Great Expectations

I feel like I've had lots of people asking about how Texas is now that I've been here a month. And the short answer is it wasn't what I expected. Some things were a lot better than expected and some things a lot worse.

My job is better than I expected. The first week was hard because you have to figure out how to approach people and hopefully connect with them, but then its a breeze. The people who come into the store are generally very great people. I've met a lot of amazing people in the store, people from all over the world. Whenever people in the store find out my job is actually an internship, they usually wish me the best of luck with my endeavors. How touching to know that strangers can actually care about your future!

The job itself is great too. I have great managers and coworkers. We get along really well and I love spending time talking to them about life in the store. I've had great success in helping the store increase its sales through marketing efforts. I've helped outreach to hotels in the area to hand out our coupons to their guests. I also got a huge break when I got the event planner at the biggest convention coming to San Antonio to hand out coupons at their event. There will be 24,000 people at this event in the largest convention center in San Antonio (its literally the size of a city block!).

I really miss the people I left behind though. I made one really great friend in a week only to have her move back to Vegas the next week. Things with my roommate/coworker/companion whatever is rocky to say the least, but I've decided its best if we keep our relationship strictly business and nothing more. I'm working hard on making lots of friends while I'm here, but its hard when you are car-less and the nearest people you want to spend time with are about a half hour away in any direction. I have been blessed to already have several people in the ward here offer me rides to places, but I really hate having to beg for rides. I used to be the one with the car at school, it's weird having the tables turned.

But I'm learning and growing in ways that I didn't even know I could. I've gone through a lot lately with my grandpa's death and other drama in Utah and Texas, but I have been able to let it roll off my back and move on quickly. I've learned to not bottle up emotions, call up a good friend and let it out while its fresh and then find a solution.

I came here with expectations as big as Texas, and most of them have been met. Some are still waiting to be blown away sky high!

P.S. My cowboy boots are just waiting for me to pick them up. Yay :)