Back to School

I've said goodbye to the long hot days of summer, patrolling the interactive salt marsh for signs of spider-crab abuse, and explaining AGAIN and AGAIN that no, the horseshoe crab will not stab, sting, bite, pinch or otherwise harm you with his tail or any other body parts. As much as I love my job at the aquarium, I was beginning to feel burnt out because of how rushed and jam-packed my summer had been, so I am eager to return next summer with a fresh outlook.

So now, as my second week of junior year (yikes!) is wrapping up, I finally feel like I'm starting to settle back into the rhythms of collegiate life. I'm all settled into my new apartment (sorry to all of the Toscanini friends I abandoned, but I really like living in West!), and I've only eaten campus food twice (and those two times were because I went out with people to get food)!

This year is going to be a lot different in a lot of ways, but I'm excited for the changes! I am one of those people who gets bored by routine (which is probably why running/exercising never really worked for me), and I am really excited because all of these changes will help me work towards my independence and my career in veterinary medicine.

The hardest part about the change will be seeing less of people who I am used to seeing almost every day, and budgeting my time so that I do get to spend time with everyone! Does anyone else ever feel like they're spread too thin socially? I'm not saying I think I'm super popular by any means, but I find myself revolving around a few core groups of friends, with some overlapping events, but otherwise all existing in separate spheres.

Sometimes, I feel like more than one person. It's not that I'm fake, or putting on a front when I hang out with different people, but different facets of my personality become stronger or subtler, depending on who I'm hanging out with. I truly enjoy all of the things I do with my free time- from riding my horse, to going to social events, to watching Doctor Who, playing boardgames, or even just roaming around campus and being spontaneous- but I find that I fall into a pattern as to what friend group I do each of those things with. I guess everyone does this to some extent, but sometimes I feel like I don't have the ability to give each friend the attention, time, and friendship that everyone deserves. It's no wonder I don't have a boyfriend right now- I can barely juggle all of the friends and acquaintances that are already in my life!

So if you ARE reading this, and you ARE one of my friends, I'll say it right now- I'm sorry if we don't hang out as much as you'd like, I truly WANT to spend time with everyone, but there are only so many hours in the day, and I do have classes and homework and responsibilities to attend to. There's a reason I named this blog "Far Too Much."

So in that spirit, I'm just letting life take me where it will (which, as of right now, seems to point at Ecuador, Honduras, Ghana, and possibly Costa Rica again in the upcoming year). I just found out that my school offers some anthropology credits in Costa Rica over the winter, and so that might be my plan for the winter of senior year, because I'd love to learn some more about the CULTURE of Costa Rica, being that most of my current knowledge is about its ecological diversity.

If you'd like to learn more about my work in Honduras (and now Ghana), or even donate- every dollar helps!, please visit my fundraising pages:
Honduras
Ghana

You are welcome to make a donation on my behalf (to help with my personal program fee/expenses/fundraising goal) OR a general donation to the entire group, which would help cover medical supplies and other materials needed for the brigades. If you can't or don't want to donate at this time, please consider a random act of kindness just because giving feels so good!

"Summer blows away...

And quietly gets swallowed by a wave..."
-The Decemberists

For whatever reason, the Decemberists always remind me of winter. Maybe it's because I first discovered that I liked them during the winter; maybe it's the fact that they're called the "DECEMBERists," but their songs always make me think of brisk fall days and cold, rainy, rocky beaches with pounding waves.

That's not to say that I don't listen to them in the summer (quite the contrary- I find them to be great "cooldown" music if I've been out in the sun too long!), but I just find it interesting that even in songs that have no mention of seasons or weather, I always imagine a chilly northern town, and there are often clouds in the sky.

This, along with their generally melancholy lyrics, has caused me to feel really sad/wistful/nostalgic lately when I hear them, because they remind me that summer is almost over and it will soon be time to trade my aquarium-issued polo, khaki shorts, and tevas for scarves, hoodies, and cozy flannel shirts. I used to think that I was a "seasons" kind of person- enjoying the different weathers for their unique qualities, but I learned this past summer that I am much better adapted for warm-weather living than cold. I used to be the type that was always arguing with my mom about the temperature in the house- she being invariably cold, and wanting to turn off the A/C or at least turn up the temperature. But now, being in air conditioning makes me shiver, and I spent all day at work today with a long-sleeved shirt under my sleeveless polo, and long khaki pants in lieu of my usual shorts.

