i thought i had retired from my short lived career as a blog-ista. my last post had all of the good components of a final entry: it was reflective; it took you on an emotional rollercoaster; but mainly, it described my last day at Fareshare. naturally, it took me by surprise when people kept asking when i'd leave my final markings on the world wide web. so here's one last update on the adventures of hilary o'neil:
i had a wonderful time gallivanting around europe for a couple of weeks. to check out the children's camp brian gordon, krista caballero, and i worked at, click here.
happenstance (and outrageous train tickets) brought me to the edinburgh fareshare depot one balmy tuesday morning. wow, what a difference. the operations are the same across the UK but the traffic's not. i could not believe it took an hour and a half to complete our first route. with traffic, it's at least 40 minutes for our first drop regardless of where we are in the city which really limits who we can deliver to.
my favorite part was the delicious lunch. fareshare edinburgh is unique among the depots because it offers once a week cooking classes for people transitioning into a more permanent living facility. after eight weeks, participants have mastered a variety of basic meals such as spaghetti bolognese, tuna casserole, and chicken with vegetables. with four individual cooking stations, each novice chef prepares their own meal following a simple recipe. at the end of the class, everyone is invited to partake in a scrumptious meal. i completely forgot about the social aspect that comes along with cooking and eating a meal together. a lot of these folks have spent their lives eating in soup kitchens as social outcasts. it's amazing to see how a simple cooking class builds an extraordinary amount of confidence socially and within the kitchen.
of course, i couldn't leave FareShare behind me. its like that catchy 80s song by naked eyes "there's always something there to remind me". i smiled each time i discovered a small connection to fareshare. the conference center we stayed at for the first week at camp made a christmas donation to one of the charities we donate food to in london. at another location, i saw a delivery truck for a produce company that kept us with a constant supply of fresh veggies. i thought i was done once i returned state-side until i exchanged summer stories with a good friend over pokey sticks (which were, and will always remain heavenly in a clog your arteries type of way). she interned in the international auditing department for pricewaterhousecooper. her major client: sodexo, a major corporate donor for fareshare.
lastly, i think the majority of the friends and family reading this will be happy to know i finally found my direction in life on my very last night in london, about twelve hours before i was due at gatwick airport to catch my plane back to the good ol' u.s.a. it was exactly like the cartoon shows where a lightbulb turns on near the character's head. i'm building it up but the majority of you will just shake your head and say "duh!". it was right in front of me the entire time....
this truly was a summer to remember.
thanks for reading.
hilary
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
closure's not just a seven letter word.
it's not always rainbows and butterflies over here, across the pond. i've had my fair share of highs and lows (no pun intended). last friday was a low, oddly enough. i took the day off for a weekend 'holiday' in stockholm. i should have exuded excitement at the opportunity to discover a new city. instead, i spent most of my afternoon on trains, planes, and buses desperately seeking a 'zen moment' to combat a truckload of emotions.
my greatest fear is leaving FareShare without proper closure. this summer has zoomed by at top speed. sometimes i feel as if i'm on autopilot. i've unintentionally made a routine of absorbing as much as i can without really processing it. that's the scary part. i didn't even realize i was doing it until i tried to journal on the way to stockholm. a thousand thoughts and experiences raced through my head, completely overwhelming me.
i failed to mention that fellow serviceshippers krista caballero and brian gordon join up with me in london on thursday to launch part two of my journey, a marathon sprint of children's camps and tourism. the pressure of another month of travel further inundated my mind with emotions. i feared that failing to reflect properly would affect the memories of my experiences in london, something i never ever want to forget. i'd push everything to the back of my mind until i returned home to jacksonville for a week and sort it all out in between visits with family, friends, and doctor appointments.
(i know, i know. i over think. it's a tragic flaw.)
ironically enough, stockholm was perfect for reflection. that weekend, i reunited with an old friend who's interning with a CSR consultant group in hamburg, germany. it was a glorious weekend of food and therapy as we discussed the challenges of beginning a new life in a different country (props to her-- at least the UK speaks english). all of the frustrations i failed to record on paper disappeared. i returned to london proud of my independence, my personal growth, my journey...
after jeredine returned from holiday, i continued to run the depot a couple of mornings a week. this morning was my last time as a shift manager at FareShare. of course, everything went wrong. it always does. i found two unexpected deliveries waiting for me: 10 pallets from M&S, 7 pallets of yoghurt from ASDA. bonus: my fridges were full, i had yet to allocate today's food, and corporate volunteers were arriving in less than an hour. stress levels were high but i survived-- with a huge smile on my face. deep down, i know i'd be disappointed if there wasn't a bit of a challenge on my last day (in charge-- my last day as a volunteer is tomorrow).
