Only in North Dakota . . .

Only in North Dakota can you go through 4 seasons in one day! Ok, it wasn’t really that extreme today, but it was crazy and bipolar. This morning was just overcast, then right before I was to leave for lunch from work, it started pouring. (Left - If you look closely at this picture, you can see the puddles that are remnant from the pouring rain) And I mean pouring! If I had gone outside at that time, I think I would have been drenched by the time I got to my car. As it was, I waited 10 minutes, and even with the rain lighter, I still was nearly soaked by the time that I got to my car.
By the time I got home, it was no longer raining. By the time I was headed back to work, not only was the sun shining, but the skies were blue. It looked like a completely different day! Not long after, it got stormy again. I’ve been convinced for a while that the weather up here just can’t make up its mind, but I’ve never seen anything like that before.
So, in other news . . . I passed my Russian test! That means I should be moving up the register . . . and hopefully that means I will have a place in the next orientation/training class! Woo hoo! I sure hope I hear something soon!

A Conference Weekend

I just got back from a YSA Conference in Rochester, MN. It was good, and I’m glad I went, even though it wasn’t great.
Friday, Colette and I left early in the morning. We both wanted to stop at the Mall of America (see Right) because we had never been there before. We found our way there (though it was a lot more difficult than anyone let on) and went inside. I was shocked and amazed to see a Ferris Wheel inside the mall. I had no idea that there was an amusement park in the center. We walked around, went into some stores . . . were tempted by cute shoes, but restrained from buying anything. Then we went to walk around the Nikelodeon Universe (apparently it used to be Camp Snoopy, but not anymore). We found out that we could get a ticket just to ride one of the roller coasters, so we decided to do that. We chose Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Drop. It was a good choice. It was quite thrilling, especially for a roller coaster inside a mall. (Left - Colette in front of the ferris wheel, to the right, the bluish green track is the roller coaster we went on, obviously you can only see part of it) I think the girl sitting next to us had a lot of fun because of it. I was a little surprised that people were so quiet on the roller coaster. For some reason, screaming makes it so much more exhilarating . . .
When we got off the roller coaster, I felt something slipping out of my pocket. I tried to grab it, but I couldn’t and dropped my phone. To my surprise and great disdain, it broke! I guess it must have hit in just the right spot to break like that. The girl directing us off the ride said that if I went into the Verizon store, they would fix it for free. Since I was in a mall, I decided to check. Well, they didn’t.
Colette and I walked around a little more. We went to the Lego store, which was pretty cool. (Right - traveling with our torches) We also traveled all the way to the top, and as far down as we could go without going into the Aquarium. Then we left.
We made it to Rochester early, so we decided to get some food. We saw a Fazoli’s right off the interstate and since it had been several years since either of us had eaten at a Fazoli’s, we decided to stop. It was pretty good.
Next we went to the church where the conference was to begin. We were a little early still, so we sat in the grass and laughed (yes, we really did laugh pretty much the whole time, but I guess we were a little tired and easily amused). Finally it came time to register.
First on the conference agenda was get to know you games. (Left - me with my torch) We used a combination of a fruit basket game and conversation circles to get people to talk to someone new. We had pie, and then went out to a different location for a bonfire. That was pretty cool because we all carried torches. If we would have had pitchforks, we could have been in an angry mob, storming a castle. Or, as someone else suggest, just been going through a dungeon in the Lord of the Rings.
Saturday, we had workshops right after breakfast. They were really enlightening. Then, following lunch we had one last speaker who talked about service. I guess that was fitting since we had our service project directly after. We actually had three service projects going on: writing letters to soldiers overseas, quilts, & puzzle blocks. I wrote a couple letters and then worked on a puzzle block. (Above - me, Heather, Amanda, Chris, and Jacob in front of the wall) That was pretty cool.
After service, we had free time before dinner. I wanted to do something in town, so I asked a new friend, Amanda, what there was to do. She suggested we could go to the nature center if it wasn’t raining. We checked, and even though it was cloudy, it wasn’t raining. We got a few other people (Chris, Heather, and Jacob) to go with us. As we were leaving the church, it was sprinkling. We decided to go anyway. I’m glad we did. There was a little building there that we went in to at first, but we only had 15 minutes before they closed. For what it was, it was good.
We went outside, and it was only misty, so we walked around a little. It was really pretty, and they had limestone walls that were used as retaining walls when the area was a quarry. (Left - me climbing the rock wall . . . in sandles . . . yes, I AM that good) Now they are used for students to practice rock climbing. So, naturally, we climbed them ourselves.
After dinner, we had a dance. The dance was alright, but definitely not great. The music selection wasn't very good, and the guys only danced with girls that they already knew. Still, I had fun because I like to dance.
Today, after church, Colette and I ended up meeting a friend at Cabella's. Those two are both in to guns, so I got a short lesson on guns & ammo. We also looked at the animals that had been stuffed and placed around the store. We had lunch at Famous Dave's before heading back to Bismarck. It was a good weekend, and I don't regret going.

