Dear Old Rexburg

I'm back. After spending a crazy week in Disneyworld with my family and saying bye to all my near and dear Floridians, I flew across the country, spent 24 hours home in Utah, then drove up here to Idaho to start school. The transition has been crazy! It's FREEZING and dry. And windy. But I'm so ready to be here! I decided to upgrade from the dorms to The Ivy. Oh. What a change. My roommates and I started out with a dance party and it's just progressed from there.

In honor of 19 years of first day of school pictures:

The only shame is right when I'm starting school....everyone else is finishing! Gah. And if I wasn't going to be in the Testing Center enough for school....it's now my new job. 

Bring it.

"It is time to say goodbye...

even you know I do not want to. Remembering the first day we met you're in a pretty yellow skirt and you smiled to me. It seems yesterday...
Well, I can not forget Orlando, WDW. Where we had a short but also good time together. An American girl, who named Shelby, is nice to Xin. To me, you're special. Giving you a Chinese name "Xue Mei". Means a white flower spring up in snow in the wintertime. Do you like it?
Nothing to give you except several songs. My favorite. Music is forever. I will change, you will change, but the music is always there, the memory the same.

Yours.

Xin"

This week has been full of goodbyes. Most goodbyes are for only a period of time. But these goodbyes will probably be forever. I don't know when I can travel to China and see Xin. I probably can't hop on a plane to Australia or Puerto Rico or even Florida. So I've been pretty sad. But I feel so incredibly loved. I will always have a Chinese name "Xue Mei", I will always have memories, and I will always have music. Attached with this lovely letter was Xin's favorite sheet music that I can play whenever I want and think of her.

I clocked out of work the other day for the very last time and Mickey waved bye to me saying "Thanks for helping make the Magic". I realized then I was leaving. And never coming back. But I will cherish the memories I've had here. Xin is right, I will change and all the amazing friends I made will change. But the memories will stay the same.

I will miss you Florida.

Thanks for letting me make the magic.

These People

Daisy is older. She's Hispanic. Has lots of curly brown hair and is the best cook in the world. She calls me Baby Girl. Sometimes she sneaks rice and beans into my work purse because she knows I'm a starving college student and she wants to fatten me up before I head home. But she always tells me its our little secret or else the managers will make her cook for them too. On break she will hum to me and braid my hair making sure everything is OK and then kiss my cheek before we head back to work.


Richard is my coordinator. He's older too. But he doesn't have a family. He has blazing green eyes that seem to never focus on anything. He's from Germany. He thinks I'm special and calls me his supergirl because I'd do anything and everything for him. When work is slow he will just stand beside me and smile with me. We talk about life and God and family. He tells me everytime he sees the Elders on their bikes and thinks of me. He asks me how my days off are and if I got enough sleep. He gives me a hug every morning and squeezes me and tells me he loves me. He notices when I am sad and let's me takes breaks and sits with me. He's kind of eccentric. And sometimes he yelps in a weird voice when he is happy. He calls me Princess, too. He is the most caring man I've ever met.

Stephanie is a fellow College student. She's awkward and hilarious. We click. She tells me I've got swag and I tell her she looks like Katy Perry. We get lost when we do towel runs. She didn't really know Utah or Idaho existed and has never met anyone from there. She's from Chicago and she's obsessed with cats. I've only known her two weeks but we love each other. She calls me her Awkward Stormin' Mormon from Utah. Everytime we see each other, we laugh. What else can I say?

Sophie is actually Eun Ha. She's Korean. Sometimes we make Asian jokes together because I love Asians. She taught me how to write my name in Korean. We have dance parties together and go to Grocery Bingo. Sometimes we fall asleep on each others shoulders on the bus and she tells me the truth about when I'm falling for boys. She is a cutie. We cry together. She's one of the only people I've met who doesn't swear and who is always uplifting. It's refreshing and beautiful. I'm going to miss her.

Xin is from China (I love Asians). We have girls nights and give each other back massages and watch Roman Holiday. She met with the missionaries and me more times than I could count and almost got baptized. It didn't work out in the end but we still play every week. I was with her for her first wave. First water park. We watch fireworks at EPCOT with our arms around each other. We talk about boys and China and God. She taught me how to say "I love you" in Chinese. Wa Ai Nee. That's how you pronounce it at least. Everytime we part we say "Wa Ai Nee" to each other. She is so cute and sometimes buys me popcorn or cookies and tries to make me food all the time. I don't want to say bye to her.

Susanna is one of my roommates. She is incredibly beautiful. We tan together at Mickey's Retreat and just relax. Sometimes we wait up for each other to get home to talk about our day. She is an answer to my prayers. Her simplicity and goodness inspires me. She just says it how it is. I never tire of her presence. I'm so glad she's going to be in Rexburg with me.

London is a star. She sings like Ella Fitzgerald. I went to my first Kareoke bar with her. She asks me deep questions about life and really makes me think. Hard. She wears red red lipstick and can "shake it" like no one I know. Someday she's going to be famous, I know it. We recorded a rap song together about working at Disney. I love her spontaneity. Sometimes we cry together to. She reminds me I'm not perfect and it's OK when I slip up. "God still loves you" she tells me. And I believe her.

Natalie lives with me. She tells me stories about Mike Wazowski's arm falling off at work or how she's the hottest girl in Disneyworld and that's why all the men hit on her. We talk about family. And our Daddy's. We have photoshoots and she shows me what she makes for dinner every single night. We are blog buddies.

Bethan has a British accent. When we close Beach Haus we sweep the floor and sing showtunes together. She never stops smiling.

Jacquie somehow shows up whenever something goes wrong. She's always in the right place at the right time and gives me a hug. She gets it.

Heidi and Emilee include me.

Alvin stands up for my differences.

Keillan and Amy teach me about Australia and the world that is so foreign to me.

Will loves me for me. And that's it.

Gianfranco makes me want to be better.

Mike gives me strength.

The missionaries give me responsibility.



God gives me these people. I can never thank Him enough. They are my Florida family. I will forever hold them in my heart.

I didn't know people were so good.