Our friends Helen and Andy Shor-Wong finally delivered a strong and healthy baby girl named Marigold in early March! We have long been expecting her (no pun intended!) and are so happy to have her as a part of our community in Seattle.
March 8th was International Women's Day. Refugee women's' Alliance (a local refugee assistance agency) held a music and dance celebration. The photo displayed is of the Vietnamese dance troupe that performed. The women painted on mustaches to make up for the lack of male attendance!
In early March Adam Wood came for a visit. Adam presented a paper at a philosophy conference at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Ryan and I drove him over the mountains, and cheered him on...to 1st Place! We spent his well-earned prize money on a tasty seafood dinner in Capitol Hill. Thanks Adam! That weekend we explored Seward Park's old growth forests a bit, threw around a disc, and baked an intense loaf of yummy whole wheat bread. We were really sorry to see him go.
Sarah Kielsmeier came in mid-March for her work with the Bill and Melinda Gates' Foundation. She invited me to hear Wangari Muta Maathai speak about her work in the sustainability movement in Kenya. It was amazing to hear about the life choices she has made in Africa: eschewing the academy, she committed her life to ensuring that rural women had a part in the reforestation of their villages.
Kendra Langdon and Ryan Juskus came out for a short visit also. They came to get a taste of Seattle, and so we spent the weekend touring an urban organic farm, thrift store shopping, playing Frisbee golf, eating Greek food, and hiking on the Olympic Peninsula. It was so good to see old friends...Although we are disappointed that we haven't yet convinced them to move westward!
After Kendra and Ryan left, Kelsey accelerated her research on "Immigration Rights Post-9/11" for her Corps presentation, and she and Ryan marched with West Seattle's Mexican American community in protest of the proposed anti-immigration legislation. The tournout, though not as impressive as the tournout in LA or Chicago, was significant for Seattle.
Ryan was finally hired full-time at Bank of America as an "Operations Analyst" (if you want to know what that is, give him a call!), and we are thrilled to be receiving benefits soon...we are already planning dentist and doctor visits! Woohoo! Through his work, Ryan received a free invitation to the Seattle Opera Ball Masquerade. So, we got decked out (as Kelsey pouted, "more dressed up than we had to get for our wedding!"), and ate a fancy 3 course meal on the stage of the new Seattle Opera Hall. That evening, Eun Ahn (a favorite professor from Wheaton who happened to be in the area for a board meeting) slept over at our house. Another surprise visit from a good friend.
So, as it is finally April, we are relaxing and recovering from our busy month. Thanks for all the visits, friends! It was so great to show you our new home here in Seattle. The invitation is open for anyone else who wants to soak in some fresh Northwest air!
