Information and General Answers!

If it weren't for my two days left at Cafe Indigo (tomorrow and Friday) packing would be my job by now. Actually, no. The packing and planning has been such a delicate, slow-moving month-long process that not much at all is left. However, sorting through carry-on items, immigration documents, and items in my checked luggage has been the confusion. I'm attempting to pack very lightly, however, packing for an initial four months is challenging to keep light. I will be purchasing several items over there, but am still trying to pack rain gear/all things wool/sweaters/scarves/shoes appropriate for the climate there.

As for General Answers, I've been asked so many questions recently about everything, and thought I'd assemble a small batch of information here!

-I've never been to Scotland before! I have been to London for a few days, and loved that experience. As for budgeting though, I often read about how expensive London is for a day, an evening out, cost of living, etc., and while I plan to visit, I know budgeting will occur. :)

-I am studying at St. Andrews University, and I picked the location and university for a few different reasons. I had been thinking for about eight months that I would love to spend a year or semester in India or somewhere in Africa, particularly South Africa. I looked into several options, and was most interested in pursuing service-learning, where I would be performing service in an environment where I would also be pursuing my studies. However, I realized, that I could perform service anytime in my life internationally. I haven't though, found a way I could spend a year at a university elsewhere at any age. I still am flip-floppish about the decision not to pursue service-learning, and at many points have felt selfish, but I am secure in knowing that the experience I have will be amazing and so worthwhile academically. When I chose to pursue academics, I first looked into York and Oxford in England. While study abroad students have a much lower academic scale to present for admission than four-year students, I still didn't quite meet Oxford's guidelines...not surprising there, it was fun to look into it and weigh my options. Next, I found myself searching in northern England, I had a desire for a rural setting, and kept climbing farther north. While I've always been alright with georgraphy, it somehow didn't hit me that Scotland was connected to and just north of England. Once realized, I looked at rural Scottish schools. St. Andrews was the first I performed research on. The admissions presented a challenge, but I just met it, and a few months later, found myself accepted. I plan to study literature and writing, but none of my classes (modules) are confirmed.

-As a funny side note, the most common comment I receive when one asks where I am studying is the Prince William (and his lovely wife Kate Middleton) connection. In truth, I did not know either attended St. Andrews until after I had applied. While I did watch their wedding, and admire them both, it was not a deciding moment for the school for me, and I did not seek out the school because of the connection. Rather, it's a fun fact.

-I will be cooking for myself, and am not entirely sure what I'll be eating yet, as a somewhat-mostly-vegetarian, I am open to fish, but think I might shy away from haggis.

-I will be living on campus, but do have a host family weekend in late September. Initially, I was informed that my host family could be anywhere in England or Scotland. This caused a lot of creativity from my Dad (and serious laughing on my part) about the possibilities of Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Rowan Atkinson, or Queen Elizabeth driving to pick me up for a host family weekend. Later, I was told the family would be a Scottish family, not an English family. :)

-As for fears, I feel confident about everything over there, and am just excited to get going. Instead, my most immediate concerns are passing through immigration, somehow losing important documents, or finding myself lost during my 6 hour layover in New York or 4.5 hour layover in London.

-Lastly, I do know that Scotland is rainy. And cold. And windy. I've heard wonderful, wonderful comments about the area, the small town of St. Andrews, the lovely golf course, the cliffs overlooking the North Sea, the ocean air, but also have heard about the fierce wind, the constant rain, the dampness, the cold, and in November and December, the common darkness and shadows.

As for other events, yesterday my Grampy (my Dad's father) turned 81! Grampy is such a positive, hilarious, and fun guy, he's also a big fan of polar bears, which I find wonderful and lovable. In the past, I've made homemade polar bear cards, and this year, I had fun finding this photo on google, it makes me smile and think of my grandfather.

 

Recent Thoughts, Life Lately, The Grand Old Party, and Music.

            As many may or may not be aware, I’m not the most athletically gifted person, nor am I too into heights, drops, or extreme things, but wave jumping, I say to myself whenever near an ocean, is one of my favorite activities ever. Despite living a mere hour from it, as of Saturday, I hadn’t seen the ocean in five months. Much of the summer I was experiencing ocean cravings. Yesterday, this all changed! My mom and I chose to head to the infamous 18-mile NH seacoast, and met up with her close friend Addie and part of her family. They were so kind in allowing us to spend time at their near-ocean home, and we were able to walk on over to the coast. After some chit-chat and a long walk, it was time to jump waves. While I tend to find myself to be a solo wave jumper, (not by choice) it was fun to be joined by Addie’s adult daughter Lindsey who was equally passionate about the sport. As my wave jumping skills were somewhat rusty, (I had previously gone extreme wave jumping back in March…) it took some time to get back in the game. While I usually wave-jump until I’ve been plunged under too forcefully several times and  emerge with kelp on my head (this unfortunately happened several times during my March wave jumping…) yesterday’s wave jumping was much more mild. Not wearing appropriate wave jumping clothing, after my first unintentional plunge under, it was time to finish the wave jumping season.  

