Saturday, April 21, 2012

The Greater Cincinnati Area


What in the world have I been doing in Kentucky?  Well, a lot actually.

The first few months were a bit stagnant as I made the big transition from mountains to the Ohio River Valley.  Everything I was so sure about before began to fade as a new lifestyle presented itself to me: no job, far away friends, living dependently and few hikes in sight to help me cope.  But then, I got involved.


SUBSTITUTE TEACHING
I've finally started getting steady work.  I sub at 2 very different schools.  One school the students are respectful and well-behaved; the other, I had to break up a fight.  It's been a good experience as I finally feel fully confident in the classroom.

MARIANIST COMMUNITY
Dan has connected me into this community which has, in effect, connected me into everything else I've gotten involved in.  It's an eclectic group that gathers every Tuesday.  We eat and have reflective constructive conversations about almost everything.  And it's these kinds of people I really enjoy being around: people who actively seek knowledge trying to get at the truth, people who get involved in the community around them, people who use their talents to improve the world.  To be honest, if it weren't for this group I'd feel very lost here.  They are fun, commit, and are totally psyched about riding bikes in downtown Cincinnati with glow sticks and a beer in hand.
 


CIVIC GARDEN CENTER
I am taking a course in community gardening through this local non-profit organization.  I've always loved plants, but I don't really know a lot about them.  Now I am constructing an anti-deer 6 ft. fenced-in garden in the backyard.  Hope to get some kale and carrots growing soon!

ESL PROGRAM
Through the coordinator at the garden center, I got connected into a volunteer English as a Second Language program at a church.  We teach a group of Africans from Burundi English and it has been a wonderful experience.  Some are learning the alphabet while others are practicing for a driving test.  We are always learning from each other, but I have yet to learn how Epiphania weaves plastic bags into purses.

SU CASA
I reached out to this organization to maintain some interaction with the Latino community, which I miss so much.  I was asked to teach a basic computer class in Spanish, which was hilarious because I've lost a lot of Spanish being away, so trying to say, "Move the cursor to the corner to minimize the window" was a challenge.  I finally picked up on the computer terms though and got the class attaching documents to an email in the end!

So those are my weekly experiences and they keep me filled to a point.  I do have to say, I really miss the west and am wondering where I am meant to be.  But I'm glad to be here for the moment at least to be available for family gatherings in Indiana.  And there are some things that make me appreciate my past here and its history, like unknowingly driving past my great grandpa's car dealership in Ohio while coming back from a job interview.  The facade of the building looked familiar despite the 'Family Dollar' sign now covering it.  I remember going there as a kid as my grandpa chatted up customers and took us for spins in different convertibles.  There is something special about your roots and where you come from.  I'm just afraid that after seeing the world, it may be too difficult to truly come back and feel myself.  Chalk it up to transition...it still needs a little time.  

And of course I've been eating ice cream....


and riding bikes...


and camping....

and riding roller coasters with an old kindergarten friend...

and going to the famous Cincinnati zoo for "Tunes and Blooms"...


and singing karaoke...

and playing spring softball...

and learning how to salsa...

and going to the oldest observatory with the oldest telescope in the nation...

and just learning more about what Cincinnati has to offer!