Summer Plans

[delSol_si]

So I kinda have to make up my mind for summer plans in the next week...

Plan A:
Go back home to Springfield and spend summer with the folks. I will get to sail my sailboat, ski, mow the lawn (yes, i actually enjoy mowing the lawn), and spend time with my parents, grandparents, and maybe some other relatives. I will have to work hard to try to find a job, last summer I was unable to find one. I also have a younger brother and sister there who annoy me quite a bit. I also have no friends who live up there, so I am pretty well by myself. I will get my own bedroom, more or less (its actually my sisters room, but she wont be there), get to eat good food, have normal life amenities.

Plan B:
Go with my sister to do some Christian leadership training at the YMCA in Colorado. I would leave for this 10 days after school is out and come back home for 10 days before starting school again. I will be guaranteed a job up there, but the job will more than likely suck (probably housekeeping) and the pay will be crap. Plus, I will have to pay $700 up front for the training. So, if my calculations are correct and I spend little to nothing up there, I will take home probably about 1000 bucks. I think I actually will make like $2000, but i subtracted 700 for the upfront cost and then another 300 for estimated taxes. food and shelter is provided. so, it won't be a money maker but it will be a job. I will get to spend the summer with my sister whom I get along with really well. I will more than likely make lots of friends (I don't have many friends right now, so that is a plus for me). Unfortunately, my guess is that most of the people I meet I probably won't get to see them again after the trip is done. I will have to be sharing a small, crappy room with at least one other person, if not two. It will actually probably be worse than dorm life. There is no A/C, there is VERY little room in the rooms, the room will more than likely be old as crap. The food is probably going to suck. I will not have as many amenities as I would at home. Last time I went to CO, I got altitude sickness really bad. I have been told laundry is extremely expensive, like $5 per load.
on the plus side, I will probably get to strengthen my relationship with God. I will be right IN the rocky mountains. I will have little need for a car, so that means no gas bills.

So i guess my question is to you...which do you think is the better option? I know a lot of you aren't Christian, but I am a strong Christian, which is one reason I am considering the leadership training.

[Travis]

Sounds like CO should be a good experience OVERALL

Personally im not religious but to get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and just get away for a little bit sounds pretty good. Should be a good time. And why not make a buck while your at it, right?

NOW.........chances are you wont be bringing your hookah with you im guessing, mostly because of the misconceptions that come with it. Thats another thing to consider.

[delSol_si]

[quote name='tpatt90' date='02 February 2010 - 08:40 PM' timestamp='1265164838' post='449312']
Sounds like CO should be a good experience OVERALL

Personally im not religious but to get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and just get away for a little bit sounds pretty good. Should be a good time. And why not make a buck while your at it, right?

NOW.........chances are you wont be bringing your hookah with you im guessing, mostly because of the misconceptions that come with it. Thats another thing to consider.
[/quote]

Very good points. Ya, it will be completely out of my comfort zone...which will be a challenge, but maybe one I need, I don't know.

As far as hookah, if i go to CO, no hookah for the summer. I was thinking i might buy a hobo nargile and take it, but that means i would have to mess with taking coals, shisha, etc. and i am wanting to pack really light. to be honest, I'm not worried about giving up hookah for the summer...i like hookah, but im ok with going without it for the summer...there are more important things in life, plus it will always be there when i get back.

and actually, i can't smoke at my parents house either, so if i were to stay with my parents, the only time i could smoke is when i go visit my friend who lives 220 miles away, which won't be often. so pretty well either way, no hookah.

I still plan on being on the forum, just not smoking hookah....and as it is right now, i only smoke 1 or 2 times a week anyway, so its not a big deal to me. like i said, I really enjoy smoking hookah, but its not a necessity to me.

[bolt in blue]

Is the program GCM's Colorado LT? I personally haven't done their LT program, but I know probably 50+ people who have and none of them regretted it. My freshman year lifegroup leader had just returned from ColoradoLT and talked nonstop about it from August to about March. You're at a high enough altitude that no air conditioning is no big deal. I've been to Colorado in July and half the hotels that I stayed at didn't have A/C. Many still had the heaters set for cold nights!

