Utah; San Louis Obispo, California; Richmond, California
Its getting up to a month since my last post. I have so much I want to share. I have taken a couple adventures lately and its a little hard to compact them into one post. But here it goes....
I went to Utah a couple weeks ago. A friend invited me to go canyoneering and I was very tempted. After looking at my budget and schedule, I saw that it was possible and I thought, "why not?" I also have quite a few friends to chill with while the frineds comming from Idaho to do canyoneering were traveling. I got to meet one of my friend's girlfriend and I'm now wondering why it took us so long to meet. She is so easy to be around and get to know. I hope I get to run into them more.... maybe at their wedding, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.... Another friend of mine I reconnected with is a mission companion, Sister Myers. She was leaving for London that week. Talk about great timing!! We reminisced about the mission and how/where we are today. Through her I got to reconnect with a family I found and taught who she later baptized. I hadn't seen nor talked to them since I left the mission. Thats about 3 years ago. Myers and I both seemed to need this suprise visit. It kind of help refocus the direction of our lives.
Strangely, and honestly, I had a much better time spending time with the friends in UT more than the ones who invited me. The canyoneer-ers were mostly couples and it was a guy who invited me. It wasn't until I was in the car that I bagan to feel pretty awkward.... Everyone was pretty much paired off and I felt like the 5th or 7th wheel or something to people I didn't know that well. This was also a bit of wake-up call to me. A couple years ago, I felt like I fit in with this group. Now, I've moved back home and getting into California life and they too have moved in a different direction. I guess I wanted to go back to the college days. You know, rewind. But, alas, my present is in California and who knows whats in my future!
That being said, I came home from Utah to find out I'm a finalist for an internship I want in San Louis Obispo, CA, at an Outdoor school. Wow! really? what an honor and a bit of an ego boost. So, the following weekend after driving 12 hours from Utah, I took another 8 hours driving to and from SLO for a site visit and an in-person interview. Needless to say, I'm a little bit sick of driving and am anxious to hear if I got the internship or not at the end of this week.
In other news, my baby bro, Jacob, is back! Ye-yah!!! He was in Hawaii studying Marine Biology. He's now decided he wants to go into architecture and CA has better schools for that. So we get to keep him. :D Right now, my assignment with a temp agency is at Alta bates Herrick Campus in downtown Berkeley. Its about 5 blocks from the BART (Bay Area Rapid Tranist), a train like the subway, station so I can walk. My car will just sit around, so i gave my car to Jake as long has he can drop me off and pick me up from the BART station. I think it works out pretty good. I don't have to drive, I get to actually interact with people other than in traffic, and I get to bond a bit with jake. and Jake gets to have a car to do what he needs and wants to do. He seems happy and that makes me happy.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Project GO
Coloma, CA
I went white water rafting! Exciting! I applied to do white water guide training with a non-profit organization Called Project Great Outdoors (aka Project Go, aka PGO) this year. They work with under-served youth and take them down the river all the while facilitating the experience. Of course, I was very attracted to this venue and wanted to learn their methods.
Orignially, I had been accepted to do Spring Training (I know, snow melt, its cold) but it got canceled due to lack of participants. It just wouldn’t work budget-wise. So I’m doing Summer guide training instead and got invited to the rusty-guide training in honor of canceled spring guide training. Let me just say, Wow! What an experience! I tore off the corner of my thumbnail. Totally worth it!
The first day, felt like a crash course of instructions (rightfully so since this was for rusty guides) The trainers and the rusty guides were so patient with us “green guidelings.” Kurt, who I was with the first day, seemed like a river sage. (He is also the main guy in charge at PGO.) I learned so much by just watching and listening to him. What struck me pretty profound was his ability to keep his composure. Toward the end of our river run another boat got wrapped on a rock and he calmly directs us to the eddy and cooly says, “This is just stressing me a little and I want to make sure they are ok.” What? He’s stressed? If he didn’t say so, I wouldn’t have guessed. That was a good lesson to me in how to conduct yourself when situations get a little harry. Its something I plan on practicing more. After getting some “stick-time” (being the guide of the raft), I learned just how hard it can be to keep your composure.
