I am most definitely back in the desert. But that doesn't mean I'm drying out! If there's one thing I've learned this year (and there are many) it's that the desert is abundantly alive.
After our brief sojourn to Michiana and Chicagoland, we returned to our house on Tuesday evening. Even though it was 10 pm, it was a pleasant 75 degrees and we knew that the next day would be waiting for us with consistent warmth. Consistent weather is something that I've appreciated about Tucson this year. While it does get a lot hotter than Goshen, I know it will be hot and I can prepare for it. I also know that it will be dry and sunny most of the time which means when I ride my bike I don't have to worry about being cold or wet.
Wednesday was a great day to return to work. The Florence Project staff gathered together in the Tucson, Phoenix, and Florence offices to share lunch! It was a great time to socialize with my colleagues in person and I enjoyed a yummy sandwich and cookie from Potbelly. These events were common at the Florence Project before COVID and it looks like I'll be able to enjoy a few more of them before my time ends in July.
During lunch I was able to learn about the ongoing conversations that staff are having with administration advocating for better pay and workers' rights. As a volunteer, I haven't been a part of these efforts but I can feel how supportive the work culture is and I benefit from the conversations that have already happened between staff and administration. The Florence Project is setting quite a high bar in terms of office culture and benefits that might be a challenge for my future employers to match.
Friday I worked from home and in the afternoon our house prepared to do some camping. We loaded up the van and drove 45 minutes west to the Gilbert Ray campground. We arrived, not having made a reservation, to find all of the campsites were full! Not to be discouraged, we drove to a trailhead and did a 3-mile evening hike instead. This is where the picture came from. We returned home, built a fire in our backyard (we wouldn't have been able to do that at the campsite), and made banana boats. While our evening turned out much different than we had anticipated, it was nonetheless enjoyable. Plus, I probably slept much better in my bed last night than I would've on the ground.
Saturday morning I returned to my regularly scheduled baking program. Zari, my sourdough starter, has been chilling in the fridge for the last couple of weeks. But she woke up quickly and I was able to bake bagels again! After breakfast, Jessie and I made another visit to the bouldering gym. We originally bought five punch passes each (five visits) and are using one a month. We're down to two passes each which is a very obvious indicator of how much (or little) time is left here.
I've continued more seriously looking at jobs for next year, including a position with a nonprofit that assists unaccompanied minors through immigration processes, but if anyone has any connections in Ann Arbor or knows of any job openings, I'm all ears!
And, finally, if you want to see a couple more pictures from our evening hike, check out the Google photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rFXtPMJf9GjWMsFd9.
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