tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67423716042810038742024-03-14T11:09:28.628+03:00Diving HeadfirstSeizing every opportunity to explore, learn, and love.Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-14939083613719247712015-03-14T17:20:00.002+03:002015-03-14T17:20:14.957+03:00Whirlwind end to SAAlas, my time in South Africa is whirling to a close. The last few weeks at the school in Johannesburg were quite hectic. Then I sped off to a service learning institute in Capetown where I was able to catch up with folks from all over the region. It was so fun to sit and have drinks with people from 3 of my different "homes" abroad at the same table! The service learning team in the AISA region is full of inspirational individuals and it was rejuvenating to spend time with them. While I was in Capetown I crashed two different friends' rooms (beds # 24 & 25). The first few nights I stayed with Tara (see last post). The last few nights I stayed with another new-ish friend, Liz, who works at my former school in Uganda. Lots of great conversations with these two. I'm especially grateful for all the coffee smuggling and key sharing maneuvers required to house me.<br />
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I flew back to Joburg and pretty much immediately joined a camping tour to Kruger. Bed #26 was a cot in a tent in the national park. I spent two nights traveling around with a group of travelers from all over the world (New Zealand, Poland, Germany, Canada, Ghana....) and had some fun animal encounters to round out my time on the continent.<br />
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Tonight I am staying with my friends Juan and Ed and their two lovely daughters (bed #27). They have been one of my other consistent families here in Joburg and have included me in many a dinner and outing. I am so grateful for their friendships and hospitality.<br />
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<br />Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-56894990283500191382015-03-14T14:43:00.001+03:002015-03-14T17:20:29.759+03:00From strangers to friends<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I arrived in SA, I had only chatted to Tara once on
Skype. While we had mutual friends in the service-learning world, we had never
met in person. Not only did Tara help me get my research in South Africa
rolling, she and her husband graciously offered their guest room to me. At
first, I had no idea if I would be staying with Tara, JB, and their two boys
for a few days or a few weeks. Yet two months later, I am just now packing up
my bags to leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been blown away by the generosity of this family.
They have welcomed me into their home, driven me places, fed me, taken me on
adventures around the city, included me in social events, and helped me find
anything I needed. While spending time here, I have learned new Aussie slang,
gotten sucked back into the VW slug bug game, deepened my love for the color
orange, lost miserably at Monopoly, learned about ninja meerkats, drunk bottles
of champagne, walked dozens of kilometers while discussing service learning,
and have lost all my limbs (many times over) to an imaginary Tom snake. I am so
incredibly grateful for my South African (/Australian) home away from home!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-14894561169638295182015-02-02T17:00:00.001+03:002015-02-02T17:00:26.072+03:00Johannesburg Update<div class="MsoNormal">
When I first arrive at a field site and tell people I’ll be
there for about two months, it always sounds like such a long time. But somehow
I blink-- and I’ve already been in South Africa nearly a month! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My time here thus far has been good. From a research
perspective, people have been incredibly open and helpful. I’ve managed to
“jump in” a lot here, not just as a researcher but as a consultant and student
mentor. For example, two weekends ago I joined a group of student service
leaders on a leadership retreat (bed #24 was at our retreat site, about a 5
hour drive from Johannesburg). It was so fun to be able to be so hands on after
what feels like a long hiatus from teaching. At this site, I’ve been reminded
how much I enjoy the hands on parts of education, and how I need to be mindful
of that in any post-doctorate career paths I pursue (I get asked at least five
times a week what my next steps are). I’ve really enjoyed learning from the
team of educators here (such inspiring people!) and the students have made me
feel very welcome as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Johannesburg itself has been an interesting place to stay. I
came here with low expectations, as I didn’t love this city the last time I
visited. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. International media
accentuates the gritty under belly of the city: carjackings, violent crime,
etc. While safety is still certainly an issue in certain parts of the city, the
suburb I have been staying in is quite safe. I can run in the neighborhood
without fear. The bulk of my time on this continent has been in developing
cities. Johannesburg, however, has nearly everything you might find in a major
North American city—everything from seemingly endless grocery variety, to
western goods, to live music, to variety of cuisines, to organic farms, to
cover bands performing American 80’s music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Johnannesburg is quite an easy place to live (albeit a bit
gated-suburbia and far too racially segregated for my taste). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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All in all, I am looking forward to my last month or so in
this part of the world. While I’ll be thrilled to have my own bed, pets,
routines, car, etc. in just 6 weeks, the last 5 months have taught me so much! I
continue to be incredibly grateful for all those that have enabled this journey
to happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-6950513437460882632015-01-07T00:18:00.003+03:002015-01-07T00:26:41.376+03:00Where in the world is Sarah?I've been hard to keep track of for the last 2.5 weeks. I've been on the go nearly every day since I left Uganda. Since mid-Dec, I have been in five different countries and have slept in 12 different cities. I've driven over 4,000 km. I've slept on the roof of my car, in guest bedrooms, and in traditional mud huts. It's been an eventful and fun few weeks and I've relished time to explore and to completely set aside my research. Budget travel has made for quite a few adventures and I've made many friends along the way.<br />
