Back and Blessed

Hello Family!

It was so great to see all of you this past week! I have missed you all so much, and it was so refreshing to see some familiar faces.  While I was at home I kept thinking to myself how lucky I was to grow up with such amazing people.  Each one of you has made an impact in my life in some way, and I was always thankful for you guys, but it's not until now that I am realizing how blessed I was to be apart of this family.  Being at school I have gotten used to meeting new people everyday, and it gets to be exhausting at times.  I sometimes find myself having the same conversation over and over again, and it was nice to come home to some genuine laughter and real friends.

This week is going to be really hard, I have already spent the whole day today doing schoolwork, and I am going to be doing the same thing all week.  But something exciting that happened this past week was that Seventeen Magazine called me back about possibly doing an internship with them this summer!!  Most of you know that I have also been working on doing something with Penske Racing this summer, but I want to keep my options open.  But anyway, the girl that called me last week finally emailed me some more information today, and I am going to be sending in my resume tomorrow!! Please please please pray for me!!! This would seriously be the dream job for me!  I would get to live in NYC for the summer and work with the advertising department. Honestly even if they had me scrubbing the toilets I would be happy as a clam haha.  

Some other exciting things that are happening down here is the winding down of the semester. As of today I have 6 days of class left, and I already have a final this week!  Unfortunately it is my geology lab exam so I get to study rocks and fossils! I am seriously so happy that this class is going to be over, there is only so much of that nonsense a girl can take.  I also have a portfolio for english, my seminar final project, an econ final, history final, and ANOTHER geology exam for the lecture part of the class. But anyways, finals down here are supposed to be really exciting because people will camp out all night long in the Student Learning Center, and there is no class so people are just hanging out or studying for like a week.  

But before the study frenzy happens people are going to party down this weekend for the UGA vs LSU game this weekend!!! Apparently only a few upperclassmen students got tickets to go so there aren't any freshman going, but I cannot wait to watch this game with my Dad! I have made a friend on the football team so I'll be able to get a picture with him on the railing by the field in his gear!!  So pumped. Words cannot describe.  

Anyhoo, I have still got to read a whole chapter in my history book for class tomorrow, so I should probably stop procrastinating and do that haha.  

It was so great to see all of you this week! Oh and by the way, for some reason my email has been putting all your responses in the "Trash" so thats why I haven't been answering you! I am so sorry, and I got to read what you guys sent and they were all such sweet notes :)  PLEASE keep emailing me back because now I will actually be able to read them.  

Thank you all for being the best people in the world!

Love you,

Mason :)

Mailing Address:

0712 B Creswell Hall 

University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30609

Follow me on Twitter! - masonnjar

I have a blog for my emails too! - masonburril.blogspot.com

Thank Goodness for Thanksgiving 11/18/2011

Hello Everyone!

I am so sorry that I haven't written in a while.  Everyone is getting ready for thanksgiving, and finals are coming up so things are getting somewhat tense around here.  It will be so nice to get home and not talk about school for a while! The dining halls have been serving up some Thanksgiving treats, but we all know there is nothing like a good, home-cooked meal. Along with the comfort food, November has brought in some cold weather and blustery winds, and I am completely loving it right now.  It is so beautiful here, and it's kinda fun to walk to classes all bundled up in jackets and scarves!  The heater that Areshia and I have in our dorm room is about 100 years old, and it is about as loud as a freight train. But it does keep it nice and toasty, and Areshia just loves to snuggle with me!  

Anyhoo, along with the raging winds we have had some crazy times here too! This past weekend UGA played Auburn at home, and if you didn't watch it you seriously missed out on some quality football.  This game was particularly exciting because some of the freshman in Student Government (SGA) were able to have "Better Relations Day" with the Auburn Student Government. There were four freshman here that went, and two freshman from Auburn came over so we could give them the grand tour and exchange SGA advice.  The whole point of the day was to establish good relations between UGA and Auburn, and it ended up being a lot more fun than I expected.  The two Auburn freshman ended up being extremely cool, and we joked around all day while we got VIP tours all over campus.  We actually got to hear from Vince Dooley because he was an Auburn grad, and is a legendary UGA football coach.  The whole day was so fun and I will be able to tell you all alot more about it when I get home!  But at the game on Saturday, Athens had turned to complete madness...and it was beautiful.  The whole town was electric because both Auburn and Georgia fans knew this was a big game.  It was probably the best game I have ever been to in Sanford Stadium just because I was in the student section with kids as crazy as me!  The entire game was so fun, and I was so proud to be a Georgia Bulldawg when it ended haha! 

