I haven't updated in a while, so here is the SC lowdown:
-Gosh, it's hot. Like, 95 degrees on a daily basis. Thankfully, we have a sea breeze coming in most of the time and you get used to the muggyness after a while. But man, do these people here LOVE their ac. It's weird having to take a sweater everywhere even though it's melting.
- Getting in touch with friends I had to push away is nice. For those who don't know- I disconnected myself with 95% of my B/N friends so I could move here without being guilted/pulled back/have my mind changed. I had so much stuff I had to focus on- not that I still don't- but those who I really appreciated are still talking to me and understand. That's all that matters. I'm glad I'm here.
-I've ridden 50 miles on my bike this week. 5 miles on 4 days, 10 two other days and 12 today. Or somewhere around 50. Today was the worst- the asphalt was hotter than anything and just radiated up. I'm glad we have bike trails here, though. You can literally ride to the coast towards HHI until you have to stop. And the trails are really well maintained. I'm finally getting into shape!
-I got accepted as the new ER tech at Coastal Carolina Hospital. It is a really great, new facility and the people are so nice and caring. It makes me miss the amazing people I worked with at Joes, but I know i'll love it there. Plus, I'm a night tech. 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts. And I make about four dollars more than I did as an IL CNA. I'm just going to let my IL license expire and keep this one.
- We're mostly unpacked. My room still needs one curtain hung up and a rug or something, but everyone else is set. We re did my bedroom from the bottom up, so nothing from my old room matches any more. And I have a desk now.
- Living at home has been great. Free food is always nice.
-The Tanger Outlets will be the death of me. Everything is so cheap. I've re-done almost all of my summer wardrobe for under $300. New clothes are fun :) Especially here, since everyone dresses nice. I haven't seen one person in sweat pants in public since I moved here. And I've only worn jeans twice.
-I love, love, love it here. It's perfect. I've never moved to a place that felt instantly like home (I've moved 12 times). Even my 7 years in B/N didn't feel like home. It wasn't where I belonged. I belong here :)
Annnddd, that's all I can really think of. So...bye for now!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Why I want to punch FAFSA in the face,
I hate FAFSA.
I mean, I appreciate the government by (hopefully) giving me money, but I did my whole FAFSA on www.fafsa.com, when I should've been going to www.fafsa.gov, so I did it on a scam "check your form" website.
Thankfully, I didn't pay for it.
We got our SC plates today, so I'm no longer connected to IL in any shape, way or form.
Related to that, I got denied for in state tuition, which equals a year of paying triple the tuition. I will be able to pay it off eventually, it's just frustrating. I don't want to take another year off, so I'm just going to deal with it and hope for a good scholarship when nursing school comes around.
That's all that pretty much happened today, thankfully. Though at the license branch we had some woman look at us and go, "4 cars? Can they even do this?". Apparently owning four cars is a lot, they should be glad we didn't move there when we had six :D
I mean, I appreciate the government by (hopefully) giving me money, but I did my whole FAFSA on www.fafsa.com, when I should've been going to www.fafsa.gov, so I did it on a scam "check your form" website.
Thankfully, I didn't pay for it.
We got our SC plates today, so I'm no longer connected to IL in any shape, way or form.
Related to that, I got denied for in state tuition, which equals a year of paying triple the tuition. I will be able to pay it off eventually, it's just frustrating. I don't want to take another year off, so I'm just going to deal with it and hope for a good scholarship when nursing school comes around.
That's all that pretty much happened today, thankfully. Though at the license branch we had some woman look at us and go, "4 cars? Can they even do this?". Apparently owning four cars is a lot, they should be glad we didn't move there when we had six :D
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Why college makes me want to rip my hair out
So, I haven't even started school yet, and I'm already ready to rip my hair out.
At Heartland, I had to take placement tests and tested out of Eng 101 and 102, but here, they didn't get my transcripts (THANKS HEARTLAND!), so I have to re-test. But I can't take my placement tests because I have a hold on my account. I can't get the hold off of my account until I go in Monday and change my residency form (which is complicated in itself, my car isn't my own, but I'm paying for my own college.) I'm a non-traditional Freshman, which is just fancy talk for "I took some time off, took a couple of classes, so I'm kind of starting over but not really.". Thankfully, my 12 HCC credits transferred over so it's less classes I need to take.
But to even take the classes, I need a loan. But before i'm allowed to apply for a loan, I need to fill out FAFSA, even though I know I don't qualify for it.
It's just very frustrating. Though, orientation went well and I know what my plan is, I just have to sign up for everything. I'll be working 1-2 nights a week, which will equal gas money.
Today's been just a really lazy day, I haven't done anything :P. I just can't wait to finally be enrolled and ready so I can get my books and actually get started.
