long time, no post...

Yeah, yeah, it has been a while since my last post...but seeing as how I was without internet service for about a week...it really hasn't been that long. So to update y'all...

I'm in Evanston, IL now...it was pretty stressful getting everything ready to go and then driving up here for the move, but thankfully I had the help of my mom and siblings in the moving process. The apartment is set up and if I had a digital camera, I would post pictures...but you'll just have to come and visit me if you want to see it all! After the Buschelmans and Reddigs headed back to their homes, it was just me and my mom here for about four days. We got everything unpacked and purchased a couple of new things to make my apartment a little more home-y. I'm looking forward to coming home from the office and having a nice place to relax.

After my mom left, I started in on the pages and pages of reading for my pre-conference work for Teach For America...pretty intense. I left a week ago for NYC and just got back today. The training conference was intense (can't think of another word...sorry). They created a simulation for the entire week so that we learned everything we would need to get started in our recruitment at the universities that we are in charge of.

To explain my position a little better...I work as a Recruitment Associate (RA) for my Recruitment Director (RD) making up the Great Plains Recruitment Team (GPRT). My RD travels to the six universities that our team has and, to put it simply, recruits. He'll talk to potential applicants and help them learn more about the opportunities that the TFA experience has to offer. I plan all of his appointments and travel, while helping drive the campaign strategy that he has laid out for the different universities. I will also maintain the data for the GPRT concerning the e-mail correspondence, university events, and the success of these things...etc...

The thing about Teach For America is that it runs with a definite corporate mind-set...however, the objective or end goal is not money, but putting exceptional leaders in the classrooms that need it the most. So while the conference felt like a corporate business conference...there was always the constant reminder that TFA is non-profit and simply wanting to provide all children that chance to have an excellent education.

I'm really excited about my job...it will be challenging, but my RD seems like a really great person...as do all the people that will be in the Chicago office with me.

Get this, TFA originally wanted my RD to have his headquarters in Lawrence, KS...since KU is one of our schools...if only... :)

I keep telling myself that this (Chicago/Evanston) is where I'm suppose to be...it is going to be hard as I continue to adjust to living alone and paying bills, but I think I can do it...I just have to stay open to whatever comes my way.

~mitzi

P.S. Yeah, I can't comment that much on le Tour because I didn't have cable/internet until the last day...I'm happy for Floyd, even though he wasn't my favorite to win...I just hope this drug thing isn't true...