Work sent me back to DC last weekend for a conference (Old Town Alexandria, technically). When I left DC in May, I wasn't sure when I'd get to come back, so it was a pleasant surprise to be able to visit just 5 months later (and not have to pay for it!).
Fall is by far my favorite season on the East Coast, and as we flew in to DCA, I admired the view by leaning over as far as my American definition of personal space would allow from the middle seat. The gorgeous colors were on full display. On the way out on Sunday, I struck the jackpot with a window seat for our departure over the Shenandoah Valley. Deciduous trees rock!
The conference itself was pretty informative. I think this might be my first professional conference to attend as an actual professional. When I was in the coffee world, I went to plenty of trade shows, and as a student, I attended a whole host of fora and symposia (yes, grad students are expected to know the plural of such terms). But to just go as a regular participant whose organization paid full price for her to attend and she's not expected to serve lattes or help tear down the tables afterwards was a new (and luxurious) experience.
Being back in DC felt very comfortable and familiar. I know how to navigate in the city, and I've got people there who mean a lot to me. Probably the best times were when I was able to meet up with friends in their homes to just chat and catch up on life. Of course, that's not to say I didn't enjoy some great times out on the town as well. (If you haven't been to Matchbox, I highly recommend it!)
After 5 days, it was nice to come home to Seattle. My flight arrived in the evening, and I always love admiring Seattle from a plane at night. It's fun to identify which dark blob is which body of water :) For the first time, when Matt picked me up from SeaTac, it wasn't for a short visit - he was just doing his boyfriendly duty of giving me a ride home. That's pretty cool.
I guess what I realized this weekend is that I have multiple places where I can belong and feel at home. I knew it before, but I didn't really think about it until now. So far, all of these places are in the United States, but I have high hopes that my list of homes will go global at some point!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
random acts of artistic expression
What is up with me visiting Seattle parks at the same time as artistic weirdos? Wait, that sounds harsh...I meant to say, my, Seattle is brimming with creative individuals, isn't it? This weekend it was Golden Gardens Park. Matt and I stopped by to appreciate the semi-sunny afternoon and toss a frisbee around after lunch at the Blue Star. We noticed some people in tuxedos milling about, and I assumed they were setting up for a wedding. Then more people started gathering, and they were dressed in white. So, I thought, perhaps this is some sort of mass wedding? Or caterers with a strange sense of style? When they brought out the face paint and plastic bunny heads, I was like, "What are these people doing? This is weird. Let's leave!" Matt was like, "What are these people doing? This is weird. Let's move in for a closer look!" It's a good thing I have him around or else I'd miss out on all these interesting occurrences. We heard they were preparing for a performance that would be starting soon, so we ended up hanging around to see what would happen.
We moved towards the crowd that had gathered on the beach. A lot of people were wearing white and ringing bells. I wondered if we were about to be inducted into a cult. Then the band started playing lullaby music and a parade began which featured human-sized rabbits, owls, cats, and clocks, all dressed in white and ballet-skipping across the sand. The characters carried little bells on strings, which they distributed to the children in the crowd. In general, they all danced around in no particular pattern, just mingling with the people who'd come to see the show. After 15 minutes of lullaby dancing, I convinced Matt it was time to move out. But as we were driving towards the exit, we saw the parade had continued down the beach. So we pulled over to watch the end of the show, which featured the entire cast boarding a massive pirate-style sailboat and heading off into the sunset, literally.
Turns out these performances have been going on all year around the city. Odd. I can't believe how many people came out to watch the show - especially the ones who wore white and brought bells. What possesses a person to participate in someone else's random artistic expression? Maybe I'm being too left-brained for this sort of thing.
We moved towards the crowd that had gathered on the beach. A lot of people were wearing white and ringing bells. I wondered if we were about to be inducted into a cult. Then the band started playing lullaby music and a parade began which featured human-sized rabbits, owls, cats, and clocks, all dressed in white and ballet-skipping across the sand. The characters carried little bells on strings, which they distributed to the children in the crowd. In general, they all danced around in no particular pattern, just mingling with the people who'd come to see the show. After 15 minutes of lullaby dancing, I convinced Matt it was time to move out. But as we were driving towards the exit, we saw the parade had continued down the beach. So we pulled over to watch the end of the show, which featured the entire cast boarding a massive pirate-style sailboat and heading off into the sunset, literally.
