First snow of the year!

Helllo!
Today was the first snow of the season! I have to say, it was really pretty watching the snow fall. My girls could not stop watching the snow and I felt so bad telling them to stop. One of the girl's parents were late so after class we sat and watched the snow together. It was absolutely adorable.

Here is the breakdown on jobs:
MYB- almost on holiday break! I am in love with my classes and I am watching the MYB Nutcracker tomorrow night with Rosa.

NDEO- things are slowing down. Not much to report on there. I am spending more time there since the company is on hiatus.

Contradiction- the company is on hiatus right now but we are still fundraising. Look for my next blog on how you can contribute! I am also teaching for Contradiction and I LOVE my new classes. The kids are a bit older and so it is such a new and exciting challenge for me.

Birthday-I HAD THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! It was filled with fun, friends, drinking, dancing, the White House Christmas Tree lighting! I started celebrating on Tuesday and ended on Sunday. I LOVE MY DC FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!

Life- Its cold here- all the time! I really miss dancing because I am letting my ankle heal and have not danced in a month. BLAH! Let's see, most of my friends are going back to Cali for the holidays and so am I! Other than that, things are pretty good here. The year of being 22 is starting out strong!

Cali- I will see you very very soon. Can't wait for a Leong Christmas!

-Chrissie

shout out to the roommies!

Now that I have a bit more time, I feel like I should give you all a little background of my roommates. I met Sarah in my women's small group last January. She sat diagonally from me at the Tasty Diner and laughed at all my sarcastic jokes about the weather. A few months later, she needed a roommate and I needed a place to live. I came over once to check out the place and its been a big love fest ever since.

Rosa and Sarah have been best friends since high school and also went to college together. They are basically my life savers and they make me love living in Silver Spring. The entire apartment is so sophisticated and they really help make the apartment feel like home. It is so comforting to know that when I come home at night, they are there. I can talk to them whenever I need to and I talk to both just about every day/night. They laugh at my dumb jokes, come to my shows, listen to my rants, watch the Biggest Loser with me, drive me home, and give me honest opinions of all the clothes I buy online. I love them SO much and I really lucked out with this living situation!

Rosa and Sarah, I LOVE YOU! Thanks for everything!

update from CA

Hey everybody!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am writing to you from my Dad's computer so that means I am on the West (Best) Coast right now. I just reread my blogs from the past year and WOW has it been an eventful year. I can't believe I have been in DC for almost a year.

Here goes the work update:
Contradiction Dance- We completed the show Living, Breathing, Human Organism? and it was an incredible experience. No doubt, it was tough on my brain and body but definitely a wonderful journey. I really love our company directors and members and I am excited to sign on for Spring! My mom flew out for the show and it was wonderful to see her!

MYB- It really makes a difference if kids start ballet at the age of 2 or 3. The kids that started this session are really behind and have a lot of catching up to do! We are Nutcracker-ed out at MYB and we had two girls dress up and visit our classes. I let each girl give a high-five to a ballerina! It was absolutely adorable!

NDEO- Oh the NDEO....we are still catching up from conference and I need to put in more time there. I need to go a bit faster there so things with the Dance and Disability group will get off the ground!

Hmmm let's see what else- I hurt my ankle again and it is really unfortunate. I am gearing up for the best birthday ever. I really really really really really really really love my friends in DC!

I love and miss DC right now. More updates when I return from OC!

-Chrissie

its winter!

Hi people!

How are you? Well its November already and it is WINTER. Yup, we are at freezing temperatures already! This week is a bit warmer but still........its glove/scarf season already!

It has been a whirlwind of a month! Let's see, the NDEO conference was good and a bit tiring. I loved meeting professors from all over the US and it reminded of what I want to do with my life. I snuck home for a weekend and it was such a blessing to see the family and eat Mexican food! I also took another trip to NYC that was really fun! Here are the updates:

MYB- We are starting a new session! Most of my girls are returning but some are new. This session our theme is the Nutcracker!

Contradiction- The company is gearing up for our show on Nov 19 and 20th! The movement is really hard and challenging but I am trying my best.

NDEO- We have a lot of after conference work to do but its fine.

The next two weeks I will be really focusing on the show and my mom is coming to watch! Of course will fit in a few happy hours though!

