What's been going on the past few weeks?

First of all, I apologize for not blogging last Sunday, I had every intention of doing so, but traveling proved to take a toll on me, and I was not in the mood to sit down and write. With that being said, I have a whole lot to talk about! Coming back to Harrisburg was a little stressful and not completely planned. I got back 3 hours later than I was supposed to because of some nasty weather in Chicago. I spent just over two weeks at home and it was definitely needed! Thankfully, Tina was gracious enough to pick me up at the Amtrak station in Harrisburg because when I got back, it was cold and down pouring rain! That would have been one dreadful walk without her! I was very excited and ready to go home and see my friends and family, but it also does not feel wrong to be back at Harrisburg and working at Dickinson College. My analogy that I am thinking of may have something to do that my favorite musical, Wicked, announced that it will be becoming a movie, but this week I have been thinking about the song "For Good". The lyrics are:

Plane out of Philly on Dec 18th

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you..."
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQJaZO2nfGg)
I think that song is speaking to be because it doesn't feel wrong to be back in Harrisburg. I will be the first to say that I was not completely happy the first few months that I was here. I didn't have any friends or anyone I could talk to, but I am beginning to know more people and am involved with families that I know I can go to if I need something. I love my job at Dickinson and I feel like I have a lot to do and prove at it. I am able to do more things that are time intensive and work with students one on one with different things like programming or fundraising. The students are helping me more than they realize and I am helping them in some way, shape, or form, too!

New Years Eve babysitting

Not so little Brooklynn

I was so excited to spend time at home in Iowa, I had been waiting for the day I went home since the day I arrived in Harrisburg. I got to spend a lot of time with my mom, saw my favorite little girls, caught up with high school friends, attended an engagement party, ate lunch with my aunt and uncle, saw Into the Woods with close NIACC friends, had a long conversation with my "second mom", ate the Taco Johns that I had been craving, and spent time with my family during Christmas. This Christmas was an odd one it felt, because I hadn't been home in a few months, it was weird to start a routine again because, in a way, it felt like I was a visitor. My brother, who lives in Georgia, was unable to come to Iowa for Christmas, so my mom and I skyped him and opened presents, it was almost like my family was together again for the holidays. I have always loved Christmas; the movies (especially Eloise, A Boyfriend for Christmas, Miracle on 34th St, and Christmas Story), baking, spreading Christmas cheer, and the magic it brings. I loved Christmas as a child and though it has lost some of its shimmer and glamour as I have gotten older, it is still one of my favorite times of the year. My mom is a huge supporter of Toys for Tots and she purchased 740 dollars with of toys for 240 dollars and donated them all to Toys for Tots, because of that generous donation, my mom and I ate breakfast with a couple Marines on Saturday! My mom and I spent a lot of time playing the app Trivia Crack and we just hung out throughout the two weeks, we did not do anything overly exciting, it was just nice to be in the same room as her! The theme for this year's Christmas was penguins, which I love! I love the animal and the team, so it works just fine! My mom found the greatest coffee cup! It is a penguin that has a little lever on it where you can kick marshmallows into the cup with it! I spent many nights playing with it and got the kicking of the mallows down to a T! We loved decorating cookies this year too, we used lots of sprinkles! I definitely enjoyed the simple things of life when I was home!

Penguin coffee cup

Cookie Decorating

One thing that I was not used to be being home is a lot of free time. I did not work over that 2 weeks, with the exception of babysitting, but I felt so lazy and a bum all the time. I wore sweat pants more than I wore regular clothes. I am ready to get in a routine with work, choir, and church.
Work this week has been very laid back! The students do not officially come back until January 19th, so the office has been very quiet! My boss is also gone because she is taking a service trip with students to Belize! I am also two people in the office because the administrative assistant had her baby the day after Christmas and I am taking over her spot as well! Right now, I have my own little work area by the front door with windows and a large desk space. On top of working with the students, credit cards, Dickinson vans, and sorting mail, I am doing my own work relating to community service. On February 2nd, I am having a community service fair and members of the Carlisle/Harrisburg community are coming in and tabling for volunteers. I need to sit down and do some work with that about reserving tables and verifying the groups that are coming. I am also working on a craft project at work that shows the faces of the 18 student workers that we have in our office. Because my office is an old house, there is a living room that is also a meeting or hanging out room. I am taking one of the walls and putting a decal of a tree on it and then putting picture frames all around it with pictures of the student workers. I have ordered the materials and that will hopefully be put up by the end of the week!


Penguin necklace

This week has also been a busy week with graduate school! I have officially sent in all my graduate assistantship applications and have completed my graduate program application. I have applied to the positions of IMPACT- Graduate Assistant, which would be helping assist students in programing events at Minnesota State. I was apart of IMPACT as an undergraduate and I would love to be able to use my skills I have learned at MSU and Dickinson in that position! I have applied for Greek Life and Off-Campus Housing and Community Engagement through Student Activities as well! And, Residential Life Coordinator through Residential Housing. I had been very productive by re-doing my resume, writing 4 cover letters, getting transcripts, and filling out the application! They were all mailed on Friday! We will see what happens, wish me luck!
Being home was extremely needed and relaxing, I feel like I am in a good place in Harrisburg right now. I hope to go back to Iowa at least once more while I am in Pennsylvania. I will be in PA until the end of July.
Till next Sunday,
Katie