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(Bed #12) I started my holiday adventures in Windhoek, Namibia. There I met up with my friend Lauren who had flown in from Hungary (where she currently resides). Lauren and I have been friends since our graduate school days at Vanderbilt. We've traveled together before, including multiple US cross country trips (we like to take obvious detours on our trips, like travel from CA to TN via Montreal, Canada). We spent our first Namibian night in real beds at a simple bed and breakfast. While we didn't get to see much of Windhoek, I was still struck by how organized and comfortable the city was. </div>
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(Bed #13) Our next day marked the start of our car camping era. Lauren and I picked up a camping equipped Hilux in Windhoek and headed out to Waterberg. Waterberg Plateau National Park was a gorgeous start to our trip with fascinating rock plateaus, families of warthogs galore, and spectacular star gazing at night. Our first tent assembly was far from smooth (luckily a Namibian tour guide at the site next door took pity on us and taught us some tricks). We also met some kind Germans at the end of their trip who generously shared superfluous camping items like spare firewood, dishwashing soap, and bacon flavored cheese. </div>
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(Bed #14-- note: while technically the same mattress for much of Namibia, I count each location as a new sleeping spot) Our next destination was Etosha. Etosha is one of the main game parks in Namibia. It was a strange park with huge salt flats and giant expansive spaces. It seemed crazy that any animals lived in such desolate surroundings, but sure enough when we saw animals, we SAW animals: we had multiple up close rhino encounters, a morning with a pride of 10 playful lions, a leopard sighting, etc. Lauren and I also honed our car tent assembly/disassembly skills, as sunrise and sunset drives required rapid early morning camp break downs and confident nighttime assemblies. </div>
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Bed #15: Next we moved on to Damaraland-- to the most gorgeous camp
site I’ve ever stayed in at the foot of a huge rock mountain. Damaraland is
rugged and expansive; funky rock formations emerge from desert sands. While in Damaraland, we trekked dessert
elephants, checked out Africa’s largest collection of rock engravings, and
enjoyed the incredible views. We also befriended several of the nearby lodge’s
employees and enjoyed learning about the local culture and life. I tried to learn a bit of Damara, the local language which integrates a range of tongue clicks, but I was a pretty pathetic pupil.<br />
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Bed 16: After Damaraland we headed to the coast. To get there we
drove through a stretch of the most desolate land I’ve ever seen. We detoured
through Cape Cross where we witnessed the chaos of 80,000 seals on one beach
(many of them just a few weeks old). In Swakopmud we took a short break from
our tent and slept in real beds. It was a lovely, coastal respite
from our desert camping life. We ate/drank at German alehouses that took us to to a different world.<br />
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Bed #17: We returned to our rooftop camping for Christmas in
the Namib. On Christmas morning we hiked one of the largest sand dunes in the
world, Sussevlei. Then we lounged under a tree until we went to the campsite’s
restaurant for a buffet dinner (thanks, Lauren, for the great gift!). I was
happy to be able to chat with family, who managed to call my Namibian cell on
Skype.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An unusual and memorable
Christmas. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bed#18: Next we cut south to Fish River Canyon, the largest Canyon
in Africa. We were impressed both by the canyon and by the nice warm showers at
our camp facilities. On our way, we stopped and got (supposedly famous within Namibia) apple pie at a tiny town called Solitaire. Also a nice treat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bed#19:Our Namibian trip was rounded out by a stay at Orange River.
After several days in the dessert, flowing water was a welcomed site. Add to
that a nice pool, a real bed, and cooler temperatures… we
were happy women.</div>
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Bed#20: We crossed over into South Africa and immediately things
shifted: roads became busy (in Namibia we could drive an hour without seeing
another car), the pace more hectic, and the landscape a bit more tame and familiar. We struck out to the coast to spend a night in Lamberts Bay. We ended
up staying at an RV park that was mostly filled with fishermen or long-term South African summer vacationers. We were the only transient travelers, the only Americans, and we definitely stood out. A South
African family basically adopted us and gave us a taste of coastal camping
life. They fed us and chatted with us late into the evening. It was a strange
shift in culture, but we felt so at ease with our new friends.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bed #21: Lauren and I finished our travels together in Capetown where
we returned the car and moved into an AirBnB rental. Lauren and I had both been
to Capetown before, so I didn’t take many photos. Most of our time in Capetown
was devoted to eating and drinking. Sadly, the ocean conditions were bad the
day we were meant to be great white shark diving. However, we did manage to tour a couple
wineries on New Years. Again, we made new friends and had random adventures to
round out our trip. So glad Lauren was willing to make the long trek to this
region to meet me!</div>
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Bed#22: As Lauren left South Africa, I brought my things to Johannesburg. I'll be spending the next few months in Johannesburg, so will save the blog post about my hosts here for another day. The short version: people I had not met prior to this trip have opened their home to me. They are so welcoming already! </div>
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Bed #23:After Lauren left, I still I had a couple days until school started. So I booked a quick trip to Victoria Falls. I stayed in the cheapest backpacker lodge I've ever been to and slept in a mud hut. I spent a lot of time with the guys who ran the place and their friends. While I based myself out of Livingstone, Zambia, I was able to take day trips to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls and to Chobe National Park in Botswana. I am really grateful for the opportunity to make these trips, as I had been longing to get to this region for quite some time! Taking advantage of Jo-burg as my "home" airport of the moment. </div>
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.... And that takes me back to bed #22 again. I just returned to Johannesburg. I'll be here for several months. My phone number should stay the same, and my brain can finally acclimate to a single currency for a bit. Looking forward to staying still for the next few weeks! </div>