[delSol_si]

[quote name='bolt in blue' date='03 February 2010 - 02:40 PM' timestamp='1265229647' post='449534']
Is the program GCM's Colorado LT? I personally haven't done their LT program, but I know probably 50+ people who have and none of them regretted it. My freshman year lifegroup leader had just returned from ColoradoLT and talked nonstop about it from August to about March. You're at a high enough altitude that no air conditioning is no big deal. I've been to Colorado in July and half the hotels that I stayed at didn't have A/C. Many still had the heaters set for cold nights!
[/quote]

Yes! that is exactly what I am talking about. I haven't been able to talk to many people who have done it, but the two people who i know have (my sister and her boyfriend) said it is amazing, but they are also the two trying to talk me into going, lol, so they are a bit biased. I went and visited my sister and her boyfriend up there with my parents last summer. From what I recall, i don't think i saw one person there who was having a miserable time. I heard some people grumble a little while they were cleaning rooms, but thats about it. They all acted like the trip is pretty hard work (which i am sure it is) but acted like it is well worth it.

When we stayed there, my sister pulled some strings and got us into one of the nicest rooms, which was still extremely crappy and small. We were actually really hot most of the time, we had the doors open and fan going non-stop when we were in the room. But, your right, at night it does get a bit chilly. I have high blood pressure and get hot REALLY easily, so that is why it is a bit of a concern to me.

One other concern i had is she told me that the a lot of the foreign people don't shower and smell bad. I'm afraid of getting stuck rooming with one of them. I can't stand smelly people.

Its encouraging to hear your point of view, thank you.

[cotsi95]

If you do go to CO and can get away for the weekend come to fort collins and smoke with me!

[Codename067]

I have plans on going to the Middle East..I hope all goes as planned.

[Arcane]

hmmm...why not try and room with your sister? is her boyfriend going? if so, that may be awkward with you, him and her in the same room...

but, either way...i vote for plan B...

then again, i'm not very home dependent....

[Stuie]

CO definitely.

It's one summer, brother. There's a camp in Tyler that offered the same thing to me turned it down. Regret it now.

Plus the Rockies... come on man. I wish i was in Colorado!

[bolt in blue]

[quote name='delSol_si' date='03 February 2010 - 06:09 PM' timestamp='1265238546' post='449555']
Yes! that is exactly what I am talking about. I haven't been able to talk to many people who have done it, but the two people who i know have (my sister and her boyfriend) said it is amazing, but they are also the two trying to talk me into going, lol, so they are a bit biased. I went and visited my sister and her boyfriend up there with my parents last summer. From what I recall, i don't think i saw one person there who was having a miserable time. I heard some people grumble a little while they were cleaning rooms, but thats about it. They all acted like the trip is pretty hard work (which i am sure it is) but acted like it is well worth it.

When we stayed there, my sister pulled some strings and got us into one of the nicest rooms, which was still extremely crappy and small. We were actually really hot most of the time, we had the doors open and fan going non-stop when we were in the room. But, your right, at night it does get a bit chilly. I have high blood pressure and get hot REALLY easily, so that is why it is a bit of a concern to me.

One other concern i had is she told me that the a lot of the foreign people don't shower and smell bad. I'm afraid of getting stuck rooming with one of them. I can't stand smelly people.

Its encouraging to hear your point of view, thank you.
[/quote]

Everyone I know who went to Colorado LT (I went to Virginia Tech, our church sent people to Colorado in 2003 and 2004 and has been promoting closer to Blacksburg locations since then) either worked in the kitchen or on the cleaning crew. They did have some stories to tell, but they didn't really interact much with the YMCA guests as best as I can tell, so you don't need to worry about smelly people. Most of the teachers who come through an LT are amazing and they're from all kinds of different places from across the country. You'll also make lots of friends from all over the country. One of my former roommates even moved from the DC area to Muncie, IN to keep dating a girl he met at LT. I actually just counted and realized that out of 12 roommates that I've had ever, 6 went to LT at least once. Pretty impressive considering that I've only lived with 6 people who were part of a GCM church.

Only reason I didn't ever go is that I needed to work summers at my current job to keep that door open. I made the right choice for me (I've been here 7.5 years, full time for 2.5 since I graduated), but wish that I could have taken a summer off to spend in the mountains or at the beach at LT. Since you don't have a job lined up, I would definitely say go for it.

[delSol_si]

[font=Times][size=2][size=2][quote name='cotsi95' date='03 February 2010 - 07:53 PM' timestamp='1265248390' post='449581']
If you do go to CO and can get away for the weekend come to fort collins and smoke with me!


