Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Sold into sex work | Asia | Pakistan | Children Economy Gender Issues Human Rights Urban Risk | And Me in Minnesota...

i've been doing a lot of reading and writing on this topic of sex slavery, as usual i suppose, as i've been able to study its prevalence in different ways all around the world. i've been focused to the minnesota issue due to my location and my interest in the twin cities as i see myself staying here for a while yet. much like this article on the reality of sexual slavery among pakistani poor:
IRIN Asia PAKISTAN: Sold into sex work Asia Pakistan Children Economy Gender Issues Human Rights Urban Risk Feature , girls on average are trafficked sexually between the ages of 12 and 14 in minnesota. people like to think the issue is just "over there" but it's here. and where you are, too, i'm pretty sure i can guarentee to any reader. i hope to continue to be involved with what is happening here to eradicate the influences that keep the market for sex thriving, while i also long to return to asia and do the work there. it's by reading articles like the one linked here along with commiting to work here among impoverished and oppressed adolescents and families that keep me focused on my goals and purpose.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

random pre-reading-in-bed thoughts

i'm afraid this computer is already on its way out. it does so many little fluke-y things that i wouldn't even know how to address if i were to take it to see the Geek Squad people or anyone else. it's just not right. and i dread the day it dies on me.

i found out more info about my job to be but have no yet officially signed papers or talked to the "HR lady," audrey. the woman who is moving from the position i'm set up to fill is a bit angsty about it all. she suggested to me today that it wasn't necessarily her choice to move on to outpatient work with clients, that it was sort of decided for her when she got her LMFT licensure. and telling me that left me feeling a bit awkward since i knew she and the other two staff in the in-home department did not necessarily see eye-to-eye and she wonders if perhaps that's why they moved her on. anyways, i just stared at a hole in her the wall of her new office as she shared this all with me and told her that "i'll see if i like it," and "umm... err... sorry! gotta run!" anyways, all of that drama aside, i am looking forward to making the plunge into in home therapy work.  and i had a meeting with my new "boss" this week to discuss working with one of my outpatient clients a bit longer, and she is convinced its a good idea on a temporary basis--in the best interest of this client ("the wee one" mentioned in a previous post, actually). that excites me and i look forward to talking with her about it on monday.

i bought a pair of lucky jeans from target yesterday. (honestly never tried a pair on in my life nor been strangely obsessed with that brand like so many others i know.) weird, i know, since they don't carry that label. but somehow they had been returned to a target successfully and were very marked down in order for them to get rid of them. the dressing room lady said something about a "scandal!" ha! so, i felt a bit odd about the purchase but liked the way they fit (and the price!) enough to buy them nonetheless. random. but not as random as my story of driving a drunk/high lady around north minneapolis just before 10 pm a couple weeks back...

and i made spring rolls tonight.  a bit messy and not as tasty as they could have been with shrimp, but i wasn't feeling good about splurging on that, so alas! no shrimp. the mint helped of course.  i love that bangkok peanut sauce, so i bought some of that to eat with the veggie spring rolls. and made extras for tomorrow's lunch. ymmm... spring rolls, pinot grigio and dark chocolate. tasty late dinner.

and now off to more reading about recovery work for trauma survivors. some light reading to usher in much-needed sleep.

i leave you with this shot of sweet little man tate concentrating on some toy of his big brothers'. i love the lighting...and the subject, of course!