So I have referred a few times to the fact that for one strange summer I lived at home in Plain City. It really was random. I love living on my own a lotlotlot. And summers in P-town are like heaven! The wards are smaller and less intimidating, there are way more opportunities to party, the weather is gorgeous and Provo/campus is more beautiful than you've ever imagined, and the world seems at your fingertips.
But the summer before I did SPAC I randomly decided I should live at home that next summer. There were some factors that were probably sub-consciously at play. But really, it just was a random decision as far as I know.
So after SPAC off I went to live at home in a room made especially for me. You see, my bedroom is not still in my house. In fact I am currently writing this blog from my old room as it is now the computer room/study/sewing room. I have had brothers and sisters move back home with their children every so often so my room has been a lot of rooms since I graduated from high school long ago. When I was planning on going back my sister, her husband, and their four kids were also living at my house with my parents. So the downstairs family room was converted into a bedroom by putting some quick drywall up (maybe? I have no architectural knowledge) and there was my room. Complete with entertainment center, couch, and treadmill because really it still was kind of a family room. Just with a door and a bed and my clothes.
It wasn't long before I was not loving being at home with nothing to do. I never could find a job and after a while it was just fruitless to look because I would be back in Provo by mid-August. So I tried to run and did that every so often. I tried to read good books for me. I did read a lot of books, not all of them as intellectual or academic as I had originally intended though. I did run. A bit.
I did get pretty close to my sister Patti and her kids (even though I was already mondo tight with them because of my freshman year).
It was nice to be around and see some of my friends from home that I rarely/never saw when I was at BYU. I went to a lot of Monday night movies at the Ogden amphitheater, some better than others (like "This is It" was awesome and Hachi was....less so).
And I did remind myself of why I really appreciate living on my own. And so when I went back to BYU and Queens Arms I appreciated it even more. And since I was gone they could finally clean the carpet! And my landlord Reed could get rid of that couch he had been wanting to get rid of for years but I didn't want him to.
I wrote a blog post about it at the time as well.
Showing posts with label SPAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SPAC. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Singles Ward: real life is way better than the movie
My life in the singles ward scene was quite fantastic. It was all spent in the same ward. Technically. (almost)
The BYU 22nd Ward with Bishop Desmond
My first ward experience was fantastic. I was living just off campus in Queens Arms, so I was thrust into a non-freshman ward, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was just about the only freshman in the ward (I think there may have been one or two others) and I loved that because I didn't like being labeled as a freshman. My ward seemed so old and mature, and it felt like they kept getting younger as the years went on and people moved in and out. False. I got older. Weird.
In this ward I remember distinctly my Relief Society President Tricia Saylor. She is still one of my role models for life. She was always happy, the real kind not the fake-bubbly-you-can't-really-be-that-happy kind of happy. And she always knew how to help you find your way, and she did it lovingly. I remember distinctly a Visiting Teaching checkup I had with her (she was the only RS Pres who ever did that with me) and it was in the midst of a very challenging freshman year. I had recently found out my mom had breast cancer and I wasn't sure who I could/should tell and who I shouldn't. But I'm very glad I told her in that moment. I really was just telling her to let her know, I believe that ward leadership should have an understanding of what you're going through. I don't even remember how she reacted or what she said, but I always remember feeling grateful that I told her.
After my sister moved in with me after he mission I made a lot more friends in the ward and began to be really involved. I loved being able to just visit the apartments across the parking lot at Elite (or even the boys apartments *gasp*!) and I knew everyone well enough that this was legit. This was a time of many nice notes, lots of socializing (especially on Sundays, day of rest? Pah), and many intra-ward crushes. I made a lot of friends at this time that I am still friends with. Interestingly in the later years in the ward when I was less social in the ward (all blamed on folk dance, it's like a ward in and of itself) I always still had friends in the ward in forms of what I term "wardies" aka those who had been in the ward as long as I had been and so I was acquainted with them before my folk dance life. Yes. It's true. There was a life before folk dance for me.
The BYU 22nd Ward (which became the Provo YSA 18th Ward) with Bishop Gould
I can't pretend I wasn't wary of Bishop Gould at first. He came in during a summer when I was quite busy. I think I was working 20 hours a week and taking the maximum 6 or 7 credits and I just didn't have much time to socialize. I also was getting more of a social life out of my job while I worked with the dears at Freshman Academy so I wasn't as starved for friends, social attention, etc. And when I'm not starving, the ward isn't my first choice apparently. Bishop Gould, however, seemed like a dang party animal when he first came in.
He came in with party guns blazing. We had ward prayer on Sundays (which I had never had with Bishop Desmond because the Stake President had previously asked us not to have them, which of course Bishop Gould was unaware of, but I apparently decided to be super self-righteous and still feel moral oppositions to ward prayer) and dessert nights on Tuesdays and other ward activities at least once a week. It was kind of intense and I felt morally obligated to go to everything for some reason and therefore felt in a state of perpetual guilt and anger at being forced to go to such meaningless foo-fa. Yeah. I probably should have socialized more.
But I do remember that summer/next year having great friends in the ward who I also worked with. For some reason we had a high concentration of peer mentors in the ward, and it was awesome! My RS President Mindy Fletcher was even one. We had infiltrated. Although the next year when I was on PAC there were also two others on the team in the ward, which is a pretty high incidence of touring folk dancers when there are only 27 people on the team.
Once I calmed down about the parties I began to love Bishop Gould a whole lot. He helped me through a super tough semester and was the one who told me I was suffering from SAD which made me feel a lot less crazy and also bonded us together. Nothing like a disorder to really get the friendship going. That semester I'm pretty sure I was at the Bishop's office like every other week, I got real tight with the Bishopbric.
I was also particularly close to Brother Hatch, one of his counselors. Mostly because he teased me every time he saw me. I secretly like being teased. Just don't abuse it.
As I got more and more into folk dance I got less and less involved in the ward. Which I really did feel bad about and still do because that ward is full of dears. I had some great friendships begin in that ward that still exist today. I had amazing home teachers (special shout-out to my year-long home teachers Tristram and Devin, one full calendar year which is like half a lifetime in a family ward). I was visit taught by some awesome girls and I visit taught others that I still love. I would name all these people here but sadly I don't remember them all, and if I forgot someone I would feel like a jerk-face.
A homage to my FHE groups. My first calling was as an FHE mom and I gained a testimony of FHE. You may not know that to look at me now, I struggled with it in later years. But that first year my group stayed together, once again for a full calendar year even though I had two "husbands" throughout. We named ourselves the Marshyncanjags/jays (when we lost a girl due to marriage). We made a movie. We made up games. We had an epic picnic. We supported each other in musical endeavors (one of the members is still in Fictionist, so I'm basically famous right?). And we just all around loved each other. Other FHE were also awesome, I learned a totally weird game about chickens? (Jason Loong taught us that one) I converted one of my summer FHE groups to Jump, which if you don't know about, is the best game in all of existence that mostly just exists in the Fremont High School choirs. And one time, I had an FHE group not realize my apartment was in their group for half the semester. Thanks guys.
