Category Archives: Giving

New York City Half-Marathon: Charity Places Still Open

July 20, 2009

nyc-half-marathon-courseI’ve been to New York four times this year, in-between my trips to DC, Brazil and Utah/Nevada/California. Each time I stayed with my family in Brooklyn who were kind enough to mind my ‘other bag’ - the ‘hot summer bag’ when I was in DC and the ‘winter bag’ when I went to Brazil, and the ‘I don’t think I will need that-bag’ when I headed West.

I love New York (yes, I have the T-shirt!) and I wouldn’t mind a few more visits there this year. New York has an amazing atmosphere with the coolest music venues, unique art galleries, delicious restaurants (vegan and raw too!), organic markets, trendy vintage and thrift stores, yoga studios, distinctive architecture, stunning running routes and, not to forget, fascinating people - everything I love in a city!

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Make a Difference, Help Your Neighbor

June 19, 2009

photo by wanderingzito

During my last year of college when I was pursuing my Russian Studies degree, I did a 10-week internship at the International Institute of Erie in Erie, Pennsylvania. I helped out at their Language Department with admin work and with Russian-to-English translations of birth certificates and other documents.

The institute helps refugees to resettle in Erie and become self-sufficient in their new country. It involves learning English, education, paperwork, finding employment, cultural assimilation and anything and everything that can help refugees to feel like home in the United States.

One of the groups which probably needed the most attention were the refugees from Sudan.

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