A gallery of life…

These people are my beautiful family, my wonderful friends…

Friends are nations in themselves

My live is brighter with my family

It’s the third week of classes, and somehow I’ve decided to update my u.osu page- because why not?

So much has happened- Ryan has been inducted into the Peace Corps in Kosovo & Emily started her own adventure in Pennsylvania. My family has been dodging new obstacles and tackling unforeseen challenges; like caring for my wonderful grandma while my mom balances her first grade class and teaching responsibilities. Dad has been thriving in retirement and enjoying soccer games with the boys & endless afternoons brewing his tasty beer.

I’ve moved into my new house for the next year- The Dog House on Maynard…

It has been an adventure with Cathy, Anne, Sierra & Hannah- my housemates who work hard everyday to navigate Air Force ROTC. One of the most important members of our household is Mochi, a gorgeous puppy who is learning how to be a dog and not a crazy ball of energy. As classes pick up, I am fighting to finish junior year with a focused sense of direction for my future. What do I want to do? How can I change society and help the less fortunate? How should I strive to help the earth…

Life is trying to test me & I absolutely hate taking tests.

But nothing worth doing is ever easy.    

WASHINGTON – Ryan Kauchak of Granville, Ohio, has been accepted into the Peace Corps and departs for Kosovo on May 25 to begin training as an English Education volunteer.

“I want to make the world a better place and broaden my cultural horizons. I think the Peace Corps is an amazing opportunity to give back to society through service and create a mindful understanding of humanity as a whole,” said Kauchak of her desire to join the Peace Corps.

Ryan is the beautiful daughter of Stan Kauchak and Debbie Wenzel of Granville, Ohio. She attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Biology in 2018 from the College of Arts & Sciences. Prior to joining the Peace Corps, she was a soup kitchen volunteer for St. Luke’s Episcopal in Columbus, Ohio and a tutor at her alma mater.

During the first three months of her service, Ryan will live with a host family in Kosovo to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the necessary skills to assist her community, Ryan Kauchak will be sworn into service and assigned to a community in Kosovo, where she will live and work for two years with the local people.

“I hope the Peace Corps shapes me into a better version of myself. I want to be a better navigator, problem solver, and adapt well to any situation. My goal is to make a difference even if its small, I want to help the community progress to a greater future,” Ryan says of her Peace Corps service ambitions.

“I applied to Kosovo after going on a study abroad to the region last May focusing on trans-boarder conservation and creation of national parks. It will be a full year since I traveled there and I am so excited to reconnect with the amazing people I met,” Ryan said.

Ryan Kauchak will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in Kosovo and help Ryan develop leadership, technical and cross-cultural skills that will give him a competitive edge when she returns home. Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens well-positioned for professional opportunities in today’s global job market.

Ryan Olivia Kauchak joins the 223 Ohio residents currently serving in the Peace Corps and more than 7,720 Ohio residents who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.

About volunteers in Kosovo: There are more than 70 volunteers in Kosovo working with their communities on projects in education and community economic development. During their service in Kosovo, volunteers learn to speak local languages, including Albanian and Serbian. More than 180 volunteers have served in Kosovo since the program was established in 2014.

Happy Beginnings | Kauchak Begins Peace Corps Service in Kosovo

The Licking Land Trust (the Trust)  is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of greenspace and natural landscapes in and around Licking County.

The Trust’s mission is the preservation and permanent protection of central Ohio green spaces, open spaces, and natural areas — wetlands, woods, farmlands, riparian corridors, and scenic vistas– for the benefit of present and future generations.

As an intern for the Licking Land Trust, I drive to the office and spend a few hours each day completing and organizing recent baseline reports and copying or scanning documents into the organization’s digital records. I am trusted with unlocking the office and making sure that important paperwork and legal documentation is safe as I come and go freely. This newfound responsibility makes me nervous, but as I do more and more activities for the Trust; I become more confident in my abilities to work with members and complete work on my own. My commute is 10 minutes and I have my own car. In the office, I work alongside the business administrator and learn how to complete various tasks for sponsorship events, monthly newsletters, and signage.

At the Trust’s office, I have my own desk space and mailbox where I have documents to scan & copy and other brochures from collaborations with local organizations. I dress in business casual at board meetings and just casually when I am working with Amy Mock, my advisor. Additionally, when traveling on site visits I wear hiking apparel. Each experience better prepares me for conservation work and how to work in a team of people with different backgrounds and values. The Trust’s board is made up of older members, so I can offer a fresh perspective that creates a diverse foundation for new projects and existing ideas. There is nothing that I need in order to perform my job duties that I do not already have access to.

As a newcomer to the organization, I received trainings in organizing important financial and historical easements, baselines, property inspections, and solicitation information in the office. The Trust has online records, a hard copy stored in a safety deposit box, and many paper copies that are organized by property owner and year. I was also introduced to the entire board and I have organized events to shadow various members and committees. I have helped the education & outreach committee and the stewardship committee. It is difficult to balance a part time job and the internship with my summer schedule and family responsibilities; but I am learning the importance of time management and prioritization.

