 beautiful hours of beautiful waves. 7 hours of Colbie Caillat, Israel Kamaeagokhaole (or however you spell his last name), beach boys, and so much more. 7 hours of us just driving down the coast. Together. Probably singing songs from RENT, Wicked, and every other song we can think of. Talking and laughing, screaming and squealing in excitement, and just enjoying each others company.
All this in addition to 4 days of just driving (which I'm sure will be both happy and frustrating, full of enjoyment and exhaustion.) From Fargo, ND, back to Watertown, SD, all the way out to Buffalo, WY to spend the night at Jenna's.
Then from Buffalo to somewhere around Salt Lake City. And from Salt Lake City out to San Fran, across the golden gate bridge, and down the coastal highway.
I am scared. I am excited. But mostly, so completely grateful that this life-long dream is finally coming true: Best Friends finally going cross-country together.
Originally, we had planned on me flying out there, but since having a car is something of a necessity, plans changed. Dad threw that at me on Sunday night, mentioning that I will need somebody to go with me. (My first thought: "AWESOME! ROAD TRIP!") So as I drove to vespers (in a hurry, since I was yet again late...only because I forgot I was parked in hell), I kept thinking how cool this road trip would be with Chels, since I had always dreamed about taking a cross-country roady with my best friend.
That very night, Chelsea and I had went to vespers together. After which, just as my dad threw the news at me, I threw the idea of a road trip to chelz. Her reaction: "Perfect timing! but I don't know if I have the money for a flight back." She wouldn't have. Flights, for the most part, were in between 120-160$, which aren't that bad....but for a poor college student, it was a little more she can afford to spend. She had asked her mom if she could use the credit card and pay her back once her first paycheck of the summer came in. But even that was iffy. So she had told me on Tuesday that chances are probably "no."
My dear friend Sara and I then started planning out the trip. She had mentioned she wanted to come with me and I was excited for her to come along, since our "buddy" title is "travel buddy." But there's something to be said for counting your chickens before they hatch. (So sorry, yia yia! I really am!!! good news: traveling BACK is still open! 2nd week in August: keep it open!)
Today things started to really fall in place. Chelsea called me late this evening. After rushing to find my phone, (which in this crazy mess of boxes and packed up belongings is difficult to find) I started spouting off about how my room was a disaster and I had much to get done. When I was done throwing my stressed-out rants about packing and cleaning at her, she's like "Are you ready for this?" I was expecting a resounding "no" from her, nixing our trip. So outloud I just said, "Yes or no. Just tell me," fully expecting the latter to be it. Then she said the craziest thing: "I am booking my flight out of LAX as we speak...." I do believe "Shutup!" was the first word out of my mouth. The next half of her sentence was even more unbelievable. "....for $40 dollars." At this point I cannot remember whether or not I actually used words, but I believe my expression was something to this effect. "SHUTUP, NO WAY, AWESOME, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, THANK YOU DEAR GOD, THIS IS AMAZING *SCREAMS AND SQUEALS OF EXCITEMENT*".... all whilst jumping up in the air and repeating over and over expressions of disbelief. The next half an hour we talked about how excited we were, then some more about how crazy that $40 dollar ticket was. Remember, just the previous days, they were all $120. For the same day. The same flight. But for some reason, God and the airlines agreed that $40 would be a decent price.
And so begins our journey out west together. I am currently planning out which routes are faster, easier, better for my car and our sanity. It's more work than I anticipated.
What I'm most excited for is our journey down the coast of California from San Fran to Ventura. Taking Hwy 1, we'll be driving the coastal highway for 7 hours. 7 beautiful hours of beautiful waves. 7 hours of Colbie Caillat, Israel Kamaeagokhaole (or however you spell his last name), beach boys, and so much more. 7 hours of us just driving down the coast. Together. Probably singing songs from RENT, Wicked, and every other song we can think of. Talking and laughing, screaming and squealing in excitement, and just enjoying each others company.
