Anyone who knows me knows that I find driving therapeutic and enjoy traveling quite a bit. I even enjoy traveling by car alone. This makes the jaunt to and from Indiana something that isn't even remotely impossible for me. Most of those who know me also know that I really enjoy listening to audio books in the car. I remember the first time I listened to a book on a long drive was in high school when I went to see my boyfriend at the time in Kansas City. I felt like someone was telling me a story and it kept me engaged instead of daydreaming and then running off the road. Ever since, I've been hooked!

The other thing is that I enjoy non-fiction more than fiction when I'm listening, which I think is the opposite when I'm reading (or they're at least in closer competition with one another). I've told quite a few people about the time I was listening to the autobiography of Nelson Mandela on my way out to my first interview in DC back in the beginning of October. I felt like a stereotype of myself, but I also loved it! Following my stereotypical trend, this time I listened to the book Half the Sky by my favorite NYTimes columnist Nicholas Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn (they were the first married couple to jointly win a Pulitzer in journalism). The book was monumental - clearly showing the outrageousness of our current world and the ways in which women continue to be exploited in countless ways across the globe, but at the same time showcasing the alternative by shining a light on brave social entreprenuers who take highly oppressive situations and turn around to fight for women who are struggling. The individual stories of courage are paired with an in-depth look at how much potential lies in investing in women and bringing them to the forefront of our economies.

I cried so much when I was listening to this book. After four years of college and a human rights degree, I hadn't heard of fistulas before reading this book. Now all I want to do (after I complete my term of service, of course) is go work with women who have suffered from the terrible incidence and who have been stigmatized because of it. I feel like I'm pretty used to being inspired despite incredibly depressing stories that have to do with the violation of human rights, but this took it up a notch. Kristof is good at making me want to change the world and helping me realize the ways in which I can actually do so.

This book has helped me think about where I want to go next after all this. I realize that I just started this new chapter, so I should maybe slow down, but it makes me feel good to think about the way in which this experience I'm having now, which I have been hesitant to get pumped about, will fit into what I have set out to do with my entire life. Amen.

"If you really need this honey, you'll find a way to get it."

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP!), which I have been referring to as "Food Stamps" (I'm so retro) is a federal program administered by the USDA. However, at risk of turning ourselves into socialists, we have taken the federal money and allowed the individual states to distribute the cash. Whew, that was a close one.

A friend of mine in a similar position in Washington State told me that she was able to file her application online and then request a phone interview. Another friend in Ohio received his ebt card in the mail while I was visiting about a month ago.

In D.C., you have to go to the office and get there early so you aren't turned away. Today I stood in line with about 50 people outside before the doors even opened. I sat in the waiting room for 3 hours and watched more and more people file in until there was only standing room. My application was processed, and just before I felt a sense of relief, I was told that I couldn't get my ebt card there and no, they don't mail it to you. After allowing 24 hours for processing, you have to go to another office on the other side of town and wait in another line, in another office. And their only open during regular business hours, of course.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not. I'm lucky enough to have a position that is flexible and work with people who are considerate and will let me work my schedule so that I can do these things. I am really, really lucky that I'm the only mouth I have to feed. I am lucky to have had a little bit of money saved up so that I could have some groceries to keep me going until I get that card. I just think that it's really interesting to think about how these things work. It's the same money being given in each state, but the ways in which it is distributed seems to be very different.

Thanksgiving is the time of year that I celebrate my vegetarian anniversary. This year marks 11 of being meatless. While going back to cooking for one has made me decide to get back on the vegan train (and aim for a half a year at least!), I don't know if I can break it to my family right as I get home. I think sometimes some of them hope this "phase" will be over soon. And honestly, I'm not trying to make it hard for anyone. The last thing I want is to be uppity. I ain't the vegan police, y'all.

Point is, I'm going to be with my family for Thanksgiving. And celebrating 11 years of no turkey. I'll follow up with a cheese fast (of a half a year at least!)

I had my first day at the clinic today. The woman (Pediatric RN) who is on the books as responsible for me didn't actually know that until Friday afternoon and did not write nor read my work plan, which basically lines out what I am allowed and not allowed to do and what is expected of me. So today it was hard not to feel like I was in her way in the morning. As things picked up she asked me to follow the MA around and learn some things from her. The MA was really nice and did show me quite a few things, but was confused when she heard I had no medical training or background (besides a year-ish of being a part time volunteer) and for most of the morning was the only MA on staff when usually there are at least three.

When things started getting really busy around 11:30 I was pulled away by the director (who interviewed me and wrote my work plan) and was put in a room by myself to answer calls coming into the medication line. It was mostly patients who needed refills called in or every so often a pharmacist with a question for the doctors. I got pretty good at this (taking down the message, finding the chart, giving the doc a heads-up and then leaving it on their desks which are piled with charts) and eventually was also asked to call some patients back about things. Soon they will entrust me with calling the refills in to the pharmacy.

In between calls I brainstormed some potential ideas for projects that came to me from what I saw in the morning with the MA. I feel like I came up with some good ones and am excited to spend more time there in hopes of actually coming up with something sustainable. I want my term of service be more than just a years worth of me tending to the phones and helping people fill out paperwork. We'll see, we'll see.

There was a Thanksgiving pitch in for lunch today (I didn't know and didn't bring anything to share, whoops!) so I got to talk with some of the other staff members. It's a pretty small place, so there weren't a lot of them, but everyone seems really nice. They told me about the Christmas party and let me participate in the Secret Santa drawing.

All in all, I am feeling quite hopeful about the potential of this position.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to get in line at the food stamps office before they open the doors at 7:30. I can't get turned away this time! Be thinking of me.

A whole week.

