Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2009 According to Facebook
So there is this awesome application on Facebook that makes these "year according to your status" collages. Obviously my time tonight was better spent doing this instead of other things such as writing thank-you notes or cleaning my apartment or doing laundry. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
accomplishment!
Tonight I handed in a 32 page group paper and then a 19 page paper I wrote. OH MY GOSH that is a lot of pages!
I have 5 quarters down, 6 more to go. So almost halfway done with my MSW.
YAY!
I have 5 quarters down, 6 more to go. So almost halfway done with my MSW.
YAY!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Lately
I have been completely lacking in the "blog update" department lately. Sorry... Life is crazy, and yes, that seems to always be my excuse but it is true. Even though I am not doing nearly as much as I was doing when I was at Whitworth, for some reason now things are just more overwhelming and take more energy.
Here are some updates on recent things:
Practicum-... is going well. It is kind of hard to sum up into a nice little box. Each day is emotional and overwhelming and intense. It is difficult to see so much hurt and pain and poverty, and yet be charged with attempting to building relationships with people who are hurting. Exposing myself to their pain, and recognizing my own privilege is a daily struggle for me. Knowing I am going to be done there in a mere 3 1/2 months is starting to get more apparent. There are people I have really grown to like and care for, in a "helping professional" way of course but also in a very genuine personal way. Homelessness is such a pervasive, toxic cycle, that seems a bit hopeless. I keep realizing how BIG it is. It's bigger than Nativity House. There are homeless families, homeless babies, homeless youth... Homeless women with family that lives 10 minutes from where she is staying in the shelter, who refuse to offer any assistance. Homeless veterans, homeless felons. Yet they are all still people, still human, and have the same hopes and fears as me. I have come to have a respect for many of the people I am serving, for their strength and perseverence. Even though I do not agree with many of their choices, it amazes me how I am learning that they are no different than you or I. We are all a few paychecks away from being homeless. When I drive down the streets of Tacoma I often see people who come in to Nativity House. It's hard for me to drive past a certain parking lot at night, because I know there are people I know living in their cars, huddled under blankets I gave them for warmth. After I leave Nativity House I get to go home to my warm apartment, where I have heat and TV and my own bathroom. Each day I realize this privilege, and sometimes feel slightly ashamed for being dissatisfied with the "stuff" I don't have. I could go on and on and on about my experiences there, and what I am learning...
Work- is good. Muddy, cold, windy. I got some winter breeches (yay!), so that helped. I also am a master at layering, and do lunges when I am teaching at night to try and stay warm. But I love the horses and love (*most*) of my students. I am excited for this week because we have a week off of lessons for Thanksgiving. It will be a nice break from the intensity of lesson days, and get to be more relaxed and spend time riding some project horses.
School- oh what to say, what to say... I am enjoying my class this quarter, and feel like it is a bit more stimulating than past quarters. We have a fun group project (develop an agency through a grant proposal), and a good large paper (organizational analysis of our practicum agency). I like my professor, who is the director of the Social Work program. I am excited for Winter Quarter because we are starting our Research sequence, so I am really hoping for some challenge. I realized last week, that even though I have not been entirely thrilled with the program this far, I have learned a lot. I think like a social worker in many different situations, I know the theory and how to apply it. I am using techniques I have learned in classes at Nativity House in REAL situations. So those are all good things.
Other-
-- My mom got her first "call" as a pastor! She will be moving to Hoquiam, WA (about 1.5 hours away from Tacoma), to be a temporary 6-month stated supply at First Presbyterian Church of Hoquiam. I am so thrilled for her! What a huge journey for her, and our family. I will miss her, but luckily it is just a short drive away, and it's on the way to the ocean, and I DO LOVE the ocean!
-- Thanksgiving is this week! YAAY! Which means the holidays are here, and I love this season!
-- Kelsey is coming home on Tuesday and we are hanging out Wednesday. And the new hot tub is in. So exciting!
-- Lexi and I have started doing a Zumba class at the YMCA. Tomorrow we are trying Aerobic Dance! Stay tuned to see how that goes. It is great to have a friend to work out with, makes it so much easier to get up early on a Monday morning!
Okay, off to work on a paper that's due Tuesday and potentially go to bed early!
