The One Where She Tells You the Real Reason Behind the Blog

Hi Friends!

Just so we all know, I am completely psyched about having started up this blog!

You: Why, McKenna?

I will tell you why..... Because up until now I felt that I had absolutely no good/ worthy reason to write about my life. I frankly thought it was simply too boring for me to get on maybe every week purely for the purpose of telling you about the goings on in my average life. I'm sure you all have dozens of familial blogs that you have obligations to read therefore very little time to pay attention to my incessant, pointless banter. It would become like a journal or something, and in my journals, lemme tell you- homegirl is whiiiiiiinneeeyy.

It is not at all pleasant. I strongly dislike re-reading my journals. Although it does remind me that I have made progress in my life. Thank goodness....

You: Ok McKenna. Gettin a little off-track here, soooo why did you start a blog then?

Ah! Glad you asked. Well folks....

I am leaving for Mexico in 5 days. 
 

So for those of you who were so confuzzled by my choice of blog title "What fiesta?! WHO'S HAVING A FIESTA???" I'm sure you were all wondering. BUT, you can all be put out of your misery now- there is a method to my madness.

And I will be there for 4 months, teaching English to adorable little ninos!

• Donde esta el bano? = Where is the bathroom?

• Lo siento, no hable ingles. = I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish.

• ¿Sabe usted dónde encontrar un Nordstrom? = Do you know where to find a Nordstrom? 

That last one, key.

I will be here.

 And here.

 Aaaand here.

 Eating this. Mmmmmm

And playing, what is hopefully, a lot of this.

And it's all because of this program riiiight here 

A few months ago I was accepted to the International Language Program to be a "student teacher" for a group of kids in either Mexico, Russia, Ukraine or China. I was initially assigned to Tehuacan, Mexico then transferred to Puebla, Mexico a few weeks ago.

I can not tell you how excited I am to be a part of this program! English is a huge commodity in foreign countries, and being able to learn English at an early age will be a doorway for the kids to better educations, jobs, opportunities and general improvement of their lives and their families lives. Mexico is obviously in a bit of a rut right now (no worries! I am completely safe and my family has done well in scaring me into an acute sense of awareness and slight paranoia that will aid me in not being stupid whilst I'm there. Hopefully. Plus we have lots of rules that prevent us from getting in dangerous situations. Mk pumpkins?) so I feel greatly motivated to be part of an effort which is leading towards a better future for the country's children.

And hey hey hey....

Guess who's coming with me????

THIS GIRL!!!!

My wonderful roommate since first semester (pictured with my other goofy faced roommate since first semester) Carly K Berg will be traveling with me from LAX to Mexico City and joining me in spending the next 4 months eating mountains of Mexican food, visiting the Mayan Temples, becoming acquainted with locals, getting incredibly good at soccer ( watch yo back Mia Hamm! Even though you're like, 40-something now), avoiding the 15 lbs which is rumored to be gained by EVERYONE who goes to Mexico (losing 5, right Carly?), teaching kids a language which we occasionally struggle with ourselves, weekly Office episodes on Hulu to try and keep up with our tradition at college, and every so often breaking down and crying, wondering why we ever left our American comforts in the first place.

So let me tell you a little bit about this girl, and why I am SO stoked that she's going to be my closest compadre on this expedition.

Carly Kay Berg

Roommate Extraordinaire

Her stats:

- She is the youngest in a family of five older brothers. So yeah, she's witnessed all sorts of horrors and gained tough skin through her traumas.

- She loves her Ducks. (Oregon)

- There is no one nicer than Carly. NO ONE! You're probably thinking to yourself "Well I have this one friend and he/she is actually really..." I'm stopping you right there! Because I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but you are wrong.

- She has the best bursting, loud laugh. I'm serious, you didn't know a noise like that could come out of a girl of that size.

- She's the one who told me about the program in the first place.Thanks doll!!!

- It's hilarious when she gets excited. Which is often.She giggles uncontrollably. And starts bouncing.

- She is the reason for about 80% of our apartments inside jokes. Not because they're about her or anything, she's just that funny.

-She is a peace maker. A common phrase for Carly is "Whatever is good for everyone else!" which is a precious commodity in our apartment of stubborn personalities.
- Her parents, Pat and Stacey (spelling?) seem to be very grateful that I am going to be there with her, when actually I should think it definitely the other way around- Homegirl's gonna be needing some definite comforting.
- I just lover her to pieces. End of story

Now that you're all up to date on where I'll be, who it will be with, and what I'll be doing for the next little chapter of my life, I just want to say one thing:

I have gotten several different responses about going on this trip. Both negative and positive. People telling me I'm a silly goose to spend money on going to teach English in a foreign country when people do that for free, or paid in other situations.