So I went over to the food stamps office on Thursday around 3pm only to be turned away, because they had more applicants than they could cover through the end of their work day, 5pm. I decided to let Friday, my day off, be my food stamps day. I got over there around 11am, thinking 6 hours was a great buffer, to only be turned away again. Apparently 120 people were in line already. The lady at the front desk wasn't entertaining my pleading (I start my job Monday, this is the only day I can do this, please) and told me to come back at 7:30am on Monday. Dang. I've yet to decide what I'm going to do about that situation.

Friday I also went over to my clinic where I start on Monday to do a TB screening and meet some of the people I will be working with. They all seem very nice and also very busy. There has been some miscommunication over who exactly is in charge of me, so hopefully I can convince someone to sign my time sheet tomorrow!

I spent my entire weekend with my dear friend Kelsey who used to live in this house and who is about to jet set off to South Korea to teach English. She came up to visit and get some of her last things from the house, including the toaster oven and the shower curtain. Yesterday we went to a coffee shop that's only about three blocks away called Qualia where they roast the beans on site and brew them to order. It was adorable, and I can see myself indulging on a $2.50 cup now and again to have a place outside the house to sit and read. It's exciting to have something so close. Today we had breakfast at Rachael's, who also used to live here. She now lives in a new apartment complex in the neighborhood that has a roof with a spectacular view of the entire city, including the Washington Monument, Capitol Building, Library of Congress, Catholic University and the National Cathedral. It was about 65 and sunny today, so we ate on the roof. Gorgeous.

Tomorrow is my first day at the clinic. I'm nervous.

Stay tuned for further updates on my food stamps adventure as well as my newest investment in a transition to veganism!

Quite hopefully

It's chilly and drizzly outside today and I'm grateful to have only had to be in orientation for half of the day today. I got my work plan for when I start at the clinic and am sufficiently intimidated. But I also got a sweatshirt! So that's exciting, right?

There are some ironies that come with serving in this capacity that are kind of hard to swallow. For instance, to start working in the clinic I have to get a TB test and a physical - costing approximately $120 which is indeed covered by my insurance provided to me, but I have to pay up front and then be reimbursed. With a stipend that barely covers my rent and utilities, I'm unsure how they expect that to happen. I'm also supposed to prove that I have either had the chicken pox vaccine or the disease itself. I thought about sending the picture of 4-year-old Emily, blond hair in a ponytail wearing only underwear and tons of calamine lotion. Or maybe just showing them the scar on my forehead? Needless to say, I felt a little frustrated that they waited until today, four days in, to tell me that these things were required. Oh well!

My next adventure is going to be applying for food stamps. Adventure!

Oh, and I wanted to share with you the song for which this blog is named. Julie Doiron - The Life of Dreams

On a different note...

Tonight I went to see J. Tillman (of Fleet Foxes <- go watch their "From the Basement" session) at the 9:30 Club in the U Street area. I hadn't quite decided if I wanted to spend the skrill to see someone I didn't already know I adored, so I followed Mike's advice and looked up the opening band to see if they might influence my addition. (I should mention that Mike's the one who introduced me to J. Tillman in the first place too. Thanks, MDB.) Pearly Gate Music is that of Zach Tillman, Josh's younger (I assume) brother. In addition to digging both their tunes, I felt like I could bet behind a bro tour, so I went. And woah Lordy, I was not disappointed! I think I was struck most by how amiable the guy was. He was humble and grateful and provided short, delightful banter in between each gorgeous song. Listen, I'm no music critic. They nailed it. If you have the chance to go see either of those talented Tillmans, do it.

This was an early show, so I got home at a reasonable hour to discover that my cousin and his wife and their baby-to-be have started a blog. I cannot express how much I love this. The newest addition to my dad's side of the family, in progression, can be witnessed here: http://www.mattjenniferroberts.blogspot.com/

I should tell you that to make it a little more worth my dollars, I took down one of the show posters on the wall in the club. I don't have room for it on my wall (thanks to Tara's lovely drawings and Katie Wolt's glorious postcards, among other things) but I like it a lot. I think before I become a full-fledged fan, I'm going to have to check out this Daytrotter SXSW session.

No, I don't work for this guy, but I kind of wish I did.

Here goes.

This morning I visited D.C.'s own Bread for the City to attend a training session regarding working in a primary care clinic. I fell in love with Bread the moment I walked up to it. I tend to do this, fall for people and things before really getting to know them, but I digress. On the front of the building, above their name and logo, are three words of which I can only remember the two that stole my heart. Dignity. Respect. It didn't take long for me to be convinced that these two words aren't just on the face and the mission statement of this organization. Seriously, check out their services. I mean, a Human Rights Clinic? Be still my heart.

Last night one of my roommates and I were discussing the world's problems (as you do when you're a young idealist yet to have your dreams crushed by Adult Land, amirite?) and how interconnected they are. Becky and I have always joked about how if you began any International Studies paper, "In an increasingly interconnected world..." you'd ace it, but, I mean, it is! Anyway, I feel like on a macro level, it is totally true that our environmental problems are directly linked to food is directly linked to poverty is directly linked to health care access, etc. etc. etc... How similarly a holistic approach is needed on a micro- (or, city-) level to even begin to solve the problems. If a person is seeking assistance on getting food to feed their family, they almost definitely need medical assistance. They may also need some new shoes for their ever-growing children. They may also need someone to help them push their landlord to stop taking advantage of them through legal means. Hell, they may also need some assistance in navigating their asylum seeking process -- BREAD OFFERS ALL THESE SERVICES IN ONE (VERY SMALL) LOCATION! Talk about social capital. It's impressive.

No, I don't work for these people. But I want to.