My life's next journey...

It has been too long since my last entry. I blame the absense on my inability to translate my feelings and current life situation into coherent sentences. Numerous times I tried to write an entry but couldn't string together the first sentence. I'm usually wordy, not wordless! Even now, as I sit here at work trying to write this entry, I'm not sure where to start and what to say.

Ok - in case you haven't heard, I found the most AMAZING graduate school. It's called SIT (School for International Training) Graduate Institute. Check out the Web site - www.worldlearning.org. I stumbled upon the program and then applied a couple of weeks later. I've since been accepted and am in the process of figuring out my finances. I'll either be moving to Vermont for the program this September or the following year. I truly feel as though I've found a way to combine my passions and I'm excited for my future!

Below is my admissions essay. Feel free to comment!!!!

“Your enthusiasm inspires people,” says the fortune in my wallet.

Nestled between bank cards and folded bills lies the message that is the guiding force for my life. If I carried my passport with me every day, I’d place the fortune amidst the colorful stamps that fill its pages. Intercultural experiences have ignited my passion within and have propelled me on a journey to inspire others to experience life beyond the comfort of their home. A Masters in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management from SIT would enable me to work in an environment in which I could encourage intercultural exchanges and inspire social change.

With an American mother and an Israeli father, I was raised in a culturally-rich and diverse environment; every effort was made to expand my horizons far beyond the almond orchards and dairies of the rural California farm town in which I grew up. I did not always have the opportunity to venture to different parts of the world, but my parents had and through their eyes, I traveled the globe. As a child, I trick-or-treated for UNICEF, ate gyros at Greek festivals, danced at Native American powwows and brought falafel to school for “favorite food” assignments. At home we discussed world issues and cross-cultural opportunities, and I was taught to believe that with experience, knowledge, understanding and respect, I could make a difference in the world and that peace is possible.

I learned to appreciate my colorful upbringing, to embrace it and to expand upon it. After graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Psychology, I set out to experience life abroad. I made a conscious effort to immerse myself in new surroundings as a participant in the life of the community, rather than as a tourist.

In 2005 I moved to Greece and obtained my certificate for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) from Via Lingua in Corinth, Greece. I was then assigned to teach English in a fishing village on the Greek island of Evia. My Greek students taught me about their culture and customs and I taught them English.

I then moved to Israel where I enrolled in an ulpan program at Kibbutz Yotvata. I spent six months working and learning Hebrew with people from more than 10 countries.

Those six months were among the best of my life. Kibbutz Yotvata is located in southern Israel, not far from the Jordanian and Egyptian borders and miles from the conflict and civil unrest of the Gaza Strip. Date palm trees were scattered throughout the land and the enchanting desert mountains changed color at sunrise and sunset. I lived in a desert paradise.

My fellow ulpanists were just as colorful as my surroundings. Kibbutz Yotvata attracts people from all over the world: Sweden, Germany, Austria, Russia, Argentina, Brazil…the list goes on and on. In the beginning, we relied heavily on English and communicated through hand gestures and facial expressions. Some had flawless English, others could barely be understood, and a few spoke no English at all. The beauty of the ulpan program was that half the week was spent learning Hebrew.

Through total immersion in Hebrew, we learned to communicate with each other and to navigate the streets of Israel. If we didn’t know the Hebrew word, we threw in English. Through stories about life in our respective countries, I learned about other cultures and life in other parts of the world.

Kibbutz Yotvata, where many of the permanent members of the kibbutz are from other countries, presents a microcosm of cultural understanding in the middle of a war-torn country. Kids run free, many languages are spoken and doors are left open. At times, I was so caught up in life in this colorful desert oasis that I didn’t think about the strife on the other side of the country. When soldiers came home to the kibbutz after facing weeks of conflict and cultural unrest, I was shocked back to reality.

The situation in the Middle East has always been an issue close to my heart. My Israeli father has lived most of his life in America, although he served in the Israeli army and knows the Arab-Israeli conflict first hand. My mother spent her twenties traveling throughout the Middle East collecting traditional Palestinian dresses, learning to cook Lebanese food and speaking Arabic. Although my mother looks Middle Eastern and is very interested in the culture, her grandparents were Russian Jews.

