so i figured i might as well check in to give my status every once and awhile.
status: alive
yep. things are going great here in omaha. if for some reason you're reading this and you don't know that i'm doing a service internship at a homeless shelter in omaha, you might find yourself asking "who am i?" and "why am i reading this guy's site?" touche, son.
moving on. the siena/francis house is unbelievable. i find it funny that i came here to "make a difference" in a small part of the world but i'm the one receiving most if not all (my labor sure is worthless :/\3pi) the change. and it's only been 7 days thus far. ridiculous? probably.
i also feel i should put in my two cents about homelessness and particularly this place's role in the healing process. the siena/francis house, unlike most homeless shelters, will take anyone in for dinner and give them a place to sleep at night (though space is severly limited, so more sleep on the floor and chairs then beds, but a roof is still a roof). this is regardless of sobriety, which many shelters require. the most remarkable aspect of this shelter is the chemical dependency program that these people (mostly male) enter.
another amazing fact about this house and my work is that beyond the ten or so staff and managers on salary recovery program members almost completely run the place but are referred to as "volunteers". so basically, everyone i work with during the day is in the program. their stories are quite humbling not to mention hilarious at times. believe it or not, some people actually like me. they will be stopped.
as for my actual work, i've been doing everything all over the joint, shadowing certain individuals and just getting my face out there. i also do a lot of administrative work regarding audits and fundraising documents not to mention burning illegal documents in a suspicious setting (yes!). it's pretty neat to learn how exactly a non-profit organization runs, which -contrary to popular opinion- involves a heavy reliance on donations from foundations (only 11 percent of our budget comes from the govt). today, i reexperienced the joy that is driving all over a city to different stores like my coppertone job in the past. it was cool to see how responsive and supportive a lot of people are to our organization. it was also cool to see the lameass excuses some people come up with not to put your registration forms for the annual walk/run fundraiser on june 27th (you are invitied). company policies are for losers. i cannot blame them though, just doing their jobs. and here i am. typing. i'm going to go lift at the ymca because i can. and then i'm coming back to play bunko with my host dude and dudette's friends. both are in their lower 30s so you can imagine the crazy shenanigans going on here. and no kids. crazy shenanigans.
for more information regarding hunter's summer service internship in omaha, please call the following cell phone: hunter's cell phone.
oh, before i forget. i bought the soundtrack to the last samurai. let me just say that the ending would most definitely have sucked had it not been for the most passionate music i know i've ever heard. seriously, you'll melt.
in addition to the tacit love theme and art of a lost culture, the movie kicks incomprehensible amounts of ass.
aufwiederhoeren. | 
