When I'm Not At Work

July 7th - For FHE we were put into groups and went to have a lesson at a bishopbric member's house. There were about eight of us at the Leichtys'. They gave us dinner too. Not the most exciting FHE, but I feel I am starting to become part of the ward.

Tuesday, July 8th - I have been teaching Evelyn different American card games. Olivia joined in and we played a mad game of Go Fish. It is fun living with international students. We compare food, games, and living in America to other places.

Wednesday, July 9th - I decided to head over to The Wall around 8:30pm to see what karaoke was like.I had only been there a few minutes when Angie ran up. I haven't seen her since early April. Now she is back at Heritage, but as an RA. I sat with her and her friends while we watched the karaoke. I didn't get up and sing, but several of them did. There was a wide range of talent during the night. Several were just purely entertaining. I was surprised how many people were at The Wall. A good percentage of them were kids from the different teen camps at BYU right now.

Thursday, July 10th - Look who I got to see before the mission! Jackson's family was on campus so we had lunch together and roamed around for an hour. He'll be back to BYU in two years. Till then, he we will be serving in Peru. I didn't know Jackson is supposed to report to the Peru MTC, rather than the Provo MTC. I hate missing farewells, but I was so excited to see him again one more time. Watch out Peru! Jackson is comin for ya.

Feeling domestic as I made this casserole. I like cooking, but it takes so long and I'm usually hungry before I begin the process. Even though it lacked a few ingredients, it was still good. I like nights when everyone in the apartment cooks. It gets crazy, smells delicious, and I feel like an adult.

One day I came home to Evelyn sitting on the couch. When she saw me she said, "In the mornings, before I got to work, you guys aren't here... and I get sooooo bored!" I feel the same we. We all sit at a computer for hours just to come home and sometimes sit there. Evelyn and I decided we would do something fun. However, it was raining. After considering for a few minutes, we grabbed umbrellas and went on a walk anyways. Thankfully no one slipped. We even passed by a rain dance party. If we had different outfits we might have partied with the strangers.

Friday, July 11th- It's free Slurpee day! After work, Rachel came over and then we walked to 7/11. We beat the rush and didn't have to stand in line too long. *Victory Dance*

After drinking our Slurpees and playing games in the apartment, Rachel and I went to the new exhibit opening at the MOA. So many cool costumes from movies! My favorite was probably the pink dress from Phantom of the Opera. I want to go back and look at all the outfits again when it isn't as crowded. The night was themed Hollywood so lots of people dressed up. I was silly and read the invitation wrong. Rachel and I almost went dressed up as pirates. Good thing we caught the miscommunication before showing up at the classy event in eye patches. 

When it finally got dark there was an outdoor movie. It has been years since I have seen Pirates of the Caribbean. It is such a great movie. It made me want to watch them all again. Rachel and I agreed it wouldn't be as fantastic without Johnny Depp.  

Saturday, July 12th - It's grocery time again. After we made our normal trip to Macy's, Olivia and Evelyn wanted to go to Rancho Market. It is Mexican grocery store that seems similar to Food City. Now that I think about it though, I don't know if I have been in a Food City. Olivia and Evelyn were buying plantains and I decided to get avocados. I have never has a plantain before. They are in the banana family (bananas have a whole food family?!?! I live under a rock), but you cook them before you eat them. It must be more popular in Uganda. 

P.S. I got a postcard from Malibu! I sent Brianna a postcard weeks ago from London. It took her postcard just a day or two to get to me in Provo. The funny thing is, we received them on the same day. I love mail so much. I also love comment on my blog, but mostly mail.

*Wink Wink*

America the Beautiful

Provo is an exciting place to be on America's birthday. The whole weekend was filled with activities that are part of the Freedom Festival. 

July 3rd

On Thursday morning I woke up early to see the balloon festival with Anne and Anneli. They are in my new ward and live in Middle Cambridge. We drove over to the softball fields across the street from Provo High at 7am. The only balloon to take off was the Americana one (far left). It was too windy by the time the other balloons inflated. They simply reached their full capacity and then deflated before taking off. My favorite balloon was the Smokey the Bear balloon that almost fell on us while deflating. Another cool one was the piggy bank, complete with quarter on top.