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-4405215500302469712014-12-16T06:01:00.000+03:002014-12-16T06:01:11.901+03:00Many reasons for grattitudeI am leaving Uganda refreshed. I have been able to hug and laugh with dozens of friends. I have slept in (on occasion). I have gotten to know my friends' babies that have grown into delightful toddlers while I've been away. I have caught up a bit on work I was behind on. I have spent hours and hours in gardens listening to birds and enjoying greenery. Not only that, I have two weeks of full time vacation to look forward to. The further I go in this journey, the more and more I realize how much I have to be grateful for. People's hospitality amazes me. I am very blessed, indeed. <div>
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A quick shout out to my last two "homes" in Uganda. Lynda and her son Zeke opened their home to me for several days. I was sad that I missed her daughters, my former students who are now back in Australia, and her husband who is currently in West Africa. However, it was great to get a few days of quality time with my former co-worker and church friend. </div>
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Lucy (left) and Lynda (right)</div>
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My 11th guest room of the trip was with my friends Mark and Lucy. It was so nice to reminisce, relax in their pool, and play with their daughter Isla (who was kind enough to share her room with me). Thanks for being such great hosts and friends!</div>
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Isla</div>
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Mark and pups</div>
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-78323590143439162052014-12-08T13:10:00.002+03:002014-12-08T13:10:36.393+03:00Familiar Spaces<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week, I returned to Uganda for some friend time, catch
up, and R&R. In some ways, it feels like things haven’t changed. As I sip
Tuskers in friends’ yards, watch all my shoes and socks instantly turn the red hue
of Ugandan dirt, listen to turacos and weaver birds incessantly chatter in the
trees, acquire new mosquito bites by the hour, and laugh with old friends this
place still feels familiar. At the same time, new buildings and faces and all
my friends’ babies that have transformed from infants to personality brimming
toddlers remind me that a lot can change in two and a half years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In the last week, I have finally slowed down my pace a little bit. I did not realize how exhausted I was until I arrived at the home of my dear friends Johnny and Amber. Only as I finally allowed myself to sleep in, catch up on my work, take some time for myself did the realization that for 3 months I had been “on” sink in. It has been so nice to take leisurely mornings and sip my coffee in the garden before catching up on my work. Johnny and his daughter, Malia, have filled my last week with German chatter, laughter, and music. I am so excited for reunions with his wife, Amber, as she returns from the US with their newborn son. I am very grateful that bed# 9 was in such a familiar home with comfortable friendships. Thanks, Johnny for hosting me (and Amber, even if you weren’t in the country yet).</div>
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-23758910272156277692014-12-01T07:38:00.001+03:002014-12-01T07:38:35.785+03:00Ciao, Ethiopia!<div class="MsoNormal">
Alas, it is time already to write about the end of my time
in Ethiopia! While I am really excited to get back to one of my “homes”
(Uganda) and to have a month to let my brain catch up before collecting more
data, I am really quite sad to leave this school community and country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite thing about my job is that I get
to meet many people. In Addis, all of the folks I have met have been incredibly
open and welcoming. They’ve included me on countless adventures (whether trying
to catch a neighborhood stray to free it of oppressive matted dredlocks,
dancing at staff parties, or driving around the city to feed homeless). I have been
privileged to step into a range of community projects and am so grateful for
the new perspectives that these experiences have offered me. Addis is a really
interesting and vibrant city and the school community dynamic and welcoming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Continuing with the “where I’ve slept” motif, I have three
more locations to catalog:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bed#6: I’ve met many new friends here, and Kathy is one of
them. Kathy is the sort of person who instantly makes you feel at home in a
space. When Kathy had to chaperone a grade 5 overnight trip (bless her!) I
stayed at her apartment with her thoughtful, kind son. We had a great time
playing Wii and discussing literary analysis (a totally normal discussion with
an elementary aged kid, right? Love this guy). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bed #7: For the last two weeks I have been staying with a
couple I worked with in Korea that are new to Addis this year. It has been so
fun to laugh with Heidi and George and to watch them transition to a new
continent and culture. I am so grateful for their hospitality. They have really
gone above and beyond hosting expectations and have driven me all over town,
kept me well fed, and have taken me on a range of Addis adventures. Heidi and
George are such wonderful examples of what Christianity should look like, I am
so grateful to have them as friends.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Bed #8: I spent part of my last weekend camping in Menagesha
Suba Forest, supposedly the oldest reserve in Africa (mid-1400’s). I headed to
the forest with another Korea connection: Ken and Charmaine and their son, Wes.
Ken was the camping master and both my tent and air mattress were courtesy of
them (bedding courtesy of Chris/Amanda/Heidi/George… it was cold, I needed a
lot). I was so glad to step into wilderness for a few days and also reconnect
with old friends. We shared a lot of laughter during our short stay and had
plenty of adventures (thanks, in part, to the smoker that lured in wildlife
with its lovely aroma…. those slow cooked ribs were amazing and worth every
hyena howl). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ameseginaleh, everyone for your incredible hospitality!
Until our paths cross again. <o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-62489283362489250112014-11-16T21:10:00.000+03:002014-11-16T21:10:23.617+03:00Bed #5: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE6tPUCDnejvMboKqRV3v6LSnkona0BHXyvWM_r-OJK1-yOGReYP6QmHYT5nVaXzwpFYUCy8pFvhiD_GkaJWeayDDl5D6roXYEllIXk-Ic25tqqbMt0colz_pMCt5Rwn8tjqenNjD1RE/s1600/IMG_1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE6tPUCDnejvMboKqRV3v6LSnkona0BHXyvWM_r-OJK1-yOGReYP6QmHYT5nVaXzwpFYUCy8pFvhiD_GkaJWeayDDl5D6roXYEllIXk-Ic25tqqbMt0colz_pMCt5Rwn8tjqenNjD1RE/s1600/IMG_1706.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I met Chris at a Global Issues Service Summit in Mozambique back in 2011.
