Pope Francis is one of those well known humans that people of every faith and background can easily love. And so, I'll begin a tough subject with a quote of his, "A population that does not take care of the elderly and of children and the young has no future, because it abuses both its … Continue reading Death with Dignity
Part 3
Another Goodbye
Now, in my last week here at Queen of Peace, the end of my official gap year is fast approaching. To quote a favorite author of mine, John Green, "my thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." Dramatic, I know, but as with all of my goodbyes this one is full of mixed feelings. … Continue reading Another Goodbye
Juxtapositions
I have a bit of an obsession with juxtapositions. Being 18 years old in a home for 60+ residents means my life is constantly juxtaposed to that of most of the people I spend the majority of my time with. This is especially funny because the majority of people my age (at least Americans in … Continue reading Juxtapositions
Weekly outings
Well, I planned on sitting on a park bench in Central Park to write this but I was late for the train so I'm still in Queens. This train platform is sunny, breezy and, relatively quiet, what more could I want? Each weekend I've been going "out", usually into the city, aka Manhattan. On a … Continue reading Weekly outings
Thought conglomerate
There is a note on my phone with all the random stories and such that I think I should include in a blog post but they never seem to fit anywhere. So, welcome to the hoard of my thoughts and things I've heard: Today I was talking to a woman that's a resident here about … Continue reading Thought conglomerate
How missionary experiences changed me
I have a bonus post for you because I wrote this scholarship essay and it's too long to submit as is, but I wanted to share it before I cut it down. ... When I think about the defining events in my life one of the first to come to mind is the first mission … Continue reading How missionary experiences changed me
Take time off
When was the last time you disconnected from your phone or whatever device you don't realize you're addicted to? For me that means turning it off and putting it in another room. When was the last time you took an evening completely for yourself? If you're thinking "I need a lot more than one evening … Continue reading Take time off
Talking with Old People
First an update on my experiences, then what I really want to share with you. Such adventures I've had trying to figure out NYC's public transportation! In Belize I felt like a city girl and now I feel like a country girl. I visited the magnificent New York Public Library and wandered Bryant Park this … Continue reading Talking with Old People
Learning
If you haven't noticed, there's a common theme throughout my blog and this "year off" from my education: I'm learning a lot I learned that if someone has dementia they may remember their young life better than their current one, so ask them about growing up. It's fun to compare the childhoods of different generations … Continue reading Learning
A Whole New World
It feels as though months have passed since I was in Belize. During the week or so that I was home I got a much needed haircut and a TB skin test(I’m healthy!), signed the papers to allow a background check for my next volunteer spot, unpacked, repacked. And that’s just the boring stuff. I … Continue reading A Whole New World