somewhere in middle america

i've been spending my days as an intern at boys town. it's a non-profit organization dedicated to providing care for youth and families. it started out as an omaha orphanage in 1917, started by father edward j. flanagan, but has over the years developed into a nationwide organization. it's pretty great. all i really do it write articles and talk to people. but hey, that's good enough for me. besides the internship, i've been exploring omaha a little and will continue to do so throughout the summer. for those you planning a trip to omaha in the near future (it's a metropolis, don't even joke), i will be reviewing the activites, restaurants, etc. that i am partaking in. i know you'll appreciate this, you don't have to thank me. but if you do...that's fine, too.
college world series: my first time at the college world series was an extremely hot but pleasant one. i've never really liked baseball, but a week of lsu and texas fans everywhere got me swinging a different bat (ha...). it was seriously fun the two games i went to, and i can't wait til next year. fun family america time.

henry doorly zoo: i had also never been to a zoo before (gasp). it was fantastic! definitely worth the $10+ admission fee and steep hills. highlights: gorillas, aquarium, swamp, monkeys hugging.

mother india restaurant: barely big enough to be a hole-in-the-wall establishment. after seeing a fairly short list of entrees, i knew it had to be good. and it was. chicken curry and a big piece of naan ($10). i've had naan better...for the price, anyway.

three happiness express: yes, that is the actual name of a chinese restaurant on leavenworth st. (mere blocks away from mother india) they are not as speedy as their name implies, but they are decent for the price. good crab ragoon and excellent water glass filling.

garage saling: a must saturday morning activity at some point in the summer. depending on the neighborhood, you can find some pretty great little treasures (i.e. pink rose earrings, free yellow coffee mug, forest green belt). i also really enjoyed the two estate sales i came across. those are more practical for people with more than an interns hourly wage. fun, nonetheless.

that's all for now. happy summer day, everyone. :)

summer

I can't believe it's actually here.
I kind of hate summer. It's hot. There's rarely a schedule (and I like schedules). There's no football or jackets. Friends are gone.
That's why for the past two summers I made sure I had a schedule and friends around me. Totus Tuus and NSE were really good summers. When I realized that I didn't actually have a plan for this summer and whatever it was going to be, I probably wouldn't have a schedule or friends, I kind of freaked out. Eventually, I told God whatever He wanted me to do, I would do it. He surprised me and gave me a wonderful internship in Omaha where I would totally have a list of things to get done and amazing people with whom to hang out. I can't believe I can't wait for this summer.
Meanwhile, I'm in Texas spending some time with my family. They've made me feel pretty guilty about going back to Nebraska for the summer...again. But they know that I make good decisions, and they know how much I love them. I hope, anyway.
Also, I don't know how I'm going to fit my clothes/shoes into my little bag I carried on again. What a cunundrum.
More posts later.
After all, it is summer.

prague

prague, nebraska.

probably just as lively, but much closer to me than the one in the czech republic. i discovered this gem a couple of years ago when a few people went after totus tuus training. i loved it then.

last night, a group of friends went down to kolac korner to partake in the fish fry (yay lent) and listen to some live polka music. 

a fairly small restaurant in a town that's even smaller, the dream of kolac korner started with a family who sold kolace on a highway corner to nebraska fans headed to the football games in lincoln. now a thriving little and humble business, the restaurant has a variety of foods including hamburgers, fried fish and its sunday special, duck and dumplings. no worries though, the signature kolace(strawberry, blueberry, poppy seed, apricot, cream cheese) are still there, along with czech liquor and beer. last night offered a free domestic brew for all customers because it was the owner's, or the "prince of prague's", birthday. 

i suppose walking into a small town's most popular business as a group of young(and old) college students could be intimidating, however, the people of prague only welcome new friends, fellow husker fans and first-time polka dancers. 

a crowd favorite, "in heaven there is no beer", was enjoyed several times throughout the night. and i have to admit, the polka version of "there is no place like nebraska" in honor of the kolac korner's staff for all of their hard work was a highlight.

it's nights like this when i feel like coming to school in nebraska was the best decision of my life. it's people like those in prague who make my heart come alive. and it's experiences like this that i think everyone should have. and if you want to have it, call me.  

after only 15 minutes into our 4 hour stay at kolac korner, a friend asked "are we in heaven or prague, nebraska?"

"um, both."  

the champion

i am currently facebook chatting with emily, and she sent me a link for the myers-briggs personality test. and since i pretty much click on any link that emily sends me, here is my result: enfp. extrovert, intuition, feeling, perception
in other words, the champion idealist. heck. yes.
i few descriptives that made me laugh:

"The most outgoing of the Idealists, Champions often can't wait to tell others of their extraordinary experiences. Champions can be tireless in talking with others, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their own words to get it all out."
funny because: it's true. i love telling stories. especially ones that are actually pretty boring. but i think i add enough ridiculous expression and interior commentary that people generally stay entertained.

also, "Fiercely individualistic, Champions strive toward a kind of personal authenticity."
i absolutely hate not being myself. whenever i force myself to do something out of character, it never works out. so, i think i'll still strive to be authentic and just live mah life. eyy eyy eyyy (rhianna/t.i. reference).

famous champions include charles dickens and joan baez.
um, enough said.

texas

i'm home for spring break, and i decided to start a blog.
i was just out to eat with some old high school friends and we saw three high school teachers...it was weird. mostly because both groups were legally drinking margaritas. it was really weird.
it's always really interesting to come home...and i suspect this is the case for a lot of college students. i get home, and i'm happy to be here. but i easily and quickly get into arguments with my parents, especially my mom. a length of time will go by, and we'll get along just great. and then it's time to leave, and i cry every single time.
i don't know what it is exactly. i must be growing up...uh oh.
that's all for now.
expect more interesting posts...later.
:)