Other than football, this week has brought on massive amounts of studying and school work.  It seems like all the teachers are piling on the work because they don't actually want us to have a break over thanksgiving, but hey, I only have 1 full week of classes left!!  I just can't believe that it has all gone by so quickly, and I am about to finish my first semester of college!  Mind blowing.  I still haven't done half of the things I have wanted to do, but at the same time I don't know when I would've had a free moment to do anything else.  But as I am reflecting on these past couple months I am happy to say that I have made some great friends, and I have set myself up pretty good down here.  Sometimes I get scared that I won't be able to make it, and that I won't be able to even pass this semester. But I have learned that I just need to pray everyday, and trust that what I am doing here is right. 

I think one of the best things I have become apart of down here is the Westley Foundation, which is the on-campus ministry.  Even though I can't go to the Freshman service anymore because of SGA, I am still really involved, and I feel so loved there.  I am taking a leap of faith and going on a mission trip with them to Jamaica for spring break, and I couldn't be more excited!  We have had a couple of meetings so far, and it seems like everyone who goes comes back with life-altering stories.  I have got to do a lot of fundraising for it because it is around 1500 dollars, but I truly think it will be worth every penny.  

One more thing that I just have to mention is the Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Premiere.  Oh my gosh, so great.  It was last night at 12:00, and it was completely awesome.  If you can only imagine like every girl on campus packed into a movie theater, complete with a few scraggler boyfriends, and a couple of closet men Twi-hards.  We ended up sitting on the second row, and I loved every minute of it.  The book has some extremely weird parts to it, and the way they made it into a movie was just hilarious.  This is not a movie that I would go see with any person that does not like Twilight, because it is a bit extreme.  All in all, it was a great night.

As much as I am loving it here, I cannot wait to come home and see all my friends and family! One thing about going to a school where you don't know anyone, you become so grateful for people you already know and don't have to make small talk with!  I am going to be home on Saturday and I am going to be leaving the next Sunday, so come see me!!

I love you guys!

Mason :)

P.S. Shout out to my boy Matthew McEntire who has been the best penpal everrrr

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Hello Good People,

I just don't think I will ever slow down here.  This past week was homecoming week, and I am on the homecoming committee for Student Government, so I had a very eventful week. There was something to do every night, and on Friday I spent the whole day painting a banner and getting the float ready for the parade! Our theme was "Here Comes The Boom" and we had a cannon on the back with balloons everywhere, and it was totally awesome (of course it was...I was there).  But I got to ride on the float and throw out candy to little kids, and I felt oh so cool.  I did my little wave and my audience couldn't get enough haha.  But really... Anyways, it was even better since Callen and Dad came down to spend the night and go to the game! I got to give Callen the exclusive college tour and introduced her into dorm living, great stuff.  We went to a carnival at like 10:30 and rode the "Ring of Fire" and ate some fried oreos, needless to say she loved it.

On Saturday we went to the game and Callen got to come down and watch in the student section, and Dad played with the alumni band on the field!  Callen got to meet some of my crazy friends, and Dad actually had a solo during the marching band aftershow. After the game we went out to Lunch/Dinner (Dunch if you may) and it was sooo tasty.  Then we had to say our sad goodbyes :(

On Sunday I went to church with Meredith and her family (they had all come in from Virginia for the game), and then we went to Sunday brunch to use that chocolate fountain (now you see why I really wanted to come to UGA).  The rest of the day I spend doing the occasional homework while also watching Gossip Girl (totally dumb show, yet addicting).  Sunday night Freshley (Freshman church organization) had a scavenger hunt downtown where we were in groups and we had to find all the leaders who were dressed up as characters. My group consisted of like 6 girls and one guy, and we ended up winning the whole thing! Everyone (including myself) underestimated our ability; we somehow beat this group of guys who were maniacs, and it was great making fun of them.  

Yesterday my day was filled with classes, gym, homework, meetings, and finally sleep around 1:30.  Daylight savings has been such a blessing, I had no idea how good an extra hour can make you feel.  I somehow woke up 10 minutes before my alarm this morning!

All in all, my time here at UGA has been totally unbelievable.  I am so glad I decided to take the risk and go to a school where I would be put in unfamiliar settings and I could go out of my comfort zone.  I have gone to so many random events to try new things, and I have learned a lot about myself by doing that.  I feel like I am really growing into myself here, and I am confident my decision making.  I just want to thank all of you guys for being there to support me, because it really was you all that made me who I am today.  

Never forget how amazing life is, and God gave it to us to achieve our dreams!

Love Love Love,

Mason :)

No Sleep For The Restless 11/3/2011

Ello Friends!