Both my mother and father believe in the importance of cultural understanding and I believe most people in the Middle East want peace. In September, 2003 my mother and I participated in the Oseh Shalom/Sanea Al-Salam Peacemakers Weekend at Camp Tawonga near Yosemite National Park. It was Camp Tawonga’s first Jewish Palestinian family peacemakers weekend. Through dialogues, I learned about how the conflict in the Middle East affected people of all ages and ethnicities. The experience remained fresh in my mind while I was living in Israel.

I left Israel with a profound love for language, cultural exchange and with friends around the world. Since my return to the United States in 2006, I have searched for ways to expand and take advantage of my experiences abroad. Back in California, with visions of inspiring people via travel writing, I enrolled in the Extension Certificate Program in Print Journalism at UCLA. Upon completion of the program, I moved to New York with the goal of immersing myself in the publishing industry.

During the short time I’ve lived in New York, I’ve interned at a travel publishing company, tutored and served as a substitute teacher in inner city schools, and worked at The Museum of Jewish Heritage. I hear a handful of languages in the workplace and on the street. Living in New York City among people from around the world, I’ve come to realize that there is more I can do to inspire people than simply writing about my own experiences. Itching for an educational and meaningful opportunity abroad, I looked into the Peace Corps. While searching the Peace Corps website, I came across SIT.

The courses SIT offers, the diverse student body and faculty, and the overall atmosphere and mission of SIT intrigue me. Through courses such as “Cultural Activism” and “Intercultural Communication” I will be able to draw upon my past experiences and cultivate my passion. Exposed to SIT’s outstanding courses and a culturally-rich environment, I anticipate contributing to classroom discussions and making good use of the intercultural atmosphere.

Ultimately, I would like to manage exchange programs that emphasize intercultural understanding and service, and to implement programs that will enrich the lives of everyone involved. I am enthusiastic about the cultural awareness that comes from traveling and experiencing other cultures. It is through such experiences that peace is possible. Getting a Masters in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management from SIT would enable me to make a difference, one passport stamp at a time.

LOVE in A Small Town

My mind and heart are full of massive smiles, amazing words and true happiness and love for those people that I grew up with in Escalon, California. I don't even know where to begin.

Last night I attended my friend Katie's wedding. I have known Katie and her amazing family since freshman year of high school. We ran cross country together, worked side by side in her family's pizza parlor, studied for history tests, ate lunch together, and laughed together. Like most of our friends in high school, neither of us had boyfriends. We were too busy focusing on our futures. Turns out, it took her 23 years to meet the right guy but when she did, she never looked back. They got engaged a few months ago and since then, I haven't been able to quell my excitement. Although Katie has traveled extensively and attended college in Ohio, she found her way back to Escalon and found her now husband locally. I knew that the wedding would be special and that it would bring together many people from Escalon whom I haven't seen in years.

I've never seen anyone SO truly happy in my life! As she and Dave stood in front of a couple hundred people at the church, their happiness radiated the entire room. Not only were their smiles huge but for a moment I was worried that Katie would fall forward because she was leaning towards Dave while their vows were being recited. The love between the two was apparent.

The love between parents and children was also apparent. Katie's father greeted us at the church with tears in his eyes. Her mother excitedly told us about an intimate moment Katie and Dave shared with each other. I witnessed my own mother wipe the tears from her eyes during the ceremony and the smile on my father's face was precious. I realized how much marriage means to parents and I realized how much I want to find someone to spend the rest of my life with. Someone who I can be adventurous with. Someone who makes my entire body smile. Someone who brings tears to my father's eyes.

The wedding reception served as a town reunion. I saw people I haven't seen in years. We took pictures and exchanged stories about our post-Escalon lives. I met fiances and boyfriends. Danced side by side school administrators, friends' parents and even caught the bouquet. I swear I was standing in the back with no intention of even trying to catch it. I just happened to stick up my arm and the next thing I knew I was holding a bunch of flowers! But hey, as Katie's mother told me...it was meant to be.

Anywho, being surrounded by such great people truly made me thankful for the unique upbringing I had. As much as I hated living in a small town, I've come to realize how much of a positive impact it has had on my life. I'm still trying to figure out why everyone in town remembers my family and I. We kept a low profile. My sister and I were fairly shy and I know that I didn't really "come into my own" until I went away to college. Yet, people remember us. Maybe it's because my sister and I are twins. Maybe it's because we have interesting names, or because we're the only Jews in town, or maybe it's because my family looks slightly different from the average person in Escalon. Who knows. Somehow we've made an impact on them. More importantly though, they've made an impact on me.

