What's the hap?

An explanation of the title... This post is about what's going on right now. Why I'm not in Russia, what I'm doing with my life, and what I PLAN on doing with my life. "What's happening." On a Lizzi McGuire episode when Lizzi's dad was trying to be cool, he put a cap on sideways and said (trying to be somewhat ghetto) "What's the hap?" I thought of that when I was thinking of a title for this post, and I couldn't possibly pass that memory up. Now, back to reality...

After quite awhile without posting, or responding to ILP's contacting endeavors, I'll tell you all what's going on. My whole life plan is all going to squish. I'm so so so confused. I WOULD go to Russia this fall if a) I had the money, and b) if I felt it was part of the Lord's plan for me. Right now, it's not. I still desperately want to go! I still love Russia so much, but I just can't do it right now.

My school plans are aaaallll broken up and squished to a pulp. FSCJ is in deep doo-doo (law suits and money issues) and is cutting way back this fall (not offering the classes I need), and I can't get into UNF for the fall semester because I haven't taken the ACT. Booo! I either have to find another job (HA! Not likely) so I can go to school with a ridiculously random school schedule (due to FSCJ's limited selection of course days and times), or take the semester off from school. Last time I took a semester off, I was miserable. I had nothing to do, and all I could think about was how this was going to affect my school schedule. If you didn't know, I can't live if I don't have my whole degree planned out, semester by semester. So as you can imagine, I'm practically pulling out my hair right now, not knowing what I'll be doing in 3 1/2 months.

On a different, but totally related note... My whole life (I think) I've wanted to work in the dental field. When I first started college, I wanted to get into the dental hygiene program. That's an associated in science degree. Chemistry, anatomy and physiology 1 & 2, and microbiology were REQUIRED, not to mention the math and humanities/social science classes that I also had to take. That in itself scared me a little bit. Then, I was doing some research on that job, and I read somewhere that hygienists don't get hired as often as they once had been. Some dentists are thinking "Why am I paying this person a substantial amount to do what I'm perfectly capable of doing?" so they're hiring more dental assistants instead of hygienists. Dental assisting school is between 10 weeks and 9 months (depending on where I go), and it's a vocational school so I just become certified. No college credit.

School troubles + dental desire = idea?

In the midst of worrying and being all upset at my school for going to the dogs, and at UNF for requiring the ACT/SAT, I had an absurd thought. What if I DID take a semester off from COLLEGE? What if I took a semester off from college, and became certified in DENTAL ASSISTING? Then, I can work in the dental field while I work on my bachelor's degree in psychology AT UNF! I talked to my mom about this, and she thought it was a good idea. Always a good sign. I have not yet spoken to my dad about this yet... my money source. If he's not down for it, I could get a loan, or empty my bank account for it (it's about $2000... which is all I have.) I thought about it, and thought about it. Considered it seriously, then I decided "WHAT THE HAY? It's the best idea I can come up with!" So that's the plan (for now. Ask my sister, Sara. I change my life plan every few minutes. This one has been pretty solid for a good week though.)

So! I've been looking at different schools that offer dental assisting certification. If I was to do this, it would have to be between 9am-1pm, or at 7pm. Or on weekends. I keep applying for reception jobs, but I get no calls back. So, if I was to keep my current job, class would have to work around it. I work 6-8am Mon-Fri, and 2-6pm Mon-Fri. So, finding a school that was between 10 weeks-5 months, that can also cater to my work schedule. Uhg. This ought to be fun. I'll begin my search next month when I get school under control and once I'm used to summer camp.

^Oh yeah. I ought to clarify what I do (just in case a person who doesn't know me personally stumbles across my blog 15 years from now.) I'm taking 4 classes this (summer) semester, all online. They're not too difficult. I'm taking American Federal Government, Earth and Space Science, Humanities: Foundations, and Music Appreciation. Not difficult, but freaking time consuming. As for what I do for work, I work in a daycare for the YMCA. I do before and after school care. I go to an elementary school at 6am and watch kids until they're released at 8am. Then I go home and do my school until 2pm, when I go back to the school until 6pm, watching those same kids. It's not the worst job ever, but there are a lot of times when I think to myself "I'd rather be poor."

SO, now that I've COMPLETELY strayed from the purpose of this blog, let's go back. I will become a dental assistant, then I will work doing that. I'll save up (easier when I'm making twice as much as I was in daycare), and then I can get myself to Russia! In the meantime, I'm going to prepare myself for it. I'm going to study the Russian language (maybe... I've been really bad about doing that), I'm going to try and develop more patience with my kids at work (I'll need it), and I'll constantly try and have the Spirit with me so I can know what my next move should be. Whether it be dental assisting, or who knows what!