He was teaching in Nigeria at the time and I was teaching in Uganda. It was at
this conference, during a happy hour conversation with Chris and other
service-learning folks, that my dissertation research project was first
brainstormed. Nearly four years later, it’s fun to be able to swap ideas
together again. Chris has been a huge supporter of my research from its inception. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Chris is married to an awesome woman, Amanda. Amanda, who I
met for the first time two weeks ago, is both funny and down to earth. She is
incredible with their spunky 2-year-old daughter. I’ve really enjoyed getting
to know her and am so grateful for her willingness to take in another verbose
extrovert. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As my journey continues, I am perpetually struck by how
lucky I am to have such great friends around the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
PS- I haven’t forgotten how to count (yes, I know my last
post about hosts described “bed 2”). Bed #3 was a hotel for the triathlon in
Watamu, bed #4 was a tent in the Masai Mara. <o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-16212053782537634942014-11-03T13:53:00.003+03:002014-11-03T13:53:15.316+03:00Initial Impressions<div class="MsoNormal">
I arrived in Ethiopia on Saturday. While I visited Ethiopia
for a week and a half on a whirlwind tourist trip a couple years back, this is
the first time I am staying in Addis for any significant length of time. I
think I’m really going to like it here!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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First of all, I am really enjoying the fact that
international school world is so small. I already know a handful of people from
my past: two couples from my time in Korea and a service-learning friend from
the Global Issues Service Summits. I have a former co-worker from ISU in the city
and ran into a second former co-worker at the regional track meet the day I
arrived. This morning I even found myself seated besides a student who I taught
4 years ago when she was a 7<sup>th</sup> grader in Uganda. The world is so
small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I am also excited for a shift in lifestyle. Life in Addis
seems to keep a slower pace. I laughed to myself as I rattled my way from the
airport about 10mph in a taxi quite literally held together by duck tape (doors,
steering wheel, clutch, mirrors… all duck taped to a rickety metal frame). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cars actually yield at crosswalks (at least
some of the time). The neighborhood I’m staying in is quite safe, and I can easily
walk for a coffee (I am slightly obsessed with Ethiopian coffee) or supplies
without hassle or fear. People are friendly. The only readily apparent downside
to living here is the giant orthodox church with the world’s loudest speakers
two blocks from my bed (who doesn’t love 3am, 4am, 5am, 6am, and 7am
loudspeaker singing on Saturday nights?). But earplugs and naps can easily
remedy that issue. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I also am really enjoying the warm and inviting community
here. Folks let me join a pickup soccer game on Sunday. My hosts are being
incredibly welcoming and have introduced me to dozens of people already. The
school seems really open to my research.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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All in all, very positive first impressions. It should be a
good month here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-19512766329732428522014-11-03T11:34:00.004+03:002014-11-03T11:34:58.243+03:00Living in a Suitcase: Bed #2
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You know those friends you have that are so awesome you just want to
become them? My dear friends, the Lavenders, fit into that category. They rock at
parenting, they thrive at teaching, they pour themselves into service, they
live what they believe, and they perpetually open their lives to others… all
with warm smiles and seemingly endless enthusiasm. I am so incredibly grateful
for the hospitality they have shown as they welcomed me into their
home for nearly two months.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUQU7ZVDUJykoTEsv0cMcp1ZiU4fYNO69HmxY6HbAjCC562aV0uorCc2Tz1cAoWsPXSkANuoeLnDUAPjufXmbCmbcWSvXlxsL60PkT4-eR-1rdcAzHDa7_SwKAPPyxyF_jrSenvZnmSs/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUQU7ZVDUJykoTEsv0cMcp1ZiU4fYNO69HmxY6HbAjCC562aV0uorCc2Tz1cAoWsPXSkANuoeLnDUAPjufXmbCmbcWSvXlxsL60PkT4-eR-1rdcAzHDa7_SwKAPPyxyF_jrSenvZnmSs/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-18118904678280161252014-10-28T16:22:00.001+03:002014-10-28T17:56:02.532+03:00Masai MaraI am finishing off my time in Kenya with a bang. I was fortunate enough to spend the end of last week in the Masai Mara. I joined a group of five random people (who quickly became friends) in a safari vehicle for three days straight. Altogether, we were a group of three Spaniards and three Americans. We slept at a small budget camp just outside the national park. At the camp, I shared a tent with a young British woman, another tour patron. I feel quite fortunate to have met such nice people along the way and to have found a way to see the Mara without breaking the bank!<br />
<br />
We had nearly two full days of game drives in the Masai Mara reserves. We caught the front end of the rainy season, so had several adventures trying to get our two-wheel drive van through some muddy passes. These close escapes took quite the toll on our vehicle, which started making horrendous metal-grinding groans our final morning. A local mechanic identified the problem, but lacked the spare part to truly remedy the situation. He patched up some dangling parts with plastic bags for our long drive back to Nairobi... and we made it! I never cease to be amazed by people's ingenuity and creative problem solving.<br />
<br />
On our drives, cheetahs and rhinos sadly remained elusive. But at least we had some incredible lion viewings!! All my favorite photos from the trip involve these giant cats. <br />
<br />
All in all, a lovely way to finish of the holidays indeed.<br />
<br />
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<br />Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-26194635179294924632014-10-20T14:21:00.000+03:002014-10-20T14:21:12.043+03:00How to become a top-25 triathlon finisher, in 12 easy stepsI completed a sprint triathlon in Watamu, Kenya last weekend and finished in the top 25 competitors! Complete these steps and you, too, can accomplish this feat:<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Sign up for a race when you have hardly trained at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ideally, you sign up when you are
living out of a suitcase and lack regular access to a bicycle or pools. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Commence training the day you depart for your trip by
simulating race day adrenaline: leave your purse with your wallet, passport,
and house keys at home. Arrange an elaborate handoff of your valuables
involving trusted drivers, guards, Nairobi rush hour traffic, and a massive
downpour. Receive your ID and valuables just 2 minutes before check in closes.
This is the ideal way to train your mind to remain calm under pressure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Upon successfully clearing security, celebrate your close
call with a beer. Strict race weekend diets only from this point out. Ensure
you stay hydrated: coffee and Tuskers are the beverages of choice. Eat rounded
meals from the hotel’s buffet three meals a day; make sure you get in your daily
doses of fries and dessert. When in doubt, turn to pizza.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Prepare for the varied nature of the triathlon by using a
range of transportation modes to get to the race location. One way
transportation should include a ride in a private car, a plane flight on a
classy airline like Fly540, a jam packed express mutatu ride, and a rickety tuk
tuk finish. The mutatu and tuk tuk’s bumpy rides (with a 2.5 hour minimal
duration) should help prepare your bum for the pothole filled roads you will
soon bike on. This journey also require patience and perseverance, two valuable
triathlon assets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. In the two days prior to the race, do a variety of
athletic warm ups. Swim in the ocean to assess the state of faulty goggles.
