I FINALLY DID IT!

Okay people, this has been 7 years in the making.

I finally graduated from The University of Utah with a bachelor's in Social Work!!!

A little school history for you, I had originally planned to go to Utah State. I applied, was accepted, put a deposit on an apartment with my friend, and at the last minute decided It wasn't what I wanted to do. I ended up losing my $250 deposit. So, the following semester I began my education at Weber State my first year out of High School. I rarely went to class, met a lot of freakish Ogden boys, and was still stuck in my High School behaviors where I didn't apply myself and didn't really care. I was on a scholarship at the time, lost it, and earned very few transferable credit hours from class. I decided I needed a break. I took a year off and it was excruciating getting me back. Best thing I ever did however. When I started at Salt Lake Community College I was on my own. There was no one paying for me, it didn't affect anyone but me if I went to class or not, and I actually wanted to amount to something. Little Alina was finally growing up. In 2006 I graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an Associates of Science degree and knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in Social Work. I am also proud to say that during the course of my education I have always worked full time and during my years at Salt Lake Community College I didn't take out one student loan. It all came straight from my pocket. I didn't receive any financial help from my parents either. My education was truly my own reward.

In December 2008 I graduated from the University of Utah with my degree in Social Work. I couldn't be happier with the career I have chosen. People tell me time and time again, "You're not doing Social Work for the money that's for sure. Ha... Ha...."

I always knew I wanted to do more, and Social Work has been a tremendous outlet for me to do that. I no longer want to "help people" (this is a common phrase that is coined with Social Work). I want to recognize a person's strengths, empower them with information and tools if I can, and watch as they "help" themselves. The world is cynical. If I've learned anything it is that things are truly not what they seem. There are misconceptions everywhere. My hope is that people will step outside their own sheltered box and realize that a teen mother is not always pregnant because she's irresponsible and likes to sleep around, a homeless person is not always "just lazy", and an immigrant is not always here to steal your job and ruin your life. Had to get on my soap box for a minute. Let me know if you want more :)

I also want to thank my family and friends for always supporting me. I couldn't have done it without you! My friend Jen always makes it a point to ask me how school is and how my finals are going. Cory has proof read many papers and has been an amazing sound board to bounce ideas off of. Most important is my Jason. I don't know how he put up with me, but he has been the most supportive. I can recall countless times of him encouraging me to do my homework when all I want to do is play. He has helped me complete take home tests, make flash cards for quizzing, or helped me rehearse for oral presentations. I've even made him go to class with me! But probably the most important, he has stuck by me through what he likes to call "two weeks of hell", at the end of every semester as I study for finals and inevitably turn into a rotten mean person. I love you babe and your support has meant everything to me. I pride myself on completing my education all on my own, but I really didn't. I'm at this place in my life today partly because of you. Thank you love!

Sorry for the long post, but I felt the topic warranted a few lines!

White Girl

I recently finished my internship where I case managed the files of Early Head Start's teen mom participants. I was working with one girl, and she was telling me about life before she moved to Utah. Here is how our conversation went: (As you are reading the girl's part it is important for you to talk like a gangsta)

Girl: Utah gangs are just scary.
Me: Wow! They're worse than where you are originally from.
Girl: What?! No, I said they're scary.
Me: So...they are more frightening, terrifying...
Girl: No! (laughs) Scary means chicken!!! (she actually used a word I didn't feel comfortable using, but you get the gist.)
Me: Oh.

Story Continues

Girl: So they came up to me and asked, "who ya bangin?"
Me: Wait, wait. You've said that a few times now, so are they asking who you're having sex with?
Girl: What?! (laughs for about 5 minutes) No, like what gangs are you rolling with and what areas are you hitting. (something like that, I was still confused)
Girl: (pats me on the back) Look at the white girl learning new words! (She proceeded to tell all her friends what I had said as they walked into class)

So, in order to keep you all hip to the new lingo I figured you could benefit from this post.

Recap: Scary=Chicken and Bangin does NOT = sex.

I should have showed her this sweet graffiti I did in Seattle a few years ago.
Who's the white girl now? Oh, still me.

Text Messaging Gone Wrong

So, you could say that my older brother and I don't have the best relationship. It's about every other conversation that we have an argument. I guess this stems from our past. It doesn't help that in High School he would tell people that I wasn't his sister, and many times would leave me at school to walk home or try to find a ride (it was a joyous day when Lynze Wardle got a car). Point being, we still struggle to have even a civil conversation sometimes. This Thanksgiving we had another irritating conversation where I attempted to be nice and was shut down immediately.

This text to my sister is what followed:

"Nate's an ass. Hurry!"
(meaning hurry and get here since she was over an hour late!)

and what do I see as I'm sending it? Oh, just that I was thinking of Nate as I was sending it and being all worked up, accidentally put his name in the send to box.
SSSHHHIIITTTT!!!!! is what was running through my head.

So, feeling more embarrassed than bad about the text, I walked up to Nate and said, "Hey I just sent you a text, it was an accident" and walked out. He was already mid texting me back. The rest of the night was.....awkward. Looks like I ended up looking like the ass that night!
Hate when that happens :)

For the record, we did end up making up as we most always do after one of our petty arguments.

This is the closest I could find to an "Oh Shit!" face

Travel Partners

I was having a discussion with some co-workers about their travels and who they normally travel with. I thought about how an awful travel partner can completely ruin your experience, and my co-workers proved this to be true. That's when I realized I have the best traveling partner! The following reasons are why this is true.