At Heartland, I had to take placement tests and tested out of Eng 101 and 102, but here, they didn't get my transcripts (THANKS HEARTLAND!), so I have to re-test. But I can't take my placement tests because I have a hold on my account. I can't get the hold off of my account until I go in Monday and change my residency form (which is complicated in itself, my car isn't my own, but I'm paying for my own college.) I'm a non-traditional Freshman, which is just fancy talk for "I took some time off, took a couple of classes, so I'm kind of starting over but not really.". Thankfully, my 12 HCC credits transferred over so it's less classes I need to take.
But to even take the classes, I need a loan. But before i'm allowed to apply for a loan, I need to fill out FAFSA, even though I know I don't qualify for it.
It's just very frustrating. Though, orientation went well and I know what my plan is, I just have to sign up for everything. I'll be working 1-2 nights a week, which will equal gas money.
Today's been just a really lazy day, I haven't done anything :P. I just can't wait to finally be enrolled and ready so I can get my books and actually get started.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A Week and a Half In
We've been here a week and a half already! It's gone by pretty fast, and a lot has happened.
Well, a lot as mostly unpacking. We have a lot of stuff, plus now we have the things from my apartment (I lived on my own for six months and moved back home so I could move down here. I wasn't staying in IL alone. Plus, free food is nice.) My room is unpacked except for my shoes. We found those yesterday! I thought we had left them at home, which made me worry. I have over 20 pairs since I wear kid sizes and they're cheaper, and I wear almost all of them. All that's left is the dining room, but we don't have a table there yet.
Mother's day was really fun. Dad and I went to get the Miata washed, and as we were coming home dad changed lanes and some silly person in a bug decided to merge over, no signal (and maybe it's just me, but people from Georgia NEVER use their turn signals. It must be a Georgia thing...) and dad had to swerve. So, right as dad swerved the bug swerved back and hit another car. If he would've hit us dad would have been seriously injured (it's a convertible and we had the top down). Thankfully, there was a cop near by and we pulled over and told him.
Now to the fun part of mothers day: the shopping. We have Tanger outlets here and they have a discount Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Coach, American Eagle and more. I got $300 worth of clothes for less than $100. In Bloomington there wasn't much shopping- this will be hard to resist.
Yesterday I became an 'offical' resident. You have to get your new license within 90 days, but on my IL license I look like a boy, so I went and got a fancy SC one. The DMV wasn't too bad, aside from the fact that I had to leave, go to the bank and get a letter saying I lived here, and go back. They even took my IL license from me, and I registered to vote (aka jury duty) and signed up to be an organ donor. All I have to do now is get my plates changed over (well, my parents, since I don't own my car) and I'll no longer be connected to IL.
I had a job interview Monday as well, and my second interview on the floor tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, this job seems perfect. I won't say where or what floor, but it's great. Though the hospital is maybe 1/4 the size of Joes. I never thought their ER was big until Monday.
Well, i've got to go, but this pretty much summed up the past week or so, give or take a few things!
Well, a lot as mostly unpacking. We have a lot of stuff, plus now we have the things from my apartment (I lived on my own for six months and moved back home so I could move down here. I wasn't staying in IL alone. Plus, free food is nice.) My room is unpacked except for my shoes. We found those yesterday! I thought we had left them at home, which made me worry. I have over 20 pairs since I wear kid sizes and they're cheaper, and I wear almost all of them. All that's left is the dining room, but we don't have a table there yet.
Mother's day was really fun. Dad and I went to get the Miata washed, and as we were coming home dad changed lanes and some silly person in a bug decided to merge over, no signal (and maybe it's just me, but people from Georgia NEVER use their turn signals. It must be a Georgia thing...) and dad had to swerve. So, right as dad swerved the bug swerved back and hit another car. If he would've hit us dad would have been seriously injured (it's a convertible and we had the top down). Thankfully, there was a cop near by and we pulled over and told him.
Now to the fun part of mothers day: the shopping. We have Tanger outlets here and they have a discount Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Coach, American Eagle and more. I got $300 worth of clothes for less than $100. In Bloomington there wasn't much shopping- this will be hard to resist.
Yesterday I became an 'offical' resident. You have to get your new license within 90 days, but on my IL license I look like a boy, so I went and got a fancy SC one. The DMV wasn't too bad, aside from the fact that I had to leave, go to the bank and get a letter saying I lived here, and go back. They even took my IL license from me, and I registered to vote (aka jury duty) and signed up to be an organ donor. All I have to do now is get my plates changed over (well, my parents, since I don't own my car) and I'll no longer be connected to IL.
I had a job interview Monday as well, and my second interview on the floor tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, this job seems perfect. I won't say where or what floor, but it's great. Though the hospital is maybe 1/4 the size of Joes. I never thought their ER was big until Monday.
