Let the season begin...

VS.

Yes, it's 1:30 in the morning and here I am writing a blog. NOT what I should be doing right now, but oh well. So school has started back...and I've been busy beyond belief. Not only am I taking 2 grad classes, but I am teaching 2 of my own and working another job, all while trying to have some semblance of a social life. Not an easy task let me assure you. I have about 50 students in my Spanish 1020 classes, and so far it's going pretty well. I say that but have yet to plan my lesson for tomorrow. I may be speaking too soon. Besides that, I worked pretty much all weekend at Niffer's. On that note, let me encourage those of you that have kids/will have/whatever...don't bring a full soccer/baseball/football team in and let them all sit at ONE table while the rest of you go sit and have a good conversation, leaving some poor innocent server to babysit the team (yeah that's me). Not only did I have a whole table of 11 year olds asking for my phone number, but they proceeded to shoot spitballs at each other through straws, played the fun game of ring each other's drink with random pieces of food, and then squirted ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc. into each others drinks, causing me to have to get a whole other round of drinks. Also, at 11 years old, I'm not sure I had quite the sophisticated palate that some of these kids have. I was expecting all of them to order off of the kids' menu, but nooo...one ordered the shrimp scampi pasta, another ordered the steak and shrimp dinner. Let's just say my whole section was a disaster area once they left. It was a nightmare all around. Anyway, that's about the extent of my weekend. I will be heading to Nashville this Labor day weekend for the first time since New Year's and I am so excited I can't hardly stand it. I'm so ready to hang out up there for 4 days. I'm ready for a little break from Auburn, even though I hate I will be missing the first home game. I'll be definitely attending the Georgia, LSU and Florida games though. If anyone is coming up to Auburn during game season, make sure to come by and see me at the restaurant. I'll probably be living there on the weekends during football season. Anyway, enough for tonight.

These past couple of weeks being back in the States have been eye-opening for me. I know I have never been one of those girls that oozes self-confidence out of her eyeballs, but I never realized how much people take notice of things like this. Over the past 2 weeks, I have had 3 different people tell me how much self-confidence I am lacking, one of them even setting their goal for this next semester to improve my self-confidence. It's very interesting, and mind-boggling, for someone else to tell you that their personal goal is to better another person. I think we all (in theory) want to help other people better themselves, but how many actually make it a personal goal? I have always worn feelings on my shoulders, but never knew I was basically an open book for all to read. Just never thought people really paid that much attention (besides you guys, Mom and Dad). On one hand, there are things I am extremely confident about, while on the other, I would rather bury myself in a hole than deal with the things I know I am not the best at. All of this is coming at a very convenient (or perhaps inconvenient) time, having just found out that I am a mentor this semester for the new grad students. This basically means that I will have a new GTA in my room everyday observing the way that I teach. I am not sure why I have been chosen into this position, and am flattered, but at the same time, I am petrified to have my every move on display for constant critique. One of the questions that I faced while in Guatemala was "What is my purpose in being on this trip?" Since getting back, I have been looking at my daily life in the same way. Maybe this next semester is meant to be a confidence-building time in my life. At least that is what I am hoping for. It will either build me up, or it could completely break me down. Let's just say, I need all the prayers I can get.

You've Got a Friend...

So right now I am in the process of reading another book by Donald Miller, which chronicles the cross-country trip that he took with his friend Paul. They were in the process of finding out the "whys" of life, i.e. why are we here? why do people do the things they do? etc. It's an interesting book, with an even more interesting concept. There are only a few select people that could survive a long trip like that with one friend and both come out alive. I know that it would be difficult to maintain a friendship with someone in that kind of situation. Saying that, I feel like everyday life takes a huge toll on the friendships that are around us. We don't have to take long trips and spend hours on end with someone in order for there to be trials of some sort. Each day there are events that test the kind of person that I am, or want to be. Right now, one of my friendships is going through some strain, and I just hope and pray that we both survive it. On another note, one of my dear friends will be moving in the next week or so, and that is yet another test, one of distance. Hopefully I will come out of this as a stronger person, one that is able to maintain friendships through whatever happens to come my way. I guess only God can tell what is in the future for these friendships. I hope that whichever friends of mine that read this blog know that I pray for each and every one of you and hope that God blesses your life in every way.

Home sweet home....hmmm not so much

So I have been back in the States about a week, and so far, I have worked my tail off this week. I have to say that I haven't missed the customers that I used to deal with, since this week has been a rude awakening into reality. We are starting our busiest season here in Auburn, and I am not sure I am quite ready for it. This weekend starts early move-in day for a lot of students, not to mention the beginning of Rho Chi week, otherwise known as sorority overload. Mainly meaning lots of daddy's girls with their credit cards that won't tip. Fun times. Anyway, other than that, nothing too exciting. I have had to drive a rental car around this week due to the fact that my cd player in my car is draining the battery down and it won't function if turned off for 3 days. Trying to fix that. Wish my life were more exciting, but I like of like it being boring right now...the routine is good to get back to. Starting soon, my life will be out of control again. Time to relax for a bit.