I am feeling so incredibly lucky and happy these days. Normally, rboc-type posts are a litany of despair in the blogosphere (particularly of the academic sort), but this is not one of those.
1. My job is going so well. I work hard, I work smart, and get recognized for it. My work feels meaningful, and I really do feel appreciated for what I do. If you had talked to me a year ago, I could not have even fantasized about having a job situation like this. Is everything perfect? Definitely not. That said, I am happier than I’ve ever been at any job ever. Can’t beat that!
2. The teacher training project I got hooked into had its training for Local Rural District this week. To say that things were phenomenal would be an understatement. Some of our teachers were so excited and inspired that they were nearly in tears. Even a few days later, I get a chill thinking about the amazing things that will stem from our work. This is Real Work that makes a Real Difference. Such an honor to be a part of something like this.
3. The food allergy situation is sorting out pretty well. I discovered the hard way that I am terribly allergic to corn. So that’s what was going on! Eggs give me a runny nose. I am on to citrus next week, huzzah! I do feel good when I avoid things that I tested positive for, so there’s that.
4. The class I was supposed to teach did not make, so the next few months will be manageable for me. A bit bummed about losing out on the extra money, but sanity is worth it.
Last Sunday, we went on the most incredible hike at El Malpais National Monument. This is what we were treated to at the end of the trail!
La Vida Burqueña 