Fun on the East Coast

At the beginning of March, I headed back to the East Coast for some business and pleasure. I attended the Annual Heath Advocacy Summit with other BYU students. I attended this conference last year, but this year came back as a presenter! I flew in a few days before the conference to spend time in DC and with friends. I had hopes of doing some job searching, but that didn't quite happen the way I planned. Overall, the trip was fantastic and I enjoyed every minute. Here are some pictures to narrate my experience.

Day 1: Fly into Baltimore. I arrived in Baltimore on Thursday afternoon and had my friend Camille and her husband pick me up. Camille is a fellow MPHer with me and graduated last December. We hung out at her place and waited for Aaron to come meet us in Bmore. We then all headed to a Thai restaurant for some dinner.

Day 2: Playing tourist: Aaron had to work all day, so I decided to go explore our nation's capitol. Since I've been here a few times in the past year,  and have already seen some highlights, I decided to seek unexplored territory. I made it to my first stop all by myself, of which I was quite proud. I met up with some other students who also flew in early and we headed to the Natural History Museum. This museum is so cool and full of wildlife wonders! There was an Africa room, ocean room, gems and rocks (not so cool- The Hope Diamond is not nearly as impressive as I expected it to be, but Napoleon's diamond necklace is incredible!), and dinosaur exhibit. The exhibits were so fun and I was running around like a little kid, kind of expecting the animals to come to life like in "Night at the Museum." Sadly, or maybe fortunately, none did. This was a great Smithsonian. I love natural history!

 Did you know that the pig is related to the hippopotamus?

After the Natural History Museum, we headed over to the National Gallery of Art. A few wandered around, and I sat myself down on a comfy couch in an impressionism room. I've been to the gallery, and for as much as I want to love art galleries, I get bored quite easily. It was much better to crash for a bit and relax. All that running around the Natural History Museum tuckered me out! After, I still had some time to kill, so I wandered around the mall and enjoyed the gorgeous views between the Capitol Building and Washington Monument.

After that I met up with Aaron to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors Exhibit at the National Geographic Museum. The exhibit shows the ancient clay army commissioned by China's 1st Emperor, who wanted thousands of clay soldiers to protect his tomb. The Emperor was pretty crazy, but his artisans crafted some amazing warriors!

Day 3: Friends and Conference: Saturday morning started off with a run and then a tasty buckwheat and grits (not so tasty) breakfast at Eastern Market. We met Brandon and Maggie as well as my friend Alisha for breakfast and had some good times.

Eastern Market

The conference started Saturday afternoon and so I headed over there as quickly as I could. I presented during one of the Saturday sessions, "Effective Hill Visits." The MPH director volunteered me to present during this session. I was leery and a bit nervous, but it turned out really well and the presentation helped me make some professional contacts. As people were trying to ease my nerves beforehand, I realized how grateful I was that I've been giving talks in church since I was 12 and even earlier if you count primary talks. Also, if I can give a 10 minute talk in a foreign language, I can definitely give a 20 minute presentation in English! And since the presentation went so well, they asked me to help with role plays the following day. I hate role plays and was hoping that my mission was the last time I would ever have to participate, but no. That was probably the least fun part of the whole weekend, but I did it and it was okay.

Saturday night, Alisha and I met up with Camille and her husband Aaron for dinner. After wandering for about an hour and a half, we finally decided on a West African restaurant, where I ate some very familiar Caribbean like food. I'm not sure if the others enjoyed their meals, but I loved what I had! You know the food is authentic when you are the only white people in the entire restaurant!

Presenting at the conference

Saturday night with Alisha and Camille

Day 4: Conference: Sunday was a full conference day and that night after the conference, Alisha and I took a stroll around the Monuments and enjoyed the peaceful evening and not too freezing weather. We also enjoyed a scrumptious dinner made by Aaron and his friend Stanley. Sunday evening consisted of monuments, dinner, and lots of laughing. Oh, and we also snuck out of the conference to attend Church.

