I need to save a lot of money this summer in order to survive in Jordan. Due to insane gas prices, I'm considering riding my bike to work. As of right now, I'm riding an old Trek Cruiser, which is less than ideal for the 30 mile daily commute. When I was in Spain, I rode a beautiful Giant hybrid bike. It was absolutely perfect.
While I would love to buy the exact same bike, I really don't think I can afford to spend over $500 on a bike right now. I'm looking for a cruiser style bike that can handle multiple types of terrain and I've narrowed it down to two choices: the Schwinn Admiral & the Schwinn Trailway.
Schwinn Admiral $159
Schwinn Trailway
I'm leaning towards the Admiral. It has a vintage look, fenders, and a place for me to bungee anything I need to carry. My only concern is I will need to order the bike online since it is not available in stores. Should I really invest in something I haven't tested out first? I've done riskier things in the past, like moving to another country, so I think I'm going to go ahead and order it!
My research proposal was accepted! Three submissions, sleepless nights, and countless hours spent wracking my brain in front of books and a computer screen have all been worth it. The research will be funded and now I don't have to worry about major costs, like airfare and food. I can't wait to be in Jordan, putting everything I've worked on to use.
I will also be inducted into the Anthropology Honor Society, Lambda Alpha. The society is new to my college, so I'm apart of the first class! In order to qualify, a certain GPA needs to be maintained and you have to be in the top percentage of your class.
One more thing, I promise. About two weeks ago, I saw that the Expert Vagabond, Matthew Karsten, was having a contest for the Asalto 2.0 Guerrilla travel backpack. I've never entered an online contest before, but I've been shopping around for a travel backpack and decided to enter on a whim. I WON! The backpack is on it's way and should arrive in a couple days. I will definitely be putting the pack to use in Jordan, the surrounding countries, and all of my international trips in the future!
I've had a mini love affair with Kipling U.S.A. products since I was a little girl when my sister Adri bought a set of their duffel bags. I already have a turquoise shoulder bag by Kipling U.S.A. and it's been a godsend. I have my heart set this backpack, but do I really need another one? We all have our vices, one of mine is backpacks.
Kipling U.S.A. Challenger Backpack $78
Here are a couple pictures of my shoulder bag. It's traveled everywhere with me!
I have been noticeably absent from this blog, lo siento!
It’s for good reasons, I promise.
More and more lately, I’m realizing life is all about
prioritizing what you need, love, and want. The reason I haven’t updated in a
while is a combination of these three.
I need to devote a majority of time to school and related
pursuits, such as cultivating relationships with my professors and the Alumni
Office, where I work.
I love wasting my time on other blog sites looking at pictures
of the love of my life favorite celebrity and his various hair colors while listening to
Florence + the Machine.
I want to pursue my post-college plans and dreams more seriously, be a better sister and daughter, and take care of myself.
Love of my life.
As far as school goes, I made the Dean's List last term with a 3.9 GPA and I've made an impression on many of my professors, but one in particular. She's overseeing my independent study and I spend a significant amount of time in her office working on my research. I always thought she treated me different than the average student, but my suspicions were confirmed when she made me tea the other day. I don't know why, but I was really touched someone with a PhD would do something so menial for someone that is on the bottom rung of the ladder. The independent study we've been working on has yet to be accepted after two submissions. I turned in the third revision on Wednesday and I'm hoping the third time really is the charm because if I don't get this research grant I won't be able to go to Jordan. Essentially, my whole future relies upon a committee of professors, who I'm not convinced understand my project. There also the problem of perceived danger and prejudice against the Middle East and Arabs, but I don't want to even begin discussing that.
Future home away from home, hopefully!
I've never been one to have a lot of friends, which is derived from having four sisters, but I've made efforts with new people in the past 6 weeks and I'm pleased with the variety it brings into life. It's nice having someone to talk politics with and someone else that obsesses over television shows with you. I'm content, I don't need anything else or more. I'm constantly asked "Why don't you have a boyfriend, yet?" The truth is I've never made an effort to have one, but more so that I don't want one. I can't imagine having to devote time to a person other than myself. I see other people put so much time and energy into one person and it seems exhausting. I can't lose focus on my goals and dreams. Adding another person into my future would only complicate things (except if that person was named Benedict Cumberbatch or Idris Elba. I can make exceptions, I guess).
