California and the Nadir of Seattle

I have a lot to update y’all on—This is a week late, I know. You’ll see why soon enough.

First off, my California trip was great and really really fast. I think the flight down was the highlight for me—got to watch the sun come up over the clouds while listening to Springsteen’s “The Rising.” Loved it. My time in San Diego was fun too—but it was as cold down there as it was in Seattle! Strange. The drive up with my two r’mates went well, but man, it was fast. We stopped for a day and a night in San Francisco, and I got to see some fun sights (pic of the corner of Haight and Ashbury on your <---, for example) . Then it was back on the road all the way to Seattle. It was like a vacation on speed.

Since I’ve been back in Seattle these last two weeks have been rough. I was frustrated last Tuesday because I realized that there was no point for me to be in work that day, and I could have taken another day for my trip and it wouldn’t have mattered. I was stressed out all week because I had sooooo much work to do. I wrote up a grant that was due that that Friday along with a student, and a whole lotta help from some staff people. I also did some planning for a retreat that I had coming up.

Then this past week was definitely HELL WEEK. I hope it’s the nadir of my time at City Year. It was so stressful. A fellow coworker and I were in charge of the Human Rights retreat this past weekend. We had fallen behind in planning due in large part to my work on that grant, and my coworkers work planning another service event. Lucky for us the rest of our team really stepped up and helped us out (I am so baking them a cake tonight). Despite all that, however, I prolly averaged around 2-4 hours of sleep per night every day last week.

Our team was also in charge of leading a Leadership Development Day for the entire Corps on Friday. The theme was LGBTQ issues. I was pretty stressed out until that day started. Our LDD went well, and the retreat was immediately afterward. The retreat too as a huge success overall, which as a big relief.

Oh, and, to make up for my lack of sleep, I slept 12 hours on Sunday and 14 hours today. Feels good to recharge.

Today I’m working on employment stuff and catching up on life. Need to make some phone calls to remind people that I’m still living. Need to write some letters that I shoulda written a long time ago. Need to not let work eat my life again. OH, and I really need to do laundry. Yikes.

Currently listening to:

http://vodpod.com/watch/358001-me-and-julio-down-by-the-schoolyard

(this music video is so worth watching, btw).

last week, this week, yikes...

I’m writing in my blog tonight, because tomorrow I’m going on a longggg journey. Well, maybe not that long. But in any case I’ll be gone for the weekend and therefore won’t have the opportunity to write on Sunday.

Where am I going, you ask? Well, two of my roommates and I are flying down to San Diego early in the morning (as in we’ll be leaving around 4:30 in the am). We’re picking up my one r’mates car and driving it up the pacific coast back to Seattle. Not much time to site-see; as I said, it’s a longggg journey, and we’re doing it in about 2 days. Yikes. But, it’s sure to be crazy and fun and I’m excited :)

See next week to hear details about what went down.

As for this week, well, it was kinda crazy. I worked long hours on Saturday AND Monday. Saturday was Opening Day for the Heroes programs (that’s the service learning group I run for high schoolers, plus the one for middle school). It was kind of a big deal. Mayor was there and other important folks. The opening ceremony rocked. The actual service was crazy and chaotic. Four people were in charge of running it and putting it together, and two of them left City Year after break (yikes), including one who was heading up that day (double yikes). But the two remaining folks really stepped up and worked their asses off (as did we all), and all things considered it went well.

Monday was MLK Day and a bit less chaotic. We were working with mostly older volunteers and much fewer of them, which made things way more manageable. I got to work with/meet/receive an autograph on a piece of masking tape from Chad Stokes, lead singer of DISPATCH, and his new band Sate Radio. Then on Tuesday I got to go to a State Radio concert for free (sure, I had to panhandle for City Year a bit…but for a free concert? So worth it).

The rest of the week was much more low key, but I was exhausted for all of it. I stayed home on Thursday, and that helped a lot. Now I’m about to embark on this long-ass adventure, which is sure to be full of more exhaustion, but I’m ready and excited to meet it :)

But not really…I haven’t even packed yet. Which makes me think I should prolly stop writing and get to work so I can also get to sleep. But I hope you all are well and have a lovely (and hopefully less crazy) weekend.

OH, one more thing, PS…this evening I was sitting up on my roof (I do that…a lot), taking in the AMAZING view of the skyline—just west of busy I-5, lights twinkling down on Lake Union, planes buzzing in the sky, and clouds rolling in from the mountains in the west—and I got to thinking about how lucky I really am. I get to look at this sight—so familiar, yet so surreal—from on top of my home, straddling the roof and sipping my wine. Amazing really. Something to see, for sure. Something more to experience. Lucky me.

Currently listening to: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7tupr_sam-cooke-a-change-is-gonna-come_webcam

Happy MLK Day!

