Well, Wolf 3 is back in New Orleans. We are really happy with our project and housing, so things are looking good for us. We are working with Habitat for Humanity, building and finishing houses. This past week we were working all over the city. The first couple of days we were at the West Bank. Yes, the same West Bank where we lived first round. The irony of this job never fails me. We have been finishing two houses that are next door to each other that have been built form the ground up. We painted mostly... we painted a lot; ceilings, walls, corners all of it.
Thursday was Meaghan's birthday. We went out to sushi and then our plan was to go to Ms. Mae's, a dive on Magazine that has very cheap drinks. We got to the bar, but only stayed for 15 minutes tops. Everyone was just so tired after working all week. But, we went out last night to really celebrate. We visited all of our old haunts on Frenchmen Street and had a great time listening to live music.
All for now.
In Peace. Steph
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Alabama (plz insert Forest Gump reference here)
Well it has been an interesting couple of weeks here in Alabama. Work at the food pantry has been a little monotonous, but we know all the food is getting to people who need it, so no complaints here!
The past 2 weeks we were moved from packing boxes to the reclamation room. The Bay Area Food Bank gets unused food donations from Wal- Mart, Winn Dixie, food drives, etc and it has to be checked, cleaned and sorted. Basically, our job was to take the donation boxes off pallets, sort through the contents, wipe it down with bleach water, then sort it into a category box (fruit, soup, veggies etc), then put it onto a new pallet which will be put into the warehouse, all the people form non profits shop from.
But, we have been able to get out of the sorting room for a couple of days. We have been able to go on some mobile food pantries around the Gulf. Today we went to Border Line, MS to distribute food. It is in the cooouuntrryyy. We got lost for 45 minutes trying to find the social hall we were working at. However, that seemed to be our only glitch in the day. The food distribution went very well. We gave out about 5,000 lbs of food today. On Friday, we distributed 16,000 lbs of food at the Hemly Street Church of Christ, where we are staying. We started giving out the food around 9 and there were already people at the front door of the church by 6:30 am. 16,000 lbs of food was gone in 3 1/2 hours. It was very gratifying to help the community we have been staying in for the past 3 weeks.
Yesterday we found out we are going BACK TO NEW ORLEANS FOR 4TH ROUND!!!!!! Everyone is very happy. We will be working for Habitat for Humanity, rebuilding homes. We don't have any other details, but with great news like that, I think we can run on those fumes for awhile.
All for now.
In peace, Stephanie
The past 2 weeks we were moved from packing boxes to the reclamation room. The Bay Area Food Bank gets unused food donations from Wal- Mart, Winn Dixie, food drives, etc and it has to be checked, cleaned and sorted. Basically, our job was to take the donation boxes off pallets, sort through the contents, wipe it down with bleach water, then sort it into a category box (fruit, soup, veggies etc), then put it onto a new pallet which will be put into the warehouse, all the people form non profits shop from.
But, we have been able to get out of the sorting room for a couple of days. We have been able to go on some mobile food pantries around the Gulf. Today we went to Border Line, MS to distribute food. It is in the cooouuntrryyy. We got lost for 45 minutes trying to find the social hall we were working at. However, that seemed to be our only glitch in the day. The food distribution went very well. We gave out about 5,000 lbs of food today. On Friday, we distributed 16,000 lbs of food at the Hemly Street Church of Christ, where we are staying. We started giving out the food around 9 and there were already people at the front door of the church by 6:30 am. 16,000 lbs of food was gone in 3 1/2 hours. It was very gratifying to help the community we have been staying in for the past 3 weeks.
Yesterday we found out we are going BACK TO NEW ORLEANS FOR 4TH ROUND!!!!!! Everyone is very happy. We will be working for Habitat for Humanity, rebuilding homes. We don't have any other details, but with great news like that, I think we can run on those fumes for awhile.
All for now.
In peace, Stephanie
Monday, August 9, 2010
LA to MD to VT to MD (again) to AL
Yes, life in AmeriCorps is a whirl wind of action. Ive been so busy/ distracted/ unable to access the internet that I have written in a very very long time. So here is a abbreviated version of my adventures.
New Orleans: I worked at Hope Haven (the volunteer housing) for the majority of the time I was in New Orleans (much to my disappointment and frustration) But hey, that's the way to cookie crumbled. I got to work on a house in East Orleans, did some major insulation and dry wall there and a house in the lower 9th ward, finishing up the outside trim painting. NOLA is a very hard city to leave. In one word, it is beautiful. The people, the hope, the culture, the parties, the work, the pride... it is all beautiful.
Maryland: Transition 2 pt. 1. I was only in Maryland for a couple of days before summer break, but it was very fun to see everyone back at "The Point".
Michigan: Summer break was great. (Shout out to mom and dad and sister) I finally had some time to relax and enjoy family and friends.
