Me, a Westchester mom.

This is amazing. I am living at my parents' home in Chappaqua, NY, which while considered the exurbs is soo suburban is jumbles my mind most days.  I am working two volunteer internships in New York City right now, which is the last place I thought I'd end up, but I am really enjoying the work.

One is for an organization called CHALK, Choosing Healthy and Active Lifestyles for Kids.  It's a partnership between Columbia University Medical Center and NY-Presbyterian Hospital and their focus is to reduce childhood obesity in the Latino population of Northern Manhattan.  So, I stand at Farmer's Markets and teach kids and parents about eating healthy snacks and free yoga and dancXercise programs in their area.  The work feels mundane on a daily basis, but I truly believe in the cause which keeps me hopeful.

The second voluntinternship as I like to refer to them, is as a research assistant to a shrink at NYU's Center for Brain Health studying the relationship between sleep and Alzheimer's.  While I thought research was the last thing I wanted to do, this project is rejuvenating my view to the medical world.  I get to do little bits of all parts of the project, which keeps me constantly thinking and reassessing the possibility of a job in health care. Also, all of the doctors I work with are international and about 30 so to hear their experiences is truly invaluable and fascinating.

Other than these non-moneymaking jobs, I got a new puppy from the pound, she is 5 months old and named Annie. She's half yellow lab, half deer? and absolutely awesome.  We take small hikes daily and think about what's next.

As for what's next, it'll be something because right now "the social network" (not the movie) is m.i.a. and I sure have missed this space for exploration and all of you.If you find yourself in Northern Westchester or NYC. let me know.

Cheers,
Hayley