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were they telling me to run
I am almost embarrassed, but not really, to admit that I was quite frightened of the train ride home today. I'd like to be able to say I at least noticed heightened security measures, but it would be a lie.
I've had a sore throat and a cough for a week, and it's not THAT bad except that it doesn't seem to be getting better, instead it seems to be actively perpetuating itself, and between that, my general crankiness, and my newfound fear of public transportation, I was ready to break my perfect record and call in sick tomorrow. But then they didn't get around to doing the case review I did intake on yesterday and the goddamn hearing is Monday and so I need to be there tomorrow to do it.
My internship has its highs and lows. The highs being the other interns, because they are awesome; most of the work I do - a mix of direct services (though not as much of that as I'd like) and research and intakes and various little tasks and projects; being in Center City every day; the fact that it is not school; the "networking" opportunities with other public interest and government agencies; and the fact that I am learning and observing a lot. The lows being: this agency, despite mostly having its heart in the right place and doing positive work, really sucks in comparison to WSS and it is very very hard, given just how MUCH I loved WSS, to work with people who, in my opinion, don't entirely get it; for a small office, the communication really SUCKS, which creates both mixed messages and some pretty blatant inefficiency; and the air-conditioning in the building keeps the temperature at about 60 degrees which, given that I walk about forty minutes altogether every day in the sweltering heat to and from the train station and work and home, makes for some distinct wardrobe challenges.
The happiest thing in my life right now is my new apartment, which is perfect.
As much as I love Philadelphia I have to wonder if the pace of city life is truly for me, long-term. I wonder how it can truly be for anyone. It's the cynicism at the office that I have the hardest time with truly, but then I see how the city mostly breeds it. The sheer numbers. The pace. It sucks at you.
Not that I've actually been entertaining thoughts of the long-term; I expect I will stay around here for four or five years after I graduate and then probably return to my rural roots. Pennsylvania has plenty of rural when you get away from Philadelphia (and still I dream of small New Hampshire towns).
I've had a sore throat and a cough for a week, and it's not THAT bad except that it doesn't seem to be getting better, instead it seems to be actively perpetuating itself, and between that, my general crankiness, and my newfound fear of public transportation, I was ready to break my perfect record and call in sick tomorrow. But then they didn't get around to doing the case review I did intake on yesterday and the goddamn hearing is Monday and so I need to be there tomorrow to do it.
My internship has its highs and lows. The highs being the other interns, because they are awesome; most of the work I do - a mix of direct services (though not as much of that as I'd like) and research and intakes and various little tasks and projects; being in Center City every day; the fact that it is not school; the "networking" opportunities with other public interest and government agencies; and the fact that I am learning and observing a lot. The lows being: this agency, despite mostly having its heart in the right place and doing positive work, really sucks in comparison to WSS and it is very very hard, given just how MUCH I loved WSS, to work with people who, in my opinion, don't entirely get it; for a small office, the communication really SUCKS, which creates both mixed messages and some pretty blatant inefficiency; and the air-conditioning in the building keeps the temperature at about 60 degrees which, given that I walk about forty minutes altogether every day in the sweltering heat to and from the train station and work and home, makes for some distinct wardrobe challenges.
The happiest thing in my life right now is my new apartment, which is perfect.
As much as I love Philadelphia I have to wonder if the pace of city life is truly for me, long-term. I wonder how it can truly be for anyone. It's the cynicism at the office that I have the hardest time with truly, but then I see how the city mostly breeds it. The sheer numbers. The pace. It sucks at you.
Not that I've actually been entertaining thoughts of the long-term; I expect I will stay around here for four or five years after I graduate and then probably return to my rural roots. Pennsylvania has plenty of rural when you get away from Philadelphia (and still I dream of small New Hampshire towns).