Learn a new sport like windsurfing; flying off your board dozens of times is
the best way to make you feel better about your proficiencies at other sports. Test
your rental bike by riding it to gelato. Exercise your mind: float in the hotel
pool with a book. This is best achieved with a drink in hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. The day prior to the race, attend a two-hour participant
briefing. Get more confused than ever about the course specifics. Sit next to
someone who keeps saying how easy the race will be because it is only a
fraction of an iron man. Realize nearly half the people in the room look like
they could complete an iron man. Remind yourself that you are well prepared. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. When race day arrives, revel in the “ideal” swimming
conditions: extremely low tide where the rock reef is nearly entirely exposed.
As the race begins, avoid the straight up walking posture that earlier
competitors have assumed. Rather, crawl on all fours both in and out of the
ocean. Your ankles are too valuable. Plus, you really look like a professional
athlete as you scramble over barely covered rock reefs like a drunken crab. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. Get to transition and remove your bike from a rickety
wooden lounge chair that is seconding as a rack. Realize that the rear tire has
gone completely flat. Ask for assistance. Discover that the people who brought
all the rental bikes did not bring any air pumps that fit the tires. Wait
patiently for about 10 minutes as strangers attempt to force air into your
tire. Watch all remaining triathletes competitors leave the transition area.
Eventually decide the tire pressure (that is abysmal) is perhaps the best you
are going to get from pumps that don’t fit the tires. Begin the bike race, at
least 10 minutes behind all other competitors. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. Ride your bike for several km before realizing that the
rear tire is most definitely punctured and not in the least bit repaired. Ask
every marshal on the first half of the bike loop if they have a way to access a
spare or a pump. Accept apologies and continue riding on a completely flat tire
for approximately 10km before reaching the transition spot again. Stop and
insist upon a new tire or new bike for the final 10km loop. Wait another 20 minutes
for people who organized the bike rental to wander the hotel and scramble for
solutions. Watch nearly all your competitors finish the bike portion of the
race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. With a new tire finally on the rear of your bike, set
off again. Realize that the new tire does not really fit the frame, so every
few rotations the bike switches gears on its own. Pedal forwards when possible and
ignore the constant lurches of sudden gear shifts. Pedal backwards when the
chain hops off the gears; it will usually pop back on again. Finish the second
half of the bike course in this manner. Use about 17 times the energy normally required to bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. Return the god-forsaken bike to the transition area and
set off on the run. Realize that the humidity and heat have both cranked up to
high. Start trudging along the loose sand and 4-inch deep dried seaweed. Get
the chills because your body is starting to overheat. With the competition well
over half an hour ahead of you, feel free to slow and enjoy the rolling sea.
After all, you’ve paid good money to enjoy this triathlon. Accept your
completion medal at the end. Pat yourself on the back for surviving that
ridiculous adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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12. And… the number one way to ensure that you finish in the
top 25 competitors of a triathlon: sign up for a triathlon with less than 25
participants. I most definitely finished last on this one. But hey, I got a
good story out of it at least! <o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-22782987658726565582014-10-15T10:49:00.001+03:002014-10-15T10:49:37.379+03:00Full time research<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve gotten a few questions as to why I haven’t been posting
very often. In short, it’s my life as an international researcher. As I work on
projects full time, 95% of my life can’t be publically shared. I’m out doing
things (ex: I’ve participated in about a dozen service-learning projects), but
ethically I can’t describe these experiences on a blog. I talk to people often,
but almost always play the part of listener. Very little of my life fits into
the category of “my own time,” hence the silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As someone who is used to being very social, this is a
strange transition. That’s not to say that researching isn’t enjoyable. I have
a deep interest in people’s stories and perceptions. I genuinely enjoy
exploring the topics my research focuses on. It is just an odd shift from my
usual life, where research is more of a part-time endeavor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where there are plenty of pieces within my
daily activities that I can share freely. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I took a day last week to “play tourist” in Nairobi. I spent
the morning in Nairobi National Park. While this national park is certainly
more sparse than most of the game parks I’ve been in, I relished the ability to
watch baby giraffes awkwardly “run” laps. To watch zebra graze. To spot
ostriches standing tall, with the city skyline as a distant backdrop. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Next I visited the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage and
the giraffe center. I had been to both places before, but who doesn’t love
teeny tiny elephants and being kissed by a giraffe (it took 4 tries before this
photo was actually timed right. I got a lot of giraffe action).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpYyduF9CJSYn4_Sxpk4MWas6nYVlzrML37kXT9M5N9ilW75EcErvktwKTU8BmHdc-k3coVSDYJ8l77lll8-ZyUneZCCi9WAq1ek8_tlKWOGU4NELaw9Fp2LTlUxoy_UzY9rB41mwBr8/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpYyduF9CJSYn4_Sxpk4MWas6nYVlzrML37kXT9M5N9ilW75EcErvktwKTU8BmHdc-k3coVSDYJ8l77lll8-ZyUneZCCi9WAq1ek8_tlKWOGU4NELaw9Fp2LTlUxoy_UzY9rB41mwBr8/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I spent the afternoon watching a cultural performance along
with thousands of local school children (somehow I missed the memo that it was
school field trip day). Dancers performed dances from the different Kenyan tribes
and an acrobatic group wowed the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Finally, I popped into the famed Kiguri beads store, and
splurged on a funky new necklace. All in all, a fabulous day (that I could actually
photograph and share! Yay!). <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m looking forward to next week’s midterm break and the
ability to explore Kenya a bit! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-18036134452664770932014-09-20T18:22:00.000+03:002014-09-20T18:22:12.774+03:00Week 2<div class="MsoNormal">
This week was primarily filled with work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As exciting as the status of my fellowship
applications, the word count on my journal articles in progress, or the state
of my burgeoning field of field notes are, I suspect the moments that I was
actually out and about are of the most interest to the general public:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Excursion 1: One day this week, I was able to join a group
of students on a service trip to a forest near the city. Along with a large
team of park rangers, we worked to clear a lake from an aggressive waterweed. It
was nice to get outdoors and do something constructive! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Excursion 2: I met a friend of a friend for dinner and a drink
this week. I love how connected the world can be when people share their
networks and link their friends! I know pretty great people, who in turn know
pretty great people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Excursion 3: Today I spent some time at Nairobi’s Storymoja
festival. Storymoja is any English teacher’s dream! The festival brings
together regional authors, artists, and creative to celebrate their work. I had
the privilege of hearing the famous Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka speak this
afternoon. He delivered a memorial lecture for Wangari Maathai, the first
female African to with the Nobel Peace Prize for her sustainable development
efforts. Soyinka also honored Kofi Awooner, the Ghanaian poet that was killed
in last year’s Westgate attack. Soyinka’s lecture, entitled “The Parables of
Wangari’s Trees” was both inspirational and thought-provoking. Soyinka spoke on
a variety of political and touchy subjects including both terrorism and women’s
rights. My favorite line from his speech was the following: “Just as one tree
does not make a forest, so does one gender not make humanity.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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All-in-all, a good week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-55725192065947479792014-09-13T20:08:00.001+03:002014-09-13T20:08:19.340+03:00Settling into Kenya<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My first week in Kenya has flown
by! It has been seven days of settling in (to the Lavender’s home, to my first
research site, to the new time zone). So much is new; I have met dozens of
people and learned many new names, routines, directions, and local nuances. I’m
still breaking in my research shoes and adapting to life as a full time researcher.
