Friday #3: Stories about Ms. Yolanda

Jeena's boyfriend Ben is down for the weekend to visit her. Back in 2009 they both worked for my mom at KR's Place.

"You can't forget Ms. Yolanda," Ben told me. "She won't let you."

My mom loves her "kids," meaning everyone that has ever worked for her at KR's Place. And whenever I meet up with any of them anywhere else, they always have stories to share about "Ms. Yolanda" and they're crazy time with her.

Kee picked me up again this evening, this time it was for the weekend. I'll be staying with her tonight and then we'll both head over to visit my aunt and cousin tomorrow evening.

But before we could leave the Foronda's house, Jeena and Kee spent probably about a solid 30 plus minute just telling crazy stories about my mom and them.

"That's so Ms. Yolanda," one of them would say after a story, noting something similar she did around them.

It was so interesting hearing about my mom from other people that know her so well.

The funniest story was when Jeena had come back up from stocking the Island Oasis stuff and my mom was like, "Jeena, there's some people here who want to see you."

Jeena was a bit confused because according to her, no one really knew she worked at KR's so who would be there to see her?

"Yeah, they're from Argentina," my mom said. "They want to see you."

Jeena had spent a year studying abroad in Argentina the year before.

"Who are they?" Jeena asked. "Where are they?"

"They're in the Presidential Banquet Room. Here I'll take you to them," my mom said and took Jeena by the arm (classic Ms. Yolanda Kee and Jeena agreed).

So Jeena and my mom go downstairs and enter the PBR.

All Jeena saw when they got there was Dr. Bietz and about 20 other people she didn't recognize.

"Ms. Yolanda where are they?" She asked again before asking a little girl sitting near by, "Do I know you?"

"No," the little girl shook her head.

"Where are you from?" Jeena asked another question, sure that since Ms. Yolanda dragged her down there, someone must be there that she knows. And as it turned out, the little girl was from the town where Jeena was in Argentina, so she asked, "Who are your parents?" The girl pointed to a couple at the table. But Jeena still didn't know them.

"Ms. Yolanda, I don't know these people." Jeena said.

Apparently what had happened was that the couple had come to KR's, told my mom they were from Argentina, and then my mom had told them about Jeena. But Jeena had never met these people before in her life!

During a phone call with my mom, she affirmed that this was indeed what happened and gave me permission to share it

Jeena and me with our moms and my grandmother at the Mother/Daughter Brunch in February. I love these women so much!

Day #8: Breaking Things & Watching Soccer

Week 2 is done. :)

Mrs. Foronda sent cake to work with me to share with my coworkers. It was so good. I put it in the workroom and it was gone by the end of the day . . . I guess they liked it. :)

One of the other interns, who's working in IT, came by to do some sort of check on my computer . . . while moving stuff so he could get to the tower . . . I kinda broke part of the desk. :\

But all is well because I went home and watched a great game of soccer. Boca Juniors v. Universidad de Chile. Boca won 2-0. :)

Day #7: Your Food's Just Gotta Excite You!

"What's that," the man across from me in the food line asked the lady behind him.

That were a pot of veggie hotdogs. He didn't want any. I don't remember what I said, but I thought he was funny so I started talking to him.

"I was hoping for some real meat," he told me.

"Not here," I said laughing.

We were, after all, at the annual General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist's picnic! Real meat . . . yeah, right! haha.

"That just doesn't excite me," he said gesturing back to the veggie hotdogs which we were slowly leaving behind us as we made our way by the food table.

"Your food's gotta excite you!" I replied sarcastically while laughing.

He laughed and agreed with a smile.

When we finally got to the vegetable/salad section of the line, it was his turn to tease me because I wasn't getting any veggies.

"This food doesn't excite you?" He asked jokingly.

"This food doesn't excite my braces!" I responded and we both laughed.

Buddy Taylor, a friend and fellow student at Southern and summer intern, and one of my bosses, Bernadine Delafield went down the zip line with me after lunch.

This woman is seriously one of the coolest women I have EVER met in my life on so many different levels . . . Plus . . . she wears big glasses, too! lol.

Day #6: Mail Chimp & NewsPoints

Every Wednesday the NAD Office of Communication sends out an enewsletter called NewsPoints that shares news from around the Division. While the senior editor is gone, it's my job to compile the stories and make sure it goes out on time. Since the picnic is tomorrow that meant having the issue done today.

It wasn't so bad, it reminded me of an email newsletter service I'd used before. Anyway, that was my day. haha.

