Since I love reflecting, let’s take a stroll down memory lane shall we? I remember how I complained about the driving and would only leave my apartment to go to  work and target, sad I know. I still complain about driving here, and prayers are said every time I get in the car, but it’s much easier now. I slightly enjoy the challenge. Here are the few things that I’m going to miss once I leave. The luxary cars, the helicopters over my building, how it never gets trully dark, the lull of cars rushing by, and the people at the Atlanta  History Center.

If you were to ask about the one thing that I regreted most about this adventure? I would tell you that I regreted not staying in town to actually enjoy the city. While I wasn’t in the city I was enjoying myself with friends and family, going camping, drinking kosher Coke on a Wednesday night in the ‘Boro, spending time in the emergency room during spring break,becoming and honorary member of TOVA wintergaurd, belated Easter gifts from my Godmom, watching Merrie Monarch Festival until 6AM our time, and just growing up.

In growing up I’ll be headed back to the ‘Boro one last time to graduate.

While this city has grown on the Southern Girl, it’s time to go. At heart I’m a Coastal Kid so it’s off to the beach next weekend for a little adventure and a whole lot of relaxing.

~  Southern Girl

Well, I’ll be one and done too. Today marks exactly one month until graduation!

It’s finally setting in, I’m excited, scared, nervous, relieved, shocked, and so many more adjectives I can’t voice.

I was warned Thursday by the entire marketing department and even one of the guys from research that I should bring a helmet. I think I’ll take my chances.

The day has arrived. I think I’m ready, but I won’t know until it happens. After it happens I’ll let you guys know all about it.

~ Expectantly Nervous Southern Girl

Also, Let Your Motto Be Resisitance: African American Portriats opened today at the Atlanta History Center! I’ve been working on college marketing for this project since day one of my internship. I encourage EVERYONE to come see it and the other events that are a part of our series, Civil War to Civil Rights.

Now onto the photos…

My Bestie at Waikikie with an "E"

I wanted her to have a tast of Hawaii… she even tasted their Mac salad (she HATES mayo)

Interns in Atlanta

Diandre and I were in several classes at Southern. She’s interning with Underground Atlanta, so it was awesome to see her on my tour of Underground.

It was funny when we had to go back up the 10 flights of stairs, Nicki and I caught different parts of this man’s conversation, “There is no way I’m walking up 11 flights of stairs, I’m 65 years old, I am not having a heartache, I’m waiting on the elevator.” All I could think of was my grandfather because this is something he would say in a ‘you gotta be kidding tone.”

Nicki thought a few of the firemen were nice to look at and that’s about it. Here’s why, they turn off the elevator, and then proceed to get in an elevator and use the firefighter button, IT STILL WOULDN’T WORK!

More about Sunday when I get home, now onto Monday…

Went on a tour with my boss’s to Underground Atlanta to check out their presentation of Civil War to Civil Rights and it was a little Georgia Southern party, two alums and two students, all PR majors, all in one place! A picture of that will be added later as well.

Tuesday…

So I’ve been creating databases at work that take hours to complete (technically they will never be complete) and one of the people that I contacted actually put the information I sent them on their departments blog! Sat in on a really big monthly meeting to find out what’s going on for the next two months. Made a left turn into my building! Had my apartment inspected without me being there, yay! And got my outside key card to the building fixed.

In the meantime I have not been exercising (not eating, cooking’s an inconvenience) or studying Spanish, much to the chagrin of my parents. But, I’m educating myself on hula (hey! It’s what’s keeping smiling).

Till tonight

~ Busy Southern Girl

~ Water-logged Southern Girl

Update:

Left the house early because it was raining. I don’t mind the rain. I enjoy new experiences. My drive was going as planned until I reached the street before my left turn (turn light). So I sit at the light in the central lane, thinking, “Man, I should’ve gotten over since it’s raining.” Well, I should have because the oh so kind driver next to me didn’t turn or speed up so that I could get over. So it’s raining harder now as I drive past my turn and onto the fork in the road. Somehow I ended up in the parking lot of Marshells, which led to another parking lot with a light (thank God!). Proceed to make my right turn while brutally abusing my car in a massive pothole. Now, I’m back on a main street, just as I’m crossing an intersection I realize, “Hey, I need to be on that street.” I some how manage a left turn into a small street. Right myself to make a left turn onto the desired highway.

 I learned yesterday that you will get honked at if you don’t turn on a yellow, so I rush it. In the rain, on a red light. At times like this I swear that I’m insane. Get to another stoplight, call my boss to tell her that I got lost somewhere near the Container Store, she laughs and says it’s cool.

Finally get to West Paces Ferry Rd. to find that the person on my right wont let me get over, so I had to make a left. The left was totally fine, I take it and drive all the way around my work. Get to the street where we have to park (some event today) only to find that I am going in the wrong direction. The thought of turning around is squashed when a person pulls up behind me. So I make a scuicide left turn on a blind curve, it is now raining harder. Turn around on some residential street. Make my way back to the street parking. I am somewhere at the very bottom of a hill.

I just pray that I can find my car and safely make my way home.

~ Driver-needed Southern Girl

I have been having extremely tiring, challenging, productive days at work, so much so that I feel like I’ve been working at the history center for about a month now. For instance, the other day another department received another employee/intern. This new person was being shown around the ‘bottom’(this is what I shall call the area that houses administration, it’s below the first floor, but at times feels like the basement, although it is not) she had this deer in head lights look on her face and it was somewhat funny. Funny in that my department thought that I would make those same faces on my first day (they came days later).

