Dear Friends....it has been too long....I would like to begin doing more often, shorter posts for you to enjoy. This past 5 months of silence is a bit long even for me and I"m so very eager to connect with each of you.
I've been struggling with how to do this posting as there are so many things I'd like to share with you, So here is what I have come up with; a couple of small sections below in 'bullet point form' for quick easy transfer of information. :) How does that sound? (Actually, I don't really care how it sounds, cause that is what I"m doing. So lets get started...:))
What has happened between January and May in my life? Well, let me brief you...
1. A LOT of school work and classes. Starting in mid-March we had classes almost every Saturday in addition to the classes during the week, and any week day that I was not in class I was doing my internship with UNCTAD. This means I had weeks on-end where Sunday afternoon was the only time open...to prepare for the week. Yes, I am tired.
2. Easter Break I got to go to Scandinavia!!!! [Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen- for more pictures see facebook] While it was great to be traveling again and I was blessed with clear blue skies for the full 10 days, I also had my phone stolen-- literally from right under my nose. Anyone wishing to see the actual moment of theft I have a print out from the cameras of my phone being stolen. I was also able to attend an international Easter Service in Oslo = cool!
3. I FINALLY was offered the internship at the ILO (International Labour Organization) for which I have been networking since September!! This is a long story, but the short version is that I have sent LOTS of emails to LOTS of people and took every new person's card from the ILO that I met to pester them as well. I'd had even found my way into the ILO volleyball team, as well as the weekly ILO intern presentations -prior to being offered the internship. :) When I"m motivated, I can be rather intense. The Lord is working on this with me. Hehehe....;)
The position is in the Program to Combat Child Labour and I have already been told that they are about to start a program in India for which the donor has already stated that they would like to work with IJM!!!! [For those who don't make the connection, IJM is the organization that I worked with in India for a year.]
--Did I mention that this position marks the start of my PAID work doing what I want to do with my life (human rights, anti-trafficking, development work)?!!?
4. Built my character. This is the long and the short of it. I've had some not so fun emotional times here in Geneva, but also been so very blessed by many people. As always, I could not make it through the hard times without my best friend and Savior I don't know who or what people cling to who don't know Him. I would have been a goner (so many times) without His hands to guide me.
5. Continued to juggle local activities: volleyball, indoor soccer, Bible study, studying French, Zumba classes, networking events, and testing the waters of a new 'hobby' which a friend recommended; the Toast-Masters club. As well as dealing with the future. I have a final semester back in Pittsburgh, so planning classes, return flights, applying for scholarships, etc. adds another layer of activities here.
So What have I really been learning here? Let me tell you......
1. I have had some amazing classes such as micro-finance, designing development projects, and social entrepreneurship. While I have not loved all courses equally, I am glad for all that I am learning and feel that I will have to review everything again over the summer to remember what I have 'learned'!
2. French! Yes, I am progressing. While far from capable, it is useful and I am at the point where people switch to English with me because their English is no longer better than my French. Hahah, I love competition. (Of course this is only true some of the time.)
3. Not a new lesson, but a renewed learning of how small things really do matter. A phone call from a friend, an email from my family, a note I write to a classmate, makes SUCH a difference.
For example my 'little brother' :) recently he and Morgan (his wife) bought an RV an now they are traversing the U.S. [Sorry brother if I"m spoiling your own story time.] From where I sit [several continents and an ocean away] this came out of now where,
JOYS of the road......[and end of the blog posting]
1. My parents arrive in a week! I'm so excited to see them and travel with them. My grandparents are currently crossing the Atlantic and they will arrive in Barcelona and we will all meet up for some travel time. It comes at a break in my courses and conveniently I have been able to finish my current internship the day before they arrive and have all my assignments done for the time being. So it will truly be a break and really my 'summer'. Because after that trip I will have several more courses to complete, be starting at the ILO full time until returning to Pittsburgh missing the 1st week of classes there.
2. Jamie and Lexie (brother and sister-n-law) come at the end of June into July! Yeahhhh, and so they will be around for my 'graduation'. I'm going to at least travel with them to Barcelona a city I have tried many times to visit, but as of yet have failed. It will be amazing.
3. Though my younger brother and wife (Josh and Morgan) will not be able to visit me, they have begun their own epic adventures on the U.S. continent. A few weeks ago they bought an RV and are now traversing the country. I only found out about it as they were driving their RV back to CA from purchasing it several states away and I am a bit jealous I must say for their freedom!! :) I' hope they don't mind me sharing, but I"m so very proud of them and if you want to follow their blog is: http://sunradingamerica.blogspot.ch/
[both are far superior writers than me, so it is always an enjoyable read]
4. Lastly, as of December 2013 I will no longer be a student. I will finish my 2 masters and for better or worst take steps to enter the 'real world of work'. Of course my idea of that is still to be sent to India, or central Africa, or the Middle East, but that is of course in God's hands. :)
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU!!!!
