So there are only 3 1/2 weeks of my time left here in DC, and I would have to say it has been QUITE an experience. I haven't had the time to write on here in a while, and if I wrote EVERYTHING that has happened since the last time I posted on here my stories would be way too long and no one would read them. I probably wouldn't even read them. Anyway here's a FEW stories I would like to share with you all... By the way, these might just be the most interesting stories yet.
Grocery Trip/Tour of DC
One day after class I decided to go to the grocery store because my food supply was getting low. As I'm walking down the street I see a man sitting at the bus stop. I was halfway down the sidewalk and I was planning to turn left on the street corner ahead to get to the local market. Out of the corner of my eye I see the man across the street from me suddenly stand up. He starts yelling out at me "Hey girl!" Not thinking that he was referring to me I kept walking down the street (there were lots of people out at this time around 3 on a sunny Friday afternoon). Then just as I come to the corner to turn I see the man standing right across the street from me on the other corner yelling some very inappropriate things at me. People started looking at me, thinking I knew him or something, so I quickly averted my eyes and my path. I walked at least 5 blocks from where I was going to turn down the street just to make sure I wasn't being followed. I got to the store and after happily purchasing my groceries (yet still feeling a little violated and very unsafe) I took the longest way home possible (the scenic route). If I've learned one thing out here on these streets, its to never take the same path home.
New Pope... New Hope
On March 13 the world laid eyes on the newest pope: Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen. I was put on Pope watch for my office, and for some reason was really excited when his name was finally dropped online and I could announce it to my editor and the other random guy who works in our tiny office. Maybe I was bored. What is the pope really gonna do for me? Anyway, at work on this day I had a second phone interview with a source. She shared some really valuable and personal information with me and I had to go home and deal with the heaviness of the information that she had just shared with me. It was on this day when I realized that the job/profession I have chosen will sometimes leave me feeling heavy. Yet I know I can do it. This was just the first time someone had shared heavy confidential information with me and I had to break it in an original way in my work. It was both beautiful and terrifying.
FYI: Look out for my feature story on Donna Rice Hughes and her work with Enough is Enough....
The Non- New York Wedding
So, here at the program in our apartments we have lots of fun. We joke with one another, we chide one another and we also comfort one another when it is needed.
One of the biggest jokes or at least really stupid things we have done was say that one of the guys here in the program (who shall remain unnamed) and I were getting married. If you follow me on Twitter, you can find it, (in the words of Lady Gaga... our bad romance). His Twitter account was foiled with a fake Twitter account some girls that I'm quite close to made for him. We all joked about it. It left him and I doing a weird dance (not literally) around one another for the week before he, I and the two other girls were going to New York for a weekend getaway. Our wedding was supposed to take place in New York, his bachelor party at the Nike store, and my bachelorette party at some place in New York. But the night before we left it all went downhill.
We were in my apartment and I was helping him edit one of his articles. He refused to understand the purpose of a semicolon. He shoved them (semicolons) off as nonsense. I was done. He said it was over. I said it was over.
The wedding had been called off. I felt I could move on.
In New York, we persisted in being friends. The girls and I entered our room and sitting in the office chair of our very nice hotel room was his very attractive friend. I fell automatically in love with his friend's good looks and tattoo. The attractive friend turned out to be a really awesome person.
The guys slept on the floor and us 3 girls slept in the King size bed. It was really really comfortable compared to the beds at the apartment. Absolutely nothing scandalous happened. It was GREAT. We walked 3.8 miles to the original Macy's we took the ferry to Staten Island and saw the Statue of Liberty on the way. We walked through the NBC studios where Jimmy Fallon is filmed. We visited the Trump building and went to Nike-land. We went to Central Park (a small corner of it). We went to Times Square. We ate at a random 5 star Brazilian restaurant that we went to on a whim. We saw the underground Apple store. We visited like at least 10 Starbucks. Us girls shopped on 5th avenue. It was LITERALLY a dream come true.
A Piece of Home
About a week ago a friend from home came to visit me. With my busy schedule, and her on spring break we were able to schedule in a quick visit. She came, I told her about the fake engagement, she laughed. We took a picture. It was golden. I'm glad she came to visit. It was just the piece of home I needed.
My Time at the Hospital
So getting sick happens.
About a week ago I noticed something was a little off. I wont go into too much detail.
I was on a field trip to the Washington Post with my class when I decided I was going to get myself checked out by a doctor. I figured I could do this in DC, because I wasn't in a third world country, and I knew I was going to either have to have some medication prescribed or a minor surgery.
Turns out the diagnosis was better than I thought.
I went to the doctor with my roommate and one of the girls who lives next door.One of our advisors who is pregnant had directed me to the hospital that we walked to, saying that she gets all her pre-natal care done there, and that the facility is brand new and really nice. I still was scared. I signed into the hospital, got all my insurance stuff taken care of and then I had to wait for about 45 minutes They called my name and my roommate asked if I wanted her to go in with me. I said yes because I was unsure of what it would be like.
My conclusion: California needs to step up their medical facilities.
They put me in a HUGE room with a TV. I was told that I needed to change clothes, and after I did so, they provided me with a nice pre-warmed blanket. It was awesome and really comfortable.
Medicine was quickly prescribed and I am now in good health, but this hospital visit is a hospital visit I will never forget.
Invisible Institute: A Hot Mess
First time I was lost in DC I was looking for a place called the Hudson Institute. I was RSVP'd to go to and cover an event on a book about religious persecution. I was dressed and ready to go with my backpack, suit jacket, and flat shoes. I hopped on the Metro and got off at the right stop. I walked around trying to find the place, going into establishments nearby asking if people knew where it was (they didn't). It was cold, I was exhausted and late rushing trying to find it when I'm walking by a Starbucks and saw two very attractive young men (possibly from George Washington University, which was nearby). Feeling fancy and all grown up in my suit, I reached to flip my braids back so they could notice me, and I quickly realized that the ends of a few of my braids were stuck in the shoulder strap on my backpack. I attempted to try to play it off, but I'm sure someone saw. If not, God got a really good laugh. This left me feeling lost and even more horrible because I didn't know where I was and I had just possibly made myself look like a moron in front of everyone on the sidewalk at that moment. At this point I was unsure if I should even go because I was late, but I decided to keep asking around and eventually found the place. It was in an 12 story office building, right around the corner from the Starbucks. I took the elevator to the 6th floor and found that they had just started the event as I arrived. Once the event was over, I was going to hop back on the metro home and with my great luck, I couldn't find it. I walked into a CVS because I realized that I was going to have to get change and hop onto a bus instead. I got change and waited. I sat in the little glass box that is to shield people from the frigid DC air and waited. In the 40 degree cold I waited. and waited. and waited. For about 40 minutes I was at the stop. The buses were running late that day, but I made it home just in time to make dinner with my roommates.
(Keep your eyes peeled for my articles, and another blog post on my trip to Baltimore to experience a Palestenian Orthodox church service. Also look for my blog posts at dancingheadlines.wordpress.com, or you can follow me on Twitter at @TonikaReed or @DanceInTheNews)
Blessings,
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Halfway There, Living on a Prayer
So this weekend was our 'Spring Break', and we got literally one day off... FRIDAY.
Yes, you're right in thinking this sucks...
Anyways, I haven't written in a while, so here's a few stories I think you'd like to hear...
Heels were a bad idea...
