My first day

Today was the beginning of my first real job. It was very tiring and started at 7:15 am when Keith, my boss, called and said "Erin. Sit down and have a glass of orange juice or something. I'm running late, meet me at the office at 9" So I had a leisurely morning that I am sure won't happen very often. After I arrived Keith and I immediately drove to Staples to pick out stuff for my office. I had no idea what I needed (at this point I still wasn't even sure what my job responsibilities were) but thankfully Keith has an opinion on most things and told me what would be useful to have. After this I went to Human Resources and sat through a very difficult conversation about benefits. I have never had to choose my own benefits or even really understand them, so the whole process was very confusing to me. I felt once again like a child who desperately needed a more juvenile explanation. I felt silly for not understanding, but the lady was very helpful and answered all of my questions.

Later in the afternoon I went back to HR for a tour of the city. Now this might sound like fun but it actually was a little bit strange. The tour included visiting places like the water treatment facility, each city building in town, every one of the 26 ball fields, the airport and the sanitation department. We even learned all about the process of water treatment and potable water, how the city takes care of their trash and how many days a week the semis come from Tucson to pick up the recyclables. We also stopped to get out of the car at an overlook area complete with picnic tables inside the boundaries of the treatment plant. It was very odd and didn't smell very good, but apparently the birds hang out there while they take a break from their migration in the spring and fall. The most exciting part about my day with Human Resources is that I went through the training with a girl named Carrie who is from California. She recently moved here with her new husband because he works for the Border Patrol and we have made plans to spend some time together. I have found my first friend!!

Other than all of the orientation stuff, my job is pretty much what I expected but there is just an amazing amount of work to be done right now because I replaced a woman who retired and she has not been in the office for a while and Keith has been traveling for the past two weeks. My responsibilities mostly consist of scheduling classes (yoga, ballroom dancing, converstaional spanish, etc.) I have to find instructors for the classes, determine a rate of pay for the instructor, develop a budget to ensure that the course fees cover what we pay for supplies and instructor pay, submit a request for the class to be approved, and schedule the course. Then I have to turn in time sheets for the instructors and develop advertising for the courses.

So far I am just very exhausted. I did have a nervous breakdown driving home from Tucscon after I dropped Grandpa off near the airport. I was convinced that the car was not going to make it back, but of course it did and seems to be running like a dream today. I do miss home terribly, especially the companionship of my parents and Julie and Jason and Lucas, but I'm hoping it will become easier to be away as I settle into my life here. Hope all is well back home!!