Week Three

At the end of this week, I’ll be about a third of the way through travel season.  Part of me is sad that two weeks have gone by so quickly, but the other part of me is kind of relieved:  I love this part of my job, but I definitely miss the social interaction in the office.

I’m in North Carolina again this week, and I’m pretty excited for seeing new area of the state.  I like it a lot so far — Raleigh is beautiful, and I’m kind of obsessed with Charlotte — but I really love driving past exits for places I would never know about if I weren’t an Avett Brothers fan.  Also, in Tennessee, you can pretty much bank on seeing a Cracker Barrel every other exit; in North Carolina, it’s Bojangles.  Any restaurant that will serve chicken biscuits from open til close is a-okay in my book.

In other news, I did five miles on the Virginia Creeper Trail this morning, and it’s beautiful.  My favorite part about the trail is a sign that says “Abingdon Creeper.”  I’m not quite a proper grown up yet, and things like that make me laugh.

Also, you know what’s great about travel season?  Unrestricted wireless and cable.  It’s weird how much you don’t realize you miss those things when you don’t have them — I KNOW, I KNOW.  I’m a terrible procrastinator, and I totally will call the cable/internet company when I have an afternoon off, but SERIOUSLY, when is that? — but then they’re there, and all of a sudden you have access to all of this terrible television (plus seemingly nonstop reruns of Seinfeld and Sex and the City), and it’s pretty fabulous.

Even better, though?  Cities, people.  I’ve adjusted to small town life reasonably well, I think, but you can’t take the city girl out of me; the best thing in the world is seeing buildings that are more than three stories tall.  Extra bonus points go to cities that are clean and easy to navigate.  (Hi, Raleigh!)  Double bonus points for cities with Ikea.  (Hi, Charlotte!)

That’s about all I’ve got for now.  Nothing but good stories to come, I’m sure :).

West Virginia, Mountain Mama

Well, I survived my first experience in West Virginia, and it was certainly an experience.

You know, I like a good underdog, and I think West Virginia gets a pretty bad rap.  People make jokes about not having running water or electricity or its inhabitants being inbred (and the same jokes are also told about Arkansas, Kentucky, East Tennessee, and, oh, gosh, anywhere in the South), but there are some beautiful parts of West Virginia.  There’s also a depressing epidemic of mountain top removal, the fact that coal mining is pillaging the landscape, blah, blah, blah, but it is a really beautiful place.

In addition to being a really beautiful place, it also created some awkward moments for me.  For example, looking like you’re still in college is an advantage when you’re trying to pass of your staff ID as a student ID or just trying to get the college student discount, but it’s a definite occupational hazard of being an admissions counselor.  High school boys think they have a shot.  Unfortunately, even if I were a cougar-in-training (negative), that’s a crime.  And highly unethical.  And just plain disturbing.  So, high school boys?  Flattered, really, but it is impossible that any admissions counselor would be younger than you or … well, in your league.  I know that’s harsh, but you don’t have high school diplomas; most people at college fairs are working on masters degrees.  But do tell your friends you think I’m hot.  I’m totally cool with you doing my job for me.

And guidance counselor?  Set precedent. Don’t hit on me, either.

And other recruiters?  Well, you know, chatting up other counselors is par for the course during travel season, and I’m totally cool with that.  However, when you lead with, “You know, some people really love college.  Not me.  Went for three months,” and you’re talking to someone who effectively sells college education for a living, you are more than likely barking up the wrong tree.

(I should add that this particular recruiter was not recruiting for a college.  As far as I know, every single college with an admissions office requires its admissions counselors to have college degrees.)

Fast forward through a four and a half hour drive from somewhere in West Virginia to Raleigh, North Carolina, a drive that effectively gives me a work day that goes over twelve hours, a drive that puts me through horrendously slow traffic in Winston-Salem, a drive that gives me seriously bloodshot eyes that make me look like I’ve been up for ninety-six hours without end.  I check into the hotel, find a parking spot, and grab my suitcase from the trunk.  And then all of a sudden:

“Hey!  You’ve got a lot of papers in your back seat.  What the hell is that all about?”

The man in the car next to me decided it was cool to start a conversation with me in the parking garage.  (The papers he was referencing?  Counselor packets.)  “Okay,” I thought, “he’s just being friendly.”

