I know I never thought about it, but I surely did not know that there is a 14 mile long island just off of Wisconsin on Lake Superior.
As I was stumbling along, I came across a site with several unknown islands and Madeline Island was the first one. I find this small island fascinating and already can hardly wait to check out this fine feature of the Midwest. So neat! And this island only has a permanent population of around 300 people.
This might just be one of the next islands I visit! I surely want to drive on the ice road!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wonderful People
Just this past Tuesday I hit the road again for another one of my trips around the country. This time I was headed back to a place I know well and came to love very much...San Antonio!
I am so grateful to have so many fantastic friends who are all over the nation and world. Not more than four hours from home I was able to visit a friend from my freshman year at Montana State in Des Moines, IA. M and I enjoyed catching up and eating tasty gelato.
Next Stop? Blair, Nebraska! Another good friend, also from Montana, has left the Big Sky State to work in the Midwest with Cargill. It was great hanging out with J, cooking and eating lasagna, and having super hospitality and accommodations in the middle of nowhere Nebraska!
Then it was off to TEXAS!! My first college roommate and her husband have found themselves near Bowie, TX and I was so excited to be able to visit them again! It was such a relaxing couple days just having lunch, drinking tea, playing with Banjo and Rocky (the dogs, of course!), reading a good book, and just being around wonderful, beautiful people!!
And finally...Austin and San Antonio! I was so excited on my drive south on I-35 to get down here and visit all the friends I made last year and just enjoy my time! I was able to stop for THE BEST CUPCAKES EVER from Hey Cupcake! on S. Congress in Austin and grab some tasty pizza with C, a friend from Austria.
As I drove into San Antonio, my whole self just got more and more filled with excitement. I love seeing the beauty of the interstates and highways crisscrossing, noticing all the familiarities and changes, and eventually arriving at the door of a great and truly wonderful friend!
Since Friday, I have been able to relax and hang out with S each day! It has been super!! She has even taken me to workout...my legs still hurt! We have enjoyed a couple movies, good food, and long chats. Many of my other friends have been busy this weekend, but we visited M and are planning a BBQ later this week!
We made a trip Sunday to the San Antonio Zoo. The zoo here is definitely one of the greater ones around. It was so fantastic to walk around and see the elephant, komodo dragon, jaguar, tiger, multiple toads and frogs, and so many other animals. Visiting a zoo makes one realize even more how diverse and indescribably amazing the world around us is.
I've only been back here in San Antonio for a few days, but I almost feel like I never left. I am just so thankful that I know so many wonderful people! I do enjoy Texas so much, but I know that without the greatest friends ever that I have here, it would not be the same!
The next week will surely pass by in such a flurry, I'll be back home for Christmas in no time. However, I am going to fill each day to the brim making unforgettable memories with beautiful and terrific friends!
I am so grateful to have so many fantastic friends who are all over the nation and world. Not more than four hours from home I was able to visit a friend from my freshman year at Montana State in Des Moines, IA. M and I enjoyed catching up and eating tasty gelato.
Next Stop? Blair, Nebraska! Another good friend, also from Montana, has left the Big Sky State to work in the Midwest with Cargill. It was great hanging out with J, cooking and eating lasagna, and having super hospitality and accommodations in the middle of nowhere Nebraska!
Then it was off to TEXAS!! My first college roommate and her husband have found themselves near Bowie, TX and I was so excited to be able to visit them again! It was such a relaxing couple days just having lunch, drinking tea, playing with Banjo and Rocky (the dogs, of course!), reading a good book, and just being around wonderful, beautiful people!!
And finally...Austin and San Antonio! I was so excited on my drive south on I-35 to get down here and visit all the friends I made last year and just enjoy my time! I was able to stop for THE BEST CUPCAKES EVER from Hey Cupcake! on S. Congress in Austin and grab some tasty pizza with C, a friend from Austria.