The plus side about writing in my blog once a week is that I have much less to say…yay, short posts! A few cool things happened this week. One, I feel like I’m starting to settle into work a bit better now. Transitions are always difficult for me, but I’m starting to get into a grove, which is good. That said, I have a lot of shit coming down the pike, so we’ll see how long that feeling lasts.

I had a few highlights this week. One was an MLK assembly at the school where I work. Coolest assembly I’ve ever seen in my life. It was totally student-driven. A few students read speeches that they had written for a contest, and the first one was so good it made me tear-up...it mostly centered around our historical understanding of MLK and how it isn’t so historic nor just for that matter (and as you know I am a history / social justice geek). Second highlight was the opening day of service for the service learning club I help run. It was kind of chaotic, but the ceremony was cool (mayor was there and some other important folks…a couple of the kids in the leadership group I run had speaking parts which they ROCKED). The kids had a great attitude for the most part throughout the day also, despite the chaos of volunteer painting (all of my cy clothes are now covered in splotches of white and brown. Damn.).

Third and final highlight—went to an open mic night last night that some of my students perform at. There were several of my students there, and a few from the service learning club. They all rocked it. My favorite part was when a girl from my leadership group got up and rapped. It was, as the kids like to say as their current young urban term for cool, “filthy.”

Now tomorrow is MLK day which means more painting. No kids this time though so maybe it’ll be less chaotic? We’ll see…

Currently listening to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85rPsIEHkyU

Cat Turned Blue

Seattle is beautiful. I can’t believe sometimes that I live in such an amazing place. There is currently a big pink flower blooming on a bush outside the coffee shop that I’m sitting in…and it’s JANUARY.

I really just don’t get why people it say it’s depressing here. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a less depressing place. Sometimes it gets dreary and you get that feeling like you’re in a bog or something, but we get that in Indiana too. Their winter feels like our springtime. Which is just another way of saying that this is an amazing place and people are crazy for thinking otherwise. Rain? WTF is rain. I’ve seen more rain in a month in Indiana than I’ve seen in half a year in Seattle. Oh, and did I mention that it doesn’t snow here?

Besides the weather, other things in life are going well. I’m working on my teaching stuff right now. I’ll need to start job hunting in the next month or so, and I’m trying to get everything together for that. Right now it’s ok, but when I think too much about it it’s hard…the biggest challenge is not knowing what I’m gonna be doing next year. It’s kind of like that senior year feeling. Ah, well.

As for my job, I still have a lot of mixed feelings. We have lost 7 Corps Members since break, and I wonder how many more we’ll lose before June. There are a lot of qualms that I have with the organization, but I try to focus on my work with kids. I have several responsibilities, and it can often become overwhelming. However, when things get stressful, I just try to remember where I was at last year. I never worked harder than my time student teaching. The work I’m doing this year is difficult, but I still at least feel like I have a life outside of work. That’s certainly something.

I’m going to try to focus very hard for the rest of the year…I want to leave as big of an impact possible here. I also want to prepare to go back home and start the next part of my life. Finally, I want to enjoy my time in the Pacific Northwest as much as possible. I don’t think that any of these things are mutually exclusive…I’ve just to work at managing my time better. I’ve just got to push the fuck through this. That’s all.

Currently listening to this: http://www.rustedroot.com/images/songs/05_CatTurnedBlue_WiW.mp3

Happy New Year

Hi friends,

I know that I’ve been terrible about keeping up on this, so here is my New Year’s Resolution: Write in my blog once a week, every Sunday (or maybe Saturday), with a good detailed update on life and reflections about work and anecdotes and whatever else I can come up with. I know, I know. You are probably shaking your head right now, thinking, “Sureeeeeee. Sure you will Regina. Um, hmmm.” Well, purge those sarcastic thoughts from your mind, ‘cause I’m serious! So continue to harass me when I don’t post things. Thanks.

Anyway, I don’t have much to say currently (it’s Friday after all, and I should prolly be doing work right now). But, I did want to let you know about that.

I also just wanted to put out a little shameless plug for my work. I helped write a proposal for City Year to help get the City government’s attention about our work in Seattle, and to hopefully encourage more funding in the future. If you could please read and vote on the proposal, that would be wonderful J

Currently, the top choices are expanding public transit, legalizing marijuana, and nude beaches. We can do better than this, people. Thanks!

Here’s the link: http://www.ideasforseattle.org/pages/27772-general/suggestions/439806-address-seattle-s-drop-out-crisis-affordably-and-e?ref=title

Happy voting!

Thanks so much everyone. I love and miss you all. Cheers.

update (finally)

Hello, Friends! First of all, my sincere apologies for not updating this blog for so long. To be fair, I did say in my first post (and last…oops) that I am bad at these things. Oh, well. Anyway, I’ll try to be better about this in the future, and promise to update it at least once a month (hold me accountable, please).

