A new job!

I’ve got a new job and I’m loving it. It’s centered on patient care and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve missed patient care quite a bit, more than I realized before getting back into it. To me patient care and sex work are similar: both involve huge levels of intimacy. In sex work you’re intimate lovers, sharing your thoughts about life and the world, and trusting your lover with your body. In patient care you know someone’s whole health history and they trust you with their bodies to be probed and tested. Both require the emotional labor of being understanding, caring, and empathetic. The similarities are striking, and I find both very fulfilling.

Unfortunately since my schedule varies I now need advance notice for appointments, the more notice you can give the better. This will allow time to coordinate our schedules and for me to be my best self when we meet. Thanks for understanding 🙂

 

Until next time,

Alexia

Perpetual Morphosis

I’ve been away from blogging, an old habit that’s been pretty much forgotten over the past year or so. Someone special in my life (you know who you are) has been inspiring me to write more lately and for that I am very grateful. I’ve missed bringing words into being that express my thoughts and feelings. Thus, here we are.

I’m turning 30 next month. I think this has brought me to think about my life and the changes in myself that have developed over the past few years. Slowly but surely I’ve been growing as an individual in many ways. I’m more in tune with my body and mind than I was in the past, more aware of my emotions and consequently more aware of who I am as a person. This new self-awareness has given me confidence I didn’t know I was missing and solidified who I am as a person. I love myself more than I thought possible, and that love is spilling over onto those around me.

I’m also now more passionate about what I stand for and more involved in social justice issues. I’m enjoying this aspect of my life as it’s rewarding in so many ways. I’m working with wonderful people and the intensity of those around me matches mine. It is incredibly empowering to be in a room full of people working towards the same ends you are. I went to Desiree Alliance last month, a conference dedicated to the sex worker’s rights movement. The premise of the conference is that sex workers deserve the same rights as people in other professions (Gasp!), basic human rights that are often denied to those in this industry. The nuances of this are for another blog post in the future, but I had a fabulous time meeting other sex workers who were also passionate about this issue. So many of us are invested in the fight for our rights and it was amazing to see first hand.

So here I am. I’m more myself, and more aware of social justice nuances than ever before. I’m enjoying life and everything it has to offer. It took a while to get here, but I have finally come into my own and there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be.

A drive across the US in pics

Last June I was shipped out to Seattle with the military for nursing (LPN) school and I drove from Atlanta to Washington and back again after the course. I’d heard from others that it was going to be an awesome trip, but I grumbled as I left Atlanta not looking forward to the 7 day drive.

This trip gave me an appreciation for the beautiful country we have I’d never felt before. From the rolling green fields dotted with hay bales in Idaho, to the sky so lit up with starts at night there isn’t a single dark space, it was magnificent. I saw some incredible attractions I’d seen pictures of, and pictures can never do reality justice. I’m so, so grateful for this experience as I know I never would have chosen to drive across the states of my own accord.

On the way there I drove up the northern route through Tennessee, Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. On the way back I drove south through California all the way to San Francisco to have a quick visit with my lovely girlfriend, then cut across the southern states. I could describe everything but will let my pictures do it for me:

 

 

St. Louis Arch

Mountains of North Dakota, I think…

Random stop in the mountains to cool off

Mount Rushmore

My spoiled kitty

Geyser at Yellowstone

Beautiful lake at Yellowstone

Not sure, just breathtaking

Massive fallen trees in Washington

Redwood forests, absolutely amazing

By far the highlight of my trip. These pictures do the Grand Canyon no justice.

Grand Canyon.

I really can’t say enough about how much this journey has made me appreciate my country. The United States is a beautiful place and has some truly amazing sights to see.

 

Website and end of year travel

I can finally write a post saying it is done! Things have fallen into place as they should, and www.alexiaeva.com is up and active. I’m quite pleased with it.

My travels have been booked for December: I’ll be in DC from the 18th through the 23rd and San Francisco from Dec 26th-Jan 2nd.