i've spent my week committing to memory the faces of the people i work with. i'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that tomorrow is my last day. i don't like goodbyes. each day i say my farewells to a different set of volunteers. i lost count at how many times i teared up today. i think i'll just carry around a box of tissues tomorrow. the waterworks will definitely be flowing. i'm not a sappy, sentimental person but it's those darn warm fuzzies that do me in. a note of praise from a colleague who won't be in tomorrow, a special trip to bring me back a card from a volunteer, and an apple pie from the builders- a tribute to the day i couldn't find a slice in borough market on the 4th of july.
this was truly an experience i will never forget.
my greatest fear is leaving FareShare without proper closure. this summer has zoomed by at top speed. sometimes i feel as if i'm on autopilot. i've unintentionally made a routine of absorbing as much as i can without really processing it. that's the scary part. i didn't even realize i was doing it until i tried to journal on the way to stockholm. a thousand thoughts and experiences raced through my head, completely overwhelming me.
i failed to mention that fellow serviceshippers krista caballero and brian gordon join up with me in london on thursday to launch part two of my journey, a marathon sprint of children's camps and tourism. the pressure of another month of travel further inundated my mind with emotions. i feared that failing to reflect properly would affect the memories of my experiences in london, something i never ever want to forget. i'd push everything to the back of my mind until i returned home to jacksonville for a week and sort it all out in between visits with family, friends, and doctor appointments.
(i know, i know. i over think. it's a tragic flaw.)
ironically enough, stockholm was perfect for reflection. that weekend, i reunited with an old friend who's interning with a CSR consultant group in hamburg, germany. it was a glorious weekend of food and therapy as we discussed the challenges of beginning a new life in a different country (props to her-- at least the UK speaks english). all of the frustrations i failed to record on paper disappeared. i returned to london proud of my independence, my personal growth, my journey...
after jeredine returned from holiday, i continued to run the depot a couple of mornings a week. this morning was my last time as a shift manager at FareShare. of course, everything went wrong. it always does. i found two unexpected deliveries waiting for me: 10 pallets from M&S, 7 pallets of yoghurt from ASDA. bonus: my fridges were full, i had yet to allocate today's food, and corporate volunteers were arriving in less than an hour. stress levels were high but i survived-- with a huge smile on my face. deep down, i know i'd be disappointed if there wasn't a bit of a challenge on my last day (in charge-- my last day as a volunteer is tomorrow).
i've spent my week committing to memory the faces of the people i work with. i'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that tomorrow is my last day. i don't like goodbyes. each day i say my farewells to a different set of volunteers. i lost count at how many times i teared up today. i think i'll just carry around a box of tissues tomorrow. the waterworks will definitely be flowing. i'm not a sappy, sentimental person but it's those darn warm fuzzies that do me in. a note of praise from a colleague who won't be in tomorrow, a special trip to bring me back a card from a volunteer, and an apple pie from the builders- a tribute to the day i couldn't find a slice in borough market on the 4th of july.
this was truly an experience i will never forget.
Monday, July 14, 2008
the future freaks me out.
9 weeks down, less than 4 days to go and i'm left wondering "what's next?"
boy, oh boy, i wish i knew.
i embarked on this journey searching for answers. a direction. a calling, so to say. this fall, i begin my senior year at florida state. senior year. the year everyone expects to hear your impressive life 'plan'. truth is, i don't have one. i chucked my life long desire for med school out the window last summer in australia and haven't looked back since. i've spent the past year directionless, hopping from one impulsive whim to the next.
each time i go abroad, i learn something about myself. i return to the states with a new perspective, a new goal, a new lesson acquired... naturally, my pre-departure mentality equated england with self discovery. i wanted to leave london with a 'purpose'. mission failed. i'm leaving london more confused than ever. thank you, FareShare.
when i applied for a serviceship, i thought i was passionate about alleviating hunger. fareshare helps hungry people, i want to help fareshare. although i was intrigued at the idea of a 'green' food bank, my environmental concern was lacking. aside from a half hearted attempt at composting, my hippie dippie qualities end at recycling, bike rides, and walking around barefoot.
i surprised myself. shocked, is more like it. with FareShare, i've discovered a passion for the environment. i could care less as to who eats the food as long as it doesn't go to the dump. i cringe at the thought of waste of any type. sorry dad, but i've jumped on the sustainability bandwagon.
of course, this returns me to my original million dollar question: what's next?
i've got a head full of information and a new passion. now what do i do with it? your guess is as good as mine.
i guess we'll all just have to wait and find out.
boy, oh boy, i wish i knew.
i embarked on this journey searching for answers. a direction. a calling, so to say. this fall, i begin my senior year at florida state. senior year. the year everyone expects to hear your impressive life 'plan'. truth is, i don't have one. i chucked my life long desire for med school out the window last summer in australia and haven't looked back since. i've spent the past year directionless, hopping from one impulsive whim to the next.
