Maria's Blog

Maria from Woodburn, Oregon and Guerrero, Mexico - (Dec. 2, 2005)

We never had this in high school and I don't know, but it feels like I don't have time to do anything. Maybe it's because I am too fractured, I don't know. This week is not a good week for me - Dead Week. I have meetings and some are during the same time as the other ones. I still have to deal with work and homework. It's hard work. But Dead Week is almost over and I am so glad--I can finally sleep eight hours.

The weekend is almost here and I will spend most of my time in the library finishing my final projects. But it's not so bad in the library because I've found I perfect spot to read. It's on the top floor, and I sit next to the window and I can see the view outside the library. From the top floor you can actually see a clover figure on the grass, it's so cute. I won't spend all day in the library though, at least not this one. I will go out with my friends; it's most likely that we'll go dancing. We love dancing so much! We will also go shopping. But, next week it will just be finals and relaxing a lot. Also, my friend Rocio and I will go swimming, well not really swimming. She will go swimming, but me, I will most likely be in the water just floating. I don't know if you have seen the frog swim, but I can do it. Well, at least I am trying to swim one way or another.

I can't wait to go home and be with my family and eat my mom's delicious food, and wake up late, and rest as much as I can. I also can't wait to go out with friends I haven't seen in two-and-a-half months. But, sadly, my family also has to face the consequences of other people's actions. My second oldest brother's car was stolen three weeks ago. The two guys that stole the car damaged not only my brother's car but also other property. Now, not just my brother, but also the owner of the other property are bringing charges against the two men. The car is unfixable, so my brother has to use the money that he has saved for school to buy a new car until those two men pay for the car. You know another sad thing about this is that I know these two guys. One of them was my friend and he even signed my year book, how sad huh?

Let's stop with sad things--I just want to go back home and be with my loved ones. I also want to go home because it's Christmas. I have been waiting forever and I bet you have too! It's when we are all together as a family and we share not only the food, but also our time. During the holiday we get close and don't argue as we normally do. It is a time when we sit at the table together and eat together--even my cats eat at the same time too. We wait for Jesus, our lord, to be in our home and our lives. Like the Priest in our town said, "It's not just the presents and the sales that we get, but our Lord in our home, lives, and table. We invite him to join us as we eat as a family."

We have three weeks to prepare ourselves for Christmas and for the New Year. In the New Year you can actually start again and hope it will be better than the previous year. I know I will. All I have to say is that this has been my first Dead Week, my first time away from my family, and I believe I am doing well.

Just remember that you are not alone, and you are not, because there are others just like you. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!