Half the Sky

I just finished reading a book called Half the Sky. The book was recommended to me by a friend and it focuses on issues/problems that affect women around the globe and ways to solve these issues. I've heard about some of these issues before, but this book was eye opening. I am very blessed to have been born in the United States of America, and not just because of the freedom that we have, but because of all the places in the world to be born female, this is one of the best. Sure, there are still some inequality issues in America, but when compared to the problems facing millions of women living in Africa and Asia and other third world nations I have nothing to worry about.
Truth be told, I don't really feel oppressed. I've been told my whole life that I can do anything, be anything that I want to be. I believed it then as I believe it now. No one and nothing can stop me but obstacles I put before me. But that is one of the greatest things about America: the American dream. Although some think that the American dream means getting rich, it is more than that. It means that if you work hard, you can "change your stars" (as the movie A Knight's Tale puts it). In other words, you don't have to be constrained by the circumstances of your birth. Sure, it is much easier to be successful if you are born in a wealthy, or even middle class family, but it is not impossible to escape poverty in America if you have the work ethic and intelligence/skill. In other countries, that is not always the case.
For example, some girls are at the top of their class, but because boys are seen as more important in some cultures/societies, if there is not enough money to send both sons and daughters to school, the girls are kept home.
Some of the other isues that are addressed in this book are truly horrific and mortifying: human trafficking and sexual slavery, rape, genital cutting, female infanticide, forced abortions, so-called "honor" killings, and acid burnings. In some nations of the world there is a significant disregard for the life of females, even by females themselves. In those countries/societies, mothers value sons over daughters, and so sons are fed while daughters starve.
After reading the book, the problem seems so large that it feels insurmountable, but very specific solutions are proposed. The key for each individual who feels moved to act, is to find one solution to support, and focus on that. We can't fix everything, but we can fix something, and together we can fix everything.
Here is a quote from the book that I found particularly moving:
“While the main motivation for joining this global movement is to help others, the result is often to help oneself. As Sir John Templeton said, ‘Self-improvement comes mainly from trying to help others.’ Social psychologists have learned a great deal about happiness in recent years, and one of the surprises is that the things we believe will make us happy won’t. People who win the lottery, for example, enjoy an initial spike of happiness but then adjust and a year later are not significantly happier than those who haven’t won. Our happiness levels seem to be mostly innate, and not markedly affected by what happens to us, good or bad. People in end-stage dialysis, for example, turn out to be no different in their moods throughout the day than a comparison group of healthy people. And while those who suffer a crippling disability are initially deeply unhappy, they adjust quickly. One study found that just a month after becoming paraplegics, accident victims were in fairly good moods a majority of the time. Other research found that within two years of suffering a moderate disability, life satisfaction fully recovers to the predisability level. So Jonathan Haidt, a psychologist at the University of Virginia who has studied happiness, advises that if you are hit by a truck and end up a paraplegic, or if you win the lottery, remember that a year from now, it won’t make much difference to your happiness level.
Yet Professer Haidt and others advise that there are a few factors that CAN affect our happiness levels in a sustained way."(Pg. 249) One of those is to become involved in something. Those of us who are religious understand that one way to help yourself is to serve others. And so, I would ask all of you to get involved in whatever way you can. Start small, and when you feel more able, increase what you give and what you do.
Half the Sky suggests 4 things you can do:
1. Go to www.globalgiving.org or www.kiva.org and open an account. Through these sites you are linked directly to a person overseas who is in need. You can also try www.givology.com.
2. Sponser a girl or a woman through Plan International, Women for Women International, World Vision, or American Jewish World Service.
3. Sign up for email updates on www.womensenews.org or www.worldpulse.com.
4. Join the CARE Action Network at www.can.care.org.

I would like to add, 1. check this book out from the library and read it, 2. Check out www.charitynavigator.org to find a charity you would like to donate to, 3. Look in your community for ways to donate time or money, and 4. When you see a need, fill it. After all, studies have shown that the more you give, the happier you become; the happier you become, the more productive you are; the more productive you are, the more successful you are; and the more successful you are, the more money you make (see a previous post of mine).

