Slug Tongue

Okay, I have almost no time, as it’s before a work day. Buuut, I haven’t posted for this week.

So, this week: Um. We had All Corps Day, and due to my slacking as social director of my program, no one hung out afterwards. But I did get to talk to Dorchester crew all day, so that was nice. Oh! Wednesday was slightly eventful. I only know one way to work, and it was closed for a Veteran’s Day Parade. I had to call work and get directions over the phone just to get me to the building (how did we live without cell phones?!). It took an extra half an hour of driving. Boo. But then Dr. Smith came to the Y and took me to lunch, and we caught up on things. It really still just feels like I’m in Kansas a lot of the time. I really adore Dr. Smith, and the entire Social Sciences faculty from ESU. I wish I could go visit them. Le sigh.

Um um um… other than that… it seems crazy how close Thanksgiving is, and the roomies and I are planning our own little dinner since we’ll all be here. I’m actually super looking forward to it, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. And it’s soon upon us!

That and I hate you

A fairly uneventful week.

I did get into a fender-bender on Thursday, the first moving collision of my driving career. It was pretty tame, so I consider myself lucky, but it was still incredibly unpleasant. If it’s one of the two drivers’ fault, it’s mine; if it’s someone in the universe’s fault, it’s the semi-truck driver who decided to illegally park in a bus stop for half an hour and completely block off several side streets from view. But, it’s too late now. An accident is an accident.

We had Massachusetts’ AmeriCorps opening day on Friday, which was a big waste of time but did solidify the fact that I wish I could see the people from my program more. I also toured the Massachusetts state house and couldn’t help but feel that Kansas’ is way better. But maybe I’m just biased. That’s probably the case.

I made somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 phone calls on Saturday at service (with my supervisor, it was better than 55), and got exactly one person to agree to help with our next event. Oh, well. This is my work for the next eight months.

One really exciting thing that happened this week was that I bought a plane ticket home for Christmas. I’m so excited to come back… I’m pumped for the holidays way earlier than usual. I found a really good deal (try travelocity, people) and it’s a huge thing I’m looking forward to. Hurray!

Jen, You Had One Job…

Halloween is over! It’s officially November, and I’ve been in Massachusetts two months today. Crazyness. This past week was pretty busy; the Y had a huge Halloween party and haunted house on Friday, which was also Tosha’s birthday. Saturday I helped clean a house for a non-profit organization, then went to service, then went to a Halloween party. Today’s been a day of recoup. I loved doing the events so much, and for the past couple of days I’ve actually enjoyed service. But, a part of me knows that Tuesday I’ll go back to staring a computer screen for a good six to seven hours a day. Oh, well. I know I need to avoid office jobs as my life career. They make me go a little crazy.

Signs I’ve Been Living In Boston for Two Months:

-I accidentally left the r off of “your” when I told someone “your welcome”

-I kinda want a Sox cap/jacket

-the Patriots are the Pats

-I expect tiny yards and crazy bright leaves everywhere

-I honk at people who are driving in a way I don’t like, and am an incredibly aggressive driver

-I expect to hear “How uh you?” when seeing people greeted somewhere

-I check craigslist first for anything I need, and go to Whole Foods for groceries

-I own the T, and am used to driving by Mystic River

 

Yay for transitioning well! It’s been pretty seamless thus far. Here’s hoping it stays this way.

Wiiiitch

I had more friends visit this weekend! I had such a good time with them. This time it was Katie, Carly, and Danica, three friends from college. They were only here for the weekend, but we managed to pack it full of stuff to do. The highlight was probably going to Salem on Saturday. It’s gets crazier and crazier there the closer it gets to Halloween, so the weekend before was pretty insane. There was a carnival and lots of little booths/tents selling things– everything from food to hats and scarves to devil’s horns to aura photography. The road all of this was on also had permanent buildings that housed everything from tourist junk shops to crystals to palm readings to magic shops to museums. There were a TON of people out and about, many in costume (and not just dressed as witches, either). Katie and Danica went to a haunted house, and Carly got a palm reading. We met up with a couple of people from my program and spent the night hanging out and chilling at a small pub in Salem as it rained outside. It was a pretty amazing day.

The problem is that now my house feels really empty, and I feel kind of lonely without them. No one else is visiting, at least not until next year. I know everyone has stuff to do, but this may be my first real glimmer of homesickness. It feels like home here, and with them here, it just felt like I was back in Kansas. But when they left I had to realize that I’m not. I kind of got to see how much I’ve adapted to living here, too, with their visit. They weren’t used to walking around so much, or taking the T. They kept noticing accents in people that sounded totally normal to me. I guess maybe I’m starting to be from here.

