It's Tuesday already?
Guess I should back up a couple days.
This semester I plan on taking full advantage of the Sabbath. Sunday Sarah, Gretchen, Heidi, John, Matt, and myself walked about four blocks to Ebenezers Coffeehouse for church at National Community Church. It was an awesome service. (The coffee was just a perk) We even received pastor Mark's newest book as we left. The six of us headed to Eastern Market for lunch at a French cafe. It was delicious. We came back for an afternoon of relaxing, and a metro run to Target.
Sarah made perogies for dinner. Yum! After dinner I spent three distracted hours on reading, that really should have taken about an hour. Oops. Guess my study skills haven't changed.
Monday was the first day of class. I really enjoyed Terry's lecture. How refreshing to be in classes that directly affect my future! (I knew all along I never needed math)
What really stuck out was Terry's words of wisdom of:
Report unto others as you would have them report unto you.
Shortly after afternoon lecture John, Gretchen and I ran to Jacob's for coffee and came back to watch a little Jersey Shore. Followed by a nap until dinner. Monday night is family night dinner. We had delicious lasagna and chocolate cake for Peter's birthday. Is it too soon to say I love my new "family"?
Monday night soon turned into a DC adventure. Who knew "going on a walk" could be so fun. The group was made up of Amy, Richard, Amanda, Zach, Katie, John, and myself. The adventure started with Zach's genius idea.
"Let's go to the Washington Monument, I really want to sit on Abe's lap."
I guess Iowa people don't get out much. (Just kidding, except Zach did confuse the White House and the Capitol earlier in the week)
So we headed for the Washington Monument, in the sleet.
Since Zach wanted to see Abe, we walked to the Lincoln Memorial, to which the steps were complete ice. We took some pictures with Abe and slid down the steps, almost falling on our faces. We headed towards the Foggy Bottom metro station, which was closed.
Because it was closed for maintenance, we waited for the shuttle and just barely caught the last metro of the night. Now with a good layer of ice on my coat and soaked Uggs, the adventurous feeling of the night was quickly losing its appeal.
A cold walk back to the apartment, soon enough I was happy to be in a warm bed.
7 am came much too quickly this morning, and we barely caught the bus to get us to Cornerstone school in the SE quadrant. But besides the excitement of catching the right bus, the trick was walking. There wasn't a sidewalk in DC that wasn't a sheet of ice. Elizabeth, John and myself spent the day working with the only private school in the SE.
I was able to spend the time with with sweetest pre-k kids. I can't wait to go back next week.
http://cornerstone-schools.org/
I guess I have always taken my education for granted. While I loved grade school and middle school, I often complained about my public high school. I should think twice before I complain about the opportunities I had compared with so many other people in our country and around the world.
What was encouraging was these three and four-year-olds in pre-k were soaking up all they could. They were enjoying their time in the classroom. I want to be more like them.
DC is getting more ice tonight. I think I'll stay in, and praises that I only have to go one door down the street for lecture tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
City Living Means Getting Back in Shape
Day two in the city and I'm quite convinced my legs aren't going to be with me by the end of the semester.
But let me try to put the burning sensation from the waist down out of mind for a bit.
Yesterday marked the first full day of living in D.C. After hours of orientation and a short introduction into our classes we were split into teams and sent out on a scavenger hunt throughout the city. After consulting Google maps, we were somewhat certain we knew where we needed to go. The first stop was the senate building. The nice thing about living six blocks from the capitol is, well, a lot of things are in walking distance. So began our walking expedition.
Recap of the night: About two and a half hours of walking, snuck into the National Press Club, ate at the Post Pub, failed at reading the bus route, but still got on the one that went to Union Station, successfully completed tasks on our scavenger hunt.
Came back to the apartment and ordered groceries online for the first time in my life. Then crashed.
Today was another leg workout. This morning we walked to Union Station to grab a bus to Georgetown. An hour later we were on the cute cobble-stone streets of georgetown passing store after store. Map in hand, we headed to the University. We were after a picture of Archbishop John Carroll. After some exploring we ate pizza and headed back to the National Mall. We visited the memorials, and took some extra "creative" video for our scavenger hunt. Here's our group chatting with FDR.
