What the World Eats

One of my friends posted this on facebook this morning. Absolutely fascinating.

What the World Eats, Part 1

colors

This is why I must always live in a town where the leaves change colors. The leaves change earlier up here in Minnesota than they do in Ohio. Now, two weeks after I took these pictures, most of the leaves have fallen. They're just reaching peak color in Ohio.

I feel more alive in the fall. I just wish the vivid reds and oranges and yellows lasted longer.

confession

I spent entirely too much money on a pair of new shoes, but they are chacos and they are oh so comfortable. I could live in them and that is saying a lot for a closed toe shoe.

{l}

after 2 weeks

St. Cloud is one of those places that I have a hard time describing. It's a college town with a downtown on the smaller side. It's a city that feels suburban. I told my dad that it's how I imagine Youngstown in the 1950s and 60s. People here are nice.

I'm working for Lutheran Social Service in a program that resettles refugees. Most of the refugees that I work with are from Somalia. A few are from Iraq. In my one week on the job, I've registered a kid for school, spent hours at social security administration registering people, went to an eye doctor appt. with someone, and filled out countless forms. It's one of those jobs that is different every day. I love that. After spending almost 2 years working at a desk for 8 hours a day, this is a welcomed change of pace.

I'm also learning the bus system. I don't have a car here so my main mode of transportation is either the bus or by foot. I'm frustrated that my place of work is at the end of the bus route so I have an extra long (almost an hour) commute in the morning. If I had a car, it'd take me less than 10 minutes. The other 4 volunteers in my program don't have cars either.

Sometimes I have moments when I think, "holy crap. I'm living in Minnesota" and then I go back to my regular life of trying to help refugees or cooking dinner with the other volunteers.

Home for the next 10 months

Mississippi River by the campus of St. Cloud State University.

This Mississippi River is about a 10 minute walk from my house in St. Cloud - my new home - where I'm spending the next 10 months engaged in a volunteer program.

always a good option

{l}

more recently

Spent a weekend in Monroe, MI where I met some lovely people.

River House in Monroe. This is where I stayed. It overlooked the River Basin.
I'd love to go back and spend more time.

Drive home on the turnpike from Monroe.

I spent a week hanging out with these dogs (Cayleigh (L) and Maggie (R)).
Needless to say, I'm really not a dog person.