Something Familiar

I want and crave the familiar, but the lines are becoming blurred. Life here in the city is becoming normal, regular, in a way familiar. While packing my bags to move to Baltimore and start MVS, I restricted myself from bringing some of my favorite things. Baby Bunny, blue Chuck Taylor high tops, messenger bag and scarves were all left behind in Ohio. Upon arriving in this new place with new people and new job, I quickly realized how my possessions became what connected me to home. What does that say about materialism and me? Maybe it is important to me, but I think it's more of a comfort to have the things you love, than to collect a bunch of junk. Luckily my mom mailed me what I missed and once I opened up the package I was filled with so much peace. I left like my life was a little more normal again, and not so surreal.

As of finding the familiar, I now miss my friends like crazy. I cannot wait until next week for Thanksgiving to see faces from my past, and then for Christmas to see more people than mean a lot to me.

So, if anyone ever wants to visit me and see the city of Baltimore, you are MORE than welcome! There's a free place to stay, food and good company waiting for you.

Hopes and Thoughts

I have work to do. But, it’s Friday. Not a good combination for production.

Currently, I have my iPod playing a short playlist of 4 songs that I can’t get out of my head.

1. Priscilla Ahn-Dream
2. Pomplasmoose-Single Ladies Cover
3. Avett Brothers-Laundry Room
4. Mumford & Sons-Awake My Soul

Very good soundtrack for my life right now, and inspiring enough to keep me going. Give it a listen if you haven’t already.

Took a walk this morning to the nearest Starbucks to use my gift card that was graciously sent to me from my Franklin Avenue friends back in Ohio. Thanks ladies! It was nice to be able to leave the office for a bit. But I’ve come to the already-known-conclusion that the regular coffee sold at Starbucks is not the best, but still does the trick in providing enough caffeine to get one through the day…or morning. They do much better with their lattes and frappes. Next time.

I’ve gotten into the TV series LOST, and hope to get caught up with the whole thing by Feb. 2 when season 6 starts. I’ve finished 3 episodes as of now. Wish me luck!

I’m excited about upcoming events in the next week. Tonight we get to hang with our LPC (local project coordinator) at her house and just relax. Then, tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny so sitting on our balcony, drinking coffee and reading a book is a must in the afternoon. Sunday evening we’re having a Thanksgiving potluck with all of the housemates, members for the church and friends of all. I’m looking forward to hear what everyone’s thankful for.

And in less than one week’s time, T-giving will be happening! I am so excited to see my friends Carrie and Annie Yoder!! They are some of the best people ever, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate group to spend this holiday with.

Oh what a random smattering of blessings there are to be happy about!

My battery life is waning. These 4 songs may have to continue to play in my head for the rest of the day…

Anita

Where to start, I don't know if I'm sure but here goes. I want to write and update everyone, but so much is going on its hard to keep track of it all!

So, work is becoming what it is-work. It's routine and gets boring and I feel the afternoon slump happen. Sometimes it even strikes early and continues until after I'm home again. Following a schedule is ok, but having a set amount of time pass before I finish this year makes things a little tough. Luckily, T-giving is fast approaching! Also apart from holiday breaks there are perks to working where I do. I really enjoy the Adult GED class I help out with and have made a best friend who's a retired woman that now volunteers twice a week. Her name's Anita and her desk sits perpendicular to mine. She takes care of me by buying me lunch and coffee and telling me about her life with a social work background and what she's done and how she spoils her nieces and nephews. She really is a great lady and I do love her dearly, not just because she buys me things but because she is a joy to talk to. We planned the staff Halloween party, and are now going to help work on the Holiday party coming up in December. That should be fun, she's great at planning parties and talking to everyone she sees while always being so nice.

I was thinking I'd add more to this post, but instead I think I'll keep it at that. Here's to Anita, my new bff.

The City of Baltimore

This is an excerpt for Beth's blog. Don't worry, I got her permission to re-blog this part of her post:

As a mural at a playground down the road suggests, Baltimore would say: “I need a hug.” (see below)

Let’s see… if Baltimore could say anything I think it would go a little something like this:

“Don’t be afraid of me. Although I appear a little rough around the edges, just ignore the rats and cockroaches and look at me deeply. Let your gaze fix upon my odd and beautiful mess of abandoned buildings and littered alleyways. Look around. Close your eyes for long periods of time so that when you open them, you get to be surprised over and over again by the vast diversity and profundity of stories, lives, and experiences that are had in my streets. Walk confidently, speak loudly, keep your head up and be comfortable in your own skin. There is beauty everywhere: search for it, find it, tell people about it. Give me a chance; get to know me and I might just surprise you.

(After you are done doing this, please hug me and bathe me, because God knows, I need a hug…and a shower).”

New Goal: Stop Making Goals

I've been thinking a lot about goals that I have and I've been thinking a lot about the future and what is to come. But realized that it just leads to worrying, which leads to stress, which leads to nowhere. SO, my new goal is to stop making goals.

Except to learn how to whistle by next September.





TO

Riding the Bus

It’s funny the little things that make me feel that much more like an independent adult. With community being something that’s very important to me, I’ve found myself doing a lot with others, and not on my own. I don’t think this is a bad thing, it means good company during everyday tasks and routine. However, when the opportunity arises for me to do something on my own, I am excited to take it. Maybe I’m naïve, maybe I’m just eager to grow up, but either way these solo moments bring me joy and empowerment in feeling like my own person.

So, after that lovely introduction to what I’m thinking, the recent activity that has gotten me excited about adulthood is riding the bus. That’s right, public transportation. I live close enough to work that I can walk, and I also walk with Kristin (good company exhibit A). We have a car that is shared and used for most activities such as grocery shopping and driving around the city. That is usually done with others, but a few times I’ve driven by myself and it’s been a freeing experience. Anyway, back to the bus.

