Friday, November 7, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Personal Reflection… a letter to a close and respected Mentor
Don’t want to get too caught up in the details, but sufficed to say, I’ve struggled getting situated, moving in, getting furniture, finding a productive space. Even at work I don’t always have internet access. It’s crazy how much we rely on the internet! There is only one coffee shop that is open till 6pm! (Aahahahahah! I am coffee shop queen and this alone may just drive me insane!) Aberdeen is a hole as far as any kind of culture or entertainment goes, unless you like dive bars and subway. I may exaggerate a little, but its pretty bad! Which I am trying to turn into a positive, by looking at is as way to do those things I don’t….like art, reading, cooking, studying, etc…. when I am too excited and busy doing things in town or with friends. But without the proper means, it becomes a bit frustrating. (I’m happy to say that I’ve subscribed for internet at my apartment and should be connected by Tuesday. Yay!)
Am currently tuning out a huge group of kids playing every possible instrument they can get their hands at the birthday party at the ONE coffee shop in town. My headphones are as loud as they can go! I find it funny and fitting of my Aberdeen experience.
There is no doubt this is a tremendous learning experience and opportunity for A LOT of growth. This I am counting on. Already there has been so much time and experience ripe for self reflection and for that I am grateful, despite all the fucking frustrations (of which there have been MANY!)
On a more positive note, I just got back from a statewide Americorps conference where there were some really good workshops and I made some great networking contacts☺. I also received a full scholarship to attend the EEAW (Environmental Education Association of Washington) conference in mid-November. I had an incredible time, even though very brief, in DC visiting my dear friend Jonas (from Ivory Coast, who I met in Netherlands, who is now working for the World Bank in South Africa and was in DC for training) as well as a nice meet-up with Causton, my DC love☺. I’ve also learned more about the organizational structure of how non-profits work as far as partnerships, funding, etc. as well as a whole lot about environmental education and the various curriculum topics. I’m happy to say I am well versed in teaching kids the importance of and how to conduct water quality testing. We are involved in some pretty damn cool stuff and for the most part, I like the people I work with.
Anyhow, so that is the longwinded way of saying, there is good and bad. Our expectation that this would not be easy is correct. But I am doing what I can to handle the many hiccups and keep relatively positive by looking at things as an opportunity for growth and learning.
Am currently tuning out a huge group of kids playing every possible instrument they can get their hands at the birthday party at the ONE coffee shop in town. My headphones are as loud as they can go! I find it funny and fitting of my Aberdeen experience.
There is no doubt this is a tremendous learning experience and opportunity for A LOT of growth. This I am counting on. Already there has been so much time and experience ripe for self reflection and for that I am grateful, despite all the fucking frustrations (of which there have been MANY!)
On a more positive note, I just got back from a statewide Americorps conference where there were some really good workshops and I made some great networking contacts☺. I also received a full scholarship to attend the EEAW (Environmental Education Association of Washington) conference in mid-November. I had an incredible time, even though very brief, in DC visiting my dear friend Jonas (from Ivory Coast, who I met in Netherlands, who is now working for the World Bank in South Africa and was in DC for training) as well as a nice meet-up with Causton, my DC love☺. I’ve also learned more about the organizational structure of how non-profits work as far as partnerships, funding, etc. as well as a whole lot about environmental education and the various curriculum topics. I’m happy to say I am well versed in teaching kids the importance of and how to conduct water quality testing. We are involved in some pretty damn cool stuff and for the most part, I like the people I work with.
Anyhow, so that is the longwinded way of saying, there is good and bad. Our expectation that this would not be easy is correct. But I am doing what I can to handle the many hiccups and keep relatively positive by looking at things as an opportunity for growth and learning.
Washington Service Corps SERVES Conference
After a night of utter intoxication to try to dull my anger concerning the doctor episode, I can’t say I was in such a social mood. But the drove the three of us Americorps 5 hours to attend the statewide Americorps SERVES Conference in Wenatchee, WA. I can’t say I was expecting all that much based on what I’d heard and a glance over the schedule, but it’s required, we get reimbursed for travel and hell, its free food!
It was frustrating as they did not really accommodate for the handicap, leaving me to navigate a buffet and highly crowed seating arrangements with over 700 people, but already frustrated, I used it to my advantage and just sat on the floor and used it as an excuse to be a bit antisocial and observe…which ended up being quite entertaining.
As the conference proceeded, I came to enjoy this loner status that my knee scooter afforded. It allowed me to really sit back and observe the social interactions and partake only when I wanted to. I liked it.
Surprisingly I got quite a bit out of several of the workshops. Divine Bradely is quite the inspiration and led a great workshop on “Being It NOW!” Just an entertaining guy that really has transformed his life through intention and planning. Another workshop on Humor in the workplace was surprisingly insightful and philosophical, not to mention the guy who gave it was quite entertaining. Also introduced to the Power of Hope organization and approach that is very open, accepting, hands-on, active, fun. Just good ways to approach getting people on board for participation, creativity, acceptance and productivity. Was completely entertained and learned some good stuff about grant writing and made some really good contacts with some select people.
