28 January 2012

A Tourist in Fort Worth

This past week I was visited by Kristina, one of my good friends that I met through study abroad. She flew down from New York for her second trip to Texas. Having friends visit is always fun, because it gives me the opportunity to play tourist in my own city. I managed to cross many locations off my ever-growing list of places to go to before I graduate. On Thursday evening we put on our boots and headed to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo which was followed by dancing at Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky tonk. We spent the weekend days shopping in Dallas and nights at the piano bar and salsa club in downtown Fort Worth.


On Sunday morning we watched the cattle drive in the Stockyards, which is obviously geared toward visitors, but I think it's cool that they still do it daily, and I can at least say I've been to it now. Afterwards we brunched at the Modern Art Museum and then browsed the permanent collection there. I'm no modern art aficionado, but I was amused looking at the pieces with light-hearted friends who were also uninterested in over-analyzing every brush stroke.


It was so great reuniting with one of my Semester at Sea friends after a year of being apart. We had a fun-filled week together, catching up and laughing about old times. I hope her trips to Texas becomes an annual tradition and that our reunions become more frequent than every 12 months!

11 January 2012

2012

I love a new year & getting a fresh start. After two weeks without Internet at home, I'm now back in Fort Worth and about to begin my final semester at TCU. I've got a lot to figure out in the next four months. My lease ends in May, and I have no idea where I am going next. But I do have a list of things I want to accomplish during the semester:
  • Run a 5K
  • Complete Level 1 Spanish with Rosetta Stone
  • Visit my friends in Charleston
  • Cook at least one sit-down meal a week
  • Get hired for a full-time position
  • Explore new areas of Fort Worth & Dallas
  • Take more pictures
When I got back to my house, I was greeted with a pile of mail that had accumulated over the holidays. In this stack, were the results from my German language exam I took in December. I passed with a "sehr gut"--the highest grade one can achieve! Although the exam was only an intermediate level, I feel satisfied enough with my abilities to cross "learn a second language" off the to do list. Even though I will never stop learning German, I am ready to move on to another language--Spanish.   


So cheers to 2012! I am excited to explore different careers options, enjoy my last semester with college pals, and hopefully squeeze in a few travels along the way.