each time i go abroad, i learn something about myself. i return to the states with a new perspective, a new goal, a new lesson acquired... naturally, my pre-departure mentality equated england with self discovery. i wanted to leave london with a 'purpose'. mission failed. i'm leaving london more confused than ever. thank you, FareShare.
when i applied for a serviceship, i thought i was passionate about alleviating hunger. fareshare helps hungry people, i want to help fareshare. although i was intrigued at the idea of a 'green' food bank, my environmental concern was lacking. aside from a half hearted attempt at composting, my hippie dippie qualities end at recycling, bike rides, and walking around barefoot.
i surprised myself. shocked, is more like it. with FareShare, i've discovered a passion for the environment. i could care less as to who eats the food as long as it doesn't go to the dump. i cringe at the thought of waste of any type. sorry dad, but i've jumped on the sustainability bandwagon.
of course, this returns me to my original million dollar question: what's next?
i've got a head full of information and a new passion. now what do i do with it? your guess is as good as mine.
i guess we'll all just have to wait and find out.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
down in the dumps...literally.
yesterday, as many of you know, i became a head hauncho in the realm of warehouse life. my boss is officially 'on holiday' for the week while i remain at FareShare standing in shoes that are much too big for me. i'm holding my breath, crossing my fingers, and asking WWJD-- what would jeredine do?
perhaps i'm overreacting but to paraphrase my father, "if you prepare for the worst, at least you'll have a backup plan." it's unfair to say yesterday was a pearl harbour (aka a complete disaster) but it certainly wasn't smooth sailing (side note to the fam-- unless we're talking about that time we sailed back from the bahamas and woke up in cape canaveral.) i spent most of my day recovering from a rough morning. two volunteers were missing and marks & spencers kindly dropped off a huge, unexpected delivery.
ordinarily, i'd be thrilled. eight pallets of mouth watering stuffed salmon, spiced chicken legs, fruit salads, and lemon meringue pie. tempting enough to make me want to eat meat. except there was one problem: it was all out of date. all of it. everything except for 27 trays of yoghurt (about half a pallet) had to be binned.
and so, i spent my afternoon properly disposing this food because corporate bigwigs are coming to poke around the warehouse today and it would be inappropriate to flaunt their mistakes. i sound a bit bitter. i am- and with good reason, of course. yesterday was the 23rd. the majority of the food had a 'use by' date of friday, june 20th. if marks & spencers would have given us that shipment with thursday's delivery, we could have distributed it to all of our friday projects, thus avoiding yesterday's monstrosity of waste. instead, i threw away 60 pounds of chicken, 56 pounds of fish, 35 pies, 5 pounds of lamb, and 116 pounds of prepared fruit, dated the 18th. i felt like a penny waiting for change. and it gets worse- a 20 pound turkey, a size heavier than the bird most people carve on thanksgiving, went to the landfill because the packaging had been opened.
i was sick to my stomach, not to mention completely disgusted, for the first time in my 6+ weeks at FareShare, even though i realize that none of this is my fault. or is it?
at times, it's overwhelming to stand in the middle of a warehouse completely full of surplus food. this isn't second harvest. there are no schools, churches, or post offices holding canned (or 'tinned') food drives to supplement donations. everything in our possession has been diverted from going to the dump.
when did we, as a society, become so wasteful? i believe there's merit in the mantra 'if you build it they will buy it' but i also believe in the basic principles of economics. if we didn't demand it, they wouldn't supply it. who's to blame? what are the boundaries between corporate and personal responsibility? i struggle with this idea daily.
perhaps i'm overreacting but to paraphrase my father, "if you prepare for the worst, at least you'll have a backup plan." it's unfair to say yesterday was a pearl harbour (aka a complete disaster) but it certainly wasn't smooth sailing (side note to the fam-- unless we're talking about that time we sailed back from the bahamas and woke up in cape canaveral.) i spent most of my day recovering from a rough morning. two volunteers were missing and marks & spencers kindly dropped off a huge, unexpected delivery.
ordinarily, i'd be thrilled. eight pallets of mouth watering stuffed salmon, spiced chicken legs, fruit salads, and lemon meringue pie. tempting enough to make me want to eat meat. except there was one problem: it was all out of date. all of it. everything except for 27 trays of yoghurt (about half a pallet) had to be binned.