Day 5: Capitol Hill: Monday was spent on Capitol Hill. This is the place where the real work takes place. I had three appointments with different Washington State legislators (technically their legislative aides, since hardly anyone is in the office Mondays). The time on Capitol Hill was fun and I think we rocked the visits! My fellow classmate from Washington and I presented and discussed our issues together. In between appointments we toured the Library of Congress and the House and Senate buildings.

Capitol Building Tour

Outside the office of Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (she's from Spokane)

After the exciting and energizing day on Capitol Hill, I hurried off to meet some friends for dinner. I met up with Aaron, Liz, Chris and Lizzy. It was fun seeing old friends and good to spend a relaxing evening enjoying each other's company.

Day 6: DC Wrap-up: Tuesday was a little less structured than the other days and I had the morning to do whatever I liked. I started off with sleeping in a bit and then going for a run around the National Mall. It was fantastic! I ran from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial to the White House and back to the Capitol Building and then home. The weather was almost spring like and made the run that much more enjoyable.

Then I headed off to take a tour of the Health and Human Services Building with the BYU group. I loved the tour! We met with people in different jobs and learned what they did. We even got to see the office of the Secretary and check out what goes on behind closed doors. My favorite part was learning about the policy analyst jobs and realizing that I really might like working for the government. Who wouldn't want to be paid to think! I think I have great thoughts and should get paid for them. Seriously, I really am interested and wanted to talk more to a lady who works as an analyst for global health programs (PEPFAR, Malaria, HIV, TB initiatives, and others).  After the tour, I booked it over to meet Alisha at PAHO headquarters. Alisha and I interned with PAHO this summer and she was giving a presentation about her summer research. I went to support and to take advantage of networking opportunities.

PAHO Headquarters

All in all it was a fantastic trip! Each trip to DC reconfirms my initial impressions that I want to live out there for a bit. I've focused my job search to the area, now let's just cross our fingers that I find one!

Weddings: What better reason for a reunion!

The College crew got together for another wedding--Chris & Elizabeth. We've all been friends since our days in the dorms, and slowly each one is tying the knot. Chris got married in Salt Lake on February 12, and we all traveled in for the big day. (I had to go a whole 44 miles--thanks Chris for getting married in Utah!). Brandon, Ian, and Whitney all flew in and we were able to have some good times before and after the wedding.

Before the wedding, we all met up at the Little America Hotel for some breakfast. The breakfast was tasty and the conversation was most definitely lively! We then rushed Chris off to meet his fiance, Elizabeth at the Temple for some pictures.

The happy couple exiting the Temple

The gang at the Temple

Waiting for the Crittendens to come out.
(Ian, Whitney, Brea, Brandon, Jeff)

Reception
 

And of course, no winter reunion would be complete without some snowshoeing! We braved the roads and drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon to find some new territory to hike. The views probably would have been incredible if it hadn't been snowing. Even without being able to see too far, it was a great hike and I was reminded why winter isn't the worst thing in the world.

The next reunion will be in May for Ian's wedding. He got engaged a few days before Chris's wedding, so it looks like the boys will all be hitched by summer. Congrats! Can't wait for the next reunion.

Family Time

Everyone thinks they have the cutest family....and I am no different. After not going home for Christmas, I was missing my family and in the past 2 months have had a chance to see all my siblings, my parents, and all 11 nephews and nieces. Here are some pics from family time. The first pictures are from Portland, OR. Two of my sisters live there and we had some fantastic bonding time in the other P-Town.

Ava not wanting to get out of the bucket that was serving as her mode of transportation around the family room.

Aidan (2 1/2) pushing Ava (1 1/2) in the makeshift car. Aidan must be pretty tough to get Ava around, she isn't a little 20 mo. old!

Me and Ava getting ready to go play at the Kemenys.

Sometimes the camera goes off at just the right moment! This is one of those moments.

Aidan and I playing.

SISTERS!!!

Sarah Rose Harris was blessed January 3, 2010. She is the cutest and the calmest baby I've seen. Thanks Laura and Casey for giving me a niece in Utah!

Family shot of the Utah Didenhovers (and Harris's) with Mom and Dad coming out for Sarah's blessing. With 5 kids ages 5 and under, you never know what the picture will look like, but I think we got a pretty good one.

