Life in Texas

Well gang,

It looks like I've taken over a year off from writing. My apologies! A lot of transitioning has happened since my last post.

A quick review:
January-April 2011- finishing up my last months in Lima (filled with teaching, friends, going to the gym, going to the beach, and Eric visiting!)

April-July 2011- I move back to California for a few months and do some teaching, find a place to live in Austin with Eric, and buy a car.

July- Road trip with my Dad, Stephen, and my Grandpa along I-10. The trip takes about 3 days and is extremely hot.

July-present- LBJ takes over my life and I am overwhelmed, grateful, and inspired.

So, I will try keeping up more often, although I've been reading and writing so much for school it can be tough.

I am focusing my studies on International Development and expanding beyond my regional focus in Latin America. I came to LBJ thinking I would do Education Policy in Latin America, but have found my interests are more in broader challenges in development across the globe. I am also completing a Portfolio in Nonprofit Studies to foster stronger skill growth in financial and management issues that face the nonprofit sector.

I have met an amazing group of people at school and in Austin in general. It's a great city and, while I spend most of my time working or studying, I find the Austin-centric attitude fascinating. People here are obsessed with Austin, and I think it's rad that there are so many local businesses (something I'm pretty sure helped shield them from some of the effects of the economic downturn).

I am currently interning at an international nonprofit called Rainforest Partnership. The organization does environmental and economic sustainability work in the Amazon in Peru and Ecuador. My work is focused on researching measurement and evaluation techniques and indicators that RP will eventually be able to use to gauge the effects of their projects on both the environment and the local economies of the indigenous peoples RP works with. It's great work and a chance for me to really apply my skills and knowledge.

I hope to keep writing more and if you want to catch up please find me on skype at lsalzoberlin. I am not on FB anymore so email, skype, and phone (I know, so old school) are my primary means of communication.

In Solidarity!

Lauren