Sabaah ilxeer!

Guess who's back? Back again... Sierra's back... tell a friend.
(preferably a single one)

I've been back in the states for nearly a week now. Egypt was such an incredible experience. I saw the pyramids, some ancient temples, and every childhood fantasy I had about going to Egypt came true.

Inside scoop: growing up in Akron, Ohio I was obsessed with Ancient Egypt. Literally, I read every story and book I could find.

I went to Egypt expecting an ancient people... Instead I found a modern city (Cairo) and remnants from ancient times (Luxor, Aswan)... And I found a people that laugh and love in a way so similar to ours yet different. there's really no adequate way to express this; but i will say that it puts southern hospitality to shame. for real.

I fell in love with Egypt and left a great deal of myself there... and I'm not talking about in the form of digestion. I was one of two people on our trip who didn't get diarrhea.

Egypt top 10

1. The Pyramids at Giza: we legit climbed up them and took a picture... okay not to the top but climbing did occur.
2. Cairo traffic: honestly, riding in a bus through Cairo was terrifying. I can only imagine attempting to navigate it yourself.
3. Ice cream and pastry shop: located on a roundabout in Al-Agouza. Seriously, the best ice cream I've ever had topped off with amazing chocolate cake creations. UGH.
4. Intern Brian: he hooked us up with deals like everywhere we went and was our cultural crutch. I'm sure we made him nervous with our willingness to talk to strange Egyptian men and wander off on our own.
5. Mafia: not the Egyptian one... the card game. We played it with our trip directors, the program directors in Cairo, at St. Catherine's Monastery, and we would've played atop Mt. Sinai if we had brought the cards.
6. Mosque: on the first friday in Cairo we attended a service at a nearby mosque. I got dressed in a higab (head covering) and it was interesting how similar it was to a christian service... Okay not similar really at all BUT there was a message and it was on morality... not to mention the fact that it centered on the importance of a moral woman b/c she brings the downfall... sound familiar saints?
7. FOOD: okay I know I already listed ice cream but the fruit and Egyptian food made my life! Kusheri, bashbussa (I'm guessing on that spelling), and the best watermelon of my life are forever etched in my stomach's memory. Besides, what kind of sloppy American would I be if I didn't appreciate the food?
8. Temples....Temples.....and more Temples: Even though I may have felt slightly temple'd out by the end of our Nile Cruise, it was awesome being there. To think I was walking on the same ground ancient egyptians had... and touched the same hierglyphics they touched totally blows my mind. I wish time travel was possible... seriously though.
9. Snorkelling in Dahab: This place...ugh... there are no words. I didn't understand when Brian couldn't describe it to us but really it's just phenomenal. The funny thing is, sure the water is the amazing shade of blue...but when you look at the landscape it's stark and brown... and then when you look under the water, it's this amazing world of every color and fish imaginable... seriously? Go. now. don't think about it... just buy the ticket and go.
10. Hiking Mt. Sinai: who needs to ride a camel up? i thought i was going to die, but it was such a great experience. besides, if Moses can do it at 90, so can you!

Readjusting to American life has been interesting. Not as dramatic as I expected, but I do miss Egypt a lot. Who knows, maybe someday I'll find myself there again.

Speaking of maybe someday....

The situation with the boy reached its climax about 2 months ago, and has been on a downward slope since. Going to Egypt let me finally let him go. So, dearest confusing male whom I had high hopes for-- see ya. I'm ready for something better.

stay tuned for more summer misadventures... it's only June :)

Leaving on a jet plane...

In the morning I'll be getting on a bus to Atlanta... Where I'll board a plane to begin my trek to Cairo, Egypt.

Is this real life? Sure, seeing the pyramids and climbing Mt. Sinai. are both on my bucket list, but I honestly didn't think I'd get to do them for quite some time, if ever. Yet, here I am. About to set out on an adventure of a lifetime... Add in two of my closest friends and there's bound to be some misadventures too.

Early morning and a looooong day ahead so I'm gonna hit the hay :)

Oh, and to close out... I'm gonna post a sonnet to the Passport agency in honor of receiving my passport this morning.

An Ode to the Passport Agency:

Passport, passport oh where could you be?

They act like you're made from gold

when it's really just trees!