Today I finally saw my efforts in creating databases pay off. I sent out about 100 emails to colleges and universities sending them information about a new exhibit I’m working on. I totally felt like a spammer. My boss assured me that I’m not. Scanned the paper this morning for press clippings and learned about Buckhead Betties.

What is a Buckhead Betty and where can you find them might you ask? Well, she is one of the exclusive of Atlanta’s high society. She can be found in upscale boutiques in Buckhead, midday lunches, afternoon teas, and evening galas.

How can I say this without coming across as ignorant and insensitive? I hated being surrounded by the Betties; they are the illusion of aspects that I dislike so much about the South. Today sitting at lunch, I have never felt more invisible and isolated in my life. I was the ONLY Black female in the room. This semester so far has been an eye-opener into how culturally different I am from the people I share a state with. I didn’t like it. Sitting there was like being the ultimate voyeur; it was interesting and painful at the same time, somewhat like stepping back in time, while still being stuck in the present. I sure at some point in time we all experience moments where we feel we have to represent our ethnic groups with the highest civility around those who don’t know or understand the idiosyncrasies of other ethnic groups.

As I write this I think of an intelligent follow up to the previous paragraph and I realize that I have been using stereotypes to try and understand a group so far from my and it’s not okay that I am doing exactly to them what I don’t want done to me. My new hope is that the Buckhead Betty and the Southern Girl can educate each other about our respective groups, be it ethnic or social.

Day 3: the honeymoon is really over. I love the place that I work at and I don’t mind working, I just miss my friends and my old life. But my new life is one that I’m ok with, it’s just lonely. I did have a visitor (bug) this morning, but I had to kill him before I left for work.

As I type this I’m watching the First Wives Club on Netflix because I really don’t want to work out and I don’t really want to go to sleep.

But, back to the subject of work; the morning started off terribly. Woke up with a light headache (like every morning), felt totally under rested.  Went to go iron my skirt only to remember that the ironing board was in the trunk of the car and the iron was still in the box. Put on blue patterned tights, a khaki skirt, purple top, black jacket, green scarf, and brown mock-croc loafers. Two words: Ugly Betty. I’m already behind schedule, so I quickly do my hair and grab a pair of black stocking. Was utterly relieved that I brought my $2 gloves down with me, because low and behold there was ice on my windows( went to Target last night to pick up a few items, one happening to be an ice scrapper. And lucky me, there were none to be found)( told my boss this and she said to use a credit card, who knew, I’m not Northern). So, wiping off my windows made my skirt a little dirty. Three words: dirty Ugly Betty. Finally make it in to work. High point didn’t need to use my gps and I didn’t get lost walking around the office today. Immediately go to change into the black stockings; some redemption.

I start working on a new database, I don’t feel like I’m making any leeway in any of the databases that I’m working on because more tasks keep being added on, this is just a bit frustrating. So I work on those for about 5 hours. (Didn’t feel like taking lunch. I felt like I was floating in that weird space of comfort and discomfort) While I was sitting there if transformed form Ugly Betty to Bridget Jones; skirt creeping up, with a too tight or see trough shirt with loafers. I wanted to slink home and put on by Pjs and sleep for the next 14wks.

By the middle of the day I was feeling like an oaffy loser, so I finished up the last half of my tour. The wonderful Wednesday ladies at the Tulle Smith Farm changed my day, thank you.  They invited me to Wednesday period lunches and told me to sneak off when I could for coffee with them. The Swan house is amazing. I missed my tour so I walked around in the cold for 30 minutes waiting for the next one, had a nice chilly time letting my imagination run wild, while also trying to find ways to get in the building.

Went back up to the office, got assigned another assignment to work on advertising deals with a few of the universities in town. Talked with Brandi about my PR insecurities, maybe too soon? Like I said the honeymoon is over, regardless of my own personal thoughts, emotions, and hesitations I’m committed to this organization.

So that was work, I know this is long, but it was long for me too.

Oh yeah, at work watched a cat kill a chipmunk. It was intense, fascinating, gross, and disturbing all at the same time. Then she came and rubbed herself against me. (never more did I feel like Catwomen) My docent Candis said that the cat likes to leave dead presents on the porch. Candis also figures that the Farm is her day home. I have personally named her Tulle.

Going to work out now. And eat a cookie or two.

~ Discombobulated Southern Girl

Tuesday's Work

Day 1: My first day at the Atlanta History Center went very well. Before I continue with this post let me give thanks. Thank you to all those who work 9-5 and most times more than that; I never know how tiring it is to work all day and then have to come home and take on a second job as a parent or student or even both. I don’t know how you do it. My boss/teacher Brandi asked me what I thought of my first day and this is what I told her, “If I work full-time there is no way I’m ever having kids.” She just laughed. Thank You.

Back to my day… got set up with my very own cubicle in Cubeland (that’s what it’s officially called), got an i.d. badge, parking pass, computer, e-mail, phone number, now all I need is a car service, someone to fetch my dry cleaning and my coffee.

Aside from all of the “standard” office stuff, I meet the entire marketing department, sat in on my first staff meeting, began creating a database, and stuffed about 50 mailers. Whew!

Went to the grocery store (still forgot plastic bags), don’t currently have my wool jacket (we’ve been having consistently freezing weather everyday). This is somewhat of a problem since I have a tour of the campus tomorrow (3 building and 39 acres) I currently have a runny nose, but I’m not sick I promise dad. Worked out this evening when all I really wanted to do was eat. Also, I got in a little work for my online class. Spanish is looking like an afterthought. BUT… it’s too early in the game to just quit, so now a little Spanish before bedtime.

~ Tired Working Southern Girl