It has been a very eye-opening experience here, to say the least. I'm getting spoiled with the opportunities at my fingertips! Opportunities for work, through my boss, and simply being in the nations capital and a big city itself. My boss wants to make sure I "experience DC," so he has all these plans for me to do, outside of work. Most consist of seeing the sites and things, but also getting involved in the sporting events, performances at theaters, and other cultural events here. He sent my sister-in-law, Kristen and I to a Georgetown game a few weeks ago, and the tickets were so close that I could've went 15 or so rows down to the court and my Dad could've seen me on television, watching from home! It was my first college basketball game, live, and was excellent!! Kris and I even found some fabulous cupcakes afterward, though not as good as the ones in Rexburg.
Last weekend some friends and I were treated to a magic show. Yes, a real magic show. The magician wants the R&W to sell tickets for him, so in order to do that we needed to approve of the show. I've never had the job to be the critic in the audience....it was kinda fun! The tricks were sweet, jokes funny, and an all-around good time.
What really has blown my mind however, are the meetings we go to. There's almost always a fancy spread of food (if it's around mealtime) and they're typically in super nice conference rooms in very nice buildings. The architecture of the buildings alone impresses me, but then there's the powerhouse people who've been in their positions for 40 years... Last week, after a luncheon at the Verizon Center where we could eat and look out on the basketball court and watch the Washington Wizards NBA team practice and discussing sponsoring the Circus for children with cancer, and during a meeting with GE in an all-glass conference room, in a practically all-glass building, I sat there with discussions of celebrity golf tournaments and other events all around me, thinking to myself.....is this what I'm cut out to do? Could I live this lifestyle for the rest of my life? Could I work long hours and hold high positions in powerful companies and have anything I needed at my fingertips? Would I qualify for it? If so, would I love it? Do I fit-in in this environment? Is this who I want to be and what I want to do? Is this me?
The majority of the answers were no. Yes, I could take pampering...who can't at least a little? Yes, I can work hard and be a leader, but not the way that they are. I want to be a leader in my home first and foremost, on a community level next, and never really on the large corporate level, as fancy as it may seem. That's just not me.
My boss' job is incredible, and he's involved in many things that I love and would love to do. He helps a lot of people through the work he does, but he's more the manager of things. I don't want to manage it all, but want to be on the front lines- planning the activities and running them with 50 or fewer people at a time. I want to build a community and family feel among those who're participating. Sometimes it's hard being out here and keeping the perspective of what I really want. These things can just seem so appealing at times, and my desires so out of the ordinary that they don't seem so realistic.
But...... today I went to a meeting at the YMCA and not only connected really well with the people there, but felt at home with their mission and vision of building families and communities through recreation! As common as YMCA's are, I've never been involved in one, but it was so wonderful to be a part of it! We even did an experiential activity during the meeting, like you'd find in a recreation class. It was awesome. I commented at one point about how I felt society and families were falling apart, and the YMCA's could be a means of strengthening them and building community and family, not just membership numbers, and the President of the whole YMCA and the Chairwoman of this areas YMCA's told me right then and there that I was hired! haha, of course I'm not yet, but afterwards we all talked and they gave me their information so I could be in touch and hopefully get a job at any YMCA in the future. After all the fancy and showy stuff, which has been really neat and still things to learn from, it was wonderful to connect with an organization that reminded me more of my goals again!
PS....no I didn't take a picture of the incredible glass building and conference room....though I did think about it! haha
If you were in the R&W last week you would've heard lots of singing and eaten lots of cake. Randy Schools is my boss and it was his birthday! He is such a great man, I really couldn't have gotten a better person to be a mentor for my internship. He knows so many people (like Bill Cosby, Oprah, and a number of congressmen and women, ambassadors and anyone else), has been the president or chairman of many profit and non-profit boards, the man behind huge events and/or initiatives that bless the lives of thousands of people (like Special Love and building the Children's Inn so patients and their families can stay at NIH for free), and has been honored in the Washingtonian and many other places. And in talking to him you'd never know it. He's very down-to-earth and just a hard working and very giving man. Doesn't he look like such a sweet guy?!
Randy has helped tremendously with my experience here in DC. I'm practically his shadow and get to go to the whining and dining experiences as well as the hard working, get your hands dirty ones. In all places, when he introduces me, he has to tell everyone I'm from Idaho and laughs as he does. Not to mock, but because I'm the only one from Idaho he's ever met, and he's amazed I heard about the R&W at NIH from clear over there! He goes on and on about it, it's hilarious. Someday he'll take a trip and we'll show him the beauty, peace, and fun you can experience in the west!
No the title isn't about a "special someone" in my life, but an organization that is pretty special in itself. It's a non-profit organization that serves children with cancer and their families, practically for free. They do all sorts of activities and camps throughout the year- some for the patients, some for their siblings or parents, and some for the whole family. It's such a neat program that they have because cancer is definitely something that affects every member of the family in every way, so activities are a fabulous way of helping them relax and enjoy the lives they have and those they have to spend it with.
