Wait, I Have a Blog?

Wow. I can't believe it's been four months since I last blogged. Those months were really busy and included multiple colds, an ear infection, a ruptured eardrum, a trip to St. George, a trip to Idaho for Thanksgiving, and a trip to Mexico for our wedding. Since we got back, I've been battling yet another cold, and Max had to have his dewclaw surgically removed, so 2013 has started with a lot of cold medicine and many trips to the veterinarian. Here's hoping the rest of 2013 will be much more healthful. :)

One of my goals for 2013 is to write more, including on the blog, so hopefully you'll hear more from me in the upcoming weeks. 

First Great Find in the New Neighborhood

(FYI Mexico City is called Mexico DF, which stands for Districto Federal, or Federal District. It's sort of like Washington DC.)

Tacos DF was a fantastic find just up the road from the new apartment. Delicious tacos that actually taste like they did in Mexico DF. Super fresh, and meat so flavorful, you don't even need to add anything other than a little lime. 

I can't wait to go back and try the taquitos. It's safe to say we will be visiting them often.

Most of You Already Know This...

...but I did it!

It was such a crazy experience, and I'm so glad I got a video because I honestly don't remember much about it. Sensory overload I suppose. I was surprisingly calm in the plane, and as we got to the door to jump, I just remember thinking how strange it was because I wasn't worried or scared at all. I just thought, "well, here we go" and rolled on out.

It didn't turn me into an adrenaline junkie, and I don't feel the need to go again, but if the opportunity presented itself, I would go again. For someone who used to be scared to death of skydiving, I think that's quite an accomplishment. :)

One Way Plane Ride

I'm a pretty reserved person. I used to joke with my roommates that I've been 30 since I was a teenager because I've always been so responsible. Lately I've been trying to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone a little bit (I've been inspired by this guy). Nothing too crazy...just a few things here and there that make me uncomfortable but also make me a more well rounded and confident person. 

When Danette declared that she was going to go skydiving to commemorate her graduation (with her Master's in Social Work, yay you!), I decided to commemorate my own graduation and join her. I've always been completely terrified of skydiving, and even now that I'm going, I'm not terribly excited. But, I feel like it's a good way for me to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. 

One of the best parts is that Jason has decided to join us. I think it will be really cool for the three of us to do this together for the first time, especially since we don't get to spend a lot of time together. 

I'm still scared to death, but I am also excited for the challenge and the bonding experience with my siblings. Now if I can just figure out a way to ensure I don't puke on my tandem instructor...

Transitions

It feels like the past month or so has flown by. In the middle of April, I got offered a job as a Communications Manager for Maria Droste Counseling Center (non-profit). Since that means I will now have to live with two weeks of vacation a year (grad school spoiled me!!), I quickly took a trip to Utah to see my family and a trip to NYC to see Annalisa. In the two weeks before I started my job, I was home for only 2-3 days. In those few days I had to get my hair cut, go to the optometrist (traumatizing, as always), and buy work-appropriate attire. Needless to say, there was not a lot of time to relax before the transition from endless free time to working full time.

As of yesterday, I have been working here for two weeks. The first few days were a little overwhelming, but since then it’s been great. I’m constantly busy which I love, and I really enjoy the projects I’m working on. I feel like I am going to have the opportunity to build on my current skill set and be able to do a lot of new things which is exciting. Although it feels strange to be sitting at a desk all day instead of sitting in class and writing papers, I’m excited to be in this new phase of life and can’t wait to see what’s to come.

News

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written on here. Things have been a little hectic for the past few months, and it turns out that 2012 is going to be a year of big changes for me. 

Firstly, Nic and I are engaged! We actually decided to get married while we were in Peru last summer, but it took us until the holidays to tell everyone in person that we wanted to back in Utah, and then it took us a few more months to get it posted online. We are slackers. :)

Secondly, I am completely finished with graduate school. I just completed my exit counseling for my loans which means I am officially done. I've actually been done with classes and my internship for a couple of months, but now I'm done with all of the administrative stuff as well. It's strange to think that I won't ever need to go back to campus again (unless I walk at graduation in June). I'm going to miss school as it's something I've always enjoyed, and I really feel like my graduate program taught me a lot about not only what I was studying, but also myself. It's also strange to realize that this phase of my life is over, and a new phase is going to begin.

Which brings me to my third point.....getting a job. As of yet I have not had luck in this department, but I'm hoping I will be able to find something good in the next few weeks. It's somewhat overwhelming to decide what the next phase of my life is going to be, but I'm also excited at the possibilities. 

Here's to change in 2012!!

After the Dust Settled...

Well, the quarter ended, and contrary to what I believed at times, I got everything done on time. The morning after I finished my Stats final, we drove to Utah for Thanksgiving and just got back a week ago. I feel like it's taken until now to decompress, get caught up on everything, and feel normal again. It also helped that I found out I passed the language proficiency exam (21/30 which is exactly what I needed to pass...phew!), and I aced my classes (A in Stats? Yes, please).

