May 1st - SURPRISE! New and unexpected homework assignment...
Last Thursday, we were all abuzz and in great moods to celebrate our last day of class for the semester! Well, we still had one more "class" during finals week that involved people giving presentations of their papers for the semester (since I presented at the Graduate Research Conference, I was exempt from the paper...), but for the most part, classes were done. Thank goodness. Classes and work were done, that is, until our professor gave us an 8-page paper to do as a final on the last day of class! Our response, clearly, was, "What? Uh...no, you can't give us a paper to do on the last day of class." Unfortunately, since there was a small notice about some sort of final exam (last semester in the same class, it was a small discussion) and since we had been completing our evaluations of the program and somewhat complaining that we have not been challenged nearly enough, our teacher thought it would be a great idea to challenge us on the last day of class. It was one big "Hah!" at the end. Well, not appreciated! We all, however, bit it and got it done. Julia and I did an impeccable job (we worked in partners) on designing programs for a Brazilian neighborhood that we've never been to, never researched, and where we don't know a soul. Great "real-life" exercise. Hah.
May 2nd - IYFD Retreat
Last week Friday, we had our IYFD retreat at Granite Hot Springs in the Bitterroot. It was amazing. We all had the chance to get together and appreciate our faculty and each other. We had a gigantic potluck with so much great food that we were not even close to finishing it. Our accommodations for the evening were a cute little cabin alongside a creek that ran through the property. We had a sleepover!!!!! The next morning, those of us who were still around went on a great hike and picked up tons of ticks! Yuck.....even after checking over each other a few times and shaking out our clothes, Kendra still picked one off my neck as I was driving. Gross. Check out the pictures. Also, for faculty appreciation, we split into groups and each got a different faculty member. Our group got to appreciate Otto, and we decided to spell out his name, snap a picture, and frame an 8 x 10. The picture turned out amazing!
May 2nd - May 11th - REI Sale - wahooooo
Yay! Because I heart REI and because their sale began, I bought a new tent, a pair of Chaco's, a backpack cover, a pack towel, etc. Good times. Now I am just waiting for it all to arrive in the Missoula store. It better get here before Wednesday!!! I feel so outdoorsy, and somewhat more prepared for the Philippines, as I will bring all of it with me - yay!
May 8th - Finals done!
So, this past Thursday marked the last last last day of class...for real. No more surprise assignments, deadlines, or presentations. (Well, besides my professional project, but let's just pretend that there are no deadlines for that.....). We were so sad. Okay, really, we were not sad to be done with classes.
May 8th - Last cohort night
So, Thursday night in celebration of classes being done with, we went out to celebrate some great friendships. Kendra and Matthew left on a two-week roadtrip the day after, and since Lindsay and I are leaving for the midwest this week, it was the last time our cohort will be together! So sad. Considering the absolutely amazing friendships I have made here, I am so sad that it will be awhile before we're all together again...if we are. Anyways, Thursday night we had a splendid evening. We all dressed up (like, dressed up.....not Missoula-style dressed up) and went out to the Kettlehouse, the Red Bird, Biga Pizza, and Al's & Vic's. Some of our favorites! Feel free to check out the pictures if you dare. They get a little rowdy at the end. Such great friends.
May 10th - Farmer's market, 406 shirt, Joshua's birthday party
Saturday morning was just a fantastic morning in Missoula. Since Lindsay and I are leaving on Thursday, we wanted to make sure to hit the Farmer's Market one last time (and for the first time this season, unfortunately). So sad, because summer in Missoula is amazing. It's just the winter that sucks! Good to know, for any of you who might ever visit Missoula. Anyways, no purchases at the farmer's market besides a lovely Chai Tea (might as well treat myself). The market was crazy though because of graduation weekend (everyone's parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. were in town - no joke!). I bet the population of Missoula doubled for the weekend. After, we headed to the Artisan's Market two blocks down to check out the goods. Good thing, because Lindsay and I were able to purchase our matching 406 shirts to wear on the roadtrip home. For those of you who don't know, 406 is the area code for the entire state of Montana. That's right, ladies and gentlemen. All that land is covered simply by one area code. This is because less people live in the entire state of Montana (957,861) than in the metropolitan area of Milwaukee (about 1.1 million). So, now we have 406 shirts to wear on the roadtrip! Wahoo! Saturday evening, we were invited to camp in the Rattlesnake in celebration of Joshua's 30th birthday. As we were all tired (Julia, Lindsay, and I), we decided not to camp but to hike up there anyways. So, we headed to the Rattlesnake trailhead and hiked the three miles to the campsite. As I am slightly afraid of darkness (outside), bears, and walking through the woods....it would make sense that I would be scared out of my mind of being attacked by bears as we walked through the woods in the dark. Well, after spending some time at the campfire eating Rice Krispie treats, we decided that we better get back to the car (it was 10:30, so as you can imagine, it was pretty darn dark out. Eeeeeek. The good news is that there were no bear encounters or attacks. However, there was one point where we were walking past an open field, and I turned to shine the headlamp, and there were reflections of little beady eyes looking back at us. There must have been at least ten pair of eyes. I have no clue what they were - perhaps deer? Who knows? But, we made it back safely, thank goodness. We also had a great time celebrating Joshua's birthday!
