Oh, and as for the new job, boring. I don’t have much access to anything in the system yet, because it’s slow. I have email and I can look at some forms and whatnot, but that’s about it. I should have more access as of tomorrow (Friday). My office handles Emergency Assistance which covers rental, power/water, and funeral expenses, but it is only for families, and maybe disabled. We also do SNAP, TANF (cash assistance for working families with children), and Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, & Disabled, but mostly it’s the Emergency Assistance because those cases are complicated.
The location is lovely in a historic town here in Maryland. We have some good food places around us that are local and not fast food. Everyone is really nice, and they’re eager to put my unwavering passion to work because I believe in the work as I’m like a super empath.
I mean, I focus on Palestine, and honestly I love getting those updates. I see more info about Palestine from people who live there, but I think those stories are too dark for Ana because they’re just sad. I watched a live TikTok of a teen who had a bomb hit 100 meters from his home. The sound was horrifying, his house shook, dust flew, and he nearly slammed his head on his desk to take cover. Then there’s the mutilation of children, like a father holding the head of his son, saying goodbye.
It’s on Instagram, and it’s rough, but people are ignoring this. I share it but nobody I know really cares sadly.
We get a number of refugees at my office, too. I love helping those families. I hope I get Palestinian refugees, but I honestly don’t know if any chose to leave, and even if they did, I don’t think we took any in because of Trump.
Anyway, yeah, things are going well for me. My partner, or future partner, is anxious and nervous and sad about him leaving. He’s leaving behind his mother and sisters, but they want him to have a chance. I told him that once he’s set and we are together, I will work with him to get them out as it will be easier to apply for them to leave once citizenship is obtained. Not sure if Canada has that same rule, but I know it does here. Still uncertain if I want to bring him a year after being in Canada or me go there.
Just a lot to think about and I’m trying to balance him, work, support to Palestinians I follow and interact with, and my mental health. I’ll keep updating as we have more info.
The one thing I wish he and I did have was a mutual account we could access, but Afghanistan, and also Iran, do not use something like Venmo, or at least not something that the US also uses. Worst case scenario, and something happens to him, I could pay back my friend, but honestly, I don’t care about that. There’s no price that would have dissuaded me from helping him. I’d work through my afterlife if it meant saving him.
