SCHOOL'S OUT!

There are no words in English nor in Hebrew to express how I feel today. There were certainly days (more than I care to admit to) that I wasn't sure I'd make it to this point! But here we are, and the school year is 2.5 hours from being DONE! I cannot believe it.

I'm not completely off the hook; I still have classes to complete. But I think not going to work all day will make a huge difference. I am so enjoying my current class, educational assessment, and how applicable it is! Really all my classes have been great; I highly recommend College of Notre Dame of Maryland, to be changed to Notre Dame of Maryland University this fall. It's a great place. And there's definitely something to be said for learning things you are doing at the same time.

Without further ado, some summer plans:

-Finish Educational Assessment
-1 week of Human Development
-1 week of Leadership I
-Smith A104 roommate reunion July 4th weekend! What!
-trip to Michigan?
-trip to Seattle?
-see Natalie Brewer?
-sit by as many pools as possible
-read the books required for my ACSI certification
-beach with my family

That's a lot of things...so I'd better stop before I stress myself out.

Note: I need to update on two things at some point, Bikram Yoga and my health. Forthcoming!

Labor Day burgers!

Labor Day is for picnics, no? What's a vegetarian-ish to do? (I added the -ish because I've been smelling the barbecue ALL WEEKEND and I have been utterly tempted.) Well, you see, you make black bean burgers! I got this recipe from ReadyMade, one of my FAVORITE magazines. I had to alter it a little because I didn't have all the ingredients. They turned out really well!

Yield: 4 burgers

2 (14-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
generous pinch of salt
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 lime
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 soft hamburger buns

Accompaniments: sliced avocado, romaine, salsa, sliced sharp cheddar

Pulse 1 can beans in a food processor with yogurt, bread crumbs, cumin, oregano, cayenne, paprika and salt until a coarse purée forms. Transfer to a bowl and stir in cilantro and remaining can beans. Add as much juice from the lime as needed to create a mixture that holds together well (you likely won’t need the entire lime; slice the leftover lime into wedges and serve with the burgers). Form mixture into 4 patties.

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers (alternatively, heat a grill pan and brush it with the oil). Cook burgers until outsides are crisp and lightly browned, turning once, about 5 minutes total. Serve on buns, along with the accompaniments.

Tomorrow is the first day of school...and school! I have the elementary/middle school classes in the morning, and my graduate class in the evening. Wish me luck and pray HARD!

A different adventure...

I've been pondering for awhile what to do with my existing blog (tiertravels.blogspot.com) since I am no longer abroad. I was going to let it die, but I was inspired by my lunch with a college friend on Monday. As we discussed future plans and academia and literature, she encouraged me to keep writing. And so, here I am.

I mused over an appropriate blog title for awhile...Confessions of a basement dweller? No, it hasn't gotten that bad yet. Failure to Launch? No, I launched; I just came back. I thought I had settled on A Smaller Adventure, but I realized I didn't want to limit myself like that. Who says this has to be a smaller adventure?? It will be different. Maybe worse. But hopefully not. Just different.

After spending a year riding motorcycle through palm trees in basketball shirts and tank tops while practicing my Spanish, it hardly seems that moving back into my parents home and my walk-in closet-sized room is a step up. But I believe God's next step for my life is graduate school, so this is where I am. In a little bit I'm off to my final interview for a poorly-paid Spanish teaching job. So here I go! I'm broke, (currently) unemployed, about to turn 24, and I live with my parents.

I hope it's an adventure worth blogging about...