Because we seem to have been perpetual motion machines lately, I am really looking forward to our time in Kentucky.
Since December of 2005, we have put almost 45,000 miles on our Corolla. If you figure an average of 60 miles per hour for all of those 45,000 miles, that means we've spent about 750 hours driving in the past nineteen months. 750 HOURS. And that's just one car.
I'm not saying that it's bad to be on the go--most busy people I know accomplish amazing things. I'm just not one of those people. I like to stay home. I like to read. I like to walk around outside with no specific destination or purpose. I like to sit and do nothing on occasion.
So I am looking forward to having a year when we're not driving all over creation and when we don't have to be out each night of the week. I am excited about being a one-car family for a while. I am happy thinking that we'll get to really know the people in our church. Hopefully I'll manage to make good on my resolution to write more letters. And maybe I'll get to wipe the recurring panic from my brain.
23 July 2007
21 June 2007
point of clarification
Ok. I guess I need to clarify something.
In my last post, I mentioned that Eric and I would be staying in the upstairs of the Zoochi House. This apparently left at least one person wondering, after looking at the picture of the house, "How can they possibly stay in the upstairs of a one-story building?"
Don't worry--we won't be living in a crawl space!
The building does, in fact, have two stories. The top floor is shown in the picture--that's where we'll be living. The lower level is built into the hill. It's not very clear, but at the far right of the picture, you can see a railing for the outside steps that lead down to the lower level. There's also a set of steps inside, so if there are people living downstairs that we really like, it'll be easy to visit them!
So that's that. Sorry for the confusion!
In my last post, I mentioned that Eric and I would be staying in the upstairs of the Zoochi House. This apparently left at least one person wondering, after looking at the picture of the house, "How can they possibly stay in the upstairs of a one-story building?"
Don't worry--we won't be living in a crawl space!
The building does, in fact, have two stories. The top floor is shown in the picture--that's where we'll be living. The lower level is built into the hill. It's not very clear, but at the far right of the picture, you can see a railing for the outside steps that lead down to the lower level. There's also a set of steps inside, so if there are people living downstairs that we really like, it'll be easy to visit them!
So that's that. Sorry for the confusion!
14 June 2007
living quarters
Well, it's official: we're going to be living in the upstairs of the Zoochi House.
The apartment is fully furnished, right down to the dishes, meaning that we don't have to bring any of that stuff with us. This is EXCELLENT. More car space for my clothes! No, just kidding. I will probably be leaving a good chunk of my clothes up north, too. One of the things I'm really looking forward to is the fact that we'll be able shed a lot of our belongings--even if it is only temporary.
Another excellent thing will be our view. The Zoochi House is right at the top of the hill that overlooks the valley where the cows are pastured and where some of the settlement buildings are. We saw it only once, when it was snowy-ish, but I am imagining that it is also beautiful in the spring, summer, and fall!
The only disappointing thing is that we can't take Amelie with us--Henderson Settlement doesn't allow pets in the volunteer housing. I don't blame them at all, but it would've been nice to be able to have our cat back! We'll just have to look extra hard for cat-friendly housing when we return. Or....is anyone out there looking for a feline friend?
The apartment is fully furnished, right down to the dishes, meaning that we don't have to bring any of that stuff with us. This is EXCELLENT. More car space for my clothes! No, just kidding. I will probably be leaving a good chunk of my clothes up north, too. One of the things I'm really looking forward to is the fact that we'll be able shed a lot of our belongings--even if it is only temporary.
Another excellent thing will be our view. The Zoochi House is right at the top of the hill that overlooks the valley where the cows are pastured and where some of the settlement buildings are. We saw it only once, when it was snowy-ish, but I am imagining that it is also beautiful in the spring, summer, and fall!
The only disappointing thing is that we can't take Amelie with us--Henderson Settlement doesn't allow pets in the volunteer housing. I don't blame them at all, but it would've been nice to be able to have our cat back! We'll just have to look extra hard for cat-friendly housing when we return. Or....is anyone out there looking for a feline friend?
13 May 2007
what am I gonna do?
Since Eric has already let y'all know what he's going to be doing at Henderson Settlement, I figured I'd better catch up!
I will be working in the Outreach Department. If you take a look at that link, you'll see that there are a whole bunch of programs in this department, and I am excited about that! When we went to visit, they mentioned to me specifically about the after-school program and the mothers and infants program, so my guess is that I'll be spending a pretty good amount of time with those programs. (I'm not so sure how much help I'll be in giving advice about infants, but we shall see!) They also mentioned that I might be substituting at the day care center on days that they might be short-staffed, so that should be good, too.
I think it's good that I'll be working with children again. I've found that sometimes when I go to work and I'm really cranky, it's when I hang out with the kids that I feel better.
And the library. Awesome. There's already a librarian down there who's a permanent (I think) volunteer, so I won't be heading it up, but I'm excited to help her with anything she needs or substitute if she takes some time off.
I have to say, though, that one thing that I'm really excited about is the variety of things that I could potentially be doing in this department. I could be working in the second-hand clothing store, the food pantry, and/or the adult literacy program. Or maybe I'll be working with the community newsletter or the women's group or the exercise classes (hahahahahaha!). I'm looking forward to trying a little of anything they want me to do!
