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Friday, April 24
Sore Losers Going Insane
Thursday, April 23
Saturday, April 11
Fulfilling a call to service
So, I've fulfilled about two months of my twelve-month Americorps service contract at the Portland division of YouthBuild USA. Two months that have just flown by! The first few weeks were just a complete blur because I came in at a really busy time (during a 3-week program when they test out new student recruits that want to join the program) and while that was happening I had to learn what my duties are and get used to the processes, procedures, rules, etc. Unfortunately, there wasn't much time put aside for training, so I had to kind of figure things out on my own. Funnily enough, working at AIB actually gave me some good preparation for taking on this job because it is almost as chaotic.
My work schedule is pretty good. We have the students on site Tuesday through Friday, so Monday is a day when we can plan, have a staff meeting, and complete some pressing tasks. Plus, I don't have to be at work until 9:30. However, the rest of the week we start at 7:30, which means I get up at 6:00. Something I still haven't quite gotten used to. Consequently, by the end of the week, I'm pretty tired. The good thing is I usually leave around between 3:30 and 4:30, so Kristen and I have nice, long evenings at our disposal.
What do I do? Well, it's sort of hard to explain, but my title is "Service Learning Coordinator" and that kind of fits the bill. I assist the Computer Technology Trainer and the Multimedia Trainer by being a facilitator, tracking attendance, and helping to shepherd the students. I also teach the Internet Core Computing Certification classes, which is quite challenging because there is A LOT of stuff they have to learn to be able to pass the exams and they really hate part of the training -- the part that requires them to sit in front of the computer taking quizzes and watching Flash presentations on computer hardware, software, and pretty much everything related. It is a major challenge and I am trying to come up with novel, more engaging ways of teaching the material, but that is something that takes time. And so I can have a bit more credibility, I am working on getting the certification myself (I have taken 2 of the 3 exams, so far).
There's also a fair amount of administrative and non-student-oriented tasks I am responsible for such as dealing with computer donations and other things that crop up from sitting in what is basically the reception area. When a company donates computers to us, I have to go pick them up, usually with some student helpers. And after we refurbish the computers and they are sold (for the meager sum of $75) to customers, I do a bit of customer service. I also do a fair amount of troubleshooting and administration of on-site IT. There's a WIFI and a hardwire network that sometimes has problems, plus the semi-regular occurance of computers breaking down with either hardware faults or software conflicts. The students are not gentle with this stuff!
This school also teaches construction. That's the only thing it taught when it first started out. We have two campuses: the main campus and the computer technology "work site". The main campus is used for the academic portion of the program as well as the construction program. The majority of staff also have their offices there. I'm at the computer technology site, which is about 15 minutes away from the main campus and much closer to downtown Portland. There are only three (sometimes four) staff members there, including me. The students are divided into two "crews" on a 2-week rotation. Each crew has two weeks on a worksite (either computer tech or construction, depending on which program they are enrolled) and two weeks at the school doing normal high school academics. They are working towards getting a GED or a high school degree. While they are doing that, they get work experience and get a small stipend -- they are also Americorps members like me, but on a different contract. It's a really great opportunity for them because, if they make it onto the program and can manage to stay engaged, they get paid to finish high school and at the same time get work experience. And after they graduate, they still get a lot of support from us, including help to get into college and some job placements.
It is really rewarding to work with these students. They have been through a lot of crap. A lot have been cast aside or spit out of the school system because of drug or alcohol problems, bad family situations, learning disabilities, or have gotten in trouble with "the law". Some of them come out of rehab or a stint in jail and get on this program. They are given a second chance to get their life back on track. When you see them succeed, it is just so heart-warming and gives you a really nice feeling that you have been a part of that. It actually makes me think I wouldn't want to teach "normal" high school kids; the ones that have had a relatively easy life and are pretty much spoiled little brats because of it. The other day when there was yet another school shooting somewhere, I thought about my students and how I could not see them doing something like that. They are beyond it somehow. I certainly don't fear for my safety there! Many of the students are just from low income families, but there are others that have come out of horrible home lives with parents that basically don't give a shit about them. I mean this is a place that some students get disappointed when it is spring break or summer break because that means they have to go home! It's sad, but true. Sure, we have a few trouble-makers and a few that are having trouble staying on the straight and narrow, but for the most part, they are all working really hard to make something of themselves.
