LIFE HAPPENS.

You know what? Life really does happen so FAST.  I just read my last post about the little run in the mud. It's kinda disgusting the amount of things that have gone on since the last time I posted. I made all these New's Year's resolutions with Jeff, to write in my journal at least once a week. That sucks. So, I'll try to do this instead.

There is a plethora of life stories that I want to share but I will keep it to 3 things for now.

#1- Got ENGAGED!!
#2- Quit my Job.... eeeek!!
#3- Going on an Asian Vacation for 5 weeks to Taiwan, Philippines, and Thailand!!
#4- I know I said 3, but this is too good to not share. We are moving to BOISE!!

What the curse word are we thinking?! I really haven't the slightest clue. Life is one crazy thing. One day I work at Target, the next day I don't. That's just how it works. Then the next day we decide it's cool to spend thousands of dollars on a honeymoon. It's cool. I love Jeff, and I'm really excited to marry that man. He's just really the best thing ever.

Here is the engagement story. (I'll tell it via picture, I'm already sick of typing. Must. go. on.)


There we were Spring Breakin' like champs in San Francisco


It was really quite a last minute thing- but so great.


This was after the engagement, but I'll put it here anyway. We were practicing for our engagement pics. We're good. I love the Muir Woods.

Anyhoo, yes it had crossed my mind that perhaps Mr. Parker would propose while we were there. But really, I had no idea. He was really pretty downright awesome at keeping the whole thing a secret so all along I honestly had no idea what the man was thinking.

Well it comes down to the last day we are in San Fran. No proposal. Alright, Mr. Parker, it's not going to happen this time. At this point in time I'm thinking the guy honestly would do it in a Burger King parking lot, wouldn't surprise me.

The morning that we left we woke up early to go on a little bike ride. It was beautiful around this state park on the bay. Just one problem, our butt's were so sore from biking the day prior that it was ridiculously painful. We got about 3 blocks and then saw a trail. We decided to walk up it. To our surprise it had a lovely view of the city and bay.

Well, ya know, then I'm sure you can guess. We were just talking, he said really nice things. He's a really nice boy. I love him. Then mid-hug, he slid down my body, onto one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes, and that by FAR is the best decision I've ever made yet. Ever.

Atop that hill is where the magic happened. We were pretty excited.


So excited that we just eloped.
Sike.

There it is in a nutshell. Crazy.

In 1 short week I'm free of Target.

In just 2 short weeks I'll have myself a hub.

And then we go on a sweet honeymoon.

And then we move to Boise.

I'm pretty excited for this adventure.

Especially with that cool boy.

More posts coming soon....about wedding details, Target scoop, NYC trip, and who the ell know what else.

A little run in the mud? Yes.

Have you ever heard of Cahoots?

It's a mud run/obstacle course. 

Team event.

Kinda amazing race style. 

Jeff and I did it a couple of weekends ago. 

These are the lovely pictures that the photographer of the event captured. 

How evil am I?

Like really, that is a face of a demon, and I'm gripping my claws deep into Mr. Parker's shoulders. 

Then... don't worry... I dunk his face FULLY in the mud.

Cool. 

But oh wait, it gets better. 

Then I point and laugh. 

Aren't I thee best girlfriend ever?

All-in-all the race was pretty fantastic. 

How could it not be?

(maybe the best part was I had to go to work directly after. No showering, just a little rinse from a trick of water. I left a trail of mud wherever I walked at work that night.)

T

Settling in to real life

So here I am. It's now August, summer is almost over... How in the ell did that happen? Regardless, life is great. Pretty darn great. The new job? Well shoot, that's a stress basket all by itself, but it's rather fantastic!

So here's my real story. Last Saturday I was playing with this boy named Jeff Parker. He's pretty cool, I guess.. So we do lots of cool things but last time. Was pretty cool. The real reason I wanted to write about it is because as we were doing, this un-explained, activity he was like, " I need to write things like this down, because then later in life I can go back and look at the stupid thing that I did."