I love and miss CA

-Chrissie

go skins?!

Hey people!

HOW IS OCTOBER HALFWAY GONE????? This fall has flown by and we are getting ready for winter already! Let's see, here how things are so far:
Contradiction Dance- kicking my butt! It is such a joy to wake up and DANCE! I do not have much modern dance training, so this whole genre is new to my body. I am constantly sore but I feel like I am in good shape! I really LOVE all the other company members and the directors. We are still working on our kickstarter campaign, so let me know if you would like to support us! For some reason, I can't post the link but it is on my facebook!

MYB- Some of my girls are ANGELS. some are not.........The theme of the 7 dwarfs is going well and I have been working really hard on having a well rounded class.

NDEO- We are currently gearing up for conference! I am so excited to meet my Dance Education heroes! I know I am going to be super stressed at conference with everything we have to do, but I hope it is all worth it!

Let's see, I really have been enjoying the city and I am sad to be leaving it the next few weekends. I love my friends here and I am so grateful for them. Football is big here, so I am trying to get into that (go skins!?) and I am trying to get all my grad school stuff together. I work A LOT so I have been working on my work/play balance. NYC for one day this week then its off to the NDEO conference in AZ! I will update again sooN!

I love and miss CA

-chrissie

falling into fall

Hello Everybody!
Wow, it has been a crazy month! Here is a quick recap since my last post:

NYC -fun-as usual. I ate great food, had great company, and it made me so excited to start my grad school apps.

LA/OC- I will always be a California Girl. Disneyland, the beach, friends, family, who could ask for more? I was able to see some Royals, some SGD, eat some carne asada fries, and bake in the sun! I also met up with some East Coast friends as well and went to a crazy cool Disney event.

DC- Yup, lived it up in this city!

Philly- Yup, went to Philly for one day again! Marnee came to visit and we saw the liberty bell, ate a cheesesteak, and walked around the Magic Garden.

So now that summer is over (blahhhhhhh) FALL IS HERE! That means big sweaters, jeans, boots, and shopping!!!!!!!!! My new fall schedule is pretty packed. 6 days a week, 3 jobs, and about 55 hours of work a week! This fall I will work at the National Dance Education Org. as a program assistant, Contradiction Dance as a company member, and MYB faculty and admin assistant. It is really weird getting paid to dance but it something I already love. I AM SO EXCITED FOR MY NEW CLASSES TO START! I have been prepping, thinking, and anxiously waiting for the new session and it is finally here.

Hope everybody is doing well- I love and miss CA

-Chrissie

shout out to those who have visited

one MYB shirt- 10 dollars
one MYB pair of sweats- 25 dollars
one MYB drawstring bag- 15 dollars
Friends that will come visit you- PRICELESS

Thank you for coming to visit me! I have had quite a few guests so far and hopefully I will have more! I showing DC off and it helps me fall more and more in love with this place!

Moving Miracles

Hey everybody!
It has been a busy summer here in DC! Hmmm, where should I start?

This month started on a sad note. My friend left DC for grad school and it was hard to see him go. That is what is so hard living in this city. Three of my friends left this month and even though I will see them again, I miss them.....

On a brighter note, I just got back from Buffalo/Toronto where my family celebrated my parents' 30th Anniversary! Buffalo was absolutely amazing. I went to check out this studio called Moving Miracles, where they only serve the differently-abled population. They have special studios, strong props, and a variety of different tools to help their students dance. I was fortunate enough to take a class with 6 girls with Down Syndrome and one girl performed her solo for me. The women who work there are incredibly dedicated to their students and are definitely my dance educator heroes. Oh, and I also had the best Buffalo wings of my LIFE. I am actually craving them.
After Buffalo I went to Toronto for some Ohana time. The seven of us went to Niagra Falls and visited my cousins in Toronto. My siblings are my best friends and it was great just taking time to NOT work and be with them. Of course, the falls were beautiful but they really made me miss Ghana (Kintampo Falls) and the experience of finding a waterfall/swimming in a waterfall.

