Perspective

Perspective is a funny thing. I've been thinking a lot lately about how my perspectives have changed during the time I've been here. So far just about none of my "job" part of being here has been what I expected. I mean, once the chaplain gets here, I don't know what to expect about what my job will be like, but I figured that until he arrived, I would be doing whatever a chaplain does, just by myself. In actuality, though, I've done a LOT of filing. But on Thursdays for the past few weeks, I spend my day in Food Tech, which is basically Home Ec. At first, I really didn't like it. I mean, I don't love filing either, but I actively disliked being in Food Tech my first day. Before I started that day, I expected my days to be filled with cooking/baking, and eating a lot of food. It's funny, thinking back on that because when I was still in Chicago, one of the activities we did was to write EXPECTATIONS on a blindfold, and I kept mine, and tied it to my bag to remind myself that during this whole year I will be carrying around expectations. Some of them will be realized, others will be broken, and others still will blind me to the reality of my situation and experience.

Anyway, back to perspective, that first day in Food Tech, I felt like all I did was follow around this crazy woman who ran around like a chicken with her head cut off, measure out ingredients for a class that I figured should be able to get their own ingredients to cook, spend an absurd amount of time cleaning and organizing cupboards and counter tops, and take out the trash. And, okay, maybe that is what a lot of my days in Food Tech have been like, but I enjoy my time there so much more now than I did at first. We kind of do have to run around because there is a lot to do, and even if that woman has some quirks (and who doesn't?) there's always enough time for her to offer me a cup of tea no less than 4 times a day. Those ingredients I thought the class should have to measure out themselves? They literally don't have time to because they're learning way more in depth cooking and nutrition than I ever did in Home Ec. It still does seem crazy how much time is spent organizing the cupboards, but not everyone to pass through that kitchen has mastered the art of if-you-use-it-clean-it-up-and-put-it-back yet. But most importantly, what I've found is that there are some really kind, caring women in that department. It's gotten to the point where I think even after the chaplain gets here, I'll want to stop in for the occasional cup of tea just to visit with them. And I think it's those kinds of things that are the most important lessons of this year; making friends and forming new ideas where I might never have looked to in the past.

(I had to. I love Ego.)