That's right, only 15 days until I am back in Iowa! Though I am very much enjoying my project, I am very ready for a break and to see family and friends.
So, an update:
This week, we had job specific training for the athlete entertainment (ATE) volunteers. Another Corps member, Fionna, is working with volunteer services, so she led the general overview part of the training; then, I followed up with the ATE specific training. There were about 75ish people there, so it was a pretty big deal. I think it went well, and I'm feeling less stressed now that 1) it's over, and 2) I now have most of my commissioners! I lost one, but I think I can fill that spot pretty easily, so I'm not too concerned.
Also this week, the Delegation Services team took a road trip to McCall for a site visit. McCall is about 2 hours away, and is the site of snowshoeing, as well as a Special Olympics Town. The drive was gorgeous and it seems like a nice little town, but unfortunately, no snow yet. Hopefully there will be plenty come February, otherwise that could be one interested snowshoeing competition! ;o)
Our Special Olympics Town is at Shore Lodge. The place is really beautiful and has a great lookout on a lake. The room for SO Town is much smaller than what we had anticipated, but there's a great theater that I think we'll be able to use, so that should be nice. SO Town in McCall will only be open for 2 days, but Nicci and I were trying to convince our boss Ashley that we really should be up in McCall that whole time. ... I don't think Ashley was buying it. ;o)
Yesterday, we got a lovely welcome new addition: another AmeriCorps NCCC team! I don't know many details, unfortunately, but I think they came from Los Angeles. Their previous project didn't have funding, so they came to work with us! We (Blue 4) had anticipated another team (or two) potentially joining us for the Games, but didn't expect them so soon - neither did anyone else. But nonetheless, I'm sure they will be a wonderful addition.
Because of the new team coming in, we did have to rearrange our living conditions. The team leaders are together in a one-bedroom, the guys from the two teams are in one apartment, and the females are with their respective teams in two different apartments. That's right - I'm now living with 7 other people in a 2-bedroom apartment. Let the fun begin.
I've been incredibly busy the last couple days, as a result of my big training session, then being up in McCall and trying to take care of things there. However, I'm starting to get the feeling that the busy time has started, and from here on out until the Games are complete, it's going to be a little hectic. Even with my experience with ETK and V-Day, I certainly have not been prepared for how much goes into an event this size. This is definitely a learning experience, but I'm enjoying the work. I stay busy and meet a lot of people, I usually make progress I can see, there's certainly excitement, and it's a joy because I know that I am going to love what I'm working towards. I can understand why there are people here at the GOC (sorry - Games Organizing Committee, I think) that follow Special Olympics Games all over. (here's a link to the SOWWG website, in case you've never checked it out and are interested)
Tomorrow morning I have training at the Idaho Humane Society. Let's hope I get to work with puppies!!!! (I've been a little puppy-obsessed lately (my team would say little?!?) but I think when I get home and get some hugs, I'll be better.)
Speaking of home, it's only 15 days away! (Did I already say that?) I hope to see many friendly familiar faces during that time. (and get lots of hugs.) :o)
Peace,
Emily
Friday, December 5, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
ooh ooh, PICTURES!
task for the day: blog ...
on another blog.
We've created a team blog because I just can't keep up with one. ;o) But the great thing about this one is that our team photographer is posting her pictures! So, go view our team blog and check out the awesome pictures, and hopefully, at some point today, a list of what Blue 4 is thankful for. :o)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Only 1 month until I am back in Iowa!!! woohoo!
on another blog.
We've created a team blog because I just can't keep up with one. ;o) But the great thing about this one is that our team photographer is posting her pictures! So, go view our team blog and check out the awesome pictures, and hopefully, at some point today, a list of what Blue 4 is thankful for. :o)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Only 1 month until I am back in Iowa!!! woohoo!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Finally: a Boise update!
Friends! Hello!
I can’t believe I’ve been in Boise this long. Oh goodness. I am spectacularly bad at updating this thing. Sorry.