Work is work. Remember when I was an intern? At NDEO it was deja vu week and I folded, stuffed, sealed mailings and shredded my hands off. I kept telling myself ," someone has to do it." But I can't wait to have my masters and do more meaningful work. (Grad school apps open next month!) MYB is off for the summer and so I am only working the office now. I am subbing for the Little Tots program tonight but I really miss my girls. Next year I am teaching the 3 yr olds and I will really miss my 4 year olds but my schedule for next year gives me Sundays off! I officially signed the contract to work at MYB from Sept-June! Scary but exciting right?

Well this week I am off to NYC on Friday for some time with my friends and some fun.

I love and miss CA

-Chrissie

shout out to the broodles

I know I haven't done this in awhile



One session for Creative Movement at MYB- 140 dollars

One purse at H&M in Toronto- 17 CAD

One kids meal at Chick-fil-a- 3 dollars

A group of girls that I can depend on- Priceless

Hey Broodles, thank you so much for all the sleepovers, late night chats, broodle dinners, girls night outs, gchats, phone calls, and endless amounts of love that I have received throughout my time here. In all my life, I have never met a group of girls so close and encouraging. I love you all SO much and I would not have survived this summer without you! I am so blessed to know each and every one of you. See ya at dinner!

corn hole

Hey everybody!
Corn Hole is my new favorite game! It is basically like a bean bag toss but there are teams and the bags are filled with corn. I had my doubts about it at first but now I love it!
Sorry, I haven't updated in awhile. July is a really busy month for me bc I am working every day!
So here it goes:
Work is going alright. It is great to have only two jobs and things have been busy at both. At the NDEO we are launching our Dancers with Disabilities forum and I couldn't be more excited! This is one of the reasons I came to DC and all my work is finally turning into something. The forum is for dance educators that work with the differently-abled population and we have been working on it for a few months. My classes at MYB are a lot harder this session. During the summer we have new students that don't really know what to do. Plus it is SO hot that the kids just don't want to dance. My theme is Pixar for this session and every week we go over a different Pixar movie.
I started getting closer to people in this city. My roomies are AMAZING. They have been here for me above and beyond and I love being apart of their awesome group of friends. It helps having friends here!
Did I tell you I danced with a company? WHAT!! Yup! Stay tuned to see what happens next!
These next few weeks are packed with visitors, friends, trips, work, and going to the pool!

I LOVE and MISS CA!

-Chrissie

ps. Jessica Maria Chan or Jue is awesome.

summertime in the DMV

Hey friends!

DMV- district, Maryland, Virginia- my new word of the day!

Thanks for the friends and the family in CA, I ate a lot of food and saw a lot of people. If I didn't see you; I apologize. I am still recovering from the sicky-ness on my trip but hopefully by next week I will be 100 percent better!

Things here in Maryland are back to normal. Lots of databases, filing, shredding, and answering phones. This Sunday I start teaching again at MYB because our summer session starts and I am VERY excited to be teaching again.

Sorry this post is so boring and short but I should be filing right now. Here are some new things :

1. I joined the DC Sigmas- Sigma Kappas in DC that meet up a few times a month

2. Jessica and Brian just came to visit last Saturday

3. I am part of the All UC alumni group- I think

4. I found my new favorite accessory store- Lou Lou

5. I SAW A FIREFLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Details to come later!

I love and miss CA

-Chrissie

countdown begins........

Happy Birthday Jamie Brooklyn Tang!

Things I am going to do in CA:

Disneyland

the BEACH

Jazz class

Family dinners

Rock Harbor India thingy on June 8

Graduations!

Spend time with people I love

Places I will eat at:

Alertos

Pho

Boba Loca

Guppies

The HAT

Fukada

PeKing

85 degrees

Yogurtland

Cha for Tea

Any other suggestions? I only have one week in CA...

Can you tell that I am so excited for CA?? I am heading up to NYC for a day then flying straight to LAX. It is all I can really think about right now.

I am leaving Copper Canyon. Serving is great but 60 hour work weeks are NOT. They understood and when I come back from CA , I am going to have a meeting with the managers. I am really excited to have free time.

My classes are winding down at MYB and there is a LOT of drama. We are in such a transitional state that everyone's job security is unknown. We don't know what classes we have, what times we are working, or even why they are hiring so many new people. I am getting the full jist of what it is like to work in a "pre-professional school"

I LOVE my apartment. My roomies are amazing and I am so happy that I moved in with them.

