One Sentence A Day

1/365

April 29, 2016

Finally got around to finishing this website, so excited for what's to come!

2/365

April 30, 2016

Stayed in my pajamas until 3pm, then shook it at a Tacky Prom with free Chipotle.

3/365

May 1, 2016

Sunny Sunday started with cute 3-year-olds, continued with tons of paperwork, and ended with being in bed early.

4/365

May 2, 2016

God has a peculiar way of showing His plan and establishing His guidance in my life.

5/365

May 3, 2016

A stressful day that ended with me ripping my pants.

6/365

May 4, 2016

God answered prayers and made me joyful amidst chaos.

7/365

May 5, 2016

First wedding for a friend my age... #growingup

8/365

May 6, 2016

I love catching up with loved ones.

9/365

May 7, 2016

Just sent my awesome cousin off to her senior prom; how has it been two years since high school?

10/365

May 8, 2016

Left the car on overnight, put dish soap in the dishwasher and somehow my Mom still loves me; Happy Mother's Day!

11/365

May 9, 2016

Back to reality - don't worry, I found a new Netflix show to binge on.

12/365

May 10, 2016

Matthew 7v7+8

13/365

May 11, 2016

Today, I participated in a flash mob.

14/365

May 12, 2016

Learning to find joy and hold onto it.

15/365

May 13, 2016

Happy 1 year, my love!

16/365

May 14, 2016

Trainings, costume sewing and homework... oh my!

17/365

May 15, 2016

Learning to communicate.

18/365

May 16, 2016

First day of all-week dance rehearsals; bring it on performance week!

19/365

May 17, 2016

Long day, "ending" with going to a coffee shop at 10PM; loving end-of-term realities!

20/365

May 18, 2016

Papers, busy schedules & 4-hour dance rehearsal. Thankful to have my studies align with my passions.

21/365

May 19, 2016

Chaotic dress rehearsals amongst other things.

22/365

May 20, 2016

AMAZING first show; hard work has paid off.

23/365

May 21, 2016

Last show, best friends & dancing to African music 'till 4am... my heart is happy.

24/365

May 22, 2016

No time to rest; here goes Africa Night.

25/365

May 23, 2016

Back to reality and second guessing.

26/365

May 24, 2016

Twas the nights before exams.

27/365

May 25, 2016

Had my language test over the phone today... rough but, excited to improve this summer through speaking 24/7.

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29/365

May 27, 2016

Taking my friends to the airport, this is becoming real!

30/365

May 28, 2016

Ok Taylor, work on your paper.

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31/365

May 29, 2016

Wedding fun! I am so thankful for those have greatly impacted me.

32/365

May 30, 2016

Last drive back to Eugene for the school year.

32/365

May 31, 2016

FINISHING THIS PESKY ESSAY.

33/365

June 1, 2016

School is out for summer!!!!

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34/365

June 2, 2016

Flying to Washington D.C to begin my adventure, starting with orientation.

35/365

June 3, 2016

Day-long orientation but I have been rooming with a girl from the Chinese CLS program and she is awesome!

36/365

June 4, 2016

Worked (and FINISHED) my 10-page history essay and still had time to spare to go to the Lincoln Memorial. Now off to Tanzania!

37/365

June 5, 2016

After an 8-hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany some friends and I were able to leave the airport to explore the city's sites, eat Bratwurst and drink German beer... GREAT layover!!

38/365

June 6, 2016

After Ethiopia and through Kilimanjaro, to Arusha we go!

39/365

June 7, 2016

First night in MS-TCDC (our school), time for more orientation.

40/365

June 8, 2016

Placement test and getting situated... there were monkeys stomping on the tin roof to wake us up! #glamorous

41/365

June 9, 2016

After moving into my host family, it is Kiswahili speaking from here on out!

42/365

June 10, 2016

A "huge-crickets-in-the-shower" fiasco started my day and all I can say is that I am adjusting and loving it.

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43/365

June 11, 2016

Largely unsuccessful wazungu trip to town.

44/365

June 12, 2016

The Portlandian in me would be disappointed; I thought an espresso was a big coffee and spent 4000 shillings too much.

45/365

June 13, 2016

A monkey looked into my classroom today.

46/365

June 14, 2016

It's the little things; asking for a lift and getting to ride in the back of a fruit truck to the safari resort.