Turns out these performances have been going on all year around the city. Odd. I can't believe how many people came out to watch the show - especially the ones who wore white and brought bells. What possesses a person to participate in someone else's random artistic expression? Maybe I'm being too left-brained for this sort of thing.
Monday, October 12, 2009
books, where have you gone?
Oh, how I loved the endless hours of reading this summer. Reading *for fun* I mean. Now I spend my days analyzing spreadsheets and composing reports about the antics of exchange students. I'm glad I embraced my unemployment while it lasted. It would have been such a pity to waste a perfectly good porch swing and the bounty of bookshelves that runneth over.
That's it for now. It's late and I should be in bed already.
That's it for now. It's late and I should be in bed already.
Monday, September 28, 2009
trying to fit in
I don't like to blog about overly religious topics, but I think this one should be ok, especially since it's mostly whining ;) Matt and I have been trying to find a church that we both like. It's proving to be quite the search. The church he attends is a good church, but it's just not a style I can really get into. However, nearly every other place we go has been filled with old people! I mean no offense to the senior citizens among us. Of course, plenty of mature adults attend church. But when I look around a church and see literally no one else who appears to be in the same life stage as me (late 20s, unmarried, no kids), it makes me wonder if it's really a place I could belong.
We checked out one church a few weeks back where the whole congregation was a-buzz over a recent Husky victory. The pastor started his sermon by putting on a UW cap, and other Huskies' fans jumped up and started cheering. They were all well past college age... And then the pastor proceeded to sprinkle his sermon with what can only be described as old person jokes. You know, grandparent sort of humor that's not actually humorous.
This Sunday, we visited another church where we walked in a few minutes late to find the pastor showing a slideshow of a Mexican cruise he took with his wife for their 45th anniversary. We happened to sit behind the youth group, and at one point during the sermon when the pastor made some joke about doing homework, I swear he looked right at me. Uh, just because I'm not 50 doesn't mean I'm still in high school! On the plus side, they gave us a loaf of banana bread b/c we were visitors.
I know I'm focusing on sort of petty details here. That's because I don't want to get into theology right now, and also because some of the details actually are important to me. My church in DC turned out to be one of the best parts of my life there. I'm completely aware that my reticence to actually find a new church here is -- in part -- psychological, because by doing so, I'm turning a page in the book of my life when I really liked the last chapter. But Michelle, you say, the next chapter could be great too! Why don't you just read the first paragraph and see if you like it? Actually, it might be a whole new book I'm picking up. Yes, that's a better metaphor. Maybe the previous book is over and I'm wary of reading the next one in the series because it might not live up to my expectations. What I should probably do is keep an open mind and just dive on in.
We checked out one church a few weeks back where the whole congregation was a-buzz over a recent Husky victory. The pastor started his sermon by putting on a UW cap, and other Huskies' fans jumped up and started cheering. They were all well past college age... And then the pastor proceeded to sprinkle his sermon with what can only be described as old person jokes. You know, grandparent sort of humor that's not actually humorous.
This Sunday, we visited another church where we walked in a few minutes late to find the pastor showing a slideshow of a Mexican cruise he took with his wife for their 45th anniversary. We happened to sit behind the youth group, and at one point during the sermon when the pastor made some joke about doing homework, I swear he looked right at me. Uh, just because I'm not 50 doesn't mean I'm still in high school! On the plus side, they gave us a loaf of banana bread b/c we were visitors.
I know I'm focusing on sort of petty details here. That's because I don't want to get into theology right now, and also because some of the details actually are important to me. My church in DC turned out to be one of the best parts of my life there. I'm completely aware that my reticence to actually find a new church here is -- in part -- psychological, because by doing so, I'm turning a page in the book of my life when I really liked the last chapter. But Michelle, you say, the next chapter could be great too! Why don't you just read the first paragraph and see if you like it? Actually, it might be a whole new book I'm picking up. Yes, that's a better metaphor. Maybe the previous book is over and I'm wary of reading the next one in the series because it might not live up to my expectations. What I should probably do is keep an open mind and just dive on in.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
it's been one week since...