May 11th (today!)- Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday to Alison!
Miscellaneous - GUTS! and AmeriCorps hours done (Helloooooo, $1000!). MAC volunteering done. Potlucks, potlucks, potlucks.
Yes, I have finished my AmeriCorps hours at the YWCA, completing a total of about 305 hours throughout the year in the GUTS! program and the Pathways program as a children's advocate. As soon as the paperwork is finished, I will be awarded my $1000 education award that I'll be able to use toward future tuition and/or loan payments. Nice. Community service pays off in more ways than one. For the closing of my service, I was required to write a "Great Story" for AmeriCorps that explains what my year of service was all about. Check it out at the end of this posting. I've also finished my hours at Missoula AIDS Council. All in all, I completed more than 90 hours. Wow, and it was amazing experience. I absolutely loved it. Annnnd, finally, more potlucks! All the time, more potlucks. My dad is worried that I'll go through potluck withdrawal once I leave Montana. It may be true.
The upcoming week.
Today and tomorrow, I am trying to get my life in order before taking off on Thursday. We've rented a U-Haul to be pulled behind Jenna the Jetta. Hopefully she will be able to do the work! We'll be planning our itinerary for the way home tomorrow, so then we'll know more about what we'll be doing, where we're going, etc. Tuesday night, we'll head up to Seeley Lake to go camping for the evening. I've heard it's beautiful - don't worry, I'll take pictures. Wednesday, we'll return and pack up our lives, hang out with people one last time, and ya know, maybe cry a little. Thursday, I'll head over to Lindsay's with the car and U-Haul and we'll pack up her belongings. Cross your fingers that there will be enough room! So, that's what it looks like! Eek. Sad. But I can't wait to see ya'll in Wisconsin.
Great Story
“Are you a children’s advocate?” The little face popped out from the doorway as I entered the shelter. The smile across his face was beautiful, and it was clear that he was ready for some play time.
“Mayyyyyybe,” I replied, returning a big smile. By his smirk, it was obvious that he knew what I was there for—fun, games, movies, walking, going to the park, or anything that is supposed to constitute and be part of a typical childhood.
With that, he replaced his glasses on his face—glasses that were attached to a fake large nose and bushy mustache. “Look at me!”
“Where’d you go? I don’t see you anymore? Has anyone seen him?” I teased.
“I’m right here!!! We went to the dollar store today, and mom bought me this mask!” he said confidently.
“Wow, it’s really cool! Can I try them on?” With a reassuring look, he handed over the glasses. Once I had them on, I could not stop his giggles.
My time spent at the YWCA at Missoula has been split between working as a children’s advocate at the Pathways Shelter for abused women and children and as a co-facilitator for a middle school GUTS! (Girls Using Their Strengths!) group at Washington Middle School. Through both programs, I have seen significant changes in the kids that I have worked with. In GUTS!, I have formed relationships with girls in the program who may not have other female mentors or examples of female success within their own lives. I have helped the girls to identify their own strengths and values, set goals, and accept challenges. Through working with two other amazing co-facilitators, I have learned the value of teamwork and collaboration to truly relate to each girl within the group. Guiltily, I may have learned more through my GUTS! experience than our sixth-grade girls did, but I graciously realize that ultimately it is these activities that they participate in now that will truly make a difference later in their lives.
As a children’s advocate, I have done weekly “Circle of Peace” groups that are open to any child who has experienced domestic violence or abuse within the Missoula community. I have also conducted weekly “Movie Nights” at the YWCA shelter, where women and their children may reside for up to 60 days. While giving up my Friday nights was at first daunting, it helped me to see into the window of families and women who do not plan their week based on their social events, who are striving each day to find a job and provide for their children, and who truly love their children but sometimes just do not have any experience in successful parenting. Through working in both the children’s groups and at the shelter, I have learned about the drastic affects of domestic violence on both children and abused partners. As my heart reaches out to these children each week, I have learned a lot about myself as well. Through working with those who have experienced domestic violence, I have gained an awareness, but not an understanding, of an issue that is so complex and confusing from an outsider’s perspective.
It is this awareness and care that has kept me coming back each week to watch movies, play games, and simply hang out with the children. I love when they have a new mask to show me, or a new game to play, or a movie that they really want to see. They keep me grounded and show me what is truly important in life.
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