Happy Halloween!

East Coast Frenzy

After two weeks of wearing business suits and schmoozing with very diplomatic and articulate professionals on the East Coast, I have made my way back to sunny California and traded my dress shoes for flip flops. My former dean of the School of Intercultural Studies (SIS), the fabulous Doug McConnell, asked my friend Holly and I to do a feasibility study and assessment of two different projects/program opportunities for SIS students in both Washington, DC and New York City. In DC, our task was to figure out the feasibility of setting up an intensive course for Ph. D students from SIS (many of which are international students), which would be designed to expose students to practical models where politics and faith meet; the intent would be for students to experience what it means to be a Christian in a political setting and then take these models and bring them back to their own countries (where they would most likely possess a position of leadership). We had the opportunity to meet with several different individuals- pastors, NGOs, lobbyists, policymakers, and others that possess influence in the capital city. Highlights for me in DC, both professional and personal: visiting International Justice Mission (which also included an evening hanging out with Gary Haugen and his family at his son's pee wee football game and back to their house for pizza), seeing my childhood friend Melissa, and seeing some of the memorial sites at dusk.

Over the weekend in between DC and New York City, Holly and I took a bus up to Boston and stayed with Holly's best friend there. The colors of fall were amazing! The leaves were yellow, red, pink, and light green. I loved hearing them crunch under my feet as we walked the streets of Cambridge. I reminded me of those perfect fall days in Seattle...the ones filled with soccer games, scarves, pumpkin lattes, crisp air, and filtered sunshine through the changing trees. I loved the colors and sounds of the city and enjoyed walking through Harvard Square, eating great cheese, watching the Head of the Charles races, and re-enacting Zac Efron's Justin Timberlake emo-esqe performance of "Bet On It" from High School Musical 2 through the streets of this prestigious city.

New York City was great! Holly and I spent the week with World Vision's United Nations liaison office as well as the United Nations Headquarters. The purpose of the NYC leg was to assess the probability of partnering with World Vision for MA students to fulfill their practicum requirements (a substitute to an overseas practicum like I did this summer). We had the chance to spend a significant amount of time with World Vision staff and attend several UN meetings on development, gender equality, human rights, justice policy, etc. It was quite fascinating and made me realize the deep complexity of these international discussions. Some days I was dazzled by the UN, others I left confused about how they actually get things done (some of the spokespersons I heard like to talk around issues). I really enjoyed meeting the World Vision's UN liaison and learning from him; he possesses a deep well of knowledge, especially on Sudan and the DRC. Over the weekend, some of Holly's friends came down so we hit up the city quite a bit over the those couple of days. Some highlights while in NYC: experiencing World Vision and the UN, seeing Hairspray on Broadway, Rosie Thomas/Over the Rhine concert, Central Park, and Battery Park. I filled my stomach with lots of tasty treats and New York novelties...if I keel over with heart failure in the next couple of weeks, you can blame it on the Big Apple.
It is good to be back in LA now. It is hard to believe I "move" (and I say it in quotes because that's the plan for now...not sure when or if I'll be coming back to LA) back to Seattle 3 weeks from today. I am both excited and sad, but I look forward to making the most of my time here. Cheers to the East Coast, but cheers to being back.

Happy 5th Birthday Julia!

Shout out to my niece Julia! She's 5 and fabulous today, especially after a special trip to McDonald's, cake, and a mermaid birthday party. Happy birthday Julia! I love you lots!

Teen Fever

I am coming to grips with the fact that I am an adult. I enjoy that and embrace it most of the time, but I must say, I'm still a big 12-year old at heart. I too love Disneyland. I too love playing practical jokes. I too love to play dress-up. I too love corn dogs, chicken nuggets, and excessive amounts of ketchup. I too love board games based on teen movies or teen book series. I too love teen movies with unrealistic plot lines and witty dialogue. My newest 12-year old obsession: Zac Efron. It's true. I have Efron-fever and I'm not really ashamed of it. He dazzled me in High School Musical and then found a warm, permanent home in my heart after Hairspray (the fact that Amanda Bynes was in this movie was another bonus...she's my pretend celebrity best friend). Although I will refrain from making Zac t-shirts or naming my first child after him, I'm better for having caught the fever. Zac, I surrender happily.
A couple of my favorite scenes from Hairspray:


Pretty sure an actual 12-year old put this video tribute together:

Gringa en la escuela

Both this week and last week I have been working at Central City Value High School, a charter school in Los Angeles. I have been administering the California English Language Develeopment Test (CELDT) to Hispanic students. It has been a great opportunity to work in a cross-cultural environment right in LA, and to expereince a new part of this vast city. The taco place down the street is an extra bonus. Brain tacos? Yes please.
These two weeks have made me think about two important groups of people in my life:
1) My dear teacher friends spread out in Latin America. Shout out to my girls in Ecuador (Kim), Panama (Rach), and a couple in Mexico (Dez and Grace). Each of you are greatly missed!
2) I have also thought about those wonderful teachers that have shaped my life, and continue to do so. Teachers have always inspired me and I have always seen them as respected friends of mine...even through the awkward teen years when most of my friends were repulsed by the idea of being friends with teachers. From elementary teachers to music and history teachers to sociology, theology, and missiology professors, there are many I am grateful for.
Since I've had the chance to be on the "other side" of the educational system, which most importantly means that I've gained entrance into the glorious staff lounge, I have thought about these two groups of people quite a bit these last couple of weeks and I must say, you are fabulous!
~The Gringa Temp