Visit all 194 Countries

A few months ago the UN declared South Sudan a sovereign nation, and with that I am yet another country away to reaching my goal of: visiting all 194 countries. I realize this goal is more of for show in tell, but I really want to travel the world. From a young age it has always excited me.

Today, as we were eating frozen yogurt, my mom was recalling our visit to Paris twelve years ago. She said that I loved to talk to people, anyone. She said I would walk up to random people in the street, say "bonjour" open up my phrase book in order to begin a full fledged conversation with them. She is right, I love people. I love talking to people. I love learning about people. And thus, I want to see people from all 194 countries (obviously there are many people that should have countries, but do not, though that's another issue entirely). Anyway, I would like to mention that my mother lost my favorite French phrase book on the top of the Eiffel tower twelve years ago. Part of me has never forgiven her, if you find it I will be forever grateful.

As far as the countries I have been to, I have been to twenty-three. I know it's twenty-three but I'm sure i have left some out:

Countries Traveled

1. United States
2. The Bahamas
3. Virgin Islands
4. England
5. France
6. Mexico
7. Spain
8. Italy
9. The Netherlands
10. Greece
11. Germany
12. Ireland
13. China
14. Japan
15. Israel
16. Jamaica
17. Panama
18. Costa Rica
19. Nicaragua
20. Guatemala
21. Taiwan
22. Vietnam

P.S. I know there are more, and not all of these are in the 194. I'll add more when I think of them! Oh, and do the Palestinian Territories count?!

Cinnamon's Bucket List

Inspired by Alice's Bucket List, and realizing that I have not been posting as much as I should, I have decided to publicize and (hopefully) keep track of my own life goals. If you did not know already, I have a very addictive personality. When I think of something I want to do, I have to do it -- no matter what. I then obsess over this idea, for a while, but this idea often disappears for a while. It's kind of like this: I start things but don't always finish. Hopefully this bucket list can keep track of the goals I have started, and inspire me to finish them.

I am going to keep a master list of all the items in my bucket list, here for now. When I add something new, I'll create a new post about the new item in my bucket list. Off we go!

CINNAMON'S BUCKET LIST

 Visit All 194 Countries
Get My Beauty License 
Marry Someone I Am In Love With
Become Fluent in Hebrew
Climb Mount Everest
Go Swimming with Sharks
Learn How to Scuba Dive
Finish my College Degree(s)
Join The Sorority Best for Me
Go Sky Diving
Find A Time-capsule
Ride a Motorcycle
Go Skinny Dipping (Modestly, if possible)
Have a Garden Full of Flowers
Be in a Film
Go on a Safari
Ride First Class
Experience Weightlessness
Sell My Own Professional Painting 
Learn to Belly Dance
Learn to Drive Stick Shift
Read The Observer's Top 100 Novels of All Time
Watch the Ball Drop at Midnight in NYC
See IMDB's Top 100 Movies of All Time

Friends Come and Go

As time goes on you realize a thing or two about friendship. For one, friends grow apart. As people move on to different places in their life, the likelihood of one spending time with a friend either increases or decreases. And for people like me who are not good at keeping in touch with people, time spent often decreases.

It's a given that I won't keep in touch with all my friends back home who are living 3000 miles away, but not keeping in touch with friends at school is pathetic. For example, my absolute best friend from last semester (we used to be attached at the hip) and I never talk. She begged me to take a class with her and while I am so glad I took the class, we never talk. She is so much more interested in talking to her new friends in the class than catching up or hanging out. And of course, I get that. But it's kind of annoying how I feel like I've been trying to make an effort to reach out and talk to her and that it hasn't been reciprocated.

Last semester she spent every weekend in my dorm hanging out with me, this weekend she spends a lot of time here too -- but with her other friends. It's not as if she can't have friends, or that she has to hang out with me (I didn't ask her to come to my dorm and go out or anything) but she could have at least said "hi." But rather, she calls me in her intoxicated state begging me to go down to her friends room on the second floor and find her keys and wallet that she lost. To which I annoyingly obliged (I was studying) and the door was of course locked. I don't mind doing favors for her, just that I feel like she only talks to me when she needs something. I think that she legitimately cares about her friendship but we're drifting apart and I feel like this always happens to me. I always drift. I constantly drift.

We were best friends last semester, now we're barely friends. I'd like to think that I could call her if I ever had a problem, but I feel like I barely know her enough to do that. Plus, that's the place for a best friend. A title that we don't carry for each other anymore.

Sometimes I wonder why people drift apart. Sure, people grow up. People don't spend as much time with each other. But if you legitimately cared about each other in the first place, wouldn't you be the first to call and catch up?

Following Fads Has Never Been So Fun

Once upon a time. I despised twitter. I didn't understand why people wanted to know when Kim Kardashian was taking a dump or when Miley Cyrus was getting her hair done. Needless to say, I was wrong. Twitter is amazing. No. Beyond amazing. Now I can talk about all the insignificant things I feel like posting on Facebook... on twitter. Rather than having to find a friend who will put up with my annoying tangents, or going on my blog and posting for hours, or even posting on my Facebook where nobody cares. There's twitter.