It's crazy to think that other than interning part time for a few more weeks, I am completely done with my masters degree. It's been such a great experience, and I feel that I have grown so much while here. Moving on to a new chapter in life is always a little scary, but I'm also really excited for what's to come. I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a great year.

The End Is In Sight...

On Tuesday I attended my last class at DU. Today I finished and printed off my last term paper for grad school. Tomorrow I will turn it in and study for my Statistics final on Saturday. After that, I will be completely done with classes at DU. I will just have to finish up my internship in January and possibly take an online Spanish class if it turns out I failed the language proficiency exam, and then I will be officially finished. It seems so crazy that it's already time to start seriously job hunting. What happened to the last two years? 

Midterm Time

Bright and early Saturday morning, I took my Statistics midterm. I was pretty nervous about it since it was worth 50% of our grade and only 30 questions long. It was, however, nice to walk into a class, sit down, fill out some bubbles on a scantron sheet, and be finished. No justifying, defending, or explaining. Just filling out bubbles and knowing there is a right and a wrong answer for each. It's been a long time since I've had a test like that. Almost every class I've had in both the undergraduate and graduate level have required papers instead of tests, and although I love writing and am fairly good at it, it was nice to actually take a test.

Taking my Stats test marked the halfway point in this quarter. That leaves one 3 page paper, one 10 page paper, one 25 page paper, one 3 hour group presentation, one language proficiency exam, and one final test left this quarter. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fit all of that as well as my internship into the next five weeks and still do well on all of it, but somehow, it always seems to work out.

It's crazy to think that after this quarter, I'm done. No more tests, papers, or classes. Just the job hunt that follows. Ugh, that sounds even worse. :)

2 Down, 28 to Go...

(Source)

Not my real paper chain

A few weeks ago, I registered for an extra class. This means that not only will I be really busy with three classes, Spanish lessons, an internship, and taking the language proficiency exam, but also that this is my last real quarter with classes. In the winter I will be getting internship credits, but my internship will already be completed.

Today after class, I realized that I will only be sitting in a classroom 28 more times before I graduate. In order to commemorate this, I made a paper chain with 28 links. Every time I get home from a class, I will remove a link. I'm having a hard time believing that I am this close to finishing, and even though I am nervous about trying to find a job once I'm done, I have a feeling that I am going to love my classes and that this will be one of the best quarters yet.

Peruvian Promise

Hey everybody!

There's only a week left in the Global Giving Campaign, and we are in 5th place for having the most donors! The top three spots get an extra scholarship, so we'd love to get a few more donors to help us move up a little bit.

Thanks to all of you that have already donated, and for those of you who haven't, if you could click on the link below and donate, even $1, I would highly appreciate it!

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/peruvian-promise-girls-leadership-peru/

Peruvian Hearts

Visiting The Hogar, the orphanage Peruvian Hearts funds, in June

As most of you already know, I am interning with Peruvian Hearts, a great organization that funds an orphanage in Peru and is starting Peruvian Promise, an empowerment program for girls. We were selected by Global Giving to have the chance at earning a permanent spot on their web site, but first we have to raise $4,000 by 50 individual donors this month! I was hoping all of you may be able to go to the link below and donate, even if it's just $5 (you can pick the amount at the bottom).

Peruvian Hearts is such a great organization that does such great work, and I would be forever grateful if you could help us out!

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/peruvian-promise-girls-leadership-peru/

Summer Time

After returning from South America, I was worried the rest of summer would be anticlimactic. However, it's only been two weeks and I've already found plenty of things to be excited about.

Aerial Dance Classes

Source

I'm starting aerial dance classes this week at Miraas Aerial. My Human Rights and the Role of Women professor from last quarter also teaches here, and I'm excited to try something new and different.

New Running Shoes

Source

I wore my old running shoes every single day for 5 weeks in Peru. It was time to replace them. I got to test these out running around Estes Park Lake the other day, and they are fantastic.

Interning for Peruvian Hearts

I've started my internship for Peruvian Hearts and absolutely love it. I was able to visit the orphanage they fund while in Peru, and it ended up being one of my very favorite parts of the trip. I was extra excited to learn that they are starting an empowerment program for girls, and I can't wait to see how it goes!

Babysitting my Nephews and Niece

Who wouldn't want to babysit these kids while their parents get some time away?

Hiking and Camping

I am so excited to go camping and hiking a whole bunch before I have a Saturday morning Stats class in the Fall.

Farewell to Spring Quarter

I have been so uninspired lately as far as blogging goes. Maybe now that the quarter has finished, I will be able to relax a little bit and get some inspiration back.

