Goodness! It has been awhile!  I blame a few things for my lack of bloggering but lets not point fingers and just get down to what has been keeping me busy.

Early April I was able to see CALIFORNIA for the first time, flying over for Nicole's birthday and spending 10 days in "running camp" mode. Pretty much, our days revolved around the following:

eating
running
organizing nicoles apartment
making friends at Sal's sandwich place
running again
coffee and staring at the Starbucks coffee boy
kindling
playing with the gopro
sleeping

I liked the time to just focus on things that I wanted to focus on, running hard and brainstorming life plans.   I was so thankful for the California trails and running buddy to spice up my training. The trip came at the peak of my mileage in training for the 25k Riverbank run, so it was great to devote time to really prep for each run, think about what I was doing, and execute, without work or anything else getting in the way.

Now that I'm back in MI I'm getting excited about racing this summer, and the awesome things that are happening at UR Sportswear.  What is this, you ask? Well it's a sportswear company (brand new) that makes ridiculously comfortable and attention grabbing spandex running shorts.  They sponsor me and in return I blog for them about my training, tips, and other fun stuff people might be interested in. You should definitely check them out, their product launched May 15 so go get them! www.ursportswear.com

As for career stuff, I am still working at Pfizer but I have taken on a mini job of finding as many contacts within the company as possible that could direct me towards the global health field. I am also applying to TONS of internships in hopes of getting in touch with global NGO's that help with care, treatment, and prevention of disease.  Fingers crossed!

I set fire to the rain

Photos courtesy of Nicole Bush :)

Updates:

Work has taken a surprising turn for good, my obsession for kindling has been taken to a new level, and came incredibly close to stalking someone on the way home from work. What a week, lets start from the top:

When you sign on as a contractor, or really any temp job, you know that you will most likely end up at the bottom of the proverbial work pile.  For the last couple months this has meant a relatively mundane week highlighted by midday running sessions and enlightening lunch conversations. Revising my resume and Linkedin profile as well as sending various emails to friends of friends that might know of someone who is in my career field has become somewhat of a supplement to the work I am given on a daily basis. I had resigned myself to the fact that this would most likely be the norm for the rest of the year and have been actively finding ways to continue to exercise my brain and other skills so that I can be ready when my time to work within my field will come. However, I was taken aback by a simple question posed to me by one of my supervisors on Friday, “So what do you WANT to do here?”  After recovering from shock at not being given another spreadsheet to add to, we ventured into a conversation of how I could become more involved with projects closer to my passion, even though neglected third world diseases can seem like a far stretch from the regulatory department of animal health there is some strange overlap. Success!  

Now, although I am probably running consistently more mileage than I ever have before, I am not sleeping consistently more. I blame the kindle.  I cannot tell you the number of times I have literally fell asleep with it clutched in my hands, just to wake up in the morning cursing that I wouldn’t get to be able to find out what happens next until a break at work.  Incredibly addicting little buggers, I have read 6 books so far this year and am currently about halfway through the 7th. So potential kindle buyers, beware.  It will make all that lovely ideal running recovery sleep very difficult, you will have to work extra hard to get that 8 hours.

As for the stalking, it was a fleeting notion and very minor at that.  Coming home from work one day I pulled behind this cool subaru at a stoplight.  I have noticed them a lot recently because it’s the type of car I have been shopping around for myself.  Cute little sporty things that go forever and have a decent enough back to sleep in or throw your bike in, what more could you want.  Anyway, as I was checking it out I noticed a “Live Simply” bumper sticker.  “Yesss, this person could be a cool dude/ dudette,”I thought to myself as the light remained red. But just as I was trying to figure out if the driver was a he or a she, a South African flag magnet on the bumper caught my eye. Oh goodness, this is my ideal Kzoo friend.  As I was pondering how best to figure out who exactly this person was, the light turned green and said person drove on, leaving me wondering what cool adventure they were heading to, and exactly how I came to posses such stalkerish tendencies. Oh well, anonymous driver, I think you are rad anyway.

