It is amazing that I only have two and a half more days left at the South Texas Civil Rights Project. Overall it has been a good experience. There have been a few times when I had to restrain myself from having a temper tantrum. But since I am now an adult I prevailed over my urge to jump up and down and scream. Everyone should give me a pat on the back.
I uploaded some photos to Facebook for those of you who are cool enough for such things. They can be seen here for those who are not.
I am definitely excited to be going home but I am glad I chose to come to the Valley for the summer.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Time Flies
I can't believe I only have one week left in the Valley. That means I have already been here two months!
I will make sure to take some more photos around the office. There is a nifty mural over here that will be good to remember. Tomorrow we are having a farewell barbecue so I will try to take photos then as well.
Today was extremely busy because I had to file a response with the court. I wrote the response and gathered up the evidence to support it. That is the second piece of my work that has been submitted. Next week I will attend a hearing on a response I submitted about a month ago. I am pretty excited!
Next Saturday I will be heading north toward home. I can't wait to pass the Austin City Limit sign!
I will make sure to take some more photos around the office. There is a nifty mural over here that will be good to remember. Tomorrow we are having a farewell barbecue so I will try to take photos then as well.
Today was extremely busy because I had to file a response with the court. I wrote the response and gathered up the evidence to support it. That is the second piece of my work that has been submitted. Next week I will attend a hearing on a response I submitted about a month ago. I am pretty excited!
Next Saturday I will be heading north toward home. I can't wait to pass the Austin City Limit sign!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Dolly Update
Well things have quieted down. It has stopped raining, but it is still cloudy. I have not been back to the mobile home, but I was told the office where I work doesn't have power. The mobile home is only a mile and a half away so I assume it doesn't have power either.
Once I return to the mobile home I will update on how it weathered the storm. In any case, I survived Hurricane Dolly.
Once I return to the mobile home I will update on how it weathered the storm. In any case, I survived Hurricane Dolly.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Hurricane Dolly Update
I am safe and sound so far.
I woke up this morning and turned on the television to find that Dolly was a category two hurricane. This made me extremely nervous since I was in a mobile home trailer. Yikes!
I called up my supervisor and she said to come on over to her house. It didn't get too crazy where I am until about 6 in the evening. The rain is still coming down and the wind is pretty bad. We had a tree branch hit one of the windows but nothing broke. It was just a teeny bit scary.
I will keep y'all posted.
I woke up this morning and turned on the television to find that Dolly was a category two hurricane. This made me extremely nervous since I was in a mobile home trailer. Yikes!
I called up my supervisor and she said to come on over to her house. It didn't get too crazy where I am until about 6 in the evening. The rain is still coming down and the wind is pretty bad. We had a tree branch hit one of the windows but nothing broke. It was just a teeny bit scary.
I will keep y'all posted.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tropical Storm Dolly
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am taking precautions due to Dolly. It looks like it will become a category one hurricane before it hits land.
The storm is expected to make landfall tomorrow at Brownsville, Texas which is about 50 miles away from me. More than likely I will just experience a great deal of rain.
I will keep my parents posted, but there is no reason to worry!
The storm is expected to make landfall tomorrow at Brownsville, Texas which is about 50 miles away from me. More than likely I will just experience a great deal of rain.
I will keep my parents posted, but there is no reason to worry!
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Quick Trip to Austin
Thursday after work, I drove up to Austin so I could attend the final class for my internship. On the way north I stopped at a Burger King. While I was filling up my cup with pop, a woman asked me if I was married and gestured behind her saying that man wants to know. I told her that I was too young to be married. So then she asked me how old I was. I explained that I was 25. She said oh that's perfect he's 30! For cripes' sake. I can't even go to Burger King without getting hit on.
Friday I attended the class and then the professors took us out to lunch. It was nice to speak with the other people about their internship experiences. It seems like mine has been much better than most.
After eating I rode around with a realtor to look at a few places to live. The realtor was very helpful and I found a new home in Austin. It is in a small complex at 47th and Red River. It is close to school, the grocery store, a city bus stop and one of my favorite coffee shops. I can't believe I have my very own apartment and I'm excited to live on my own for the first time ever.