Maryland: Transition 2 pt. 2. Also very fun to see everyone again.
Vermont: OK so here's the story with Vermont. Its a beautiful state, the mountains are very green, they love that. Its also where President Calvin Coolidge hails from. Wolf 3 was assigned to the task of assisting the President Calvin Coolidge National Historic Site in their day to day landscaping tasks as well as to help move their artifacts collection. O my gosh! A history project!??? Right up Stephanie's alley, she must be so happy! Well, don't get too excited there missy, because you will be camping...in tents... for the whole round, 6 weeks. Exsqueese me? Yes. So the camping, wasn't that bad. Although it did rain for as much time as it didn't. And I think our project might have over estimated/ over sold what we as a team would be doing there. Again, like in Delaware, we were used as landscapers, cutting back trees and brush that grew over a stone wall at the edge of the property. However, while in Plymouth Notch, I did get the opportunity to work with the museum's collections manager. I had a chance to help catalog some of their agriculture collection and learned how to use a museum database called Past Perfect. But, those 2 days aside, Vermont was nor good to W3. 2 of our team mates switched to another team, we weeded gravel and asked ourselves, what the hell? But, we didn't have to stay for long. A disaster opportunity in Alabama came up, and our name was on the top of the list, because they knew about our situation at HQ. After 2 weeks we left Vermont and Calvin Coolidge.
Maryland: Meetings. We were in a lot of meetings in Maryland. We had to tell Chris our unit leader what was up. And for the second time, he had to apologize to us. We also had a meeting with the programs department and asked, was this project necessary? Zack told them, "We are in the worst financial crisis since the great depression, we just had one of the worst environmental catastrophe's...ever, and you sent us up to Vermont to paint white fences whiter and to move a artifacts collection from storage to another storage area and it won't even be seen by the public... this was one of the top 21 projects that you could choose from for us?" They told us, well it looked better on paper, and we asked all the appropriate questions. I teared up in both of those meetings because of the immense frustrations I had been having with the program. I did't sign up to serve my country in NCCC to be a landscaper, to weed gravel, even to catalog artifacts. I joined NCCC to make human connections, to touch people's lives, to build and plant and spread joy. Not to be bitter about where I'm living or be so consumed by my frustrations and disappointments, that I broke down and sobbed in my unit leaders office and told him Wolf 3 was the red - headed step child of the corps. (yes I really did that)
Alabama: Sweet home Alabama, after our meeting with the program department, we left for Bayou la Batre, Alabama (they filmed a lot of Forrest Gump here)We are working at The Bay Area food pantry sorting and packing food for families that have been effected by the oil spill. last week, we worked on an assembly line, packing 35 lb boxes of food that will be distributed all over the Gulf. I was in charge of putting the grits, dry beans, rice, and cereal in the box. This week we are working in the reclamation room, sorting donated food.
We are living at a Church of Christ. It is one of the smallest churches I have ever seen, but Miss Daphne, the woman who runs everything here, basically feeds and clothes the whole town with all the programs she runs out of here.
We are about 20 minutes away from Dauphin Island and have been informed the water is safe to swim in. The water is about 80 to 85 degrees, sometimes its not even refreshing. But we went the first night here and have been back almost everyday since.
More news soon... I promise. I actually have internet!
In Peace, Stepahnie
New Orleans: I worked at Hope Haven (the volunteer housing) for the majority of the time I was in New Orleans (much to my disappointment and frustration) But hey, that's the way to cookie crumbled. I got to work on a house in East Orleans, did some major insulation and dry wall there and a house in the lower 9th ward, finishing up the outside trim painting. NOLA is a very hard city to leave. In one word, it is beautiful. The people, the hope, the culture, the parties, the work, the pride... it is all beautiful.
Maryland: Transition 2 pt. 1. I was only in Maryland for a couple of days before summer break, but it was very fun to see everyone back at "The Point".
Michigan: Summer break was great. (Shout out to mom and dad and sister) I finally had some time to relax and enjoy family and friends.
Maryland: Transition 2 pt. 2. Also very fun to see everyone again.
Vermont: OK so here's the story with Vermont. Its a beautiful state, the mountains are very green, they love that. Its also where President Calvin Coolidge hails from. Wolf 3 was assigned to the task of assisting the President Calvin Coolidge National Historic Site in their day to day landscaping tasks as well as to help move their artifacts collection. O my gosh! A history project!??? Right up Stephanie's alley, she must be so happy! Well, don't get too excited there missy, because you will be camping...in tents... for the whole round, 6 weeks. Exsqueese me? Yes. So the camping, wasn't that bad. Although it did rain for as much time as it didn't. And I think our project might have over estimated/ over sold what we as a team would be doing there. Again, like in Delaware, we were used as landscapers, cutting back trees and brush that grew over a stone wall at the edge of the property. However, while in Plymouth Notch, I did get the opportunity to work with the museum's collections manager. I had a chance to help catalog some of their agriculture collection and learned how to use a museum database called Past Perfect. But, those 2 days aside, Vermont was nor good to W3. 2 of our team mates switched to another team, we weeded gravel and asked ourselves, what the hell? But, we didn't have to stay for long. A disaster opportunity in Alabama came up, and our name was on the top of the list, because they knew about our situation at HQ. After 2 weeks we left Vermont and Calvin Coolidge.
