ADVENTURES OF A "PRINCESS"

21 and Legal!!

2011-02-01T04:23:00.000+01:00

Family Night Out

Wow, it's hard to believe I have finally reached the pinnacle of my birthday fabulousness. It has officially come and gone. Today's weather was most unfortunate: rainy and desolate. Clearly the city of Columbia is mourning the coming and going of my birthday.

It was wonderful having my family and friends come celebrate with me. Conveniently ADPi planned Parent's Weekend on my birthday weekend. This was the best opportunity for my family to come up. The weekend began with everyone enjoying a wonderful dinner at M Vista in the Vista, one of my favorite sushi restaurants. Who could say no to yummy sushi and delicious Apple-tini's? No one. Of course, Edward and I indulged in the finer things in life, such as cheap beer and a fraternity party.

The next day began with the annual trip to Groucho's. So yummy!! Then mom and I went to Party City to obtain my birthday goodies for the night, such as "happy birthday" beads and of course, my tiara. Then we made a trip to the ever popular Cupcake off of Gervais Street. The family now finally realizes why I enjoy taking trips there frequently. Following our traditional nap, we all got dressed and went to an amazing new restaurant called Pearlz, which is on Gervais Street. It is so amazing, and the seafood is to die for!!

Decided to Carry a Stool around with Me because
My Feet Hurt

Following dinner, we went to Parent's Cocktail and danced the night away until 11pm when we departed from the Zone in Williams Bryce Stadium and headed to 5 Points to ring in my birthday at midnight. Highlights of the evening include me dancing on stage alone, singing to myself into a microphone, making my own drink at Sonic, and learning how to break dance in a cocktail dress.

And finally, we finished the weekend with a wonderful brunch at IHOP, you know we gotta keep it classy. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. My family is the best ever!! And I am so lucky to have them. Perhaps the best gift was finally getting my car back after 2 months of not having it.

Now onto Dance Marathon. The date is drawing nearer and nearer. I am so excited, and when February 25th-26th arrives, I will probably cry from happiness. It is an amazing event, and I cannot wait for day of to get here. That's all for now folks.

Kicking Off the New Year

2011-01-21T09:26:00.000+01:00

Well apparently I left my many fans on the edge of their seats as my blog just dropped off the face of the earth. But never fear my adoring fans, it has returned.

When Ansley came to visit for the Bama Game!!

Yes that's right. Adventures of a Princess is going local, right into Columbia, Atlanta, and wherever else my crazy life may take me.
So, Italy. After almost 6 months have passed since my travel adventures, so much has changed. As of now, I am a Marketing and Entrepreneurship double major, and I am finishing up my minor in Russian this semester!! Thank God for that :)
I'm currently planning on expanding the painting business and finishing up school. I'm really focused on raising money for Palmetto Health Children's Hospital through Dance Marathon. I can't believe that it's almost a month away!! I have loved being on the Executive Board for the event, and I can't wait for our big event on February 2nd (DM's DJ Night @ The House).

My Junior Year Mallard Ball

So, how has Italy changed me? I am so much more independent, confident, and ready to be out of school. I have learned how truly big the world is, and I cannot wait to see where my life takes me next. But I must say, I am going to miss football games and sorority functions. And yet, somehow I know it's about time to move on to bigger and better things.

I have finally caved and gotten a Twitter...yes, I have gone to the dark side. Follow me @catherinekenimr. I can't wait to use it to do more with networking and being able to follow people from my favorite celebrities, my closest friends, and businesses I'm interested in. It should be a great year!! I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for me. And in 10 days from now, I will officially be an adult...HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY TO ME!! Check back later for blog entries!!

Make a Donation to Dance Marathon!!

Is there a Bathroom? I Really Need to Clean My Foot...

2010-07-29T18:17:00.001+02:00

At Pompeii

In Capri

Wow, so much to catch up on!!!

Ok, so last when we left off, I hadn't even gone to Naples yet...since that post, I've been lucky enough to visit Pompeii, Naples, and the wonderful island of Capri! And even better, I didn't get too terribly sunburned (hooray for ginger skin).