and so, i spent my afternoon properly disposing this food because corporate bigwigs are coming to poke around the warehouse today and it would be inappropriate to flaunt their mistakes. i sound a bit bitter. i am- and with good reason, of course. yesterday was the 23rd. the majority of the food had a 'use by' date of friday, june 20th. if marks & spencers would have given us that shipment with thursday's delivery, we could have distributed it to all of our friday projects, thus avoiding yesterday's monstrosity of waste. instead, i threw away 60 pounds of chicken, 56 pounds of fish, 35 pies, 5 pounds of lamb, and 116 pounds of prepared fruit, dated the 18th. i felt like a penny waiting for change. and it gets worse- a 20 pound turkey, a size heavier than the bird most people carve on thanksgiving, went to the landfill because the packaging had been opened.
i was sick to my stomach, not to mention completely disgusted, for the first time in my 6+ weeks at FareShare, even though i realize that none of this is my fault. or is it?
at times, it's overwhelming to stand in the middle of a warehouse completely full of surplus food. this isn't second harvest. there are no schools, churches, or post offices holding canned (or 'tinned') food drives to supplement donations. everything in our possession has been diverted from going to the dump.
when did we, as a society, become so wasteful? i believe there's merit in the mantra 'if you build it they will buy it' but i also believe in the basic principles of economics. if we didn't demand it, they wouldn't supply it. who's to blame? what are the boundaries between corporate and personal responsibility? i struggle with this idea daily.
Monday, June 16, 2008
free autographs
you can find a blurb about me and my work in the fareshare newsletter. too bad you have to work here/donate lots of money/be a board member to see it.
so much for my 15 seconds of fame.
so much for my 15 seconds of fame.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
moving up in the world of food salvaging.
jeredine is going 'on holiday' in a week.
i'm taking over.
lord, help me.
heck, forget me-- send your prayers to FareShare! an entire week of being in charge. needless to say, i'm shadowing her every move, frantically noting every detail. and stressing, slightly. sometimes more than slightly (i am my mother's daughter, after all. no offense, mom.). so many things could go wrong. plus, we send a route out to southampton that week (a once a month delivery of mostly ambient product) which further complicates the situation. last month, the van broke down mid-route and we couldn't deliver the food.
this is the ultimate final exam.
i'm taking over.
lord, help me.
heck, forget me-- send your prayers to FareShare! an entire week of being in charge. needless to say, i'm shadowing her every move, frantically noting every detail. and stressing, slightly. sometimes more than slightly (i am my mother's daughter, after all. no offense, mom.). so many things could go wrong. plus, we send a route out to southampton that week (a once a month delivery of mostly ambient product) which further complicates the situation. last month, the van broke down mid-route and we couldn't deliver the food.
this is the ultimate final exam.
learning from others' mistakes- thank you, FareShare
in a previous post, i mentioned that eventually i'd begin informal sit down 'chats' with members of the national team at FareShare. in an effort to minimize confusion, let me first preface this post with a little more information about FareShare's organizational structure. it's a national charity with 10 depots across england and scotland in places such as aberdeen, dundee, and bristol. i work in the london depot, which conveniently joins with FareShare headquarters, aka 'the national team'. these are the people that deal with fundraising, communications, expansion, etc. therefore, when i say i'm meeting with one of them, it's really not a big deal. i see them everyday but instead of asking about their weekend, i ask about their role at FareShare.
my first sit down was with jon, the man with a plan for corporate fundraising. he hopped on board in 2004 when FareShare split with Crisis*. yes, i got the details on FareShare's funding and how to entice corporate bigwigs but most importantly, i learned about FareShare's 'mistake.'
jon recounted an event from 2005 known as 'the christmas meal appeal', a drive that aimed to deliver 16,000 christmas meals to the disadvantaged people FareShare serves. it was ambitious, especially for a new charity that struggled (and continues to do so) with name recognition. in the end, they were successful. everyone cheered as they exceeded their goal and pats on the back were given to all.
however, to everyone's chagrin, the program received the ax. although the program was well implemented and received, FareShare had strayed from its mission statement: to redistribute surplus food. an organization that exclusively accepted food waste was now asking corporations to donate money to buy food. understandably, these mixed messages caused confusion for donors. factor in the amount of time staff diverted from their roles to focus on this goal and it just wasn't worth it. two months of securing donations and working out logistics for one day. what about the other 364? simply put, people need food everyday and not just on christmas.
this is the most important lesson i will take away from FareShare. yes, it was a great idea, but was it what the organizations truly needed? wouldn't the extra hours in the office be better spent securing new donations? there's still tonnes of food that goes to waste.
this lesson can also be applied universally. i'm guilty of the same crime. how many programs are put on at FSU, both by students and administration, that fail to see what the organization truly needs?
