Some Perspective

Hi, readers! I apologize for the delay in posting. I also anticipate being a bit lax in posting during the upcoming month, too, because I'm about to undertake my first NaNoWriMo! And I think that most of my November free time to write will go towards that endeavor. :) Please harass me often to make sure I haven't been slacking on it!

Here's a little update on me:

I've just returned from a quick weekend conference to Napa, California, for my official first time on the West Coast! It was a workshop about running service-learning programs in the classroom, and filled me with lots of LGU flashbacks and memories. :) While the service program at our school is still very small, this was a fantastic opportunity to meet a lot of established Lasallian educators who know all about running Service Learning, and who were bursting with experience to share on getting out program up and flourishing.

In addition to being a great networking time, it was also a really useful reaffirmation of the importance of the work I've come here to do. I've been getting bogged down at times, so being surrounded by so many others who have made social justice issues their life's work was a welcome boost of energy. While it wasn't really a retreat, there was also some built in time for reflection (one of the focuses of Service-Learning!) and sharing with other members of the workshop, and I had some much-needed chances to simply recharge and recenter myself on this volunteer year. It was in an absolutely beautiful spot, too- right on the hills of a winery. Still- I was so thrilled to see water and actual trees when we first landed that I probably would have thought anything outside of the desert was beautiful. (It's gorgeous here too, but in it's own way).

All things considered, it was a really nice trip that came at a good point in my year. It was a reminder of my passions of undertaking this crazy ride in the first place. I didn't get to see everything I hoped (missing the Golden Gate bridge is my new equivalent of being close to Paris in '08 and never getting there...) but that's okay, because there's still 6.5 months left in my year, and adventure is only a flight, drive, or brisk walk away!

Oh, one last thing: my layover on the way back was in Las Vegas, my first time there too. The airport was packed full of slot machines and old people in wheelchairs. It was so strange. I was really tempted to use one of the machines just to say I'd gambled in Vegas, but I only had four quarters and spent most of the layover eating food, so I didn't. This probably says something about my life.

Always, Catherine

High School #2

This weekend has been the homecoming of the school where I'm working, which has been a fun blur of dress up days, screaming pep rallies, a candlelight 'tradition ceremony' and getting to see full out the pride so many El Pasoans have for their alma mater.

It's also been a unique opportunity to look back on my own high school career, which still feels like it's just barely past, and a time I think about often. Homecoming at my school was always a huge deal: competitions among the four classes that culminated at the football game in floats and skits that at the time seemed to be the biggest project imaginable. I look back and marvel about the many hours spent making paper flowers, often fun but also a source of great tension and bickering. Why had we cared so much?

Since I know my time here is temporary, I feel like a visitor to the space on the other side of the high school world: one of conferences and copy machines, elevator keys and professional titles. I often feel like a fake adult, but I don't think that's unique to someone in  my position, we're all just guessing our way along to some extent.

Some highlights from this week:

On Thursday, we went with members of the service club to drop off books they'd collected for a local non-profit. I don't know exactly how the dress up themes worked, but on that day all the seniors came in wearing togas. So we come parading in to this daycare center/library and they must have looked like storybook characters to the confused and fascinated little kids.

The pep rallies were intense, over the top screaming matches and dance-offs, generally a testosterone packed gymnasium. They competed in physical challenges and shows of spirit through synchronized cheers. One of my favorite parts was this dance-off where each class sent out a representative. As usual, the seniors were winning, but their champion was this shorter kid in a monkey mask. He did all this crazy footwork and all sorts of hyped up 'come at me, bro' gestures. The crowd went wild!

The tradition ceremony was a really nice idea, where everyone had candles. The flame started with the Brothers community, passed to alumni, who passed it to the seniors, who then in turn passed it to the freshmen. They had this energetic recent alum give a keynote speech, and an important faculty member who's been in the hospital even was there in the form of a video message. The cool part for me is that the LVs were included in the part where the Brothers lit the first candles, and I even lit the original candle from a lighter. It felt very important.

Last night was the homecoming game itself, and afterwards, a traditional Mexican tamalada. Something interesting they do around here is if anyone has a date to the dance, they wear these GIANT bow creations around their necks (girls) or arms (boys). It's a thing you buy for your date, like a corsage, but you wear it the whole day before the dance too. I think there's an unwritten rule that the more elaborate and expensive of the bow-thing, the more you supposedly care about your date. They were pretty but I think a bit excessive. The tamalada afterwards was mostly for alumni, and a nice time for them all to catch up with each other. The food was really good, but I did feel out of place.