One of my recent assignments required me to go to the Family Research Council (FRC), where a luncheon on religious liberty was being held. I was excited and prepared for the day in a really nice outfit. To work I usually wear a pair of comfortable ballet flats, but no. This day was special, I was going to a fancy luncheon, with fancy people, so I needed to look fancy... meaning HEELS. So as I scarily got onto the Metro, I quickly sat down on the train only to go two stops to my destination. People filed on and off, and I was swiftly at my stop. Once I got off the train, I had no idea where the FRC was and so I did what any sensible person would do... I confidently in my heels walked in some direction that I figured was the right one... Soon I found myself at least 3 streets from the Metro stop confused, alone, and with sharp foot pain. I quickly found refuge in a cupcake shop that specialized in Red Velvet cupcakes. I literally probably looked like a weirdo, but I stood in line starring at the map on my IPhone trying to figure out where the place was. I think the very attractive young man behind the counter assessed my confusion, and did not solicit that I buy anything. Once I felt I lingered for too long, and kind of knew where I was going maybe, I set out. On my way to the FRC (in the right direction now...) a homeless man called me gorgeous and asked me for some money. A little shocked by him calling me gorgeous, partially afraid for my life, and concerned for the well-being of the arches in my feet, I told him didn't have anything (which I really didn't...). After walking a ways I went into a nearby restaurant to ask if I was going in the right direction and a small Asian woman with an horribly rude attitude directed me across the street. Once I got there, all the food was virtually gone. A nice young 25-something woman with strawberry blonde hair and bright red painted lips came up to me and made small talk. We discussed the small amount of food left, how we both got lost, and also something about the weather... It was about 26 degrees outside that day. After the event, I sat there eating my two halves of sandwiches going over my notes, checking my recorder, and thanking the woman for her small talk and for giving me the seat next to her. I stuffed the last leftover sandwich from the platter outside into my backpack, went to the restroom, and then was out of there.
You can read my story for this event, here if you haven't already!!!
http://bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=39790
Lupe Fiasco Concert, great idea...
That same week of the FRC luncheon, my friend David, my roommate Shonette, and I bought very cost-effective tickets to a Lupe Fiasco concert. To our dismay the event was in Maryland, at the Fillmore. Walking towards Union Station, I realized I had forgotten my ticket, so we had to walk back so that I could print it out, and then we were off. We got onto the Metro and all of a sudden we could see outside. Shonette and I kind of freaked out, we knew our destination was a ways, but we had never been on an outside Metro ride before, especially at night... Once we were inside I saw the most diverse crowd of people I could ever imagine... It was weird. I also quickly realized how short I am. A couple was standing in front of me for the whole really RACHET pre-show by some local DC rapper who had the lamest songs I ever heard. The couple was cute, but they both had to be at least 6 ft tall. I moved over towards a space in front of David. I almost got run over by some girls who looked like they were in junior high trying to be cool.With Shonette to my left, and a guy smoking some serious Mary Jane about 3 people away from us, we are almost certain that during the concert we got a contact high. Once the concert, that was awesome, was over, we got back on the Metro, went to the local 7-Eleven and pigged out on snacks in the hallway of our apartments... We've made inside jokes about our 'contact high' ever since... The next morning I woke up after 4 hrs. of sleep, got dressed and was able to turn in the edited FRC story... A week after, still listening to the most recent Lupe Fiasco album on YouTube, I looked up my story again on the Baptist Press website, and saw that it was on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission website also. Listening to the album, remembering my contact high, and recognizing that I technically work for both places was quite sobering...
I'm never flying a plane again.
That weekend some friends and I decided to go to the Air and Space Museum. Its a Smithsonian with a McDonalds, and a Boston Market in its food courts. Winning. Anyway, we were walking around and the guys suggested we do the airplane simulator. We, girls, figured it might be fun so we all walked in the direction of the ride. When we arrived, we realized that there was an interactive and a non interactive ride, so being the daring people we are, we tried the interactive. Once outside the ride my partner, one of the girls in the program and I tested out our flying skills on the tester outside. I was the gunner and she was the pilot. After looking over at her, and then the screen, seeing that she could not even fly the plane on the tester, and then being informed that the ride went upside down was not the best combination of things to experience within the span of 5 minutes. I decided in that moment to say a prayer.
I knew it would be needed.
We got in the ride, and they strapped us down like we were going to parasail through the jungles of the Amazon.
They told us where the Emergency STOP button was.
They closed the door.
I panicked.
After going in about 3 upside down circles, we figured out how to fly the plane in the opposite direction of the plane shooting at us in the game. Once the game was counting down to be over all of a sudden unannounced to us, with our hands off of the controls our plane tilted over almost all the way upside down.
The screen went black.
The screen filled with white computer coding.
A voice shouted to us "We are going to get you girls out in a second! We are working on fixing it now!"
3 minutes passed.
After tilting us back right side up, we got out, and were thankful.
I looked at the girl flying the plane with me, and we vowed never to take jobs as pilots.
For the next 30 minutes, we shook sporadically, like golden retrievers who were trying to dry off from a bath they were just given.
The Mandarin Snowquester
This past week, as many of you know, the areas surrounding DC got lots of snow. DC didn't get ANY. The one day it was supposed to snow, the Federal Government shut down, and so did my office. The day before, I had covered an event at the Canon House office building, an event on human rights in China. Working from home, I had to listen to and transcribe the recording I had from the event. The event was half in Mandarin, one of the world's most beautiful, but complicated languages. There was a translator at the event, but she spoke way too softly. As the snowquester descended, small white snowflakes blanketed the streets of DC, but were rapidly swept away in an almost torrential rain that poured from the dark sky. That day I sat inside my apartment cozied up in a large sweater with warm vanilla caramel tea, transcribing the whispers of the translator, and listening to the beautiful and complex language of Mandarin.
Another Contact High.
The night of The Mandarin Snowquester, we were all invited again by David to attend a Lecrae concert at Howard University. Unsure of my bank account's temperature, I prayed about the event looked up where it was, and decided not to go alone. To my surprise, one of the other girls from the apartment had planned on going, so when she arrived home from work on the day of the rainy snowquester we ventured out. After no dinner and a long Metro ride, I was unsure of my purpose at this event. Yet being surrounded by young attractive black men who could quote lyrics from Lecrae or Propaganda at the drop of a hat comforted my spirit. David invited us up to the stark front, but the girl I was with decided to sit in the middle. The auditorium was large, and there was a medium sized crowd, I wanted to be in the front. So after the opening acts of Dee-1, Propaganda, and a comedian whose name escapes me I moved up. I moved up towards where David was, not quite making it all the way. I stood uncomfortably between some girls who seemed to attend Howard. The girl in front of me had very long dreads that slapped me in the face for about the first 5 minutes of Lecrae's set. Then she left, praise the Lord. I was left standing in the front singing along with the girls next to me in the stark middle of the crowd. When Lecrae performed the song 'Dum Dum', I was done. I was so excited and dancing and singing along with the girls beside me it was ridiculous, cause we all knew the words and were having a great time. After the concert when we walked downstairs with David to the merchandise tables it was so good to see him so passionate about the subject he loves as a journalist, which is Christian Hip Hop. He interviewed Dee-1 and Propaganda. He was toting around his VIP pass like a pro. Once again when we got back and went to 7-Eleven, we were on a contact high, but not a actual high, a spiritual high from the Lord.
A small Breakdown
Recently I realized how much I missed home. I went to a National Geographic Museum exhibit on pirates with Shonette and another friend of ours, and it was horrible. The exhibit was targeted at younger children, but was still kind of interesting.... We just paid 9 dollars for it. That was the horrible part. It should have been free.... Anyway, when I got back I thought of home, I thought of beaches, I thought of my mother, and my friends at Biola, I was scared. I was stressed out. I was hungry. I was TIRED. So I shed a tear or two. I'm not ashamed. Its the middle of the semester, and this usually happens about once halfway through. I cry. I pray. I realize that I'm not in control, God is.
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
This morning, daylight savings, I decided to have the bright idea of going to 9 O'clock service. WHAT WAS I THINKING?? AM I CRAZY??? Maybe.... Aren't we all a little crazy now and then... I think so... Anyway. My roommate and I trekked to our local church, National Community Church (NCC). We got in halfway through the worship set. We got doughnuts, and we ate them during service, cause NCC is fancy like that. After our church service in the old theatre building we left came back to the apt. Watched an episode of our beloved 90s show 'West Wing' and then set out. My roommate was covering a Adventure Expo. She said she had an extra pass to the event, so I went along. It was awesome. I now really want to go traveling, but as it can be seen, planes scare me. We had signed up for an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony where we ate sambusas, which is meat and or vegetables in a pastry type wrap thing, its good... We drank strong coffee that was a little too bitter for my liking and also ate baklava, which I LOVE. After networking at the event and meeting up with two other girls from our apartment we planned to go back to the expo. It was closed. So we decided to do what any set of 20 yr old girls in a large city 3 streets away from a Forever 21 and H&M would do. We shopped. It was epic. We tried on clothes that we knew we would never wear. We tried on clothes like a cliché mall montage of best friends in any good old chick flick! After our shopping excursion that only ended in the purchase of one shirt, and one dress, we set out on our way back to the apt. We realized we were hungry so we decided on Johnny Rockets. THOSE BURGERS.... Anyway when we got back we figured we had a great day, but we had to get back to the homework grind.
