A Belated Graduation Blog...

OK, OK, OK... I graduated about a month and a half ago, so this is quite belated.  I was thinking back to graduation this week.  I went to the dance building a few days ago to get the DVD's of all the dances I have been in the last four years (there were a lot).  I thought I might get a little emotional walking back into the dance building- a place I've considered my home for the last 4 years (when the campus was evacuated last semester we all went to the dance building instead of leaving because we all spend more time there than at home).  I realized the building itself, although beautiful, I will not miss, but the people inside it I definitely will.  The totally awesome thing about being involved in the dance program was that I could walk into that building and know and love every single person I saw - which is quite encouraging when dealing with a terrible case of senioritis. I LOVE that I knew every single person that I sat with while waiting to accept our diplomas.  I love the fun we had running around the dressing room before we paraded in.  And I absolutely LOVE that we all lost our heels and accepted our diplomas barefoot.  We earned them barefoot, so it is tradition that we accept them barefoot... which created much confusion amongst the audience members...

You wish you were as fine as the class of 2009... much love to you all!!!

Barefooted picture with the Chair of Modern Dance Donna White and the Dean of Fine Arts Raymond Tymas - Jones taken by Gammell Photography.

Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves

On one of my many joyful trips to Barnes and Noble with my mom I spotted this book... Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves.  With my summer just about packed with trips, I figured it would be an appropriate read and... I LOVED IT!!!  

I spent my morning driving my father to the airport for his trip to Budapest, Hungary and Prague, Czech Republic.  I've been trying to sneak my way onto this trip with him and was almost successful (I  had the plane ticket and everything), but ultimately it didn't work out and I'm left sitting here in Salt Lake - still with my sore throat going on 4 weeks now - trying not to get too down in the dumps that I'm missing out on such a fabulous trip.  I think I am even more saddened to be missing out after reading this supremely intriguing and eye opening book.  I highly recommend EVERYONE read it - even if you are not planning a trip abroad anytime soon.  Rick Steves has honestly been just about everywhere (his list of destinations is jaw dropping)  and even if you don't travel so much, you can learn from his experience.

Steves quotes Mark Twain who says, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow- mindedness."  I haven't been on that many trips out of the country, but after the few I have been on, I definitely agree.   Steves says, "On returning home from a major trip, you sense that your friends and coworkers have stayed the same but you're... different.  It's enlightening and unsettling at the same time."  After hearing this statement, I am reminded of my trip to Ghana last summer, which I still find myself dissecting, pondering, and reflecting on almost everyday.  That trip truly changed me, and after my three weeks there, I am a firm believer that everyone should travel to Africa, Ghana especially.

My sister, the parasite expert, says she never wants to go to Africa.  She has read of too many illnesses that can be contracted there.  I made it in and out of Africa without so much as a stomach ache.  I realize many are not so lucky, but this sheds light on the plight of those that live there.  While spending time with my host family, two of their daughters, both young girls, were sick with Malaria.  They get this illness every now and then - in the same way that we might contract a cold - and they just take a quick trip to the hospital and have it dealt with as soon as possible...  it didn't really seem like it had a major effect on their lives because this is something they deal with every day.  How lucky are we that we don't have to go about our daily lives worrying about Malaria or Yellow Fever?  And I'm such a wonderfully privileged person, that if I did have a healthcare concern I can get healthcare quite easily.  There is a problem with healthcare in the United States, but ultimately we are lucky to have such an advanced system. The risk of illness was nothing compared to the things I learned there and the amazing people I met.  It is a risk I would easily take again.

While walking down the streets of Ghana, when entering a home, entering a shop, checking in to our hotel... I constantly heard the greeting "woe zo" -  "you are welcome."  I was welcomed every single place I went.  Everyone was so unbelievably kind and generous and willing to talk to me.  Everyone wanted to hear about the United States and they wanted to talk about their country of Ghana.  They were open and willing to discuss just about anything.  I felt that people I had just met on the street had a genuine interest in who I was and why I was there.  Everyone wanted to be my friend.  We took a brief visit to the Art Center - a shopping market, primarily for tourists, in Accra the capital city.  Everyone welcomed me into their shop, woe zo!  I spent some time talking with people ever so briefly.  When I came back 3 weeks later, I was remembered!  The people I had met remembered my name, remembered where I was from, what I had bought and considered me their friend.  At the grocery store I have visited once, maybe twice a week, for the last 4 years in Salt Lake, nobody knows my name.  I don't think an African walking down the streets of my city - a very friendly city by US standards- would ever be greeted with a warm smile and a welcome.  

