The back story...

Today I am going to be boarding a plane to move to Portland OR.  I was accepted into Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute under the Baking and Pastry Art Program.  I have decided on a new path at this point in my life, this is a huge step for me.  I am doing this alone, by my choice.  I have spent the past few months living in Alaska with my sis, brother in law and nephew trying to "figure" my life out.  I am trying to start over from scratch and build myself back up.  I wanted to document this process especially for all the changes that I am about to go through.  This blog is going to be about my life, while attending Culinary school, living in Portland, and working. 
Part of my "figuring" out process was finding a school I wanted to attend.  First school I found was actually in NY CITY!!!!  I applied and was accepted.  Then one morning I woke up and it hit me, what if I do go to school in NY?  I will be alone, have to find a place to live, have to pay for transportation, and find a job.  The thought of living in NY was really awesome and it would have been a little closer to my parents.  After a long talk with my sister I came to the conclusion that this just would not be a good idea.  One of the things she pointed out to me was my love for Portland and she asked why I didn't just go to one there.  So that day I got online and found Le Cordon Bleu and I applied.  After talking to a really awesome advisor I was super stoked.  Going back and forth getting him all the information he needed, multiple trips to fax machine and many phone calls,  I was accepted.  Then I got to talk to a Super helpful Financial Aid advisor and we worked it out where I can get 2 loans, financial aid and I only have to pay (while in school) $53 a month.  He also sent me a link to get some scholarships.  So I got on that day and went searching.  The school has a scholarship called Market Basket.  First you have a write an essay 75 words or less on why you want to be a culinary professional.  The last day to submit the essay was Dec. 3rd.  I was struggling writing this essay because it had to be so short.  That day it was due I jumped on my computer and just wrote it and submitted it. Then on Dec. 8th I received a phone calling saying I was one of the top 10 finalist for the essay's!!!!  I flipped, I was at work when I got the call and I was so happy I couldn't believe it!!!  I wrote something that was beat out others.  I called my sister and then my parents and when I got home I posted it on facebook.  Then came the not so good news.  I had to be in Portland by that following Saturday morning (Dec. 11, 2010) to complete the second part of the scholarship.  The second part consisted of a market basket full of baking supplies and you wouldn't know what you had until that morning, right when it started and you would have 2 hours to bake something absolutely amazing. Then you would be judged on how it taste, the presentation and the safety and cleanliness while baking.  Well, I looked up plane tickets to go for the weekend and/or the day and oh my gosh they were well over $1000.00.  Needless to say I had to call and decline my participation.  It was still an honor to have at least gotten that far. 
Now here it is Dec. 28th and I am getting on that plane to head to Portland.  I have an orientation on the 29th.  That is where I will get to meet my advisor, get my chef uniforms (so excited), meet fellow students and the facility.