And here's where the legs come back to mind. Ouch.
But let me try to put the burning sensation from the waist down out of mind for a bit.
Yesterday marked the first full day of living in D.C. After hours of orientation and a short introduction into our classes we were split into teams and sent out on a scavenger hunt throughout the city. After consulting Google maps, we were somewhat certain we knew where we needed to go. The first stop was the senate building. The nice thing about living six blocks from the capitol is, well, a lot of things are in walking distance. So began our walking expedition.
Recap of the night: About two and a half hours of walking, snuck into the National Press Club, ate at the Post Pub, failed at reading the bus route, but still got on the one that went to Union Station, successfully completed tasks on our scavenger hunt.
Came back to the apartment and ordered groceries online for the first time in my life. Then crashed.
Today was another leg workout. This morning we walked to Union Station to grab a bus to Georgetown. An hour later we were on the cute cobble-stone streets of georgetown passing store after store. Map in hand, we headed to the University. We were after a picture of Archbishop John Carroll. After some exploring we ate pizza and headed back to the National Mall. We visited the memorials, and took some extra "creative" video for our scavenger hunt. Here's our group chatting with FDR.
And here's where the legs come back to mind. Ouch.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Lots of Snow, a Head Cold, and 15 Hours in a Car
Passengers: Dad, Mom, Myself.
Destination: Washington, D.C.
All odds were against us as we piled suitcase after suitcase into the back of the car. Two inches already on the ground and no sign of the grey sky letting up from dropping the wet flakes anytime soon. I climbed in the back with everything needed for the next 10 hours of my life: my Blackberry, Elements of Journalism book, pillow, iPod, and box of kleenex.
The snow wasn't bad as we trekked out of Illinois. 10 hours later we arrived in Washington PA where we pulled our cramped legs out of the car and stopped for the night.
I've been missing my Taylor gang for about a month now, and had a much needed hour skype session with Tim and Jake as I sat on a lumpy hotel bed, and they chatted with me from the far away 3CW.
Unfortunately I was plagued by a head cold the day before our trip began. Not able to sleep well, I awoke today feeling unrested and unenthused for another five hours on the road.
Especially an extremely white road. For about 60 miles the roads of West Virginia were slick, slush, and steep. Unable to read due to the heaviness of my eyes, I opted for the nap route, since we were moving at about 40 mph. I awoke to a gas station in Maryland, and a bright sun in the sky.
More road, and more reading, we were soon enough amidst the heavier traffic of the D.C. area.
Thank goodness for sunny skies, and a gps.
Tonight we will head into the city for some exploring. Tomorrow I move in, and start this new adventure.
Excited for what lies ahead, I am so happy to be out of that car.
All my love.
Destination: Washington, D.C.
All odds were against us as we piled suitcase after suitcase into the back of the car. Two inches already on the ground and no sign of the grey sky letting up from dropping the wet flakes anytime soon. I climbed in the back with everything needed for the next 10 hours of my life: my Blackberry, Elements of Journalism book, pillow, iPod, and box of kleenex.
The snow wasn't bad as we trekked out of Illinois. 10 hours later we arrived in Washington PA where we pulled our cramped legs out of the car and stopped for the night.
I've been missing my Taylor gang for about a month now, and had a much needed hour skype session with Tim and Jake as I sat on a lumpy hotel bed, and they chatted with me from the far away 3CW.
Unfortunately I was plagued by a head cold the day before our trip began. Not able to sleep well, I awoke today feeling unrested and unenthused for another five hours on the road.
Especially an extremely white road. For about 60 miles the roads of West Virginia were slick, slush, and steep. Unable to read due to the heaviness of my eyes, I opted for the nap route, since we were moving at about 40 mph. I awoke to a gas station in Maryland, and a bright sun in the sky.
More road, and more reading, we were soon enough amidst the heavier traffic of the D.C. area.
Thank goodness for sunny skies, and a gps.
Tonight we will head into the city for some exploring. Tomorrow I move in, and start this new adventure.
Excited for what lies ahead, I am so happy to be out of that car.
All my love.
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