I've got 10 more months here and I'm really looking forward to seeing these students succeed. And hopefully, I can finagle a more permanent position here.
My work schedule is pretty good. We have the students on site Tuesday through Friday, so Monday is a day when we can plan, have a staff meeting, and complete some pressing tasks. Plus, I don't have to be at work until 9:30. However, the rest of the week we start at 7:30, which means I get up at 6:00. Something I still haven't quite gotten used to. Consequently, by the end of the week, I'm pretty tired. The good thing is I usually leave around between 3:30 and 4:30, so Kristen and I have nice, long evenings at our disposal.
What do I do? Well, it's sort of hard to explain, but my title is "Service Learning Coordinator" and that kind of fits the bill. I assist the Computer Technology Trainer and the Multimedia Trainer by being a facilitator, tracking attendance, and helping to shepherd the students. I also teach the Internet Core Computing Certification classes, which is quite challenging because there is A LOT of stuff they have to learn to be able to pass the exams and they really hate part of the training -- the part that requires them to sit in front of the computer taking quizzes and watching Flash presentations on computer hardware, software, and pretty much everything related. It is a major challenge and I am trying to come up with novel, more engaging ways of teaching the material, but that is something that takes time. And so I can have a bit more credibility, I am working on getting the certification myself (I have taken 2 of the 3 exams, so far).
There's also a fair amount of administrative and non-student-oriented tasks I am responsible for such as dealing with computer donations and other things that crop up from sitting in what is basically the reception area. When a company donates computers to us, I have to go pick them up, usually with some student helpers. And after we refurbish the computers and they are sold (for the meager sum of $75) to customers, I do a bit of customer service. I also do a fair amount of troubleshooting and administration of on-site IT. There's a WIFI and a hardwire network that sometimes has problems, plus the semi-regular occurance of computers breaking down with either hardware faults or software conflicts. The students are not gentle with this stuff!
This school also teaches construction. That's the only thing it taught when it first started out. We have two campuses: the main campus and the computer technology "work site". The main campus is used for the academic portion of the program as well as the construction program. The majority of staff also have their offices there. I'm at the computer technology site, which is about 15 minutes away from the main campus and much closer to downtown Portland. There are only three (sometimes four) staff members there, including me. The students are divided into two "crews" on a 2-week rotation. Each crew has two weeks on a worksite (either computer tech or construction, depending on which program they are enrolled) and two weeks at the school doing normal high school academics. They are working towards getting a GED or a high school degree. While they are doing that, they get work experience and get a small stipend -- they are also Americorps members like me, but on a different contract. It's a really great opportunity for them because, if they make it onto the program and can manage to stay engaged, they get paid to finish high school and at the same time get work experience. And after they graduate, they still get a lot of support from us, including help to get into college and some job placements.
It is really rewarding to work with these students. They have been through a lot of crap. A lot have been cast aside or spit out of the school system because of drug or alcohol problems, bad family situations, learning disabilities, or have gotten in trouble with "the law". Some of them come out of rehab or a stint in jail and get on this program. They are given a second chance to get their life back on track. When you see them succeed, it is just so heart-warming and gives you a really nice feeling that you have been a part of that. It actually makes me think I wouldn't want to teach "normal" high school kids; the ones that have had a relatively easy life and are pretty much spoiled little brats because of it. The other day when there was yet another school shooting somewhere, I thought about my students and how I could not see them doing something like that. They are beyond it somehow. I certainly don't fear for my safety there! Many of the students are just from low income families, but there are others that have come out of horrible home lives with parents that basically don't give a shit about them. I mean this is a place that some students get disappointed when it is spring break or summer break because that means they have to go home! It's sad, but true. Sure, we have a few trouble-makers and a few that are having trouble staying on the straight and narrow, but for the most part, they are all working really hard to make something of themselves.