Women's groups have ended but in the summer we start Co-ed bible study. It is in the next city so I am trying to figure out if I can make it.

Well, I will see you all in a a few weeks!!

I LOVE and MISS CA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Chrissie

humidity

Hey party people!

WHY DID GOD CREATE HUMIDITY???????

if anyone has hair suggestions for me, please let me know. It isn't just humid, it rains! Hairspray? Just put it up?

Well things in DC have been going well. I just got moved up to server at the restaurant ( as long as I pass the training classes) so that means I will be working a bit more. I figure by the time I get trained I will almost be done with the spring session at MYB so I will be able to use the cash. 60 hour weeks, here I come! I am not gonna lie, it is tough working so much and juggling all three jobs. But if you know me, I prefer to be busy.

Last Saturday I got to sub for the Music and Motion class! What a rush! Having to plan 2 classes in 4 hours and teaching my own 4 classes was a lot of work and a lot of fun! It was refreshing to teach the kids and it was a great reminder of what I am trying to do with my life. I think I am going to try and create some more curriculum for the fall.

I hung out with my roomies and their friends last Saturday. My roomies grew up 10 min from our apt, went to college 40 min away, and so did a lot of their friends. So I met a LOT of people that were all interconnected. I really miss that about college. I miss going to places and seeing people I know.

I am gonna be home from June 7-14! I am so excited for Mexican food, the beach, Disneyland, and all my friends and family!

I LOVE and miss CA......

-Chrissie

ps. how are you?

MYB

Hello!

Now that I have been here for 3 months (!!) I feel like I should add detail to my blog.

Maryland Youth Ballet is my favorite job. When I reception there 2 days a week, I answer the phone, sell concessions, check people in, and that is most of it! My boss is Julie Miles and I absolutely adore her. Everyone who works in the office has danced their entire life and we love to laugh, show each other clips on youtube, eat, and did I mention take class?? My schedule is so flexible there and it is not stressful at all. MYB pays me 2x as much as my other jobs!

I started teaching 6 classes last week and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! MYB has a set curriculum and I teach within that. I teach 2 (with parent) 3 ( little dancer) and 4 (creative movement) year olds and 2 classes of each. This month, the theme for my class is Earth, in honor of Earth day. I teach them concepts of high and low using trees, animals, environment, etc. Any and all suggestions of how to teach recycling or conserving water, please let me know!

I think part of the reason I love MYB so much is because people love MYB. We have 70 year old grandmas who come in every single day, our staff tends to work overtime without getting paid, we have kids that come back every year even though they already know all the songs, etc. Everyone loves to dance and loves to be there!

One of the great parts of MYB is the Music in Motion project. Jennifer Cox started this for her granddaughter, Mary, who has cerebral palsy. I am one of Mary's helpers and even though she has done the same class for 7 years- she comes every week. They said during the snow people were complaining about coming in for work- then they saw the wheelchairs come in!

This is a video of Mary when she was a super for the Joffrey!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6447417

Rumor has it, one of our teachers is leaving and someone (ahem) is going to be offered her classes if she really does leave!!

I LOVE AND MISS CA!!!

My mom is visiting me this week! Details about her visit next week!

How are you???

-Chrissie

winter to summer

So winter is gone and summer is here. What happened to Spring? I am asking myself the SAME question. The weather jumped from thunderstorms to 85 degrees ( man, i miss that cafe) in one week. WHAT????????????????????? If someone knows where my perfect 73 degree weather is- please let me know! O, wait, it's in CA huh?

I am happy it is sunny though! I love the sun and I get to buy new clothes!

Things are moving quite along here. I start teaching on Saturday at MYB and I am SOO excited. NDEO is going well and I am taking on more responsibility. However, they do want me to cut down on my hours due to budget. So I will be working 20 hours instead of 25 a week. At Copper Canyon I am training for "to-go" which means I can make more tips! The next two weeks are packed with work and I do not have a day off until May 17 when I go to Philly again.

Living in White Oak is extremely comfortable. It really is just like Irvine and I enjoy living in such a nice place. I wish it was closer to the metro though!

I took a trip to Georgetown last weekend and that town is adorable! The streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and bars while people roam all about! The waterfront has a Vegas sort of feel to it while the main street feels like Disneyland. Some of the houses are absolutely stunning and I hear Georgetown Cupcake is the best cupcake in DC.