Mama and Papa Didenhover with baby Sarah. Thanks for coming out Mom and Dad!!! Please visit more often!!!!!

Where in the world should Brea go next?

At 27 and single, I feel that it is my duty and privilege to travel the world. I was counting up my states and countries I've visited, and I realized that for the first time in my adulthood my state list is longer. That needs to change.

States I've visited (not including airports)

1. Washington
2. Oregon
3. Idaho
4. Utah
5. Wyoming
6. Montana
7. California
8. Nevada
   
9. Texas
10. Virgina
11. District of Columbia (it counts)
12. New York
13. Pennsylvania
14. Arizona
15. New Jersey (I drove through it, so I guess I need to count it)
16. Maryland (Liz reminded me we went there together)
    

Countries I've visited

1. United States
2. Canada
3. Germany
4. Austria
5. Switzerland
6. Italy
7. The Vatican (like DC, it counts)
8. Ukraine
9. Poland
10. Mozambique
11. Barbados
12. South Africa (I have a stamp in my passport, but didn't really visit)
    

As the list shows, I need to add some more countries. To remedy this, I have decided to work on planning another trip. I have opportunities and reasons to go, now it's just all about funding. Here are some of my options.


Germany: visit Oma and other relatives. I know Oma would love to see me and I would love to see her. A visit to Oma also means a visit to Switzerland, Germany, and many other places as well. I'm looking at going north this time and seeing northern Germany and Denmark.


Cape Town, South Africa: I have just started my graduate project which is analyzing qualitative data from a hygiene project that has been going on in Cape Town for the past few years. As of now, I'm doing the analysis in Provo, but I'm sure I could come up with a reason to go to S. Africa for further research.

Sweden: After visiting Oma, I would like to travel with Alison up to Sweden where her family will be living for a month or so this summer. I think it's important to do family history and I know that we have Swedish roots. From Northern Germany and Denmark, Sweden is just a hop, skip, and a jump, plus I have a place to stay and people to stay with. Alison also has some crazy plans in the works to hop over to England and Scottland to finish a bike ride she started years ago while on a study abroad in London. She wants me to come with and I want to go.

Peru: I started working on a project that would take me to rural Amazonian Peru to do research in a small village. I have a professor who would like me to go test a survey instrument that has been developed to assess a community's water, hygiene, and sanitation facilities. This project has been delayed for now, but if funding becomes available, then myself and 2 other MPH students who speak Spanish would come with me. And while in Peru, we can't miss Machu Picchu.

Any suggestions? Any other places I should consider for 2010? I'm thinking of adding Ukraine (after the Temple dedication sometime in 2010) and Hawaii. Happy Travels to me!

NYC

Welcome to New York City!! This was my first time to the Big Apple and I loved it. I did not get enough time, didn't get to eat at any famous places, but I did get to feel the hustle and bustle of the city. I love the fast paced, super busy pulse of the city. I went to NYC with two of my classmates for a weekend before heading to Philadelphia for a public health conference. I spent two full days in the city and got to see some sights.

Me in NYC!

Me with Lauren and Alisha (2 fellow MPHers) on the Brooklyn Bridge. We were there the day after the Yankees won the World Series, so there was a parade to honor the team earlier in the day. We got to the city just after the parade was over and walked through the aftermath. The parade route went right by the Brooklyn Bridge.

Central Park

More Central Park...isn't there a song, "I recall Central Park in Fall...." If I knew the words, I'd post them for you. If you do know them, you can just sing right along. The park was beautiful and filled with fall colors. People were out running, walking dogs, and enjoying the fall crisp weather. It was seriously BEAUTIFUL!!!

Broadway- We saw West Side Story. It wasn't my first choice, but the tickets were cheap and I wanted a Broadway experience. I'm still sad about not seeing Wicked or Lion King, but as a student, I just don't have that kind of cash. Next trip. All in all it was a fantastic trip and I am eager to head back east again soon!