Each day is filled with novelty. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the same time, Kenya feels
familiar. There is something oddly comforting about the red dirt that instantly
tints my socks, the obnoxious cries of the ibis as they move from tree to tree,
the boda drivers huddled in the shade, the fruit stands just off
pothole-studded roads, guards reclining in the grass, dogs that look identical
to my own… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kenya is just similar enough
to its neighbor, Uganda, to immediately feel like home. I am sure differences
will abound. But for now, it feels really great to be back in East Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3sUydy1m98I7J9F1-ApeZpDj2A2vHNRzMMv7Z1ekx0ZoP55Mb9Cj-lK6121Jdx_YA-rT7WHNhX1Mewjq3-T0DMVbUoQ4b8geoLu8dm0rb51dHi2H4_LXDA9KhO3J3bOTK1_T56aU8vs/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3sUydy1m98I7J9F1-ApeZpDj2A2vHNRzMMv7Z1ekx0ZoP55Mb9Cj-lK6121Jdx_YA-rT7WHNhX1Mewjq3-T0DMVbUoQ4b8geoLu8dm0rb51dHi2H4_LXDA9KhO3J3bOTK1_T56aU8vs/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-69522352053945006642014-09-05T16:21:00.002+03:002014-09-05T16:21:46.445+03:00Bed #1: Istanbul, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Well, the journey has begun. Just
one week ago, I was strategizing ways to fit my wardrobe under my bed to vacate
the closet for my subletter. I was chastising myself for failing my “packing
extra light” goal. I was laughing at a bar on Hermosa Pier with a few of my
favorite Los Angeles friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, as I relish a few minutes in
front of a fan in the very warm but beautiful Istanbul, I am preparing to head
to my second country in a week. I can’t believe how fast my four days in Turkey
have flown! I have walked countless miles soaking in the Turkish sites. I have
had some good windows of friend time, with my hostess Shannon. I have enjoyed
the juxtaposition of old and new that this city offers, the milieu of cultures.
I have had some delicious food and have enjoyed playing with my camera again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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About a week ago, I was talking to
my brother about the uncertainty intrinsic in my next six months. I said
something along the lines of “I have no idea where I’ll be sleeping for 90% of
my trip.” David responded, “As in you don’t know what the bedrooms will look
like?” To which I had to admit, “As in, I don’t even know which countries I’ll
be in some weeks, much less who I’ll be staying with.” We both laughed and I
felt that flutter of anxiety patter in my belly. But the truth is, when I think
about it, I am confidant that things will work out. I have countless offers for
segments already. I have a network of people who believe in my project. I just
don’t know how all the pieces will fit together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This week, I have been sleeping on
the couch of a good friend, Shannon, in a suburb of Istanbul. Shannon and I
overlapped for one year of graduate study at UCLA and now she teaches at an
international school here. She was generous enough to host me during her first
week of school (which all educators know is an exhausting week without the
added burden of house guests!). I am so grateful for her hospitality! <o:p></o:p></div>
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My beautiful hostess :)</div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-35888998406069820342013-08-05T03:58:00.000+03:002013-08-05T03:58:54.380+03:00Simple joysOne of my favorite things about my life in Hawthorne is my morning walks with my pets (yes, plural). For about two months now, the cat has decided that she should join the dog and I on our regular strolls around the neighborhood. Scout sticks quite close to us. If we happen to get more than a house ahead of her, she loudly scolds the dog and I for our inattentiveness. <br />
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The neighbors are intrigued by the spectacle. My pet duo make people smile and laugh. Let's be honest-- they make me smile and laugh, too!<br />
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<br />Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-73997380449123529402013-07-18T22:34:00.003+03:002013-07-18T22:34:40.823+03:00Pacific NW, Sarah Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spent a week in Seattle, San Juan Island, and Vancouver with my two best friends (Sarah cubed unite again). Ocean, orcas, bald eagles, ziplines, kayaks, tandem bicycles, good food, good wine, good conversation. Life is happy :)</div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-15370234311405428202013-07-02T04:07:00.002+03:002013-07-02T04:07:25.685+03:00LA can be okay: presenting Exhibit A<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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my favorite place to bike</div>
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Cultural excursion with the roommie</div>
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Disneyland play dates</div>
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friends and drinks </div>
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So-cal weddings (Carlsbad)</div>
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reunions at said So-cal wedding (Oceanside)</div>
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run then relax (at least until the parking meter runs out)</div>
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Kubrick special exhibit </div>
<br />Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-67979954869836242272013-07-02T03:43:00.002+03:002013-07-02T03:43:48.244+03:00A few miles/laps closer to happy...