To wrap up. My single's ward experience has been awesome. Sometimes frighteningly similar to the movie (every ward has their Mr. Collins. Or an apartment of them...) and sometimes completely different. I was in this ward for nearly 5 years straight*, so obviously it was a good time.
*one time I lived in University Villa during SPAC but I literally don't remember a soul from that ward except that there was someone we called "Toga guy" and then one time I was in the Plain City singles ward for a summer. The end.
The BYU 22nd Ward with Bishop Desmond
My first ward experience was fantastic. I was living just off campus in Queens Arms, so I was thrust into a non-freshman ward, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was just about the only freshman in the ward (I think there may have been one or two others) and I loved that because I didn't like being labeled as a freshman. My ward seemed so old and mature, and it felt like they kept getting younger as the years went on and people moved in and out. False. I got older. Weird.
In this ward I remember distinctly my Relief Society President Tricia Saylor. She is still one of my role models for life. She was always happy, the real kind not the fake-bubbly-you-can't-really-be-that-happy kind of happy. And she always knew how to help you find your way, and she did it lovingly. I remember distinctly a Visiting Teaching checkup I had with her (she was the only RS Pres who ever did that with me) and it was in the midst of a very challenging freshman year. I had recently found out my mom had breast cancer and I wasn't sure who I could/should tell and who I shouldn't. But I'm very glad I told her in that moment. I really was just telling her to let her know, I believe that ward leadership should have an understanding of what you're going through. I don't even remember how she reacted or what she said, but I always remember feeling grateful that I told her.
After my sister moved in with me after he mission I made a lot more friends in the ward and began to be really involved. I loved being able to just visit the apartments across the parking lot at Elite (or even the boys apartments *gasp*!) and I knew everyone well enough that this was legit. This was a time of many nice notes, lots of socializing (especially on Sundays, day of rest? Pah), and many intra-ward crushes. I made a lot of friends at this time that I am still friends with. Interestingly in the later years in the ward when I was less social in the ward (all blamed on folk dance, it's like a ward in and of itself) I always still had friends in the ward in forms of what I term "wardies" aka those who had been in the ward as long as I had been and so I was acquainted with them before my folk dance life. Yes. It's true. There was a life before folk dance for me.
The BYU 22nd Ward (which became the Provo YSA 18th Ward) with Bishop Gould
I can't pretend I wasn't wary of Bishop Gould at first. He came in during a summer when I was quite busy. I think I was working 20 hours a week and taking the maximum 6 or 7 credits and I just didn't have much time to socialize. I also was getting more of a social life out of my job while I worked with the dears at Freshman Academy so I wasn't as starved for friends, social attention, etc. And when I'm not starving, the ward isn't my first choice apparently. Bishop Gould, however, seemed like a dang party animal when he first came in.
He came in with party guns blazing. We had ward prayer on Sundays (which I had never had with Bishop Desmond because the Stake President had previously asked us not to have them, which of course Bishop Gould was unaware of, but I apparently decided to be super self-righteous and still feel moral oppositions to ward prayer) and dessert nights on Tuesdays and other ward activities at least once a week. It was kind of intense and I felt morally obligated to go to everything for some reason and therefore felt in a state of perpetual guilt and anger at being forced to go to such meaningless foo-fa. Yeah. I probably should have socialized more.
But I do remember that summer/next year having great friends in the ward who I also worked with. For some reason we had a high concentration of peer mentors in the ward, and it was awesome! My RS President Mindy Fletcher was even one. We had infiltrated. Although the next year when I was on PAC there were also two others on the team in the ward, which is a pretty high incidence of touring folk dancers when there are only 27 people on the team.
Once I calmed down about the parties I began to love Bishop Gould a whole lot. He helped me through a super tough semester and was the one who told me I was suffering from SAD which made me feel a lot less crazy and also bonded us together. Nothing like a disorder to really get the friendship going. That semester I'm pretty sure I was at the Bishop's office like every other week, I got real tight with the Bishopbric.
I was also particularly close to Brother Hatch, one of his counselors. Mostly because he teased me every time he saw me. I secretly like being teased. Just don't abuse it.
As I got more and more into folk dance I got less and less involved in the ward. Which I really did feel bad about and still do because that ward is full of dears. I had some great friendships begin in that ward that still exist today. I had amazing home teachers (special shout-out to my year-long home teachers Tristram and Devin, one full calendar year which is like half a lifetime in a family ward). I was visit taught by some awesome girls and I visit taught others that I still love. I would name all these people here but sadly I don't remember them all, and if I forgot someone I would feel like a jerk-face.
A homage to my FHE groups. My first calling was as an FHE mom and I gained a testimony of FHE. You may not know that to look at me now, I struggled with it in later years. But that first year my group stayed together, once again for a full calendar year even though I had two "husbands" throughout. We named ourselves the Marshyncanjags/jays (when we lost a girl due to marriage). We made a movie. We made up games. We had an epic picnic. We supported each other in musical endeavors (one of the members is still in Fictionist, so I'm basically famous right?). And we just all around loved each other. Other FHE were also awesome, I learned a totally weird game about chickens? (Jason Loong taught us that one) I converted one of my summer FHE groups to Jump, which if you don't know about, is the best game in all of existence that mostly just exists in the Fremont High School choirs. And one time, I had an FHE group not realize my apartment was in their group for half the semester. Thanks guys.
 |
| See. We totally made a movie. Ooh and a music video! |
To wrap up. My single's ward experience has been awesome. Sometimes frighteningly similar to the movie (every ward has their Mr. Collins. Or an apartment of them...) and sometimes completely different. I was in this ward for nearly 5 years straight*, so obviously it was a good time.
*one time I lived in University Villa during SPAC but I literally don't remember a soul from that ward except that there was someone we called "Toga guy" and then one time I was in the Plain City singles ward for a summer. The end.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Folk dance part almost the last: PAC1
After an amaaaaazing SPAC tour and staying at home for one totally random summer, out came the PAC list.
Rewind to the middle of Winter semester of SPAC when we all had individual interviews with Delynne. She asked me when I was graduating. I said I could graduate in one year or I could drag it out to two years. She said, "Oh good, because even though Ed thinks he already knows who wants on PAC..." and then she didn't really say anything else specific. But she was clearly alluding to the fact that she wanted me to make PAC. This made me think, okay, I'll definitely make it eventually, but probably not next year.
During tour, Edwin came a few times tojudge er, watch us. In fact, Talmage Spackman and I had tour history the day he came and in our history we called him The Arbitrator. Fantastic. I remember he came and everyone was nervous out of their mind and I decided to pretend he didn't exist and just remember that really, I was here to perform for the kids. So that I did.
Now, I'm going to be honest, by the time SPAC tour had ended I had already planned PAC into my schedule. I somehow knew already (Holy Spirit anyone?) that I would make the team. But at the same time, when I saw that PAC list after getting a helpful text to check my email from Mike Romney (always got my back bud) I still couldn't believe it. I would check my email multiple times to make sure it still existed. It was a really bright spot in a really tough summer.
