Business trip?
Well, tomorrow I leave for my first "business trip." Not really, it's just training and seminars, but I hear a lot of business trips are as well, so that's what I'm calling it. I'm only gonna see my coworkers for the better part of the next four days, and part of that is 4.5 hours in a car with them. Fun fun. Because yeah, it's in Austin, not Dallas like one of them told me. This means a much longer drive and the lost oppurtunity to stay with Kurt during his first days of seminary. grrrr. We all have our own rooms, which is cool in one fashion, sharing a room can be awkward, especially with people you just met. But's it's not cool in that I'm scared I'll be bored out of my skull. I'm hoping my guitar will fit in one of the cars so I can practice, keep my calluses, and just entertain myself for the next few evenings.
But I'm really looking forward to learning a lot. I've been reading my eyes out ever since I started. Well, not today, but Wed-Fri. I read a binder full of policy papers (yuck), an entire book about solution-based counseling, 6 extensive files of past clients, and a book of worksheets and activities to do with kids in counseling focusing on life skills. It really was all I could do to keep myself awake those days. But I did learn a lot, and am more excited than ever to start really doing my job and working with the kids. I have shadowed a few times, and while I feel I have a lot to learn, I feel more than capable. In fact, I feel like I was born for this kind of work. What a good feeling. I can't believe how blessed I continually am by my God.
The one part I was worried about was getting along with my coworkers. I'm younger, I'm more liberal, and I'm just plain new, replacing another loved coworker. I was really mostly scared about saying something dumb and creating an awkward working environment. But I'm not really scared of that any more. (Prayer had a lot to do with this.) I've kind of come to terms with the fact that these people are not going to be my best friends. I'm simply too different. I've always been happiest with a select, few close friends anyways, and I still really strongly want to stay connected with my friends back home. And I have Kurt in the flesh here, who is wonderful as always. And I'm happy. There are a few coworkers who I really connect with and can have fun with, and I really couldn't ask for more than that. On top of all that, the ministerial support here has been wonderful, our congregation is great, and perhaps in a year I'll try out some Christian groups at my grad school. For now, I couldn't be happier and more in love with God.
Slightly irritated at the moment though. Our laundry takes forever, and does an automatic second rinse, unless you can catch it in time. I didn't tonight. So my clothes are still in....a freaking hour later. And our dryer doesn't really work, so I'm going to have to dry them 120 min tonight and then probably again tomorrow morning. Fun fun. I wouldn't be doing this except I need to pack them. And as much as I adore a consistent, 9 hour day with no homework, I am soooo ready for bed by 11:00. I love growing up. So to being up close to 1 a.m. is not making Beth very happy. But I'll be fine, I think it's almost done. To all my friends, I'm sorry I've been out of touch lately, it's been a very stressful few days for me, mostly for my body. I'll try and get some phone calls and emails out soon.
Shout to Bernie and Katie, happily engaged!!! So freaking excited for them.
If I can manage to get internet somewhere at the hotel, I will update there. If not, talk to ya'll in a few days!
-Beth
But I'm really looking forward to learning a lot. I've been reading my eyes out ever since I started. Well, not today, but Wed-Fri. I read a binder full of policy papers (yuck), an entire book about solution-based counseling, 6 extensive files of past clients, and a book of worksheets and activities to do with kids in counseling focusing on life skills. It really was all I could do to keep myself awake those days. But I did learn a lot, and am more excited than ever to start really doing my job and working with the kids. I have shadowed a few times, and while I feel I have a lot to learn, I feel more than capable. In fact, I feel like I was born for this kind of work. What a good feeling. I can't believe how blessed I continually am by my God.
The one part I was worried about was getting along with my coworkers. I'm younger, I'm more liberal, and I'm just plain new, replacing another loved coworker. I was really mostly scared about saying something dumb and creating an awkward working environment. But I'm not really scared of that any more. (Prayer had a lot to do with this.) I've kind of come to terms with the fact that these people are not going to be my best friends. I'm simply too different. I've always been happiest with a select, few close friends anyways, and I still really strongly want to stay connected with my friends back home. And I have Kurt in the flesh here, who is wonderful as always. And I'm happy. There are a few coworkers who I really connect with and can have fun with, and I really couldn't ask for more than that. On top of all that, the ministerial support here has been wonderful, our congregation is great, and perhaps in a year I'll try out some Christian groups at my grad school. For now, I couldn't be happier and more in love with God.
Slightly irritated at the moment though. Our laundry takes forever, and does an automatic second rinse, unless you can catch it in time. I didn't tonight. So my clothes are still in....a freaking hour later. And our dryer doesn't really work, so I'm going to have to dry them 120 min tonight and then probably again tomorrow morning. Fun fun. I wouldn't be doing this except I need to pack them. And as much as I adore a consistent, 9 hour day with no homework, I am soooo ready for bed by 11:00. I love growing up. So to being up close to 1 a.m. is not making Beth very happy. But I'll be fine, I think it's almost done. To all my friends, I'm sorry I've been out of touch lately, it's been a very stressful few days for me, mostly for my body. I'll try and get some phone calls and emails out soon.
Shout to Bernie and Katie, happily engaged!!! So freaking excited for them.
If I can manage to get internet somewhere at the hotel, I will update there. If not, talk to ya'll in a few days!
-Beth