It makes me thankful that I had the wonderful foresight to book myself another 3-week neotropical excursion this winter, and I'm pretty sure I will only make it through the winter by clinging to this idea. Hopefully I'm wrong, and my body will re-adapt to the fierce winds and freezing temperatures of my college campus, but I think I'll be bringing along lots of scarves and hoodies to school, just in case.

I guess this post doesn't have much of a point, except to express my sadness at summer's passing. I'm excited for the new semester and the opportunities it will bring, but after experiencing such a magical summer, it's difficult to let go and let the wave swallow me, as well. For now, I'll be clinging to those rocky shores of summer until I have no choice but to surrender my grip and let the winter take me where it will.

Pico the Japanese Macaque (aka Snow Monkey), who is looking forward to winter much more than I am!

Horse-Crazy? Or Just Crazy...

Today I had the day off from work. Rather, I specifically requested to have the day off. The reason? There was a horse show, and after so much traveling I am cramming to get back in shape in time for the Hampton Classic at the end of the month! Sounds reasonable right? Well, let me tell you how my day went.

First, after a not-so-great-night's sleep (dog barking at 2AM), I woke up a full hour earlier than I have to for work. 6:00AM isn't TOO bad on a normal night's sleep, but this was a bit much. Then, I left my house a full hour and a half before I have to for work, and proceeded to spend all day (all hot, humid, sticky day) walking around outside in long pants, leather boots, a long-sleeved shirt, and a wool coat. As if that weren't ENOUGH to make this sound crazy, add the fact that in the afternoon when I was showing, it started raining. Oh, and food? Who has TIME for food at a horse show? I went all day on just my early morning oatmeal, a cup of fruit salad, and half of a granola bar (the other half went to the real star of the day, Hero!). Add in the fact that I got home a full hour later than I would from work, and then factor in the idea that I was spending money rather than making it, and this whole picture could seem a little puzzling to a non-horse person.

But you know what? I loved EVERY minute of it. Hero was, like I said, the true shining star of the day, living up to his name by faithfully carrying me around even though it was only my 4th time riding since I got back! And that's what it's all about to me- the bond I share with this absolutely remarkable animal.

When I got home, hungry and tired from a long day, I whipped up some fresh-picked tomato and basil pasta. The tomatoes were amongst the sweetest, ripest tomatoes I've ever had, and all-in-all, it was the perfect way to end the day (plus, it was quick and easy to make!). Since my recent transition to weekday veganism (to help with my self control, I allow myself to indulge on egg and dairy products on weekends), I've had to be even more creative and selective about what I eat than usual, but tonight's meal was a nice throwback to old times- a meal I've been enjoying since I was old enough to chew solid food! I will admit, I didn't have the appreciation for tomatoes then that I do now, but even so, this dish is a better comfort food to me than the traditional mac-n-cheese or other fatty greasy dishes (it's a good thing since that I don't eat cheese, usually).

So although my day today was unconventional to say the least, and would not even fall on the radar for most people's definitions of a "good day," I can express nothing but gratitude and contentment at the way things have turned out, today and also just in my life in general!

Whirlwind Summer

Wow, I can't believe it's August already! With all of my traveling, my summer has absolutely flown by, and now that I'm working 4 days a week, it certainly isn't slowing down any.
Costa Rica was an absolutely magical experience for me- I had so many amazing experiences there I can't even think of how to sum it up here. Luckily, I kept a journal, so in the future I will probably post some excerpts from that.

Part of our trip included a day tour at Fundacion Santuario Silvestre de Osa, a wonderful little wildlife sanctuary that has had tremendous success in the rehabilitation and release of animals such as scarlet macaws, several species of monkey, and even top predators like ocelots. The owner, Carol, is an inspiration, and was a very lovely woman to talk to. To learn more, visit their website here.