[/quote]
thanks for the invite! might have to take you up on that. How far are you away from the YMCA of the Rockies?[/size][/size][/font][quote name='Arcane' date='03 February 2010 - 08:30 PM' timestamp='1265250600' post='449591']
hmmm...why not try and room with your sister? is her boyfriend going? if so, that may be awkward with you, him and her in the same room...

but, either way...i vote for plan B...

then again, i'm not very home dependent....
[/quote]

Well, the "dorms" are gender specific...hell, i think they even frown upon the opposite sex being in the dorm period and ya, her boyfriend is going, i am really hoping i get to live with him. I am not very dependent on home either, but i really like my parents and relatives a lot, plus i really like skiing and sailing. But, its all give and take.[quote name='Stuie' date='03 February 2010 - 11:53 PM' timestamp='1265262800' post='449615']
CO definitely.

It's one summer, brother. There's a camp in Tyler that offered the same thing to me turned it down. Regret it now.

Plus the Rockies... come on man. I wish i was in Colorado!
[/quote]
That is some very good advice, thanks stuie, your right, it is jsut one summer, hell 11 weeks to be exact. If it sucks, it sucks and i move on. the camp itself didn't offer it to me though, my sister is just trying to get me to go. actually, they might reject my application altogether if i put it in (she said that is unlikely). To be honest, the Rocky Mountains don't actually impress me that much. I like the big city more. Nature doesn't do a whole lot for me. Put it this way, i went to AZ to visit a buddy and help him drive back to MO. Before leaving AZ, he took me to see the Grand Canyon with him. I had never seen it before and either had he, and it was only a short drive, so why not? Well, we got there, we both went to the lookout point, had a picture take, looked around for about 10-15 min and called it quits, nothing too terribly exciting to me, just a canyon.

[delSol_si]

[quote name='bolt in blue' date='04 February 2010 - 11:48 AM' timestamp='1265305724' post='449697']
Everyone I know who went to Colorado LT (I went to Virginia Tech, our church sent people to Colorado in 2003 and 2004 and has been promoting closer to Blacksburg locations since then) either worked in the kitchen or on the cleaning crew. They did have some stories to tell, but they didn't really interact much with the YMCA guests as best as I can tell, so you don't need to worry about smelly people. Most of the teachers who come through an LT are amazing and they're from all kinds of different places from across the country. You'll also make lots of friends from all over the country. One of my former roommates even moved from the DC area to Muncie, IN to keep dating a girl he met at LT. I actually just counted and realized that out of 12 roommates that I've had ever, 6 went to LT at least once. Pretty impressive considering that I've only lived with 6 people who were part of a GCM church.

Only reason I didn't ever go is that I needed to work summers at my current job to keep that door open. I made the right choice for me (I've been here 7.5 years, full time for 2.5 since I graduated), but wish that I could have taken a summer off to spend in the mountains or at the beach at LT. Since you don't have a job lined up, I would definitely say go for it.
[/quote]


Well, with regards to smelly people, im just concerned about getting ROOMED with a smelly person. My sister said their were a lot of foreign people that smelled bad there. She said it was actually their culture to smell bad or something...they eventually had one of the directors or someone sit them down and let them know that in America, people are expected to shower. This sounded weird at first to me, but I live in a dorm with a lot of internationals and the majority of them do smell bad. and ya, i could buy an air freshener, but i have been told the closest walmart is like an hour or something like that.

But ya, i agree, i don't have anything going on this summer yet, so might as well. I would like to try to get decent paying job so i could earn some money, but like i said the chances of me finding a job are 50/50. I just calculated the pay at the YMCA and ill be getting paid $4.5/hour they said everyone works 40 hrs/week and gets paid $180 per week. But, that does include meals and lodging. either way, its crap pay, but im not sure the purpose of this is to make money anyway.


