Thanksgiving break has been much needed time for sleeping, playtime with animals, getting work done on my never ending projects/papers, and eating hoards of pumpkin pie. Mmmm, pumpkin pie.
I'm thankful
that I have a job
for being in college and having access to education
for my friends and family
for my attempted frugality this semester
for my upbringing and from it having a good grasp on how to take care of myself/live on my own
for the opportunity to volunteer abroad (7 weeks!)
for lovely coworkers that make slow days after thanksgiving go by faster
for access to fruits and vegetables in the winter
for my health
gibson
...the list could go on, but probably shouldn't as I'm at work. Working hard.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
'Til then
I still have 8 weeks to go before I hop on an airplane to lands afar, but before I leave I think I'm going to ease my way back into blogging by just putting random thoughts in here.
-The cold is finally setting in around campus, making the once peaceful morning walk across the 10th avenue bridge to class a now dreadful, grey, constant nose-dripping experience. When Jax and I are feeling lazy, we'll walk halfway to the Knoll area and hop on the Campus Connector the remainder of the way. Sadly, I try to avoid this because of two things:
1. People that board the bus at Sanford (2 blocks away from my house) and get off in the Knoll area (4 blocks away from my house). They clog up the bus, make it crowded and stinky, and make the whole process take a whole lot longer than it should be.
2. Muscular, able-bodied males sitting in the seats on the bus and staring at all of the women and older folks standing. Seriously, who raised you?! Now mind you, there are justified circumstances sometimes, and it's not that I feel women should always deserve/get a seat before men, but I feel like if I ever had a son they would know to at least offer it. Scratch that, they would WANT to offer it. There are still some things to be said for traditionalism in this world.
-I'm studying for my THIRD midterm in one of my global studies courses. What does this say to me rather than "grrrr"? Professors have lost the sense of what a "midterm" is supposed to mean. What do they think would happen if every instructor I had this semester happened to do that? Nothing good, I'll tell you that much.
-8 weeks and 2 days until I depart for Europe :)
-Kg
-The cold is finally setting in around campus, making the once peaceful morning walk across the 10th avenue bridge to class a now dreadful, grey, constant nose-dripping experience. When Jax and I are feeling lazy, we'll walk halfway to the Knoll area and hop on the Campus Connector the remainder of the way. Sadly, I try to avoid this because of two things:
1. People that board the bus at Sanford (2 blocks away from my house) and get off in the Knoll area (4 blocks away from my house). They clog up the bus, make it crowded and stinky, and make the whole process take a whole lot longer than it should be.
2. Muscular, able-bodied males sitting in the seats on the bus and staring at all of the women and older folks standing. Seriously, who raised you?! Now mind you, there are justified circumstances sometimes, and it's not that I feel women should always deserve/get a seat before men, but I feel like if I ever had a son they would know to at least offer it. Scratch that, they would WANT to offer it. There are still some things to be said for traditionalism in this world.
-I'm studying for my THIRD midterm in one of my global studies courses. What does this say to me rather than "grrrr"? Professors have lost the sense of what a "midterm" is supposed to mean. What do they think would happen if every instructor I had this semester happened to do that? Nothing good, I'll tell you that much.
-8 weeks and 2 days until I depart for Europe :)
-Kg
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
adventures in the land of luck, continued
You alright?
It's been a while. In fact, when I ended this blog last May I didn't expect to ever have an opportunity/reason to write it again. I was wrong :)
In case you haven't heard, my nostalgia for Norn 'Iron didn't really die down a lot after I returned to the states. It seems like just a few days ago, but way back in July I decided to e-mail the volunteer coordinator of the organisation I volunteered with abroad to see if she had any openings for resident volunteers in the Spring of 2010, by any slight chance.
Although I was delighted when I received an e-mail back stating I was of course fondly remembered and able to come back in the Spring of 2010, I never had really thought of this as a real option as it would constitute not "studying abroad" but rather formally taking a semester off of college to volunteer. After considering the fact that I'm on track to graduate a semester early anyway, the fact that my nostalgia wasn't going anywhere fast, and positive effects this volunteer program would have on my experience when it does come time to graduate, and simply the amazing opportunity itself, I decided I couldn't pass it up. Without the approval of my parents, but with major support from seemingly the rest of the world including my academic advisor, I went ahead with the plan.
I interned in the Belfast office of Corrymeela last spring helping with the website, magazine, and business side of the organisation. To supplement my work in city, I was able to spend two weekends up at the Peace and Reconciliation Centre in Ballycastle helping facilitate youth groups. This time I'll be living on site in Ballycastle, could quite possibly be the only American, and will be quite busy facilitating groups and helping with daily chores/tasks around the Centre. Should be grand :)
Since the summer, I've accomplished:
Securing a UK work visa, complete with visiting the visa application centre in St. Paul and getting my mug shots/fingerprints taken. The UK doesn't accept just anyone, you know.
-Purchasing a plane ticket to London (the flights were cheaper) and another flight to Newcastle, England, where I'll stay with a friend for a few days.
-Purchasing a flight from Newcastle to Belfast for 16 pounds sterling. With taxes, fees, and the conversion rate, that's $39!!! Why can't flights be this cheap in the US?
There's a lot left to do, but I'm well on my way to an enriching, exciting, freeing experience come January 18th. Up 'til then, I'm reentering the world of blogging as it's been far too long.
-Karen
It's been a while. In fact, when I ended this blog last May I didn't expect to ever have an opportunity/reason to write it again. I was wrong :)
In case you haven't heard, my nostalgia for Norn 'Iron didn't really die down a lot after I returned to the states. It seems like just a few days ago, but way back in July I decided to e-mail the volunteer coordinator of the organisation I volunteered with abroad to see if she had any openings for resident volunteers in the Spring of 2010, by any slight chance.
Although I was delighted when I received an e-mail back stating I was of course fondly remembered and able to come back in the Spring of 2010, I never had really thought of this as a real option as it would constitute not "studying abroad" but rather formally taking a semester off of college to volunteer. After considering the fact that I'm on track to graduate a semester early anyway, the fact that my nostalgia wasn't going anywhere fast, and positive effects this volunteer program would have on my experience when it does come time to graduate, and simply the amazing opportunity itself, I decided I couldn't pass it up. Without the approval of my parents, but with major support from seemingly the rest of the world including my academic advisor, I went ahead with the plan.
I interned in the Belfast office of Corrymeela last spring helping with the website, magazine, and business side of the organisation. To supplement my work in city, I was able to spend two weekends up at the Peace and Reconciliation Centre in Ballycastle helping facilitate youth groups. This time I'll be living on site in Ballycastle, could quite possibly be the only American, and will be quite busy facilitating groups and helping with daily chores/tasks around the Centre. Should be grand :)
Since the summer, I've accomplished:
Securing a UK work visa, complete with visiting the visa application centre in St. Paul and getting my mug shots/fingerprints taken. The UK doesn't accept just anyone, you know.
-Purchasing a plane ticket to London (the flights were cheaper) and another flight to Newcastle, England, where I'll stay with a friend for a few days.
-Purchasing a flight from Newcastle to Belfast for 16 pounds sterling. With taxes, fees, and the conversion rate, that's $39!!! Why can't flights be this cheap in the US?
There's a lot left to do, but I'm well on my way to an enriching, exciting, freeing experience come January 18th. Up 'til then, I'm reentering the world of blogging as it's been far too long.
-Karen
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