Life in Provo

*Warning - This post contains a good bit of jumbled thoughts, rambling and may be confusing to someone reading it at a normal hour. It's 1am and I can't sleep yet... this is what you get.


I am coming up on the two-week mark since my arrival in Utah. What have I been doing with my time? (You might ask.)

Well - I have been applying to jobs, like crazy. Most of my days are spent searching ksl, LDSjobs.org, and google-ing "jobs in Provo" and then weeding out all the sales jobs (no thanks, security companies) and call center positions. I love working with people and thrive on the energy of others so if it's possible I would love a job that has me working with the public, hopefully students. I'd love to get really involved in the education field because one of my goals is to teach business to high school students. I'll elaborate on that in another post... maybe. For now though, I just need a job. I like structure, and I like to keep busy.

I think I've been doing a lot of that since I have been here though. When I am not looking up jobs, I'm talking about jobs, or working on cover letters for jobs. If I am not doing that I am most likely talking about a car, or watching youtube reviews on that car, or looking up the kbb review on the car or US News reviews on the car, or pricing of the car or (here is a sweet one) dealership specials for recent college grads.

Once again that degree is coming in handy! First, and foremost, I'm the first college grad in the family so that's a pretty cool thing and second, being a student got me a nice tax refund this year that is going towards the car (after I get a job), and third, I get better interest rates on my financing. Cool stuff, kids, cool stuff.

Moral of the story: Go to college.


I'm pretty certain (read: totally sure) Sam is over me talking about a car, worrying about a car, and a job, and summer housing all at the same time. In fact, just the other day she said "Gina, I think you stressed yourself into being sick. Would you please just enjoy one week of your vacation. You've only been here for a week and you think you need to have this all figured out. Housing will still be available in a month, and you can't get a car until you get a job. Pick one thing to worry about, and don't think about the rest until that is finished"

Yup. Sometimes I need people in my life to tell me to slow down, and relax. So, that's what I've been doing. I'm still working on unpacking since I just received the last two boxes of "summer things" that Dad sent after I left. The room is slowly coming together, and it feels like home to be in Provo.

I really do love it here. I can't put my finger on why just yet, but it's been a great two weeks.

I mean, we've done some pretty fun stuff like....

*Eating - Cafe Zupas, In N Out, Burgers Supreme, Jamba Juice, "Free" 7/11 Slurpees, A LOT of Frozen Yogurt, JDawgs (2x now), Chick Fil A, SLAB, and more...
*Free Fun Stuff - Nik Day outdoor concert, Watched The Sandlot on the Capital Building grounds, Attempted to get free slurpees for 7/11,
*Weekly Temple Trips - This may be my favorite part of Utah. You can go to the Temple, and in most Utah Temples, you can just walk in and do baptisms. What the what? You heard me. East Coast Mormons - We can't just do that. Oh, I love Utah and it's many Mormons.
*Watched Monte Carlo
*Prepping for Harry Potter 7 - Pt 2
*Stadium of Fire and Freedom Festival
*Many afternoons spent at the pool
*Institute
and more.


**Also, I know Sam told me I could only worry about one thing at a time and I picked work but I happened to find that the apartment across the hall from us has an open private room for the next year so I snagged it. Now, I just need a job...

Memorial Day Weekend - Part 2

On Saturday most of our group got the opportunity to work at the Southern Virginia University Open House. It was really cool to get to see how the school puts on one of these events. I came to SVU after being here for EFY so it was different but I enjoyed getting to talk to students and parents and help answer questions. The tour was probably my favorite part, and thats when a lot of students would ask me questions about housing and rules of campus and different clubs and majors.

After the Open House finished we scrambled to get everyone packed and together at the same house. We took two cars, my snazzy rental and Jesse's car. Our first stop was the Washington, DC Temple where we had an appointment to do baptisms. Jesse drove with Mari and Katrina and Sara, Tyler and Tori came in my car. We took some photos after our time at the temple and then headed up to Olney, MD for some Cafe Rio {insert Tyler's "devil voice" here followed by an equally creepy sounding Baja Fresh}. We then decided to hit up the Jefferson Memorial before heading to our place of rest in Arlington, VA (does that sound weird? We were staying at Sara's sister's place... and would be resting there.... hmmm). I figured since Jefferson isn't one you normally walk to from the mall we should get that one done that night. It was beautiful. I love the monuments at night. From Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington you get such great views of the district.

After that we made our way to KCM's house in Arlington, VA, but not before my GPS could get us lost...

to be continued....

The "back" of the "front" of the DC Temple

Jesse thought these giant dandelions were cool...

Jesse and Tyler

The girls - Katrina, Tori, Me and Sara. As soon as we got up there the wind started blowing our skirts and dresses around and it made for an awkward few moments while we tried to figure it out.

Tyler forgot to turn in his clip from the baptistry and then we teased him a little for "Stealing" from the temple. (Okay, it was just me but I thought it was funny and this picture is too. I like his creepy shadow to the left of him)

Me and the DC Temple!

Sara, Tori, Tyler, Mari, Jesse, Katrina and me.

My attractive friends at Cafe Rio. Sorry, but there needs to be proof. :)

I was telling George Mason a secret I guess. It was Mari's idea but I think its a fun photo.

Washington and Jefferson from the Tidal Basin

Tori, Sara and Tyler looking out on the tidal basin towards Washington