The U Word

Dear Kayla,

Dealing with unemployment is better said than done. It's different for everyone, but I guess I wrote this so maybe someone else won't feel so alone. For me it's temporary, meaning I work part-time at a college but clocked few hours over the summer and am now "off" until the fall. I've been using this time (and my last paychecks) to pursue my first full-time, salary with benefits, "real" job. It has thus far been unsuccessful. I'm not going to play this off cool at all--I feel like a wreck. I'm not coping well. The worst part is feeling idle. I like being a useful, contributing member of society. I get so restless, my sleep schedule is wack, I procrastinate--I have generally dragged my feet through this period of my life. Then I start to think that maybe there is something I can learn from unemployment. First of all that I should not base the whole of my self worth on my job or the brutal opinion of the job market. So these are methods I use to deal. If you're also unemployed, pick and choose if they sound good to you, Tell me ways you deal. Mostly know you're not alone.

READ MORE BLOGS

If you're like me you put almost all your work into sending applications. I (sometimes) have confidence in my abilities, but it seems to me that the job hunt is an elaborate game to prove your worth. In seeking advise I found Ask A Manager this great blog by Alison Green with *valuable* info about hiring from an employer/hiring manager's perspective. I took a break from sending applications and applied some of her advise.

WORK ON DEM SKILLZ

Just because I'm not in school or going to work doesn't mean can't improve myself. Just like a millennial I've turned to an app. Duolingo helps me practice my Spanish with grammar, vocab, and speaking lessons. It also keeps track of my practice, so I love it. Magoosh has added 25 semi-pretentious words to my vocabulary so far; it's the official GRE vocabulary builder app. And lastly the Goodreads app is a standard for book lovers. I learn about new releases, read and write reviews, and keep track of my own reading goals.

VOLUNTEER

It's a feel good kind of activity. Volunteering with a local arts non-profit has really saved me because ...I miss working. That may sounds crazy, but it's true. I've loved being involved with my community--I can't believe I didn't do this sooner! It is loads better than the internship option,  more flexible and more rewarding. Get used to hearing 'thank you!' all the time. I learn, meet people, work, and *put it on my resume*. I absolutely recommend it.

GO OUTSIDE

At least open the window. Summers in the Georgia are humid as hell. My apartment gets stuffy and being inside all day makes me feel claustrophobic. Open the door and look at a sunset and take a deep breath. Maybe change your work environment; sit on the porch if you have one or go out to a coffee shop, there is a nice one (with books!) close to my house. I also like taking walks with Seth. We both live close to Grant Park and the neighborhood has lots of Little Free Libraries! Sometimes you just need that delicious fresh air.

FEED YO SELF 

It's hard to remember, I know. So take a break! Some days I've gotten so consumed in the job hunt, time passes and its suddenly midnight. It sounds so silly, but remember to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Drink lots of that H2O. Combine meals with breaks. Eat breakfast and read a book. Share lunch with a friend. Have a cut off time when you stop work for the day and relax. Oh! Don't forget your body either! I'm a fan of #stopdropandyoga, but even if you're not find some FUN way to burn all that excess energy and make more. Like bike rides! Take a "weekend" or some version of it. I went hiking with Paul and Seth last Sunday and it really cheered me up. I'm craving some semblance of a routine, so breaks really help me out.

FIND A CREATIVE OUTLET

Express all that frustration, anger, apathy, or whatever it is and MAKE SOMETHING. Kayla has happily let me borrow her watercolor set, and something about that soft, fluid medium is so relaxing for me. I'm also a fan of collage and have been making regular journal entries all year. This blog good too for that too;)

Currently Reading: Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
2015 Job  Applications Submitted So Far: 36
Taylor Swift Song of the Month: Treacherous

Kentucky Home

Hey Kayla,

I only checked up on this blog tonight, and it's been even longer since I last contributed something. I'm in Kentucky with my parents before they leave for their trip to Argentina and Peru in the morning. It's been great spending time with them, especially since I hadn't been home since New Years! Being here also feels like going backwards in time; being with them reminds me of how much I need to grow. I don't mean "grow up" but just, grow. My parents are very selfless and loving people and when I'm with them I always see that in the little and big ways they care for their family and home and even their little dog Munkie! I feel like a little kid again. They take care of me and go about their errands while I lay around the house with few obligations. I feel like a teenage too except I notice all the ways I can be difficult and was difficult at times when I was living with them. Now I know that I won't always agree with them, but I can learn to communicate with them and love them better.

I've been reading "How To Love" by Thich Nhat Hanh with short passages and notes on love, just a few pages every night or so. After reading bell hook's All About Love this January I decided to actively practice love in my life. Although  in the back of my mind it's how I wish to act, it's not how it always turns out. I want love to be first in my mind. In your last longish post you mentioned thinking about death. I think about it too. My parents are going on this trip for about three weeks. My Dad showed my brother where their will was in case anything happened. I started thinking what if something does happen? It makes me want to make the most of every moment I spend with them. The fear of death can transform in to a motivation to live. Who cares about the little or big things we don't agree on? In this moment (how many more will we have) I choose to love.

There are more things on my mind, but it's late and if I don't post now who knows when you'll see it. I also want to be a little more succinct with these posts and blog about one topic at a time. I have a lot to tell you, but I want to be a more mindful of what I write publicly--what from my life do I want to share and how do I want to share it? I'm considering these questions but also happy to be blogging again. I'm going to see my brother, my cousin, and Perla tomorrow in Lexington and Louisville. Should be fun. Funny reunion with the Gilmore Girls band by the way. See you soon! I'll be back in town and ready to chill wit cha Thursday. Come at me! Peace. -G


Currently Reading: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
2015 Job Applications Submitted So Far: 10
Taylor Swift Song of the Month (it's a thing! I'm making it a thing!): Mean

Dear Kayla: hobbies, work, and international living

Dear Kayla,

Dear dear dear Kayla, I miss ya bud. I've finally gotten used to life over here, and I'm busy!

