When I arrived back in the DR from my trip home, I slipped back into a rhythm of midday work and evening walks to the estadio in the days leading to my birthday. Books edit suggestions consumed my thoughts most days as we moved through the copyediting stage. This was the middle of the month. January began in NYC surrounded by my closest friends and ended with a once-in-my-lifetime birthday celebration. Lots of contrasts were plopped on my scales and tipped occasionally out of equilibrium during those in-between moments, but I am very skilled at balancing things.

Birthday dinner with my dad and sisters

Before I left for the DR, my mom hosted a small birthday dinner. Three of my sisters who live in the city came, along with two family friends, and two of my friends from college. Socially, it was a bit like a see-saw: on one end, family and friends from home and forever, then, on the other, friends I made in a completely different context and situation. I balanced in the middle, and it was awesome.

After the age of eighteen or so, you lose that quick-stitch connection introduced by a shared lexicon. When I first moved away from home, I abandoned familiarity and became an unknown. But this is necessary, and what follows is usually very wonderful and important. What followed was a life I built on my own merit and in my own way. Belmont provided the ground for that, and when I let my friends meet my family, it’s another plank in the bridge from Nashville to my first home…it’s a bit more difficult to build a metaphorical bridge from Nashville to the Caribbean islands, you know, mostly due to ocean and everything. However, I am willing to engineer an architectural marvel if given the chance.

Without a bridge, moving away transforms you into an unknown again—but that’s half the thrill. After four years in Nashville, I feel known there. After seven months in the DR, I am not quite known there yet, which is part of it. There’s this sort of secret adventure and life for me in the DR right now, and as I traveled back to the DR from Christmas, I wondered how the two experiences—Nashville and DR—would connect in the future. The next time I return to Nashville, it will be a one-way ticket.

Year 23 would be a brand-new birthday in more ways than one: first one post-grad, first one where I wouldn’t see at least one family member, first one in a foreign country, and first one where it was warm outside! Last year as a 22-year-old was no doubt the most eventual year of my life. Now, 23 is a year of doors undiscovered and unopened; of curiously gazing out of backseat windows, wondering where I’m headed. I am not much of a geoguessr, but I am an easygoing passenger.

Estoy tratando de ser más tranquila y simplemente disfrutar de todo.

On the 24th, the eve of my birthday, my roommate Helina and I went to “Oh La La Experience,” which is an air-conditioned restaurant we like. Back at the house, unbeknownst to me, all the girls at Casa Universidad y Casa de Paz were preparing for my surprise party! The projector was set up for karaoke and dancing, nachos were plated, balloons strung in an arch, and gold streamers taped beneath. I had a yummy pastel de dulce de leche and when I walked through the door, I was beyond surprised!

It was very warming. The whole thing.

A new energy came over me, and we sang and danced for HOURS. Just four of us. It was so much fun. We got to bed around 10pm because we had pickup for dentist clinic at 6:30am…

At 6am, my roommates broke through the door with a big slice of last night’s cake, a firework candle, and sang “Tu Cumpleaños” by La Nueva Escuela. I felt very celebrated and then we hopped into the bus bound for Santiago. There were about sixteen of us in the van.

In Santiago, we met the very kind American dentists. They explained the process to me, and showed me where I would help translate. I laughed as I walked back to the common room because it sometimes takes three tries before the girls understand what I am saying, and that’s without a drill lodged in their molars. Still, I did it! And no one lost a tooth. When I wasn’t translating, I played the card game ERS with M* and N*. Respectfully, I won’t let them win until they earn it. Which is to say, they didn’t win. But they are getting much better! They really like to play and it’s always a lot of fun. Too much fun, sometimes, because we got a small noise complaint from one of the caregivers, but in a cheeky way.

Not pictured: me in a hairnet and mask trying to translate

We gave up the game and played with the residential cat of the office building. Three of my great friends and I video-chatted before I got my teeth cleaned and it was great! The talking, not the examination, because turns out I had four cavities and I need a root canal done in the States. Disappointing!

