quieres leer?....ok, um.. ciao!

One day in service, after using the "People of All Nations" booklet, I thought to myself how awesome it would be to learn a new language. A couple of years ago, I was interested in learning chinese, but that has changed for me now. I guess I don't find it as interesting as I did four years ago. hehe.
I began to think of what would be needed in the territory... possibly even talking to my circuit overseer (from FL of course, since I'll be moving back in a couple of months.) Therefore, I'm not just learning it for added head knowledge, but to actually use it effectively in the ministry. So... a very good idea came to mind. Spanish!
Ok ok, I'm Cuban and you think I should know spanish perfectly but I'll be honest with ya- I suck at it. haha. Spanish theocratically is a lot more difficult being that there are many words I've never heard of growing up. I love the language, and even have a hispanic accent added to it so this brings learning new words and conversational feeling a lot better... haha.
As I was thinking of this great idea, I began to think of how in the world am I going to begin! I mean, starting from beginner spanish would be insanely a breeze for me. I know that stuff, yo!
So I took a trip to Barnes & Noble and found a spanish-to-english/english-to-spanish dictionary and a nice, cheap ol' notebook to write my new words into!
Now that I have all the supplies I need, I'm reading through the spanish Watchtower and Awake. Whatever words I come across to which I don't know the meaning to, I circle/look them up. Afterwards, write them into my notebook for remembrance. My own personal reference I guess. :)
When I move back to FL soon, I will be still attending my same english congregation, but plan to make a few extra spanish meetings with my grandmother. I feel this will add in helping me to learn this language, especially theocratically.
I've been praying to Jehovah to help me widen out in the ministry, and even though pioneering is also a goal of mine, this will only add in making it ever so much more helpful and beneficial.
I'm excited! :)

pump gas, neva.

So chilly its really getting these days. No snow yet though. Maybe in a couple of weeks! My allergies were getting on me, but I'm fine now. I've developed eczema on my hands first time eva though..woohoo! Haha. The doc prescribed me some hydrocortisone valerate cream, so its helping a lot. Glad about that, :).
Leaves changing their color, nice breezy weather... I actually really like the fall season here. There's a beauty that can be admired from it. I do enjoy the changes of the seasons. I seem to finally have the right apparel now anyways for the winter... so bring it on. ;)
As soon as it gets freezing cold here, a group of us are planning to go ice skating! I would preferably like to go out doors, just to get the real feel you know..
I have my passport now, so in January, my fam is planning a trip to Canada. I've been to Niagra Falls once, but that was when I was less than a year old.. so it'd be nice to go now that I'm older to actually enjoy it this time for reals. :)
Lei and I are planning a trip to Italy in two years. In spring time, we're hoping. I will most likely be on a cheese hunt.. find Italy's most amazing cheeses around...yanno, nerd it up. xD I'm a cheese freak guys... hah.
Oh yeah. Not sure if you all knew this, but in the state of New Jersey, pumping your own gas is not allowed. That's right- we got people's who come up to your window asking, "How much? For what?" lol.

viva la VIA.

The other day marked six months that I've been here. It's finally starting to get chilly! It's been in the 60s mostly these past couple of days. I'm looking forward to the snow! Maybe not so much having my car blocked with it in the morning. We'll see how that goes. Expert at shoveling? Not so much.. If its what I have to do every morning, then I will eventually have it down. :) It's like parallel parking- I would rather not choose to, but if its the only way I'm going to be able to park, I then have no excuse! Just recently I was asked to cover someones shift at another Starbuck's. It was on church street, just a couple of minutes from my store. The shift went well despite how small the store was compared to ours. For parking, the only spot I had was far, and at a meter. I only put about an hour cos I rarely carry change on me. I was planning on walking back eventually during my shift to put more change, but those I worked with said its not a problem after 6p.m. At the end of my shift that night, I called my aunt as I was walking to my car... little creepy, especially at night. I most likely won't be asked to work there again though. It was a one in a time thing.
VIA challenge anyone? Have you done it?! hehe.
I recently saw our commercial during The Office tv breaks the other day. I don't know. I'm not sure if I like it especially since it has brought very arrogant ones into our store! Some people came in saying, "alright lemme try it. I bet I could taste the difference!" kind of in a rude/cocky way, and I'm just like - dude, you are not cool! stop pretending you're the best or something... (I didn't say that, but sure was thinking it!)
The VIA instant coffee is great btw. I've tried it myself and love it!

livin' it peachy.

Vacation was great. It was a pleasure to see my family and friends once again. You guys are the best. :)
I'm really looking forward to the winter. I told some of my friends here, if you are in need of giving some clothing away, I will gladly take them!
I really am not fully prepared I think for the winter. I guess that's what happens when you move from a hot climate like Florida... :)
I heard the fall season is beautiful with the leaves changing. yay!
Job hunting is going very well. I'm visiting and leaving my resume' at any dermatology office I find. I would love to work under a dermatologist as an aesthetician (medical skin care therapist). I need to just get the job so I can obtain the experience already! In the meantime, I am still working at Sbux. We recently at Sbux had an open mic night. Turned out really well actually. A bunch of people came, it was awesome. When I went there that night, I had went to Panera first to buy a sandwich. Well, I didn't eat it until I got there so...yeah, that's right, I came into Sbux with a Panera bag! I don't feel bad one bit...haha! Panera seriously does have better sandwiches though, and dunkin donuts- better muffins! Sbux, better coffee, fo sho. Hands down. :)
My Bible study is doing excellant! I am so proud of her. I enjoy having our study. She usually calls me the day before our study to make sure its still on. It's cute. She was able to attend one of the convention days, which was great for her! I have some awesome return visits as well- potential Bible studies hopefully!!
The convention- it was wonderful. So spiritually encouraging. Our new releases- awesome!! The few songs we were able to listen to were absolutely beautiful.
The dvd- very cool. I actually learned a bit. I love science so I found it all interesting. The part where the moon controls the Earth's axle was neat. Also, if the Earth was slightly larger or smaller- no existence. It really goes to show how only Jehovah is the Creator of all things.
Our special day assembly is actually coming up very soon, Sept 13. Look at us, we just get the good stuff thrown all at once to us huh? :)
Oh, hehe. There's this older brother in my congregation which comes out in service a lot through out the week. Well, I started this little "energizer" I call it with him. I didn't make it up. It's just rock, paper, scissor. So oneday after the service meeting, I showed him how to play. He accepted my promise to play one game whenever we see eachother out in service. I make him laugh and smile.. its fun. :)
Sept 17 The Office resumes!

