Funny how things work out

Here's to the post I've been waiting to write for what seems an eternity.

Here's to the best weekend ever.

Here's to the funniness of faith. (hereby known as FoF)

Since my last post, as much as I was content with my efforts and whatever my future had in store, I couldn't help but be nervous and a little on edge (mom reports that I had a nightmare, but I have no recollection...maybe that's good). Fending off my CMC waitlist, I waited for Friday night to be hit with another waitlist from Emory. "It's okay, I didn't want to go there anyways." *Honestly, Emory was my least favorite school AND they lost two of my documents, that I had to resend...SEPARATELY (irestmycase). But I can't blame myself for getting a little down on myself, but I trudged past it with lots of support from mom and dad. blah blah blah

Saturday, March 27th approximately 2:30 pm.

"Dad, when does the mailman come?"

"Now."

"No really...when does he come?!"

"Around now! He comes early on Saturdays."

*i grab the mail key and attempt to "cooly" walk up the cul de sac to check the mail.

Sure enough, dad was right. The mailman was there "now." And it was made obvious that he didn't appreciate me slowly, curiously circling him and the mailbox. (if this has happened to anyone...it's more awkward than it seems, trust me) I didn't want to pester him so I decided to walk around the neighborhood, hopefully he'd be done when I got back. 5ish blocks later, I turned around at a quickened pace. Sure enough, the mailman was gone. And at this point, I sprinted to the mailbox and opened it. And sure enough, a large white envelope from Notre Dame, sent priority. Words can't explain how happy I was to see this (inside):

As I started to run home from the mailbox, I saw dad zip by in the car. Slamming on the breaks, he looked at me, and I held up the package (probably wildly gesticulating) and ran home. On my home, I ran into a distraught mom yelling my name as she ran up the cul de sac (note: our hill is a beast). Apparently, both of them had thought that I had gone missing/nerdnapped. If you recall, Hercules' adventure last year (http://jennaahn.blogspot.com/2009/04/adventures-of-hercules.html), I'm pretty sure it was exactly the same (with heightened worry of course). Sorry mom and dad! haha.

Here's the Funniness of Faith (FoF). Before applying to schools, I had a tough time discerning my priorities in my undergraduate education. I felt torn between lots of diversity and freethinking versus ND, appearing more conservative (obviously) and more spiritually appealing. I always wondered what I'd choose if I was faced, at the end, with a decision between another one of my favorite research schools and ND. Finally, I gave up on deciding and just applied everywhere...I could make the decision when the time comes. FoF (i'm imagining this to be along the lines of "lol"). FoF I wouldn't need to make the decision. It's been made increasingly clear that ND is the place where I'm called to go and grow in my faith and love of service (as well as academics, right?). I am so grateful and so in awe. FoF

More later, mom and I have officially planned our visit April 7th.

I am SO EXCITED.

Life Update

Well, I may never finish that last post (that was basically the gist of the trip anyways)...but atleast the multimedia thing worked out right?

Once upon a time, I had the most difficult winter break ever (thank you college apps/procrastination)...Unfortunately, the grueling nervousness has now soiled my spring break as well (atleast I'm not having to do anything this time). Spring break is almost over, and I did in fact have a wonderful time on vacation, but I am absolutely dying a slow death of anticipation, waiting for decisions that is.

Here's the update: I was accepted to Willamette, Pepperdine, and Bryn Mawr thus far. I was waitlisted at CMC yesterday which was extremely disheartening. I still have mixed feelings, but I was thankfully reminded of something important today. At this point, I am content knowing that I put everything I had into all of my applications. And even though a waitlist at CMC may appear to be dooming for the rest of my decisions, I can find peace in knowing that (even though I am freaking out and obsessively checking my computer) God's plan for me is great. As much as I wish He would let me know earlier and more specifically, I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.* And I am so grateful. :)

*This isn't to say that I'm going to be a crazy lady and be content with my own failures. God does have a plan, but I have to continue with my persistent efforts in order to fulfill His plans.

Here's to a good weekend!

ps. I got more good news. I was recently named a finalist for a "premed" scholarship I applied for. Not sure how it's going to work out, but I'm happy for the opportunity to job shadow a general surgeon (with his own clinic) and interview.

