notes from my summer

I. Summer Intensive Language Program, AKA what I pretentiously like to call Grad School

From Monday to Friday I have Japanese class from 9-12, Lunch/people watching for an hour, then class again from 1-2:30. I'm a third of the way through the course, and we finish on August 10th - which coincidentally should also be my first day of Senior Year. Oh well, although I'll be missing that first day, I think it'll be worth it - I sometimes enjoy hanging out with my college buddies more than most of my high school, no offense to those of you who're reading this now... ;)

 いま, にほんごをはなします! Well... sort of. We just learned how to do past tense, and I still have a lot of trouble with particles and am sure I have a long, *long* way to go... but still, I now know a lot more than the simple "にほんごがわかりません" from the beginning of this summer.

The Japanese program at my school is one of the smallest of all the languages - there are only 5 people in my Elementary level class, and 11 people in all three levels! One is a student of the school, working towards his MBA, one is this nice Russian girl who graduated from UNM awhile back, one is a retired lawyer, and another is this guy who actually was on the last season of Beauty and the Geek! An eclectic bunch, we are. 

After school I like to walk downtown and grab a Jamba Juice or Mocha (depending on the weather), find a table outside, and sit down and do homework or read. Sometimes I even go on strolls down to the wharf and grab some cotton candy or clam chowder. Previously I felt like a loner doing stuff like this on my own, but lately I've embraced this sort of introspection and sort of enjoy recharging on my own, so to speak.

I've kicked the fear of going to movies alone and have actually gained a taste for walking downtown to the theater and catching a movie after school every once in awhile. The other day I had a meeting to go to but had a few hours to kill beforehand, so after I got bored of studying I caught a showing of The Tree Of Life - a movie I found visually gorgeous but generally pretentious and overall a mess. I really came in wanting to enjoy it and stuff... but came out having had a short nap (fell asleep around two hours into the movie I think) and having become disillusioned with the melodramatic soundtrack and unnecessarily long/almost ostentatious beginning-of-the-universe sequences. Sorry Terrence Malick, try again.

II. Gavin DeGraw!!!
A dream I've had ever since his album Chariot (Stripped) came out back in 2004 has been to see him live - you have no idea how big of his fan I used to be... and while I feel like a lot of his luster has been lost, and as much as I feel his voice no longer fits the pop scene (not that it ever did - his voice is so soulful and powerful and outstanding that he absolutely should do his own thing), I was so ecstatic to get the chance to see him back in June.
He sang a short setlist (after all, this was a free show that was mostly just for promotional purposes - his new album, Sweeter, comes out in August) which included old favorites and a few covers of old songs from guys like Sam Cooke. He sounds absolutely amazing live, and I feel so honored to have gotten to see him. His stage presence is just so powerful (as well as his backup singer/guitarist's, Billy Norris), and you can really tell he cares about his music and his audience. Here's a clip of him singing "Chariot," which used to be my favorite song:



You can hear me singing (badly) along near the end of the video. Sorry the beginning of the song is cut off, I was freaking out from excitement when he started and didn't think of recording it for a few moments. The video's so shaky because the excitement really just made me generally incoherent. Even now I'm smiling like a maniac and sound stupid. You get the point.

If you haven't heard his new song "Not Over You," take a listen! Not his best work but a good effort for trying to break into the pop scene again. You can really hear the Ryan Tedder influence in this one.


III. Summer Must Haves

1. Barrettes
I will make these happen, just you watch.

2. Light layers
Chambray shirts, striped tees, different cardigans, and various skirts:

3. A good playlist, filled to the brim with catchy, bubbly, stupid pop music that you're ashamed to listen to any other time of the year. 
On mine:

[click for larger]

4. Nail polish! 
My most recent:

5. Sleep
Enough said.

6. Movies, Candy, Popcorn
I finally set up the old TV (It's from the 80's and has wood paneling and is held together by tape at some parts - so cool!) I had lying around in my room and hooked it up to a DVD player - so my room has been the ultimate veg-out-and-watch-terrible-movies center. Some movies I've watched (in no particular order):

As you can see I have a penchant for teen movies, teen movies directed by John Hughes, teen movies directed by John Hughes starring Molly Ringwald, and Christian Bale's naked body.

I like to go for short mile runs, quit because it's too hot and I'm out of shape, come home and shower, put on a mask like this one, and then turn on a movie and chill. Feels so summery and fantastic.

7. ALIAS!
Easily one of the most clever shows I've ever watched. I've been hooked all summer (originally mostly because I had/have a huge crush on Bradley Cooper, but now because the show really is just fantastic). Right now I'm a few episodes into Season 5, and am simultaneously excited and sort of anxious about finishing the series.




J.J. Abrams can do no wrong.

8. COLLEGE
As much as I love summer and the freedom it brings, there is no avoiding the specter is College, whose applications I will soon have to start writing up. However I realized that there is no way I can humanely find the time and motivation to write essays for applications and scholarships, study enough to raise my ACT and SAT scores, and research colleges during my free time. Did I tell you about how I did a practice Math Level 2 test and scored a 540? Yeah pretty much it's hopeless. Bleh.

9. Fire, Water, Friends!
I've only gone to the beach once this summer (for a bonfire with friends) but it was really fun. I can't wait for the pool party at Nisha's tonight, we're going to hopefully light up the BBQ, splash around in her pool, and maybe even light a few sparklers :)

10. Sunshine?
It's a known fact that my mood improves as the sun comes out. Unfortunately for me, the sun only comes out for about half of the time - but when it does, I make damn sure to enjoy it while I can.

I LOVE YOU, SUMMER. PLEASE NEVER END.
-K