I'll Be C-N-U Later

I abandoned a tiny column kingdom, for the land of the broncho.

A huge culture change I endured in my transition from DC to OKC included transferring to a new university.  

SPOILER ALERT! Transferring sucks.

Transitioning to college can be somewhat difficult.  It takes time to establish yourself, and figure out how your are going to go about your college career.  Transferring at your junior year, is like becoming a freshman all over again.

I started my college career at Christopher Newport University, in Newport News Virginia.  Located only 45 minutes away from Virginia Beach, 15 minutes away from Williamsburg Virginia, and the amusement park Busch Gardens, there was plenty to do.

There is absolutely no exaggeration when I call CNU the column kingdom.  in fact, there is really no better way to describe it.  Don't believe me,

Literally every academic building and majority of the dormitories are decorated with columns.  CNU is most definitely a column kingdom.

So, transferring.  Yeah, that was a grand time.  I transferred to UCO as a Junior.  It was an interesting transition because my degree program was drastically different, and I knew absolutely nothing about the school.  I went from living on my own, to moving back in with my parents.  All in all, the entire change was a huge adjustment for me.

As difficult as it was to come to terms with the entire transition, I am truly thankful that I ended up in Oklahoma City, and finishing my college career at UCO.  CNU is an extraordinary school, but all in all, the professional media program at UCO, is far better then anything I could have done at CNU.

Even though I am sometimes still a little bitter about transferring, I am pretty glad that I traded the column kingdom for the land of the broncho.  

KCH

Real Life Twister

No, i'm not talking about the party game, that makes people get into awkward positions with very little personal space.

I'm talking about the movie junk.
The dark gloomy skies, and swirling gusts of wind.
The natural phenomenon.
The grab your kids and run to the cellar kinda stuff.

These are obviously statements coming from a new Oklahoman, who has only been apart of one tornado season. 

I have yet to come across an Oklahoman, who is actually a little scared of tornado season.  In fact, most actually find a great source of pride in the dreaded tornado season.  

Large part of my initial apprehension regarding moving to OKC was tornado season.  There was just really absolutely no way in hell you were going to move me from a weather safety zone to tornado alley.  But here I am!

I am beginning to adapt to Tornado season.  It isn't quite as bad as I made it out to be.  I do however live in a less tornado centric area.  Even still, tornados are somewhat scary.

I personally find the Weather broadcasters in Oklahoma particularly entertaining during tornado season.  A funnel cloud descending from the sky brings them pure joy.  Tornado season is their favorite season.

My favorite example of this would be David Payne, the Chief Meteorologist on News 9.  His giddiness while delivering incredibly vital information for the safety of Oklahomans entertains me.  I particularly love that even his twitter handle, @tornadopayne displays his pride in Tornado season.

It has taken a lot for this east coast girl to get used to the tornados that sweep through this great state.
Who knows though?  Perhaps eventually I will display the same excitement and pride as my Oklahoman buddies.

KCH

Taco Mucho?

It seems to me like there is never ending options for tacos in Oklahoma. In Virginia, if you were craving some fast Mexican, there was one, and only one option.  That option is the fine Mexican cuisine that is Taco Bell.

The very first time I ventured out to the great state that is Oklahoma, prior to my family's relocation, I couldn't help but notice that the options for a quick taco were seemingly endless.  I was completely baffled by the amount of taco joints I had to choose from. 

 When I drive from my house to school, I pass the classic Taco Bell, Taco Bueno, Del Taco, and Taco Mayo.  I feel as though it is important to express that my drive from home to school is only a five miles! 

So, for those of you that are potentially considering a geographic relocation, and have a strong and frequent hankering for Tacos, Oklahoma City is the place for you.  

KCH

The Oklahoma Sky

There has always been something so captivating to me about the sky.  I am completely fascinated by it.  As far as skies go, the Oklahoma sky is truly a masterpiece.  Wether is be a sunrise, or sunset, or just a starry night, the sky in Oklahoma never disappoints.

