After spending 10 days at home, I came back to Chicago with a few reservations. Getting back into the swing of my job I had heard could be a bit interesting, just getting back on track with families and actually having something to do/having visits the first week back. I shouldn't have worried, this week was the best I've ever had at work. See my previous post for a rockin' tuesday, then Thursday I helped put a crib together. Not what I expected to be doing at 22 years old, but it was really gratifying. I had a woman donate these beautiful cribs, and after I got it into my family's house I could see the mom eyeing the crib. I asked her if she wanted help putting the crib together, and she asked if I was sure I wouldn't mind. The woman is 8 months pregnant with twins, so it was nice to be able to make sure she didn't need to bend down and fiddle with things as much. It took two hours, but she was so excited to have it together. It was something simple, but it made me feel like I was able to do something small that actually mattered, something that made her just the smallest bit more comfortable and prepared to have these babies.
Then Friday was just wonderful. Had a great visit with one of my Spanish-speaking moms, and Kate, one of my closest friends from Grinnell and my housemate last year, was coming through on her way to DC. She talked Sarah, another of the closest friends/housemates, into driving with her from Iowa City and then taking the Greyhound back. So I got to have a Friday night with Grinnellians. Maggie, also from Grinnell, hosted in the southwest suburbs, and Emily R. Grinnell fellow LVCer came too. It was so great to be with old, new and future friends all at once. All together. Just happy and giggling. My sense of home, apart from being wrapped up still at home in Minnesota with my parents, is wrapped up in those women (and Mary Pat and Phoebe, the obvious missing pieces). It was happy, and I am so excited to spend some more time with Maggie who will be around Chicago!
I didn't get much sleep by the time we got to Maggie's house and woke up pretty early, so I lounged on Saturday. Then went to Dhiren's for a delicious dinner with some more Grinnellians. This morning, went to church and my housemate Kate helped me dig the car out so I can actually get out tomorrow. There was an empty spot, so we dug that one out and dug my car out just enough to move it. Then grocery shopping, dinner out in the neighborhood with most of my housemates (delicious gordita), and now I'm going to try for a bit of productivity.
Basically, I am on a roll. This week was just fantastic. I finally feel like I can do my job for the most part. I saw a lot of wonderful people. I did some really fun things, and had some down time. Now about that studying...
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A good day
Today was a good day. And since I can’t seem to make myself journal on any sort of regular basis, I thought I should record it here. Nothing monumental happened, but I felt like I could actually do my job.
I made myself get up early, and had an uneventful drive to the YMCA, worked out, and managed to be at work by 7:30.
At work first I went to do outreach at the WIC office and talked to two moms, one in English and one in Spanish. They both seemed really interested in our program. It’s a good day at WIC if I even have one good conversation, so two is a real gift.
Next, I had a visit with one of my moms who has historically been quiet. We’ve been moving forward and she lets me in little by little, but it has definitely been a process. At this visit, a case manager from a different agency showed up to meet with my family. By the time the case manager left, the baby was fussing, so I resolved to finish our topic next week. I told the mom the baby must have had enough strangers for one day. Mom immediately looked at me and said “But you’re not a stranger, [the baby] knows you really well!” It was a proud moment. The baby knows me, and her mom has let me in to her life. That is all I dream of for my job.
Afterward, we had a site visit from the Baby Talk women. Baby Talk is the home visiting curriculum we use. The women are like the quintessential Moms. They are so excited you can’t help but be excited with them. It's just nice to hear some days that your job matters, that other people work in the same field and reinforce it's importance/legitimacy.
I got home from work, and studied for a solid hour and a half. All of this before 6 pm! That's what I call a good day....
I made myself get up early, and had an uneventful drive to the YMCA, worked out, and managed to be at work by 7:30.
At work first I went to do outreach at the WIC office and talked to two moms, one in English and one in Spanish. They both seemed really interested in our program. It’s a good day at WIC if I even have one good conversation, so two is a real gift.
Next, I had a visit with one of my moms who has historically been quiet. We’ve been moving forward and she lets me in little by little, but it has definitely been a process. At this visit, a case manager from a different agency showed up to meet with my family. By the time the case manager left, the baby was fussing, so I resolved to finish our topic next week. I told the mom the baby must have had enough strangers for one day. Mom immediately looked at me and said “But you’re not a stranger, [the baby] knows you really well!” It was a proud moment. The baby knows me, and her mom has let me in to her life. That is all I dream of for my job.