I am continuously making new friends in random places and I enjoy trying new places to eat! If you come and visit, I will take you to some of the cool places I have found!

I love and miss CA

-Chrissie

shout out 6

Mcdonalds Iced Coffee- $1.90

Spring Dress from Urban Outfitters- $29.99

new make up because my summer tan from last year is long gone- $20

winter being over- PRICELESS!!

THANK GOD FOR BETTER WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!

from Philly to Thunderstorms

Hey everybody,

It was SUNNY for the past 4 days and now there are thunderstorms. Sad......

This past weekend I went to Philadelphia to visit Olivia! We got cheesesteaks, ate at Lorenzo's, walked around South Street, ate at China town, shopped, and saw the Liberty Bell! It was a short trip and there was some drama getting back bc my bus was over an hour late. But it was only a dollar bus ride- so I got what I paid for. UPenn is a great campus and it made me miss UCI. I was only in Philly for about 24 hours but I feel like I got a good jist of the city.

Why was I there for so little? On Saturday I watched a wheelchair ballroom class. It was really sweet to watch the two couples waltz around the room. One person was in a chair and one was standing. I hope someday someone will take a ballroom with me if I am in a wheelchair.

The move went well, I have yet to unpack everything. The girls, Rosa and Sarah, have everything already so I didn't need to bring much. The apartment is similar to a Villa Sienna apartment in Irvine. Getting there is a bit of a pain but I think it is just an adjustment.

This next week is filled with work, dance, and meeting up with friends for meals. Hopefully I won't get sick with all the rain.

Is there anything you would like to know about DC? Just message me!

I love and miss you all.

and I miss the great state of CA too

-Chrissie

shout out 5

a Philadelphia cheesesteak- $7

a slice of pizza at Lorenzo's-$ 2.75

a bus ticket from Philly to DC- $1

Having friends to show you around a new city-Priceless

Thanks to everyone that has hosted me so far!

-Chrissie

NYC and after

Hey everybody! Sorry it has been so long since my last post.

So last weekend was one of the best weekends ever. No joke. I saw Rock of Ages, went to a museum, walked through central park, tried different bakeries for red velvet cupcakes, and so much more! I went to a dance class with a woman in a wheelchair, Kitty Lunn, who is one of the most inspiring dancers I have ever met. She takes class nearly everyday in her chair! I had the best company and enjoyed hanging out with old and new friends.

When I got back from NYC I was on this unnatural high. I left my favorite city in the world craving to go back. I really want to go to NYU for grad school and I thought it would be so great to live there and have a good weekend- every weekend. I could apply and be at NYU by next spring.

But then reality set in this week.

On Tuesday I had a complete meltdown. I figured it was bound to happen sooner or later. I wasn't enjoying my time at Copper Canyon, I was shredding paper at my internship all day, and I was so unhappy with my life. I truly felt like I wasn't doing anything worthwhile in my life. I should be out in Haiti helping people or in the Peace corps, not teaching rich kids ballet. I was feeling awful, I even left work for an hour just to walk around.

Thank God for my sister and Josh, who put a lot of things in perspective for me. I am so young, I have time to do everything I want in my life. If I don't go to grad school by 23, then so what? I don't have to live in DC and work at a restaurant until then either. I can be flexible and I am more than just a dancer, or a host, or a receptionist. I am a child of God.

So I started looking at other jobs. Other intern jobs at various non profits. But I don't really qualify for any of them. Then my boss calls me into her office.

I am now the new administrative assistant for the National Dance Education Org. She thinks my work (my paper shredding skills) are valuable to the organization. So now I work less and get paid! Funny how things turn out?

Now I work 3 days at the NDEO, 2 days at MYB, teach 2 days at MYB, and work whenever I can at Copper Canyon. I don't officially start teaching until April though.

In case you didn't know, I am in DC indefinitely........

I love and miss CA.

-Chrissie

shout out 4

6 piece bed set-350 dollars

my new lamp-20 dollars

bus ticket to NY-23 dollars

A boyfriend who is incredibly supportive, can calm me down during a breakdown, and is 3000 miles away- priceless

Thanks Josh for being an amazing person and bf. I am so lucky to have you in my life!

a half post

Sorry for the delay, I have to write quick!