Sorry I haven't been writing as often, class and internship and my other blog kind of don't allow for a lot of time to write here, but I hope you enjoyed these stories, I know I did!!!
More to come, as soon as things happen. Stay classy.
Yes, you're right in thinking this sucks...
Anyways, I haven't written in a while, so here's a few stories I think you'd like to hear...
Heels were a bad idea...
One of my recent assignments required me to go to the Family Research Council (FRC), where a luncheon on religious liberty was being held. I was excited and prepared for the day in a really nice outfit. To work I usually wear a pair of comfortable ballet flats, but no. This day was special, I was going to a fancy luncheon, with fancy people, so I needed to look fancy... meaning HEELS. So as I scarily got onto the Metro, I quickly sat down on the train only to go two stops to my destination. People filed on and off, and I was swiftly at my stop. Once I got off the train, I had no idea where the FRC was and so I did what any sensible person would do... I confidently in my heels walked in some direction that I figured was the right one... Soon I found myself at least 3 streets from the Metro stop confused, alone, and with sharp foot pain. I quickly found refuge in a cupcake shop that specialized in Red Velvet cupcakes. I literally probably looked like a weirdo, but I stood in line starring at the map on my IPhone trying to figure out where the place was. I think the very attractive young man behind the counter assessed my confusion, and did not solicit that I buy anything. Once I felt I lingered for too long, and kind of knew where I was going maybe, I set out. On my way to the FRC (in the right direction now...) a homeless man called me gorgeous and asked me for some money. A little shocked by him calling me gorgeous, partially afraid for my life, and concerned for the well-being of the arches in my feet, I told him didn't have anything (which I really didn't...). After walking a ways I went into a nearby restaurant to ask if I was going in the right direction and a small Asian woman with an horribly rude attitude directed me across the street. Once I got there, all the food was virtually gone. A nice young 25-something woman with strawberry blonde hair and bright red painted lips came up to me and made small talk. We discussed the small amount of food left, how we both got lost, and also something about the weather... It was about 26 degrees outside that day. After the event, I sat there eating my two halves of sandwiches going over my notes, checking my recorder, and thanking the woman for her small talk and for giving me the seat next to her. I stuffed the last leftover sandwich from the platter outside into my backpack, went to the restroom, and then was out of there.
You can read my story for this event, here if you haven't already!!!
http://bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=39790
Lupe Fiasco Concert, great idea...
That same week of the FRC luncheon, my friend David, my roommate Shonette, and I bought very cost-effective tickets to a Lupe Fiasco concert. To our dismay the event was in Maryland, at the Fillmore. Walking towards Union Station, I realized I had forgotten my ticket, so we had to walk back so that I could print it out, and then we were off. We got onto the Metro and all of a sudden we could see outside. Shonette and I kind of freaked out, we knew our destination was a ways, but we had never been on an outside Metro ride before, especially at night... Once we were inside I saw the most diverse crowd of people I could ever imagine... It was weird. I also quickly realized how short I am. A couple was standing in front of me for the whole really RACHET pre-show by some local DC rapper who had the lamest songs I ever heard. The couple was cute, but they both had to be at least 6 ft tall. I moved over towards a space in front of David. I almost got run over by some girls who looked like they were in junior high trying to be cool.With Shonette to my left, and a guy smoking some serious Mary Jane about 3 people away from us, we are almost certain that during the concert we got a contact high. Once the concert, that was awesome, was over, we got back on the Metro, went to the local 7-Eleven and pigged out on snacks in the hallway of our apartments... We've made inside jokes about our 'contact high' ever since... The next morning I woke up after 4 hrs. of sleep, got dressed and was able to turn in the edited FRC story... A week after, still listening to the most recent Lupe Fiasco album on YouTube, I looked up my story again on the Baptist Press website, and saw that it was on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission website also. Listening to the album, remembering my contact high, and recognizing that I technically work for both places was quite sobering...
I'm never flying a plane again.
That weekend some friends and I decided to go to the Air and Space Museum. Its a Smithsonian with a McDonalds, and a Boston Market in its food courts. Winning. Anyway, we were walking around and the guys suggested we do the airplane simulator. We, girls, figured it might be fun so we all walked in the direction of the ride. When we arrived, we realized that there was an interactive and a non interactive ride, so being the daring people we are, we tried the interactive. Once outside the ride my partner, one of the girls in the program and I tested out our flying skills on the tester outside. I was the gunner and she was the pilot. After looking over at her, and then the screen, seeing that she could not even fly the plane on the tester, and then being informed that the ride went upside down was not the best combination of things to experience within the span of 5 minutes. I decided in that moment to say a prayer.
I knew it would be needed.
We got in the ride, and they strapped us down like we were going to parasail through the jungles of the Amazon.
They told us where the Emergency STOP button was.
They closed the door.
I panicked.
After going in about 3 upside down circles, we figured out how to fly the plane in the opposite direction of the plane shooting at us in the game. Once the game was counting down to be over all of a sudden unannounced to us, with our hands off of the controls our plane tilted over almost all the way upside down.
The screen went black.
The screen filled with white computer coding.
A voice shouted to us "We are going to get you girls out in a second! We are working on fixing it now!"
3 minutes passed.
After tilting us back right side up, we got out, and were thankful.
I looked at the girl flying the plane with me, and we vowed never to take jobs as pilots.
For the next 30 minutes, we shook sporadically, like golden retrievers who were trying to dry off from a bath they were just given.
The Mandarin Snowquester
This past week, as many of you know, the areas surrounding DC got lots of snow. DC didn't get ANY. The one day it was supposed to snow, the Federal Government shut down, and so did my office. The day before, I had covered an event at the Canon House office building, an event on human rights in China. Working from home, I had to listen to and transcribe the recording I had from the event. The event was half in Mandarin, one of the world's most beautiful, but complicated languages. There was a translator at the event, but she spoke way too softly. As the snowquester descended, small white snowflakes blanketed the streets of DC, but were rapidly swept away in an almost torrential rain that poured from the dark sky. That day I sat inside my apartment cozied up in a large sweater with warm vanilla caramel tea, transcribing the whispers of the translator, and listening to the beautiful and complex language of Mandarin.
Another Contact High.
The night of The Mandarin Snowquester, we were all invited again by David to attend a Lecrae concert at Howard University. Unsure of my bank account's temperature, I prayed about the event looked up where it was, and decided not to go alone. To my surprise, one of the other girls from the apartment had planned on going, so when she arrived home from work on the day of the rainy snowquester we ventured out. After no dinner and a long Metro ride, I was unsure of my purpose at this event. Yet being surrounded by young attractive black men who could quote lyrics from Lecrae or Propaganda at the drop of a hat comforted my spirit. David invited us up to the stark front, but the girl I was with decided to sit in the middle. The auditorium was large, and there was a medium sized crowd, I wanted to be in the front. So after the opening acts of Dee-1, Propaganda, and a comedian whose name escapes me I moved up. I moved up towards where David was, not quite making it all the way. I stood uncomfortably between some girls who seemed to attend Howard. The girl in front of me had very long dreads that slapped me in the face for about the first 5 minutes of Lecrae's set. Then she left, praise the Lord. I was left standing in the front singing along with the girls next to me in the stark middle of the crowd. When Lecrae performed the song 'Dum Dum', I was done. I was so excited and dancing and singing along with the girls beside me it was ridiculous, cause we all knew the words and were having a great time. After the concert when we walked downstairs with David to the merchandise tables it was so good to see him so passionate about the subject he loves as a journalist, which is Christian Hip Hop. He interviewed Dee-1 and Propaganda. He was toting around his VIP pass like a pro. Once again when we got back and went to 7-Eleven, we were on a contact high, but not a actual high, a spiritual high from the Lord.