Saturday I drove down to Gruene to watch my friend Jeff play with his band. He plays the upright bass for The Belleville Outfit. They opened for Lyle Lovett a few weeks ago. How cool is that? Uncle Pat you can check them out here. They will be playing at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September.
Then I headed to San Antonio to visit my friend, Val, from high school. She is working at an internship for her doctorate of audiology. It was great to catch up with her.
Sunday I started south for the Valley but got myself a bit lost. Don't fret though I busted out my trusty Texas map and followed 173, 16 and 140 back to the main highway route. It was truly beautiful out there in the middle of nowhere and I even drove on a dirt road for a bit. I haven't seen one of those in almost seven months.
In any event I am back in the Valley for two more weeks.
Friday I attended the class and then the professors took us out to lunch. It was nice to speak with the other people about their internship experiences. It seems like mine has been much better than most.
After eating I rode around with a realtor to look at a few places to live. The realtor was very helpful and I found a new home in Austin. It is in a small complex at 47th and Red River. It is close to school, the grocery store, a city bus stop and one of my favorite coffee shops. I can't believe I have my very own apartment and I'm excited to live on my own for the first time ever.
Saturday I drove down to Gruene to watch my friend Jeff play with his band. He plays the upright bass for The Belleville Outfit. They opened for Lyle Lovett a few weeks ago. How cool is that? Uncle Pat you can check them out here. They will be playing at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September.
Then I headed to San Antonio to visit my friend, Val, from high school. She is working at an internship for her doctorate of audiology. It was great to catch up with her.
Sunday I started south for the Valley but got myself a bit lost. Don't fret though I busted out my trusty Texas map and followed 173, 16 and 140 back to the main highway route. It was truly beautiful out there in the middle of nowhere and I even drove on a dirt road for a bit. I haven't seen one of those in almost seven months.
In any event I am back in the Valley for two more weeks.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
My Second Client Interview and Other Happenings
The Texas Civil Rights Project filed a petition with the court to force the Border Patrol to reveal its hurricane evacuation policy for the Rio Grande Valley. In May, officials in McAllen, Texas, undertook a simulated evacuation drill and practiced verifying the immigration status of mock evacuees. This is a very dangerous practice for all Valley residents whether or not they are documented. It is a human right to evacuate from a hurricane's path. It is completely unacceptable that the Border Patrol would unnecessarily delay the evacuation process. You can read a bit more about it here.
In other news, I participated in my second client interview on Friday. This interview went much better than the first one. I was expected to come up with the questions to ask the client and at the interview I was able to ask all the questions myself. After the interview my supervisor and I typed up an affidavit. An affidavit is basically the written statement of a witness in a case. I wasn't nervous during the process and I feel like I did a good job. So yea me!
After the interview my supervisor, two other interns, and I went out to lunch. We drove to an area called Las Milpas and ate at Melissa's Tacqueria. I inhaled some very yummy enchildas. I even ordered my coke in Spanish! Yo queiro coka cola por favor. =)
Next weekend I drive back to Austin for a final class meeting. This is the last meeting for the academic portion of my internship. After that I will have just two weeks left. I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. While I am in Austin next weekend I hope to sign a lease for an apartment. Hopefully, I will be able to get that taken care of and I won't need to think about it anymore.
In other news, I participated in my second client interview on Friday. This interview went much better than the first one. I was expected to come up with the questions to ask the client and at the interview I was able to ask all the questions myself. After the interview my supervisor and I typed up an affidavit. An affidavit is basically the written statement of a witness in a case. I wasn't nervous during the process and I feel like I did a good job. So yea me!
After the interview my supervisor, two other interns, and I went out to lunch. We drove to an area called Las Milpas and ate at Melissa's Tacqueria. I inhaled some very yummy enchildas. I even ordered my coke in Spanish! Yo queiro coka cola por favor. =)
Next weekend I drive back to Austin for a final class meeting. This is the last meeting for the academic portion of my internship. After that I will have just two weeks left. I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. While I am in Austin next weekend I hope to sign a lease for an apartment. Hopefully, I will be able to get that taken care of and I won't need to think about it anymore.
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