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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/09/days-work-furlough-park-ranger-shutdown
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| Q&A: what's it like to be a furloughed park ranger? | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Marc Blackburn has been a park ranger with the National Park Service for nineteen years and currently works at Nez Perce National Historical Park in Idaho. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, Marc hasn't been working for over a week. He will not be paid until the government reopens. | Marc Blackburn has been a park ranger with the National Park Service for nineteen years and currently works at Nez Perce National Historical Park in Idaho. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, Marc hasn't been working for over a week. He will not be paid until the government reopens. |
| Marc will be online to answer your questions about his job, and what it's been like to be caught up in the middle of a political stalemate around 3pm ET | 8pm BST. Toss your questions in the comments. | Marc will be online to answer your questions about his job, and what it's been like to be caught up in the middle of a political stalemate around 3pm ET | 8pm BST. Toss your questions in the comments. |
| Tell us what you do for a living (take us through a day in your life at work): | Tell us what you do for a living (take us through a day in your life at work): |
| I am a supervisory Park Ranger with the National Park Service. I work at Nez Perce National Historical Park, located in north central Idaho. As the name of the park suggests, we tell the story of the Nez Perce people, their history, culture, and contributions to the history of the country. I manage the day-to-day operations of our interpretive division, that is, I supervise the permanent and seasonal rangers who contact the public every day. | I am a supervisory Park Ranger with the National Park Service. I work at Nez Perce National Historical Park, located in north central Idaho. As the name of the park suggests, we tell the story of the Nez Perce people, their history, culture, and contributions to the history of the country. I manage the day-to-day operations of our interpretive division, that is, I supervise the permanent and seasonal rangers who contact the public every day. |
| What about your job do you most enjoy? | What about your job do you most enjoy? |
| There are two things that have carried me through my nineteen year career with the National Park Service. The first is the department’s mission. We are charged with protecting and preserving the special places that represent our nation’s past as well as the singular scenic wonders for current and future generations to enjoy. It’s a mission that I believe in with my heart and soul. The second is interacting with the visitors. In my nineteen years of service, I have probably talked or interacted with thousands of people from around the world. Connecting their interests with those of the park and the park service gives me constant joy. | There are two things that have carried me through my nineteen year career with the National Park Service. The first is the department’s mission. We are charged with protecting and preserving the special places that represent our nation’s past as well as the singular scenic wonders for current and future generations to enjoy. It’s a mission that I believe in with my heart and soul. The second is interacting with the visitors. In my nineteen years of service, I have probably talked or interacted with thousands of people from around the world. Connecting their interests with those of the park and the park service gives me constant joy. |
| What's the most unexpected thing that's ever happened to you while on the job? | What's the most unexpected thing that's ever happened to you while on the job? |
| The first national park unit I worked at was in Seattle, Washington at the Seattle unit of Klondike Gold Rush National Park. It was a quiet Sunday. There weren’t many people about. I was at the front desk when two men came in. When I walked over to greet them, I immediately recognized one of them – it was the director of the National Park Service, Robert Stanton. He was in town for a meeting and wanted to visit and hear about our story. It was a thrill to meet him and to swap stories. As part of my current job, I am a liaison between the park and contractors working on projects, so I get to participate in planning meetings with elders and officials of the Nez Perce Tribe. To hear their personal stories in English and their own language is a deeply personal and special experience. | The first national park unit I worked at was in Seattle, Washington at the Seattle unit of Klondike Gold Rush National Park. It was a quiet Sunday. There weren’t many people about. I was at the front desk when two men came in. When I walked over to greet them, I immediately recognized one of them – it was the director of the National Park Service, Robert Stanton. He was in town for a meeting and wanted to visit and hear about our story. It was a thrill to meet him and to swap stories. As part of my current job, I am a liaison between the park and contractors working on projects, so I get to participate in planning meetings with elders and officials of the Nez Perce Tribe. To hear their personal stories in English and their own language is a deeply personal and special experience. |
| How are you spending your time while the government is shut down? | How are you spending your time while the government is shut down? |
| Since I am at home I have been catching up with household chores – cleaning, tidying up, yard work, etc. I have an academic background in American military history, and I rarely get the opportunity to write, so I have been sharpening my writing with several essays for a history website. While I have enjoyed my time at home, October is a busy time at the park as we begin a new fiscal year. There is a great deal to do in the coming year, so even though we aren’t supposed to be working, I have been thinking about projects that need to get started as soon as I return to the office. | Since I am at home I have been catching up with household chores – cleaning, tidying up, yard work, etc. I have an academic background in American military history, and I rarely get the opportunity to write, so I have been sharpening my writing with several essays for a history website. While I have enjoyed my time at home, October is a busy time at the park as we begin a new fiscal year. There is a great deal to do in the coming year, so even though we aren’t supposed to be working, I have been thinking about projects that need to get started as soon as I return to the office. |
| Tell us how not working is affecting you and your family: | Tell us how not working is affecting you and your family: |
| My wife works part-time as an administrative assistant at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, so we have a second income but I am the chief bread winner for the family. For the next couple of weeks it should be okay, but if the furlough stretches past the middle of October, I will have to consider my financial options. There is a bill in Congress that will provide for retroactive back pay when we return to work, but the question becomes when do we return to work? I am certainly worried about meeting all of our monthly financial obligations if the furlough extends for more than two weeks. | My wife works part-time as an administrative assistant at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, so we have a second income but I am the chief bread winner for the family. For the next couple of weeks it should be okay, but if the furlough stretches past the middle of October, I will have to consider my financial options. There is a bill in Congress that will provide for retroactive back pay when we return to work, but the question becomes when do we return to work? I am certainly worried about meeting all of our monthly financial obligations if the furlough extends for more than two weeks. |
| Sum up the experience of being furloughed in 6 words: | Sum up the experience of being furloughed in 6 words: |
| I want to return to work. | I want to return to work. |
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