New Beginnings
New Year's eve is supposed mark then end of one era and the beginning of another. This new era often lasts a matter of days, and sometimes only minutes. Waking up with hangover and no memory of what fantastic plans you had for the coming year is hardly the best way to start something and the perfect way to slip back into what you were trying to leave behind. Someone should really do a study on the relationship between failed resolutions and hangovers.
My New Years came about two months late. I watched the ball drop, and tragically did not watch Prince chasing Lincoln chasing a Green Bay Packer. Nothing else really changed though. Everything I wanted to leave behind stuck with me, until last week.
Last week was the week of new beginnings. It felt like spring, even tough it was so cold I couldn't feel much, that is until I got back inside and any exposed skin let me know that it didn't appreciate the weather. But somehow, at a VISTA conference that I was not looking forward to, things turned around.
I met new people, I drank (for free), I wandered around swanky jazz club and was offered free food. Free wine and free food accompanied by live music; this sort of thing does not happen to people making $4 an hour. It was also amazing to be in a room with people making a difference, hearing their stories of success and struggle, and simply knowing that for every person burning a church or an embassy there were as many people creating positive change. I learned a little, met some people, watched the Olympics (at least until my retinas were scarred by the figure skating zebra man) and am ready for part two of the VISTA experience.
My VISTA work itself should be much better too, especially since I will have actual work to do. My new supervisor can't get much better. She has done more in a week than the old supervisor did in months. Most importantly, I am excited. The monotony of last year dragged well into this year, but spring showed up early.
My New Years came about two months late. I watched the ball drop, and tragically did not watch Prince chasing Lincoln chasing a Green Bay Packer. Nothing else really changed though. Everything I wanted to leave behind stuck with me, until last week.
Last week was the week of new beginnings. It felt like spring, even tough it was so cold I couldn't feel much, that is until I got back inside and any exposed skin let me know that it didn't appreciate the weather. But somehow, at a VISTA conference that I was not looking forward to, things turned around.
I met new people, I drank (for free), I wandered around swanky jazz club and was offered free food. Free wine and free food accompanied by live music; this sort of thing does not happen to people making $4 an hour. It was also amazing to be in a room with people making a difference, hearing their stories of success and struggle, and simply knowing that for every person burning a church or an embassy there were as many people creating positive change. I learned a little, met some people, watched the Olympics (at least until my retinas were scarred by the figure skating zebra man) and am ready for part two of the VISTA experience.
My VISTA work itself should be much better too, especially since I will have actual work to do. My new supervisor can't get much better. She has done more in a week than the old supervisor did in months. Most importantly, I am excited. The monotony of last year dragged well into this year, but spring showed up early.
