Stepping Stones

Almost a week ago, my iPad finally entered the opening arms of the concrete floor of my garage. Having spent $600 on the iPad from my own hard work 2 years previously, I was a bit distraught as the screen was entirely ruined as were many of the iPad functions. I soon looked into how much it would cost to get the screen replaced, to then realize that just getting the screen replaced would not give me the same iPad that I once had. I soon found out that apple will exchange my iPad for the same model for $250. Yes, I am still considering this offer... But, I thought about what the iPad would do for me. I use a sufficient laptop that provides me with much of the needs the iPad does. Of course I don't have my favorite apps on this laptop, but there is no need for a tablet. To wrap things up quicker- I am sick of materialism and consumerism. True- the reason I still do not have smartphone is because I don't want to pay for it and that still holds true today. I don't believe in paying some multi-million dollar business $$$ a month to be able to use snapchat, instagram, vine and god knows what else, because that's the appeal of smartphones to people my age. I will admit, having access to google, the new york times, der spiegel, music and a camera at all times can be nice but is it really necessary to have it anywhere?

 No matter what I do in this life, I will never fully be able to escape consumerism or the grasps of popular looks and ideas... but, I can try a little bit harder to allow myself to think for myself and not for gap, vicotria secret, ikea, bmw, starbucks, or even for the LDS church. if anyone really knows me (probably just myself) I have a strong hatred towards conforming. Hence why I took a year abroad, not necessarily why I left the LDS church but one of the factors in which i refused to be a part of the provo/lds culture, becasue i full-heartedly believe that one should create their own. Why I no longer praise celebrities and view them as if they were gods. Why I don't dress like the average girl around here. One of the reasons why i choose to leave the american high school mindset (leaving cross-country.) Why I don't believe one has to follow the get-out-of-highschool-go-to-college-get-a-degree-as-fast-as-you-can mindset.

 Yes, I still buy too much fast food. Yes, I still buy things at the mall that I don't necessarily need, but want. Yes, I use facebook too often. Yes, i've bought too many starbucks refreshers.... and similar wants will probably follow me until the day I die. I could care less if one purchases an item from any of these major brands, I just plead with you to ask yourself if you really need it. When you turn on your radio in the car, which not many people use anymore, turn it off when the ads come on. We need to realize that these materialistic things do not make one happier.

Departure in 2 Weeks.

It seems as though blogger concurred as one of those internet fads, which hit and then slowly fled. Though that does not matter. I depart for Thailand in two weeks, and I attempt to share some of my thoughts of the culture, land, and of course my own thoughts via this blog. I find blogger to be the easiest way to do so, though looking back at how i used it for Germany, it was more like journal entries in a hope to show my real feelings (which seemed to be a bit depressive?) I should've used it more wisely, for myself and of course for those who decided to read it.

 This summer has been the greatest of my life, and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I've figured a lot out and have met some pretty rad folks. Though my job is by no means the greatest, it's been an interesting experience.

 I'm not sure what my feelings are on going to Thailand are yet. I definitely won't be getting the culture experience I was able to get in Germany. If anything, I feel like the 6 girls who are going are in for the vacation/travel happy experience. Which I don't necessarily want it to be... but as I can only say a few phrases in Thai, it may be difficult to try and really capture the culture. For those who aren't aware I am teaching English to thai children (roughly ages 4-7) through an immersion program. I will be with 6 other americans (mostly from the Utah, Colorado area) and yes all are LDS (we'll see how that goes about....) We'll be there until before christmas and will be teaching no more than 20 hours a week. So, I am going to have quite a bit of free time. I'm still coming up with ideas in how i can improve myself in that free time. The cold feet syndrome is beginning to hit me. I sure hope to god that this 4 month volunteer journey is worth postponing my college education. Wir muessen einfach nur schauen, wie es wird.

Been a While.

I want to start writing again. It's been much too long since my mind, pen and paper have connected and have really written something worth reading. Problem is: I only think about the same bland things everyday... all day. Perhaps those are the things to write about? In my mind, they are not worthy to be opened to public, let alone placed into my journal. I'll give it a go, just promise you'll bare with me. You don't really have a choice anyway if you are actually reading this blog. Instead of blogging, I've just been tweeting, working, watching too many movies, learning dutch and trying to improve my ukulele skills.

So I like to sing... even if I don't sing well at all. This song reminds me of the good ol' "Mountain West"

August 2013 bis Dezember 2013
THAILAND <3

Eine Kleine Pause

Schon wieder eine Facebook Pause. Schauen wir mal wie lange ich sie überstehen kann.

Jaja. Was ich aber lustig finde, ist das ich werde dann andere Websites benutzen wenn ich kein Facebook habe. Naja, der Gedanke zählt.

Ich versuche gerade mein Deutsch wirklich zu verbessern und es tut mir leid zu denen die kein Deutsch koennen. Ist aber egal! ich werde auch irgendwann auf Englisch schreiben. Keine Sorge.

Vielleicht fragt ihr wieso ich eine Facebook Pause mache? Also, meine Antwort: das Schuljahr ist fast vorbei und ich darf keine Zeit  mehr vergeuden. Das heisst nicht, dass ich keine Zeit vergeuden werde, aber ich glaube, dass ich jetzt fleissiger sein kann. Ich habe so was schon mal gemacht, und ich habe mich nie so "frei" in meinem Leben gefühlt (doch, habe ich schon, aber das ist jetzt egal).

Ciao,
MC

Let's be logical America..



M.c Kenna