A small Breakdown
Recently I realized how much I missed home. I went to a National Geographic Museum exhibit on pirates with Shonette and another friend of ours, and it was horrible. The exhibit was targeted at younger children, but was still kind of interesting.... We just paid 9 dollars for it. That was the horrible part. It should have been free.... Anyway, when I got back I thought of home, I thought of beaches, I thought of my mother, and my friends at Biola, I was scared. I was stressed out. I was hungry. I was TIRED. So I shed a tear or two. I'm not ashamed. Its the middle of the semester, and this usually happens about once halfway through. I cry. I pray. I realize that I'm not in control, God is.
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
This morning, daylight savings, I decided to have the bright idea of going to 9 O'clock service. WHAT WAS I THINKING?? AM I CRAZY??? Maybe.... Aren't we all a little crazy now and then... I think so... Anyway. My roommate and I trekked to our local church, National Community Church (NCC). We got in halfway through the worship set. We got doughnuts, and we ate them during service, cause NCC is fancy like that. After our church service in the old theatre building we left came back to the apt. Watched an episode of our beloved 90s show 'West Wing' and then set out. My roommate was covering a Adventure Expo. She said she had an extra pass to the event, so I went along. It was awesome. I now really want to go traveling, but as it can be seen, planes scare me. We had signed up for an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony where we ate sambusas, which is meat and or vegetables in a pastry type wrap thing, its good... We drank strong coffee that was a little too bitter for my liking and also ate baklava, which I LOVE. After networking at the event and meeting up with two other girls from our apartment we planned to go back to the expo. It was closed. So we decided to do what any set of 20 yr old girls in a large city 3 streets away from a Forever 21 and H&M would do. We shopped. It was epic. We tried on clothes that we knew we would never wear. We tried on clothes like a cliché mall montage of best friends in any good old chick flick! After our shopping excursion that only ended in the purchase of one shirt, and one dress, we set out on our way back to the apt. We realized we were hungry so we decided on Johnny Rockets. THOSE BURGERS.... Anyway when we got back we figured we had a great day, but we had to get back to the homework grind.
Sorry I haven't been writing as often, class and internship and my other blog kind of don't allow for a lot of time to write here, but I hope you enjoyed these stories, I know I did!!!
More to come, as soon as things happen. Stay classy.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
First Byline, but not my first Blog
HEY THERE ALL!!!!
I don't want to bombard you with blogs to follow, but I will not only attempt to keep up with this blog, but also for class I have to do a blog. So here's the link. Feel free to follow or not. Thanks for all your support as I venture out into D.C.
The byline/story:
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=39737
I was super nervous when I went to this event, and as many people have seen when I met Rick Warren I took a picture. Little to my knowledge did I know that my eyes would be stark shut in the photo. I was literally star struck though. He told me that he thought I had beautiful hair, and when I told him that braids like this take about 6 to 8 hours he and the small crowd of professionals around him were astonished. There were oh's and ah's, and on my face embarrassment. My editor was really gracious with me about this article, and I was definitely more stressed about it than he thought I should have been. Something I've held on to that I heard in chapel once resonated with me when I was writing this story. The phrase that comes to mind is "Nobody cares about you as much as you do." Aside that fact that God cares about us, we worry about ourselves more than we should. This is something that I've been learning and something that takes time to work on. We need to know that because God cares for us sooo much, we don't need to worry about ourselves. The only thing we need to worry about is how much we rest in Him and his love for us.
The blog:
http://dancingheadlines.wordpress.com/
Originally, I was paired up with two of my friends Shonette and David for this blog project. They had the idea for GodHop.Org (which you can google if you'd like). This blog is a blog focused on God in popular culture or more specifically rap and Christian hip hop. When the three of us presented our idea, we were confronted by our professor, Terry, who is a religion beat reporter, that 3 people was too much for the group. I had previously had the idea for a dance blog, but was afraid to speak up, and when I did it was freeing. After class I sheepishly walked up to our professors and told them that I had cold feet about joining the group. When my nervousness registered with them, they asked me what I was passionate about. I responded with my original idea of a dance blog and they were delighted. I love Christian hip hop, I just don't want to sit and read about it all day. I rather focus on something more dear to my heart, and something that I would love to report on in the future. So I had to tell David and Shonette that I was leaving the group, and they were sad, but delighted that I had found something to write about that lined up with my passions. So, if there is something that you love, go for it. Don't be afraid. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
I don't want to bombard you with blogs to follow, but I will not only attempt to keep up with this blog, but also for class I have to do a blog. So here's the link. Feel free to follow or not. Thanks for all your support as I venture out into D.C.
The byline/story:
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=39737
I was super nervous when I went to this event, and as many people have seen when I met Rick Warren I took a picture. Little to my knowledge did I know that my eyes would be stark shut in the photo. I was literally star struck though. He told me that he thought I had beautiful hair, and when I told him that braids like this take about 6 to 8 hours he and the small crowd of professionals around him were astonished. There were oh's and ah's, and on my face embarrassment. My editor was really gracious with me about this article, and I was definitely more stressed about it than he thought I should have been. Something I've held on to that I heard in chapel once resonated with me when I was writing this story. The phrase that comes to mind is "Nobody cares about you as much as you do." Aside that fact that God cares about us, we worry about ourselves more than we should. This is something that I've been learning and something that takes time to work on. We need to know that because God cares for us sooo much, we don't need to worry about ourselves. The only thing we need to worry about is how much we rest in Him and his love for us.
The blog:
http://dancingheadlines.wordpress.com/
Originally, I was paired up with two of my friends Shonette and David for this blog project. They had the idea for GodHop.Org (which you can google if you'd like). This blog is a blog focused on God in popular culture or more specifically rap and Christian hip hop. When the three of us presented our idea, we were confronted by our professor, Terry, who is a religion beat reporter, that 3 people was too much for the group. I had previously had the idea for a dance blog, but was afraid to speak up, and when I did it was freeing. After class I sheepishly walked up to our professors and told them that I had cold feet about joining the group. When my nervousness registered with them, they asked me what I was passionate about. I responded with my original idea of a dance blog and they were delighted. I love Christian hip hop, I just don't want to sit and read about it all day. I rather focus on something more dear to my heart, and something that I would love to report on in the future. So I had to tell David and Shonette that I was leaving the group, and they were sad, but delighted that I had found something to write about that lined up with my passions. So, if there is something that you love, go for it. Don't be afraid. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Little Light
Yesterday I went to volunteer at a children's Saturday program. The setting is that of a local YMCA or Big Brother Big Sister program. Each volunteer is paired with a child and allowed to hang out with them for a whole day. The idea is to create a safe environment for at risk children to play and also talk about God if they want to. The girl I was paired with was precious. She was 6, wore pink books, a purple coat, and had beautiful cornrows with white, pink, and purple beads hanging from the ends. Turns out she was really shy, but by the time I left she had no problem talking and hanging out with me or the other little girls in the program. Yet, my time there was disrupted when about 5 minutes before the children were scheduled to leave I had an allergy attack. I'm not talking throat closing, appendage swelling. It was more like uncontrollable sneezing along with eye puffing and eye watering. Therefore I had to leave. I said goodbye and walked/ran back to the apartment as quick as possible to throw a Benadryl, some soup, and some tea, into my system and sleep.
--Still not quite sure of what I'm allergic to out here in DC, I pray that the springtime will not be as horrible as I fear.
Today we walked to National Community Church at Eastern Market. A church that owns one of the US's best coffee houses. Its got an interesting story... the very first one is right next to my internship and it was renovated from being a crack-house..... While getting there too late to grab a free doughnut, I grabbed some coffee and entered the renovated theatre. It was a great service. I never realized until going to this church today how much I missed being in the house of God. Not that I had strayed away or anything, I just felt like something that was missing had been restored. I felt at home. I felt the presence of my Father descend upon me and I felt peaceful and at rest. The message was by Dick Foth, (the man we ate lunch with last week). It was an interesting mixture of discussion on the greatest commandment and how our culture looks at relationships through only the lens of the physical.
After the message my apartment-mates and I ended up doing some very cliché shopping in a beautiful 3 storied Forever 21. While in the store I reminisced on service this morning and my time volunteering. I thought back on how Mr. Foth discussed the importance for light in the universe. The song 'This Little Light of Mine' came back to me and I realized that no matter how much I get ticked off with people that I'm dealing with here, no matter how many allergy attacks I have, no matter how much I miss home, I'm here to shine my little light, hoping that people see the truth and love of Jesus radiate from my life, and that's all I can do.