Below is my tribute to small town life.

I'm a world traveler and pride myself in being able to pick up and move wherever it is my heart desires. One would never know that I spent a large chunk of my life so far living in small towns in Northern California.

I consider Escalon, a town that once had a population of 5,000 people, as my childhood home. I spent my high school years engrossed in my classes and extra-curricular activities. I formed friendships that are sure to last a lifetime and memories that continue to make me smile and laugh.

While I loved my friends in Escalon, I can't even begin to tell you how many times my sister and I complained to our parents about living in a small, ugly farm town where there was nothing to do. My mother had grown up in Palos Verdes, a beautiful neighborhood overlooking the ocean in Southern California. My father was born in Israel and spent his childhood at the beach and running through the hills. We could never understand how both of them could go from such beauty to the cow-filled town of Escalon. It wasn't until I moved away for college that I began to appreciate the small town life.

Upon my return to town on school breaks, I found myself looking in every car I passed and waving to people I recognized. A trip to the market became a mini reunion and lunch at Pizza Plus was like eating at a friend's house. Conversations with friends' parents were amazing and laughing with high school friends made my stomach hurt. I began to realize how great it was to know people everywhere I went and how comforting it was to know that if you left the house without locking the door, your stuff would still be there when you returned.

My parents now live 1.5 hrs from Escalon, but each time I return to Northern California, I drive through Escalon, eat at Pizza Plus and I make sure to peer through the car window as I make my way down McHenry Ave. I appreciate it now. I can understand why my parents chose to raise children in the small town, away from the violence and corruption of the big city. I cherish my small-town upbringing and wouldn't mind nestling in to a different small town at some point down the road!

Cheers to small towns, amazing friendships, and true love!

Work Adventures

I had my first job at the age of 16 and since then, I have spent countless hours doing the most random of things. The other day I felt compelled to list every single job I've had in the past eight years. As I jotted down the title, the good, the bad, the amazing and the unbelievable experiences filled my mind. I count them all as life experiences. Experiences that have impacted me and molded me to be the person I am today. Experiences that are my life stories.

I'm a hard worker. Always have been. Always will be. I'm trusting (sometimes too much), responsible and reliable. I've got my amazing parents to thank for that. My myriad of jobs is not a reflection of a poor work ethic, instead, it's an expression of my dedication as well as my love for adventure. Below is a look into my work history and the memories that are forever-instilled in my mind. I've been known to juggle three jobs at one time; hence the length of my list. They are in no particular order.

I have:
*had my arms bicep deep in pizza sauce as a pizza maker.
*measured hips and necks of potential models as a talent scout.
*packed boxes of food for backpacking trips as a pack-out cook.
*dealt with 40 rowdy hormone-crazed high school boys as a substitute teacher for a weight training class.
*asked customers if they'd like to add a loaf of bread to their purchase as a counter person at a bread company.
*cleaned work-out equipment and folded pink towels while watching muscular college guys lift weights as a fitness lab supervisor.
*ran around wearing a blue wrap-around skirt and a red polo shirt taking orders from Orange County's fashionistas and getting mistaken for my twin sister at a boat-themed restaurant in South Coast Plaza.
*watched city kids taking pictures of a machine bailing hay in a field as a counselor at a summer camp.
*taken orders from celebrities from ER and Will and Grace as a server at a Studio City restaurant.
*taught Greek children the alphabet as an English teacher on a lonely Greek island.
*used a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in an oven full of chicken for 100 people as a chef for a student organization in college.
*ridden a bike and spouted encouraging words through the microphone attached to my ear as a cycling instructor.
*chopped tomatoes for hours while daydreaming as a salad cook on a kibbutz in Israel.
*hung the coats of New York's culturally conscious while working coat check for a temp assignment at a NY museum for a few hours.
*written an article about my experiences teaching English as a foreign language as a writer for an educational publication.
*painfully ironed creases down the sleeves of my white collard shirt as a server at a chain restaurant.
*stood on a Palm Springs golf course taking pictures of celebrities standing by a motorcycle as an intern for a Hollywood product placement company.
*cut pumpkins from the ground and thrown them onto a truck as a field worker on a kibbutz in Israel.
*yelled the days specials in the ears of old women while a man stood on a stage singing in Hebrew as a server at an Israeli restaurant.
*written an article about having the time of my life on a kibbutz in Israel as a freelance writer for a travel magazine.
*transferred callers to the appropriate editorial staff members at a New York newspaper as a temp.
*sprayed dishes at lightening speed as a prep-cook at a summer camp in Yosemite.
*attempted to read a poorly translated sentence in Turkish while speaking on the phone to a business owner in Turkey as an editorial intern at a travel company.
*wore a corset, skirt and scarf while selling gyros and falafel at a Renaissance festival.
*stood in front of a door waiting for people to stop at a large menu outside so I could run out and convince them to come inside as a server at an unsuccessful New York restaurant.
*chopped the ends off onions while tears uncontrollably ran down my face as an assembly line worker on a kibbutz onion factory.

