Interview Update

My interview went really really well. Now, I just get to hurry up and wait. I still can't belief I interviewed with the U.N. That is pretty cool in and of itself, I must admit. Now, I just have to read for my 2 classes remaining this week. For Urban Policy, I am studying how the Arts can help attract and renew neighborhoods. Who knew Minneapolis/St.Paul was an arts Mecca?? Not me! My other reading is William Julius Wilson's "The Truly Disadvantaged". I highly recommend this book - it is the first scholarship that truly addresses urban ghettos, race, and the economy since the Moynihan Report (highly controversial report that virtually silenced scholarship surrounding race and poverty until William Julius Wilson's book mentioned above). OK, back to the books!

Weekends rock!

Today, I woke up at 1ish and continued to lay in bed for awhile, chatting on the phone with my parents, petting the obese kitty that lives with me (I promise I will upload a picture soon of Manon, aka Sumo). My new room is PERFECT for that kind of thing. A little too perfect.

Walking into campus, I realized that I think of Philly as my home. I really like the city and despite the fact that I cannot walk home alone after dark, I like where I live. I think my neighbors right next door are gay so you know what that means: the area will be gentrified in the next 10 years. God Bless the Gays for revitalizing inner cities. If only it didn't push the poor out. I hope we can talk about that issue in my urban policy class. Right now, we are learning of middle-class flight from the cities to the 'burbs. I hope to work on a project that deals with foreclosures and predatory lending. Are you jealous yet? I can see that you are...

Monday morning, bright and early is my phone interview with the UN. I am so nervous. I need to practice my answers to questions like: Why did you apply for this internship (because it is the U.-freaking-N. and I want to go into the area of women's empowerment)? What is your greatest strength (hmmm, have to think about that one. Shining personality is NOT what they are looking for right away)? What is your greatest weakness (my left arm. I rarely use it. No seriously. I have to put some thought into that one too...) Wish me luck. Hopefully, they will tell me soon if I am the chosen one because then I have to figure out a way to amass some serious capital in the next few months if accepted.

My focus, for right now

Here is a picture of me and my adopted son, Mante. He lives in Mississippi and is 2 years old. I am knitting him a baby blanket, in between doing my readings.

I have decided that I want to focus on human trafficking as my area of focus in the women's empowerment arena. Why? Well, firstly, this is an issue that deals directly with economics. If you have access to market power in your home country, there is no real need to pursue service-industry work in another country. Secondly, it is an issue that can be worked from both ends, i.e. I can work on the prevention-side or on the advocacy-side, working to ensure that victims of human-trafficking receive the services they need once discovered. These service range from mental health, visa-status, shelter, etc. I could go domestic or international with this issue...and it deals fundamentally in human rights. So, for this week, this is my focus. Next week, it could all change so be patient with me!

I am currently reading about Program Evaluation and realizing that if I want to do something completely different for a while, this would interest me as well, you know consulting. Once I get some mad real-world skillz, this would definitely not be a bad gig, especially if I have a family one day.

I feel like I should write more on Mississippi, but...

I know I should write more about my experiences in Mississippi and maybe I will this weekend, but for right now, I want to talk about my first week of classes and the world of opportunity before me. This semester is exciting. I will learn how to evaluate programs (hello gig in consulting!!), how social policy is effected by the judicial system, hands on experience doing a research project for a client within the City of Philadelphia (if I get my way, I will research the foreclosure/sub-prime mortgage 'crisis') and learning how to truly write policy op eds, briefs, etc. In my Capstone seminar, my professors tried to figure out where we should get internships and what our interests are. So I study women's empowerment...what does that mean, specifically when it comes to a career? I don't know!!!! I told them about the UNIFEM interview (in theory it is next week) and the fact that it is unfunded and received interesting advice. Firstly, my profs, who have significant Beltway experience, said if I want to end up in DC, then that is where I need to do my internship so I can compete with other peeps, put in my time and get hired. But then there is the opportunity in Botswana and it is right up my alley, through Penn...oh me oh my oh! What should I do? Where should I go?? DC?? Balkans?? Botswana?? Should I focus on human trafficking? Women's access to health care?? My head is swimming, I tell you.

Bayou wayou!