The second day I got to learn under the hand of Dustin, one of the trainers for guide training. This is where I got to take everything I learned the day before from Kurt and got it fine-tuned by Dustin. He helped me get through some rapids by calling out commands for me while I focused on trying to keep the “magic” angle of the boat. That helped a lot since both of those were still really new to me. I got a lot of helpful technical tips that allowed me to be more powerful when maneuvering the boat. It was real exciting when I felt the boat move by one stroke alone. It felt more natural and I began to really like that guide seat and less intimidated by it. :-D Watch out Summer Training! Here I come!
My new friend and fellow guideling, Sara.
The river where we took out at Camp Lotus.
The boats drying before being rolled up.
The best part after a full day of rafting, laying out to deflate the boat.
I went white water rafting! Exciting! I applied to do white water guide training with a non-profit organization Called Project Great Outdoors (aka Project Go, aka PGO) this year. They work with under-served youth and take them down the river all the while facilitating the experience. Of course, I was very attracted to this venue and wanted to learn their methods.
Orignially, I had been accepted to do Spring Training (I know, snow melt, its cold) but it got canceled due to lack of participants. It just wouldn’t work budget-wise. So I’m doing Summer guide training instead and got invited to the rusty-guide training in honor of canceled spring guide training. Let me just say, Wow! What an experience! I tore off the corner of my thumbnail. Totally worth it!
The first day, felt like a crash course of instructions (rightfully so since this was for rusty guides) The trainers and the rusty guides were so patient with us “green guidelings.” Kurt, who I was with the first day, seemed like a river sage. (He is also the main guy in charge at PGO.) I learned so much by just watching and listening to him. What struck me pretty profound was his ability to keep his composure. Toward the end of our river run another boat got wrapped on a rock and he calmly directs us to the eddy and cooly says, “This is just stressing me a little and I want to make sure they are ok.” What? He’s stressed? If he didn’t say so, I wouldn’t have guessed. That was a good lesson to me in how to conduct yourself when situations get a little harry. Its something I plan on practicing more. After getting some “stick-time” (being the guide of the raft), I learned just how hard it can be to keep your composure.
The second day I got to learn under the hand of Dustin, one of the trainers for guide training. This is where I got to take everything I learned the day before from Kurt and got it fine-tuned by Dustin. He helped me get through some rapids by calling out commands for me while I focused on trying to keep the “magic” angle of the boat. That helped a lot since both of those were still really new to me. I got a lot of helpful technical tips that allowed me to be more powerful when maneuvering the boat. It was real exciting when I felt the boat move by one stroke alone. It felt more natural and I began to really like that guide seat and less intimidated by it. :-D Watch out Summer Training! Here I come!
My new friend and fellow guideling, Sara.
The river where we took out at Camp Lotus.
The boats drying before being rolled up.
The best part after a full day of rafting, laying out to deflate the boat.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Bridge
Richmond, California
My oh my its been a while since I have posted something. Lots of changes happened and I fell out of routine in my blogging. But now I’m back and ready to share! This will hopefully bridge what has gone on since the last time I wrote.
I ended up moving back home to Richmond in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not exactly where I wanted to end up but now am feelin’ like home is a great place to be right now. Its where I grew up so I get combine little Melissa, daughter of Carl and Jeanette, with the independent, young adult, college Melissa. Its quite the experience! Reconnecting childhood relationships, establishing new ones, and becoming a leader in my home town is all very humbling. Sometimes I wonder if I’m truly ready for it. But whether or not, here it is. And it’s a good experience.
Since walking in the Summer Commencement at BYUI, I have completed an internship for a River Rafting supply store. I have learned that this is NOT the line of work I want to be in. Too much business and money management for me. My heart ended up not being in it even though I tried to make it. I really want to work with people, not their money. Well unfortunately, and fortunately, we terminated my contract early. I am, however, grateful to have done this short stint of my first job after graduation for three reasons: one, because I needed some kind of internship to fully complete my Rec Management degree; two, it was in the next city over; and three, I discovered one more way “how not to make a light bulb.” (Thomas Edison) Now, I’m job networking and taking my time to really find a job or internship that I’m really passionate about. I’m currently applying for internships in outdoor schools in central California. We’ll see how it goes.
Well, that’s about it for now. More to come later. Till then, stay true to yourselves!
Melissa
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Quick update
Rexburg, Idaho
I am two weeks away from graduation!! Wooo-hoooo! I apologize for not keeping up with this the last month.
