Today I had work at a Boys and Girls club close to Nic and I's old house. We did a group presentation and it lasted about an hour. Fairly typical. It went pretty well. Future Builders is ordering some more tests so that we will be able to resume testing soon.
Nic and I also confirmed that we will be going to work at Heifer Ranch in the fall! We will be in Rutland, MA, working as educators. We will also be getting up early in the morning to milk cows and feed chickens. In addition, we will have to invest in some water/snow proof workboots upon arrival... =) We will be there from August 25th until December 17th.
Yay!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Good and bad things
Unfortunately, Nic and I were deferred from the Peace Corps for three months because Nic was recently injured. This means that we will not be going to Benin, and because there are not very many departures in the winter, we will likely not be going to any country with the Peace Corps until the spring. Initially, I suffered a lot of grieving and heartache. I was not at all happy about the fact that I would be idling. I am not the type of person that handles the waiting game very well; I like to have my future events relatively structured and planned. I like knowing that I will have a job in two months, etc. However, Nic and I decided that we should open our ears and eyes to jobs that we can dedicate ourselves to for several months.
In the meantime, I am working for Future Builders, Inc, a non-profit organization that does HIV/AIDS outreach. The group functions largely on grants, and actually, our focus groups right now for HIV/AIDS testing/counseling is the homeless and youth. As a huge perk, we Future Builder volunteers were trained by the Health Department to be certified HIV testers/counselors. We're certified, and have little certificates that we can show off in the event that we would need to, or someone doubts our words. Right now, though, these certificates are at Future Builders. One of the best things about the job is getting to talk to people; people have some incredible, smart, cool, quirky, painful, sad, and angering stories to tell about their lives. It is amazing how strong some people are.
And, after Future Builders, Nic and I would like to go to Heifer Ranch. We have applied for Education positions and right now are going through the formalities. We are waiting on some forms that we have to fax back in so that we can get a background check, and then there is some stuff we have to sign, and, finally, we need to buy plane tickets. I get paid on Thursday/Friday, and, if ticket prices stay close to the same to what they are, that check should cover my ticket and at least part of Nic's. We'll see. I hate worrying about money, but I spend a lot of time doing it. It seems hopeful and exciting. I am not going to get too excited just yet about the Heifer job, because I fell in love with Benin and then was not able to go. I am going to wait until I've got the confirmation in writing and on the phone that we're good to go, and until we have the plane tickets in our hands and our bags packed, before I truly get excited.
But believe me, when I get excited about this, I plan on jumping for joy. I am going to learn so much.
And! We will be there during harvest season!
In the meantime, I am working for Future Builders, Inc, a non-profit organization that does HIV/AIDS outreach. The group functions largely on grants, and actually, our focus groups right now for HIV/AIDS testing/counseling is the homeless and youth. As a huge perk, we Future Builder volunteers were trained by the Health Department to be certified HIV testers/counselors. We're certified, and have little certificates that we can show off in the event that we would need to, or someone doubts our words. Right now, though, these certificates are at Future Builders. One of the best things about the job is getting to talk to people; people have some incredible, smart, cool, quirky, painful, sad, and angering stories to tell about their lives. It is amazing how strong some people are.
And, after Future Builders, Nic and I would like to go to Heifer Ranch. We have applied for Education positions and right now are going through the formalities. We are waiting on some forms that we have to fax back in so that we can get a background check, and then there is some stuff we have to sign, and, finally, we need to buy plane tickets. I get paid on Thursday/Friday, and, if ticket prices stay close to the same to what they are, that check should cover my ticket and at least part of Nic's. We'll see. I hate worrying about money, but I spend a lot of time doing it. It seems hopeful and exciting. I am not going to get too excited just yet about the Heifer job, because I fell in love with Benin and then was not able to go. I am going to wait until I've got the confirmation in writing and on the phone that we're good to go, and until we have the plane tickets in our hands and our bags packed, before I truly get excited.
But believe me, when I get excited about this, I plan on jumping for joy. I am going to learn so much.
And! We will be there during harvest season!
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