Three BEST friends. I'm not creepy at all.
In the near future, I will be moving in with my sister so I can continue my internship at the Field Museum and nanny. I would like to start volunteering my time towards educating refugees, too. There's so much to do and ,in reality, so little time.
This song has been my absolute favorite for a few days. Enjoy!
There’s something I need to get off my chest: I have
an irrational hatred/fear of Jamie Lee Curtis.
She wants to eat your soul.
It all started in grade school music class, when I
decided I didn’t like my music teacher. Her hair was too thin, the skin on her
neck sagged too much, and her cross necklace didn’t work with the turtle necks
and seasonal vests she wore every day. Besides
her appearance, Music Teacher clearly disliked me from the start; I was far too
sassy and had a reputation from my four older sisters, whom she also taught
many, many years prior.
Growing up, My
Girl was a constant at home. I was very familiar with Shelly DeVoto, the
lady who lived in the mobile home and bothered Vada Margaret Sultenfuss to no
end. Truth be told, I was never very fond of Shelly. One day in music class, I
realized Shelly and Music Teacher were, basically, separated at birth. They
looked so much alike, it was scary.
My hatred of Music Teacher grew as I got older. I
was forced to sing and dance with my classmates when I would’ve rather played
computer games or make fun of people on the playground. In fact, I still like to do the same stuff
now. It’s called blogging. This hatred, in combination with disliking Shelly,
turned into a hatred of Jamie Lee Curtis. It didn’t help that Freaky Friday came out in theaters years
later. I was assaulted by movie trailers and at sleepovers when my friend’s
would watch Freaky Friday.
Absolutely terrifying.
Then, Jamie made a genius career move and became the spokesperson for Activia, the
yogurt that helps you poop. I couldn’t escape, and honestly, I still can’t.
That stupid voice singing Actiiiiiviaaaaaaaaa runs through my head unexpectedly
all the time and so does Jamie’s serial killer, dead-in-the-eyes smiling face.
The Google Image search page for Jamie is a nightmare.
I'm an avid fan of all of Imogen Heap's music and her new stuff in no exception. I think my favorite aspect of her music is that it's distinctly Imogen. No one else produces such wonderfully textured, unique music. I really can't describe the beauty of Imogen's music, nor how it makes me feel.
When I went on a trip to Istanbul and Athens in 2010, my sister let me borrow her American Apparel circle scarf. I fell in love.
I wore that scarf everywhere. It was my companion throughout the whole trip as a scarf, head covering, blanket, pillow, etc. However, after repeated attempts to tell Adri "I don't have your tie-dye scarf!" and "What are you talking about?", my sister made me give it back to her. I've been pining after that stupidly perfect scarf ever since. I like to go into Adri's closet, gaze upon it's beauty, and remember all the good times we had. Like that one time when I ditched the mandatory four hour church service in Istanbul to go get Turkish tea or when I vomited in the hotel lobby in front of my professor (Everyone was like "oh my gosh, you are so hungover", but I swear I ate a bad Gyro. I know my alcohol limits, promise.)
I was thinking about treating myself after finishing my research proposal. I was floating on air after printing out the final draft, telling myself "You are going to spend money you don't have on a scarf you've wanted for two years." Low and behold, it's not available anymore. I'm depressed (warning: first world problem), but there are alternatives, I guess.
I love this super sheer circle scarfAmerican Apparel has online. I think it will be beneficial to have a dependable, breathable scarf on hand when I'm living in the Middle East.
Just for shits n' gigs, my friend took a picture of me re-enacting the "Vomiting in The Hotel Lobby in Front of Your Favorite Professor" incident. Here you go, I have no shame.
Fun fact: I forgot to bring my camera on this trip and these are the only pictures I have of myself in front of the Parthenon. Classy.