Here are some updates on recent things:
Practicum-... is going well. It is kind of hard to sum up into a nice little box. Each day is emotional and overwhelming and intense. It is difficult to see so much hurt and pain and poverty, and yet be charged with attempting to building relationships with people who are hurting. Exposing myself to their pain, and recognizing my own privilege is a daily struggle for me. Knowing I am going to be done there in a mere 3 1/2 months is starting to get more apparent. There are people I have really grown to like and care for, in a "helping professional" way of course but also in a very genuine personal way. Homelessness is such a pervasive, toxic cycle, that seems a bit hopeless. I keep realizing how BIG it is. It's bigger than Nativity House. There are homeless families, homeless babies, homeless youth... Homeless women with family that lives 10 minutes from where she is staying in the shelter, who refuse to offer any assistance. Homeless veterans, homeless felons. Yet they are all still people, still human, and have the same hopes and fears as me. I have come to have a respect for many of the people I am serving, for their strength and perseverence. Even though I do not agree with many of their choices, it amazes me how I am learning that they are no different than you or I. We are all a few paychecks away from being homeless. When I drive down the streets of Tacoma I often see people who come in to Nativity House. It's hard for me to drive past a certain parking lot at night, because I know there are people I know living in their cars, huddled under blankets I gave them for warmth. After I leave Nativity House I get to go home to my warm apartment, where I have heat and TV and my own bathroom. Each day I realize this privilege, and sometimes feel slightly ashamed for being dissatisfied with the "stuff" I don't have. I could go on and on and on about my experiences there, and what I am learning...
Work- is good. Muddy, cold, windy. I got some winter breeches (yay!), so that helped. I also am a master at layering, and do lunges when I am teaching at night to try and stay warm. But I love the horses and love (*most*) of my students. I am excited for this week because we have a week off of lessons for Thanksgiving. It will be a nice break from the intensity of lesson days, and get to be more relaxed and spend time riding some project horses.
School- oh what to say, what to say... I am enjoying my class this quarter, and feel like it is a bit more stimulating than past quarters. We have a fun group project (develop an agency through a grant proposal), and a good large paper (organizational analysis of our practicum agency). I like my professor, who is the director of the Social Work program. I am excited for Winter Quarter because we are starting our Research sequence, so I am really hoping for some challenge. I realized last week, that even though I have not been entirely thrilled with the program this far, I have learned a lot. I think like a social worker in many different situations, I know the theory and how to apply it. I am using techniques I have learned in classes at Nativity House in REAL situations. So those are all good things.
Other-
-- My mom got her first "call" as a pastor! She will be moving to Hoquiam, WA (about 1.5 hours away from Tacoma), to be a temporary 6-month stated supply at First Presbyterian Church of Hoquiam. I am so thrilled for her! What a huge journey for her, and our family. I will miss her, but luckily it is just a short drive away, and it's on the way to the ocean, and I DO LOVE the ocean!
-- Thanksgiving is this week! YAAY! Which means the holidays are here, and I love this season!
-- Kelsey is coming home on Tuesday and we are hanging out Wednesday. And the new hot tub is in. So exciting!
-- Lexi and I have started doing a Zumba class at the YMCA. Tomorrow we are trying Aerobic Dance! Stay tuned to see how that goes. It is great to have a friend to work out with, makes it so much easier to get up early on a Monday morning!
Okay, off to work on a paper that's due Tuesday and potentially go to bed early!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
saturday night
leftover thai food. freshly made apple cobbler. large glass of wine. the office and 30 rock re-runs.
yep... i have no life!
yep... i have no life!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Nativity House
So most of you know I am doing my practicum at Nativity House, a day-time drop in center for the homeless/low-income in Tacoma. After a rough start this summer, I am really really enjoying it! I go three days a week, for a total of about 15 hours a week. (I still am making up hours I missed over the summer). I have made a lot of connections with our guests (our word for clients), and have really fallen in love with a lot of the people, place, and our mission. Anyway, I found this video online that was done last spring and was played at our auction-- it talks about our art room/art therapy program.
Enjoy!
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/photo/2009/02/20/video_player_test
Enjoy!
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/photo/2009/02/20/video_player_test
Thursday, October 8, 2009
random musings
I probably should write a real blog, updating you all on my life the last month or so. I am pretty tired, so instead this is just going to be a random collection of thoughts and things.
- "The Office" is on right now, and it's the Pam/Jim wedding episode! YAAAAY! This is going to be the best 30 minutes of my week, for sure!
- I am going through a potato phase. That's right. My stomach has been extra awful lately, so I have started eating lots of soft foods. And right now I am loving potatoes. Hash browns, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes... i love them all! Today I had scalloped potatoes with ham! YUM! (also, applesauce is good, too!)
- OH MY GOSH this episode of The Office is 1 hour! Life just got better
- I had my first class of the quarter last Tuesday. I have hope its going to be a good class!
- Practicum is still going well, pretty intense, but good. More about that later.
- "Gigi" has turned into "Myrtle" and "Max". If you are confused read the previous blog.
The end!
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