First week

I am feeling all kinds of things after this week, bear with me as I try to express them. I never realized how relaxing it is to hear Joni's voice...I told her that and she laughed because she can put me to sleep. Without explaining all the boring details, my job is basically to improve operations in Latin America by implementing certain programs that would only bore you if I explained them to you...So I won't. I am the only intern in my branch, and since Louisville is the headquarters I work next to all the "Bigs" over Latin American operations.

I learned some valuable lessons this week:
1-I'm not the smartest intern in history (although I'd love to be right now)
2-I can get down on myself when I don't know what I'm doing, but I can bounce back just as fast as I fall when I get to work
3-When I ask for help, I'll get it in droves (is that a word?)

I was so overwhelmed at the beginning of the week with the realization that I didn't know what I was doing at work, along with being entirely alone in a new place, and my boss leaving the country for 2 weeks after my first day. On Tuesday I hit one of the lowest points mentally that I have been in a long time, and the only thing I felt I could do was get on my knees and pray for help. I keep my emotions in check most of the time, but I couldn't help but lose it for those few minutes...I haven't cried like that in a long time. Its kind of embarrassing to even mention, but I want to remember this whole experience and learn from it. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. I recieved phone calls from family members and friends who were just calling to see how I was doing...my 5 yr old nephew Carter even called me by accident...and I pretty much never get phone calls. The amount of contacts I suddenly recieved at work was like a tidal wave of help. Members of the church who work at GE reached out to me from China, Mexico, and here in Louisville. Family and friends reached out as well.

You always hear that we are tested to make us stronger and that trials are for our learning, but its easy to forget those things when you are the one being tested. I may have a long road ahead of me, but I know I don't have to walk it alone anymore. I told my boss what I was feeling and I just hope he doesn't think I'm a head case. I feel its really important to always be open and honest.

I have an awesome embarrassing first day story. I was asked to write a short bio about myself so my boss could send it out to all the workers in Latin America to get to know me better. As you might have guessed, I tried to be witty and mention something different about myself. I didn't have my boss' e-mail, so I sent it to him as a "reply" to one of the e-mails he previously sent me. Turns out this "reply" was a direct link to the CEO who had sent out a letter to the company and since my boss forwarded the thing to me, the CEO's name wasn't on it. I had attached my bio and just said "here ya go" (like, "here I am world") Two minutes later I get an e-mail from the CEO saying "is this for me?". My heart fell into my butt (it couldn't go to my feet because I was sitting), and I quickly e-mailed him back to apologize for my mistake. When I relayed the story to my boss, he about peed his pants with joy. I guess everyone needs a good first day story and I have mine.

Louisville is a cool city with the Ohio river wrapping around it, lots of history, green trees, and hills nearby. The drive here was actually really pretty...except for Arkansas, which is about as pretty as I imagine Oklahoma to be. The mountains between Memphis and Nashville are beautiful too, plus I was driving through them while the sun was setting. Kentucky can best be described with rolling hills that look like broccoli because of all the trees. The vegetation is so thick that you could drive by a town without even realizing it. When it opens up, there are farms with giant red barns and tall silos on rolling hills. Its amazing I've lived as long as I have without realizing places like this even existed, just think about how many people have never really seen the Rocky Moutnains.

So, here I am world...taking things one step at a time. Melecia, I respect you now more than ever for what you go through without Rhett around. I know many of you have felt alone before, and it comforts me to know there is a way through it all, and it all starts by getting on your knees and asking for help.