Maulers and Ponies and Cake, Oh My!

Plane Ride:
We left the Raleigh airport at 11:19pm. All ten students: Me, Anne, Amanda, Michelle, Julia P., Reagan, Kaelyn, Coley, Julia S., and Kate-Noel. Also our two wonderful professors - Dr. Novak and Dr. Grawthwohl. We were crowded onto a three seat wide plane- the smallest plane I've every been on in my whole life. I could read the newspaper the guy across the asile was reading. Most of us turned on our Ipods and relaxed since it was only an hour and a half flight. Most of us were dreading the lay-over in Boston. We arrived in Boston around 130pm and settled in near International Security - it wasn't going to open till five in the afternoon. With computers, cards, and Bananagrams we managed to survive the 8 hour lay over (also the book store in the airport entertained us for a long while). During our trip through security we were asked by people why we were in Boston. At first I told the guard we were a football team, undefeated. But later we came up with the elaborate story that we are the "Meredith Maulers" Extreme Cage Fighting Team. So far we've come up with a few nicknames of each other and some of us are wanting to do a tshirt design. Once I get a design down I'll put some pictures up. (So far some names are BGOD(me, apprivating my own name is awesome enough ROFL), Riddler(Coley - she wore purple pants and green one day haha), Gunter (Julia P), Jewelbecca (Julia S), and MadHatter (Kate-noel sat in class with a tea pot and tea cup among other tea making items today so she got that nickname). Look forward to that! I'm thinking Lime Green, Black, and Hot Pink colors.
Next came a bit pain and discomfort. A five hour flight from Boston to Iceland. All I can say is I'm SUPER happy that I'll be in first class when I fly to Japan this winter. My butt hurt so bad I could hardly stand it. But I finally got to finish the Sherlock Holmes movie - a predictable end. Still not fully satisfied with Downy Jr. as Sherlock but thats because I was spoiled with Jeremy Bretts FANTASTIC job at playing the mysterious sluth. With that only taking up an hour I decided to watch The Transporter (again)(after much difficulty with the lil tv screen). Jason Statham is just amazing at acting, not to mention his accent is to die for. haha. After finishing the movie I tossed and turned about trying to get some shut eye but it just wasn't going to happen. At least not until the last ten minutes of the flight at which time the flight attendent woke me up because my ipod had fallen. -.-; bugger! So I ended up going the whole 38 (or more) hours without a wink of sleep. Don't worry. I drank coke, ate beef jerky and chocolate - yes, the ones you gave me mom and dad, they were a life saver! <3

Car Ride and Settling In at Skalholt - Not to mention ponies and cake:
I was SOOOOOO glad when we finally got in to the bus-car because I was soooo tired. I crawled into the back, with three others. Everyone chatted and laughed, myself including at first. But once we got past the 'troll rocks' and down the long, endless roads we started to feel the weight of our journey thus far. I think I was the first one to dose off, only coming to when the bus-car made a turn about. Apparently we had gotten lost while I was slumbering for five minutes. We ended up stopping at a gas station (yes, they are like ours. Remarkably so.) and some Icelandic bikers helped Dr. G and Dr. N figure out how to get to Skalholt.Once we were packed back in the van all snuggly (it was tight, we had 12 suitcases and 24 carry on items plus 12 people to fit into the bus-car) we started to get warm and comfortable. Head started bobbing and heavy eye lids started fluttering. Before anyone knew it we (the students) had dosed off - well at least the whole back row. Everyone piling heads on top of each other and mouths hanging open - luckily no drooling. The turn into Skalholt was the only reason we woke up; woke up grumbling.

It was the only chance we'd get to sleep that day. Apparently its easier to adjust to time difference if you 'hit-the-ground-running' when you arrive somewhere. Dr. N was concerned we wouldn't sleep through the night if he let us rest the first day - he obviously isn't aware of what I am capable of! I could sleep through a 24 hour hail storm without a problem. I could sleep for a week if people would leave me alone. hahahaha. No but seriously, no lie. I can sleep any time, anywhere, for however long.
But anyways.

