One Week Down

Well, there's some good news on the job front. I had an interview with the coordinator of the Simmons College writing center (also a GSLS[Library Science will henceforth be referred to by the common acronym, sorry if this causes confusion] student), and a position as a tutor there seems promising. The interview went well, and I think I impressed her with some of my answers and my three years of experience (thanks, Dyer!). The writing center here is a bit more professional than the one at USF--by which I mean that they have their own room to use. They try to keep it open from 9-7 every day but Saturday, apparently, but with only one tutor there most of the time. If I get hired, I would be putting in about 8 hours a week. I really hope this works out, since it is a job I am familiar with. Also, the grad student pay rate is $12/hr, which would be a great help. By the middle of next week I should know if I got the job.

I also have applications out at the Boston Historical Society and the Museum of Fine Arts, plus the Simmons campus library. I hope to hear back soon from at least one of them. My adviser seemed to be concerned that I find a job in a library, or better, an archive as soon as possible. I choose to side with my neighbors who advise taking any job I can get to keep me afloat until something better comes along. That seems very reasonable advice, and I am following it. Besides, my archives class this fall requires a short internship, and once I have that on my resume I'll be far more marketable to libraries and archives. Right now the resume isn't all that impressive, except for my internship at the Old Courthouse Museum last spring. That's probably the most valuable thing I did in my final semester, at least as far as this grad program is concerned.

One of my neighbors gave me a present last night. Well, loaned me something wonderful and may let me keep it. I mentioned that the only book (besides textbooks) I was going to let myself buy this fall is Terry Pratchett's "Making Money", the newest Discworld. Well, Tetima just happened to have a copy, and she doesn't even read Discworld. How weird is that? It's even more interesting because it's an uncorrected proof, not the final book. So there might be slight differences in the end version, and I've already noticed a few typos. I hope she lets me keep it. It's better that I read it now, while I still have some free time, than at the end of the month when it's released in paperback.

-Kim

on the Fenway

Second post of the day just to let you know, the Red Socks game must be pretty exciting, because I can hear the crowd cheering through my open window.

Progress

I survived my first graduate level class session! LIS 407 Reference/Information Services with Howard Rodriguez-Mori. He's from Puerto Rico, originally, so he has quite the interesting accent. He's easy enough to understand, but I still think I'll sit closer to the front next week. He went over our syllabus and gave an introductory lecture on what reference librarianship is all about (essentially, answering questions). And it doesn't sound like as much busywork as my neighbors warned me it would be. For this week, at least, there isn't much to do, which will give me plenty of time to finish my technology requirement.

After class I checked out the dining center on the main campus for the first time. Things move faster there, which was a little awkward. Instead of the all-you-can-eat style of Bartol Hall (where we eat on the residence campus) the Fens prices everything individually. And since my meals there have to be $6 or less to qualify for a prepaid meal instead of taking my precious few fenway dollars, I have to keep close track of how much I'm spending. I'll have to see about putting more money on that card anyway, since I can also use it for printing (after I use up my 400 free sheets of printing per semester), doing laundry and sending mail. So many things to learn...

From lunch I walked across the street to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum. It was amazing, though after the first two floors, I think I had sensory overload and couldn't really take in the rest of it. That's okay though, because Simmons students get in for free and I can go back any time I want to. I figured I should go check it out, since I sent in an online application to work there. Still no solid leads on employment, but I'm working on it.

Random fact: a clock tower nearby (I think it's on the Emmanuel campus) plays the same tones as the First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. Hearing that familiar sound on the hour makes up a little for the large number of sirens that make this city sound so different than South Dakota. Although, to be fair, most of the noise is because we're near three major hospitals. Even so, I sleep with my window shut to keep out the noise.

All things considered, life--and the graduate school experience--is looking better today.

-Kim

Advising Day?