Only one week on the new job? Really, it feels longer. I guess that's a good sign that I learned a lot in 40 hours, eh? Here are my early reflections on working again.
I need to re-establish a routine for my life. So far, I have been disorganized in the mornings and unproductive in the evenings. For example, I lack motivation/time to make myself a lunch. Since I'm working downtown, I have way too many enticing options that make a homemade tuna sandwich seem less-than-appealing. One day this week, I hopped on a bus to Pike Place (6 blocks north), bought a pesto bagel with salmon cream cheese, and enjoyed a gorgeous view of the market, ferry boats, water, and mountains while I ate. But I really should do the responsible thing and bring food because that's way cheaper than going out every day. The other factor is that I actually get a lunch break, during which I am allowed and encouraged to relax and get out of the office. Who can say no to that? And I've already met up with one friend for lunch - so cool :)
Commuting on the new light rail is going pretty well. The trains run frequently during rush hour and are never that crowded. I must say, though, I miss the free newspaper days of DC when I could read the news in the morning and do the crossword puzzle on the way home. Also, Seattle people are sort of strange commuters. A lot of people talk to each other on the train...not everyone is zoned out on an iPod. There's no shoving, and escalator etiquette seems to be that you wait patiently if someone is standing in your way. It's like this weirdly positive communal experience. I find it rather disconcerting...
As for the job itself, it's good. My brain is a little out of practice, and my Excel skills are a bit rusty, but overall I find myself much less confused than I was when I started my previous job. This is due in large part, I believe, to the fact that I've actually worked in this field before. Who knew that it was so helpful to have prior experience? I guess it's true! So while there are lots of people to meet and procedures to learn, I understand conceptually how the pieces fit together. Since I'm kind of a "big picture" person, that's helpful to me.
So no complaints here. I'm so happy to have a job, I wouldn't dare complain anyway!
I need to re-establish a routine for my life. So far, I have been disorganized in the mornings and unproductive in the evenings. For example, I lack motivation/time to make myself a lunch. Since I'm working downtown, I have way too many enticing options that make a homemade tuna sandwich seem less-than-appealing. One day this week, I hopped on a bus to Pike Place (6 blocks north), bought a pesto bagel with salmon cream cheese, and enjoyed a gorgeous view of the market, ferry boats, water, and mountains while I ate. But I really should do the responsible thing and bring food because that's way cheaper than going out every day. The other factor is that I actually get a lunch break, during which I am allowed and encouraged to relax and get out of the office. Who can say no to that? And I've already met up with one friend for lunch - so cool :)
Commuting on the new light rail is going pretty well. The trains run frequently during rush hour and are never that crowded. I must say, though, I miss the free newspaper days of DC when I could read the news in the morning and do the crossword puzzle on the way home. Also, Seattle people are sort of strange commuters. A lot of people talk to each other on the train...not everyone is zoned out on an iPod. There's no shoving, and escalator etiquette seems to be that you wait patiently if someone is standing in your way. It's like this weirdly positive communal experience. I find it rather disconcerting...
As for the job itself, it's good. My brain is a little out of practice, and my Excel skills are a bit rusty, but overall I find myself much less confused than I was when I started my previous job. This is due in large part, I believe, to the fact that I've actually worked in this field before. Who knew that it was so helpful to have prior experience? I guess it's true! So while there are lots of people to meet and procedures to learn, I understand conceptually how the pieces fit together. Since I'm kind of a "big picture" person, that's helpful to me.
So no complaints here. I'm so happy to have a job, I wouldn't dare complain anyway!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
bringing home the bacon
Oh, how I have been dreaming of writing this post...I GOT A JOB! YAY! Jump for joy!
After being unemployed for 16 weeks (yes, I just counted), I'm not sure I can fully express my elation at the job that has come my way. I'd spent the summer applying to position after position with no response. Temp agencies provided nothing. Safeway didn't even respond to my resume submission. At first, I was glad for the break from the daily grind. After about a month, though, my stress level began inching up and despair lurked around the corner. It got to the point that I'd start filling out an application, but I couldn't force myself to finish it when I thought about all the more-qualified people out there who would have a better chance at the position than me. Then a couple weeks ago, I came across a posting for an international exchange program. As I read the job description, I realized that I was quite well-qualified for the position, so I swept up all my remaining crumbs of optimism and used them as fuel to write a killer cover letter. A few days later, they called me for an interview. I just about fell out of my chair when that happened, since I wasn't really expecting a response at all. A week after that, I had a second interview, and at the end, I was offered the job!