Maryland: Meetings. We were in a lot of meetings in Maryland. We had to tell Chris our unit leader what was up. And for the second time, he had to apologize to us. We also had a meeting with the programs department and asked, was this project necessary? Zack told them, "We are in the worst financial crisis since the great depression, we just had one of the worst environmental catastrophe's...ever, and you sent us up to Vermont to paint white fences whiter and to move a artifacts collection from storage to another storage area and it won't even be seen by the public... this was one of the top 21 projects that you could choose from for us?" They told us, well it looked better on paper, and we asked all the appropriate questions. I teared up in both of those meetings because of the immense frustrations I had been having with the program. I did't sign up to serve my country in NCCC to be a landscaper, to weed gravel, even to catalog artifacts. I joined NCCC to make human connections, to touch people's lives, to build and plant and spread joy. Not to be bitter about where I'm living or be so consumed by my frustrations and disappointments, that I broke down and sobbed in my unit leaders office and told him Wolf 3 was the red - headed step child of the corps. (yes I really did that)
Alabama: Sweet home Alabama, after our meeting with the program department, we left for Bayou la Batre, Alabama (they filmed a lot of Forrest Gump here)We are working at The Bay Area food pantry sorting and packing food for families that have been effected by the oil spill. last week, we worked on an assembly line, packing 35 lb boxes of food that will be distributed all over the Gulf. I was in charge of putting the grits, dry beans, rice, and cereal in the box. This week we are working in the reclamation room, sorting donated food.
We are living at a Church of Christ. It is one of the smallest churches I have ever seen, but Miss Daphne, the woman who runs everything here, basically feeds and clothes the whole town with all the programs she runs out of here.
We are about 20 minutes away from Dauphin Island and have been informed the water is safe to swim in. The water is about 80 to 85 degrees, sometimes its not even refreshing. But we went the first night here and have been back almost everyday since.
More news soon... I promise. I actually have internet!
In Peace, Stepahnie
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
New Orleans!!!
Again, so sorry for not posting lately. It has been a very busy first week in New Orleans. We are working for a Catholic Charities organization called Operation Helping Hands. Originally we were supposed to have a split round and also work at Camp Hope. However, Camp Hope fell through and we will spend the whole round working for OHH. We are living in Marrero, LA which is across the Mississippi from New Orleans. It is about a 20 minute drive to downtown from where we live…in a mansion! Ok, well it’s not a mansion, but there are only 7 of us (Sara, Rene, and John are on disaster and Caleb is on fire composite) and we live in a Spanish mission style cottage. It is 50x times better then tripping over each other in that little dorm hallway in Dover, DE. I even have my own room, and the kitchen is large enough the whole team can stand in it at once!
I am also working in Marrero. Right across the street from where we live actually. Matt and I along with another long term volunteer from Regis University have been working on rehabbing an old convalescent home for wards of the state, into volunteer housing. It has been slow going. But last week we had a group of short term volunteers for a couple of days, and they were able to do so much work, I almost cried. There is still a lot to do, and I’m not going to lie, it is frustrating to be working on volunteer housing, when the rest of my team is working in the Upper and Lower 9th Ward. However, I know volunteer housing is very important down here. We are painting 7 dorm style rooms, along with the trim and the doors. The trim and the doors are different colors in different rooms, so that part has been fun painting in bright yellow, blue, red, and pink. We are also installing laminate flooring, the kind that fit together. We have three rooms floored. All of the walls painted minus two rooms. All of the trim is painted minus one room…however we have to scrape off all of the paint on the doors that we have painted. At the end of the week, we found out, the doors should have been sanded, primed, and then painted because of the latex paint we are using. 2 doors per room = a lot of doors. I had a very frustrating day today because I only scraped a doors that we had already done.
As far as city life goes, I LOVE NEW ORLEANS! Part of the reason why I haven’t posted in so long is because I feel like I am always on the go and doing something. The music around the city is amazing. My team and I have tried to go to a free concert every Wednesday called Music in the Park in Lafayette Square (sponsored by the Saints of course). We have also wandered around Bourbon, Frenchman, and Magazine Streets enjoying the nightlife and atmosphere.
