work work work

so far, the adjustment from school life to work life has been a little tough, but not horrible. it helps that my job is amazing. here are some of my favorite perks:

-conversations with 56-year-old homeless crack addict veterans about why i don't have a boyfriend (now there is a conversation that could go on for days...)
-being called "doll baby" by elderly black women
-cross cultural experiences, like eating fried chicken necks (surprisingly good!)
-educating baltimore's homeless population on the differences between mormons, mennonites, and the amish
-having work pay for me to take classes on addiction, HIV and AIDS, and psychiatric drug distribution/monitoring and having it count towards my work hours
-seeing someone who has been living on the streets, taking and selling drugs, and working as a prostitute for 20 years move into permanent housing
-getting 50 pound bags of potatoes for free

i'm sure there will be more. i was pretty scared when they said i would be working as an advocacy counselor at a transitional homeless shelter that specializes in people with a dual-diagnosis of both a severe mental illness (or multiple illnesses) and substance abuse issues. but it has been amazing- only 2 people sent to the emergency room in the past 2 weeks! i guess in this line of work, we count that- and everything else- as a blessing.