Ana in a fountain in San Francisco after finishing a marathon. “My hubby dared me to get in the fountain- it felt amazing on my feet after 26.7 miles!”
Ana Arias is a Spanish Language Interpreter in the Specialized Services department.
How long have you worked for ESD 112 and what does your job entail?
1 1/2 years next month
I am the Language Interpreter (Spanish) for ESIT and Birth to 3 Early Intervention programs. I interpret for the FRCs
What do you like best about your job?
The people I work with -they make me feel like I am making a difference in their lives, that I am making the world a better place somehow. This comes from not only my co-workers but also from the families that we serve. I’ve never had a job that made me feel so appreciated. It makes me excited to come to work every day!
What do you find most challenging about your job?
Scheduling ! I wish I had more hours in my day and days in my week to be more accessible for the various specialists. I hate having to say “no, I can’t on that day or time”.
What did you want to be when you were little?
A mom & a flight attendant 😉
What is the most interesting place you’ve ever lived?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area – transplanted here 20 yrs ago.
I would have to say that living in El Salvador for 3 months every 3 years while growing up was the most interesting. It helped me appreciate all the things and freedom that we take for granted here in the US.
Single? Married? Kids? Pets?
Married to the man of my dreams since Aug 2014.
I have 5 kids from previous. Sons are 27 & 25 and live locally. My daughters are 23, 20 and 15. Oldest is in Texas. Middle one at WSU in Pullman. Youngest just started high school.
2 dogs: Bella a 5 yr old Chipoo (with epilepsy) and Phoenix our new baby. She is a 4 month old blue-brindled Pitbull. A total love. 1 black cat named Capt Jack.
What future events are you looking forward to?
My husband and I are doing the Goofy Challenge in Disney World in January. A half marathon on Saturday followed by a full marathon on Sunday. (couldn’t get into the Dopey challenge -it sold out too fast! That added a 5k and 10K) My daughter is joining us to run it. Her 24th birthday celebration!
Son, Brandon in Portland and Daughter Taylor in Texas got engaged to their sweethearts. Brandon has his date set for Aug 20 2016! Taylor has a new business (bar/grill) opening in December – wedding date to follow.
What do you enjoy doing with your free time?
I love to work out. The sweatier the better! I am a runner with 11 marathons and 1 ultra and tons of half marathons and shorter races under my belt.
I enjoy going to sporting events Blazers, Winterhawks, 49ers, NASCAR, Timbers, PBR you name it…Concerts & Movies too!
Traveling to run marathons – Next year will be Florida, SF, and Washington DC
Date nights -weekly- with my hubby and hanging with my kids when I can get them all together
Shoe shopping (love my heels!) lol ask my coworkers!
What was your most interesting past job?
Stay at home mom – for 14 years. Never a dull moment with 5 kids!
What’s your favorite ESD memory?
When I came back from my honeymoon and my coworkers were all so happy to see me. Genuinely happy!! They needed me and had missed me – It feels so great to be able to help them on a daily basis, to be a part of such a great team of people. It makes me smile just thinking about it.
What is the funniest thing that you heard or saw recently?
My 15 year old was SO excited about this show that was going to air on TV. LIVE brain surgery—with dental floss! We just HAD to watch it-HAD to, she said! Could you imagine…surgery using dental floss?!! (ok, I was curious…)
Turns out it was live brain surgery…but they used the normal tools-scalpels, etc. It was produced by a television show called Mental Floss.
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