Chinese Youth Camp counselor interviews was this weekend. They usually don’t allow college kids back, but the adults are allowing some this year. Two guys and two girls from college, to be exact. According to one panelist at my interview today, there are a LOT of college kids applying this year. I was asked what I feel I bring to the table that the other college kids don’t, especially with my crutch of only going to camp for three years and no years as a camper. I didn’t want to pull the head counselor card, so I summed up my feelings for camp and my dedication for it in a sentence. I was pleased with myself at the end. My fate is still in the committee’s hands.

Okay that was a shitty ass blog. Thanks to Megan Stewart for hanging out with me today. It made my weekend worthwhile. Besides counselor interviews, of course.

“Where the Wild Things Are” is a new movie slated for release soon (read: October 2009). Okay, I grew up in a home where both my parents spoke limited English. One of my only books at home was “Goodnight Moon.” A classic, if you ask me. At Piney Point Elementary in Houston, my teacher Ms. Hetrick read us “Where the Wild Things Are.” I don’t remember anything about it. I remember the monsters in the jungle. So naturally, I picked up this shirt at Urban Outfitters.

Dirty ass mirror 

It’s amazing how I even remember my kindergarten teacher’s name. Speaking of elementary school one of the panelists asked me about my best memory from Askew Elementary (where I went later), and I replied, “When we won the 1999 HISD Elementary chess tournament.” He replied, “I only asked because I went there.” Oh snap.

And this shout out has come a long, long way, but thanks Tina Melamed for accompanying me to Quantum of Solace. We watched it at a small screen at Dobie Theater, but damn, was it worth it. One of the few movies I’d pay $9 to see. Even though I got the $6 student ticket.

And of course you’ve been waiting for this part. I’m not a big Lykke Li fan, her music is just too mellow for me. Except for a couple of tracks that show a bit more electronic, I can’t say I like (haha get it) her. I found this Chuck Brody remix.

Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone (Chuck Brody Remix)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/592010411a51b473/

James H, David L, and Annieky Y came to visit Pat and me in Austin. They passed by Roger C’s house and they stayed a bit at our dorm, watching old CYC videos. We went to Mellow Mushroom later that night, and it was good as ever. Their plans for the rest of the night were to buy fireworks and shoot them at James’s ranch. At first I was reluctant to go because I’d rather stay in Austin and see what was going down later that night. Then I realized we got to shoot fireworks. Who would rather sit and watch fireworks than shoot fireworks themselves on Independence Day?

On the way to La Grange, we see a huge fireworks megastore, lit up by a dozen floodlights. Inside, its walls are full of all kinds of things that go boom. I think we ended up buying $100+ worth of fireworks. It’s ten times more fun being close to the mortars when they shoot the fireworks into the sky, and they go off directly above you. I guess it’s just human nature to see shit being blown up. Pictures are up on Facebook, videos coming soon.

For $75 in the summer semester, I get 10 Gb of bandwidth a week of internet anywhere on the University of Texas campus. The bandwidth resets every Thursday. Well, on Friday I realized that I have used 16 Gb… I’m over the limit by 6 Gb and counting. The number keeps getting bigger because they don’t restrict my internet. So I’m guessing at the end of this week, I’m gonna get this big ass bill. My weekly usage averages around 5 to 6 Gb. How did I get this high? I have no idea. But I’m sure one big component was Team Fortress 2, which is about 6 Gb. Since the ethernet allows me to download at speeds in excess of 2 mb/s it felt like nothing. Hence the videos coming soon, it’ll be too much bandwidth used.

I’ll be in Houston next weekend. My plans include checking out the Chinese Youth Camp counselor training. The only downside to getting summer programmed at UT is missing CYC. But summer program opens all new doors of oppurtunity for me. CYC will be great this year.  Despite some crucial players not attending, I still think CYC will make it. A lot of older kids have phased out, some are not going this year. From what I’ve heard, there has been quite a bit of promoting, and there are more 16 year old counselors this year. 2006 was the year Wesley, Tracey and I were the 16 year old counselors. Even last year, when everyone thought CYC was going to shit, and we had an inexperienced guy head counselor, CYC still made it. I think this year will be a challenge to the newbloods. Since all of the older kids have since moved on, 2008 will be a challenge to the new generation of CYC. They’re coming in early, and I believe they can do it. We should forget what we thought of them before, but we should focus on how they can contribute to CYC. I highly doubt anyone from CYC will read this, but I sincerely hope the counselor team this year can put aside differences and make CYC own this year. The advisors this year are all former CYC counselors, I know they will keep the weaker groups together. There have been a bunch of new campers on the younger side to join and we want them to keep coming. I’ve only been at camp a total of 3 years; everyone says I missed all the years that camp was fun. I think the three years I’ve been here have been the most fun. If we can bring that kind of fun to camp, now that we’re back at McNeese, CYC just may be saved.

I’m going to try to visit the counselors next week at training, but I doubt that the adults will let me in. I’ve got a feeling the group advisors will be like, “Hell no.” Actually, I have in mind two advisors I know for sure that will say that. It’s true, I have no business being at training, but I’m just curious about the counselors this year and I’m hoping to give them some pointers. But to tell the truth, despite everything I say, I still miss CYC dearly. I just want to see all the people from CYC at training.

CYC is at McNeese State University this year. Lake Charles is 8 hours driving from Austin. Who knows, I just may show up. Probably not.

Summer Freshmen Class at the University of Texas - Austin starts with orientation on June 10. The first day of class is June 16, and it ends August 18th. Summer of my senior year, gone. Considering that I graduated at the top 31% of my class, I’m pretty happy that I at least got into UT, while most of my friends were capped to UT - San Antonio or Texas A&M.

I mean, give up one summer for four years of an education? I was accepted to A&M as a general studies major and at the University of Houston as a hotel and restaurant management major. I’m currently undeclared in the summer, but Cockrell Engineering gave me a call saying if I pull off a 2.5 in the summer, get an A in my math class, and get 10 semester hours, I’ll be admitted to Cockrell in the fall semester. So it’s not all loss.

I could have held a job this summer, I was thinking working as a sales representative at CarMax. I love cars, and on top of that, I know most everything a person would need to know when choosing a car. I’m also missing CYC. Even though this would be my fourth year at camp, it feels like I’ve been there forever. Starting as an assistant counselor and moving all the way up to head counselor was quite an experience. Camp was all about getting to know everyone and having fun. Unfortunately, camp will probably be on the week right before finals, so I doubt I’ll be visiting. It’s in Lake Charles this year, and that’s a good 6 hour drive from Austin. Also, camp is shorter by one day, so it’s bye-bye on Saturday.

My dad insists on driving me up on Monday because my parents can’t bear the fact that their eldest son is leaving for college. Well, I also won’t be needing a car in college, so someone has to drop me off. I’m packing all my clothes in this huge suitcase thinking to myself what I should bring… It’s going to be life all by myself… I can’t express how excited I am. My dad always tells me how I’ll never survive when I live alone. So up yours, Dad. Have fun trying to figure out the mail we get, oh wait they’re all in English. All I really need are my clothes, bathroom goods, and this laptop. Judging from Patrick’s Facebook pictures, the dorm rooms are too small for furniture, but roomy enough to live in.

At the end of the day, I’m genuinely excited for college. I’m going to miss all of my friends in Houston, enjoy your summer while you can. I want to meet lots of new people and explore the city of Austin. Oh, I almost forgot the most important, I want to do well in my classes! :) Wish me luck with the laundry.

I managed to get the Google Adsense to work. You know what to do with it. I’ll be changing my song soon…