Well all, I hope that this doesn't come off as preachy, but I really do believe in the power of service!

A Day at the Zoo

I spent the day at the zoo with Erin and her two kids: Zyon and Ginni, today (see left: Erin holding Ginni, me, and Zyon in front in our bunny ears). It was a lot of fun.
We began the day with breakfast at the Donut Hole. Then we headed off to the mall to get bunny ears for everyone. There weren't any there, except for some expensive ones at Claire's, so we decided to get bunny ears for me and Erin and check Target for bunny ears for the kids. They didn't have anything, so we headed to the zoo.
Entrance to the zoo was free because of the Easter activities. We helped make bunny ears for the kids and then participated in the bunny hop. (Right, Erin and her kids get a picture with the Easter Bunny)
They were trying to set the world record for the largest bunny hop, so we participated in that. It is hard to do the bunny hop while trying to help a little kid who doesn't know what the bunny hop is, plus I got really hot in my jacket. We didn't make the record, but it was still fun. I guess they are going to try again next year, but hopefully I won't be here to try (aka, hopefully I will have started my dream job by then).
After that we participated (well, the kids did anyway) in an egg hunt. Actually, only Zyon participated. Ginni didn't want to. (See Left, Zyon after the hunt, still looking for more eggs).

Adventures in House Sitting

I know its been a very long time since I last wrote. That is partly because I'm really busy, working two jobs. But another reason is that I never really know what to write about. This weekend, however, was really different. I house sat for one of my bosses. She has a beautiful home. I started Friday night. My boss had given me her garage door opener and I was to care for her two dogs and her cat.
Friday after I work, I drove out to her place with my friend, Colette. (Left- notice the big grin on Ginni's face? Both of the kids wanted to be as close to me as possible). We arrived with no problem, got in and let the dogs out. At the time, the cat also got out. That's not a big deal, but when it was time to get the dogs in, the cat wasn't back. We stepped outside to get the cat, and I, without thinking, shut the door behind me. I really hate those doors that open even when they are locked. I never think to unlock them. Well, we got locked outside. I left my cell phone in the house, which had my boss's cell number as well as other emergency numbers. We had no way of getting a hold of anyone, and no where to go.
This was Colette's first time ever being locked out of a house. I had to laugh, even though it was my own fault. Luckily, Colette had her phone on her, and we had the number of another lady that works at my job who was sure to have my boss's number. Unfortunately, we could not reach her. We tried calling other people, with no luck.
So, how did we get in? Luckily, the third time was the charm in reaching the first lady I mentioned. She gave us the cell number of my boss, I called her, and got the code to get in to the garage.
That night, we stayed up late playing Wii. It was a lot of fun, but made for a tired Saturday since we had to get up early. My church had a breakfast for the women starting at 7:30, so we got up for that. After breakfast, we went back out to my boss's house. I had so much energy that I was awake for a while. I got a massage in their massage chair, and then vegged in front of their projector screen TV. We watched a movie, and after that was over I fell asleep for about an hour.
Then I needed to get up again because I had a wedding to go to. (Right - Still on the couch with Zyon and Ginni). A high school friend got married. I met up with Erin so we could drive together. Erin's daughter, Ginni, was really excited to see me. She just had this big grin on her face the whole time. She wanted to sit with me, wanted me to take her potty and the likes. Erin ended up taking her potty after the ceremony and she just kept asking where I was.
The wedding was really nice. It was at a Foursquare (?) church. I've never heard of them before, so I don't really know anything about them. But the service was nice.
After the wedding, we went to the Raddisson for the reception. That would have been better if they hadn't served pork (I really don't like pork, especially pork chops like they served for this meal, though Erin told me it was really good). Still, it was good.
I went back out to my boss's house after that. I got about another hour of sleep before I had to head out to work at Walmart.
Today I ended up going to Erin's to hang out with her. Once again, Ginni was giddy to see me. The first half hour was spent with her sitting in my lap and hugging me. Every minute or so she would look at me, giggle, and then throw her arms back around me for a big hug. It was really cute. Erin asked, you just really love Rachel, don't you. Her response was a big "Yes!" with no hesitation whatsoever. Again, she had a big grin on her face. I really don't know what I did to make Erin's kids love me so much, but it's nice to know that they do.
The pictures here are from today's visit to Erin. Zyon was excited to see me, too, I think. He just didn't show it with quite as much enthusiasm as Ginni.