Okay, let’s see. I’ll cover the apartment, the job, and then the amazing staff at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Idaho, USA. First, a couple of other notes: any mail, packages or otherwise, should be sent to my address in Boise. I’ll send that out in an email, so if you don’t receive it and want to send me a card or anything, please let me know! Second, I will be flying to Des Moines for the holidays. I will arrive late evening, 20 December, and leave early morning, 4 January. I would love to have visitors and see friends! :o)
Apartment: Apartment is great. With 10 members on the team, we are split up between two apartments. Special Olympics provided the apartments, and they also took care of our furnishings, which was awesome. Unfortunately, our apartments are not very close to each other in the complex, but we have been meeting together to eat dinner every night (Britta is a very good cook!). The apartments really are great – especially when I think about the other NCCC teams that are out serving right now – it’s like we’re in a Hilton. Plus, we have laundry facilities in the apartment, as well as access to the clubhouse with indoor basketball courts (site of 6am PT), a small workout room, and a Jacuzzi outside. :o) Another advantage is that the apartments are a 5-minute walk from the office so we can walk every morning. It’s a little like the summer before my junior year in Waverly – I have an awesome terrace and a great apartment, but bedding isn’t the best. ;o) Instead of a mattress on the floor, this time I’m up off the floor on a very squeaky, not very big cot. It’s pretty far from comfortable, but we’re working hard and playing hard, so I normally sleep well at night.
Job: Oh, I don’t think my job could be more perfect. :o) I am working with Delegation Services, and I’ve been put in charge of athlete entertainment. So, it’s like a blend of ETK (campus programming board) and Camp Sunnyside all in one. I couldn’t believe what a good fit. :o) And it has been a good fit. Luckily, it’s not like I’m starting at the beginning – a lot of the work has already been done, and I’m doing a lot of follow-up and such. There are 7 athlete lounges, one at each of the competition venues, and three Special Olympics Towns in each of the Games cities (Boise, McCall, & Sun Valley). The lounges have board games and video games and movies. The Special Olympics Towns will be awesome – at least in Boise, it’s separated into two areas, one with a Western theme (activities include barrel racing with a stick horse and cattle roping with wooden cows) and the other area with other fun activities (inflatable jousting and sumo wrestling, table games like air hockey and table tennis, and arcade games). Almost like Knight Out during orientation at Wartburg, or part of a small Fun City. :o) Tonight I led my first committee meeting. It went pretty well, though many people were not there. But the director said I did a good job, and I think everything was covered. Now, onto the next task.
Fantastic staff! They are taking very good care of us at the office and in Boise. We were able to go to a Steelheads hockey game (and you know how much I love hockey). Our seats were awesome, very near the ice, and the Steelheads won in a shootout. Very good game! In our first week, we got tickets to a benefit concert down at The Knitting Factory. It was 2 funk bands, so it was definitely a fun time. :o) We’re also getting season ski passes to Bogus Basin which isn’t far from Boise and is actually one of the competition sites (for alpine skiing). I’ve been back to The Knitting Factory a couple more times this week – once to see the Old Crow Medicine Show, a Southern bluegrass band, and then yesterday to see The Hold Steady and Drive-By Truckers (which, by the way, was an incredibly awesome show).
That’s all for now! I’ll tell you more as it comes, but moral of the story is: I’m happy and this project in particular is absolutely amazing.
Peace,
Emily
I can’t believe I’ve been in Boise this long. Oh goodness. I am spectacularly bad at updating this thing. Sorry.