But I would just like to give a quick, little, itty-bitty, cutie patootie, shout out to all of my friends and family who have supported me through this whole process.

Including my roommates who listened to me through ALL of my going back and forth like a ping pong ball in indecision.

To all of you awesome, wonderful, loving, generous people: 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

VIVA LA MEXICO!!

That One Where She Tells You About Herself

My name is McKenna.

 

I just finished my 3rd semester at BYU-Idaho.
And lemme tell you- it was a blast. There is nothing like the combination of bitter, bitter cold, long nights in the library studying French- a language which I have never taken, occasional parties in stairwells, the Harry Potter premiere which I totally dressed up for AND made butter beer, pumpkin juice, pumpkin pasties, and chocolate frogs for, Macaroni and Cheese food storage, more long nights spent in the gym to work off the mac n' cheese, a roommate breaking her coccyx sledding, less-than-desirable quality of washer and dryer which make for disappearing socks and un-dried jeans, constant belting of the lyrics to Etta James "At Last" in our kitchen (eh em, Erika Larsson), slight Justin Bieber obsessions, learning about the cultural, social, economic, and political complexities of the country Pakistan, trying to figure out what my career calling is, and all in all surviving another semester in the city I like to call my winter wonderland- Rexburg, Idaho.              

  I have these girls to call my roommates

Yes, they are as wonderful as they look.

 

 

 

Three of these beauties have been with me since my first semester in the dorms. From the top row going left they are Karla, Erika, Stephanie, Me, Carly and Brindisi (pronounced Brin-da-cee. Get it right and give yourself a pat on the back, because sometimes people struuuuuugle)

Karla, Erika, Carly, and I started out at Kerr Hall together and have been super close ever since. They are pretty much my thick and thin. The cold winters of Rexburg does well in bonding people together.

 

I absolutely love my school. The classes are invigorating, the teachers are phenomenal people who have, for the majority, gone out and done incredible things then decided to come back and share their wisdom when they financially didn't necessarily need to, the campus is beautiful, inspiring and ever-growing. The construction on this pretty little building has just finished after 4 years of planning and adjustments:

Inside the BYU-I Center

It's the biggest building in Madison County (ok so that might not be saying much) and seats 15,000 people

 

 Yes we have no idea what it's doing in Rexburg, but we welcome it with open arms!

 This man came for a visit when the building was dedicated.

He is just lovely.

 Do you see the sliver of a man on the right? Uh-huh, him. And do you see a blurry image of a girl with long brown hair right above him with the microphone cutting right along her jaw.? Uh-huh, her.

Well guess what folks....

That blur would be me.

I had the opportunity of singing in the choir at the dedication, and I know that that blur is myself because the girl behind me was wearing that black dress with the red tank-top.

Cool, huh??

Well... you guys might not think so. But I believe it is awesome to be pictured with the 1st counselor of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Blur or no blur.(if you're currently asking yourself, church of holiday hoobie whattie? Edify your mind here ---> www.mormon.org)

ANYWAY

Back to me lovin my school.

All of that is fantastic and makes me really excited that I'm there at this awesome time with such amazing leaders and counselors to help usher me into my ever-nearing future. But the thing that I love absolutely the most about BYU-Idaho is the people. They come from all countries, all financial situations, all up-bringings, from plenty of different language barriers all seeking spiritual and educational knowledge at THIS PLACE. Which I consider to be a pretty big deal. I mean, it's Idaho were talking about here people!! It's a big deal that people choose to live here at all.

For the record, I have never been happier with any decisions in my life as I have been with the following: 

 

1. Choosing this campus to attend school

2. And dating this person right here

This is Matthew Grow. He is kind of wonderful, and I like him very much.
He hails from the East Coast and likes the Beatles, foreign languages, steak, and Argentina.
He never yells except out of joy or jest. I like that in a man.
He is currently studying International Relations and was just accepted to the Fast Grad program at BYU-I which means he will be going to school ALL YEAR ROUND. What a nut, huh?

But I like him anyway.

I'll post later about how his cool purple Nike swoop shoes attracted me to him and what has happened since, but for now just be content with the fact that all is swell with us :)

I would end my post with a cheesy "Hopefully you'll enjoy my words, life, blog etc. and yada-yada-yada..." But I'd rather not.

Hopefully I don't bore you all to death :)

Stay in school, and take as many pictures of your life as possible.