And then the emails started coming! I cherished every email I got from Ed about dances or rehearsals or anything. I'm pretty sure I probably had them all memorized. When he sent us a video of Lyndsey Wulfenstein (his teaching assistant for the first half of the year) teaching us Romanian, I worked on it in my house and then Christina Craven's kitchen when I had arrived in Provo for rehearsals.
The best was the randomness of having classical Indian rehearsals with a new choreographer Divya in South Jordan in her basement. And riding to them with Brittany Christensen. I felt so cool. And I'm pretty sure it's the only reason I ended up in Classical Indian. :)
I came to BYU two weeks early to start rehearsals for folk dance and to start working at the TMA office (yeah!) and stayed at the Craven's because I didn't have an apartment yet and they are lovely people. :)
That first day of rehearsal was ridiculous. For some reason I didn't have any of my folk dance shoes, just my SPAC sneakers which were problems for two reasons. 1.They are too narrow for my wide feet and 2. I didn't have any socks. So I danced Hungarian all day with no socks in these beastly shoes. And un-coincidentally about four months later during Christmas break both of my big toenails came right off. Gross.
It was also hard because those who had been on the team had just gotten back from Nauvoo with the old team like, days ago. So they were having a hard time adjusting to a new team and missing their old friends, and all the newbies were crazy nervous. But we made it work!
A couple of days into rehearsal more newbies came, David Lewis and Tanner Pearson came off their mission right into dancing Hungarian. those. poor. things.
Then as we went to our retreat at the end of the week (tubing down the Provo River which I ditched on for a close friend's party and a sleepover at our costumer's house) another random came. Tyler Walker! We now had an extra boy and for some reason this boy was custom asked by Ed to be on the team. He didn't even try out. It's cool. :) But really I'm glad Tyler was randomly on the team.
That first semester I got really close to all the other new girls, especially Liahona. For some reason Liahona and Jessica Philbrick (now getting closer to being Shepherd) always asked me what was going on, as if I knew more than them. Haha. But it brought us together. I also got fairly close to Emily Bills and McKenzie Keene because I was next to them in lineups a lot and they were really sweet in helping me with things I didn't know.
I especially ended up getting close to Liahona because we're very close the same person but she is scientific and Maori, and I'm liberal artsy and white. We were study buddies on the bus rides. AKA the only ones who successfully studied on mid-semester. She even finished a class while on summer tour! So we always sat next to each other on the bus.
World of Dance was an awesome experience. We did a Hungarian Suite, a Romanian Suite, and a clogging number. The Hungarian Suite I did twice out of four times, switching in and out with McKenzie. I am super glad I was taken out of that dance. The only reason I made it through was because Shua (Josh Park, aka, the Honor Code Ninja - who, ps, my bff and I from freshman year wanted to be Honor Code ninjas so when I realized it was him and I knew him, I almost had a spasm) is the best partner ever and leads so well the girl doesn't even need to know the dance. Coolio. Romanian Suite was so fun, one of my favorite dances of the whole year. And clogging. Well. I was the last one on and the first one off. Awesome. I think I did 5 steps total.
And gotta add this gem from WOD that ended up on the BYU website.
Then came Christmas Around the World. I remember the day I found out I got the little leaping solo in Israeli I was ecstatic and felt so super cool. And then that same day my ankle kind of twisted and I was sitting out for a second (my twisted ankles tend to heal in like..5 minutes). Edwin came up to me and said, are you going to be okay? Honestly he's not usually that concerned about injuries because people get injured all the time. But then he proceeded to tell me that he wanted to make sure I'd be fine because he and Lyndsey had just put together the CAW lineup and I was the only girl in all the dances, so I needed to be healthy. Well heavens to betsy. Technically I didn't feel like this was true because Emily DanceFish and Brittany Christensen/Carter were alternates in Romanian so technically they were cast in all the dances. Anyway. Not importante.
CAW was wonderful. Oh and horrible. Did I mention I had a terrible sickness the entire week? Like I went to the urgent care on campus, broke down in front of Delynney, and had her leave rehearsal for me to get me Gatorade and Immodium? Yeah. Not good. Somehow as soon as the run-through or rehearsal would start I was workable. But as soon as I got home every day, I couldn't leave the couch! I'd never had to rely on the Lord so heavily. And so it was a real growing experience for me - and got me to really begin to connect folk dance with spirituality in a way that became very important. Oh and PS, the moment the last show ended on Saturday night I was absolutely fine. Like I could eat nothing but plain rice and crackers all week and after the last show I ate Denny's at 11:00 at night like a champ. Ridiculous.
The next summer was RIDICULOUS. Because.
1. I was the TA for SPAC! A dream come true. I love teaching dance more than anything. And I even got the chance to choreograph a Slovakian dance with Mike Romney (never mind the fact that it was supposed to be Czech) and re-stage a Classical Indian dance. I came to adore everyone on that team. And I spent a lot of time with Emily DanceFish, David Lewis, and Mike Romney. Especially Mike, we were paired as teaching partners most of the time. But this duty meant that every Saturday not spent in PAC rehearsal or doing a PAC show, I was at SPAC rehearsal. I had one free Saturday. All semester. If I recall correctly it was beyond glorious.
2. The copious amounts of PAC rehearsals and shows. Because our first show was the third weekend of the semester, we had only two weeks to learn all the new dances for our full show as well as having tech/dress rehearsals before we took it on the road. If you want to read about our first show (and you do, believe me) check it here. That semester we had four weekend shows, as well as a mid-semester for 10 days (which took up two weekends) and a sizable amount of shows during the week. In fact, we had so many performances that semester that we weren't even allowed to perform in Spring Festival of Nations. Haha. I came to despise rolling my dang costume box to and from campus.
But Mid-semester was the bomb-diggity. Did I never blog about that? Blast it all. We went to California via Nevada. We almost died on the way in blizzards. Our driver was a champ. We had put chains on the bus multiple times and thankfully made it to our first show on time. Amazingly. Here are some picture memories of mid-semester because I'm maxing out my words (I should give myself a daily limit...)
As for the summer tour. Um, I'll simply remind you once more of Hungary, Slovakia, Prague, Zagreb, Porec, and Vienna.
Rewind to the middle of Winter semester of SPAC when we all had individual interviews with Delynne. She asked me when I was graduating. I said I could graduate in one year or I could drag it out to two years. She said, "Oh good, because even though Ed thinks he already knows who wants on PAC..." and then she didn't really say anything else specific. But she was clearly alluding to the fact that she wanted me to make PAC. This made me think, okay, I'll definitely make it eventually, but probably not next year.
During tour, Edwin came a few times to
Now, I'm going to be honest, by the time SPAC tour had ended I had already planned PAC into my schedule. I somehow knew already (Holy Spirit anyone?) that I would make the team. But at the same time, when I saw that PAC list after getting a helpful text to check my email from Mike Romney (always got my back bud) I still couldn't believe it. I would check my email multiple times to make sure it still existed. It was a really bright spot in a really tough summer.