Working with the Trust, I traveled to Newark, Ohio and accompanied 3 board members on a site visit. We walked through a gorgeous property and looked at the health of the vegetation, trees, water sources, and the natural landscape. I witnessed a cordial exchange as board members talked about conservation easements opportunities and guided the landowner towards his interests. The skill of communication is essential in conservation work because people need to feel included, informed, and supported throughout the entire process and this is a new realization for me.

Throughout my internship, I have made many professional relationships and left my comfort zone in order to complete my tasks and help the Trust. I went door to door, soliciting community businesses to help with the Trust’s annual Farm-to-Fork event and I’ve been running social media for the LLT. One skill I want to acquire is connecting with other passionate land conservation practitioners throughout the United States and beyond. Many organizations are dedicated to conserving cherished places in local communities; and by collaborating and working together, a lot can be accomplished in the name of conservation and stewardship. In order to save the places people love; a stronger network of member land trusts and volunteers can work to conserve land and natural resources and enhance the quality of conservation so important land gets protected. As a student, I plan to use my resources at Ohio State to start a dialogue between organizations with similar interests. This will ensure the permanence of conservation values by creating a large entity with resources to defend protected land over time and for future generations.

https://lickinglandtrust.org/about-us

My older sister use to be the most annoying person in my life. She would steal my stuff, annoy my friends, and give the entire family attitude. Her teenage angst and my close bond with Emily, pushed us apart. I never realized that she truly did look out for me.

She accepted me when I fought with my friends in high school. She helped me transition into high school soccer, and she eased the intense pressure that my parents focused and praised.

Then, she went away to college & it was just the twins. This was a major point in my life- it taught me so much and it also left many parts of myself behind.

At this point in life, Ryan was dealing with the stresses of college, being on the collegiate soccer team at Lake Erie, and everything else I can’t put into words. She was living a completely different life and I still wasn’t very close with her. But that all changed when Emily & I graduated and went away to school. We all talked more frequently, hangout when we were home, and shared similar burdens. This made our bond grow strong, and we began to trust each other as sisters more. So many things have brought Ryan and I closer. We both love the thrill of life and struggle to accept its lows. We both fall easily and isolate ourselves in certain situations and we both love our family- despite its issues. Ryan isn’t afraid to take chances, travel the world, and push herself to achieve her goals. She is an amazing friend and will put others before her own needs and desires. While, like any individual, she has her flaws; Ryan has a fire that catches everything around her.

I learn from her everyday, and I love her very much. Her world is my world- and its a beautiful thing.

It is January 21, 2019 and I dropped my twin sister off at the air port yesterday morning.

It was so sad, yet so amazing to see her set off on this epic adventure. Emily doesn’t realize that she constantly makes me want to change and be a better person. She isn’t afraid to express herself and take risks- which is something I have always struggled to do.

Emily falls in love with the world and she isn’t afraid to trust other people and let them in. She has so many genuine close friends and people are drawn into her center of gravity. She has also been hurt by this, but learns from it and moves on to bigger & brighter dreams. This amazes me.

There have been many times when I watch Emily react to something that terrifies me; and she persists in every situation. It gives me hope and confidence and inspiration. She has taught me that climbing a mountain and slipping is better than choosing to turn back or go around. She also reaches countless obstacles before I do, and she helps me cross them when I am ready.

I’m not someone who doesn’t have her own positive traits & unique characteristics, but I am someone who is afraid of many things in life. I am someone who can give up easily and sometimes puts herself down. But my sister has been so supportive in the last few years and I am so grateful for her infinite love.

While I type this, I’m not trying to impress anyone. I don’t need an audience. I simply want to preserve my view of Emily for the rest of my life. It will never change, and it will transform my thoughts & actions forever. She is great and I hope she has an amazing time in Ecuador. 

Columbus To-Do List:

Thurman’s Café is in German Village on the Short North. It is a great burger place and has an amazing atmosphere because all the waiters are laid back and the music is alternative and classical rock. The restaurant feels like a neighborhood hangout and it has s a cool, unique vibe. The decorations in the restaurant are rustic and old which adds to the tone of the whole place. It is not very big so having a large group is difficult and the wait is extremely long. The front room has old video games and pinball so that was a cool way to spend the time. The food is also worth the wait and the service is nice. It is famous for its burgers and that is because they are huge! I ordered a vegetarian sub and could not finish it because it was so large and full of peppers, onions, tomatoes, and cheese. I went to Thurman’s with a group of 15 ROTC cadets because we were doing a mentorship meeting. It was fun because we are usually locked on and not relaxed around each other. This restaurant helped ease everyone into conversation and the experience was a great end to a Friday night.

Pistacia Vera Pastry Kitchen and Café is in German Village. This was a cool place to check out because it has amazing French desserts that are beautiful and tasty. I went with my ROTC small mentorship group and we spent time walking through the Topiary Gardens and then drove for some coffee and macaroons. The desserts are fun and inspiring because they are so artistic and fun to look at. This café was started by siblings Anne and Spencer in 2004. They wanted to create a cool dessert destination in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio. I think that this café is focuses on design and comfort. It has great coffee and amazing pastries that are not too expensive and overpriced. It also has a great vibe and we spent a few hours just talking and sitting by the windows. They also have a website that features their desserts and has hours and delivery information. This is a wonderful place to hang out with friends and spend time.