Lambda Pi Chi

I have always wanted to pledge a sorority. No, not one in which all you do is party, but one where you network and continue to grow and understand yourself and others around you. I think I have found that sorority. Although I am a senior I can still pledge. I will pledge Lambda Pi Chi, Epsilon Chapter: American & Georgetown Universities. I'm planning on pledging for the Graduate/Professional Chapter of Washington, DC. I'm very excited to start the process. Next meeting is in two weeks, or next week if I can make it out to AU. I will probably being doing too much this semester to even feasible be alive at the end of it all, but I'm willing to sacrifice a few things: ie. sleep, Tombs, and more sleep. It just means I have to be more focused and determined to get it all accomplished, which of course I will. 

:)

T-minus 4 months...

As I sit here on my bed working on a shooting script for what would be 'My Georgetown' documentary for my Catholic Imagination course, I begin to ponder what will I do when I graduate? The other night as I was out with my girls we realized that we have less than 4 months of our senior year of college. January is almost over and it has flown by. At first it was progressing slowly, perhaps because classes hadn't picked up yet. Now, I wish it was back to being slow so I can take in everything that I love about Georgetown. Frankly, its not going to be any slower. I have decided to be a tutor for the Kids 2 College program over in NE DC. That will make my Tuesdays and Thursdays super busy, from 8am to 8pm. I won't have much time to take a breath and rest, thus making my days go by too fast. However, I also wouldn't have it any other way. I'm looking forward to this program and being a tutor for a group of 6th graders. I think that I might be going to graduate school to get my masters in education, rather than Spanish literature. As much as I love Spanish literature I think education calls out more to me. I want to make that difference in that students life, even if they don't see it at first.

I'm not quite sure I'm ready to graduate just yet. I think I'm torn apart between wanting to stay and being ready to be grown. I guess its going to be a bittersweet separation. I hope that my younger siblings will one day experience this bittersweet emotion of being a senior in college. 

As I reflect back on my decision to attend Georgetown versus UCLA, I think I understand it more now than before. As a high school student my top choice was the University of Southern California (USC). I wanted to study marine biology and go on to get my PhD in marine biology, however that quickly faded when I was rejected from USC. Then I had many options of staying in state or going out. I decided that it was either "USC or bust." Clearly, bust meant Georgetown, even though I hadn't put much effort into my admissions application. They say that everything in life happens for a reason. I didn't quite understand why I had been admitted to Georgetown and not USC, I mean Georgetown is ranked higher than USC. Therefore, harder to gain admission. After a brief grieving period for being rejected, I embraced the fact that I was going to be a Hoya. My parents were happy for me, after all they had seen how hard I worked in high school to go to college. 

Being a freshman, away from home, about 3000 miles was tough at first. Also, I was in a long distance relationship, which didn't always make me feel good about myself. I often had thoughts of transferring to a school back in Cali. In the end I decided not to; mostly because I'm not a quitter and in the face of a challenge, I always overcome it. I still didn't quite comprehend how I ended up at Georgetown. Sophomore year came and went. Susan (my east coast mom said I grew up the summer between sophomore and freshman year) kept me on my toes at work, she always made sure I was taking care of myself. I began to get closer with my girls and start to enjoy the college life. It was during this year that I decided I needed an escape and a break from life AKA I decided to go abroad. Junior year was an amazing year! I spent it living, working and studying in Salamanca, Spain. [That year along with this year are tied for being the two best years of my life so far!] 

Throughout these three years I volunteered with DC Reads and DC Schools Projects to teach ESL. I think it was through these programs that I began to see a potential in education and my interest was sparked. When I was abroad I worked and taught English at an elementary school. Something that I enjoyed a lot. Now I find myself as a senior with the daunting task of deciding whether or not I want to work or go to graduate school. I think I want to go to graduate school and get my MA in education. Maybe this is why I was meant to attend Georgetown and not UCLA or USC. I believe that it was written in the stars for me to become a teacher and help others around me realize their full potential. 