I really think im about 90% sure i am goign to do the LT thing in CO. There is still one this that is kinda holding me back. There is this girl that i have had a crush on for about 2-3 years. She was the first girl i met here at SEMO and i thought she was gorgeous the first time i saw her. i tried for her the first semester, but got totally rejected. But, this last semester, she actually has showed a LITTLE interest. She asked me to go to dinner with her a couple times, i have walked on campus with her a couple times, and went to church with her. She is graduating this semester and lives in a town abou 3-4 hours away. She doesn't have any plans yet after graduation, but i am guessing more than likely, if she can't find employment down here, she will probably go back home....which means the end of seeing her. But, if she did end up staying in here in Cape and we did end up getting to be more than friends, it would be nice to spend the summer with her. BUT, that is a lot of "ifs." And if it doesn't work out with her, then i will probably be kicking myself for not going to CO. But then again, by making my decision contingent upon her, does that mean i am putting this girl before God? If so, then i need to re-evaluate my thoughts. either way, i need to make up my mind by friday at the lastest

[Chreees]

I'd stay home, but that's just because the conditions you mentioned don't sound very nice to me... I love me some A/C! Lol. I don't like being out of my comfort zone... But then again, my circumstances are a lot different than yours. I live right by my school, never visit home, and work full time at a hotel not too far away.

[LZ22]

One of the Pros for going back to Illinois is skiing? Umm hello, Colorado has 1 million times better skiing than Illinois!

I would personally go back home, but thats just me. It doesn't sound like you would make that much extra money counting all the training and living expenses compared with no job at home. Plus, pretty soon you will be out of school with a full time job...for you whole life. You won't have the opportunity to mooch off your parents with no responsibilities at home after that! Maybe thats the lazy side in me talking...

I don't mind being out of my comfort zone, but those living conditions sound kind of horrible especially for a whole summer. Although, the company of many peers would make the summer go by quick, and it could be a really good time socially with all the new faces. Plus....youre in the mountains and you said you ski....need i say more?

[sportsfan6216]

I worked at a camp when i was younger (it was a boy scout camp as opposed to a YMCA camp but i would assume the idea would be the same) and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The pay there was shit too.... it was 100 a week, plus room and board, and i was a life guard so i had one of the longest hours at the camp.... I had to be up at 6am for a polar bear swim, and got to bed about 10 or 11 at night after all the night programs. The only time we got off was saturday at noon to sunday at noon.... 24 whole hours.... and it was a 2 hour drive each way for me to go home. which i did every weekend just to see my family and do laundry. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world though.

[zthree]

i would go home if i were you.

i have been up to the ymca of the rockies a few times and i dont want to go back. the food is pretty terrible, with some exceptions. and no a/c would kill me, but i would much rather be freeezing then hot anyday, so i keep my a/c pumpin from march/april- november in colorado. its very nice up there because its nestled literally in the mountains which is nice for people who arent from colorado, but after the summer of living in them youll probably couldnt care less about mountains. also summer is not really colorados best skiing season... the only part of my experience there that i enjoyed was the disc golf course, but i am a frolf whore.

do what you want. i have talked to many people who have loved it though (probably more who loved it than hated it), but i just thought i would throw my thoughts out there.

also the ymca is probably 45ish minutes to foco

[delSol_si]

Well, i put in my registration application for the GCM-LT program today and am planning on putting in my YMCA of the Rockies application in this week as soon as i can find one more good reference. so unless something happens, looks like i am going to live and work in the Rocky Mountains this summer.

I am really depressed right now and can't seem to get over it, so maybe this will help. the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. so, logic tell me that something in my life needs to drastically change and i am hoping this is the change i need.

there are a couple things i am concerned about regarding this trip. the first one i don't want to talk about, but the next one is school. after this semester in college, ill have 130 hours. if i pass everything, i think i will be 9 hours away from getting my accounting degree and 6 hours away from getting a finance minor. that works out nicely because that is 15 credit hours for the fall, which is a normal course load. here is the part that sucks...1. i haven't talked to my advisor about the finance minor, i only looked up the information myself and am doing what the information says i need to do. i am kinda concerned that the information may not be 100% correct or something and i won't be getting it like i think. the only reason i say this is because i am getting really used to things screwing up on me. 2. add all of those up and you get 145 hours. one of the requirements to sit for the CPA exam is 150 hours...meaning i am 5 hours (2 classes) short of that requirement. I'm not even 100% sure i want to take the exam, but it would be really nice to at least have the hours done so if i do happen to choose to take the exam, i can. But, i don't know where i am going to get that last 5 hours. that is what i am afraid of....having to take 2 summer classes instead of going to CO. The other possibility is just going ahead and graduating with 145 hours, but then if i do want to get the last 5 hours, i don't know if i will be able to go back and get them without being accepted into the graduate program, which i don't want to do, plus, even if they do accept me into it, i can't afford to pay the graduate credit fees. i dunno what to do.