Decisions, Decisions

I'm graduating in less than 5 months, and that is the most terrifying thought ever. What am I going to do once I graduate: Peace Corps, teaching English abroad, or going straight to grad school? What about going directly into a career? All of these things are horrifying, as I am naturally an academic, going to school for 18 years of my life, to now, the real world-which doesn't let you have summers off and barely allows enough time for yourself, let alone having time to see your friends. It's hard to even talk to friends about such decisions, as everyone wants different things and has various plans, so of course their opinions are biased in one way or another.

I've got a few opinions I'm considering right now:

1. Peace Corps

The Peace Corps is a 27 month program in many regions in almost every continent of the world,

helping the local community in one of six specific areas- education, health, and environmental sustainability just to name a few. I'd become fluent in at least one other language, if not more, and the area in which I would be placed could be the focus of my graduate work in anthropology in the future.

2. JET Programme

The JET Programme, or Japanese English Teachers, sends native English speakers to Japan for a full year to teach English in local schools. It's shorter than the Peace Corps, and they help you find housing while you make a decent salary, especially for being a new college graduate. The downfall is that it's in Japan, which I really have no desire to focus on in my graduate studies nor do I really care to learn the language, so it would just be a fun year abroad. Of course, there are programs similar to this all over the world, but they do not pay as well, nor are they as safe or through the government, like this one.

3. Graduate School

Last, but not least (or maybe it is...), is going straight to graduate school. I know that I want to continue on at some point to do graduate work in anthropological linguistics, but other than that, I'm at a blank. I'm taking my GREs in a couple days (wish me luck!), so I can apply to grad schools to further weigh my options, but its terrifying. I am looking into Arizona University, Columbia, Princeton, and a few other Ivy's, because, let's face it, go big or go home (or abroad!), but if I had to pick right this moment, I'd go with AU because they have the best anthropological linguistics program I can find, and the housing is pretty cheap and nice out in Tuscon, so that would be convenient. We'll see!!

Music makes my heart beat. Lub-Dub[step]

Best songs to listen to during a walk in the park :)

1. Cinema -Benny Benassi (Skrillex remix)

-And the original Benassi mix.
2. Bass Down Low-The Cataracts
3. Anything by Ratatat-i.e. Loud Pipes, Swisha, Biggie's Party and Bullshit, Nostrand, etc.
4. Satellites-B.o.B.
5. Most mash-ups by The White Panda (who I'm going to see this weekend!!)
6. Mitsubitchi-The Subs
7. Woo Boost-Rusko

Update #1 (1.18.12)

8. Guilt-Nero

9. Rock'n'Roll-Skrillex

This list will definitely be constantly updated, for sure!

Mid Year Resolutions

I would like to preface my first official post on my newest blog with a hello! I finally got my blogger account out of my Pitt email and onto my gmail, so I can start to post. I have a few posts that I've started on, but saved as drafts, so I plan to first go through those and post my previous [and hopefully, still relevant] thoughts.

So its July. Where did the first half of the year go?! I feel like the Black and Gold New Years Blackout at 319 Meyran was just last weekend!! Since then, we've countless 21st birthdays (mine included!), and had our ups and downs as a group of friends. Life is good all around. But its July. So its time for Mid Year Resolutions. Everyone can make New Years Resolutions, but does anyone really keep them for more than a couple of weeks? Mid Year Resolutions give me a chance to reevaluate my life so far and decide what I want to change about myself so far through 2011. So here goes:

1. I want to stop needless gossiping. I like gossip as much as the next girl, but sometimes the things said [myself included] could really hurt someone. If someone wants me to know something, they will tell me on their own terms. Now, that's not to say that I won't engage in the occasional what-happened-last-night gossip and whatnot, but I want to try to scale back certain types of gossip in my life.

2. I want to be a vegetarian again. It makes me feel so much better and healthier-and it's cheaper, which is definitely an added bonus. Along with that, I want to go to the gym more often and get into a little bit better shape. Not that I am unhappy with how I look or feel now, but there's always room for improvements.

Other than those lofty goals, I just want to make the most of everyday, enjoying time with my stellar friends, my amazing boyfriend, and with the kids I work with. Life is good. :)