As I drove into San Antonio, my whole self just got more and more filled with excitement. I love seeing the beauty of the interstates and highways crisscrossing, noticing all the familiarities and changes, and eventually arriving at the door of a great and truly wonderful friend!
Since Friday, I have been able to relax and hang out with S each day! It has been super!! She has even taken me to workout...my legs still hurt! We have enjoyed a couple movies, good food, and long chats. Many of my other friends have been busy this weekend, but we visited M and are planning a BBQ later this week!
We made a trip Sunday to the San Antonio Zoo. The zoo here is definitely one of the greater ones around. It was so fantastic to walk around and see the elephant, komodo dragon, jaguar, tiger, multiple toads and frogs, and so many other animals. Visiting a zoo makes one realize even more how diverse and indescribably amazing the world around us is.
I've only been back here in San Antonio for a few days, but I almost feel like I never left. I am just so thankful that I know so many wonderful people! I do enjoy Texas so much, but I know that without the greatest friends ever that I have here, it would not be the same!
The next week will surely pass by in such a flurry, I'll be back home for Christmas in no time. However, I am going to fill each day to the brim making unforgettable memories with beautiful and terrific friends!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monumental Moments
The saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." However, I have come to think that a picture is worth way more than just a thousand words. It shares emotions, feelings, thoughts, and events. A picture or photo can capture one moment in time that will be with a person forever and ever.
It was almost five weeks ago when Sabina and I embarked on a epic adventure across the country from Boston to Louisville. Many people say that the journey is the destination. No other statement is more true to our trip than this one. In addition, there is no better way to explain and explore our adventure than with the multiple photos that captured so many monumental moments.
It was almost five weeks ago when Sabina and I embarked on a epic adventure across the country from Boston to Louisville. Many people say that the journey is the destination. No other statement is more true to our trip than this one. In addition, there is no better way to explain and explore our adventure than with the multiple photos that captured so many monumental moments.
In just one short week, Sabina and I travelled over 1,500 miles and made countless memories. It was such a super, amazing road trip-one that I'd love to do again! Thank you for your hospitality to everyone who allowed us to spend a night, it was so great to visit so many of you all and make memories with you, too! Thank you!
It is always wonderful to be able to take time and make unforgettable memories such as these. Take time to make your own monumental moments, whether you get them on camera or not!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
A Story With Photos
During my time on the Island, there was definitely some amazing fun times that occurred in the building in which all of us instructors and staffers stayed. No one knew what rowdy happenings would go on, but it would always prove to be fun for everyone involved!! The following story is just one of those fun events that occurred on a non-suspecting night. The fun came out of nowhere but became something I must share!
I lived in the Big Room. A was the other regular inhabitant of the Big Room. We had two other roommates that joined us occasionally during the week. The Big Room had a Secret Admirer. S is the Secret Admirer and lived down the hall.
This is the story of the Big Room's Secret Admirer and how she became an always welcome guest.
THE MAP:
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| The Big Room's Secret Admirer sends us her first note, a map to her place of residence. |
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| The second note that started it all! |
OUR RESPONSE:
THE ROUTE TO RETURN RESPONSE (via map):
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| To get to the door from A's bed: Take 7 Steps Forward, 3 to the Left, 3 Straight |
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| Then 20 steps down the hall to the right. See her open door?! |
THE PROGNOSIS (will the secret admirer adhere to the terms and conditions to be a friend of the Big Room?) :
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| The Secret Admirer's response flies in. |
THE REST OF THE EVENING COMMENCES:
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| Written in Polish (as the terms state), the Secret Admirer agrees to the contract. |
THE POLISH SPEAKING EVENING:
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| Friends and residents of the Big Room! |
Yes - Tak
No - Nie
Good - Dobrze
Thank you - Dziękujemy
This story of fun and photos was just one of the out of the ordinary good times we had on the Island! All those wonderful times are missed as well as all the most fantastic people who made the Island so memorable!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Just A List
Since leaving Massachusetts Tuesday, Sabina and I have had so many adventures, changed our route so many different times, and have enjoyed every second. We've had so many happenings that I barely know where to start!