While walking through the village of Dzodze, I came across a window shutter that had written on it "Poor in Pocket, but Happy in Life."  This is the epitome of Ghana.  I spent my days with an amazingly kind family that lives in a modest house, had no running water, and uses very little electricity.  The family of 5 creates so little trash that they are able to dump what little they make outside their home.  While we were there, the parents took days off of work to give us tours of their village (which was not small - when I say village, I really mean city).  They spent the day cooking for us and giving us cooking lessons.  They took us to church and let us tour their hospital.  They paid for us to take motor bike rides (the best form of a taxi) and bought us water knowing their water would make us sick.  Finally, they had complete Ghanaian outfits made especially for us and even gave us matching jewelry.  I was touched beyond words that a family who, by American standards, has so little could give us so much.  They were unspeakably kind and generous.  When I returned to the states I got into an argument with an ex boyfriend over money.  I couldn't help but wonder at that point to what extent money has ruined us as a culture and kept us from appreciating the little things in life and the kindness of others.  After returning from Ghana I realized I would rather be "poor in pocket but happy in life" than have any great amount of riches.  I already have lived a life of such unbelievable privilege, but I am most lucky to have a loving family and amazing friends.

Rick Steves brings up so many important points in his book, Travel as a Political Act.  The whole world is acutely aware of what goes on in the United States.  When I said I was from the US, while traveling through Ghana in the Summer of 2008, everyone asked me if I was planning on voting for Obama.  I didn't even know the name of the current Prime Minister of Ghana.  The rest of the world is so affected by the decisions made by the United States, yet many of us as voters are painfully unaware of what goes on in the rest of the world and the difference our vote makes in others' lives- myself included.  Steves talks about how other countries do their taxes, how they deal with their healthcare, their education system, their public transportation, their "war on drugs," and even their take on poverty and hunger.  Steves and I both agree that we are unbelievably lucky to live in a country as absolutely fabulous as the United States of America, but that doesn't mean that we don't have a lot to learn from the rest of the world.  Steves mentions, "I like to say (naively, I know) that if every American were required to travel abroad  before voting, the US would fit more comfortably into this ever-smaller planet."   If you can't afford to travel abroad, at least read this book.

California... oh California

Only a few days after returning from Greece - without enough time for recovery - I flew, still a bit sick, to California with my parents to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and all those I love who dwell in southern Cali.

Both my parents grew up in Southern California, loving the ocean and loving the sunshine.  Even though both have had some encounters with sun damaged skin, cancer and the like, I don't think either of them would trade their childhoods near the ocean for one moment.  Without fail, I can not visit a beach in California without hearing my father's tales of surfing, diving, fishing, or sailing in the area.  Both my parents majored in marine biology in college with the intent of never leaving the beauty of the ocean.  Even my mother, who is a known wimp with cold water, can't help but get her feet wet and look longingly out into the ocean with every beach visit.  

Both will admit, however, that southern California is a very different place than it once was. We visited the house where my father lived in college in Laguna Beach, across the street from the beach.  Back then, there were no mansions on the cliffs, and he payed 50 dollars a month to live there.  The tiny little house now sells for far more than our huge lake house in Colorado.  Every outing we made had to be planned around rush hour... but inevitably we would find ourselves stuck in traffic anyway.  Overall, the L.A. area appears a bit trashy... sorry to all who live there.  I would say the only beauty I saw was in my grandmother's upscale Pasadena neighborhood and  those glimpses of the ocean.  It seems ironic to me that the buildings and freeways appear so trashy when the people appear in classic cars and wear designer clothing.  I often found myself feeling self - conscious about my less than designer duds and wishing I had spent more time on my hair... for a trip to the beach?  And with all the amazingly wealthy people that live in the great state of California, economically it is in such serious trouble that the next time I visit my family I will have to pay a 5 dollar tourist fee.  I wish people put more money into their state and their public schools than their fancy cars and beach side mansions... and with such a serious traffic problem you would think someone might invest in some form of public transportation!!!  

In spite of the frustrations I encountered in California, I am always glad to have time with my family.  My parents are both totally awesome people.  My aunt, new to facebook, sent me "excited for your visit" messages almost daily leading up to our trip. My grandfather, in his late 80's, sometimes forgets my major in school but remembered to wear the shirt I got him on my trip to Ghana last year when he saw me.  I love that he wears it!  My cousin, who I know has lively adventures with his pals on a daily basis, always devotes his days to hanging out with me and my fam when we are in town, no matter how low key our plans are.  I also greatly enjoyed my time with my grandmother on the couch sharing Nyquil, cough drops, hot tea,  and book recommendations.  