In Peace, Stephanie
I am also working in Marrero. Right across the street from where we live actually. Matt and I along with another long term volunteer from Regis University have been working on rehabbing an old convalescent home for wards of the state, into volunteer housing. It has been slow going. But last week we had a group of short term volunteers for a couple of days, and they were able to do so much work, I almost cried. There is still a lot to do, and I’m not going to lie, it is frustrating to be working on volunteer housing, when the rest of my team is working in the Upper and Lower 9th Ward. However, I know volunteer housing is very important down here. We are painting 7 dorm style rooms, along with the trim and the doors. The trim and the doors are different colors in different rooms, so that part has been fun painting in bright yellow, blue, red, and pink. We are also installing laminate flooring, the kind that fit together. We have three rooms floored. All of the walls painted minus two rooms. All of the trim is painted minus one room…however we have to scrape off all of the paint on the doors that we have painted. At the end of the week, we found out, the doors should have been sanded, primed, and then painted because of the latex paint we are using. 2 doors per room = a lot of doors. I had a very frustrating day today because I only scraped a doors that we had already done.
As far as city life goes, I LOVE NEW ORLEANS! Part of the reason why I haven’t posted in so long is because I feel like I am always on the go and doing something. The music around the city is amazing. My team and I have tried to go to a free concert every Wednesday called Music in the Park in Lafayette Square (sponsored by the Saints of course). We have also wandered around Bourbon, Frenchman, and Magazine Streets enjoying the nightlife and atmosphere.
In Peace, Stephanie
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Transition 1
Back in Perry Point once again. We have been here since Wednesday. It is really nice to see everyone from all the other teams in one place again. I missed a lot of people.It has been really nice outside. So at the end of the day, we all just hang out outside in our yards like we used to at the end of CTI. For instance, today was my friend Brandon's birthday. We had a bbq and invited people from other units down to the village to play some football and ultimate Frisbee.
Tomorrow we have our brief about our next project. Instead of having a split round like was originally planned. We are only going to be working with Operation Helping Hands. We leave for New Orleans on Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!
in peace.
Tomorrow we have our brief about our next project. Instead of having a split round like was originally planned. We are only going to be working with Operation Helping Hands. We leave for New Orleans on Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!
in peace.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Bye Bye Dover, Hello NEW ORLEANS!!!
My team and I are wrapping up our time in Dover. Thank goodness. We have all been struggling with cabin fever as well as the lack of work assigned to us. I am not going to sugar coat it. Dover has been tough. We dont see any other teams, we live and work in the same location, and everyone is frustrated with the work we are doing.
But we have been doing work. Yesterday, we finsished a rain garden we started to build at the beginning of the week. No one knew how to how to build one...so figuring that out was a challenge in itself. By hand we dug out the sod,the shape of the garden, and ten inches in the deepest spot. But it's done now, and is one more thing we can cross off the list.
Yes, you read the title of this post right... WOLF 3 is off to NEW ORLEANS for 2nd round. And after Dover, there could not be a better place to go. For a lot of us, New Orelans is our dream spike. We will be working with two sponsors over this round, so its called a split round (vocab). The first one is a Catholic Charities organization called Operation Hands On. They are a volunteer organization that helps volunteer groups while they are down in the Gulf. The second, is Camp Hope in St. Bernard Parish. Camp Hope is the location where volunteers stay when they are in NOLA. The location has moved a couple of times and wil be moving again. Our task is to rehab and convert an old Catholic School into the new Camp Hope. I am very excited for both of these projects. There will also be multiple AmeriCoprs teams down there as well.
I have to jet. Today we are tableing for DNERR at Dover's Spring Festival called Dover Days.
In Peace,
Stephanie
But we have been doing work. Yesterday, we finsished a rain garden we started to build at the beginning of the week. No one knew how to how to build one...so figuring that out was a challenge in itself. By hand we dug out the sod,the shape of the garden, and ten inches in the deepest spot. But it's done now, and is one more thing we can cross off the list.
Yes, you read the title of this post right... WOLF 3 is off to NEW ORLEANS for 2nd round. And after Dover, there could not be a better place to go. For a lot of us, New Orelans is our dream spike. We will be working with two sponsors over this round, so its called a split round (vocab). The first one is a Catholic Charities organization called Operation Hands On. They are a volunteer organization that helps volunteer groups while they are down in the Gulf. The second, is Camp Hope in St. Bernard Parish. Camp Hope is the location where volunteers stay when they are in NOLA. The location has moved a couple of times and wil be moving again. Our task is to rehab and convert an old Catholic School into the new Camp Hope. I am very excited for both of these projects. There will also be multiple AmeriCoprs teams down there as well.
I have to jet. Today we are tableing for DNERR at Dover's Spring Festival called Dover Days.