*FareShare first began as a grass roots organization operated by Crisis, the national homeless organization, in 1994. its conception literally consisted of driving a van to collect food from the back doors of grocery stores to redistribute to the homeless. FareShare operated as a mess with good intentions until it severed its ties with Crisis in 2003, placing a greater emphasis on the environment than ensuring that people experiencing homelessness receive the proper amount of fruits and veggies.
my first sit down was with jon, the man with a plan for corporate fundraising. he hopped on board in 2004 when FareShare split with Crisis*. yes, i got the details on FareShare's funding and how to entice corporate bigwigs but most importantly, i learned about FareShare's 'mistake.'
jon recounted an event from 2005 known as 'the christmas meal appeal', a drive that aimed to deliver 16,000 christmas meals to the disadvantaged people FareShare serves. it was ambitious, especially for a new charity that struggled (and continues to do so) with name recognition. in the end, they were successful. everyone cheered as they exceeded their goal and pats on the back were given to all.
however, to everyone's chagrin, the program received the ax. although the program was well implemented and received, FareShare had strayed from its mission statement: to redistribute surplus food. an organization that exclusively accepted food waste was now asking corporations to donate money to buy food. understandably, these mixed messages caused confusion for donors. factor in the amount of time staff diverted from their roles to focus on this goal and it just wasn't worth it. two months of securing donations and working out logistics for one day. what about the other 364? simply put, people need food everyday and not just on christmas.
this is the most important lesson i will take away from FareShare. yes, it was a great idea, but was it what the organizations truly needed? wouldn't the extra hours in the office be better spent securing new donations? there's still tonnes of food that goes to waste.
this lesson can also be applied universally. i'm guilty of the same crime. how many programs are put on at FSU, both by students and administration, that fail to see what the organization truly needs?
*FareShare first began as a grass roots organization operated by Crisis, the national homeless organization, in 1994. its conception literally consisted of driving a van to collect food from the back doors of grocery stores to redistribute to the homeless. FareShare operated as a mess with good intentions until it severed its ties with Crisis in 2003, placing a greater emphasis on the environment than ensuring that people experiencing homelessness receive the proper amount of fruits and veggies.
i'm back in the game
send praises to the diety of your choice- christmas (or an equally exciting holiday) has come early this year. i have for you a series of posts in a feeble attempt at atonement for my unforgivable crime of blog neglect. more to come. it's a case of so much to say, not enough time to type it.
enjoy.
enjoy.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
"ideal as a part of a real british breakfast"
the topic of this week's english culture lesson is: black pudding.
two whole trays arrived from marks & spencers. fresh off the van, the brits called me over and asked if i had ever heard of it before.
i hadn't.
eagerly, they shifted their positions to get a good look at my face as paul (a shift coordinator at FareShare) explained that black pudding is, in fact, pork blood. 36% pork blood, to be percise. when combined with the remaining 64% of pork fat, oatmeal, and oak flakes, black pudding resembles sausage patties-fried in a skillet and served with eggs and toast.
i'll stick to my apples and yoghurt, thank you.
two whole trays arrived from marks & spencers. fresh off the van, the brits called me over and asked if i had ever heard of it before.
i hadn't.
eagerly, they shifted their positions to get a good look at my face as paul (a shift coordinator at FareShare) explained that black pudding is, in fact, pork blood. 36% pork blood, to be percise. when combined with the remaining 64% of pork fat, oatmeal, and oak flakes, black pudding resembles sausage patties-fried in a skillet and served with eggs and toast.
i'll stick to my apples and yoghurt, thank you.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
getting the hang of it.
hello hello hello
i hope everyone enjoyed their memorial day with a nice pool side BBQ and sunny weather. both were severely lacking over here in the UK. i did, however, have the day off thanks to 100+ years of bank holiday tradition. that's right, ladies and gents- bankers need a day off, too. way back when- before online banking and drive thru services- when banks closed, businesses closed. and because the english love tradition, everyone gets a day off for no other reason than to celebrate the end of spring. i kid you not. (the summer bank holiday isn't until august.)
let's talk about FareShare. i like it. a lot. warehouse life is interesting, to say the least. no two days are ever the same. i'm slowly assuming more responsibilities. currently, the operations manager is out on maternity leave meaning the london branch is down a team member. i'm filling her position a couple of days a week. i take inventory, call up each of the sites for food requests, allocate what we have, sort food with the volunteers, and make sure it all gets delivered. in the afternoons, i collect deliveries from sainsbury's and marks & spencer (two of the main grocery stores over here), brakes' produce, and occasionally, nestle, kraft, and unilever.
i've been out on the trucks twice now, which is quite the experience. i'm a glorified delivery man. the UPS of food. i like seeing and interacting with each of the different agencies, however brief it might be. the sites vary- soup kitchens, senior citizen hang outs, hostels for the homeless, centers for at-risk youth, drug rehab… yesterday, i helped deliver a route through the cambden borough. three of the locations were within a half a mile radius of the FSU study center. i'm a bit ashamed at how oblivious I was to all of these services throughout my study abroad experience.
