Well, here we are and it's mid-October. I seem to remember about 6 months ago I promised I would update this blog more often . . . so much for that. As a fall resolution, I'm going to attempt to do just that (which may be easier given our closer proximity to the library this year).
So, for anyone who may not know I decided to do an additional year of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, this time in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am working at a non-profit Immigrant Law Center and have been exploring my job for the past 2 months. Like most JV positions, I wear many hats at the office. The part of my job that I enjoy doing the most is legal work. I've been trained in how to do intakes and forms for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA)and I spend at least a couple of hours a week doing intakes for these as well as helping put together people's cases (organizing paperwork, making follow up phone calls, putting together cover letters, etc.) This has been a great taste into the legal world, although it can be scary at the same time. I've begun playing with the idea of either law school or becoming a paralegal for a little over a month now, something which would have been entirely out of the question before this year.
The other part of my job is case management and resource connection for the Pathways program. As part of this I have a caseload of around 15 individuals who have some sort of social needs (medical debt, experiencing homelessness, difficulty paying the bills etc.). Many of them also struggle with communicating in English and the challenges that the system poses, even in Albuquerque where many people and agencies are Spanish-speaking. I've enjoyed the opportunity to use my Spanish skills with my clients even though this is the part of my job that I struggle with the most.
It's certainly been a 180 degree turn from helping with the after-school program last year and though I miss the kids I worked with and Boyle Heights dearly this is where I believe I'm needed right now.
The other huge piece of the JV experience is of course community. A lot has happened in 2 months, sometimes it seems like we've been living with each other for 2 days, others it seems like 20 years. Like my job, my living situation has also been a complete 180 from last year. Instead of the comfortable ratio of 4 girls to 2 guys, I've found myself in a 4:2 minority in the only community in Albuquerque. I was hesitant (some might even say panicked) at this idea just 3 months ago when I got my list of housemates, but we clicked very early on. I've been blessed to live with 4 of the most accepting and laid back guys on the planet: Alex, Anthony, Ben and Chris.
Chris and I worked together for about the 1st month and a half of the program until he switched jobs. He's a fellow guitar player and Spanish speaker and lover of the outdoors.
Ben (Linus) is a splendid cook with a talent for throwing spices together. He's one of the easiest people to get along with on the face of the planet and has the energy of a five year old kid when he gets excited about something.
Anthony (or Ant as we call him) is my go-to for hugs. He's got a contageous joy for life and it our schedules generally work out so I see him in the morning before I take off. He's up for whatever adventure we've got planned and always has a great sense of humor about it.
Alex is a city boy at heart, so he keeps us doing things in Albuquerque. He's welcoming and has a generous heart and a genuine desire to make people happy.
Amanda, the only other girl in the house, is awesome. I don't know how I would survive without her. A fellow nerd and a flute player, one of my favorite activities this year has been playing music with her at the 5:00 Mass across the street. She also bakes a mean apple pie. :)
Well, in short that's the 1st 2 months in ABQ, famous for Breaking Bad, Green Chili and a small town feel. I'll try to keep posting more often.
Que le vaya bien.
