16 December 2010
Loved ones, near and far:
Another December. This year finds me with more snow than surf outside my window, but as always I have been richly blessed. Here’s my year, in a nutshell:
The year 2010 began with my 26th birthday and a new job at Harmonium, Inc.’s elementary after-school care program. Working with kids in an educational setting was a welcome change from four months of monotonous temp work, but as a part-time position, it also meant the job search endured. I spent some of the next five months working part-time only, and others scrambling to capture a few hours of sleep as I divided my time between elementary school kids in the daytime and watching the sun rise while answering phones as a seasonal Customer Service Representative for several online gift brands. I have learned a bit more patience with phone representatives!
After many conversations with God in 2009, I also decided to apply for the Peace Corps, so much time was spent on applying and preparing myself for that goal. Mardi Gras marked another fantastic dance opportunity as my hip-hop company, Kruciaal Element, performed in downtown San Diego. I continued dancing into the spring while training for the La Jolla Half Marathon, which I ran in great health and great spirits in April. On Easter Sunday, I experienced my first earthquake, which was exciting and luckily didn’t cause any real damage in my area. I spent free time in the spring doing some yoga, making a few more attempts at surfing, and enjoying the company of great friends, particularly through my church community and dance team. I was thrilled to celebrate my younger brother Michael’s graduation from high school by bringing him to experience a little SoCal sunshine. Shortly thereafter, my last week in San Diego included my first trip to México, where I spent a few hours meandering through Tijuana.
With some degree of sadness, I once again packed up my belongings, had a farewell pool party, and bid adieu to my roommates, friends, and the kids at my school. I was delighted, however, to return to my Cambridge home for a second summer as an Assistant Dean at Harvard Summer School. After ten months of trying to stay afloat financially and find something even slightly meaningful for work, it was strange but gratifying to be treated with the esteem and deference that I enjoy in my role there. More importantly, I again had a great staff and wonderfully motivated students, and I spent my off-hours taking advantage of the new bike share and exploring both new spots and old favorites haunts in the Boston area.
In August, I returned to Salem to reconnect, once again, with my family. I spent my first night back in a home new to me, as my parents separated during the course of the past year. I decided to live with my mom and siblings during the duration of my time here, and while that gets interesting when my boyfriend (also my sister Anne’s teacher) comes over, I have enjoyed the extra closeness this allows me with my family, particularly during this time of transition and healing. I’ve been working primarily as a substitute teacher. I miss the adventure of living in a place where everything is new to me, but I am excited to have that opportunity in the near future.
My Peace Corps assignment has changed and been delayed several times, but it now seems highly likely that I’ll be departing for the Republic of Zambia in late January 2011, living there until late spring 2013 and working in community development and rural education. I’ll miss my opportunities to see many of you over the coming two years, but I hope to write long letters and be in touch through text messages or email as much as possible. You are welcome in my hut any time!
Last year I listed, on the back of my letter, a compilation of books, music, and films that had inspired me over the course of 2009. This year, I’ll use a few of these to provide glimpses into dear moments and dear people of 2010:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and Ice Cream by Chris Dale, which narrated wonderful moments with Kelcie, the first person to show me what a caring, honest, supportive relationship feels like.
The music of Chris Dale and numerous Asian boy bands, including DBSK, which filled car rides home with my brilliant friend Lilly from the Kruciaal Element dance team, who reminded me of all the qualities I want to cultivate in myself and gave me great hope for that generation just a bit younger than my own.
Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus, as I sang it quite frequently with my students in the after-school program at Sequoia Elementary School in San Diego. While they frequently requested Justin Bieber songs, alas, I did not know any of his lyrics.
Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg (though the film is excellent as well), which filled several quiet nights back in a Harvard dorm room at the beginning of Harvard Summer School, while I entrusted the care of the dorms more fully to my staff and let a troubled, unresolved friendship fade away into the night.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, passed on from my boss, the director of the Summer School SSP (and published author) in Cambridge, which sustained me through a two-day-turned-into-three-day trip from Boston to South Dakota on a Greyhound bus.
Never Can Say Goodbye, ABC, I Want You Back, and I’ll Be There by the Jackson Five, marching-band renditions of which I heard daily from mid-August through mid-October while working as the color guard coordinator for my high school’s marching band.
Warrior King by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Nathan Sassaman, which helped me understand the paradox of being a soldier and support my brother Michael in his journey to and through basic training as an Army infantryman.
The Twilight series of films, since I’m several years behind the tide, which inspired many silly moments between my sisters and me.
When You Look Me in the Eyes and other songs by the Jonas Brothers, who made a début this Halloween (in the form of my sisters Anne, Beth, and I) in a lip-synced concert given to the poor souls who trick-or-treated at our house.
Must Have Done Something Right by Relient K, a sweet tribute from Josh, who has made this South Dakota sojourn a lot more interesting, shown me what it means to feel comfortable as a couple, and who shared with me so many moments of honesty and security. I know now what it feels like when someone cares enough to stick around!
With wishes for a new year filled with peace, joy, healing, and some good old-fashioned craziness now and then,
Dre
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