Fun, laughter and little sleep- crazy week!.

 

The past two weeks have been really long for me. I was on my feet a lot. The great thing is that I was out and about doing very fun stuff. Case in example; BPA and DECA judging. I know you are all wondering what BPA and DECA are. They are student organizations that hold annual competitions where thousands of high school students from Career Tech schools compete in different categories and the winners get to represent the State of Ohio at the National championships. So yours truly and many other judges were busy looking for brilliant students with the most ingenious ideas to go represent the Buckeye State at Nationals. I judged Global Marketing and Hospitality Services which happen to be within my forte of Public Relations and Marketing.(I don’t consider myself to be a Marketeer though!). Those kids were amazing. They had incredible concepts on how to penetrate global markets, position their brand and capture market share in their target market. I was truly impressed!(Ohioans; my co-judge and I got you a worthy representative for the Nationals!)

We finally met up with Nana, my South African sister from another mother and we hang out at Claddaugh Irish pub in downtown Columbus with Patty and Mike for lunch. It was our early St. Patrick’s day celebration. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bag-pipers were just incredible going around from restaurant to restaurant.

 

I visited Worship Harvest Church on Sunday with Patty’s friend Anita. The worship service was interesting and their choir sounds great. It’s much bigger than what you see on TV actually. After service, I went with Katie Fontana for Mrs. Joni Parsley’s book signing and met Pastor Rod Parsley. (He is exactly like what he looks like on TV my Ugandan folks!)

I job shadowed at Patty’s office on Monday(St.Patrick’s day). I met incredible people there who gave me a new outlook on life. Dr. Zelman is one of the smartest people I’ve met in my life.(I have to get a PhD at this rate!) I also met another lady from South Africa 🙂 Sometimes I wonder where all the Ugandans in Ohio are hiding. 

 

 

 

 

The Ohio Department of Education has an incredible view. I probably would gaze out the windows all day at the activities happening on the streets. Atleast I got to watch the St. Patrick’s day parade where one of the officers proposed to his girlfriend at the traffic lights. That was interesting! Here are a few snapshots. 🙂

 

 

The water front has construction going on. It will be really beautiful when it’s completed next year.

 

 

The Supreme Court building stands majestically just next to the Department of Education.

 

 

Last night we had a fundraising sale for the Mukono Women’s artisans products at the Canal Winchester Winery. It was really lovely seeing women come out to support other women.And the icing on the cake were two musicians who were playing live. They sang “Girl from Ipanema”, an old song that I really love that reminds me of someone. I met incredible ladies(Julie, Ellen, Diane thank you for supporting this cause).

 

 

My crazy week continues. Tonight, I travel to Pennsylvania. I am excited; about traveling to Pennsylvania, about this year, about so many things.I’ve had fun, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried.I’ve done it all. I was a bridesmaid recently. This year gets more exciting; I get to be a Maid-of-honour on my cousin’s wedding. I cannot wait to get dressed up in traditional attire again and have a plausible reason to dance myself lame at a wedding reception(no saving face!everyone will think my misguided dance strokes are just an expression of joyous celebration. They won’t really know that I can’t dance).

 

 

2014, you have been good to me. Let’s see what else you have to offer. See you later folks.