I've got the disappearing act down, don't I?

After a much needed break from school and tons of family time, I have decided that I've missed you all - and I have TONS of storys to tell.. after all I did just return from.. Wait for it:

I'm sure you're all wondering what little Miss CapeCodCollegiate was doing boppin' around the big bad middle east, am I right? 

I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there, to tell you how I ended up in the middle of the desert, yet surrounded by skyscrapers and KFCs! (I'd like to thank Fresh Prince Of Bel Air theme song for that opening line.) 
But really, there were tons of KFC's and of course thats where our tour guide thought we'd love to go the most.. so every five minutes he'd go: "Oh zeers anozer KEFFSEA! We stop dere lata"... and thats my typed out version of an Arabian accent - really accurate, I know.
BUT - Good news, we never stopped at a KFC. (No offense to those who love KFC, I'm just not a fried chicken girl!)

But back to the main concern - What the heck was I doing there?
Well my university is divided into semesters like most other schools, but we have this thing called "Winterterm" or "J-Term" as other schools call it. This is just basically a really short term during which us students can do an internship, travel abroad, or take an intensive course on campus. Obviously the internships are encouraged, but I'm not quite ready to grow up yet - so I went for the study abroad option!



And since I'm a religious studies major, and (don't judge me here) the religion I find most interesting is Islam. Now I know that seems strange to find Islam so interesting - but I won't get into that now - Just know that I do - and the United Arab Emirates is predominantly Muslim and I felt this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so much to my parents chagrin (they were for sure I was going to be kidnapped or killed... ohh parents.)
: I applied for the trip and GOT IN! Wooohooo

So for the past two weeks (Jan 5th through the 20th) I was boppin around between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. And let me tell you, what an AMAZING experience. There were 22 of us with two professors - and luckily enough, one of my best friends and roommates was on the trip as well! Gotta love when it all works out like that.
I'm not even quite sure where to begin explaining how cool it was and what all we did - so I'll let the pictures speak for me!

All in all it was a trip that I'll never, I mean never forget - I made great new friends that I never would have met on campus (no matter how small my campus is) and learned more that I ever would have sitting at a desk!

Have you all every been out to the middle east? or any trip that you've been on that you'll never forget!?

Until next time,

Love Update: The Prince Turned Frog.

So I originally started typing a post about where I've been and all the super cool things I've been doing, just tootin' my own horn, you know. Really though! I've done some fun things since I've been gone (deets later my friends) - but as a reflection of the past weekend's events, there's this theme that keeps floating around in my head and I just can't help but write about it :

I promise this preachin' to the choir type post won't happen often (unless you beg me to, of course) - because I don't actually love to get that personal. So stick with me here for a moment as I sort things out for myself and type up a nice personal rambling post with a dash of insight and logic, accompanied by a spoonful of really cheesy inspirational quotes (who doesn't love a good inspirational quote!?)

Preface: These thoughts all erupted out as a result of a breakup/breakdown situation that I had this past weekend.  Essentially, I got my rear end handed to me by this really tough teacher known as life experience.

To start off, let me say that I guess I feel like I've been through my fair share of heartache - from those totally legitimate middle school relationships and their inevitable breakups a week later, to the more serious "dinner-date" relationships that have the potential to lead to something more. Yet I continue find my self stuck in a state of confusion every time I fall and no one is at the bottom to catch me. I guess it's part of growing up or maybe its just that I like to think optimistically and honestly believe that each guy, prior to letting me down, is a genuinely good guy.
Regardless, I'm going to come out and say it: It's getting old.

Looking from the outside in, most people (and often those close to you) are quick to tell you, "Oh sweetie! Don't worry! There are plenty more fish in the sea"..."You're still young, you'll find someone really soon!"... "You're so much better than him"... "His loss, you're too amazing for a guy like him anyway".. and the one that almost goes without saying: "You deserve so much better"

I, and probably all other girls in this position, greatly appreciate these little tidbits of reassurance and of course love those people who believe in us...but no matter how many times they tell you how great you are, it's close to impossible to convince yourself that what they are saying is true - Because when you're at your lowest point its not often that you want to "look on the bright side". After all its much more comforting to wallow in self pity... and play Taylor Swift songs (that apply perfectly to the situation) and eat a big ol' bag of Cool Ranch Doritos (What can I say - I'm not a big chocolate girl ha). 

But ladies - lets be really honest with ourselves here:  forced explanations? loss of confidence? blame? doubt? self pity? DORITOS!? - these are CERTAINLY not things we should be feeling (or eating). Remember: This guy is just a "pot hole" of life, sometimes you can't avoid 'em.

You (or I) need to remind ourselves that at the end of these terrible days, when you've got mascara all down your face and you feel like you've royally screwed up:
you. will. survive. this.

It may not be today, or tomorrow, or even within 6 months. You might have to make million "Screw You" playlists. You may need to go to kickboxing and pretend it's his face is in front of you- but eventually you'll be able to look back on the entire thing and realize what you've learned from it. 

Maybe you've learned not to make assumptions, or not to fall for the guy who has as much baggage as Victoria Beckahm when she's globetrotting - no matter what lesson it is you take away, you'll be a better person because of it.

Welp.. I guess thats it? Thats what I had to say, or thats what I thought I needed to tell myself... haha
Now I'm off to ponder what I wrote, and try and practice what I preach
(the hardest part of this whole "lecture and learn" thing). 


I'm glad to be back - I guess this is kind of my therapy.. Does that make all you readers my therapists? :)

Until next time,