Tornadoes

I am sure many of you have heard in the news about the excess of tornadoes in the Mid-West just a couple of weeks ago. If not, then you missed a lot. In a single day there were over 90 tornadoes confirmed on the ground. It made for a very exciting, and somewhat terrifying, day. I had always stated that I wanted to see a tornado. Not close to me or anything like that (I don't have a death wish), just in the distance. Well that day changed my mind. Before I freak you all out, don't worry we did not get hit by a tornado. Just nearly got hit. Here is how the story went: all week the news was talking about this horrible storm that would hit Kansas on Friday or Saturday. Tornado watches (meaning conditions are favorable for a tornado) were issued well in advance. But nothing happened in Hillsboro. It seemed like nothing would come out of all the buildup. So my two roommates went to a grad thing and I stayed home in our house with no basement believing nothing bad would happen and the hype was for nothing. Jokingly as my roommates were leaving one said "if the sirens go off, go in the pantry and close the door".  (the pantry is the middle room of our house and has no windows, thus is the safest place to be should a tornado occur). I just laughed and went back to watching TV. And then the sirens went off. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. One siren is right by our house and so it was so loud and in a moment of panic I had no idea what to do. I was alone and the sirens were going off. *side note, when the sirens go off you have no idea where a tornado is. The tornado could be 20 minutes away or it could be just a mile away.* I did remember enough to go hide in the pantry and close the door all the while calling Whitney who was at this grad thing. She did not answer because she was busy sprinting across the street to her parent's house which does have a basement. Eventually, she called me back and told me to drive to her parents house as fast as I could and to do it now. Again, in my state of panic she had to tell me several times before it got through my head. But I got in her car and drove as fast as I could to her parent's house where we hid in the basement while the sirens went off for 40 minutes. In the end, the tornado came our direction, went back into the sky over Hillsboro, and dropped back down just outside of town. In the middle of it all I texted Whitney and said "I lied. I don't want to see a tornado". That was just too much for me.

Me in my tornado shelter the next day

 

 

In other news...I only have a couple more weeks of school left! I am really looking forward to being done and returning to Canada (it has been a while since I've been home). I have a couple more papers to write and some exams, but not too much is left! Also in other news...my roommate bought a house! So strange...Whitney decided to buy a house because houses are cheap in Hillsboro and it is a good idea to pay into equity instead of paying into rent. So when I return in August I will have another new address and some more pictures for you to see of another place to live. It is safe to say that I have had more addresses in Kansas then I have in my entire life in Canada. Well that is all that has been happening around here! Three more weeks of school and exams and then I will be home! :)

Spring Fling

It has been an exciting couple of weeks here in Hillsboro, KS which should explain why I have not blogged in a long time!
Let's start with Spring Break. Whitney and I spent the week in Dallas, TX doing a variety of tourist type things. We stayed in a hotel down town Dallas for the first couple of nights, which was really cool. The hotel was really modern and colorful. While downtown, we checked out the sights. First we went to the JFK museum and the Grassy Knoll area. It was really cool, especially because we never learn much about it in school in Canada. So I learned a lot and it was really eerie but interesting. And then we were standing by the Grassy Knoll and got a conspiracy tour by a conspiracy theorist. It was really funny, but really interesting. The whole story is on my facebook album if you want to learn more. We also went to to an Aquarium, Thanksgiving Square (which has a really cool stain glass ceiling in the chapel), and Dallas history museum. Then we had to leave down town and we stayed the rest of the week outside of the city, where we relaxed, went shopping, got manicures, saw Hunger Games. We also went to a Stars vs. Canucks game...which was so much fun! We won, which was awesome and played great. And then we spent our last day at Six Flags going on crazy thriller rides, standing in long lines, and getting a wee bit sunburned. Then, as all vacations must come to an end, we had to return home. But it was a great vacation and a great time off from school doing new things.
And then a few weeks later came my birthday. I knew Whitney was planning something (she told me it was going to be a surprise) but I could not for the life of me figure out what she was planning. I ask a million questions and got a million different answers. But I found nothing out and had to wait until the Friday before my birthday before I could find anything out. So you can imagine my surprise when I go to work and work for about 15 minutes and then get called into the reception area and then I round the corner and BAMM there are my parents. In Hillsboro, KS. When they are supposed to be in Surrey, BC. It was so crazy. Everyone in the office knew, which was really funny and I was surprised everyone could keep a secret from me. Especially Whitney. But it was so great! They cooked me my favorite birthday meal, got to see the town I live in the majority of the year (they had never been to Hillsboro before). We went and saw the Salt Museum, which is a museum 650 feet under ground. We went out for dinner and hung out a lot. And then alas, they also had to go home. But it was a fantastic weekend and it was so great to have them here and get to see them again after so long. Thanks for coming out mom and dad! (I hope you are reading this).
This past weekend was Easter, as I am sure you all know. I spent some time with Whitney's family, relaxing, doing lots of homework, and relaxing. So yes, it has been a really fun couple of weeks here. And in just over a month, I shall return to Surrey for the summer, hopefully employed. So if you here of any job opportunities...let me know!