Author: Yourcupatea

Studying.

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AP

Studying is definitely not my forte, but I try. I read, reread, write, rewrite, list terms, and read again. Through doing this process I hope that some how the knowledge and information prints itself on my brain.

In no way are my study sessions intense. I spend a period learning, normally consisting of 30minutes, then reward myself with treats such as a game of tetris battle then continue. In many ways I wish I could spend a day studying without getting bored and maybe then I could achieve a 99% on a test.

As AP exams are approaching I have started to dedicate a lot of time to study and to work. Through doing this I have realized that I have not learnt everything I need to know in classes and in others I know it all.

This is extremely worrying but when other classmates voice the same opinions I realize it’s not just me.

Maybe I should have studied more throughout the year, creating AP study guides from September. But isn’t that why we take notes in class and go to class in the first place.

I guess all I can do now is study, study, study to the best of my ability.

New Starts.

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Paths

It’s time for new starts, new beginnings, and new adventures. Recently I have found myself saying quite frequently “if you fear something it must be good” and this has become the motto for my life at its current state.

With so much change coming into my life I can’t help but to feel nervous and in many ways sad. Letting go of relationships, family and old lifetimes will be tough as I have previously experienced, but change is always good.

I am about to forge a new path for myself, expanding to new horizons and becoming the person I am destined to be. I have no restraints to hold me back except myself and realistically that’s the easiest battle.

It’s time to take small steps towards great new starts.

Nasty Habits.

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Eating

We all have nasty habits that are tough to change. Either we are unwilling to give them up or it’s impossible to stop. When people comment, you commit to changing and begin to take steps to prevent future incident, but this mind set lasts maybe a day and then the common cycle kicks in and you revert back to your old ways.

Sometimes the words of others don’t mean anything and you don’t want to change. Sometimes you need something more like maybe an ultimatum. For me it was someone who owned the same bad habit that has made me stop. Well at least attempt to for good.

Tonight I hand prepared a meal of Spaghetti Bolognese for my family and I. I slaved over it and put all of my heart and soul into it, just for it to gobbled up in 2 minutes by my auntie. Finding this extremely disrespectful I realized I am very similar in my speedy habits, just not to the extreme.

Luckily for me I had this realization when she first arrived, a month ago making me slow down significantly. Tonight just emphasized the terrible habit I own, keeping me on track to successfully changing.

Looking at a mirror of your disgusting behaviors is extremely helpful but not everyone is as lucky as me to have this opportunity. So next times you commit the crime just think of someone doing the same habit in front of you. How do you feel?

Something New.

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Passover Plate

This weekend I experienced something new, my first Passover Seder.  Although I grew up with close Israeli family friends religion was never something that was shared between our two families. I had never experienced any part of the Jewish religion nor had any in-depth knowledge. So this experience was exciting for me.

I must admit I was a little nervous after being taunted all day about Passover proceedings. As I sat down at the table all nerves disappeared, after all it was a new experiences something exciting not something to be feared.

It was a more liberal affair that I expected with some breaded shrimp on the menu. The whole event was a lot of fun with a lot of great food. With some reading, eating and some silly dancing from drunken parents it was definitely a night to remember.

Trying something new was definitely fun and I look forward to more Jewish events in the future.

Keeping Up Traditions.

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Love

It is always important to keep up certain traditions, family memoirs that mean something personal and connect you with those who have passed or those that are far away.

Today I cooked my Grandmas recipe for an Easter nest. In no way is the recipe extravagant or different but to me it really means something.

I was taught this recipe at the age of 3. With my pull up stool giving me a little height, but not enough for my eyes to meet the counter, I would help her as much as I could in the kitchen. When I would arrive at their house I would run into the secret cupboard retrieve the stool and run into the kitchen readily awaiting my grandma’s presence to bake our Easter nests together.

As I grew taller and could reach the counter on my own the stool grew dusty but never did the recipe in my mind of the famous Easter nest. Yearly we would bake this same recipe together; it was our tradition, until I moved away.