This is the service provider.

And here's the issue I worked on! lol

Day #5: Surprise, Surprise

I know that voice, I thought and immediately got up to go find where it was coming from. Walking down the hallway, I found it . . . or rather the person . . . but I couldn't see her face and her hair was a slightly different shade than I remembered it being the last time I saw her. So I kept walking . . . and then I heard it again . . . she was saying something else . . . that's got to be her! But I couldn't just barge into the office where this mysterious person-who-I-thought-was-my-friend was and say, "Hey . . ." Because what if it wasn't really that person and then what would I say??? "Hey . . . uh . . . never mind . . . I thought you were someone else . . . yeah . . .."?? No, I just didn't think that would work too well.

So, like a pro-stalker I did another walk-by . . . I had to get back to my desk anyway . . . and that's when I saw it . . . her face . . . and it was the person I thought it was: SURANNY! Whew . . . :)

Suranny and I canvassed together back in 2007 and both went to Southern together. We were so excited to see each other again. We hadn't seen each other for about a year and a half.

Sunday #2: I Woke Up and Went to Heaven

Literally. No joke. I honestly felt like I was in heaven today. For reals! It was probably the single BEST day of my summer so far. And that includes the day I graduated. This was seriously the most peaceful I've been since . . . I don't know if I can remember.

Everyday I went to work last month I dreamed of the sun and a farm. It's all I wanted . . . the sun and a farm . . . today I had both. Today I went to heaven. (Okay . . . maybe I'm being a bit dramatic . . . but I was pretty excited!)

This is my idea of heaven lying here. lol

The land was simply beautiful.

This was my spot on the hill. I forgot to bring a towel so my sweater served that purpose. haha. I spent most of the time reading this amazing biography about Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas, one of my favorite writers.

The farm house was furnished in the most awesome way . . . this is seriously their fridge! I loved it!

The awesome sink!

The food was simple but amazing! Fruit and nuts, chips and salsa, and pina coladas. Mmmm . . . it was heaven for sure.

Even the door handles in the house were cool.

Doing the music thing . . . there was a grand piano and I couldn't resist trying it out even though I don't really enjoy playing.

I spent more time just looking through the music books. It was there that I found this from a music test taken back in the 20s! CRAZY!

This fireplace reminded me of the one from Pride and Prejudice . . . of which I enjoyed watching the house in the movie more than the movie itself . . . just saying . . . haha.

I really loved it there . . . and I think that bright light is coming from the gates of heaven . . . jk . . . ;)

Okay, so this photo will probably only mean something to my family . . . but just so you know, this is a sawmill. My parents built their first house with one of these and then while I was growing up, my dad built a sawmill himself. Although, his was a lot different than this one. It was a dual head that cut going and coming and didn't have a circular blade (like this one). Anyway . . . being back around one with the scent of freshly cut wood just added to my illusion of paradise. lol.

Those were the logs about to be sawed.

We ended the day at Outback Steak House . . . where I ordered lots of veggies and rice (my favorite combo anyway). It was super good and a nice way to end a perfect day!

Sabbath #1: Syrian Food and Company

Mrs. Foronda is Syrian and makes AMAZING Syrian food. This Sunday is her birthday; we'll be going to the farm tomorrow . . . but why wait until then to start celebrating? No one thought we should either, so we started the party today with a delicious Syrian meal!

All the ladies minus Jeena.

I don't know all the names but I do know . . . this food takes your taste buds to a heavenly sort of place. :)

Mrs. Foronda, the birthday girl!

Me, Jeena, and Joanna. Jeena's wearing one of the wigs they picked out while I was checking out the sunglasses on evening 3.

Friday #1: Remembering KR's

Today, I left the funny and embarrassing stuff to Friends, which Joanna and I watch while cleaning the house. Afterward I went out to eat with my friend Kee who lives up here.

It seems like all of my closest friends work or have worked for my mom at one time or another . . . Jeena, who I'm living with; Kee, who I ate with tonight; and Brandan, who I posted a picture with on my first day; are all perfect examples of this phenomenon. haha.

Kee and I went to Starbucks. :) Mmmm.

Day #4: Singing at My Desk

At a party I went to a couple years ago, the guests were asked to tell something that either annoyed them or scared them. I shared a fear: singing off-key in public. I've since taken voice lessons to try and remedy this fear and it's gotten better. I now feel comfortable enough to sing congregationally in church but NEVER solo ANYWHERE . . . unless I'm goofing off . . . but that doesn't count. 

