How I met Amazing People at College

Now that I'm on the other end of college, I've spent some recent time reflecting on the experience. I invested three years of my life--virtually 24/7--into a piece of paper and an education. I got a mixed bag of returns. The culture shock returning to the States was horrifying. My peacebuilding education was phenomenal. Yet much of what stands out now are amazing people I met who changed my life for the better, who saw the best in met, and who inspired me.

Gloria: Gloria was my academic advisor in the Applied Soci department, and is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She saw my interests and helped my with classes and projects which fostered these. I wouldn't be in peacebuilding if it wasn't for Gloria, and I wouldn't have graduated if it hasn't been for Gloria or feel understood at EMU.

Terry: Terry is the strangest prof known to man. We'd write down his outrageous comments in our notebooks, such as "terrorism is like porno, you know it when you see it." But Terry understands social movements and international development and he shared his massive practical and academic knowledge in all five classes I took with him. I would not love Mennonite community development if it wasn't for Terry.

Nancy: I never had a class with Nancy but I'm sure I would have loved it. Nancy was my mentor for a peace speech I did and she helped me develop my thoughts into a solid piece. But Nancy is memorable because she's traveled around the world. She's strong, intelligent and humble, even after her promotion as dean of EMU. I aspire to be like Nancy one day.

Sarah: Sarah saved EMU for me. She's the sweetest, thoughtful, sincere, and utterly humble Mennonite farm girl from Idaho turned peacebuilder. She transferred in mid-year, mid-semester like me and listened to me process through all my culture shock. Sarah inspires me to love building peace as much as she does, and that local food and farming is ultimately superior.

Lorraine: Lorraine also save my sanity. The aunt of church members in New York, Lorraine adopted me and saved my soul from disparity. Lorraine took me to church and then back to her home in the Virginia countryside where she would use her professional chef skills for a beautiful lunch. I stayed with her on holidays and I made her home my home. I love Lorraine immensely.

Kaylee: Kaylee was my sounding wall. A non-Mennonite transfer peacebuilding student, we bonded in "History and Philosophy of Nonviolence" and have been inseparable ever since. Together we figured out EMU, and together we survived happily. She became a fixture in my life. Along with Sarah, we constructed the transfer trio, a force of kindness and silent thoughtfulness.

Jakob: I would have never composted before I met Jakob. But when you live in the same house with EMU's composting point-man, well, at the end of the semester I started taking out the compost myself. Jakob helped me rethink sustainability beyond a fad to a lifestyle...and I took back my comments about people from Goshen Indiana.

Mark: Mark was a photography major with three or four minors. I didn't think we'd be friends because our vast political differences but my co-ed house led to some interesting friendships. I learned that respect and civility can cross many differences and lead to good discussions, and that photography is indeed a beautiful art.

Kari: My dear Kari was an art major. All through the spring semester, I watched her paint her senior show in her bedroom, three massively large pieces. Kari's energy is infectious and her joy for art is contagious. I watched that senior show come together and Kari's journey with it, and I saw myself and my own life story. And then we have such a beautiful friendship.

Jon: Jon shouldn't be at the end of this list. Some people think finding a significant other is a mandate of uni attendance. I don't think so, but meeting a precise and thoughtful bio-chem major who appreciates my TCK-ness, makes me very happy. And I can say he's inspired me to appreciate different types of music.

The list could go on...as I write, more people come to mind who have blessed my life and the people I will miss as I venture into the future. And then the benefits of uni instantly seem so much higher.

How I'm going back to Asia

I’ve picked on people who graduated college and had jobs waiting for them. Basically, I’m grossly envious. I told myself, "the world just doesn't work like that anymore. I'm a new generation that graduates unmarried, unattached and unemployed." Yeah...well that was funny of me...but the point stands. I won't have that diploma till August...but I'm employed...and I'm dating...and I can't stop laughing because apparently it's true that God does have a sense of humor.

I was drowning in so much work second semester senior year I had no time whatsoever to thoughts of "post-college life." So I decided to simply graduate (or walk rather) and figure it out later. I’ve spent the summer in DC working for Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office on domestic policy issues. I needed a practicum to fully get that diploma which will be mine in August. I looked around DC and decided that politics and advocacy are just too brutal for my taste. I dislike what divides people, I dislike bashing politicians we don't like and dislike the inaction in general.

