shopping!?

also i have access to a 30% discount for purchases at gap/oldnavy/bananarepublic good from march 12-15. it's also a fundraiser for nonprofits. my nonprofit of choice is tfa.

here's the link.

and then I cried at the library

I was right...and I'll tell you about it if you call me.

Exceptions made only if you live in another country, and even then...

:)

do detective genes run in the family?

because my grandfather was a detective.

some big news is en route with an arrival time for sometime in the next 3.75 hours. i have not received the email, nor is the notification on the website yet, but i did check the funding page and they've already awarded me some grants and loans. so either they have a mistake in their website and accidentally let people see ahead of time OR they waste resources calculating financial aid for people who might not be accepted.

concession to opportunity

I'd been trying to finish this for a couple of months now...

I'm checking all the locks
and these keys are made of wood
all the pieces people give me
just aren't working like they should

Spinning closed, the doors
take no pain to apologize
though one gaping door remains
I'm not ready for goodbye

I step with blinded heart
a reluctant, lone escape
and commence down unlit stair
not convinced I'll find my way

Risking backward glance
I can see this wasn't mine
merely salt in pillars stacked
imitating my designs

I turn ahead to scale
a staircase wide enough for one
and in wonder ponder all
such expeditions I've begun

Interrupts spiral descent
Light so gentle yet so bold
watch, in mercy it concedes,
bends to turn these keys to gold

Now ringing in my grasp
tokens polished and so pure
keys once wooden but since changed
open thresholds to explore

101 becomes a smattering

This is my 101st published post, but that will change once I execute plans to finish some drafts and publish my mission emails. No giveaway (sorry Kristi, your idea is brilliant and I'll let it belong to you).

I have some assorted things to say.

1. I saw the sun today!

2. I am wearing a pair of black pointy dress shoes that look alike but do not match. Having learned yesterday's lesson, I chose rain boots instead of soppy warm boots for the trek through the slush. Into the purse went a pair of unfaithful shoes to change into for the workday. Shoe monogamy in my closet will hereafter be undermined. You give them an inch...

3. I no longer have a 3-year-old brother. Today I have a four-year-old brother. Life's like an hourglass glued to the table...

4. For anyone (which may be no one but me) who has spent any amount of time pondering the contradictions native to expressions of political affiliation among members of the LDS Church, as well as related historical trends, I post this link on community life from the LDS Newsroom.

little update

1. I just saw that the check for my visa application just cleared. Yesss! Time to put your flight-to-China care packages together. (What do I need to bring? Hand sanitizer? Packets of tissue/toilet paper? Guide book? Pepto bismol caplets or Tums? Hard candies to supplement the rice-and-vegetables diet? Oh yeah, and photos of family and friends.)

Just FYI, I paid for the flight with five years' careful savings of frequent flier miles. I'm not recklessly spending money I don't have. :)

2. I made a decision about where to go. I am verrrry sure about it. I'm not going to announce it right now.

..u.n.s.e.t.t.l.e.d..

I hereby solicit your comments!!!! (Read: help me!!!!) Information I can't get online which you might be able to give me:

• Strength of the Church, most particularly YSA/Institute
• Where you, with outside perspective, think I could be happiest

I have an important choice to make, and I don't know how to make it, and I don't know how to choose without any experience with the places or this kind of choice and I am on edge and yelling at the phone whenever it rings (I'm playing receptionist today) because it interrupts my thoughts. This coming Monday I have to rank my preferences for where I want to teach if I get accepted to TfA. I think my first choice is DC: I've always wanted to live there, so why not now?; there I have connections and extended family, good friends, a temple; and lest we forget, it is the seat of our national government and so stirs my passions more than anything possibly could. But I want to be prepared with other preferences.

Factors most important to me: the character of the place (whether urban/diversity/charm/community feel), a temple nearby, leadership opportunities, the presence of close friends, a YSA and church scene. Basically I want a place to belong. A shoreline is a huge deal too.

