So Much To Learn

This last week I have had two significant moments of remembering how much I don't know.

The most recent one came yesterday, when I was having a delightful conversation about American history, the south and the Civil War, followed by a trip to Powell's Bookstore. The conversation alone made me realize how little I know of American history; I learned it all at some point in life but definitely do not remember it anymore. And then the trip to Powell's...well, let's just say that a trip to a giant bookstore will always leave me feeling like there is not enough time in the world to read all that I'd like to and understand things as well as I'd like. My time there included visits in just 4 sections, cooking, travel, history and gender studies and I think I could spend a lifetime reading about each of those subjects individually. But, alas, I cannot do that. Luckily, I have a pretty decent backup plan: I will settle for fascinating conversations with the intelligent people I am so fortunate to have in my life and reading just a few books at a time (currently I'm attempting a sociological study of the history of marriage, a memoir by a prominent gender and race expert and a novel by Michael Chabon).

The other moment came last week when I attended a discussion on transgender rights at the Q Center here in Portland. It started with two professionals who advocate for transgender rights in Washington DC, then had a question and answer session, and finished with time for people who are actively working for transgender equality in the local community to share their experiences. I loved it! A few people who I have mentioned it to since then have kind of looked at me like, why would you go to that? For what purpose? And I guess there wasn't a purpose. Except to tangibly see that there is so much to be a part of. Did you know that just recently regulations were passed allowing a person to put the gender he or she identifies with on his or her passport, as opposed to the one they were born with? It seems like such a little thing; when I fill out paperwork I do not think twice about checking the "female" box. But many people do. Or did you know that it was just 9 years ago that the first lawyer focused specifically on transgender rights on a national level? These things are so recent! There are so many things to be done--things to be fought for.

So in this week following thanksgiving, I am reminded to be thankful for every opportunity to learn. In my unemployed state, I often feel unproductive and listless. But moments such as these help me to see the bigger picture. That I will survive this time of unemployment if I keep learning.

Home for the Holidays

As I sit here this morning, sipping on my London Fog from Starbucks and eating a delicious left over roll, glad to be back from my 6am shopping excursion, I am reminded that I am home this Thanksgiving. Yesterday was filled with family and friends and way too much food. This morning was filled with too much consumerism for 6am. The rest of the day will entail too much laziness. Let there be no doubt, it is an American holiday. And you know what, I'm going to embrace every moment of it :)

Although, it does make me think about where I was last Thanksgiving. I was at a conference with MCC and all of our local partners in the mountains. And I was celebrating the lovely Hannah's birthday. And I was forcing my host siblings to be my friend through American holiday crafts. I am grateful to be home this year and I am also reminded to be thankful for my friends in Viet Nam and the holidays I spent there.

Handy Resources

I'm officially moved into Sellwood! It's been fun to have someone else around in the mornings; temporarily gone are the days where it feels like everyone else in the world has a 9-5 job while I just sit, anxiously waiting for someone--anyone!--to be done with their grown up working and come be my friend. And I promise, the fun only discourages me a little bit from continuing to actively look for employment.

On that topic though, I had a realization this week. Moving into a new house entails a few details that I hadn't given a lot of thought to previously, like the fact that I now have to buy groceries for myself. I love grocery shopping and cooking, but in my unemployed state, funds are limited. Not in a desperate sense by any means, but the joy of grocery shopping is slightly tainted when you just feel your bank account depleting with each item in the basket. Ok, I'm being a little dramatic :) But the point is this: I am still unemployed and I now need to buy groceries and Oregon (I cannot speak to other places because Oregon is the only place I have attempted this in) has some pretty great resources for someone like me. I've utilized a few different things since being back and so I thought, why not see if I qualify for food stamps?! Turns out, I do! And not only that, but the applying process is really simple. So I now am benefiting from some pretty great social services.

This might sound strange, but I'm kind of excited to be utilizing these resources right now. Hopefully someday soon, I will be a productive, working citizen. But until then, I'm getting to experience this system and applying for things. As it turns out, there are some pretty handy resources available and some very nice people to help one access them. Thanks Oregon :)

Not Timed So Well

Some of you may remember that my first task when I moved home was to re-decorate my room in my parents' house. It served both as something to do and a way to have a sense of ownership over my new time here in Portland. I love, LOVE my new room. It is simple and clean and much less chaotic than my old--but wonderfully fun--room.

BEFORE:

After:

The thing that is both unfortunate and exciting about this lovely new room is that I didn't get to enjoy it for long. I am moving out this week! Moving in with a friend in Sellwood, where I dont see myself being for long but for now is a great step forward towards making Portland even more my own. It is an exciting time! Just poor timing for my new pretty room here.

Phone Bank Photos

Election day is over, and while results are not in (fingers crossed that Multnomah County pulls through for us!) it was quite a day. It started at 4am with door-to-door flyer drop offs and ended at 11pm when Kitzhaber himself sent the anxious crowd home from the election party. I ended the day with a whole host of emotions because, while this experience was very short, it was also phemonenal. It left me with a lot to think about, and maybe some new life dreams.

"We are not people who hope that things will change; we are the people that work to make it happen."

Its amazing how a 4am motivational speech can really get to you. Maybe it was that it was so freakin early, or maybe the day just left us all highly susceptible to all things cheesy, but whatever it was, it got me. I was reminded that I choose to live in a way that works towards change, to not just dream of it or talk about it. These last few weeks have been a fascinating lesson in what that could look like and I am, yet again, reminded that the possibilities are endless.

Enough cheesiness for now. Here are some pictures from my last couple days at the phone bank:

this is the bell you get to ring when you get a YES vote and the coffee mug that kept me going

Please notice the woman on the right. Sometimes calls get stressful

These are the boots I wore almost every day. Good, sturdy phone banking boots.

The very last phone bank session on election day. Of my 15 hours on the phone in the last three days , this one was the best: sleep deprived phone banking is my new fav! Although I'll be honest, I probably won't miss calling complete strangers, I am going to miss going in.