I made it

It's been a long day to say the least but I'm here, in one piece....plus all of my luggage! I'll try and throw up a post with pictures tomorrow. Time for some much needed rest!

Noxolo

So long

So long MN, see ya in 8 months or so! It's been a long time coming and it's finally here. The plane leaves in 8 hours.....wish me luck.

Noxolo

Looks like Atl is going to suck

After looking at my Atl connect tomorrow it looks like it's going to be a bigger mess than I anticipated. They are in the middle of a new international terminal so all of the international flights are going out of their domestic spots. It's going to be crowded and I have a hike from terminal A to E which includes a train ride. I guess here we go....

That was a joke

So much for 2 checked bags and 2 for carry on....thanks delta for the exorbitant over weight charge of $90 per bag....I think i'd rather take the $125 bill for my 3rd bag!

Noxolo

The Ultimate Packing List

My attempt to document everything that I have packed in 4 bags ( 2 check and 2 carry on)

Let's see.....

-T-shirts
-1 long sleeve shirt
-2 hoodies
-work out clothes
-dress clothes (shirt, tie, pants, shoes, suspenders!)
-rain coat
-2 pillows
-twin xl sheet set
-a blanket
-camera bag with all of my gear and gadgets
-tripod
-monopod
-pictures
-external hard drives
-computer
-AUC/Finaid paper work
-school supplies (3 hole punch, G2 pens, pencils, sharpener, colored pencils, tape, note cards, post it notes, sketch books, computer paper)
-First Aid 2010 (binding removed, 3 hole punched, and in a binder)
-BRS anat
-planner
-calendar
-wall clock/alarm clock
-some food goodies
-power strip
-Brita with extra filters
-all my bathroom gear
-hair clippers
-shower curtain
-shower rings
-bathroom rug
-non latex gloves....they're nitrile I think?
-all my ICM gear since i'm not coming back before 2nd semester...or that's the plan atleast
-a few hats
-some shades
-sandals, crocs, shoes...you know
-towels (beach and bath)
-my sigg water bottle
-some dvd's and cd's

I THINK that's all..? Regardless, I don't think I could pack anymore even if I needed too! I'll be sure to edit if I find some more when I unpack in 24 hours!

All packed up....kind of

As of today, yes 3 days before I fly out, I am packed...well minus my computer and necessities but you get the point. I really don't know how people do it...and by it I mean pack their lives up into a few measly bags and move away. Two stuffed full bags to check, my camera bag, and my messenger bag are the only things going with me...weird. For the past 4 years I simply moved from place to place accumulating more things as I went. A trip home here and there without taking anything back really adds up! I still can't believe how fast this past month has gone. I feel like i've been more "busy" with no work than I ever was since graduation a year ago, oh well, it's almost time.

This past weekend in MPLS was good per usual and i'm glad I had one last goodbye to the place. PS I REALLY hope I can find a Big Buck Hunter Safari in SXM...

Friday at this time I should be moved into the apt...crazy

Noxolo

I feel old

Since 830 yesterday morning i've been walking around the U of M campus meeting with friends and just taking it all in for the last time for a while. It's spring jam weekend, the weather is questionable at best, and I feel old. The student body as a whole seems real young....or I'm just old..well as old as a 22 year old can be. I think it's kind of crazy how much disconnect I feel from a majority of a campus that I knew inside and out only a few months ago. I guess we'll see how the last spring jam shindig goes...I guess it only makes sense that I came in with a rainy spring jam so I might as well go out with one as well!

Noxolo

jeez

Kind of crazy....1 week + 6 hours i'll be flying out of MPLS!? It's amazing how fast this past month has gone!

Off to MPLS tomorrow bright and early for good byes and Spring Jam fun!...and maybe some picture editing catch up?! I guess we'll see...

Noxolo

Kiva

Go check out Kiva.org ! I just made my 10th and 11th loan this morning. It's really easy to do and a great way to help support others trying to do something with their lives. If you have any questions let me know!

Noxolo

Sheets...ugh

Apparently every store packs up there Twin XL sheets unless it is time to go back to school! This is pretty unfortunate for those of us who need them at other times throughout the year and really don't want to buy online....oh well. After checking out Shopko, Target, Kohls, and JCP I gave up, caved in, and visited my buddy Amazon and ordered a set.

15 days from now i'll be waiting in Atlanta....oh boy.