In Peace,
Stephanie
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A breakthrough
2nd day back to work after my 4 day long Spring Break. After living in the Reserve for about a month, a vacation was much needed. I headed down to DC to visit my sister, Sarah, for a couple of days. I took the MARC (DC commuter train) from Perryville, MD (where my base is) into DC. It was super convenient because Sarah only lives a couple of blocks away from Union station. I went down with Caleb and Zack from my team and two other friends Cassidy and Matt. They all stayed at different locations, but were able to stash their belongings at Sarah’s house until their friends’ got home from work. The 5 of us had lunch at the Native American History Museum on the Mall (too expensive for a cafeteria but very good) then went to the Air and Space Museum. The crowds were getting pretty thick by 3ish, so we decided to stay outside and walk down the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial stopping at the Washington Monument and WWII Memorial as we passed. Later that evening when everyone had parted ways, Sarah took me out for my birthday. We went to a wine bar on the Hill called Sonoma. After living on $4.50 a day for the past two months, there probably couldn’t have been a more welcome meal then a cheese course, free range Amish chicken and a couple fine glasses of wine.
On Saturday, Sarah and I went to the Arlington Cemetery. We wanted to avoid the major crowds at the Mall. It was so beautiful outside, we couldn’t be in a museum all day. All of the Cherry trees are in bloom and made a beautiful compliment to the thousands of symmetrical rows of graves. We also found a Lash. (Buried behind Joe Louis) We were about 99.9% sure they are no relation to us.
After today, we have 20 more work days left at the Reserve. I still have my poison ivy. While I was in DC it spread to my abdomen, sides, and lower back. We never really do the same thing every day. It’s nice because we are doing different tasks, but at the same time, it can be frustrating because we get our tasks finished faster than expected, then we have to end our work day early. This would be great in different circumstances. But we need to average a 40 hour work week to keep on track for the total number of hours we have to work during the year to qualify for our education award at the end of the program. Because we have been missing those numbers, we are now working extra hours after our normal work day. We have different little projects we can work on around the Reserve without the staff being here. For instance we are designing a rain garden from start to finish. So we have to start be figuring out, what exactly a rain garden entails, what native Delaware plants would work in it etc.
We are also starting to work at the local Boys and Girls Club for our ISP (VOCAB: Independent Service Project) hours. This afternoon/ evening I went with Meaghan and Caleb. I had such a great time with the kids. I have really missed working with people. My team mate John even commented on how much happier I seemed when I got back. I helped some kids with their homework when we first arrived. Then I was in the art room. It was neat because I got a chance to talk to the majority of the kids while doing something fun. We finished up the night in the computer lab. I would really like to go back as often as possible. I need more ISP hours for sure, but I just really loved spending time and helping those kids.
In Peace, Stephanie
On Saturday, Sarah and I went to the Arlington Cemetery. We wanted to avoid the major crowds at the Mall. It was so beautiful outside, we couldn’t be in a museum all day. All of the Cherry trees are in bloom and made a beautiful compliment to the thousands of symmetrical rows of graves. We also found a Lash. (Buried behind Joe Louis) We were about 99.9% sure they are no relation to us.
After today, we have 20 more work days left at the Reserve. I still have my poison ivy. While I was in DC it spread to my abdomen, sides, and lower back. We never really do the same thing every day. It’s nice because we are doing different tasks, but at the same time, it can be frustrating because we get our tasks finished faster than expected, then we have to end our work day early. This would be great in different circumstances. But we need to average a 40 hour work week to keep on track for the total number of hours we have to work during the year to qualify for our education award at the end of the program. Because we have been missing those numbers, we are now working extra hours after our normal work day. We have different little projects we can work on around the Reserve without the staff being here. For instance we are designing a rain garden from start to finish. So we have to start be figuring out, what exactly a rain garden entails, what native Delaware plants would work in it etc.
We are also starting to work at the local Boys and Girls Club for our ISP (VOCAB: Independent Service Project) hours. This afternoon/ evening I went with Meaghan and Caleb. I had such a great time with the kids. I have really missed working with people. My team mate John even commented on how much happier I seemed when I got back. I helped some kids with their homework when we first arrived. Then I was in the art room. It was neat because I got a chance to talk to the majority of the kids while doing something fun. We finished up the night in the computer lab. I would really like to go back as often as possible. I need more ISP hours for sure, but I just really loved spending time and helping those kids.
In Peace, Stephanie
Easter PS
Ameriblog 4.4
Today is Easter and I laid out for about an hour and a half tanning. It’s crazy to think just two years ago, I was stuck on the MegaBus for 10 hours because of a blizzard on Good Friday. My birthday was on Good Friday this year, and my team and I went to the beach. What a change! We had Friday off of work, so we decided to go down to Rehobeth Beach about 30 minutes from our estuary. It was a little cooler and windier by the ocean, but it was a great sunny day. We walked around on the board walk, sat on the beach and had some drinks. Later on when we got home, Zack, Meaghan, Caleb and I went out to Smither’s, basically the only cool bar in Dover…and they have karaoke on Fridays…so I was a happy birthday girl.