- Slept on a hard wood floor and futon in a powerless aparment
- Walked the streets of New Haven
- Saw the dormitories at Yale where Rory from Gilmore Girls spent her years living
- Managed to drive into New York City with my car
- Saw the Statue of Liberty from the road
- Tried to paralell park
- R parked for me
- Drank tea
- Road the NY Subway to Times Square
- Walked into the New York City Public Library where Ghostbusters was filmed
- Sabina worked at Trader Joe's for 30 seconds, she held a Middle Of The Line sign
- Showered (there was hot running water)
- Slept on a futon in a warm, heated building
- Drank more tea
- Paid a $13 DOLLAR TOLL to leave the city
- Searched for ten minutes for Panera Bread
- Leo the Giraffe was adopted (she is three inches tall)
- Met Rick the Electrician
- Met another electrician who pointed us to the best view in PA
- Spent an hour taking pictures from a nursing home parking lot
- Drove to Amish Country
- Went through Intercourse
- Checked out Blue Ball
- Stopped in Bird-In-Hand
- Sabina bought an Amish hat
- Pumpkin Whoopi Pie
- Stopped for night in the middle of nowhere (Newburg, PA)
- Ate fantastic Chicken Parmesan H made for us
- Ate some more garlic bread
- Slept with six cats
- Woke up on a 4,000 head heifer operation
- Moved car for the semi that brought the new shavings
- Enjoyed Panera bagels for breakfast
- Looked at all the beautiful dairy calves and heifers
- Left H's
- Village of Lurgen Post Office...a story all by itself...
...so we are driving around looking for a post office and S's IPhone leads us to the one in Lurgen. We missed it the first time as we blinked too slowly. We turned around and pulled up to what appeared to be a large garden tool shed. As we walk in, we hear a voice gruffly asking us if we needed anything. We proceed to ask for postcard stamps. He asks us, "What are those?" Us, "Stamps, for a postcard?" Him, "I don't know if we have them. Let me check how much they cost." After he calls another person on the phone to determine how much postcard stamps are and if they carry them, he returns with a dilapitated photo album with stamps inside. Him, "How many do you need?" Us, "Twenty will be fine." He continues to count as we ask him how many are on a sheet. Him, "Twenty. Oh, you can just have a sheet." We almost roll our eyes. Meanwhile as this was going on, I was reading a sign that CLEARLY stated they accepted credit cards, debit cards, and personal checks. So, after he hands us our one sheet of postcard stamps with twenty stamps of 29 cent a piece stamps, he tells us the total. I had read they accepted debit cards...I mistakingly assumed they really did. Therefore I figured I would chance it and simply ask, "Do you do cash back?" Him, "What is cash back?" Me, "When you use a debit card with a PIN and you are able to get cash back." Him, "What? Don't you have cash? -pause- Our machine is down." (As if we were supposed to know) Luckily, Sabina is always to the rescue and was able to give this man the cash and we exited the tool shed. We nearly wet ourselves laughing upon reaching the car. We knew it was going to be a great day!
MOVING ON...
- Drove around on some crazy PA county roads
- Sabina was getting sick
- Stopped at the Path Valley Restaurant and Family Diner
- We were the youngest by fifty years and clearly from out of town
- Waitress tells us how she still can't believe people come into the diner in Spring Run, PA and exclaim that they will be "going to town today" like its a monthly ritual or reward. We couldn't really believe the waitress until we asked for a pharmacy or drug store and learned that the closest one was literally at least thirty minutes away
- Drove on I-76
- Paid a $9.25 DOLLAR TOLL
- Stopped at a Service Center and learned how much fun they could be
- Ate PB&J outside on random tables
- Sabina made robot heads
- Took lots of photos
- Waved at our FedEx men
- Drove thirty-seven miles to the next service center
- Drove to West Virginia
- Stopped at the WV Rest Area
- Tried to take a nap
- Continued to hang out in car at Rest Area
- I think we spent three hours at this Rest Area
- Drove five more miles
- Saw sign for Cabela's
- Walked around Cabela's for an hour
- Took lots of photos
- Laughed
- Laughed some more
- Drove to another Panera Bread
- Sabina shared her love of Dinosaurs with the staff of Panera with her most amazing outfit ever
- Tonight...
