I have officially finished two weeks and two days working (in person) at a full-time job. One of many many obvious statements I am about to make: a full-time job is exhausting. Among the newness of this city, my casamates, and my job, everyday kind of feels like a marathon. So, from the top:
I live with five other people in a house with the best front porch ever. For all of you who heard me hype up the porch, it suffices to say that it exceeded every one of my expectations! This morning was particularly wonderful, as I sat on our swing watching the sunrise with a breakfast taco in my hand and a cup of coffee at my feet. It really is the little things.
Orientation on zoom was as one would expect. Lots of screen time, difficult to connect with other houses, but a huge gift to get to spend so much time with my new housemates!
The six of us have been settling in well, albeit a bit chaotically at times! Two of us are from MA, two from Portland, one from Memphis, and one from Chicago. None of us being within easy driving distance from home means we will be spending a lot of time together, which is a huge blessing. All of us really want to be here and are willing to go all in, both when it is easy and when it is more challenging. Some big highlights have included:
· watching thunderstorms on our porch
· singing in the kitchen
· vibing with the Christmas lights on in the living room
· checking out some different local coffee shops
· long family dinners (every night!!)
· picnics and concerts in parks
· getting to meet some local Houstonians who have so generously opened their lives to us
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It is really the small moments of togetherness that are bringing me lots of joy. Community is what I was most nervous about coming into this, and these people are good. Every time I struggle with my job, my first thought is “if I were anywhere else, I wouldn’t be with these people.” Quick example: one of our housemates wrote us all handwritten notes and taped them to the fridge for our first day of work. We seem to know how to speak each others' languages! I’m excited for you all to ‘meet’ them (intros to come!)
Work has been challenging. It is very legal and lots of desk work. Given that I thrive off of contact and relationships, I have struggled. I have very much been thrown in the deep end, but it has been a lot of treading water and not a whole ton of forward movement. In some ways, I feel like I am a freshman again, trying to figure out my place at work and discover exactly what is expected of me. I am beginning to observe asylum consults and will start taking my own clients by mid-September…simultaneously exciting and terrifying! One day at a time!
This week has been hard, if for no other reason than it feels like there is a fire everywhere I look. The New Orleans JV evacuated to our home, so we had an additional 6 people with us this weekend (super fun, super hectic) and watching them go through the evacuation process is tough. Then there is Afghanistan and the renewal of the Remain in Mexico program (MPP), two human rights crises that have a large impact on the population with which I work and two cases that shatter my heart. In the words of St. Mother Theresa, “We have forgotten that we belong to one another.”
All in all, the days have been long, but the weeks have flown! I am successfully navigating a new city, living with other people, and doing work that means something. I have many more stories to share, and they will appear here sporadically, but in the meantime, know that I feel all of the prayers y’all are sending.
Love,
Gabriela
P.S. Blogs will usually not just be a litany of my weeks and will typically include a bit more depth. I’m trying to hit a writing rhythm and appreciate y’all being here in the meantime <3
First day of work!
Community Dinners Rock!
Casa Ruti G girls in their natural habitat!
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