It is hard to believe that it has already been a month since I moved to NYC to start my journey as a Good Shepherd Volunteer. The start to my journey as a GSV came very quickly because I had applied to the program at the end of July and then was in NYC by August 17th. That is part of the reason this month has gone by so quickly, yet also felt like a lifetime. This month has been packed with meeting new people, seeing new places, and overall, a ton of new and exciting experiences.
This first month as a GSV started with a very thorough orientation with the sisters of the Good Shepherd in New Jersey. Being with the sisters and staying at the convent was a beautiful setting to learn the history of Good Shepherd Services but to also understand what the next 12 months would entail as a GSV. We learned about the four tenets: simplicity, spirituality, social justice, and community. It was also nice to be able to learn about each other and really start to form our community as GSVs. Two of my favorite parts of the orientation were going to an escape room and also going to the Jersey Shore. Finally, it was time to make our way back to the city, but not before making a trip to Costco and Trader Joes of course.
In the beginning the tenet of simplicity was the tenet that I thought that I would struggle with the most. It was definitely challenging realizing that I was going to move to one of the most expensive cities in the world and only live off of a stipend. Although throughout the orientation and now being a month into the program I have come to realize that it is possible to live in NYC in a “simple” way. To be honest, even during the orientation I still had doubts about my ability to live off of the stipend and was concerned that I would not be able to do everything that I wanted to do while living in the city. I think that this first month has taught me that it is important to budget the stipend and be intentional about what I am spending my money on. Living in Washington Heights has helped me to live simply because I am not constantly surrounded by the overconsumption and excitement of being in Midtown or other areas of Manhattan. I think that the people who reside in Washington Heights are good examples of people who buy what they need and still live comfortably. Another thing that has stuck with me and encouraged me to continue the challenge of living off of the stipend is the fact that the people that GSS serves may sometimes have to live off of even less than my stipend. It is important to remember that and to have the humility to embrace this challenge.
Being the Public Policy and Advocacy Fellow meant that I would be working in the 7th Avenue office in Midtown, Manhattan. We were able to continue our orientation at the 7th Avenue office. Learning more about GSS and how they serve over 35,000 children and families in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx stood out to me and made me recognize the importance of the work in which I was aiding. I was excited to officially start working after being able to see where I was working and also meeting the advocacy team. Finally, the first day of work came and thinking back now I can understand why I was overwhelmed. There was a lot of information to take in as the new Public Policy and Advocacy Fellow, but I felt lucky that the previous Fellow was still working in the office and was able to give me valuable advice. Even though I have only been working for a month I feel like I have already done and learned so much. I have gone to a rally, met city officials and other advocates, been a part of coalition meetings, created and aided in presentations about our advocacy work, and also done research on the current and future policies in NYC. Overall, I can confidently say that I am learning new things every day and am feeling increasingly comfortable in this position!
Moving to a city as big as New York City on such a short notice was definitely a lot, but one reason as to why I think I have been able to adjust so well is the fact that I live in Washington Heights. Having the opportunity to live in Washington Heights has proved to be one of my favorite parts of this experience so far. Washington Heights feels like an escape from the large crowds and towering skyscrapers of Midtown, Manhattan. Living right across the street from a park is one of the reasons that it feels like such an escape. I enjoy being able to walk through the park and see members of the community sitting and having picnics, kids playing on the playground, and people walking their dogs. One thing that surprised me about where we are living in the Heights is how quiet it can get. Besides the occasional sounds of cars, music, the ever-present ice cream truck, and people, I have never had any complaints about the noise. Both of these things might seem random to notice and appreciate, but coming from a Midwest town, living in a place with green space and moments of silence are things that I love.
Those are not the only two things that I love about living in Washington Heights. With Washington Heights having a large population of people from the Dominican Republic, Dominican culture is deeply rooted in the community. Before moving here, I had never had Dominican food before and now I have had the opportunity to try a number of Dominican dishes from different restaurants throughout the Heights. One of my favorite experiences with food in Washington Heights was when the other GSVs, my team from GSS, and I went out to eat at Malecon which is a famous Dominican restaurant in the Heights. We got a spread of all different dishes, and all got to share them together. With this dinner came the realization of how many people spoke Spanish in the Heights and how even at this restaurant most people were ordering in Spanish. This was exciting for me, as I had been learning Spanish since the eighth grade and even had the chance to study abroad in Spain for four months in college. As I walk down the streets of Washington Heights, I always hear a mix of Spanish and English and this has definitely helped in my ongoing effort to learn Spanish. All of these different aspects of Washington Heights have made “living simply” in NYC a little bit easier.
I have already learned so much from this experience and I cannot wait for the next 11 months as a Good Shepherd Volunteer.
Written by:
Kat Laver
Washington Heights Community,
2024-2025
Commentaires