...and now we think we might go to the movies.
- Slept on a hard wood floor and futon in a powerless aparment
- Walked the streets of New Haven
- Saw the dormitories at Yale where Rory from Gilmore Girls spent her years living
- Managed to drive into New York City with my car
- Saw the Statue of Liberty from the road
- Tried to paralell park
- R parked for me
- Drank tea
- Road the NY Subway to Times Square
- Walked into the New York City Public Library where Ghostbusters was filmed
- Sabina worked at Trader Joe's for 30 seconds, she held a Middle Of The Line sign
- Showered (there was hot running water)
- Slept on a futon in a warm, heated building
- Drank more tea
- Paid a $13 DOLLAR TOLL to leave the city
- Searched for ten minutes for Panera Bread
- Leo the Giraffe was adopted (she is three inches tall)
- Met Rick the Electrician
- Met another electrician who pointed us to the best view in PA
- Spent an hour taking pictures from a nursing home parking lot
- Drove to Amish Country
- Went through Intercourse
- Checked out Blue Ball
- Stopped in Bird-In-Hand
- Sabina bought an Amish hat
- Pumpkin Whoopi Pie
- Stopped for night in the middle of nowhere (Newburg, PA)
- Ate fantastic Chicken Parmesan H made for us
- Ate some more garlic bread
- Slept with six cats
- Woke up on a 4,000 head heifer operation
- Moved car for the semi that brought the new shavings
- Enjoyed Panera bagels for breakfast
- Looked at all the beautiful dairy calves and heifers
- Left H's
- Village of Lurgen Post Office...a story all by itself...
...so we are driving around looking for a post office and S's IPhone leads us to the one in Lurgen. We missed it the first time as we blinked too slowly. We turned around and pulled up to what appeared to be a large garden tool shed. As we walk in, we hear a voice gruffly asking us if we needed anything. We proceed to ask for postcard stamps. He asks us, "What are those?" Us, "Stamps, for a postcard?" Him, "I don't know if we have them. Let me check how much they cost." After he calls another person on the phone to determine how much postcard stamps are and if they carry them, he returns with a dilapitated photo album with stamps inside. Him, "How many do you need?" Us, "Twenty will be fine." He continues to count as we ask him how many are on a sheet. Him, "Twenty. Oh, you can just have a sheet." We almost roll our eyes. Meanwhile as this was going on, I was reading a sign that CLEARLY stated they accepted credit cards, debit cards, and personal checks. So, after he hands us our one sheet of postcard stamps with twenty stamps of 29 cent a piece stamps, he tells us the total. I had read they accepted debit cards...I mistakingly assumed they really did. Therefore I figured I would chance it and simply ask, "Do you do cash back?" Him, "What is cash back?" Me, "When you use a debit card with a PIN and you are able to get cash back." Him, "What? Don't you have cash? -pause- Our machine is down." (As if we were supposed to know) Luckily, Sabina is always to the rescue and was able to give this man the cash and we exited the tool shed. We nearly wet ourselves laughing upon reaching the car. We knew it was going to be a great day!
MOVING ON...