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to write this email! Life has seriously been going by so fast, and I am going non-stop here.  There is so much stuff to do, and I have listened to many speakers here telling us how there is a triangle that we have to balance between sleep, school, and social. Well, I think my triangle is leaning toward school and social because I get around 5-6 hours of sleep, and there is no time to take a break!  

This past weekend I went home to the mountains, and it was so nice to see the fam without the craziness of homecoming.  Dad came and picked me up around 11 on thursday, and I was home by 12:30. I'm pretty much the luckiest kid ever. I mean who's Dad comes and picks their kid up in a plane?  But anyway, I spent the rest of the day working on a paper in Green Sage Coffeehouse while Dad was at work, and then I came home for a nice home-cooked meal. Yum yum! Then that night we went to the Chorus concert, and of course I sang along the whole time because I knew all the words haha! On Friday I went to J&S with Callen for breakfast and I got to hang out with all her peeps and talk about whats going on at Reynolds.  Not much has changed, the people are still amazing, but it was weird having all of Callen's friends talk about going to college.  Then I got to thinking, I only have 5 more weeks left of my first semester! Exciting and sad at the same time.  Later on I got my hairs cut and mom and I spent the entire day together!  Friday night I somehow got roped into working the concession stand at the Reynolds Football game in the freezing cold weather.  I was not to fond of the idea when Callen told me I had to do it, but it actually turned out to be really fun!  I got to see a lot of my Wyldlife girls and they were cuter than ever.  Saturday morning Mom and I woke up at the crack of dawn to go to the J. Crew Sidewalk Sale (so freezing, but soooooooooo worth it!!).  Then later on we watched the Georgia vs. Flordia game and it was a heart-wrencher! I was so happy when we won, I just wanted to go back to Athens because I knew it would be CRAZY!  On Sunday I went to church, and I had to go to the college class :( It was so strange not going to the youth room and hanging out with all the kids in youth group. I'm such a geezer now.  Anyway, I went back home, packed my stuff, and somehow ended up bringing way more stuff back than I came with...

So this week is homecoming week and Student Government plays a big part in all the homecoming events. Sunday night after I got back to Athens I stayed up until 2am street painting! The girl that had put all the stuff together was not really prepared (she went to the game...and to the beach...) so all the freshman pretty much did all the work.  It was soooooooo cold, but it really was fun. The next morning I had an 8am and I was so unbelievably tired. Mason=zombie. But I managed to write a paper and take a nap so it all worked out.  It was also Halloween so that night my 3 friends were the three blind mice and I dressed up as their exterminator!  It was so funny because we all looked ridiculous, and I even went to my Student Government meeting dressed up, and of course the Dean was speaking to us that night haha.  He kept giving me funny looks, but I just smiled haha.  

Anyway, I am really excited because I have signed up to go on a mission trip with the church I am going to here.  It is a Freshman-Only trip, and we are going to be traveling to Jamaica to work with the sister church there.  I have been praying about this a lot, and I finally just decided that I needed to go.  I have heard nothing but amazing things about it, and I really think God wants me to go. Its going to be an adventure trying to raise all this money ($1500), but I have already got some tactics up my sleeve!  

I love you guys so much! I can't wait for Callen and Dad to come see me this weekend! Please please please write me or email me anytime!!

Peace and Blessings,

Mason :)

"Fall"ing Through Life

Dear My Lovely Family,

It has been a long week, and filled with complete excitement! I feel like my life is flashing before my eyes!

The semester only has like 6 more weeks in it, and everyone is about to start registering for classes.  I am not sure if I will be able to handle 8 am classes anymore...But I realized that I only have a couple more classes I have to take that are required for me to apply to Grady School of Journalism. So that means that I will be able to take some fun classes, who knew? I am considering taking another p.e. class because they have some really fun ones like self-defense, and kickboxing!  But I guess we will see how that goes because I have a pretty late registration.

Anyhoo, on Wednesday night one of my friends, Ashton Hall, announced that she is getting married in May! Of course I freaked out, not only because I love weddings, but because I get to be apart of it! We are only 18 and its crazy to me that I have friends who are getting married.  We got on the subject of marriage because we were looking at apartments for next year,...apartments. I can't believe that I am looking for an apartment! Only old, mature people look at renting apartments!  This was all too much for one night.  Obviously there was going to be no more studying that night, and it was completely dedicated to picking out stuff for Ashton's wedding haha. 

Other than all of that crazy, school has not been that bad this week. I pretty much just got all of my midterms back, and I did a lot of socializing haha.  I got to spend some time with Emma Thompson this week, her mom came down and treated us to dinner. Soooo delicious! The fact that I was served something was slightly mind boggling. 

