Since I am no longer in Kenya... I have decided to start a new blog that will allow me to talk about a broader spectrum of things!
It is called:
DON'T DO NOTHIN'
I was trying to come up with a name for it and i knew I wanted to talk about big and little ways we as individuals and communities can change the world... so I thought sometimes I feel like there is so much that needs to be done in this world and so many people that need to be helped in different ways. I just want people to know that you don't have to do everything, but DON'T DO NOTHING!
After I decided on this title... I though of a great quote attributed to many people including Burke, Aked and J.F. Kennedy:
“THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS THAT GOOD MEN DO NOTHING.”
So.... start following me here: http://dontdonothin.wordpress.com/
And... DON'T DO NOTHIN'!!! :)
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
What happened?!!? "In a Nutshell..."
This past year held so many crazy times: both good and bad.... And it’s leading into a new year of unknowns for me- which is both exciting and nerve wrecking!
I started 2013 continuing to work at Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya. I was teaching Middle School Art, PE and Ethics and coaching Middle School and High School Basketball and High School Volleyball. I was also in charge of the Student Council which planned a lot of great events like movie nights and our Latin American themed banquet. I got to travel to South Korea with non-Korean Korean Language students at Rosslyn- that was an amazing experience and my first time in Asia- loved it! The South Korean people (in general) are so inspiring and resilient... To see how they have rebuilt their country in only 50 years and how each individual person takes part in keeping their country clean, safe and strong was amazing! We went to various cities, the Demilitarized Zone, tried lots of Korean food, slept on small mattresses on heated floors and saw a lot of historical buildings and museums.
Back in Kenya... During the 'summer' break (which is actually their cold season), I dog sat and took a bunch of local art classes. I also got to travel to the UK! I started in London and took a teaching certification exam for English/Language Arts- which I passed- yippee!!! I met up with my mom and we traveled north to Bristol, Bath and Guildford! Then we flew over to Scotland and met up with Shelby where we explored my maternal grandmother’s family culture- we saw the Wright family house and even got kilts and scarves in our clan's tartan! We explored the various aspects of Scotland’s history... And yes, we went to see the Loch ness monster! Shelby and I also competed in the Inverness Highland Games and won 1st and 3rd place respectively in the shot put!
I returned to Kenya fully expecting to teach at least another two years at Rosslyn, only to have some major health issues that left me unable to do much, including work, so I decided to come back to the US. Right before returning to the US, there was a terrorist attack at a mall in Nairobi, very close to where I lived. Many of my friends, colleagues and students were there. Thankfully, most of them got out safe... But sadly not all did- some died and others were severely injured... and we were all affected in one way or another. Insecurity in Kenya and many other countries around the world is a grave and sobering reality. Religious, Ethnic and Political differences have caused so much chaos and pain in so many lives... I just hope that you and I can be part of the change we wish to see in this world.
In the US, I have been grateful for the time I have been able to spend at my parents' house... I have physically healed 100% and am currently on the hunt for a job. It’s been difficult being in the US after 4.5 years in Kenya, but it’s been a welcomed change. I was able to visit family and friends in both Texas and Colorado and see my sister three times in three months- which is a record of our adult lives!!!
Shelby currently lives in Detroit, MI with her dog/child, Max. She is working at General Motors as a Financial Analyst- she's way better with numbers than I am! She continues to play in some softball leagues and enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Adam. Mom and Dad are still in St. Louis.
Mom is working for Habitat for Humanity and stays busy with her band, working out and church. Dad works for Sanofi and is enjoying the benefits of working for the same company forever- tons of vacation time! He also is still obsessed with Penn State and enjoys working out and making the yard look fabulous!
As we get into the new year, I continue my job search... Shameless plug: if you know of any social work/community development/counseling jobs anywhere in the continental US, please let me know!!!! I'd love to work with youth, women or international populations :) I can move anywhere and do anything- the possibilities are endless!!!!
Well, that was 2013 in a nutshell... Here's to a great 2014 for us all!
I started 2013 continuing to work at Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya. I was teaching Middle School Art, PE and Ethics and coaching Middle School and High School Basketball and High School Volleyball. I was also in charge of the Student Council which planned a lot of great events like movie nights and our Latin American themed banquet. I got to travel to South Korea with non-Korean Korean Language students at Rosslyn- that was an amazing experience and my first time in Asia- loved it! The South Korean people (in general) are so inspiring and resilient... To see how they have rebuilt their country in only 50 years and how each individual person takes part in keeping their country clean, safe and strong was amazing! We went to various cities, the Demilitarized Zone, tried lots of Korean food, slept on small mattresses on heated floors and saw a lot of historical buildings and museums.
Back in Kenya... During the 'summer' break (which is actually their cold season), I dog sat and took a bunch of local art classes. I also got to travel to the UK! I started in London and took a teaching certification exam for English/Language Arts- which I passed- yippee!!! I met up with my mom and we traveled north to Bristol, Bath and Guildford! Then we flew over to Scotland and met up with Shelby where we explored my maternal grandmother’s family culture- we saw the Wright family house and even got kilts and scarves in our clan's tartan! We explored the various aspects of Scotland’s history... And yes, we went to see the Loch ness monster! Shelby and I also competed in the Inverness Highland Games and won 1st and 3rd place respectively in the shot put!
I returned to Kenya fully expecting to teach at least another two years at Rosslyn, only to have some major health issues that left me unable to do much, including work, so I decided to come back to the US. Right before returning to the US, there was a terrorist attack at a mall in Nairobi, very close to where I lived. Many of my friends, colleagues and students were there. Thankfully, most of them got out safe... But sadly not all did- some died and others were severely injured... and we were all affected in one way or another. Insecurity in Kenya and many other countries around the world is a grave and sobering reality. Religious, Ethnic and Political differences have caused so much chaos and pain in so many lives... I just hope that you and I can be part of the change we wish to see in this world.
In the US, I have been grateful for the time I have been able to spend at my parents' house... I have physically healed 100% and am currently on the hunt for a job. It’s been difficult being in the US after 4.5 years in Kenya, but it’s been a welcomed change. I was able to visit family and friends in both Texas and Colorado and see my sister three times in three months- which is a record of our adult lives!!!
Shelby currently lives in Detroit, MI with her dog/child, Max. She is working at General Motors as a Financial Analyst- she's way better with numbers than I am! She continues to play in some softball leagues and enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Adam. Mom and Dad are still in St. Louis.
Mom is working for Habitat for Humanity and stays busy with her band, working out and church. Dad works for Sanofi and is enjoying the benefits of working for the same company forever- tons of vacation time! He also is still obsessed with Penn State and enjoys working out and making the yard look fabulous!
As we get into the new year, I continue my job search... Shameless plug: if you know of any social work/community development/counseling jobs anywhere in the continental US, please let me know!!!! I'd love to work with youth, women or international populations :) I can move anywhere and do anything- the possibilities are endless!!!!
Well, that was 2013 in a nutshell... Here's to a great 2014 for us all!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Another year...
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