Not in Kansas anymore.

This is a post from a blog I started a few weeks ago when I got to Jackson. For lots of stories, pictures, and updates on life here, check it out: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/prestongordon

Life here is very different. Very awesome in a lot of ways. I wish I could share it with you all. Come visit me! Here's my latest post...

Jackson is an amazing place. The scenery is breathtaking. Access to outdoor fun and adventure is as easy as walking out the front door. People wanting to join you in these activities—everywhere. Needless to say, it is pretty easy for me to adjust to these things.

But not in every way. I am reminded almost daily that I am a long way from the land of sweet tea, sundresses, and 15 churches per city block. I have a lot to learn about Christianity and the perception of the church in this area of the world, the strange dynamics of living in a resort town, the large economic disparity that seems to exist, and many more confusing issues I never knew existed (ever struggled with moose eating your trees? Frank has to fight them off daily). I’ve only been here three weeks, so my knowledge is still very limited. But I have a few observations to share:

The church. I know of 7 churches around Jackson. Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, Non-denom, Pentecostal, Catholic, and Mormon. PCJH is one of the biggest with an average Sunday attendance of 250. Which makes sense, seeing as the Jackson population is just over 8 thousand. But it’s very different for me! I’m used to churches being between 5 and 6 thousand. Furthermore, many people here seem to see no need for church and religion, and/or have extremely poor perceptions of the church and don’t want any affiliation with it. I’m learning there are many reasons people have for this: intellectual differences and a lack of honest conversation surrounding them, political stereotypes and affiliations, and feelings of condescension coming from Christians, to name a few. There certainly is a wall, so to speak, that many people have against Christianity—or, more specifically, against the American church (which prohibits people from ever nearing Christianity). It is good (and difficult) for me to learn and navigate these things. Needless to say, this is no Brentwood, TN when it comes to church frequency and Christian subculture.

The Resort vibe. I have a slight familiarity with this from Nashville’s tourist scene, but I was well removed from it in the good ole Vandy bubble. Most people I see around town are tourists. And many that live here use it as a vacation home, a retirement spot, or just move here for a few years and can’t ever leave (uh-oh). Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing. I have loved vacationing here in the past. I’d be a lucky man to one day have a home in this valley. It’s incredible. But it is definitely interesting to get used to living around all the time when I am accustomed to cities that are more focused on “living”, if that makes sense. Like Southeast Charlotte. A great place. But I don’t think too many people head to the QC for summer or winter vacation.

The $. The county I live in has the highest average income in the United States, despite the large population that runs and works in the many hotels, restaurants, and resorts. Last weekend was The Valley’s biggest fundraiser for local non-profits called Old Bill’s Fun Run. Last year, it raised over $7 millionin a single day. I’ve heard people refer to “the homeless person” of Jackson that lives under one of the bridges crossing Flat Creek. I wonder what they do in the winter..? Huh. This is no downtown Nashville with Contributorsalespeople on every corner either.

Like I said, this place is incredible. There’s a reason people come to visit from all over the world…I’m already eager for some powder under my skis. But there are definitely things that aren’t as simple to adjust to. Other things I haven’t mentioned include the “No Idling” signs in all parking lots, the lack of Chik-fil-a, and the terrible absence of sundresses. But change is good. And like most good things, parts of it are hard.

Although a Chik-fil-a would be incredible.

Bonjour from Geneva!

Salut Mes Amis! 

This joint-blog is such a great idea since I am failing miserably and keeping my own going.  I hope you all are well, and my goodness I miss you guys!  It seems like yesterday we were all running into each other in between classes at Vandy, or grabbing lunches in Rand or Commons.  I still sometimes can't believe our time as undergraduate Vanderbilt students has come to an end.  Those of you who are still living the life in Nashville, please continue to enjoy every moment!  There is no place like Nashvegas :). 

Anyway, so I guess I should tell you all a bit about my life here in Switzerland.  My summer has been INCREDIBLE.  I spent the days studying French and the University of Geneva, getting settled in my new home, traveling and making friends. I live in the Vielle-Ville (Old Town) of Geneva.  My location is right in the center of the city, and is definitely the most beautiful part of Geneva (in my opinion :D ).  I wake up to the sound of church bells from the grand Cathedral St. Pierre next door, and every morning walk through narrow cobble-stone streets filled with outdoor cafes, galleries, and antique book stores. It is perfect, really.  Then in just these past few months I've gotten to visit Hanna Chapman in Paris, travel with my Mom to Zurich and Bern, travel with new friends to Lucerne and Interlaken, visit my Aunt and Uncle in the French Alps, visit friends at their beach house in the Netherlands, and then as a grand finale, I spent 3 weeks in Spain going to World Youth Day, and traveling through a number of different Spanish cities. Whew! Such a whirlwind!

