2:19 AM, Saturday Morning

For the month of July, I am living in Cambridge dorms as a mentor for a high school summer camp with seventy one kids. I love it except for nights like tonight. A rumored "toga party" is keeping me up into these wee hours. Every so often, a kid will open his/her door and peek out to see if I am asleep. I am determined to outlast the little suckers. I am terrible at disciplining. Normally, I just let things slide like late nighters of dying people's hair or kids being a little late for curfew. I understand what it was like to be their age and the desire to be respected. Everyone needs mercy. However, drunk minors are no good hence the sleepless night of patrolling.

New dorm trend: Both girls and guys are shaving half of their heads and leaving the other side long. Let's just say the parents are not thrilled. I have received many a phone call.

We spent the evening at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with a tour guide, something I highly suggest. Despite their half-witted attempts to sneak around, these kids are brilliant and I love spending time with them. I am amazed at their knowledge of art history and their ability to create. I would stare at a painting and one would explain the history and the concept behind each piece of work. Artists are misunderstood geniuses. Every brush stroke they make serves a purpose. They taught me this as they analyzed and discussed pieces together. I feel an art history course in my near future.

We split up into groups in the museum. Mine, of course, was the best.

Also, I highly suggest seeing Chihuly's glass exhibit and a glass blowing demonstration.

The other mentors I work with are artists as well. They are fabulous. When the kids are in class, we hang out in a hallway and they work on their own art. I watch and hopefully soak in the creative fumes. I had every opportunity and more to dive into this way of documenting history and I failed. Tonight, I am humbled.

Buggah, Jayk.

My family left to take Jayk to Pennsylvania for the weekend. He will fly out of Harrisburg to Brazil where he will serve for two years. Due to unfortunate events and a mandatory orientation, I am stuck here missing out on my brother's last hoo-rah. Not only am I sad, I am racked with guilt. This is an out-of-body experience full of mixed emotions.

I don't remember my one year without him. It's almost like we were born twins except we have different personalities and I have always been the more attractive one. Jayk's first two words were actually two grunts, "buggah" and "buddah." He used them for every feeling and need. My mom says this is because he had his opinionated and bossy older sister to speak for him. Sorry for that, braddah.

I have come to the realization that I write in a bullet-point type of fashion. I guess it's my style. Here are more stories I love:

Jayk used to stick toothpicks in his mouth creating the monstrosity of a gap in the middle of his two front teeth. I also might have chipped one of them in a fit of rage. That's a story for later. Let's just say that braces worked wonders.

We rode the bus in elementary school. Every morning, we would race to the bus stop. Jayk's body was always bigger and faster than mine with my brittle bones and underdeveloped muscles. Also, his head was mahonkin'. As soon as we started racing down the sidewalk, he would push me in a pile of snow. By the time I could pick myself and my backpack up, the bus would leave. My mom wasn't too happy about that.

Jayk has tremendous musical talent. Never in my lifetime have I seen anyone pick up a guitar (or any string instrument) and play any song that I want perfectly. His mind is made for comprehending music theory. His latest debate is deciding whether to go to Berklee or a church school after his mission. He has awhile until that decision has to be made.

Between school and dance practice, I had a study hall for the girls on the dance team. No joke, everyday I walked in the room, Jayk's name would be written all over the board from various samples of handwriting. I would sigh, sit down, and open one of my books trying to ignore the girlish squeals and stories of my sighted brother.

Jayk surrounded himself with the most diverse and eccentric group of boys. I love seeing them together. They are hilarious and thrive on making people uncomfortable. Most of the time they are up to no good. Example: Just the other night they got in trouble with the police for putting a Christmas tree with presents underneath in front of a random neighbor's yard.

Jayk learned at an early age how not to upset my parents, something I failed at consistently. I had a big, fat mouth. He blended into the background and demonstrated a great amount of self control. Secretly, he was the biggest trouble maker AND a giant tease. Jory ran into my room one afternoon with horror stricken eyes, face planted on the wall, and leapt into my arms. Two seconds later, Jess ran into the same exact spot on the wall chasing Jory behind me. Jayk followed soon after hitting the SAME spot. I couldn't even protect Jory from the boys because I was laughing hysterically. It was like a scene from Tom and Jerry.

