Before visiting the Baltics states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), it never crossed my mind. I also don’t recall ever learning in school about… The Baltic States. Estonia being invaded by the Germans, Danes, Swedes, and Slavs. The 50 year Soviet occupation of Estonia, which the US refused to recognize. Estonia’s fight for independence against the Soviet …
In January 2014, I joined a 13 member water brigade from my college and traveled to El Ojochal, Honduras for a week. We dug ditches besides the community members, observed how to engineer and install a water distribution system, educated children about hygiene, and learned about the impact of access to clean, safe, potable drinking water. …
Tere tulemast Tallinnisse, Eestist! Welcome to Tallinn, Estonia! Welcome to the Baltics! But wait… Where is Tallinn? Estonia?? The Baltics??? Complete disclosure, I wasn’t quite sure where the Baltic States were before this trip. Eastern Europe? Near the Baltic Sea? (Obviously Taylor.) The Baltic states are the 3 countries that sit along the eastern coast …
The first thing I did after I came home from my college graduation was hibernate sleep for 17 hours straight. Perhaps in honor graduating as a part of the Class of 2017? The second thing I did was clean. I have been interested in learning more about the zero-waste movement, minimalism, alternative living styles, etc. It’s made me …
Our 1st Half-Marathon Experience My friend, Vidita, and I trained and ran in our first half marathon together and finished in 2 hrs and 8 minutes, without stopping once! Other than burning several thousand calories and feeling super sore, post-race Taylor hasn’t felt too many immediate changes. Instead, all of the changes have taken time …
I’ve received enough rejection emails to know that if it doesn’t begin with “Congratulations!” it will usually end in some kind of disappointment. Recently, reality decided to smack me in the face with the humiliating defeat of failure rejection. Congratulations! You were not selected Aka inadequate Basically unwanted You’ve just been rejected! Dream crushed …
In the news at home, I read about Chinese politics, power, and pollution… but very little about the people that make up their country. This trip was special not only because I met the individuals who were a part of my adoption story, but also because it humanized an entire country for me. It created context …
We’re going over the usual topics in Entrepreneurship: Respected CEOs The importance of an agile mindset The origin and circumstances of great ideas Why you should go big or go home Progress Blablabla And I’m having a lot of trouble breathing… As in the irregular breathing, the erratic thinking, and the incessant fidgeting. Why am …
I love lists. Let me list all the reasons I am angry. Let me list all of the people I want to spend more time with. Let me list all of my favorite foods (and then quickly realize that they are all yellow/orange which is kinda weird). Let me create a list to summarize the year! 2015 …
Antarctica was a natural wonder. It was the kind of place where you agree to bend towards the rules of the land if you want to survive. Out of respect for yourself and this special place, you kneel and bow. During our trip, we met a British couple who was on their honeymoon! How lovely, that out …