Cup of Questions

 

 

Students in line to get coffee at the Biblio Cafe were asked to pick a random question out of a bag and were given 10 seconds to think of an answer if they needed it. Their responses were then recorded. I took this approach for my interview because there are always numerous conversations going on in a coffee shop and I took the liberty to start some of them on my own with “random” questions. Instead of interviewing someone I already knew or wanted to know more about, I met new people at my own school simply because they were getting coffee

Cup of Thoughts for a Penny

Cup from abroad; Italian Cappuccino

To fit today’s theme of past thoughts, traveling, and characteristics I thought I would post a picture of coffee from the past. This is a picture of me  (stunning, I know) drinking one of the best Cappuccinos I have ever had in Bologna, Italy. Although it was small, it was full of flavor and topped with light and creamy foam with a bit of cinnamon. Of course now I wish I had about three more (that might equal a tall Starbuck’s drink. I think I am addicted).

When I was little (pictured above…)my dad used to always say, “Penny for your thoughts, Carson” and I would share what was on my mind. He would ask me this at any given time, not just when something seemed to be bothering me. Now, if the phrase were true I would currently be rich , but that’s ok that I am not because the phrase has stuck with me. I ask my friends and my boyfriend the same question here and there, but I usually receive confused looks or a nervous laughter. So today I will simply give readers a “penny for my thoughts”. Here it goes!

Ah, yes…now I am home with access to a computer although it is not my own. I have to say, it is nice to have access but I am trying to limit my use after my last post.

But like I said, I am home. I have been dying to come home for the past few weeks at school and now I have to be home early due to a small accident I was in. And guess what? When I heard I had to stay home I was upset and pissed off frankly that I couldn’t be back at school. I have seen a trend recently with myself and with my friends…we always want what we can’t have. Now, many people have heard this before but I am talking about “being” in places. While at home we can’t wait for school and while abroad we can’t wait for home. We are constantly moving, whether is is near or far, but are we really taking in the area and place around us? Are we living there and making the most of our time?

I loved studying abroad and would do anything to go back with the knowledge that I have now (the knowledge I now have…after going). I tell my friends who are contemplating going that they must go and to those who are on their way to remember that before they know it they will be home and back to their regular lives. Most importantly, they will be back at their homes and schools wishing they hadn’t spent wasted time missing home. Although it is normal to get homesick, I would suggest fighting that feeling and remembering that we always want to be where we aren’t. As I said, I loved my time in England but there were many times I wished I was home and “comfortable”.  Throughout life we will be seeing places, living in different countries, meeting new people, etc. It is hard to forget where we are most comfortable, and sometimes hard to not want to be where we are not, but I think that we (or maybe just I?) need to learn to be happy where we are.

I think a large portion of this ties back to my last post about technology. Always being connected makes us feel like we are missing something where other people are. While at home I talked to my friends at school and immediately wished I was there, whereas if i were at school I bet I would be saying, “man, I wish I were home right now.” Maybe this does not relate to anyone else, and perhaps it is something I am owning up to…but I am going to take a step and start living in the moment (as my mom would say).

Maybe this could be my new year’s resolution, or a part of a bigger resolution. It is funny to think that we start thinking of new resolutions as the year comes to a close, when the resolutions we made in January are supposed to continue for another month and a half. I wonder how many people have continued their resolution for the eleven months so far out of the year, and how many stopped by February. I will  not share with you how far mine went! This year I think I will try and stick to one…I just need to think of what it consists of exactly. After writing this post, I would like to incorporate learning to be content with where I am at that time and moment and not rushing to the next thing. My Dad has always said I am like my Mom, and energizer bunny and “go-go-go”. I think this is something that can be both an asset and issue, but to make the most of this attribute I must “go-go-and be” (at least for a little).

Some photos from abroad…a girl on the go( go-go)

A trip I took to Ireland by myself when my friends forgot to buy their tickets, but I had already bought mine…

Paris, France (In case you couldn’t tell)

A walk through Suffolk, England

Classic tourist picture

Barcelona, Spain

Denmark

Cromer, England

Cup of Technology…or lack there of

make shift instagram!

Cup of Latte & Life

Today I am enjoying a Cafe Latte (a real picture above) at Helena’a Creperie & Cafe in Carlisle, PA. The smooth consistency and creamy foam was just what I needed after a slow week and a tough swim practice. Helena’s is a popular place in town that serves a variety of foods, desserts, crepes, and coffees. I was going to go for the regular cup o’ joe…but I had to splurge. I have actually never had a cafe latte and I am pleasantly surprised! I would absolutely order it again. Feel free to enjoy one with me!

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[This may be a good time to start the music in the left hand column…very fitting song.]

I am 22 years young and as I look back  I realize that I have lived a full and experienced life and really, I have no complaints. I went to middle school, high school, played a sport, made some friends, traveled, am now in college, and now I am looking for a job to continue the rest of my life. The majority of my friends are doing the same, we are all on the “normal” path society has subconsciously laid out for us. Yes, my friends and I have had the “ten year talk” (scary) about what the next ten years hold for us in regard to…everything. All of the sudden ten years doesn’t seem so long and instead of 22 I am 32…and thats only 20 years behind my parents! In the past few weeks I have come across different things that have forced me to stop planning and start doing. To deviate from the normal plan and keep my eyes and heart open to a plan that might come my way. Mom and Dad, I am still looking for a job and attending class, but I want to live and take spontaneous opportunities when they arise. This may mean trying something new every day or spending a large sum of money on a spur of the moment trip, but I am 22…who is to say what I have to do?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessicajensen/20somethings_b_3989979.html