--Still not quite sure of what I'm allergic to out here in DC, I pray that the springtime will not be as horrible as I fear.
Today we walked to National Community Church at Eastern Market. A church that owns one of the US's best coffee houses. Its got an interesting story... the very first one is right next to my internship and it was renovated from being a crack-house..... While getting there too late to grab a free doughnut, I grabbed some coffee and entered the renovated theatre. It was a great service. I never realized until going to this church today how much I missed being in the house of God. Not that I had strayed away or anything, I just felt like something that was missing had been restored. I felt at home. I felt the presence of my Father descend upon me and I felt peaceful and at rest. The message was by Dick Foth, (the man we ate lunch with last week). It was an interesting mixture of discussion on the greatest commandment and how our culture looks at relationships through only the lens of the physical.
After the message my apartment-mates and I ended up doing some very cliché shopping in a beautiful 3 storied Forever 21. While in the store I reminisced on service this morning and my time volunteering. I thought back on how Mr. Foth discussed the importance for light in the universe. The song 'This Little Light of Mine' came back to me and I realized that no matter how much I get ticked off with people that I'm dealing with here, no matter how many allergy attacks I have, no matter how much I miss home, I'm here to shine my little light, hoping that people see the truth and love of Jesus radiate from my life, and that's all I can do.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Riding Pigs and Remembering the Children
Wet, and Definitely not Wild
January 2, 2013 my roommate Sidney, and our friend Joshua set out to enjoy a night of tea, coffee, and poetry yet what we encountered was mostly a lot of rain and a lot of unnecessary poetic innuendos. After riding the D6 bus to 15th St. (I think...) We got out and started our .5 mile walk to 'Busboys and Poets', a restaurant named after Langston Hughes (He wrote lots of his poetry while he was a busboy...look it up if your interested...http://www.busboysandpoets.com/ ) While walking the treacherous sidewalks of DC's Chinatown, right as we turned the corner and found the restaurant, it started to pour. Buckets of water fell from the sky upon us, drenching our fancy business attire. Once we got inside the hostesses looked at us like we were crazy. They were justified since we looked like we had just walked through the Red Sea without it parting... Anyway, we went to the bathroom to dry off, and once we sat down our spirits were calmed. We ordered tea and Josh ordered a whole meal... The evening started out swell, and with some really good hot Berry Roobios Tea (that Josh paid for) in my system I was ready for some great poetry. To chronicle the poetry experience quickly I will state that it was an open mic night, and we were asked to get up and perform original poetry. Sid and I vehemently replied no to the hostess, meanwhile Josh wrote a poem on spot and performed it. Surprisingly he was good. Some other people got up and performed as well, some great and some not so great... The evening concluded with us getting back to our apartment as cold and wet as could be singing 'All I Ever Wanted' from DreamWorks Prince of Egypt with the famous line...
"This is my home!!!"
BEAUTIFUL STORIES
January 3, 2013, we met with South Dakota Senator John Thune, who is a Biola alum. After dealing with some quite rude security people at the door, Shonette and I fumbled our way to the Senator's office. We arrived and to our dismay were a few minutes late. After shaking hands and introducing ourselves, DBC asked Senator Thune if he had any words of advice. His words were so relevant I felt like recording it, but knowing that wouldn't be right so I just listened real closely. (I don't remember all of it, but heres the gist:) He discussed with us that vocation and calling, wherever it may lead you is unpredictable. We need to allow God to lead us, and when doors open, to just follow through and trust that God knows what he's doing. He also urged us to soak up as much information and insight of our Washington DC experience as possible.
After leaving the office, we met up with a close family friend of DBC, Dick Foth, who is literally like the grandfather we've never had. We ate lunch in Union Station while he told us of his life and travels. He also asked us if we had any questions, and once we got going we couldn't stop. This man is a great story teller!!! We discussed the issues of our generation and its lack of physiological contact with people, and also its advantages with obtaining information and education. Sitting in the train station listening to this man, I began to understood the purpose and goal of stories in a whole new light. We discussed how stories bind us all together, and also how telling stories allow for us to be fully human, and fully and completely connect with people. God made us relational. He made us to warm and love others by wrapping each other in beautifully intricate blankets of stories. Mr. Foth told us of his encounters with other people's stories which included the most beautiful and vivid imagery. These stories consisted of a woman who rode pigs, a WWII vet, conversions at The National Prayer Breakfast and more. After paying for our meal, he urged us to get to know others, and more importantly as journalists to respect, appreciate, and treat others' stories with complete care and love.
Future Leaders
After lunch was over we followed him over to Ebenezer's coffee shop where we sat in on a ministry/leadership conference filled with 25-30yr old looking people who were looking to go into or understand more about church leadership. This was also a fruitful experience, seeing as we are the future leaders of our generation.
ReMeMbEr the Children
Today a group of us went out in the flurries of DC to visit the Holocaust museum. On our journey there I was mentally preparing myself for what it could be like, and trying to figure out what to do if I suddenly burst into tears. Being the only one who snatched a map at the Information booth, and after going as a group to the bathroom like our mothers taught us to first, I led us all to the 4th floor. Working our way down we saw the Nazi conquest of certain cities, heard the desperate heartbreaking cries of Jewish children, and the horrible doctors of human experimentation. Needless to say we all left the museum with knots in our stomachs; partially from hunger, and partially from the emotional strain we experienced. On our ride from the museum on the subway something especially frightening happened, especially if you are someone who just left the Holocaust museum. We were all evacuated out of the Subway station for a reason that is yet to be discovered. Metro employees dressed in yellow highlighter colored vests lined the walkways up to the exit to lead us to the free shuttles that awaited us. Yet after we arrived at our Eastern Market stop and walked .5 miles back to the Dellenback center in the flurries, I am proud to say that my two roommates Shonette and Sidney cooked dinner for me. As the snow flurries sped up outside and formed into full snowflakes, we sat looking outside at the snow in our dinner nook (its really a breakfast nook) drinking our minestrone soup and munching on grilled cheese.
January 2, 2013 my roommate Sidney, and our friend Joshua set out to enjoy a night of tea, coffee, and poetry yet what we encountered was mostly a lot of rain and a lot of unnecessary poetic innuendos. After riding the D6 bus to 15th St. (I think...) We got out and started our .5 mile walk to 'Busboys and Poets', a restaurant named after Langston Hughes (He wrote lots of his poetry while he was a busboy...look it up if your interested...http://www.busboysandpoets.com/ ) While walking the treacherous sidewalks of DC's Chinatown, right as we turned the corner and found the restaurant, it started to pour. Buckets of water fell from the sky upon us, drenching our fancy business attire. Once we got inside the hostesses looked at us like we were crazy. They were justified since we looked like we had just walked through the Red Sea without it parting... Anyway, we went to the bathroom to dry off, and once we sat down our spirits were calmed. We ordered tea and Josh ordered a whole meal... The evening started out swell, and with some really good hot Berry Roobios Tea (that Josh paid for) in my system I was ready for some great poetry. To chronicle the poetry experience quickly I will state that it was an open mic night, and we were asked to get up and perform original poetry. Sid and I vehemently replied no to the hostess, meanwhile Josh wrote a poem on spot and performed it. Surprisingly he was good. Some other people got up and performed as well, some great and some not so great... The evening concluded with us getting back to our apartment as cold and wet as could be singing 'All I Ever Wanted' from DreamWorks Prince of Egypt with the famous line...
"This is my home!!!"
BEAUTIFUL STORIES
January 3, 2013, we met with South Dakota Senator John Thune, who is a Biola alum. After dealing with some quite rude security people at the door, Shonette and I fumbled our way to the Senator's office. We arrived and to our dismay were a few minutes late. After shaking hands and introducing ourselves, DBC asked Senator Thune if he had any words of advice. His words were so relevant I felt like recording it, but knowing that wouldn't be right so I just listened real closely. (I don't remember all of it, but heres the gist:) He discussed with us that vocation and calling, wherever it may lead you is unpredictable. We need to allow God to lead us, and when doors open, to just follow through and trust that God knows what he's doing. He also urged us to soak up as much information and insight of our Washington DC experience as possible.