Overall, a very positive experience that got me out of the funk I was in. We enjoyed our little visit to Leavenworth and the charming Beir Garden. Yum! Until we got stuck in Seattle traffic for more than two hours because some dumb ass got on the freeway the wrong direction, killing himself and someone else in process of jamming traffic for a lot of other folk! Grrr!
It was frustrating as they did not really accommodate for the handicap, leaving me to navigate a buffet and highly crowed seating arrangements with over 700 people, but already frustrated, I used it to my advantage and just sat on the floor and used it as an excuse to be a bit antisocial and observe…which ended up being quite entertaining.
As the conference proceeded, I came to enjoy this loner status that my knee scooter afforded. It allowed me to really sit back and observe the social interactions and partake only when I wanted to. I liked it.
Surprisingly I got quite a bit out of several of the workshops. Divine Bradely is quite the inspiration and led a great workshop on “Being It NOW!” Just an entertaining guy that really has transformed his life through intention and planning. Another workshop on Humor in the workplace was surprisingly insightful and philosophical, not to mention the guy who gave it was quite entertaining. Also introduced to the Power of Hope organization and approach that is very open, accepting, hands-on, active, fun. Just good ways to approach getting people on board for participation, creativity, acceptance and productivity. Was completely entertained and learned some good stuff about grant writing and made some really good contacts with some select people.
Overall, a very positive experience that got me out of the funk I was in. We enjoyed our little visit to Leavenworth and the charming Beir Garden. Yum! Until we got stuck in Seattle traffic for more than two hours because some dumb ass got on the freeway the wrong direction, killing himself and someone else in process of jamming traffic for a lot of other folk! Grrr!
Doctor Disaster
Uh on the foot front, my first appt with the doctor in Aberdeen may have utterly destroyed my faith in doctors. It was THAT bad! After just about cussing him out for being so unprepared, indifferent and cavalier, we decided it’d be best that I see someone else. Maybe my expectations are too high, but when an orthopedic surgeon is asking his patient which pins need to be removed, I’m convinced there is a problem! So that puts me behind in recovery time as I need to have surgery to get the pins removed before I start putting to much weight and walking regularly. So now I have to find one in Olympia, Seattle or Portland (all three recommended by my doctor in Utah are not preferred providers). Just another example of the frustrations that seem to be popping up.
Learning to be a Mentor
We had a mentor training where we learned about the process of mentoring high school seniors on their culminating projects that are required by the state. Good info and seems it would be applicable in a lot of other situation. Great networking too. I really feel I'm coming into my own, getting more comfortable in my own skin, in a professional sense.... makes me feel pretty good. I look at the other two Americorps volunteers struggling in different ways, or just being less interested in all that is going on and all the opportunities and networking this position is opening up.
I'm so freaking excited about this project I'm going to help mentor with. A guy with the WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife is and expert in facilitating eco/ agro/ nature tourism..(something I have a big interest in...esp in the developing world context)...and so I'm going to work with him and the whole framework is set up for us to facilitate learning and growth on the part of the kids through interaction with experts...so the great thing is I get to learn it all too. That is what i love about this job. That in the process of teaching kids, I'm learning a shit load about not only the natural resource issues, but also about the dynamics of working with kids and a variety of other audiences, the kinds of positions and professional interaction styles...how organizations work together, rely on each other...the work flow. This is such a dynamic position with several partnerships and responsibilities to each of them. Its really exciting to me, although sometimes overwhelming.
I'm so freaking excited about this project I'm going to help mentor with. A guy with the WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife is and expert in facilitating eco/ agro/ nature tourism..(something I have a big interest in...esp in the developing world context)...and so I'm going to work with him and the whole framework is set up for us to facilitate learning and growth on the part of the kids through interaction with experts...so the great thing is I get to learn it all too. That is what i love about this job. That in the process of teaching kids, I'm learning a shit load about not only the natural resource issues, but also about the dynamics of working with kids and a variety of other audiences, the kinds of positions and professional interaction styles...how organizations work together, rely on each other...the work flow. This is such a dynamic position with several partnerships and responsibilities to each of them. Its really exciting to me, although sometimes overwhelming.
Water Quality Testing
We work with several partner programs, one of which gets students involved in water quality testing of area all over the county. It serves to get kids involved and excited about hands-on science. The learning curve was just about the same for us Americorps as for the kids, except for the teacher/parent training we attended and learned one test each. We were kinda thrown in (seems to be a trend). Basically we were given a group of 6th grade students and told to guide students through performing each test. Luckily there is a set of directions in each kit. It went surprisingly well. I found myself matching how Lorena had interacted with the kids over the first few weeks, and got through the first day quite well. Over the next few days, we ended up leading several 4-6th grade classes through testing first in the classroom and then in the field, rain or shine. Lets just say it’s very interesting keeping kids in line and focused when outside in the rain and cold, but I managed! By the end of this, I’d lead students in conducting test on pH, phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and a stream-walk survey based off of one from the EPA, while learning why it is important in regards to the salmon life cyle☺ What a crash course in working with kids! And again, I wish I had stuff like this in elementary school!
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