It's weird to think that less than a month ago, I was living with virtually no internet, absolutely no cell phone, and allowing my sleep patterns to follow those of the primates we were studying- early to bed and early to rise! It's really quite astonishing, how quickly we can assimilate back into both the perks and the drawbacks of this modern life.

The rest of my summer entails working long hours and trying to find a balance between the easy rhythm of tropical rainforest life and the hustle and bustle of suburbia. I'll be sure to post my progress here, although I can't guarantee any degree of regularity with posts- sometimes I just get sick of the internet and need a break.

A Journey of A Thousand Miles...

Begins with a plane ride to Honduras!

Last week was the beginning of what I like to call "my year of super adventures," as I made my way to Honduras with a group of 39 students and 2 doctors to try and make a difference in the lives of rural villagers who have no regular access to healthcare.

The organization that we worked through is called Global Brigades, and their claim to fame is the fact that all of the brigades are entirely student-run. We paid a set program fee to Global Brigades which covered our lodging, food, transportation, and helped to buy medications/pay doctors, but we were responsible for gathering medications, contacting doctors, and otherwise setting up our clinic.

On the day of our arrival, and our first full day in Honudras, we spent a majority of our time getting accustomed to our surroundings and sorting through the medications and donations we had received. We learned that our brigade leader, Quique (who also happens to be a cofounder of the organization as a whole), was actual an orphan as a child, growing up through the very system of orphanages with which Global Brigades is associated (La Sociedad Amigos de los Ninos).

We visited the orphanage that was located on our compound, and it was a truly uplifting and inspiring experience. Whereas I went in expecting some sort of Annie-like scenario, with forlorn children mourning the absence of fun in their lives, I was met with a group of eager, excited, playful, and overall HAPPY looking children. Although their living conditions would fail to pass the standards of most American couch-potatoes that I know, these kids did not want for anything in terms of food, shelter, care, or love, and they seemed to have a perfectly good time running around outside with one another.

After the orphanage, we enjoyed some of the freshest, ripest mangoes I've ever tasted- by hiking to a mango grove and eating them directly off of the trees! It was a really magical way to connect with nature, and I'm convinced that besides the obvious impact of the freshness, the flavor of the mangoes was influenced by the entire experience of picking and eating them ourselves.

The next 3 days were the days that everyone was looking forward to- the medical brigade! We made our 2-hour commute every morning to the rural village of Santa Maria, and split our ranks up into several stations- triage, consultations, dental, pap smears, and pharmacy. My favorite station was the pharmacy because it was where I felt most helpful- running around filling patients' prescriptions and matching ages and genders with the various clothing/toy donations we were giving out. It was fast paced and exciting work, and the days really flew by. During breaks, we played with the local children, blowing up balloons and playing catch with a little football that someone had brought.

Over three days, we saw and treated a total of 1164 patients- a number that all of us were immensely proud of. As true as it may be that putting in effort to help just one or two people is always worth it, just the idea that a group of 41 people from different backgrounds could come together to help such an astonishing volume of people still amazes me when I think about it now.

It was a bittersweet journey home, leaning more towards the bitter, at least in my opinion. To me, it felt like I had just gotten warmed up into the ways of helping out. I have decided to return to Honduras next year during my spring break as a part of the Global Medical Brigade, with many of the people that I met this year. And between now and then, I hope to seek out other opportunities to help improve the lives of others.

More Food!

This time, it's dinner!

What is it about being at home that makes me want to cook so much? Maybe it's my way of thanking my parents for everything they do for me... or maybe it's a convenient way to avoid doing other things, like unpacking my dorm stuff, or packing for my summer adventures.

Regardless, I seem to have been bitten by the cooking bug as of late, so today I decided to create a recipe for vegetarian dumplings to use up the wonton wraps I bought the other day. After skimming the internet, and not really finding anything that jumped out at me, I decided to just wing it, as is my usual style (especially when it comes to dinner- I'm more cautious with baking because that's a more scientific venture).

