This week has been good.
It’s been weird, but good.
I dusted off my dresses and found the rest of my bobby pins – this is what got me mentally in the game. It was nice to have a break from sheath dresses, heels and shaking hands, but I’ve been ready for that break to be over since February.
I started applying for jobs in February knowing that it can take a while for the application to become an interview and the interview to become an offer and an acceptance and a start date.
I started applying early because I was still figuring it out, but I knew what would make my heart sing. I know the kind of work I wanted to do, and I won’t lie it was a bit broader than I had anticipated.
I started on Monday, and let’s just say I’m glad to be through the paperwork and actually working on reading through literature pertaining to my role.
I have Wednesdays off and it gives me time to continue to volunteer where I had been doing my fieldwork placement this past spring.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated a little bit, but honestly, I think it’s good for me to be pushed and work towards my potential. We never know what we can accomplish if we don’t do something new or something that makes us a little uncomfortable.
My role as a project coordinator is going to test me and push me to be a better manager and organizer. I will be coordinating efforts between our team overseas in Liberia and different entities here like the CDC.
This project was developed after the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and if you don’t know anything about Ebola here’s some important things to know:
- It was discovered in the 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- It’s mainly located in sub-Saharan Africa
- Scientists aren’t completely sure where it came from, but suspect animals
- It spreads through direct contact of bodily fluids of a person who is sick or has died from Ebola
- There’s no approved vaccine or treatment for Ebola
- It’s deadly
The work this project is doing to strengthen initiatives in Liberia is truly amazing. This work is and will be impacting thousands of lives if not the whole country. I think that’s why I still feel on cloud 9. I know the potential implications of this project and I get to be a part of it.
I never thought I would be here.
I guess we’ll see where week two takes me as I start having meetings with our teammates. Academically – I’m done. Like done. I submitted my final on Monday and grades were posted today. Solid A in fieldwork and A- in US Government. Officially graduated with highest honors. I can’t even say how nice it feels to be done with papers and tests and to have time to write for fun and read for fun. Until I say I’m bored and take the leap for my MPH. I DO want to take some time off before diving in. Right now, one masters is enough and I’m content with the associate’s I just finished.
I’ve got my eyes on Boston University, but I also want to get experience before jumping into that. Now is the time to “relax” and enjoy the new path, work on my writing and keep moving forward with coaching.
In the gym – my lifts haven’t felt this good or capable in months. I surprised myself with my deadlift on Wednesday and again with my squat on Thursday. The next four weeks of this program really may be magic. I can’t wait to see where I end up and reassess the next steps.
I think I will want to work within my maxes after the program and work on some other self-created programming. I’ve missed writing out my own workouts, however, I did rework some of my accessory work for the PH3 program and I still saw appropriate progress.
Deadlifts and squats are still movements I want to work on, but I want to incorporate some other movements that work on mobility and flexibility. I also may have my eyes set on the rope in my gym.
Last week, I noticed the hanging rope from the ceiling in the functional room. I haven’t really gone in there. It’s where the TRX and kettlebells live. It’s away from the barbells and machines. I used to hate the rope in gym class and I haven’t climbed one since middle school, but there’s a part of me that kind of wants to try and see if I can do it.
I think it’s important to mix it up and being half way through the year, I’m excited to see what else I can do. I’m excited to see what else we have planned.
We’re going on our first hike of the season this weekend and I’m hoping we get a few more in as our schedules are slightly more flexible this summer. We had wanted to start this in the spring, but winter wouldn’t leave and classes kicked my butt.
We had wanted to run a 5K and 10K (me and JP respectively), but his foot just isn’t having it. We’re pretty sure it’s from poor support after a recent run so we’re postponing until later this summer.
I’m happy with where things are, and last summer’s feels feel miles away.
Bring on July. Bring on the rest of 2018.
We’re still working on exploring outside of Moscow Mules, but slowly chipping away at the other goals.
<3 Cristina
