There's no such thing as "my" time.

This time last year I was living at my parents house and slowly discovering that there were no jobs in architecture out there. This year, I'm starting a couple new volunteer positions. This time last year, I was killing time by playing W.o.W.  and streaming TV shows. This year I'm still reading more books, actually taking a class! This time last year I was alone on valentines day. This year, I'll still be alone on v-day, but I won't be single :)

It's a welcome change that this year is off to a better start than last year. I'm doing some significant volunteering now, with two new major commitments. First, I'm leading a project to design a Nutritional Rehabilitation Center for a hospital in Malawi through Architects Without Borders. I have a design team of 4 people underneath me, and it's an interesting experience leading my first real project. But I am embracing the challenge and excited to call myself the "Project Champion," (that's AWB's title, not mine).

The other major commitment just came together a couple days ago. There is a local community development non-profit called Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI), and they specialize in rehabing or renovating existing homes, duplexes and small complexes in the poorer parts of Portland and providing financial planning assistance to make it easier for minorities and people with lower incomes to own homes. I'll be helping out as a project management assistant, which will involve checking on current projects, working with the city, doing paperwork regarding funding, preparing scopes of work, among other things. This isn't third-world development, but it is development and I think it will be great experience in dealing with governments and non-profit processes and understanding residential architecture.

I'm very stoked to get busy with these opportunities. Who knows, maybe one of them will eventually lead to a real employed position?!

But I would be remiss if I didn't mention my wonderful girlfriend, who has made the start of this year a very special one. Even though she's in St. Louis finishing school, we are keeping in touch quite well and coping with the long distance relationship. She is a great and godly woman who not only respects and cares about me, but also challenges me to be a leader and caring boyfriend that's deserving of such a great gift from God. Neither of us is pretending to know what God has in store for our relationship, how long it will last or where it might take us, we're just both very grateful for "us," and enjoying the time we have.

So it's off to the races and off to volunteering this year, and not off to other countries. The cupboard isn't bare, but it's certainly devoid of travel funds right now. But I am rather fond of Portland, so I really can't complain.