Noxolo

AUC Housing

Just got my email from MEAS and it looks like I landed on campus housing! I already had a roommate set up, but I was a littler nervous making sure that we got together. I'm glad to report that it all worked out perfectly and come April 30th when I arrive on campus I'll have a room waiting for me. Pictures will come once I get down there and get settled in.

Noxolo

The E and T 24 hour MPLS adventure

This past weekend, well...from 12pm Saturday to 12pm Sunday E and I went up to the cities for the Nursing Formal. Who would have guessed that 24 hours could produce many great stories?

1. E, M, and I went to Annie's to grab some lunch as soon as we got up to the cities. After an hour or so of waiting for our food our waitress came out and said our meals were all comp'd! The place was packed with people when we got there and throughout the time we were there, but still...over an hour for our food? I blame it on my deluxe grilled cheese!

2. Nursing formal was a good time. It's always a little interesting when you know less than 5 of more than 100+ people but it all turned out well. We took a boat out on the Mississippi for dinner, drinks and dancing...I'm a big fan. It really reminded me of the AXO boat party last year...good times.

3. After formal we went out in dinkytown...it was awkward. Since I've moved away from the cities it's been weird going out on campus. I was so used to knowing a bunch of people no matter where we went, but now it's just not the case. It was really good to see some friends I haven't seen in a while, and really weird to see some of my old NSW leaders and some students I had for NOL a few years back. Talk about making you feel real old...

4. After a long day/night a little Mesa pizza night cap with E and MZ was in store. After a 10 minute wait 2 of my favorite Mesa slices were done. After I paid for E and I we walked out the door. 2 steps out some jerk off grabs my pizza and runs. 2 seconds later another guy goes sprinting by...I looked at E...in shock we stood with no pizza, neither of us. Of the 30+ people standing outside Mesa with pizza or waiting, why did WE get jacked!? WHO DOES THAT? So long $12 worth of pizza. After standing for a minute in shock I went back into Mesa and let them know what happened just in case it kept happening...low and behold we got another 4 slices for free, but in reality I think we both had spent enough money there over the years to warrant 4 free slices. It still blows me away that 2 college punks jacked our pizza...really? I was kind of ashamed that they probably went to my UG, but at the same time, after it happened about 10 people offered us their pizza so it all evens out I guess..?

All in all, a good 24 hours in MPLS

Walking on air

Last week I copied E and got some new kicks....loving them. They are super light and I dig them.

And so it begins

3 weeks and counting....

As of a week ago I am done with "work" for quite some time. It's a weird feeling.....so much to do, I seem to do so little, and yet the days still fly by.

A little wrap up of that past few weeks: As of a few weeks ago I finished up at Rochester Title and started back at IBM. I contemplated doing the whole work 2 full time jobs idea again but thought better of it and am thankful I did. I have tons of respect for those that work 2 full time jobs, and do them with a smile day in day out....a lot of people in this world could take a note from their book! It was a little different leaving RT....I had worked there for the past 6 months even though when I signed on I thought it would be a more short term gig. It was nice to get into a regular routine, something I really haven't had in quite some time, especially during college. It was kind of a false goodbye since I know I'll swing back in there sometime soon before I head out!

Leaving IBM on the other hand was a different story. I've worked at IBM for the past 4 years or so on and off. What started out as a summer job turned into a summer, winter break, spring break, and after graduation job...thus has led to about 4 different good bye's...or times where I NEVER thought I'd be going back! It was weird knowing that last Friday would be the last time I'd see a lot of people I've gotten to know over the years. My time at IBM gave me a ton of things. Not only was it a solid work experience with good pay, but it really opened my eyes up in a sense. Over the past 4 years I've learned some pretty cool things....

Things I've learned at IBM:
-some Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Ethiopian, and a handful of tribal languages
-about Darfur and East African Refugees struggle coming to the US
-a lot about the Muslim religion and way of life
-the Somali culture
-everyday struggles by those who gave up everything to move here for an opportunity
-along with countless other things...really, it was a job that was more than a work experience

The last day of the quarter a bunch of the Somali ladies at work decided to throw a little dinner party since it was the last day and let me tell you, it reminded me of home stay dinners in South Africa sooo much! Tons of great food, Somali donuts aka fat bread from SA, and lots of people just enjoying the food and the company.

I'm really going to miss that place and the people there....

Noxolo