With so much going on and being so busy all the time it is hard for me to spend as much time on my faith as I should.  Since I have joined Student Government I am no longer able to go to Westley church on Monday nights for the freshman worship service, and it has truly taken a toll on me.  However, this morning at church a guy named Louie Giglio spoke about a girl named Ashley who was saved because her roommate Kristin showed her the Lord.  Ashley went from having zero faith at all, to being a believer within 14 days. 14 days was all it took for her to realize Kristin, who she called a fruitcake in the beginning, had something special about her.  I won't ruin the ending because it makes the story so much more powerful, but you all need to find it online and listen to the whole sermon. It truly brought me to tears. God brought me back to reality, and showed me that all I have to do is live for Jesus.  If I do that then I don't have to worry about all the little things. It's crazy how a God knows exactly what to say.

I cannot wait to come back home on Thursday! It is going to be so nice to just take a chill pill and watch t.v. on my couch and eat some honey nut cheerios out of a glass bowl.  Ahh that sounds so amazing right now!

I miss all of you and love you very much,

Mason :)

I am now posting my emails on my blog which is: www.masonburril.blogspot.com

Write me! I love your emails and letters!!

Coolest thing since sliced bread!!

Life of a College Kid

Dear My Fellow Followers,

College life has not slowed down at all. There are still endless things to do, and being my usual self I keep finding more and more things I want to do!  However this past weekend I finally took a break from the wonderful place of Athens and went home to Asheville!!

I literally cannot explain my excitement about coming home. I left right after classes on thursday and hit the road jack! Dad was supposed to pick Meredith and I up by flying down, but the weather ended up being really cloudy so he drove instead.  When I finally started seeing the mountains of Western North Carolina I was freaking out and I think Meredith might have second guessed coming home with me...haha. The leaves were absolutely perfect and the mountain air smelled like sweet, sweet heaven.  When we pulled up to the house I finally got to reunite with Tulip and Gadget! They were cuter than ever, and of course Tulip was sufficiently covered in poop (as she always is).  When I went inside Mom and Callen came running to me and it was like one of those really cheesy movies where it was completely over exaggerated, but hey, thats how the Burril family rolls.  Then I finally saw Lily Clarke come out of the kitchen!! She is one of my best friends, and I hadn't seen her in months because she has been traveling all over Europe by herself!  I was such an epic moment.  Anyway, we had dinner and chatted all about college, friends, Europe, the new reynolds principal, and pretty much everything else you can imagine.  Then after dinner I finally got to sleep in my own bed. You have no idea how good that was...my bed is like a little cloud in heaven sent down for me to sleep on haha.

On Friday Meredith, Lily, and I pretty much spent the whole day at Reynolds. We technically are not allowed to be in the school, but we pulled a mission impossible and stayed all day haha. It was the day of the homecoming game so there were homecoming videos that we watched, then we went and sang with Mrs. Bryant and Chorale, and then we went to Chick-fil-a and snuck in 7 chicken sandwiches, and 6 cookies and cream milkshakes (yes, it was as radical as it sounds).  Later in the day Looie finally got home and Looie, Lily and I got to have a reunion, so epic!! But then that night was the homecoming game and we got to spend the night cheering on the rockets with all my friends from high school! 

Following the game we all went to Waffle House for some hot choco, and then went back to Looie's house to hang out like the good ole times!  

Saturday was filled with a late breakfast, hiking, and Callen's homecoming dance.  She wore a little black dress and rhinestone earrings that I bought for her in Athens. Of course she looked adorable if I had anything to do with it haha.  But she and Nick Gritta (her main squeeze these days) took some pictures and headed off to dance the night away (so cute!!) Meanwhile, I went out to dinner downtown with the girls, Meredith, Areshia, and Michelle Black!!  After the dance Callen had about 20 of her friends over and I invited like 10 of mine over, so the house was rockin pretty much all night long.  You can only imagine how crazy 30 teenagers can get, props Mom and Dad haha. 

All in all, the weekend was nothing short of amazing.  

In other news, I got my midterms back from the past couple of weeks. It turned out my studying paid off because I got A's on both of them!!! Thanks for all your prayers :)

Since I have been back at school I have already done some crazy things. I had my first official Student Government Senate meeting, and it was totally not what I expected.  There were all kinds of bills the senate was voting on, and people were all over the place arguing about it. It was pretty much like watching a boxing match, but people were throwing punches with their MINDS!  

I have also been spending my newly found midterm-free time on some really cute websites that I'm sure all you ladies out there will enjoy.