April 1st I got an early birthday present…poison ivy. Most of my team had already gotten it and I thought I had dodged the ivy bullet. On Tuesday, we did some invasive removal, so I must have made contact with it then. I have it on both of my forearms; big, ugly and blistering. I think I have it under control, I hope it doesn’t spread.
It rained for most of the week here. On Monday, we started a painting project in the DNERR offices and finished it on Tuesday. However on Tuesday morning Zack, Sadie, Maria, Caleb, and I went out in the rain to some English Ivy removal. This is when I think I got the poison ivy, but I also had a rain slicker, a sweat shirt, and a long sleeve tee on, so I am still a little bewildered on how I got it on my arms.
The rain stopped by Wednesday morning, and for the next two days we worked on projects around the St. Jones campus in Dover and at Blackbird. On Thursday up at Blackbird, Sadie, Zack, Meaghan, Caleb and I planted about 50 trees and bushes.
Today is Easter and I laid out for about an hour and a half tanning. It’s crazy to think just two years ago, I was stuck on the MegaBus for 10 hours because of a blizzard on Good Friday. My birthday was on Good Friday this year, and my team and I went to the beach. What a change! We had Friday off of work, so we decided to go down to Rehobeth Beach about 30 minutes from our estuary. It was a little cooler and windier by the ocean, but it was a great sunny day. We walked around on the board walk, sat on the beach and had some drinks. Later on when we got home, Zack, Meaghan, Caleb and I went out to Smither’s, basically the only cool bar in Dover…and they have karaoke on Fridays…so I was a happy birthday girl.
April 1st I got an early birthday present…poison ivy. Most of my team had already gotten it and I thought I had dodged the ivy bullet. On Tuesday, we did some invasive removal, so I must have made contact with it then. I have it on both of my forearms; big, ugly and blistering. I think I have it under control, I hope it doesn’t spread.
It rained for most of the week here. On Monday, we started a painting project in the DNERR offices and finished it on Tuesday. However on Tuesday morning Zack, Sadie, Maria, Caleb, and I went out in the rain to some English Ivy removal. This is when I think I got the poison ivy, but I also had a rain slicker, a sweat shirt, and a long sleeve tee on, so I am still a little bewildered on how I got it on my arms.
The rain stopped by Wednesday morning, and for the next two days we worked on projects around the St. Jones campus in Dover and at Blackbird. On Thursday up at Blackbird, Sadie, Zack, Meaghan, Caleb and I planted about 50 trees and bushes.
Monday, March 22, 2010
ROUND 1.1
Again, sorry for not posting in awhile. I had told myself I would journal or blog every other day while in AmeriCorps…I have written in my journal once since leaving Perry Point, MD for my first spike in Dover, DE… and that was a week ago…oops! Yes, I have lived in Delaware for a week and CTI feels like a long time ago.
My team and I are working and living at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR). The Reserve’s mission is to preserve and manage natural resources; Provide education and outreach programs; Promote informed coastal decision making; Establish, protect, and manage natural estuarine habitats; Conduct research, provide education and coastal stewardship. So far my team has worked on the “manage natural estuarine habitats” part of the mission in the form of invasive species removal. The Reserve has three properties. We stay at the main coastal part in Dover. We also work at the two sites about 40 minutes away in Townsend. We have spent 4 of our 6 workdays so far at the Blackbird component in Townsend removing Multi- Flora Rose and Japanese Honeysuckle. They are horrible. Multi-Flora Rose is a thorny creeping bush that is rampant on the Blackbird property. By the second day of working with it, my whole team had scratches from the thorns around our hands, wrists, and legs. The second day we started to use chaps that we had brought with us to protect our legs from the nasty thorns. Honeysuckle isn’t as bad; however, it wraps itself around a trunk and branches of a tree so tightly that at times, a tree can be warped because of the vine growing around it. The trees the honeysuckle grows on are still small, but when the vine reaches the tops of the trees it can be pretty hard to get all of it off. We just make sure we cut everything at the roots, so the vine will die.
When we aren’t removing invasive species, my team will be doing a variety of different projects at the DNERR including research and education. We will also be working at the John Dickinson Plantation, which happens to be next door to the Reserve we are staying at. John Dickinson had the distinction of being the only man in the Continental Congress to abstain from voting for Independence from Britain and not signing the Declaration of Independence. Although he believed America could be its own country, he did not believe in the means the rest of the Founding Fathers went about to gain independence, treason and war. Wanting the Declaration of Independence to pass unanimously, he abstained from the vote. We got a tour of the main house on Thursday afternoon with the director of the historical site. The home is presented as it would have looked during the Revolutionary time period of the 1770s. My team and I will work in the Plantation’s herb garden (which is quite large) replanting period appropriate herbs to the time period.