- Drove around on some crazy PA county roads
- Sabina was getting sick
- Stopped at the Path Valley Restaurant and Family Diner
- We were the youngest by fifty years and clearly from out of town
- Waitress tells us how she still can't believe people come into the diner in Spring Run, PA and exclaim that they will be "going to town today" like its a monthly ritual or reward. We couldn't really believe the waitress until we asked for a pharmacy or drug store and learned that the closest one was literally at least thirty minutes away
- Drove on I-76
- Paid a $9.25 DOLLAR TOLL
- Stopped at a Service Center and learned how much fun they could be
- Ate PB&J outside on random tables
- Sabina made robot heads
- Took lots of photos
- Waved at our FedEx men
- Drove thirty-seven miles to the next service center
- Drove to West Virginia
- Stopped at the WV Rest Area
- Tried to take a nap
- Continued to hang out in car at Rest Area
- I think we spent three hours at this Rest Area
- Drove five more miles
- Saw sign for Cabela's
- Walked around Cabela's for an hour
- Took lots of photos
- Laughed
- Laughed some more
- Drove to another Panera Bread
- Sabina shared her love of Dinosaurs with the staff of Panera with her most amazing outfit ever
- Tonight...
...and now we think we might go to the movies.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Rest Stop At Panera
I'm currently sitting in the corner at a Panera Bread in a town which I do not actually know the name of that is on the outskirts of Philadelphia, PA. Its a beautiful day, I have a great friend travelling with me, the roads are free of heavy traffic, and we are on our way thru Amish country and eventually to stay with a friend of mine...can't get much better than that!
I'll try to keep y'all updated as we drive along! Its super to see all the fantastic New England colors, visit friends, and do hood rat stuff along the way! :)
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| NEW YORK! |
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| Super good, super SWEET Hot Chocolate |
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| Joo Hyeon and I - Yale University |
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| W, Me, and T - No Power Halloween Birthday Bash! |
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| SABINA the Dinosaur! |
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| Snow storm damage along highway in central Massachusetts. |
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
On The Road
Friday, 28. October, 2011, I finished my last day of the fall 2011 season on the island in Boston, MA. I totally enjoyed my time in Boston and loved the work that we did.
After a great season, we had a super fun and amazing last night farewell party and we all headed off the island on the boat Saturday. Sunday I hung out with Brooke...always amazing! And Monday, Halloween, a friend, S, and I headed out on the road to Amherst, MA.
The road to Amherst was not as easy going as we had planned. There was a lot of damage from a snow storm that left a lot of the area without power. We took it slow and arrived safely. We stayed with my friend, W, to celebrate his birthday. It was really different to have a birthday party in an apartment with candles as light and blankets and jackets as heat. It was a super time and was awesome to visit friends!
Today S and I headed south and met up with a friend I met in Austria in New Haven. He studies music at Yale and it was just so amazing to be able to meet up with him after three or four years. On the drive down from Mass it was so beautiful with all the leaves and changing colors of the trees. So pretty.
After New Haven, if was off to our current location, New York! Brooklyn to be exact. My friend, R, whom I also met in Austria, lives here and is our host for the evening. She took us out to see the city and walk around for a bit. NYC is such a large, busy city. I find it very similar to Chicago, but is also very different. It was so fun to walk around, drink some fantastic (but very sweet) hot chocolate, check out different stores, and document everything with photos! Such a great day and night!
So, S and I are out on the road making our way westerly. We have no exact plans and are going as we drive. Its been a great adventure already and I can't wait for what is to come next! Hopefully I"ll be updating more over the next couple weeks so keep checking in! Happy Late Halloween!! Hello November!
After a great season, we had a super fun and amazing last night farewell party and we all headed off the island on the boat Saturday. Sunday I hung out with Brooke...always amazing! And Monday, Halloween, a friend, S, and I headed out on the road to Amherst, MA.
The road to Amherst was not as easy going as we had planned. There was a lot of damage from a snow storm that left a lot of the area without power. We took it slow and arrived safely. We stayed with my friend, W, to celebrate his birthday. It was really different to have a birthday party in an apartment with candles as light and blankets and jackets as heat. It was a super time and was awesome to visit friends!
