(“I pahked my cah in Hahvad Yahd” (I parked my car in Harvard Yard) is an old joke – about the Boston accent, how difficult it is to drive and park – especially in Harvard Square, and how it’s impossible to drive into Harvard University.)
Transgender work is still my life’s work; yet alas, there still doesn’t seem to be funding for me to do it. And I don’t think I’m ready to start my own business (consulting and/or art), even part-time.
So I’ve been job searching for a paid job. As usual, it’s been a ‘long strange trip’. But I have become an employee of Spherion, the agency that provides temps (temporary employees) to Harvard University. I’ve long wanted to become an employee of Harvard (how much more so since I started temping), and Spherion is the way.
During the second half of August and first half of September, I worked for the Smart Card ID Project, Yard Operations, and on making the freshmen (freshpeople?) student ID cards. I also worked for my longtime GLBT colleague Robyn Ochs (bisexual leader) in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. The Project and ‘Yard Ops’ were so pleased with me that they each offered me a three-month gig.
I chose to join the Project team. Harvard has been upgrading their plastic ID cards to “smart cards” (like the MBTA Charlie Card). Since January, they’ve replaced 12,000 cards. Between today and the end of November or so, we’ll be replacing the other 50,000 – 60,000.
I’ve done some unofficial and informal GLBT (especially T, of course; and interfaith) education with my fellow temps, Harvard employees and others; that and the rest of my queer experience here has been excellent. One of my favorite moments was when I walked by the entrance to the Harvard College Women’s Center and saw their chalkboard: “ALL GENDERS Are Welcome at the Harvard College Women’s Center”. I went in and told them why I appreciated it, and they appreciated that.