MCC was my first choice for future jobs for many reasons; they’re a small grassroots organization, they work at the community level, they’re well respected (even adored) in the peacebuilding world, and they’re faith-based ie. Menno-based. I was more then happy when they expressed interest in my application for a position in Phnom Penh Cambodia. I didn’t think it would actually go through, but it did, rather quickly, and they offered it to me. It’s a three-year voluntary service worker position working with a local non-governmental organization working with families and family systems to promote peace and nonviolence; mediation, facilitation, trauma healing, international development, and qualitative research…all things I adore and one day, I'll maybe even be an expert.

So...NY with family and friends until mid-October when I’ll be down in Akron PA for orientation and I’ll be in Phnom Penh just in time for my 22 birthday early November. Gosh, I am young.

Perhaps I’m most amazed because I get to do exactly what I want to be doing; peacebuilding from the bottom up overseas with funny food, foreign cultures and Menno values (not to mention complete legitimacy in the Mennonite world...which is kind of important...don't ask me why). It’s the right time and I’m increasingly confident it’s the right place. I continue to be absolutely amazed how everything is completely falling into place…and when that happens, you just know good plans, wonderful lessons, and beautiful faces are in store. I'm still processing the knowledge that I won't see so many beautiful people I cherish which is a difficult adjustment. Yet my plan is to return for grad school at the end of my term. And three years...it's not that long when I consider how upon my return I'll still qualify for my parents health insurance coverage under the new health care reform. I am pretty young.

How DC Stacks Up: 2nd Edition

I ended up in Washington DC, again. I knew it was going to happen, and I typically prefer to avoid repeats in living situations, but I'm back in DC. I'm doing an internship (again), taking metro (again), exploring DC's finer arts (again), and taking two classes (unfortunately). Part of attending EMU requires students to do a "cross cultural" and because my life wasn't cross cultural enough, I'm in the Washington Community Scholars Center program killing time, money, summer and final requirements.

Being back in the city a second time brings back thoughts from last summer, it's also leading to some to some new adventures. But when the old and the new collide, it gives rise to some interesting and significant thoughts...at least that's what I think.

1) Politics Reign. Last summer I was in NGO world. This summer, I'm in advocacy world. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it either. I'm working on education on policy issues which is brilliantly informative, yet I'm in the world of cutthroat partisan politics, and I dislike that. The Hill is a place of power, so there's power in understanding it and learning to play the game.

2) Race Reigns. I noticed race relations when I was in DC last summer, but this summer we're studying it intensively. It's confusing and perplexing to see institutional injustice happening right before my eyes. Images of racist Zimbabwe and Barack Obama's post-racial statements come to mind. What sort of world do we live in?

3) Gentrification Reigns. I didn't realize it last summer but DC is undergoing widespread and radical gentrification, perhaps most noticeably on H St and in Columbia Heights. I didn't notice it last summer because I didn't understand it. Now I realize exactly how much gentrification affects a community both negatively and positively, for whatever it's worth.

4) Heat Reigns. Call it climate change, call it insanity, but DC is so hot this summer. Last summer was unusually mild. This summer is awful. End of story.

5) Bikes Reign. I'm writing a research paper on cycling in DC. I have my beloved new black and red Fuji 2.0 with me. I realized just how popular cycling is becoming, especially as a cheap, healthy, and sustainable form of transport. DC had over 60 miles of bike lanes, tracks and paths and I'm embracing them.

6) Coffee Rules Supreme. I didn't drink much coffee last summer. I went to museums and spent time in solitude. This time, friends in tow, I hit coffee shops...repeatedly...and not Starbucks. It helps when you know people who love finding coffee shops and probably love your reaction...I mean...my reaction to a great cup of coffee is pretty enthusiastic. There's Tryst in Adams Morgan, Ebeneser's at Union, Kramerbooks & Afterwords at Dupont, and Leopolds in Georgetown. Coffee made the summer.

How to Learn to Live Overseas...in College

I'm a great global nomad. I excel at it, partly from so much experience. And then everything I knew about the world collapsed into Americana and because I have white skin, blue eyes and was born in the States, the expectations to conform into a "real American" were enormous. So I walked around my white American university disoriented and confused before deciding to take what I learned Stateside and apply it back to my overseas life. Actually, maybe I just applied my overseas life to the States. It's hard to tell. After all, living overseas is my greatest asset and what I know best.

Be Flexible: It's important to be a flexible human being. It's always super difficult, though I want to say it's more difficult when there are papers at stake. No matter where you are, or when you're there, you have to know when to go with the flow, and not take everything completely seriously. You can even take yourself completely serious all the time because you are a work in progress and every day is a learning experience.