Jayk likes listening to Tchaikovsky on repeat. He also enjoys watching Oprah or Jane Austin flicks with my mom while eating salted grape fruit. This is not an exaggeration, folks.

Jayk LOVES Christmas.

He took Jason to a fake Beatles concert. Jason is my handicapped, but high functioning uncle who loves his women folk. Jason saw a girl and decided to dance by her. After talking to her Jason returned and cowered behind Jayk's giant body. At the end of the concert, Jayk asked him what happened. Jason had asked her to dance and she turned him down. Jayk's reply was, "Oh, she must not have heard you. The music was loud." And with that, his spirits were lifted. I love this story and will continue to tell it.

One time, I went downstairs and Jayk and Jess were dancing to "Pop, Lock, and Drop It." Synchronized.

I have been attending the single's ward in the same building as my parents' ward. A guy sat down next to me during sacrament meeting. Jayk was looking in from the foyer (dropping his eaves as usual.) I received a text from him that said, "Knucks, he's a fox." Thanks for eyeing up my prospects, brother.

I can go on forever. You'll make a great missionary. I'm proud of you and I'll miss you. I'll always remain your fiercest defender.

And now enough of stories and time for hysterics. Life is about laughing at yourself right?

I went into work literally ten minutes after saying goodbye to Jayk. I was welcomed with a hug and a cupcake from my favorite coworker who understands us mormons and our duties. While I was on the floor, I would start to tear up so he would try to cheer me up. I would instantly go from teary-eyed to laughing. Yep, crazy. Anyways, some girl decided to steal five pairs of black pants. Being in the mental state that I was, I opened the door and yelled after her, "Hope you enjoy your pants!" Definitely not Gap policy. When I re-entered the store, all my coworkers were laughing (even my manager.) Don't worry, she likes me and my antics. However, she deemed me not fit for customer interaction and let me organize the stock room.

For decent and understanding people, I am thankful.

I recently had my first megabus experience on a trip from

Boston to DC. loved. it.

My bus buddy was an older lady who wore a rainbow bandana and a t-shirt saying "unfortunately we are making enemies faster than we can kill them" while carrying a New York Times. I knew we were going to be instant friends. We shared her newspaper and talked about the Middle East. I might have fallen asleep on her at one point.

I visited my lovely Csilla. She was kind enough to let me follow her around. I adore this girl and have since the seventh grade. She is a naturally good-hearted person. I look up to her. She is also intelligent and well-spoken. The universe has kept us apart for a couple years. Hopefully, our lives will intertwine once more. Thursday, she leaves for Morocco to save the world, one orphan at a time.

I also went to Lancaster for Jayk and Jared's farewell. Of course, it was great spending time with them and the fam. I have come to the conclusion that no one in our family, immediate and extended, is good at telling stories except for my Aunt Allisa. This does not mean we aren't hilarious.

I'm back in Boston for now. It is HOT. That's all I have to say about that.

Side note to all the GAP customers in the Boston area: You know you have a problem when you recognize an employee on the street, call them by name, and start up a conversation about their daily lives. Help can be found for your shopping addiction. Unfortunately, this has not happened only once. I'm a celebrity.

I miss living by my cousins. Instant love at any needed moment. I didn't realize how spoiled I was. Mushy, I know.

Renewal

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I finally made it to Boston. It took a little over three days. I enjoyed myself on the trip, probably more than Sean and Liz. After seeing them everyday, it will be difficult for me to be apart. We stopped in Chicago and saw Auntie Vagi along with her family. Her kids grow more and more beautiful as the years go by. They must take after their mother :). Enjoy the pictures!

Courtesy of Liz:

We also had the opportunity to go into the Art Institute. The building is calm and serene. It reminds me of my dad. I used to draw with him in the gardens while he was attending school. I dragged everyone to the impressionism wing this trip to see George Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," which also reminds me of my father, not because of similarities in their artwork. In seventh grade, he pulled an all-nighter helping me paint a pointillism piece. It is still hanging in the office of James Hart. I would credit that to my talent, but I know it was all his eye.

Here's one of his new pieces with my cute sister.

I had this as my status update on facebook, but it is too memorable to skip. On the way to Boston from Lancaster, I woke up in the back seat to Jayk and Jared beeping the horn and putting up a sign with their numbers for a car full of girls all while listening to War's "Low Rider." Pretty funny stuff.