• Pinterest.com (Its a website where people just post really cute things)
• modcloth.com (really cute vintage clothes!)

So while I have been wasting away my time looking at ridicuous girly things, I found this link about curling your hair with a sock. It sounds crazy, but I did it last night and it actually worked!! I'm going to post the youtube video link so you guys can watch it haha.

Shout out to Aunt Weezie and Nana for the letters!!

I love all of you guys!! Please keep in touch with me!

Mason :)

10/10/2011 Glory Glory to Ole Georgia

Hey Everyone!

So I last week turned out to be pretty good despite all the stressing out over my midterms! I studied harder than I ever had for a test, probably ever more than my AP Exams haha. I knew everything that was on the test, but now my fate is up to my TA (teaching assistant, aka grad student), which freaks me out haha.  Anyway, I have 2 more midterms this week as well and I CAN NOT WAIT until they are all over and I can just take a chill pill. 

In other news, I went on my Student Government retreat this weekend! It was so fun! We went to this apartment complex thing and stayed in the clubhouse over there, yes, a club house (can you say living there next year??). Anyway it was great because I was. surrounded with students who are just as driven as I am, and out of the 250 kids they were the best of the best.  It was crazy because we were only together for a total of 21 hours but we managed to get so much done haha.  The Freshman Forum is split into 5 color groups and I am in the teal group. We decided that we needed that we needed a mascot so he is a turtle with some crazy name that I cant even remember haha.  But each color group has 2 Personal Advisors and they are there to help the freshman out with whatever they need.  Each P.A. is invloved with  different organizations and they are there to help us find our way.

While we were there we got to choose a couple organizations to hear about from the PAs, and the one I was really interested in was the Visitors Center.  I think that going around and telling how awesome UGA is would be the best job ever hah! The guy that was talking about it said that it was really competitive so it would be hard to get a job there. He said last year there were over 100 applicants and they only chose 10 people. Can you say tough?

But most importantly on the retreat I got to meet so many new people! There were people there from all over, and the cool thing is that those are the people that are going to be the leaders at UGA. They are the ones that are going to lead the world someday and I get to be apart of that.  Each person had such different talents, passions, and dreams for their lives.  One thing that really left a mark was that they kept saying that no dream is too big. One of the directors from last year wanted to write screenplays and produce movies in Hollywood, and now he is actually living in LA right now doing just that.  That blew my mind, and I was so thankful that I was surrounded by these awesome people. 

Tonight is my first official SGA meeting and I can't wait to see how everything is going to work!

Anyways, this week I am finally getting to come home!! The plan is for my Dad to come pick up me and Meredith on Thursday afternoon! I am so excited you don't even know hah.  I could write so much more, but I have to stop avoiding studying haha. You guys can just talk to me this weekend!! Ahhhh can't wait to be home haha.

Love you all!

Mason Burril

P.S. I started a blog!! I am actually just posting all these emails on there so everyone can see them and it is super cute hah. The website is masonburril.blogspot.com. You guys can follow me and comment, and if you have any friends that are reading my emails you can just tell them to check the blog!

P.S.S. I still love getting mail :)
My address is:
0712 B Creswell Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30609

posting rampage

So as you can probably tell, I have been posting up a storm here. I have been writing emails to my family every week since I started college and I wanted to put them all together on a blog so everyone can read them!

and the beat goes on.

This week has been yet another wild ride! I have some really great news! So you know how I was thinking about applying to Student Government Association? Well, I actually ended up doing it, and I got in!! There are two groups I could have made it into, one is the Freshman Board (this one is 15 freshman that deal with legislation, and is a bit more formal) and the other option is the Freshman Forum (this one is 60 freshman that deal with service projects, and leadership activities, and they get to do a lot more hands-on stuff). I was accepted into the Freshman Forum, and I am soooo happy about it!! We are having a little retreat this weekend off campus, and it is a total mystery to me what we are actually going to do there.  But I'm sure it will be fun!  There were over 200 people that interviewed to be in SGA, and all the people that I knew that applied didn't get in. So I am not going to know a single person on this retreat (story of my life right now haha).

On Friday I had gave my first "I love UGA, you have to come here, its the best" speech to one of my friend Josey Hammond's cousin.  I had met him this summer at Wild Dunes but I had no idea he was interested in UGA.  Anyway, I walked in the the dining hall for lunch and he is standing there all alone looking totally confused. Of course my first reaction was to run up to him and freak out! But I gave him the tour of the dining hall and then he asked me to tell him all about UGA. So we sat there for about an hour while I rambled on about how much I love college, and it was totally great! I felt so collegiate. But I am pretty sure I brainwashed him into being a dawg, because he was so pumped when we were done haha. So if you want to convince anyone to come to Georgia, call me. I am the  UGA master.

