Hi everyone! My name is Michaela Moses. This is my senior year at OU as a
Communication major, which I have actually really enjoyed. I’ve loved most of my classes and am still
trying to decide if I want to go for my masters in Organizational
Communication. I actually took the
Mythology and Folklore class last year and had a lot of fun, so why not take
the Indian Epics class! Here’s a little bit about me:
(Image Info: Personal photo from spring
break in London; photo from March 2016)
I grew up as a military brat. My father is a (now
retired) pilot in the Air Force. We moved to a new state every 2 to 4
years, but we also moved several times within the state while we tried to
find/build our homes. As such, my family has always been the most
important thing to me. Friends, things, places – they come and go, but my
family has always been there for me. This includes my dogs: a Bernese mountain
dog named Sherlock and a German shorthaired pointer mix named Moose.
Personally, I don’t think that life could be complete without a dog.
(Image Info: personal photo of
Sherlock and Moose; photo from April 2015)
Last semester I studied abroad in Italy and had the time of
my life. To be honest, my main goal in
college was to be able to study abroad, so obviously I was ecstatic. I was a little nervous because I hated living
on campus my freshman year and I was only 30 minutes away from home, but I never
felt homesick while I was in Italy! I actually lived with an amazing family who
took wonderful care of me. They lived
above, owned, and operated the best pastry shop in Arezzo and that was my breakfast
every morning. Talk about heaven!
Anyway, my favorite thing was the ease of travel in Europe. Between the trains and buses, you could get
everywhere without a car which was really nice!
I actually had a blog while I was there if you want to check it out: A Ginger and Her Suitcase.
I just started a job at the White House Black Market in
Brookhaven Village in Norman, which I am actually really excited about. I worked in a pool for over three years, so working
in air conditioning is going to be fantastic. Unfortunately, I also love their
clothes, so I may never get a paycheck! Oh well, guess it’s time to start
exercising self-control.
In my practically non-existent free time, I love to read,
watch movies/tv, hang with my family/friends, and eat. I don’t get a lot of time to read for
pleasure anymore, but I still try. Right
now I’m reading a book by Jim Butcher and I’m trying to find a copy of the
Miracle of Dunkirk, but it looks like I’ll have to order. Which bring us to watching movies, since I want
the book before I see the movie that comes out next year! If you haven’t seen
the trailer for Dunkirk yet, you
definitely should. I have a lot of
favorite movies, but I definitely love most of the Marvel movies! Especially Captain America: Civil War and Deadpool. I spend a lot of time with my family and try to make
time for my friends when I can. Beyond
that, I just LOVE to eat. I’m not particularly picky as to what I’m
eating as long as it’s good. In fact, food is how my friends typically
get me to go places. The promise of food will get me to do and go just
about anywhere they want. And like most college students, free food is
always amazing.
Well, I hope that this helped you get to know me a little
better! If you have any questions, just let me know! I would be more than happy
to answer them!
What a fun post, Michaela! You will be pleased to know that a dog plays an incredibly important role in the Mahabharata: watch for Yudhishthira and his dog at the very end of the epic! And there is also SARAMA, dog of the gods: Wikipedia: Sarama
ReplyDeleteThanks also for sharing your Ginger blog: what a great use of the blog to remember things and also share your experiences. I looked at some of the pictures (Florence! Barcelona! wow! and your mom and dad: that tis so cute!).
FOOD: are you a fan of Indian food? I love Indian food! So that might also be a theme to explore: the god Ganesha, in particular, is very fond of food.
Anyway, this all looks great, and I am so excited to see what your project will be like this semester!
Hi Michaela! I loved your post. I think it is so interesting that you moved around so much growing up. I only moved a handful of times, but my family (and my dogs!) are still #1 in my life as well. Coming to college and living on my own was a huge adjustment after growing up in such a close family.
ReplyDeleteI also studied abroad in Arezzo! It sounds like you had an amazing time! Which pastry shop were you living above? That sounds like the dream. Like you, I'm also obsessed with food. I love that you said that that's how your friends get you to go places...I can definitely relate.
Hi Michaela! I wish I had the chance to go to Italy! I have always wanted to go, but haven't been able to yet. I love Marvel movies as well! "Ironman" is my favorite! I haven't been able to watch "Deadpool", but I feel like I have to watch it now! I can't imagine what moving around so much as a child would have been like, but I'm sure it played a part in your personality! I can't wait to get to know you better this semester! I'm sure all of your other posts will be just as wonderful as this one!
ReplyDeleteHi Michaela! I bet moving around so much must have been difficult growing up, but I think that your family first mindset is so important. It's so easy to take things for granted, but at least that's a lesson you learned quite early.
