College Girl

Fun roomates? Check. Hot guys in the ward? Check. Great food? Check. English professor that looks like Matthew Fox from Lost? CHECK!

My first week at college was awesome (see above check-list). I enjoy all of my classes, my professors are all intelligent and engaging, none of my roomates are suicidal (Chelsey, that one was for you!),and I'm not overly stressed out yet. Another thing that's really fun about BYU (and slightly strange) is that everyone is so freakin' nice! Seriously, everyone says hi to you, even if you just walk by them on the street. Actually, it's a little bit creepy, if you really think about it. All those strangers walking by you and smiling and saying hello...

In all seriousness, BYU is one of the most beautiful campuses in the world! It's so green, and the mountains provide the perfect backdrop for any view on campus. I love that I have an hour between my Biology class and my English class because then I get to sit outside and just soak up the sunshine. It's especially helpful that the weather has been GORGEOUS. I love open air campuses; I think that's the reason why I loved AES so much (the amazing courses helped a lot too).

Anyways, that's pretty much my first week of school for you. It wasn't too exciting--although I was excited when I found out that my English professor looks like Matthew Fox, and that there's a Clark Kent look alike on campus, and that a Hayley Joel Osmond look alike is in my ward. I'll let you know when something REALLY exciting happens.

Jon Schmidt

I think that one of the most amazing pianists ever is Jon Schmidt. His music is so beautiful, and I love playing his songs (when I ever sit down to play at all). My favorite songs are Waterfall and Song of the Ocean, although I have a new book of his and there's yet another beautiful song called The Fishing Stream. Anyway, I just found a new Youtube video, and Jon Schmidt has done it once more, folks. He meshed the song Love Story by Taylor Swift (one of my favorite country songs to date) with Viva la Vida by Coldplay. He wrote this piece, accompanied by an extraordinary cello player, for his seven year old daughter, and I have already fallen in love with it. Here's the video:

Goodbye India

Airports are so much fun, aren't they? I really hope you just shook your head and said, "Ashley, I think the past two days of pure boredom have addled your brain because airports suck!" If you didn't, you need to exit this page. Now. I'm afraid I don't tolerate airport lovers (and in case you were wondering, that beginning statement was simply dripping in sarcasm).


Now that that's over with...I am currently sitting in the somewhat comfortable armchair-like seats in front of Gate 1 in the New Delhi, India, International Airport listening to the (very loud) PA system calling for passengers to board the plane or (as is common in India) to wait patiently as the airplane crew try to fix the "technical difficulties" the plane is undergoing, so that the delay will be as short as possible (thank heaven that's not my plane). There's also a 12-fingered man sitting across from me (perhaps I should go up and say, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father; prepare to die!"), but that's beside the point. I'm afraid that the time has come to say goodbye to India. And I'm a little bit ashamed to say that, in so many ways, it's quite a relief to say goodbye to India, and all 1.2 billion of its inhabitants. It's a relief to not have to look down at my feet every time I go outside because I'm afraid that the ground I'm walking on has been used as either a garbage heap, a spittoon, or a lavatory. It's a relief not to be stared at every where I go. It's a relief not to have random guys trying and take pictures with me as I'm walking around a tourist attraction. It's a relief to be "normal" again. And yet...


...when Surender (our driver) asked me when I was coming back, I told him, somewhat vehemently, "I'm never coming back to India!" Almost immediately after I said that, a strange sensation swept over me. I was sad. How could it be that I was sad to be leaving India? I'm not really sure if I can answer that question yet. I do know this: India has changed me forever. And I honestly don't mean to be cliche. India changes everyone who passes through, even on fleeting visits. I'm pretty sure that country has a way of bringing out people's true natures. I'm sorry to say mine happened to be rather aggressive, much like my wonderful father (which is probably why almost every Indian guy in the New Delhi 3rd Branch under the age of twenty is afraid of me). No matter, it was an amazing (and highly frustrating five days out of seven) experience, and I don't think I will ever forget my two and a half years in India.

So it's goodbye India, hello whatever new adventure awaits me!