I'm gonna burn a hole in the road...Leave nothing on this street to explore

My lovely Kal-Haven trails, pre-snow 

Kalamazoo Lights

Waterstreet for some liquid chocolate

Long run around Wayland on Saturday :) 

Hey all!  Its been a minute since my last post.  I have been caught up in settling myself into a new life in Kalamazoo for the time being.  It’s interesting how similar yet different it feels to be in a new place finding my way around to the essentials... work.. trail.. food..coffee. But I am also reminded at how I did this in the not so distant past but in a much more foreign place.  Its been amusing how easily I have recently been slipping into the “survival mode” I took on in Cape Town whenever I needed to find something/ do something/ meet someone I hadn’t before. I have found my learning curve to be as steep as ever though, and within a few weeks I feel comfortable going about my everyday activities knowing I will probably not end up lost and confused.

I am also happy to report that my running has been really taking positive steps as well.  Before I left Florida I was still battling at minimal distances and trying to rebuild from some time I took off nursing some posterior tibial tendinitis.  Time, patience, and lots of strength rebuilding later I feel awesome running the mileage my legs have been longing for.  My sights are set on the Riverbank Run 25k in May, with the long term goal of breaking my personal best in the marathon this fall.  This winter has actually been graciously mild for my first one back (running in South Africa during January, not so bad :) but I have actually enjoyed the past week’s snow dump.  We are Michiganders after all, the snow is one of the major perks of living here!  I admit it did take a few runs to remember exactly how much clothing you really need to wear so as to not freeze, and how half frozen gels don’t go down nearly as smooth, but so long as the sun is shining I can handle the chilly temps.  

So it seems that I have a new hobby this year, kindling. Yes, kindling.  This is the act of reading on a kindle.  My mom bought my brother and I both one for Christmas, just the regular one, no fancy touch screen or color.  I love it, and actually enjoy its simpleness.  If we were to have gotten the upgraded version I think it would have been easy to just turn them into gaming/ video devices.  But my little kindle just allows me to read. And read. And read.  I will be finishing my fourth book this month sometime in the next day, so you could fairly guess that I am hooked.  I am actually hoping some of the novelty might wear off so I can get to bed at a decent hour (there have been countless times already where I LITERALLY can’t put it down!). I’m trying to get a reading list together now, so if you have any favorites just message me them :)  

Make me your radio, turn me up when you feel low

Treasure Island

Redington Shores

Pass-a-Grille

St. Petersburg

I have found my life in Florida to be a bit ridiculous. In almost every way.  Lets start with my job, I work as a consultant collecting data on the beaches. Note to you all, if ever you want to feel like a person in power, just walk down the beach with a polo shirt and a clip board.  People will assume you are an expert at anything beach/ ocean/ wildlife related. Last week alone I was asked if I knew what type of crabs were scuttling around, if the jellyfish being washed ashore were poisonous, how many sea turtles I had counted that day and if I had any information on the surveying project down the road.  Seriously folks, what makes you think I know these things? Oh right, the polo shirt and clip board, I see how you might mistake me for an all-knowing public servant.

Also, running here is a bit tricky.  Most of the day it gets too hot for my sister and I to run so we have two options 1. suck it up in the heat and hit the "trails" aka crushed shell path running through palm trees where we have spotted many daunting spider/ crab hybrids and once even a bobcat 2. wait until dark and risk the potential wildlife encounter or rouge senior citizen driving past their bedtime in our neighborhood.  Either is pretty dangerous, especially after Em and I swore we saw a Florida panther a few miles from home.

I am currently in the crazy process of studying for/ applying to grad programs while working crazy hours.  My favorite place to get the most done is the local coffee shop run by only the most adorable English family.  Greeted as Miss Brewer and getting the extra coffee at the end of the day paired with seriously the most amazing cafe food (I recommend the turkey, brie, apple sammie on french bread) is why I keep driving the 15 miles to get there.