Well, i've got to go, but this pretty much summed up the past week or so, give or take a few things!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Goodbye, George
Well, today they caught George.I came home from a walk with Claire, and saw a man standing in my yard and then two other at other points of the pond (the pond is shaped like a triangle) and apparently, it's SC law to capture alligators if they reach a certian height. They spent all day out there, casting hooks and trying to reel him in. Poor George has met his demise. They captured him around five and tied him up. From there he will be put to sleep and have every part of his body used. According to a neighbor I met, the alligators tend to come right after another and one previously killed a dog. For the sake of Claire and small children neighborhood wide, I am glad he's gone. Now if they could just get rid of the poisonous water moccasin that I saw swimming today.
Other than George leaving, today was pretty good. I got a new comforter set so I can finally start decorating my new room. I'm thinking pink. Saving money here is going to be very hard. There's so much to do. We have two massive outlet malls and one has a Coach outlet. Plus there's a Lilly Pulitzer store on the Island I'll have to check out. I still have all of my Lilly dresses from when I was a kid that I had given to me.
There's also a thousand places to eat. A lot of stuff is hidden in the back behind trees, but there are tons of small restaurants that I've never seen and then local ones that are better than in IL (which include Quiznos lobster salad, delicious).
Our house is semi unpacked now. All that's left to close together is my room and the living/dining room. We ate dinner at the table as a family for the first time since...I don't know, a long time. It was nice.
I'm already starting to feel antsy from not working. I was at Joes full time for such a long time that I don't know how to just be a normal summer college kid. I can't wait to work again, but school is #1. Especially if I want to transfer to MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina). I miss the people and having something to do. I've been doing a lot of unpacking and throwing my resume everywhere and being outside to fish or feed turtles, but I want to make money.
Well, that's it for today folks! If anything exciting happens I'll make sure to post it!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Bluffton, Day 1
Today has been pretty interesting. I learned a lot, so it's time for some bullet points!
+ There's a LOT of bugs. Today I saw bumble bees, normal bees, no-see-'ems (which I didn't actually see...) paper wasps, normal wasps, dragonflies, normal flies, water bugs, spiders and other stuff I can't remember.
+ My back yard is a ZOO! Dad and I went fishing and he caught a 2 lb bass. Every time he would cast, there would be at least eight turtles swimming after the lure. Then we fed the turtles dog food and they went crazy! There were some cute baby ones too. Plus we have a heron that chills around the pond just walking around. I didn't see George (the alligator) until tonight when we went out with a flash light and saw him chillin' in the middle of the pond. PLUS dad found a snake and took a picture when he was a foot away. Turns out it was a poisonous water moccasin...which likes to chase people. Ehrm. I'll be staying away him for a while.
+ It's not a college town here, despite having the Hilton Head Gateway campus minutes away. I went to Publix and everyone working was 50's and up. Very nice and polite and helpful. I was the youngest person most places I went to.
+ Speaking of nice, everyone says hi to you and asks you how your day was (and in my case, where I'm from since I'm usually wandering out confused off my face). You walk down the road and random people say hi to you. Or you're in an elevator and people ask how your day is going. It's nice.
+ SO MANY TREES. It's taking a while to get used to.
+ The roads are super confusing. Some roads you merge onto then merge again, then some lanes you turn half way and then turn again. Or you do U-turns. And then a lot of stuff is hidden by trees, with only little signs around.
+Jim and Nicks is delicious. Enough said. And I'm like 2 seconds from a Sonic. Yum.
+ There's probably more, but I can't remember...so goodnight for now :P
+ There's a LOT of bugs. Today I saw bumble bees, normal bees, no-see-'ems (which I didn't actually see...) paper wasps, normal wasps, dragonflies, normal flies, water bugs, spiders and other stuff I can't remember.
+ My back yard is a ZOO! Dad and I went fishing and he caught a 2 lb bass. Every time he would cast, there would be at least eight turtles swimming after the lure. Then we fed the turtles dog food and they went crazy! There were some cute baby ones too. Plus we have a heron that chills around the pond just walking around. I didn't see George (the alligator) until tonight when we went out with a flash light and saw him chillin' in the middle of the pond. PLUS dad found a snake and took a picture when he was a foot away. Turns out it was a poisonous water moccasin...which likes to chase people. Ehrm. I'll be staying away him for a while.
+ It's not a college town here, despite having the Hilton Head Gateway campus minutes away. I went to Publix and everyone working was 50's and up. Very nice and polite and helpful. I was the youngest person most places I went to.
+ Speaking of nice, everyone says hi to you and asks you how your day was (and in my case, where I'm from since I'm usually wandering out confused off my face). You walk down the road and random people say hi to you. Or you're in an elevator and people ask how your day is going. It's nice.
