I have spent this weekend (they start on Fridays aww yeaaaah) either lazing in bed or working out. And working out was a much smaller proportion. I made cookies on Friday, which was a mistake since I had nobody to give them to - I ended up eating 10 - no joke - before 1pm. And they weren't even that good! Butterscotch and chocolate chip cookies, mmm, but way too cakey. Lower the baking soda I think.
ANYWAY. With a snow day on Thursday, I basically had a half-day of work, at home, and therefore feel very rested. I won't say I am looking forward to the week ahead, but besides waking up in the morning I am not dreading the week ahead. What does that week entail? Party planning (volunteers), phone calls galore, and...I honestly don't know what else. After the chaos of October/November/December, January and (more so) February has been incredibly slow. I prefer to be busy.
I think I need to explain why I was lying in bed the majority of two days. BECAUSE...I am obsessed. With the future. And right now the future demands adventure - and not the Americorps kind. Originally, this new adventure was Most Definitely For Sure The Peace Corps. Tell me what to do and I will do it! Send me where you want and I will go (except Eastern Europe, sorry)!
But then I read an essay on Peace Corps and foreign policy, and another on how outdated Peace Corps is, and both include how ineffective and/or inefficient it is. And then I realized, do I want to do this kind of work for two years? Do I want to be part of this organization for two years?
After 5+ hours of interning abroad research, I found some other possibilities and reconciled with Peace Corps - but with higher standards. I would think more seriously about what they invite me to do and really consider whether I would take it or not. I already have a preferred job - NGO development - and a preferred place - West Africa - and that is not good. Plus, I have conflicted feelings about NGOs!
SIGH. I feel that this is an incoherent rambling, but for all those who have made it to the end, I only wrote it for the journaling hours on my timesheet. Sucker!!
Love you.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Expectations
In my second month on the job, I gained access to the S: Drive - the "communal" drive where everyone stores documents - for programs, for volunteers, front desk information, marketing materials. I went on an exploration spree and ended up at the performance review of the past Americorps member, Colette. I knew it wasn't professional, not to mention personally beneficial, to go in and read it - but what would you do? That's right, you would read it.
On a scale of 1 to 5...5, 5, 5, 5, 5. Colette is the best, Colette never needed guidance, we love Colette. Combined with the affectionate comments from staff, it sadly is my natural reaction to feel competitive and automatically somewhat inadequate.
So it was nice to actually meet the famous Colette - put a flesh-and-blood face on the legendary name. Sure, she is gorgeous and perfect at her current job (well, I can only speculate but I'm sure she is) but it helped my little ego boost itself up again.
Besides that, I spend my time daydreaming about summer weather and post-Americorps life. Namely Peace Corps. Or political internships. Also, fielding job offers. Mwahahaha! Not quite as great as it sounds, but Jennifer of Salvation Army offered me an October through December job helping coordinate their holiday program and Kate's mom/Kate said I should work on her campaign in November. So not really a job offer, but cool opportunity nonetheless.
Love you all - all two of you!
On a scale of 1 to 5...5, 5, 5, 5, 5. Colette is the best, Colette never needed guidance, we love Colette. Combined with the affectionate comments from staff, it sadly is my natural reaction to feel competitive and automatically somewhat inadequate.
So it was nice to actually meet the famous Colette - put a flesh-and-blood face on the legendary name. Sure, she is gorgeous and perfect at her current job (well, I can only speculate but I'm sure she is) but it helped my little ego boost itself up again.
Besides that, I spend my time daydreaming about summer weather and post-Americorps life. Namely Peace Corps. Or political internships. Also, fielding job offers. Mwahahaha! Not quite as great as it sounds, but Jennifer of Salvation Army offered me an October through December job helping coordinate their holiday program and Kate's mom/Kate said I should work on her campaign in November. So not really a job offer, but cool opportunity nonetheless.
Love you all - all two of you!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Hi old lady, let me network with you
Let me get off my high horse so you can properly hear my wise musings. This evening I networked with the managers/coordinators/other supervisory word of a state-wide early childhood intervention program. Me, this itty bitty 21-year-old discussed sharing resources, setting up meetings, and swapped shiny business cards (okay, so they just gave me theirs - the school district refuses to make me any, jerks).
Of course, previous to this self-inflating moment I sat for two mundane hours with snatches of fascinating information. It seems that in order to get to the "inside" information - the actual interesting things I go to these trainings for - you have to listen to dry program histories that are inevitably typed up on an overly worded Powerpoint, slapped on with a token picture so it looks like the visual part is useful. It's like an obligatory dig through the mud in search of a few glittering diamonds. I search out these opportunities - even when they don't relate to what I'm doing, or even really interested in - in the hope that I will catch those glimmers and have them lead to something more.
Once we finally get past the necessary program review and history, which everyone stares disinterestedly at, we arrive at question and answer time. Sometimes this is exciting, interactive, and thought-provoking. Alas, not tonight. One concerned mother's continual questions are answered with program staff getting off on naming their collaboration efforts and progress. Each woman (they all have sensible, graying haircuts with practically identical pantsuits) is very protective of their name and title - we serve Outer Banks, not just Banks, dear. Director of therapeutic programs, not activities. None of the woman's questions are really answered.
As for me, I spent the session taking the notes that have become this blog post. I also wrote down their brainstorm ideas for political advocacy, which I will use later in life when I am a brilliant and motivated political advocate. Activist. Lobbyist. Advisor. Legislator. PRESIDENT.
Of course, previous to this self-inflating moment I sat for two mundane hours with snatches of fascinating information. It seems that in order to get to the "inside" information - the actual interesting things I go to these trainings for - you have to listen to dry program histories that are inevitably typed up on an overly worded Powerpoint, slapped on with a token picture so it looks like the visual part is useful. It's like an obligatory dig through the mud in search of a few glittering diamonds. I search out these opportunities - even when they don't relate to what I'm doing, or even really interested in - in the hope that I will catch those glimmers and have them lead to something more.
Once we finally get past the necessary program review and history, which everyone stares disinterestedly at, we arrive at question and answer time. Sometimes this is exciting, interactive, and thought-provoking. Alas, not tonight. One concerned mother's continual questions are answered with program staff getting off on naming their collaboration efforts and progress. Each woman (they all have sensible, graying haircuts with practically identical pantsuits) is very protective of their name and title - we serve Outer Banks, not just Banks, dear. Director of therapeutic programs, not activities. None of the woman's questions are really answered.
As for me, I spent the session taking the notes that have become this blog post. I also wrote down their brainstorm ideas for political advocacy, which I will use later in life when I am a brilliant and motivated political advocate. Activist. Lobbyist. Advisor. Legislator. PRESIDENT.
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