And then the emails started coming! I cherished every email I got from Ed about dances or rehearsals or anything. I'm pretty sure I probably had them all memorized. When he sent us a video of Lyndsey Wulfenstein (his teaching assistant for the first half of the year) teaching us Romanian, I worked on it in my house and then Christina Craven's kitchen when I had arrived in Provo for rehearsals.
The best was the randomness of having classical Indian rehearsals with a new choreographer Divya in South Jordan in her basement. And riding to them with Brittany Christensen. I felt so cool. And I'm pretty sure it's the only reason I ended up in Classical Indian. :)
I came to BYU two weeks early to start rehearsals for folk dance and to start working at the TMA office (yeah!) and stayed at the Craven's because I didn't have an apartment yet and they are lovely people. :)
That first day of rehearsal was ridiculous. For some reason I didn't have any of my folk dance shoes, just my SPAC sneakers which were problems for two reasons. 1.They are too narrow for my wide feet and 2. I didn't have any socks. So I danced Hungarian all day with no socks in these beastly shoes. And un-coincidentally about four months later during Christmas break both of my big toenails came right off. Gross.
It was also hard because those who had been on the team had just gotten back from Nauvoo with the old team like, days ago. So they were having a hard time adjusting to a new team and missing their old friends, and all the newbies were crazy nervous. But we made it work!
A couple of days into rehearsal more newbies came, David Lewis and Tanner Pearson came off their mission right into dancing Hungarian. those. poor. things.
Then as we went to our retreat at the end of the week (tubing down the Provo River which I ditched on for a close friend's party and a sleepover at our costumer's house) another random came. Tyler Walker! We now had an extra boy and for some reason this boy was custom asked by Ed to be on the team. He didn't even try out. It's cool. :) But really I'm glad Tyler was randomly on the team.
That first semester I got really close to all the other new girls, especially Liahona. For some reason Liahona and Jessica Philbrick (now getting closer to being Shepherd) always asked me what was going on, as if I knew more than them. Haha. But it brought us together. I also got fairly close to Emily Bills and McKenzie Keene because I was next to them in lineups a lot and they were really sweet in helping me with things I didn't know.
I especially ended up getting close to Liahona because we're very close the same person but she is scientific and Maori, and I'm liberal artsy and white. We were study buddies on the bus rides. AKA the only ones who successfully studied on mid-semester. She even finished a class while on summer tour! So we always sat next to each other on the bus.
 |
| We always made quite sure our bus partner was realllly there. |
 | ||
| This is some serious Vogueing. |
Then came Christmas Around the World. I remember the day I found out I got the little leaping solo in Israeli I was ecstatic and felt so super cool. And then that same day my ankle kind of twisted and I was sitting out for a second (my twisted ankles tend to heal in like..5 minutes). Edwin came up to me and said, are you going to be okay? Honestly he's not usually that concerned about injuries because people get injured all the time. But then he proceeded to tell me that he wanted to make sure I'd be fine because he and Lyndsey had just put together the CAW lineup and I was the only girl in all the dances, so I needed to be healthy. Well heavens to betsy. Technically I didn't feel like this was true because Emily DanceFish and Brittany Christensen/Carter were alternates in Romanian so technically they were cast in all the dances. Anyway. Not importante.
CAW was wonderful. Oh and horrible. Did I mention I had a terrible sickness the entire week? Like I went to the urgent care on campus, broke down in front of Delynney, and had her leave rehearsal for me to get me Gatorade and Immodium? Yeah. Not good. Somehow as soon as the run-through or rehearsal would start I was workable. But as soon as I got home every day, I couldn't leave the couch! I'd never had to rely on the Lord so heavily. And so it was a real growing experience for me - and got me to really begin to connect folk dance with spirituality in a way that became very important. Oh and PS, the moment the last show ended on Saturday night I was absolutely fine. Like I could eat nothing but plain rice and crackers all week and after the last show I ate Denny's at 11:00 at night like a champ. Ridiculous.
The next summer was RIDICULOUS. Because.
1. I was the TA for SPAC! A dream come true. I love teaching dance more than anything. And I even got the chance to choreograph a Slovakian dance with Mike Romney (never mind the fact that it was supposed to be Czech) and re-stage a Classical Indian dance. I came to adore everyone on that team. And I spent a lot of time with Emily DanceFish, David Lewis, and Mike Romney. Especially Mike, we were paired as teaching partners most of the time. But this duty meant that every Saturday not spent in PAC rehearsal or doing a PAC show, I was at SPAC rehearsal. I had one free Saturday. All semester. If I recall correctly it was beyond glorious.
 |
| This will always be my FAVORITE picture-memory of SPAC ever. |
2. The copious amounts of PAC rehearsals and shows. Because our first show was the third weekend of the semester, we had only two weeks to learn all the new dances for our full show as well as having tech/dress rehearsals before we took it on the road. If you want to read about our first show (and you do, believe me) check it here. That semester we had four weekend shows, as well as a mid-semester for 10 days (which took up two weekends) and a sizable amount of shows during the week. In fact, we had so many performances that semester that we weren't even allowed to perform in Spring Festival of Nations. Haha. I came to despise rolling my dang costume box to and from campus.
But Mid-semester was the bomb-diggity. Did I never blog about that? Blast it all. We went to California via Nevada. We almost died on the way in blizzards. Our driver was a champ. We had put chains on the bus multiple times and thankfully made it to our first show on time. Amazingly. Here are some picture memories of mid-semester because I'm maxing out my words (I should give myself a daily limit...)
 | ||
| Teaching precious Elementary girls (and a few boys) to dance after an awesome school show where we got to eat lunch with the kids afterward! Dream come true! |
 |
| Performing at the Oakland Stake Center on temple grounds in front of maybe the most beautiful temple of all time. |
 | |
| The entire weekend spent in Paradise, CA where Alina and I's host family had extended family who hosted about a third of the guys on the team and we spent alllllll weekend with them. And then our host mom (Brynn) put Alina's hair on everyone in this awesome picture. And I can't even tell you how great this weekend was. |
Folk dance part the second: SPAC!
So, after a very important audition and at my very first extra folk dance rehearsal for the epic CAW opener I got the grandest news of the semester.
So the night before this rehearsal I had gotten an email about helping some of the people in the club to fold sweatshirts before the rehearsal at 8 am, which meant I would have had to come at 7 am to help fold. I had truly intended on going, but I had been social the night before (gasp!) until late so I couldn't bring myself to go that early for something that wasn't required. I arrive at the CAW rehearsal and up comes Grant Mecham (soon to be Granton) and tells me that I made SPAC. I think I screamed, and hugged him and Sam Alva because they were next to me and they'd made it too. It was then that I realized that the only people who got the email about helping to fold sweatshirts were people who made SPAC. Not the best choice guys...who want to get up that early on a Saturday morning?
Now, for a good description of what SPAC is, and for a description of the SPAC tour, I will direct you to this post, earlier in my blogging career. But very useful becuase it was written at the time instead of years after the fact, creating more historical validity. You know, primary documents and such (remember, history nerd?).
