Erinn Goes Abroad

Meeting NASA Astronauts:

Please check out the video above. It was played during a Rotary Club dinner this past Thursday whom hosted the NASA team from the space shuttle Discovery’s final flight to the International Space Center. Thanks to Rotary connections and good timing, I was lucky enough to be present and meet the team. During dinner I was seated next to Astronaut Steve Bowen and he happily answered our inquiries about his unique occupation. 

News Flash: Rotary Scholar Chase and I found cheap airfare to Tonga, so guess who is heading there in July? I heard from their Rotary Club today, so we plan to make an appearance at their meeting and who knows what else! I can’t stifle the images dancing across my head of tropical beaches and humpback whales! 

Mark Twain says,

Kindess is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. 

True words; we are called to act on these words. My friends and fellow scholars Chase and Caresse will be participating in a Fitness Challenge for the Charity called Cure Kids. As Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars, we were asked to participate in a New Zealand service project. Our group of scholars decided to send teams on the Queenstown $10 Challenge which requires these teams to travel from Queenstown to Auckland only on $10. In order to participate, they are asked to raise $8,000, which directly benefits Cure Kids. Because my academic obligations interfere with the timing of the race, I cannot personally participate but I am determined to do everything I can to support Chase, Caresse and the other teams. For now, I will include Chase and Caresse’s fundraising page below and once the other teams have organized themselves, I’ll include their information as well. Cure Kids performs medical research for life-threatening childhood illnesses and was established in 1975. They are set apart from other organizations in New Zealand because they do not focus on just one disease. I hope you’ll consider contributing to this cause by donating here. 

In terms of academics, I am turning in final assignments over the next week and will have two final exams. Yikes! I’m staying busy also with Rotary presentations. This week, Amie and I presented at her host club Pencarrow. They are a hoot! Amie and I will do presentation at Wellington Central next Tuesday and I will fly solo at the Courtenay Place club on Friday. That Sunday, I head to north to Auckland and will meet with my favorite American besties! Exciting! 

^ A rotarian recently sent me this snap shot from District Conference