All of these places sing to me. Here's what is attracting me so far, and keep in mind that I am most interested in educational leadership and policy, not teaching, as an eventual career. From the TFA website:

New York City: HUGE professional development opportunities

Chancellor Klein has called upon Teach For America alumni to take on even greater school leadership roles, including helping to fill some of the several hundred projected principal vacancies in the coming years. Many Teach For America alumni have assumed leadership roles at all levels of the school system — from leading traditional public schools and starting public charter schools, to assuming administrative roles within the Department of Education. Currently, over 100 Teach For America alumni serve as superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and principals-in-training in New York City, and many more serve in key leadership roles in district offices. 58% of placements are in secondary schools. Average Beginning New York City Teacher Salary: $45,530

Connecticut: close to Boston (you're my home); low barriers to teaching

Life in Connecticut offers corps members both the excitement and vibrancy of a metropolitan area and the distinct pleasures of small-town New England (I don't want to leave New England!!!). The benefits of small-city living also include many opportunities to become deeply involved in our communities; corps members serve on district and city committees, join non-profit boards, participate in local politics and quickly become significant leaders in the reform movements in the region. Being a part of the Connecticut education system right now is very special. TfA Connecticut is a state-approved Alternate Route to Certification (meaning I don't have to get a Master's degree in teaching, ew). All Connecticut corps members are required to either pass the PRAXIS I series in reading, writing and mathematics or secure a waiver if they received a score that was an 1100 or higher on the SAT or 22 or higher on the ACT (apparently I pass the PRAXIS already if I go to CT, big bonus). Beginning Teacher Salary: around $40,000.

Charlotte: doesn't the Queen City sound like an appropriate place for me? Sounds like a BRILLIANT quality of life.

Charlotte uniquely blends both urban and rural aspects of Northern and Southern living. (Wow! A collision of all wonderful things!) In 2008, a four million dollar gift enabled Charlotte to nearly double the size of its corps, becoming Teach For America’s second fastest growing region. Money magazine recently rated Charlotte one of the top ten places to live in America. All licensure courses at UNCC are available at no cost to the corps members (!!!!!!!!!!). Beginning Teacher Salary: $34,386

Jacksonville: opportunity to build community; low barrier to teaching because I don't have to be professionally certified; goodbye winter

There will be numerous chances for new Jacksonville corps members to assume corps leadership positions in the region's second year. Recent charter corps members have valued the unique experience of leading Teach For America's movement in a new area of the country. Forbes magazine often ranks this southern hub as of one of the top 10 cities to relocate to and find a job. Water sports at award winning beaches. The Jacksonville community—including prominent district, community, and business leaders—welcomes corps members and is vocal about its support of Teach For America. In addition to building partnerships with the school and community leaders (networking and building relationships is what I do best), *Something wonderful about Florida is I don't need to be certified to teach) Beginning Teacher Salary: $37,000

Miami: Adventuresome; pretty much Caribbean; confronting; I bet I can learn Spanish

Miami-Dade is a community where over 40 percent of the population earns less than $18,000 a year. Such contrasts define the Miami-Dade school system as well,
Upon moving to Miami-Dade, corps members quickly witness the incredible range of opportunities available for them to embrace and take on – from immersing themselves in the culture of Little Haiti to exploring the treasures of the everglades and the agricultural lifestyle of South Dade, to identifying the Caribbean and Latin influence in the dining and arts worlds. In Miami-Dade, corps members are immersed in an incredibly rich, vibrant community and in turn become catalysts for a powerful change in the academic prospects of their students. (This actually sounds REALLY cool) The Miami-Dade County Public School System (M-DCPS) is the country's fourth largest. A free certification program offered through M-DCPS. In addition, corps members interested in school leadership are able to enroll in a master's degree program at Florida International University and follow a track leading to administrator certification (This is what I want to do anyway, but I was thinking I'd do it at Harvard or another top 10 school.) Beginning Teacher Salary: $38,000

Chicago: I just like it

Chicago has long been a leading source of American innovation. During the warm months, Chicagoans are rarely inside. Over the next five years, the size of the Chicago corps is expected to double — further increasing our impact in Chicago. I LOVE Chicago and my anima gemella (soulmate) best friend Shove lives there...but she lives with a guy so we can't be roommates. The danger is the possibility of being placed in Gary, Indiana.