First, I marinated some chopped up extra-firm tofu in a concocted solution of teryaki sauce, orange juice, rice vinegar, and some pepper. While that was soaking, I chopped up some carrots, red pepper, and spinach, and my dad was kind enough to start up a pan with some sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Eventually, all of the ingredients found their way to that pan, and I let them simmer for a while to soak up all of the flavors. I threw in some corn starch to thicken everything up, and then I got to work wrapping up the dumplings.


My dad helped (thankfully!), and although it was rough at first, eventually we came up with a folding system that worked efficiently.

After a short time in the oven, dinner was served. The rest of my family was having steak (yuck!) but I was more than happy to munch on my little creations with some Trader Joe's Gyoza dipping sauce. The result earned a seal of approval from both my mom and my tofu-hating dad, so I'd consider that a success.



Next time, I'd probably brush the shells with a little oil before baking because the edges got a little dried out, but baking was definitely a viable method, as the result was crispy without all of the grease associated with frying. I'm also interested in experimenting with other fillings, but I have yet to go wrong with the tangy orange-soy combination that I use in almost all of my Asian dishes.

I'd also consider cooking the tofu before I make the filling to firm it up a little better (for a vegetarian of 2+ years, I'm pretty inexperienced with cooking tofu because I love veggies so much, I haven't found the need to add much tofu to my diet).

I'm hoping that I can keep up the motivation to cook throughout the summer (when possible), and into the fall semester, when I'll have an on-campus apartment with a kitchen. Hopefully I'll be able to add a Latin-American flare to my cooking with some Honduran and Costa-Rican inspired flavors after my upcoming trips.

In other news, I got an email from the coordinator for my Ecuador/Galapagos Islands trip in Winter 2012, confirming my enrollment, and I got really excited! Hopefully I'll find the time to finish the two books on the top of my list right now- The Origin of Species and The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin. That's what summer is supposed to be about, right? Relaxing and catching up on stuff you put off during the year? The only problem is that my schedule seems to get even BUSIER during the summer months! There's just never enough time for anything!

Healthy Blondies?

After a whirlwind weekend of visiting friends, finishing up finals, and moving out of my dorm room, when I finally got home this afternoon, I needed to do something to relax. Since I really enjoy cooking/baking, I thought it would be nice to make something for my parents to come home to (and for me to enjoy, as well!), so I decided on an intriguing recipe I read about online recently:

Chocolate Chip Blondies

As a part of CCK's "Hug A Vegan Dessert" Extravaganza

Now, if you know anything about me, you know that I have difficulty following recipes exactly, partially because I rarely have all of the proper ingredients, and partially because I like to experiment. In these, I didn't have any chick peas, so I used cannelini beans instead, and I subbed out the brown sugar with 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup of oatmeal. I also replaced the 1/4 cup flax with oatmeal because I didn't have any flax on hand either.

I was hesitant to taste the batter, as I had just watched myself mash up a can of beans into a bowl of peanut butter, sugar, and various other dessert ingredients, and was a little weirded-out by the whole process. So when a smudge got on my finger, I took it as a sign and quickly licked it off, trying to pretend it was normal batter. I soon found out that the pretending was unnecessary, because they tasted absolutely delicious! Excited to try the finished product, I quickly spooned the mix into a mini muffin pan, and threw them in the oven to bake.

My mom came home before they were done, and since I had told her about the recipe previously, I decided not to hide the true nature of the blondies from her (plus, my mom doesn't much care for dessert, so telling her they were healthy would make it MORE likely for her to try some).

The finished product.

After they had cooled, we popped two out of the pan and dug in. I, having already approved the batter, had no trepidations and finished mine rather quickly, but my mom was a little hesitant. "I'm a little scared to eat this," she said, "knowing what it's made of." After seeing how quickly I had eaten mine, she got over her fear pretty quickly, and with just one bite she was in love, and we began brainstorming the flavor possibilities.

So my life lesson of the day is to be adventurous and push the boundaries of society, because who knows, you may just find something you really like. As for me, I plan on trying to sneak healthy things into my desserts more often, and to unleash my trickery onto unsuspecting friends and family members, starting tonight with my dad and a mini-muffin blondie.

A close-up texture shot:

Who would know that this wasn't a normal dessert?