I am 20 years old, yes, I know I'm reaching that infamous and ever-oh-so-exciting age of the big 2 1....but that's not till March 25th. Yes folks, that is a number you will identify me with from now on. 325. March 25. It's everywhere, you know...on BMW cars (325i), on lunch menus, on suits on sale, twice a day on your clocks, I'm telling you, it's everywhere. And now that you are aware of that, everytime you see that number, you will think, "JO!" Um, right.
I attend University of Florida at Gainesville. ( http://www.ufl.edu) Go GATORS! (Right now, though, I'm not in the whole school-spirit mood because of the awful and embarassing loss by last year's champions, UM. Arg, the hateful 'canes.) This is my third year here in the university (I'm almost there!) and I'm planning to get outta here by next summer. But that's just a plan, and we all know, MOST plans do not work. I am an English major, minoring in education. This web page is actually an assignment for one of my education classes, educational technology. I was very nervous in taking this course because I am number one COMPUTER ILLITERATE, but hopefully, I'll achieve much more than I expected by the end of this semester! (Hopefully!) I am planning (there goes that word again) to become an English teacher in, gulp, a high school. In an urban school. Am I crazy? Yes, I think I am. Wherever I may end up, that's what I would like to be. In my own decorated classroom, full of determined or non-determined, loud, stubborn high school students, ready to enter the zone of Jo's world, oh wait, Ms. Morales's World of Literature. Ms. Morales. That's going to be me. (Of course, when I'm not married. Actually I'm thinking of keeping my name even after marriage. I guess it depends on my spouse's last name...) That is the PLAN. I am planning to take my master's in UF's pro-teach program, so in approximately 2 more years, I'll be here in "G-ville" (as I call it.) Sigh...
I am from Tampa, Florida. Two hours away from G-ville. And I miss it a lot. (which is why I sighed at the end of the last paragraph). I'm not completely satisfied with the town, oh yah, the CITY of Gainesville. Yes there are college students everywhere. But I need more. and I need A LOT MORE diversity. Tampa, I think, portrays that variety a little better. I definitely love living away from home, but it's almost kind of like a paradox. My apartment here in G-ville is an escape from home, whereas, my home is an escape from my apartment. Both very refreshing in their own ways.
Let's get a little more personal, probing a little further in Joanelle's brain. I feel so violated! Not really, mostly because I'm the one exposing myself. But whatever.
I am very family-oriented. I love my family with all my heart and soul. They have always been my priority and will always be. Let's briefly introduce them. My father is a hot old asian man who is very proud and who has always emphasized education (which is why I am here. I'm a product of his educational enterprise. Ha ha.) My mother is a beautiful, cheerful, and hardworking woman who is dearly missed ("I love you forever"). I have a crazy and wonderful older brother who I call gorilla because of his abnormal size (ha ha, I'm just kidding with you Kuya!) An older sister, who I respect and greatly admire. She's also very hot. < wink > And a handsome and very intelligent younger brother who I call an accident because we are so close in age range. The last two attend USF (University of South Florida - go bulls?) And last, but not least, I have an extremely adorable and beautiful and smart and talented and fiesty niece, Maylani Morales, who truly is the "sunshine" of my life (that's what her name means in Hawaiian.) She's five and she's started kindergarten ( I feel sooo old!)
Now, let's just spew some facts because I believe
I'm starting to write a novel if I go into more detail of my wierdo life.
First, I want to give my "shout-outs" to my dear
friends, who would love to see their names on the internet. =). These
following people are also very important in my life and I will introduce
each and of them as soon as I find the time to.
My two dependable roomates of the past 2 wholesome
college years: Tina Khurana ("Honey") , and Sadie Richardson ("Chocolate").
Both refuse to use their real names (Payal and Ceddeth, respectively).
I can't forget my summer roomate who we miss very much, Manisha Patel ("Chunky
Monkey" and "Pleasantly Plump" 4eva!) My newest roomie is Katie Dempsey
("Cinnamon") who I am excited to bond with!
My old friends from back-in-the-days who I cherish
dearly, Jen Soberal and Fitz Sanchez.
And my wonderful and lovable high school clan:
Ann Ha, Christine Rojas, Cory Klippel, Sean Koo, Mary Yang, Melissa Dickinson,
Tara Dilzer, Mari Sakai, Christian McNamera, Jonathan Chulikavit, Kia Flowers,
Pat Kaowichien, Mego Rieger, and David Rojas.
And last, but not least, my newest friends from
the summer camp that I worked at this past summer (Go CAMP KEYSTONE!):
Burt Blank and Jessica Rondeau.
Oh! And Adam Jones. I can't forget "Vanilla
Bean."
Second, more facts (WooHoo!)
I had two dogs. Kidlat ("Lightning" in
my language) and Juno (an Alaskan breed. get it? Juneau?) I
love dogs. I hate cats. Sorry for all of you cat-lovers.
My language, by the way, is Tagalog, the main
language in the Philippines---My homeland, of which I miss very much, considering
I haven't been back for 13 years. I moved here in the good ol U S
of A when I was 7. How I wish can go back and visit but unfortunately,
I am a poor college student. Yes I can speak the language but it
is "broken" because I haven't had much practice. A hint that it's
time to go back don't you think?
Speaking of traveling, I love to travel.
I always used to love going on our long road trips with the fam, to as
close as Miami, to all the way to San Francisco, California. I wish
I could travel some more, but again, I am broke.
I am a HUGE daydreamer. Which is the main
reason why my email address is qiujote@hotmail.com, or quijote@ufl.edu.
To those who would like to respond to my NOVEL, I would love to hear from
you ( I love getting mail! My preference is the good old fashioned "snail
mail" but nevertheless, I love receiving mail.) Don Quixote, by the
way, is a character in a Spanish legend who was a big dreamer. Do
you remember the story about the windmills? That's him.
I want to travel the world. I want to
taste every kind of food. I want to experience.
period.
Here are my recent "PLANS":
1. study abroad to England (Cambridge, preferably)
and then explore or back pack all over Europe but particularly, ITALY
["When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie, that's AMORE."
(get serenaded in of those boats in Venice)] and GREECE ( to see all the
ruins). oh, and Spain, to "run with the bulls" < wink >
2. go to AUSTRALIA and meet my husband
there, if I don't meet him in Italy. ha ha. (I love Heath Ledger)
3. go to Hawaii or to the Caribbean (preferably
on a cruise ship) just to see what all the hype is about.
4. sky-dive.
5. be a bartender.
6. take a Ballroom dancing course.
Oh! I love to sing (though I am terrible at it),
mostly because of lyrics or if it makes me dance. I love to dance.
and, I love chocolate.
Thank you for visiting and sorry I took up your
time. For any comments, please write me at qiujote@hotmail.com.
Gracias, Salamat, Grazi, and all that good stuff!