So it was a bit ironic (and hilarious) when my boss asked me to help her remember the chorus of "As the Deer." There I was, sitting and singing at my desk so she could get the right words. I didn't mind helping her . . . but since I don't like singing in public . . . it felt really strange for me to be singing . . . at my desk. haha

An outside agency brought us cookies today at work! It was amazing! ;) Also, the fact that we only work 4 days a week is pretty amazing, too . . . Week 1 is officially over! Hello, three-day weekend!

Day #3: That's Not My Name . . . Oh Wait . . . It Is . . .

"Yolanda," said the man at the front of the room and then he paused. He was introducing the NAD summer interns at the NAD departmental worship on Wednesday morning. After saying my first name,  you could tell that he was visibly thinking about trying to pronounce my last name or not and then he decided against it.

I'm used to people not even attempting my last name, but what I'm not used to is people calling me Yolanda. That's always been my mom. But it's a name I like, and it is my first name. This is a new place so I thought, why not? I'll go by Suzanne but make sure my first name is on all official-ish documents. I'll make sure people know that I'm Yolanda Suzanne.

So when I was handed a "let's get to know you better" sheet to fill out, I put Yolanda Suzanne Ocsai—my full name.

But when people call me Yolanda, it is a bit weird and I always want to correct them . . . but what do I say . . . "I'm sorry, yes, Yolanda is my name, but I'd rather be called Suzanne? Yes, I know I write Yolanda Suzanne on everything. I just like showing off my full name, but you can just call me Suzanne. Thanks."? I don't think so! lol. Perhaps this is a post-college identity crisis. :\ haha.

My name isn't the only thing I'm getting used to at work. I'm also getting reacquainted with Windows. I've used Macs for so long that I've actually forgotten how to do some simple tasks on PCs. Crazy! lol

Evening #3: I Have An Eye For You

The family I'm staying with has a 50s prom style dinner they're going to on Saturday night. So while they were shopping for wigs and other 50s stuff . . . I entertained myself with my favorite fashion accessory . . . sunglasses. 8)

Day #2: Spitting on the GC Floor

I knew I was in trouble as soon as I tried to swallow and felt the water catch in my throat. This was not going to be pretty. 

I was on a personal tour of the GC (meaning simply that I was the only one that showed up for a regularly scheduled tour time) and my guide and I had just exited the Hope Channel portion of the building when I decided I was thirsty enough to need a drink of water. Lifting my water bottle to my lips I took in a big gulp and there began my trouble. 

Before I could do anything else I was hacking while trying to hold in a mouthful of water while rushing quickly to the nearest bathroom (luckily it was just around the corner). The holding it in part didn’t exactly work . . . so as I’m rushing I’m also gushing water on the floor (okay . . . so it wasn’t quite gushing but close enough . . . haha). I was mortified. Here I am on my second day of work, spitting up water all over the GC floor. 

Actually looking back it was hilarious . . . but at the moment, it was so embarrassing! I was thankful my guide was a kind lady who took it all in stride. Haha. Fun times. 

Despite spitting up on the floor, they still issued me a badge. lol

Day #1: Walking In On Someone

It's brighter than I remember . . . and I those decorations look different . . . I thought to myself . . . and there's . . . a body . . . uh . . .  

The GC building is seriously a maze of cubicles and hallways. I got so lost today so many times. While looking for one person's office I ended up at someone else's ACROSS the building! Then while looking for my hallway I walked down the wrong one—but found someone I knew so that was cool.
And finally while trying to get back to my cubicle . . . the most awkward moment happened of the day . . .

"Uh, sorry," I said to the lady looking up at me. "I thought this was my cubicle." I'd just walked into someone else cubicle completely thinking it was mine until I quickly noticed everything looked just a bit different and there was someone sitting in the chair where I would have been. Awwwwkward . . . yet, oh so funny!—afterward. haha.

Today is the first day of my first official internship. But not everything was new . . . an old friend was also in the building and stopped by to say 'hi.' :) Well, would you look at who it is?!? Brandan Roberts! haha

Sunday #1: Horse Shows and Cookouts

We drove all last night to make it to Maryland in time for my cousin's horse show at 9 a.m. Which my grandmother and I fell asleep through part of (luckily not the part where Noreen performed). Then there was a graduation cookout for me . . . during which, my grandmother locked us all out of the apartment. haha . . . Maryland's already been quite the entertainer.

My cousin Noreen and I before the show. I was freezing!

This is the cake Noreen made me. I loved it!