I sincerely apologize from the deepest darkest most bottomest part of my heart. Its Sunday and I haven't blogged since Tuesday. Which I know must have just killed you. Well, fret not, I am here to relay you with some of my antics from the past couple days.
I can see by the last blog that you must have thought I was down on London and being here. I must assure you that it was with a heavy heart I did write those notes. However, that night, as I was gloomily walking down the hall back to my room I ran into some nice young chaps who invited me out to Brick Lane (which is a really hip section of town with kick ass bars and it also happens to be where I volunteer, yes I am quite lucky) after crawling back to bed at 3 am and then getting to the Centre on time and working hard all day with some really cool characters (some of the homeless folks I've met are pretty cool, I will get into that shortly) I am proud to tell you that my moment of weakness only last 2 hours. Those happened to be the 2 hours I found to blog on Tuesday.
I am loving it here, I am loving living here, I am loving helping people and learning from them, I am loving my co-workers, they are all so charming. So just in case I didn't stress enough, I LOVE IT. There are still moments of weakness, like when I look around my dorm and think "wouldn't it be nice if there was a couch" or "perhaps 2 working showers on my floor would be nice" and the ever popular "if only my room wasn't 3 ft wide".
But all of those things go away when I find myself here.
As I write this I am excited to head out today to Victoria Park for a free concert. FUN. I will give you a break down of my last few days.
On Wednesday I woke up a bit behind schedule due to the late night excursion with fine young Englishmen. I get to work and its more learning. Getting to learn the clients who use the centre's services, trying to understand the different accents, there's Romanian, Polish, Spanish, (from Spain, not like in the states where everyone gets called Spanish even though they might be Colombian, Mexican Etc.) Chezk and so many others. So just the simple understanding of requests is very taxing on the brain. I went to the Satellite Centre where Mark showed me all around. They are really excited about showing me all of there services so that I may find which department I might be able to help the most. During this tour I learned that they are interested in making a small music studio in the Basement. This is something I should be able to help with. Getting a music program up and running for the clients. I've seen a man with a violin come in for services and a couple guys with guitars. What a better way boost someones self esteem than with music. It cures all ails and mends every heart. Also on this day I learned about the Bike Works course they were hosting this day. I checked everybody in who was signed up and got to really mingle with the clients. There are some really nice people here. Some who have just found themselves at the end of there proverbial ropes. Some who just can't find work since the economy is breaking down right now for everybody. There are many reasons, and I am discovering these everyday. So I enjoyed another day at the Dellow Centre (Providence Row) I know I did something this evening, I just can't for the life of me remember exactly what it was. Perhaps that's how much fun I had.
On Thursday work in the daytime, learn more of there programs. Start packing up there art room which is moving over to the Satellite Centre. In the afternoon we take a few of the clients over to an Art Gallery where Providence Row is beginning to coordinate an exhibition of artwork done by these guys. They are hoping to turn it into an auction and fundraiser. I am in the right place. I can do this, coordinate and plan an amazing event? Who, me? Although the event is in September, I will try to do as much as I can for them. I really like this stuff. I am doing good work for my fellow man, and using my skills to accomplish this. (I'm patting myself on the back, you just can't see it)
I enjoyed drinks after work with some co-workers. I always bring people together, Its my gift. (God, I can't stop bragging, I don't know how you, the reader, reads this stuff) That night we ended up having crossover drinks with our fellow Claytons. You know the volunteers going to the States from here. They were quite pleasant and just as excited as we were the night before our big trip. We got to see Sian, Barnaby, Gemma and Elizabeth again. (the folks in charge of handling us this summer) And then we ended up at a pub around the corner.
I think all my stories so far and probably the rest of them will end up with me at a pub.
Friday. I got three guys to sign up for the City Farm program, where clients can go for 3 hours every Friday to learn gardening and assist in projects for the farm. We planted seedlings, and stained the floor of a new Poly Tunnel they had just installed (green house)
Drinks with co-workers, then had dinner with my friend Katie from the U.S. That was quite a night, getting to see my friend who is my sister by default (her sister Laura is my Best Friend since I was 11) We ended up hanging with some nice blokes who all work for higher ups in the Labour Party.
So far, my experiences here have been broad, from feeling trapped in a tiny room in my dorm, to feeling the freedom of traveling the world to meeting and enjoying the company of the homeless of London to random meetings with Political masterminds. If I think to hard about it my brain might explode.
I miss my friends and family, but I LOVE IT here. I need to go before I force you to read an entire book just to explain a few days of my life.
Be good to yourselves and others.
Jessica Ellis - Explorer
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