The list ended up being slightly longer than I thought it'd be. Some of those jobs were merely short stints, others lasted much longer. Regardless of the length, they impacted me. Cheers to the things I've done and the randomness that lies ahead!

Absorbing the Moment

Not only do I live IN the moment, but I absorb it. The sights, the smells, the feelings, they all penetrate my skin and enter my soul. I've done a lot in my lifetime and continue to do things but I never do anything just because it's what others are doing or what you're supposed to do. This goes for my daily life as well as when I'm traveling. My most treasured moments abroad weren't recommended in any guidebook. I guarantee you won't see:

• Spend an afternoon in a random park in Modena, Italy.
• Chop tomatoes for hours on end in a kibbutz kitchen in Israel.
• Sit with friends and eat gyros in a hole in the wall gyro stand in Vrahati, Greece.
• Fly around in a whirlpool in your bra and underwear in Budapest, Hungary.
• Watch the mountains of Jordan change color as the sun sets.
• Travel to Istanbul, Turkey by train with only the clothes on your back, a wallet and a disposable camera.
• Take a spinning class led by a teacher speaking Hebrew in a disco on a kibbutz in Israel.
• Cook lunch with friends in an Italian apartment.
• Do physical labor in a pumpkin field in Israel.
• Ride four wheelers on the island of Corfu with two random guy travelers leading the way down steep terrain.

The list goes on and on...

The point is, none of these moments were a waste. To some, spending an afternoon in a park in Italy would be ridiculous, considering there are so many places to see. To me, experiencing life is never a waste.

My twin sister flew from Los Angeles to visit me in New York this weekend. We were sitting around Friday afternoon trying to figure out how to spend our weekend and my roommate began giving suggestions. To her, my sister was a tourist and HAD to go shopping on 5th Ave., visit the high end restaurants, look at the high class boutiques and check out a few of the museums. We listened to her suggestions, nodded our heads and headed out the door to a poetry slam in the village.

"She doesn't get it." Said my sister. "I'm here to hang out."

• We read at cafes
• Ate cheap and amazingly delicious shwarma (twice)
• Ate lox and bagels (three times)
• Had a pot-luck brunch at my apartment
• Caught up with old friends
• Walked the streets of NYC
• Drank pure dark chocolate cocoa
• Talked and absorbed the time we spent with each other.

Although we didn't step into one high end restaurant or boutique or even visit a single museum, my sister's visit was far from boring and can, in no way, be considered a waste.

I'm not telling you how you should live your life. If high-end shops are your thing or if you've copied down every historical place to see from a guidebook and plan on going to each and every one, go for it. All I ask is that you stop, be aware, be in the moment and absorb it. Do you like what your soul is absorbing?

The Wealth in Friends

Cheers to living life fully and to having genuine friends to share it with. I love having deep conversations with my friends. We discuss life, the uncertainty of our futures, we share what inspires us, what touches us and what we experience, observe, and learn. Each person contributes something different and my life is more interesting because of it. They challenge me to think, introduce new ideas and inspire me. I can only hope that I do the same for them.

I had a conversation with my friend Hannah as we were walking to the movie theater to see Into the Wild (which, by the way, is an AMAZING MOVIE). Hannah brought up a good point - some people just don't "go there" with their friends. They don't engage in deep conversations in which true feelings are shared, insecurities are brought forth and life is challenged. Some people don't attempt to scratch the surface of certain friendships. I say "some people," but even I, a self proclaimed deep conversation enthusiast, have friendships in which I don't delve deep.

