You better watch out!

Days Left: 876
Goal #29: Do SantaCon in New York City

8:00am - Alarm clock goes off. Abba is already out and about shopping for eggs bagels, and booze.

8:30am - Commit to getting ready. Abba coordinating the best ever SantaCon group costume: Sugar Plum Fairies. Georgina, Abba, Becky and I put on our green/purple/blue sparkle dress with a black tutu from H&M and begin piling on glitter makeup and putting feathers in our hair and big bows on our rumps.

9:30am - Abba's friends start showing up at her apartment. We dine on NY bagels and egg nog with whiskey? Ha. Becky and I thought we were putting rum in our egg nog... turns out we messed up. Oops!



10:30am: Sugar Plum Fairies and Abba's other fantastic friends head out to Pier 84 to meet up with the 30,000 some other Santas!


Left to right: Becky, Abba, me, Georgina

10:45am: Hang with the many many many many Santas and other holiday creatures at the Pier. There may/may not have been a failed attempt at double dutch jump roping by the Sugar Plum Fairy crew.... Ha.







11:30am: Bill Cunningham takes our photo! We are freaking out.



This is Kris Krinkle. So clever! The creativity of Santas was pretty solid. Here are some of my faves/those I can remember!

1. Beach bum Santa
2. Troll Santa
3. Sexy Santas (ok... lots of these)
4. Name that Sports Team Santa
5. Native American Santas
6. Ralph Lauren Santa
7. Causal Santa (cause he wasn't wearing a belt... lame I know)
8. Guy with mohawk wearing Santa suit with flames.. oh yeah and he was on stilts
9. Some weird Tickle me Elmo Santa contraption thing
10. Ginko (the pants) Santa
11. Traditional Santa (uber traditional Santa dress with long white wig)
12. Hitler Santa. Yes. That happened.
13. Hipster Santas (lots of these too..May have actually outnumbered Sexy Santas)
14. Grinch Santa
15. Hulk Santa
16. Kris Krinkle
17. Banana Santa (seriously... a lot of these going around)
18. Morph Santas (Santas wearing that weird stretchy fabric Cirque du Soleil style unitard that goes over your face...)
19. Where's Waldo Santa
20. Creepy older lady Santas who had long natural braids and were carrying puppets...
21. Santas on Segways 
22. Jedi/Star Wars themed Santas
23. Babies dressed as Santa
24. Jamaican/Rastafarian Santa
25. Gangsta Santa
26. Camo / Miliary Santas
27. Nacho Libre Santas
28. Cowboy Santas
29. Hanukkah Harry aka Jewish Santa
30. Jersey Shore Santas

12:00-1:00pm: Play cards in the back courtyard Holla Berlin or something like that... some beer garden around West 50th or so... Meet these cute hipster Santas below!





12:00: Wander midtown and the sea of Santas dancing to the music coming out of speakers in Abba's backpack and freak out unsuspecting tourists. Go to a bar that Georgina and I called the "Sweet Potato Tater Tot Bar" because we forgot the name and, well, ate sweet potato tater tots there. They were awesome. And hot.




1:00-5:00pm: Hit up East Village. Eat at an awesome taco stand. Didn't hit up Phoebes. (haha) Did go to a great Mexican resto called Mary Ann's (obviously).


Left to right: Abba ,me, Georgina, Becky







5:00-8:00pm: Classic dive bar action...play pool, darts, and ski ball at Ace's...Abba, George and I attempted to use the "Jute Box" Couldn't find enough Wu-Tang music to make us happy though so we played oldies ;)



8:00--11:00pm: Un-named location *wink* , NY pizza, coffee/ice cream. Wandered our way to Union Square







11:00pm-1:30am - Dancing it out retro style at Beauty Bar. Met some crazy guys...this dude Jimmy was balancing things on his chin at one point on the dance floor.


1:30-2:30ish - Abba, George and I hit up CVS for some aqua and then head back to Abba's place to shower and crash!

Today was full of enjoying Abba, Becky, George, New York City and of course meeting lots of great new people. Weather was perfect and spirits (of many types) here high *wink*

SantaCon 2012: SUCCESS

Bills Bills Bills

Days Left: 931
Goal #59: Invest monthly

My first palpable memory of paying bills and and money management was in 1999 when Destiny's Child sang their frustrations of some mooching guy in Bills, Bills, Bills. I remember sitting with my childhood friend Emily in class singing a song (Why we weren't listening to the teacher, I don't remember!) about paying telephone and automobile bills even though I'm not sure I even really knew what a "bill" was. Ha! It was also this classic song that taught me words such as "scrub" and "triflin."