I don't know why I was so struck by this trip to California - we go almost every year.  The southern California glamour is lost to me, and I am continually grateful for my decision to not attend college there- even though I can't hide my jealousy of my cousin's membership to the Cal State Long Beach Sailing Club. I find myself agreeing more and more with comedians such as Fred Allen who say, "California is a fine place to live - if you happen to be an orange."  Still, I do love hearing of the California glamour that did exist during my parents childhood days and seeing my amazing family.  I will be back- even if I have to pay my 5 dollar tourist fee next time.

"In many ways we are all sons and daughters of ancient Greece. " - Nia Vardalos

I primarily created this blog to document my summer adventures.  Of all the adventures had and all the adventures yet to be had... Greece is probably the most spectacular.  If it hadn't been near impossible to bring my computer with me, I would have blogged about every single amazing day.  While the trip is still fresh in my mind, here were some of the highlights...

- We were the favorite dancers at our Greek evening dinner.  Our perfect seats and our BFA's may have aided us in this accomplishment.  We had the constant affection of the Greek gentlemen that were dancing and I was even twirled.  It was lovely.

- One of the many stray dogs in Greece befriended us during our first outing into the Plaka market in Athens when we were straight out of the airport and exhausted.  While wandering the streets, only somewhat lost, it was nice to have a friend.  He sat and waited for us while we ate lunch and somehow found us the next day as we walked around the Acropolis.  

-Me, Diana, and Amanda broke away from the group which allowed us to do many splendid things.  We had lunch in the most beautiful little Taverna surrounded by beautiful trees tucked away in the Plaka market.  We explored the Roman Agora- beautiful ruins fenced into modern day Athens. Between their restaurants and homes lies beautiful ancient columns and an amazing piece of history - those lucky ducks.  We also explored the Greek Agora, walking through beautifully preserved columns through peaceful trees with a light breeze tucked away from the city.  We also took great pride in finding our way back to the hotel all on our own.  Small accomplishments should always be appreciated.  

-Discovered the Greek version of the Oreo.  DELISH!

- Homer's Inn - Ios.  Amazing view from our window-  most beautiful pool I've ever seen - a short bus ride from the most beautiful beach with the most amazing blue water - a decent hike from town but well worth the climb.  

- Days in Ios were spent in our lounge chairs with a front row view of crystal clear water situated a short walk from a bar with fresh squeezed orange juice and Greek coffee- I don't like coffee, but I like Greek coffee.  Nights were spent exploring the town, eating delicious dinners on restaurant balconies, bar hopping / pub crawling with Australian boys, eating baklava, and dancing the night away. Lovely.

- Enjoyed the black sand beaches of Santorini- absolutely beautiful - with a street lined in beach lounge restaurants.

- Spent the day on a boat all around Santorini - the day included hiking a volcano, viewing a 1.5 million Euro island that is actually for sale, eating grilled calamari on a tiny little island, swimming to natural hot springs and covering ourselves in mud, donkey rides, and watching one of the most beautiful and world famous sunsets from the cliffs created by the volcano.

-Explored the labyrinth of the city on Mykonos with streets so narrow you can ONLY walk through them--- designed that way to keep out the wind and the pirates, eventually making our way to lunch at Niko's and trying our best to not be eaten by the GIANT pelicans that reside there.

- We took a ferry from Mykonos to Delos- an island archeological site.  We hiked to the very top of the entire island and had the most amazing view of the fields, the ruins, and other islands. So beautiful. So free.

-A fabulous night in Mykonos. Down Under Bar. Ouzo. Scandinavian Bar. Free Shots. Togas. Stripper pole. Dancing on bars. Thriller....  imagine the good times.

- We got some absolutely delicious juice boxes to celebrate Diana's birthday.  We didn't have the best flight home... but that's a story to be shared in person...

Ultimately, I would say Greece is one of my favorite places in the entire world.  I haven't seen the entire world YET, but once I do, I'm sure my feelings will be confirmed.  Nowhere else can compare to its amazing beauty, its laid-back nature, its calming ocean breeze, and the constant reminder of its beautifully rich history.  People have lived there for thousands and thousands of years; I completely understand why.

Post- Graduation TO DO LIST

I'm finding I consistently use this blog as a way of procrastinating my chemistry homework.  My final is Monday, so really this is the perfect time to write a random note that no one will read instead of frantically studying as I should be.  I have  a chronic case of senioritis and even though my chemistry book is open I find myself thinking about all I look forward to doing in the next few years before I have to become a responsible grown up... I can't wait.  I will no longer be living in a dance studio, spending hours in rehearsal, or constantly worrying about being able to dance my best every single day.  So here it is - my post-graduation TO DO LIST!