The best part was after the dentist (although I had four  four-hour numbing shots deadening my face for too long).

Joy organized a vision board night for the older girls in the program and some staff members. Magazines and glue sticks were stationed at different tables alongside tiny craft scissors. Joy told us to include: “Familia, sueños, planes por el futuro, profesión, educatión, espiritual, y salud.” Afterward, we presented our boards beneath the twinkly backyard lights.

In the girls group, we had aspiring fashion designers, volleyball lessons, health for their families, dreams of veterinary school, and more. N* drew a lamppost on her board, declaring one day she wants to be like a lamppost; shining a light on all those close to her. She said the day hasn’t come yet but it will. I felt so proud of her then.

The staff dreams of women of every nation wearing the bags made in the workshop, “so every girl can carry our story.” Joy dreams of more rescues; that NHG goes big—into every nation, tribe, and tongue that needs a successful model to enable rescues.

Before I went, a chocolate raspberry cake arrived with the firework candle. Joy sang the classic happy birthday song and others joined in Spanish. It was a perfect mix of the two languages. My birthday present was a bilingual bible—and I asked a few people to highlight their favorite verse. Here’s one:

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” — 1 Peter 2:9.

When I got up to present my vision board, I couldn’t totally translate everything. So, for my profession, I said “I want to work with my mind and my heart.” My 23rd birthday reminds me of the extraordinary opportunity I’ve been given to do just that.

Goodness...I feel very loved!

Here’s to 23.

After over 24 hours of traveling, I was exhausted, to say the least. I started strong because I do genuinely enjoy flying and traveling. However, things got more difficult after my second flight. Out of my four total flights, my third one was the one that left the United States and landed in Tokyo. I had called ahead to get a window seat, but unfortunately, I ended up in the aisle in the middle column of seats. Thankfully, nobody was in the middle seat next to me, so that was nice. Although I slept for 8 hours on the 14-hour flight, it was not consecutive, so I felt delirious at the end of the flight. Once I was in Japan, I felt gross and just wanted to freshen up, but I had to brave customs. Customs was overwhelming and confusing. I got through it, and thankfully, the TSA after customs was very cheerful and kind. Once I found my gate, I could freshen up in the bathroom and get some Japanese 7-Eleven before boarding my final flight. 

After finishing my fourth and final flight, I was able to drag my two suitcases, guitar, and backpack to the start of my life in Japan. I took the train from the airport to Higashi Okazaki, where I met with my program director, Naoko. On my way there I struggled with all my luggage during a train change; a nice boy helped me and even spoke English. He was shocked to hear that I was going to be living in Toyohashi for 6 months since it’s such a “small town.” 

After lunch, I was finally able to meet my host family. My hosts are the sweetest people and have made the transition to living here so much easier. They gave me my own bedroom with a traditional-style sleeping mat on the floor. It was a tad hard at first, but I have become accustomed to it, and now I enjoy the comfort of my bed.  I brought gifts from the United States for my host family, and they loved them. They put their “Nashville” magnet on their fridge, Hinata wore her crocheted bag I gave her, Souta loved learning how to shuffle and play “Spit” with the card deck I gave him, and the goo-goo clusters were gone so quickly. Hinata has become a great friend. She has been helping me with my Japanese while I help her with her English, and we have become close as we do so many things together. 

The town I am living in is small compared to the surrounding cities in Aichi. This area is not used to Americans, so I have received mixed reactions from locals. When I am alone, I tend to see more confusion because of my presence and difficulties since I am still learning how to communicate in Japanese. However, when I go out with my host family, and they can help me and explain to people what I am doing in Toyohashi, I usually receive praise and excitement. One of my first meals at a restaurant here I had ordered chicken and was eating it with my hands. I was not supposed to do that because a waitress rushed over, waving her hands signaling me to stop, pointed to the chopsticks, and asked“Fork? Fork?” I apologized, grabbed some chopsticks, and showed her that I knew how to use them before she walked away. It had me a bit overwhelmed, but my program director told me it was nothing to worry about. Now I know! It was difficult my first week to settle into the culture, but now that I am in week 2 and have a rhythm, it has become much more comfortable. One thing Kelly told me when she was helping me find a country to go to was how important it is to go to a country you are excited about even if you are passionate about your project because if your project has challenges, being in a country you love can help balance that out. She was so right! I am so thankful she helped me come to the country I am excited about because I have already felt that to be true with small challenges like buying groceries alone and having trouble communicating at the register. 

