out of hibernation

so i'm in the middle of this transition - out of my "formation year" and into a new normal - with responsibilities and projects that are mine to invest in. things i need to get done...more hours of work...less time at home...less bangla study - there are lots of changes!

i've alluded to this a bit - but haven't had the emotional energy to write more than that. one of the changes is a new schedule...and adjusting to working more, being in the city more, and having less time at home in tiring in a different way...its gonna take a bit to find a new normal. transition is tiring. the city is tiring...and when i get home at 9pm after working all day and then language class...well, its just hard to find the energy to think about anything.

so, here's some of what i'm up to these days...
i'm the shipping coordinator at Sari Bari. what that really means is about 1 week a month i spend a lot of time taking pictures, organizing things, labeling, packaging, counting and inputting stuff on a spreadsheet. i don't actually have to do it all...but i do have to make sure it gets done. what i'm most exciting about with this new responsibility is that i get to hand it off to one of our SB ladies. she's transitioning from sewing into an admin role...and i love that i'll get to teach and develop and invest in her.

which leads quite nicely to my next role (which i'm really excited about). i'm also the "aftercare coordinator" at Sari Bari. its a pretty fancy title, but what it means is that i get to walk along our new employees...helping them get to know sari bari, checking on their progress...following up on them, coordinating graduation parties, and freedom birthday - and overseeing the training piece of sari bari (the math and literacy training...and anything else i dream of...)

i've also started visiting the Gatch once a week with Beth...and i'm so excited for new friendships that will form as i spend time in that area. i know it will be hard. i know it will be heavy at times...but there is also a part of it that is really life giving to me.

i'll also be leading some short term teams, one in May, and a servant team from August-Dec (but that's not for awhile...so its kind of on the back burner for now!)

so, i've been thinking the past couple weeks - about these new responsibilities. and i'll be honest - its really overwhelming to think about right now. to be "in charge" of training...and how to do that well. to think of leading teams (and all the personal investment that means from me). right now i feel like i'm in a cloud of transition...but i have this hope, this dream...this knowledge that after the dust settles - this is going to be amazing. when i start to get a handle of what's expected of me...and how i actually plan to develop the things that are now "mine" to develop.

its like the best part of me...my strengths and passions are coming out of hibernation. i was telling beth on the metro the other day, i'm really thankful for this formation year, and i think as this next year progresses i'll be more and more thankful in different ways for the gift that this year as been...like the way i was "forced" to focus my passion and development, and ideas more inwardly this year - and i have no idea how that's gonna "pay dividends" in the future...but now, as i stand in the middle of the dust storm of transition...the developer, the dreamer, the achiever in me...the part that sees potential everywhere, and likes to organize...and the part that comes alive through relationships and teaching...the part of me that loves to invest in others, and see them understand and grow, the part of me that likes efficient systems and spreadsheets, and the part of me that loves to empower someone else...they're all coming back to life in new ways.

i'm coming out of hibernation...ready to dream dreams, and make plans...and do the things i do best here in Kolkata. at sari bari. and in the gatch. (does it get any better than this?!)