47/365

June 15, 2016

Who goes out to the Bistro on a Wednesday? We do!

48/365

June 16, 2016

Could I be more tired today?

49/365

June 17, 2016

Sometimes just walking around town is the best way to make memories. Also, #ethiopianfood.

50/365

June 18, 2016

Drove two dusty hours away from Arusha Town to the middle of nowhere (amongst Masaai villages) to the lush and lukewarm "hot spring" and it was simply glorious.

51/365

June 19, 2016

Woke up at 5am for a Kiswahili mass and then was pushed into babysitting three of my host siblings at a "watoto festival"

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52/365

June 20, 2016

Ping Pong is the game of choice.

53/365

June 21, 2016

A trip to the shamba (farm) makes for a fun afternoon field trip. #munyunyu

54/365

June 22, 2016

Sometimes I need to forget about money and drop 31k on a pizza dinner because... rice and beans 24/7.

55/365

June 23, 2016

Went to the Usa River Market to learn about entrepreneurship and ended up at neighborhood tobacco dealer.

56/365

June 24, 2016

Oh the times in the safari car to Machame... singing, icing & shikamoo-ing like confetti.

57/365

June 25, 2016

For fun today, I watched my friends get their hair cut and ate a quesadilla and fajitas.

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58/365

June 26, 2016

After a hilarious night in town, I returned to Usa and relaxed in the best way.

59/365

June 27, 2016

TANZZZZZZ HANDS; kila siku.

60/365

June 28, 2016

I love road trips in Africa. Always bumpy but always accompanied with good laughs and memories.

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61/365

June 29, 2016

FINALLY, put up a blog post! "Updates & Reflection"

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62/365

June 30, 2016

I love when I come home and all of my host family is home 13 people and counting.

61/365

July 1, 2016

Big night at Njerere's Bistro... Ellie got an old man to buy us drinks so... success?

62/365

July 2, 2016

"Splurge" day in town with Grace. Ate Mexican food, got good coffee, bought shukas and sampled chocolate.

63/365

July 3, 2016

Ran/walked to school (got stared at) and then ended my workout with singing while doing the elliptical in the empty gym.

64/365

July 4, 2016

4th of July in Tanzania!

- Nilienda Mjini

- Nikakula chakula KIZURI katika Mt. Meru Game Lodge

65/365

July 5, 2016

Made Masanja laugh by constantly saying "bomb diggity" #culturalexchange

66/365

July 6, 2016

Happy Eid! Relaxed today and ate pilau (spiced rice), great day.

67/365

July 7, 2016

SABA SABA, Holiday here in Tanzania!

68/365

July 8, 2016

Got back in our safari cars, visited a Maasai village and ended with a yummy dinner at Olea Hotel.

69/365

July 9, 2016

SAFARI DAY AT NGORONGORO CRATER! Woke up at the crack of dawn and saw:

- Oldupai gorge

-Shifting sand dunes

- A ton of beautiful wild animals!

70/365

July 10, 2016

Visited the Iraq Boma and learned about their culture and history. S/O to the Mzee (old man) that knew more about American geography than I do.

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71/365

July 11, 2016

Fallin more in love with photography.

72/365

July 12, 2016

Sick day, perfectly accompanied with an unsuccessful doctors visit. #contaminated

73/365

July 13, 2016

Just purchased a ticket to Dar Es Salam for this weekend... feeling bold!!

74/365

July 14, 2016

Family photo shoot - I love the bond between these girls.

75/365

July 15, 2016

Starting the vacay at Rivertrees getting pizza. Flying out to Dar Es Salaam at 10pm.

- Matt brought a knife to airport

- Flew through a huge thing of smoke to look down and see a fire

- 30 minute flight

76/365

July 16, 2016

AMAZING DAY AT KIGAMBONI & MIKADI BEACH

- Took Bajaj for the first time (3 wheeled bike/taxi)

- Sailed in a Dhow to a private island

- Snorkeled and got stung by a lot of jellyfish.

- Crashed a beach birthday party and collected feral dogs

- Had a hilarious night overall

77/365

July 17, 2016

DAR DAY

- Bajaj'ed around town

- Ferry took 1 hour

- Watched a music video being filmed

- "Jubby Fashion"

- Flew back to Kilimanjaro #2hourdelay

78/365

July 18, 2016

I didn't know we had homework.. maybe I was in vacation mode and decided to ignore it.

