Bringing home the bacon...actually, the andouille and gravy :)

After a week and a half of searching, applications and interviews I landed myself a nice little job. I will be working at Lucile's, a Cajun breakfast fine dining establishment.


I am so excited about this job! I went there to eat with the family I live with a week ago and decided that if I could choose any restaurant to work at, it would be Lucile's. The atmosphere is so comfortable and quaint, and the attitude of the serving staff is friendly and welcoming, even to potential new hires which says a lot. Along with that, it is only open until 2pm, so that means I will always only work day shifts which is a nice scheduling situation to find in the restaurant industry. To make it even better, this sweet little diner is just a few blocks up the road I live on. So, I officially have a job I can walk to, or more likely, ride a bike to. I am looking forward to making friends with the girls on staff there and beginning to develop more of a community in Denver. So far most of my relationships are in Boulder, so it will be great to begin to get to know my neighborhood, the Denver locals (at least those who love Cajun food) and the staff. So, those of you who live in the Denver area, come on down. But not on a weekend, or you will have to wait many many minutes to be seated, being as we are quite popular. :)

Along with my new exciting employment, I have begun the process of volunteering with the African Community Center. There is a thrift store near my house called Safari Seconds. It was brought to my attention that this store works to outfit and give money and resources to an organization that helps refugees transition into stable lives in America. Though the center is a part of a larger organization specializing in Ethiopian refugees, this organization helps refugees from all over the world. At my orientation I met three refugees who had just arrived from Bhutan. Hopefully soon I will be working with an after school program for these refugee children who are in high school and junior high. The program offers an hour of tutoring every day after school, and then activities such as soccer, dance class and art.

I have officially been in Denver for a month. So far I have been loving every minute of settling in and connecting with friends. Now I feel as though I am beginning to find a place here, and build a life of my own. I am so eager to feel like I belong here, like I am contributing to something here and that things are progressing. So far I have just been enjoying it here. It will be nice to take more of an active role in the community instead of just consuming the bountiful resource of joy and happiness I have found here.