Going to Fast

    This went by to fast,  I can't believe that I have 2 more days until I'm back to my normal life. I really wish this program could be extended for atleast another week.
    Today was the last day of music, photo lit and acting which is sad since those three are my favorite classes. I'm really gonna miss the teachers this year and I feel like over these three weeks I have gotten more and more connected with them and that has helped me learn better and it allows me to be able to take more from the experience.
    I'm basically done with all of my work,  I have a few things here and there but those can be quickly done. I'm really dreading Friday,  I'm gonna be a mess.

Getting Closer

Today honestly has been stressful, the work is getting tougher and the due dates seem to be coming super fast. this program, in my opinion, has been gone by so fast and it sucks because this program is the highlight of my summer every year. One good thing about this week has been that I've gotten closer with some of the people in my section group, being in class wit them gave me a lot of time to become closer and bind more with them.

Music class

Totally Lit

Tonight was pretty lit, we had out annual gearup dance party.  It was by far the best thing we have done, I just wish it could have been longer.  I also got to go see zootopia, which is officially my favorite movie of 2016. It was the cutest thing I have ever watched and in my opinion it beats finding dory. Another plus that happened was that I got to sleep in which made me happy.

Rudy and Nick

Malibu Jacks

Malibu jacks was super fun tonight, I had an amazing time. It was hands down one of the best activities we have done. I got to dominate laser tag and air hockey, I also went go karting like 4 times. I am honesty exhausted. The car ride there was tense, while the ride back was pretty lit, I feel more bonded with my LLC group.

I'm also sick again, I think it's due to my allergies though, but either way I get more sick in he summer than the winter.

Today at lunch was also pretty cool, I feel more connected with the friends I've made here.

It is going on to the next week, meaning the end is near, just thinking about it makes me sad because I don't wanna leave the people that are here, they're my family.

Colt, Casey, Makayla and Taylor at lunch today

Sick days and Recoveries

Yesterday was terrible, I basically stayed in the dorms the whole day because I was really sick. I went to my first class, lunch, and played kickball yesterday night when I was feeling better, but other than that it was a pretty boring day.

Today I was back in action, I feel a whole lot better than I did yesterday. I was able to catch up on all of my work an be on the same pace as everyone else. In Chinese class today I got a Chinese name and I got to paint a mask that are used in Chinese festival, it was honesty a really chill day.

My Chinese name and mask

Legends

Actually remembered to blog tonight, GO ME!

So today was the first day of our elective class and I got Chinese. The only thing I can say about that class is that it honestly made my brain hurt, I heard that Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn, so I'm putting myself through a struggle. But, I really wanted this class because I'm really into Asian culture and this gives me the opportunity to explore more, so why not take it.

We went to the Lexington Legends baseball game today as well, and even though I'm not really into baseball I still had fun. There was also an incident that had happened, some said that it was a tiny fire in the kitchen below us, but either way it resulted in leaving the party deck and for the fire department to come. Overall, even with that happening I had fun, and would love to experience it over again.

Makayla, Me and Taylor

Community Service and Summer Olympics

Just noticed I forgot to blog yesterday, oops. Which is surprising because yesterday's activity was the best so far. We did community service projects, and what I did yesterday was help paint lockers and walls in a school for the upcoming school year, it was really fun and I'm proud of how they turned out.

I got to sleep in until 10:30 this morning, best sleep I ever had. But today was an exhausting day, I honestly feel like I'm going to fall asleep any second. We had our Gear Up Summer Olympics, which consisted of a bunch of games and relay races. I think my team did pretty well today. Shout out to the Panda Army.

Sticks and Dresses

Looking for sticks is always fun. We had to look for sticks so the World Music teacher can widdle them into things we can use for our performance at the banquet. Today I wore a dress for the whole

Abstract Art

day, which is a big thing for me because I haven't worn one in about three years, it was really different, but I liked it. Gallery hop was also today, we had it a lot earlier than last year's. I had alot of fun with my group, even though I didn't get starbucks. This afternoon was definitely a highlight and makes me excited about future activities.

Today

Today was the first day of our core classes, we only had three today and they, in my opinion, are the fun classes out of the five. Today was World Music, Acting, And Photographic Literacy. Two out the three had the teachers from last year which made those classes fun and enjpyable. I also made new friends and hung out with ones from last year.