Okay, so now do I have you wondering, what in the devil did they do? Well.... it really wasn't all that crazy. And I cannot even come close to doing it justice by explaining what we did. But here we go.

Have you ever heard of cutler dam? Maybe not. So there is a dam, and like most dam's there is a canyon on the other side of the dam (I'm really enjoying typing dam so many times..). But this dam has promised another city that they would supply water to them, so at the top of the dam there is a canal. Cutler canal. But it's super secret and apparently super illegal to do.

So there we were 3 boys and Kailey. Off to cutler canal we went. Mind you, you have to do this late at night. So here we are in the middle of really no-where driving up and down switch-backs, down steep dirt roads, a little creeped out, weird dogs are howling, we're worried the police is on our tail, we're surrounded by some creepy huge electricity machine from the dam... there's the situation.

We hike in the pitch black to where we need to go in to float. Mind you you're hiking along a trail in which there is a steep drop off on one side, and then working our way across metal gates, where below is sheer cliffness. I had my big girl pants on, yes.

We start floating. I'm feeling good. Enjoying myself. Giggling. Having a grand old time. Then we hear something. Footsteps, SH**.

Here's the deal. I would consider myself a pretty adventuresome person. But in reality, let's be honest. I hate doing things that may get me into trouble or be illegal. So at this point i'm panicking. I just want to get out and surrender. We've lost half the group, and thank my lucky stars Jeff was still by my side.

Okay, so I had my freak out. Came to my senses. We keep going. Creepy birds are squaking, I don't like this. Then. Then. WE SEE PEOPLE. Now, now, now i'm freaking. BUT then, it's just more of our fellow floaters. It was ok. No copper encounters that night.

I wish I had pictures... but i don't... so there is my story that I felt obligated to write. Maybe 30 years from now i'll look back and realize what an idiot I am.

My girl Kelly + Cancer = Smiling Kailey

So I may or may not have an odd obsession with the Kelly Clarkson song Stronger. So be it. Me and all the other 12 year old girls will represent. 

Then... then I was introduced to this. It just made the song about 47 jillion times better!!!

Enjoy!

While we are on the subject of cancer, you know what I was able to be a part of this weekend that was a total blast? Oh represent wacky in the Ogden Marathon. But don't be deceived, we walked the 5k, yep WALKED.     It was a royal blast and made me so grateful for all of the incredible people in my life. I have this incredible support system of just downright good people around me. They hold me to a higher standard and keep me walking on the straight and narrow. I am so blessed to be have such incredible family and friends. They open doors and provide opportunities to me that most people could only dream about. I am truly one blessed chicky.

Here are some highlights from the event...

Cait and I at the starting line. The starting line you say? Where are all the people? Oh they are just about 15 minutes down the road.... we were just a smidge late.... oops. However, it merely added to the greatness of the event. 

Oh ya know just dressed up in our Wacky attire.

Please do your best to refrain from getting too jealous of Jeff and my stunning attire. 

All-in-all obviously the event was a success and it was nothing but smiles, fun, and giggles.

One last note, cute Tyler Smith lost his fight with cancer this weekend. He was one heck of a fighter. Inspire yourself and read his story at:

http://fight2thefinish.com/

Oh nothing, just saying goodbye to the best times of my life... no big.

So okay this is a little delayed but I officially graduated 2 weeks ago!!!!
WA-FREAKIN-HOO!!!
But.... here's the thing. I loved Logan.
Everything about it. My friends. The weather. Crazy teachers. Granny G. Everything.
And not its gone...
I start a big kid job soon...
don't worry i'll have life insurance... i'm really that old? (I need a beneficiary for that 100k plan, so start sucking up my friends)
So i was looking through some pictures of the last month of two and thought i'd share....

these are a select few reasons why my heart loves stinky Cache Valley so much!

P.S. 

sorry be prepared for a profuse amount of pictures...

These last couple of weeks before I left were pretty swell..