And, I can actually follow politicians. Yes, that's right. I got twitter to follow politician, not to hear about the Kardashian's dumps. (Seriously. I'm so sick of them - and glad I left California). I get to hear about all the interesting things happening with AIPAC, my congress people, and even Obama Singing! Plus, I follow the Queen of England. Obviously she doesn't follow me, she doesn't follow anyone. But I get to hear about Pippa... and I am getting way too excited about everything.

Anyway. That and stumbleupon were the two recent fads that I refused to follow, and now that I've hopped on the bandwagon -- I'm obsessed. Only, I hope Twitter won't turn into a Tumblr disaster - I was so obsessed with Tumblr once upon a time, and now mine is as deserted as the Arctic.

What are the fads that you're (surprisingly) in love with?

What's Your Color?

Let me just say, I had one of the best weekends ever. I spent it up in the wilderness below the trees, and it was beyond gorgeous and fun. As part of a Leadership class that I am taking this semester, I went on a retreat. It was a bonding experience for all thirty-eight of us.

My favorite part of the retreat was probably the "Colors." We took a quiz that identified which colors we were. And I was pleasantly surprised. Generally I have been identified as a "Blue." But this time I thought I'd end up "Gold." Rather, I got what I generally get - "Orange."

Now let's identify the colors

BLUE: Intuned with emotions and feelings, intuitive, caring, optimistic, good communicator, motivational, outgoing, dramatic, passionate, fun, talkative, confident.

ORANGE: Go getter, charasmatic, spontaneous, playful, fun, here and now, risk taker, completive, action oriented, resilient, challenges, enjoys outdoors, multitasker.

GOLD: Respects rules, faithful, prepared, efficient, dependability, family oriented, practical, organized, timely, orderly, punctual, schickler.

GREEN: Accurate, careful, change-oriented, thorough, inventive, persistent, un-bias, enjoys quiet and being along, logical, inventive.

Now looking at these main characteristics, you can probably figure out which category you fit in. But you might be pleasantly surprised. For me at least, I find that I am such a spectrum of colors. For example, I am a total Orange in that I am confident, fun, adventurous, and loud buuuttt, emotion is such a huge part of my life. Also, I am hyper-organized and on top of things which is a huge aspect of gold. Lastly, I ask questions like crazy (which is green). My friends always make fun of me for asking so many questions about everything and their lives. I never grew out of my "why" stage, just figured out how to ask questions that beat around the "why" bush.

So, what color are you?

XOXO,
Cinnamongirl

Up and At 'Em

Everyone always tells you that you have so much time in college. This is a lie. It generally applies to the people who socialize, party, sleep, eat, go to class, and get involved in a couple or organization. But this is not the case for me. Rather I find myself running around campus all day, only to get back with enough time to eat, shower, and sleep - barely. And the said part is that the semester has yet to begin and I still do not have enough time to breathe.

But I guess you can say that I'm one of those people that feed on being busy. But if there is one thing this overachiever cannot stand, is lazy people - or people that just don't care. For that reason I have found myself slowly distancing myself from people who are not as up and at 'em as I am. And for whatever reason, that is the case - and I have lowered my vast list of friends to maybe a couple people that I care about greatly.

I love college I really do. And as part of the Spring semester I am hoping that I can continue to express myself on this not so active blog. Thanks for listening as I vent.

I'm trying to think of something clever and witty to say, but then I remember that I am not clever or witty. All I am is too pale for my own good. Which reminds me that last night as my friends and I were getting ready for the usual pre-class festivities, I piled on my bronzer and stood for photos. But rather get tan on my visit to Florida, I got whiter. And my photos can be identified by the white ghost. An Oreo. Because anyone who stands next to me looks black.

Speaking of sandwiches... I'm hungry.

Until next time,
XOXO Cinnamon Girl!

Graceful and Timely, as Always!

Well. College is finally here. And rather than keeping my blog updated during the most important changing moments of my life, I have neglected to post once since August. Whoops. Anyways, things are about to change. Basically: I love college! It's so fun! I'm already getting involved with organizations and I've met so many people, I absolutely love it!

But it's the bad, klutzy things that happen to me that are most interesting. Such as my morning.

12:47 - I wake up. My next class is 20 minutes away because I have to take a bus across campus. It's a huge exam. It started at 12. Whoops. So, I run out of my dorm - freaking out - wearing my PJ's and head over to my class.
12:58 - I rush into my class, vigorously apologizing and begging to take what I can of the exam in the 22 minutes left. My professor is so sweet and let's me take the exam, he even allows me some extra time.
1:27 - I make my graceful exit, falling down the stairs.

Let me give you some imagery:

Whoops!

I'm convinced that this sort of thing happens to everyone eventually... Has it happened to you?

Anyway, I'm psyched to keep you updated with my adventures in college!
Oh, and I love Rachel "Mary Poppins" Lewis! Happy October, it's cold here! Brrrr!