1. Ride a bike.  I haven't been on a bike since a family vacation to Vail in the 7th grade or so.  I was invited on a bike ride a few days ago and it seemed like it would be so much fun if only I wasn't positive I would fall over. They say "it's like riding a bike," but honestly- my falling over is highly likely.  I've never had the need for a bike - my home in the Fort was too far to ride a bike anywhere and my home in SLC is close enough that I can walk most places and sadly I often feel too tired from dance class to go on a bike ride just for fun.  It's been so long I don't even own a bike anymore.  BUT - I'm going to Prague in a month and a half and I hear they have awesome bike tours.  Hopefully it will come back to me just like riding a bike.

2. Learn to snowboard.  I've grown up most of my life in Colorado with the Rocky Mountains as a regular view on my drive to school.  I now live less than a half hour from the greatest snow on earth.  Hell- they had the Olympics here! It is terrible that I don't make use of the snow- I'm learning.

3. Write a crochet book.  I'm really good at making up cool patterns for crocheted hats.  This is a serious skill I have.  All the patterns are in my head.  If only I could get them down on paper and add pretty pictures - I'd make bank.  Maybe I could use it to fund my adventures.

4. Become a yoga master.   Yoga gets you in great shape.  It's good for the mind body and soul.  It has serious concern for what is good for the body and personal growth- things that are sometimes lost in the competitive world of dance.  Yoga also has so many moments of stillness- this sounds surprisingly appealing since I've spent so much of my life moving.

5. Sail a boat.  Both my parents grew up sailing.  All my aunts and uncles know how and they have all taught my cousins... I'm seriously one of the only people in my huge extended family that doesn't know how to sail a boat.  I want to take myself on some ocean/lake adventures so this is a skill I plan to learn.

6. Hike a fourteener.  A couple years ago, my cousin from California finally visited Colorado and we decided to show him what mountains really looked like. We rode a train to the top of Pike's Peak.  Totally awesome.  There's no cooler feeling than being at the top of the world like that.  I realized ... I've lived in Colorado/Utah forever, I'm in good shape, I'm young... I should hike this thing!  Of course, Utah doesn't actually have any fourteeners so I will have to head back to CO for this- not something I mind at all.

7. Travel the world.  Everyone has heard that super cheesy quote that goes something like, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away."  I've had many many moments like this where I can't actually believe I'm standing where I'm standing or seeing what I'm seeing... all while on fabulous trips around the world.  Travel is totally a drug- once you start, you can't stop.

8. Volunteer.  I am such an unbelievably lucky kid.  I have been given so many opportunities and have an absolutely amazing support system of family and friends.  Life is good.  Share the joy.  I'm looking into volunteering with a hospice program, the humane society, maybe the big brother and big sisters program... I wish I'd been more involved in things like this throughout my life, but it's never too late.

9. Do service work in another country. This really just combines numbers 7 and 8 - but I have friends that have volunteered in places like India and Africa and what a humbling experience that is.  It changes you.

10. Take advantage of my car's fabulous gas mileage.  I live a day's drive away from some really freakin cool places.  I'm thinking I'll need to make every weekend a long weekend and stop by: Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, the sand dunes, the zillions of cool national parks in southern Utah, Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree... the list goes on and on...

11. Read a book a week.  There is so much to be learned from reading, and the list of books on my "want to read" list grows daily.  Maybe, just maybe, if I read a book a week I'll be able to keep up.

12. Become a better cook.  Food is good.  And it is cheaper when you cook it yourself.  And I hear making it can be fun.  I'm going to need some good healthy nutrients to accomplish the rest of my to do list. Wish me luck.

My last lectures - Wisdom I have gained from my professors

Here I sit, two weeks and two days away from walking in the University of Utah graduation ceremonies and only five more days of class from one of the most amazing dance departments in the country.  At the beginning of this semester I read Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture."  I read it in two hours of a free afternoon (what a rare treat) and it brought me tears and laughter over and over again.  What a great time in my life to absorb life advise and anecdotal stories from a college professor.  I feel like this semester especially, my own professors have been continuing the treat.  My last lectures here at the U have been filled with moving advise, crazy ideas, silly stories, and random sayings.  I am documenting them here so I don't forget them because they are that amazing.  College professors really are inspiring  people (my father included).

