One more try...

As many of you are aware, I attempted to start a blog about my travels back in 2009. I think I got through four or five posts while in Ghana! But, I've decided to try again and to broaden the blog to my everyday life, which can include cooking, baking, animals, music, articles that I love (or am bewildered by!), writing, research, fitness, events, and other random posts, including travel! This will be a way that I can keep in touch with my family and friends since it is often difficult to see and talk to each person as much as I would like. So, here goes! I will first recycle a post from the previous blog about my time in Ghana. There are many other posts that I will have to catch up with about my time there and travels in Africa and Asia since then, and my current life! But to end this post, here is a little bit about me:

My word is wanderlust! I am an explorer at heart! My dream is to travel the world. I want to meet every person, see every country, and experience everything!

The things I enjoy most in life are gazing up at star-filled skies, waterfalls, swimming in the ocean, long bubble baths, a cup of hot tea, the taste of chocolate, counting the nights until the next full moon, hunting for treasures at flea markets, hanging out at coffee shops, buying locally at the famers market, green juice, CUPCAKES, experimenting with new recipes in my kitchen, long, passionate kisses, the sound of a violin, spending time with my friends, planning my next trip, anything that is an adventure, yoga, weight-training, hiking, bizarre dreams, beautiful sunsets, counting the spots on Dalmatians, the smell of fresh-cut grass, the high of being in love, and playing in fields of sunflowers (of any other flower!).

When I am not out exploring or dreaming, I am an assistant professor at James Madison University, where I teach courses on American government, immigration policy and minority politics. I currently do research on these topics, and am thinking about migration due to climate change and animal rights and protection as my future fields of inquiry. 

LITTLE TIDBIT- I wanted to name this blog "kale and cupcakes" after my two favorite foods, but the I googled it just to check, and sure enough, someone had a blog names "CupcakesandKale." Can you believe it? But, the recipes look interesting...I will be checking it out later!