This is why we can't have nice things

I reread my last post and I realized how...sunny it seemed. Look, I know that there are going to be times when I do not want to be here. The weather here, while beautiful, can turn on a dime. Rain starts and stops whenever it damn well pleases. The sun doesn't really like to come out from behind the clouds (although when it does it is like nothing I have ever seen). The wind can really gust. And I am sure when I am riding me bike to work at 3 PM and it is already dark out I won't be too excited. But still. I have been very happy here.

I finished my first week of work yesterday, and it was good. The more time I spend in my job and with the people its been good. It is going to be very challenging at times in a few different ways, but its going to be good. I hope...

::Disclaimer:: I am bound by confidentiality, so I won't really be able to talk about the particulars of my job and the kids I am working with. Even while writing progress notes and documenting work we have to use the kids' initials. Sorry, I would like to be sharing this even more with you guys, its just that, well, I can't. There are going to be many times when I am having issues with a kid that I will want to talk with someone about, but I won't be able to. So I will be speaking in a lot of generalities.

But I can speak a little more about the program I am working for. Starting with Hanson House. The average length of stay for the kids coming through there is about 6-9 months. The demographic of those kids falls into one of the two following categories: is severely emotionally disturbed (affected? What is the PC term for this?) with a pretty rough home life, or the judge told them it was either HH or prison. What would you pick? The current group of kids is great. While there are definitely some struggles with them, they are all very smart, personable, and a ton of fun to be around. I am there pretty much as a support for these kids, from anything to planning life after HH to helping with an algebra problem. I watch TV and movies with them, play card games, cook, make sure they get their chores done, that sort of thing. The more time I spend there the more I enjoy getting to know the kids.

Now, how do they get out of HH? Well, I am glad you asked. HH is a four phase program. Each phase has a different set of criteria to reach the next one, including a paper, a journal, and a project that is meant to contribute to the house. Each phase also has a few more privileges than the previous one. If you are at phase 2, you can sign out for one two hour period per weekend (most kids go downtown), at phase three that jumps up to two three hour sign out opportunities, and then phase four is two four hour sign outs. Stuff like that. Once they reach the graduation phase they begin to move out. Some kids blow through it, others take a little longer. But it really is a very good, if not great (I realize I use a lot of words likes 'amazing' and 'incredible,' so I am trying to be a little calmer with my praise) program. And I am very happy to have been placed there.

My time at Sitka High has been...well, different than the above mentioned experience. I have my own office and an open door policy. Basically any time one of YAS' clients needs some support they can come see me. Some of my HH kids are at the high school so they bug me for a few minutes each lunch period, but other than that...I had one person come use me in the two days I was there. It can get pretty boring. And they have a firewall that stops me from going to fun websites, such as Facebook and anything sports related, so now I actually have to read semi-intelligent stuff. I have read multiple sources about health care and a few articles on money and the recession and stuff. I actually really enjoyed it. Just, not as fun as others. Anywho, I suppose as the year goes on and new HH kids come to the high school I will have a little more to do. I hope...(huh, second time this post I have done that. Lot of hoping going on here. And I think that is a good thing)

Alright, community. We are getting to know each other better as each day goes on. I have really come to enjoy the time I get to spend with all of them. Our night have evolved to playing cards, reading together, our conversations have gotten deeper and more ridiculous as we have gone through this past month together. Last night we all drank together (minus Nick, who wasn't feeling too well), just in the house because we were all pretty wiped (I had worked all day and the girls had gone on a beach combing cruise). We just sat around, were ridiculous, and generated some great quotes. And then we woke up this morning and I was reminded why I don't drink vodka anymore. I went to mass last night, but the rest of my community members didn't. So that was a pretty long hour for the bunch of them. But it was still a really fun night, one that we all laughed about all day today. Especially when Nick read some quotes back to us that he had written down from the night before. Hilarity ensued. For our community night tonight we went to the arcade down the street. Awesome. But I don't know. I have heard some horror stories from people's time in the JVC, but I have lucked out that no major issues have arose yet. Granted, we are a month in. But still. I like them all and am really looking forward to spending more time with them.

Finally, we had our first spirituality night last Monday. I took charge and read a book that my mom left in my luggage called, "Matthew's Meadow." Great book, one that has been in my life since 1994 (it was written on the inside cover. Don't judge me). There are quite a few solid messages and lessons in the book, primarily covering using your senses to get to know the world around you (obviously an appropriate lesson for this year). But there is one quote I want to share with you, one that I had forgotten about.

"The unknown is simply the not-yet-known. Most people look for solutions within the known. If this is something you want to do, and you think it is impossible, I want you to look outside the known, not within it. Think beyond your thoughts so that you can find a way to do what you once thought impossible."

I, and quite a few other people I know, am going to be presented with a few situations that may appear impossible at first glance. A hard to get through to kid, maybe a troublesome circumstance. Hard to say at this point, for obvious reasons. But I feel as if this quote will go a long way in helping me deal with these situations, even if just to take a break and a breath to think about how I should deal with it.

So that is where I am at right now. Happy, hopeful, and apprehensive. Knowing that things are going well right now, but that could change fairly quickly. Also, still keep your eyes peeled for thoughts on social justice. Its a tough topic to put all my thoughts into. Until next time...