That semester of folk dance was wonderful. I remember our first meeting, looking at these people and feeling thoroughly uncomfortable, not knowing who the heck they were. The only person I really knew was Kayleen Palmer because I had had modern marathon with her. We made lots of goals in that first meeting, physical goals, spiritual goals, dance goals, it was awesome!
Once we got to the actual dancing we learned Hopak and I became tight with Ari because we were always across from each other, being the shorties of the group. I also tried some crazy lifts and began my cheremosh lift reign.
After two weeks of Hopak (and some intense training, I remember a lot of ballet in those first days) we were sorted into two teams. 9 couple and 7 couple. I was put on 9 couple and this is the group I got closest to during the semester because we learned all the same dances. The whole semester I was totally stoked because I wasn't put as an "alternate" in any dance, which made me feel like I was super cool and talented. But really that just meant that halfway through SPAC tour I was dead and desperately wanted a break every now and then.
9 couple also got an awesome opportunity to go to Indiana that year to dance at a...convention. I can't remember what it was for the life of me. The acronym was very long. Or maybe it was short. Anyway. Only 8 of the couples could go for some reason, and when Delynne announced it I remember Tanner Jackson turning to me and mouthing to me "We're going.". You see, Tanner and I were always partners, being the shorties. I love that boy.
In Indiana I roomed with Brittney Leavitt and bonded with her for a few reasons. 1. We were up for nearly 24 hours so we were loopy. 2. She was sick and on cold medications so she was REALLY loopy. Especially fun because otherwise Brittney is a pretty quiet and reserved person, especially at first. But not only did we get to talk, I'm pretty sure I even heard about Jesse (her boyfriend) that night. And three years later I was about the first (and nearly the only) folk dancer to ever meet him.
In Indiana we performed our Chinese Spinning Star dance
The men performed their Hungarian dance
And together we did Bollywood...(always a crowd pleaser)
And Troika (from Russia)
We also had one crazy early morning rehearsal and some good fun. And just for fun, here's a gem of a picture from one early morning rehearsal.
Oh and Delynne in the race car! We can't forget that beauty from the NASCAR Museum. Like Claire said "I like it because it's a little bit white trash."
Oh gosh. This is getting long.
Once we got on tour, I was roommates with Jessica Philbrick (now Shepherd), Kelsey Moss, and Talia Klein. Talia and Kelsey were both on 7 couple so I didn't know them as well. But I was pretty intimidated by Kelsey because she is tall and gorgeous and loud and funny and I didn't know her well. And now? Well let's just say this homeless week she was the first one to offer her apartment. We're bests. And Jessica? Um yeah, I got to know her well. She would sing to me every morning as I braided her hair and ate my oatmeal (even though I hated that oatmeal every morning). She's a master at making up different lyrics to well-known songs. And Talia was always so fun and I still love seeing her around on campus.
Some joy moments in that apartment. I braided every single one of my roomies every morning before we even got to the vans. Yeah, I know right? I'm so charitable. But every time there was a bad braid it was probably because I had forgotten to pray, or because I had gotten prideful from the previous braid. One time I even braided Kelsey's braid entirely on one side of her head. Oops. And Talia's hair is officially the slipperiest hair in the world. Hard to make fake hair stay in her silky dreads. Also, we had a Super Nintendo in that apartment, courtesy of Jessica, and dear little Granton would come over and just play the thing into oblivion. Hilarious.
I was on activities committee. ...? Clearly Delynne didn't understand my un-social-ness. I almost learned to swim (seriously Briant...that was the closest I ever got to committing to learn to swim but the weather on SPAC was so blasted terrible). I learned to french braid (and with fake hair no less).
I'm leaving a million things out. If only I could write forever. But alas, it's dinnertime and if I don't play with my nieces and nephews a little bit I think they will throw a coup. You should be glad I got this far with them all up in my grill for the last hour.
At ease.
So the night before this rehearsal I had gotten an email about helping some of the people in the club to fold sweatshirts before the rehearsal at 8 am, which meant I would have had to come at 7 am to help fold. I had truly intended on going, but I had been social the night before (gasp!) until late so I couldn't bring myself to go that early for something that wasn't required. I arrive at the CAW rehearsal and up comes Grant Mecham (soon to be Granton) and tells me that I made SPAC. I think I screamed, and hugged him and Sam Alva because they were next to me and they'd made it too. It was then that I realized that the only people who got the email about helping to fold sweatshirts were people who made SPAC. Not the best choice guys...who want to get up that early on a Saturday morning?
Now, for a good description of what SPAC is, and for a description of the SPAC tour, I will direct you to this post, earlier in my blogging career. But very useful becuase it was written at the time instead of years after the fact, creating more historical validity. You know, primary documents and such (remember, history nerd?).
That semester of folk dance was wonderful. I remember our first meeting, looking at these people and feeling thoroughly uncomfortable, not knowing who the heck they were. The only person I really knew was Kayleen Palmer because I had had modern marathon with her. We made lots of goals in that first meeting, physical goals, spiritual goals, dance goals, it was awesome!
Once we got to the actual dancing we learned Hopak and I became tight with Ari because we were always across from each other, being the shorties of the group. I also tried some crazy lifts and began my cheremosh lift reign.
After two weeks of Hopak (and some intense training, I remember a lot of ballet in those first days) we were sorted into two teams. 9 couple and 7 couple. I was put on 9 couple and this is the group I got closest to during the semester because we learned all the same dances. The whole semester I was totally stoked because I wasn't put as an "alternate" in any dance, which made me feel like I was super cool and talented. But really that just meant that halfway through SPAC tour I was dead and desperately wanted a break every now and then.
9 couple also got an awesome opportunity to go to Indiana that year to dance at a...convention. I can't remember what it was for the life of me. The acronym was very long. Or maybe it was short. Anyway. Only 8 of the couples could go for some reason, and when Delynne announced it I remember Tanner Jackson turning to me and mouthing to me "We're going.". You see, Tanner and I were always partners, being the shorties. I love that boy.
In Indiana I roomed with Brittney Leavitt and bonded with her for a few reasons. 1. We were up for nearly 24 hours so we were loopy. 2. She was sick and on cold medications so she was REALLY loopy. Especially fun because otherwise Brittney is a pretty quiet and reserved person, especially at first. But not only did we get to talk, I'm pretty sure I even heard about Jesse (her boyfriend) that night. And three years later I was about the first (and nearly the only) folk dancer to ever meet him.
In Indiana we performed our Chinese Spinning Star dance
And together we did Bollywood...(always a crowd pleaser)
And Troika (from Russia)
Oh and Delynne in the race car! We can't forget that beauty from the NASCAR Museum. Like Claire said "I like it because it's a little bit white trash."