City of Brotherly Love

I went to Philadelphia the first week in November for a Public Health Conference (American Public Health Association). Some of my classmates were presenting and we all got funded to some degree to come out for the conference. I was pretty excited that this year's location was in Philly. It was my first time to the city and it's a pretty cool place. The original downtown is fairly well preserved and Independence Square sits right in the middle of the city. As you walk the streets you can see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, old Quaker meeting houses, Benjamin Franklin's grave, a Masonic Temple, and more. Here are a few pictures of my trip in Philly.

This is me in front of Independence Hall. This is the location where the Declaration of Independence was signed as well as where the Constitutional Convention took place. It's pretty remarkable to think of what conversations and debates took place in this building. I still have a firm belief that every American citizen needs to visit the places where our initial founding took place. DC and Philadelphia are musts!!

The Liberty Bell with Independence Hall right behind.

This is in the Constitution Center, which is an interactive museum of early American political history. The center starts with a dramatization that talks about the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution. It goes through the different struggles for freedom from all the different groups throughout American history. The last exhibit is walking through a room of delegates (like the Benjamin Franklin statue here) at the signing of the Declaration of Independence and then you can sign your name on the declaration...which I did of course.

A couple of my classmates met up with a friend who is studying at Princeton and came down for the evening to join us for dinner. Yeah for friends!

Vacation and eating go hand in hand and on this trip I got to try my first authentic Philly Cheese Steak and Falafel. The cheese steak was pretty good, but I definitely couldn't eat one of those every day. Falafel is a middle eastern sandwich/wrap, which I enjoyed. Sorry no food pics. I would definitely come back to Philadelphia and spend some more time exploring the city.

Fall Adventures: East Coast to West Coast

I recently got reprimanded for not posting anything since my last adventure. I was kindly reminded that my adventures do not have to be international for them to count. So, I am making an effort to update everyone on my whereabouts for the past 3 months. Most of my time has been in Provo, but I have made a few trips.

LABOR DAY: LAKE POWELL with MPH COHORT

Lake Powell was incredible. I can't get enough of the sun, so the lake was perfect for me. I skied, wakeboarded, and attempted to surf (I did get up, but it was tricky). We also spent lots of time eating and just hanging out on the houseboat. Now that I've experienced warm Lake Powell (and warm Caribbean Sea), I'm not sure I can go back to the cold lakes in WA or have as much fun playing in the water at the Oregon Coast. You have to learn to enjoy different aspects of each place.

Sorry, I only have one picture. To see more from our trip, visit the MPH blog mphcohort7.blogspot.com

WASHINGTON D.C.

We took a bike ride to Eastern Market and had a fantastic pancake breakfast.

DC Temple

Standing at the Memorial Amphitheater at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. I started working on my speech for when I deliver it here in this amphitheater. Liz made fun of me, but I thought I had a pretty good start. I'll let you know when it's ready.

Chris and I hung out and did some more bike riding through Capitol Hill and around the District. We also visited the Monuments and did some other "DC musts".

Teresa and I were able to reconnect after a few years of not seeing each other. Teresa and her cute family just moved from Boston and are temporarily in DC before moving to Texas at the beginning of the year.


BIRTHDAY WEEKEND IN SAN FRANCISCO

Awesome roommate reunion in San Francisco. Steffany had been in Utah for the past few weeks and needed to drive back to California. Alison and I volunteered to drive with her for the weekend and fly back. Here we are hanging out at Fisherman's Wharf. We ate yummy clam chowder bowls and fresh crab while enjoying a BEAUTIFUL day in San Fran.

Me and Alison at the Oakland Temple where you can walk around on top. The view is gorgeous!

Just smelling the flowers! (Whitney and me)

Picture taking is always a blast!

Best Friends (and lots of wind)

Beautiful Temple
(and again, notice the wind)

Roommate Reunion

Birthday Celebrations

Whit and Steff invited half their ward over to celebrate MY birthday! So, really, I'm sure people came to socialize and for dessert, but either way it was a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed the attention. Whitney even made me an ice cream cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream-YUM!!! I had an AWESOME birthday weekend and loved every minute of it!

Stay tuned for the next adventure: NYC and Philadelphia....