Last night I stayed late for work to help with an Art class that happens once a month. It is over at 9pm so obviously it’s dark. This is only the second time I’ve stayed this late, and before I got a ride home, but the car was in use this time, so my options were, hang out at Project PLASE for who knows how long until someone can pick me up, or take the bus which stops 2 blocks away from the house. I chose the bus. We’ve been told not to be out at night by ourselves, but it wasn’t too terribly late and I ended up not feeling like I was alone.

I will admit I was a little nervous for the walk from the bus stop to the house, but for the rest I didn’t feel scared. I prayed during art class that I would just get home safe. I totally saw God working right when I stepped outside and began my trek to the bus stop. The art teacher was going to the same stop, so we walked together. We got to the stop and there were 2 others there, a woman on her cell phone, and a man sitting on the bench. The woman hung up and came over to me and explained that she was on the phone with a friend who was on the other side of the street. They call each other when they see the bus coming b/c they are heading in opposite directions, and that way they can know how much longer it’ll be. She then proceeded to tell me that I should call a friend while I’m waiting/on/walking home from the bus so in case anything happens that friend can call the cops. She also added, “I usually don’t hang up, but I saw you here and I wasn’t sure about that guy (the one sitting). You should be careful on the bus, it’s not safe around here. But, ya gotta make money somehow.” Interesting though, considering I’m a volunteer and not making money to begin with. :) She was very nice and I thanked God for her. I’m so impressed that strangers are so kind. I know I look out of place, being the only Caucasian woman on the bus and have “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING” stamped across my forehead, but the people I’ve run into have been so helpful and non-threatening. I find this to be a blessing!

The ride on the bus was uneventful, and on the short walk up to the house I called my friend Devra with the notion that she wouldn’t answer. I was right and talked to her voicemail for about 5 mins which I think is humorous because most of it was “umm…yeah, so…I don’t know…” but did make me feel safer. Luckily nothing happened and I got inside I had a rush of liberation wash over me and skipped up the steps to the kitchen! What a great growing up life experience!

Things I Love

In no particular order:

Photo shoots & pictures

Books

Gelato

Dove Chocolate

My dear friends and family

Crochet. My belief-with a hook and some yarn, anything is possible

A good cup of coffee in the morning

Sleeping in

Sappy Romance Comedies

My room

IKEA

Make up

Discovering new music

Scrapbooking

Sending & receiving snail mail

My fellow housemates

Art and being creative

Sunny and warm days in the fall

Singing along to music while riding in the car

White Christmas lights in a dark room

My blue high top Chuck Taylor's

Baby Bunny

V neck t-shirts

Weekends

Love.

The Life of a Work Roadie

Everything on the East Coast is SO close! It's surprising how it only takes 1.5 hours or less to get to other states around here. In Ohio it took a good 2 hours to get anyway from my locations, so this is a big deal!

So to begin my most recent adventure, my housemate Beth has to do a lot of traveling for her work and interview different people who have either helped refugees, or refugees themselves, for a project she is working on. At the end of last week, I was able to swing a 3 day weekend and took a MARC train (commuter train that only runs M-F) to our nation's capital Thursday night to meet Beth. This was also a big deal because it was the first real life, grown up thing that I've done on my own since being in Baltimore. Yep, taking the train by myself. I feel very accomplished. Turns out there was a bit of a delay, but things worked out and I sat by a nice lady who was on her way to visit her daughter. She was so helpful and gave me her metro map of DC because I told her it was my first time on the train here and hadn't been to DC since my 8th grade class trip. Whoa, it just hit me that that was almost 1o years ago! Crazy!!

Anyway, I made it and it was so fantastic! We stayed overnight with our fellow MVS Unit in DC and were shown great hospitality and were able to sleep in so late the next morning! Friday afternoon, I was allow to take part in a training on how to visit detention centers where refugees are held. I found out about it from Beth and she needed to do it for her work, and I thought it was very interesting. Then we spent the rest of the day in the city and visited the American History Museum, Washington Monument and had a great time.

Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers. These are the REAL DEAL!



Beth and I in front of the Washington Monument.

We then started the home on the MARC train once again. Once we arrived we took a little time to refuel, repack, and reorganize ourselves for the weekend that lay ahead. We were then on our way to Lancaster, PA in order for Beth to conduct her first interviews of the year! I was along for the ride and got to be treated to a fancy hotel and to keep my busy working housemate company. I think we both did a very good job this weekend in the roles we each played. Beth conducted 3 interviews on Saturday and I met up with Sol, a friend from college who lived very close (once again, emphasis on everything being so close around here!). It was very nice to see a familiar face and just relax. The night of Halloween we took a trip to Sonic because Beth had never been there before and it was tasty. Also we searched for a drugstore where we could find some nose strips and cold medicine for Beth. She doing much better now I think, with the help of all those meds. Halloween ended pretty low-key, but still quite enjoyable.

Then, Sunday brought on more traveling. We stopped by a Burmese Festival celebrating their New Year, then hit the road to Delaware for one last interview. It didn't take too long and we did a wonderful job deciphering mapquest directions. We made it in time after getting a little turned around and I was able to meet a wonderful family and watch the interview process. It was so nice to see their hospitality and generosity. Kind people make me so happy!

We had to get back for our monthly house meeting, and then on to Morgan Fest! A fellow Baltimore Volunteer part of LVC's birthday party! It was a busy weekend, but very fun and so nice! I love having things to look forward to after the work week and so far have not been disappointed. Who knew my year in MVS would bring so much excitement? I am pleasantly surprised! :)