And I'm Back!

Yeah, I know its been quite a break, but life has been tumultuous. But I have some cool things to report, so I figured I would write something.

First I just want to tell everyone to check out http://www.kiva.org/ Kiva is a non-profit organization that helps YOU provide micro loans to people in developing countries. A micro loan is a really small loan (typically less than 1000 bucks.) Most banks are not interested in micro loans because they cant make much interest on them, so its not easy to cover their costs. However, micro loans can be very helpful to a person in a developing country. Often it only takes a couple hundred dollars to help someone expand their business so they can better provide for their family. Then they can repay the loan (and you) and give their kids as better future. So, in my opinion this is a much better idea than just donating money. This isn't charity... people have to work for the money. AND once you get the money back, you can reinvest it with other borrowers. So basically, you could help people over and over, and not spend any extra money:)

Of course it does come with the risk of not getting your money back. The person could default and then you have lost your investment. They have a lot of small groups who have applied for loans, the nice thing about the groups is, if one person in the group cant pay back their loan, the other people in the group have to pick up the slack and pay it back for them. So if you invest in group loans is is much more secure. 100% of your money goes to the person who needs it, and they pay it back to a local bank or lender who charges interest, then that local lender sends the principal back to Kiva, who sends it back to you. Kiva takes nothing. They do ask for a Small donation to keep their office rent paid, but that's optional.

So, check out Kiva. OH! One other reason that this is cool... it really has very low risk. Even if someone is asking for a $1000 loan, you don't have to give up $1000 to help them. You can lend as little as $25. If the whole loan is not funded within 30 days then your money is returned to you. So you can help lots of different people at the same time. :)

Please check out my lender page. Here you can see the people I chose to lend my money too, and if you want you can also lend some money so they can fill out there loan and get to work repaying it :)

http://www.kiva.org/lender/amanda4266

Whats your Blood Type?

This is an important question in Korea :) I just want people to comment and tell me your type, and then I'll tell you more... I'm O- (and cmv neg too... but I don't think they talk about that here)