79/365

July 19, 2016

Biashara class finally paid off when we went to a farming initiative with fruit wine!

80/365

July 20, 2016

Sports Bonanza again.. got named "Akello 254" by some Kenyan visitors.

81/365

July 21, 2016

Tanzanian pick up line "I would like to spend more private time with you" (on the normal walk to school)

82/365

July 22, 2016

I got iced at school today. But, hey its Friday!

83/365

July 23, 2016

Mjini for the day, favorite part (aside from eating some friend rice + drinking coffee) was walking through the Masaai market and just plain out talking with people.

84/365

July 24, 2016

Slept in, then went to a beautiful hotel and ended it was some spontaneous Ethiopian food in town. "Drove" home squished in the back of a trunk in the middle of night. Those weird reflective moments.

85/365

July 25, 2016

Beginning of finals week - didn't have a class structure today and went back to Arumeru to see the dik diks (small antelopes - look it up) and drink yummy kahawa (coffee).

86/365

July 26, 2016

3 tests - OPI, Final exam & biashara. Almost done!

87/365

July 27, 2016

Tried making pancakes for the family today. Then wrote my report on tourism, ate glorious pizza and drank more coffee. Africafe doesn't do it for me, gotta find something!

88/365

July 28, 2016

Finished my final presentation which I was dreading! Instead of talking for 10 minutes (which was my goal at the beginning of the program) I accidently talked for 15!

89/365

July 29, 2016

Amazing, chill debriefing kinda day. Ending with another elaborate dinner at Mt. Meru Game lodge, paper plate awards, family farewell (emotional), and a rocking party at TCDC.

90/365

July 30, 2016

Crazy to say goodbye to my CLS Fam. I never expected to make such good friends. Time for Joshi and I to go to Uganda!

91/365

July 31, 2016

Visited the wonderful "House Church," HARDCORE relaxed and visited with one of my best friends Pamela (meeting her wonderful guy) and FINALLY got my ranch fill. Also, I took Uber in Uganda!

92/365

August 1, 2016

Miss speaking Swahili but loving just being in Uganda. Watched some lifetime movies with Ivan + friends and now at catching up on social media at Endiro Coffee!

93/365

August 2, 2016

Traveled to Gulu via private hire with some friends (first time)! Surprised some friends and I, myself, was surprised by the extreme contrast of new infrastructure.

94/365

August 3, 2016

Pam & I decided to go for a day at the pool. Of course, the one day/time we choose there are a hundred primary children flocking around and “learning to swim.”

95/365

August 4, 2016

Visited Krochet Kids and ended our night at Elephanté where we were welcomed with a merciless African rain storm; complete with power outages and startling lightning.

96/365

August 5, 2016

Went to Pam’s village outside of Lira to see her world, meet her people and watch her work in action. Ended the night so contently with some “traditional spaghetti” and some Boy Meets World. Never thought I’d be watching Boy Meets World in a village in rural Uganda.

97/365

August 6, 2016

A little more village time, driving bodas, visiting Pamela’s son Lincoln and a smooth ride back to Gulu (even in a matatu.. truly a miracle).

Oh, and also got EXTREMELY ripped off after getting a dress made... Parents laughed when I told them I still only paid $14 USD but in UG shillings... I was pissed.

98/365

August 7, 2016

Wedding day for Liz and Alfred! Such a beautiful wedding for two amazing people with such love and commitment to the Lord. I cried of course.. had to keep it together though because I was shooting video.

99/365

August 8, 2016

Homeland bus back to Kampala. Visiting old friends and getting excited talking about business here in UG.

100/365

August 9, 2016

100 days of this blog, wow!

Shapely writing this 4 days behind.

Anyways, flew to Rwanda today via Nairobi & Burundi. Longer flight but so relaxing, also so cool to say I'm touched down in every country in the East African community.

101/365

August 10, 2016

Sometimes days don't go as expected but you just have to sit back and say to yourself; God is still good.

102/365

August 11, 2016

Relaxing days with you are the best.

103/365

August 12, 2016

Unexpected adventure - love it!

Drove about 1 hour outside of Kigali to Lake Muhazi and ate kabobs and was so happy.

104/365

August 13, 2016

Happy 1 year & 3 months, Serge!