Here is a brief update on what is going on here:

1. I took a whirlwhind trip back to CA. It was fun, warm, and I am sorry if I didn't see you. Don't trip chocolate chip, I am coming home in June for 2 weeks (hopefully)

2. I got hired by Maryland Youth Ballet as a receptionist and ballet instructor for 2-5 year olds. I AM VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. No, I did not get the Nat Pack. It saves me 7 dollars and 2 hours on the metro per game. I am fine.

4. I am moving in with a girl from my small group. Her roommate had to go to the Congo for State so I am taking her place. It is far from the metro but it is SO NICE and it has a gym.

5. I am going to NYC this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. I work at Copper Canyon Grill. It is a bit frustrating sometimes. I don't love it but I like getting paid.

7. I thought I was done shredding paper- but now I have another weeks worth.

Sorry this is so short and I didn't do my normal shout out, but I have to run! Love and miss you all.

-Chrissie

let it snow!

What do when one is snowed in and there is no cable or internet:

1. Wake up late

2. Take a long time to eat and prepare food

3. Talk on the phone with people from CA

4. Write

5. Read

6. Watch episodes of Gilmore Girls that my roommate brought

7. Take a walk and watch everyone shovel out their cars

8. Eat the snow

9. Nap

10. Repeat the above

Over 2 feet of snow! I LOVE IT!! PTL we just got internet back! Tuesday we are gonna get hit with 5 more inches!

the long awaited INDIA post

I have been putting off this post, for no apparent reason, and now that I am snowed in, w/o any internet I have no distractions or reasons to not tell everybody how India was.

For those of you who read the team blog, this part may be a bit redundant but you can also skip to the next paragraph if you wish. Every day we were in India was a full day of ministry. One day we would give clothes to people with leprosy, another food to people with HIV, we had Henna put on us while chatting with ladies who had escaped prostitution, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes we spent five minutes in a village and other times there was so much chaos, it felt like we were in a village for hours. A lot of our days were filled with travel and long meals. The last days we were there we hosted VBS for 1200 orphans, which was the highlight of the trip for me. We stayed in a “hotel” that was basically a hostel and I had three other roommates from the team.

A lot of India reminded me of Ghana. Eating with your right hand, the villages, the drinking water that came in a bag, and the abundance of adorable children were all so similar to the place I studied abroad. In a way, I feel as if I understood the culture a bit better and could respect the differences. But it still killed me to see a village with no running water but an abundance of cell phone reception.

My favorite part was VBS. This huge affair was carefully planned and I think excellently executed. The kids were divided into 4 groups and had four stations to go through-crafts, games, teaching, and bible memory. I was helping the games station and at first I was a bit disappointed, it seemed like something Phil (my brother) would be good at, but not necessarily me. Surprisingly, I liked having fun with the kids and just like dance; I did not always need words to speak to the kids.

Josh and I sponsor a child in India through the Harvest India organization. For just 30 dollars a month we help provide her schooling, housing, classes, and food. We were lucky we got to meet her! She is incredibly thin, has a big smile, and loves to sing. Once we met her she clung to my side and she made sure I was always looking for her. It was such a joy to meet her and be able to meet her brother and sisters. Another little girl really stood out to me because she was the poorest little orphan girl I have ever seen. While all the girls had long hair and dresses, she had short hair and tattered shorts on. I could tell by watching her that she had a strong spirit and could defend herself if needed. Her name is super hard to remember so I just called her Mandy in my head. (Her name sounded something like that) On the last day of VBS I asked her to take a picture with me and I walked her to the big tent. From then on, she called me “mom” and I had never felt the weight of the word until then. My heart sunk and I realized I may have given her the most affection she has ever had. During the parade we had, both of my girls found me in the midst of everyone and we walked together. Later that night, when we came back to the orphanage, Mandy found me as soon as I stepped out of the van. She clung onto my waist and did not let go until I had to leave. Another girl told me she was ten years old, but she was the size of a six year old. I nearly cried as I said good-bye to them and I told them that they were beautiful, God loves them, and so do I.