I'll miss spending WAY too much time sitting in the hammock. 

Thinking about doing homework...

but letting my laziness overpower me. 

Okay, well this will still happen...

but... i'll miss random road trips with my BFF's

(this is when we went to Vail for the FD ball)

I'll miss, mogoli, Hali climbing around in trees and being cool.

She's going on a mission to Russian. 

What a woman!

Chance. What a true gem.

She's always up for an adventure. 

Tahiti here she comes!

Ash and Kev. 

Look at those cool catz.

Who wouldn't miss having them over all the time?

And of course miss Cholee Porter.

She rocks my socks.

I no longer have a tennis buddy.

I'll miss going to random things like baby animal days. 

(just for the record I FINALLY went this year. Every year I miss the dang baby animal days., and well.... it was just swell. We even got to go with those cuties.)

Yep, just holding little baby animals on cloud 9. No big deal. 

I'll miss random little celebrations...

and the creativity of having nothing to celebrate with.

This is how Hali does it.

One pudding and about 20 matches.

I lived with thee coolest chicks.

Seriously. It was just a party all the time. 

I'll miss people in our ward randomly knocking on our door asking us if we want to go fly in their plane.

It was a rather lovely way to bid Cache Valley goodbye.

I'll miss these girls talking me into running a triathlon without training. 

-word of advice, if you do a triathlon, remember a helmet. 

Chance was smoking hot in that ski helmet. 

Yep.

I loved Logan.

Mind you these adventures were just from a month or two of fun.

Now I move on.

Big kid job here I come.

I've got a lot to learn,

and I truly am excited for what lies in the future!!

WAHOOO

San Francisco

Have you ever been to San Francisco?

Well... if not, you should go. It's quite a treat. 

We went this past week for our spring break to stay with a friend there.

It brought us nothing but joy and giggles.

View from twin peaks. I tell you what. 

If you are just DYING to go to an incredibly hilly city,

go to San Fran.

You WILL NOT be disappointed. 

(don't worry, apparently my diva status was feeling high that day)

Such an artsy cool city. I felt like kinda a bum sometimes walking around in my jeans

and t-shirt. Everyone is not only artsy but, fashion conscious. 

Muir Woods= mini version of the Redwood Forests. 

Needless to say they are still AWESOME!!!!!!!

It's only a half hour drive from the city and such a saweet little oasis

Yep, I took that. Proud of myself yes I am. 

I was really excited to walk across the Golden Gate. 

(FYI Golden Gate is 1.7 miles across, and plan on walking both ways)

Most definitely my FAVORITE picture of the entire trip.

So what if we maybe sat on the corner waiting for buses quite often, to then realize we were on the wrong side and then would walk across the street to wait again. So what? We enjoyed looking at the curb.

(in case you were wondering that's a baby carrot. Laura LOVES baby carrots) 

Union Square and of course you have to do the Chinese heart when in front of a heart. 

(Chloee too appreciates my deep love of Asians)

Chinatown San Francisco = HEAVEN on earth!

It's kinda freaky how similar it is to Asia. 

Just add in about 4o jillion more people and high rise buildings and sha bam!

They had a lot of authentic food 

like steamed buns....

Obviously I love these from my face and miss them.

P.S. I may or may not have eaten about 10 moon cakes while I was there.... So what? They were tasty.

I still couldn't find spring onion pancakes though...i'm on my hunt!

You cannot go to San Fran and not ride the trolly, hanging on outside and all.

Lovely Seafood din din with our host Justin.

Note: Clam Chowder in sourdough bowls = AMAZING!!

P.S. stop by Ghiradelli, the smell the second you walk in is worth the walk, let alone the free chocolate they give you at the door. 

Laura's face explains this dilemma quite well.

So it was raining quite a bit the day we left. There we were zipping our way along back to Utah, when BAM

STORM WARNING

CHAINS OR AWD REQUIRED

Sh**.

That toyota corolla definitely does not qualify.

