pack, unpack, repeat

so january has come and gone- and it has been so fast! january was such a busy month and february is right around the corner.

i came back to racine on january 3. i struggled the first week back a little bit. getting back into the routine here was not as easy as i thought it would be after doing close to nothing for 2 weeks! but the kids were ready to go and still as funny as ever so that definitely helped out some.

two weekends later i was packing pack up and heading to pennsylvania for the lasallian volunteers midyear retreat. all the volunteers from around the country meet up for a weekend to check in with each other, talk about our years so far, and have some time to think about what we plan on doing for next year. i will admit i was a little (or a lot) dissapointed that we were in pennsylvania for our retreat because the idea of new orleans had previously been on the table, but it turned out to be a really good weekend. it was nice to have time to see the other volunteers and have some good conversations about what our service is like and how we are feeling about continuing in the program or moving on to something else.

so what am i thinking? im still on the fence a bit...wondering if i should try something completely new, get back into school, stay in the program but go to a new site, or come back to what i am doing now. i have about 2 more weeks until i have to make my decision final, but deciding is not easy! i think i am getting close to a decision, but im not saying anything yet- just in case!

nothing too terribly exciting at work this week. the usual stuff- laughing hysterically at the humor of middle and high school students. typical :) highlight so far: student- "you know...that thing right before a funeral home" me- "a nursing home?" student- "yes! thats its!"

friday morning i pack my bags again and am off to manhattan college! the lasallian volunteers send an alum each year to recruit and share our story about the experience we have had as a lasallian volunteer. i am excited to be able to visit new york again and see some of the people i didnt get to see at christmas, but i am also really looking forward to sharing my experience and telling others about how much i have come to believe in the lasallian mission.

this will be my third trip in the month of january! so i have felt like i have been living in and out of suitcases alllll month. it has been exciting but flying in the winter is most definitely not one of my favorite pastimes. although i have become pretty good at fitting tonsssss of stuff into a carry on suitcase :)