I have been jogging around to familiarize myself with the city. I get lost the majority of the time. You know what they say, the longer the run, the more fit the Jadyn. My parents neglected to tell me that I live in the Jewish quarter of Boston called Brookline. I have run by three or four Jewish synagogues already. Not complaining, just think it's funny. I won't be using much Arabic here. My favorite street is canopied with trees called Wincester (pronounced Win-stah). It holds two synagogues. When I hit that street, I blast Arab music on my ipod and for a moment the two worlds collide and there's peace, at least in my world. I chuckle.

Fun fact: JFK was born a couple blocks down from my parents' apartment.

Jonsi is my artist of choice while running these days. I know, not your average, upbeat playlist. "Around Us" played during this morning's jog. I felt rejuvenated, healed even. This city has brought me joy.

I think I'm going to like my new home. Yep, I think I'm going to like it a lot.

Oh! My aunt started a blog. She is the true master of stringing words together.

http://twostepartizani.wordpress.com/about/

New year

I welcomed in the new year by falling asleep twenty minutes before midnight. Foreshadowing for the upcoming year? I hope not. Some short-term goals for this semester are to go to yoga and run, get good grades without spending my life in the library, cook meals weekly, and cut down on expenditures to save for Egypt. In a future day, I will create a bucket list.

I leave for Utah tomorrow. Someday I will be able to substitute Utah for Rabat or Caracas. For now, I will return to the land of marriage and casseroles.

And now, time to finish my Mayan language documentary.

I didn't sleep for two days. I spent one night studying for a final exam and then the next celebrating freedom. It was a great day/night until I was sitting around in the Minneapolis airport and I realized that I forgot my laptop at the security line in Salt Lake City. Not the dumbest thing I have done, but up there.

Finals blues

Here we go.

I am only writing in this to avoid cramming never-ending Arabic vocabulary into my head. Someday, I will be able to write steadily. Here are some highlights from this semester:

I moved into an apartment with wonderful roommates. We are poles apart, but we compliment each other nicely.

Jayk is STILL bumming around in Hawai'i playing his guitar on Hukilau beach while I rock myself to sleep every night.

Beyonce is a topic of interest that occupies us during study breaks. We tried to learn Ego....kind of failed. We are not nearly as sexy. We also attempted waking up early to learn Tahitian dancing and hip-hop, courtesy of Amber....failed as well. We excel at eating and making neighbors angry because of our constant noise. One time, Joni was dancing on top of a nightstand and fell almost breaking the lights of the neighbors below us.

We share beds. That's right. We have six king-sized beds, but we share due to the Arctic weather and paper windows in our apartment. Gotta love that body heat. Most nights, I sleep with Ynna. Amber, Joni, and Ally sleep on one in another room. On weekends and special sub-zero occasions, we join our warming forces into one bed. It is surprisingly comfortable.

We roll lumpia weekly and keep it stocked in our freezer in case of an emergency.

Political Science 200 has made me weep multiple times. Current events and languages are my fortes. Research is not and regressional analysis is certainly not. From this experience, I have discovered that I will never aspire to be a professor. On the bright side, my writing has improved. (This post is not an example of this improvement.)

The pleasures of having a car in Utah has given me two opportunities to travel to Arizona. Each time is an adventure.

Our guy neighbors eat our food, but we enjoy their company and their WakaWaka dancing. We are currently having a Band of Brothers marathon.

Ally has yet to make the quote wall. We are hoping our humor will rub off on her. :)

I was Lady Monster and a man for Halloween.

Ynna and I share a room. Our cynical attitudes and anti-social behaviors mesh well. The other night, we had a brain explosion. Ynna was memorizing the anatomy of the body while I was typing up a paper for political science. Three hours into our study session, we decided to play all of our favorite 90's hits from artists like Shania Twain to Savage Garden. 90's was such a great era. I rediscovered my love for Seal. What a sexy man. Three hours later and I still needed to complete my paper. I can't say I regretted any moment of it.

It's time to return to reality. I will return after a week from Friday to report the outcomes of my exams. Insha'allah, I will do well. Libraries are open until two...can't find excuses for failure.