Once we got on tour, I was roommates with Jessica Philbrick (now Shepherd), Kelsey Moss, and Talia Klein. Talia and Kelsey were both on 7 couple so I didn't know them as well. But I was pretty intimidated by Kelsey because she is tall and gorgeous and loud and funny and I didn't know her well. And now? Well let's just say this homeless week she was the first one to offer her apartment. We're bests. And Jessica? Um yeah, I got to know her well. She would sing to me every morning as I braided her hair and ate my oatmeal (even though I hated that oatmeal every morning). She's a master at making up different lyrics to well-known songs. And Talia was always so fun and I still love seeing her around on campus.
Some joy moments in that apartment. I braided every single one of my roomies every morning before we even got to the vans. Yeah, I know right? I'm so charitable. But every time there was a bad braid it was probably because I had forgotten to pray, or because I had gotten prideful from the previous braid. One time I even braided Kelsey's braid entirely on one side of her head. Oops. And Talia's hair is officially the slipperiest hair in the world. Hard to make fake hair stay in her silky dreads. Also, we had a Super Nintendo in that apartment, courtesy of Jessica, and dear little Granton would come over and just play the thing into oblivion. Hilarious.
I was on activities committee. ...? Clearly Delynne didn't understand my un-social-ness. I almost learned to swim (seriously Briant...that was the closest I ever got to committing to learn to swim but the weather on SPAC was so blasted terrible). I learned to french braid (and with fake hair no less).
I'm leaving a million things out. If only I could write forever. But alas, it's dinnertime and if I don't play with my nieces and nephews a little bit I think they will throw a coup. You should be glad I got this far with them all up in my grill for the last hour.
At ease.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Senior year in a nutshell: Folk dancey
Here's the one that is supposed to be the end. 5 year plans are the norm now right?
Spring/Summer
This here is the spring of SPAC. And the summer of home. We'll talk about both of those later.
Oh and I made PAC this summer. :)
Fall semester
This was my first semester of PAC. Uh. Yeah, it was crazy.
I also continued to pretend I was going to minor in Political Science so I took both Intro to International Politics and Western Political Heritage, which was basically political philosophy. I loved Intro to International Politics and it actually kind of changed my life (the professor, Valerie Hudson, shall be discussed again in the favorite professors post). Western Political Heritage? Well, I made it through. And there was a super cute guy in that class! Yeah. Me and philosophy are not friends.
I took a World War II class this semester so my future teenage boy students will think I'm cool. But it just further reminded me that I think military history is lame-o. However I did watch a bunch of awesome movies and read a cool book whose name I can't remember.
I took intermediate Irish and it was fantastic. I finally purchased my own pair of hard shoes from Sarah Klopp which I use to this day. And I danced with Kana Tyler a lot, and laughed a lot.
I took the Doctrine and Teachings of Joseph Smith and tried to like it. But after you take religion classes from Professor Fluhman, you really can't go back to anyone else. It's like Western Family chocolate chips versus Ghiradelli.
As for PAC. We'll talk about it later really. Suffice it to say I had more performances than I ever imagined and I'm pretty sure I constantly had gel in my hair. And I came to love my folk dance sweats. So comfortable.
Oh. And I started working at the TMA office this Fall. I had quit Freshman Academy to make room for folk dance. I also worked for Lauri Haddock (the one I took Humanities 101 from and who my freshmen from the year before took Humanities from) as a TA. That began a lovely friendship.
Winter semester
Sometimes I still wonder how I survived this one.
This is the semester I stopped pretending to be a political science minor and started pretending to be a geography teaching minor. So I took Geography 101 and Geography 250 about the US and Canada.
I had Geography 101 from President Monson's son and it remains my very worst grade at BYU. B-. Really? Clearly science is not my thing. I even did better in Physical Science as a freshman! I had Geography 250 from Professor Galland and it was hilarious and fun and I still don't understand what Geography is after that class.
This semester I took perhaps my very favorite class that I ever took from Professor Fluhman, American Christianity. It was fascinating! I loved learning about different religions, I really had never known very much about them, having grown up in Utah my whole life. Oh also, Jimmer was in this class too. However, this was THE year of Jimmer and during March Madness he clearly didn't come to class. And after March Madness the poor boy couldn't even come to class without being mobbed. So yeah, I didn't see him much.
In addition to this, I had performances about every single weekend. The weekends I didn't have a performance I would have rehearsal either for PAC or SPAC because I was on PAC and I was the TA for SPAC. I remember clearly one Saturday to myself. Holy what? Yeah. It was so worth it though! Because then when a lot of people from SPAC made PAC the next year I was already great friends with them! Genius. I also got to choreograph a dance with Mike Romney for SPAC which was super cool to see my choreography onstage! One day I need to get my hands on a recording of that baby.
Some funny moments: Class quotes
Spring/Summer
This here is the spring of SPAC. And the summer of home. We'll talk about both of those later.
Oh and I made PAC this summer. :)
Fall semester
This was my first semester of PAC. Uh. Yeah, it was crazy.
I also continued to pretend I was going to minor in Political Science so I took both Intro to International Politics and Western Political Heritage, which was basically political philosophy. I loved Intro to International Politics and it actually kind of changed my life (the professor, Valerie Hudson, shall be discussed again in the favorite professors post). Western Political Heritage? Well, I made it through. And there was a super cute guy in that class! Yeah. Me and philosophy are not friends.
I took a World War II class this semester so my future teenage boy students will think I'm cool. But it just further reminded me that I think military history is lame-o. However I did watch a bunch of awesome movies and read a cool book whose name I can't remember.
I took intermediate Irish and it was fantastic. I finally purchased my own pair of hard shoes from Sarah Klopp which I use to this day. And I danced with Kana Tyler a lot, and laughed a lot.
I took the Doctrine and Teachings of Joseph Smith and tried to like it. But after you take religion classes from Professor Fluhman, you really can't go back to anyone else. It's like Western Family chocolate chips versus Ghiradelli.
As for PAC. We'll talk about it later really. Suffice it to say I had more performances than I ever imagined and I'm pretty sure I constantly had gel in my hair. And I came to love my folk dance sweats. So comfortable.
Oh. And I started working at the TMA office this Fall. I had quit Freshman Academy to make room for folk dance. I also worked for Lauri Haddock (the one I took Humanities 101 from and who my freshmen from the year before took Humanities from) as a TA. That began a lovely friendship.
Winter semester
Sometimes I still wonder how I survived this one.
This is the semester I stopped pretending to be a political science minor and started pretending to be a geography teaching minor. So I took Geography 101 and Geography 250 about the US and Canada.
I had Geography 101 from President Monson's son and it remains my very worst grade at BYU. B-. Really? Clearly science is not my thing. I even did better in Physical Science as a freshman! I had Geography 250 from Professor Galland and it was hilarious and fun and I still don't understand what Geography is after that class.
This semester I took perhaps my very favorite class that I ever took from Professor Fluhman, American Christianity. It was fascinating! I loved learning about different religions, I really had never known very much about them, having grown up in Utah my whole life. Oh also, Jimmer was in this class too. However, this was THE year of Jimmer and during March Madness he clearly didn't come to class. And after March Madness the poor boy couldn't even come to class without being mobbed. So yeah, I didn't see him much.
