Joe Biden conjures Taylor Swift at Tallwood graduation

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Just in case you were wondering where you had heard the name Tallwood before - maybe it was here on the blog!  Vice President Biden flew into Oceana yesterday to come and speak to the 463 students who graduated from Tallwood High School - home of the Global Studies and World Languages Academy.  Look at the bottom of this post for some clips of his speech.  Here's my favorite quote (from the Virginian Pilot article in today's paper):

"One of the things you all learned here is that in order for this nation to lead the world and for you to be leaders in this world you have to understand the world, you have to participate in the world," Biden said.

He also urged students to "[not] give into the cynicism, the pettiness, the negativity that you see and hear all around you that pervades our public discourse...."  Then, rumor has it, he called Taylor Swift onto the stage and she performed 'Mean', before the over 4,700 parents, teachers and friends in attendance.  Wait.  That's just my dream.  

Isn't VBCPS cool?  Is Taylor Swift your favorite musician, too?  What do you think about politicians making such appearances during an election year?  

andy warhol: portraits

Believe it or not, that feather boa is a photo-booth prop and not a part of Memaw's outfit!

Memaw and I headed to the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) yesterday to check out the Andy Warhol: Portraits exhibit on loan to MOCA by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.  We were feeling pretty cosmopolitan after our venture to Steeler city for Elaine and Noah's wedding and enjoyed the journey through time via Warhol's portraits of famous people.  I can't wait to frame our pictures from the photobooth!

I saw this poem by e.e. cummings on this blog and it fills my heart.  Maybe it will fill yours, too?

be of love (a little)

more careful

than of everything.

guard her perhaps only

a trifle less

(merely beyond how very)

closely than nothing.

remember love by frequent anguish

(imagine her least never with most memory)

give entirely each forever its freedom

(dare until a flower,

understanding sizelessly sunlight

open what thousandth why and

discover laughing)

Loving this song seen below lately.  Thanks to Marija for introducing me to the Freelance Whales!

Have you seen any neat exhibits up in your town lately?  I'm always looking for new music - what are you listening to?

Africa from A-Z: Central African Republic

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I had a hard finding information on the Central African Republic that doesn't relate to the Lord's Resistance Army or its woeful history as a country plagued by coups and an unstable government.  No doubt we'll be hearing more about the CAR as the search for Kony wages on.

As I work with the Forest Landscape Initiative at WRI, I'll be learning more about the CAR.  Quick facts to place it: Bangui is the capital and the country and it is bordered by Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the DRC and the Congo.  Read this post to learn more about forest initiatives in the region to monitor mining and logging activity.

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I will check out this reading list to get a better understanding of the Central Africa region and the wars and instability that have crippled it recently.  Also interesting (albeit a few years old) is this article on a Central African Republic(an?) doctor who returned to the CAR to work for the Ministry of Health.  What struck me was this quote about his work within Africa for international health organizations:

Jobs with such organizations provide opportunities for African professionals to earn Western salaries while still working in Africa, but they also generate a kind of internal, transcontinental brain drain.

Something to think about.

Here's a link to a folklore book with tales from the CAR and a story from a journalist visiting Bangui.

What do you think?  Any thoughts on the CAR - I'd love hear what you think!

Would you like that notarized?

I must be telling a great joke here, everyone looks like they are laughing so hard! (....)

While the first part of last week I was moving around and about, the latter half included a more longitudinal around and about-ing.  On Wednesday I was offered (and accepted!!) a Program Coordinator position with World Resources Institute with their Forest Landscape Initiative (the job search is off for now!).  I have so many people to thank for helping to get me where I am - this was not a road traveled alone and I am (thankfully) reminded of that everyday.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

On Thursday morning I hopped on the Amtrak train to Union Station to sign the dotted and meet my colleagues.  Friday morning I began looking at apartments!  That, too, was not a path traveled solo.  Cassie had a friend that used Apartment Detectives to find a place in DC that she loved and so we signed up, too.  So far it has been a fabulous experience.  Nancy Starrs, the real estate on our 'case', has been prompt and helpful and the places I saw on Friday and Saturday were gorgeous and reasonably within our budget.  You can even 'like' them on facebook!  I'll keep you posted once we have signed that dotted line, too.

Whitney, my college roommate and friend since the 6th grade (!), opened up her home to me, once again, for which I am also very thankful.  We met Ann, another college girlfriend, for dinner at Cava Mezze for dinner (delicious tapas-style place) and then got frozen yogurt at Pinkberry (you should check out their website just to listen to the song they play - it's pretty awesome).  