I've learned a few things since middle school... one of my favorite This American Life podcast is on The Invention of Money. Check it out! The podcast answers seemingly simple questions such as What is Money? and Where Did Money Come From?

I normally invest on an ad-hoc basis, but am now officially a monthly investor. Woot woot! Destiny's Child would surely approve *wink*

Shenandoah in the Fall

Days Left: 938
Goal #27: Go hiking in Shenandoah with friends

So... after four months living on the outskirts of the Sahel desert, a weekend in the Shenandoah mountains was just what the doctor ordered! I spend the weekend celebrating my dear friend Ashley's birthday. We rented a cabin in the woods and did some great hiking on Saturday.

I love fall....
The crisp air.
The brisk wind.
The dynamic colors.
The fresh smells of pumpkins and apples.

I am definitely an October baby!

Here we go! Off to hike in the mountains... Taking the scenic route for sure and no...we are not planning on littering

My dear friends Devon and Sarah from grad school. I absolutely adore these two ladies. (I'm the chick in the Americana flannel on the right looking off into the gorgeous horizon)

Me with Nima and Jess.. two other great people from grad school. I truly feel so lucky that I met such interesting and kind people at Columbia. 

Ohhhhh Tom. How I adore this gentleman. Tom is one of the first people I met at Columbia. I have tremendous respect for him.

Here is a group of us relaxing post-hike in the hot tub. Nothing like cold beer and hot water to soothe your body and soul after the brisk hike.

Goodness... I can actually smell fall just looking at these pictures. No better way to enjoy the Shenandoah mountains than with these fabulous people. I am so grateful for my friends in DC!

I love you more than tongue can tell

Days Left: 941
Goal #74: Go on a trip with my grandma

One thing on my list was to take a trip with my grandma, and I did just that!

My *cough*cough* year old grandma just took her first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa last week...during my birthday! Allie, my sister, came as well, and the three of us had a blast!

Here are some highlights:

1. Watching the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean while drinking a beer and eating grilled lamb with my grandma at a surf shack.

2. Taking a horse and buggy ride around Saint-Louis, Senegal a beautiful island town in the north of Senegal.

3. Taking a fishing boat to Ngor Island off of Dakar for my birthday dinner, and on the way back my grandma being carried off the boat by the nice Senegalese driver! Haha.

4. My grandma with a *cough*cough* year old Senegalese woman in Marche Kermel, a beautiful fruit/veggie/flower/fish/meat/mask market in downtown Dakar.

5. My grandma getting an awesome tunic made of African fabrics and modeling it around the house.

6. My grandma discovering that she loves bissap juice! Bissap juice is the local juice made with hibiscus flowers and lots of sugar!

7. Grandma, Allie and me in a small village in inland Senegal visiting a friend's family... my grandma asked the kids to sing, and so they did, and it was great!

8. Ooing and awing at the beautiful loom-weaved fabrics at Tess in Saint-Louis

9. Grandma, Allie and I riding in a pretty gnarly, dirty taxi cab with furry seats and doors that didn't really shut... haha

10. Eating lots of good food and drinking African beers and having lots of fun conversations!

I feel so lucky to be close to my grandma. I love that she is adventurous and open-minded. She is always wanting to learn new things. I hope that when I am in my 80s I am like that!

One thing my grandma ALWAYS is she "loves us more than tongue can tell" and that is just how I feel about her :)

One Day... all students in the US will have the opportunity to receive an excellent education

Days Left: 969
Goal # 60: Give monthly to Teach for America

I was a Teach for America teacher in inner-city Miami for two years where I taught 5th Grade Math and Science and then revitalized the Gifted Education Program at the school and taught K-5 Gifted Language Arts.  After only two years, it was clear to me that my students had the same capacity to perform at levels where students perform in more affluent communities, but that expectations for my kiddos were just set too low.

While I am not a teacher or a principal, I still care deeply about education in America. I think it is one of our country's biggest issues, and I wish it was a "hotter" issue. Movies like Waiting for Superman and leaders like  Michelle Rhee keep the issue current and friends of mine from TFA continue around the country to fight for educational equality. I have tremendous respect for them.