Not really. The most advising I got today was being told to schedule an appointment to meet with my adviser soon. So I'll be actually meeting her on Thursday, and at that point will try to figure out what my program really looks like. But there was a very nice bag lunch, and I did get to see my adviser from afar, so now I know what she looks like. And they raffled off several exciting prizes, one of which was the librarian action figure. I won nothing beyond the free lunch, but I'm okay with that. The session did allow me to make contact with the coordinator of the Simmons writing center, who encouraged me to sent in my resume to be considered for one of the spots that are currently open. And whether or not that works out, I am pursuing leads on museum positions that might pay some bills and keep me interested in what I'm doing.

I've also been working on an online requirement called TOR. It's a series of lessons and quizzes designed to familiarize me with online resources at Simmons (read: pointless busywork). I find it terribly annoying and can't wait to be done. True, it gives me something to do other than watch TV online and be lonely, but I'd rather the work served a real purpose.

Purpose seems to be the word of the day. At the session this morning the program director was praising us on what a diverse and accomplished class we were. unfortunately, none of the accomplishments or statistics she read off her rather long list applied to me at all, except for the part about us being the youngest entering class in the history of the program. At that moment, I felt a little out of my league. But then, talking with one of my fellows afterward, I realized we're all feeling pretty much the same way right now. And one of the professors (who I have class with--yay!) made sure to remind us that we came here to learn, after all, and shouldn't freak out if we feel like we don't know anything yet. That's right--my purpose at this moment is to learn, and learn all I can both in and out of the classroom so that by the time I do find a job in my field I will be truly prepared.

Even though I still feel rather lost in this big city and new stage of life, I am not purposeless. God has led me here and will continue to lead me. He has opened all the right doors for me in the past, and I have no reason to doubt he will do so now. My change in location does not change his love for me or his power to carry out his plans for and through me. There are moments when I need to be reminded of this, but that's where you help me. My family and friends uphold me and remind me of the goodness of the God we serve in their care for me. I only hope that I can do so in return.

By the way, tomorrow morning is my first graduate level class session. I'll let you know how it goes.

-Kim

Labor Day

I've decided that holidays are actually kind of annoying when I haven't been doing anything that I need a break from. In fact, what I would like a break from is this feeling of purposelessness that has haunted me since I arrived here. Oh, for school to start and life to make sense again!

Yesterday I braved the subway on my own and made it to Park Street for church. I went to one of the evening services, and taking the train back out was pretty crowded. After the service there was a "reception" for college students and professors so we could learn about college ministries in the city. I gave my contact information to the Real Life Boston group (Campus Crusade, essentially) so they can let me know when activities or Bible studies are going on. The service itself was pretty good. Nothing absolutely amazing, but enough to make me want to come back next week. The sermon was on the text of Jesus meeting the disciples on the road to Emmaus, which, in light of the book my aunt just had published, was enough to make me homesick again and almost cry in the pew. But, as I said, I think I'll be going back next week, though probably to a morning service to see what that's like.

I also met some of the people on my floor Sunday night. They're pretty cool people, and most of them are in my program. Most of them have also been here for at least a semester, so they can give me advice on classes, professors and the city of Boston. I need all the advice I can get at this point. Also, having people to hang out with and go places with would be nice. Then I could feel alright about leaving campus after dark, or coming back after dark, because I wouldn't be alone. I do carry my kubaton everywhere I go, but I'd rather not have to use it or any of the tricks Sherwin taught me. But I am living in a big city, after all. Yesterday afternoon I walked through a park on the way to the subway station. It was pretty, and there was a lovely stone bridge and gazebo. but when I went for a closer look at the gazebo, I noticed a homeless man sleeping in it. I ran away. Toto, I'm definitely not in South Dakota anymore.

I think I'm getting to know this little corner of Boston pretty well. Except for a mall (of which there are apparently only two in all of Boston), I can find almost anything I need in walking distance. Now I just have to see about a job, so I can continue to afford the necessities within walking distance. That is my project after advising day tomorrow, which will get me ready to jump into the program. At least, that's the theory. I'll let you know afterward whether I feel at all prepared.

Oh, one other thing. 80 degrees in Boston feels warmer than 80 degrees in SD. I think it's all the pavement and buildings reflecting heat and sunlight all over. Good thing I packed some shorts. Just walking to CVS today made me sweat, and I have more errands to run later. Fun times...

-Kim