Work is a short week this week, which I’m glad for. We have a big Halloween party and Haunted house Friday which I’m looking forward to. I’ve been recruiting volunteers for events and apparently am making a good impression on my supervisor, so that’s good. I still am bored most of the work day, but what can you do? It’s a work in progress.

MHK Reunion

So, again, it’s been over a week. Lo siento.

This week has been pretty slow. I had a couple of meetings at work, and while I’m not doing a lot more, I’m liking it better. I think I’m getting into the routine and feeling like I have a place at the YMCA, which definitely helps. I certainly feel like I live here.

Scott and Marjorie, two friends from high school, came to visit for the weekend (their fall break). It was incredibly nice seeing them, and I miss them already. We met up with some other friends from school, and it was a good ole reunion. I like having non-residents here because I think it forces me to go out and see the city, where I’m used to just getting home from work, eating dinner, and going to bed. I like the variety.

Tosha had to go back to Nebraska on Tuesday because of a family issue, and it’s seemed weird without her around the house. We definitely have a dynamic established, and I’m a huge fan. It’s all going fairly well.

Annabel. And awesome.

To make up for the my slack last week, here’s another post!

Today was our first all corps day, where we met all together instead of going to our individual placements. I can’t lie… I really enjoyed today. I like everyone in the program, and I wish I got to see them more. A few of us have become good friends, and hang out all the time, but others I only see at these mandated get-togethers. But, it was a good time. I got to take the train, something I hadn’t done in a while, and after the day ended a small group of us went downtown to wander before heading to Chinatown for Vietnamese food (Jackie, in our program, studied abroad in Vietnam for three months and was missing it). I’d never had Vietnamese food, and despite it being a bit spicy, my food was delicious. I got a huge bowl of noodles, tofu, lemongrass, basil, green and red peppers, and other yummy things, as well as salted limeade with sugar. We also got hot tea with the meal, which I always love. It was very chill and lovely, and I really enjoyed it. We also walked around Chinatown a bit– it’s not at all like what I was expecting, which was Chicago’s Chinatown. But it was still neat. I found a both a Michael Jackson belt and an Obama belt in a store, each for $4.99, and I feel like I may have to go back for kitsch value.

As far as the Y goes, things have been slowly getting better, but possibly just because I’m getting used to it. I’m getting established, and being asked for my opinion and for help, and that’s good. I’m still going one day at a time.

And now… photos!

Lots o'food and stuff to buy

MSPCA walk Tosha and I serendipitously stumbled upon in Boston Common

Tosha, Erika, and Jackie getting down at my pseudo-birthday party

Roomies on the T after a night of boogieing

1984 Olympic Skating Team

Okay, I’ve been slacking a little.

The past week or so has been fairly uneventful, and I think I’ve fallen into routine. It definitely feels like I’ve been at my service placement for more than a week. I don’t have much more to do there, but I’m getting the hang of things. I still think things will get better, so I’m just playing it by ear. Friday I went to lunch with another girl from my program who has been placed somewhere they’ve never had an AmeriCorps volunteer before. Apparently she’s having about the same experience as me– not having a lot to do, trying to find ways to fill time, and fudging hours. So, at least I’m not alone. It was slightly comforting to hear.

Last Saturday the YMCA held a 5K race. I helped out, coordinated a couple of volunteers, and spent all morning outside in the sun with about 200 community members. It was actually really nice, and I was reminded of why I signed up for this. As  soon as I have a good old on the Y and my work, I’ll have a bigger role in events like that, that I so enjoy being a part of. Plus, I got a free t-shirt.

My birthday was Thursday, so I’m officially 23 years old. It was the first time I’d been so far away for my birthday, and I felt it. It was the first time I’ve really felt how far away from home I am. Until you have something to celebrate, you don’t realize how far the people you want to celebrate with are from you. Luckily, I have some amazing roommates (Tosha baked me a cake and drew a picture of Yoda on it with icing) and I serve with some lovely people (crepes out with AmeriCorps crew), and it made my birthday just fine. Not to mention the people who sent me things… the thrill of snail mail will never die, I think. Marjorie sent me a big package of stuff, and I opened it on my porch and almost cried. I’m lucky that I have those people that I know I can count on seeing when I get back. I also saw a friend I’ve known since grade school and hadn’t seen in a few years, and that was really nice. Overall, it was a pretty swell birthday, if somewhat low-key.

Dad and Alice came through a couple of times over the last week, and while they were here, I realized how much of Boston I still haven’t explored. We went to the North End for dinner and that was my first time going there. Some people at work were also telling me I absolutely have to go to the beach, something I have no idea how to do. So I’ve resolved to go exploring some more, although I’m not totally sure when that will happen. But it will! And then, hopefully, I’ll have some better stories.