As my third, and final, summer session begins, I am starting to remember all of the things that I've been wanting to do since I've been in Florence but haven't gotten around to yet.
Top 5 things are:
1. Climb to the top of the Duomo
2. Visit Santa Maria Novella
3. Go to an Italian beach
4. Take a trip to the Uffizi
5. Ride on the back of an Italian's scooter

Since the third session has started, I've been doing some amazing stuff. I've started taking two more classes, Tuscany and Its Wines and Food and Wine Pairing. These two courses are awesome because I'm getting a really nice, in depth perspective on Tuscan wines, and I'm learning there is so much I didn't know about why food and wines go together. Today's lesson was most interesting. Apparently, super spicy foods don't go well with wines...who knew? I also learned that pesto sauce contains cheese, but apparently that's a commonly known thing, so I guess I missed that one.

On the 3rd Bus Ride

This past weekend, I took a wonderful trip to Perugia, which is a small town located 2 hours away from Florence in the Italian region of Umbria. This trip was so much fun. My roommate Ivy and I had the best time. We saw the inside of their duomo (AMAZING), saw an original Raphael fresco (AMAZING), ate the best margherita pizza everrrr, and perused around a vintage market (AMAZING). Perhaps the only damper on this trip was the bus ride we decided to take. The bus driver told us we were going one place, but we ended up at the train station. Then we asked if he was taking us there on the way back, and he said he would stop for us...oh wait, he didn't. So we got off the bus, exactly where we started and took a gelato break. Finally able to stomach the wild terrain once more, we boarded the same bus for the third time, but we reached the correct location this time.

I can't believe I'm heading into my last week here in Italy. Who would've thought the time would go by so fast? Well, all I can do now is soak up my time here, get to work on my list, and complete all of my classes. I'm so excited to head to Cinque Terre once more on Saturday morning to hit up the beaches and soak up some sun (with sunscreen, of course)!!

Ciao a tutti!!

8 DAYS AND COUNTING UNTIL I'M BACK IN AMERICA (land of the free, home of the air conditioning)

Italy Session 1

2010-07-22T08:50:00.002+02:00

Not only have I decided to endeavor learning about wines and the Italian culture, I am now attempting to become a world class music master/slideshow maker...ok, not really (but you know that would be pretty sweet). In order to better show my time in Italy, I have decided to create slideshows with my favorite music from the summer in order to have picture moments left on the Internet for all to see. Here is my slideshow for Summer Session 1 (don't judge my terrible music mixing abilities just yet, hopefully they'll get better!!) Enjoy ❤❤

Why I DM?

2010-07-17T16:47:00.000+02:00

As my time in Italy nears its end (I only have a little over 3 weeks left-crazy), I begin to look forward to things in the fall that I have planned....Sorority functions, school, football, and all the other typical things in my life!!

But as the summer continues, I realize what is truly important to me. Dance Marathon is one of the most amazing opportunities I've had in my life!! It is a wonderful experience, and I believe that any student on USC's campus should get involved in some way.

After dancing the full 24 HOURS my Freshman year, I was selected as MORALE CAPTAIN for DM2010 (as seen above with my fellow Morale Captains, attempting to form FTK-for the kids-with our arms...it didn't work so well). This year, I am lucky to be on the Leadership Board for the event, acting as the University Events Coordinator. This means that all events taking place on campus before the day of are under my control. I, along with my AMAZING team, get the privilege to raise awareness and excitement as the event approaches!!! Learn More About Children's Miracle Network

In order to do this, we plans fun events that will help get the campus psyched for what is to come. Some things planned are: Watefight for the Kids-September 10th (our first main event, a waterfight that is BYOB-bring your own balloon, escape the summer heat and enjoy a fun slip 'n slide finale, while raising money and awareness for USC DM and Children's Miracle Network). We have a 5k and Tot Trot-October 10th for all of our athletic participants and supporters out there. AMAZING BENEFIT CONCERTS-October 20th at Jillian's in the Vista. And 100 Days Until DM-November 18th (a Battle of the Bands Blowout at Red Hot Tomatoes in 5 Points-the winning band will get to perform the day of at DM in front of almost 700 Students!!!!!) All of this takes place within BLITZ WEEKS on Campus!!

How can you help?
Register for the Event
Make a Donation to My Page

Dance Marathon is For Love, For Hope, FOR THE KIDS!!

Who Drinks €500 Worth of Wine?