            Today (Monday) was my last day with the lovely women of philanthropy (and public affairs!) at Concord Hospital. I’ve worked both this summer and last summer periodically there and I have such fun memories of the office environment, laughing too much, and two summers of driving/co-driving the beverage cart at an annual golf tournament Concord Hospital sponsors to raise money for different departments/technology for the hospital. The women there and the work has given me a wonderful view into what I would like to do, and what I look for in working for and with a non-profit in the future.

            As for the Grand Old Party, I don’t mean for this blog to become a political battlefield, and while I am passionate about democracy, politics, and government, I don’t see this as being the place for it. However, this past year has proven to be an enormous year for politics. While I believe in a two-party system, I see the GOP as continuing to drift, and currently at such a turning point. While I can’t say I identify as conservative, I know the importance of understanding and respecting each view point, and could not dislike another because of their views – whether political or religious – unless others are being harmed through those views. I do believe though, that for the GOP to survive and succeed in the future, the mobilization of younger Republicans is crucially needed. I see Republican candidates continuing to appeal to older voters and wealthier voters specifically. While the economy, jobs, and government spending must be a priority for both parties, the social issues preached by the Republican party continue to be beliefs and values closely held by older Americans. The young Republicans I have met have a commitment to the party’s economic priorities but rarely have I found they hold the same views as their own grandparents in regards to women’s rights and gay marriage. Of course there are exceptions though. With that being said, I’ll insert some of my own personal views and ask, why can’t ‘gay marriage’ simply be called and referred to as ‘marriage?’

            In all things musical, I’ve been listening to a lot of Bruce Springsteen lately, and this past spring discovered a bit of new music. Earlier this year, I was faced several times with what appeared to be endless hours of journalism. Sometimes the projects were 12+ hours, other times they were 8+ but each one I survived! While many of them were certainly challenging and there were tough days, I found escaping into a song for two or three minutes was amazing and relaxing, and I hope to continue this method when stressed in the future. While they’re mostly classics, my rotating favorites became Buffalo Springfield’s For What it’s Worth, The Band’s The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Decemberists June Hymn,  a bunch of Judy Collins, and Neil Young’s Harvest Moon.

In closing, a photo of tonight's (Monday, August 27, 2012) sky from New Hampshire.

 

The literary post.

                Everything lately has been busy, but I have loved gnawing away (I'm not sure if gnawing is the correct term here…) at books this summer. Reading is such a love of mine, and it can be hard to find time, but the last few years I’ve been super pushing hard at it, and I’ve been proud to read 30-35ish books per year. I love fiction, but in the last four to five years I’ve had a huge interest and have loved the benefits of reading non-fiction. Often I do need to push myself through non-fiction books, but even when the subject matter has been dry or the book long, I’ve gained such an appreciation for the research going into the subject matter, and how much I've taken away, especially regarding topics that I feel strongly about, or know little about. The added knowledge and awareness non-fiction brings is so worthwhile. 

                As for this summer, in between working, moving between houses, packing, and traveling around, I’ve loved what I’ve been reading. I think Half the Sky by Nicolas Kristof and Cheryl WuDunn, Catfish Alley by Lynne Bryant, Mandela by a collection of authors, and Freedom Summer by Barry Watson might be in a four way tie for best books I've read in the last four months. They are all so different, but so, so wonderful. Three of which deal with a central theme of race and discrimination, but in such different ways. Currently, I’m working towards finishing up the Grapes of Wrath, (another challenge, but it’s wonderful writing, and I'm so happy I started it)  and the novel I was just mailed by St. Andrews, A Long, long Way by Sebastian Barry. I’m not far into it, but the writing is so rolling and vivid, and as I was finishing up the end of the first paragraph, I knew I would love the book, it’s not even that it’s gripping, it just rolls along and his use of words and descriptions are lovely! I'm also enjoying the use of 'bloody' as a semi-frequent adjective. Other books I’ve enjoyed in the last couple of months would be Black Like Me by John Howard Griffith (a classic from the 1950s, before the Civil Rights Movement even began, but still a great read! Investigative journalism at its best, too!), A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf (thanks to my brother, Matt for this one!), it was haunting but so true and explored why women of earlier times could not become writers. She explores the thought if Shakespeare had had a sister, and what her life may have been…I tried reading a bit of Milton and Wuthering Heights too, but both were pretty challenging. Maybe I’ll try back in a year or two.

Below are some of my favorite quotes from a few of the titles listed above. J 

Invictus, a poem written by W.E. Henry, found within Mandela, a large book of photos and pieces or poems written by authors and friends of Nelson Mandela:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
I have not winced nor cried aloud
Under the bludgeonings of choice
My head is bloody but unbow’d,
Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade.
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my own fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

                “If we don’t talk openly about faith and bring people from different traditions together, we forfeit the conversation to people who are happy to build boundaries.”