On Saturday Dad came down to visit me and go to the Mississippi State game! He got here and he watched the game with my friend Meredith Raiford's dad ,Frank Raiford (I think I mentioned him before, but they were roommates in college, and now I'm really good friends with his daughter, so cute...I know!) But Dad and Frank ended up sleeping in Meredith's dorm together so it was like a roommate reunion! Except for the fact that they were in a girls dorm room with flowers all over the walls haha.  But they went to church with us Sunday, great day!

So, this past week I have been studying like crazy for my first real midterm. I am pretty much scared out of my pants about this one.  I only have 4 grades in this class (Post Civil War History) and I pretty much have to ace this thing.  I am going to be taking it tomorrow morning so pray for me...kinda freaking out here! But thats the reason I didn't write last night, I was in the study room till about 1 in the morning studying.  We actually got a pizza delivered to the student study center! But everyone is studying hard core down here because we are all dealing with HUGE tests :(

All this studying nonsense is going to finish up soon because I'm coming home for the A.C. Reynolds Homecoming game on October 14th!! It will be the first time I've been home since August 9th, and Meredith and Areshia are both coming home with me!  I cannot wait to see Callen and Mom! The mountain air is going to smell so great. I am also really excited because one of my best friends, Lily Clarke, is going to be home from Europe! She has been there since graduation and I have missed her so much! Please everyone pray for her safe travels home from Barcelona.  

I love every one of you! Please write me back if you want! I love to hear from everyone, it makes it easier to be away.

Hugs and Kisses!

Mason :)

Sixth week!

So this past week has been a rollercoaster of craziness, which is right where I like it.  School is going well. I am slowly learning that I have to do most of my learning outside of the classroom...crazy right?  But many late nights at the student center are fun and you really bond with people because you are all in pain.  I am also learning that naps are my new bff (best friend forever) because I don't really do that much sleeping when it is dark haha.  

Anyway, through all the craziness of the week I took some time to relax a little bit. I started watching documentaries because we watched a snip-it of one in my history class and I wanted to learn more.  The documentaries I watched were as follows:

• Food Inc. (This one was about the meat industry, and I have to admit I was really grossed out about it.  There was a lot of good information about not only the meat industry now, but how it compares to the meat packing industry when Upton Sinclair wrote about it.)
• Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia (This one was not so great. I thought it might be a good idea to learn about them for my geology class, but it was just really boring.)
• National Geographic: Inside North Korea (This is definitely a film everyone needs to see. I have thought about this documentary all week and I still can't get a grip on it.  The reason I watched it was because I wasn't that familiar with the Korean problems, and so I just thought I would learn a bit.  I am shocked that the people in North Korea might not know that people have been to the moon yet.  They have no communication with the outside world, and it totally breaks my heart.  In order for National Geo to even film the documentary they had to sneak inside with an eye doctor.  So amazing. Watch it.)
• National Geographic: China's Lost Girls (This one was really cool, especially since I have been to China. This one would be really good for someone who wants to know more about China's overpopulation issue, crazy stuff goes on there.)
• Biography: Ben & Jerry (I had to throw in something happy after all this sad stuff.  Of course this one made me feel better about eating ice cream, so I am going to continue to do so.)

I know that was probably super random, and you didn't think you were going to get a movie review, but hey, it's my letter so I get to write what I want. Haha!

Moving on to something totally different, I went on a church retreat this weekend.  I have been going to Westley Church on Monday nights for  Freshley (which is worship with only freshman), and this weekend we traveled up to Delonaga, GA.  It was so beautiful there.  We were up in the mountains and it felt so much like home.  Seriously, I love the mountains so much. We went hiking, played all kinds of games, slept in cabins, and even star tripped (this is where you look up at the stars and spin around as fast as you can, and then someone shines a bright light in your eye, and you just fall over...so fun)! This weekend was exactly what I needed.  While we were there we all just bonded and worshiped together.  It was so beautiful seeing college freshman so in love with the Lord.  I couldn't help but start crying haha.  On Saturday night we stayed in worship for about 4 hours; crazy stuff.  The speaker was so good, and he told like 3 poop stories, so of course I thought he was hilarious!  The best part about going was that we were all coming back to the same place, and we can do the same things here.

If you can't tell, I am finding my way here.  I love being independent.  My parents raised me well!

You all are so amazing and I miss you so much!  Write/call/fax/carrier pigeon me anytime!!