i've got interviews with a couple of the national team members this week, which will add a new perspective to my work. i'm also trying to see if i can volunteer at another depot for a week- maybe head out to bristol or the midlands… we shall see.
until next time…
(ps- hi mom. please let me know if i have any spelling or grammar errors, aside from capitalization. that's asking for a miracle.)
i hope everyone enjoyed their memorial day with a nice pool side BBQ and sunny weather. both were severely lacking over here in the UK. i did, however, have the day off thanks to 100+ years of bank holiday tradition. that's right, ladies and gents- bankers need a day off, too. way back when- before online banking and drive thru services- when banks closed, businesses closed. and because the english love tradition, everyone gets a day off for no other reason than to celebrate the end of spring. i kid you not. (the summer bank holiday isn't until august.)
let's talk about FareShare. i like it. a lot. warehouse life is interesting, to say the least. no two days are ever the same. i'm slowly assuming more responsibilities. currently, the operations manager is out on maternity leave meaning the london branch is down a team member. i'm filling her position a couple of days a week. i take inventory, call up each of the sites for food requests, allocate what we have, sort food with the volunteers, and make sure it all gets delivered. in the afternoons, i collect deliveries from sainsbury's and marks & spencer (two of the main grocery stores over here), brakes' produce, and occasionally, nestle, kraft, and unilever.
i've been out on the trucks twice now, which is quite the experience. i'm a glorified delivery man. the UPS of food. i like seeing and interacting with each of the different agencies, however brief it might be. the sites vary- soup kitchens, senior citizen hang outs, hostels for the homeless, centers for at-risk youth, drug rehab… yesterday, i helped deliver a route through the cambden borough. three of the locations were within a half a mile radius of the FSU study center. i'm a bit ashamed at how oblivious I was to all of these services throughout my study abroad experience.
i've got interviews with a couple of the national team members this week, which will add a new perspective to my work. i'm also trying to see if i can volunteer at another depot for a week- maybe head out to bristol or the midlands… we shall see.
until next time…
(ps- hi mom. please let me know if i have any spelling or grammar errors, aside from capitalization. that's asking for a miracle.)
Sunday, May 18, 2008
a week in review
one week down, nine to go (in reference to FareShare. thirteen until i'm state-side.)
all i feel is relief. thirteen days ago, i arrived in london without a permanent place to stay or a solidified volunteer placement. sure, i had a lot of communications with organizations that had expressed interest [i.e: teaching ESOL classes to people who are homeless]. but, as i learned, interest doesn't always equate to placement.
in the end, it all worked out. my original proposal was for FareShare. i'm interning at FareShare. all of the stress of the unknown and late night freak out sessions can be chalked up to "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
it was worth it. i am completely enamored with FareShare as an organization, particularly their commitment to the environment. everything is recycled. everything. down to the point where i spent 20 minutes on thursday cutting open bags of swede (brit for rutabaga) that had spoiled before its expiration date just so the plastic could be recycled. crazy, yes, but admirable as well.
working at a food salvaging facility forces you to make comparisons about the type of food sold in supermarkets in the UK with that sold at home, mainly because you stare at it all day. it seems brits demand a higher standard of food. there's an emphasis on natural ingredients. for example, all of the chicken that passed through our warehouse last week was organic. my nestle's smarties box [think american m&m's] brags about containing "no artificial colours." i read the back of a label and can identify each of the ingredients; a simple "vegetable fat" instead of a seven syllable word reading something like "trimethyl didioxide." when i expressed my surprise about "no artificial colours" to jeredine [aka FareShare boss lady], she simply laughed and said "yeah, you americans will eat anything." what a horrible reputation to have.
closing note:
this is my third london adventure. i first arrived in this great city as a student through fsu's amazing international programs. the second time, as a tourist booking an impulsive last minute spring break. it is only during this third adventure, as a volunteer, that i have begun to understand london. working and studying have provided two contrasting experiences. working, however, has forced me to become fully immersed in british culture. i'm learning the lingo, the politics, the customs first hand from "the natives", each of whom are eager to show me the "true london."
at the suggestion of a fellow volunteer, i spent my sunday afternoon following the city's extensive canal system through paddington, little venice, reagent's park, camden town, and into islington, a suggestion that wasn't found in any of my tour books. i had the best time discovering new gardens, local art work, and the unique identity of each community.
i often equate learning with museums, history, iconic must-see buildings.... general tourist attractions. and yet, it's ironic that today, i learned the most when i stopped being a tourist. i look forward to more of these moments.