While doing all of these things I have also volunteered to help my sister at on of her million odd jobs, wine tasting at grocery stores. Seriously, the people you come across in this job you could not make up in the most hilarious of sitcoms.  Last week we were stationed at a liquor store where everyone working was simultaneously heckling each other and sampling the booze that they were selling while helping a near constant stream of customers.  I had no idea a place could be so happening on a wednesday afternoon in retirement world.

Oh we run just to find a way to change, its good to get away sometimes

Oh goodness, where to start. Well, its been a whirlwind since I last updated so as these things go I will try and hit the main points.

Flew back to Michigan from my Florida adventure and was there a grand total of 17 days before turning back around.  During my 17 days back in Wayland I had frequented the one and only coffee shop daily, searching for jobs, studying, and in all trying to figure out life plans.  Thru my sister I found a job lead, and within 3 days of submitting my application I was hired!  Although not a long term position, this work will give me enough time and security to figure out my next move. I did enjoy my time back in the mitten though, hanging out with the high school cross country teams, getting together with my biking group in Kalamazoo, presenting a travelogue to my old Pfizer colleagues, and making a little pilgrimage back to Ann Arbor to see some long lost college friends.  The saturday morning mrun pancake run was definitely a hi-light (along with the FREAKING amazing football game that followed) :)

So for now I am back in the sunshine state, sharing a room and a car with my favorite big sister :)  I start work tomorrow, always a bit nerve wracking, but this should be fun.  I will be compiling evidence for Federal and State agencies such as NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) by walking the coastlines and asking for interviews and filling out questionnaires. The rest of my time (hopefully) will be spent studying for grad school entrance exams and applying to schools. Its all a little overwhelming but being productive has kept me relatively focused these past few weeks.

Researching possible school options and creating career goals for myself has kind of psyched me up for life.  Not going to lie, still missing South Africa like crazy, but figuring out my passions and figuring out how to incorporate them all into a crazy life experience is really exciting.  Patience is something that is very hard for me right now though lol. Ok lets be honest, when has this ever been easy. Slow down Sarah, one step at a time.

So although Michigan is starting its chilly pumpkin spice latte season, I will be walking the beaches and getting sunburnt (mission already accomplished on day two).  Sorry body, you still don't get the normal seasonal progression that you are used to.

Just a small town girl

Wow, ok so lots has happened since my last post, so I will try and sum up what has went down in the life of Sarah since touching back down in the states.

RAGBRAI: Within hours of being picked up from the airport my mom informs me that there is one spot left on the bus to RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, the world's biggest bike tour with over 15,000 cyclists riding over 500 miles) and I only had a few hours to make up my mind if I wanted to come. Despite my protest of "I haven't ridden in a year" we took the bike out for a spin to make sure it was road ready. I don't think I ever really agreed to it, my mom just started making arrangements and I transferred some clothes from suitcase to backpack. Therefore, my first week in the states was spent waking up early to bike in 115 degree heat, start drinking waaaay too early, rocking out to music, eating dollar store spaghetti o's and staying up way too long hanging out with long lost friends.

Tour De Michigan: Once back in Michigan, an interesting twist of fate made it possible for me to show my friend Lucy (whom I met in Cape Town, originally from London) all that Michigan has to offer. Our sightseeing included a trip to both Bells Brewery/ Eccentric Cafe and Waterstreet Cafe (two of my favorite places in Kalamazoo), viewing of the incredible Lake Michigan on our beach day in South Haven (it has been confirmed folks, it really does look like the sea), a night on the town complete with signature martini's in Grand Rapids, and a weekend of fun in my college town, Ann Arbor. It was so much fun sharing all that my state had to offer with someone who was seeing all these special places that make up my life with new eyes. I also had a blast connecting with old friends, despite the difficulty of telling stories through the giggling (apparently I picked up a bit of an accent from za that supposedly is hilarious, lets hope that passes soon). This whole week made me realize how great of a place I live in to begin with, and that I can appreciate even after being in such a different place for so long.