We got to the hostel and immediately when to lunch first. Thank Goodness! And there was WARM soup waiting for us. It tasted amazing! Absolutely wonderful. I'm surprised no one dropped their head into their soup the way we were supporting such dark bags under our eyes. haha. But after lunch we headed down to the rooms and cabins. Everyone gets their own room - LUCKY! Our professors stay at the two cabins up this lil hill - they try to give us our space. Although we have no problem with hanging around them. Dr. N and Dr. G are awesome and always funny. Our 'settling' in wasn't long (only long enough for me to throw my stuff on the bed and wash my hair in the sink). They had us movin' and grovin' before we knew it.

Off to hike 2 1/2 miles over ROUGH terrain to see the wild horses - through the pouring rain. And while seeing the beautiful horses was worth it, it didn't help our low level of energy and our growing exhaustion. But that was as far as they pushed us the first day. The only other thing we did was walk up the path to dinner where another warm and delicious meal was waiting for us. How wonderful <3. (The cake is awesome!)

Let The Good Times Roll.

French Toast, Planes, Football, Maulers, Atlantic Ocean, Ponies, and More!

I left the Country. Now a United State's citizen in another country. Iceland.
May 28 was one of the longest days of my life. I had to get up at 7 am to shower and get ready to leave for a flight that was at 11 am. (We were required to be at the gate at 930 - I was the cows tail.) Boston was lovely - not! The only thing I saw of Boston was the freakin' airport!! For 8 hours too. But we eventually boarded or 930 pm flight heading to Iceland! That lead to another 'wonderful' time. 5 hours on a flight is tooooooo much! My butt has never hurt so much. But at least I got to finish watching Sherlock Holmes and I watched the first Transporter again. (There were lil tv's in the back of seats for passengers).
Once we got here we hit the ground running! Drove to Skalholt (it was about a two hour drive because we got lost) - Everyone eventually fell asleep.


After settling into our rooms we headed out to see the wild horses.

They were beautiful. Numerous colors. Lots of babies - and more to come.
We had dinner and then we 'collapsed'.
At the current moment I'm feeling the same way. I'm gonna cut this post short to go get some rest but I'm hoping to get another post up about the events of traveling tomorrow and also to talk about the water and geyser we visited today (Sunday).

Let The Good Times Roll.

B <3

T-Minus 22 Days

Twenty-two days away from leaving. The nervousness is setting in. Expected.
I was cleaning my apartment today - it became a wreck over Exam week.
I found something that reminded me of how strong I have become.
When I was sixteen I was diagnosed with Lordosis (a condition where the lower vertebra of my spine were to close together and where crushing the nerves that run into my legs and arms). Kind of like the opposite of scoliosis. We tried to correct it with physical therapy but (as the doctor suspected) my case was not one that could be fixed so easily. The numbness in my legs and arms got worse and the back pain continued to escalate. It was scary. Losing the feeling in my limbs from time to time. I remember tripping over myself a lot during that time or dropping my pencil more then normal. It came down to one decision, deal with the progression of it or have corrective spinal fusion. Fusion. That word sparked fear into me. I immediately thought that I'd be unable to turn or twist and that was a new level of fear. But after reviewing the pros and cons I decided to take the surgery. I didn't want to end up in a wheelchair some day because I didn't take the chance. Of course the surgery required extensive work around the spinal cord - not exactly the safest surgery, but they all come with their risks. Ones worth taking.
But to the point, what made me more confident and at ease.
I was walking out of the doctors office a few weeks before the surgery. I was in a state of depression because I would be home schooled for roughly three months and I had to quit soccer - my passion and source of happiness. I was bummed to say the least.
But I suppose thats why God stepped in.
On my way to the car I noticed a coin on the ground and picked it up (who doesn't like finding a quarter in the parking lot?). But it wasn't a quarter. It was a coin with a soccer player on it. It was worn but not beyond identification. I flipped it over and found these words on the back of it: "With God, All Things Are Possible."
I'm a person who believes that things can happen by coincidence but I will never believe that finding that coin at that time was a matter of coincidence.
God gave me that push on the back, forcing me step forward and face everything that challenged me.
I still have that coin. Its a little more worn but I can still see the soccer player and I can still read the words.
This little coin will be a source of unending strength for me. Always.
It'll be in my pocket as I take my next step forward, traveling to find that new level of change that I need to continue on my path of life.


Let The Good Times Roll
-Thanks God. I owe you one.