As for my team, we are all getting along really well with each other. For the first week we were here in Delaware, Caleb was in North Carolina for Wild Land Fire Fighting Training. We returned to Delaware on Saturday night. But we still are not a complete team. That morning, Jamie left to join a composite team in New Orleans for four weeks. We are also figuring out shopping for food and eating together. Like I said before, we have $4.50 a day to live on. We shop as a group for the whole week with everyone’s money. Before Saide, Rene, and Caleb went shopping yesterday, I tried to figure out a dinner menu for the week, so we could plan what to eat. So far everything has been going okay. But we did run out of cereal and lunch fixings around Thursday last week, so we had to plan our shopping list around making sure we don’t run out this week. We also have 4 vegetarians on our team, so we have to make sure everyone can eat what we make. They also make yummy vegetarian stuff that I have never tasted like quinoa with onions mushrooms and tofu. Last night I made chicken and potatoes. They made their own asparagus and quinoa and also ate my potatoes. Tonight, I made vegetarian chili with cornbread. It was pretty spicy. I added habaneras and other spicy peppers Maria’s mom got from the Indian store. It turned out really well too.
That’s all for tonight. Hopefully I get into a groove for writing.
In Peace.
My team and I are working and living at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR). The Reserve’s mission is to preserve and manage natural resources; Provide education and outreach programs; Promote informed coastal decision making; Establish, protect, and manage natural estuarine habitats; Conduct research, provide education and coastal stewardship. So far my team has worked on the “manage natural estuarine habitats” part of the mission in the form of invasive species removal. The Reserve has three properties. We stay at the main coastal part in Dover. We also work at the two sites about 40 minutes away in Townsend. We have spent 4 of our 6 workdays so far at the Blackbird component in Townsend removing Multi- Flora Rose and Japanese Honeysuckle. They are horrible. Multi-Flora Rose is a thorny creeping bush that is rampant on the Blackbird property. By the second day of working with it, my whole team had scratches from the thorns around our hands, wrists, and legs. The second day we started to use chaps that we had brought with us to protect our legs from the nasty thorns. Honeysuckle isn’t as bad; however, it wraps itself around a trunk and branches of a tree so tightly that at times, a tree can be warped because of the vine growing around it. The trees the honeysuckle grows on are still small, but when the vine reaches the tops of the trees it can be pretty hard to get all of it off. We just make sure we cut everything at the roots, so the vine will die.
When we aren’t removing invasive species, my team will be doing a variety of different projects at the DNERR including research and education. We will also be working at the John Dickinson Plantation, which happens to be next door to the Reserve we are staying at. John Dickinson had the distinction of being the only man in the Continental Congress to abstain from voting for Independence from Britain and not signing the Declaration of Independence. Although he believed America could be its own country, he did not believe in the means the rest of the Founding Fathers went about to gain independence, treason and war. Wanting the Declaration of Independence to pass unanimously, he abstained from the vote. We got a tour of the main house on Thursday afternoon with the director of the historical site. The home is presented as it would have looked during the Revolutionary time period of the 1770s. My team and I will work in the Plantation’s herb garden (which is quite large) replanting period appropriate herbs to the time period.
As for my team, we are all getting along really well with each other. For the first week we were here in Delaware, Caleb was in North Carolina for Wild Land Fire Fighting Training. We returned to Delaware on Saturday night. But we still are not a complete team. That morning, Jamie left to join a composite team in New Orleans for four weeks. We are also figuring out shopping for food and eating together. Like I said before, we have $4.50 a day to live on. We shop as a group for the whole week with everyone’s money. Before Saide, Rene, and Caleb went shopping yesterday, I tried to figure out a dinner menu for the week, so we could plan what to eat. So far everything has been going okay. But we did run out of cereal and lunch fixings around Thursday last week, so we had to plan our shopping list around making sure we don’t run out this week. We also have 4 vegetarians on our team, so we have to make sure everyone can eat what we make. They also make yummy vegetarian stuff that I have never tasted like quinoa with onions mushrooms and tofu. Last night I made chicken and potatoes. They made their own asparagus and quinoa and also ate my potatoes. Tonight, I made vegetarian chili with cornbread. It was pretty spicy. I added habaneras and other spicy peppers Maria’s mom got from the Indian store. It turned out really well too.
That’s all for tonight. Hopefully I get into a groove for writing.
In Peace.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Sadie Stone Experience featuring Wolf 3
Apologies for not writing recently, these past weeks have been crazy busy. Last Wednesday we were sorted into our teams for the year. Although it might sound simple, the process for all of us was very nerve racking. NCCC Atlantic region is separated into 3 units, Wolves, Badgers, and Ravens. I am a Wolf along with 79 others. I knew a lot of people before that most of my street (4th street!) but didn't know most of 3rd street. We have had training in our unit, but with 80 people, it is hard to know everybody.
