Letter from Village
August 19, 2012
It’s rare these days to receive a hand written letter. Once in a blue moon, I will receive a postcard from a friend traveling. But a legitimate hand-written letter? I haven’t received one of those in a long long while. But today, I received one. It was written in French, from my Cameroonian friend, Victor, who lives in my village.…
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Live Every day as if You Are Moving Away
August 19, 2012
Live every day as if you are moving away. I dislike the common saying of “Live everyday as if it were your last.” Why so morbid? Moving away forces the same level of appreciation on the present, and less all-or-nothing. I always find that I truly appreciate any place that I live in during the final months and weeks before…
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2012 Peace Corps Annual Gathering
July 2, 2012
Over the weekend, I met the Peace Corps volunteer on this 1964 issue cover of National Geographic. She was with the first group of volunteers to Ecuador, and one of many remarkable Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) that I met at the 2012 Peace Corps Annual Gathering. The event was hosted by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), an independent non-profit organization that works closely with the Peace Corps...
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New York Summer
June 18, 2012
I’ve heard a lot about the epicness of New York summer. This past weekend was a nice prelude to a great summer. The weather has been a perfect 70 degree. A corporate job so far has given me nice free weekends. Free time that I can now filled with plenty of brunches with friends and take up hobbies that I…
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Stop and Look at the Churches
June 15, 2012
I love old cities. Before moving to New York, London was my favorite city. So much history. And the architecture! They sure don’t make buildings like the way they used to anymore. New York is a baby city in comparison, but there are still some gorgeous buildings around. On my way to the post office today, I noticed that there…
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First Taste of Corporate Grind
June 14, 2012
Today at lunch, despite the rain, I walked out of my office to grab a bite of something to eat. I told myself I wouldn’t bring my lunch back to eat in front of my computer. I needed a break from those Excel spreadsheet. I sat in this small all-in-one lunch place eating my bland udon noodle soup (one should…
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Big Girl Job
June 12, 2012
Today, I put on a suit and a pair of power heels and started what I hope to be my first career job. It’s a strange feeling to embark upon a career. Sounds so serious. Last night, I actually was somewhat nervous about it. For the first time in my life, there is not an end in sight. It’s not…
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SIPA Farewell
May 28, 2012
Tonight is my last night sleeping in my apartment at 417 W. 118th Street. Tomorrow, I will no longer be able to see the 6th floor of the SIPA building from my living room. As I pack up my belongings (again) and clean out my desk, I felt all sorts of bitter sweetness. It’s been a really good year, and…
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Not Just Another Graduation
May 18, 2012
This week, Columbia University celebrated its 258th academic year, and I somehow managed to receive a degree from this institution. Congrats, my fellow Class of 2012! I’ve been through many graduations, but this one is somehow particularly emotional. Besides the fact this is likely my last graduation, I also realized that I am truly living the American Dream. My parents…
Read MoreThe African Ingenuity
March 31, 2012
I am not an African, but in the two years of my Peace Corps service in Cameroon, I had fallen in love with the African people. Like most naive twentysomethings who set out to go “change the world”, I was humbled by my time in Cameroon. The country changed me in more ways than one. I barely made a…
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