"you're kidding me, right?"

Unbelievably, my certification has arrived at the NJ state board! Finally, right? :)
I found out yesterday, so I made plans to go in person today. It was kind of hilarious because when I arrived there, the front desk receptionist first thought it was for my cousin Lei. When she realized it was for me she said, "no way! you look like you're fourteen." haha.. I'm almost twenty man! I take that as a compliment though. I didn't have any make-up on and my hair was curly, so yeah I definitely looked younger at that time. ;) hehe.
Ok.. I'm not done. :)
So I've been calling state board ever since I moved here. More than three months. The front desk receptionist knows me.......She even told me on the phone a few times, "Jen, you're too nice. You have to get on top of FL board and make em do their job!" Well ok, maybe I am too nice, but I have been on FL board to send it. I even sent faxes, stayed forever on the phone... She just couldn't believe it. :)
The funny thing was, I thought this front desk receptionist named "Roshell" was a guy... a really feminine one, in a fruity special way!
Lei and I come into the office... as I'm sitting there, I'm looking around, trying to see if I come across my buddy Roshell. I see no guy around the cubicles that could possibly be him, and I'm glad I didn't ask the "front receptionist" because she then asks me, "what's your name?"
As soon as I told her, she jumps up and says, "Ah!!! It's my Jen Jen! you are ma girl, we always talk!" She even ran to give me a hug. :) hehe.
Could you imagine if I asked her, "Where's Roshell? I always talk with him when I call to check for my papers." .......Because I almost did. XD
While I was there, I gave them the additional papers they needed in order to process my licensure. In two weeks, a temporary license will be sent to my home address. It expires in 4 months, but before it does, I will have already taken my state board test to get my permanent official Cosmetologist license in NJ. My test should be sometime in September. Its going to be a practical and written. I'm ready for it. Bring it on. :)
I plan on staying with Starbuck's for the time being to pay the bills, but I will be looking for a job in the medical skin care field in the meantime. I definitely will put it into prayer to hopefully find something that will support my pioneering. If I could only work part-time with good pay, that'll be great and just enough! :)
For all who haven't heard yet, I will be visiting from August 4-12. I'm very ecstatic about coming! Can't wait to see all of you guys' faces, again. :)
See you all soon.

Picture of my new home. :)

"thanks a latte, have a grande!"

I've been here three months already, I can't believe it.
I've decided to begin this blog to let you all know how I'm doing!
First of all, I believe you all know this already, but if not- well, new news for you! :)
I'm living with my aunt Connie (Wes' mom), uncle Iggy, cousin Leilani and dog Osito in Bloomfield, NJ.
Since my cousin Lei helped me drive my car up here from Florida, I have transportation, which is great. Taxis aren't really my thing. Not really a city girl. ;)
The Kingdom Hall I'm attending is in a small town called Nutley. Its about 7 minutes away from my home. I'm in the Nutley congregation. I'm beginning to know all the brothers and sisters in my congregation, and I love them all! We have a variety of age groups, which is nice.
As far as for work, all of you know that I have my cosmetologist and skin care therapy license. In order for me to obtain licensure in this state, I would need FL state board to send a certification to the NJ board showing I've completed 1200 hours of training. Until they receive it is when I can take care of other paperwork that needs to be done. Long story short, they are taking too long on this... Its gotten to a point where I know eventually everything will work out accordingly one of these days. In the mean time, I needed a job to pay my bills, so a friend-whose a sister- whose a manager of a Starbuck's offered me a position. I've been working there for over a month now, and things couldn't be any better.. I mean really, who would say no to free Starbuck's drinks at any given time? hehe..:) To keep my expertise fresh though, I am still doing hair for the sisters in the congregation as side work! ;)
Aside from work, I've been increasing my share in the ministry. Every month I've been setting goals for myself. I've been putting it into prayer to Jehovah that I would love to eventually come back to regular pioneering. There's nothing more satisfying than being in the ministry and I've become to realize that again!
I've visited the city (oh thats another thing. You have to say "the city." I was at first naming it "new york, new york." ..Bad idea!...Its not safe saying it that way in public. You would definitely be targeted as tourist bait! ;) ) We went there with a group of friends to see a violin concert that a sister had free tickets for at the Carnegie Hall.
To get there we took subways. We had fun. :)
The weather is warm and humid now.When it rains though, I expect it to rain for days...I've found that the clouds linger here for a while. As far as for the driving, the streets are definitely a lot tighter. Parallel parking is the most common here. You normally don't have too many parking lots. Parking on hills aren't that great either. You just have to learn to like it and just deal with it! Oh yeah, potholes are as common as mosquitos.