New People!

[my_daroga]

I've friended a lot of new people lately, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to post a link to my recent intro post. I also plan to get some sort of fanfiction index up here, for those who are interested.

But neither is very comprehensive, is it? So here's an opportunity--not that you shouldn't feel free do to so at any time--to ask me anything you want to know, or tell me anything you think I should know, whether I've known you for years or for five minutes. Like that meme, only without the italicized text telling you the same thing. And if there's something I've mentioned that you think would make a good post, let me know; I may well have forgotten something I meant to elaborate on later.

Welcome, new folks! I look forward to getting to know you better.

Comments

[geekmama]

What do you find to be the major benefits of working in a library and/or as a librarian?

I ask because I've finally decided that if I had to get a job (because I'm not a career person) I wanted it to be something I enjoyed and that gets narrowed down to either working in a library or working a bookstore. Unfortunately working in a bookstore isn't quite as viable an option unless you work your way up into management in a corporate store or you own a store. Alas, I hadn't planned on going as far as a MLS and would be happy as a librarian's technician with a A.S. but there aren't any schools in my state that offer the A.S. program in face-to-face classes; their programs are all done online which I'm very, very uncomfortable with and bad at following through on. (Ooo! Blah just signed on, must chit chat! Homework can wait! .. for example)

What do you like and dislike about living in Seattle? Do you find it to be incredibly expensive or is it on par for a big city? Can you tell me a little about the culture and the sort of people who live there in general?

CZ and I are debating between wanting to end up in Seattle or Chicago so it'd be great to get someone's perspective who has lived in Seattle because we have his brother to tell us all about Chicago and its glories.

*curious*

[my_daroga]

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I've been so distracted lately, and I kept meaning to reply to you, and I apologize. I'll try to answer your questions, and promise that any follow-ups you ask will get a more prompt reply!

What do you find to be the major benefits of working in a library and/or as a librarian?

The thing I like best about it is that I'm not part of the corporate world. This is a political/philosophical issue, really, because while I exist in this society with some degree of contentment I appreciate being able to contribute to something other than commerce. I think we're a very material culture, and while I benefit from that I love that my job isn't about selling you something you don't need.

That doesn't make it perfect. There is bureaucratic nonsense everywhere, and an organizations ideals don't necessarily translate into particular working conditions. And I'm not entirely satisfied with my current job--part of me thinks I ought to have a career, and that this isn't it. But that's a wider issue.

As for the MLS thing, the job I have now (Library Technician III) requires only a high school education plus experience, though I have a B.A.. And positions below mine I think require less experience. I'm not sure how to get that if you don't, but perhaps volunteering or becoming a page might help.

What do you like and dislike about living in Seattle? Do you find it to be incredibly expensive or is it on par for a big city? Can you tell me a little about the culture and the sort of people who live there in general?

I love Seattle, first of all. I've lived a lot of places (in the US) and this is one of my favorites (I also really enjoyed the Boston area). Some things I like:

-the weather. Everyone says it rains all the time, and it does. But it's usually light enough that I can avoid carrying an umbrella, and it means everything's green all the time. When it's clear, you can see mountains in 2-3 directions. In the summer, it's clear and warm and not humid for at least 2 months, and the days are long. Of course, the winters are pretty dismal, not because of the cold (it gets colder, sure, but not like the "real" north) but because the days are a lot shorter than they are even in New England. That affects me.
-The environment. The trees, the mountains, the ocean. It's all here.
-The fact that I live within the city limits in a house with a yard. Now, it's not cheap. But what I mean is that it's not an overgrown metro area. Though the traffic can be bad.
-The fact that there is a lot of ethnic food, a lot of music, a lot of community work and festivals and farmers' markets and movie theaters running old films I want to see. Culturally, it has a lot in common with me; they're into recycling, there's a lot of arts stuff going on, etc. Lots of dogs, too.

All sorts of people live here, though it feels less diverse (where I am) than, say, Orlando. More diverse than parts of New England I've lived. The problem for me with Orlando was that there was a lot of culture I didn't share and wasn't interested in. Which isn't to say it was all bad, but it's nice to be somewhere were the chances of meeting someone who likes the same type of music or movie or whatever is increased. Or seems to be. I meet a lot of musicians and artists and that sort, and people who aren't in the mainstream or who are politically active. However, most of the people I happen to meet are white, so if diversity is an issue I wouldn't say it doesn't exist, but it's less apparent. Comfy for me, in a sense, but maybe not for the right reasons? Though it's great I can get groceries at this huge Japanese market.

If you have more specific questions about the culture, let me know. I don't really know where you're coming from (culturally) so it's hard to be specific.

Seattle is sort of expensive. Supposedly the wage is higher, though, and there are places to live outside of Seattle but within reach that are cheaper. I moved here knowing that because I felt it was worth paying for the loveliness of the city--that was another economic time, though, and Mr. Daroga and I got jobs right away. Anyway, when I looked it up on Best Places.net is says that Chicago is, on average, 4% cheaper than Seattle, and housing is 13% cheaper.

I hope that helps! Like I said, I'm happy to answer more questions, and I'm sorry about taking so long.