In addition to this, I had performances about every single weekend. The weekends I didn't have a performance I would have rehearsal either for PAC or SPAC because I was on PAC and I was the TA for SPAC. I remember clearly one Saturday to myself. Holy what? Yeah. It was so worth it though! Because then when a lot of people from SPAC made PAC the next year I was already great friends with them! Genius. I also got to choreograph a dance with Mike Romney for SPAC which was super cool to see my choreography onstage! One day I need to get my hands on a recording of that baby.
Some funny moments: Class quotes
- If I don't spell this right I'm just going to tell you this is how they spell it in Canada. - Professor Gilchrist
- I find them simple and boring and it's the Apostasy so I don't care. - Professor Gilchrist
- We'll find out the truth after we die. Which doesn't help you much because you have a midterm next week. - Professor Hudson
- Let's just say Italy's got problems and one of them is the zipper of their Prime Minister's pants - Professor Hudson
- Terrorists are not the most stable of characters. They get kind of angry. - Professor Hudson
- He painted him with Satan getting bit in his brotherly parts - Professor Haddock
- Come on men, give me a beautiful hand, no military hands, only beauty. There is no shame, no shame, only pride. - Professor Haddock
- What else can I say about tornadoes? They seem to target trailer parks... - Professor Monson
- This time it worked. That time it didn't. Life is hard. Don't blame me - Professor York
- Historians are pretty desperate for people to read their books and say they're relevant. And they don't and we're not- Professor York.
- Oh I thought this was a bow-tie petition, a peaceful protest against my sartorial splendor - Professor York
- These are mountains. Not fire. - student
- We've got to take this stupid quiz. I mean...awesome quiz. - Professor Galland
- Oh, and it's illegal to detonate a nuclear weapon or cause a catastrophe - Liz Smith
- You know because you are geography majors, or you went to the 5th grade. - Professor Galland
Junior year in a nutshell: the one with more social interaction
Year 3! Over halfway there.
Spring/Summer
This spring term I began another wonderful journey. I started a job at Freshman Academy. In the year I was at this job I made a lot of friends, I learned a lot of things, and I became a much better person.
I took Irish dance from Jeanette Geslison, little realizing she would become a big part of my life (she is the current director of PAC).
I took a World Dance class from Rustin, my kinsman. All I really remember is Javanese salutation from that class, but I couldn't actually do it for you. And in this class I met Christina Craven and somehow we became amazing friends. Neither of us remember how. But we're both fairly sure it had to do with Gilmore Girls and coffee flavored ice cream that she hated and I loved.
I also took another LDS history class from Brother Fluhman. And Jimmer was in that class. Nbd.
Summer term. Yeah, I went all the way through. First, this was my first time with students at Freshman Academy (some of whom are already home from their missions, holy cow), and in addition I was taking 6 credits.
I took basic guitar this summer! I had gotten a child size guitar for Christmas the year before (I have small hands, okay?) and now I could play it! On a particularly melancholy day I even decided to write a song. However, I didn't know enough minor chords to actually make it melancholy so...yeah. It's more of an upper.
Also, another important folk dance step, I took Spanish dance from Delynne Peay. Perfect idea. She is the director of the backup team and by taking a class from her, my folk dance career really zoomed forward.
Fall semester
This semester, I was on a backup folk dance team and was in my first Christmas Around the World. I was also, by this time, taking Advanced Clogging with Greg (always, in fact I've never had another clogging teacher in my life, literally) and still his TA for intermediate clogging now.
Advanced Clogging was fantastic. I was always with Greg Rawlings and we had an amazing final. Enjoy
Yeah. My hair was that long. Sometimes I forget to cut it. For a year.
I also took a cooking class with my Ronnie (roomie) Kiely. It was terrible horrible no good very bad. But at least we spent at least 4 hours together every Tuesday? Seriously. It was bad. Kiely was once yelled at by our teacher for using the wrong pan or something...which thing we'd never learned about it class. Thanks lady. However, we had a grand old time studying for the midterm and final together. Some of the hardest laughter in my life occurred then.
Winter semester
This was my last semester of Spanish. A big deal considering for the last year and a half I'd had Spanish every morning at 8. Also, my teacher this semester was not American. Nor was he a native Spanish speaker. He was from Romania. He didn't even serve a Spanish-speaking mission. Random? Also awesome.
I took the entry course for history teaching. It was 20 hours a week for the first block. I'm still furious that they demanded that much out of my week. I always say I'll write a letter. Maybe one day I really will.
I started my first minor, Political Science Teaching by taking the entry course, American Government and Politics. A one-hundred level class where a junior couldn't snag an A on her papers. I have sympathy for all poli sci majors now.
Oh and I was on SPAC. Yeah. I'm not even going to try, they have an entire post coming up.
I was also affected by SAD this semester. It still occasionally comes up, but never as bad as it was this semester.
Some laughs: Class quotes
Spring/Summer
This spring term I began another wonderful journey. I started a job at Freshman Academy. In the year I was at this job I made a lot of friends, I learned a lot of things, and I became a much better person.
I took Irish dance from Jeanette Geslison, little realizing she would become a big part of my life (she is the current director of PAC).
I took a World Dance class from Rustin, my kinsman. All I really remember is Javanese salutation from that class, but I couldn't actually do it for you. And in this class I met Christina Craven and somehow we became amazing friends. Neither of us remember how. But we're both fairly sure it had to do with Gilmore Girls and coffee flavored ice cream that she hated and I loved.
I also took another LDS history class from Brother Fluhman. And Jimmer was in that class. Nbd.
Summer term. Yeah, I went all the way through. First, this was my first time with students at Freshman Academy (some of whom are already home from their missions, holy cow), and in addition I was taking 6 credits.
I took basic guitar this summer! I had gotten a child size guitar for Christmas the year before (I have small hands, okay?) and now I could play it! On a particularly melancholy day I even decided to write a song. However, I didn't know enough minor chords to actually make it melancholy so...yeah. It's more of an upper.
Also, another important folk dance step, I took Spanish dance from Delynne Peay. Perfect idea. She is the director of the backup team and by taking a class from her, my folk dance career really zoomed forward.
Fall semester
This semester, I was on a backup folk dance team and was in my first Christmas Around the World. I was also, by this time, taking Advanced Clogging with Greg (always, in fact I've never had another clogging teacher in my life, literally) and still his TA for intermediate clogging now.
Advanced Clogging was fantastic. I was always with Greg Rawlings and we had an amazing final. Enjoy
Yeah. My hair was that long. Sometimes I forget to cut it. For a year.
I also took a cooking class with my Ronnie (roomie) Kiely. It was terrible horrible no good very bad. But at least we spent at least 4 hours together every Tuesday? Seriously. It was bad. Kiely was once yelled at by our teacher for using the wrong pan or something...which thing we'd never learned about it class. Thanks lady. However, we had a grand old time studying for the midterm and final together. Some of the hardest laughter in my life occurred then.