2010-07-06T13:07:00.000+02:00

On Thursday, July 1^st, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to one of Firenze’s

most noted winery establishments. Nazdravie, which means “to health” in Russian, is host to not only an amazing stock of wine and a delicious restaurant, but to one of the top schools in Europe for becoming a sommelier. I had the fortunate experience of meeting Andrea, one of the founders of Nazdravie and one of Florence’s premier sommeliers. To say I was intimidated is a slight understatement. Only a week before had I learned the proper technique for opening a bottle of wine, and now I was standing in front of one of the foremost experts on the subject of beverage service and management, attempting to open a bottle of wine in the manner that is proper according to Italian regulations.

The day began simple enough, meeting at Apicius, hopping into my teacher’s car, and finally arriving at Nazdravie. I learned the proper placement of glasses on a table (first the water glass on the right, then a white or sparkling wine glass in the middle, followed by a red wine glass either in the back or on the left). Soon after, we sampled an amazing bottle of Prosecco. I was most impressed by Andrea’s ability to open the bottle with only a slight hiss of the cork, as opposed my usual, loud POP when I attempt to open a bottle. After this tasting, the moment arrived for each of us to open a bottle of wine in front of Andrea. I could see the beads of sweat dripping down my teacher’s head, the anxiety building in the room, would we be able to perform under this pressure? My other classmate performs her task flawlessly. I take the bottle of Chianti from Andrea and nervously step forward. Hands shaking and fear mounting, I begin. Although difficult, I eventually complete the task of opening the wine. And while my technique was not perfect, at least I did not break the cork.

After all the teaching was done, we were able to browse the shop, sample the food, and purchase some wines. While I decided to take the modest approach, purchasing only three bottles of the Prosecco we had sampled earlier to share with my roommates, some others were more determined to expand their horizons in the vino market (aka buying €500 worth of wine...who needs that much wine?!!!). An hour later, we finally left. Me with my three bottles, my classmate with her receipts for her shipment home, and my teacher with a sense of relief after we did not completely embarrass her, and we headed back to the city center.

Despite the pressure and intensity of standing in the presence of a man who is renowned for his skill and expertise in beverage service and management, Andrea’s lesson is one I will not soon forget. Although in an hour, I was neither able to master opening a sparkling wine bottle with only a slight hiss as the cork is popped, nor was I able to fully comprehend all of the ways of a sommelier, I did take away one important lesson: practice makes perfect. And so, I will continue my journey through Italy, soaking up as much knowledge as I can. And even if I must carry on sampling and buying wines until I achieve a completely silent bottle opening, I happily accept the challenge in front of me and cannot wait for the day it is first achieved, all the while knowing my skills first began at Apicius and with a field trip to Nazdravie.

On Friday, I ventured to a vineyard right outside of Montepulciano (yes, the place where New Moon was filmed, but if you go looking for the fountain Bella runs through at the end of the movie, don't bother...it's not really there :( very depressing). I got to sample an amazing bottle of Nobile de Montepulciano, which I cannot wait to sample again very soon. Later that afternoon, I ventured to Pisa, where I took more than enough pictures to last me a lifetime where I am holding up the tower, or in some cases pushing it down. One word of advice, don't go out of your way to go to Pisa. It is fun to take the pictures, but the other than that there is nothing there.

And how did I spend fourth of July? Hiking 9 MILESSSSSSSS...so what is the rule that I have learned from this? Do not believe an Italian Boy Scout leader when he tells you that you will just be going on a simple hike...needless to say my butt is still sore two days later!!!

Some highlights of the trip included: going to a point where Leonardo da Vinci performed a flying experiment, hugging a tree, seeing Ferragamo's house, almost crying in the middle of the woods, and finally coming back to Florence, where I proceeded to hug the sign that marked civilization again...quite an experience, one I am glad I did, but one I will never repeat.

And now a final lesson from yours truly: bring any medicine that you think you might possibly need with you when traveling abroad!!! Trust me on this one, pharmacy visits are tricky when you don't speak the language.

This week's restaurant of the week is Zero Zero, a delicious pizzeria with a modern decor. Amazing pizza and fish (the mare caldo is sooooo good).

It is hard to believe that I am already half way through with my time here. It seems like only yesterday when I arrived here, and now I have less than a month left until I return home. Although, I will not mind returning to air conditioning :)

Well, I must go work on my presentations and begin studying for my finals this week!! Ciao bellos!!

This week's amazing wine to sample is...Prosecco. An amazing blend of wines to create a delicious, light, fruity wine that is perfect for aperitivos (or early appetizers). This wine goes great with anything and is perfect on a hot summer's day

A Baby with a Spear? Only in Italy

2010-06-25T22:19:00.000+02:00

Despite cold and fatigue, I am still enjoying my time in Italia!!

