May We Never Forget

I felt so honored to be in New York for the anniversary of September 11th. I still remember sitting at the kitchen table at home and seeing the news broadcast...and now, here we are, eleven years later.

I met up with Megan, and we went south to where the World Trade Centers used to stand. We unfortunately couldn't go in to see the actual memorial because all of the passes had already been reserved for the day, but we're hoping to make a trip down there in the future.

We found this fire house that was right along the border of where all of the construction is currently happening.

We also happened across this small gift shop-like place that had some displays dedicated to 9/11 along with books, keychains, and stuffed search and rescue puppies.

"This flag is created from the names of those who perished in the terrorist attacks of 9/11
Now and forever it represent their immortality
We shall never forget them"

As we started heading home, we heard bagpipes! There was a small procession right outside of the same fire house that we had originally passed -- bagpipers and policemen in uniform. It was very intimate, and I just felt so lucky that we got to witness it. 

here, the men and women are holding a salute to those represented by the memorial wall.

I just...I cannot express how it felt to be here for these special moments. 

The Brown Rice Debacle

I almost burned the house down the other day. 

I have this thing where I'm not fully capable of cooking brown rice. Which is actually pretty unfortunate because I LOVE brown rice. I just always somehow end up burning it. It's just...never been burnt this badly before.

I forgot that I needed to check my rice. Until I heard the fire alarm. 

I ran out of my room into a hallway filled with smoke, turned into the kitchen to find (thankfully) there was no fire other than the one on the burner, turned that off, and frantically fanned the air around the alarm so that it would hush up and stop alerting the masses. 

On the bright side, I scrubbed that pan so hard and so well that it's almost unrecognizable! Super shiny. Still old, but, I think my SOS sponge attack helped remove stuff that had been caked on there for years.

So, you know, moral of the story--be careful.

And don't tell my roommates...

"Oh, I'm an educational advocate for kids in the foster system."

This is what I tell everyone who asks what my job is. I can't seem to find a simpler way to get my point across, so that's what I came up with.

I feel as though that pretty much sums up what I'm doing. So far, I've been mostly making a looot of phone calls. I have a list of clients that I'm in charge of, and things that we're trying to achieve for them: bussing to/from school, transferring schools, enrolling in certain programs, etc. I make calls to administrators, nurses, mothers...and it's hard for me because I am the MOST awkward on the phone. So, I'm learning how to contain that and seem normal and grown up (pretty sure I sound like a twelve year old on the phone). I'm still in the process of learning--the NY public school system is a crazy maze, and it's all new to me! But I'm asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of research when I have down time.

My role in the company is a part of a team that focuses on kids who are in the foster system. We have connections with a few foster facilities in the different boroughs, and that's where most of our clients come from. I haven't met any of my kids, which is kind of sad, but I do feel as though what I'm doing is worthwhile! Although I did expect more interaction with kids, I am okay with doing good for them from behind the scenes.

Everyone at my job is extremely nice! They've all been incredibly warm and welcoming-I feel so so lucky. I have my own little cubicle (legittt) with my own computer, phone, and even nameplate! The feel is more corporate than I was expecting, but it makes me feel secure. They recently got a complete office make-over (over the summer), and everything is so new and pretty!! I'm really enjoying myself. 

This chance to work in a relaxed environment, surrounded by passionate people, in this amazing city is PRICELESS. I cannot believe I've finished my third week of work now, and I can't wait to see how much more I will learn, grow, and help!

(side note---It's  officially been a month since I left home!)