All this in addition to 4 days of just driving (which I'm sure will be both happy and frustrating, full of enjoyment and exhaustion.) From Fargo, ND, back to Watertown, SD, all the way out to Buffalo, WY to spend the night at Jenna's.
Then from Buffalo to somewhere around Salt Lake City. And from Salt Lake City out to San Fran, across the golden gate bridge, and down the coastal highway.
I am scared. I am excited. But mostly, so completely grateful that this life-long dream is finally coming true: Best Friends finally going cross-country together.
The beginning of it all
I have: a BIG announcement!!!
No, I'm not pregnant. Nor am I engaged. Nor do I have a boyfriend.
But! What I do have: AN INTERNSHIP!!!!!
Last year, God gave me the opportunity to go out to California for an internship. Then over spring break, my grandmother had her stroke, which made me rethink my summer plans. I knew at the time that I wasn't ready for California. I was quite disappointed. But I knew it was the right choice. So the following summer was spent in Watertown, SD, taking my grandmother to her therapy appointments and spending quality time with my sister, all while applying for "last-minute" jobs. Needless to say, I didn't get any bites, although I did get a week stint cashiering for a fireworks company during the week of the 4th. It was a frustrating summer, because I was jobless. At the same time, it was so wonderful to spend time with my sister and family, while knowing I'd be able to be home and take care of gramma.
Now things have changed. This summer I NEED an internship, and knowing the Watertown area, I just couldn't say "yes" to staying there for another summer, not knowing if I'd get an internship. So what was left? The cities...meh. Option, yes. Bismarck, Fargo, and even Camp were all tossed around as ideas. I sent some resumes and followed up with a few of them. But so far nothing was coming through. And I was getting increasingly irritated, frustrated, thinking that maybe I was some big failure that I couldn't even get an internship.
I would see "want" ads posted around campus for "NEEDED ROOMMATE FOR SUMMER"...and although I wanted to call them up and say, "hey, yeah, I'll take you up on that," something held me back. I'm glad I did.
Friday around 4 pm, I called up the same place that I was going to intern at last year in (CA) and just ask if they had any openings left. Immediately, she said, "YES!" And after she asked, "what are you studying?" and I answered "I am a senior journalism major," she let out another shout of praise. Having previously had English majors as interns, she had gotten frustrated with them when they couldn't catch on to the journalistic style of writing. Within 5 minutes, she had offered me the internship!!!! I asked her if she wanted me to send a resume or anything, and she said, "Yeah, sure, send it on over. But as far as the internship is concerned, I wouldn't doubt that you'll be great." So I sent in my resume and a few clippings (articles I've previously written/published.) The Ventura County Reporter will be my next place of...well...semi-employment. It is (of course as the economy goes) unpaid. But heck, to live in Cali and do an internship there...I COULD CARE LESS! (Ok, well I care a little, but not enough to dampen any elation!)
I hung up the phone more excited than you can imagine. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops!!! (I still do, and the next time i see any of you, I will probably tell you with a huge grin on my face.)
Later that night, I called up my aunt who lives in Ventura, and told her I got the internship. She was elated! Her and my uncle had wanted me to come out there to stay with them last year. When I told her, she was just as excited to have me stay there over the summer as I am to be able to stay there!!
Details are still in the works. I will most likely leave just before memorial day (to beat the high airline prices), and I start the internship June 2. As for when I am coming back, I am looking at August 8-14. But times when I intern still need to be worked out, as well as transportation. I am also looking for summer jobs while I'm out there, since I will need some extra income for cell phone bill and to help out with groceries, etc.
Am I nervous and scared and sad to leave the great state of MN for 10 weeks? Yes. Am I sad that my family will be here in the Midwest without me? Yes. Am I going to miss my sister? more than ever. Am I going to miss my parents? Also more than ever. Am I going to miss my dog??? well, don't tell them, but probably a little more than all of them combined! lol...only kidding...a little bit.
Am I going to miss the friends I have here? "Ya, Sure, ya Betcha!"