Now, unfortunately, I'm realizing that although I may be in Switzerland, the reality of "life" is setting in.  I am in my second week of masters classes at the Geneva School of Diplomacy (GSD), and they are NOTHING like a semester-study abroad type program....too bad really.  I do enjoy all the topics, but...whew...it is going to be a LOT of work (as one should expect from a master's program, of course). The catch is, on top of my 18 hours of classes this trimester, I am also a part-time intern, and also am working at GSD's admissions office.  Then of course, I do want to have a social life, and always have the itch to travel.  I've decided though, I'm going to have to cut myself off on the traveling and limit myself to one travel excursion per month....still pretty good though, right? Switzerland just happens to be so close to everything, so it is VERY difficult to say no to leaving every weekend!

While I wish I could stay, "Oui, je peux parler parfaitement le français dès maintenant!" (translation:  Yes, I can speak perfect French now), I can't really.  The problem with Geneva is EVERYONE speaks English.  My courses are taught in English, major businesses/UN organizations are run in English, so it is easy to be lazy.  On top of that, my internship at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN is conducted entirely in Spanish.  So, perhaps I will become a more fluent Spanish speaker after things are all said and done here haha.  I do love my internship though.  Tomorrow I will be attending the UN Human Rights Council meetings all day at the UN.  It is a really exciting place to be, and is a dream come true for me to get to be present at a conference of this magnitude and scope.  One thing I've really come to realize while being surrounded by Ambassadors, and UN states people, is that they are all real people too.  They joke, talk about normal things, and are all generally very approachable human beings.  It is nice to see. 

Well, on that note, I'd better run.  I need to get to class soon.  Geopolitics...here I come!  Miss you all, and please feel free to email me or call me anytime!

Bonne Journée!

Kira

home sweet [new] home

Dear friends,

I’ve been thinking about this post for a while- what’s new and noteworthy in my life? Some days, it feels like everything. Recently, I’ve been pondering what “home” means. How can a cinderblock suite in Towers feel like home? Is it where you live? Where you feel most comfortable? Where your people are? Where the heart is? (great song, Lady A)

My first home is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Zanies and Burger Up in Nashvegas. I live with four rockstars- hilarious, beautiful, real gal- you may know them. I love them. I love that we make late night crepes, have weekly home improvement projects, paint our nails together, and embrace the ‘character’ (aka imperfections) of our house. I get excited coming home every weekend, and they accept me for my owl nightgowns, my love of mopping, and the fact that I turn into a pumpkin after midnight. Though I’m a short drive from our old stomping grounds, Nashville feels different without y’all here. There’s quite a Vandy crew in Music City, so we’re doing our best to hold down the fort here.

My second home is smack dab in the middle of America, where they call themselves “The Paris of the Plains,” yet I still haven’t seen the Eiffel Tower. I started working with Huron Healthcare June 6, and it’s been quite the whirlwind. [Shout out to all the consultants out there!] Somehow, now that I have a piece of paper that says I completed enough classes to graduate, I suddenly have business cards, a blackberry, and a new collection of high heels. Whaaaattt? My site is at a VA Hospital in Leavenworth, KS (i.e. cornfields + prisons), and our team is living in Kansas City, MO (i.e. BBQ + outdoor shopping malls). I’ll be traveling all over middle America- Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, etc. When on earth did I become an adult? I’m hoping- no, I’m determined- to not make work my life. I want to keep fun in this new grown up world. I rollerblade, cartwheel, and eat popsicles all because I can. I like this quote a whole bunch:

"I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don't want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift." –Shanuna Niequist

I’m learning what it means to accept imperfections, to give myself grace, and to find joy in the little things (like free honey glazed peanuts on Southwest). It’s been three months since graduation, yet feels like an eternity. This weekend is Vandy’s freshmen move-in. Remembering how awkward I was at Squirrel Camp makes me wonder how on earth y’all chose to befriend me. Thank you. Think about how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go. My door is always open, whether you’re passing through Nash, Kansas City, or any of the other random cities in middle America. So, come say "hey" in one of my new homes.

Love,

Kaitlyn

Keeping the Naste in Namaste

Team Supreme,

I woke up today. That makes it a great day.

And I woke up in India again. Which doesn't hurt the fact that it's already a great day.

I'm hyped about this blog, and I can't wait to hear about all that you guys (and by you guys, I mean Greg and Schrizzzz apparently) are doing.