After leaving the office, we met up with a close family friend of DBC, Dick Foth, who is literally like the grandfather we've never had. We ate lunch in Union Station while he told us of his life and travels. He also asked us if we had any questions, and once we got going we couldn't stop. This man is a great story teller!!! We discussed the issues of our generation and its lack of physiological contact with people, and also its advantages with obtaining information and education. Sitting in the train station listening to this man, I began to understood the purpose and goal of stories in a whole new light. We discussed how stories bind us all together, and also how telling stories allow for us to be fully human, and fully and completely connect with people. God made us relational. He made us to warm and love others by wrapping each other in beautifully intricate blankets of stories. Mr. Foth told us of his encounters with other people's stories which included the most beautiful and vivid imagery. These stories consisted of a woman who rode pigs, a WWII vet, conversions at The National Prayer Breakfast and more. After paying for our meal, he urged us to get to know others, and more importantly as journalists to respect, appreciate, and treat others' stories with complete care and love.
Future Leaders
After lunch was over we followed him over to Ebenezer's coffee shop where we sat in on a ministry/leadership conference filled with 25-30yr old looking people who were looking to go into or understand more about church leadership. This was also a fruitful experience, seeing as we are the future leaders of our generation.
ReMeMbEr the Children
Today a group of us went out in the flurries of DC to visit the Holocaust museum. On our journey there I was mentally preparing myself for what it could be like, and trying to figure out what to do if I suddenly burst into tears. Being the only one who snatched a map at the Information booth, and after going as a group to the bathroom like our mothers taught us to first, I led us all to the 4th floor. Working our way down we saw the Nazi conquest of certain cities, heard the desperate heartbreaking cries of Jewish children, and the horrible doctors of human experimentation. Needless to say we all left the museum with knots in our stomachs; partially from hunger, and partially from the emotional strain we experienced. On our ride from the museum on the subway something especially frightening happened, especially if you are someone who just left the Holocaust museum. We were all evacuated out of the Subway station for a reason that is yet to be discovered. Metro employees dressed in yellow highlighter colored vests lined the walkways up to the exit to lead us to the free shuttles that awaited us. Yet after we arrived at our Eastern Market stop and walked .5 miles back to the Dellenback center in the flurries, I am proud to say that my two roommates Shonette and Sidney cooked dinner for me. As the snow flurries sped up outside and formed into full snowflakes, we sat looking outside at the snow in our dinner nook (its really a breakfast nook) drinking our minestrone soup and munching on grilled cheese.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Residue of Delight
The Package
I recently received a very large package from my mother and grandmother. All week my mom had been telling me that I was going to receive a blessing, and considering my irritability from the dry eye and all I didn't really believe her. I thought she was talking about the blessing of snow. Maybe I set my sights too low... Anyway, on my way from a break of class I saw a huge box addressed to me. With a cup of hot Red Rooibos Tea in my hand I tried to lift the box. A guy named Parker who was in my Scavenger hunt group walked by and saw me trying to lift the box. He asked if he could help. I said no. He insisted. I was irritated. I battled with the feminism within me and conceded to his gesture. Yet when I got back to the room and he set the box down I thanked him and rushed back to class. After class and people constantly asking about my box I opened it to find lots of packing peanuts, and a brand new Lenovo dual processor laptop with touchscreen capability and all the works. It was the brand of my stolen computer, but 10x better. After being extremely excited and jumping up and down for about 10 minutes it was time to go get cupcakes with my roommates!!!!
2 Hardworking Girls
So this morning Shonette and I woke up, had a hearty breakfast of eggs and freshly ground coffee and set off to the Teen Pregnancy Center, (we volunteer there, no need to be worried/we aren't teens anymore anyway)... Yet when we reached the door, we were dismayed to find that they are only open on weekdays. Good thing it was only across the street from the apt. After getting back, my roommate Sarah and I decided that we needed to get cash for our planned day out at the museum. Our friend David tagged along to also get cash. We walked .4 miles along the streets spotted with snow residue to a Bank of America and found out that they closed at 12pm. Sarah got frustrated and I quickly spotted an ATM close by. On our way back there was a non-heated and discussion about church denominations and how complicated they are.
Evolution????
Banding together like a pack of small Christian wolves, 9 of us set out for a day at the museum. After a short metro ride, some chiding about our sense of direction and a few quick jokes about the movies National Treasure and Night at the Museum and we were there. We took a map and set off like kids in a candy store, or kids in a museum??? We saw the wild animal and dinosaur exhibits, and one that especially caused some tension was the display of homo sapiens that discussed evolution. This exhibit literally divided us, as some decided to leave the exhibit and go to the sea animal area instead while others of us (including me) walked straight through and looked at stuff. I figured, ''sheesh" we are at a Smithsonian, and I only got 3 1/2 months, I wanna see it all!!!!
MALTS
After leaving the museum and walking aimlessly trying to find the mall that is in L'Enfant Plaza (which I like to jokingly call the little infant plaza), we were famished. After being told just where the mall is we still couldn't find it for about 10 minutes. Until I made the joke that we were standing on top of it, and we indeed were.... Anyway, there was a small food court that was hooked onto a strip mall in the plaza. There were not lots of food options because almost everything was closed. The only things open were a restaurant called Moe's (its kinda like Chipotle), and a sandwich and salad place called Potbelly's I believe...I could be mistaken... After having a rice and bean bowl from Moe's, I saw the malt sign at Potbelly's and couldn't resist. Especially after my roommate Sarah had brought one to the table that had cookies lining her straw. I didn't realize that my purchase of a coffee flavored malt at this time was not the most fiscally responsible thing to do (even though it was ridiculously delicious) because I just wanted the cookies and not really the malt...
Therefore my week was not only filled with some moments that caused some whining , but also with moments of delight and wonder for the new people, place and good things that God has recently blessed me with.
I recently received a very large package from my mother and grandmother. All week my mom had been telling me that I was going to receive a blessing, and considering my irritability from the dry eye and all I didn't really believe her. I thought she was talking about the blessing of snow. Maybe I set my sights too low... Anyway, on my way from a break of class I saw a huge box addressed to me. With a cup of hot Red Rooibos Tea in my hand I tried to lift the box. A guy named Parker who was in my Scavenger hunt group walked by and saw me trying to lift the box. He asked if he could help. I said no. He insisted. I was irritated. I battled with the feminism within me and conceded to his gesture. Yet when I got back to the room and he set the box down I thanked him and rushed back to class. After class and people constantly asking about my box I opened it to find lots of packing peanuts, and a brand new Lenovo dual processor laptop with touchscreen capability and all the works. It was the brand of my stolen computer, but 10x better. After being extremely excited and jumping up and down for about 10 minutes it was time to go get cupcakes with my roommates!!!!
2 Hardworking Girls
So this morning Shonette and I woke up, had a hearty breakfast of eggs and freshly ground coffee and set off to the Teen Pregnancy Center, (we volunteer there, no need to be worried/we aren't teens anymore anyway)... Yet when we reached the door, we were dismayed to find that they are only open on weekdays. Good thing it was only across the street from the apt. After getting back, my roommate Sarah and I decided that we needed to get cash for our planned day out at the museum. Our friend David tagged along to also get cash. We walked .4 miles along the streets spotted with snow residue to a Bank of America and found out that they closed at 12pm. Sarah got frustrated and I quickly spotted an ATM close by. On our way back there was a non-heated and discussion about church denominations and how complicated they are.
Evolution????
Banding together like a pack of small Christian wolves, 9 of us set out for a day at the museum. After a short metro ride, some chiding about our sense of direction and a few quick jokes about the movies National Treasure and Night at the Museum and we were there. We took a map and set off like kids in a candy store, or kids in a museum??? We saw the wild animal and dinosaur exhibits, and one that especially caused some tension was the display of homo sapiens that discussed evolution. This exhibit literally divided us, as some decided to leave the exhibit and go to the sea animal area instead while others of us (including me) walked straight through and looked at stuff. I figured, ''sheesh" we are at a Smithsonian, and I only got 3 1/2 months, I wanna see it all!!!!
