In between chapters of how to teach grammar to non-native speakers, I am reading different things about being the other half of a submariner. It turns out the Internet has a lot of offer. 

Although I am not his spouse yet, it feels like military spouse 101 really. It tells you everything you need to keep yourself together while your man is away. 

Some important notes to myself:

1) No news is good news - do not freak yourself out. 

I tend to do this a lot when I have been on my own for more than 24 hours. This can be super stressful and cause mood swing. So instead, I read something from the Bible and pray.

2) Be more than just “OK” when you are on your own.

Even though I don’t know a lot about the submarine, I do know he works in a cramp and stressful environment. That’s why I need to keep my head up to send him every positive and interesting thing happened around me. 

3) Learn to appreciate the value of absence

I think I have been doing a pretty good job on this one. Yes, he will be gone, sometimes for a long time. But the good news is, HE WILL BE BACK. When he is gone, I forget every flaw about him (wait, he has flaws?!) and just remember how amazing he is. When he is back, I do everything to cheer him up so he has something to think of and look forward to whenever he is away. 

There are more than these on the Internet. But that’s what I got for the night. 

spokanefreelancer:

This is the article I wrote for my school newspaper’s sex column. I was having a lot of trouble coming up with a topic but after realizing that many college students are working with minimum wage at best, I figured that dating on a budget was the perfect topic for the column.

Dating in college: A guide to cheap alternatives

Azaria Podplesky

For many students, college is a time to branch out from their home lives, discover who they are and start looking for that special someone. Unfortunately, college is also a time when students are plagued by empty wallets. This shouldn’t stop you from taking your potential soul mate on a date. There are plenty of inexpensive activities you and your sweetheart can participate in.

Coffee date

Coffee is the lifeblood of any college student. Take advantage of this mutual addiction by taking them out for coffee. There’s a coffee shop on nearly every corner, so whether you live in Cheney or Spokane, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to grab a cup. 

Go to a concert

What’s better than hanging out with your favorite person while listening to your favorite band? There is a huge variety of local music in Spokane, and with an average cover charge of $5 a show, you can’t lose! Take turns choosing a show, and you will soon see how similar your tastes in music are.

Go for a walk

Walk around campus, downtown Cheney or go to Spokane and walk around Riverfront Park. Not only is walking a healthy activity, it also gives you and your date a chance to get to know each other better. It is a good opportunity to see if the two of you can hold a conversation or if there is a lot of awkward silence.

Go to the mall

Yeah, it’s fun to spend money, but window shopping is just as fun. And if there’s one thing college students know, it’s cheap and tasty food. After you’ve spent a long day walking around, hit up the food court. 

Go to the URC

There’s nothing better than a little healthy competition, so why not take advantage of the URC? Try to beat your date to the top of the rock climbing wall or see who can skate around the rink fastest. Up the stakes and have the loser buy dinner at The Roost.

Go to a school-sponsored event

With dozens of clubs and organizations on campus, there’s bound to be an event both you and your date will want to attend. Eagle Entertainment puts on concerts, comedy shows and open mic nights. Other on campus clubs have organized game nights and movie showings in the past. Check out the Focus for dates, times and costs of on campus events.

Use your student discount

Many local eateries give students a discount when they pay with their Eagle card. Why not take your date to dinner off campus? Grab a fellow couple and make it a group date.

Love this. 

(Source: azariapodplesky)