After a week to settle in, I started my volunteer work. The first two days were challenging because of the language barrier. I just wanted them to know that I am trying my best to learn Japanese and that I care about their language, but I was unsure if that came across. By day three, I was feeling much better. The kids are so much fun and seem to like me. Right now, I am acclimating to the nursery school and getting to know each classroom. Music therapy starts on Friday!

During my second weekend here, I took a trip out to Okazaki to give a presentation on music therapy at Naoko’s Global Cafe. The turnout was great, and my presentation went very well. I was able to go in-depth about what music therapy is, and with Naoko to help translate and the effort I put into making sure I had both English and Japanese on my presentation slides, the message was able to get across to everyone in attendance. I received so many questions and lots of excitement about music therapy. It was great to be able to talk to everybody about it. 

All this does not even scratch the surface of all the experiences I have had so far, but I am getting exhausted from writing about all this. I am sure my next blog posts will be a bit lighter. I just needed to pack a lot into my initial experience getting here and being here. If you read the whole thing, thank you for making it here!

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” Proverbs 19:21 ESV

When asked what young people should do with their lives, Kurt Vonnegut responded, “the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” I am on a quest to make new friends and deepen my existing friendships in order to combat this terrible disease. My game plan? Stick close to my rituals and do weird things. And ask, ask, ask. 

Three of my rituals include: church, my church group, and run club. I’ve been attending these as much as possible and have enjoyed several meals and nights out with these friends. I had a lovely Galentine’s evening with three of my friends from church—Catherine, Elisha, and Erica—and I’ve been organizing more group socials with the volunteers from The Story Works. Last week I attended an art gallery community night that I found on Instagram, and next week I’m going to a barn dance and trying out a new writer’s group; it feels like my first month here—saying yes to every social opportunity and seeing what sticks.

My boss, Dee, and his wife Mel have done an excellent job at making me feel valued and surrounded when I feel the loneliness creep in. The past two Saturday’s they’ve invited me over to their house after Parkrun (I’m on my 19th now) for lunch and fellowship. They are two gems of human beings, and I feel very grateful that they’re in my circle. 

Some church friends at a birthday dinner

Work has felt busy and fulfilling, and I’m increasingly proud of the work I’ve done and of the work our charity is doing in general. The second songwriting workshop I led felt much more relaxed and engaging than the last—the kids were participating and seemed excited to start writing their songs, which is all I can hope for. We discussed metaphors, rhyme patterns, chord progressions, and even analyzed the structure of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Songwriting is what led me to Belmont and ultimately to England, so it’s very rewarding to share that with the next generation of creative minds.

Last week we led our first ever comic workshop, and I was in charge of making sure it wasn’t a flop. I know nothing about comics, so thankfully two of our student illustrators designed a loose plan and some activity sheets. I fleshed out the plan and researched a starter activity to use, and Dee contributed his charisma and years of teaching experience. With the four of us combining our skills and personalities, the workshop was a huge success! The students, who were already artistically gifted, were superstars and designed some truly breathtaking comics. Afterwards I sighed a huge breath of relief. 

Comic workshop!

Beyond all that, I’ve been working on lots of new music and started training for a marathon! I signed up for the Shakespeare Marathon in Stratford-upon-Avon after several months of hesitation, and it feels great to be back in training mode. Few things make me feel quite as alive as running 16 miles on a cold and windy day on the English coast. 