MALTS
After leaving the museum and walking aimlessly trying to find the mall that is in L'Enfant Plaza (which I like to jokingly call the little infant plaza), we were famished. After being told just where the mall is we still couldn't find it for about 10 minutes. Until I made the joke that we were standing on top of it, and we indeed were.... Anyway, there was a small food court that was hooked onto a strip mall in the plaza. There were not lots of food options because almost everything was closed. The only things open were a restaurant called Moe's (its kinda like Chipotle), and a sandwich and salad place called Potbelly's I believe...I could be mistaken... After having a rice and bean bowl from Moe's, I saw the malt sign at Potbelly's and couldn't resist. Especially after my roommate Sarah had brought one to the table that had cookies lining her straw. I didn't realize that my purchase of a coffee flavored malt at this time was not the most fiscally responsible thing to do (even though it was ridiculously delicious) because I just wanted the cookies and not really the malt...
Therefore my week was not only filled with some moments that caused some whining , but also with moments of delight and wonder for the new people, place and good things that God has recently blessed me with.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Oatmeal for Dinner
DISCLAIMER: This post could be a little whiny, and 'woe is me', but to those who know me well, well, you know....
A Small White Blanket
Today I awoke to the sound of clanking metal. Once I found the origin of the sound outside my window I took my fingers and placed them inside our hanging plastic blinds, and opened them to find outside our quite large window a white substance falling from the sky which some call snow. Now, I've never seen snow before and I must admit it is quite delightful. Yet my day did not go as planned, and I'm kind of wondering now why I was so hopeful this morning, seeing as unlike the snow, my week has not been very delightful.
Treacherous Sidewalks
This morning I had a meeting scheduled with my editor at The Baptist Press. I had my reservations about this meeting because of the snow, my often failing sense of direction, and the fact that I had to walk clear across town alone. After I had walked clear outside the apartment wearing my snow boots, that quite frankly seemed unnecessary and a little cumbersome, and my knee-length down feathered gray coat, I walked back in to my apartment forgetting something. A few minutes later after deciding to walk back out I received a phone call and email from my editor, which both entailed the snow covered and treacherous sidewalks of DC; we decided to reschedule. Something the email did not explain to me was that my editor's train had been an hour late, and he had slipped walking among the treacherous, snow laden sidewalks of DC.
Physiological Contact
Considering the fact that my computer has been stolen, TSA is unresponsive, and I have not yet received a replacement or loaner computer, my evenings are quite dull. They consist of actually making eye to eye contact and deep conversation with my fellow human beings in this program; leading to moments of intense awkwardness. These moments happen quite often. When everyone else is done talking they sit, staring at their computer screens typing away, scrolling, Skyping, and I'm left listening to Pandora on my phone, playing with my phone, or making actual phone calls in which I have to talk. Also, on Tuesday after watching an episode of the hit children's show 'Victorious' on my IPhone my headphones caught a concussion. This horrible condition of my headphones left me sitting in various parts of our apartment cuddled with my IPhone holding the headphone cord in about 100 different positions in order to get just one word, melody, or phrase of a show or song out.
Mother Nature
The weather was quite chill this week despite the snow, and with the full force of 12 degree winds I was lucky enough to find myself with a case of dry eye. This condition allowed me to blink so hard it looked like I had a nervous twitch at our first Family Night Dinner. Side note: This dinner consists of good food, mentors, and the families of each person on staff. Yet, gradually the temperature rose this week as I had less and less to do, and or less and less money to spend, leaving me possibly having a small brown bag of Quaker's Instant oatmeal, toast, and water for dinner.
A Small White Blanket
Today I awoke to the sound of clanking metal. Once I found the origin of the sound outside my window I took my fingers and placed them inside our hanging plastic blinds, and opened them to find outside our quite large window a white substance falling from the sky which some call snow. Now, I've never seen snow before and I must admit it is quite delightful. Yet my day did not go as planned, and I'm kind of wondering now why I was so hopeful this morning, seeing as unlike the snow, my week has not been very delightful.
Treacherous Sidewalks
This morning I had a meeting scheduled with my editor at The Baptist Press. I had my reservations about this meeting because of the snow, my often failing sense of direction, and the fact that I had to walk clear across town alone. After I had walked clear outside the apartment wearing my snow boots, that quite frankly seemed unnecessary and a little cumbersome, and my knee-length down feathered gray coat, I walked back in to my apartment forgetting something. A few minutes later after deciding to walk back out I received a phone call and email from my editor, which both entailed the snow covered and treacherous sidewalks of DC; we decided to reschedule. Something the email did not explain to me was that my editor's train had been an hour late, and he had slipped walking among the treacherous, snow laden sidewalks of DC.
Physiological Contact
Considering the fact that my computer has been stolen, TSA is unresponsive, and I have not yet received a replacement or loaner computer, my evenings are quite dull. They consist of actually making eye to eye contact and deep conversation with my fellow human beings in this program; leading to moments of intense awkwardness. These moments happen quite often. When everyone else is done talking they sit, staring at their computer screens typing away, scrolling, Skyping, and I'm left listening to Pandora on my phone, playing with my phone, or making actual phone calls in which I have to talk. Also, on Tuesday after watching an episode of the hit children's show 'Victorious' on my IPhone my headphones caught a concussion. This horrible condition of my headphones left me sitting in various parts of our apartment cuddled with my IPhone holding the headphone cord in about 100 different positions in order to get just one word, melody, or phrase of a show or song out.
Mother Nature
The weather was quite chill this week despite the snow, and with the full force of 12 degree winds I was lucky enough to find myself with a case of dry eye. This condition allowed me to blink so hard it looked like I had a nervous twitch at our first Family Night Dinner. Side note: This dinner consists of good food, mentors, and the families of each person on staff. Yet, gradually the temperature rose this week as I had less and less to do, and or less and less money to spend, leaving me possibly having a small brown bag of Quaker's Instant oatmeal, toast, and water for dinner.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Just the Start of Something New
I... Have... Arrived....
So far I've been in DC for only a hot second now, and I am liking it just fine... Maybe not as much as I wanted to, but thats because everything is expensive (10% tax) and I have almost absolutely no sense of direction as I feared (the metro/the bus...). It also might be for the fact that my laptop was stolen at LAX, the TSA man yelled at my mother on the phone, and its not as cold as I have prepared for yet... Although, all the other WJCers are nice, and its good to have Shonette here (a friend and fellow Biolan/Californian) with me to share this experience.
The Orient
During my jet lag we had about 2 days of intense orientation, and by this I mean sitting listening to people talk and pray for about 5-6 hours. It was helpful, and very informative (no sarcasm intended). This orientation included ways to get around the city, a video on sexual harassment in the workplace, and sporadic moments of prayer, food, and fellowship.
During times of fellowship, I have also encountered some of the most common questions that people ask Californians, such as;
"Do you see famous people/movie stars/actors (insert synonym for California's 1 percent here...)?"
"If you live in California, do you go to the beach a lot?"
"Are you at the beach all day?"
"How far do you live from a beach?"
"Is it hot in California?"
"Do you surf?"
And many others....
Bus Days
The first two weeks here at WJC are really exploration weeks, since its inaguration time. Therefore our homework loads are light and our dreams of eating Georgetown cupcakes, purusing through new grocery stores, and making dinner on our own, can come true.
One of our first homework assignments is a scavenger hunt in groups of 5 (that will last about 3 days total), meaning we are free to roam the city as we please. The only exception is we cant get lost. The hunt demands that we ride the bus and the metro interchangably and get back to WJC at the end of the day. This hunt also includes that we eat Jumbo Pizza in a hipster city, act out a scene from National Treasure, and find and take a picture with Obama (the real person, not a cardboard cut out...).
So far I've been in DC for only a hot second now, and I am liking it just fine... Maybe not as much as I wanted to, but thats because everything is expensive (10% tax) and I have almost absolutely no sense of direction as I feared (the metro/the bus...). It also might be for the fact that my laptop was stolen at LAX, the TSA man yelled at my mother on the phone, and its not as cold as I have prepared for yet... Although, all the other WJCers are nice, and its good to have Shonette here (a friend and fellow Biolan/Californian) with me to share this experience.