I've experienced a lot of bittersweet nostalgia this week, and felt old in more ways than one, but I think it's served as an important lesson. I had my share of regrets coming out of high school, some that have bothered me longer than necessary. Being here on the faculty has taught me to lighten up and appreciate the time for what it is: brief, formative, awkward and a roller coaster for everyone. It doesn't need to be taken that seriously. At the same time, remembering my own experiences is a reminder of how very serious issues can seem to students as they're in the middle of them. It's a lesson in empathy and compassion, and one I hope to keep centered as this year continues.

Life Lately: Having Fun

Hi readers! It's been more than a week since my past post, and for that I apologize. I keep thinking of things to write about but don't set aside the time to put it out here for you.

There were a couple of cool events that happened since I last posted. One of them was that I went on my first community service project with the service group I moderate at school. We went to the Ronald McDonald House, located conveniently right across the street. They have gone there frequently in past years, and while this year are hoping to branch out to other organizations, were still interested in going back.

Service groups have been a favorite part of my high school and college experiences, and now going as a moderator was no exception. It was many of the student's first time visiting the organization, so I was able to experience the service project through their eyes as well. Our intended purpose of volunteering was to cook a meal for the children and their families staying at the house. The students brought the food we prepared- spaghetti and meat sauce, and garlic bread. It turned out great, but since so many students wanted to volunteer, we faced an example of 'too many cooks in the kitchen'. Turns out it doesn't take 15 kids to make a pot of pasta.

But they were there and eager to help, so with the volunteer coordinator on site, we managed to find a number of other odd jobs to help with. They watered several gardens and plants outside of the building, as well as washed down the organization's van. As could be expected, this turned into a wet mess with a couple of rouge hose sprays, but at the end the car was gleaming bright.

Our timing of cooking the food was a bit off, as was the amounts we'd prepared, but the guests who were there were certainly grateful for a night off from cooking. For me, the best part of the afternoon was getting to interact in a service setting with the student volunteers. We'd been able to meet and talk with them about service plans for the past two months now, and it was wonderful to actually be there during the project itself. I am always inspired by getting to work with non-profits, and seeing the students experience that similar joy was another sort of privilege. I'm definitely looking forward to their next project!

The second fun update: yesterday morning I went hiking to a place called the 'Aztec caves', and then played some Ultimate Frisbee! Hiking is the sort of adventure I'm accustomed to, joining an organized sports game was a whole other challenge.

Both of these adventures happened with a couple of wonderful new friends. I've been wanting to hike in the Franklin Mountains surrounding El Paso ever since I arrived 2 months ago, and was so excited to actually go. It was a chillier morning than I've been accustomed to, but definitely warmed up as we scrambled up the mountain. Everything was also so green, a result of the excessive rain this season. There were wildflowers and buzzing bees everywhere. The view at the top of the mountain was spectacular, we were afforded a beautiful view of El Paso and Juarez. The caves themselves were also fantastic- it looked like something out of a storybook. There were also a couple of ancient cave paintings on the walls! They were just out there in the open to the elements and tourists, which I thought was shocking but pretty cool.

After we conquered the caves, which only took about 2 hours, the friends I was with invited me to go play Ultimate Frisbee with a team they're on. They'd asked me to come before, but since I consider myself pretty horrible at anything involving a field and hand-eye coordination, I'd always declined. This time, though, with my athletic gear already on, and nothing to do for the rest of the day, I somehow found excuses harder to come by. I went.

It was an informal pick-up league sort of team, but everyone on it still seemed really good to me. I practiced throwing the disc around for a while on the sidelines, and sooner than I'd expected, was called in to replace someone who wanted a break. It was terrifying! I made a bunch of mistakes, but all throughout some of the more experienced players were giving me advice and encouragement. No one ever put me down, even when I threw the disc into the dirt on a short pass. A few times, I even properly caught and threw the disc (they don't call it a Frisbee), which may seem a silly accomplishment, but gave me the confidence to stick it out.

While the whole game was stressful, it was also fun in a way I hadn't expected. I'm still really apprehensive with any sort of competitive sport, but I think I'll probably go back. It was such a welcoming environment, and this seems as good a time as any to really try out something new.

I'll let you know how it goes- who knows, maybe this year will make an athlete of me yet. (Ha!)

Thank you, always, for reading. :)