Don’t feel you have to read this whole article, but I would highly suggest if. For those who don’t wan’t to, I will give a short summary. Jessica Jensen says that she always looked forward to being older and continuously had a life plan with goals to fulfill. She states that when you reach a certain age people start asking about specific things over and over…the “normal” things to do, and all of the sudden life changes. Jensen suggests that you do what you want and not be controlled by our ages. I am sure life is going to go by as fast as this cafe latte is! When I was little I was always looking to my past and certainly my future (usually my future mirrored my cool babysitters’ lives that I had to have). I could list numerous things that I am jumping out of my skin about regarding the future, and then there are days I look back and think, ‘man, I wish I was 5 again running around in my PJs and staying up all night at sleepovers.’ The funny thing is now I am in bed at 9. As I write, there is a little girl running around doing whatever she pleases happy as can be in her polka dot shirt and big bow. Hey, I am 22 but I can do that too! Now, I am not actually going to do that, but what I am trying to say is we should take Jensen’s advice and forget molds and try something that makes you scared and uncomfortable. On a college campus sometimes we tend to do what others are doing and what the campus thinks is “cool”, and certainly some get lost in the mold that a campus can create. As a college student we should be doing the opposite of molding,a and instead we should be letting experiences, people, and ideas shape who we are. We all think of getting older as “calming down” and living with the hobbies, interests, and molds we have created for ourselves at a younger age. For many people, everything after 40 is just “adulthood”. Forget that! Live in the now when you’re young and older. As a senior in college everyone asks what my plan is. My plan is to be 22 today and 23 next year and to not think about when I was 15 or what life will be like when I am 33. At one age I wanted to be 22 and now I am here and am going to live. I have dreams and aspirations but I also have passion and opportunities that I am ready to explore.

For inspiration please watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_81MWUO45wc 

So, it’s a jeep commercial….but for some reason it inspires me (also, now I want a jeep). I have shown different people and gotten mixed reactions, so I am curious to see what others think. It sparked something it me. The commercial reminded me of what we were and how society and the people in it have told us what we can and can not do. As the commercial says, we are still “us” and the horizon lines are still there regardless of what molds we are supposed to fill or what ideas we are supposed to form. Opportunities are still out there regardless of your mold or age. Get uncomfortable.

To fit the “theme” for today’s cup I asked Jenny, the barista at Helena’s Creperie & Cafe, what her piece of advice on life would be. She took a bit of time to think, but replied saying, “I think the number 1 piece of advice I can give is to live compassionately. Remember, we are all in this together. Share a smile, keep your view focused on others as well as yourself, and remember there is something unifying about being human.”

Keep others in mind, take chances, get uncomfortable, live your age and live it to the fullest. Be spontaneous, be excited, and don’t let life pass you by. Make your own mold and fight the “norm”. And for Pete’s sake…try a cafe latte! They’re great.

Where it all begins: A cup at Dickinson.

Biblio Pumpkin Spice Latte

 

Hello! My first post, how exciting! If only I wasn’t drowning in my school work after our “fall pause,” I think I would be a little less frazzled. But then again, I am always stressing myself out over one thing or another; making myself crazy about the little things so that in the end I feel accomplished. But now is my time, or our time, to sit, relax and enjoy some coffee…all stress aside. Today I start where my blog begins: Dickinson College. I am at the Biblio Cafe enjoying a pumpkin spice latte (some may say it is the drink that officially marks fall). I find it funny that we mark seasons with small items such as this, that certain drinks or candles can transport us to a particular season. Just a few days ago it was 70 degrees and I really regretted wearing a true fall outfit. What if I were to order a peppermint drink? Maybe I would transport myself to holiday season! And past all my finals…

Most of the time I will add music to the side of my blog that I am enjoying at a coffee shop, but because the Biblio is a library there is no music playing; just the sound of a cappuccino being made, students working, and some laughs here and there. I have always wondered how we all ended up here; people from all over the world coming to a small liberal arts college in Carlisle, PA. What I think is even more weird is that many of these people are a big part of my life and I don’t even know it. I am pretty social, but in no way friends with everyone at this school. If everyone I knew either very well or somewhat well were the only people attending Dickinson, I doubt my experience would be the same. We all ended up here for a particular reason, but a big part of it was for each other. Does that make sense?  Maybe I will make more of an effort over these next few months before I graduate to become more of a presence in some peoples lives.

Today my swim team had lunch with a perspective student. Usually we ask, “do you have any questions?” and the high school swimmer will respond “no.” (Although we all know they do). This girl was different though, she immediately asked, “Why did you choose to come to Dickinson?” Wow! What a loaded question. And that is something I am sitting here asking myself about all the students around me, students that I see everyday (for the most part…quite the small campus). My first ignorant thought is that they started here, most of these people did not exist before coming to Dickinson, and now that I have seen them they have begun life. No, Carson. Did they want to come here their whole life? Was this their safety school? Was it the coffee that made them love their tour here?…certainly wasn’t for me; but this latte is not bad. I enjoyed Dickinson on my first trip and kept in contact with the coach over time, but it wasn’t until I went back on the website one last time to look something up that I saw the “cool spiral staircase” (quoting myself) in the HUB… and that was it. I loved it. I always knew it was silly, but writing it out is always worse. Regardless, I thank that stair case because I love it here. But I wonder what it was for everyone else and what their story is.

This latte is getting cold so I should really give it my attention; I think that is only fair.  Thanks for stopping by! Happy hump day!