Is there an unspoken agreement with some people that says you'll only discuss what's on the surface? Do some engage in deep conversations more often than others? Why? Are some people naturally deep while others aren't? Do some become deep as a result of a life stage or combination of experiences? Do some never experience an intimate moment in which they expose themselves in conversation or question life? This, I doubt. I think it's human nature to share, to question, and to wonder.

What isn't human nature is sharing the depth of one's life and life in general with everyone. I believe that everything in life has a purpose. Each relationship/friendship has a purpose. Some friendships serve to make you laugh. Others help you pass the time or simply keep you company. Whether you only socialize with the person while at work or they're your chick flick buddy, they have a purpose. I struggle with this idea each time I move. I always know that I'll be in contact with my close friends, but it's the other people, the ones I talked to while at work, ones I saw once in a while that I know I won't keep in touch with. Instead of trying to remain friends I've come to realize that they served a purpose.

I wish I always shared what I think. I don't always tell people how much they mean to me or how great a particular moment truly is. I realized recently that simply telling a person that you care, means a lot. It really does.

Cheers to quality friendships. It's interesting how a friendship becomes quality. Some people, you just click with; instant friends, instant openness, instant truth. Others, it's a process, a journey. You slowly let them in and build a relationship in which you can expose your true self. If you surround yourself with activities you love, you're bound to meet like-minded people. One of the reasons why I love traveling is because I meet people that are similar to me; people who have similar outlooks on life.

Life is amazing. People are fascinating. I challenge you to dive deep. Explore. Learn from yourself and others. Live. Speak. Discuss.

This IS My Life

I'm writing this as a I sit in a tea shop surrounded by comfortable couches, green walls and bamboo on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. With the weight of my computer on my lap, I share with you my New York life and all that I've been experiencing.

It's been 2.5 weeks since I landed at JFK airport jobless, yet full of hope and excitement. Since that day, I've:

• Participated in the casting call NY apt. hunt - searched for a furnished room to rent in a good apt. building with normal roommates - still searching.
• Watched the sunset (almost daily) over the Hudson river from the windowseat in my family's Upper West Side apt.
• Sat next to amazing friends - reminiscing about experiences shared abroad and now in the city.
• Experienced my first poetry slam in a NY bar on the lower east side - Black, White, Arab, Jewish, the variety and impact of the poets, words and their delivery were inspiring.
• Gone grocery shopping in the insanely-crowded Fairway market.
• Witnessed the Upper West Side Jews crowding the fish counter at Zabars the day before Yom Kippur - they kept announcing over the loud speaker to make sure to take a number and to sit in the cafe and wait for the number to be called.
• Witnessed a bicyclist yelling at a car for nearly wiping him out on the street.
• Stood in silent subway cars full of people - it still amazes me how so many people in such close quarters seem to be in their own world.
• Seen people in business suits with running shoes on their feet, ready for the day's commute.
• Ran in Central Park
• Got interviewed and then hired at Sherman's Travel as an editorial assistant/intern - I spend 2 days in the office and 2 days from home editing/fact checking and occasionally writing destination guides for the website - actually doing what I came to NY to do - things DO work out!
• Experienced packed 6 pm elevators from the 21st floor of my 34th St. NYC office.
• Tackled the NY subways at rush hour - with a coffee in one hand and squashed between people, unable to move.
• Traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to celebrate Yom Kippur with my friends and their families - MUCH love and THANKS to such amazing people!
• Worn a Renaissance costume while selling falafels and gyros at the NY Renaissance Festival in Tuexdo, NY- thanks to my friend whose dad owns the booth!
• Chuckled to myself numerous times while people watching.
• Looked at old family pictures while sitting at a table in the kitchen of my cousin-once removed (my Mom's first cousin).
• Seen a man playing the buckets in the subway station - it reminded me of STOMP.
• Heard a handful of languages being spoken within a small span of hours.
• Stumbled upon a Trader Joes (YAY, but I didn't have time to go in).
• Today, I saw a real-life scene from my FAVORITE movie - "Before Sunrise" - In front of Trader Joes on 14th St. sat a young man at a small table. On top of the table was an old school typewriter and attached to the table was a sign that said "POEMS." I witnessed him type up a poem about/for a young couple standing in front of him. How AWESOME is that?! Sadly, today was the first day I didn't take my camera with me! Intrigued, I went up to the guy...he offered to write me a poem but I didn't have time. I told him I'd come back...he said he's there 5 days a week from 2-6pm!!!! I walked away smiling.

