Good things come to those who wait

Many exciting things have been happening these past few weeks.
First off, I got accepted into graduate school! I'm going to be pursuing a Master's part-time starting in the fall.
I was accepted to George Washington University's Higher Education Administration program with a focus on international ed, but am also in the process of applying to American University's International Training and Education Program. My ultimate goal is to begin working in study abroad at a university or college, or at a foundation working in international academic exchanges. I'd really like to be a study abroad advisor, helping students travel abroad and helping international students acclimate to the US. For me it would be a great combination of things I like: international affairs/relations, counseling/working with people one-on-one, possibly traveling? and working in a university environment (it would feel like home...that's because I grew up in a college town).

Or who knows! Maybe someday I will have my own study abroad program and get to do site visits around the world. :-P We shall see where this fork in the road takes me!

I've been volunteering more and more with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, working at dog adoption events and meeting transports to get adopted and fostered dogs handed over to their new families. It makes me so happy to see these animals placed in good homes; plus, people are elated when they get to meet the newest member of their family.

Typically the people that would say this don't do any volunteer work themselves, but sometimes I get asked why I would choose to volunteer for an animal-rescue organization, as opposed to volunteering for an orphanage or at a soup kitchen or some other organization that helps people instead of animals (and for the record I have volunteered at organizations that help people).

My mom, who also picks up a lot of stray animals and tries to place them in good homes, has also gotten this remark as well, and my answer is quite simple: it doesn't matter where you give your time, as long as your heart is in it, and as long as you make a difference to someone. The dogs and cats that we rescue are going to bring a lot of joy into their adopter's life, perhaps someone who has never known the kind of unconditional love that an animal is capable of giving. And the animal in turn is going to benefit from having a loving family.

Being more humane towards animals is good for society as a whole. Have you noticed that the most-developed nations typically already have a system in place for animal welfare, whether it is veterinary care, humane societies, ASPCAs, and animal rescues? (it makes sense: you can't begin to address the welfare of animals in a country where the people are dying of hunger).

The HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) doesn't just advocate for cute little furry kittens and puppies. A lot of their work involves preventing cruelty towards farm animals - and after reading Fast Food Nation and Omnivore's Dilemma, and learning about the kind of work HSUS does, I have been much more conscious of the kinds of meat I eat. Did you know for example that grass-fed cows actually only spend two-thirds of their lives out in the pasture and the rest in a feedlot? Apparently "grass-finished" cows are the ones that spend their entire lives living the way cows are meant to live - out in an open pasture, able to roam and graze freely. If I'm going to eat meat, I have to be accepting of the fact that an animal died for my consumption, and as far as I'm concerned that animal should have had the best life possible (not to mention that the meat from happy cows and pigs is probably much better for your health).

But I digress...
I'm also very excited to be going home for Easter. Yes, it's sleepy old Davidson, whose Main Street hasn't changed in 25 years, and where people leave their doors unlocked, but it's very comforting to be home, and I love North Carolina in the springtime. Also, I get to get away from DC drivers for 4 days.

Jacques and I, after almost signing a lease for a new, larger apartment near American University, have decided to stay in our cheaper, smaller place near Georgetown in order to save some cash and (maybe?) buy a place in the area! Prices seem to have gone down a little. Granted, it would probably be a 1-bedroom condo, this is still the DC market we're talking about! Home-ownership, meeee? Who would have thunk it. The first thing I'm doing if and when we move is get a dog and cat!!!

Finally one more exciting piece of news, my dear friend Nathalie from France, who was one of my bridesmaids, is going to be visiting me the week of my birthday in May! I am definitely throwing a party. We're also probably going to the Big Apple for a few days.

Hooray for all these good things. Toodles!