I am a person that finds great peace in the sky.  There is something about it that makes my heart feel at ease.  Morning drives as the sun rises, or evening walks at Lake Hefner to watch the sunset, are things that allow me to stop and be appreciative for the life I live, and the blessings I have a received.

The sky speaks for itself.  

KCH

Thunder Up

Going to an Oklahoma City Thunder game is like a right of passage to truly achieve the title of "Oklahoman".  When it comes to college football, fan support feels like a nation divided (I suppose in this case it would be a pan shaped state divided.) However, in my mind support of the Thunder is one of the things that unites the people of Oklahoma.

To the left, are a few photos of my right of passage ceremony.  Also known as my very first Thunder game.  The second I walked into the Chesapeake Energy Arena, I instantly felt the energy (that was not initially intended to be a play on words, but I decided to stick with it) There was something so exciting about sitting in the nose bleed section with some friends, and observing the excitement amongst the audience.  It honestly didn't matter where we were sitting.  It was just a blast to be apart of such a high energy "cultural experience" if you will.

I basically became a super fan after going to my first Thunder game.  I have been to several other NBA games before, but never truly followed a team.  Now that I reside in good ole OKC, it's safe to say that the thunder is my team.

KCH

Learning about blogging

There have been a lot of things I have learned about blogging, since starting this process.  In just a few short months, I can see how much I've learned about the blog world.

For one thing, I never truly knew how huge the world of blogging truly is.  For example, I never would have thought that I could potentially become a professional blogger.  How cool is it to think that writing about something intriguing  to someone else could potentially provide me an income! I don't know about you, but that is definitely something that I think is pretty cool. 

My blog has changed a lot through out the semester.  I feel like every time I publish something on my blog, I go back and make changes at least three or four times.  There is always something to make it a little better.  

I've learned a lot about making an emphasis on your blog.  Whether it be through an intriguing introductory sentence, or through strategic punctuation.  exclamation points aren't the only way to convey a point.  

Blogging is huge for my major.  It is gradually becoming more and more implemented into the news industry.  Certain mendia conglomerates have created blogs where they have certain corespondents blog.  It is another way for the media to reach an audience.  

Blogging in this class has affected me greatly.  It has forced me to do a great deal of thinking.  I have to think about what might be interesting in my life for other people to read about.  It has also been a great creative outlet for me. It is really interesting to think about all of the difference between my previous lifestyle in Northern Virginia, and my new life in Oklahoma.   

The most important lesson I've learned in this class is probably about being creative, and reaching an audience.  If I want to make any kind of impact with my writing, it is important for me to think about how I can convey a message in a creative way, and keep the audiences attention.

KCH

I Could Be A Professional Blogger?

Have you ever had the desire to become your own boss? The idea of being

your own boss is something that many people find quite appealing. In today’s

society, that idea is no longer far from reach. People all over the nation are finding

ways to be self-employed.

Social media is already wildly popular, and many people are finding ways to

be paid for their creative personal online works. In recent years, professional

blogging has become more and more of a career phenomenon. People from all over

the world are turning their personal blogs involving hobbies or travel into their

career.

Perhaps there is a common misconception when it comes to being your own

boss, especially in the world of professional blogging. It’s quite possible that people

assume that professional bloggers spend all day in their pajamas, drinking coffee,

and occasionally jotting down a few thoughts for their blogs. If you have plans of

making your hobby into a professional career, it will require a lot of skill, knowledge

and time.

Successful blogs obviously need creative and interesting content, as well as

good writing. However, there are many other traits and skills professional bloggers

need in order for them to be successful. These things include search engine

optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, and management skills. It is

also important to insure that your blog includes good grammar, and a

representation of some knowledge of photo editing.

It is really important to take your time as you enter into a career in

professional blogging. Take your time, and make sure that you are going about

everything in a manner that will lead you to success. For example, you should

ensure that you have a back of plan for income before you solely rely on your

blogging career.

There are many people that are taking this leap into self-employment in the

blogging world. With some preparation and hard work, you are completely capable

of being able to create an income from your blog, and earning the title “Professional

Blogger”

KCH