Baton Rouge: COMMUNITY and a new culture and close to New Orleans and oh-so-needy

Despite being a city of 750,000 people, Baton Rouge is a city of neighborhoods – and no matter where you choose to live during your time here, you will be a part of a neighborhood culture unique among all the others. Life in South Louisiana is not life in one of the major American cities – and that is one of its strengths. While Baton Rouge is large enough to offer city-style conveniences, you can still take comfort in the fact that the environment is friendly and personable. The time it takes to travel across town is not only manageable, but if you have a bike it’s 30 minutes. As fierce as the pride is in South Louisiana communities, it never acts as a barrier to newcomers. In fact, South Louisianans are so proud of their towns and culture that they are eager to bring you in and share their recipes, their church pews, and their latest crop of sweet potatoes (this is so sweet!). Enter a South Louisiana community, and you are immediately not merely a neighbor, but a member of the family. Just days after moving in, expect phone calls, notes, or care packages. In the blistering heat or blustery storms, expect check-ins from “parents” around town. South Louisiana is desperate, but never depressed. Its people and its culture exude hope, happiness, and ease of life. Corps members in South Louisiana form fierce friendships. The contagious porch-culture affects even the non-natives who join us here. Many corps members hold leadership roles at their schools. Some continue working in their communities after the two years as teachers and school leaders, as students in the numerous graduate programs, as leaders at local nonprofit organizations, think tanks, universities, and businesses.

Washington DC: Savanna's obvious choice; More risk of small fish-big pond; lots of like-minded young Mormons :)

One of the most vibrant metropolitan areas in the country, the D.C. Region retains a Southern charm and offers its own intellectual stimulation, social activities, and incredibly diverse population. D.C. Region corps members serve mainly in two large school districts; the District of Columbia Public Schools and Prince George’s County Public Schools

If you really read all this, I think you get a prize (conditional upon your granting me advice). Give me your address! :)

reeducation

I just got this email from my dad:

"Can you email Alise? [My 13-year-old sister, in 8th grade] She is wondering why Social Studies is even necessary to study and breathes 'I hate it' under her breath."

Haha, so do I reform her or shun her?

:) just kidding.

don't tell Joe McCarthy

I'm going to China in a little less than a month to visit my trainer and first two converts from my mission. I'm getting pretty excited about my first visit to a communist country. My favorite parts about the State Department's description of China (make sure you read the one about crowds who gather to pose as a jury after "incidents"):

*Political power remains centralized in the Chinese Communist Party.

*Visitors are expected to register with the police within 24 hours of arrival in China. Americans planning on staying in private homes with family or friends must go to their local police station to register. (I didn't know that until just now. Thanks DOS.)

*American citizens should be aware that, in some areas, natural gas is not scented to warn occupants of gas leaks or concentrations. In addition, heaters may not always be well vented, thereby allowing excess carbon monoxide to build up in living spaces. Due to fatal accidents involving American citizens, travelers are advised to ensure all gas appliances are properly vented or to install gas and carbon monoxide detectors in their residences. These devices are not widely available in China and should be purchased prior to arrival.

*Security personnel may at times place foreign visitors under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms, including computers, may be searched without the consent or knowledge of the traveler.

*Business disputes in China are not always handled through the courts. Sometimes the foreign partner has been held hostage, threatened with violence, or beaten up.

*Pickpockets target tourists at sightseeing destinations, open-air markets, airports, and in stores, often with the complicity of low-paid security guards.

*Arguments with taxi drivers over fares or over choice of route usually are not easily resolved on the scene. In some cases, Americans who instigate such arguments have been detained for questioning and have not been released until the fare is paid or a settlement is reached and the American offers an apology.

