Some "Only In Seattle" Pictures



Mount Rainier in the background.  Gorgeous Seattle skyline



Pike Place Market all decked out for the holidays. Note: the Christmas carrot.

This is the exterior of the Experience Music Project.  I will be there for a crazy huge New Years' Eve party.  It's a funky bit of architecture.

Rising Up To The Challenge

I survived this week!  The celebration went off smoothly, although not without a hitch.  There were some technical difficulties with the translation devices.  I am not 100% happy with my performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" but I did get a lot of compliments on it.  We got a lot of great feedback about it and overall, I am pleased with the result.  Laura and I took off early as a well deserved break.  We went out for drinks and karaoke with some of the volunteers.  I had a few and bought a round for my compatriots.  It was a good time but all of the stress and the late night meant I was dragging in a big way on Friday.  I left early then too but that was because I knew I would be working the weekend.

I just completed a weekend of utility discount assistance.  We got to give people half off their utility bills which was cool, although it is only for customers of Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities who are not in subsidized housing so we had to turn a lot of people away.  It was good that I got to make some good contacts working for the City of Seattle.  Muang was there on Saturday so we got to chat most of the day.  I am so beyond pumped for coming back to Michigan!  3 more day and then I will be home!  Book your time now because I am going to be a busy lady!

Quick Vent

I'm super stressed right now!  We have the New Citizens' Celebration on Thursday.  I'm in charge of the RSVP list.  Muang and Laura are being awesome with covering the other detail stuff.  We have cool centerpieces with portraits of famous people that are on the citizenship test.  Part of the stress is from the fact that I have so many other things eating up my time right now.  Tomorrow is the Employment and Citizenship Holiday Party.  That will take half of my day.  I also have a training for utility assistance on Wednesday.  Too much stuff!!!!

Behold, A Social Life

While I still need more interaction in my life, this weekend is looking rather promising.  Tomorrow I will be hanging out with Laura and Muang while we have a training on how to administer ESL tests.  While that isn't a particularly social activity, it will be time out of the office with some fun folks.  Saturday is salsa dancing with little Laura and possibly some accompaniment from fellow ACRS folks.  Sunday is an Americorps gathering at Laura's place.  It should be a fun filled weekend.  I'm really looking forward to it.

On another positive note, one of my students became a citizen on Tuesday.  I was not at all certain that she would pass but through her hard work and dedication, she is now a citizen of the United States.  She will also be able to sponsor her son to come over from China.  This job is turning me into a patriot.  The lengths that people are willing to go to for coming to and staying in this country never cease to amaze me.  I am so happy that I am having this experience.