all i feel is relief. thirteen days ago, i arrived in london without a permanent place to stay or a solidified volunteer placement. sure, i had a lot of communications with organizations that had expressed interest [i.e: teaching ESOL classes to people who are homeless]. but, as i learned, interest doesn't always equate to placement.
in the end, it all worked out. my original proposal was for FareShare. i'm interning at FareShare. all of the stress of the unknown and late night freak out sessions can be chalked up to "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
it was worth it. i am completely enamored with FareShare as an organization, particularly their commitment to the environment. everything is recycled. everything. down to the point where i spent 20 minutes on thursday cutting open bags of swede (brit for rutabaga) that had spoiled before its expiration date just so the plastic could be recycled. crazy, yes, but admirable as well.
working at a food salvaging facility forces you to make comparisons about the type of food sold in supermarkets in the UK with that sold at home, mainly because you stare at it all day. it seems brits demand a higher standard of food. there's an emphasis on natural ingredients. for example, all of the chicken that passed through our warehouse last week was organic. my nestle's smarties box [think american m&m's] brags about containing "no artificial colours." i read the back of a label and can identify each of the ingredients; a simple "vegetable fat" instead of a seven syllable word reading something like "trimethyl didioxide." when i expressed my surprise about "no artificial colours" to jeredine [aka FareShare boss lady], she simply laughed and said "yeah, you americans will eat anything." what a horrible reputation to have.
closing note:
this is my third london adventure. i first arrived in this great city as a student through fsu's amazing international programs. the second time, as a tourist booking an impulsive last minute spring break. it is only during this third adventure, as a volunteer, that i have begun to understand london. working and studying have provided two contrasting experiences. working, however, has forced me to become fully immersed in british culture. i'm learning the lingo, the politics, the customs first hand from "the natives", each of whom are eager to show me the "true london."
at the suggestion of a fellow volunteer, i spent my sunday afternoon following the city's extensive canal system through paddington, little venice, reagent's park, camden town, and into islington, a suggestion that wasn't found in any of my tour books. i had the best time discovering new gardens, local art work, and the unique identity of each community.
i often equate learning with museums, history, iconic must-see buildings.... general tourist attractions. and yet, it's ironic that today, i learned the most when i stopped being a tourist. i look forward to more of these moments.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work i go.
sorry for the delay. i meant to post about my wonderful first day at FareShare, however, a little violence on oxford street got in the way. the now infamous mcdonalds is en route to an internet cafe i frequent. the mere idea of passing it brought pains to my own neck. sorry to everyone at the center if this complicates risk management.
anyways, on to happier topics.
i loved my first (and now second) day of work. my supervisor, jeredine, is amazing. she's teaching me all of the ins and outs of food redistribution in london and then some. we have an agreement: i laborously slave at whatever task she gives me in exchange for all of her knowledge. it's a pretty good system. so far, aside from being a professional food sorter, i've mastered food distribution software 101 and have moved on to bigger and better topics such as learning about each of the 67 agencies London FareShare supplies with food on a weekly basis. this is no easy feat. each organization has its own cooking limitations which influences the type and quantity of food we can offer and eventually distribute. my head wouldn't stop spinning after listening to food orders this morning. i'm excited to see what's in store for the rest of the week.
and now, i leave you with a british-english vocabulary lesson:
brilliant- great. corresponds with most affirmative sentences. ex: 'you finished? brilliant.' or 'half past two sounds brilliant.'
pulses- legumes
lorry- truck
squash- refers to diluted fruit juice [think along the lines of american capri-suns or juicy juice] also known as a cordial [unlike the american cordial, which generally refers to a sweet liquor]. the brits enjoyed a good laugh when i asked if squash [the vegetable] flavored water was popular in the UK... oops.
anyways, on to happier topics.
i loved my first (and now second) day of work. my supervisor, jeredine, is amazing. she's teaching me all of the ins and outs of food redistribution in london and then some. we have an agreement: i laborously slave at whatever task she gives me in exchange for all of her knowledge. it's a pretty good system. so far, aside from being a professional food sorter, i've mastered food distribution software 101 and have moved on to bigger and better topics such as learning about each of the 67 agencies London FareShare supplies with food on a weekly basis. this is no easy feat. each organization has its own cooking limitations which influences the type and quantity of food we can offer and eventually distribute. my head wouldn't stop spinning after listening to food orders this morning. i'm excited to see what's in store for the rest of the week.
and now, i leave you with a british-english vocabulary lesson:
brilliant- great. corresponds with most affirmative sentences. ex: 'you finished? brilliant.' or 'half past two sounds brilliant.'
pulses- legumes
lorry- truck
squash- refers to diluted fruit juice [think along the lines of american capri-suns or juicy juice] also known as a cordial [unlike the american cordial, which generally refers to a sweet liquor]. the brits enjoyed a good laugh when i asked if squash [the vegetable] flavored water was popular in the UK... oops.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
i'm officially a temporary "working" legal alien.