Okay, let’s see. I’ll cover the apartment, the job, and then the amazing staff at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Idaho, USA. First, a couple of other notes: any mail, packages or otherwise, should be sent to my address in Boise. I’ll send that out in an email, so if you don’t receive it and want to send me a card or anything, please let me know! Second, I will be flying to Des Moines for the holidays. I will arrive late evening, 20 December, and leave early morning, 4 January. I would love to have visitors and see friends! :o)
Apartment: Apartment is great. With 10 members on the team, we are split up between two apartments. Special Olympics provided the apartments, and they also took care of our furnishings, which was awesome. Unfortunately, our apartments are not very close to each other in the complex, but we have been meeting together to eat dinner every night (Britta is a very good cook!). The apartments really are great – especially when I think about the other NCCC teams that are out serving right now – it’s like we’re in a Hilton. Plus, we have laundry facilities in the apartment, as well as access to the clubhouse with indoor basketball courts (site of 6am PT), a small workout room, and a Jacuzzi outside. :o) Another advantage is that the apartments are a 5-minute walk from the office so we can walk every morning. It’s a little like the summer before my junior year in Waverly – I have an awesome terrace and a great apartment, but bedding isn’t the best. ;o) Instead of a mattress on the floor, this time I’m up off the floor on a very squeaky, not very big cot. It’s pretty far from comfortable, but we’re working hard and playing hard, so I normally sleep well at night.
Job: Oh, I don’t think my job could be more perfect. :o) I am working with Delegation Services, and I’ve been put in charge of athlete entertainment. So, it’s like a blend of ETK (campus programming board) and Camp Sunnyside all in one. I couldn’t believe what a good fit. :o) And it has been a good fit. Luckily, it’s not like I’m starting at the beginning – a lot of the work has already been done, and I’m doing a lot of follow-up and such. There are 7 athlete lounges, one at each of the competition venues, and three Special Olympics Towns in each of the Games cities (Boise, McCall, & Sun Valley). The lounges have board games and video games and movies. The Special Olympics Towns will be awesome – at least in Boise, it’s separated into two areas, one with a Western theme (activities include barrel racing with a stick horse and cattle roping with wooden cows) and the other area with other fun activities (inflatable jousting and sumo wrestling, table games like air hockey and table tennis, and arcade games). Almost like Knight Out during orientation at Wartburg, or part of a small Fun City. :o) Tonight I led my first committee meeting. It went pretty well, though many people were not there. But the director said I did a good job, and I think everything was covered. Now, onto the next task.
Fantastic staff! They are taking very good care of us at the office and in Boise. We were able to go to a Steelheads hockey game (and you know how much I love hockey). Our seats were awesome, very near the ice, and the Steelheads won in a shootout. Very good game! In our first week, we got tickets to a benefit concert down at The Knitting Factory. It was 2 funk bands, so it was definitely a fun time. :o) We’re also getting season ski passes to Bogus Basin which isn’t far from Boise and is actually one of the competition sites (for alpine skiing). I’ve been back to The Knitting Factory a couple more times this week – once to see the Old Crow Medicine Show, a Southern bluegrass band, and then yesterday to see The Hold Steady and Drive-By Truckers (which, by the way, was an incredibly awesome show).
That’s all for now! I’ll tell you more as it comes, but moral of the story is: I’m happy and this project in particular is absolutely amazing.
Peace,
Emily
Friday, October 24, 2008
Camp Mendocino & Project Reveal!
ooh, boy, it’s been an interesting/exciting past week.
On Monday I went to Camp Mendocino in northern California for a 3-day camping trip with the Blue Unit teams. The camp was in a redwood forest, so it was absolutely beautiful. The trees were so tall – I don’t know that I’ve ever felt so connected with nature. We went on a walk as a team to search for a tree that was supposedly 2,000 years old and 15ft. in diameter, but unfortunately we didn’t find it. However, we did do some exploring along the way and spent time with the other trees. I didn’t get too hippie though – there were spider webs on the tree trunks and it kept me from giving them real hugs. But it was still an amazing experience to be in that area.
As much as I have this appreciation for seeing and being in nature, I wasn’t necessarily keen on our “open air” cabins: there was a hanging screen for a door and canvas flaps over the windows that surrounded the cabin. Though I’m sure Iowa is colder right now, I was not a happy camper waking up at 5:15am in the freezing cabins with only a sleeping bag. Not to mention that I was waking up at 5:15 in the morning and doing PT. Gross. And the ever-present threat of bears. I was lucky this time, but every second I spend in California is a second in danger. Thank goodness I learned on a choir tour how to properly keep bears at bay.