Will I go back to India? Maybe. I know I will always support Suresh, Harvest India, and the girl I support (actually she will be too old for the orphanage soon). I feel that God has shown me how much need there is in this world. We served thousands of people in the two weeks I was there and I want to go to more countries to see what God is doing there. I learned more than what I can write in this one post, but I would love to talk more about my experience with any of you. Thanks for reading and thanks for the continuous support!

shout out 3

1 order of pad thai at DC's best Thai place- $10.95
1 standard meal at Copper Grill-$15
1 head of lettuce- $3

Friends that you can talk to in the middle of a snowstorm- Priceless

Thanks to all my wonderful friends at home who have been calling, texting, and facebooking. Miss you!

shroeder the shredder

Yup, I named the shredder. His name is Shroeder. We spend so much time together, it was the least I could do.

This past week has been pretty full. I got hired at Copper Grill ( like Yardhouse) as a host. The past two days I had training and I had to buy ugly work clothes. The 2nd day was food testing though, so that was really fun. I also get to co-teach at MYB this week! I am super excited for that bc I will be teaching 2-4 year olds!

I only have one small group now and it has been going fine. We didn't have group yesterday bc of the snow but I still had dinner with one of the leaders. Our group is doing a study by Beth Moore.

Once again, adventures in the office are funny-but only to me. When my boss realized I wasn't supposed to shred the documents she gave me to shred, I nearly died laughing. I spend a lot of time shredding still but I am also getting started on a project working with dancers with disabilities. I am excited to be working with the best people in the field!

The house hunt is still on. Emily cleaned our bathroom and kitchen bc she couldn't stand how dirty it was. I have a few leads so I should have an update soon.

IT SNOWED!!!!!!!!! A LOT!!!!!!! Last Saturday we got 6 inches maybe? and yesterday we got maybe 4 more? I like the snow! Thanks to Tracie, I have snow boots! It is so pretty to watch the snow fall and my roomie showed me how to make a good snow angel. This weekend it is also supposed to snow.

I am trying to find more interesting places to eat, so yesterday I tried Peruvian chicken. SO GOOD! I loved it!

I am turning as white as a sheet. My summer tan is now gone and I am a pasty tone everywhere now. That is definitely one thing I miss about CA-the SUN!

Sorry I haven't been able to call as much. The time difference really gets me and I can't talk while on the metro or bus bc it isn't safe for me to be distracted.

Going to the Kennedy Center tonight with a co-worker to watch Alvin Ailey!!!

Hope all is well in the sunshine! I miss CA very very much. PLEASE eat good, cheap, Asian food for me k?

-Chrissie

shout out 2

dry cleaning for one jacket- 19 dollars

2 loads of laundry-7 dollars

Copper Grill shirt for work- 20 dollars

Siblings that will call nearly every other day to see how I am doing- Priceless

Thanks Tracie, Adam, and Phil for continuously checking up on me! I am so blessed to have such wonderful family!

being business casual

" Chrissie, its DC-everyone here is business casual"-emily

Hey everybody!

Thanks for all the texts, facebook comments, emails, etc.. I really appreciate them! I am doing well here. I am freezing my face off, but overall good! I really like my roommate (Emily) and we have fun talking and doing random things together. She is from Wisconsin and she thinks it is so warm here.

Job Status:

I have had 3 interviews at Copper Grill (like a Yardhouse) , 2 interviews at Macaroni Grill, I got asked to observe classes at Maryland Youth Ballet, and I have my 2nd interview at Red Lobster on Monday. I am kinda sad about Starbucks and Ann Taylor bc those are the two I wanted. BUT MYB would be awesome bc JULIE KENT trained there and my boss founded it.

The City:

I like exploring the city! One could come to DC, live here for years , and never eat at the same place. But everything is also super expensive. I mean SUPER expensive. I have learned to like the bus and I take that as much as I can. I still have a lot to see!

The House:

I love how convenient the house is to the bus. Emily is a neat freak so she cleans as much as she can. I provide the cleaning supplies and together we are "enhancing" the place. I bought a new shower curtains and I am buying a new toaster today (ours started screaming and shaking and toasters aren't supposed to do that).