Winter semester
This was my last semester of Spanish. A big deal considering for the last year and a half I'd had Spanish every morning at 8. Also, my teacher this semester was not American. Nor was he a native Spanish speaker. He was from Romania. He didn't even serve a Spanish-speaking mission. Random? Also awesome.
I took the entry course for history teaching. It was 20 hours a week for the first block. I'm still furious that they demanded that much out of my week. I always say I'll write a letter. Maybe one day I really will.
I started my first minor, Political Science Teaching by taking the entry course, American Government and Politics. A one-hundred level class where a junior couldn't snag an A on her papers. I have sympathy for all poli sci majors now.
Oh and I was on SPAC. Yeah. I'm not even going to try, they have an entire post coming up.
I was also affected by SAD this semester. It still occasionally comes up, but never as bad as it was this semester.
Some laughs: Class quotes
- I know there are all sorts of signs that say no food and drink...we're all friends here (the donuts lesson in American Heritage) - Dr. Pope
- We're the tyrannical democrats. You can have your rights; just give them all to use! - Matt Page
- Ambiguity is like a multi-headed dragon... -Spencer Sutton
- *As Britain's unofficial anthem plays* Everybody! ...We're not going to build an empire if you don't get into it! Come on! - Dr. York
- I have not eliminated your agency, you can leave it blank. Grading will be simplified. - Dr. York
- Go ahead [and vote on the final essay topic], I'm the electoral college! - Dr. York
- You probably can't sleep without knowing these dates, and I understand that - Professor Haddock.
- And we will talk about all the teenage mutant ninja turtles this semester. - Professor Haddock
- Do I have to sing a song? Do I have to cry? I don't know - Professor Strate
- The Bible is about 35% more correct in Spanish than in English. According to my...scientific calculations - Profe McNeil.
- But not the man that's holding you down, the man that's raising the roof. - Profe McNeil
- She's also vice president of the Tae-Kwon-Do club - a student
- Oh, well will watch ourselves - Professor Horrocks
- Oh! I know this! I know this! I'm Scottish! - Jim Puida
- First, he is not a very good example of...a person - Professor Horrocks
- My name is Brady and there's no way that I'm a lady - Brady
- Que cheesy - Profe. Iclenceau
- Republicans sleep in different beds, sometimes even different rooms, that's why there are more Democrats. - Professor Davis
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Dreams.
I have a lot of dream jobs. Even though I feel 110% about the whole teaching thing, I also have quite a few other ideas for my life. Here are the things I want to do in my life before I die. In no particular order.
1. Diplomat
2. Senator
3. Choreographer
4. Stand-up comedian
5. Delynne (aka being in charge of SPAC)
6. Lawyer
7. Adoptive mother
8. Philanthropist
9. Journalist
10. Novelist/Essayist
Think I can fit it all in?
1. Diplomat
2. Senator
3. Choreographer
4. Stand-up comedian
5. Delynne (aka being in charge of SPAC)
6. Lawyer
7. Adoptive mother
8. Philanthropist
9. Journalist
10. Novelist/Essayist
Think I can fit it all in?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sometimes, I folk dance.
So this past May and a smidgen of April, I was on tour with the World Dance Showcase folk dance team at Brigham Young University. Sound impressive? Good.
But really. For one semester, this team, WDS (a name we are still getting used to, as we were formerly called Spring Performing Arts Company or SPAC, pronounced like spackle with the -kle) prepared 14 dances between 2 teams within the team (I know, it's getting complicated stay with me here). We split into 2 teams, a 7-couple team and a 9-couple team, so the transitions in our shows can go smoothly. Where do we perform these shows you ask? I will tell you, and you will love it.
For CHILDREN! You got that right dude. We don't dance for distinguished old people who pay for tickets and sit in an auditorium. Oh no, we dance for children who laugh when we shimmy, think the Mexican costumes are ninjas, and pick their noses whilst watching us dance. It gets even better, we don't even dance on stages, oh no, we dance on cafeteria floors. And we dance right up in their FACES! Oh the number of times I made children blush and hide behind their friends.
An example of the children.
A normal day of a folk dancer on this team is something like this.
5:30- Wake up. Ish. If you're a girl, braid and/or get your hair braided.
6:30- Meet outside of the apartment building we all live in to pile into four BYU-issue vans. This years models were named: Silver Bullet, Gunther/Dilworth (depending on who you talked to), Clifford (the lesser known name of the cargo van with all our gear), and Lesta.
6:45- Listen to an inspirational thought and Delynne's (our teacher/coach/mother) layout for the day and other random thoughts that she decides to give us. Also. More braiding.
7:00- Drive. Forever. Dance in the vans. Sleep in the vans. Listen to Delynne talk for hours in the vans.
9:15- Arrive at the first school, layout your costumes, braid some more.
9:45- Warm up in the children's cafeteria while the kids eating their breakfast wonder what's up with the people dressed in black running in circles to Holding Out For A Hero.
10:15- Dance for children.
10:45- Give high fives to the children after dancing for them.
10:50- Pack up your costumes, make the boys take your costume bag to the van, get in the van, drive to the next school, do it again.
5:00- Arrive back at the apartments. Hot tub. Swim. Watch movies. With the same people you dance with everyday. :)
You may wonder what's up with all the braiding? I shall explain. You see as a female folk dancer, it is not enough to have your own lovely hair, it is fairly necessary to add a couple feet of fake hair so that your french braid is unnaturally long. And so, the art of french-braiding with real and fake hair is an art that must be mastered by at least 5-6 girls on the team. Once the art is mastered, braiding can take place at any time and in just about any situation.
Here are some other fun things that tend to happen/happened on my tour.
-The creation of new words, such as squidgeon. Use of squidgeon in a sentence, "Pass me a squidgeon, I need to gas the rockets."
-Nicknames. I myself who have only successfully had one nickname (Little Lynette, also given to me by a folk dancer), gained at least 4 more: Internet, Nettie, Delynne (though that one was unintentional, or so they say...) and my favorite, Stinging Nettle. Other great nicknames given include but are not limited to: Sheppy, Granton, V-Rap, T-Rex, Porkchop and/or Portiadka, Tandi, Canteen, Marriage, Reedifer, The Kikster, Samwise.
- Massages. They happen all over the place. This is an ideal time for you to experience a calf massage for the first time.
- Pranks. About the 3rd week, when you could and maybe actually DO the dances in your sleep...the pranks begin. As long as they don't affect the dance Delynne is down with them, and even encourages them. Sometimes she even dares all the girls to include the word moist in their narrations before each dance.
- Also, sometimes we dance for old people. This is actually quite similar to dancing for children. Though when we dance for old people we bring our own stage and set it up on the grass, and it falls apart while we dance. It's pretty funny/dangerous.
- Friendship. Did you know you can make 32 best friends in under one month? Possible.
And so, for my dear fellow SPACers, I love and/or miss you. You pick. (I pick both). For past/present/future folk dancers, enjoy the folk danciness of this post. For others, if you have no idea what any of this is about...sorry...at least it was witty right?
Look, I can dance Puerto Rican AND find it on a map!
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