Inauguration Weekend '09

Inauguration weekend has came and left the District of Colombia. I never in life seen so many people at one place gathered together to celebrate the beginning many AMericans have anxiously awaited for many years. I am proud to be an AMerican citizen. I am also proud to call myself a democrat that voted for change, that voted for history to be made. I also have never felt the urge to truly cry in joy and rejoice in this wonderful nation. I have many a times doubted my national pride in the US, but now more than ever I have realized that perhaps it was worth it to have been in doubt for so long. It will make me appreciate more than ever how lucky we are to have sworn in the first Black president of the United States. Now the next step is to get a woman elected as president. I see that in the distant future. Nothing is impossible in life, we just need to keep on trekking through the hardships so that when we do accomplish our goals in life we appreciate them more. 

Here's a quick recap of Inauguration weekend activities:

Friday

Ashley, Cynthia, Ramses and I went to a "ball" in Leo's. Sure it may not have been an actual ball, but we couldn't afford the $500 a ticket balls. We still had an amazing time. WE then proceeded to keep the night going by heading over to Thirds to dance and have a few shots. And of course you just can't go home after without having a slice of Philly P's Pizza. We concluded the night in my room eating and the girls crashing on my bed. 

Saturday

I really can't recall what we did, except that we had a few bottles of wine.

Sunday

Ashley and I walked to the National Mall to grab a spot to be at the Inauguration Concert. It was amazing!!! The whole Mall was full, but not to capacity. Nonetheless it was an experience!!!

We had dinner at 1789. Then we had drinks at Tombs. THe dinner was fabulous! That's actually an understatement, but the food was great! I had oxtail soup, hanger steak and tried/ate some of Ash's escargot. And wouldnt you know it, but the escargot was delicious!!

Monday

We had dinner and a couple of pitchers at Tombs then proceeded to spend 15 hours in the freezing cold to secure a spot on the parade route. Well worth it!

Tuesday

We spent the whole day waiting on Pennsylvania Ave for the parade that started I believe an hour and a half late!! We met lots of people from Atlanta, Minnesota just to name a few. It was a great weekend. Took way too many pictures, but its okay. Just more to share with my progeny. To show them how I was there to help make history and hopefully change for the best in our nation.

Benji has stolen my corazón

This past week my nephew Benjamin was born. I am very happy for my brother and his wife. Benjamin has been  a blessing in our family. I know my parents are very happy to have a grandchild in their lives. So I have decided to post some more pictures up of him. He's such a cutie and a total sweetheart. I'm just a bit sad that I wont get to see him in person until graduation. Unless I go home for Easter break, but I'm not sure if I will be going home then. Meanwhile, I will be doing video chats with my brother to see the baby grow and get bigger. I can't wait for Benji to be 1 so I can play with him and take him to the zoo and aquarium. : ) 

The beginning...

I still can't grasp that this is Inauguration Weekend in DC. I never would have thought that I'd be a senior in college, living in DC and getting the opportunity to see the first Black president of the USA into office. The city is bustling with people from out of town eager to hear his speech and be involved in numerous Inauguration Weekend activities. I have participated in some of these activities. Last night Cynthia, Ashley, Ramses and myself got all decked out to go to the Inauguration Ball hosted by Georgetown. OKay, I know its not an official Ball, but what the heck. Its the closest thing I'll get to one. It actually was not bad at all. THe DJ was amazing! Lots of good music and dancing involved. Of course, being the seniors that we are we pre-gamed in Ramses' room and got the night going. We then proceeded to walk (take the safe rides shuttle down to Wisconsin) to get to Thirds. I believe Thirds has become my new favorite bar in Georgetown. Sorry Tombs, but their music and vibe is better. I mean I still love Tombs, but its more of a chill atmosphere. Frankly, I'm not always in the mode to just chill...I love to dance. Thirds gives me that option to dance my night away. And boy...I did dance myself away last night. At one point the DJ at Thirds played a few Pitbull songs back to back (if you know me, I love Pitbull) so of course I was more than happy. 