Even though I am not directly working in education, when I choose to become a Teach for America teacher, we were told that our commitment continued past our 2 year classroom commitment.  I have volunteered for TFA post Miami and donate money randomly, but I really wanted to set up a constant donation to an organization I support, and so finally today I did! I have a monthly deposit to TFA for the next 1001 days set up! Goal #60: Check.

Below are some pictures of my students!


Two of my goofy boys trying to problem solve together. Loved these peaceful moments.



After receiving a grant from DonorsChoose.org I got an LCD projector for my classroom. My students loved it! It was fun teaching them powerpoint and speaking skills.



These are some of my 5th graders at the 5th Grade Prom. Oh yes. We had a 5th Grade Prom.



I coached the first ever Odyssey of the Mind team at my school and competed in the regional competition as one of the only inner-city schools. I was so proud of my kids!

If you would like to support Teach for America, check out their website!

Tuuti Wolof

Days Left: 991
Goal #79: Learn 20 questions in Wolof

After my first time in Senegal, as my NY roomie Georgina can attest to, I was obsessed with the word in Wolof for "yes." "WOW." 

Below is a sample (read made-up) conversation with me and Wolof speakers.
Me: "Hi, I'm Megan."
Senegalese person: "Wow"
Me: "Yes. It is amazing my name is Megan. Do you know La Megane is a French car, made by Renault?"
Senegalese person: "Wow"
Me: "Wow indeed"

Three men NOT in a Megane in Richard Toll, Senegal

Now that I'm back in Senegal, I have since learned that WOW is actually spelled "WAU" and decided to start learning "tuuti Wolof" (a little Wolof).

Wolof is spoken in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania and is the most widely spoken language in Senegal. (read it is important for me to learn some while I'm here!)

Below are the 20 questions (with responses) I have been learning and feel plus/mois comfortable that I can use them in conversation.

1.     Do you speak Wolof? I’m learning Wolof little by little.

   Ndakh def nga Wolof? Mangi degna Wolof ndank ndank.

2.     How are you? I’m fine.

   Na nga def? Maa ngi fi rekk.

3.     What’s your name? My name is Megan.

   Noo tu tudd? Maa ngi tudd Megan.

4.     What’s your last name? My last name is Megan.

   No sant? Mangi sant Rapp.

5.     Where were you born? I was born in the United States.

   Fann nga judo? Mangi judo les Etats-Unis.

6.     Did you sleep well last night? Yes I did. Praise God.

   Mba jamm nga fanan? Wau. Alhamdulilah.

7.     How is your family? They are fine.

   Nka sa wa keur? Nou ngi ferek.

8.     How is your health? It’s okay.

               Nka yaram be? Mangi ferek (Mangi tanne = I’m feeling better)

9.     How old are you? I’m 27 years old.

   Niata atta nga am? Mangi am vingt-sept.

10.   Do you have a husband? Yes. I am married. Praise God.

   Am nga jekeur? Wah. Alhamdulilah.

11.    How many wives do you have?

   Niata jabare nga am?

12.   Will you marry me? No.

   Kai me takala? De-det.

13.   Do you have kids? No.

   Am nga jabot? De det.

14.   How’s work going? It’s going.

   Nka affair ye? Ca va.

15.   Where are you going? I’m going to Dakar.

   Fanga jem? Mangi dem Dakar.

16.   Did you come back from work? Yes. I came back from work.

   Wanchinga? Wau. Wanchinga.

17.   How much does that cost?

   Li niata?

18.   What do you want to eat? I want the yassa chicken please.

   Lo bugu lek? Men buguna lek yassa gena su la neexee.

19.   Do you have any avocadoes?

   Am nga avocat?

20.   Do you have a 5 million franc Orange Card for my cell phone? Yes. I have one.

   Am nga Carte Orange recharge pour 5 mille francs? Wau. Am nga. 

Megan's 101 things in 1001 days

Ramadan: Fast during the day. Feast at night. 

Today marks Korité , the end of Ramadan here in Senegal. And so I thought what better way to kick off my 101 things in 1001 days than on Korité.

Below is the list of 101 things I want to do in 1001 days (about 3 years-Ending on May 18, 2015). This is basically my attempt to put a timeline on the ole "bucket list" concept. My dear friend Becky inspired me to do this! 

Here's how it works: You write up 101 things that you would like to do/see/accomplish in 1001 days, organize them, and then plan and hopefully do them!

I am going to use this blog to keep track of the things I have done, am in the progress of doing, or have failed miserably at trying ;) I welcome your comments, thoughts, encouragements, whatever! 

