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 8th. If I fail at this, please harass me until I post something. Thanks!
All the best,
Regina.