The first pieces of advise I will share with you come from Jon Scoville and Tandy Beal - two of the most amazing artists and people to ever grace my life.  The "newlyweds" were the artistic directors of senior concert and many times throughout this semester have gone to bat for us and helped our senior concert dreams come true.  The night of tech rehearsal for senior concert we had just run our senior piece and it hadn't gone so well - we were feeling a bit discouraged after being at the dance building for hours on end

 (nothing new) and just wanted to go home when we were all gathered in the theater for a pep-

 talk from Tandy Beal.  At this time she reminded us how lucky we are to have spent these years dancing with such amazing people and how lucky we are to dance everyday .  She talked about her experience the past weekend dancing onstage with Bobby McFerrin.  She said she realized, "All I can do is be present and risk my soul."  What a great piece of advice for a dancer- or anyone!  As senior concert finished Jon spent the day discussing how we felt about the performance.  Honestly we put on a really good show- and Jon agreed.  He talked about how he hopes that we continue to be true to ourselves and true to our art and continue making work because, "Making things is the best solution to a world run amok."

Eric Handman is an amazing mover.  He makes his awesome ninja skills look so easy and the rest of us only try to be as cool as him.  He is also very skilled at saying quirky things in technique class that really do make perfect sense but also remind you that even on a friday, when you are exhausted and sick of school, what we do is supposed to be fun.  There is fun in every little bit of our day.  My greatest smile in class came one day while I was dancing and in his super cool smooth voice he says "YESSSSS... like boys don't cry."  Haha- I finally realized he was making a musical reference to The Cure... but it took me a good long while and I had many laughs along the way. My favorite day in his class was when we were doing some ninja skill creation of his that required us to fly through the air and across the floor.  Admittedly- I am not the most courageous dancer and approach dive roles across the floor cautiously when lacking a helmet.  His advice to that, "Don't be afraid to be a HERO."  It helped.  Superman doesn't have to worry about getting hurt, and turns out, I know my body well enough that neither do I.

Steve Koester taught our contemporary views class where we discuss art, dance, ourselves- what we are, what we do, and what we mean.  On one very special day in this class half our faculty came in and we got to hear them speak about their views on life and art.  Steve talks about staying true to yourself as an artist- taking risks but exploring what you are good at.  He says, "It's like Paul Taylor coming out and trying to do hip hop.  There's something really pathetic about that."  For people who know dance, and know Paul Taylor- an incredibly funny image just popped into your head.  Paul Taylor does not do hip hop. Period. So don't try to make that happen.

Also in Steve's class we wrote a manifesto of sorts.  In respect to art and dance, we were supposed to write 5 sentences that "we believe..." about art and five "no to..." about art.  This is where I discovered a piece of wisdom for myself.  As a girl from a family of scientists, who got her IB diploma, who is capable of being a science major, but really doesn't want to, I am constantly asked the question, WHY AM I A DANCE MAJOR?  I know why I am a dance major.  It is a part of me and it defines who I am- but this is incredibly difficult to explain to people who have not been dancers since they were four years old.  After much thought, I came up with this manifesto for myself, "I believe art is absolutely vital to a community.  While science and politics may explain how we live, art explains the why giving everything else its meaning and its significance."  Take that and ponder a bit.  I felt redeemed when months later I stumbled upon this quote by Friedrick Nietzshe, "He who has a why to live, can bear almost any how."  Dance is my why and I'm lucky to have that.

There have also been some awesomely funny things said throughout the last few weeks that have kept me laughing when I really needed it. Donna said one day in reference to planning senior concert, "There are just too many chefs in the soup."  There are usually too many chefs in the kitchen- but I like soup better- it's messier and honestly sounds like more fun.  My chemistry professor let this one slide last night, "What in the hell am I doing with this column of rainbow bubbles?!"  I don't really know what he was doing, but it was definitely a day were columns of rainbow bubbles were completely necessary for making it through class.  And today in ballet, "What are these gnat things about anyway?'  after somehow managing to convince Jen that it would be the perfect day to have ballet class OUTSIDE.  Fun times were had while getting some weird looks from those science students. (Loosen up science nerds!  We were just exploring WHY we live our lives on such a beautiful day!)

These pictures are of me and some seniors sitting on the front of the stage after tech rehearsal about to listen to Tandy- picture by Steve Rasmussen, Gina Davis dancing like a hero, and ballet class outside.

Easter and a Post Secret

So I'm sitting here Easter morning all on my own.  Not being a particularly religious person and with half my family living one state away, my Easter looks like it will be a day filled with laundry and studying for Chemistry.  I was getting a bit sad, with such beautiful weather, that this was honestly my plan for the day and wishing I was done with school (only two and a half weeks to go!), when I took a break from change in enthalpy to visit the postsecret blogspot.  This was the first secret on the page, and man was it fitting for my life right now.  I love it, and it is so true.