By Yuval Dryer
Meet the volunteers!
MIT spouses&partners had over 60 volunteers in 2012/13, each contributing the best of his/her abilities, and all coming together to make events such as the Learning Fair as enjoyable and useful as possible to others.
Left to right: Angela Mazzonetto, Bronwen Heuer, Yuval Dryer, Mansi Jindal, Adrielle Stapleton, Jussara de Marchi, Annemirl Leus, Gioia Gregori, Christelle Perrin
Communication – the cornerstone of relationships
The Learning Fair offered an opportunity to find inexpensive English classes, and even free conversation opportunities, ranging from every-day English practice to using English in a professional context.
MIT organizations, such as the Women’s League and Language Conversation Exchange, sat alongside non-MIT organizations, including among others the YMCA International Learning Center–all gathering together in an open-house style event. Each organization had its own table where its representatives could answer questions and supply information about their classes.
New opportunities
MIT spouses&partners come to MIT from all over the world, a move which involves a great many changes and adaptation, but also presents new opportunities.
The Learning Fair also brought forth opportunities in the form of continuing education classes; organizations such as Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and MIT Student Art Associationpresented their offerings.
The Stroller Tour – a guided tour of MIT facilities
From Kendall square T-Station to Westgate playground, the stroller tour was a non-tourist tour of the MIT campus for spouses and partners.
Split into two groups and guided by Jennifer Recklet and Adrielle Stapleton, the walking tour took us via the major MIT facilities, focusing on a few special corners on campus that are useful for spouses and partners on a day-to-day basis.
Hidden gems – The MIT Ladies Lounge
Midway through the stroller tour we took a break for refreshments at the MIT Ladies Lounge. This hidden gem, located in building 10, room 384, offers the women at MIT a quiet sanctuary; whether you are a mother or not the room is there for you when you need it, offering everything from a sofa to relax on to a shower and fridge.
Since privacy is important, the room is usually locked. To gain access, you just need to call the Women’s League or the Work Life Center to get the code for the door.
Coming together – the picnic!
After a long day of learning and gathering information, you find yourself wanting to sit down, eat something, and relax. As in previous years, the picnic at Westgate playground is a great setting to do exactly that.
The picnic brought everyone together; it was the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with others. I remembered my first day at MIT. I took the long walk to Westgate, and for a moment, I felt like the new kid in school; but by the time the day was over, I’d met many people and made new friends.
Carly’s Story – Getting to where you are going
Carly Inkpen, an s&p volunteer shared her amazing story with us of how she went from being a cashier at Au Bon Pain, to a Communications Coordinator at a top mediation/facilitation firm.
Carly’s story showed us the extremes, and how thinking outside the box and never giving up pays off in the end. Happy to share her experience with others, Carly also put down on paper what she had learned, in the form of a hand-outcontaining useful networking and job-hunting tips.
Elisabetta’s Story – You are never alone
Elisabetta Pili, an s&p volunteer, arrived in Boston a year ago together with her husband and tiny Chihuahua. In a guided photo tour, Elisabetta took us though the voyage that has been her life over the past year, sharing with us the highs and lows, and introducing us to those who have stood by her side on the way.
Perhaps the most important message to take from Elisabetta’s story, is that you are not alone. MIT associations, such as MIT spouses&partners, offer their support and provide great resources. In her own words: “I hope everyone can enjoy it, it’s a great opportunity to be here, and for the hard times; who doesn’t have those? Always remember to ask for help, there’s nothing wrong about it…”. Link to Elisabetta’s presentation.
Group work – Ask and you’ll find
Moving to a new place is never without its worries and doubts, and these are often translated into questions. While stories and tips, such as those shared by Carly, Elisabetta, and Meital, can get us through some of these, the second part of the peer mentoring session was an opportunity for everyone to ask the questions on their minds.
In the second part of the session, the group split up into smaller discussion groups, each group consisting of both old and new faces. This was an opportunity for people to find out about whatever they wanted, with the support of the volunteers, who were not so long ago newcomers themselves.