ReplyDeleteHow neat that you studied abroad in Arezzo, I was there this past summer for the Journey program. I absolutely loved getting late night gelato from Cremi and talking to Mariano every time we went to his restaurant. I also love that you have a pup named Sherlock! I was in London this past summer as well and got to visit the Sherlock Holmes museum and it was one of the coolest experiences of my summer :)
Hello Michaela! I would love to study abroad someday! I have been to Italy for a week on a high school senior trip after we graduated and it was awesome! I also share your love for food! It doesn't matter to me what I am eating as long as it is good! Especially love that you liked the Captain America: Civil War movie! There really isn't a reason for that other than I love all the Marval movies! I really enjoyed reading a little about your life!
ReplyDeleteAfter taking this class, I'm almost inspired to take the Myths and Folklore one as well! How did you like it? Also your puppies are absolutely adorable! Their names are perfect as well. I also studied abroad in Italy but only for two weeks in the summer. I wish I could have stayed an entire semester! I absolutely loved Civil War and Deadpool as well! Deadpool especially is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteHi Michaela! I also studied in Arezzo but I was there over the summer. I miss it so much. I crave Coffee O Clock and Piadina's daily; it's honestly an issue. I'm going to read your other blog cause now I'm missing Arezzo a little extra.
ReplyDeleteI hope your new job goes well! White House Black Market is one of my favorite stores. I wish you all the luck in the world on your self control, cause I know I’d need it!
Hi Michaela! I checked out "A Ginger and Her Suitcase" and it was really fun to poke around over there! I am going to try out the Stone Lion Inn this fall for a Murder Mystery Dinner (and NOT stay the night!) thanks to your post! Should be a fun date night.... My husband *loves* to act, and it's adorable to watch him whenever he gets a chance to do it again. I also love your dogs! Moose sort of looks like my dog, Dax, who is a German shorthaired Weimaraner (from the German pointer breed). I'm glad you're taking Indian Epics, I may do the Myth-Folklore class after this one! ;)
ReplyDeleteWoah, wait a minute, do you know Nick Marchetti and Suzy Weller? They also studied abroad last semester in Arezzo! I live with Nick, and they're both in the School of Drama with me. I'm just assuming there is a connection here, so I'll go ahead and say it, small world!
ReplyDeleteYou had made a comment on my blog about my form of completely indirect communication (which you're definitely not wrong! If there's one train of thought I'll take seven paths instead). At first I was a little surprised that someone had noticed to the point of commenting, but knowing that you're a communication major makes all of the sense. If I knew better when coming into school I would have minored in communications. I personally think that drama majors should be forced to take communication classes instead of some of the other general education classes that we have to take. Communication is, in a totally stretched and abstract way, a science! Ugh, communications is so cool.
and food is good. Food is so good.
(Also I just did some quick investigation on facebook, and I see you're tagged in a picture literally right next to Suzy. SMALL WORLD.)
It sounds like you had a great time abroad! I was only in Arezzo for a couple weeks so I never got to have the sort of familiarity with locals that you did. Speaking of traveling abroad, what did you see/visit in England?
ReplyDeleteWhat other states did you live in as an Air Force brat? My dad was one and the differences between the places they were stationed were huge (Alaska and Hawaii).
I'm sure that all this travel and this variety of interests have helped you gain a wide perspective on life.
I was in the UK for a week and actually took 3 days to do a bus tour of the Scottish Highlands with Haggis Adventures, which I would highly recommend. Other than that, I spent all of my time in London, as I was staying with a cousin in Henley-On-Thames. I tried to hit all of the tourist must-sees while I was there and I'm hoping to explore the rest of England the next time I travel over there, although I don't know when that will be.
DeleteAfter I was born, we lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Virginia, and then repeated Texas and Oklahoma. We never got to go to any of the fun or foreign places, although my dad did. When we lived in Nebraska, he was a presidential advance agent so he went wherever the president went.
Hey Michaela! Wow, it sounds like you’ve had such an incredibly well traveled life! I am very jealous, I have traveled to Germany three times and somehow still not made it to either Italy or England. Those are on the list for the next trip for sure though! You’re dogs Sherlock and Moose are adorable, I have two dogs as well and could not imagine my life without them!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I agree with you: I DEFINITELY could not live without the companionship of a dog. They’re the best at listening to you rant since they don’t talk back ;). I loved reading about your studying abroad experience. I have always wanted to study abroad but I’ve always been afraid. I really do love how many of the countries outside of the United States give you the option of being able to walk everywhere. My favorite part about visiting Vietnam (where I was born) is the fact that I can walk out of my house and grab breakfast. No need for any cars!