It was a great 3 day trip because we got to do some team building activities, and we also were able to do some service at the camp. We did the “whale watcher” or teeter-totter low ropes activity, if you know which one I’m talking about, and we were awesome; I’ve never been on a team before that completed the task so efficiently, and kept the board balanced for quite a while. We also did a high ropes activity called the “flying squirrel.” If you can imagine these incredibly tall redwood trees, there was a cable between two and a rope hanging down that the team members pulled while the person connected went up into the trees. I’ve jumped out of a plane (twice!) but this made me quite nervous. Nonetheless, I went, as did the rest of my team, all the way to the top. It was great, and the view was amazing. All in all, the team-building portion of the day went really well and gave me a better sense of how my team might work together in the future.
Who would have thought that I would go from Iowa to California and move bales of hay for the first time in my life? Our team split into two groups, and one group painted a fence while my group moved bales of hay into the barn before the rainy season comes, and we got to feed the horses. This was the first official service project that we did as a team, and I’m glad to have finally done so! I think my team has a pretty positive attitude, and I’m sure it will be a pleasure to be working with them more closely in the future.
Besides the trees, some other highlights from the trip was stargazing on the riverbank, getting to know my team better, and participating in a three-person four-legged race. One member of my team, LM, is really into astronomy, so he gave the small group of us a little science lesson as we laid on the rocky riverbank under the night sky looking at the stars. Stargazing like that and being immersed in nature surrounded by full tall trees was an incredibly humbling experience – I just felt so small, but in such a good way. My worries melted away because in that place, I could tell that the world is so much more than I am.
Yesterday was a particularly long day – I wish that I were back at that peaceful camp. Another morning of 5:30am PT, and then when our team met up that morning, we learned that two members of our team were unable to stay with us. It was a real blow to our team to lose two fantastic people like that, but they have their own plans ahead of them that they will carry out. I don’t know, I suppose I think that when things happen, or don’t happen, there’s a bigger reason behind it, and though we may not see or understand that reason, everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
Though our team will certainly miss the contribution of these two fine individuals, we have great and amazing things ahead of us! Last night we found out our first service project as a team! On November 3rd, we will leave for Boise, Idaho!!! There, we will prepare for the Winter World Special Olympics! I am so incredibly excited for this opportunity. Having spent several summers working with people with disabilities, this project is especially close to my heart and interests and I am so delighted. We will assist with preparation for the special event including organizing volunteers, and we will be out there until late February. That’s a long spike! As of right now, I believe there are supposed to be 2-3 other Sacramento teams that will come assist with the actual event, but we are the only team that will be out there to help with the prep. I am so unbelievably pumped about this project. I don’t think it’s all sunk in yet. But I will be sure to post more and more information as I find it out. :o)
Today was another early morning of PT (stairs and push-ups and sit-ups and running), followed by an afternoon of training. I will be training for my team position, which is Service Learning Initiator (SLI). I am very excited because this is the position that I really wanted. According to our little info sheet, the goal of service learning for NCCC is to facilitate the team’s understanding of personal, social and community implications of the service in which they are engaged. My duties include coordinating and completing the Service Learning Development Plan (SLDP), identification of service learning opportunities in the implementation of the plan, facilitation reflection activities on a weekly basis, ensuring team orientation and training to the project, and documenting the service learning that occurred. I will be sharing my SLI duties with LM, the astronomy buff who builds rocket ships in his free time (no joke). With the team position and having this awesome first project, I am so excited! I am confident that the next 4 months will be challenging and very rewarding. :o)
Peace,
Emily
p.s. quick note: if you are still using my Wartburg email address, stop! It's been disabled, so please send all emails to my gmail account. Thanks! :o)
p.p.s. pictures soon!
On Monday I went to Camp Mendocino in northern California for a 3-day camping trip with the Blue Unit teams. The camp was in a redwood forest, so it was absolutely beautiful. The trees were so tall – I don’t know that I’ve ever felt so connected with nature. We went on a walk as a team to search for a tree that was supposedly 2,000 years old and 15ft. in diameter, but unfortunately we didn’t find it. However, we did do some exploring along the way and spent time with the other trees. I didn’t get too hippie though – there were spider webs on the tree trunks and it kept me from giving them real hugs. But it was still an amazing experience to be in that area.