Physical

1.     Walk the island of Manhattan from North to South

2.     Learn how to sail

3.     Drink only water for 10 days straight

4.     Go skydiving

5.     Take a rock climbing class

6.     Join an intramural flag football team

7.     Ride in a hot air balloon

8.     Learn how to fly fish

9.     Row on the Potomac River

10.  Do an Olympic Triathlon (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 10K run)

11.  Do a Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

12.  Run a 5k in under 30 minutes

13.  Complete a 30x30 Challenge (Work out for 30 minutes a day for 30 days)

14.  Run the Run Amuck Mud Run in DC in costume

15.  Take a trapeze class

16.  Compete in a bike race

17.  Do the AIDS/LifeCycle bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles

18.  Ride bike to work in DC for 30 days

19.  Do a bike ride in another country

20.  Bike 1001 miles in 1 month

21.  Bike NYC to DC

Social Butterfly

22.  Organize and host a scavenger hunt party

23.  Host a poker night

24.  Help a friend move from start to finish (first in last out)

25.  Organize a girls out on the town dancing night

26.  Write a childhood friend who I’ve lost touch with

27.  Go hiking in Shenandoah with friends

28.  Do a wine and paint outing with Allie

29.  Do SantaCon in New York City

Foodie

30.  Learn to cook a recipe by memory from 5 different countries

31.  Make homemade bagels and cream cheese

32.  Find my favorite bottle of wine

33.  Host a cooking class in my apartment

34.  Learn how to make latte art

35.  Pack my lunch for 1 month straight

36.  Learn and memorize a good bread recipe

Arts (dance, music, fine arts, photography…)

37.  Take an improv class

38.  Get a photo on ShutterStock.com

39.  Memorize a song on my flute

40.  Take an art history class and then go see one of the pieces of art I studied

41.  Choreograph a dance which is performed publicly

42.  Attend a music festival

43.  Go to a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show

44.  See Picasso’s Guernica

45.  Go to a Renaissance Festival

46.  Play my flute on a street corner somewhere

47.  Take a West African dance class in 5 different countries

48.  Be a part of a Flash Mob

49.  Watch the Godfather trilogy

50.  Wear a dress I made myself

Literary

51.  Read Vol de Nuit by St Exupery in French

52.  Read Guns, Germs, and Steel

53.  Read 101 books in 1001 days

54.  Find a favorite poem

55.  Read a graphic novel

56.  Write and illustrate a children’s book and self publish it

57.  Organize a writing retreat with a group of friends

Mo’ Money

58.  Pay off 100% of my private student loan debt

59.  Invest monthly

60.  Give monthly to Teach for America

Kind Things

61.  Volunteer 200 hours

62.  Buy a goat or sheep for a family

63.  Babysit a new mom’s kid for free

64.  Intentionally do something kind for someone every day for 1 month straight

65.  Send 1 “just because” gift to a friend

66.  Volunteer at a school

67.  Design a calendar for someone

68.  Become a Certified First Responder

Travel Bug

69.  Go to New Orleans

70.  Go visit Rudy and Amber in California

71.  Go on a road trip without a pre-set destination

72.  Go on a trip with my dad

73.  Go on a trip with my mom

74.  Go on a trip with my grandma

75.  Visit a friend or family member as a surprise

76.  Go skiing in the Rockies

77.  Go camping and sleep in a tent

Languages

78.  Take a beginning Spanish class

79.  Learn 20 questions in Wolof

80.  Learn 50 ESL signs

Spiritual

81.  Find a church in DC that I’d like to go to regularly

82.  Reread Galatians in three different translations

83.  Read my Bible every day for 1 month

84.  Do a retreat in a convent

85.  Read Soren Kirkegaard’s For Self-Examination/Judge for Yourself! out loud

86.  Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day

87.  Take a seminary class online

Learning

88.  Learn to identify 5 constellations

89.  Interview a family who adopted to learn more about the process

90.  Make a ppt to explain the conflict in Syria to my grandma

91.  Learn the capitals and locations of all countries

92.  Take an advanced excel class

93.  Take a Photoshop class

94.  Get a tour of the White House

95.  Get a tour of the Pentagon

96.  Learn how to identify 10 different flowers

97.  Read a succinct history book of West Africa

98.  Learn how to tie a bow-tie on a man

Rando

99.  Cleanse my entire apartment

100.        Get a motorcycle license

101.        Buy a nice watch

An unexamined life is not worth living...Socrates