Peace and Blessings,

Mason :)

p.s...watch the North Korean Doc, if the highlighting it wasn't enough indication! 

week five maybe??

So I want to start off saying that I didn't send this to you last night because I was busy studying for my first test!!  Last night I was at the Student Learning Center until around 12:15 or so studying away, and of course I wasn't going to write a lame email to you guys so I'm writing it now haha!  I had my first big college exam this morning at approximately 9:08, and I think I did pretty well.  It was a Macroeconomics Exam so it was pretty much all the market stuff I have been hearing about all my life from my Dad haha.  

But I'm sure you all want to hear about the first UGA game in Athens!! I knew this was going to be a big deal because they brought in the porter potty's on Wednesday! The town literally exploded overnight! I woke up at around 10:00 and there were girls going crazy in my dorm trying to get ready; curling their hair, picking out the best game day dress, and of course planning out what tailgates to go to!  The weather could not of been more perfect, blue skies and a nice warm temperature, ultimate for game day. The smell of weenies and burgers filled the air!  But instead of eating at a tailgate my friends and I thought that we would eat at the dining hall (which is still sooooo good might I add). I got a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee, little did I know I would be dying later on... But we hit up some friends throwing tailgates; it was so awesome seeing everyone letting loose on the honor lawn!! My mom and Mrs. Betsy Gillespie came down to watch the game, and it was sooooo good to see her! They didn't get to sit with us, but we met up before and had dinner after (real food, yum!) But the game was so fun! The student section was crazy! I literally stood up the whole time and I got burnt because I forgot to wear sunscreen...(sorry mom) By the end of the night everyone's feet were killing them and it took everything we had to make it back to the dorm haha.   Even though we lost, it was sooooo fun and if anyone can make it to a game I totally recommend it!

This week I have 2 tests and a paper due so I have a lot of studying to do :( But I love each and every one of you! I love hearing from you guys!

Shout out to Aunt Susan for a letter today!! Mail is still the best thing ever!!

Mailing Address:

0712 B Creswell Hall

University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30609

Hugs and Kisses,

Mason :)

the fourth week...

So this past week has been very exciting! Since this is going to be my fourth week of college I have made some decisions of things I know I am going to do, or groups I know I am going to join. It is time for me to decide what I want to spend my time doing and commit to.  The first couple weeks I have attended lots of meetings of social groups and various school organizations so I could test everything out.  But I have a pretty good idea now of what I am going to do during the week!

On Monday nights I go to Westley Church and attend a worship service that is especially for freshman, there are roughly 400 freshman that go, so that is definitely exciting!  While we are there we sing praise songs with an awesome band that is completely student led.  Then we get to hear the preacher speak, his name is Stephen Byerly and he is the minister of freshman.  It is crazy to see everyone there so in love with Jesus.  It is so refreshing to see that there are that many freshman who love God just as much as I do.  After the service we all break up into small groups. Mine is lead by a senior named Kristen and a sophomore named Megan, on the first night they made us all fun-fetti cupcakes so of course I loved it haha! We meet on top of a parking deck and it is so beautiful. This past week we talked about where we are in our relationship with God. People truly are amazing; hearing what the girls in my small group have done and listening to their life stories was so awesome. Jesus works in the coolest ways.

On Tuesday and Thursday nights I am doing the UGA newscast!!  UGA has a newscast on Monday- Thursday nights and you can sign up to produce, direct, or do whatever they need you to do.  This past week I did a little job doing the Powerpoint portion of the news, but it was so cool getting to be behind the scenes of a real news production.  UGA Newsorce works with CNN and you get hands-on experience in the making of a news broadcast.  Most of the people that are doing the news are taking the Broadcast Journalism class or majoring in it, but I just thought it would be fun and good to know for PR.  The professor there is very intense, but he definitely knows his stuff, so I am pretty much taking a free class by doing this.

On Wednesday nights I go and get coffee downtown with some girls! It is $2.25 latte night for any size latte so us cheap college kids are all about the deals. Plus these are pretty much the best lattes in town!  But I have some bad news, the coffee shop that this great deal is at got bought out by Jittery Joes. They said they were still going to be the same place, but it is so sad that they aren't the local coffee shop anymore. But after coffee we normally go back to the room and watch a chick-flick which of course makes me feel better!

But as the week comes to a close there is always something different to do on the weekend! This weekend was especially crazy because it was labor day weekend.  In one day Athens turned into a ghost town and I was left all alone :( On Friday night I met up with some of the few remaining people and went to see "Tangled" at the $1 student movie theater.  If you haven't seen that movie I most definitely put the seal of approval on it.  