Passport, passport I just want to leave.

So I can go to the land of dead Kings

And kitties that don't skeet!

Miss Passport Agency Help Center Lady,

I've memorized the steps it takes to hear your voice

You tell me I have no choice

But to freak out and cry

Can't you at least try?

Routine? Expedite? Overnite?

I feel like I'm Tom Hanks with no Wilson

Just let me go to Egypt to meet Australians

Waited outside the FedEx today

Creeper status but hey

Guess who has her passport?

This chick.

Take that Passport Agency Trick.

انظر يا أمريكا

aka....

see ya America,

-ce

boring, boring day

I absolutely love strengths. I'm not just talking about the strengths you make up in a job interview... I'm talking the strengths from Gallup's StrengthsQuest. Make fun of me, it's okay. But I work on campus in the office that administers this personality test and sets up motivational talks integrating strengths into vocation.

That said, I absolutely love strengths. They give such insight into who we are as individuals yet allow us to see similarities between each other.

My strengths in order are:

Includer

Positivity

Harmony

Developer

Belief

Straight up hippie strengths... but I see those five words and I see myself in them.

Includer: I love to bring people in. To invite them into relationship with me. This also gets me in trouble when it comes to boys because apparently it sends mixed messages. Nah, they just fall for my perfect mix of sweet and sarcastic.

Positivity: I consistently look for the upside in any situation. Rather than focus on what could go wrong and stress about it, I relax and hope for the best. (key example: freaking passport)

Harmony: making everyone comfortable in a situation is way important to me. I can blend with just about any group of people without feeling like I need to change or they need to change. Instead I have this innate acceptance of who people are. Sure they still drive me crazy, but they also let me be crazy when I need to.

Developer: This is the Social Worker within me. I gain such a great sense of satisfaction when I help someone else move from point A to point B. When I can be a supporting force, yet I see them make choices for themselves to change and live. This should be higher in the ranks, I think.

Belief: I base my choices on a set of core values. These values are a huge part of who I am and most of them are rooted in the teachings of my Dad. I was not raised in a Church-centered home, yet I have an extremely strong moral compass and I have him to thank for that.

Not sure why I decided to blog about my strengths. I guess I just needed an excuse not to facebook stalk the boy. Let's just go through my day... thats what this junk is for right?

7:30 am- Rise and shine... and write a short paper... thanks summer school

8:30 am- class... I wanted to die of boredom. 3 1/2 hours of one class is enough to make anyone miserable even if it's interesting. We discussed the separation of church/state... Which I've decided I'm in favor of. (Don't tell Westboro Baptist... they'll picket outside of my house next)

12:00- Yay! no more class. Shopping for Egypt appropriate clothing. Let's be real... that's code for ankle length skirts and loose fitting tops. I have boobs... they already hate Egypt.

The rest of the day is a blur. I wish I was somewhere cool that would have tons of new adventures and places to explore everyday.

Oh and I bought a new bra from Victoria Secret. This is so sad.

Let's get to the bottom of why I had to blog: Boy. Well, it's more like lack thereof. Still strong in my fast... except it's getting both easier and harder to not talk to him. I mean, let's be real, I'm leaving on Sunday for Egypt for 2.5 weeks. A lot can happen in that amount of time.. Including me being forgotten....

I read in a book today (He's just not that into you) and the author said this, "You are not so easily forgotten. Let him miss you." sigh... okay, okay! I'm doing just that... but I really want to say bye and/or hang out before I leave... NOPE not doing it... Okay I might send a "see ya" text tomorrow..... but if my friends have anything to do with it... that's not going to happen either.

Yeah, I may be semi-pathetic. But hey, I don't care. At least I have a boy to fast.

Living in Passport Hell

Passport chaos 101.

Flashback to April 30, 2010.

It was a sunny Friday and I was applying for my passport. The woman behind the desk assured me this cursed book would arrive at my house within 7-10 days.

Flash forward to May 10, 2010.... My passport application JUST arrived at the Agency.

Stress factor: I leave for EGYPT on MAY 16th!

yeah....

I really need this to all work out or guess what? I'm not graduating in December. NOT OKAY. Not to mention the fact I already paid for my study abroad trip. This cannot be real life.

