BYU Jerusalem

Someone once asked me, "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?" At that moment the obvious answer for me was the bathroom; I'd just spent my afternoon hydrating for a tennis match the next day and I had to pee like Seabiscuit. Potty thoughts aside, I think I answered with Spain or New Zealand or something like that.

Months later I was perusing a website sponsored by BYU and stumbled upon some information about the BYU Jerusalem Center. It hit me: if I could go anywhere in the world, it would be Jerusalem, hands down. Ever since then it has been a dream of mine to attend the BYU Jerusalem Center and I am excited to say that this November I can apply to be a student there next spring and summer! If you want a better idea of why I want to go there so bad, just click here.

Rumor has it that it's very difficult to get in; they only accept about 80 students a semester.

Bottom line: CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR ME! I'M GOING TO NEED ALL THE LUCK I CAN MUSTER!

Please and thank you.

Sincerely,

Andee Gempeler

P.S. Along with thoughts, prayers, and blessings of good fortune, money donations are now being accepted. Contact Andee Gempeler for further info. Cash and checks only, please.

Finals Days as a Freshman ...

The Last Hurrah:

No finals + water basketball + breakfast shmear + sardines in the HFAC + eating our weight in ice cream + midnight round of ultimate frisbee = AWESOME.

I can't believe how fast the year passed. One moment we were just getting to know each other, testing the waters and not wanting to cross any boundaries, and then next thing I knew Mandy and Kennie were engaged in hand-to-hand child prison combat. Before college I'd always imagined it as being a fun change, but I'd never imagined it being this fun. All of the fun I had I owe to the wonderful friends I made.

I met some amazing people who taught me lessons about life that I may have never learned otherwise.

If I have to be grateful for one thing, though, it would have to be for my roommates. They're my best friends! I look forward to the many crazy adventures we're sure to have together :)

New Photography Blog!

For the last few days I've been working on my

new photography blog.

It's a work in progress, but hopefully I'll get to the point where I can add new stuff to it every few weeks. So far I just have some of my favorite work that I've done in the past posted, but with luck I'll be able to get some more recent shots on there.

In the meantime, in the words of the Beastie Boys,

CH-CH-CH-CH-CH-CHECK IT OUT!