As much as I have this appreciation for seeing and being in nature, I wasn’t necessarily keen on our “open air” cabins: there was a hanging screen for a door and canvas flaps over the windows that surrounded the cabin. Though I’m sure Iowa is colder right now, I was not a happy camper waking up at 5:15am in the freezing cabins with only a sleeping bag. Not to mention that I was waking up at 5:15 in the morning and doing PT. Gross. And the ever-present threat of bears. I was lucky this time, but every second I spend in California is a second in danger. Thank goodness I learned on a choir tour how to properly keep bears at bay.
It was a great 3 day trip because we got to do some team building activities, and we also were able to do some service at the camp. We did the “whale watcher” or teeter-totter low ropes activity, if you know which one I’m talking about, and we were awesome; I’ve never been on a team before that completed the task so efficiently, and kept the board balanced for quite a while. We also did a high ropes activity called the “flying squirrel.” If you can imagine these incredibly tall redwood trees, there was a cable between two and a rope hanging down that the team members pulled while the person connected went up into the trees. I’ve jumped out of a plane (twice!) but this made me quite nervous. Nonetheless, I went, as did the rest of my team, all the way to the top. It was great, and the view was amazing. All in all, the team-building portion of the day went really well and gave me a better sense of how my team might work together in the future.
Who would have thought that I would go from Iowa to California and move bales of hay for the first time in my life? Our team split into two groups, and one group painted a fence while my group moved bales of hay into the barn before the rainy season comes, and we got to feed the horses. This was the first official service project that we did as a team, and I’m glad to have finally done so! I think my team has a pretty positive attitude, and I’m sure it will be a pleasure to be working with them more closely in the future.
Besides the trees, some other highlights from the trip was stargazing on the riverbank, getting to know my team better, and participating in a three-person four-legged race. One member of my team, LM, is really into astronomy, so he gave the small group of us a little science lesson as we laid on the rocky riverbank under the night sky looking at the stars. Stargazing like that and being immersed in nature surrounded by full tall trees was an incredibly humbling experience – I just felt so small, but in such a good way. My worries melted away because in that place, I could tell that the world is so much more than I am.
Yesterday was a particularly long day – I wish that I were back at that peaceful camp. Another morning of 5:30am PT, and then when our team met up that morning, we learned that two members of our team were unable to stay with us. It was a real blow to our team to lose two fantastic people like that, but they have their own plans ahead of them that they will carry out. I don’t know, I suppose I think that when things happen, or don’t happen, there’s a bigger reason behind it, and though we may not see or understand that reason, everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
Though our team will certainly miss the contribution of these two fine individuals, we have great and amazing things ahead of us! Last night we found out our first service project as a team! On November 3rd, we will leave for Boise, Idaho!!! There, we will prepare for the Winter World Special Olympics! I am so incredibly excited for this opportunity. Having spent several summers working with people with disabilities, this project is especially close to my heart and interests and I am so delighted. We will assist with preparation for the special event including organizing volunteers, and we will be out there until late February. That’s a long spike! As of right now, I believe there are supposed to be 2-3 other Sacramento teams that will come assist with the actual event, but we are the only team that will be out there to help with the prep. I am so unbelievably pumped about this project. I don’t think it’s all sunk in yet. But I will be sure to post more and more information as I find it out. :o)
Today was another early morning of PT (stairs and push-ups and sit-ups and running), followed by an afternoon of training. I will be training for my team position, which is Service Learning Initiator (SLI). I am very excited because this is the position that I really wanted. According to our little info sheet, the goal of service learning for NCCC is to facilitate the team’s understanding of personal, social and community implications of the service in which they are engaged. My duties include coordinating and completing the Service Learning Development Plan (SLDP), identification of service learning opportunities in the implementation of the plan, facilitation reflection activities on a weekly basis, ensuring team orientation and training to the project, and documenting the service learning that occurred. I will be sharing my SLI duties with LM, the astronomy buff who builds rocket ships in his free time (no joke). With the team position and having this awesome first project, I am so excited! I am confident that the next 4 months will be challenging and very rewarding. :o)
Peace,
Emily
p.s. quick note: if you are still using my Wartburg email address, stop! It's been disabled, so please send all emails to my gmail account. Thanks! :o)
p.p.s. pictures soon!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Boy, is it sunny in California!
