Wow I can’t believe that it has already been three months-time is going by so fast…I guess time does fly by when you are having fun! So we are a quarter of the way done with JVC and I feel like I am finally situated in Portland.
A few quick updates:
Work has been so busy lately. This past month I have been helping coordinate Volunteer training which has been an interesting experience because there was such little turn around from being trained to being a trainer. Also our training has been in Spanish and has been more culturally specific geared towards the Latino community. I am quickly learning that in the field of domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy continually educating oneself is so important.
I have also been working in the Restraining Order room at the Courthouse. This has been my favorite experience thus far. It is my main source of client interaction during the week and I feel like I am actually helping people. I am also helping my supervisor compile and write a grant. This has been such an incredible learning experience plus it has been nice to “write a paper” again. I actually miss writing research papers! Overall, I have been really enjoying work. My coworkers are wonderful women who are so fun and encouraging…and I get to work in a field of work that I am passionate about!
Community living has been so great lately. This past week we attended our first JVC retreat which was so fun. A main focus of the retreat was a personality test known as the Enneagram. You should all take it! (http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/). While at first we were all a little skeptical about being boxed in or labeled by a personality test, it has been quite helpful for our community. The test has provided an opportunity to better understand my community members. We catch ourselves saying things like…well I do this because I am this number…It is actually hilarious how we have incorporated the enneagram into our everyday conversations. Obviously because we are complex human beings we do not fit perfectly into a number but we all have numbers that we can identify with. For those who are wondering, I am a 7 with a 6 wing.
After three months of living together we are quickly starting to form strong bonds and are actually becoming more like a family that a bunch of roommates. I am so thankful for them!