My first week in an office and here are my accomplishments:

1. I spent 3 hours trying to copy 7 dvds only to find out that my boss had it wrong- the software was never installed.

2 I spent 2 hours trying to fix someones internet in the office only to realize that I was looking at the wrong cord. It wasn't plugged in.

3. I spent one hour discussing making a facebook page, only to find out that we already have one and no one knew about it. So now we have a page but our marketing director doesn't like to use facebook.

4. 3 hours a day shredding paper-at least. I can only shred for about 30 minutes straight before the shredder overheats and then I have to let it cool for an hour. I go back and forth between updating the database and shredding all day. All the files from 1997-2005 must be shredded.

5. Made 4 important phone calls to make our committees do something with their groups. My boss just told me an hour ago that all these groups already had action plans so I don't need to do as much work. Dang.

I just laugh at all the things posted above. Working at a small non profit with retired dancers, what was I expecting? My roommate works at the hill and we just laugh about my day because it is so different than hers. She works at a fast pace, mind blowing, challenging environment and I am currently blogging at work.

I miss a lot of things from CA but I really miss having daily conversation. At work we don't talk much, the time difference makes it hard to call CA, and just don't know as many people here yet. I also really miss 24 hour fitness.

God is good and has provided me here with 2 great small groups, a dance studio close by, and just today I got to talk with Kitty Lunn (a ballerina who is now disabled and dances in a wheelchair) and possibly do work with her. I am staying warm and constantly thinking of everyone in Cali

Much Love,

Chrissie

shout outs

Hello all!

I think I need to pay some respects to the people back at home. So before I blog about my life here in DC, I will write a little shout out to somebody in my life first. Also, you can see how ridiculous prices are in DC.

1 90 minute ballet class-18 dollars

1 week of riding the bus to work-21 dollars

1 6 inch sandwich from pot bellys- 5 dollars

Having amazing parents who are financially supporting me-PRICELESS

Thanks mom and dad for your continuously support! I could not be here without you!

-Chrissie

my first blog post

Hello!!

Greetings from DC! I figured this was the best way for me to keep in touch with people. Please don't expect inspiring or my deepest darkest secrets (DDS) but this is purely to let everyone know what is going on in my life.

Where to start? The first four days were a whirlwind of activity. I looked at about 5 places to live, hung out with the Engs ( cutest kids ever) and met up with various people. On Monday night, it was crunch time and I moved in to a little house in Takoma Park- one stop off the metro from my work.

The house is owned by a very old lady. She rents out the three rooms upstairs,the basement, and the house she owns behind it. I have my own room but I share a bath with two other people. I really like my roomies. Kevin is a hilarious guy from texas who is doing PHd stuff at John Hopkins. He is moving out today though to go back to Dallas. Emily is a girl from Wisconsin and she talks with an accent. She is working for Feingold at the Hill.

The room itself is big. Full bed, closet, desk, tv unit, and a vanity thing. Everything in the house is about 1000 years old. Most of the stuff looks like it is one second from breaking and the shower is a bit depressing. (mold, mildew, and a mysterious sheet covering something) Some might call it "quaint" but I think its old. Yesterday I bought my own comforter and pillows bc the stuff she gave me looked like it had been around since the house was built in 1930. ( 29.99 for a feather comforter and pillows!) I am still debating about moving to a new place next month.

My work- I work for the National Dance Education Org. Yes, I am at work right now. My current project is updating the database. I have to look up every college we know of that has a dance program ( about 670) and make sure all the information is correct. I think I have done 100 or so? Business casual? Not really. More like sweaters and khakis. Two of the women are part-time and the two founders are full time. They are all really nice though.

Last night I went to small group at a church called Frontline Silver Spring. It is right next to my work. The girls were really nice and they seemed to laugh at goofiness. Most of the women are older than me (as usual) and 3 are in the army. I like them though and one even gave me a ride home.

Taking the bus/metro system is fun but a bit taxing. Yesterday I got on the wrong bus 3 different times. But I am learning and everyday I learn more!

I am still adjusting to the cold ( it is supposed to snow tomorrow) but I think I can handle it. I sleep with three blankets so I never want to get out of bed!

Thanks for all your prayer and support! I really appreciate all the love and it makes me miss the OC. Everyone here tells me I moved to the wrong place! Please pray for me as I look for a job here in Silver Spring.

All the best,

Chrissie