I feel you with the post-grad what-is-my-life-where-am-I-going-what-do-I-want-ahhhhh-anxiety. As much as I prepared for this trip, knowing I needed to escape my comfort zone and challenge myself, being here is far from what I expected. Or at least, I haven't felt the way I expected. Now that's I'm a month in, I am more open to where life will take me. I know to expect the unexpected. Who freakin' knows man. It's scary and exciting. But to make things happen for myself, jobs, opportunities, adventures, friendships, I have to be active. I have to seek them, passionately.

The biggest problem for me is being interested to SO MANY THINGS. They all captivate me. I thought while I was in Peru I would have some much time to read and look for jobs and study, etc. And I have had time, I just worry I'm spreading myself too thin. I'm staying here with my aunt, uncle (tios) and cousin (primo). My tios have four kids, all of them grown (although it's common here for kids to live with their parents until they get married). Anyway my cousin Yulissa plays guitar, but she's living in the States now. So lucky me gets to use her old classical and electric guitar. Woooooo. I'm pretty used to classical guitars, so I've been fooling around with the electric a lot, learning power chords and some of my favorite songs. But I have to write lesson plans as well and REALLY study Spanish. I have to leave the house at 8AM XD and this sucks. It means I have go to sleep around 11 or 11:30, which is so strange for me. My previous bedtime was around 2AM. I have to do all my activities (including blog posts) from 12-5pm.

And it continues. I also read Tina Fey's book Bossypants about a week ago [which I totally recommend to you, Kayla, and all you other readers out there]. I am currently immersed in Ernest Cline's novel Ready Player One. It's kind of a problem [I'm half way through and oh-mah-g freaking favorite book of the year so far]. I had to force myself to stop reading it so I could prepare for my Spanish exam today. So how I'm supposed to be the best teacher I can be, while also studying, reading heavily, playing guitar, and taking in a healthy gulp of Peruvian life? Time to make with the schedule I suppose. As you posted in a WM once, spend your life doing what you enjoy. I don't want to give anything up [in fact I want to add Yoga classes and volunteering as well>.<] but I think after my second month of Spanish classes, I'll stop. I want to learn as much as I can, but just communicating will help with that. Stress is not becoming of a lady either lol and I want to put enough effort into each of my activities.

Also woo Game of Thrones. It's over so sad. The books are amazing I've heard, need to get on that too. I actually have watched Arrested Development, but haven't started the new series yet. I was watching a lot of The Big Bang Theory over here [a student recommend it] but I laid off the juice around mid third season. I'm replacing TV with YouTube and book for now. Also way to lay off the cheese haha I have as well although only because I'm no longer working at a pizza place. Eating my aunt's cooking and the Peruvian cuisine makes me feel in better health that I've been in for a long time. More on that later in a What's in Your Noms? post. I'll leave you with this image of Lima. I'm living behind to the left of those two white buildings.

Hasta luego,

Ginny

Weekly Motivation

It's been nearly two weeks since I arrived in Peru. To say things have been quite different would be an understatement. All my family here have been such wonderful hosts, and living in another country is mind blowing. But time seems to move differently here. When I was at home, being in such a day to day routine, one week, even one month could just fly by. But here every day is a new experience, and I'm learning new things about myself outside my normal surroundings. I've been going all over the place too, to Spanish class and English class, in crowded combis, and up mountains. I've only wet my toes--two week of a three month stay--yet part of me misses home, thinks that this challenge I gave myself is too much. Finally I had some time today to sleep in, meditate, and do some yoga. It helped me center myself. I know this won't be easy. Last time I was in Peru I remember writing that part of taking a trip is feeling uncomfortable. But I don't want to isolate myself and my feelings of loneliness is an unfamiliar place; I want to connect with people. Hope I can keep mediating to calm myself, and take each adventure or struggle one breathe at a time.

G

Dear Kayla: Tea, inspiration, and brain food

Dear Kayla,

Four weeks from now, I'll be leaving for Peru to. I'm nervous-excited :D:

Anyway I figure that once I'm there I want to get into a routine. While I haven't have the perfect routine post-graduation, I did set some guidelines for myself. I made this:

I had a 2 part time jobs, a temp job for an online magazine, and an online class to focus on, but tons of other projects I wanted to work on as well: our two blogs, yoga, writing,  reading books, reading the news, learning about the publishing field, being healthy, having fun, finding inspiration, etc. It was pretty overwhelming at first. Organizing it all to fit my ever-fluctuating schedule helped so much. Even if I didn't stick to this all the time, I could keep track of what I needed to do, my priorities, my hobbies, my goals. I put a big tea cup in the middle because anytime is a good time for some warm hydration; it cools me down when I feel stressed or tired. I figure I'll have to make another one of these schedules in Peru.

And if this schedule was made to organize the things I wanted and need to do, here is the opposite of a 'to-do list'; here are my acomplishments::

-Bought a plane ticket for Lima, Peru
-Finished my online Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) class
-Received recommendations from my college professors
-Read 17 books/comics
-Joined a book club
-Made YouTube/BookTube videos
-Filed my taxes
-Took bike rides
-published some poems

Yay:) I hope it doesn't seem like I'm showing off. But I think everyone should try it. I get anxious
about all the deadlines and future things I need to finish or start or practice everyday. Every once and awhile it's good to recognize our mini accomplishments.

Hoookay. Bye for now,

<3Ginny