The heavens opening on my run

Until next time, 

Elisabeth x

The days leading up to my departure have been bittersweet. While they have been filled with exciting milestones, they have also carried moments of sorrow. One of the main reasons I chose to embark on this journey was the opportunity for growth—growth in my career, my understanding of myself, and my perspective on the world. However, welcoming new experiences, perspectives, and people also means saying goodbye to the ones that have brought me so much comfort over the past few years.

Growth rarely happens when we stay within our comfort zones; it comes when we embrace the discomfort of the unknown. So that is what I am choosing to do. I am embracing the sorrowful moments of saying goodbye to my friends, my family, and even the version of myself I have known for so long—because I know that through this, I can grow into who I am meant to become.

One of my favorite parts of my preparation period has been the time spent back home with my family. From small design projects with my mom to discussing qualitative research methodologies with my dad, this project feels like a member of our family—one we all want to help grow and see flourish. Sharing this journey with my family has been incredibly meaningful. My parents made getting my education possible, and being able to showcase the skills I’ve developed because of their support has been one of the greatest feelings.

The next chapter of my story is beginning, bringing with it reflections on the chapters I have already closed and the people who have helped me write them along the way. As I embark on this new adventure, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me get to where I am today. You are just as much a part of the telling of this story as I am because you have given me the strength and opportunity to use my voice to amplify others. From the bottom of my heart, thank you—I couldn’t be here without you.

Let this next chapter begin!

Last week, I was unfortunately very sick. I don’t want to point fingers, but I know exactly who gave it to me and they are now my sworn enemy. I had to take two days off work, which was unfortunate because I hate missing workshops. They’re my favorite part of the job! This week, we had an incredible workshop with supported learning students. Their enthusiasm, support for one another, and wellspring of creativity made the workshop just perfect. One of their teachers shared that many of them were stepping out of their comfort zones, and that she was surprised and delighted to see them speaking up to share ideas, smiling and chatting with others, and reading their individual writing to the whole class. It never gets old hearing this, because it shows that the workshops can be an eye-opening experience for both the students and the teachers. Both become aware of just how much the students are capable of when they are celebrated and supported as writers. Other than the workshops, I’ve been working on a supplement for the Irish Times, which will include some stories from our workshops with NI schools and a piece written by yours truly. I’m very excited to share some thoughts on my experiences with Fighting Words and so grateful that they’re offering me this super cool opportunity to get my work published! I’ll be sure to share the link when it comes out. 

Outside of work, life has been full! Last weekend, I traveled to London. The day before I was supposed to leave, there was a terrible storm in Belfast with 100 mph winds, but thankfully my flight still took off right on time. The last time I was in London was in 2022 when I studied abroad with Belmont, so I felt sentimental revisiting some places and reminiscing on that formative time of my life. My fantastic experience abroad was what made me so passionate about living abroad post-grad! I made the genius decision to stay in a 33 bed hostel room, so that was certainly an adventure. What I did not account for in my grand plan to save money on lodging was the reality of having 32 people snoring, sleep talking, whispering, watching videos out loud, and emitting various odors throughout the night. Needless to say, I did not sleep well. 

My sleep-deprivation didn’t dampen my spirits, and I had a lovely mix of alone time and friend time. On Saturday, I met up with Elisabeth and we did what we do best: meander, chat, and enjoy delicious foods and sights. On our walk back from a coffee shop and the National Gallery, I was telling Elisabeth about my desperate craving for an authentic Italian sandwich and in a lightning strike of serendipity, an Italian deli appeared! We couldn’t believe our eyes, and believed that it must be a sign. We ordered sandwiches and practically skipped to the register to pick them up, but then disaster struck. The sandwiches, while delicious, made us feel terribly nauseous. Maybe it was to teach us to be careful about what we interpret as signs or maybe it was just a bad bit of salami, but it did make us giggle that these serendipitous sandwiches were ultimately the cause of our destruction. 