I explain why there are so many packets in my car — avoiding serious details like which college, my name, etc. — which is immediately followed by, “Oh.  So what are you doing tonight?”

Not hanging out with you?

There’s a fine line between friendly and creepy, and you, sir, crossed it a little quicker than I would have liked.  Super awkward.

Awkwardness included, I have the best job in the world.  Days that consume over twelve hours included, I wouldn’t trade this for anything.

And I mean that.

It’s Back!

I’m taking about travel season, of course.  My latest ventures into the college fair circuit will be in North Carolina; as a first-time visitor to North Carolina, I’m pretty excited about getting to learn all about it and see everything.  Also, there’s an Ikea in Charlotte!  Don’t think for two seconds that I won’t be visiting.  Girlfriend needs a dresser (yes, still) and some Swedish meatballs.

Actually, scratch that.  I don’t like any kind of meatballs.  I just need some furniture with assembly required and maybe a drömmar or two.

All is still well with work.  I know I talk about loving my job a lot, but I really, really do, and I’m just happy to be doing what I do.  I’m so glad it’s travel season — I always get restless when I know a big trip is coming up, so I’m thrilled to be out on the road after what seems like millions of years of planning.  It’s nice to be somewhere new and to meet new people and to talk to high school kids.  The down side?  I’m pretty sure I have managed to contract an illness ALREADY.  (And no, it’s not swine flu.  I promise.)  Yes, that’s right — three days in, and I’m sick.

Some girls have all the luck, right?

I Guess It’s No Surprise …

1.  I’m a slacker and have yet to call the cable and internet people.  I remember at inopportune times, like when I get home from work at quarter after five.  Um, whoops.  Surely I’ll remember at a better time next week.

2.  I’m homesick.  I miss my sorority sisters and my friends back home in Tennessee.  I miss laughing until I cry in the best company imaginable.  I miss my family and my dogs.  Things are indisbutably good here in Virginia, but I’m seriously missing my old life; it’s strange for me to have such an insignificant social life here when I had everyone back home, and even though I know it’s bound to get better, it’s still hard to deal with now.  I’m probably just missing everything so much more because I’M GOING HOME NEXT WEEKEND … right?  Right.

3.  I’ve found some awesome ways to fill my time, namely running and pilates.  (PS:  Suzanne Bowen, you had best work your magic with your Ten Minute Solutons:  Slim and Sculpt Pilates.)  I may be lacking about fifty to seventy-five friends here, but I’m gonna look good for travel season.

And speaking of pilates, it’s time for Suzanne to kick my butt.

Still Alive

No, really, I promise.

For some reason, cable and internet are, like, a negative priority in my life since moving to Virginia.  Maybe small town living has encouraged me to simplify my life?  Or maybe working nine to five really rules out letting the cable guy into your apartment.  Take your pick; my guess is certainly the latter, especially considering my (admitted) tendency to let work consume my life.

But work is really, really wonderful.  It’s a good feeling not to be overwhelmed and stressed out and anxious all the time.  I’m happy just to be here and to be working with pretty amazing people and to be doing something I love so completely.  Is it cool to love your job?  Does that make me a nerd?

Anyway, all is well in Virginia, and I’m completely happy with how things are turning out.  Things will come together eventually.  I’m allowing myself to be forgiving and patient when it comes to timing; I learned a huge lesson about timing and God’s plan for my life when I took this job in Virginia, so I’m trying to keep growing with that.  So far, so good.

And that’s really all I can say about life here:  so far, so good.

Some Call Them Character Flaws, I Call Them Quirks.

I always want what seems impossible.  But I don’t think anything is impossible, and, really and truly, I don’t believe that these is anything I can’t have.

I’ve learned some of my greatest life lessons from music.

When I believe something, I believe it completely and refuse to believe anything else.  I am stubborn but convicted.  And it’s not that I think I’m always right; it’s just that I want to believe that everything I’m told is true.

And you know what?  I am oddly okay with all of these things, and I really, really like who I am.

Brought to You by Parking Lots and Free Wireless

Hello again, friends!  Things have gotten away from me yet again, and I have yet to call the Comcast people to come install internet and cable in my cute little apartment.  I promise it’ll happen soon.  It has to; I’m kind of over this whole checking my e-mail from a parking lot business.  The practical part of me is enjoying it’s free-ness.  The other side of me thinks that it probably breaks some sort of law or more — and yes, I just dredged that word out of the part of my memory that stores information from a high school sociology class.  It just seems so wrong to sit in your car in a parking lot and check your e-mail and Facebook and update your blog, but here we are.  And did I mention it’s free?