Lighter note:

Day 2 of playing tennis and replacing boredom with activities (rather than eating). Not gonna lie, my forehand is getting sick... my backhand is a whole different story though... Who knows... I may give Serena a run for her money

Oh and I really do have an amazing group of friends.

The roommates: Lindsay and Jess

The besties since college started: Lindsay (again) and Roxie

International bffs: Christin... i need more... so the bffs is a bffs instead of bff

Lifetime Homie: Alley... coming up on our 10th anniversary of most bestest friendship

Honestly, these people help me survive life. I don't know what I'd do without them.

Boy Fast update: still holding strong. Got a text from an old friend today... should've married him a long time ago. Hindsight. It's nice to talk to people you really click with though. It's never been any work for us to just sit and talk for hours. I love that. Who knows... Maybe someday. At least HE appreciates my Buckeyes. Legit Ohioans are always good for that much. But it's like he always says, what's meant to be will be... so I'll keep living life and see where the road takes me :)

Talked to Padre today (that's my dad) and we just shot the sh*t.... as he would say. It was nice to have a normal conversation with no stress of money or school mixed in. Speaking of school... definitely made all A's and one A-.... NBD. So excited. Back on that Dean's List and I'm officially graduating Magna Cum Laude! Everything I worked for is happening and it's all because of me, no one else :)

Tomorrow's agenda:

Tennis with Allison and Lindsay at 11 AM. Class at 1 PM.... just remembered I haven't done the research for my powerpoint... Nor have I studied my terms for the quiz... Guess I should probably get some sleep so I can get up early enough to take care of that...

-ce

A lot happens in 3 months....

There are some people who just rock at this whole blogging thing. And then there's ME.

Let's just say I'm a commitment-phobe. But really, I am. That and I can barely remember to shower daily, let alone sit at a computer and type out the happenings of my extremely interesting and fast-paced college life.

But don't stress... Summer has returned! As in the season, not the person. And with summer comes endless hours/days/weeks of not much of anything else for me to do other than pour out my emotions, activities, and adventures via internet postings. Clearly, I know I don't have a whole hoard of followers waiting each day to hear what I have to say. However, I plan to use

this as a way to look back on my life.

Let's see... How about a quick rundown of my life since February.

• Retreat with Epsilon Lambda Phi- Gatlinburg, TN. BUNGEE JUMPING (3x) and having the best weekend of my life... well it's in the top 20 anyway.
  
  
• Spring Break- Estero, FL.... bingo, shuffleboard, Grandma Diana and my great-grandmother.gosh I really should've blogged about that. It was the antithesis of all my friends' spring break and I loved it!
• Easter Weekend- Spent in good ole Cleveland, TN... Until my best friend Roxie and I decided to drive to Savannah, GA on Easter Sunday. We spent the night in my minivan (Peggy) in a Wal-Mart parking lot. The next morning we were up early enough for McDonald's breakfast (hashbrowns, holla) and at the beach by 10 AM. Get on our level. And we were home by Midnight. Roxie had an exam on tuesday morning at 7:45 am. Let's be honest here, that was one of the coolest things I've done on a complete whim.
• Turned over Presidency of Epsilon to my roommate Jessica.
• filed my taxes and got that refund. HOLLA.
• Oh yeah, and I "wogged" the Country Music Half Marathon on April 24. Wogged is a word I coined myself. It's a combo of walk and jog... in case you were struggling to figure it out. It was an incredible experience and I'm excited to build on the success I felt with barely finishing it. Maybe I'll actually train for my next half... which happens to be the Nike Women's Half in Nashville this September :)
• Signed up for a study abroad trip to EGYPT. Yeah, another rash decision but it's perfect.

Finished my finals 2 weeks ago and I've just been hanging out. I said goodbye to my best friend who moved to Thailand to teach for a year. Definitely the hardest goodbye I've ever had. Seriously, I didn't cry when I left my family to move here... or my boyfriend at the time. But somewhere along the line in the past two years, I've created friendships with people I saw daily and I know I won't physically be in her presence until next May. But I'm beyond excited to see what God does in that amount of time. So much happens in such a short amount of time.