My last trip with Outdoor Activities are done and so is my cooking class. Canoeing class has started and has been a blast! (I got the nick-name "Ralph" because on one trip I was sick and was hurling over the side of the canoe. I find it endearing. :-) ) I also started and finished my volunteer hours (for my Therapeutic Recreation class) at the Juvenile Corrections Center since my last entry. That was a great learning experience of which I value.
Other classes are chuggin along. I love Health Behavior Theories and learning all the different theories out there to help change problem behaviors to positive behaviors. I've learned that I'm not as into photography as I thought I would be. I do think my photos are comming out better though which was my goal.
Work continues to be work. A girl quit so now i'm cleaning three dorms instead of two. That means I get more hours! :) I also enjoy listen to audiobooks while I clean.
New plan for internship, I will focus on it when I graduate. It was too hard to internship hunt while finishing up my courses at the same time.
Hope all is doing well.
Till next time!
-Mel
P.S. hope you like the new lay-out!
I am two weeks away from graduation!! Wooo-hoooo! I apologize for not keeping up with this the last month.
My last trip with Outdoor Activities are done and so is my cooking class. Canoeing class has started and has been a blast! (I got the nick-name "Ralph" because on one trip I was sick and was hurling over the side of the canoe. I find it endearing. :-) ) I also started and finished my volunteer hours (for my Therapeutic Recreation class) at the Juvenile Corrections Center since my last entry. That was a great learning experience of which I value.
Other classes are chuggin along. I love Health Behavior Theories and learning all the different theories out there to help change problem behaviors to positive behaviors. I've learned that I'm not as into photography as I thought I would be. I do think my photos are comming out better though which was my goal.
Work continues to be work. A girl quit so now i'm cleaning three dorms instead of two. That means I get more hours! :) I also enjoy listen to audiobooks while I clean.
New plan for internship, I will focus on it when I graduate. It was too hard to internship hunt while finishing up my courses at the same time.
Hope all is doing well.
Till next time!
-Mel
P.S. hope you like the new lay-out!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Success and Maintenence
Rexburg, Idaho
Here is just a quick update. I have been pretty busy with school. Ha! What else is new? its the way I prefer it. Getting up to go to work at 5 in the morning, everyday except for sundays, to school in the middle of the day, to organizing trips for outdoor activities in the evenings, just sums up a typical day for me. Yeah I get tired but I rather be tired than bored.
I just had a successful caving training last friday. All of my volunteers did so well I trust they will lead successful trips this semester. On top of that, we all had a blast! I will see if I can post pictures soon. I was a bit nervous driving on the dirt roads to the caves. I've never driven the roads myself but I remember how bumpy they were. Well, instead of freaking out when I drove on the roads, I grinned from ear to ear! It was so much fun to drive! I don't think I want to be a mere passenger again the next time I go to the caves! :)
I don't have much to say about my school work or work. Right now it is pretty much just a check list. I won't have much to say until I start applying what I learn.
Hope everyone is have a wonderful month of May. The sun is shining!!! Yay!!!
Post Note, 31May2009:
I apologize for this blog post being hard to read. I'm still learning how to post entries. The pictures off to the left are from the caving training, as you can see, it was a blast!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Settling In
Rexburg, Idaho
I have a place to live! woo-hooo! I was staying with my wonderful cousins until I got the go-ahead to move into my new apartment. So far I love it! Its a cute little place called "The Pines" and even has two pine trees welcoming you into the front doors. I spent the first couple of days unpacking and setting things up. Phew! what a whirl-wind!
My Spring semesters classes have also began and it looks like it will be a fun semester! I am extremely interested in Health Behavior Theory and Intro to Therapeutic Recreation. It may be work but I know it will be well worth it! :) My other classes are so tough, I just don't think I will make it through the semester. I developed my first role of film in photography and actually succeeded! Next class I'll get to print the pictures! I'm excited! Hopefully no blood was on the film after I pricked my finger while putting it onto the reel in the dark. Outdoor cooking always makes me hungry when I go to class. Good thing I get to eat by the end of the class. In all honesty, I'm actually a little nervous in this class because I'm very self conscience about my ability to cook.... or no ability to cook. Although, after this class, anyone who goes camping with me, will be fed well! Oh! and my other hard class will be canoeing starting in June. Oh dang!