This past week I started my new classes, got a cold, and randomly found a parade...

To begin with classes: I love my new classes!! I can't wait to learn everything about grapes and restaurant beverage management!! Highlights of the week during my class have included my new teacher, wine tasting with Massimo, and learning how to properly open a bottle of wine!!

A cold? Why, yes. I am currently on death's corner, knocking on heaven's door, awaiting death to come and take me...haha just kidding. But being sick, having an insane cough, and being super tired certainly does put a damper on things...

This weeks craziest event: San Giavanni...Florence celebrates its patron saint (aka Saint John the Baptist) This week I found a random parade and enjoyed an hours worth of fireworks, which I have discovered are quite difficult to photograph.

The new roommates...oh gosh, I hate them. I wish I was with new girls, and our apartment totally sucks...haha just kidding!!!! These girls are amazing!! Two from Baylor and one from Louisville? How could you go wrong with a total southern dynasty?

This week's strange food/drink combo: hamburger with moscato (a sweet dessert wine...)

This week's yummy delicatessen: Sfizia? (question on spelling), delicious hamburgers run by a crazy, confused italian/australian man? Either way, so delicoussssss

This week's party spot: Club Twentyone!! Great drinks provided by Remigio (aka Walter) if ever in Florence, this is the place to be!!!

Ok, well gotta get ready for my Italian adventure to Assisi tomorrow!! More adventures to come!!!

This week's Italian phrase...amo cantare alejandro da lady gaga which means i love to sing alejandro by lady gaga (which has been my song for the past two weeks...video is sooo weird and totally inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18-thank you Marty Fallon for this assessment-but the song alone is fantastic)!!!!

Ciao a tutti!!!

R.I.P. Ferragamo

2010-06-19T14:09:00.001+02:00

Ahhh, the end of the first summer session has come and gone.

This past weekend I have traveled to Cinque Terre, Venice, and almost died in Rome. Thankfully, Wednesday, I arrived back in my home of Firenze. To say I love it here is now an understatement for sure!! Between the people, the customs, and the history, I cannot/would not want to imagine myself anywhere else in this moment.

Just got my new roommates and they are AMAZING!! The new apartment is BALLIN' and I am sooo happy to be back!!! Thank goodness I finally got a rain jacket because these past two days have been rainnyyyyyyy!!

And speaking of rain, the true reason for this post is in memorial to a truly great pair of shoes that were lost in the middle of combat with the venetian streets.

During this past weekend, a pair of shoes, most widely known to my friends as my "gold flats," met their match. Their fight was noble, but eventually they just succumbed to the monsoon that took their life.

Now to say that these were just "any pair of shoes" is blasphemous. It is more like these shoes were my friends. After 7 years of loyal service, it only seems appropriate that they find their demise in the country from which they originally came into my posession...Alas, their time came too soon.

Their life had only just begun...They were with me through everything...the awkward years when I had no one besides my parents and my dogs, the first kiss I ever experienced under the pine trees in my front yard, the college football seasons that have meant everything to me during the past two years. Oh cruel wind of fate that took you away from me...life is so unkind and unfair at times. But we must press onwards through the fog. On to a brighter tomorrow, one that is full of possibilities and hope. A tomorrow in which I can walk down to the Ferragamo store where I bought those shoes, and hopefully, find a pair to continue out the legacy in which those gold shoes have left behind.

Yes, I will not forget you my golden shoes. I will simply try to walk on with the hope that some day, I can find an equally cute and comfortable pair of shoes that will help me fill my shoes.

R.I.P. Ferragamo, we hardly knew thee

06/2003-06/2010

Today's italian phrase is...scarpe...which means "shoes"

Good Thing I Didn't Bring a Rain Jacket!!

2010-06-03T22:58:00.000+02:00

Ahh Florence, even when it's rainy and gloomy I still love you!! Despite the dismal weather we've been experiencing for the past few days, Florence is still AMAZING!! Everyday I see something new. I have recently been informed that Italy hosts 80% of the world's art, while Florence has 60% of that 80%, not too shabby!!

On this past week's agenda, there was gelato, a day off from school, and some light shopping. True life, there is nothing better than the smell of leather!! I think they need to create a perfume or cologne that smells like leather. I would buy it!! I'd spray it everywhere!! Not only does the leather here smell amazing, it feels amazing!! It is soft and beautiful. Plus the colors are unbelievable. How on earth do they get those colors over here, and we don't have them in the states? Soo ridiculous!!

