Day number 1: The adventure begins

6:00am: The electronic alarm clock screeched so loudly it pulled me out of my dream of lounging on the beach without a care in the world.

I rolled over with a groan and looked at the glowing screen of my phone. 6:00AM! Did I really set that alarm? Was I crazy? Mom said we didn't have to leave until 10:00am. I was about to close my eyes and go back to sleep when I heard someone walking around up stairs.

Then I remembered; I did set that alarm, and I was sane when I did.

I throw back the pile of blankets that were on top of me and swung my legs off the bed. On balanced legs I stumbled out of my room, down the pitch black hall, and up the stairs from the basement where my room is.

"Dad," I said in a sleep filled voice, "can I get a blessing before you leave?"
My dad looked from the weather report to me and nodded. He turned the t.v. off and boosted himself up to his feet. I brought a chair to the center of the living room and sat in it. I folded my arms and closed my eyes. The warm of my dad's hands on top of my head, and the low rumbling of his voice as he spoke filled the room with a warm, loving spirit. He said amen and I opened my eyes. A grin pulled at the corners of my lips.
"Thanks dad," I said, "goodbye."
"You're welcome," he said, "and good luck."
"Thanks," I repeated before heading back down to my room.

I glanced around my room in the pale yellow light emitting from the light on the ceiling. The aftermath from packing yesterday looked like a tornado ran through my room. I couldn't leave my room looking like that. I checked the time. 6:15am. Well I definitely had enough time.

7:15am I looked around my room, now organized. My bed was made neatly, for once. The floor, dresser and vanity were all decluttered and looked nice. With a nod of acceptance I turned towards the door. I flipped the light switch and closed the door before heading upstairs. I made a bowl of oatmeal and ate it while watching a couple of shows that were recorded on the television.

8:40am My mom made her way down stairs.
"Are you ready," she asked excitedly.
"Yes," I nodded.
"Great, after Marin gets up we will go," she informed me.
9:00am My sister came running down the stairs. She didn't stop running until she got to me and wrapped her arms around me.

After a few last minute preparations we carried my luggage out to the car and pushed it all into the back. Around 9:15am we all took our seats in the car and clicked on our seatbelts. We were off.

"Some rules for moving are: first move fits in the back of a car, second move it takes more of the car or two cars, and it just keeps going up from there," my mom explained to us as we traveled down SR-73, "you always want to pack light when you move. The lightest possible."
 I made a mental note of that and decided not to lose control over my finances.

After a trip to the gas station, the bank, McDonald's, and O' Reilly's to check some car problems we finally got onto I-15 and ready for an hour and 15minutes of driving.

University village is a quaint group of dorms which are actually quite far from the actual campus. With my mom and sister following behind me each laden with my luggage we walk as quietly down the hall as possible to my room. The whole floor smells of foreign food and it just gets stronger the closer we get to my room.

I stick the key in the hole and turned it. The door opens and we are greeted with the smell of some foreign food.
"Hi, I'm Markee Jones," I said to the girl standing in the kitchen when we come in, "and this is my sister and mom. I'm your new roommate."
"Hi, I'm Yang Yang," she said in halting english, "Your room is A, B isn't here yet, C is Bora Yeon's, and I live in D."
"Thanks," I said with a smile.

After a couple of trips from the car and to the stores around we were hungry. Sitting at the coffee table in the living room, mom, Marin, and I ate premade baby back ribs, mashed potatoes, french bread, and drink sparkling cider to get it all down.

When we were full and tired mom and Marin gave me hugs and said goodbye. When they were gone and I was by myself. My roommates were gone, and I had the dorm to myself. After a shower I went to my room and unpacked.

At 10:00pm everything was in a place and I was exhausted. I climbed into the high dorm bed with some difficultly and crawled under my sheets. After reading scriptures, saying my prayer, and reading from The Lord of the Rings it was 10:30pm. My eyes were drooping and I was struggling to keep my eyelids open. It was time to close them and sleep.

I tossed and turned for an hour before finally drifting off into dreamland. The next morning I was glad to finally wake up to the natural light of the sun rising above the mountains. After a couple of years living in the dark basement and light dorm room was a relief.

as Bilbo says “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”