The real reason I got this job, though, was networking. It didn't happen in the way I normally think of, but it still worked. I think I got the first interview based on my resume. Then it happened that a former supervisor from DC knew the director of this Seattle office and put in a good word for me. According to my new director, that's what really sealed the deal - she said she received numerous resumes from people who all appear to be excellent candidates on paper. Since I came recommended from someone she knows and trusts, that helped push me over the edge.
So, starting tomorrow, I will be managing short term/summer international exchange programs for middle and high school students. What's really cool is that this is the type of job I was applying for in DC when I was finishing grad school, but I couldn't manage to land an interview. There, the organizations all want you to have a Master's degree and 5+ years of experience in the field to be a program manager. It's such a competitive environment that my resume didn't stand out from the crowd. But in Seattle, my DC experience suddenly becomes valuable and something that sets me apart from the pack. Isn't it weird? If I didn't move to DC and have the experiences I did there, I wouldn't be qualified for this job that I just got in Seattle. Life's twists and turns never fail to captivate me.
After being unemployed for 16 weeks (yes, I just counted), I'm not sure I can fully express my elation at the job that has come my way. I'd spent the summer applying to position after position with no response. Temp agencies provided nothing. Safeway didn't even respond to my resume submission. At first, I was glad for the break from the daily grind. After about a month, though, my stress level began inching up and despair lurked around the corner. It got to the point that I'd start filling out an application, but I couldn't force myself to finish it when I thought about all the more-qualified people out there who would have a better chance at the position than me. Then a couple weeks ago, I came across a posting for an international exchange program. As I read the job description, I realized that I was quite well-qualified for the position, so I swept up all my remaining crumbs of optimism and used them as fuel to write a killer cover letter. A few days later, they called me for an interview. I just about fell out of my chair when that happened, since I wasn't really expecting a response at all. A week after that, I had a second interview, and at the end, I was offered the job!
The real reason I got this job, though, was networking. It didn't happen in the way I normally think of, but it still worked. I think I got the first interview based on my resume. Then it happened that a former supervisor from DC knew the director of this Seattle office and put in a good word for me. According to my new director, that's what really sealed the deal - she said she received numerous resumes from people who all appear to be excellent candidates on paper. Since I came recommended from someone she knows and trusts, that helped push me over the edge.
So, starting tomorrow, I will be managing short term/summer international exchange programs for middle and high school students. What's really cool is that this is the type of job I was applying for in DC when I was finishing grad school, but I couldn't manage to land an interview. There, the organizations all want you to have a Master's degree and 5+ years of experience in the field to be a program manager. It's such a competitive environment that my resume didn't stand out from the crowd. But in Seattle, my DC experience suddenly becomes valuable and something that sets me apart from the pack. Isn't it weird? If I didn't move to DC and have the experiences I did there, I wouldn't be qualified for this job that I just got in Seattle. Life's twists and turns never fail to captivate me.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
a fond farewell to North Seattle
First note, Seattle is a big city. I'm moving 11 miles south this weekend, but both addresses are well within the city limits. (For comparison, the city of Seattle is 91.5 square miles; DC is 61.4 square miles.) Now that we've got geography out of the way, let's move on to the real point of this post, which is to reflect fondly upon my time in the northern sector.
I have spent 7+ years of my life living in various northerly and westerly neighborhoods of Seattle, including Queen Anne, Wallingford, Ballard, and Ravenna. They all have great views of water and/or mountains, delicious coffee shops, fun walkable areas, lots of dogs, and people with a healthy sense of neighborhood pride.
As my time here winds down, I've been trying to take advantage of anything I may have missed about this part of town. Yesterday afternoon, I hopped on my roommate's bike and took a ride on the Burke-Gilman trail. I headed east and was treated to gorgeous views of Lake Washington and mountains, including (maybe) Mt. Baker, or some other mountain that looked noteworthy. However, I felt like a bike imposter because I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and regular tennis shoes while everyone else who zipped by was decked out in authentic cycling gear. I just pretended like I was European who was out for a meandering ride to the grocery store, and I was unfazed by the frequent calls of, "On your left!" as the speed racers whizzed by.