Relaxingly woke up, discovered Netflix works here (and I have free wifi), watched a girly adventure/love movie and now I'm having some alone time at a super artsy cafe. #cafegoals

105/365

August 14, 2016

A Teeks day at Hôtel des Mille Collines ("Hotel Rwanda") filled with sun, swim and a stinkin' BOMB brunch buffet. Thanking Jesus for redemption and relaxation.

106/365

August 15, 2016

Spending the last day with Serge here in Rwanda. Ate some Chinese food overlooking the land of a thousand hills and rode boda bodas around with my guy. Oh, my heart.

107/365

August 16, 2016

Arrived in Uganda at 3:30am this morning. Slept in and now catching up + relaxing at Prunes cafe. I have a cafe addiction.

108/365

August 17, 2016

Just saw a bar called "He's not here - Bar and Grill"

109/365

August 18, 2016

Chillin with da boyzzzzz.

110/365

August 19, 2016

Uganda Entertainment Awards; red carpet interviews, dressing to the nines, and meeting celebs - the whole nine yards!

111/365

August 20, 2016

Boda-d to Entebbe (1 hour adventure) and ended the day with a girl's night at Acacia mall with margaritas, a trip to the movies (Bad Moms - hilarious!), and gelato... is this really Uganda? yes, yes it is.

112/365

August 21, 2016

Family Sunday with the Katende's! Finally met my baby brother Adonai Semakula, so. freakin. adorable.

113/365

August 22, 2016

Boda'd to Bulenga to see my good ol' friend Sandy in his new home. Everyone is growing up!

114/365

August 23, 2016

Today on the blog: Taylor gets bougie in Uganda. Pedicure + Mexican food + Milkshake edition.

115/365

August 24, 2016

Wonderful day at Bethany Village. So cool to see this relationship grow over the last 4 years.

116/365

August 25, 2016

Finally met up with some good friends, fabric shopped in town & taxi'd to Jinja!

115/365

August 26, 2016

White water rafted the Nile River!

116/365

August 27, 2016

Relaxing morning in Jinja. Visited One Heart Collective and traveled back to Kampala via crammed matatu taxi.

117/365

August 28, 2016

Spent the day with some amazing people - Anne Marie & Emma. So thankful to be able to tag along on their daily adventures and get to know them.

118/365

August 29, 2016

The final days are starting to hit. I got shirts made by Yimba Uganda (check YU out here) + visited Sharon's (friend from UO) family here in Bweyogerere.

119/365

August 30, 2016

Final full day here in UG :( Relaxing + trying to take everything in.

120/365

August 31, 2016

Left UG at 3:30 am to arrive in Milan, Italy at 2 pm via Istanbul.

Immediately excited about the cuisine (endless pre-dinners and cheap italian pizza), my pink house and fun company.

121/365

September 1, 2016

Perfect day tour of Milano city. From the Duomo to the Castle and from the 1 euro cappuccinos to the endless wine and appetizers in the park for dinner - one of those surreal days.

122/365

September 2, 2016

Started our day at the QC Terre Bath House. I've never been to a spa before and this place has set some impossible standards.

123/365

September 3, 2016

HOME; Milano - Frankfurt - Portland (with my last flight giving me a whole row to myself). Such a great way to end this journey.

124/365

September 4, 2016

Family Breakfast + Nike Employee Store. Filling my need for quality family time and emptying our wallets.

125/365

September 5, 2016

Happy Labor Day!

Beach trip with a few of the Tippit Place girls in the new #tippitttogo. SO blessed by quality conversations & their fun.

126/365

September 6, 2016

Met up with the beautiful Noelle & talked about readjusting to the US and our love for our places.

127/365

September 7, 2016

I LOVE HAVING A CAR #independence.

But for real, today is a Teeks errand day and I'm stoked about it.

128/365

September 9, 2016

mmm

129/365

September 9, 2016

Welcome to Portland, Serge!

<3

130/365

September 10, 2016

Date night with Serge - he surprised me and took me to Nel Centro downtown. Such a sweet man.

131/365

September 11, 2016

Ikea day with Mama and Sergical. Makes me so happy, hanging out with them. I love seeing the people I love interact.

132/365

September 12, 2016

Bye Sergey... a weekend went by too fast.

133/365

September 13, 2016

In a weird state of transitions. Solving it with Target clearance shopping & cleaning the house.