*Relationship fraud via the Internet is also a growing industry. While many Chinese citizens are sincere in their desire to marry and live with Americans they meet over the Internet, some are not. It is important to remember that immigrant visas to the United States are viewed by many Chinese as having a great deal of value, and it is not uncommon for people to enter into relationships for the sole purpose of obtaining a visa. Unfortunately, the Embassy is unable to carry out investigations of relationships of this sort, but all Americans are urged to approach such Internet relationships with caution, and to be wary of situations which appear similar to that described above. (And to think I had hopes of some agency to be responsible for investigating the legitimacy of my relationships...)

*China has a system similar to "911" in the United States which the Chinese can use to contact police or other emergency services. Americans can call 110 while in China to reach this service; however, there are few to no English speakers working for this hotline.

*Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment. Injured or seriously ill Americans may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive. Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations.

*Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in China. (I guess I'll have to get tested when I get home...I guess I should, since I never did when I got home from Australia. I wonder why my stake pres never got after me for that.)

*There have been increasing numbers of foreigners coming to China to receive procedures prohibited in the United States relating specifically to stem-cell research. Any person contemplating these treatments should be fully aware of the risks of such procedures. The treatments can be dangerous and untested. The results are not guaranteed. In many instances, patients going for treatment develop secondary infections that cannot be handled by these facilities. They are transferred to hospitals for treatment and are responsible for all additional costs, including repatriation back to the United States. In some cases, these treatments have resulted in death.

*The rate of traffic accidents in China, including fatal accidents, is among the highest in the world. Driving etiquette in China is still developing. As a result, traffic is often chaotic, and right-of-way and other courtesies are often ignored. Travelers should note that cars and buses traveling in the wrong lanes frequently hit pedestrians and bicyclists.

*The number of American citizens involved in serious and deadly traffic accidents in Beijing is increasing.

This one is probably my favorite:
*Most incidents (such as an accident) will draw a crowd. Drivers should remain calm. A crowd will usually move in very close to the accident and participants. In many cases the bystanders consider themselves to be an ad hoc jury. They may call for money, usually from RMB 100 to 1,000, to be paid by the party they consider at fault. The amount is not necessarily relevant to the amount of damage. A certain amount of bargaining is normal, even at accidents involving two Chinese parties. If a traffic police booth is nearby, you may wish to leave the vehicle and walk there to await the arrival of the police accident team [to hide from the crowd]. Alternatively, you may walk to a shop, restaurant, or other location nearby in the immediate vicinity and wait for police.Your vehicle should not leave the scene of an accident. Your actions may serve to further incite the crowd if they perceive that you are fleeing to evade responsibility for your share of blame or payment of damages. The crowd may attempt to keep your vehicle at the accident scene by standing in the way or blocking the roadway with vehicles, bicycles and other objects.

*Chinese customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from China of items such as antiquities, banned publications, religious literature (which may be imported for the visitor’s personal use only) [I knew this by word of mouth but it's interesting to read it in print]

*Non-American foreigners have been executed for drug offenses.

*Several Americans have been detained and expelled for passing out non-authorized Christian literature. Sentences for distributing this material may range from three to five years' imprisonment. (I'll leave my treasured pass-along cards at home.)

They called me "promising"

These unbelievable, blessed words just arrived in my email inbox:

"Congratulations! It is with pleasure that I invite you to TFA's interview day. We enjoyed learning about you in your application and would appreciate the opportunity to meet you in person. You have advanced directly to the final interview stage and will not be participating in a phone interview."

Know what this means? I get to skip the phone interview, which was going to be absolutely the weakest part of my application.

Know what else this means???? Consider this from their website:

"The most promising applicants are invited to a final, day-long interview...most applicants are required to participate in a phone interview before advancing to the final interview."

This means I am one of the most promising applicants.

I could have written only this:
Hal-le-LU-jah!

the awkward violin

My sister just sent this video to me. I need to password protect our home videos!
Summer or early autumn, 1995. I was 10. So funny.

Adding a soundtrack to Celeste's softball game