This past weekend I was able priviledged to join the Special Love group and go to Canaan Valley, West Virginia for a weekend of skiing. How cool is that to have a job you get to ski and teach kids how to ski too?!? I've really lucked out to even be a volunteer. Though I didn't know anyone there to begin with, the mountains aren't even close to real mountains, and the snow was thick slush or just ice and not snow at all, we all still had a great time.
I spent most of my time with one family that has three kids, ages 4, 5, and 6. Brian (who was diagnosed with bone cancer at 13 months), Brooke and Chad. Throughout the weekend I got to teach them the snow plow (or pizza wedge) and we all played red light/green light a lot. They were such troopers and so much fun! And there's nothing like seeing the light in their eyes when they'd be able to stop or turn without falling down. They'd look up at me like, "did you see that, did you see that?!?!" The rest of the weekend consisted of a HUGE Bingo part, completely with sweet prizes that the girls (Hannah and Haley) gaurded, and lots of laughs with these guys, Colton and Bryan. Gotta love it!
Two weeks ago I went dowtown to see my friend Tiff. On my way back home I decided to take a shortcut my roommate had told me about. She'd said it was super easy, just go down the escalator at the metro, through the tunnel and follow the pathway, and it'd cut 5 minutes off my 15 minutes walk home. It was late enough and I was tired and really looking forward to sleep, so I headed that way.
Right off the metro my Dad called, so I talked to him as I walked. Down the escalator...through the tunnel....along the pathway....15 minutes later I took a right because I shouldn't have been walking that long. 10 minutes later I came upon some apartments that looked like mine just as my Dad asked why I wasn't home yet....the apartments turned out not to be mine so I turned around and headed back to familiar territory. Finally, after 40 minutes since I'd left the metro I was on the road to my apartment, just barely down from where the metro lets out....with still a 10 minute walk to go.
So it was classic, I haven't wanted to make my parents worry about me out here on my own, and it just so happens that the one time I get lost i'm on the phone with my Dad and it's late at night. Bless my Dad for caring enough not only to call and visit, but stay on the phone until he was sure I was safely home...he does still call me Wanderer, which is deserved and strangely reminds me of a song Jeff sings....
I'm not going to take the time tonight to explain why it's not my night AGAIN, but refer to a future post about the WANDERER and you'll see why.
Tonight I was supposed to go to my new ward for FHE. I've been excited to meet people and actually have friends close by me during the week. Even though they were going to play a big game of Twister, I was up for going for at least a little while anyway.
Here's my chain of events that started around 3:30 today and led to me writing this:
Electrical problems in the office building led to strong smells, big headaches and fire fighters running all over
Home from work and grilled a fabulous grilled cheese sandwich, but got distracted and burned it (it was still good though)
Late out the door, on my way to catch the metro down to the church building.
Ran almost the whole way to the metro in the freezing cold
Got to the metro and it's under construction
12 minutes later a train finally comes (already late for FHE)
Wrong train
2 minutes later another train comes
Right train!
*Positive: talked to a nice lady for the ride
Too many people on the platform so couldn't read the signs very well
Out of the metro station and no "Webster Rd."-which the church should be on and station should connect to
Walked 2 block radius AROUND the metro station to find "Webster"
Didn't find it
Dark scary roads made me nervous and very aware I was alone
Finally back to the metro station
10 minutes and the train comes
3 minute wait on train before it departs station
Walked home alone
Changed to go to the apartment complex gym
Found MP3 out of batteries and that I left the charger at home...in Idaho
Ran to the gym to find a note on the door-
Electrical problems so it's only open during business hours
It's 9:30 p.m.
My lights still won't work in my room.....
The result= Me showering and heading to veg and read on the couch where there is light
New is the right term for the majority of things in my life right now. Here's a list of the "new:"
I live in a new city (though technically really old)
A new apartment
Have a new way to travel (bus and metro)
A new job/internship
New ward
New roommates and people to get to know
I've moved to the greater area of Washington DC for an internship at the National Institute of Health. Since my major is Recreation Management I have the opportunity to plan, organize and implement many different activities for the employees and patients at NIH as well as many charities throughout the area. I have the opportunity to work closely with people who've been in this industry for 30+ years and who're major professionals, well-known and also very down-to-earth.
Other than the time I spent as a missionary, I haven't ever lived far away from home, and I had someone with me all the time! So, needless to say I'm a bit nervous for this journey but am soo soo excited for it as well! It's sad being away from family, especially since my sister Traci just had a brand new baby (woohoo!!!) but the little Smith's and my friend Tiff and her family are fairly close by so that's going to be great. It'll be another experience of a lifetime!
(This is me after my 2nd day of work, not the greatest picture but if I'd taken one on the first day it would've been more a 'deer in the headlights' look, haha)
Alrighty, I'm going to TRY to keep this short, so bear with me and enjoy the pictures!