Last year I made the nest all the way in California but it was not the same without her there. This year I will do the same. Although in many ways it makes me sad, this ritual is a joyous motion that honors my grandmother in England and connects us through a single recipe, despite the distance. This is a recipe I will pass on to my children and one day make with my grandchildren to connect to my Grandmother wherever she may be, passing on the love that I feel for her to them through our Easter nests.

An Ideal Sunday.

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Papa Lennon's

Sunday is traditionally a family day, a day of rest, good food and relaxing. A day that includes some sort of walk or exercise and family bonding.

I woke up, ate breakfast and as my family travelled to the farmers market to gather provisions of fresh fruit and veg for the week, I sat studiously doing my homework. Traditionally on one of these days lunch  consists of a pub lunch, but as I now live in America the steak and ale pie and chips had to be constituted with a panini from Ojai’s delicious, Papa Lennon’s.

After eating some delicious food my family and I travelled up the 33 to Rose falls. Here we followed the short trailhead to the magnificent falls, nature at its finest.

After a period of time we travelled onwards to White Rocks where we admired the view from the roadside. After a long day we travelled back into town stopping for a handmade pastry and coffee at the artsy Ojai cafe, Bohemia. We  travelled home, as the sun set, preparing ourselves for the feast that would be cooked by my mother.

Now I am looking forward to a night in front of the fire with a good film and a cup of hot cocoa and a big slice of chocolate cake, after I have stuffed myself with dinner that is.

What a relaxing, ideal Sunday.

That Song.

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Record Player.

I have recently become addicted to one song. When I say addicted I mean I have listened it on loop for over a week now. Believe me a song has to be pretty special for me not to get sick of it and  The Shins , “New Slang” is exactly that.

When I saw a Facebook status saying how excited my friend was for the new “Shins album” I thought I better give this band a listen and that’s exactly what I did. I logged on to Spotify, typed in The Shins and listened through their numerous albums. Little did I know that I had actually had listened to many of the songs before including “New Slang.”

It was so familiar to my ears and as I listened to it I recognized it strangely from the hit TV series Scrubs. It was one of those songs that you hear, love and search for, but can never find it on YouTube and other search tools.

So now that I know the title and band of  that song, I have not stopped listening and I am very excited to hear new material from this New Mexico indie group, The Shins.

Up In The Clouds.

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On rainy days my house is literally up in the clouds. A white, greyish fluff of some sort obscures every window; the only thing you can see is the looming silhouettes of large oak trees. That is why on days when it is raining I love to be inside, relaxing in my safe and cosy abode.

With a warm fire burning, delicious home cooked food and good music I am set, and lets not forget copious amounts of blankets. Rainy days are they only days I don’t feel bad about doing nothing, staying inside and being lazy and that is why I love the rain.

So kick back, relax and enjoy the rain.

Bed

Family.

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Group Hug.
Family is one of the most important things in someone’s life. They are the people that support, surprise and sometimes sadden someone. Family is the people we treasure throughout our lives whatever happens. They are the friends we never forget.

This October my big sister will be moving out to California to reunite with our family and once again become part of the unit. The 2-year separation has now finished and my best friend is returning home.

I can say whatever the distance and whatever the situation the love of family will never change. This is because family are ultimately our best friends.

The stress truly never ends.

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Stress !!

My college letters are due any time in the next few weeks. Yes this is very exciting, yes this is nerve racking and although my applications are in and basically completed the stress continues.

Two days ago I was told that I needed to submit additional material, my GCSE grades. This material must come from the official exam boards in an extensive, expensive process.

No my official certificates cannot simply be sent by me, instead they have to take 28days processing in England with postage, processing and other projects paid by me. This is truly ridiculous.

It’s not that the whole process that annoys me; it’s the fact that no one told me. Now I’m up late at night stressing out with no sleep filling out forms and wondering how on earth am I going to get into college.

The stress truly never ends.