Back in Belfast, I’ve been enjoying moody mist punctuated by rare glimpses of the bluest skies I’ve ever seen. Spring is coming, and with it, more sunlight! I have now been here long enough to have friendships that feel familiar and comfortable– I’m out of the phase where I feel like I’m interviewing for friendships. It’s nice to have a solid base. Coffee dates, home cooked meals, ice cream and movie nights, coastal walks, and visits to new places are all made happier by the company of good people. I’m now about 4 months in, leaving 5 months until I go back to America. At my friend’s sardine-themed birthday party last weekend (awesome, right?), I had so much fun mingling and chatting with new people. It reminded me of how much possibility there is in my remaining time. I want to continue to meet people, try things, and explore with the same vigor that I did when I first moved here! Who knows what or who I will encounter next? 🙂 

Hi again! It’s been an emotionally turbulent few weeks, but instead of reporting on my inner turmoil, I want to share the good that has come out of the end of January (which, can I say, has been the longest month of my life. Kaveh Akbar has a poem called “Wild Pear Tree” that begins: it’s been January for months in both directions, and I resonate with this sentiment strongly). 

First—London! It just so happened that two of my dearest friends—Grace Wiles and Eleri Hadaway—were both in London on the same weekend, so I spent Thursday and Friday with Grace and Saturday with Eleri. I missed Grace bad, so when I walked into the Waterloo Station Nando’s at 8pm on Thursday night and spotted her with her white knitted sweater and carabiner of camp bracelets, I lit up with delight. Even though I had weeks of lore and heartbreak to update her on, I didn’t want to talk about any of that. What a joyful moment this was: to be in a city I loved with one of my best friends (from my home of Indiana, I might add!) thousands of miles away from the city we met in, sharing halloumi fries and laughs. No, I wanted to stick around in this joy. 

Grace in London!

The next morning we woke early to tackle the day doing what we loved most: walking, visiting bookstores, and drinking coffee. With Pret Americanos in hand, we stopped at a lovely bookstore near Russell Square where I bought a poetry collection by Kaveh Akbar and we spoke to the cashier: a kind American woman who moved to London to live with her partner (which, I fear, is my calling). We visited two more bookstores, had another coffee, and shared great conversation about the last six months of our lives and where the future was calling us. In the evening we saw a theatre production called Starlight Express, and I’ll preface this by saying neither of us knew anything about this show except that it involved trains and the actors wore roller skates. Even as the theatre skeptic I am, I had a blast with this, specifically because of a particular song called Hydrogen that, for some reason or another, sparked an obsession in me.

As we took the tube back to Waterloo from Wembley, Grace said something along the lines of, “I love hanging out with friends, because you’re always like–What will we laugh about next?” And I’m grateful that there are a few things in life I can always count on, and laughter with friends like Grace is one of them. 

Eleri and I in the National Gallery (we had to wear our backpacks like this)

With the power of friendship on my side, I returned to Bournemouth feeling refreshed and capable. I’ve had lots of business meetings to attend alone, which have boosted my confidence and proved that I’m capable of being in charge and professional. I spoke with two local charities to discuss merging our services through workshops and online curriculum, and our team met with a grant-giving charity to discuss funding opportunities. My next big task as Charity Manager is to apply for as many pots of funding as I can to ensure that The Story Works can hire a full-time manager like myself to fulfill my position come September. 

In the past two weeks we’ve participated in a Holocaust Remembrance workshop, delivered two successful story writing workshops, and I delivered my second Songwriting workshop. Tomorrow is our first-ever Comic Book workshop, so lots of new things are happening. I’ve felt very fulfilled from my work lately, and it’s rewarding to see how much the charity has grown since I got here in September.

Doing what I love!