Last weekend Matt and I checked out Ravenna Park, 2009 winner of Seattle Weekly's "Best In-City Escape: North Seattle." Just like the award says, it's a great way to feel like you're in touch with nature when you're really a few blocks away from U-Village :) There's a ravine with a creek and a bunch of trails to walk around. I think it would make a great training area for backpacking, if you wanted to load a pack down and then run some hills to get in shape. On Friday, though, we stumbled upon a bunch of adults dressed up like elves, samurai, zombies, and more. They were involved in some sort of role-playing game where they whacked each other with foam swords, threw flour bombs, and cast spells. Some people had giant bug eyes and wings made out of cardboard, and they spoke in buzzy insect voices. There was an apparent leader who would call time-out as regular humans walked by. Then when the coast was clear, he'd yell "Fantasy!" and the game would begin again. People in Seattle are so creative!
All in all, it's been a great place to call home. I'm sure I'll still wander up north from time to time, but I'm also looking forward to exploring a new part of the city.
I have spent 7+ years of my life living in various northerly and westerly neighborhoods of Seattle, including Queen Anne, Wallingford, Ballard, and Ravenna. They all have great views of water and/or mountains, delicious coffee shops, fun walkable areas, lots of dogs, and people with a healthy sense of neighborhood pride.
As my time here winds down, I've been trying to take advantage of anything I may have missed about this part of town. Yesterday afternoon, I hopped on my roommate's bike and took a ride on the Burke-Gilman trail. I headed east and was treated to gorgeous views of Lake Washington and mountains, including (maybe) Mt. Baker, or some other mountain that looked noteworthy. However, I felt like a bike imposter because I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and regular tennis shoes while everyone else who zipped by was decked out in authentic cycling gear. I just pretended like I was European who was out for a meandering ride to the grocery store, and I was unfazed by the frequent calls of, "On your left!" as the speed racers whizzed by.
Last weekend Matt and I checked out Ravenna Park, 2009 winner of Seattle Weekly's "Best In-City Escape: North Seattle." Just like the award says, it's a great way to feel like you're in touch with nature when you're really a few blocks away from U-Village :) There's a ravine with a creek and a bunch of trails to walk around. I think it would make a great training area for backpacking, if you wanted to load a pack down and then run some hills to get in shape. On Friday, though, we stumbled upon a bunch of adults dressed up like elves, samurai, zombies, and more. They were involved in some sort of role-playing game where they whacked each other with foam swords, threw flour bombs, and cast spells. Some people had giant bug eyes and wings made out of cardboard, and they spoke in buzzy insect voices. There was an apparent leader who would call time-out as regular humans walked by. Then when the coast was clear, he'd yell "Fantasy!" and the game would begin again. People in Seattle are so creative!
All in all, it's been a great place to call home. I'm sure I'll still wander up north from time to time, but I'm also looking forward to exploring a new part of the city.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I like to move it, move it
No, not true, moving is not one of my favorite things. But the sublease is over and I've camped out in the basement of this cozy little house long enough, so it's time for me to find a new nest. Next stop: South Beacon Hill. Moving day is this Saturday. I can't wait to finally unpack and stop living out of boxes/suitcases!!!
About the new digs: huge house (6 bed, 3 bath) with a gorgeous kitchen, a deck with a view of Lake Washington and the Cascades, and the price is right. I'm in denial about the giant hill that stands between me and the light rail, though the station is only 3/4 mile away by foot. So far, I have met one of the current roommates, and he seemed normal. The house is populated by a mix of guys and girls who all claim to be nice people. If it gets crazy and dramatic, though, I have a plan to cope - I'll pretend like I'm on "Real World," set up a fake video camera in my closet, and be overly emotive as I describe all the problems going on in the house.
The neighborhood has a nice international vibe to it. I saw a couple businesses with signs in Amharic. Closest grocery store is a Viet-Wah, though when I stopped in the other day, I heard some customers speaking Spanish. What a cultural experience! Maybe I could get a job there and put my M.A. to good use...