Irish Fella

My Taste of China

Tried Chinese food at Panda Cuisine for the first time tonight, wasn't a fan though, I also learned how to use Chop sticks. Panda Cuisine wasn't a bad place to eat at, I just don't like Chinese food, but I totally recommend the restaurant to anyone. The best part of the night was the Chinese Karaoke, well there wasn't much Chinese music it was more American and Kpop music, but we still partied hard. I also met yesterday person who loves Kpop just as much as I do and today at Panda cuisine I found out that a girl that was here last year also likes kpop, so now all three of us just talk about Kpop.

Year 2: Back at it Again

Well, I'm back again for the 2nd time at Gear Up Summer Academy at UK and a lot has changed. First off, there's like 3 times more people than last year, and we are in a new building that has 7 freaking floors, like wow. On the ride down here I was accompanied by shaylee, and no offense to her it was boooring, I honestly slept the whole way here. When we got here and got our room keys, I found out that I was accidentally roomed with a guy, yikes. Met a bunch of cool people yesterday, but I'm bummed that my best friends Kaitlyn and Jessica couldn't attend this year. But, I have high expectations for these three weeks.

Me and Shaylee on an adventure

Goodbyes

Today was bittersweet. I was so sad to leave UK, but I am excited to be home and see all my hometown friends. The time I spent with GEAR UP was amazing and I couldn't ask for a better experience. I am glad I meet the people I did, and made the friends I did. If someone had asked me what I would like to do differently if I had the chance to go back, I wouldn't change a thing. I feel like if I changed anything that the experience wouldn't have been the same, because I started this program alone, but I finished with a family that I wouldn't trade for the world.

The End

Yesterday was the last day for everything, all the classes are over and we decided to go to a Legends Baseball game and out to Golden Coral, It was nice ,but we are leaving today. I am preparing the last parts for my speech at the showcase tonight. I'm really excited to see my parents and my little bro and my uncle. I already know I'm going to cry, I'm going to miss everyone.

Final Days

Kaitlyn and Taylor

Today was the final day of my World Music, Photography and Communication classes, which happened to be my favorites of all. Tomorrow is my last class of EDU and Acting, I;m sad that it;s the last day for acting, but not so much EDU. I also found out that I was chosen to do a speech I did for my communications class to represent my group (101) at the Final showcase, I'm pretty excited.

Long Walks

I'm writing this blog earlier than I usually do only because I have nothing else to do. But in 10 minutes we are all going on a 2 hour whole campus tour, and supposedly it's a 4 mile walk. I'll be adding a photo later.

Colt, Taco and Donavan

Dull Days and New Electives

Kaitlyn playing guitar

Today really wasn't exciting, the only things I liked about today are that I had World Music class and Photo Lit. I also have a new elective called Marketing Me, which just is basically about ourselves. And by tomorrow night we need to have a 2-4 page autobiography about ourselves finished, and I haven't even started. Wish me luck.

Olymipics

Yesterday we had the second and last round of Olympics. Our team was second last week, but we ended up losing. The events were fun, and I was a finalist in noodle javelin. Out of our team I got the highest score for my throws, and I'm proud. That was about it.

Fun picture from yesterday

Ecuadorians and Dance Parties

My Ecuadorian class

Yesterday we did this thing called Ecuador Exchange, which was where we had 29 native Ecuadorians; who are studying to get their teaching degrees, teach us  about their culture. We got to dance salsa in a big group, we all got beautifully made bracelet, and we got to take pictures. We also had a dance party that happened from 9-11:30. It was a lot of fun to dance and hang out with friends.

Gallery Hopping

Yesterday we got the chance to go down into downtown Lexington and go to different galleries. I thought was fun and amazing to look at some weird and abstract art. I would totally do it again.

Brain Farts

Have you ever just brain farted, and just have not been able to remember anything. Well tonight that's what I've been having all day, throughout all my classes and even writing this blog post. My mind has shut down from all these assignments, but I'm trying to get through it. The most difficult assignment I have is from my Turkish class, where we have to memorize 50 Turkish words for a vocabulary test tomorrow. We also have to write an argumentative essay about a global problem. 

This picture goes with my Argumentative Essay.