Just Can't Get Enough of This Place

Here's the latest on my life....(The following is almost ironic considering my last post with that email from my academic adviser:)

Last week I stopped by one of my former professor's offices, who also happens to be over the Geospatial Intelligence program. While we were talking, he suggested I stay one more semester (yes, one more semester) to take the Remote Sensing classes, as well as one of the high-priority languages (ie: Farsi, Urdu, Arabic, Pashtu, Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin, etc). I sat there stunned, wondering, "Is this REALLY, truly what I want to do?"

Over the next day, I thought about it, prayed about it, and ultimately came to the conclusion that it is in my best interest (as well as the nation's....or at least that's what I told my adviser to convince him to sign my graduation extension) to stay on one more semester (*sigh*) to take these classes. I just can't seem to get away from this "bubble" if you will, no matter how hard I try. I sure do hope it's worth it.

News flash

So I've not let myself post anything for quite some time, mostly because it doesn't fit onto my "best use of time" list. Nonetheless, I got an email this morning from my academic adviser that made my day; a true sign that I need to get out of here. Please read below.

This e-mail is being sent to notify you that a hold has been placed on your records, due to the high number of credit hours you have accumulated at the university. This hold is in accordance with the timely graduation initiative our office has developed and prevents you from registering for classes Winter 2010.

In order to have this hold removed, please contact the FHSS advisement center at 801.422.3541 to schedule a time to meet with me as soon as possible so that we can develop a graduation plan that helps you make the most of the remaining time you have at BYU. In this appointment we can discuss how the high number of credit hours you have accumulated are distributed (i.e. transfer credit, A.P. credit), your academic and career goals, and ways that the advisement center can help you achieve your aspirations.

You should bring a preliminary schedule of courses you plan to take each semester to this appointment and be prepared to fill out a graduation application at that time as well (please bring your BYU ID card). Once an approved graduation plan is in place and your application for graduation is filled out, I will be able to lift the hold and you will be able to register for Winter 2010 courses.

If you have met with me in regards to this already, we have developed an approved graduation plan, and you have applied for graduation, then please remind me of the date we met, and upon verification of this I will remove your records hold. If not, I look forward to meeting with you in the near future and to assisting you with developing a graduation plan that considers your needs, and helps you achieve a timely graduation from BYU.

I'm not entirely sure why I found it so funny, but I did. The first paragraph is particularly a delight. Maybe I found it funny because not even a month ago, I met with my adviser (who sent the email) and he knows I'm graduating, blah blah blah, not to mention that I've already applied for December graduation. Shouldn't they, of all people, know this? hmmm. Even so, I guess if I randomly decided "hmmm, I think I'll continue my existence in the bubble" I couldn't, because I have a hold. Sad, sad, sad day

Spontaneity

First of all, I should rename the last post; I doubt there will be a official "part 2," though I'm sure this semester will get mentioned when I actually do write about something....

For those of you who don't know, I did something spontaneous last month and bought plane tickets out to Alabama (via Atlanta) to visit one of my mission companions, Elisangela. It was something that as I sat chatting with her and found out her husband was leaving for three months, I wanted nothing more than to go hang out with her. The problem was, he was leaving right before school started, and will get back right before school ends. Looking at a calendar I realized I could go on a weekend, but a three day weekend would be best, and there just happened to be Labor Day coming (the only three day weekend in the semester), so I frantically starting checking prices and found a pretty good (well, for crossing the country, pretty good) deal. I stared at the screen for a long time, debated, asked Elisangela a million times if it would be okay, debated some more, looked at my money situation, hovered my mouse over the "book flight now" button, and finally, took some deep breaths, and decided right then and there "I'm single, I have the money, I have nothing holding me back," and proceeded to click on the "book flight now" button. It was almost exhilirating, almost unreal. I feel like I am the antithesis of spontaneity, but i had just accomplished it. It took me awhile to realize it was real.

I have never been to Alabama. The closest I have been to the "deep" south was the Miami International Airport on a layover. But I've always wanted to go to the South, maybe not specifically Alabama, but the South. And now, just mere hours away from leaving on this grand adventure, I'm nothing but butterflies. I fly into Atlanta and from there take a little drive into Alabama. I'm looking forward to being able to drive awhile and see the scenery, especially since my flight is in the wee-hours of the morning and I will (hopefully) miss the view from up top due to sleep. So off I go. Hopefully I'll get pictures posted when I get back!