Driving along there are these dude trying to sell chains, mind you at this point it was still raining, maybe slushing a bit.

So we pull off and start calling our parents for advice. 

Because in UTAH a storm warning of such would mean there is some serious snow going on, right?

Laura obviously didn't like what her parents had to say..

Needless to say after contemplating what to do for a good half hour we went in and talked to the workers at the gas station. 

They told us if we're from Utah we'll be fine.

We were. I drove 65 most of the way. Next to the dinguses driving with chains on in light rain. Idiots

Another note to self- if you ever driving through that pass (name I can't remember at this point) don't listen to the storm warnings. THEY. ARE DUMB

and now.... i'm sitting at home safely. going to work on some homework, read my book, and ski. What a great way to top off a lovely spring break.

It Snowed Today. I Love Snow.

So lately my dad is all into sustainable living....
like really into it....
 it cracks me up.
Then something happened... now i'm kinda diggin it. 

You know what else happened? 

It snowed today. 

I love snow, it brings over EVERY childlike emotion inside of me that their possibly can be. 

Then I saw this video.....

Lets just go ahead and stop global warming.....

No Snow=Cranky Kailey
and well it is no secret that  Cranky Kailey is never a good Kailey 

Watch it. Ittzzz good.

PSSSS HAPPY LEAP YEAR. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts

The Big 23

Happy Birthday Nicholas!!! 

(ok, yesterday I didn't realize this didn't post)

There is not one single day that goes by that I don't miss that boy like crazy. 

He was quite the man.

Quite. 

My family makes me giggle

So.... my siblings and i drew names for gifts for one another. 

Matt got Sharice.

What does a 16 year old get his sister in law?

A classy picture of himself with words, "Best Friends Forever"'

He really is one of the funniest human beings you will meet. 

Ever. 

If you are ever struck with the chance to meet Matthew Harris Larsen,

Take. It. 

Then..... Christmas Eve hits

Christmas Eve in the Larsen home in somewhat chaos.

We play bingo

and we get feisty

Top prize of the year?

Forever lazy's of course. 

look at the twin brothers sporting those so hot.

they come complete with a butt zipper for potty breaks and all

(yep that's my dad on the right, good man)

Oh and it of course wouldn't be Christmas Eve without some new jammies!

here are the gems my mom picked this year.

Footies

Penguin and bunny

Good job mom.

Best jammies yet

I really love Christmas.

My mom was so lucky to be blessed with a birthday on December 29th 

lucky lady (not)

For her birthday we went to dinner

this was Matt's attire for the evening

take a look at the shoes?

They're $12 comfy wear from wal-mart

velcro straps included.

What a trend setter he is!

Just in case you were wondering what i've been up to this Christmas Break...

well,..... pretty exciting isn't it?

P.S. pray for snow.

I'm much more than postive i would give back every single Christmas present for 10 ft of snow.

every.single.one.

There are a lot of good people in this world.

Do you know what today is?

Well, today happens to be a big day ladies and gentlemen. It's thee LAST day of school for the semester.
LAST DAY. nbd.

and well, for a last day it was quite a pleasant one at that.
#1- My teacher brought us cookies (I can never get enough sugar and chocolate in class)

#2- Why am I such a grinch?
Everyone is talking about shopping, let's be honest i've been THINKING about Christmas shopping.  Have I done any yet? No. Not a single present, for not a single person. T-minus 17 days until Christmas... i'm so out of the spirit.
Then this happened.... my cute friend who i've been in a couple of classes with and we've become really good friends with, gave me a Christmas present! She is such a sweetheart and it completely caught me off guard.
Reality check #1 for the day. Be a good friend. Some people on this are just downright good people. Jordan Anderson is one of them.