Be Friendly: I learned in uni that people can be super unfriendly. In fact, it shocked me. I learned about in-groups and out-groups and cool-groups and strange groups. I went from core to periphery and back again before creating my own social group. I never went to high school, but this might have been the next best thing. I learned that, like overseas living, being friendly and honest is the best asset as a global nomad. In my nomadic experience (which is rather extensive, sorry), each global nomad has an absolutely amazing story that you don't want to miss. If you wind up totally lonely and miserable, it's your fault, which is ridiculous and unproductive.

Be a good writer: My dad says if you can write, you can eat. (He's older then me so I think he's right.) I studied applied sociology. I wrote. I wrote every single day. I wrote short papers and long papers and boring papers and had no time to write blog entries on subjects which I honestly enjoy. I wrote some pieces I'm proud of and some research projects I honestly enjoyed. And into the future, global nomads do a lot of writing. I shall use my improved writing...at least I think it improved.

How Sabbatical Ended

I wanted to title my post...I'm back...but I'm not entirely sure I'm fully back yet. I think I'm back because I've graduated...I'm not killing myself taking an unreasonably heavy course load, and towards the end EMU put me back in touch with my inner TCK. To be completely honest, I actually tried very hard to join the Mennonite world while at EMU but found it difficult indeed and thus decided to only partly self-identify with this social justice inspired denomination. I'm a TCK, and I will invest entirely into my TCK world...because...just because. I'm back from the dead of college which when completed in three years like I did, can suck dry your very soul. Finishing college means I can probably get back overseas too, and continue learning how to live overseas, obviously.

And so I'm back in DC for the summer to finish out some final requirements for my degree, do and internship with an NGO, and pretend to figure out what to do with my life...because that's what's college graduates have to do...figure out what to do with their lives.

How I Graduated Uni

Technically to be officially considered graduated, you put on a funny looking outfit and you walk up to where the Dean or the President of the university hands you your diploma (if you're American, you smile here) and then, you flip your tassel of your cap to the other side, and that is that. This is the climax of involves years and years of hard work, and a small fortune.

So on 2 May 2010, I did the whole thing. I went up there. I smile. I got the diploma case, and that was that. I really wanted to graduate this year, because 2010 is such a nice round number. Graduating was like getting married for me. I've obsessed about my education and getting this degree was a roller-coaster of countries, emotions, challenging academia, culture shock, and strange food. It's the biggest thing I've done this far, graduating towards the top of my class, and my mom, my grandparents, my aunt and my uncle, and my adopted Aunt Lorraine all came. It was the biggest event of my life thus far, and for once, I was actually proud of myself instead of suppressing feelings that I could have done better or that I underachieved.

I can't honestly say I've quite graduated because...well...I've still got three classes left. So I walked up to the President of EMU, I was handed an empty diploma case (I'm American so I smiled for the pictures because that's what you do over here) and I sat back down. I walked through the interaction ritual, but I'm not going to actually get a diploma until August. I had to do it. I had to walk through the ritual and engage in the tradition because I'm tired, I've put a lot of work into my education and if I didn't do it now. It wasn't ever going to happen. It was a good moment. A memorable moment. A moment I'll infinitely value.

How I took Sabbatical Leave (from Blogging)

It occurred to me of late...rather for a while but I finally got around to formalizing this occurrence...that I've been a poor blogger for quite some time. Senior year of college has been quite the experience. The fall semester finished out well and I moved out of my apartment and into an intentional community house for the spring semester.

I went to New York for Christmas and to Atlanta and Passion 2010 for New Years. I've lived through two major record breaking snowstorms which brought me endless delight watching the huge white flakes pile up and my hours in the classroom plummet thanks to delays and snow days. I planned an intercollegiate peace fellowship conference, I'm preparing to academically publish and I've become more involved in my school and faith communities. I'm a biker chick, a fairly decent cook, an up-and-coming sociologist peacebuilder and a stronger coffee addict than ever.

Now, seven weeks left in my spring semester until the biggest day of my life thus far...college graduation. My mom is coming from Sudan, my grandparents from New York and my aunt and uncle from East Virginia. And then, summer in DC to finish up a final three classes and an internship in the city. Come August, we'll see where this blogger ends up, hopefully in deepest darkest blog inspiring Africa...or Europe because a mean dark espresso can be found there.

Until then, I'm on academic sabbatical, fitting it all those details and classes, and papers, and exams. We'll see how much blogging can happen between now and grad. You'll hear about grad. For sure.