Afterward, we had a site visit from the Baby Talk women. Baby Talk is the home visiting curriculum we use. The women are like the quintessential Moms. They are so excited you can’t help but be excited with them. It's just nice to hear some days that your job matters, that other people work in the same field and reinforce it's importance/legitimacy.
I got home from work, and studied for a solid hour and a half. All of this before 6 pm! That's what I call a good day....
Thursday, December 11, 2008
I've been told I stink at updating this....
...but oh well... it is amazing how fast the holidays have come up on me. I will finally get to go home for more than just a couple days! This means I will hopefully not only catch up with my family more, but get to see the whole Cutler, Holland, and Reid Walker families a little more. Not to mention all the Christmas festivities!
In Chicagoland, things are finally sort of predictable. I have been managing to get myself up early most weekdays to go to the Y on my way to work, I am working with several new families and a few of them I am really excited about because I think we may be able to make some really great steps forward. The other news at my job is that I think I'm going to try to start a lending library through our center. A lot of our families don't have easy transport to the library, so many of our families end up with little access to books. So I think I'm going to try to find donations for young children's books....any ideas let me know ;).
So my life is mostly work, study, sleep, and hanging out with my housemates. Tomorrow they have 'caroling at the bean' which some of the housemates and I are going to, and Saturday is the Polar Bear Plunge into Lake Michigan. It's a fundraiser for LVC, but since I haven't raised any money (not my favorite thing to do) I refuse to jump in the water...but I'll go cheer!
I'm sure there's much more that I am forgetting to say, but it will have to wait.
Happy Holidays!
In Chicagoland, things are finally sort of predictable. I have been managing to get myself up early most weekdays to go to the Y on my way to work, I am working with several new families and a few of them I am really excited about because I think we may be able to make some really great steps forward. The other news at my job is that I think I'm going to try to start a lending library through our center. A lot of our families don't have easy transport to the library, so many of our families end up with little access to books. So I think I'm going to try to find donations for young children's books....any ideas let me know ;).
So my life is mostly work, study, sleep, and hanging out with my housemates. Tomorrow they have 'caroling at the bean' which some of the housemates and I are going to, and Saturday is the Polar Bear Plunge into Lake Michigan. It's a fundraiser for LVC, but since I haven't raised any money (not my favorite thing to do) I refuse to jump in the water...but I'll go cheer!
I'm sure there's much more that I am forgetting to say, but it will have to wait.
Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
1 week
My roomie Abby and I at the OBAMA VICTORY RALLY!
So it is one week until I go home for Thanksgiving. I am SO excited to see my family and the dogs!!! And Vickie and Josh's little one! But in the meantime some random thoughts...
This week I am attending a training on the Baby Talk curriculum, which is the curriculum we use for home visiting. It's pretty interesting, and the women who run it are super knowledgeable. And as a huge bonus, I don't have to pack a lunch and today we ate Panera! Woo hoo!
I also had three visits in one day on Monday. I felt productive. A really good day.
My housemate Kate informed us that instead of getting married next October, she's getting married next July. This means my other housemates and I will get to roadtrip to the wedding which is really exciting - far better than buying a plane ticket.
My father will be at Thanksgiving this year, as he doesn't have to work on a holiday (gasp!). SO exciting!
I am being my usual unproductive self tonight. I made it through one chapter of reading though!
That's about all here, it's finally getting cold. And we are realizing just how leaky our apartment is.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Fall in Chicago
I am not so good at updating this, as it turns out...but here's what's going on in my life in Chicago:
-Next weekend is our first LVC retreat, which is really exciting, in large part because we have a three day work week, and get to go to a pretty camp on the west-ish end of wisconsin.
-I am studying, working, sleeping, and hanging out with my housemates.
-We're all pretty politically-minded in this apartment, so I am really crossing my fingers for tuesday.
-I'm up to 10 clients! It is an adventure, highs lows and everything in between. All in all, though, I really love it. I feel like it gives me a new appreciation for how complicated life can be, and how much people pull through.
-Thanksgiving is coming up! Robin and I will drive to Kathy and Bilhenry's and then on HOME! I can't wait!
Not too much else is new here. This weekend was pretty relaxed, slept, went to class, went to a 'spooky sweater' party. Abby and I went calling for Obama this afternoon, which was a bit of an adventure, but it felt good to at least feel like I tried to do something for someone I really believe in. Our weather has been ridiculous, the middle of last week I had to scrape my windshield and this weekend it got into the 70's. So strange.