Hello friends! I know I said I would get this out sooner, I wanted to get this out soon, but alas, here we are, October 15, a full 2 weeks since my safe arrival in Sac-town, and here's my first blog entry. There's a lot here, and it may not be incredibly specific or interesting, but there you have it. I hope to be better about blogging when I'm actually on a spike, but we'll see. :o)
I safely arrived in Sacramento on Monday, and we have jumped right into the fun stuff: paperwork and policies. :o) But really, the campus seems great and the people are really friendly. We're started off in temporary teams [pods] while we went through the first phase of training, officially known as CTI (Corps Training Institute). I am now with my official team, which is awesome. My team leader spent several summers working at Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa, which is a camp similar to Camp Sunnyside, which I spent 3 lovely summers working at. So it's really great to have that connection. My other team members seems to be friendly and excited about serving, so I think it's going to be a good year. Honestly, the transition from pod to team was a little tough for a lot of corps members, but I think I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with my team now, so I have high hopes. :o)
Today I actually had physical training (PT) orientation, so tomorrow is my first day of actually PT. I'll tell you the truth, I'm not exactly looking forward to it. Tomorrow we do our baseline test, so it's sit-ups for 2 minutes (full sit-ups, none of those pansy crunches), push-ups for 2 minutes (same story: no push-ups on your knees, these are full-out, back straight, 90 degree angle monsters), and a timed 1.5 mile run. So, yes, not exactly looking forward to all this at 5:30 am, but I'm going to try to keep a positive attitude...somehow. Let's at least hope that I come out of this whole experience with some buff arms, eh?
Let's see...I currently don't have a roommate, and no news yet about whether she's coming late, or just not coming at all. However, the dorms are set up similar to the Manors at Wartburg, if you're familiar with that -- two rooms have a common bathroom in between. So, while I don't have a roommate, my 'suite-ies' are very friendly and have included me, so I'm not feeling too lonesome yet. Plus, I have been able to make friends within my team, my pod, and just other friendly faces on the floor. Additionally, I didn't realize until I got here how much I had gotten used to and really appreciated having my own personal space and alone time. I'm actually incredibly pleased to not have a roommate, and at this point, I'm hoping my luck will hold. Quick note: For those of you who have lived with me and understand how well I function in the morning, I have warned my team and suitemates about about my inability to get up in the morning, so they’ve been helping me out. Although I would like to say that I did get up on my own for PT this morning. I just doubt that I can make that 5:30am a regular habit.
There does seem to be so much more that I could say, but I know this post is sufficiently long enough for now. Since I do have an official team, I do have an official mailing address. I sent out an email with that, but if I inadvertently left you off, please let me know. I would love to get mail from anyone and everyone! :o) Ooh, and I'll try to get some pictures...eventually.
Missing everyone bunches and I hope everyone is doing well!
Peace,
Emily
I safely arrived in Sacramento on Monday, and we have jumped right into the fun stuff: paperwork and policies. :o) But really, the campus seems great and the people are really friendly. We're started off in temporary teams [pods] while we went through the first phase of training, officially known as CTI (Corps Training Institute). I am now with my official team, which is awesome. My team leader spent several summers working at Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa, which is a camp similar to Camp Sunnyside, which I spent 3 lovely summers working at. So it's really great to have that connection. My other team members seems to be friendly and excited about serving, so I think it's going to be a good year. Honestly, the transition from pod to team was a little tough for a lot of corps members, but I think I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with my team now, so I have high hopes. :o)
Today I actually had physical training (PT) orientation, so tomorrow is my first day of actually PT. I'll tell you the truth, I'm not exactly looking forward to it. Tomorrow we do our baseline test, so it's sit-ups for 2 minutes (full sit-ups, none of those pansy crunches), push-ups for 2 minutes (same story: no push-ups on your knees, these are full-out, back straight, 90 degree angle monsters), and a timed 1.5 mile run. So, yes, not exactly looking forward to all this at 5:30 am, but I'm going to try to keep a positive attitude...somehow. Let's at least hope that I come out of this whole experience with some buff arms, eh?