Until next time,

Elisabeth x

I am so excited to be in Japan! I have been making the preparations since my internship ended right before Christmas. There was a lot to do and it kept me busy until now, and I am so relieved that it is done! There were so many moving parts. Nothing difficult per se, just detail-oriented. I needed to make sure I got each detail correct. I also took my music therapist board certification exam. I passed! Now I am an official music therapist! Packing gave me some perspective I was not expecting. I realized how much I need to get by and what I use daily. It helped me see how many luxuries I have in my life. In a way it has made me very grateful for the few items I am bringing that have deep importance to me. I still have a lot of stuff though because I had to bring all my music therapy resources. I did my best to also make sure I dedicated plenty of time to my family and friends before I left. Saying goodbye is hard, but everybody around me has been so supportive and I will see them all again! I made sure to get my fill of dirty bird fries from Hattie B’s since I won’t be able to eat them for a while. The First Art Museum in Nashville had an exhibit all about Japan in January and I went with my friends to get a taste of what is to come. I made sure to savor the comforts of familiarity before it got lost in a new environment. I love change and thrive when I get to experience everything fresh and new, but I wanted to make sure I did not forget to appreciate the luxuries of being home before letting my excitement run wild. 

I am looking forward to a gentle start to my project. Since I will be in Japan for 6 months, my program director decided to let me have the first week to acclimate to Japan, get to know my host family, and set up meetings with the school teachers I will be working with to find a plan for my schedule and the use of music therapy. I appreciate Naoko allowing me that time to adjust. Everybody I have talked to while preparing for this trip has been so kind! I am excited to meet them and work with them in person. As nervous as I am about my Japanese skills, I am very excited to be immersed in the language and learn it better! I am excited to meet my host family and get to know them better. They have a boston terrier! I love dogs so that makes me excited. I do have one friend who is working in Japan as a missionary. I am excited to see her and have somebody who can support me spiritually and as a friend. I can’t wait to walk around Toyohashi and go to seven eleven! I hear the seven elevens in Japan are way better than the US! I am excited to try the ramen and Wagyu beef and enjoy all the food and drinks I will have in Japan!

Here’s to a safe flight and happy travels! “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…” Joshua 29:11

I overslept my alarm.

My roommate woke me, explaining that the Uber driver I scheduled the night before and New Hope Girls’s driver, JM, were both waiting for me.

The night before, I planned for an early rise: collecting my laundry off the line (it rained the day before, so I had to leave my clothes out drying all night), making my bed, cleaning my bathroom, washing and blow drying my hair, emptying the trash. None of those things happened…

JM took him to the airport, though I was surprised to see him that morning. I suppose someone informed him of my flight home, and told me so, yet I failed to understand that through conversation alone. Either way, I got to the airport.

One Miami layover and six hours later, I was home in Nashville!

My dear friends Emma and Kaylee picked me up, hugging me before I could glide my suitcases toward the trunk. My voice jumped three octaves when I saw them—just so excited to be reminded of their real existence outside the parameters of my smartphone screen.

Mom made white chicken chilli (my favorite) and we watched Charlie Brown and Frosty the Snowman, but the Charlie Brown YouTube movie playlist shuffled, making for an advanced watching experience.

Illinois Christmas

Breaking tradition, Mimi’s Christmas Eve celebration occurred on the 22nd, which happens to be my sister Caroline’s birthday—double celebration.

The usual lineup includes: three of my sisters, Mom, my brother, his in-laws, his wife, and their five kids. Mimi decorates fantastically, emphasizing the dining room table. The appetizer section is quite the display as well. Its the crown jewel of the kitchen area, aside from the tree. My family loves the cheese ball the most.

We played fishbowl and catchphrase and the once-little-kids have grown enough to fully participate. Growing up.

Country Christmas

Caroline and I drove thirty minutes to our hometown, Carmi, IL. We made the usual stops at McDonalds and Walmart before driving down—I kid you not—Possum Road toward our Dad’s house.

I was in charge of mac and cheese this year, so we were the first ones there. It was a hit, and with over thirty people eating it—eight of them little kids—I was good with that.

Country Christmas at my Dad’s is always the largest and loudest with all six of my siblings, all ten of my nieces and nephews, and not to mention aunts, uncles, and cousins. Secret Santa occurs annually, and this year I bought my older sister a necklace with her three kids birthstones set in a silver charm.

