The Sky is Falling!

Starting around Easter, things got really busy at work. At first, I stocked it up to the multiple days off of work, the changes going on in the DAI and a couple of special events that I was in charge of. Now, several weeks later, I am beginning to think that this is actually normal. That the slow, quiet days of February and March were the exception, not the rule.

I don't mind being busy, in fact, I quite enjoy it. My days just fly by in a flurry of phone calls, emails, power point presentations, books and library patrons. I have now successfully transferred 2 calls without accidentally hanging up on anyone. I have, with a fair amount of confidence, advised students and parents alike on subjects ranging from visa information to how to find an internship to how to look for a college to possible summer jobs.

here

And in the midst of this high-tempo multi-tasking, there never ceases to be any number of crazy things that happen. I'll set the stage for you: It was about 4:30 in the afternoon, I was sitting at the front desk, with my email open to the newest information from the consulate on exchanges, with a word document open with a list of children's picture books to order, and a new library member waiting for me to process his library card (can I please briefly interject to tell you how much I enjoy laminating cards? Its a strange joy that I simply can't explain). While I was doing all of this, some other DAI employees were moving tables, setting up for a reading and discussion with a relatively famous author which took place later that evening.

A miscalculation.

A little too much momentum.

A crash.

four

shelves

worth

of

books

tumbled

down

They missed my head, they missed the computer. They woke up the entire building.

So this is what chicken little was talking about...


~love~

Forgetful

When starting a new job, there are a lot of things to learn and remember within a short period of time. In this situation, i imagine that people who are very structured thinkers have a distinct advantage. i imagine this because i am not a structured thinker. my brain is chaos. i have to-do blobs instead of to-do lists. in a blob, all of the things that i would like to do and keep track of have the exact same importance and are not as easily distinguishable as tasks in a nice, tidy list. this is my burden.

my new job requires me to be juggling a lot of things all at once - a challenge which i gladly accept. however, there are a certain number of growing pains to deal with in this learning experience. which leads me to a list of the things i have actually forgotten, or imagined i have forgotten at 3am within the first month or so of work. (to add to the entertainment value, i'll let you guess which ones are real and which ones just the result of an overactive imagination in the middle of the night.

• lock and put away the money box
• turn off all computers/printer/copy machine
• bring in the seat cushions from the patio (you know, because of rain)
• put away the laptop
• answer an (or several, probably important) email(s)
• post an important event on the blog/facebook/homepage
• put away the projector

i often think back to my early days as head waitress at the ranch, in which i once (famously or not so famously) trekked down to the dining room in the middle of the night to turn off the coffee machine and bread warmers. 

despite this, i am enjoying my days in the library and my confidence as a student advisor grows noticeably each week. i even survived my very first info-session for people who want to study in the states. i love meeting people and hearing about their passions so that i can help them realize a dream to study or work in the US. i am exceedingly blessed. ~love~

Change

Spring is such a beautiful reminder of change and growth. Its the time when you can see a difference in the blossoms on a tree within days or even hours. and this change? this growth? it is nothing short of a miracle. it is beautiful and unexplainable and just good. and thats just it. we are not meant to stay still and avoid change. as much as i whine about winter and cold, i am so in love with the change that comes at the end of it.

i have had a good deal of change in my life in recent months (hence the lack of blogging) but it is so so good. i am settling into my job as a person who wears so many hats that i really have to make and keep to my to do lists and appointment book. but the truth is, i truly love it. i talk to people about something that i am passionate about - cultural exchange. i get to plan really fun story times for kids with a great group of women. i interact with people from literally all over the world on a daily basis. i teach. i discuss. i listen. and i do all of it surrounded by books!

i am thankful for change and growth and this unexpected life that i lead. thanks for sticking with me through it all. ~love~