Super Sweet Sixteen

The summer of 2004 was one of the best summers of my life. I took my first trip via airplane, visited two new countries, celebrated my 16th birthday in Sydney, Australia, and road tripped to Daytona Beach.

I flew on my first airplane, second, and third, and finally hit my final destination of Melbourne, Australia. In the summer of '04, I was selected as a People to People Student Ambassador and had the amazing opportunity to travel to Australia and New Zealand with about forty other kids my age. I met some of the most amazing people on this trip, DJ being the most special of course.

The trip was incredible from beginning to end. The highlight by far was my birthday. We were in Sydney for the day. The day started bright and early with a climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the first of many singings of Happy Birthday. There was a museum visit, a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe for more singing, a tour of the Sydney Opera House, and a magical dinner cruise on the harbour with more singing.

Me, Laura, and Chelsea

The dinner cruise was by far the highlight for many reasons. It was the first time our group was dressed up and presentable. There was dancing, and everyone knows I love dancing. My group also surprised me with an opal ring that was purchased that day at an opal store without my knowing. It was the most incredible gift and surprise ever. What a bangin' group.

Andy, Me, and DJ

New Zealand was incredibly beautiful, but the trip was dying by this point. People were getting edgier, dirtier, and less fun. I think it was a combination of homesickness and a decrease in temperature. Then after sleeping on the ground on the ship that brought us from the North to South Island, I was feeling the dirty edginess too and was ready to get back to the farm.

I'll never forget P2P '04.  

Then about a week after I got back, I hit the road with Kasey, Chris, and my best friend Amanda for a trip across America. My sister, Kasey, got a job in Daytona and was relocating with her fiance at the time to the land of fun and sun. Amanda and I got picked to follow the truck and Uhaul with Kasey's car. Who would trust a couple of 16 year-olds with their car driving to Florida? Crazy people, that's who.

Another amazing adventure. The trip had highs and lows. Most of the lows were when Amanda would sleep for hours on end and never drive. Then there was that brief spurt in the mountains when I was riding with Chris in a rain storm and there was only one radio station-forcing us to fill the silences with conversation instead.

Once we got to Daytona, the fun really took off. We spent days by the pool and the beach without a care in the world. There were a few boys we picked up here and there. One turned into a huge stalker, which would only foreshadow my future... Then we packed our bags and flew home.

The rest of the summer was a joke, which would explain why I got my minor that summer. After that the party train slowed down as my dad suggested.

Rewind

I’m gonna miss this.

Highlights of the past years are endless. I simply could not be happier with my five years at UW. Let’s flashback to freshman year…

George, Maggie, Me, and Eli: SAKE!

I will be forever grateful for meeting some of the greatest Badgers: Maggie, Megan, and Elisabeth. Without Maggie and Megan, there’s no telling where my freshman career would have gone. Maybe I would have gotten better grades, spent less money, and had a normal sleep schedule. That sounds incredibly boring. Then there was Elisabeth, who offered sanity and reason when all else failed. She become one of the best roommates a person could have.

Megan, Maggie, and Me-Freshman year in a nutshell: sketchy parties in sketchy basements.

Chicago with Maggie and Eli

Condom Balloon Fight

There were several other wonderful people that made 6B a happening place to be freshman year. It was a floor that covered both ends of the spectrum politically, religiously, and sexually. Let’s just say by the end of the year everyone was ready to go home. 

Eli and Me and Devil's Lake

Things to be remembered:

-Ed’s Express: Nachos Plus, Justin Sticks, Cinna-sticks, Pizza, Wraps, Subs, Ice Cream, Weight Gain, and more-->Anyone remember Kyle from Ed’s? We convinced Elisabeth to give one of the workers there a note from us requesting for him to call us. Oh Freshman year. 

-Badger Games: I can clearly remember wearing my lanyard of keys looking like a complete tool and wandering around classy keg parties but never paying for a cup.

Megan and Me (looking like a tool)

-And who could ever forget drunk laundry? It’s all about supply and demand people. Thank you Econ 101 professor Juan Esteban Corranza Romera. We made a little side money doing some laundry, and we also enjoyed a few drinks while doing so. It’s amazing how much fun laundry becomes when you’re getting paid and drinking. What an ideal life.

Peace Out America and Bad News Bears for OSU

In about five months, I will be leaving the lovely United States and heading to Mussoorie, India. I will be teaching middle school PE and health at Woodstock School.
http://www.woodstockschool.in/

I definitely recommend checking out the website. It has recently been ranked one of the top international schools in the world. I am incredibly excited for this adventure and look forward to keeping you all in the loop of my shinanigans. Will these people be able to handle my direct and forward nature along with my mismatched socks? I don't know, but I can't wait to find out.

In the months prior to my departure, I plan on enjoying everything that is America. Imagine lots of hamburgers, bacon, cheese curds, and merriment. I'm sure it will be an emotional roller coaster. There is tons of stuff that I'm going to miss and plenty of things that I have to be grateful for over the past five years at UW.

This past weekend has been a terrific example of my extreme happiness that comes from being a Badger. I had a fabulous time out and about on Friday night with some great friends. I got to watch the Badgers beat the undefeated OSU team, and then rush the court for the first time in my UW history. I did a little babysitting, which involved dancing to Dynamite repeatedly. Then Sunday, I worked with fabulous coworkers at the Union. I love this place. I love these people. It's gonna be tough to leave it all behind.

 Me and Kyle post OSU WIN!!!!