Floridaaa: Still having yet to catch up on my sleep since.... (man can't even remember the last time I slept a full night) I woke up after a long night due to car trouble in Ann Arbor to take a few more hours to transfer clothes into yet another suitcase. My saving grace this time was that my sister's closet was at the destination of this trip and so it didn't matter quite so much if I forgot something because I will most likely steal all her clothes anyway (definitely came in handy because I'm not even sure if I was completely awake and coherent when I packed this time). So now I am in sunny, well more like rainy Florida catching up with my dad and sister. This will be my time to reenergize, relax, and consume my weight in Mexican food.

Its been incredibly weird to be back here in the states, but its been kind of fun to see familiar things with new eyes. I catch so much of the "classic American" things that I took for granted or didn't notice before, and find myself laughing at what some of my South African friends would think about these small town nuances. Seriously man, only in America.

My heart is definitely missing Cape Town and all the friends I left there, but I have been very thankful for the ability to jump right into traveling and exploring here to keep myself occupied. Having Cape Town friends here to reconnect with has also helped, but I know that its going to take some time coming down from such a wonderful life experience. Thank goodness for the internet, the world is definitely a much smaller place when you know that despite the miles you still have a way to stay close to your friends :)

Oh got this feeling that you can’t fight, like this city is on fire tonight, this could really be a good life, a good, good life

July marks the ending of my work here in cpt, and the beginning of freedom to do as I please with the daylight hours, a huge plus. After the last few hectic days at Regency, an office party at Spiros (local greek restaurant) commemorated both my boss Richard's birthday and the end of my time here as an intern. Strange to think that I was only meant to be here for 3 months, and here we are nearly 11 months later finally saying goodbye. Due to my departures, I was asked to write one of our monthly articles featured on the Regency website detailing my experience here, feel free to look up the web page and check out what our NGO is all about (regency dot org)

This month also gave me the opportunity to bring a little bit of America to my friends here in Hout Bay. After learning of my cooking/ baking abilities on one of our weekend trail runs (when you are together for 8+ hours at a time it is interesting how the topic of covo always ends up on food) it became apparent that a 4th of July celebration was in order. With the help of a well-timed care package from my mom I was able to recreate as best as I could the star spangled holiday, complete with "American" food (foot long hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, coke and chips), the brewer kid's favorite pies (Emily's red white and blueberry and Jesse's tollhouse pie) and watching of jackass the movie. So much fun, especially when I realized this is the third continet that I have celebrated independence day on!

I have also been able to spend some quality time on the mountain with JT these past few weeks. She wanted to show me some new trails that I had yet to run and to also get in some great views that I could take pictures of (since usually pretty focused on not falling off the mountain, running into protea bushes, or spraining an ankle). I swear the vegetation here has it out for me, between the protea bushes bruising up my legs and attacking my face and the prickly devil bushes that always seem to be around when I need a good hand hold, these trail runs have definitely made their marks. Visited a geo cache, ran under some epic waterfalls, waded, through rivers swollen from winter rains, and had some ridiculously good laughs. So sad that I wont be here when she and the boys tackle Double Hout Bay and Tuffer Puffer, should be awesome races!

Also managed to get an entry into the Knysna Forest marathon this past weekend, so was able to see the Garden Route that I have heard so much about. The drive consisted of taking pictures, jamming to music, consuming ridiculous amounts of coffee and wine gums, and learning Afrikaans vocab via road signs. Translating names like Suurbaak and Buffelsjagsrivier had us both in stitches. Knysna is such a beautiful part of the country, and was so excited to see this new place the best way possible, via running :) The race was an effort to say to least (I was refusing to let a bum leg stop me from experiencing such a beautiful route) but our little Hout Bay clan stuck together and with the assistance of an undisclosed amount of pain killers and muscle relaxers I managed to get myself to the finish line (I swear one of these days my stubbornness will lead to my downfall). Ah well, first off road marathon done and dusted, next challenge please! :)