Another thing I love is the food!! The ingredients are so fresh and vibrant. Perhaps one of my favorite experiences from this past week was going to the Mercato Centrale (aka the Central Market). Ok, it's a tad freaky when the chickens and ducks still have their heads on them so you can see exactly what you're buying, but the fruits and veggies are sooo fresh!! And the smell is crazy good!! Everyone should go there if you come to Florence!! Sooo fun!! AND there is this little restaurant that has this amazing sandwich with roast beef and salsa verde on it!! SOOO GOOD!!

This week's eatery of choice: The Oil Shoppe. For 5 euros you can get a DELICIOUS sandwich, french fries, and a bottle of water. To put that in perspective, in a bar, a beer costs 5 euros while a liquor drink costs 6 euros...yeah crazy!!

Ok well, gotta study for my italian class tomorrow!! Ciao bellas!!

This week's italian phrase is...nessuno merita le tue lacrime, e chi le merita non ti farà piangere which means no one deserves your tears and who deserves them will not make you cry (now imagine some gorgeous italian saying that to you, and tell me what is not to love?)

Anything Pink Please

2010-05-30T12:08:00.000+02:00

Wow!! What a crazy week and a half!! My classes have begun, I have made new friends (yes, some italian), and I still don't have Internet on my computer.

Classes...well, Italian is definitely more boring than I was hoping, but it is certainly easier than my Russian classes back home. And while I am enjoying learning about the language, my skills in actually talking to people here are a bit...hmm, laughable. But seriously, a lot of the Italians laugh at me when I speak to them. I guess southern doesn't translate too well into Italian.

Wine Appreciation!! What a wonderful class. In one week, I have honestly learned so many different things about tasting wine that I didn't even know were possible. Like for instance, when wine is stored in wooden barrels, it usually has a slight hint of vanilla when you smell it. How cool is that?! Plus this past Friday, instead of class, we went to a wine estate that is owned by one of the teachers. Yes, I already attempted to get myself an internship there next summer...she actually kind of seemed interested in the idea :)

Best part of the week...GELATO FESTIVAL IN FLORENCE!!! How did I get so lucky? For 2 Euro, you get a ginormous bowl of gelato YUMMMMMMM!! Not to mention, the stands are set up in the most beautiful places all around Florence (the Duomo, Piazza Repubilica, etc.)

Another highlight of the week has been being called Principessa (aka princess in Italian). This definitely adds to some of the appeal over here!! This week's bar/club of note: Space Electronica, a wild and crazy discotecca in Florence that features karaoke in one area, and a techno-blaring, go-go dancer having, crazy dancing area that has two stories in it. Definitely a great night life spot to hit up on the weekends while in Firenze.

Ok, well that is all for now. About to hit up some shopping in the leather market to see if I can find a wonderful new satchel for myself!! Ciao mi amicci!!

This week's Italian phrase is...como ti chiami (pronounced komo tee kee-ahhmeee) which means what is your name...the proper response is...mi chiamo______ (pronounced mee kee-ahhmoe) which means my name is_______!!

J Crew Flip Flops Were Not Made for Walking

2010-05-23T16:09:00.000+02:00

Ahh Firenze!! My new summer home!! WOW, that is all I can say is WOW!!

I have been here for less than a week now, but it already feels like a lifetime. First Italian adventure...trying to figure out the train system they have here. Thankfully, while wandering around aimlessly in the Pisa airport, attempting to get on a train to Florence, a nice British couple assisted me with my luggage and my directionally challenged self.

After a day of sleeping, I checked in with my program and arrived at my apartment, which is BEAUTIFUL!! Ten minutes from the Duomo, fifteen minutes from Santa Croce, and gelaterias everywhere in sight...yeah, my life is a little rough right now :) My roommates are great!! We have already had so many fun adventures in our short time together, but no worries, details to come. Our first night, we went to a bar called the Fish Pub, and you better believe we showed them how fun Americans are!!

Over the course of the past five days, I have eaten gelato 2 times, have been lost 3 times (once for about an hour), have experienced Italian dancing in 4 new bars, have added 5 new blisters to my feet, and have 6 new roommates that I love. Life is pretty great right now!