Christmas Eve and Day

The day before Christmas, Mom and I wrapped presents together and helped prep food for our Christmas Eve dinner. My three sisters, Mimi, and my new brother-in-law met at the candlelight church service before returning to Mom’s house for dinner. It was simply a very nice time—I really missed my family. We ended the night with It’s a Wonderful Life, one of my favorites. Here’s a good quote:

“Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

The next morning, I gave away New Hope Girls and Helina’s Heart merchandise to my family, and in return I received a polaroid camera, an engraving pen, the game We Are Not Really Strangers, and a pickleball padel (because part of Alexa’s wishlist was that I received one too so we could play together).

Mom and I prepared breakfast (I prep the oranges and pomegranates every year). After we ate, we played the WANRS and it’s a tense premise, but we all agreed it was good to play.

We watched four movies, one of them The Holiday. A few days later, Mimi, Mom, and I had a oldies movie marathon: Meet Me in St. Louis, The Shop Around the Corner, Holiday, and Holiday Inn. Random shift, but we watched Good Will Hunting.

NYC for NYE

One of my dear friends and former roommates moved to NYC this year, so we organized a girls trip for the holiday, which happens to be Kaylee’s birthday.

We ate pizza, navigated the subway, cooked a Trader Joe’s dinner, went to The Strand and Barnes and Noble, toured Greenwich and West Village (GC works at NYU, but not for NYU), walked around Central Park by night, and tried a few coffee shops by day. My dear friend Emma joined us for a NYE celebration at a restaurant on the west side. We walked home in the rain, laughing.

After graduation, we began what I call, “sisterhood of the traveling journal.” Which is to say, we have a journal we keep for a month, then ship off to the next girl. There are four of us.

Over the few nights we were all there, we read our entries and discussed how our lives had changed since we last saw one another. As I read my entires from July ‘24, I felt older than the girl who wrote them. Probably because I was, but I’m really saying that this Lumos experience has helped me grow up, and in my hands layed documented evidence of that. Retrospect made that possible. A luxury.

After a wonderful trip home, it was time to return to the DR and complete my last three months! When I arrived, my room was exactly as I left it...unfortunately, a mess.

The story I am about to tell is a complex one. It’s not a story confined to history books but one that lives and breathes among us. It is a story that continues to unfold in classrooms, around family dinner tables, and in the aisles of grocery stores. It is the story of a people with a pain-filled past—a past that remains palpable today, affecting individuals on both sides of the border. This pain lingers in news stories, casual conversations, comment sections, even within family relationships. While this pain persists, it is not the whole story. Can we acknowledge the people of the present without mentioning the people of the past? Why does it sometimes feel that giving one person the opportunity to share their story means taking away that same opportunity from someone else? Is it true? Does amplifying one voice silence another?

Telling a story like this carries risks. The one I fear most is simplification. In middle school math, we were taught that the first step in solving a problem is to simplify it. This approach works in equations and even in challenges we face in day-to-day life. But when applied to a story like this, simplification feels more like erasing someone’s perspective, allowing someone’s story to go unheard. I believe this hesitation is not a weakness but instead a strength. The story I aim to tell is about real people, and therefore must be handled with care and intentionality. I hope to carry this hesitation with me as a reminder of the weight of these narratives and the responsibility they demand.

The pain of the past was neither the beginning nor the end of this story. This theme is not unique to this narrative—it is a part of all of our stories. Pain transcends borders, race, and religion, reminding us that we all participate in the act of moving forward, every single day. Whether we like it or not, we are all active participants in the creation of tomorrow.   

As a young adult, I am on a journey of self-discovery, just like so many others my age. I am at a point where I get to decide the kind of future I want for myself and what I want my story to say. So much of who we are is shaped by the world around us. What strikes me as unique about the story I’m about to share is that people my age in Kosovo are on a similar journey—finding their identity in a region marked by uncertainty and conflicting perspectives. How do you develop a sense of self with people still questioning whether your existence should be recognized? 