The Orient
During my jet lag we had about 2 days of intense orientation, and by this I mean sitting listening to people talk and pray for about 5-6 hours. It was helpful, and very informative (no sarcasm intended). This orientation included ways to get around the city, a video on sexual harassment in the workplace, and sporadic moments of prayer, food, and fellowship.
During times of fellowship, I have also encountered some of the most common questions that people ask Californians, such as;
"Do you see famous people/movie stars/actors (insert synonym for California's 1 percent here...)?"
"If you live in California, do you go to the beach a lot?"
"Are you at the beach all day?"
"How far do you live from a beach?"
"Is it hot in California?"
"Do you surf?"
And many others....
Bus Days
The first two weeks here at WJC are really exploration weeks, since its inaguration time. Therefore our homework loads are light and our dreams of eating Georgetown cupcakes, purusing through new grocery stores, and making dinner on our own, can come true.
One of our first homework assignments is a scavenger hunt in groups of 5 (that will last about 3 days total), meaning we are free to roam the city as we please. The only exception is we cant get lost. The hunt demands that we ride the bus and the metro interchangably and get back to WJC at the end of the day. This hunt also includes that we eat Jumbo Pizza in a hipster city, act out a scene from National Treasure, and find and take a picture with Obama (the real person, not a cardboard cut out...).
Sunday, January 13, 2013
And the Journey Begins...
Rising and Shining
Tomorrow I will be rising at about 3am and shining at about two weeks from now when I finally wake up and find myself adjusted to the climate and time difference of Washington DC.
The Plan
My mother and I will be traveling a day early to Washington DC to spend a little time experiencing the city, shopping and sight-seeing (we will be doing as much sight-seeing you can actually do in one day....) Then my mother will depart the next day after dropping me off in front of the Dellenback Center.
I am a fly swatter
I am extremely excited, and after cramming my bags with things I will hopefully really use and need in Washington I'm also really tired. This past week has flown by me like a miniscule black fly trying to escape a swatter.
Ambitious
Hopefully tomorrow when I arrive in DC, and am standing in the DCA airport in my parka darting my eyes around at the massively diverse amount of people there, I will feel a deep sense of purpose, focus and later on at WJC, belonging.
Tomorrow I will be rising at about 3am and shining at about two weeks from now when I finally wake up and find myself adjusted to the climate and time difference of Washington DC.
The Plan
My mother and I will be traveling a day early to Washington DC to spend a little time experiencing the city, shopping and sight-seeing (we will be doing as much sight-seeing you can actually do in one day....) Then my mother will depart the next day after dropping me off in front of the Dellenback Center.
I am a fly swatter
I am extremely excited, and after cramming my bags with things I will hopefully really use and need in Washington I'm also really tired. This past week has flown by me like a miniscule black fly trying to escape a swatter.
Ambitious
Hopefully tomorrow when I arrive in DC, and am standing in the DCA airport in my parka darting my eyes around at the massively diverse amount of people there, I will feel a deep sense of purpose, focus and later on at WJC, belonging.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Dreaming of the Journey
With a few new clothes purchased, a plane ticket, and my eyes transfixed upon the book 'The Elements of Journalism' the apprehension of entering a new place is slowly settling in. With every minute, and almost every hour of each passing day I dream of the days I will spend studying abroad in Washington DC.
Earlier today I found myself giddy with the news that I had landed an internship at The Baptist Press. After praying and deeply considering it for a few hours, I called my contact there to excitedly confirm my internship position. After flip-flopping online between Gmail, the Baptist Press website, Facebook, and the newly updated FAQs sent from WJC, I found myself a little tired and mostly worried.
The FAQ page was especially troubling.
Bus or Metro?
My fear of public transportation grew a little, and then almost exploded when the first question on the FAQ website was about deciding what type of transportation to take when in DC. While reading, I visualized myself standing in some type of dark and grimy subway station in a parka, alone, confused and with no sense of direction. Although my fear of public transport was rapidly expanding, this was only one of several things that I found may be problematic.
Time is Fleeting
With the mantras; 'live it up while you can', 'get to know the city', and or the newly famous 'YOLO' hovering over my idea of travel to DC, I'm afraid I wont have time to do all that I can. Time can robs us of experiencing things fully, and or being in the moment of visiting a museum, draping your eyes upon a new piece of art and or standing in awe before a monument. I worry that I will not have enough time to do these things fully. The desire to do well at my internship, in class, and getting to know the city have seemed to blend together, making my visions of good time management more and more fuzzy.
The Valley of Hunger
I knew beforehand that while in DC I would be responsible for my own food preparation. Yet when I think of myself cooking I find myself filled with either visions of mountains of fatty fast food, or small hills of cereal, coffee, crackers, and PB&J sandwiches.
Fashion Forward
What in the world is business casual? I am the type of person who loves to shop, yet only seriously goes shopping about twice a year. Knowing that I need to compile a slightly more professional/fashionable wardrobe worries me. I don't really consider myself fashionable, yet I constantly find myself among very fashionable people who are blessed enough to shop whenever they want, and knowledgeable enough about fashion to buy whatever they want. Hopefully my newly purchased suits, and casual separates are enough to carry me through this journey in an at least slightly fashionable manner.
Fly
Flying.Now...now...now... I'm excited to go, yet constantly nervous about flying... I claim that this trip will be safe, and without complications. Good thing that on my journey to Washington DC there is a stop in Chicago, and each flight is only about two hours each.
Abba
Although these things seem as I said; worrisome, troubling, or problematic to me, I am fully trusting that God will carry me through. I know that I will be there to learn and learn a lot quickly. Whenever I feel homesick, confused, scared or even hungry, I know that God is there to listen and always has my best interest in mind. So please if you are reading this pray and continue to pray for my journey to and from Washington DC.
Blessings,
-Tonika
Earlier today I found myself giddy with the news that I had landed an internship at The Baptist Press. After praying and deeply considering it for a few hours, I called my contact there to excitedly confirm my internship position. After flip-flopping online between Gmail, the Baptist Press website, Facebook, and the newly updated FAQs sent from WJC, I found myself a little tired and mostly worried.
The FAQ page was especially troubling.
Bus or Metro?
My fear of public transportation grew a little, and then almost exploded when the first question on the FAQ website was about deciding what type of transportation to take when in DC. While reading, I visualized myself standing in some type of dark and grimy subway station in a parka, alone, confused and with no sense of direction. Although my fear of public transport was rapidly expanding, this was only one of several things that I found may be problematic.
Time is Fleeting
With the mantras; 'live it up while you can', 'get to know the city', and or the newly famous 'YOLO' hovering over my idea of travel to DC, I'm afraid I wont have time to do all that I can. Time can robs us of experiencing things fully, and or being in the moment of visiting a museum, draping your eyes upon a new piece of art and or standing in awe before a monument. I worry that I will not have enough time to do these things fully. The desire to do well at my internship, in class, and getting to know the city have seemed to blend together, making my visions of good time management more and more fuzzy.
The Valley of Hunger
I knew beforehand that while in DC I would be responsible for my own food preparation. Yet when I think of myself cooking I find myself filled with either visions of mountains of fatty fast food, or small hills of cereal, coffee, crackers, and PB&J sandwiches.
Fashion Forward
What in the world is business casual? I am the type of person who loves to shop, yet only seriously goes shopping about twice a year. Knowing that I need to compile a slightly more professional/fashionable wardrobe worries me. I don't really consider myself fashionable, yet I constantly find myself among very fashionable people who are blessed enough to shop whenever they want, and knowledgeable enough about fashion to buy whatever they want. Hopefully my newly purchased suits, and casual separates are enough to carry me through this journey in an at least slightly fashionable manner.
Fly
Flying.Now...now...now... I'm excited to go, yet constantly nervous about flying... I claim that this trip will be safe, and without complications. Good thing that on my journey to Washington DC there is a stop in Chicago, and each flight is only about two hours each.
Abba
Although these things seem as I said; worrisome, troubling, or problematic to me, I am fully trusting that God will carry me through. I know that I will be there to learn and learn a lot quickly. Whenever I feel homesick, confused, scared or even hungry, I know that God is there to listen and always has my best interest in mind. So please if you are reading this pray and continue to pray for my journey to and from Washington DC.
Blessings,
-Tonika
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