NYC is amazing. I feel more alive here and more aware. My interactions were much more limited in Los Angeles. I'm SO aware of EVERYTHING and I LOVE IT! Cheers to new experiences, new sights and new interactions. I think I'm going to start making a list of things I see each day. I won't always post them because it'll probably get boring, but I'll still write them down for myself. I'm addicted to being aware! I suggest you give it a try. It makes life SO much more interesting! Much love from the city that never sleeps (that's NY, right?)!

Being Aware in NY

I moved from Los Angeles to New York for a number of reasons. One being that there are more journalism/writing/editing opportunities in NYC, but more importantly to me, I moved to NY because I was getting sick of LA and needed to dive into a new atmosphere. I needed to experience life as a foreigner once again. I'm not a foreigner in a strange land, but I am in a new place and I'm suddenly aware of EVERYTHING around me. I'm constantly observing people and their interactions with each other. I feel that this city is conducive to people watching. I suppose it's because of the sheer magnitude of people in such a geographically small area.

The subway is a great place to people watch. I told myself I'd start bringing a book on the train, but truthfully, I enjoy looking at the people. Today, I watched two very good looking guys walk through the doors of the train. In a matter of moments I noticed that the men were gay and had an amazing relationship. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but the way they looked at each other and their subtle pinkie finger hand holding made me smile.

It seems to me that the subway would be a great place to meet people. I guess New Yorkers think differently. Everyone is packed into the subway and in the week I've been here, I've only witnessed one random conversation and it didn't even involve me. Yesterday, I got on the train holding a coffee in one hand and my purse in the other. As the train began to move, I lost my balance and literally fell into a man's lap. I told the guy I was sorry and situated myself on the empty seat next to him. It seemed like a perfect ice breaker but instead of carrying on a conversation with the man or the hot guy across from me who witnessed my fall, no one said a word.

I've become really aware of children in New York. I think it started with my fascination with the nanny culture. I'm addicted to look in every stroller I pass and then comparing what the child looks like to the person pushing them. It's amazing how many children get escorted around the city by their nanny. My fascination spread from strollers to children in general.

The other day, while on the train out of the city to Tuxedo, New York (where I worked at the NY Renaissance Festival selling falafel for the weekend), I observed an amazing family dynamic. The family consisted of a girl who was about 9 and a boy around 3 or 4, a father and a very tired mother. The boy and girl got along great and were entertaining themselves quite nicely. The children's laughter is what first caught my attention. At one point, the girl grabbed the boy's nose and pretended as though she had taken it (you know the trick where you stick your thumb through your second and third fingers). Instead of laughing, the boy got really upset, "Give me my nose back!" he yelled. The girl laughed but the boy was convinced that his sister had just taken his nose. He kept yelling at his sister to give his nose back. On the verge of tears, he began hitting his sister. Meanwhile, the girl and the parents (and I) were laughing hysterically at the boy. Finally the girl touched his nose. "Thank you," he replied. Still laughing at her brother, the girl touched his nose again and the boy began yelling at her to return it. After returning the nose again, she touched his eyes and told him she now had his eyes. The boy stood up, opened his mouth and spread his eyes open and moved his head slightly from side to side, like a blind man who had just gotten his eyesight back. It was hilarious! Although he could obviously see, with much conviction, he yelled at his sister to give him his eyes back. SO incredibly funny/adorable!

I witnessed another adorable moment today as I was sitting on the steps inside the fountain at Washington Square Park on the Lower East Side. I sat enjoying the gorgeous weather, reading a magazine, talking to my friend who was sitting next to me, and of course, people watching! Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy who was about 2 years old, wearing bright green pants that had been rolled up, running around the inside steps of the fountain. As he approached I kindly moved my feet up one step to let him pass. I then watched him move his little legs and run with his arms outstretched for balance. It was early afternoon and the fountain was full of people sitting just as I was. People's reactions were priceless. Those that weren't completely absorbed in their books kindly moved their feet up one step and watched in wonder as the boy in the bright green shorts passed. When he reached a person that was oblivious to his presence, he timidly stepped down and then back up and continued on his way around the circle. The girl next to me saw the boy from the beginning of his adventure and the two of us talked and laughed hysterically as we watched the boy. When he got to where his mother was standing, he quickly climbed the steps and she lifted him out.

I LOVE being immersed in every moment and observing everything and everyone around me.