My generation in Kosovo is not only shaping their own identities but also helping to build a nation. This is the story I wish to tell: a story of people who continue writing their stories despite carrying the weight of the past. It is a lesson I hope to learn along the way, and one I believe we can all learn from. As humans, we share countless commonalities, yet it is often easier to focus on what divides us. As I embark on this journey, I will keep asking: how can we create a future that celebrates these shared experiences without ignoring the pain caused by our differences in the past?

When I entered the gates, I felt like I stepped into a game show. TVs, microwaves, coffee makers, and other appliances lined the porch of the small breakroom house adjacent to the three-story workshop. Green and red balloons flooded the lawn, and Christmas music blared. I was so ready for the workshop Christmas party!

Wanda (the workshop manager) led the charge as MC, and she raised the energy exponentially. All 60 of the workshop women were there, ready to celebrate Christmas but also another year of hard work. This was their opportunity to be fully celebrated, and New Hope Girls pulled out all the stops.

We began the party with a message about Christmas, complete with a storybook reading from Joy and Ada. I was tasked with taking videos and iPhone pictures for the event, so I scanned for the best angles. I saw the contented faces of the women. Their unfiltered anticipation for the event brought me a lot of joy to witness.

After playing some fun games, the raffle began, and those women perked up! Fina (the residential caregiver in the home I live in) was gunning for the microwave. She got it! Two TVs were given out, and Vidal (Joy’s husband) announced one of the winners. Everyone rallied around this woman, cheering her on all the way to the porch steps. She fought back the tears at the extravagance of the gift—that’s when I realized this one wasn’t pure luck of the draw. I asked about this after, and Joy explained how everyone knew what she wanted for Christmas—and Vidal was determined to make it happen, even if it came out of his own pocket. He made it happen under the radar, but when they hugged on stage, I think she knew who to thank. Nothing looked more like Christmas to me than that moment.

“That night, she invited her whole neighborhood over to enjoy the TV. The kids were lining up in the small doorway!”

Graciously give and humbly receive.

the workshop Christmas party

The next day, I helped sell bags at an “Americans in the DR” Christmas party at the home of one of Joy’s friends. There are not many ex-pats in this part of the country, so it was great to be invited into another American/Dominican household. The hosts were on the board of a local American school. So, some of the teachers came over…since the other New Hope interns left in August, this was the first time I could talk to someone in my position (and in English, lol).

Over the months, I imagined my experience as very singular. As in, I am one-of-one, alone but standing tall. It’s an empowering stance. It can also be an isolating one, especially because it’s not entirely true. Meeting these teachers helped me see myself with a clearer lens. All this to say, that evening’s small talk made me feel less alone while also shrinking some leftover pride before it could callous into hardness of heart.

It was an important evening as well because it showed me an alternative life. Living in America for the rest of my life simply because I am American is not the only possibility for a happy life worth living. There were young, single women there like myself; there were families with younger children and older single mothers as well. I’m at the age where my definitive lifestyle is not yet permanent. I have options. Global ones, even.

I consider myself quite lucky for many reasons, but one of the more unique reasons is that I have been exposed to culturally different lifestyles in their native space—A luxury that not many women my age experience or consider necessary to explore. However, now that I have experienced it firsthand, I advise any and all to introduce themselves to a period of cultural immersion outside their home.

I am not the only one.

The finale to my summertime Christmas is, of course, Christmas at la casa universidad. On December 18th, 2024, my three roommates, Fina, and I costume changed into matching floral pajamas, listened to English and Spanish Christmas music, and absolutely feasted. Fina prepared mangú con jamon, queso, y cabellos. Un pollo grande. Pan. Dulce de leche y más.

We danced the merangue y salsa. We sang and opened presents. We expressed what we were thankful for. I said “¡La experiencia de estar con ustedes. Todos ustedes son mis amigos hasta el final!”

The experience of being with you. You all are my friends to the end!

¡Feliz Navidad!

us at the Christmas festival with Dominican santa