I made it.

I made it to New Haven.

I'm in my room, with Spring breeze coming in through my windows.

IKEA dresser assembled.

(I am preeettttty proud of myself for that, though I did have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering help me)

Lots of relocating stories to follow.

Biggest take-away was that this country is phenomenally beautiful.

I also stayed with beautiful people the whole way, so that brightened it up.

The drive actually felt like a vacation.

I would do it again the exact way I did it.

Thanks to everyone who offered meals and beds and warm wishes.

I went to the Farmer's Market and the beach this weekend.

First day of work is tomorrow.

I met a lot of co-workers this weekend.

Love. Them.

Love my new roommie.

 Love my new neighborhood.

Pretty happy with life right about now.

Over the next week and a half...

 I'll be driving across *almost* the entire continental USA -  - 

Idaho to Connecticut via... Arizona.

Tomorrow = Arizona to see Grandma and Da for a couple of days

Saturday, I pick up Eben in Albuquerque!

Eben's job is to keep me laughing through New Mexico, Texas (the way north part - no Houston this time :(  and Oklahoma..

Then we're on to check out the state of Arkansas (a new one for me!)

Next we play for a day or so in Nashville and drop Ebs off.

Then on to Knoxville for some Mollie lovin!

Next is DC for a hug from Vic (and maybe kidnap him to come drive the rest of the way!)

Then New Haven and New HOME here I come!

I'm excited.

we'll see how I feel on the flip side ;)

The Haywagn is loaded (thanks to some magic loading by Dad and some vacuum packing by Mom)..

Snacks are within arms reach..

Play lists and Spanish podcasts are downloaded..

The body-falling-apart and lost-ipod crises have been averted..

Ready, set, new life adventure ---- GO!

:)

Weekend in New York City

A couple of weeks ago, I made a trip to Connecticut and New York for a job interview (that had a very happy ending!!)  After all my interview business was done, I got to explore the city a little and play.  It had been quite a while since I have traveled alone, and I forgot what an adventure it is to figure out a new place all on your own.. I got to learn to navigate the subway system, orient myself (a big feat for someone with serious directional dysfunction), choose where to explore, read my book in all sorts of fabulous cafe's, and soak it all in - all in pouring rain.

I loved it.

Here I am in Central Park, moments before I burst into (happy) tears in the midst of a 

"whoa I am extra-incredibly blessed" moment.

 Beautiful, colorful bark.

 Magical

 Statue on the corner of Central Park.

 Times Square

Times Square Self-Portrait :)

It poured rain, so I cafe hopped and ate my way up Broadway....

A beautiful, wonderful weekend.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am officially employed!

On Monday, I accepted a job with the  

Global Partnership Initiative

for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps!

The Hole in the Wall Camps are camps for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions.  The organization was founded by Paul Newman, and the camps have been running in the USA and Europe for several years.  In the last few years, they have incorporated a more global vision.  The program I will be working for, the Global Partnership Initiative, has branched out to developing countries, partnering with local and international organizations to create sustainable programs in Africa and Asia that educate, motivate and empower children living with HIV/AIDS, as well as other life-threatening illnesses. 

This year, they are starting the first programs in Latin America... 
and that's where I come in!

My first programs will be in the  
Dominican Republic 
and Paraguay.

I will be based in New Haven, Connecticut,
but traveling.. a lot.

And I am so, so excited.

It took 7 months of job hunting to get to this point - and I was fortunate to end up with 4 AMAZING job offers, two of which I very seriously agonized and debated between.  However, after a lot of thought, prayer and analysis, this one was the clear winner.  

It combines my passions for 

teaching and training, 

working with both kids and adults, 

international development,

 capacity building and sustainability, 

working toward something POSITIVE,
 and of course.. Latin America.  

 Amazing.

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you for all of your love, encouragement, recommendations, floors to sleep on, and support - there were some big highs and lows during the last seven months (remember this?!?) and I don't know what I would have done without the ridiculously amazing support system that I have.

A special thank you to my parents, who took me in without any hesitation right when I dragged back in from Africa last fall.  You gave me the foundation and security to search for something that I was passionate about, rather than having to rush into something. You were unconditionally supportive, and I'll never be able to thank you enough.

Needless to say, I am celebrating both this fabulous new beginning and counting my amazing stock of blessings tonight.

Thank you for being part of this new chapter!!!
And know that each and every one of you now have a home in New Haven, or wherever else this journey leads!!

