повторений мать учение

Well, I've got a little less than two weeks left here in Florida. It's been an interesting few months here. I came with the intention that I am going to have a super relaxing and care-free stay here. I didn't really think that I would have a significantly different reaction physically and emotionally to my hiatus. I mean that it was very hard for the first month to just stop thinking about what I need to do. I wasn't used to not having a schedule, nor was I used to not have demands left and right. Finally, I mentally won this battle. I came here to just not do anything. I guess I felt that I was pressuring myself that I need to keep myself busy. And, that's where the physical comes in. My neck was hurting really bad the last couple months. Like, terrible. Stiffness, pain, little range of motion ability, etc. So, I got my massages from a lovely girl out here who actually lives in the building next to us, and I feel a million times better. I know for a fact that all my tension likes to hang out in my neck and upper back, so I've gotta get my massages and back cracks. It's a fact. And, I'm not going to hide it.
The other important physical change I needed to accomplish was getting into better shape. I told myself that these few months were for ME. And, I've been following through. I've toned up and I run 5K every day (on the treadmill because it's still too cold for my ears... boo), and finally signed up for the Ocean Drive 5K run (http://www.oceandriverun.com/2010/), on March 13. I'm excited! I just love the energy of races, and the feeling of completing the run.
I've made a new friend out here. Her name is Emiliya. She is from Russia, and moved to Florida to be with her boyfriend... and possibly future husband. It's a very unique situation. They've had a long distance relationship for a while and she decided to take the chance of starting a new life here. She is 29, and has been here for three months so far. She had a good job for a broker agency in Russia, and explained that before, her life was all work and the office. Now, she has the ability to have her life be her personal life, because she didn't really have one before. I can honestly say that I really enjoy her company. She is such a sweet and loving girl. She is very curious about my life, and about how Americans are. I try not to generalize, but at the same time, want to get her to love it here if she really ends up staying. The great thing about our relationship is that we get to practice speaking Russian and English. We mostly speak in Russian (which has been great for me because I really think it has improved), and I help her with irregular verbs, grammar, and have taught her many words that she hasn't learned quite yet. Practice makes perfect! Tonight we have another dinner date and then get to enjoy the midnight showing of Alice in Wonderland! I know she will be entertained by how people get dressed up for midnight showings.
Now, moving on to stuff for school... I received an email with a ton of information for my program. I have to get all sorts of background checks done, medical tests, etc. I also found out that my program has a laptop initiative program where they give each student their own laptop to use for school and then get to keep when they are done. It was a surprise- I think I'll give it to my Mom after school is done (not sure what the rules are, but I know that I'd rather use my Mac). I also have a list of contacts for apartments. I am excited and nervous. I am willing to be very flexible such as living farther from campus, not having a dishwasher or washer/dryer, etc. etc. because of my price range and decision that I want to live alone!!!!
So, we'll see how everything turns out.
Thanks for reading, pals.

Moving outta here!

Today is Monday, December 21. I am about 1/4 of the way done with packing. I've lived in East Lansing/Okemos/Lansing (let's just say Ingham county) for about 4.5 years, have moved three times in the last year, and on Wednesday, will officially leave this place.

Things I will miss:
1) My favorite restaurants/cafes/bars (Mumbai, Sawyer's, Gone Wired Cafe, Grand River Coffee, Beggars Banquet, El Azteco, etc.).
2) Nathan, Monty (the Chihuahua), the friends I've made through school and work. =(
3) Convenience of knowing this place like the back of my hand.
4) My awesome jobs $$$$$$$$$ (hundred dolla bills ya'aaall)
5) Thrift stores that haven't been picked over AT ALL.

Things I won't miss:
1) Ghetto apartment/thin walls/no insulation. DTN management in general.
2) Crazy freaks around town... really... I'm sick of seeing that guy playing guitar on the corner of Mt. Hope and Cedar... no one can hear you buddy, we are all driving in our cars... and it's cold outside... or the dudes waving the signs to sell my gold for cash! Or better yet, the crazy guy that tells me his life story about claiming to be from LA, and that he is looking for the local gay bar, but isn't looking for sex, but is interested if someone else is... Oh yes! Really fat ladies on their mobilized scooters riding through the snow filled sidewalks. The list goes on. The CATA bus stop in Lansing gives me the willies!
3) MSU or LCC (being a student at MSU consists of classes of 500+ people, or a student at LCC consists of well, it's an urban campus, so think about it. I will just remember the smell of Taco Bell and cigarettes.).
4) The millions and millions of Asian students driving dangerously in their Mercedes, or Porsche, or BMW, or whatever. Ridiculous.
5) The smell of everyone's shit when I drive on 496W (from the waste water treatment plant).

This is pretty much what I can come up with at this point. I've gotta get back to packing, which has been a lot of throwing clothes away, watching TV, and hanging out with friends.
-Jackie