But as much as I am terrified and broken-hearted to leave these people behind for 10 weeks, I am MORE excited about being in Sunny California for the majority of my summer vacation. I will be working on stories in California. I will be working in California. And on the minimal down-time I have, I will be soaking up every last ray of the California sun on California beaches.
No, I'm not pregnant. Nor am I engaged. Nor do I have a boyfriend.
But! What I do have: AN INTERNSHIP!!!!!
Last year, God gave me the opportunity to go out to California for an internship. Then over spring break, my grandmother had her stroke, which made me rethink my summer plans. I knew at the time that I wasn't ready for California. I was quite disappointed. But I knew it was the right choice. So the following summer was spent in Watertown, SD, taking my grandmother to her therapy appointments and spending quality time with my sister, all while applying for "last-minute" jobs. Needless to say, I didn't get any bites, although I did get a week stint cashiering for a fireworks company during the week of the 4th. It was a frustrating summer, because I was jobless. At the same time, it was so wonderful to spend time with my sister and family, while knowing I'd be able to be home and take care of gramma.
Now things have changed. This summer I NEED an internship, and knowing the Watertown area, I just couldn't say "yes" to staying there for another summer, not knowing if I'd get an internship. So what was left? The cities...meh. Option, yes. Bismarck, Fargo, and even Camp were all tossed around as ideas. I sent some resumes and followed up with a few of them. But so far nothing was coming through. And I was getting increasingly irritated, frustrated, thinking that maybe I was some big failure that I couldn't even get an internship.
I would see "want" ads posted around campus for "NEEDED ROOMMATE FOR SUMMER"...and although I wanted to call them up and say, "hey, yeah, I'll take you up on that," something held me back. I'm glad I did.
Friday around 4 pm, I called up the same place that I was going to intern at last year in (CA) and just ask if they had any openings left. Immediately, she said, "YES!" And after she asked, "what are you studying?" and I answered "I am a senior journalism major," she let out another shout of praise. Having previously had English majors as interns, she had gotten frustrated with them when they couldn't catch on to the journalistic style of writing. Within 5 minutes, she had offered me the internship!!!! I asked her if she wanted me to send a resume or anything, and she said, "Yeah, sure, send it on over. But as far as the internship is concerned, I wouldn't doubt that you'll be great." So I sent in my resume and a few clippings (articles I've previously written/published.) The Ventura County Reporter will be my next place of...well...semi-employment. It is (of course as the economy goes) unpaid. But heck, to live in Cali and do an internship there...I COULD CARE LESS! (Ok, well I care a little, but not enough to dampen any elation!)
I hung up the phone more excited than you can imagine. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops!!! (I still do, and the next time i see any of you, I will probably tell you with a huge grin on my face.)
Later that night, I called up my aunt who lives in Ventura, and told her I got the internship. She was elated! Her and my uncle had wanted me to come out there to stay with them last year. When I told her, she was just as excited to have me stay there over the summer as I am to be able to stay there!!
Details are still in the works. I will most likely leave just before memorial day (to beat the high airline prices), and I start the internship June 2. As for when I am coming back, I am looking at August 8-14. But times when I intern still need to be worked out, as well as transportation. I am also looking for summer jobs while I'm out there, since I will need some extra income for cell phone bill and to help out with groceries, etc.
Am I nervous and scared and sad to leave the great state of MN for 10 weeks? Yes. Am I sad that my family will be here in the Midwest without me? Yes. Am I going to miss my sister? more than ever. Am I going to miss my parents? Also more than ever. Am I going to miss my dog??? well, don't tell them, but probably a little more than all of them combined! lol...only kidding...a little bit.
Am I going to miss the friends I have here? "Ya, Sure, ya Betcha!"
But as much as I am terrified and broken-hearted to leave these people behind for 10 weeks, I am MORE excited about being in Sunny California for the majority of my summer vacation. I will be working on stories in California. I will be working in California. And on the minimal down-time I have, I will be soaking up every last ray of the California sun on California beaches.