Spring Break Trip to Seattle/Vancouver BC

How come I always want to blog when I don't have anything to blog about...and not when I actually have tons to document?? I don't know, but here comes the mandatory post:

*not to say I didn't enjoy the trip, just overwhelmed with things to include (none of which are thought provoking)

With a "last Springbreak trip together" mentality, mom and dad threw this trip together last minute and we were on the road Friday the 19th. Coincidentally, my body decided to be a jerk and graced me with a cold on wednesday? yessss. First stop: McDonalds for a quick breakfast (*shame: ironically there was a long line in the drive-thru, full of fellow shameful Americans i'm sure) and we drove to Tacoma for a delicious lunch on the way to our final destination, Seattle. As much as the previously described drive seems relaxing and uninterrupted, mom's special dependency on the bathroom (which seems to curiously increase on roadtrips) was ever present (love you Mom). In Seattle, we stopped at good ol' SAM (Seattle Art Museum) and Pike Place Market.

I'm going to attempt something monumental and innovative here (cue video, props to flipcam)

*brace yourselves: i'm a little dizzy from playing some of the videos back...haha hopefully I get better, but if my video skills are anything like my photography skills...well there's really no hope.

here's a harmonizing street group:

The next day, we headed up to Vancouver bc. I love this city, but I couldn't help but notice the lack of...city? *haha I kept trying to picture what a true denizen of Vancouver bc would do daily, but there's not much besides tourist spots and banks. Personally, I would never be able to live in a city that is purely dependent on tourism. Anyways, I appreciated the leftover Winter Olympics 2010 enthusiasm (especially in the olympics super store: yes, I'm talking to the crazy chinese grandmas that cut me off in line and single handedly bought every good item in the store) as well as the city decor.

Then we spent the rest of the day at Stanley Park because the weather was so nice. We took a short little hike/walk (although we did want to ride the bikes). and saw some crazy trees. Here's a video of the nice view, and a failure video. haha

okay i'm sleepy. to be continued tomorrow (possibly)

Missing the Olympics...

Vancouver Olympics 2010 (February 12 to 28):

So I wasn't going to blog on the olympics at first; I found it hard to imagine being able to fit my love for olympics in one post without boring anyone with play by play summaries of every event (minus curling, because well...it's curling). So at 1am on a Thursday night/Friday morning, I'm still not sure how this is going to work, but here goes...

My Olympics Addiction (newly revised with commentary), "You know you love/miss the olympics when":

1. You watch the entire opening ceremony/parade of the nations from start to finish without tivo (i might have fast forwarded the "-stans" of the middle east-kazhakstan, turkmenistan, pakistan etc).

2. You hum the olympic theme song during your every waking hour (including choreographed hand motions) *I'm pretty sure my physics class can attest to this.

3. Due to your vicarious olympic experiences, you have a dream that you are actually an olympic athlete (when you wake up, you still believe it)-I had a strange dream that I was an olympic skiier in an even that combined downhill, slalom, and artistically falling of ski lifts

4. You cry/want to cry tears of joy when the medals are given (mainly only for the people you're rooting for)- something about the "triumph" factor always gets me. When I see other people finally achieve something that they've worked their entire lives for, day in and day out, I get a little teary. I am also the same person that teared up during the 08-09 nba Lakers Championship Ceremony. (but I don't cry in movies)

5. By rooting for your culturally identified team (Korea), you somehow become alienated (cue existentialism theme song) and are chastised by exceptionally patriotic Americans. Haha, not trying to start controversy here but, DAE HAN MIN GOOK!

6. You memorized all of top olympic athletes' names (even random skiiers from the Netherlands)

7. Your olympic-watching regularly consists of jumping up and down in front of the tv to get athletes to perform better/faster/stronger- you don't look weird because the rest of the family is right there with you. (applies to all short-track events).

8. You memorize the sucky commercials that NBC tortures you with for all 16 days of the olympics- you also reenact these often.

9. You forget how bad you really are at ice skating/skiing/hockey/etc- goes well with #3

10. More than two weeks later, you're still experiencing "withdrawals" and searching for something that will adequately fill the hole that the olympics have left in your heart- hence the pointless blogging (I really just needed to document my obsession).

Can't wait for summer 2012...

p.s. kim yuna was kind of a big deal this year.

p.p.s. as much as i try to be an understanding/nonjudgmental person, i hate ohno (maybe if i knew him as a person...). I have also been informed that there is ohno toilet paper in Korea. Glorious. also, he won zero golds this olympics.

Alright, that's it for now. If I remember anything, it will definitely be added to the list.