#3- I love teachers that care, really really really care.
I have a marketing professor, Eric Schulz, he is one of the most excellent teachers I have had throughout my whole college experience. You know those teachers who, can just teach? (sounds stupid I know) But he can. He just has a way of engaging and sucking you in, making you believe in what he is teaching. He's incredibly successful yet passionate. Well, because of his success and somewhat bold, hilarious, personality I always thought of him as a tough guy type. Well, he surprised me today, he told us this, "success comes from love. Passion can be FAKED. Love CANNOT"
He is passionate about what he does, heck even when he said this he started tearing up. The man who is not afraid to throw shit and hell around in class and tells funny stories.
He really cares.
Thank you Eric, you really taught me not only marketing but how to pursue my dreams and be passionate about what it is I am pursuing.

So, that was my last day of class.
Let's just hope I can be as passionate of a teacher as they are.

(p.s. I so far have 2 for sure A's. YEssss)

The Holidays sure are HAPPY!

I have been looking forward to Christmas since about oooh January? I wasn't in America for Christmas last year and well... while it was really fabulous in Taiwan it just wasn't the same....

Here are some reasons that have made the Holidays FABULOUS for me so far....

#1- Bowling
It's a Thanksgiving tradition to go bowling on Thanksgiving in the Larsen family. Let me tell ya it is always quite the adventure. We're a family of real bowlers.... especially myself....
Let's just say my Grandma (82 years young mind you) won me by 40 points....
I know where my talent lies..

#2- Christmas Tree!

Alright, i'm sorry I know this picture is kinda crappy but. you get the jist of it! Can you see why I LOVE Christmas trees?
Well..... while this tree is rather grand and quite the spectacle, it was not always like that.
We cut this baby down at the Kapp tree farm in Mt. Green. Every year we kid around, like man this tree is going to fall off the car. (some years it has come disgustingly close and by the time we get home it's horizontally on the car) Well folks.....
this year, here are the Larsen's driving home with their lovely tree strapped on top, thanks to Dave Larsen. We're in Weber Canyon (this is a FREEWAY mind you) the wind starts picking up, CRACK, BOOM BASH, the tree is OFF THE CAR!
I'm pooping my pants at this point. A car runs over the tree, luckily it was ok and they just keep driving. I got out of the car and booked it as fast as my little legs would go and pulled it out of the road.
Our twine was broken..... uh.... we had nothing to tie it back onto the car with...
being the Larsen's we had a BRILLIANT idea. Shove the TWENTY FOOT tree INSIDE of the car....
So we did. i'm sure it was rather comical to those driving around us.
It was rather comical to me.
But on the bright side at least we didn't cause some 20 car pileup or something, and guess what? The tree wasn't even damaged.

#3- Dave Larsen the newest Christmas "rapper"
My dad is a funny guy.... or so he thinks so.
They went Christmas shopping this morning and my mom is already wrapping the presents.
Dave, the great man he is, thinks he should make up a Christmas rap, while they wrap.
He's been bouncing around the house rapping the most ridiculous Christmas "wrap" i've ever heard.

See why these Holidays are just Happy?
YAHOO

Ohhhhh did I really just do that?

Ya know how sometimes you have those moments where you do something and a split second later you wish nothing less than that you could just take that back?

I did that today....
and ya know, it happens to me all too often. crap.

Here's my story:

I went to the fieldhouse (Utah State's gym) today to get nice and sweaty. Well, it's just a smidge chilly outside now and I don't want to free my thighs off walking up so I put sweats on OVER my workout shorts.
Normal right? I do it all the time.
Well, I don't know if my brain in lacking on remembering how to work because I have 3 (THREE and this is Thanksgiving week. YOU SUCK professors) okay, off my soap box now or if I just am REALLY EXCITED (really) for Thanksgiving and can only think about food but I walk in, go the bathroom, this is my normal routine.
Then I walk upstairs to the little cubbies where you can put your things. Mind you these cubbies are not in private places in the gym... rather they are just on the side wall, so you have view of them from pretty much the whole gym.
I take off my coat, them I take on my pants.....
Well here's where the magic happens.....
Apparently I'm an idiot and didn't realize I had not only grabbed the elastic waistband on my sweat put also my shorts.... Uhhhhh
So there I stood with my pants and shorts to my knees. Yep, I had some pink undies on today and I just really wanted to make sure people saw them!
After it happened I wasn't sure if I should just walk out or workout. I worked out. Obviously keeping my head down and avoided eye contact at all costs!
Yep, I'm that girl that everyone thinks, "oh poor thing I feel so bad for her"
At least I made their day right?
Let's be honest it's rather comical and it made mine too!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Back in Action and FULL of GREAT news.

