Cerises

Now, as I've said before: I was restless without things to do in Canada. Everything I wanted to do included English. So, I finally broke down and downloaded Angry Birds. I figured if my 30 year old brother and my 6 year old nephew could enjoy it, pourquoi pas? 

It all started with beating Rio (free vs) during the first week, but then I realized I hadn't even downloaded the original yet. I became obsessed with playing Les Oiseaux en Colere anytime waiting was involved--on the toilet, before an event, on the toilet--and then it happened. There I was, getting stuck on the beginning of Level III. 

I mean, it took me at least a day if not more of bathroom-time to beat that, and I have Crohn's disease. How was my nephew getting anywhere in this game? 

I guess this would be a good time to mention I'm pretty much terrible at everything I try, including video games. And that's probably the reason my older brothers wouldn't let me play with them when I was a kid. Instead, I spent hours sitting in front of the television, watching Splinter Cell on repeat for hours. I guess that's why the only thing I'm occasionally decent at is writing; I followed those game stories to a T. 

I also can't do a cartwheel, or a handstand, or ride a bike or stand on a skateboard, or keep a rhythm, or win at cards, or, you know, anything remotely cool. I think it's got something to do with the fact that a few years back whenever friends, for instance, asked if I wanted to play Texas Hold 'Em, I said no. All because I never knew how. Nowadays, I try to remind myself all I'll be able to say is no if I don't ever say yes and simply learn. 

I can snap backwards though, and I'll bet not many people can do that. But it's okay--I survived. Like a vegan in a household of carnivores--you can create substitutes. Thus, when my friends rode their bikes on campus, I halfway caught up by riding my scooter, all the while looking like Anne Hathaway on The Princess Diaries (but worse and more poor).

Yet I can say I had a lot of firsts in Canada. Albeit rather badly, I tried my hand at many things: french immersion, for starters. I think the only time I've gone more than five weeks without speaking english I was still in diapers. 

But that's not the only new thing. I got a little taste of Poi, a big taste of Acadian Rappie Pie when we prepared it in class, I attempted juggling and a few "simple" acrobatic stunts, I (perhaps re-)learned 21 during Casino night (as well as re-learning how to properly use a canoe), and I stumbled my way through weeks of various dancing (African, Salsa, Waltz, some strange Louisiana two-step), watched a cornicopia of foreign films for the first time (let's schedule a movie night to watch CRAZY in English, okay?), and I'd certainly never been that far from home before and, aside from college (which I count as my second home), never so long. I met fascinating people who've done some really cool things, and they're the same age as me. 

This inspired me to step up my game. My personal resume. You know, like Match.com or eHarmony. 

Karen Cockrum

Born in Texas, 1991

Interesting Facts:

1. Devoted half a summer to complete French immersion at a university in Nova Scotia

…

…..

……..that's it.

(…which could also be read as:

Not all that Interesting of a Fact:

1. Spent five expensive weeks partyin' it up with Canadians)

Actually I don't think that's how those website are set up at all. I wouldn't know--I have to be at least…28 before I sink that low. Anyways, the point besides me being uninteresting is that I've had a taste of adventure, and I want more. 

Well. Time to go play Super Nintendo Aladdin.