I’ve been feeling disconnected Like my service is extended Life’s a losing game of charades This drama it goes on for days I’m faking, but I’m not making Crushed by pressure unrelenting It’s unraveling bit by bit The strands of which my heart is knit I feel nothing, my tears all cried No longer breathing,…
Author: Abi
Elite mountain bike racer, data science student, former teacher...
An Adventure Worth Telling (Part 2)
Continued from An Adventure Worth Telling (Part 1) “Not all who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien In keeping with the Tolkien theme, this aptly describes how I spent the remainder of my time in Paris. After heading back to the apartment to shower and empty my backpack of dirty clothes, T. and I set…
An Adventure Worth Telling (Part 1)
“It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.” – J.R.R. Tolkien Though there were certainly points of my trip where I was struggling to embrace this mindset, I do wholeheartedly agree with Tolkien. Stories, and the conflicts that make them, are what make adventure so much fun. And what is life…
Venturing into Instapoetry
One of my Literature students introduced me to the world of Instagram poets this week, and so, in honor of the UK National Poetry Day, I decided to give it a try myself with this poem:
Unfair. Unjust. Uncool.
I’m one of the privileged by birth Unfair. Unjust. Uncool. Born white, it’s not my fault. Born white, its by default. Born American, citizenship assumed. Born American, I didn’t choose. Born middle class, automatic prosperity. Born middle class, like a lottery winner Just because I’m privileged, doesn’t mean it’s fair. Culture and socialization give me…
Airports & Aimless Thoughts
I’m in an airport for the tenth time in a month. My flight is delayed, so I’ve been sitting here for several hours surfing the web, and allowing my mind to wander aimlessly. Its nearly 1 a.m. and admittedly, I’m exhausted, so there’s not a lot of productive thought happening. [Three days later.] Obviously those…
Year 4: Week One
I am back in Tanzania for year four, and already through the first week of school. My class schedule is significantly lighter than last year, which was a pleasant surprise when I arrived on Thursday. I am still teaching English Literature for grades 10-12, Philosophy of Service and Research Paper Writing to grade 9, and…
Summer 2016: Road Trip!
The Plan At Christmas, my brother Josh and I started planning our “epic summer vacation,” which included camping on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and mountain biking, rock climbing, and other general adventuring along the way. I informed my manager at the bike store that I needed a week off in July, and considered everything…
(mis)Placed
One of the phrases frequently used to describe the missionary’s homecoming experience is “between two worlds.” It is very true that I often feel the tension that comes from being home, but not home, regardless of which city I’m in–Fort Wayne or Dar es Salaam. In both places, there are things that are familiar. In…
Things. And Stuff.
No matter how many times I tell my students to use better word choice in their writing, I still find myself using the very words I tell them not to use in my own speaking (and writing). Like “things” and “stuff.” But sometimes, there really aren’t any better words to describe a blog post that…