In the meantime, I have a lot to update y’all on. I’ve been in Seattle now for about 3 months. I feel very settled here—my room appears messy and well-lived in, I can make my way around the city and only get slightly lost, I can give bus directions to strangers, and I’ve staked out my favorite coffee haunts (I’m sitting in one right now). I’ve decided that I really love this place, and while I miss home, I’m very fortunate to be where I am.

One thing that I’m really bummed about is that I’ve been bad at keeping in touch with people (i.e. this blog or lack thereof). I’ve been incredibly busy out here and have discovered that it’s much more difficult keeping in touch with people when I’m so far away. If you’re one of those individuals, please know that I love and miss you, and feel free to shoot an email or call and let me know what’s up in your life J

As per what I’ve been up to, I’ll give you the abbreviated version. Work has been simultaneously fun, stressful, frustrating, and rewarding. I work with high school students, organizing a service learning club. Specifically, I work with alumni, and I LOVE that part of my job—those kids are amazing. I also work in a high school twice a week, doing tutoring and in-class support. My position there has been kind of confusing, so that’s frustrating at times. I feel like I’m starting to form some relationships with those students though, so it’s getting better.

As is normal for me, I’ve started taking on more and larger roles, and so I’m beginning to feel a little stressed. This is good though, as I need a little healthy stress in my life to feel sane.

I’ve also got a babysitting gig now to supplement my stipend—a friend of a friend of a friend (never underestimate the networking power of the Kevin Bacon Theory).

Ok, one last thing before I don’t before I don’t write again for a long time (let’s be serious, this is me, you’ll be lucky to hear from my again by Christmas). I got the opportunity a couple weeks ago to visit Mt. Rainier National Park. Again, relative of a friend (thanks again, K.B.!) let me and a few of my roommates stay in her cabin at Mt. Rainier for the weekend. She and her husband even bought me a park pass for the year so that we can come back a lot (the generosity of people amazes and humbles me). We’re going back for Thanksgiving weekend, and I can’t wait. It can be overwhelming sometimes to live in the city and be surrounded by mountains but never go there. Luckily for me I have the opportunity to visit the biggest and most beautiful one in sight!

That’s all from me. Again, please write or call and let me know what’s up with you. Since I’m the type of person who needs deadlines, I pledge to write in my blog again by a month from now, December 8^th. If I fail at this, please harass me until I post something. Thanks!

All the best,

Regina.

Seattle

Greetings from the NW!

Because of the encouragement and good advice from a few awesome people, I have decided to keep this blog during my time living in Seattle and working with City Year. I'm gonna try to update it semi-regularly, but I am bad with such things...so we'll see.

Anyway, things are pretty good my way. I'm living in what's known as "the Amerihaus," near the University of Washington, in the heart of things. I live near the water which is very cool. My house is modest, but I have a fippin' green fireplace in my room, and a big picture window…what more could one ask for? Oh, and, now instead of having trains lull me to sleep, I have the sounds of the freeway and hydroplanes. I like it, though I do miss the occasional lonely train whistle.

My dad drove with me up to Seattle--that was an experience, to be sure. We did some traveling...went down to Crater Lake, drove down the Pacific Coast HW (101), saw the Columbia and the ocean. If you ever get the chance in your life, travel to a little town called Astoria, Washington. It’s situated right where the Columbia River meets the Pacific. One of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen.

I've been out exploring these past few days. My neighborhood is absolutely beautiful, and the weather has been toooooo nice…I could actually use some rain in my life. The University District is like a real COLLEGE TOWN! Who knew such a thing existed? ;) Wallingford, which is situated slightly west of the University, reminds me a lot of Valpo. I like both areas, and am fortunate to be situated between them.

I love how friendly people are out here. Even in the city, strange people emerging from alleyways will great you (slightly creepy, yes...but cool nonetheless). People are kinda "hippieish," but even the creepers mean no harm. I've adopted the moto "fear no hippie" when walking the mean streets of the Emerald City.

Yesterday, I had a lot of Seattle “firsts.” I went with a friend all around the city. We went to Green Lake, and Lake Washington (where I guess Bill Gates lives…yeah, it’s that pretty that Bill Gates chooses to live there), and we went downtown to Pike’s Place. That was so much fun. It’s like the coolest farmer’s market/flea market you’ll ever see. I ate a white peach and looked at the ocean and islands and remembered why I believe in God.

The only thing that really bugs me about Seattle is that it is so damn HILLY. No one warned me about this. People said, “Hey, Regina, don’t kill yourself when you’re in Seattle, ok? It rains a lot and there’re lots of bridges to jump off of, so try not to get too depressed.” They DIDN’T say: “Hey, Regina, try not to die coming downhill at a 70 degree angle to an intersection that has no stop signs.” That might have been better advice ;)

My program doesn't start ‘til end of next week, so I have lots of time to get settled, and just to explore and relax. It is really, really nice. First time in my life that I've had an experience like this, and I feel like I can really breathe. Hope it lasts :)