A little reflectin' on community

Wow. What a great couple of weeks. Right now, I'm sitting in my office, and I just can't get rid of this warm, fuzzy feeling that I have been incredibly blessed. Here is why:

My whole life, I have found myself part of wonderful communities. It all started at Bethany Lutheran Church, where no matter how naughty I was during the Christmas program, everyone showered me with love and encouragement and told me I was special and capable and loved. Then, I went to Riverside Elementary and became friends with a group of good people who would go on to be some of my best friends still when we got our High School Diplomas many years later. We weren't the coolest kids in school, but we built a tight community that helped me become who I am.

Not long after that, I went to St. Olaf College, and by my senior year, I was surrounded by these amazing, strong women at the Wendell Berry house, as well as the Ultimate players and "Hoyme boys" that together made up my college family and ensured that I would never, ever feel alone. I was ensured this week that this community would be a life-long blessing when an Olaf alum took me out to dinner and shared some great conversation with me and even gave me a big hug at the end.

Now, I am in the IGERT program and so many times I have realized that this is a community that I am so lucky to be a part of. On Thursday, I helped throw a birthday party for one of my teammates and the food, dancing, talking, and laughter all jammed into their house made me so happy. Then, today, I bought a futon from a lady in Moscow and the two men on my team as well as one of the women in another IGERT team all came to help me move it into my apartment- no hesitation at all. It seems like such a little thing, helping me move furniture, but the fact that in two months I have gained such great friends that would be willing to take some time out of their Sunday to help me is just a great feeling.

Anyway, I just wanted to take some time to reflect on what I have come to realize is probably the most important factor in my life. It is incredible to think of how many things I would NEVER have been able to do if it weren't for these communities of family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Now if only I could have them all in one place :)

September Highlights

School keeps moving along, and I find myself feeling less like a kid pretending to be a Ph.D student and more like I belong here. My classes are going really well and I have a real vision of what I want to do and when I can get it done- which is much more than I could say a few weeks ago. In addition, I've done so many fun things in the last few weeks! Here are some of my highlights:
-Went contra dancing. This is one of those things that I can add with cake decorating and curling. It was love at first strange meeting.
-Went trail running on Moscow Mountain. This was really hard, as I can't actually run up hills very successfully. Still a positive experience because you can always walk, right!?
-Became a regular at sunrise Yoga. Monday and Wednesday morning I get flexible and peaceful. Both things I need in my life.
-Rode on Hector's bicycle handlebars through downtown Moscow. Brought back memories of India and went off without a hitch! Great way of transportation.

Gettin' Busy

I'm officially really really busy! Here are some reasons why:
1. I am applying for the NSF GRFP! It is a 3 year fellowship, and with that grant money I would be able to finish my Ph.D. without any more money-searching. I really want this so bad it makes me sort of panicky to think about. Deadline is November 18th so I really need to make progress starting now!
2. I went backpacking! One of the women from last year's IGERT cohort, Renee, invited me to tag along with her awesome friends backpacking in St. Joe National Forest in the Idaho Panhandle. My booty is suuuuper sore from a few intense uphill climbs!

Renee and I on our way up!

3. Class. It has homework and stuff.
4. Having an apartment. I like to make my life more difficult by refusing to buy things. For example, here is my laundry system:

The strings include: the drawstring for the blinds, a bungee cord I found on the sidewalk, a broken lanyard, and the That Guy Badge (a badge I won for leaving my tennis shoes at Erik's grandpa's house on our trip home from Colorado.) I also have yet to purchase anything to sit on in the living room. Or a vacuum cleaner. Am I cheap... or just lazy.... or really busy? You decide.