+ SO MANY TREES. It's taking a while to get used to.
+ The roads are super confusing. Some roads you merge onto then merge again, then some lanes you turn half way and then turn again. Or you do U-turns. And then a lot of stuff is hidden by trees, with only little signs around.
+Jim and Nicks is delicious. Enough said. And I'm like 2 seconds from a Sonic. Yum.
+ There's probably more, but I can't remember...so goodnight for now :P
Sunday, May 1, 2011
On our way!
I'm updating from the road on my dads iPad right now! We left Bloomington around 3 yesterday. Currently were somewhere in Tennessee, and despite the rain and clouds it is gorgeous out. My last day of work was pretty good. I got a really sweet card signed by a lot of people, a cookie cake and some great muffins (which I have been eating non stop. I love muffins.). I'm really going to miss the amazing people I worked with.
Yesterday was pretty crazy. I ended up having gasoline spilled on me when we were trying to put our mower into the truck, which stunk. We also had to take one of our trucks into a 24 hr shop thanks to no air conditioning. It took around 2 hours for it to be fixed. We camped out pin Shelbyville, KY and now were around 6 hours away from our new home! I can't wait!
Update Part Deux
Now we're 'home'! Well, in a hotel. Mom and dad are taking Ryan, my eldest brother, back to Columbia while the boys and I stay at a hotel with the dog. The trip was pretty crazy. Like a guy with a deer head in his convertible front seat passed us by.
We're here, though. And I got a good look at the USB Hilton Head Gateway campus, and it's nice. Plus I'm within 30 minutes of three great hospitals.
It's finally sunk in that I'm 1,000 miles away from everything/everyone that caused me problems. No more ex boyfriends, no more horrible former friends. It's a fresh start and I'm leaving the bad things behind. It doesn't matter what they do now inside their group because I'm not there. I will never be there again. I'm in a great city with nice people and a gorgeous new school to start over in.
It's scary, but at the same time it's nice. I can all but erase the bad things. The good, I can take with me. The rest can stay back there.
Tomorrow we'll be unpacking and unloading the trucks. I'm going to finally see George (and Ralph, the water moccasin snake my dad found swimming around while he was fishing) and see where we'll be spending the next year of our life.
So, I guess today begins the first day of the rest of my life. Sweet.
Yesterday was pretty crazy. I ended up having gasoline spilled on me when we were trying to put our mower into the truck, which stunk. We also had to take one of our trucks into a 24 hr shop thanks to no air conditioning. It took around 2 hours for it to be fixed. We camped out pin Shelbyville, KY and now were around 6 hours away from our new home! I can't wait!
Update Part Deux
Now we're 'home'! Well, in a hotel. Mom and dad are taking Ryan, my eldest brother, back to Columbia while the boys and I stay at a hotel with the dog. The trip was pretty crazy. Like a guy with a deer head in his convertible front seat passed us by.
We're here, though. And I got a good look at the USB Hilton Head Gateway campus, and it's nice. Plus I'm within 30 minutes of three great hospitals.
It's finally sunk in that I'm 1,000 miles away from everything/everyone that caused me problems. No more ex boyfriends, no more horrible former friends. It's a fresh start and I'm leaving the bad things behind. It doesn't matter what they do now inside their group because I'm not there. I will never be there again. I'm in a great city with nice people and a gorgeous new school to start over in.
It's scary, but at the same time it's nice. I can all but erase the bad things. The good, I can take with me. The rest can stay back there.
Tomorrow we'll be unpacking and unloading the trucks. I'm going to finally see George (and Ralph, the water moccasin snake my dad found swimming around while he was fishing) and see where we'll be spending the next year of our life.
So, I guess today begins the first day of the rest of my life. Sweet.
On our way!
I'm updating from the road on my dads iPad right now! We left Bloomington around 3 yesterday. Currently were somewhere in Tennessee, and despite the rain and clouds it is gorgeous out. My last day of work was pretty good. I got a really sweet card signed by a lot of people, a cookie cake and some great muffins (which I have been eating non stop. I love muffins.). I'm really going to miss the amazing people I worked with.
Yesterday was pretty crazy. I ended up having gasoline spilled on me when we were trying to put our mower into the truck, which stunk. We also had to take one of our trucks into a 24 hr shop thanks to no air conditioning. It took around 2 hours for it to be fixed. We camped out pin Shelbyville, KY and now were around 6 hours away from our new home! I can't wait!
Yesterday was pretty crazy. I ended up having gasoline spilled on me when we were trying to put our mower into the truck, which stunk. We also had to take one of our trucks into a 24 hr shop thanks to no air conditioning. It took around 2 hours for it to be fixed. We camped out pin Shelbyville, KY and now were around 6 hours away from our new home! I can't wait!
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