Favorite Things

 So I've been in Joplin for over 2 weeks now so I am slowly learning what there is to do, where the cool spots are, all that stuff. I have also just started a little list of my favorite moments that have been happening. I did this while I was in Orvieto and it really helped me appreciate each day and the little joys. Okay so here we go, starting with favorite spots so far.
1. Wild Cate Glades: This place is a big nature preserve that has a small river running through it. I love going here because it reminds me of home, of camp and of Gordon all at once. Maybe it's because where we live in Joplin is pretty bare of woods to play in, but Wild Cat has all that and more. It has little streams to walk in, beautiful trees and trails, and wild flowers all over the place. This place is going to be very dear to me I can already tell.
2. Sonic: I don't think this is on the list on purpose, we just happen to go here a lot because their slushies are the bomb dot com.
3. Art Feeds HQ: This seems pretty obvious but the work space that I get to be in all week is nothing like anywhere I have been before (granted I haven't been many places, but I watch the office and have seen what some offices are like). First of all it's beautiful. There are so many beautiful things and people in this space. They are professionals at what they do, but also at loving and spreading joy with those around them.
4. Recycling Yard: Joplin does not do their own recycling so you have to drive your items to a center and recycle them there. I know it seems weird that i like it, bit bottle and glass jars and things of the sort are some of my favorite things and you can just go and take some if you want to! There were such big beautiful ones, but alas, I have not room to take them back to Jersey with me.
5. JACC: This is the Joplin Area Coffee Company. A few days ago we

were sent there at the end of a scavenger hunt/errand run and I loved it so much. It's just a little shop but their drinks were so good and the view from their shop reminded me so much of Beverly, MA. I even saw a guy ride past on his skateboard with his kid which is a direct reference to my philosophy prof. Dr. Glenney (for all you Gordonites reading this you get it)

Okay so some of my favorite moments
1. Laughing: This seems to be all the time, but I love how close I already feel to the other interns and that we are getting each other's style of humor and can really crack each other up.
2. Phone calls with friends and family: I know that seems silly, but I have had some really great conversations with my friends from home and miss them but love sharing what life is like out here
3. Exploring: Because we (Angela, Chelsea and I) are only here for Art Feeds, we are learning what else to do with our life and spare time and those times have been so fun. We accidentally drove into Kansas last week exploring the roads and farms along the way. We found really beautiful buildings and properties. We also drove into Oklahoma last night! Granted it was dark and the first 15 minutes is nothing but highway, but once we got into a town we saw places that we would go to when it was open.
4. Working events!: I have helped little inventors come up with a new helpful invention, taught a color theory lesson in order to mix the best colors to make a new paint, watched little hands work slowly to paint as best as they could, saw huge smiles appear on faces when we told them we would paint with squirt guns, listened to amazing storytellers at a fundraiser, made pipe cleaner animal ears for hours, watched 3 kids under the age of 6 calmly use water colors, and so much more. I am absolutely loving my job and loving the kids and people we get to interact with.