Why I Wake Early
by Mary Oliver
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–
best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.
Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.
Need to contact me about something? Reach out, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Contact
4K for Cancer
My summer of 2016 cross country bike ride to raise and awareness for young adults with cancer.
Past Adventures
Hello! Hola! Namaste!
Born the in the redwoods of Northern California, I moved to Moscow, ID to study Fishery Resources at the University of Idaho, and then to Costa Rica for 9 months to study Environmental Sciences and Spanish. I am passionate about food and water security across the globe, and on March 30th, 2017, I will be moving to Nepal for 27 months as a Crop and Nutrition Education Peace Corps Volunteer.
In my free time, you can catch me tramping through the wilderness, hosting potlucks, barn dancing, or exploring via bike.
WHY I WAKE EARLY
Mary Oliver’s book of poems Why I Wake Early is a tribute to the aspects of her life that inspire her to greet the dawn. I also find joy in early mornings, and will use this blog to share the stories and scraps of wisdom I collect and that keep me enthusiastic to get up each new day.
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Nepal Government.
April 8, 2019
June 7, 2018
January 30, 2018
Archive
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I'm busy working on my blog posts. Watch this space!
Recent Posts
April 8, 2019
Finally, I have taken a step back from the roller coaster that has been the last 8 months to reflect on my Peace Corps fish pond project. The school is on break right now, and I only have 2 months left in my service (end of service June 14th), so it is a perfect time t...
June 7, 2018
If you had asked me four years ago what my dream job was, it would be to work in Nepal doing reforestation with women's groups and if possible, throw in some fisheries work.
Years later, my dream is being realized as I am working with women in my village to build a nur...
January 30, 2018
Fueled by Michael Pollan documentaries and scary climate change articles, my interest in eating locally sourced food grew over the years in college, but the reverse could be said of my bank account as I marched my way towards a four and half year degree. After creating...
September 16, 2017
Many years before joining the Peace Corps, I read the book Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle by Moritz Thomsen. His accounts of having only bananas to eat while trying to clear jungle land by hand painted a starved picture of Peace Corps.
I was not sure what to expec...
July 18, 2017
Nepali culture is as diverse as its landscapes, but this complex society seems to revolve around a single commodity: rice. In various forms it is eaten 2-4 times a day for breakfast, snacks, and dinner. During monsoon season, rice planting dominates daily life in the...
May 27, 2017
Mero naam Nadi ho.
My name is Nadi. In Nepali, it means river. It is a wonderful tradition that many Peace Corps Volunteers take on a Nepali name. We are named by our families, friends, teachers, or ourselves. After learning about my passion for river ecosystems, my fr...
May 4, 2017
The Nepali calender is based off of the lunar cycle, and very different than the calender I have grown up using. The Nepali New Year was a few weeks ago which started off wedding season. An extended family member was getting married, so I and my neighboring Peace Corps...
April 12, 2017
After a three-day adventure over the pacific ocean, Nepal Peace Corps group 204 arrived in Kathmandu exhausted but elated to be in our destination after hours of delays.
However, after waiting patiently by the luggage conveyor belt for half an hour, my enthusiasm star...
February 27, 2017
In September, 2016, I made a last minute decision to apply to the Peace Corps. A month later, I was accepted as a Nutrition Education and Crops Volunteer, destination: Nepal.
Currently, I am living with my parents in Northern California, enjoying some post-graduation t...