Today S and I headed south and met up with a friend I met in Austria in New Haven. He studies music at Yale and it was just so amazing to be able to meet up with him after three or four years. On the drive down from Mass it was so beautiful with all the leaves and changing colors of the trees. So pretty.
After New Haven, if was off to our current location, New York! Brooklyn to be exact. My friend, R, whom I also met in Austria, lives here and is our host for the evening. She took us out to see the city and walk around for a bit. NYC is such a large, busy city. I find it very similar to Chicago, but is also very different. It was so fun to walk around, drink some fantastic (but very sweet) hot chocolate, check out different stores, and document everything with photos! Such a great day and night!
So, S and I are out on the road making our way westerly. We have no exact plans and are going as we drive. Its been a great adventure already and I can't wait for what is to come next! Hopefully I"ll be updating more over the next couple weeks so keep checking in! Happy Late Halloween!! Hello November!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Enjoying A Day Off
Working here on the island, it gets pretty busy. There always seems to be a group or two here from an organizational club, church, school, etc. Groups come for one day, two or even three. We may have a group of 6th to 8th graders or a freshman class from a University here on the island.
The cluster of folks that make their way here to the island by boat come for many reasons including ways to improve leadership, community, service, character development, or environmental knowledge in their students. As staffers on the island, we work toward accomplishing these outcomes with different games, initiatives, low ropes, high ropes, scavenger hunts, or outdoor educational experiences such as seed discovery and salt marsh exploration. Each day is different and each day brings new discoveries and challenges!
I love what I do here on the island, and I truly enjoy working with all the other instructors/facilitators/directors as well. As fun as work can be, down time is always appreciated as well. Not only have I found great co-workers on the island, but also great friends in general.
When we have days off or extra personal time, many staffers head back to the mainland. But there are also times when we all seem to be here on the island together. Dance parties spontaneously erupt in the kitchen, house movies are enjoyed by all in the lounge, group discussions are started in the quad out on the grass, or simple walks are taken around the beautiful place that we live. There is rarely a moment to be bored or have nothing to do!
Besides sharing time together on the island, we do occasionally find time to gather in the city. Recently a group dinner and grocery shopping trip was made, an afternoon farewell to a Ranger who helped with educational programs was organized, and even a night out on the town for dancing came together.
The island brings people together to work towards building a brighter future for the youth of the greater Boston area. But it also brings individuals together to form special friendships and unique bonds. Its a great place to work and enjoy a day off.
The cluster of folks that make their way here to the island by boat come for many reasons including ways to improve leadership, community, service, character development, or environmental knowledge in their students. As staffers on the island, we work toward accomplishing these outcomes with different games, initiatives, low ropes, high ropes, scavenger hunts, or outdoor educational experiences such as seed discovery and salt marsh exploration. Each day is different and each day brings new discoveries and challenges!
I love what I do here on the island, and I truly enjoy working with all the other instructors/facilitators/directors as well. As fun as work can be, down time is always appreciated as well. Not only have I found great co-workers on the island, but also great friends in general.
When we have days off or extra personal time, many staffers head back to the mainland. But there are also times when we all seem to be here on the island together. Dance parties spontaneously erupt in the kitchen, house movies are enjoyed by all in the lounge, group discussions are started in the quad out on the grass, or simple walks are taken around the beautiful place that we live. There is rarely a moment to be bored or have nothing to do!
Besides sharing time together on the island, we do occasionally find time to gather in the city. Recently a group dinner and grocery shopping trip was made, an afternoon farewell to a Ranger who helped with educational programs was organized, and even a night out on the town for dancing came together.
The island brings people together to work towards building a brighter future for the youth of the greater Boston area. But it also brings individuals together to form special friendships and unique bonds. Its a great place to work and enjoy a day off.
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| Burger and Egg on a Bagel...always tasty! |
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| B and I out for a night of dancing! |
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