1. We both share a strong passion for travel.
2. We can play off of each other's moods like you wouldn't believe. If one is contemplative, so is the other. If one is energetic and on the move, so is the other. If one is homesick, yep, so is the other.
3. Our traveling ideals are similar in the sense that we are open to whatever experience comes our way. Even if this includes following a woman who speaks no English onto a rickety old bus somewhere in Germany in hopes that she is leading us to our destination.
4. We both value naps and know they are necessary part of vacationing. It also happens that we like to nap at the same times and inexplicably wake up at the same time.
5. When money is tight we have no problem sharing meals and we rarely disagree on what to order.
6. If I am sick this person is willing to sacrifice precious sight seeing time to be there for me.
7. When riding the plane to our destination I prefer the window seat and they prefer the middle. This works perfectly as I rest my head on the window and they on my shoulder.
8. We both seem to have good luck and that usually pays off well for us.
9. We like a semi-structured trip. One where we know where we are sleeping, but still allows the flexibility to stray from an itinerary.
10. Silence is never uncomfortable.
11. Compromise is key and I know we've mastered it!
12. When insecurity creeps in, the other one is there to be confident or to be insecure with you, and yet we still force ourselves out of our comfort zone.
13. This person is so dear to me, that I know when I'm away from home there is still apart of it there in them.
14. This person can make me laugh and we have such fun times together!
15. With our limited knowledge and language skills we have definitely mastered the saying "two heads are better than one". Thinking together has helped us get out of some potentially scary and tricky situations. We value each others thoughts and opinions.

Drum roll please.....this friend is none other than Miss Cory Willey. I have had the great opportunity to share some of my dreams with her and I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. We have had the chance to go to Chicago, Puerta Vallarta, Prague, Austria, Germany, Venice, Florence, and Rome together. We are also planning a trip to Greece this summer! Thank you Cory for a friendship that is so easy and rewarding.

Trying to get the guard at the Prague Castle to break his "guard etiquette".
You can't see it, but we are actually grabbing his butt!

Sightseeing in Rome. Bloody hot!!!

Standing in front of the Vatican.

Marveling at beautiful Florence

Fortress of Salzburg

You know you're friends with Alina and Jen when...

1. You've been swimming in the post office fountain.

2. You've tickled one or both of our arms.

3. You've swung on the BJH flag pole.

4. You've swam in the Meadowbrook creek. 

5.  You've made a swimming pool out of a garbage can. 

6. You've eaten a Maverick hotdog with salt and vinegar chips on the corner. 

7.  You've tied a wagon to a bike so you could pull each other around the block. 

8.  You've met one of us half way between our houses. 

9.  You've shared one pair of roller blades.

10. You've jumped off Alina's garage onto the tramp.

11. You've peed or been peed on at the Bubble to keep warm. 

12. You've stayed up late waiting for Connie to go to sleep so you could watch dirty dancing and eat corn dogs. 

13.  You know what snails are and you love them!

14. You love season salt.

15. You think Dees cheese fries are a delicacy. 

16.  Alina has made you clean her bathroom on her day. 

17.  Jen has made you come over when she's been afraid of the dark. 

18. You've made a menu and played restaurant. 

19. You've made up a skit on the tramp. 

20. You've had Jen color your hair and insist that you go to a store/restaurant/gas station with your hair full of foils for a snack. 

Tagged

Miss Cory Willey has tagged me. Therefore, the following six things are something you may not know about me.

1. I'm deathly afraid of needles. In fact the first time I have ever had my blood drawn was two years ago. I made my mom go with me, and I cried the entire time!
2. I hate almost ALL vegetables.
3. When I need to pee really bad it hurts my teeth.
4. My feet can't hang off of the bed because I'm terrified someone will grab them and pull me under.
5. I can't drink out of a straw from the middle of my mouth, it has to be to the side.
6. I catch myself singing or talking out loud all of the time. It mostly happens in public places. I once started singing a song from seven brides for seven brothers while in the bathroom at my boyfriends house. We were all there for family dinner and when I came out of the bathroom his mom made a comment on how she has never known anyone to be as happy as me. Nice way to cover up the fact that they were all sitting at the dinner table listening to me singing while using the restroom.

I now tag Jen and Marci!


Rules-
1. Link to the person who has tagged you *http://alinadorsey.blogspot.com *I can't figure out how to do a fancy link, and my go to girl Cory Willey, has let me done in this endeavor.
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Trunk or Treating....BOO!!!

What happened to good old fashion Trick or Treating? I remember having to actually work for my candy, and man that only made the candy taste that much sweeter. These days the latest trend is to take your child to a parking lot where they go from car to car getting their candy. That takes what, like 15 minutes? We used to start trick or treating the minute the sun started setting and not return home until our pillow cases were almost full. That was no easy feat, but year after year we made our parents proud. This year in order to encourage the dwindling number of trick or treaters, Jason an I turned down two parties to make sure we were home to pass out candy. I even purchased full size candy bars to give to the little chillins. Being that I live in a basement apartment, our traffic was extremely low at the beginning of the night. This led us to our decision to sit outside on the porch steps. Not only did we make ourselves readily available for candy, but we dressed up too. Point of this post....Keep the Halloween tradition of Trick or Treating alive!"Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!"