5 weeks ago I graduated from EMU with a degree in Peace building and Development
(4.5 weeks ago I got an ear infection which still has my hearing about about 70% what is should be. Ugh.)
4 weeks ago I launched on an epic road-trip from Virginia to Utah with three amazing women (Hannah, Larisa and Emma!) Who’s highlights surely were, in order: the people we stayed with, the hikes we hiked, the food we fooded.
2 weeks ago I attended a weekend-long Jerusalem-reunion wedding at a summer camp ( I love weddings where I not only get to dance and drink wine (sorry, Mennonites, you know I love you, us, err…) but also get to Zip line and make masks!)
1 week ago mom and I drove up to Montreal to see my sister Jojo and her lovely man-love Dale
And in one week I will take a plane with two good friends, join 7 new friends, and land in Managua, Nicaragua for my MCC orientation. A week after that we move into our host-family homes in Bogota from three months and then I move to my assignment in Medellin for a year and nine months.
There, now you have a solid time-line of what’s what in my life!
The game this week is sorting the enormous amount of books, clothes, hair-ties and random things I have collected during my 4 years in the states and sorting that into trash, storage, and 100lbs that I can bring with me to Colombia.
As most of you know, I will be spending my next two years working with Mennonite Central Committee through their new SEED program (http://seed.mcc.org/) which focuses on reflection, service, and advocacy. I will have an official MCC blog about my work in Medellin which I will link here as soon as I have it. This, therefore, is going to be different. My hope for this blog would be that it would be a space for folks to keep up with me in general, which may well include updates related to my work but may also simply be updates about what I’m up to, what elements of culture-shock are particular prevalent, what books I’m reading, shows I’m watching, etc.
Currently:
Reading: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Help (both recommended, especially the latter)
Watching: Six Feet Under
Listening: Steeldrivers, specifically ” If it Hadn’t been for Love”. I’m obsessed.
I have a tendency towards verbosity (and an unfortunate fondness for excessive use of parentheses…) which I will be trying to curb, whether or not I succeed we shall see. I hope you will follow as much as you wish, comment and let me know I’m being heard, and please feel free to ask any questions you may have of me or for me to write about something in particular. This is an experiment. It’s an experiment in staying in touch, an experiment in peace building, an experiment in living away from the cocoon-like safety of EMU, and so much more.
Betting on the Light 
Just finished the help last week! Did I tell you that already? Loved it 😀
And love you! And love your parentheses!!
My cousin Adam and his wife Marisa are working with MCC in Nicaragua, so maybe you’ll meet them when you have your orientation! I hope this experience is everything you need and so much more, Jess. I am sad that I didn’t get to see you when I got back and before you head out 😦
Sounds like you’ve had a blast the last several weeks…so looking forward to hearing from you on both blogs. Sorry you will have to miss a more traditional Mennonite/Brethren wedding…no zip line, no masks but still fun because it’s us.
We’ll be thinking of you!!
I’m so excited for you! And of course I will miss you a lot.
Side note: you should put a little subscribe here widget on the sidebar of your blog so people like me can get emails when you post!
Prepare to be stalked by Yours Truly. MUAHAHAHAHA!!!
PS: miss you already. damn.
I’ve also had The Help recommended to me, but haven’t gotten around to it… but now that three people I know have said it’s good, I guess I’ll read it. 🙂 and I’m looking forward to drinking up/slogging through your verbosity.