Happy Fall! If you are reading this, I am missing you!
-Next weekend is our first LVC retreat, which is really exciting, in large part because we have a three day work week, and get to go to a pretty camp on the west-ish end of wisconsin.
-I am studying, working, sleeping, and hanging out with my housemates.
-We're all pretty politically-minded in this apartment, so I am really crossing my fingers for tuesday.
-I'm up to 10 clients! It is an adventure, highs lows and everything in between. All in all, though, I really love it. I feel like it gives me a new appreciation for how complicated life can be, and how much people pull through.
-Thanksgiving is coming up! Robin and I will drive to Kathy and Bilhenry's and then on HOME! I can't wait!
Not too much else is new here. This weekend was pretty relaxed, slept, went to class, went to a 'spooky sweater' party. Abby and I went calling for Obama this afternoon, which was a bit of an adventure, but it felt good to at least feel like I tried to do something for someone I really believe in. Our weather has been ridiculous, the middle of last week I had to scrape my windshield and this weekend it got into the 70's. So strange.
Happy Fall! If you are reading this, I am missing you!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
October in Chicago
Well now the weather has decided to give us a bit of a reprieve, which is nice. We lost internet for over 3 weeks, so updates have been hard to come by. But basic updates in my life are these:
-Robin came last weekend to visit. We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo which has a beautiful conservatory and the zoo is free. We also walked the magnificent mile, had a little birthday party for him, and just hung out.
-I'm up to 8 clients at my job. Once we get to 12-15, my expected load, I'll be decently busy.
-My housemates are great. We hang out at least once a week, and someone cooks each weekday so we eat together most of the time too.
-Chicago in the fall is beautiful. I like this big city more than I thought I could like any big city. Our neighborhood is awesome, I get to speak Spanish and say hello to the ice cream man Pablo when I walk by, and I can get most places I would want to go using public transit, even if it takes a while.
-Thanksgiving is coming right up! I will get to see my family, Hazel Homer and Jackson, Robin, Robin's family, and Vickie's new baby! Sooo excited.
That's about it, I'm settling into my job and trying to get on some sort of a study schedule. I'll figure that out at some point I guess.
I hope the fall day where you are is as beautiful as the one here!
-Robin came last weekend to visit. We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo which has a beautiful conservatory and the zoo is free. We also walked the magnificent mile, had a little birthday party for him, and just hung out.
-I'm up to 8 clients at my job. Once we get to 12-15, my expected load, I'll be decently busy.
-My housemates are great. We hang out at least once a week, and someone cooks each weekday so we eat together most of the time too.
-Chicago in the fall is beautiful. I like this big city more than I thought I could like any big city. Our neighborhood is awesome, I get to speak Spanish and say hello to the ice cream man Pablo when I walk by, and I can get most places I would want to go using public transit, even if it takes a while.
-Thanksgiving is coming right up! I will get to see my family, Hazel Homer and Jackson, Robin, Robin's family, and Vickie's new baby! Sooo excited.
That's about it, I'm settling into my job and trying to get on some sort of a study schedule. I'll figure that out at some point I guess.
I hope the fall day where you are is as beautiful as the one here!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Still Wet
Well, it is serious about raining in Chicago these days. It has been raining all weekend, which is not my favorite, but oh well. I took my first MCAT class on Saturday which was not too fun but good to get underway I guess. Then last night we relaxed around here. We had Sojo (one of the other LVC houses) over because they are still dealing with fumigating after the bed bug fiasco the house had last year.
This morning was our commissioning service at Christ Evangelical. I was really impressed. I already knew the pastor was a great guy, because he's helped us out a lot already. But the service was exceptional I thought. A great sermon, fantastic music, a social justice type organization. Everyone was so friendly, we got up and introduced ourselves at the beginnning, and then after the service it's their rally sunday so we were invited to their lunch and festival. Abby and I sat by three adorable older women. It was great! Now for the rest of today, just chores and relaxing!
This morning was our commissioning service at Christ Evangelical. I was really impressed. I already knew the pastor was a great guy, because he's helped us out a lot already. But the service was exceptional I thought. A great sermon, fantastic music, a social justice type organization. Everyone was so friendly, we got up and introduced ourselves at the beginnning, and then after the service it's their rally sunday so we were invited to their lunch and festival. Abby and I sat by three adorable older women. It was great! Now for the rest of today, just chores and relaxing!
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