How I Got Here, and What I've Learned

Rewind one month to January 2010 and I had just finished one of the busiest months of work in my life, December, Christmas Season at The Salvation Army, Sacramento.  Most people are familiar with the Bell Ringers, but there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes.  While the Corps locations are busy providing vital social services, Coats for Kids, Toys for Tots, financial assistance, energy assistance, hot meals, warm blankets, and food boxes to people in need, the folks at Headquarters are processing tons of donations, and the Army goes above and beyond to acknowledge every donor.  Needless to say I stuffed countless gift bags for donors, hand wrote up to a thousand Christmas cards, and mailed out I don’t know how many Christmas CDs and ornaments.  Paper cut doesn’t even begin to describe it.  And while The Salvation Army was an extremely rewarding place to work, I couldn’t help but long for a more gratifying position.  After struggling for years to put myself through college, I felt my degree and years of work experience had earned me a better position than full-time paper pusher.  Yes this was my first job post-degree, and I did my best to stay patient while applying for promotions, but after a year I started to realize it might be time for me to move on.

In the midst of all this, Rich’s Uncle Jimmy contacted me about a health advocacy company he was starting out of Reno, through a NV state grant.  He knew about my experience in Healthcare and Non-Profit and wanted to talk to me about an exciting job possibility.  It was all very up in the air, but I told him if he was serious, I would be interested in talking with him.  A few months go by, and all of a sudden he called me up and said he wanted me to move to Reno and help start-up the company ASAP.  He basically caught me at the best time.  I was completely worn out at work, longing for a position with real responsibility, and desperately feeling the need for a change.  So yeah, that’s how I ended up here in Reno, and boy what a change it has been.

Working for a start-up has its challenges, but I’m really enjoying it.  Enough about work though, let me tell you about Reno.

The first thing I noticed when I moved here was how differently men behave around me.  In California I was acknowledged, but first thing when Rich and I pull up to our new place, our male landlord greets me, and promptly turns to Rich (my boyfriend) for the walk-thru.  Um, hello?  Then we go out to the casinos, and I can't get a drink from the male bartender unless I send Rich.  It continues at the grocery store, at restaurants, and even at Wal-Mart.  The men aren't necessarily rude, they just sorta ignore you.  Maybe they're trying to be polite, or give you space, but not acknowledging my presence is not going to work for me.  Sorry but I wasn't aware I'm supposed to follow my boyfriend around like a little lady, and let him do all the talking.  My landlord seems to have figured this out, and it has gotten better with him - thank goodness.  I've also learned to be more demanding of attention when I need it.  I'm sure some people think I can be pushy, but what choice do I have?  If being nice and polite doesn't work, I've got to toughen-up.

I also noticed that Reno has a much slower pace than I am accustom to. People move slower, speak slower, act slower, even drive slower.  Part of me appreciates the slower pace, but it has taken me some time to adjust.  First I find myself having to be more pushy with men, then they probably think I'm impatient on top of it.  On one hand it's caused me to slow down and take my time, but on the other hand it's caused me to become way too apathetic.  I don't really want to slow down, at least not too much, for fear I will lose my edge...or something?

Don't get me wrong, Reno is a fun place to live, and I'm not saying the locals are all "country" or anything like that.  Hey, I'm kind of country myself.  I'm just saying it has been an experience leaving the valley, and moving to the hills.  I will say I'm excited its almost summer!  It has finally stopped snowing, and there is so much to do here when the sun comes out!  Literally, every weekend.  Don't believe me, check out the link below.

www.visitrenotahoe.com

Anyway, thanks for reading and I will keep you posted on any new discoveries here in my so called life in Reno.

Kelly