We stayed till 7:45 and then Anneli drove me to work. Anne had work a little bit farther away than us so she drove separately. 

I rocked the red, white, and blue from the 2nd to the 6th. Here I am at work. I think it was nearly nine oclock and still no one had showed up. I am a prompt person. Still waiting for the day when I get my own office key so I do not have to ask the mail girls every morning.

I was going to start eating healthy... but then Irina brought us cocoa truffles from Eastern Europe. Uhm, they were delicious!!!

July 4th

Mom sent my American flag tshirt and I got it just in time. Friday morning I slept in and then walked to University Avenue to see the parade. I walked the parade route to Center and then spent time in Freedom Village after the parade ended. I only saw the last fourth of it, but it was fun.

My favorite float (on the left) because it has a polar bear!! The float behind it was cool too with the giant clock. Other floats included UVU's institute, pagent winners, bands, and the BYU dunk show.

Today was probably the hottest day Provo has had this summer and I was cracking up with everyone complaining about the heat. It was only 90 degrees. I loved finally feeling hot. It just did not seem like summer in London. Provo has some real sun, but it still does not compare to Gilbert. 

Really missing Camden Market. Shopping at these tents is way fun. I almost bought some of the mix for this delicious dip.

Impressive Balloon Art

Left: I want the decorations from this tent just as much as I want the jewelry.

Right: Elephants <3

Even my swimsuit is patriotic. I came back to Regency just in time for a pool party with some people from the ward. We played toothpicks and I talked to Kristen about books. I think Judy said I wouldn't get any color with my SPF 70 sun block (it was the cheapest), but I think I just missed a burn from my three hours at the pool. Do doubt how white I am.

That night I went over to Craig and Sherri's for a BBQ. Lots of their friends were over. I should have taken a picture of all the food before we ate it. I love America. This holiday is so fun. We lit of fireworks once it got dark, but the real show came from two streets away from whoever was lighting off these excellent illegal ones. America's birthday: eat lots of food and blow stuff up.

July 5th

Lazy Day! 

I slept in, went to another ward pool party, and laid around the apartment. I can't find my journal so that was frustrating. Hopefully it is hiding in the apartment and not in the Chicago airport. 

A few days ago I wanted to eat a mango I bought, but didn't know how to cut it. Evelyn made fun of me as I googled it and then watched a youtube video called Mango 101. When I was halfway through a slimy mess, she told me I should have cut it the Ugandan way. This time I had Evelyn show me how to peel and cut a mango. Both ways make sense, but I will need to practice.

Oliva and Evelyn went shopping with two of Evelyn's friends from Uganda. When they got back they unbraided one of the girl's hair and we all watched Independence Day. It was an appropriate activity for the fifth of July. I hadn't seen it before, but had to explain all the American jokes and references to the girls from Uganda; Air Force One and Area 51. The girls were way funny. I have been teasing Evelyn about not celebrating the 4th of July all week. She thinks our crazy patriotism is a little obnoxious.

My favorite quote of the night: 

"If the world was invaded by aliens everyone would be okay with it. They would probably be happy... because aliens only attack America."

Crazy Cousins

As you know from the last blog post, I work a lot. I don't do much else. Yes, I am tired afterwards, but it is mostly because I don't have tons of friends in Provo right now. I started going to the library since I have time to read for fun (suggestions needed!) and the Regency pool is beckoning. Sure, my roommates are nice and we hang out. However, they are busy too.

June 28th - Evelyn, Olivia, and I had a movie night and each downed a pint of ice cream. So much for eating healthy. They both wanted to prove they could eat an entire pint in one sitting. I didn't think it was too difficult.

June 29th - Run in with my name buddy, Emily Lyons, after church. She was one of the girls in London with me. It's weird seeing anyone in the program outside of the UK.

Delicious banana bread. That is literally what I googled when I was searching for a recipe Saturday. This bread was so good. I made a few muffins with the loaf too. I sent Olivia the recipe she loved it so much. I took the rest to work on Monday and it was still moist. Yum.

