anj around the world: Better late than never? Location: Brooklyn

So I realize this blog is a bit late, but this summer, I very rarely get a chance to actually sit down and think by myself. I've been so busy with work and seeing friends that spending time on the computer just has not been possible. But I figure better late than never. And anyway, I'll keep using this blog as I go from interning for the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office to studying abroad in Paris to studying abroad in Madrid.

Recap June-now:

I love New York. It's amazing to live here finally 8 years after I said I wanted to. Even though it was Manhattan I first fell in love with, Brooklyn is awesome too. My neighborhood is quieter than the city but super close to Park Slope, which has great food and shopping (and Hal and his family). It's also amazing to be 3 blocks away from the F train which will take me straight to the doorstep of my office in 20 minutes and into the city in 30 or so. (World Lesson #1: it's called the train in New York. Not the subway or the metro. Hal's dad informed me of this and I have since become very embarrassed every time I slip and forget to call it the train). My house is very boho as my landlady is an artist. There's some pretty weird art on the walls and a severe lack of blinds or shades on the windows, but it works for the time being. I'm only living here for another couple weeks or so anyway then I'll move in with Hal to save on rent in August. Unfortunately Hal's family is leaving for their country house in France before I move. It will be nice to have so much space, but it has really been wonderful having them around. I couldn't ask for a warmer, more welcoming family to spend time with (other than my own of course!). Not to mention that his dad makes amazing food and they like to do cool things in New York. It's been hard being away from my family as it always is, but it's at least nice to have someone else's parents around for support and guidance. I've also been spending some time with my roommate, Ryan when I actually happen to be in the house. This week I'm hoping to do a little bit more cooking at home than going out with friends as I have been. Cooking and eating on a budget in New York is actually not as hard as I thought and I end up not spending a crazy amount during the week. Granted, part of that is due to the amount of dollar pizza I am consuming for lunch. That is, pizza that is $1 per slice and one block from my office.

Work at the Brooklyn DA's Office is good. Exhausting, but good. I've learned a lot about self-care and how important that is in the social work world. I'm having rewarding experiences and unlike the other interns I work with at the Victim Services Unit, I wouldn't call the job depressing. It's hard to hear about what my clients are going through and sometimes the system makes their lives even worse. But still, a lot of the time, I am able to really make a difference in a client's situation. Domestic violence is an especially hard crime to deal with because victims come in with a ton of mixed feelings and a lot of complicated circumstances. I have people come in who are homeless because of their case and/or who have completely lost faith in the legal system and/or refuse to cooperate and get services no matter how abusive their partner is. I'm seeing both sides of things because when the system doesn't serve these people, working with them is incredibly difficult. But when it does, it's an amazing thing to be able to empower them to improve their situation. For most of the cases though, I've noticed that people are just really grateful that I'm not some attorney with an agenda. All they really want is to be listened to and get honest information about what they can expect from the courts. That's something I can always give them. A lot of people express really profound gratitude for the way I help them, both in terms of being culturally humble (I'm working with Spanish-speaking victims, gay victims, immigrants, etc.) and in terms of showing them actual compassion. Hopefully I keep having experiences like this, because it really does make all the exhaustion and less than fun experiences worth it.

Okay, last thing and then I'll end this very long rambling post: I have been cooking at least a bit. And taking pictures of my meals to prove it! (Because some people like my mom don't believe that I would ever enter the kitchen...)