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Perhaps my biggest adventure this month was signing up for a
triathlon in August. This has forced me to spend a lot of time swimming,
biking, and running in order to be prepared. Through these activities, I have
spent hours exercising along the beach, in my neighborhood, and at the
community pool. I can’t help but admit that I’ve seen a more appealing side of
LA through these endeavors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In February I moved to Hawthorne. I now live about 3 miles
from the ocean and I have definitely taken advantage of that the last few
weeks. There are both biking and running paths that stretch from Playa Del Rey
to Redondo Beach and I frequent both. The ocean offers escape from the cement
people-packed chaos of LA. It also has some pretty great views (of both the
coast and of shirtless volleyball players) as I log my biking/running miles.
I’ve even managed to coerce some of my friends who rarely frequent the South
Bay to join me on training runs. The beach makes a pretty compelling carrot. A
new friend from church joined me on a bike ride this week. All-in-all,
beachside workouts are an amazing part of my LA life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I also have used my current athletic obsession as an excuse
to cross train. I played in a meetup group soccer match last week and was
thrilled to discover not all my skills were completely gone. Plus I met some
new people and hopefully will continue to get to know them as I become more of
a regular. I also went paddle boarding for the first time in Newport Beach with
a good friend and her brothers (I cannot boast of ANY skills in that arena; I may
or may not have run into a dock). A few weeks ago I also hiked in the Malibu
hills with my roommate and a friend in our program—a nice reminder that there
are still unpopulated areas just a bit outside the city. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, on the note of athletics, I am grateful for the
running community that I am slowly finding here. My roommate is an avid runner,
so she and I can periodically train together. I have another running buddy in
the neighborhood that joins us for midweek runs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Magazines always proclaim that physical fitness
promotes happiness. I can definitely say that my athletic endeavors the past
few weeks have helped make my attitude towards life and towards this city a
little bit brighter.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-14893000009253394592013-07-02T03:42:00.002+03:002013-07-02T03:46:50.701+03:00Learning to Like LA<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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I think my post 6 months ago was a plea with myself to
clamber out of my pit of culture shock and start living. However, in reality
the six months since that last post have been just as challenging as the first
six months in this country. It was hard to find the time or energy to write.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been a year since I moved back to the US. In many
ways, this year has flown by. When I think back upon my departure from Uganda,
it feels like yesterday. And yet, this year has been one obstacle after the
next in an often-lonely journey to understand academia, Los Angeles, and the
US. While this year has been tough, I have learned a lot about each realm: I’ve
networked to find jobs in a totally broke
and overstretched (financially) UC system, I’ve learned the back-routes
to escape the 405 when there’s an accident (or 4) on my way to school, I’ve
watched enough television to understand 1/30 pop references (though still don’t
ask me who the celebrity is sitting at the table next to me), I’ve found a
roommate who helps keep me balanced and has patience with my wild African
critters and all their strange issues, I know my neighbors to the degree that I
inform them when I am travelling. Basically, learning new cultures is hard work
and life in LA has felt very foreign at many points in time. However, bit by
bit I am understanding things better. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After surviving a completely chaotic spring quarter, I made
a promise to myself: this summer, while I have a more flexible schedule (I am
doing independent research), I am going to be intentional about learning to
like LA. So, with that, I also hope to re-start my blogging for fun. I can’t promise
it will stick, but here’s to trying.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-90861557938421220782012-12-28T23:27:00.001+03:002012-12-28T23:27:45.762+03:00Rejoining the blogging worldAfter several months of sulking about the relative boringness of my life in LA, I am going to restart this sucker. Blogging is good for the soul. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've spent the past two weeks in San Jose with family and friends. Each time I return home, I remember how blessed I am. I have parents that continue to welcome me (and my animals) into their home. I love spending hours in the hot tub with them contemplating ways to stop the dogs from digging up the yard, plotting life plans, and reflecting on transitions. I have grandparents who encourage and love generously. I could sit on their couch listening to stories, poetry recitations, and family updates for hours. I have genuine relationships with both my brothers. No matter how much we joke around, I know that we are protective, supportive, and proud of each other. I have friends who have known me for 10, 15, 20+ years. There is no self-consciousness with these friends. Only lots of laughter, banter, and tough questions. So nice to go from a slow social life in Socal to tacky sweater parties, miniature ice skating rinks under palm trees, white elephant exchanges, baby showers, hot tub soaks, annual Christmas parties, social walks, wine bars, and coffee dates. The full-blown extrovert in me has reveled in this people time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It gets easy to wallow in self-pity about the difficulty of transitions (in case you haven't gathered, my transition back to the US has been a bit bumpy). Yet, I am reminded this holiday that there are a lot of amazing people in my life. Not only in San Jose, but all over the world. Happy holidays, everyone!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-88681956845744518312012-10-13T01:55:00.004+03:002012-10-13T01:55:43.385+03:00Transitions SuckTransitions. They can be exciting. They can be adventurous. And yet, they can be really challenging. For all their hype, the thesis of this post (can you tell I'm back to student mode): transitions suck.<br />
<br />
I have been in LA for about a month and a half now. My walk to UCLA can be conducted on auto-pilot. I no longer rely on google maps to get me to the basic pit stops. I've definitely gotten fully immersed in course work. I have favorite iPhone apps. I know which grocery stores have the best produce. I know which running routes have sidewalks. My room feels like a refuge.<br />
<br />
And yet... I have only begun to build social networks. I miss my old life and communities considerably. I am trying to adjust to living as a frugal student as opposed to living freely as a financially comfortable working adult. To having roommates after years living on my own. To losing control of my work (teachers set coursework, TA/students are at the whims of professors). To LA's vastly different values and social paradigms. To studying within a quarter system and a large chaotic school.<br />
<br />
Looking back, each major transition I have made has been accompanied by a period of grieving, second-guessing, and loneliness. I shouldn't be surprised. It is a natural part of the transition process.<br />
<br />
And yet, each time I find that I get impatient. I want to be back to my upbeat, enthusiastic, social self. I want to flash-forward several months to when I feel known and connected. I know it'll happen. I just need to ride out the low. <br />
<br />
In these periods, I find I just don't write. But perhaps it is better to be honest with myself that life isn't all roses right now, and that that is okay.Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-68288503628702975352012-08-08T22:16:00.002+03:002012-08-08T22:29:36.468+03:00American Life BeginsIt has been a month and a half since I left Uganda.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I still struggle to regain my parking skills from a
driving perch on the left side of the car, I very rarely veer towards the wrong
side of the road or accidentally activate my windshield wipers instead of my turn signal. I don't have to pause anymore to consider which side of the toilet I will find the flusher on. Power and internet
access feel normal and I have learned a plethora of relevant jargon. Along with the rest of America, I have become addicted to my iPhone and see why the church signs reminding congregants to silence their devices pictures a smart phone (not one spotting of a Nokia cheap phone here yet). I now remember to
bring a sweater with me in the evenings. My environmentalist excitement over solar-paneled parking
lots in schools and mandatory reusable bags in all SJ stores has dimmed. It’s true that my blood pressure
continues to rise when asked to write a check or quickly navigate a credit card
machine. I still find malls, OnDemand, and grocery stores overwhelming. And
yet, on the whole, I feel that I have adjusted reasonably thus far.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My pets, too, have made the shift towards American life.
