Both the beginning and end of this week featured hikes. On Sunday, we spent the afternoon exploring Sabino Canyon with Grace, a volunteer who works with Jessie at Casa Alitas. We got rained on a bit but saw an absolutely incredible rainbow!
On Monday I had the day off and went on a solo hike to the Tanque Verde Canyon east of Tucson. I scrambled over rocks along the river, getting my feet wet and finding some trash, including a nice hiking pole.
Tuesday and Wednesday I actually had to go to work again. Even though it was a short work week, my experience on the hotline on Tuesday was much more challenging than the previous Thursday. My first time on the hotline I felt confident in my Spanish abilities and how I navigated conversations. This week when I finished the hotline, my Spanish was slipping, I felt like I was unable to do the intakes well, and afterward felt like I had a lot of paperwork to submit the next day. Long story short, my confidence in my work skills was shaken and I had some nervousness about returning to work the next day.
But I did, and things got better. I worked on some tasks that I had done before and got the paper work done that I needed to. Thursday morning I worked from home during the morning before we set off for our Sedona and Grand Canyon trip. This trip was a good time to regather my thoughts and think about my purpose here this year.
Some highlights include Indian food and Ticket to Ride on the first night; hiking and climbing the red rocks around Sedona; and taking in the sunrise at the Grand Canyon and seeing Ibexes while hiking the rim trail. We woke up at 3:45 am to make it to the Grand Canyon in time for sunrise and it was well worth it to have the park to ourselves for a little bit.
This week we're back to work for the full week before we take another week to learn about immigration from both the Mexican and American sides of the border.
Finally, here's the latest puzzle we finished last week!
Gaining confidence is evident in your writing about the topic as well as that solo to Tanque Verde Canyon! Enjoy the recovered trekking pole. (I use two almost always, lengthening to cushion the downhill hike.) You are now fully equipped, with that backpack hydration system and and visor hat band.
The Sedona Red Rocks Cathedral area trails are some of my favorites. Thanks for the reminder. That area and the Grand Canyon are two Arizona highlights. It’s wonderful your MVS group is off to a splendid start maximizing your year in the Southwest.
Will you stay in Douglas with Linda and Jack Knox on your immigration learning tour? Please say hello for me and Joy. And enjoy a visit …