-Eboo Patel, Acts of Faith

And, in conclusion, a couple from Virginia Woolf’s, A Room of One’s Own (thanks again, Matt!) which I love:

                “I would ask you to write all kinds of books, hesitating at no subject however vast. By hook or by crook, I hope that you will possess yourselves of money to travel and to idle, to contemplate the future or the past of the world, to dream over books and loiter at street corners and let the line of thought dip deep into the stream. For I am by no means confining you to fiction. If you would please me – and there are thousands like me – you would write books of travel and adventure, and research and scholarship, and history and biography, and criticism and philosophy and science. By doing so, you will certainly profit the art of fiction. For books have a way of influencing each other.”

                “I told you in the course of this paper that Shakespeare had a sister ; but do not look for her in Sir Sidney Lee’s life of the poet. She died young – alas, she never wrote a word. She lies buried where the omnibushes now stop, opposite the Elephant and Castle. Now my belief is that this poet who never wrote a word and was buried at the crossroads still lives. She lives in you and me, and in many other women who are not here tonight, for they are washing up the dishes, or putting the children to bed. But she lives; for great poets do not die; they are continuing presences; they need only the opportunity to walk among us in the flesh. This opportunity, as I think, it is now coming within your power to give her.”

Images of the Last Year Part Two

Oh man, I can't believe another week has gone by! Whoa. This summer and past year have been busy and challenging. This summer, my parents and I have lived much of the summer between two houses and have been working to sell our current home as each of us work full-time. I'm so looking forward to going abroad, but also know that leaving in less than two weeks not only means a wonderfully rich experience and new beginning, but also leaving the home I grew up in and we've lived in for fifteen years. I feel ready for it, but it's still a mix of emotions with so many changes. Below are another collection of images and a small fraction of some of my favorite memories of the last year. Each of the images remind me of love and bring such joy to me. :)

The top of Mount Major (in New Hampshire) an early morning hike Casey Burr, Matt St. Hilaire, and I did last August.

Donuts (in lieu of a birthday cake!) for Amanda's 20th birthday last September. Such a fun night and an awesome secret/surprise to organize.

Hay in Vermont! At Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne.

Our Thanksgiving table last November. It was so wonderful to have even more extended family this year, and it was a wonderful holiday.

Camille on her birthday last November with a cake I baked. :)

A gorgous home-made garland Carol made for me last Christmas, it was on the dorm wall last semester!

One of my favorite photos ever. I took it near our house last March/April and love love love the clear foreground, the blurry background, and the cloudy sky.

Hahahahaha also one of my favorite photos. Actually, no, just a photo I'm proud of. Taken March 6, 2012 at a Richmond, Vermont Town Meeting on 'Town Meeting Day.' I later turned the photo into a photojournalism project with others from the day, but I love the emotion captured, and how Vermont it all is. The elementary-school-gym-feel is also present. I wish I could remember what was being discussed.

My lovely bunny June! Quite an old photo, for some reason we placed her in our thyme patch.

My brother Matt and I on his 24th birthday this past July.

My grandparents meeting their first great-grandchild, a few weeks ago, a very memorable day! :)

Katie and I at a Bruce Springsteen concert this past weekend. So, so fun.

My Dad and I at the same concert, I love this photo!

Taken a few seconds after the final lights went out. So amazing. Also taken right after Katie and I looked at eachother and both exclaimed "Whoaaaa!" because of how cool and dark everything was. Hahaha I still smile thinking of the look we exchanged.

Images of the last year Part One

Below are a collection of images representing a few of favorite memories and moments of the last year. The previous year has been wonderful and challenging, as well as memorable and so changing. While I may soon be leaving the people, places, and memories, they're so much a part of me and within me now.

New Orleans, 2011

                                                                            Rural Louisiana, 2011

                                                                        My mom and I at a costume dance party at Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, very fun:)

                                                                                   New Hampshire.

Katie, Amanda, and I on Amanda's 20th birthday!

My wonderful friend Kirsten!

Cows in Burlington, Vermont. :)

My lovely roommate Katie on her 19th birthday! This picture always makes me smile.

View of the sky on a November evening in Vermont. Taken from the room Katie and I shared!

On campus at Saint Michael's.

Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont February, 2012 (day of the penguin plunge!).

A Dear Hillary Campaign for the Congo meeting, February 2012, Saint Michael's College.

President Obama in Burlington, Vermont, March 30th, 2012. I photographed him for a journalism assignment. At times challenging, but so exciting and fun!

Rural New Hampshire:) A scene from one of my favorite places to walk.

Katie and Carrie on a Kids for Peace Walk in Burlington! May 2012.

My friend Courtney so kindly posing for another journalism project of mine...

New Hampshire, June 2012.

Reuniting with Katie! Boston, June 2012.

Another of my favorite views!

The New Hampshire state house at sundown, July 2012.

Reuniting with Amanda in Vermont, my 20th birthday.

Nearly eleven months after the process began, I am nearing the start date of a year abroad in Scotland at the University of St. Andrews. I leave September 4th, and have been busy the last several months, but especially the last several weeks and days preparing my passport, visa, flights, classes, and living arrangements for my adventure away. I look forward to a junior year outside of the U.S. and away from Saint Michael's College (as much as I'll miss it!). I plan to pursue writing and literature classes, and hope to gain a valued view of the world as well as pursue my interests of service, volunteering, traveling, and meeting plenty of new people!