No, I did not ride my bike right into the church.  But that would have been awesome.

Sunday meant church - but not before giving a presentation on Mali to the middle schoolers.  I couldn't tell if they were really into it (I think that may just be because they're in middle school...) but good job to all their 3rd grade teachers because they remembered their facts about ancient Mali!

Last, but certainly not least, the rumors are true.  We have a notary in the family.  Mom joined the National Notary Association last week, and the nearly 5 million notaries in the United States, and is ready to handle all your notary needs.  Come one, come all - she may even cut you a deal if you mention this blog post :)

She already has a waiting list of people who want her signature!  (or you could be first.. :)

Check out this video if you're interested in more of what I'll be working with/for/towards at WRI.

Around and about

   My brother, Michael, and his wife recently made a new addition to their household - a golden retriever puppy named Midas!  On Monday after returning from Pittsburgh, I walked to their place to meet Dad, Sheri & Lindsay for dinner (and forgot my camera!).  On Tuesday, Michael brought Midas over to Mom and John's for some quality time with our dogs Tyson and Karma (who, we have determined, are cousins).  It was fun watching John and Michael wrangle all the pups together for a photo :)

Mom thinks Tillamook is the best kind of cheese!

Cassie continues to make waves in the Lomax/Davis household.  Although we miss eating dinner with her while watching Wheel of Fortune, she sent us a package containing Tillamook cheese (and other Oregon treasures) that is keeping her spirit alive.

This morning I had the chance to give mock interviews to VBCPS students at Tallwood High School's Global Studies and World Languages Academy (the same ones I presented to last month).  In between interviews, I talked with another of the interviewers who works for CMA CGM - one of the largest shipping container groups in the world based here in Norfolk, VA.  It's a French shipping company with offices around the world (and they're hiring!).  Neat!

And Mali makes the headlines.  Three men were charged with the assault of interim president, Dioncounda Traore.  I also really hope locusts don't swarm Mali.  As though they (nor anyone!) need that right now.  It's wild how this potential disaster, like the current chaos happening in the north of Mali, is being linked to Gaddafi and how his name continues to dot headlines involving Mali.

On a lighter - and kickier - note, the first African taekwondo-er to win a world-championship - Daba Modibo Keita- will compete in the Olympics this summer in London.  Here's hoping he makes a splash and keeps Mali's name in the news - for good!       

Africa from A-Z: Cape Verde

It's the start of a new semester (for me!) and I'm feeling inspired.  In order to meet some of my personal and academic goals, I'm going to try harder to post more often about topics relevant to my professional interests in order to expand my understanding of them and hopefully yours, too!

First up, bringing back the Africa from A-Z series...  I'm going to blame the slip-up on that one on the coup.  Next up, I'll post on an international education topic and also music I've been listening to.  Maybe I'll throw in a craft project every now and again, too.  And now, for some tidbits on Cape Verde!

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A former Portuguese colony and a teeny-tiny country (population 523,568) comprised of 10 islands off the coast of western Africa, Cape Verde looks like a little paradise to visit though I'm sure the day-to-day life isn't quite so (p)beachy.  Cidade Velha is a UNESCO heritage site and here's a cookbook if you'd like to make something Cape Verdian.  I want to get this children's book about a grandmother from Cape Verde who immigrated to the US and misses her family when I have my own little babies to read to.

I heard this song all the time in Mali (it's Malian musician with Cape Verdian singer Cesaria Evora).  Neat there's a connection to Mali! :)  And here's a children's romper from Etsy with a Cape Verdian (and apparently Cesaria Evora-ian flair!) that is too cute.

Have you ever visited Cape Verde?  Any ideas for topics you'd like me to cover in International Education?

A Wedding in Pittsburgh

A Church on 5th Avenue

 My cousin Elaine got hitched this past weekend!  Her sister, Martha, got married in May 2008 (right before I left for the Peace Corps).  It was a real treat to be a part of their celebration (my first Jewish wedding!) and visit Pittsburgh for the first time.

Elaine & Noah offered soaps from the Yodely Goat Soap Shoppe and I ate more salmon the past three days than I have in probably the past three years.  Their ceremony was heartfelt and the toasts following were tender.  There was lots of love and it was nice to get to spend some more quality time with Matt & Martha.

Enjoy some of my favorites from their big day!

Under the chuppah!

The newlyweds with my Aunt Jeanne and Memaw

With my dates :)

See more photos from the big day here!