I will be working in the Outreach Department. If you take a look at that link, you'll see that there are a whole bunch of programs in this department, and I am excited about that! When we went to visit, they mentioned to me specifically about the after-school program and the mothers and infants program, so my guess is that I'll be spending a pretty good amount of time with those programs. (I'm not so sure how much help I'll be in giving advice about infants, but we shall see!) They also mentioned that I might be substituting at the day care center on days that they might be short-staffed, so that should be good, too.
I think it's good that I'll be working with children again. I've found that sometimes when I go to work and I'm really cranky, it's when I hang out with the kids that I feel better.
And the library. Awesome. There's already a librarian down there who's a permanent (I think) volunteer, so I won't be heading it up, but I'm excited to help her with anything she needs or substitute if she takes some time off.
I have to say, though, that one thing that I'm really excited about is the variety of things that I could potentially be doing in this department. I could be working in the second-hand clothing store, the food pantry, and/or the adult literacy program. Or maybe I'll be working with the community newsletter or the women's group or the exercise classes (hahahahahaha!). I'm looking forward to trying a little of anything they want me to do!
10 May 2007
Done
I have completed my requirements for my Masters of Social Work degree. No more classes, No more papers, No more internship (I will still be there this summer I will just get a paycheck now).
I see what we will be doing as social work, even if I will be working on a farm. As of now I will be working in the farming department at Henderson. They have a herd of charlais beef cattle, several pigs, as well as greenhouses and an apple orchard. With the cattle and swine they have a program where individuals who want to support the people near Henderson will pay the cost of feed and caretaking for the animals and when it comes time for butchering low income families will apply to purchase the animals at a reduced cost to provide food for the long term.
The economy of the area has been traditionally based on coal and timber. As these resources have been depleted is has become part of Henderson's mission to educate local individuals on different opportunities for land use. This along with providing a minimal income are the goals of the greenhouses and orchard.
I will be glad to be returning to farm work, I have some experience with cattle and greenhouses but the pigs will be a new adventure.
I see what we will be doing as social work, even if I will be working on a farm. As of now I will be working in the farming department at Henderson. They have a herd of charlais beef cattle, several pigs, as well as greenhouses and an apple orchard. With the cattle and swine they have a program where individuals who want to support the people near Henderson will pay the cost of feed and caretaking for the animals and when it comes time for butchering low income families will apply to purchase the animals at a reduced cost to provide food for the long term.
The economy of the area has been traditionally based on coal and timber. As these resources have been depleted is has become part of Henderson's mission to educate local individuals on different opportunities for land use. This along with providing a minimal income are the goals of the greenhouses and orchard.
I will be glad to be returning to farm work, I have some experience with cattle and greenhouses but the pigs will be a new adventure.
26 April 2007
happy/sad
We have been so antsy to get going on our adventure, but today was the first that I realized that there's sadness, too, in leaving my current work behind.
Some days I get frustrated at my job, but I love it. Tonight it hit me that I'm actually going to be sad to leave it. I work with amazing co-workers and incredible kids. I will miss them. I still have so much to learn from them. Hopefully I can pack all that learning into the next few months.
Some days I get frustrated at my job, but I love it. Tonight it hit me that I'm actually going to be sad to leave it. I work with amazing co-workers and incredible kids. I will miss them. I still have so much to learn from them. Hopefully I can pack all that learning into the next few months.
24 April 2007
why
A few weeks ago, Jim from work said that he was curious as to why two young people would leave promising careers to be unpaid volunteers. He wanted to know what it was about the organization that convinced us to do this.
That's a really good question.
When I thought about it, I realized that it was less about the organization than it was about something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. I was brought up in a home that was very centered around faith in God. There are a lot of things about faith that I struggle with and a lot of things that don't make sense to me, but one thing that I am absolutely sure of is that service to others is a huge part of honoring God. This is a part of faith that I can do--something that isn't just in my head.
When I was a senior in high school, I wrote a paper for which I interviewed five missionaries (two sets of couples and another woman). It was a chance for me to understand what being a missionary meant. And I liked it. I like the idea of using my abilities to serve other people. It makes sense.
I know that it's possible to do service and still have a career, but I kind of suck at that. For a little while, at least, I want it to be my career to do service.
So. There are people in Appalachia that need help, and I can potentially help them. I want to try.
That's a really good question.
When I thought about it, I realized that it was less about the organization than it was about something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. I was brought up in a home that was very centered around faith in God. There are a lot of things about faith that I struggle with and a lot of things that don't make sense to me, but one thing that I am absolutely sure of is that service to others is a huge part of honoring God. This is a part of faith that I can do--something that isn't just in my head.
When I was a senior in high school, I wrote a paper for which I interviewed five missionaries (two sets of couples and another woman). It was a chance for me to understand what being a missionary meant. And I liked it. I like the idea of using my abilities to serve other people. It makes sense.
I know that it's possible to do service and still have a career, but I kind of suck at that. For a little while, at least, I want it to be my career to do service.
So. There are people in Appalachia that need help, and I can potentially help them. I want to try.
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