I've got 10 more months here and I'm really looking forward to seeing these students succeed. And hopefully, I can finagle a more permanent position here.
Saturday, March 28
2 Months
We've been in Portland for almost 2 months now. The time has just FLOWN. This week, for example, was over in an instant. Well, that was partially because I worked from home on Monday and then we closed for spring break on Wednesday (though I did go in that day to get some stuff done). Even then, I couldn't believe how quickly that all took place. It's been nice to have some days off during the week.
Our lives have been quite busy since we moved to Portland. Kristen has been having lots of meetings to network with some really good people; networking that will hopefully bear fruit in the next week or so. And we've been busy integrating into the community and exploring the area. Two weeks ago, I was invited to a brew-day at another local homebrewer's house. He's someone I've kept in touch with since we left for Belgium in 2003. And we've been reading each others blogs. He writes one called Rooftop. Funnily enough, when I was at his house, we discovered that he knows my boss! Small world. Small town! They worked together when she was at PCC. Anyway, the brew day was fun, though I couldn't stay for the whole thing because that evening we were going to Mother Bea's wake (kind of)/posthumous birthday party. Andy gave me several ounces of whole hops. He has a PLENTIFUL supply because his wife comes from a hop-growing family! I haven't been able to use them yet because my brewery is still defunct (for financial and equipment reasons). It was also great to see Andy's suburban chickens, something I very much want to get into when we eventually buy a house.
Mother Bea's birthday party was kind of fun actually (despite the circumstances). It was a HUGE family gathering and everyone was really nice and fun to be around. There was lots of wine and beer-induced merriment, good home-cooked food, and for dessert, 94 candles divided among three birthday cakes.
The day after that (a Monday), we went to the Catholic church service. Though we're not religious in the least, it was a very moving service and a heartfelt memorial. The way the family spoke about her made me really glad that we had met her, however briefly.
My job is going really well. I really love it. And it is very fulfilling and engaging. Workload-wise it is very much like my last job (i.e.- too much to do and too little time to do it), so I'm used to working that way and have some valuable crossover skills that help me cope. One of these days, I'll write some more about what it is I do, exactly. Another great thing is that I have been able to ride my bike to work most days. It takes about 25-30 minutes each way (it's about 5 miles), so I get some good exercise and I think I'm finally starting to lose a little bit of weight, which is always nice. Unfortunately, my weight-lifting regime has mostly fallen by the wayside. We don't belong to a gym at the moment, so I just go to the fitness center here in the complex a couple of days per week. It's very small and pretty much only has a universal machine for strength training. Right now, I'm just trying to keep from losing the muscle mass I built up from going to the YMCA in England and then the awesome gym in Florida.
We've been exploring the area a lot because it's an engaging, free activity (for the most part). Last weekend, we checked out the Saturday Market (too crowded and too cheesy for my taste) and went to the free day at the Portland Art Museum -- they had a large donation this year so that they could have free admission 4 days per year. That day, we also purchased tickets for Neko Case at the Crystal Ballroom in June. Should be fun. She's always great live. We're going with Jenna and Mike.
This weekend is shaping up to be an all-about-the-garden weekend. This morning we went to a free class about growing vegetables in a small plot and had our soil pH tested (it's 6.6). Got some really good information and found out the best places to buy soil, seeds, etc. The people running the class were a bit overwhelmed because they only expected 20 or so people (similar numbers to previous years), but there was probably double that. Lots of people are getting into gardening now, spurred on by the recession. Though, in my opinion, the average garden doesn't really save money. At best, you break even. I just want to do it because I love gardening! Tomorrow we are going to another free class: backyard hop cultivation! Our plan is to plant two hop rhizomes in pots on our back patio. There's a small trellis that they can climb up, though I have a feeling that we might be a bit overwhelmed by August/September because hops can grow 20 feet or more! Then, hopefully, by this Autumn my brewery will be up and running and I can make some beers using fresh hops. Luckily, hop vines are nice to look at, too!