About the new digs: huge house (6 bed, 3 bath) with a gorgeous kitchen, a deck with a view of Lake Washington and the Cascades, and the price is right. I'm in denial about the giant hill that stands between me and the light rail, though the station is only 3/4 mile away by foot. So far, I have met one of the current roommates, and he seemed normal. The house is populated by a mix of guys and girls who all claim to be nice people. If it gets crazy and dramatic, though, I have a plan to cope - I'll pretend like I'm on "Real World," set up a fake video camera in my closet, and be overly emotive as I describe all the problems going on in the house.
The neighborhood has a nice international vibe to it. I saw a couple businesses with signs in Amharic. Closest grocery store is a Viet-Wah, though when I stopped in the other day, I heard some customers speaking Spanish. What a cultural experience! Maybe I could get a job there and put my M.A. to good use...
Monday, August 24, 2009
Seattlites put their brains to good use
At a volunteer event today, I was chatting with a woman who mentioned she was trying to learn French. I told her about the Seattle Public Library's free online language classes. She thought it sounded very cool. When I said that all you need to access the program is your library card number and PIN, she proceeded to quote her 16-digit library card number from memory. Numeric literacy should not be underestimated - impressive!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
embracing nature
This past weekend, I joined a group of intrepid explorers on an overnight backpacking trip to Summit Lake. Although I was excited about the trip, I was also a tad bit apprehensive in the days leading up to departure (par for the course...see blog url for further reference). Here are just a few of the things I was concerned about.
Dangers in the Woods!
bears
mountain lions
mosquitoes
getting lost
having a bad time
drinking contaminated water; contracting parasite
injury
illness
peeing on my shoes
rain
starvation
dehydration
sunburn
spiders and other dangerous critters
in general, being at the mercy of the elements and cut off from civilization
Turns out, I didn't need to be worried about most of those things. (But as I asked Matt, if I don't worry about events, then what am I supposed to think about?) Sure, there are legitimate differences one encounters spending 24+ hours in the forest instead of a house. But I learned that proper preparation can set you up for success. Here's what I should have been concerned about, things that didn't cross my mind much beforehand.
Non-dangerous, real concerns
Carrying gear (solution: borrow a real hiking backpack and transfer gear in the morning before leaving town. Also, get stronger people to help with the heavy stuff.)
Staying warm (solution: mooch extra layers off the better-prepared hikers)
Sleeping (solution: don't worry about it - you've been sleep deprived before, and you can take a nap when you get home)
Taking good pictures in low light conditions (solution: learn how to manipulate PowerShot settings or ask for a better camera for Christmas)
I also learned that backpacking as a group is fun, and you can work together to literally lighten each other's loads. It was a wonderful trip. I did indeed feel cut off from civilization, but in a good way. Can't wait to hit the trails again!
a view of Summit Lake
Dangers in the Woods!
bears
mountain lions
mosquitoes
getting lost
having a bad time
drinking contaminated water; contracting parasite
injury
illness
peeing on my shoes
rain
starvation
dehydration
sunburn
spiders and other dangerous critters
in general, being at the mercy of the elements and cut off from civilization
Turns out, I didn't need to be worried about most of those things. (But as I asked Matt, if I don't worry about events, then what am I supposed to think about?) Sure, there are legitimate differences one encounters spending 24+ hours in the forest instead of a house. But I learned that proper preparation can set you up for success. Here's what I should have been concerned about, things that didn't cross my mind much beforehand.
Non-dangerous, real concerns
Carrying gear (solution: borrow a real hiking backpack and transfer gear in the morning before leaving town. Also, get stronger people to help with the heavy stuff.)
Staying warm (solution: mooch extra layers off the better-prepared hikers)
Sleeping (solution: don't worry about it - you've been sleep deprived before, and you can take a nap when you get home)
Taking good pictures in low light conditions (solution: learn how to manipulate PowerShot settings or ask for a better camera for Christmas)
I also learned that backpacking as a group is fun, and you can work together to literally lighten each other's loads. It was a wonderful trip. I did indeed feel cut off from civilization, but in a good way. Can't wait to hit the trails again!
a view of Summit Lake
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