my Future (ahhhhh!) and the psych ward

I had two interviews last Tuesday...one was for the JET program (the Japanese teaching program) and the other was for a non-profit organization called US PIRG that organizes social movements on college campuses/lobbies and canvasses for social change. I went into the city for JET to the Consulate of Japan...man, security is high there. The interview went well, but it also could have gone better...they kind of caught me offguard with a really obvious question, which was whether or not I liked kids...I smiled and lied and then told them that, although I enjoyed children, I would rather work with adolescents. I'm not as good at lying as I used to be...my face tends to give away my emotions now, so I'm not sure if they bought my response or not, lol. Oh well...I did the best I could do, and I'll find out the results in April. For PIRG, I got a second interview, but I'm not sure how I feel about them...I love the idea of working towards social change, but I did some research on the internet and found that there have been a few wage/labor law disputes with an affiliate of PIRG recently...people were getting paid less than minimum wage. PIRG has a fixed salary rather than an hourly salary so that wouldn't be a problem, but I would earn $23,000 a year for 50 to 80 hours of work a week...with that much time spent at PIRG for so little money, I'm not sure if I would be able to pay off my student loans...I wouldn't have enough time to pick up a second job. Also, although I could request a location to work, the possibility that I may end up somewhere completely different is high...I could end up in Alabama, where I'd be shot for sure. So yeah...still not sure what's happening with my life after graduation. But that's okay...no one really does at this point (except for Dimo, and he's just a freak...damn computer programmer...shakes fist). It will all be fine.

On a different note, I got my old volunteer position back at the psych ward...my first day was yesterday, and I am sooooo excited. I was afraid that I'd forgotten a lot, but I was able to work with the same doctor (the Croatian guy with a shaved head and big hoop earring in his left ear...he's awesome and looks like a pirate), and he basically sent me out to talk to patients right away, which was scary as fuck but also boosted my self-esteem a bit. I interviewed a man who could hear the Pope talking to him in his head...apparently, Jesus did this occasionally too. I also had a couple patients make sexual comments toward me though when I was walking through the hall, which I hate...it makes me feel like I'm asking for it by wearing nice clothes to work...but I have to wear nice clothes because that's what you do in professional settings...argh. What if I ever have to interview someone like that one on one with the office door closed? Am I going to have to be afraid because I'm a young woman? I guess this is the first time I've ever had to really think about this, and it upsets me.

On a happier note, I'm happy with my schoolwork and social life...I'm taking a psychopathology class, which is fascinating and reading lots of memoirs written by "mentally ill" people...I love it. I'm writing a lot and Jemma, Anna, and I started our own little writing group in which we have dinner and wine once a week and then critique each other's work. Julia and I have also been spending a lot of time together having study parties and making food and going to random arty shows (we saw the Vagina Monologues and a performing arts pie-eating contest...it was interesting)...Ariele, Sammy, Graham, and I drink beer and play Apples to Apples...life is good right now. I'm going up to Providence to see Dimo this weekend...he came to see me for V-day, so now it's my turn to go up there, which also means that I'll get to see Sarah. I'm enjoying it all, but sometimes i feel spread a little thin...I'm spending so much time soaking up people while I still can that I haven't done the reading for my lecture class in three weeks. Ooops. But I don't regret it.

Speaking of socializing, I have complete faith that you can make friends your own age...you have a gift for connecting with people...I guess the hard part is finding a situation in which to do that. You'll be fine, especially if you get a job. How are things down in Florida? What have you been up to? Have you been keeping in touch with people in NY and do you know what's happening with Meaghan's parents yet? I hope all is well, and I'm really glad your house didn't burn down. :S Tell your mom hi for me, and I send my love to both of you. Hugs!

~Kae

P.S. Awesome pictures! When did you get your ears pierced?!

P.P.S. I posted some pictures from the summer of 2007...I've been meaning to put them on facebook, but I'm not sure if you're using facebook anymore...? Anyhoo, now you can look at them here.

written by  snookyferrit on February 24, 2009 from Bronxville, United States
from the travel blog: Mel and Kae's Craaaaaaazzzzy Blog
Send a Compliment

comment on this...