Finally, I just want to say "I LOVE PORTLAND!" I am so glad we were able to move here! It's such a great city. We keep having these moments doing mundane things when we think to ourselves "I love this town." Great vibe, nice people, lots of character, very green (both vernal and environmental), fabulous restaurants, and it's cool. One thing I've learned, though, is I'm not special as a homebrewer or beer-lover here!
Our lives have been quite busy since we moved to Portland. Kristen has been having lots of meetings to network with some really good people; networking that will hopefully bear fruit in the next week or so. And we've been busy integrating into the community and exploring the area. Two weeks ago, I was invited to a brew-day at another local homebrewer's house. He's someone I've kept in touch with since we left for Belgium in 2003. And we've been reading each others blogs. He writes one called Rooftop. Funnily enough, when I was at his house, we discovered that he knows my boss! Small world. Small town! They worked together when she was at PCC. Anyway, the brew day was fun, though I couldn't stay for the whole thing because that evening we were going to Mother Bea's wake (kind of)/posthumous birthday party. Andy gave me several ounces of whole hops. He has a PLENTIFUL supply because his wife comes from a hop-growing family! I haven't been able to use them yet because my brewery is still defunct (for financial and equipment reasons). It was also great to see Andy's suburban chickens, something I very much want to get into when we eventually buy a house.
Mother Bea's birthday party was kind of fun actually (despite the circumstances). It was a HUGE family gathering and everyone was really nice and fun to be around. There was lots of wine and beer-induced merriment, good home-cooked food, and for dessert, 94 candles divided among three birthday cakes.
The day after that (a Monday), we went to the Catholic church service. Though we're not religious in the least, it was a very moving service and a heartfelt memorial. The way the family spoke about her made me really glad that we had met her, however briefly.
My job is going really well. I really love it. And it is very fulfilling and engaging. Workload-wise it is very much like my last job (i.e.- too much to do and too little time to do it), so I'm used to working that way and have some valuable crossover skills that help me cope. One of these days, I'll write some more about what it is I do, exactly. Another great thing is that I have been able to ride my bike to work most days. It takes about 25-30 minutes each way (it's about 5 miles), so I get some good exercise and I think I'm finally starting to lose a little bit of weight, which is always nice. Unfortunately, my weight-lifting regime has mostly fallen by the wayside. We don't belong to a gym at the moment, so I just go to the fitness center here in the complex a couple of days per week. It's very small and pretty much only has a universal machine for strength training. Right now, I'm just trying to keep from losing the muscle mass I built up from going to the YMCA in England and then the awesome gym in Florida.
We've been exploring the area a lot because it's an engaging, free activity (for the most part). Last weekend, we checked out the Saturday Market (too crowded and too cheesy for my taste) and went to the free day at the Portland Art Museum -- they had a large donation this year so that they could have free admission 4 days per year. That day, we also purchased tickets for Neko Case at the Crystal Ballroom in June. Should be fun. She's always great live. We're going with Jenna and Mike.
This weekend is shaping up to be an all-about-the-garden weekend. This morning we went to a free class about growing vegetables in a small plot and had our soil pH tested (it's 6.6). Got some really good information and found out the best places to buy soil, seeds, etc. The people running the class were a bit overwhelmed because they only expected 20 or so people (similar numbers to previous years), but there was probably double that. Lots of people are getting into gardening now, spurred on by the recession. Though, in my opinion, the average garden doesn't really save money. At best, you break even. I just want to do it because I love gardening! Tomorrow we are going to another free class: backyard hop cultivation! Our plan is to plant two hop rhizomes in pots on our back patio. There's a small trellis that they can climb up, though I have a feeling that we might be a bit overwhelmed by August/September because hops can grow 20 feet or more! Then, hopefully, by this Autumn my brewery will be up and running and I can make some beers using fresh hops. Luckily, hop vines are nice to look at, too!
Finally, I just want to say "I LOVE PORTLAND!" I am so glad we were able to move here! It's such a great city. We keep having these moments doing mundane things when we think to ourselves "I love this town." Great vibe, nice people, lots of character, very green (both vernal and environmental), fabulous restaurants, and it's cool. One thing I've learned, though, is I'm not special as a homebrewer or beer-lover here!
Wednesday, March 18
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