June 30th - Surprise! I lost a foot in hair on Monday. I have been thinking about cutting my hair for awhile and I finally couldn't take the dead ends any longer. I was a little shocked walking back to work from my hair appointment, but I like it fine. It's definitely different and this is the first time i have ever had bangs.

I love the patriotic decorations that have appeared everywhere. These flags were set up on both sides of the front lawn at Regency.

July 1st - The Corias Come to Visit

My cousins were on a road trip through Colorado and Utah before their school starts again (much too soon). We are lunch together in the Cougareat, they took a tour and explored while I was at work, and then we went to the famous Creamery on Ninth.

Grace, Sophia, and Carson

After dinner we went to Bridal Veil Falls. I have been wanting to see the nearby waterfall for awhile. It was delightful. The water wasn't too freezing so the kids walked around in the stream and then we climbed halfway up the rocks. It was a little bit more difficult than it looked. The cliff was pretty steep and the water made the unstable rocks slippery. I do want to go back earlier in the day sometime and climb to where the waterfall initially hits the ground.

Walking back to the car made me miss the parks of London so much. Utah isn't half bad. The Corias were fun to be with. I hope they had a good time exploring Provo. 

As a side note, we saw an extremely fat dog while we were walking back to the car. I was astounded she could even move. Her belly was centimeters away from the ground and she did this odd little shuffle walk. Maybe the dog was pregnant rather than obese?

The Corias were kind enough to drop me off at a random house in Provo after they had a look at my apartment. Some girls in the ward invited me to hear a new band play with them. When I got there though i found Jace! Yay! Jace is a London friend I still have his certificate from climbing The Monument. He knew the lead singer of the band that is now in my ward.

The band was so-so. I liked them, but I'm not searching for an album or single they might have released. My favorite part was actually the house they had the concert at. These people are awesome. Their backyard was huge and a basketball court, garden, porch, barn (shed), and zipline. The front yard had a spray pad they had built in front of the cool arch and steps that led to the backyard. I wish I could have seen inside. I'm sure there were more cool features.  

Working Woman

All I do is work.

Welcome to Summer 2014.

June 23rd 

Everyday we have to clock out for at least forty minutes for lunch. My first day I just went and sat in the sun. It is hard to be indoors when it is so gorgeous outside. Provo has the prettiest summers. I can walk, and even run, around without breaking a sweat. I did not think there would be much change between spring and summer, but there is. Seasons are really a thing! This picnic was fun, However, there is a small part of me that misses the blistering heat of the valley of the sun.

First FHE was a cookie contest. We divided into six groups and given basic baking ingredients; flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. Whichever group made the most delicious cookies won. I liked the people in my group. We used a chocolate chip cookie recipe, but then added Reeses peanut butter cups on top after they came out of the oven. We placed third. Other entries included fortune cookies, chocolate with white chip, snickerdoodle, and chocolate chip.

June 24th

During these short semesters, Tuesday Devotionals are held in the Djong Concert Hall rather than the Marriott Center. That's just peachy. The HFAC is much closer to work than the basketball stadium is. This devo was full of surprises. Brett, from my freshman ward, lead the opening song. The longer you are here, the more people you know.

I sent this picture to Mack and Madi with the caption, "Empty chairs at empty table, where my friends will meet no more." This semester the only ones in the office are me, Emmy, and Tanner. Alden pops by every once and awhile too. He is creating new software for imaging, so he wants are opinions as he writes it. 

Eight hours is long. At least we can listen to music, books on tape, and even tv shows if we can still get work done. I started Agents of Shield when Tanner and I aren't watching the FIFA World Cup. 

Beautiful. Look at all those flowers. I want a garden.

There it is. One week down. Working is not too bad. Getting a paycheck at the end of two weeks will really make it worth it. The next two weeks Emmy will be on vacation and that is sad. 

BYUStore? WHAT?!?!?! It is the Bookstore! It will ALWAYS be the Bookstore. I have serious issues with this. NO ONE is allowed to change the name.