On Saturday Daddy dearest came down to visit and we went to the UGA vs. Boise State game.  The game was not one of the bulldogs shining moments but Dad and I had fun anyways! That night we drove back from Atlanta to go back and sleep in the dorms.  This was Matthew Burrils first experience sleeping in a girls dorm room, and I am proud to say he snored like a baby on my futon.  

On Sunday morning we went to church together at Athens Church (where I have been going for 4 weeks now).  The preacher spoke about not trying to control your life, and how we need to put our lives in God's hands.  After church we drove down to the Atlanta Motor Speedway to watch the Advocare 500.  We got to walk around the garage and all through the pits, and we even went to the drivers meeting! The race didn't end up happening because of the rain, and it was post-poned until Tuesday, so we left early and went to Atlanta to see "The Help".  This movie is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, and it might be even better than "Tangled".  But after the movie we ended up at IHOP at around 1 in the morning, and we sat there for another hour talking. All in all it was a great weekend!

I hope that everyone is doing well! I would love to hear from all of you! (Mail is always fun...)

My Address is:

0712 B Creswell Hall

University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30609

Love you and miss you!!

Mason :)

week numero dos

I thought I might as well write you all again to tell you how my second official week at school has been.  My classes have picked up a lot and I now have to do homework...not so thrilled about that haha. But I am actually enjoying all of my classes, they are all really interesting! I have already been assigned 2 papers and they are going to be a big part of my grade so be praying for me!!  

As for the friend situation, I have been doing something almost every night! I have gotten to know a bunch of girls on my hall and they are really nice and fun.  We have gone out to the movies and gone for coffee, and even a magic show!  Its amazing how many things there are to do on campus, there is pretty much no way you can be bored.  On Friday night I went to the best party, it was duck taped themed so everything was covered in duck tape, the decorations, the people, and even the snacks were fruit roll ups!  There was probably over 1500 people there, and it was crazy!! But before you all freak out that I went to a frat party, it was completely dry and held by the Christian fraternity. 

So, I got my first college sickness and I was completely horse and sounded like a screeching dying bird. But I have watched an entire season of Gilmore Girls and spent some quality time with the couch and I am cured!  It has also been rough having classes at 8:00 three times a week and two at 9:30 but Starbucks always helps.  Coffee is rampant on college campuses and now I know why haha.

I have been trying to get a job in with the Athletic Association but nothing has happened yet, but there is still hope!  I am also considering applying for SGA (Student Government Association), apparently you can make some great relationships with the schools administration and it looks really good on grad school/ job applications.  There is interviews and a long application so its going to be tough to get in but we will see what happens. Wish me luck!

In conclusion, I am loving college and being at UGA!! 

Love you and miss you all,

Mason :)

First Week of College!

I am going to try and do a weekly update from college because I know you all miss me so dearly!!  So this past week was the first week of actual classes and so far they weren't too terrifying. However, it was "drop/add week" so it was not as intense as it normally is I am guessing. I only got lost a few times on the way there but I didn't miss any class yet! Yay Mason! The buses and I do not get along very well, I have already lost my water bottle on one, and I seem to always be waiting on the bus for like 30 minutes every time I try to catch one haha.

Let me tell you, I have no idea how there is anything called the freshman 15. I swear I walk at least 3 miles a day. Uphill.  As soon as you walk outside here you start sweating and showers are pretty much pointless.  I have pretty much given up on wearing cute clothes to class because I covered in sweat, so I have been wearing shorts and t-shirts everyday.  But that is what everyone else is doing too so it's not that big of a deal. 

I am going to take a minute to inform you all about the food here at the georgia campus.  It is probably the best cafeteria food ever, they have sushi, a coffee house, chocolate fountains, ANY kind of cereal you can ask for, and even those big fluffy waffles! I have never seen a place cook so much good food in masses.  Of course I am not going crazy or anything, but after 3 miles of huffing it up those hills you gotta let the big dawg eat (food services slogan fyi).  

But as far as the friends and stuff go I have been hanging out with my roommate Areshia a lot. She is so nice and we really get along well together.  I have been to church twice and we have gone to a bunch of on campus ministry events.  There are some really nice girls on my hall as well and we have been doing something every night because there is ALWAYS something going on.  The other day we went to international coffee hour and there we found an Asian Michael Jackson impersonator (the video is on my facebook, its hilarious!!), we were the only americans there but it was a total blast!  

I love you and miss you all! Shout out to Aunt Mary for sending the first care package! (We can make it a competition if you want to see who can send the best one!!)  

Love, 

Mason :)