Yesterday's adventure was to Verona, aka the place where Romeo and Juliet took place. Although the highlights of the trip were writing a letter to Juliet (yes, like the movie), hiking to a Roman Theater that wasn't there, visiting two beautiful churches, and watching one of my roommates eat it on the stairs, my favorite part of the trip was this adorable open aired market we went to while we were there.

It had everything you could want. We began the day eating delicious homemade pastries, sampled cheese and olives, and then went back to enjoy homemade rice balls filled with cheese, spinach, meat sauce, anything you could want basically. They were DELICIOUS!! Another cool thing, was the homemade beer one tent was selling. It was very nice and refreshing on a hot Italian day.

Well, that is all for now. Gotta start resting up because my classes start tomorrow!!

Today's Italian word is...piacere (pronounced pee-a-cherr-ay), which means nice to meet you!!

Airport Adventures

2010-05-18T02:10:00.001+02:00

Well I suppose I decided to go on this whole journey for adventure, but honestly, the adventure wasn't supposed to start until I got to Italy...but what fun would that be?

The flight from Atlanta to New York consisted of a plane that smelled of curry, a child permanently kicking the back of my seat, 4 babies crying continuously, and an old woman who wouldn't stop talking to me. And the only movie saved on my iPOD, High School Musical 3...clearly I was on a roll.

So, I finally arrive from Atlanta to New York's JFK airport, go to my gate, and then realize (after I've sat down) that I am sitting in the middle of the BYU Band! Ok, so that's not awkward or anything...but yeah it was. Literally, they argued about the difference between musical instruments for an hour, clearly I had to get out of there.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I get up to go walk around and stretch my legs, THEN THE STRAP OF MY PURSE BREAKS!! Now, bear in mind, I normally pack a heavy load, but today, my purse was packed far beyond capacity (laptop, camera, phone, chargers for the all the above, trashy magazines, shoes, extra purses...all the essentials to traveling). Not to mention, I'm not exactly a body builder or anything, so heavy baggage is not really my thing. I begin walking, carrying my full Vera Bradley duffle on one shoulder and my broken bag in both hands in front of me. I looked ridiculous!!

Finally, after I had walked from one end of the Delta terminal to the other (seriously, from end to the other!!), I find the only luggage place in the terminal, transfer all of my stuff from one bag to the other, and then walk all the way back to Gate 7. As I'm sitting there, updating my Facebook status and such, I realize the gate is awfully empty at 7:15 for a 7:45 boarding time. At 7:30 I go look, and it turns out I have been sitting at the gate that is departing to San Paolo the entire time (the flight was leaving at 10:10)!! I run to my new gate, arrive promptly at 7:40, while on the phone with my long winded grandparents, only to find out my flight departure time has been pushed back to 10PM!!!

All I can say after all this excitement is that I am ready for vacation...oh well, only 1 hour until boarding begins, and I'm on my way to Italy!!!

Countdown to Departure

2010-05-16T00:31:00.000+02:00

Monday! I leave on Monday to go to a foreign country (Italy) where I don't know anyone, don't speak the language, and don't really have a plan other than my classes. To say the least, this could get interesting. I'll be over there until August. That's almost 3 months away from everyone I love, not that space isn't a good thing, but there will be an ocean between us. Oh well, I am referring to this as my time to grow on my own, make new friends, and really begin to get a feel for life on my own.

However, as my time of departure rapidly draws nearer, I cannot help but wonder what all I am going to miss this summer while I am abroad. Trust me, I know that the things I'll be missing will not compare to a summer of sipping wine and enjoying the fresh Italian air, but alas I somehow find myself already missing so many of the people I'll be leaving back home.

Of course, I already had to say goodbye to some of the greatest people in the world when I left school, but now the list of goodbyes continues to grow. Now, they're not really "goodbyes," so from henceforth I shall refer to these moments as "see you in 3 months" because it is much easier to part with people for a short period of time versus an official "goodbye, I will never see you again, have a nice life." So although it is tough to say "see you in 3 months," the good news is staying in touch has become so much easier nowadays with all the new social networking sites that are available to us via the Internet (case and point, blog sites). Between Skype, Facebook, Twitter, and this, I am fairly confident that you people won't be able to get rid of me that easily, no matter how far I may be away from you physically.

Well that is all for now. Continue to come back and read about all the crazy adventures I intend on finding myself in this summer and in my semesters to come in college. And trust me, there will be adventures!!