I feel nothing else coming from my fingertips. So, this is the end of the post. I'm going to finish watching Tangled with my niece and maybe eat a little something for lunch before... work x(

Have superb Wednesday! WE'RE HALF WAY THROUGH THE WEEK! This is the song that's been in my head all day, and will probably make me happy for the rest of the work-week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrx6ur1KiZg

I don't know how to do links and things on this blog, so I hope it works. (If it doesn't, it's Teach Me How to Dougie (clean version))

Too legit to quit!

Yoooooo! I have a phone interview with Paige from ILP on Friday! Soon enough, I'll be accepted, and I'll be harassing you all for donations, morning, noon, and night!! :)
I was looking into creating a Paypal account and attaching a donation button to this blog, but it takes out a small percentage when I receive money. Anybody know about that?

Now, seriously. I don't know how I say say this in a more serious way. I SO long to go to Russia and serve the people there. I can't do it alone. Truly. I have to raise ~$3000 by mid-December. I have two jobs, and I'm going to school. I babysit when I can. There's not much more I can do. I NEED your help. Any amount you cab do without would be SO very appreciated, you have no idea. I understand that everybody is going though financial troubles or instability. Which is why your donations will mean much more! It's a sacrifice, I know, but it's not for me. Sure, the money is going to me or ILP, but this isn't a vacation. It's going to be hard work. The beat way I can repay you for your donations is by working hard, and providing the children of Russia with the life-altering gift of language! I love these people and the children already, and I can't NOT go. They need me, and I can't let them down. But I can't get there without you.

I will make you two promises, in turn for a donation.
1. I promise I will save my money. I won't rely on donations to get me to Russia. I will work my hardest while I'm still here, and THEN I will use your donations.
2. I promise to work my hardest while I'm there. I will put forth my best efforts to teach and nurture these children. That's why I'm there! I'm there to change the lives of children, and I will honor your donation by putting it to good use!

I promise!

After my interview, I will have all of the donation information, and I'll post it up here. You can send checks straight to the ILP office in Utah, but I don't know all the details yet.

I love you all, and thank you in advanced!! :)

Элизабет

Ain't to proud to beg, sweet darlin!

HOWDY! I've created this blog for many purposes, which I will list numerically.

1. I NEED DONATIONS. Yeah, that was a little blunt, but I'm just going to lay it on the stones! Every single penny would be so very appreciated! I have to save up $2,500+ by this December. I'm not currently financially able to save large sums of money. I plan on getting a better job that has me travel less, as to earn more money AND save gas. A double whammy, I know! :) BUT! Long story short, I'm going to save as much as I possibly can, but I won't be capable of saving up this much by my deadline. Aaaaand, I'm asking for donations. Donations are tax-deductible, and should either be send to the ILP office in Orem, UT, or I plan on setting up a PayPal attachment to this blog, so donations can go straight to me (which are not tax-deductible.) Seriously. Every. Single. Penny. I'd appreciate ANYTHING you can do without. Loves and hearts! :)

2. Keep up with me and my wild and crazy adventures while I'm IN Russia! I'll be having amazing experiences with the kids, culture, language, food, my host family, and I'll even share embarrassing stories with you :) Also, I'll be posting pictures FROM these fantastic experiences. If you want to know where your money is going, keep yourself posted with this handy blog I've set up for all of us! :)

3. REMINISCING. I'm going to grow so so dearly close to this country, and the people. A past volunteer said their experience was similar to that of an LDS mission. Now, if you've ever met someone who's served a mission for the LDS church, do they ever shut up? Negative. They cannot stop talking about their experience, and how much they loved it. They grow so close to the place and the PEOPLE. They steal their heart, to put it simply.

NOW! If you're interested in helping me out by donating your spare pennies, or just keeping tabs after everybody else donated without you, then...
STAY TUNED! January-June of 2013. Moscow. Russia. I'll be there. Watch me.

Quotes on travel, and service.

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
Mark Twain

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
Muhammad Ali

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."
Miriam Beard

The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. 
Leo Rosten
"There are no foreign lands. It is only the traveler who is foreign."
Robert Louis Stevenson

Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.  
Albert Einstein

"Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey."
Pat Conroy

There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well. 
Walter Reuther


The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. 
Mohandas Gandhi

Everybody can be great.  Because anybody can serve.  You don't have to have a college degree to serve.  You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love.  

Martin Luther King, Jr.