As is the case when I travel, I’m going for personal business but can make time to meet if the opportunity presents itself. I’ll also be returning to these cities regularly in 2016 as I will be traveling quiet a bit for business, and I’m hoping to mix some of these trips with pleasure. Nothing is more fun than sneaking away after a conference to enjoy the company of a cultured gentleman or woman interested in a sensual adventure… I love the mischievous excitement that comes from such excursions.

Here was just a quick update as I scramble to stay on top of my studies in my final weeks of undergrad. I’ve got several posts brewing that should follow this one, finally getting back into the swing of writing. It’s been a long while since I’ve taken the time to blog and I’ve missed it.

Until then,

Me

 

 

My final days as an undergrad

So much work! Like any student finishing their degree the work is piling up and more challenging as I get closer to being done. I’ve only got three major papers and two exams to go, I can almost taste it! I am very much enjoying my last classes as I’m using the opportunity to explore sex work interesting ways. I’ve spent a lot of my undergraduate career looking at various forms of sex work through the lenses of overarching class topics. This has been rewarding because it also makes me take a step back and considerer it outside my usual perspective as a provider, a mental exercise I enjoy. Obviously removing myself completely from my perspective isn’t 100% possible, but I do my best (also for discretions sake) to remain objective in my studies.

On to more fun topics: my website! I was hoping to have it ready by the end of October but I’ve had to prioritize my time elsewhere. I should have it done here in the next few weeks and am quite exited.

I will also be doing more traveling once my degree is finished. San Francisco has always been on my travel list but I will be visiting there a few times a year, as well as other cites regularly.  I’ve got some fun plans for the end of this year in DC and San Francisco, and might squeeze in a couple others if I can manage my time right.

Until my site is finished,

Alexia

Returning in October

Hello all! I’ve been busy since I’ve come back to Atlanta, swept up in the flow of life back home all too swiftly. I’ve already completed summer semester and am well into fall, or what will be the final semester of my undergraduate degree in Anthropology. I will be graduating with honors and am quite proud of myself. I’m currently applying for internships within the non-profit sector here in the Atlanta area so I can accumulate additional hands on experience before I head to grad school, and am pretty excited about this as well.

In the background I’ve been slowly putting things in order for my return. I will officially be back in October and am thrilled! I’ve managed to have an absolutely phenomenal shoot with Own Boudoir and am in the process of building a new, sleek website. I have no doubt that everything will come together beautifully, and I can’t wait.

 

 

A Quick Welcome Home

Oh, the past couple of months have been jam packed with things to do. I had a beautiful trip back to the east coast, an amazing vacation in Cartagena, summer semester is charging ahead full steam, and I’ve still got boxes to unpack. But it is great to be home! I’ve already snuck in a few visits with friends; had brunch with Ophelia D yesterday and Veronica decided to torture me with a Pure Barre class earlier this week. I’ve got many more people to see as time allows, and while I’m feeling a bit impatient about this I know I’ll be able to see everyone eventually.

This is just a quick update, but I plan on writing a bit more soon. I’ve got to get ready for the Peachtree Road Race, the weather is rainy but I’m hoping that will keep the temperature tolerable. Still very excited! I’m not pushing myself for amazing time, just going out to enjoy the event.

Until the writing bug bites again,

Alexia

Another chapter finished: I am officially a licensed nurse.

Huzzah!

After more than a year of continuously sopping up information, trying to retain as much as possible, and a nail-biting “select all that apply” filled exam, the National Council has deemed me worthy of the title “Practical Nurse.” It feels weird to finally be on the other side of the licensing exam and officially a nurse. Exciting, of course, but also kind of like… Really? You think I’m ready for this? I’m sure many have the same feeling when finally reaching THE END of various training, and I don’t doubt my ability to be a fully functioning member of a healthcare team. It’s just strange to be in the final moments of the year-plus long training I’ve been trudging through.

