Pirate Party

Disclaimer before I begin: If you haven’t noticed by now, it’s either pretty sad or you don’t know me that well (and by that well I mean not at all) It’s not rocket science/top secret that I LOVE pirates- I mean my blog is called “Pirate’s blog.” It’s pretty easy to put two and two together. Okay, let’s begin- until very recently, I was at a Non-profit organization called City Year. For those who don’t know it (LAME, jk) I’ll give you their little elevator pitch:

City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. 

As tutors, mentors and role models, these diverse young leaders help children stay in school and on track, and transform schools and communities across the United States, as well as through international affiliates in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England. 

As near-peers, corps members are uniquely able to help improve student attendance; behavior; and coursework - which research confirms are indicators of a student’s likelihood of graduating from high school.This school-based service is at the heart of City Year’s Whole School, Whole Child approach to helping students and schools succeed. 

Through City Year’s Whole School, Whole Child service model, City Year deploys diverse teams of full-time corps members in schools to help students stay on track – and get back on track – to graduate. For more information, please visit www.cityyear.org  

So back to my story- I have been at City Year for the majority of my time back in Boston. (Second disclaimer: I was not let go-my contract came to an end. just so we’re all clear. If I was in fact “let go against my will”, I won’t be writing any of this-or you know, it won’t be nice…haha) Being a contracted temp/swashbuckling nomad, however, my chapter at City Year came to a close. We had a very good run, and I have to say that I got great experiences, met awesome mentors, and really got back to my roots being at a NPO again. 

So, if you read my blog, and if you see a City Year Red Jacket person on the streets anytime in the near future, say something nice and give an hola cinco (I recently learned how to say high five in Spanish.)

A few Mondays ago (team meeting day), The RAAD team (HQ recruitment) told me that they were taking me out for lunch to celebrate my time here in style. My initial thought was: you don’t have to- after all, I’m only a temp but who doesn’t like stretch their legs out a bit during the afternoon and getting some CPK? So we were off to CPK. On the way over, my friends Michelle and Lizzie insisted on walking outside while the rest of the team opted for the air-conditioned short cut through the mall. Thinking that it was totally weird (but not telling them), I walked outside with Michelle and Lizzie to soak up some sun. As we were about to enter the Pru, Michelle wanted to get balloons for Rea because it was her birthday. She suggested we go to Shaw’s on the way over- again, totally weird. Why did she want to get balloons NOW? It’s just going to be hanging out in CPK when we can just get it later? I argued, but Michelle insisted and we were stuck in Shaw’s away from the rest of the team again.

We finally walked into CPK to find a HUGE surprise: Everyone yelled Arrrrrrgggg! As I saw my whole team decked out with matching eye patches. Nan (the mastermind behind this epic operation) scuttled over to give me a bib-like pirate vest, a captain’s cap, and a matching eye patch to top it all off.

I proudly wore my pirate get-up for the remainder of the day- my heart filled with warm and fuzzy feelings. Michelle reminded me every hour that trying to “stall me” was like playing 20 questions- I’m pretty sure she wanted to kill me towards the end:P (I can’t help it- I’ve always been very curious. probably more curious than Curious George and the Curious case of Benjamin Button combined)

Another surprise came the next week when Rae surprised me with my very own treasure box. (Okay, it was in a bag, but it was still filled with treasure nonetheless.) Rae in one word is: Fun-tastic. That’s a cross between fun and fantastic. She’s like a unicorn, an Easter bunny, peter pan, the sugar plum fairy, Ringo Starr, Swedish Fish and Mother Goose wrapped in lime green tissue stuffed in a gift bag with sea-monster patterns on it and tied with a gold bow. She’s great. I took every item out one by one to examine the loot: each item was one dream-come-true after the other.

• Pirate Ribbons
• Pirate stickers
• Treasure chest that Rae painted/designed with her bare hands
• Pirate ship cake mold
• Livie’s (Rae’s baby) nap time mix CD
• Endless awesomeness

I was/still am very touched- not just because of the pirate party surprise and Treasure box, but EVERYTHING. In all seriousness, I think everyone strives to find their own environment that they feel like they’re themselves- you deck out your cube at work, you decorate your room in the dorms, and you bring a bit of you everywhere you go. But let’s face it-that’s only half the challenge. I find it even harder to find an environment (or a group of people) that you feel yourself around but accept/embrace you for whom you are. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not your average kind (I’m not like a psycho or a criminal or something bad like that, but you definitely don’t picture “Mary-Jane All-American” either) Being at City Year and being a temp in general, I honestly never thought that I would find my environment- but I’ve been proven wrong; in a very great way.  

So, a quick shout out to the people at City Year: Thank you for giving me my bread and butter and oh, so much more.

I’ve only been “surprised” a handful of times- but this one was definitely one for the books: most people get flowers or cake- I got a pirate party. 

YOHO.