In other exciting news, I got a job! YES!!!! I cannot tell you how happy I am to have an income. I clean the girls dormitories at 5 in the morning. The best part about it, my boss is not always there hovering over us to see how we are doing on the job. It makes it so relaxing. the hours are perfect because it fits my school schedule!
The best news of them all.... We had our training for Outdoor Activities! It was a success! I am a coordinator for the hiking and caving portion the the program and make sure the trips are organized that they have leaders. I love this position because I get to get to know new people and help them become great leaders! It puts a smile on my face just thinking about it! ( I hope that doesn't sound arrogant but it really does!) We did some training on water skills. Its so exciting when your training is canoeing. I don't mind being trained any day! :D
Well, I am all settle in until my next big move in July.... who know what will happen next? :)
I have a place to live! woo-hooo! I was staying with my wonderful cousins until I got the go-ahead to move into my new apartment. So far I love it! Its a cute little place called "The Pines" and even has two pine trees welcoming you into the front doors. I spent the first couple of days unpacking and setting things up. Phew! what a whirl-wind!
My Spring semesters classes have also began and it looks like it will be a fun semester! I am extremely interested in Health Behavior Theory and Intro to Therapeutic Recreation. It may be work but I know it will be well worth it! :) My other classes are so tough, I just don't think I will make it through the semester. I developed my first role of film in photography and actually succeeded! Next class I'll get to print the pictures! I'm excited! Hopefully no blood was on the film after I pricked my finger while putting it onto the reel in the dark. Outdoor cooking always makes me hungry when I go to class. Good thing I get to eat by the end of the class. In all honesty, I'm actually a little nervous in this class because I'm very self conscience about my ability to cook.... or no ability to cook. Although, after this class, anyone who goes camping with me, will be fed well! Oh! and my other hard class will be canoeing starting in June. Oh dang!
In other exciting news, I got a job! YES!!!! I cannot tell you how happy I am to have an income. I clean the girls dormitories at 5 in the morning. The best part about it, my boss is not always there hovering over us to see how we are doing on the job. It makes it so relaxing. the hours are perfect because it fits my school schedule!
The best news of them all.... We had our training for Outdoor Activities! It was a success! I am a coordinator for the hiking and caving portion the the program and make sure the trips are organized that they have leaders. I love this position because I get to get to know new people and help them become great leaders! It puts a smile on my face just thinking about it! ( I hope that doesn't sound arrogant but it really does!) We did some training on water skills. Its so exciting when your training is canoeing. I don't mind being trained any day! :D
Well, I am all settle in until my next big move in July.... who know what will happen next? :)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Me in a Nutshell
Hello! This is the first time I have ever created a blog and have wanted to for family and friends to see what I have been up to. I always thought you had to create your own website to do such a thing. I am happily mistaken.
Currently, I am a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho working towards a Bachelor's of Science in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Elementary Education and Health Science. I am in my last semester before I do my senior internship of which I am incredibly excited! I am looking to do an internship in an outdoor school anywhere in the country. We shall see where that will take me... :D
I have always loved to travel. I view the world as my home. The majority of my travels have been in the States but I plan to go abroad when I am able to fund such an adventure. I have even lived out of my car by choice so I can afford to travel. No joke!
I have noticed that people do not always know where I am anymore so the main purpose of this blog is to update my adventurous lifestyle to family and friends. I will try to keep this updated once a week but sometimes it may take a month. If you are viewing this, would like to comment and can not do so, feel free to email me at melissamiklich@gmail.com.
So, ladies and gentlemen, we have now reached the appropriate air travel and you are free to move about the cabin. Enjoy the trip!
Currently, I am a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho working towards a Bachelor's of Science in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Elementary Education and Health Science. I am in my last semester before I do my senior internship of which I am incredibly excited! I am looking to do an internship in an outdoor school anywhere in the country. We shall see where that will take me... :D
I have always loved to travel. I view the world as my home. The majority of my travels have been in the States but I plan to go abroad when I am able to fund such an adventure. I have even lived out of my car by choice so I can afford to travel. No joke!
I have noticed that people do not always know where I am anymore so the main purpose of this blog is to update my adventurous lifestyle to family and friends. I will try to keep this updated once a week but sometimes it may take a month. If you are viewing this, would like to comment and can not do so, feel free to email me at melissamiklich@gmail.com.
So, ladies and gentlemen, we have now reached the appropriate air travel and you are free to move about the cabin. Enjoy the trip!
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