I turned in my last final paper and attended my last class of the quarter today. In all honestly, I felt a little sad. My two classes (Human Rights and the Role of Women & Theories of Non-Violence 2) were some of the best classes I've taken. That leaves me with only three more classes and an internship until I graduate (hopefully in March!). Luckily, I'm pretty excited about the classes I have lined up and the possible internships I've been interviewing for.

I leave next week for five weeks in South America and am looking forward to the change in scenery and culture. I think it will be a much needed break and an incredible experience.

Well, trip planning and internship interview preparing await, so I'm off.

Three Weeks

3 weeks

2 presentations

2 final papers

2 house guests

1 final exam

1 doctor appointment

1 internship interview (hopefully!)

And then?

5 weeks in Peru.

Now if only I can make it until then.

Week Seven

It is week seven which means a few things:

1) The dreaded registration for Winter Quarter. Registration always seems stressful, especially since I mostly need International classes and they are really difficult to get into. As always, things will most likely change up until the first week of classes, but as of now I am planning on taking Theories of Non-Violence II and Human Rights and the Role of Women. I'm really excited for both classes. Before I started this program, I never thought I would be taking so many gender classes, but I think after my first class here (Culture, Gender, and Global Communications) I was hooked (thanks Margie!). I'm still interested in taking human rights courses and working with refugees when I graduate, but I'm definitely interested in gender issues as well.

2) Three and a half weeks left until the end of the quarter. Both of my classes have had weekly papers, and I am happy that this is my last week of those. That leaves me a few weeks to finish up my final papers. For Gender and Health, I am writing a paper about HIV/AIDS in Kenya and how exposure and treatment are different for men and women. For International and Intercultural Comm, I am writing about how cultural differences led to the the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007/2008. I'm pretty excited about both...now I just need to start researching and writing!

3) Six weeks of Spanish lessons. They are getting increasingly more difficult, but my tutor, Mariela, makes it enjoyable and easy to understand. Learning Spanish seems like such a daunting task, but she makes me feel like it's not impossible.

It's hard to believe that in May I will be registering for my last quarter of classes at DU, and in a year, I will be finishing up my internship and getting ready to graduate! I'm excited to get to that point, but I'm also really excited for what is to come before then.

Snow Shoeing...

...a winter escape that keeps me sane.

Week 3 of Winter Quarter

One of my unofficial resolutions this year (I never took the time to actually make any solid ones) was to update my blog more...as it is now the 18th of January, you can see how that is going. :)

Since yesterday was a holiday, today was the beginning of Week 3 for this quarter...that means that I am already 1/5 of the way through, and at the end of this week, I will nearly be 1/3 of the way finished. I’m not sure I will ever get used to 10-week quarters.

After adding and dropping classes a lot the first week of the quarter (due to scheduling issues, incorrect class descriptions, and classes I just didn’t want to take), I ended up with Foundations in International and Intercultural Communication (the second of my required courses) and Gender and Health. Though I never really thought about taking Gender and Health I’m pretty excited about it. So far it seems interesting and will fit in nicely with my human rights concentration.

In addition, I am taking private Spanish lessons six hours a week. Spanish stresses me out much more than either of my “real” classes, but I really like my tutor and feel like she’ll get me to the point where I can pass the proficiency test (hopefully by the summer!). I’m also hoping to be able to speak a little bit for my trip to Peru this summer.

Overall, I feel really great about this quarter. Not only do I have classes I love, but the end of this quarter will mark the halfway point through my program. I’m excited to finish the schooling part of my life, but am also really excited for the classes and internship to come. Now, I’m off to write two papers...oh the joys of grad school. :)

The Obligatory End-of-Year Post

As I spent New Year's Eve driving for 10 hours on crappy Wyoming roads and ended up getting stranded in Cheyenne, I started to reflect on what a crazy year 2010 has been. If someone would have asked me in November 2009 what 2010 would hold, I never could have guessed where it would take me. It involved many unexpected (and sometimes frightening) things including:

• Quitting my job
• Moving to Denver
• Starting graduate school
• Gaining a niece and a nephew
• Traveling to a new city (Mexico City)
• Visiting one of my favorite places (New York) to see one of my favorite people
• Discovering a new favorite place (Estes Park)
• Getting a dog
• Making some great new friends
• Starting to learn a new language
• Discovering that I’m capable of much more than I ever thought

I can’t wait to see what surprises 2011 has in store!

Sixteen Days

I have sixteen days left this quarter. At this point I’m starting to freak out a little bit. I feel like I have so much to do and so little time. I just keep telling myself that no matter what, I will get through the next two weeks and then I will have six weeks off.

Here is my to-do list for the next sixteen days:

❏ Endless amounts of reading (as usual).

❏ A strategic public relations campaign for the Community of Sudanese and American Women/Men.

❏ A 20-page research paper about how the media perpetuates Islamophobia.

❏ Three essay finals, none of which I’ve been given the topics yet.

I keep trying to remind myself to breathe, stay calm, and be productive. In sixteen days, it'll all be over!