Reunions

Greetings from the States!

I've been back for a little more than a week at home. Just about three and half more weeks of spring break before I finish up my last term at LSE. I know I say this quite a lot, but crazy how fast time flies!

Since, I've been home, I was able to catch up with some friends that I have not seen in quite some time! 

Last week, I grabbed lunch with one of my best friends, Erin, and our good friend, Ryan. Erin and I met on the first day of freshman year at Syracuse. Living on the same floor that year, we've been friends ever since! Ryan is a mutual friend of both of ours, and he just headed off to China to teach English for the year! 

Friends

Erin and Me 

Ryan and Me 

Taking a break from doing work, I met up with my friend Evan in Syracuse on Sunday. He was up visiting campus as he finishes up his last year of grad school. We were both Remembrance Scholars, and we hadn't seen each other since graduation day in 2012. 

To celebrate our reunion, we took a trip to Dino BBQ before driving through campus and remembering the glory days!

Delicious Dino BBQ

Syracuse University

Evan and Me at Dino 

And, lastly, I grabbed dinner with a friend from high school on Wednesday. It's been a week of so of many catch-ups, but it was so nice to see all my old friends! 

Weekend Recap

Hello lovelies! 

This past weekend, one of my best friends and sorority sisters from Syracuse came to visit! We haven't seen each other in person since last summer in August. 

Let's just say that What's App and iMessage just aren't the same as laughing in person. 

Katie (yes, we are both named the same name!) arrived Friday afternoon. We spent Friday evening catching up, showing her around my small town, some drinks, and watching enough wedding shows to last for several weeks! 

Maude & Mabel

Saturday, we took off towards our alma mater to visit. We grabbed lunch at Destiny USA at Toby Keith's restaurant. I just have to rant that I am sad that there are so many more restaurant options now instead of during my four years. That rant aside, we strolled around the mall window-shopping and drinking Starbucks.

Hall of Languages

From there, we headed off to campus.  It was sentimental as I hadn't been back on campus since Labor Day last year. We strolled around from building to building on main campus, saw the reconstructed Remembrance Wall, and headed down to Marshall Street. 

Student Entrance for the Dome 

Reconstructed Remembrance Wall 

One of my favorite places on the SU campus 

Unfortunately, Chucks was closed, so we were unable to pop in to see our names on the walls. 

On Sunday, it was down-pouring, so our plans to go to the Jets camp and kayak at the lake were canceled. Instead, we went to Seneca Falls to see the Women's Right Museum and Memorial. 

The weekend was full of laughs, drinks, and plenty of new memories.

How was your weekend? 

Summer at Home

It's been a little more than a month since I've been home. Crazy, huh?

On Tuesday, I got my grades which confirmed that I will officially be a second year in October. I have news to announce in the near future about my fall internship, and I've already started to revise my various resumes as this will be the year I apply to "big-girl" jobs. 

Yet, it is good to stop and smell the roses.

When I arrived home back in June, my brother and his family were visiting from California. 

My niece and me 

My brother and me 

This past week, I got to meet up with a friend from high school. It's crazy that it has been five years since I graduated high school!

Megan and me

I also got to go up to Syracuse and meet up with my friend Jess. We were Remembrance Scholars together, so we grabbed a quick lunch! She just graduated from SU with her Master's, and she is headed off into the world to do amazing things.

Hall of Languages

Stay tuned for more updates! 

2012: Year in Review

Trafalger Square from the Top of a Double Decker Bus

As I sit here writing the 2012: Year in Review post, I get to enjoy the comfort of a warm blanket, some hot chocolate, and watch the snow fall outside. Clearly, I'm enjoying my winter break at home! 

It's hard to believe that this year is almost over. It seems as if I was just starting my last semester at Syracuse just yesterday. Yet, today, I've got one term of grad school already done. Time flies when you are having fun and working hard. I made a lot of memories this year; some were not so great, but the majority of them, I will carry with me forever. (Thank goodness for tons of photos.)