ReplyDeleteIts so cool that you studied abroad in Italy! I'm a little too much of a homebody to ever go and study abroad, but I did go on an exchange trip to Japan for a couple weeks when I was a senior in high school. That was a lot of fun and I would love to go back and spend a week or so there again. Mostly for the food because I too LOVE to eat! My friends laugh at me because if we are going on a trip, I mostly plan that trip around when and where we are going to be eating. Its nice to met you and I can't wait to read your stuff!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you about not being able to live without a dog. I have my own dog with my at college and he definitely makes life better having him around. I loved seeing the pictures of your dogs! I always love reading about people's experiences studying abroad. It is something that I would want to do but never seem to have time.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, if Moose is the dog in the left of the photo (sorry, I don't know my dog breeds very well!) then he looks just like every dog names Moose I've ever met. And there have been at least three. Also, it's cool that you have that kind of closeness with your family, and that you were able to fit really comfortably into your host family while you were in Italy, too. It sounds like moving around with your family a lot has made it easy for you to be at home with those you love as well as abroad in new places, which is super neat. Hope you end up with some sweet clothes from the new job! Ya gotta build a wardrobe sometime.
ReplyDeleteHello Michaela,
ReplyDeleteI too am a child of an Air Force man so I understand the struggle of moving around so often! Your dogs are very pretty! I had never had a dog until recently and I already agree with you that a life cannot be complete without a dog. I hope you have a successful career in communication and I personally think you should go for the masters.
Hello fellow senior! Isn't it great to be almost done?
ReplyDeleteI am the same with food. I feel like the majority of the relationship with my boyfriend revolves around eating and cooking together. I'm so glad you got to study abroad. Although I didn't travel through OU, I have also taken a couple of international trips. They give you so much perspective on things and teach you so much.
Hey Michaela! I was born in India and I moved to Oklahoma when I was seven. I've basically lived here my whole life. I'm curious how you felt about moving around a lot. Was it cool to see so many different places? Your time in Italy sounds like something out of a movie. I mean, Italian pastries for breakfast? Thats amazing! Anyway, it was really cool to learn more about you. I hope I get to read more of your stories!
ReplyDeleteHi Michaela, I cannot believe it is almost the end of the semester and I have not been to your blog yet! Studying in Arezzo sounds amazing. Unfortunately I do not think I am going to be able to go, I highly considered it but it did not work out. I could not imagine moving so often growing up! I have lived in the same house my entire life so moving sounds so extreme to me.
ReplyDeleteDogs are definitely a part of the family! I have never moved... so we are very different in that aspect! I still live in my childhood home and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I like always coming home! I also studied abroad last semester, and it was the time of my life. I also have non-existent free time... but In that time I like to right craft!
ReplyDeleteThats really cool that you have gotten to travel and study abroad. I am a sophomore and I definitely want to try it before I graduate. I also love that you have dogs, and they look so adorable. Its cool to see that you are very active in films and books. I also love to watch movies and eat. It is really cool how you kept up with your trip through a blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Michaela! That is so awesome that you were able to study abroad last year! Its sounds like you had a blast! I really wanted to study abroad sometime during my undergrad career, but unfortunately it never worked out. I am in total agreement with you about life not being complete without dogs. Dogs are incredible! Also, I am right there with you about food!
ReplyDeleteYet another new introduction post! Yay! I'm so excited to see some new faces this deep into the semester. I'm so jealous you have gotten the experience to travel to Europe. I've always wanted to! That picture you have with Big Ben in the background is the coolest thing. I just posted this on my other introduction post, but I am loving all the animal pictures! Everyone in this class seems to be an animal lover. I hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteMoving that many times would be so stressful, but i'm jealous you've seen so many places. Traveling is something that's at the top of my bucket list. I haven't even ever left the country! I am a communication major as well. But i just declared this year... and I'm a fourth year. Needless to say, I'll be a full fifth year. I just kinda ended up in communication because it was time to pick something. But I'm happy to hear you've enjoyed it so much. I guess I made the right decision. So nice to meet you, thanks for sharing your life with us!
ReplyDeleteHello! It's nice to meet you. I'm surprised I hadn't seen your introduction yet since we're so far into the class but hello at last! I can't believe you've moved so much. That would be really tough on me but I don't like moving all that much. I have to move to Houston for my new job at the end the year and I'm not looking forward to that move very much (well I'm looking forward to the job at least haha). I hope all is well and I hope you have a great rest of the semester!
ReplyDelete