-What are the summer plans you have?
- How is this school / work year been so far?
-What have you crossed off your bucket list this year?
-How have you grown in your character in the last months?
Love and blessings as always. Until next we chat.
Jessica
I've been struggling with how to do this posting as there are so many things I'd like to share with you, So here is what I have come up with; a couple of small sections below in 'bullet point form' for quick easy transfer of information. :) How does that sound? (Actually, I don't really care how it sounds, cause that is what I"m doing. So lets get started...:))
What has happened between January and May in my life? Well, let me brief you...
1. A LOT of school work and classes. Starting in mid-March we had classes almost every Saturday in addition to the classes during the week, and any week day that I was not in class I was doing my internship with UNCTAD. This means I had weeks on-end where Sunday afternoon was the only time open...to prepare for the week. Yes, I am tired.
 |
| The Screamer painting in Oslo |
 |
| The 'IceBar' in Stockholm |
3. I FINALLY was offered the internship at the ILO (International Labour Organization) for which I have been networking since September!! This is a long story, but the short version is that I have sent LOTS of emails to LOTS of people and took every new person's card from the ILO that I met to pester them as well. I'd had even found my way into the ILO volleyball team, as well as the weekly ILO intern presentations -prior to being offered the internship. :) When I"m motivated, I can be rather intense. The Lord is working on this with me. Hehehe....;)
The position is in the Program to Combat Child Labour and I have already been told that they are about to start a program in India for which the donor has already stated that they would like to work with IJM!!!! [For those who don't make the connection, IJM is the organization that I worked with in India for a year.]
--Did I mention that this position marks the start of my PAID work doing what I want to do with my life (human rights, anti-trafficking, development work)?!!?
 |
| There's always time to have tea with friends. |
5. Continued to juggle local activities: volleyball, indoor soccer, Bible study, studying French, Zumba classes, networking events, and testing the waters of a new 'hobby' which a friend recommended; the Toast-Masters club. As well as dealing with the future. I have a final semester back in Pittsburgh, so planning classes, return flights, applying for scholarships, etc. adds another layer of activities here.
So What have I really been learning here? Let me tell you......
1. I have had some amazing classes such as micro-finance, designing development projects, and social entrepreneurship. While I have not loved all courses equally, I am glad for all that I am learning and feel that I will have to review everything again over the summer to remember what I have 'learned'!
 |
| The 'Water Jet' on Lake Geneva |
3. Not a new lesson, but a renewed learning of how small things really do matter. A phone call from a friend, an email from my family, a note I write to a classmate, makes SUCH a difference.
For example my 'little brother' :) recently he and Morgan (his wife) bought an RV an now they are traversing the U.S. [Sorry brother if I"m spoiling your own story time.] From where I sit [several continents and an ocean away] this came out of now where,
JOYS of the road......[and end of the blog posting]
1. My parents arrive in a week! I'm so excited to see them and travel with them. My grandparents are currently crossing the Atlantic and they will arrive in Barcelona and we will all meet up for some travel time. It comes at a break in my courses and conveniently I have been able to finish my current internship the day before they arrive and have all my assignments done for the time being. So it will truly be a break and really my 'summer'. Because after that trip I will have several more courses to complete, be starting at the ILO full time until returning to Pittsburgh missing the 1st week of classes there.
2. Jamie and Lexie (brother and sister-n-law) come at the end of June into July! Yeahhhh, and so they will be around for my 'graduation'. I'm going to at least travel with them to Barcelona a city I have tried many times to visit, but as of yet have failed. It will be amazing.
3. Though my younger brother and wife (Josh and Morgan) will not be able to visit me, they have begun their own epic adventures on the U.S. continent. A few weeks ago they bought an RV and are now traversing the country. I only found out about it as they were driving their RV back to CA from purchasing it several states away and I am a bit jealous I must say for their freedom!! :) I' hope they don't mind me sharing, but I"m so very proud of them and if you want to follow their blog is: http://sunradingamerica.blogspot.ch/
[both are far superior writers than me, so it is always an enjoyable read]
4. Lastly, as of December 2013 I will no longer be a student. I will finish my 2 masters and for better or worst take steps to enter the 'real world of work'. Of course my idea of that is still to be sent to India, or central Africa, or the Middle East, but that is of course in God's hands. :)
 |
| View over Bergen, Norway at night. |
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU!!!!
-What are the summer plans you have?
- How is this school / work year been so far?
-What have you crossed off your bucket list this year?
-How have you grown in your character in the last months?
Love and blessings as always. Until next we chat.
Jessica
