Badgers in Wolverine Territory

Yesterday was a sad day to be a Badger.  After Wisconsin led for three quarters, Michigan decided to show up for the game and pull ahead by two points to deliver a 27-25 defeat over the Badgers. Despite the upset, Ann Arbor fans were gracious enough to let us file out of the Big House unscathed-physically, at least. I have several days of emotional healing ahead of me...

I must say it was great to see the familiar red and white jerseys and the marching band on the field. Also, my dad was in town for the weekend and it was really fun taking him to the Big House.  

                                                                           

Our weekend was jam-packed with lots of events. Between watching the debate at the School of Social Work on Friday night, pre-gaming at a grad house party, watching the game and eating dinner in downtown Ann Arbor on Saturday, and biking along the Huron River on Sunday morning, we definitely covered a lot of ground in only a few days! 

Thanks for a great visit dad-hopefully the next time Wisconsin is in town, we'll come out with a win!

Life as an Intern

I arrived home last night well after 10.  We had our quarterly community meeting at Creekside and it was my first large event with the organization.  It was exciting to see residents, Creekside staff, board members and city officials come together to share concerns and talk about ways to address pressing issues in the neighborhood such as abandoned homes, vacant lots and a lack of police presence.  My favorite part was when a young girl stepped forward during our housing coordinator's presentation to remind everyone to pick up trash and recycle because that was the best way to keep the community clean!  

It was a productive but long meeting.  The upside to leaving late is missing the hair-pulling, teeth-grinding traffic the City of Detroit spits out every day after regular work hours.  The downside: making it home and realizing that I have to get up in 7 hours and do it all over again.  

I can't really complain though, because Tuesdays lack the high energy required to prep for all the meetings that seem to fall on the first day of the week.  I also surprised myself throughout the morning as I answered the phone and I was able to recognize several voices on the other end...I guess there might be something to this community outreach.  By early afternoon I was feeling pretty good about my progress on the board development project I was assigned.  Then we received a visit.

Our visitor called last week and briefly talked to our housing coordinator before the phone was handed over to me because the gentleman spoke Spanish.  I was thrilled to be speaking Spanish again!  He was interested in seeing the floor plans to our Creekside houses and we encouraged him to stop by the office to see them.  He visited us today and I was excited to share the housing details with him, although I too spoke in broken Spanish.  I guess they didn't  teach me how to say "five-star energy rating" in undergrad. 

After spending time with the prospective buyer I realized how much I miss working with Spanish-speaking clients.  I hope we have more situations like today's-but I guess I should brush up on my realtor vocab first!

Biking Culture

So Madison is well known for many things: the Terrace, Badger football, State Street, construction...the list could go on.  What I am particularly interested in reflecting on today is its established biking culture.  That's right, the traditional two-wheeled mode of transportation for so many students on the UW campus.  Now don't get me wrong-I know this is not unique to the UW.  However, after being here at the University of Michigan for nearly a month now, I have picked up on some seemingly subtle differences between this campus and my first love, Madison.  Waiting nearly half an hour for a bus this evening (that apparently stops running every 9-12 minutes after 6pm...news to me) further assisted in my observation of these slightly irritating differences.

First, most "bikers" in Ann Arbor seem to systematically neglect the maintenance of their rides.  Now I'm not talking about a little rust on the chain or a few scratches on the frame-I'm referring to those with severely flat back tires.  Not low, flat.  This has got to make biking around an extremely laborious and uncomfortable experience.  Do they just not notice?  Or not care...

Second, many riders seem to be content with leaving their bike seats unadjusted (perhaps at the height suitable for a younger brother or sister), causing knees to reach handlebars in an awkward display of athletic activity.  Even those riding vintage road bikes (*sigh) seem to feel the need to sit in such a position and waste all potential to absolutely rock out.  Madisonians, you know what I'm talking about.

Third, the U-M has wholeheartedly welcomed a culture in which biking on sidewalks is not only accepted-it is reinforced by all classes and academic programs!  To see a biker on the road here is like seeing Bucky in the Big House.  As I waited for my bus earlier this evening and watched several bikers awkwardly weave through crowds on the Central Campus sidewalks, I flashed back to my first experience as a young biker in Madison.  I wasn't peddling amidst the walkers for 30 seconds before an upperclassman bellowed "GET OFF THE SIDEWALK" as I rolled past.  Terrified, I bolted onto the street, vowing never to be seen again biking along the pedestrian path.  

Graduate school has challenged me to accept new norms, such as switching to three-hour classes and working at a faster pace.  Biking on sidewalks, however, is one norm I refuse to accept.  

I may be learning among the blue and maize but I still have my dignity.

Working in Detroit

As a part of my MSW program, I am required to spend two days per week in field.  My placement is at Creekside Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit that develops affordable housing in a part of Southeastern Detroit.  I am carpooling with another Social Work intern who has been working with Creekside for about a year now, so I am saving gas and learning about the history of the organization during the commute. 

My role at Creekside is to serve as the Youth Engagement Coordinator.  Since this is only my second week with the agency, I  have yet to figure out exactly what I am supposed to be doing.  One potential project I am really excited about is starting recycling initiatives in the local schools.  I met with an elementary school today that is really embracing the idea-they are even recruiting "Recycling Rangers" in each class who will help make sure materials are being collected and sorted in the proper manner.

Other than attending lots of meetings these first few days (including the monthly Board meeting that offered a brief yet interesting snapshot of board member/director and staff dynamics), I have spent lots of time losing connection with my unreliable new email account that I can only access remotely.  I've also become much more confident driving in Detroit traffic, even though obeying red lights and painting lanes on newly paved roads seem to be optional...

Tomorrow I start my assistantship in the Office of Student Services-wish me luck!    

Surviving Week #1

My first "week" of class is over.  I use quotations because I only have classes two days a week. Ok, before you jump on this, realize that each class is three hours long and I have three classes on Thursdays.  Despite a long day of lectures and note-taking, my introduction to the social work classes I will be taking this fall was good.  In addition to the first week of school, I am also having lots of fun entertaining my first guest in Ann Arbor!  Before Kaela heads to Spain for a year to teach English, she was able to squeeze in a trip to see my new city and school.  After picking her up in Detroit yesterday, I gave her a tour of the campus and of course-my new bookstore and coffee shop.  Even though we were caught in the rain two days in a row now, I think she is much better acquainted with the U-M...and the bus system!  Tomorrow she flies back to Wisconsin and I won't see her again until late December when I make my much-anticipated return to Spain.  She will definitely be missed!

Tomorrow I am back in Detroit for a day of AmeriCorps training that will help prepare me for a year as a community organizer in my Detroit agency-oh wait.  I suppose that isn't a position with real responsibilities-right?  Glad to see my year of graduate school education is going to an imaginary career.

Okay, enough of my reactions to the RNC.  Have a wonderful weekend!

   

Welcome

Hello and welcome!  

Through this blog I hope to share my thoughts and experiences during my time as a graduate student at the University of Michigan.  In doing so, I aim to stay better connected with my family and friends at home.  

I began my internship today in Southeastern Detroit and tomorrow marks the first day of my classes.  I have settled into my two-bedroom/two-bath apartment in Ann Arbor. And I am beginning to discover what my current city of residence has to offer: several used bookstores (with plenty of shelf space for Hemingway), endless streets housing fair-trade coffee shops and an energetic campus with lots of green space.  There's no doubt I will fit right in.

I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read what I hope will be an account of my journey as a graduate student in rather unfamiliar territory.  I welcome any and all suggestions that may make this blog more enjoyable to read (not to mention I'd love to hear from you).  So please keep in touch and read often!

Be well,

Caitlyn