I'm currently fasting a boy... as in, I'm not texting or calling him. I guess I'm just ready for him to miss me some...and see what it's like when I'm not around. Maybe then he won't be such an "eenie meenie miney mo lover." This fast will be MUCH easier come Sunday when I fly out of Atlanta, GA to Cairo, Egypt. I'm not taking my phone or computer so I'll be able to fully BE THERE. And sure, I'll keep telling myself I won't think about him. Maybe it'll actually happen because it's an epic fail as long as he's just across town.

When I get back, I'm gonna need to see my family. I haven't seen them since January 5th when I left Ohio to go back to school. HOMESICKNESS to the max. BUT it's also getting easier each day that I push through missing them. It's getting me ready for growing up and being a big girl. aka, I'll be able to move and not have my school breaks to see them.

hmmm..... summer.... feels right.

10 things that are ruining my days... emo alert

It's late, but there's just a few things to get off my chest in a moment of emo-ness.'

1. I hate that every time I look up at night a memory surfaces.

2. I hate that song that you loved that is now stuck in my head all the time.

3. I wish timing didn't matter and regrets didn't exist

4. I really do wonder if I cross your mind

5. Even after all the crap I can't say I would completely rule it out.

6. I miss being content

7. I despise being that girl, but I can't help but be her

8. I'm done hoping. Everything happens for a reason and Everything doesn't happen for one too

9. Still.... maybe someday

10. And if not, I'm glad this friendship continues to exist even if you won't see me

Goodnight. Church in the AM. Epsilon in the PM.

You have a drumstick and your brain stops ticking

First blog of 2010... where to begin?

I spent Christmas break in Ohio with the famdizzle and for once I did not work. Instead, I spent time catching up on the sleep that I didn't get all last semester and I just sat with my Dad and siblings. It was such an amazing reminder that when I feel like I am completely alone my family is always there; even when we are living 600 miles apart. When I say I just sat, I am NOT exaggerating. The week after Christmas, Padre always has the entire week off and usually we go sled riding, clean the house, and watch college football. (bowl season, duh) The one thing I miss more about home than anything else is going in Dad's room and just sitting on the bed or floor and talking about all the issues I'm dealing. If you know me, you know these tend to float towards the dating scene. Basically, I make a mess of all relationships and as the female clone of my father he tries to encourage me to keep going. Here's the trend: girl meets boy. girl likes boy. girl hangs out with boy for about two weeks. girl realizes attachment is forming and runs.

If you want the model my dad follows, switch genders. we are the same person 19 years apart.

It's the 2nd day in February and I find myself ten months from my graduation date. HOLY HANNAH. Honestly, I do not want to go. Yes, I love Boston (though I've never actually been there). Yes, I do not want to move back to Ohio (though when I'm with my family, I am content). No, I never saw myself staying in Cleveland (though that is beginning to change with time).

What do I do?

Clearly, I don't have the answer. In fact, Im far from it. But for the first time in a long time, I'm not planning my life around the future or things I want eventually. Instead, I'm just enjoying these last few months as a college undergrad. I'm opening myself up to possibilities that I usually close the door on. Geek Alert: This whole situation reminds me of Skinner's box. For the last few years, I've planned everything I do (and don't do) around the plans I had for the future. Now that I'm not doing that, you'd expect me to get the things I want now. (I tend to push things out of my life that don't fit my plan.) Well, instead of doing that I'm being open to anything that might happen...and I'm not getting anything that I want. FAIL. Hello Variable Ratio at its finest. Life is giving me the reinforcements I want but not always when I want them.

All whining, kicking, and screaming aside... I'm accepting this. Most days anyway. I mean let's be real, you can't possibly expect me to be "happy" when I want to date someone who wants to date someone else and I have to learn to put attraction aside and be their friend. I always get what I want and not getting it is becoming an issue that I am being forced to accept. But it really is happening and I'm in friend mode on all fronts. I want to be a better friend than I have been and a better believer than I have been. "Believer" is christianese for Christian, and lately I've been slacking on that front. I've been replacing my need to be in close relationship with God with relationships with friends and family. Obviously these people are incredible but they are incapable of filling the void I was trying to place them in.

It'll be interesting to see how the next months pan out. But I'm excited about it because for the first time I have NO IDEA where I'll be.