Scout has adjusted from geckos, birds, and cockroaches to feathers on sticks and
cardboard scratchers. Ben can’t stop wrestling with his now fast friend,
Bailey, and has become a fan of dog parks. He no longer noses the front door,
looking at me with big questioning eyes that beg to go home to Uganda. Both
pets interact with my parents with much the same affection they held for
Harriet or my longtime night-guard, Jaqueen. We all have settle into the start
of routines. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Over the last month or so, people have periodically asked me
how I am doing with culture shock; I haven’t quite had the words to answer.
Sure, there are glaring differences between the Bay Area and Kampala. Of course
there are shifts as I transition from my own 3-bedroom house to a shared space
with my parents and their dog. It is not surprising that I have had periodic
pangs of grief for the life I am leaving behind. Or that I have thoroughly
enjoyed catching up with family and friends. Or even that I have been a bit
numb to the emotional aspects of repatriation—pushing off the processing to
another day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I think the shock of it all has been postponed partially because
I am accustomed to travel. Most years I have returned to CA for several weeks
at a time; this experience has been reminiscent of such past trips. Even if I
manage to conceptualize that this is, in fact, a transition instead of a trip,
it is hardly the first time I have uprooted myself and moved from city to city,
country to country, continent to distant content. I am quite proficient at
acclimation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, though, is when I usually transition abroad. For the
last three weeks I have been finding an American housing rental, a University job, and a domestic car (check, check, and check) instead of tediously weighing my personal items
to consider if I have enough space for an extra bag of chocolate chips or dried fruit
in my luggage. Instead of speed-reading a 500 page book to save myself the travel weight.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As time creeps into August, I feel like I should be getting
back on a plane to hug Harriet and Loveline, to catch up on a long walk with
Lindsay, to ogle at the growth of babies Kaitlyn, Malia, Chelema, and Isla, to
be mocked by Jamie, to hear the details of Johnny and Amber’s summer escapades,
to lounge at Mark and Lucy’s, to plot a new trip, to meet the new arrivals, to
assume brace position for the onslaught of new school year craziness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Instead, I remain in CA and wondering if I should put my
passport in the safety deposit box. I am bombarded by the ceaseless air raid of
expenses that come with American living (car insurance, phone bills, health
insurance, AAA… the list goes on and on). I find myself contemplating what life
will look like when I don’t have parades of teenagers meandering in and out of
my classroom. What life will look like when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
</i>am the student again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I guess it is fair to say that the processing is beginning. <o:p></o:p></div>Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742371604281003874.post-20616408379189134852012-06-17T20:29:00.001+03:002012-06-17T20:29:28.074+03:00Happy Father's Day!I am blessed to have amazing men in my life.<br />
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Thanks Dad, for being so incredibly devoted, hard working, and supportive. I could not ask for a more reliable father!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlsJdFWi-PMf4b9_iHQVZrUjzcDqmhc8o82-G4w5VDqYDOBpvHY-l3mc0KQeKFOXfBSyOkYuwPBX0p9Y9TaT3NPhZwQat0mh_PGwIeUHYqyeYPWXHq7wjiPljvU4POHNKRXt3xiWyVUs/s1600/5207_609753541898_763264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlsJdFWi-PMf4b9_iHQVZrUjzcDqmhc8o82-G4w5VDqYDOBpvHY-l3mc0KQeKFOXfBSyOkYuwPBX0p9Y9TaT3NPhZwQat0mh_PGwIeUHYqyeYPWXHq7wjiPljvU4POHNKRXt3xiWyVUs/s320/5207_609753541898_763264_n.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I also have been blessed with a grandfather who has been loving, compassionate, and encouraging. Thanks for being such an inspiration!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm04SVr7SMuGXLWkApnM47a6h3Qgiyy1VTe0SWc-cgCB8vdLAVTJfbsXdaXADVZGePl1Lq5sXbiGiDryUjzxJtewOT4aMVf9h8WhZE9VtSuKgqArAsdY43uLOGWpYf42dzr0NOrl_mTlg/s1600/5207_609753287408_5489334_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm04SVr7SMuGXLWkApnM47a6h3Qgiyy1VTe0SWc-cgCB8vdLAVTJfbsXdaXADVZGePl1Lq5sXbiGiDryUjzxJtewOT4aMVf9h8WhZE9VtSuKgqArAsdY43uLOGWpYf42dzr0NOrl_mTlg/s320/5207_609753287408_5489334_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While I am getting increasingly devastated by my upcoming move and the goodbyes that it entails, I cannot wait to be closer to family! Looking forward to being around for holidays and having the opportunity to give hugs (or even cards) more easily!<br />
<br />Sarah Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021707064689041939noreply@blogger.com0