Just the beginning

The last few months have seemed like a blur. It feels like forever ago I got the email from Lisa Fleming, the World Food Prize Director of Global Education Programs, saying I had made it to the interview process of the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program. Then weeks passed before I interviewed in Des Moines at the beautiful Hall of Laureates building on the Des Moines River. Seriously thought that place is a piece of art that has even more pieces of art inside! More waiting happened between the interview and the email that changed my life--I would be spending 8 weeks abroad helping fight global food insecurity! After one more short wait, Lisa emailed me saying that I would be going to Ankara, Turkey to study at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The posts that follow will detail my trip. I'll try my best to keep it updated but I am kind of bad at relaying personal experiences, just ask my family.

One of the hardest challenges came next--keeping our internship status quiet. None of the interns could say anything to anyone with the exception of immediate family about their summer plans. This was hard because many people knew I that I had applied for this internship and kept asking "when do you find out?" I simply had to smile and reply "Soon I hope!" Luckily for me, there was someone at school who I could talk to about the internship.  Abby Snyder, a close friend, teammate and fellow inter, and I both confided in each other as soon as we found out.  We eagerly awaited our fates together and when we found out, we both texted the other in all caps where we had been placed. Abby will be in Kathmandu, Nepal working with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.(ICIMOD). Since the official announcement, many people have expressed pride and excitement for both Abby and I. I feel spoiled to have such a close friend in the internship program at the same time I am. I know she will do great things in Nepal and beyond. 

I would like to say that this internship couldn't have been done without the hard work and dedication of my ELP teacher Mrs. Susan Fritzell. (If you know her like I do you get to call her Super Sue!) She truly is super in every sense of the word. I've been to the North American Envirothon Champions with her twice now--each trip lasting longer than two weeks. What I learned during that time is that she is an amazing woman who YOLOs life to the fullest. Thank you Super Sue for believing in me and pushing me to my fullest potential at this point in my life. While thanking people, I would like to also thank Dr. Norman Borlaug and John Ruan for believing in the next generation and creating such an amazing opportunity for young adults. I would also like to thank Ambassador Kenneth Quin, Lisa and the rest of the World Food Prize staff for all of their hard work. I have so much confidence going into this internship. Everything from application to orientation has been a breeze! One more thanks to Aleyna Bakirli, the Turkish foreign exchange student who writes for Pebbles--the Marshalltown High School Student Run Newspaper. She has given me some much needed and valuable information about her home country. 

As for Turkey, my plane leaves Des Moines on June 13 and yes, it is a Friday, but I've never been superstitious--only a healthy amount of stitious. I'll probably explain more about my flight itinerary in a later post when its not a month away. As for now, I am setting up my physical to make sure I have all of my vaccines to stay healthy while abroad. I am also applying for my visa which turns out to be a lot easier than I had previously thought. T-36 days!