Halloween came and went in a flash- Bekah and I hosted a Murder at Mardi Gras Mystery Party and everyone came in character. Soooo much fun! I totally recommend doing any sort of version of this. Let your other sides shine out! You'll be surprised how well people become their character.
Thanksgiving went by just as fast, but my amazing parents gave me the opportunity to spend it with my sister, Traci and her family in Seattle while they went with Cassi to DC and the little Smiths. The family couldn't be together at home, so those at home went to those elsewhere. We had such a great time! Brad and Traci were such good sports about me hanging around. There were wonderful adventures and just great times relaxing at home.
Does this sign look familiar....think movies... Famous outdoor market that's huge and has fabulous mini donuts and so many other things, including flying fish stand. The pic on the left is from a great observatory that's in a building twice as high as the Space Needle and not nearly as cheap or crowded (we had it practically to ourselves!)
Ahhhh....Salty's....home of the HUGE Nutcrackers and the most amazing melt-in-your-mouth white chocolate mousse cake you could ever imagine.....seriously
Brad and I also tried crab legs for the first time. Our waiter almost fell over when he realized it was our first time, and they were actually way good!
After Salty's we took a ferry ride to Vashon Island, home of a famous "Treed" Bicycle from the children's Christmas story, The Red Ranger Came Calling. If you haven't read it, you're missing out! This was a big highlight of the whole trip, aside from seeing my fabulous family!
Sweet guitar sculpture...or whatever you'd call it, was at the Experience Music Project. It's basically like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with memorabilia and stuff, but has tons of hands-on things that teach you to play the guitar or drums, give you culture lessons on different music, or be your own band, or even make your own cd cover. Below is America's TV Family....which later included me too and played an awesome show for screaming fans who'd been sleeping on the sidewalk for days before the concert. Definitely something you can't pass up if you're ever in Seattle, and so much better than Rock Band.
Then there's a picture of the outside of the building and my growing Lainy girl sporting the sweet fleece leggings we got her when Trace went on a shopping spree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Fabulous deals and didn't have to get up super early on black Friday!
I had such a great time with this little Hansen family! I love the spirit that's in their home all the time and especially as little Lainy says her prayers. I'm grateful for their examples of hard work and play, always with smiles on their faces and suppressing giggles as they talk. Trace, Brad and Lainy, thank you so much for letting me spend the time with you! I love you dearly! and to Mom and Dad, thanks for teaching us the importance of family in everything you do and making it possible for us to grow even closer as we spend time together, no matter how many miles apart! Love you too!
Christmas time is a special time, but also super super crazy! In the midst of the craziness of finals, busyness of work and preparing for Christmas and a big move I was able to get in a few things with some dear friends. I love Christmas lights! Christmas cookies and a girls night of movies, cooking and crocheting was made possible as well with Delfina and Bekah. One last trip to the Pita Pit, Emma's Kitchen (our weekly lunch spot courtesy of the culinary arts students), and the Cocoa Bean also made for fun memories and nice breaks from the craziness. And finally, Bekah graduated and my dear friend left Rexburg and the campus of BYUI, as a student, forever. Bitter sweet, but Congrats Bekah!!
There's no pictures of this, but I also got to enjoy a fabulous breakfast with amazing friends, Wendy and Tiffany, who brought little Kylee as well.
Once the craziness of finals settled down (and I'll have you know I aced them all, and finally finished a huge project as I designed the floorplans, design themes, activities and programs, staff objective and goals, financial plan and marketing agenda of a Family Recreation Center. Woo Hoo!!) I was already in the midst of the craziness at Great Harvest and was baking through the night, every night. My family and Chole (from my ward) celebrated Nazareth Night as we dressed up in ancient garb and ate "ancient" style food on the floor of our living room by candlelight. We were able to tone things down and focus on the birth of Christ and what it truly meant for the Savior to be born. We are so incredibly loved!
6 p.m. Christmas Eve I got home from work to a busy household and preparations for an incredible Christmas Eve dinner. Incredible it was too! We had stuffed figs, caper soup, citrus salad, and cornish hens with green beans and sweet potatoes.,,,mmmmmm! It was quite the meal!
Christmas Eve also included some other activities, but I'll let you speculate on what Suz and I were doing playing dress up.
On the Monday after Christmas my Mom and I headed out to Utah, where we got to see my cousin Lacey and her husband and new baby. Her baby has had some problems since before she was born, but seems to be getting better all the time. Then my Mom dropped me off to meet up with Taylor and Bekah, who'd just ran into a few families from my mission, the Olson's and Zenger's. It was so fun catching up! I love how the opportunities in our lives widen our family circle with such wonderful people!
The next day Tay took me to the airport, where I flew out and spent the day flying (or sitting on the runway in the plane) on my way to Washington DC! There I met my brother and his little family to finish out the year and begin another one full of adventures.
