Friday, February 28, 2014

Alyssa's 30 Before 30 List :D

I have now been 29 for one whole week! This is my last year in my twenties and I think that should call for some time of reflection and some time to consider what I'd like my thirties to bring. I have very few qualms about turning the big 3-0. In the past 3 decades I have lived in 3 different countries, visited 9 more, received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from a great school (Go Blue!), gone bungee jumping, seen my sister get married and have the cutest child in the entire world - no bias here..., survived amoebas, learned a new language, confronted my own numerous weaknesses (still workin on these!), skied Colorado mountains, met so many amazingly beautiful people, cried, laughed, and loved countless times in the company of countless friends. And all of that being said, there's still a lot more to do and see :)

I've had a few acquaintances do a list of 30 things to accomplish before they turned 30. Not all of them started in their actual 30th year, but that just means mine have to be easily quantifiable and most of them have to be free or relatively inexpensive to make sure I can get them done in time! I have tried to make all of them things I have never done before, but some of them are tweaked so at least its a slightly new experience. I am hoping to have folks join me in most of these endeavors, so if you read over this list and see something you want to do with me, let's plan it!! Here we go:

1. Go to Peru
2. Climb a 14er
3. Explore Fort Collins
4. Get arm definition (gotta be specific here people!)
5. Do the 'incline' - hike in Colorado Springs
6. Skydive (but only if a cool spot presents itself - no need to just waste money, right?!)
7. Have a crazy LoDo girls' night
8. Hike Hanging Lake
9. Spend a fun weekend away with my sister, one with my mom, one with my dad
10. Backpack to Conundrum Hot Springs
11. Get a new job (my current position's grant funding is up in September- so this HAS to happen)
12. Start a garden
13. Do a sprint-tri
14. Go vegetarian for 10 days
15. Have 1 solo dance party/month 
16. Host a BOMB dinner party at the Logan Lodge
17. Explore two new U.S. cities
18. Buy myself a bouquet of flowers every week for one month
19. Read 6 new books & re-read a favorite
20. Learn to drive a stick shift
21. Take a road trip with someone new 
22. Spend one weekend without technology in America
23. Open a champagne bottle with a knife!
24. Go to 6 new museums/cultural spots
25. Get my 'jump' on at jumpstreet
26. Run a 1/2 Marathon
27. Try 10 new foods
28. Try 10 new beers Too easy...Modified to: Visit 10 new breweries! 
29. See 6 shows I've never seen before (live performance)
30. Learn to make a perfect martini & old fashioned 


Want to join me?!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Good To Be Back!

It’s been almost two years since I have found myself ready to jump back into the blogosphere after my unexpected and hasty departure from Mali and the Peace Corps. There was a coup d'état in Mali in March of 2012 that resulted in the evacuation of all US citizens – which included all 180 Peace Corps Volunteers. After the initial coup – which you can read more about on the Wikipedia page -  all volunteers were told to consolidate in our local capitals and wait out the decision from the US government about our future within Mali. Two weeks later we were in Accra, Ghana completing our Peace Corps ‘Transition Conference’; working on resumes, interview skills, and sitting in counseling sessions. Not a small change and not an easy time emotionally for any of us.

It took about 3 months for reality to sink in that that part of my life had finished and a new chapter needed to begin. I spent that time traveling around the US visiting family, friends, and lots of RPCVs who I could talk to about the crazy change that just happened in our lives! I wanted to find a city that felt right. A place I could push myself in new ways and feel at home and hopefully a place I could be close to nature. My list of visits included: New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Washington DC, Atlantic City, Portland, Seattle, and the two that ended up being my favorites – Denver and Baltimore. My friends and family graciously took me around to the non-touristy parts of each town so I could try – in very limited time – to get a feel for what living there would be like. In the end, Denver felt right! I moved out in August 2012 without a job or a place to call my own, but a place to stay for a month or two with family who held out open arms and provided great advice :)

I’ve been here for a year and a half now, and it feels pretty awesome. I have wonderful people around me, made some fantastic new friends, have the greatest roommates, coolest house (its also literally super cold since its ancient), and get to visit the mountains on a near weekly basis. I have found a few places that my volunteer time feels productive and inspiring, and have been working as a Community Engagement Coordinator for a little over a year now. Things are better than I would have expected after just picking up and moving while hoping for the best! There are still so many places to explore, things to do, and people to experience life with here, hence my return to my blog. My 29th birthday is coming this month and that has led to my decision to create a list of 30 things to do in my life before I enter my 4th decade in this crazy world of ours! Time to take life by the horns (once again) and get some things done that I have been wanting to do for a while…