it's been awhile!

hi! i just got home from pennsylvania. there was a nextgen training conference (electronic medical records)

it was a blast! it was a 7 hour car ride. we got there monday night. on tuesday, i stayed within walking distance of the conference and just explored. i found a place that claimed "the healthiest place on earth", so of course i had to go inside (i went back today, haha). i got my nails done, got authentic philly soft pretzels, and walked for at least a few miles. still not used to the weather. overcast, rain, overcast, sun, muggy. not fun.

yesterday was the best day! i drove about an hour and 15 minutes away (by myself!) to bird-in-hand, pennsylvania, aka amish country! i went to a buggy ride place. the landscape everywhere was beautiful. so lush and green. lots of farmland and rolling green hills. i squealed when i saw my first amish man. i almost called jordan when i had to drive slow because i was behind a horse & buggy (but it was like 6:30 am california time!)

i took a buggy ride farm tour, bought homemade rootbeer, and got a glimpse of simple amish life. i really admire their principles and reasoning, but i do think it's a bit extreme. i wondered if and how they traveled. like out of town or state?? a horse and buggy can only go so far.

i went to an amish farmer's market. SO COOL. tried shoofly pie and almost bought a plethora of whoopie pies, but to my dismay, they'd melt on the drive back. i ate at an amish and mennonite home cooking restaurant. they had the best homemade applesauce ive ever tried! it was fun to do all this by myself. i wasn't bothered by it one bit. it does make eating a little less fun though (and way too quick) i ventured around lancaster county looking for a starbucks so i could read. who knew there wasn't a starbies on every corner in amish country?!

today was a little less eventful. i went to see a movie nearby the conference. cyrus i think. it was really awkward, which i like, but i'd label a redbox movie. i ate at ruby tuesday, which is advertised in fresno but we don't have one???!

looking forward to being home, but cherishing the next few days. i'm going to lunch with a woman that aunt kathleen gave my contact info to. i think i'm going to meet some dietitians. some incredibly sweet ladies from church are taking me to dinner tomorrow night :) i do feel loved here. that's for sure.

excited to see what else God has up his sleeve while i'm here. miss you all. <3