hunger and homelessness is a social issue that could have taken me anywhere. why london? when writing my proposal, i thought about the US. how can we better care for our hungry and homeless? perhaps we needed some new ideas. thus began a search for a "developed nation" with similar causes of hunger and/or homelessness along with comparable rules and regulations for addressing social welfare. (no use in using malawi as a case study when 90% of its population relies on agriculture.) tada! london.
ironically, the same hoops i knew i'd have to jump through have served as my primary source of frustration. the brits certainly don't make it easy. but, after a two and a half hour orientation, i'm cleared to work in the UK. except as an entertainer, professional sportsman, or an entrepreneur. even though i only wanted to volunteer.
so, when will hilary finally get her hands dirty and get to work? glad you asked. i have a meeting with the project manager at FareShare tomorrow at "half past one."
in the mean time, i now have a mailing address and a cell phone number, both of which are available through facebook or my mother.
ironically, the same hoops i knew i'd have to jump through have served as my primary source of frustration. the brits certainly don't make it easy. but, after a two and a half hour orientation, i'm cleared to work in the UK. except as an entertainer, professional sportsman, or an entrepreneur. even though i only wanted to volunteer.
so, when will hilary finally get her hands dirty and get to work? glad you asked. i have a meeting with the project manager at FareShare tomorrow at "half past one."
in the mean time, i now have a mailing address and a cell phone number, both of which are available through facebook or my mother.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
a quick post to let you know i'm alive
i've arrived. (yay!)
london is experiencing spring. mid 70s, blooming gardens and overall greenness, allergies....
to give everyone a mild heart attack, here was my monday morning:
12:05PM begin packing for a 14 week adventure
12:30 PM head to airport
12:55 PM say goodbye to dad
1 PM check in at delta
1:48 PM battle security, arrive at JAX terminal A4 just in time for final boarding call.
items i know i forgot: deoderant, toothbrush, allergy medicine, towel. lesson learned.
positive: i remembered all important documents:(passport, work visa, flight and hostel info)
thank God for english and stores.
london is experiencing spring. mid 70s, blooming gardens and overall greenness, allergies....
to give everyone a mild heart attack, here was my monday morning:
12:05PM begin packing for a 14 week adventure
12:30 PM head to airport
12:55 PM say goodbye to dad
1 PM check in at delta
1:48 PM battle security, arrive at JAX terminal A4 just in time for final boarding call.
items i know i forgot: deoderant, toothbrush, allergy medicine, towel. lesson learned.
positive: i remembered all important documents:(passport, work visa, flight and hostel info)
thank God for english and stores.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
a pre-departure geography lesson
london's comprised of 33 local authorities (including the city of london) neatly displayed in this map:
most tourist destinations are found in centrallondon
the rosetta stone and magna carta in southern camden; st. paul’s and the financial district in #7, the city of london; soho, the theater district, and the area generally termed as the ‘west end’ refer to westminister; notting hill/portabello market in kensington and chelsea (#2); and the globe theater and tate modern in southwark, along the thames.
compare those quintessential postcard images with the east end, home of a personal favorite, spitalfield’s. although its precise GPS coordinates shift each year, this locale generally includes the boroughs of tower hamlets and the southern part of hackney, both synonymous with poverty, overcrowding, disease and criminality (no worries, mom- guns are illegal.). X marks the spot where crisis, one of the organizations I’ll be working for, is located.
in december,england london
england london
most tourist destinations are found in central
the rosetta stone and magna carta in southern camden; st. paul’s and the financial district in #7, the city of london; soho, the theater district, and the area generally termed as the ‘west end’ refer to westminister; notting hill/portabello market in kensington and chelsea (#2); and the globe theater and tate modern in southwark, along the thames.
compare those quintessential postcard images with the east end, home of a personal favorite, spitalfield’s. although its precise GPS coordinates shift each year, this locale generally includes the boroughs of tower hamlets and the southern part of hackney, both synonymous with poverty, overcrowding, disease and criminality (no worries, mom- guns are illegal.). X marks the spot where crisis, one of the organizations I’ll be working for, is located.
in december,
[for comparisons, sutton ranked 234; bromley, 228; and
blue represents the most deprived neighborhoods; white, desirable living areas.
these areas are dominated by rates of high unemployment and low education, both influenced by a large concentration of immigrants. the 2001 census for tower hamlets revealed that 58% of the population is from non-white british ethnic groups. a third is bangladeshi, half of whom are under 20 years old. 36% reported speaking a language other than english at home, 12% reported speaking no english. if all goes to plan, part of my serviceship will include ESOL classes.
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