Let's see...I currently don't have a roommate, and no news yet about whether she's coming late, or just not coming at all. However, the dorms are set up similar to the Manors at Wartburg, if you're familiar with that -- two rooms have a common bathroom in between. So, while I don't have a roommate, my 'suite-ies' are very friendly and have included me, so I'm not feeling too lonesome yet. Plus, I have been able to make friends within my team, my pod, and just other friendly faces on the floor. Additionally, I didn't realize until I got here how much I had gotten used to and really appreciated having my own personal space and alone time. I'm actually incredibly pleased to not have a roommate, and at this point, I'm hoping my luck will hold. Quick note: For those of you who have lived with me and understand how well I function in the morning, I have warned my team and suitemates about about my inability to get up in the morning, so they’ve been helping me out. Although I would like to say that I did get up on my own for PT this morning. I just doubt that I can make that 5:30am a regular habit.
There does seem to be so much more that I could say, but I know this post is sufficiently long enough for now. Since I do have an official team, I do have an official mailing address. I sent out an email with that, but if I inadvertently left you off, please let me know. I would love to get mail from anyone and everyone! :o) Ooh, and I'll try to get some pictures...eventually.
Missing everyone bunches and I hope everyone is doing well!
Peace,
Emily
Monday, September 22, 2008
Starting soon...
It's now just two weeks until I leave for my AmeriCorps adventure. I'll be flying out from the Des Moines International Airport on October 6th at 6:59am. Oy. I think my 6:59am flight is to prepare me for the 5:25am wake-ups I'll be doing once I get out to my base...ugh. Even so, I'm getting very excited about this new opportunity! I, well, no, I still am not packed, but I am certainly thinking and stressing out about packing. I think I will be buying some items out there --- but of course I won't have a car, so I don't know how I will get to a store...but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
It's been quite the summer here in Des Moines. I have been working for Crest Services, which supports people with disabilities - I work with the independent living program. I will certainly miss my consumers, particularly one old saucy lady, but I'm ready to move on to something new! I will work through the end of September, then I am taking all my gold stars and heading out. :o)
September has been a busy month visiting people when possible. I've been up to Wartburg a couple of times and even got to visit the newlywed Salvaterras in Wisconsin. I'm looking forward to a final visit with the extended family at my cousin Mykel's wedding this weekend. One last road trip will take me up to the Twin Cities to see the Weezer concert on October 3rd with Rica. So I will be a busy busy lady, right until I leave. That should be sufficient to completely procrastinate packing. ;o)
I'm hoping to keep this blog updated when I'm out and about, traveling to different areas and starting new projects. Feel free to read about my adventures and share your thoughts!
Peace,
Emily
It's been quite the summer here in Des Moines. I have been working for Crest Services, which supports people with disabilities - I work with the independent living program. I will certainly miss my consumers, particularly one old saucy lady, but I'm ready to move on to something new! I will work through the end of September, then I am taking all my gold stars and heading out. :o)
September has been a busy month visiting people when possible. I've been up to Wartburg a couple of times and even got to visit the newlywed Salvaterras in Wisconsin. I'm looking forward to a final visit with the extended family at my cousin Mykel's wedding this weekend. One last road trip will take me up to the Twin Cities to see the Weezer concert on October 3rd with Rica. So I will be a busy busy lady, right until I leave. That should be sufficient to completely procrastinate packing. ;o)
I'm hoping to keep this blog updated when I'm out and about, traveling to different areas and starting new projects. Feel free to read about my adventures and share your thoughts!
Peace,
Emily
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
