Unbelievable.

So, my wonderfully planned FHE game on Monday night was a total bust. No one wanted to play, but me and Melissa got in the best spaghetti fight of my life (who knew how acidic tomato sauce was?? that stuff BURNS!) It was pretty fun but everyone got really mad because we made a mess (again, the POINT of the game!) Oh well.... we sure had fun. In other news, I'm sitting at work where I've been for almost 5 hours now, and I'm writing a journal response to some articles about the resistance movement against apartheid in South Africa; there are so many prominent characters in that movement, and each one has a separate but equally as pivotal form of resistance against the government. I think my favorite quote so far was a one about Mandela by Tony Leon: “you have graced this house, you have graced this country, you have graced humanity.” What a huge statement to make about a person, yet it is so fitting for Mandela. I love how much Oprah adores Nelson Mandela, it just makes me happy... I know a lot of international development people have a huge problem with her approach to helping others by material gifts, but I think she really does have a good heart and at least she is making the attempt to help others.

On the other hand, it's unbelievable to me how ignorant some people can be. One of my brother's roommates, during a rousing game of Taboo the other night, didn't even know what apartheid was. I just don't understand how some people don't know... and trying not to be judgmental, I briefly explained to him a little of what I was learning in my international class, yet he didn't even want to learn about it, he just brushed it off and moved on to the next topic. I mean, mind you, I had no idea of all the details and intricacies of the causes and effects, but not to even KNOW about the oppression of millions of people for decades, or even have any desire to learn about it. That was just pretty eye-opening to me... I hope I never appear ignorant to others, and that I'm always open to another person's opinions and beliefs without sacrificing my own, and also just open to learning about things I don't know about. I just don't want to turn into one of those close-minded Mormon housewives whose life just revolves around her and her family. There is SO much more out there in the world to experience and grow from, and I hope I take every opportunity to do so.

the K-K-Cai does Moab!

So, this President's Day weekend, my two friends from the dorms (Kat and Kinley) came and picked me up Saturday morning and we hit up southern Utah for the weekend... after a 6-hour driving getting there (and of course, getting lost since it should only take about 3...), we arrived at our lovely $40-a night hotel room at the Day's Inn. We then grabbed some dinner at a little family restaurant called Eddie McStiff's where I tried my first buffalo in the form of a burger. It was.... tasty?? Actually, I ate more of Kat's chicken fingers because the burger was a little red and I was a little skeptical. But then we went back to the hotel room and watched GG all night since Moab apparently does not have much of a nightlife. The next morning we went to a random church building, happened to be on time for 9-o'clock sacrament meeting and then went hiking down Negro Bill's canyon. It was a pretty intense hike, especially the part where I fell off a rock into the river (and I use the term river loosely... it was more of a flowing creek). Then we went back to the hotel room and got all cleaned up and went to a gorgeous little place to eat called the Sorrell River Ranch, courtesy of Kat's mom. I got filet mignon and a roasted tomato salad, and for dessert some Kahlua chocolate cake... it was probably one of the best meals of my life. This morning we went and saw the Archlands National Park, took some cool pictures, and then drove home. Now I'm getting ready for FHE tonight (we're doing a hand-tied together dinner thing with spaghetti, it should be really fun!) and trying to catch up on some homework from the weekend! But I must say, the random spontaneous roadtrip was definitely worth it!!

Chinese new year!

So, tonight Chris took me to his family's house for a Chinese new year celebration, complete with phrase lessons and a giant dragon head. It was probably fabulously close to one of my dreams of celebrating new year actually in Beijing, probably a tad more low key. But overall, it was really fun... I love different cultures, not only their everyday way of living but also their methods of celebration. I must say, the Chinese DO know how to cook... YUM! :)

Also, my friend from work Rachael got her mission call: freakin' Mongolia! We are all so excited for her at work, and in celebration (again, culture way to manifest happiness at an event...) we are having a Mongolian party on Tuesday. She really is a doll, and I know she'll make a really great missionary.

In OTHER news, I'm going to Moab in the morning!! I'm hoping there will be a little temperature increase as we head south.... pray for it.

So, maybe I'm bitter....?

Ok, so I just want to take this opportunity to say how much I actually HATE Valentine's day. Did you know the reason we celebrate the day is because St. Valentine (who, ironically, was celibate) was martyred?? How insensitive to his memory by celebrating a day of love and sexuality when he was cold-bloodedly killed for being a celibate saint. Also, I hate flowers, I hate the ephemeral nature of a flower... you receive them as an overpriced gift and then they die the next day (especially if you give them to me, because I will not take the effort to put them into a vase). They do not inherently represent committed love unless you want your undying love to dwindle away less than a week after giving it- in essence, they are nothing but a symbol of human sexuality, think deflowering. So, don't give me flowers. Take me to a concert, buy me sushi, or watch a slightly angsty film with me.

I also hate the commercializing of V-day... sure it was fun to dress in pink and hand out cheesy Barbie Valentines to everyone in your class even though you didn't even like them. I hate how people make it such a big deal as adults. Doesn't it mean more to celebrate your love on your own time, and not on a holiday designated by society?? So cliche.

So, I'm way excited for this weekend. Me and a few of my friends are hopping in a car and driving to Moab, going mountain biking and hiking and just overall recovering from this dehumanizing place called Provo. I'm really stoked to hang out with these girls, because I don't get to see them as much as I would like to, and we were all really close last year. I've also been hanging out with some new friends that I've met through my friends Chris, Marc, and Carl, who live across the street from me... they really have some unique and diverse friends who I've really become quite attached to these past few months. We had a really good time last night, my favorite part being my karaoke performance of Mimi and Roger from Rent with my friend John. It really was stellar!