my last day

Yesterday was my last day at my volunteer agency. It was fitting. I helped the girls decorate their Christmas tree. I taught one of the girls, M., an easier version of "Fur Elise". We ate burgers and had cake. I gave them all some candy I had bought at See's. M. then showed me her room--the first time ever--and wanted me to watch this video she made for a health class. It was really good and hilarious. I'll never forget it. I was so happy that she let me in, that she wanted me to stay, to teach her more piano. She hugged me on the way out.

I think I'm going to go back. Go back and volunteer next semestre. How funny. I mean, 4 months ago I was dreading going to my volunteer agency, and now...It's different. I like helping out, being with the girls and playing piano with them. I've been so selfish and lazy. But now, I feel like I've made a difference in someone's life. It's just piano, but...I don't know the fact that it's music, and it's good just means everything to me. I got them interested in piano. That's so cool. Giving back is so rewarding. Thank you God for putting me through this. For this experience.

I just had my last French class. Madame asked us to bring some food or drinks to share for our last class, and I brought Orangina. T. gave me a little present, this mints tin that's shaped like a guitar. Whenever T. and D. and I had to practice for our French skits, he always brought these mints to share with us. I told him that I'd take it to France with me and take pics with it in front of the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. I gave them presents too: one of those French word-a-day calendars and a mix cd I made with songs that remind me of winter or Christmas.

I'm so sad that I might not see them again--both of them weren't sure about continuing French. But I'm glad that I met them and had these classes with them. Good people. It's always nice to meet good people.

I don't think I ever wrote about him before, oh wait, yes, there's this guy in my French class, Th.. He sits with these other people across the room. Anyway, I wrote about him before a while back--I was studying and I looked up and saw him looking at me, and I kinda got weirded out. Anyway...two days ago, I saw him on my way to Borders. He didn't see me, but I saw him and he was riding his bike (those ones with the skinny wheels), and he was wearing this newsboy's cap and had his backpack on, and it was really cute. I mean, the sight of this guy on his skinny-wheeled bike made me so happy. Guys on those skinny-wheeled bikes are cute. They're abundant here in SF.

I was walking out, and I saw him unlocking his bike from this guard rail outside Humanities. I walked towards him and said, "Bye, Th." He looked up and said, "Oh, bye."

"Are you going to continue French next year?" I asked.
"Yeah, 205."
"Awesome, I'll see you there!" And I walked away.

Can you believe it? I spoke to this guy for the first time on our last day of classes. I walked away thinking, "Oh my God, I'm Supergirl." I was so happy. I mean, two years ago, I would have walked the other way and totally avoided him.

So, I'm filled with joy and happiness. Is it because it's Christmas? Is it because of this cold, winter air that fills my lungs, the Christmas lights, the carols, the gingerbread cookies? I went over my Christmas presents money limit. I've spent to date over $250 on my friends and family. And I still need to shop for my friends back home. I don't have a job. I don't even care. This season is all about giving, and if I have to eat pb&j for a while next semestre, then so be it. So be it.