A pleasant, not-so-pleasant, surprise

Today I was offered a summer internship with the San Diego Union-Tribune, my first choice as far as summer internships go. It's a large paper in a beautiful, exciting city. And I have family there I could live with for a few months. And the Trib wanted me to write features and entertainment/lifestyle stuff.

Only...it's unpaid.

For some reason I was under the impression it paid a fairly decent amount of money each week, because I remember our internship listerv saying so...but when I was talking to the internship coordinator on the phone, he assured me that it is most definitely unpaid.

And my heart broke.

I can't complain, because the Republic is an amazing and...uh, highly paid position, but I will be doing strictly news writing there. And I will be spending three months in one of the most sweltering, disgusting cities in the U.S.

I had dreams of crashing on my sister's couch, hanging out at the beach during my time off, and writing fun, feature-y articles about a city I love.

I really, really wanted this...but it would be kind of ludicrous to accept an unpaid position over one that can support me for three months--and then some (and by 'then some' I mean a trip to Thailand to visit my dear friend June for a few weeks).

I am conflicted and torn and a little pouty. But I think it's in a good way. A few years ago there was no way I would have believed that two very large, reputable papers would be asking me to write for them.

At least I have a definite game plan for the summer.

Farewell San Diego, hello Phoenix.

Heart of...?

This semester is not shaping up to be what I thought it would.

My Italian class will probably be canceled, pushing me down to 9 units, I am stuck in Heart of Darkness hell in my literary analysis class as we are studying that single book for the entire semester, and I have discovered from about two days in my Reporting Public Affairs class that my knowledge and interest in government affairs is equivalent to my knowledge and interest in organized sports (slim to none).

And I have no energy left to deal with family disasters. This summer was one big terrible mess. The angry emails and screaming matches over the phone were preferable to the fake, fucked up games we're all playing now. I have no energy left to deal with the lies, the denial, the manipulation. I have just enough energy left to force a smile and say a few neutral words to keep me exempt from threats of non-payment. And all that's left is the shell of a relationship, and right now, I’m content with that. Maybe that’s all we can aspire to.

In fact, I haven’t had a single conversation with anyone in this fucking town that extends beyond pleasantries, mild complaints, or school-related topics in god knows how long.

And it's beginning to get easier to bear.

On my way

First post of the new year...and it's good news!

I found out this morning that I was accepted into the summer internship program at the Arizona Republic...the largest newspaper in Arizona!!!

Not only is it a coveted internship (I was one of five accepted from applicants across the country!) but it is paid--a rare thing in the newspaper industry these days! I get a big fat paycheck of $650 each week! (And I have already decided I am going to use my earnings for a trip overseas.)

I won't be writing entertainment or features, but nonetheless, it is a fantastic opportunity.

I'm still kind of in shock because I never thought I would actually land this internship. Crazy!!

Anyway, more to come later this week, with photos included.