London
(Originally posted June 2011) Saturday, June 11th We left Minneapolis in the late afternoon, thanks to Erica’s ride to the airport. I planned on sleeping through the night only to realize when I got my boarding pass that we were visiting Iceland. I can now say that I’ve been to Iceland, however briefly. A…
Venezuela – Part Two
(Originally posted August 2010) Greeting from the Houston International Airport where I am sitting out a five hour layover waiting for the last leg of the journey back to Minneapolis. I’m currently enjoying a full size cup of coffee rather than the shot glass sized plastic cups I’ve been downing the past few weeks.…
Venezuela – Part One
(Originally posted August 2010) After a week of being back in Mérida, I’m settling into the routine and rhythm of a place that feels like home. It’s been four years since I’ve eaten arepa, stared out the bus window at the enormous Andes mountains or had café con leche with my Venezuelan family and…
Nicaragua – Week Three and Four
(Originally posted August, 2009) Things have gotten busy and I’ve neglected my weekly updates. In Granada I’ve been busy with the preschoolers and workshops at Los Caracolitos. I’ve made two trips to Jinotega and spent a weekend in Costa Rica with Maria. Around Granada we drove up to Catarina el mirador to see…
Nicaragua – Week Two
(Originally posted July, 2009) This week my projects are in full swing and I’m working hard to fit as much in during the time I have here in Nicaragua. I’m running several groups out of a small community center about a thirty minute walk from where I’m staying. Henry, the doctor who runs the…
Nicaragua – Week One
(Originally posted July 2009) Hello! Melony and I arrived in Nicaragua one week ago and have been having a great time since the plane landed in Managua. We’ve learned our way around Granada and are getting used to eating rice and beans at each meal. Melony has started her Spanish classes and I’m…
Back from Mexico
(Originally posted August 2008) After an amazing month at the Casa YMCA, Tijuana and a long day with Frontier Airlines, I am back home in Minneapolis. During the month of July, 163 youth passed through the Casa, some of them arrived more than once as they were unsuccessful in a second and sometimes third attempt…
Another Busy Week at the Casa YMCA – Tijuana
(Originally posted July 2008) It has been a very exciting week here at the Casa YMCA in Tijuana. Along with assisting the Casa with daily cooking/cleaning and working with the migrant youth, I have continued to work with four young adults from Mexico City as they complete a week of service at the…
Casa YMCA – Tijuana
(Originally posted July 2008) Dear Friends and Family, It’s been a year but now that I’ve been back in Mexico with new adventures, I think it’s time for an encore of the weekly update. I’ve been in Mexico for about a week at the Casa YMCA de Menores Migrantes. From the staircase of the…
Home after a Week of Goodbyes
(Originally posted August 2007) Hi Friends and Family, I’m writing this letter from my parents’ house in Madison. I arrived home yesterday afternoon. Yesterday morning, I was lucky enough to run into Kate Heideman in line at the Airport in Mexico City. Turns out we were on the same flight and everything. It was great…