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! :)