Call me Ace

Okay, two days later. I need to do this now, I think. The past two days have been better, but this will help.

Amazing Things About Being Here:

• the view of the Boston skyline on my drive home from service
• listening to WERS in the  morning for a blend of indie and oldies, and WFNX in the evening for alternative
• the trees, which are plentiful, and the leaves, which are already starting to turn
• Minkus cuddling every night and morning
• walks around the area
• my MBTA Charlie Card
• how I’m used to hearing the accent, and am getting asked for directions I can actually give
• Bocelli’s pizza
• becoming a tea drinker again
• hanging out with new, interesting people
• being friends with my roommates, as much as we can
• walking by Harvard every now and then

 

…perhaps more to come.

This is Annabel from the North Suburban YMCA…

Okay, work. Or service. What have you.

I’m on my third day, and am having very mixed emotions about it. Everyone I’ve talked to at different locations comes home exhausted, including Tosha, and I… well, I am fresh as a daisy. My work schedule is going to be 11-7, Tuesday through Saturday. I’ve woken up well before my alarm every day of work so far. I go to bed late, and get plenty of sleep. At work, the people who have had my position in the past have ended up doing tasks for the Y, rather than specific SCI goals (it’s a little confusing, I know). The result for me is that they only want me doing SCI stuff, and not helping out doing smaller things for the Y. The idea is spot on. The problem, however, is that the SCI tasks don’t take a lot of work or effort for me. I need more to do. I have to fill my hours, HAVE to, to complete service. But it seems that what I’m doing in those hours may be menial and unfulfilling. Like writing this blog entry right now.

It’s only been three days… not even a full three days, actually… and I’m optimistic that things will get better once they’re sort of settled and I have a clearly defined role. So far, however, I’m not feeling as good about this as I thought I would. I want to be active, to be constantly doing stuff, to advertise and promote and get volunteers! Instead, I’ve spent the bulk of my time calling people out of a file, researching clubs online, and then trying to keep myself awake. I have ideas, but I can’t go any farther with them until things are approved by someone higher up than my supervisor. So I just have to wait. There is also a lack of resources here, in that some of the time I don’t have access to a phone or computer at all. Those times, I just sit. I may start bringing a book.

Guh. I don’t want to sound like I hate everything already, because it’s too early. But I really wish I were one of those people coming home at the end of the day having done so much I want to rest, rather than getting home and itching to go out and do something. Le sigh. Here’s to things only getting better.

OMG slug

Well, work has officially started, ish. Although I’ve been told to not call it “work,” but “service.” So service has sort of begun!

Monday was my first day of orientation. There are nineteen of us working for Social Capital, Inc in a few different sites in Massachusetts. So far, mostly all we’ve done is discuss the definition of social capital and talk about the importance of networking (let’s just say I feel like I need to send way more thank you cards and go meet all my neighbors). It’s actually kind of exciting to me, because the cornerstone of the company in civic engagement and social capital, making connections with your neighbors and community and getting involved. This is EXACTLY how I feel about things, and I’m looking forward to spending the next year of my life working to further connections between people. Increased social capital is linked to better health, lower crime rates, and happier all-around people. Plus, as a personal aside, I really think that people don’t realize what an impact they can make on their own life and the world around them if they just get involved. Considering the biggest tenant of my work will be volunteer recruitment and organization for various events, I will definitely be putting that to work. And I’m anxious to get started.

We’ve had homework both days of orientation, which I am not a fan of. In some ways, it feels like being back in college, but I’m fairly certain I won’t have readings to do at my site at the YMCA. I really like almost all of the people I am in the program with (I only say almost because I haven’t talked to all of them yet) and we’re already organizing a get-together for the end of the week. I’m the only one from Kansas but not the only one from the Midwest, as we have someone from Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio, as well. I’m really hoping we can get to be friends and hang out outside of service (see? not work). My job also includes some technology, which I am totally wary of, but there seems to be pretty extensive training to get me prepared for it. For example, one part of my homework for tonight was defining the terms “browser” and “WYSIWYG.” Learning already!

Outside of service news, I am still just into Boston. Erika and I went out and met some of her fellow program members last night. One of them is older, a graduate from Harvard Law, and his wife works at Harvard. So it was for the most part Erika and I, two 22 year olds from Kansas, and a table full of 27ish year old Harvard grad students. It was a lot of fun, actually. We also have checked out a couple of coffee shops near our house, and the three of us (Erika, Tosha and I) found a place playing 80s music with no cover on Saturday, so we went and shook it. It was cold and rainy, but totally worth it. Although leaving in time to catch the last train was kind of a bummer, it did make me feel like sort of a bona fide city girl.