Update! :O!
I've had "LJ/DW update" on my task list for such a long time now, but I keep not doing it, so here's the shimmy shake lowdown on what my life is like right now:
--> I got a cat, and this is very big and important because I've been a professional cat lady basically my entire life, and now I finally have a cat of my own to make the dream a reality! I actually had a cat when I was younger -- her name was Lisa aww -- but I was a little too young and eager and frightening, so she always ran away from me, and my mom did all of the fooding and poop-scooping and I just loved her too much for her to handle.
My new cat is my own, and I can do my own fooding and poop-scooping. Her name is Countess Vera Rossakoff, after a recurring character in the Hercule Poirot universe (I don't know how much of this I've said on LJ before, so I apologize if this is redundant). Her story is that she'd been at the shelter basically her entire life, and Chele and I visited and fell in love because she's a beautiful cranky old lady, just like me! So when I basically got confirmation that I got a job, I put in an adoption form, and then when they were taking their sweet time getting back to me, I called them, and they called back and said, "Can you pick her up today?"
That "today" happened to be her ninth birthday! So for her birthday, she got a home. ;______________;
Because it is very big and important, here is a picture, stolen straight from my Twitter:
She's a tabico (calico with tabby stripes), and she's better than your faves™. ;~;
--> I got a job, which I suppose is also big and important. I'm the Institute Specialist for the newly established Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the university here. It's kind of exciting because we're building a centralized Asia-focused institute more or less from the ground up (there's been some centers and Asia-related activity in the past, but we're hoping to be the home ground for it as an entity on campus) but also kind of terrifying because there's a lot to do and a lot that the institute hopes to be. There are only three people in the institute -- two directors and me -- so I'm in charge of administrative and communications stuff, as well as web/tech, odd jobs, and whatever else they need me to do. Basically I'm not really sure what my job actually consists of, but whatever it is, I do it. Today I answered phones and drove golf carts. XD
I feel really fortunate to have found a position that combines something I'm personally invested in -- Asian Studies and the development of such in higher education -- with my language skills (as necessary) and my previous professional experience in a bunch of academic offices, so I'm going to do my best to get what I can out of this position.
This is, of course, just a temporary solution to the larger problem of finding something to do with my life. My big plan is to stick around for a few years here, save up money (because transportation (carpooling with my parents) + room + board is free), and find some freelance translation stuff to do on the side to build up a resume so that in a few years' time I'll be able to move out and live my life outside of the barren cornfield that is northern Indiana. Some part of me is really concerned that I'll just fall into a rut and stick around and do this forever, but the rest of me really wants out, and I suppose I have to have faith that that'll get me going.
I'm going to try to post more to LJ/DW because it is nice to be able to sit down and talk about myself in long paragraphs, but if you aren't already, I invite you to follow me on Twitter and/or Tumblr (usually I have a queue going, but I've let it run dry, and the thought of getting on Tumblr makes me really anxious right now so I haven't been back to refill it), where you can keep up with me more regularly/immediately. I know y'all are that interested in my life. :D
I hope you're having a happy day! ♥
--> I got a cat, and this is very big and important because I've been a professional cat lady basically my entire life, and now I finally have a cat of my own to make the dream a reality! I actually had a cat when I was younger -- her name was Lisa aww -- but I was a little too young and eager and frightening, so she always ran away from me, and my mom did all of the fooding and poop-scooping and I just loved her too much for her to handle.
My new cat is my own, and I can do my own fooding and poop-scooping. Her name is Countess Vera Rossakoff, after a recurring character in the Hercule Poirot universe (I don't know how much of this I've said on LJ before, so I apologize if this is redundant). Her story is that she'd been at the shelter basically her entire life, and Chele and I visited and fell in love because she's a beautiful cranky old lady, just like me! So when I basically got confirmation that I got a job, I put in an adoption form, and then when they were taking their sweet time getting back to me, I called them, and they called back and said, "Can you pick her up today?"
That "today" happened to be her ninth birthday! So for her birthday, she got a home. ;______________;
Because it is very big and important, here is a picture, stolen straight from my Twitter:
She's a tabico (calico with tabby stripes), and she's better than your faves™. ;~;
--> I got a job, which I suppose is also big and important. I'm the Institute Specialist for the newly established Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the university here. It's kind of exciting because we're building a centralized Asia-focused institute more or less from the ground up (there's been some centers and Asia-related activity in the past, but we're hoping to be the home ground for it as an entity on campus) but also kind of terrifying because there's a lot to do and a lot that the institute hopes to be. There are only three people in the institute -- two directors and me -- so I'm in charge of administrative and communications stuff, as well as web/tech, odd jobs, and whatever else they need me to do. Basically I'm not really sure what my job actually consists of, but whatever it is, I do it. Today I answered phones and drove golf carts. XD
I feel really fortunate to have found a position that combines something I'm personally invested in -- Asian Studies and the development of such in higher education -- with my language skills (as necessary) and my previous professional experience in a bunch of academic offices, so I'm going to do my best to get what I can out of this position.
This is, of course, just a temporary solution to the larger problem of finding something to do with my life. My big plan is to stick around for a few years here, save up money (because transportation (carpooling with my parents) + room + board is free), and find some freelance translation stuff to do on the side to build up a resume so that in a few years' time I'll be able to move out and live my life outside of the barren cornfield that is northern Indiana. Some part of me is really concerned that I'll just fall into a rut and stick around and do this forever, but the rest of me really wants out, and I suppose I have to have faith that that'll get me going.
I'm going to try to post more to LJ/DW because it is nice to be able to sit down and talk about myself in long paragraphs, but if you aren't already, I invite you to follow me on Twitter and/or Tumblr (usually I have a queue going, but I've let it run dry, and the thought of getting on Tumblr makes me really anxious right now so I haven't been back to refill it), where you can keep up with me more regularly/immediately. I know y'all are that interested in my life. :D
I hope you're having a happy day! ♥