Our days in Mississippi are down to less than two, with our super health fair tomorrow. Everyone in Pearlington knows about it and hopefully we have a terrific turn out. I will be knitting and conversing for 4 hours so it should be fun. Yesterday, Congressman Taylor came to thank us and, especially for a Congressman, he is good-looking! It was a blast from the past for me because he was in the House when I was a Page. Then, it was off to Turtle Landing for a beer and to watch our debut on the news in Buloxi. We are famous! Not only for the illustrious chicken drop, but now for being on the news and having the health fair. Can you believe I have classes starting next week? I can't. Let the race begin!

New Orleans was a completely different experience the second time we went. There was no flashing, no jam-packed streets and lots of oysters. We went to a delicious restraunt, ACME, and had raw oysters (deliciously slimy!!) and po boys, ettoffe (can't spell), hush puppies and bread pudding. Amazing. Then, we went to Pat O'Briens to have another hurricane (not as good this time) and strolled the streets. I had my tarot cards read and it was interesting. She said I was isolated right now which, despite being with 28 other people all the time, I agree with and that I am in a time where I have to work hard. How did she know?! Then, (this is where it gets interesting) she told me that I have a strong male businessman presence in my life and that we really want to be together, but we can't right now because it is winter and I have to focus on my work...who is this mysterious strong male businessman in my life??? All I know is we can't be together right now, and I believe one of the main reasons is because I don't know who he is. I'll keep you posted, should there be an update.

Down on the Bayou

Hello from Pearlington, Mississippi! I do not know where to begin this blog post since so much happened since our arrival on the 3rd. We are going to New Orleans tonight, again, and hope it is as fun as last time around. I doubt it will be as crazy because the BCS Championship Game is over, and even though it is Carnival, it is not exactly Mardi Gras. Not to worry, I intend to stroll the streets with a Hurricane from Pat O'Brien's in hand, observing whatever there is to observe.

Pearlington itself is rural. When we arrived on the 3rd, I almost cried. It was freezing cold, and our beds consist of plywood and a thin prison mattress. Not kidding about the prison mattress, people!! Our restrooms are outhouses and the water smells like rotton eggs. Imagine bathing in hot, smelly sulfur water. All the water we drink is bottled and expired (who knew bottled water could expire!!!) or from Anheiser Busch, sans beer ingredients. I ended up in 5 layers that evening, avoiding tears and somehow sleeping through the night. The next morning, we woke up and began our work here. We are going door to door, seeing who is back after the Hurricane, assessing mental and physical health needs and inviting people to our health fair (which is where I am doing my knitting circle). People's experiences of the storm and throughout the past 2 years are vastly different. A lot depends on resources before the storm and a lot depends on attitude.

I have to run, but I will update more as soon as possible...pictures to come...the explaination of a chicken drop (yes, it involves chicken poop), kareoke with a saxiphone and the joys of New Orleans the night before the BCS Championship en route.

Unpacking and Off to Mississippi

Howdy Howdy Howdy! I am attempting to unpack all my stuff, realizing that I truly have no furniture. I did buy a beautiful bureau, however, and it is being delivered tonight. Hooray! Other news: I leave for Mississippi, I kid you not, at 5:30 in the morning, tomorrow morning. 5:30!!! I have to be at the gate at 6:30. Boo. But, by lunch time, I will be eating at some delicious New Orleans cafe. Benets or bust, baby! I know internet is limited at best where I am going so I will try to update the blog, but be patient with me, please! I promise I will not wear velour or sweat outfits to travel. There were so many fashion crimes last time I flew, velour was the most obvious one, but trust me, I doubt I will be disappointed this time around. As always, you can count on me to report back the biggest travesties. My time at the grad center begins upon my return so not to worry, my making fun of grad students and their "fashion" will also continue.

I head off for Raleigh/Durham on February 1st to see a friend I have not seen in 8 years. Now that is a fairly long time. A lot has happened since we last saw each other, but alas, it should be fun. Last semester, I did not leave Philadelphia city limits for 3 months. This semester, I want to change that. I do not want to feel like a shell come May when classes are done. While I truly enjoyed my return trip to Colorado, it is hard to spend all of your time recouperating!

Ok, the room of boxes with the overweight cat beckons. Nona and I call her "Sumo".