October Reigns

I have been very blessed since I have been back to Sacramento. I hoped/hope to accomplish several goals while I am here because I do not know of my plans in the future so I want to have a blast with the time I know I will be here. I will be in Sacramento through June of 2012.

In July, I received a job at the American Red Cross. I started on Aug. 1st and I have been learning a lot. I cannot believe it's been two months already. The interview was fantastic and I thought it was too good so I tried to keep my hope down. But lo and behold, they called me back the next day and said " They would not need a second interview" and they hired me right on the phone. I was thrilled.

I have been learning a lot about the American Red Cross vocabulary, processes, systems, and staff/volunteers. They are in love with acronyms. And just like in any job, there are things that I dislike but I am willing to endure through my program completion date in mid-June. It's a job that requires a lot of flexibility because there is something different every day, lots of time we are hurrying to finish a proejct then told we have to wait, and that there is a wide spectrum of work involved.

These last two months, I have been attending lots of classes and events/seminars.
During these interactions, I am finding what I like. Rather soon, I will be pigeon holing myself into areas which suit me best. Already, I am partial to any project that allows me to interact with people whether it is teaching a class, staffing an information booth, or giving a presentation.

I got very lucky in getting this job. But that is just the butter on the corn. One of my main goals in coming back to Sacramento is to spend time with family. Well, I have been scheduling movie watching with my cousin David. We are on a roll and we continue to keep watching. I, along with others celebrated my Mom's birthday early September. I have been giving bread and random desserts to different family members that live right near me. I have spent lots of time with my Dad. I am still working on spending time with my sister but she has visited us a few times and I am proud to say that we express ourselves rather well with each other. My sister and I haven't been very close but we seem to have a good footing on a strong foundation now. I told her I want to take her to a independent film soon. In addition, I have spoke a lot with my neighbors whom I consider friends as well.

And of course, I have been in contact with my girlfriend Natalie who is now in France teaching English (Natalie's blog: http://nataliefranceadventures.blogspot.com). We talked a few times during the time she was in Paris but now she is in her final destination where she will teach English to a class of elementary school children. We have plans to Skype as soon as she gets internet back at her Host Family's household.

As always the case, nothing's perfect and there are some days I just want to keep to myself but all in all, this experience of re-visiting Sacramento is going so well and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to not only have a good job but a good footing with everyone around me.