Tomorrow, a group of us are planning on walking down to the National Mall to wait hours in the freezing cold temperatures just to be part of a free concert. This is a concert that one cannot miss! Many talented artists will be there doing their thing and I want to see them. Also, it lets me add more people to my "Artists I have seen live" list.    :)

Then Tuesday, we are planning on going down to downtown DC to see the parade. I think after this weekend I'm going to become a popsicle. Hehe...but yes, I cannot wait to see what the rest of this crazy weekend has in store for us!

City of Angels

So they say that one always misses the last place they were at....here I find myself longing for home more than ever. I mean, don't get me wrong, I miss L.A. all the time. However, now I find myself longing for the yummy deli sandwiches at Cantor's or the pizza at Albano's...and yes even the food off the lunch truck. I can't really explain this sudden longing for L.A. I mean I have always missed LA since we moved out to the SGV a few years ago. I still stand by what I have always said: "I was born and raise in LA." Everything that I love is in LA. The museums, the art, the culture, the food, the people!!! Maybe its the fact that at this point I'm not quite sure when I'll be back in the city. I'd love to stay here in DC after graduation, or even go work aboard. So with that being said...there's a certain uncertainty with where in the world I will end up.

Wait...let me clarify...I do not miss home as in El Monte home, but home as in the town I grew up and lived in...the City of Angels...that is the home I am longing for and missing. *sigh* Perhaps I will need to fill in that void with a bit of DC in life...

Catching up

Lately a lot has happened, from the start of my last semester of college to the birth of my first nephew, a lot more has happened than just that. I'm not quite sure what I will be writing these next few weeks, but I think I'll be needing some time to process everything and put it down on paper. So I might not be blogging for a while...

I am a Tee-tee

Finally.....after 9 months and a week my nephew Benjamin Estrada was born.

I'm sooo ecstatic and a very happy auntie. :)

Tombs 09

So it begins, the last semester of my undergrad career as I know it! *sigh* I don't want this semester to fly by me, yet I know that it will. Last night must've been one of THE BEST nights at Tombs. Ash, Cyn, Ramses and I all went down to celebrate us all being back together and hoorray to drinking! (Also, who knew that not drinking for 2 weeks will kill you tolerance level.) We had a couple of pitchers of beer, I think 3...not sure, and a few shots. I'm not even sure where a lemondrop shot came from, but there was definitely no lemon in that shot...straight vodka! Yuck!

Despite the yucky weather we had an amazing time and just laughed, sang and 

talked the night away, pretty much got kicked out of Tombs...again. I don't even know who many times I've been told you gotta leave, we're closed. We proceeded to go to Philly P's which was a mission as it was pouring, we had two um

brellas and feeling pretty tipsy. We walked to the new Philly P's which was closed! But the nice Asian lady gave us pizza anyways. WE then realized on our way back to campus that the old Philly Ps was still open. Ugh! This is what happens when you are tipsy. hehe, silly us.

Had an amazing time with two of my besties and a fellow Scholar. I can't wait to see what the rest of the semester has in store for us!

  

M.I.A.

I have been MIA for these past couple of days since my return from Mexico. I feel as if I have hit another wall in my own development as a human being. I'm going back to school tomorrow because I can't take being at home with my mom. We have our ups and downs. I know I cannot keep running away from her, but being next to her is often grueling and very hurtful. Its funny, I know I should speak up and say how I feel but its hard. I know I have often done this: not said anything when I should have for fear of hurting what the other person might feel. This was often the problem in my only serious relationship that I have had in my life. Granted, I am still young but I've never really been one to be a serial dater either. Even now I know I need to correct my ways and speak up more, I really am trying. Its just hard when all your life you've always been told to suppress what is going to potentially hurt someone else or even not say anything for fear of the consequences. So much is going through my head right now its amazing. I have like ten million things going on at once its amazing that I don't explode at times. I just need to clear my head and I'm not sure what else I need to do. I just need to graduate and get my life together, maybe then a lot of things will begin to make sense. Or maybe I need to just finish and come home to knock some sense into my life of living out of a suitcase. I'm not quite sure what I need anymore...ugh this whole being at a crossroads thing is really starting to irritate me.