I left my mark at Chucks

So, here we go..a short year in review complete with those photos that I mentioned.

Danielle and Me

Governor Howard Dean

January: 

• Attend the Politics and Media Seminar at the Washington Center in DC for research on my honors thesis 
• Met Governor Howard Dean and others inspirations at the Seminar
• Got to meet two of my now good friends, Lexi and AJ, at the seminar
• Was Reunited with my Summer 2011 Roommate, Danielle
• Returned to Syracuse for my last semester
• Got Accepted into the London School of Economics on the first day of the last semester at Syracuse

February:

• Participated in my last formal Pi Beta Phi recruitment as a collegian member
• Reunion of Lawrinson 12 

Katie, Kari, and me meeting Brandon Triche (SU Basketball Player) 

Celebrating my 22nd Birthday 

Elite 8 Game in Boston

March: 

• Turned 22 Years Old
• Spent Spring Break at Syracuse with some of my best friends as we finished our capstone projects
• Traveled to Boston with my Best Friend, Katie, for the Syracuse Elite 8 Game
• Met the Entire Basketball Team (one final go!)

One Final Mayfest 

Group Photo with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 

Remembrance Scholars 

April:

• Participated in the 2012 Dulye Leadership Experience. This time, I was on the side of the student project manager and an alumna of the program
• Met Senator Chuck Schumer
• Met Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
• Participated on the Remembrance Scholar Selection Committee
• Finished my Honors Capstone Project/Political Science Distinction Thesis
• Had One Final MAYFEST

My Nephew and Me 

Oriana and Me at the Remembrance Scholar Brunch

Honors Convocation with my Parents

May:

• Defended my thesis for the political science distinction program
• Presented my thesis at Honors Capstone Day
• Participated in final senior activities such as Remembrance Scholar Brunch, Senior Sunday, and Senior Celebration
• Graduated from Syracuse University complete with three ceremonies and Aaron Sorkin being my Commencement Speaker
• Got to see my Brother and Nephew for Graduation 

June:

• Started my summer internship with the U.S. Department of Education 
• Finished my internship with the U.S. Department of State
• Was Home for the First Summer in Ages

Reunion

July:

• Took a road trip to Pennsylvania 
• Got Reunited with my friends, Ashlie and Erin
• Granted my student visa for England 

Orange Reunion

August:

• Took a road trip to Connecticut to see my best friend, Katie
• Travled to NYC for the day for random meet-ups, a musical, and a ton of macaroons!
• Attended a Syracuse New Student Send Off with Erin 
• Wrote a freelance article for the International Political Forum
• Landed another remote internship with the U.S. Department of State

LSE Orientation 

Buckingham Palace

September:

• Visited Syracuse for one final goodbye
• Moved to London, England and settled into Notting Hill
• Started my pre-semester course at the London School of Economics
• Met my seven close friends in my program
• Realized how close the MPA program was at the Boat Party, and realized how lucky I was to have such a fun program
• Heard Kofi Annan Speak

MPA Retreat 

MPA Retreat

October:

• Started official grad school courses
• Landed an internship in London
• Attended the MPA Retreat and Halloween Party 
• Voted Absentee Ballot 

White Cliffs of Dover

Prince William

November:

• Realized my love for STATA and regressions
• Traveled to Dover 
• Saw the Royal Family 
• Celebrated the Engagement of Two Close Friends 
• Celebrated Obama's Victory
• Took a road trip in England with Emma and Zaina
• Traveled to Chatsworth House
• Selected to be the Contributing Editor for the Journal of Public and International Affairs 

Jenny and Me at the Holiday Party 

Mumford and Sons 

December: 

• Attended the MPA Holiday Party
• Completed my first term of graduate school
• Will Attend my First SU Basketball game as an alumna
• Saw Mumford and Sons 
• Attended my first Pi Phi Alumnae Event