All my love,
Haley

Easter Tradition

My family has a wonderful Easter tradition of all gathering at my aunt's house in Idaho.

We eat, we play, we hunt Easter eggs (if we wake up early enough), we snuggle - - 

and we make sequin eggs.

 Sequin egg =

  

Here is my egg this year!

Happy Easter!

  

Our family - -missing grandma and da..

100%!!!

As of yesterday, 

100% of the 
YES Prep North Central Seniors 
have been admitted 
to at least one 
4 year college or university.

These were the kids that I taught as 9th graders when we opened a new high school in 2006, and are the first class to graduate from North Central. 

Its amazing.  The real deal.  The goal that so many of my colleagues set all those years ago, and have poured endless amount of energy, sweat, and lots and lots of tears to realize.... is met.

Congrats my little Trailblazers.

So, so proud.

www.yesprep.org

A Sign of Spring

 

Even though it is snowing outside as I type, I saw these little guys poking through yesterday.

 And that surely must be a sign that Spring is around the corner!

Good Book.

The Weight of a Mustard Seed: 

The Intimate Story of an Iraqi General and His Family During Thirty Years of Tyranny

by Wendell Steavenson

Its a true story about an Iraqi general and his family.
He worked for Sadaam Hussein.
He was a good man.. but he sat by while bad things happened.
It makes you think about why we do what we do.. or don't do.
And if it is who we are or what we do that makes us good or bad people.
It is so eye opening.
I like that it is a story of an Iraqi family, because it shows the situation through their eyes, rather than through the eyes of an outsider.

NY Times Book review of Weight of a Mustard Seed

Online excerpts from Harpers Collins

PS - I got the hardcover on Half.com for $3 plus shipping.  That deserves a shout out.

Da's hands

I had a Georgetown Cupcake.

I have been hearing about these fancy cupcake places for a while.

I half thought it is was a ridiculously pretentious little fad, and half thought that it sounded pretttty delicious.

So Victor promised to take me for a fancy cupcake while I was in DC (it seemed like a fancy date for a fancy big city.. you know.. something fancy city people do)

The night before Valentines Day, he took me to Georgetown Cupcakes, and I ordered the Red Velvet cupcake because the menu said they are KNOWN for their Red Velvet cupcakes.  Plus the frosting looked preeeettttty delicious, especially since I got to stare at racks and racks of the little beauties as we stood in line for 45 minutes.

Yes, I said 45 minutes.  The line was SOOO long.  I thought it was just because everyone and their mom were probably getting cupcakes for Valentines day, but when I asked the cashier/cupcake maker, she said it was like that EVERY NIGHT!  WHAT?!?!

It all started to make sense when I learned that apparently, they are about to make a reality show about Georgetown Cupcakes (why is this not even surprising anymore?!)  So you can watch the cupcake drama unfold yourself on TLC.

Anyway, needless to say, the cupcake was indeed as delicious as they say.  I would go as far as to say it was THE BEST Red Velvet cupcake I have ever had.  Granted, I've never had Red Velvet anything before, so... I don't have a lot to compare it to.

Thanks V!!

Mouse in the house.

I tell you no lies, I saw a mouse squeeze through a hole that was smaller than a dime.

It took him a while... he got a little stuck..

 

But about an hour later, he made it through.

Gross?  Uh.. yeah.  Fascinating?  Definitely.

I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

Makes me think a little differently about how to keep mice out of the house.

!!!!!!

Robyn.

Its a pretty phenomenal thing

to realize that one of your best friends  is not only a mother...

  

but a great mother.

robbie, you are amazing.

 
love you. :)

Fascinating.

Vietnamese food tragedy!

My very favorite restaurant in the whole world burned down yesterday. :(  

I have such wonderful memories of LATE night food runs while at Rice, after-a-bad-day-teaching unwinding, and dozens of hours of laughing and talking with friends over spring rolls, pho, and vermicelli bowls.

I religiously visit every time I go back to Houston.

So I am of course joining the chorus of people hoping that they re-build!

Thinking of you, wonderfully grumpy people of Mai's!!!

(image location)

Year of the Tiger!

(image location)

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!

Chinese food for Valentine's/Chinese New Year date tonight, mmmmmm mm.

Day of Love.

(image location)

Happy Valentine's Day
to
all
of my
loved ones.


i have the best ones in the world.



PS - AirTran gave me a VERY HAPPY VALENTINES DAY wake-up call at 5am saying they were at the front door.... WITH MY FOUND LUGGAGE!!!