Saturday, July 30, 2011

Israel

... Is better told through pictures. So visit my album, where instead of a long, long blog entry, I've broken down my trip in captioned bits.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100170805526206.2524437.5515657&l=068d3f21b5&type=

That should be open to viewing by all.
If the link doesn't work, let me know!

Peace and love,
Tori

Friday, July 1, 2011

June in Review

The last time I wrote, I was living a different life. Since then:

- School is over.
- My time as a Teach For America Corps member is done.
- I received my first ever C+ in a college course, which I totally deserved for slacking off so much at the end of the year.
- I completed my master's degree anyways, so who cares.
- I went to a ball at the French Embassy.
- I went to a Kenny Chesney concert. And A Mumford and Sons concert.
- I got certified in the State of Maryland, and soon the District of Columbia as a Spanish teacher for life.
- Two of my best friends moved away. Betsy is in New York teaching at Uncommon schools. Kate is in Denver working for Senator Johnston.
- Meredith and I bid adieu to 1368 E Capitol St. and our front -yard view of the capitol.
- Meredith and I moved 10 blocks closer to the Capitol. So we can't see it anymore, but we can walk to it in 5 minutes.
- I got my first-ever plaque as a thank you for my time at Gwynn Park.
- I hung my first-ever plaque in my first- ever office (yep, I said office. It has a window. And a door. And a leather high-back chair) at my new job. See photo!


- I started my new job, working in Development at the Center For Education Reform.
- I now officially take the 8:15 into the city.
- I had my first- ever phone call with a billionaire. He owns a little chain of stores called "The Gap" and happens to love education reform.

There's more. There's so much more. In the last month, my life has turned upside-down. And frankly, I haven't accepted all the changes yet. I keep thinking my friends will walk in the door any minute. I wake up a bit startled every morning with the feeling I'm on vacation and borrowing a guest room somewhere. My job just feels like a summer internship. But this is life 2.0 ... This is how it will be indefinitely.

That's not to say 2.0 is bad. It's just very, very different. And it all happened so fast! On Friday, I was at Gwynn Park sitting in a circle of highschoolers talking about boys. On Monday, I was on the metro to Bethesda wearing a business suit and reviewing donor lists. One week I live in a house. Now I live in an apartment!

Life 2.0 is full of blessings. I really couldn't ask for anything better- I'm working in the line of work I love, for a cause I believe in, with hilarious coworkers and a beautiful office. I've got a gorgeous apartment and a roommate I love and a social life I wouldn't trade for the world. Soon the stress of this transition will melt away and life will feel normal again. And probably just as I'm feeling settled, it will be off to Israel!

Peace and Love.