One Hundred and Fifty Hours away

150. That's the amount of hours I have until I'm sitting on a plane (fingers crossed that it's not delayed, postponed or cancelled) heading towards Europe.

Ready. This is what I am. For the past 10 days or so, I've been watching movies, reading, playing around with my camera, reading about Prague, watching more movies, and making fun of my dog. Needless to say, I'm ready to get the heck out of here. I felt this same feeling right before I went to USC. I was tired of thinking about it, wondering about it, trying to picture what the experience would be like in my head. I just wanted to do it for cripes sake! But hey, good things come to those who wait (at least that's what wise people say), and inevitably those 150 long hours will pass, and there I'll be: sitting on a plane thinking to myself: "Frick. What have I gotten myself into!?"

Excited: I am stoked to be going to Prague! Oh baby! For so many reasons. Let's break this down.

I've never even traveled to Europe much less lived there for four months.

I've been wanting to experience living outside of the states for a while now. I know I'll still be an American on foreign soil, but I'm excited about getting the opportunity to see the world with a fresh perspective and see how people from different countries and cultures live their lives. A big reason I chose to go to Prague was because it was so different from America. I didn't want to go to England (although I am English and I freaking love their accents and their humor, but probably not the best reason to choose a country for studying abroad purposes) or the land down under because these places seemed too similar to the states. I want a new experience. And as nervous as I am about living in a country that doesn't speak English (anyone know a lick of Czech???) I'm excited to learn bits and pieces of a new language and culture. I want to be in a place that has foods I'm not used to, customs that are different, and little quirks that frankly weird me out. I want to be out of my shell! As much as I love California and Chico, I've been squirmy for the past year or so, and have just wanted a change. And not that Europe is the promised land or anything, but I'm ready to be in a place where I'm going to be uncomfortable. And often.

I'm excited to be in a place that actually snows too. Talk about a different climate than good ole Cali. I haven't lived in snowy weather since I was four years old in Denver.

I'm also pretty excited to go to a place where I really don't know anybody. Sometimes I tend to rely on others that I know when I am in a new place, and I'm pretty excited about meeting new people (Muzzy, If you're reading this, here's to hoping that Thad and I develop a nice friendship!) I think this will stretch me in a great way.

I'm looking forward to just exploring. Leaving my dorm and just wandering. I plan on doing this a lot with my camera and filming whatever I find. Unfortunately this is probably going to make me look like some typical American tourist, but whatever. I doubt many American tourists have a camera that is nice as mine...I mean really. And not just exploring the city, or the country, but the entire continent. There's already been some online gibber gabber between some of my Prague-classmates (other Americans) about going to Dublin for Saint Patricks day! How awesome would that be! And I already know that I'm going to Budapest and Vienna on a week long field trip. I'd love to be able to go to Rome and Paris if I got the chance...


Anyways, those are just some thoughts about where I'm at right now. One week left. I'm pretty sure I have everything I need, now I just need to pack it all. Stay in touch.

Oh and if any of you would like to talk on Skype, I'd love to, just search for me under steven.ormsbee I've got a microphone and webcame and everything...


P.S. Cloverfield was CRAZY!!!!

What a solid year...

2007 was an AWESOME year for film in my opinion. Here's to 08'!

Hello Nobody

Best Films of 2007

I know there are a ton of lists out there of everyone's favorite movies, but I just couldn't resist. It's always fun to look back at the past year and think of all the great films. Here are my favorites of the last year in no particular order:

• No Country For Old Men
• The Bourne Ultimatum
• Ocean's 13
• Zodiac
• Juno
• Ratatouille
• Michael Clayton
• Across the Universe
• Hot Fuzz
• Once
• American Gangster
• 3:10 To Yuma
• Into The Wild
• The Great Debaters
  

Honorable Mentions:

• I Am Legend
• Reign Over Me
• Paris Je'Taime
• Live Free Or Die Hard
• Sunshine
• Charlie Wilson's War
• Enchanted
• Transformers
• Waitress
  

Movies I still need to see:

• The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford
• The Darjeeling Limited
• The Savages
• There Will Be Blood
• Before The Devil Knows Your Dead
• Rescue Dawn
• Waitress
• Sweeney Todd
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
• Gone Baby Gone
• Hairspray
  

Holy Moly

http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=whoaoa5.jpg

The guy survived...the shark was more inquisitive than hungry, apparently...

Just having a GRAND ole time

After 3 hours of studying in the library for finals, I came home and read an e-mail that really made my day.

I got a $1,000 scholarship through USAC (my study abroad program)!!!! It's such a weird feeling, almost like finding a thousand bucks lying in the street. I don't know how I want to think about this...more money for traveling when I'm over there, 1,000 bucks closer to that Macbook Pro I've been wanting for so long... a trunk full of pudding cups, really the possibilities are endless.

This is the beginning of some new blogs that I'm going to be posting, and I'll also be creating a facebook group, cause really that's the best way to keep in touch with people these days. Instead of this being my USC/LA blog, it is now going to become my Prague blog. Whoa. That almost rhymes. I might have to think about changing the title of this blog....hmmmm....

Two favorite Bands. One Stage.

I haven't posted since summer, but someday people will start reading this again, and when they do, they need to watch this:



My two favorite bands, playing a song they wrote together, in Davis, my hometown. I was probably about 30 feet to the left of this camera. yes!