On to the next one! I am so, so sad to be leaving the Seattle area. It is beautiful here, the weather is lovely once you realize it’s actually nice to not have the sun in your face all the time, and I’ve made many friends I will miss hugely. But I have a degree to finish back home, this time next year I should be preparing to walk across the stage and receive a completely different award; my BA in Anthropology. I’m not happy to be leaving the West Coast but thrilled to be getting back to college and writing the final pages of my next chapter. Wish me luck!

Some upcoming fun for me: I will be driving along the bottom coast of the US to get from Seattle to Atlanta, and am planning on enjoying the beautiful scenery our country has to offer along the way. I have a relaxing few days in Cartagena, Colombia planned after I make it back, and then will be running in the Peachtree Road Race this year. I’ve done several 5Ks in the past but this will be my first 10K and the first time I’ve done this one. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it and know it will be a fun event.

The next time I update it will be from Atlanta! Until then, my friends…

~Alexia

All is fair in love and… medicine?

Hello all! It’s been a good long while since I’ve written anything, and this won’t be anything but a tease. Life’s whirlwind has definitely been upgraded to a full fledged tornado, but I can say I’m enjoying it.

Nursing training is… Insanity. I’d love to go into details but I’m sure it would be boring most. It boils down to 10 hour days 5 days a week sitting staring at power points or in clinicals with a major exam about every other week. Fail three exams and you’re out. Fail any one of the clinical exams, and you’re out. No pressure! Luckily I’ve managed to fare well so far and have yet to use any of my strikes. Best of all, nursing is more rewarding than I had expected and I am so, so glad I stared out on this journey words can’t even do the experience justice.

I can say I’m LOVING the West Coast! The summer was gorgeous, Seattle is amazing and Vancouver is a short drive away. The people are laid back and despite the cold and rain (when I squeeze in free time) I can always find something to do. I’m definitely returning home this summer, but I can’t promise the Northwest won’t call me back at some point in the future.

One thing I’m missing is that spark of excitement from meeting someone seeking to get to know me intimately and with certain… Expectations. School has kept me too busy to really put myself out there, but I can’t help but miss the excursions I’ve put on the back burner from time to time.

Well, as I said before I will be returning to Atlanta this summer. I’m not sure when exactly I’ll be back and settled in, but by fall I should be good and ready to have some fun.

Until then,

Alexia Eva

School work, projects, internships, oh MY!

I should be asleep, but I’m not so I may as well write something while it’s on my mind. For those not interested in my anthropological pursuits: I encourage you to click another blog entry.

I’ve got 3 weeks, or less really, to get about 5 weeks of work for my classes done before I leave for nursing training. I’ve already started working ahead but this is causing me some worry. My teacher is amazing and incredibly flexible with me, but I’d rather have everything out of the way and not have to think about it again when I get on that plane.

I found out today that I need more credits than I’ve been thinking I need to graduate. I spoke with one of my teachers who has graciously come up with a plan for me to graduate on time. While I’m gone to LPN training I will also simultaneously be enrolled in a directed readings class for one semester, which will help me get started on my research for my thesis, and internship credits totaling the remainder I need. I will be working on an ethnography involving my time as a military LPN trainee. It will be simple- I will take field-notes, within HIPPA standards of course, focusing on the culture of military healthcare training. While taking notes won’t be too hard, I will then compile them and make a mini-ethnographic work to turn in to my instructor. I am very excited about this, but also a bit nervous about the additional workload. With reason.

Because at the same time I will be working on my undergrad thesis involving sex-work. At this point in time I’m interested in the stigma involved in SW, which means first learning about what stigma actually IS and how it applies to SW. Then studying the policy that is involved as a result of stigma, and the actual cultures that surround the varying areas of it. As a lot of research goes my topic may end up morphing into something else entirely, but we will see how things go.

So, in short: Over the next year I will go to LPN school and be an undergrad half time. Not to mention my regular responsibilities to keep up with, and… I almost put social life. Then I laughed.

Time to put my nose to the grindstone. And I can’t wait. : )