Sunday, December 15, 2013

Back in the classroom

Days left: 519
Goal #66: Volunteer at a school

Last year I volunteered with Reading Partners, tutoring a kindergartener for an hour every week. It was nice to be back in the classroom, but also reminded me that our school systems are still struggling and need a lot of support and transformation.  I'd like to do more to help, but I'm never quite sure where to plug in and how. What I do know is that every kid should have the opportunity to receive a high quality education in our wonderful country. And unfortunately, today, that is not the case. I am optimistic that things will improve in the future.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Be prepared

Days left: 528
Goal #68: Become a Certified First Responder

My goal in becoming a certified emergency responder is so that I will be prepared for any potential disaster and can help to the best of my ability. After being in Haiti during the earthquake, I know first hand the importance of disaster prepardness and being ready to respond.

My dear friend Leah and I signed up for a Certified Emergency Responder Class in DC and were unfortunately very disappointed with the class. While the content was good, the instructor was very unprofessional and inappropriate. He was so rude and immature that Leah and I actually left the class early and did not finish it. Honestly, he was being so crass about disaster prepardness that it became offensive to me and I couldn't sit in class and listen to him anymore. Nevertheless, while I'm not officially certified, I have the book of resources the class provided and feel more prepared than I did before.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Hut One! Hut Two!

Days left: 541
Goal #6: Join an intramural flag football team

This past fall I was on an intramural flag football team through my church where we played other local DC churches. I had such a blast! Discovered that I play a mean defense and even sacked a few QBs during our season :) Even though I was traveling a lot this fall, I got to play in a lot of games, including our semi-final match-up which we lost.

Will definitely be playing next year! Even went out and bought some cute lavender cleats for the occasion.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Many Hands Make the Load Lighter

Days Left: 582
Goal #24: Help a friend move from start to finish (first in last out)

I actually really enjoy helping people move. Moving myself is an entirely different story! But, for me, moving a friend is a rewarding experience and a strong reminder that "Men anpil Chay pa lou." This is one of my favorite Haitian Creole sayings, which means "many hands make the load lighter." The more people you have helping, the easier a task can be. And this was most certainly the case with my friends Hannah and John! There were about a dozen friends and family helping them move and we were done by noon. Such a success and I love their new home!


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Days left: 632
Goal #81: Find a church in DC that I'd like to go to regularly.

To be completely honest, since January 12, 2010 I have had a hard time finding a place I'd like to call my church home and have had to be really intentional about finding one. I longed to find a place which as open and welcoming and full of people on a journey to better understand who Jesus is.

To my surprise, I found this community at an Anglican Church in Columbia Heights which uses a liturgical worship style. Church of the Advent, the church I have been attending, is a simple, no frills church, based on fundamental Christian principles and rooted in community. I've met so many quality and down to earth people at Church of the Advent and can't wait to get to know them better!

Another thing I found about the church after having gone for a few months is that it is actually a church plant from a Christian church in Rwanda who was seeking to help bring the Gospel to the USA.

Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The big cleanse

Days Left: 651
Goal #99: Cleanse my entire apartment


On the 4th of July in 2011, Allie and I moved from NYC to DC together. After quite an ordeal with our moving "truck" and a massive tropical storm that hit us while unloading in DC, Allie and I were moved in (and with admittedly lots of stuff).

On the 4th of July in 2013, Allie moved out. She is starting a new adventure and in about a decade (*wink*) will be a doctor and taking care of her old sista'! I feel so blessed to have been able to live with her and will truly cherish our three years as roomies for my entire life. 

It's now the beginning of August, and I've since done a fairly massive apartment cleanse and reorg. There are still a few more touches I plan to make, but feel great about the newly organized closet spaces! I sold some stuff at a local consignment store, gave some goodies away to the Salvation Army, and then tossed the junk.

Here are some pics of the freshly cleansed place.







Saturday, June 1, 2013

Re-discovering Manhattan

Days Left: 716
Goal #1: Walk the island of Manhattan from North to South

Two main things inspired this goal.
1. My dear friend Becky and I have met a lot of wonderful woman and wanted them to meet each other.
2. I love Manhattan and wanted to explore it in a unique way.

So Becky and I planned a walk down the island of Manhattan with a group of girls who don't know each other but who Becky and I thought would really enjoy each other.

So, at 9am on Saturday, June 1 we started with 8 girls (everyone meeting at least 2 new people) on 225th Street across the river. We then began our 13 odd mile walk down to Battery Park, taking bets on when we thought we would arrive. Becky guessed 6:30pm and I believe Georgina had the latest guess at 11pm.

Let the walk begin. Each girl was assigned a section of blocks where she was asked to plan events (food, coffee, drinks, historical landmarks, fun facts, etc.)



We started up in Inwood, weaving our way past auto-body shops and into Washington Heights where we stumbled upon a neighborhood block party full with loud music and craft making stations.

We then continued down to Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, the Upper West Side, Chelsea, down the High Line Park, through Tribeca, into the Financial District, and then finally at Battery Park. The day was full of highs and lows, fatigue and energy, sugar highs and sugar loooows, walking and running and sitting and stretching, laughing and some heart-wrenching moments...

While the day started with 8 ladies and at one point we had 9, there were only 5 of us who walked the entire island from 225th down to Battery Park. It was such an accomplishment and it's amazing how much closer I feel to those girls.

Below are some pics from the day. And, yes Georgina won the bet. We completed the walk around 11:30pm Saturday, June 1.




















One of Abba's activities was for us to write down 5 things that New York has taught us. Here were mine.
1. To be vulnerable and let my close friends help me when I need it.
2. To walk places whenever I can.
3. To live with passion and go for my dreams.
4. To feel comfortable in my skin.
5. Not to eat legit Indian food without being close to a working bathroom.

Til next time you Concrete Jungle you.

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Dirty Dirty

Days Left: 744
Goal #69: Go to New Orleans

Now technically, I suppose I could count the New Orleans trip as also attending a music festival because I went to New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival. I loved the city and I loved the festival! My dear friend Jane is from NOLA and so organized a group of us to go down for the festival.

I basically ate and people-watched my way through this beautiful city. Below are some photos. Can't wait to get back down there!

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Let the good times roll

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Practically Picasso... practically

Days Left: 844
Goal #28: Do a wine and paint outing with Allie

Mom came to visit DC and the three Rapp girls did a drink wine while attempting to copy a painting class. We had a blast and I think came up with some great paintings. It was pretty great how different, yet similar each of our paintings were.

Photo: At a painting class w my mama and sista!


Photo: My final product! Can you guess what it is?

Friday, February 1, 2013

Left. Left. Left Right Left.

Days Left: 855
Goals #95: Get a tour of the Pentagon

While my mom was visiting DC, she, Allie and I took a tour of the Pentagon. We were greeted in military style with strict instructions not do perform any foreign translations while on the tour. Well, we ended up being with a Russian delegation who translated the entire tour. Ha. So much for running a tight ship! The tour was really interesting and the young man leading it was very eager to see the world. Great tour. I would recommend doing it but then trying to get an inside scoop from someone who works there.