Uhh.. HELLO?

Want to know something so amazingly fantastic it just tickles me beyond pink?!?!?!?

I. Kailey.Jean.Larsen. Got. Accepted. To. Do. Teach. For. America.

UHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!

Do you know what this means?!
1) For the next 2 years I will be living in North Carolina
2) I will be Teaching English (possibly secondary education as well if i'm really lucky)
3) It's my first big girl job- retirement, paid-time off, salary, 401k plan, the whole nine yards
4) I will get my Masters in Education
5) This opens up oodles of doors for me for my future career (Harvard for an MBA? Most likely come 2014)
(ok ok ok it's alright for me to live in a dream world right? Ok, I will don't worry)
6) Most importantly it means i'm just really excited to be accepted to be a part of this incredible organization!!

You may be like what in the hail is Teach For America anyway Kailey. Well.... I'll tell you, did you know there is a disgusting achievement gap in America? There is, our education system in low-income communities is downright not ok. A child that does not finish High School is 8 TIMES more like to go to prison, 8 in 10 kids don't graduate from High School in low-income areas where Teach For America goes... America needs to step up their education a notch.

Every child deserves the chance to succeed. I'm going to do my VERY best to give these kids the opportunity to.

Better yet.... Will you PLEASE just watch a movie called Waiting for Superman? It's pretty much explains the missions of Teach For America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTfaro96dg

it's reeeeaallll good.

I'm reeeeaalll nervous. BUT EVEN MORE EXCITED.

I'll keep you posted.

Life is just downright funny.

So sometimes, I just do things. Ya well we all do things, your thinking Kailey, you idiot. Well..... I do things and normal people would have a thought process which they would go through BEFORE they encountered their actions. Well apparently at my 21 years of age I still don't know how to quite process my thoughts and the consequences of them BEFORE i act on them...

Here's my funny story: (keep in mind my above stupidity)

It's a lovely Friday, which I was spending at home with my lovely family. Six o'clock rolled around, and you know what that means on a Friday night? Time to go out to dinner. So my Papa, Mama, and little bro saddled up and headed to Union Station in Ogden. I was oh so excited, if you haven't been there and you have a love for onions, you need to go. There French Onion Soup=DELICIOUS!! Anyways....

We are ever so nicely seated at the table, about ready to order when: (why the font is so small... you're telling me)
A chick walks in and my dad says, "oh look that's your friend Radon" (which is this awesome SBO advisor I had in High School) We were just about to eat so I was like oh hey! I'll have to go say hello to her after we're done eating. We eat. I drank at least 5 glasses of water (which I do every time. I'm like a freaking camel when i eat out, and those dang waiters just keep filling it up!) so I needed to go to the bathroom urgently. Well apparently, how badly I needed to go to the bathroom blocked my mental ability. I walk over to what was thought to be her ba facing me. I was a little skeptical as to if it was her, and then I saw the dude sitting next to her, he looked EXACTLY like her husband and was even wearing some fire fighter like t-shirt, which her husband is.
I knew it must have been her! IT MUST HAVE! THIS LADY LOOKED EXCACTLY LIKE HER!
So, she was wearing a hoodie. I walk up behind her and put her hoodie on her head. Like fully over her head, covereing her eyes. I walk to the front of the table oh so excited to see her.... except it wasn't her.
I. felt. like. a. fool.
The people didn't even laugh and I was just dying. And said oh my gosh!! Like 8 times, and walked away. The other people were so awkward.

