How can I possibly re-cap an entire year of my life in one blog post? Do I use photos? Videos? Words? All of the above?

I could use so many adjectives to describe my internship with Hillside Missions. Challenging, positive, insightful, thoughtful, difficult, fun, hilarious, new, delicious, poor, maturing, tiring, awesome, truthful, DIFFERENT, creative, cultural, etc.

I learned so much about myself and the world and about community. I laughed. I cried. I yelled. I learned. I taught. I love every one of those people in the photos above.

For the sake of making this blog post interesting, I will make a short list of a few highlights (though there are too many to name).

1.) Climbing mountains in Turkey. (No, this is not a metaphor.)

2.) Trying all of the new foods I now love, and learning (slowly) how to cook.

3.) Going to the French Film Festival with Susie and making a scene when the baby sea turtles tore out of their shells and raced to the ocean, only to be gobbled up.

4.) Getting a card written in crayon by 5 year old Simeon that said, “Dear Miss Jessica, Thank you for teaching me about China.”

5.) Being a member of the VMFA and going to see the Picasso exhibit 900 times.

6.) Going to see the RiverCity Rollergirls and being named #1 fan. (no joke.)

7.) Getting to see Giselle at Richmond Ballet.

8.) The day my shoes fell from heaven.

9.) Making oreos baked inside of cookie dough with Marta.

10.) My 80’s birthday party

11.) Getting swept away by the river at Belle Isle.

12.) Playing soccer with Susie and Benny and the other interns (separate occasions).

I just want to say thank you to Kris, Terry, Yurihn, Susannah, Marta, Josh, Stacey, Kati, Jon, and everyone else in Richmond for teaching me and welcoming me and putting up with me and being so cool. I love you all.