Things are still going well at work.  I’ve jumped right into the swing of things and am slowly but surely learning enough to answer questions from parents, give tours, and talk to prospective students and their families.  The good thing is that for the first time in almost a year, I’m working in a fully-staffed office, and everyone is beyond helpful.  Also, I’ve found that as long as you explain you’ve only been working here for two weeks, you’re good; people are very encouraging and much more comfortable with you saying, “You know, I’m not quite sure about that.  Remind me when we get back to the office, and we’ll get you an answer.”

Sometimes, I feel like there’s a multitude of people whom I should thank for all the knowledge I have managed to ascertain throughout my short professional career.  For example, I should thank the New Student Orientation directors with whom I worked in college for giving very thorough customer service training.  And I should thank my computer information systems professor for taking time to teach Access, even though I couldn’t help but think, “Who uses this?” the whole time I was learning it.  I should thank a ton of the admissions counselors with whom I’ve worked for training me well and preparing for this career path.  Most importantly, though, I should thank my admissions counselor; without her, I wouldn’t have gone to my alma mater, and, problems and all, I can’t imagine being an alumna of any other school.  Also, I wouldn’t have known what a great counselor is, and I wouldn’t have known what I wanted to be.

I’m constantly grateful that I do something I love for a living, but I’m also constantly awed that this is what I’ve chosen to do with my life (for now).  It’s rare to find something you love so early on in your professional life, I think, and I’m happy that I did.  And regardless of the situation — I mean, honestly, I never thought I could work at another school, yet here I am. — I’m proud of what I do, and I’m so, so happy to be doing this.

I don’t know why I felt the need to share that … I just did.

Well, Hello, World!

Hi.  Remember me?  I moved to Virginia, and then I probably dropped off the face of the world, but I’m here now, using some free wireless provided by the town in which I now live.

A lengthier update is coming, but I have made it to the new town safely and have moved in and am in the process of trying to make my little studio apartment (which is actually much larger than most studios) look cute.  I’m also learning to live with terrible cell phone reception in said apartment and soaking up all the knowledge I can before travel starts for my new job.  The new job, by the way, is just lovely.  My coworkers are fantastic, and everything is just great.  I think the only thing that could make this better is if it were, you know, in Memphis or Jackson or even Nashville — anywhere that would bring me closer to my much loved and much missed group of friends.

But suffice it to say, everything is great.

And how are y’all?  Have I missed anything important in your lives?

PS

I haven’t checked my blog stats in about a week, and I had over one hundred visitors on July 1 and over two hundred on July 2.

Two words:  WHOA, NELLY.

Two more:  Thank you!

Hooray Tuesday!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the last edition of Fun Fact Tuesday from Jackson.  Yes, I’m breathing into a brown paper bag.  No, I’m not happy that I just typed that sentence.

1.  I’m going to be a whiny, miserable, crying mess on Friday afternoon when I leave Jackson.  I’m sure there will be many a blog post brewing about this coming weekend:  leaving home, moving in, and starting over.  None of these things is remotely appealing, and that is just something I am probably going to have to file in the “suck it up and deal with it” category.

2.  I am thrilled, really and truly and overwhelmingly, about my new job.  I think, speaking solely about my professional life, a fresh start is exactly what I need after last year.  I just wish my social life didn’t have to be a victim of my new job.

3.  There’s a singer-songwriter from Memphis named Lauren McCuistion.  One of my first good friends in college, Rachel, who will get a blog post of her very own one day, introduced me to her music our freshman year.  I was checking out her MySpace page the other day and read one of her blog entries.  There’s a line or two in that blog on her MySpace page that jumped out at me:

I have wondered often in the past few months what I have to show for being twenty-four years old.  I am unmarried, unsettled, still wandering around in so many ways …

Reading that helped me put things in perspective.  Whether I realize it or not, I think that’s what goes through my head quite a bit these days and something that will, without any doubt whatsoever, go through my head the entire six and a half hours from Jackson to my new apartment in Virginia.