There ya have it people, that's why life it just funny. Things like this that keep me giggling. Sometimes I think about this story while i'm in bed and just giggle all to myself.

Uprgrade, poop-aide

Well... hello there blogging world.
I'm not taking full blame for not posting in 3 months.... considering the fact that I spent altogether about 2 da#$ hours trying to figure out how to login to stupid blogger. Thank you gmail for trying to "upgrade" me to some bigger and better internet world. About the only thing you did was a great job at chapping my ace.
BUT DON"T YOU WORRY! I FIGURED IT OUT.
I'M BACK.
BE READY.

Zigh Jian Taiwan

I fell in love with these kids.

Really truly.

I CANNOT believe it's over. Here I am sitting here at 4 in the morning at my house, trying to get over jet lag.

Where did the last 6 months go?

Why am I not telling kids to sit down, or stop throwing water around, or to not cut their hair, or tie themselves to the chair, or to stop hitting each other, or to stop painting on their clothes, or confiscating their toys and giving them back after class.

What the heck!

I left a piece of my heart in Taiwan.

I now know what it feels like to be heartbroken.

It kinda hurts.

Look at her. This is Penny I really loved her as my own.

Stanley. I can't say more other than I love him with all my heart!

Scott, this child is thee most thoughtfully cute thing you will ever meet. Seriously a stud, he's knows what's up in life. My favorite Scott expierence? Him going to the bathroom for 15 minutes and coming back soaking wet with his pants on backwards. I also love it while he sings at the top of his lungs while he goes to the bathroom.  

Tony. This picture is tells the story of Tony's whole existence.

See why I fell in love with him?

Flora of Flora.

Joe. This kid is disgustingly flexible. He seriously would pull his arms out of their sockets. It completely grossed me out. I had to threaten him with warnings because it weirded me out so much!

My blessed 3A angels! We did tye dye on one of our last days of class. What a joy! They took great joy in wearing those garbage bags and kept saying there were the garbage class. Their little werido's but I love them! So i'm really scared of cockraoches so and I had to kill a couple in class. I always made quite the scene screaming and all. So they for whatever reason called me, Mr. Ridiculous (ridiculous being a spelling word I taught them thank you very much!) cockroach. Teacher Mr. Ridiculous Cockroach, how classy.

This is Grace, the greatest person ever! She was one of our college students and she is so great. She's trying to pass some tests so she can come get her Ph.D in America. I REALLY hope she comes. Nothing would please me more.

This is Jacob. My Taiwanese crush. He is INSANE, if he could speak fluent English and was America we would be married.

My favorite boys Alex, Jacob, and Antonio. They made my whole college class teaching experience. AHH even just thinking about how much I will miss playing charades with them to try to figure out what in the devil they are saying makes me sad. I never thought coming home would be this hard. We had such deep roots there, it was my life. I had a social scene, routines, I knew the ladies at the grocery store... it's hard to leave that forever.

Lison is the most adorable person EVER! She's a ping pong champ too.

Becky. I just love her.

I know you're probably wondering if I am drunk or something right now, because i put such a HIDEOUS picture of myself up here but... it needed to be done. This was our goodbye to our dear 7-11 ladies. They were so adorable and we really got to know them (or at least tried, it's kinda hard with the intense language barrier and all) But they cried when we said goodbye. It was so sad.

Well, here I am sitting at home next to a warm fireplace. I am so glad to be home, sometime I thought the time would NEVER come when it would be time to finally come home. Now that i'm home it's so weird to me. Did I even leave? What the heck!! I think it's mostly just weird because I can't really explain the things I saw and the experiences I had to anyone and they will understand. No matter how many times I tell you about my cute bracelet man at morning market or about our cook Linda at the school, it just isn't the same as if you had met the people yourself. Oh well life goes on and I learned a LOT and I know that. That's all that really matters. I hope I can instill some of the welcoming loving Taiwanese culture that I experienced for the rest of my life