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Thursday, June 23, 2011

The latest and greatest...

Hey everyone,
Well it is my second to last night in Mobile before heading back to California for 1 more month. I registered for classes, signed my apartment lease, and today was hired on the spot by two fine dining restaurants. Everyone here is SO nice...like SO NICE. I can't stress that enough. No matter where you are, people make eye contact, wave, and ask how you are. Today this old man held the door for his wife, and then for me, and Olivia was a little ways from the door and he waited and held it for her and said "Come on out of the rain Miss." So sweet <3
When we took a tour of the campus, my back was REALLY hurting, the most it has hurt in a while, and so I was limping. Some guy I didn't even know walk up to me and said "Is your knee bothering you Miss?" and I said "No it is actually my back" and he said "Well, I hope that gets better for you Miss. You have a nice day"...Yeah! SUPER POLITE! I honestly am in shock at just how much manners people have.
One negative is that the humidity is enough to take you out, but hopefully once I live down here I will get used to it.
I posted pictures on Facebook, and I will keep you all updated as I go along!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Kaitlin Meets Alabama...It was love at first sight!

Hey everyone! Well it is day 3 of me being in Alabama, and I fly back to California Friday. I can't attach pictures to this blog just yet because Olivia's computer doesn't take my type of memory card. Anyways, let me start from the top...

My flight was good. I flew out of San Francisco, and connected in Houston. My plane to Houston was the kind with the individual TV's so I watched the Justin Bieber Movie. I am not sure what is more embarrassing, the fact that I watched it or the fact that I cried when I watched it...moving on. My plane to Mobile from Houston was one of those puddle jumpers that was so small they couldn't even put our carry-on suitcase in the overhead compartments because the plane was that small. Nevertheless, I arrived Monday morning at 8am.

Olivia, Dave, and I went shopping at Old Navy because they bought me a gift card for my birthday! So I bought some summer clothes and then to the mall. We ate BBQ at this place called "The Shed". It was super country and I loved it.

The next day we went to the University of South Alabama and we got lost and ended up being 45 minutes late for orientation. Nonetheless we made it! The campus is BEAUTIFUL!! It is all newly remodeled, huge, and has such a southern charm about it. We registered for classes, and got our student I.D.'s. Then we ate in the new dining hall which is so huge, it you pay $7 and then you can eat whatever you want, they have pizza, pasta, salad, mongolian bbq...tons of options.

Then at night we went down to Downtown Mobile, which looks so similar to New Orleans. It has a ton of cast iron black balconies with deep red bricks it was so beautiful. It literally looks like an old southern town. We had beers at a bar with Dave's army buddy Shane, then headed home to watch The Voice.

Today was beach day. We headed to Gulf Shores, and laid on the beach for about 2 hours. We were so relaxed and got some much needed tans.

I love it here! Everyone is so friendly, the area is beautiful, and the school is really amazing. I can't wait to start the next chapter in my life.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

An Update

Well, Olivia on a whim went into the leasing office at her apartment complex to ask how much a one bedroom would be for me. Olivia told the leasing agent I was moving to Alabama from California with my dog Sonny, and so I need my own place (since Olivia already has 4 dogs of her own). The lady at the leasing office told her if I wanted I could stay in Olivia's apartment, as long as I paid a small fee.
Olivia and Dave have a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment, so for the first two months in Alabama I am going to be staying with Sonny in her guest bedroom. It will help me get on my feet, find a job, and save up some money for my own place.
Although I don't talk about it much, I was EXTREMELY stressed. I was worried about finances, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to afford moving into an apartment straight away, since I don't know how much money I'll be making at my new job in Alabama, or even if I have a job!
I was stress eating (I have gained 10 pounds since I decided to move), losing sleep, and just really anxious. Now that I know I will be able to get on my feet before getting my own place with Sonny, I feel a lot less tense. I am back on a normal sleep schedule, and I plan on taking care of my body.
Moving is ALWAYS stressful. However, I think moving to a new place is always so exciting. You get to see new places, meet new people, and try new things.
I look forward to living with Olivia, so we can plan her wedding, start exercising, and studying together at our new University!!
I fly to Alabama on June 20 to do orientation at my new school, and meet with employers to talk about possible jobs.
Rachel leaves next week Thursday for Europe then Australia until October, so I won't be seeing her for a while starting next week. I have loved living with her in California, and being able to explore some beautiful and unique stuff out here. I know this isn't goodbye forever...I plan on living in her basement after I graduate college HAHA!
Olivia, Rachel, and I are on to new adventures! In Alabama and Australia!