I've been in India for 1 month now. For those of you who followed Kevin, Preston, and Trey on their journey through India, you may think you know what my life is like. They lived the crazy, urban India experience most of the time, and for that, they deserve a badge of honor. The little amount of time I've spent in large cities has intimidated and intrigued me. I'm living in rural India, where often the most hectic a moment can get is when you shower at night and the electricity goes off. I've enjoyed the pace of life, but the transition was more difficult than I expected. I've learned plenty about purpose, solitude, diversity, and comfort, not to mention a bunch of academic knowledge from the course I am currently taking on this amazing healthcare system designed for the poor and from shadowing physicians in the hospital. My blog is conorinindia.tumblr.com. Stay in touch and keep this thing updated.

Smell ya,

Conor

Life happens fast.

That's something I've told myself many times this summer (and I'm sure many of you have thought, too. Ahem, Shook). It does. Only a few months ago we lived in Towers--another world, for sure...

My path since May 13th has been one zig-zagged across the globe. A few days after the gowns and diplomas, I was in Peru with my family, hiking through the Andes and snooping around the ancient ruins of Macchu Picchu. It was a blessing to have the time with them (especially Nick, before he wound up at an altar a few weeks later..), to experience a BEAUTIFUL country, and to brush up on my Spanish a little bit more. I truly fell in love with Peru--the people are so generous and friendly, the mountains are breathtaking, the food wonderful...it's a special place.

The bare spot on top of the mountain used to be an ancient Incan city...unreal.

A few days after arriving home, I found myself on a 15-hour plane ride to Mumbai with Trey and Kevin. If you haven't seen any of Kevin's pictures from this adventure, check out his "Namaste" albums on facebook. A primary reason we included him on the trip...just kidding. It was amazing though. India is thrilling, hectic, overwhelming, and breathtaking. Sensory overload...constantly. Too many stories to tell here, but it was the deepest of joys to experience it all with Kevin and Trey. I'll never forget it.

From the end of June to now, I've spent 2 weekends in my favorite city of all...Nashville. Every time, I'm a little more convinced that it's my home, for real. Only time will tell, huh? I was blessed to witness the weddings of Brett and Vanessa Johnson, Chris and Kristen Tedder, Nick and Jane Gordon, and Andrew and Allie Lossing as well. If you missed that, yes--I have a sister now! the beautiful and talented Jane Slatton (Gordon now) entered my family, and I'm so thrilled to have her as my sister.

Other than that, I've spent time in the East Tennessee hills with some of you all, went on a weekend roadtrip to FL with my grandparents, and had a lot of time at home in Charlotte with my parents. My room is sufficiently gone through and organized. My Jeep is prepped to drive 2,000+ miles. And on the 20th, I'll set off for Jackson, Wyoming (with a pit-stop in Nashville...can't wait to see those of you who are there!). I currently know...no one in Jackson. I'll be working at a church that I've never been to, and living at a couples' house who I've never met! I'm excited. Slightly nervous. But God is good. I'm so excited to be working in a church with young adults and youth, and seeing what Jesus has for me there and beyond. I'm confident that's where I'm supposed to be for this year, and that he will provide the rest.

Life happens fast. My road has been crazy, and is about to get a little crazier. Glad to still have all of you in my life to some degree.

Preston

ps--visitors always welcome in Jackson! They have legit mountains...

Life in Philly

Just wanted to drop a quick line....

I love this idea, Preston. I really hope it takes off cause I wanna be connected with all of you.

To give you all a few sentence update on my life right now, I am in Philadelphia and a week into classes for medical school at Jefferson Medical College. I drove up with Leslie in a 12ft packed truck about two weeks ago and moved into my single apartment. I'm loving the city right now and the people are great. Medical school is a lot of what people say it is - for better or worse - but I'm trying to drink from the fire hose and doing A LOT of studying. It is way more material than I could have ever imagined. But I'm really enjoying what I'm learning and feeling like I'm going to apply what I learn for once.

I hope you all are doing well. I truly miss Nashville and all my friendships there.

Peace!

Anyone Out There?

Friends from my beloved Vanderbilt Class of 2011: I miss you all. Our lives over the last 4 years were an incredible journey together. And as we all go and do many amazing things in separate cities, states, and countries, I don't want the "together" part to be fully lost.

So this is an experiment. A group of friends from the Class of 2010 started a blog like this. What's it for? Posting updates on life, exciting news, moves, engagements, whatever the heck you get in to. Let us know! I for one still want to be connected to your lives.

If you're reading this and you aren't an author, let me know and I'll make you one. Anyone is welcome.

If this fails miserably and no one is interested...well that's okay. At least I got to play the game again of cycling through towers suites in my mind to remind myself who all to invite. And almost forgetting Kyle.