I am getting a little ahead of myself because even before “team reveal” ( I called it sorting) we had a day long diversity training session and the day before that on Tuesday we had Red Cross shelter training. I can honestly say, those two days felt like some of the longest in my life. It was all important information, but very hard to sit through. AmeriCorps works with the Red Cross to respond to disasters. Setting up and running shelters for those who have been displaced is critical to disaster relief. We had to learn how to set up, run, and take down Red Cross disaster shelters. That week we also had a representative from Save the Children speak to us about creating safe spaces for children in these shelters.
So back to Wednesday night… The team reveal FINALLY happened. I am very content with my team too. Sadie is my team leader. She was also my POD leader, so I was happy to find out I would be with her for the rest of the year. Two others, Matt and Maria were also in my POD. I also have some fellow Michiganders on my team, Caleb from Grand Rapids and John from Ann Arbor. I am also with Sara my roommate, another Jamie (not my roommate), Rene from CT, Meaghan from VA, and Zack from CA. We all get along really well, no big drama…yet.
This past Monday we had training called, “Corps Life.” We were filled in on basically the who, what, where, when about our “spikes” which are also referred to as “rounds” here as well. At the end of the presentation they asked a person from every team to the front of the room, I was sitting close to Sadie so I volunteered. It turned out I was volunteering to play a game. The questions were about the presentation like what states does the Atlantic region go to? What were the names of the presenters? Etc…It wasn’t that hard… And I won… the whole game out of the whole campus. It was very exciting especially since I had the whole Wolf unit cheering me on.
Tuesday we did CPR, AED, and First Aid Training… I can save lives now…good information but again a very long day. My roommate Beatriz also made enchiladas that night. Her mom sent her peppers and spices from California because she couldn’t find anything at the supermarket we go to. They were amazing…so much better than the turkey or PP&J sandwiches I eat everyday for lunch.
Wednesday we had some team building exercises and tool training. Since I have been on worksites before, none of the information was new, but it was fun to use some power tools again.
Thursday we had our Perry Point workday. That basically means every NCCC member this whole week has been cleaning out houses that are not being used, hauling around furniture and washer dryers that are not being used etc…cheap labor. Half of my team was at driver training while the other half of us were working in the dorm hauling sets of lockers. I didn’t even count how many sets we had to move out of storage rooms on the 2nd floor dolly to the other side of the building, and then take down 3 flights of stairs to the basement. It took most of the day, but it made me grateful for my teammates.
Today I did an ISP (Independent Service Project). Over the course of the year we have to do 80 hours. Some of my teammates went down to Baltimore to work at The Loading Dock. The Loading Dock is basically a non profit thrift/use again version of Home Depot. When buildings are condemned or demolished, appliances, cabinets, tiles, nails, screws, sinks, toilets etc wind up at The Loading dock, are sold at 1/3 the retail price at cost. They give tax breaks to anyone who donates and discounts to anyone that buys. My team leader Sadie had a spike there last year, and we could still see all the work previous NCCC teams have done there. We could even tell what signs and artwork Sadie had worked on.
I will try to be more faithful to my blogging. The time here is just flying by.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Snowed In
Day 4 @ AmeriCorps
The blizzard that has rocked the East Coast has thrown everyone a little off here, but we are all adjusting. Today we dug 7 vans out of the snow. We also had to share snow shovels. A couiple of us were using trash bins, which worked pretty well for clearing snow. My roomate got hit in the face with a shovel. No worries she is ok now.
We have the rest of the day off, tommorow we are going to our physicals then on a "health and wellness run" which is pretty much a trip to Walmart.
The blizzard that has rocked the East Coast has thrown everyone a little off here, but we are all adjusting. Today we dug 7 vans out of the snow. We also had to share snow shovels. A couiple of us were using trash bins, which worked pretty well for clearing snow. My roomate got hit in the face with a shovel. No worries she is ok now.
We have the rest of the day off, tommorow we are going to our physicals then on a "health and wellness run" which is pretty much a trip to Walmart.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Beginings 2
Hello from Maryland!
It has been a very busy past 2 days! I departed from Detroit at 7 am on Monday morning and arrived in Baltimore a little bit before 9am. However, I didnt leave the airport for another 3 1/2 hours. Because of the crazy snow in Maryland, all the vans here in Perry Point were snowed in and roads were blocked so our welcome party was some what late. Although it was annoying at the time, it turned out to be ok because I was waiting with about 30 other people at the airport and was able to meet new people and make new friends right away...and have some serious bonding time. One of the girls ended up being my room mate and one of the guys ended up being my next door neighbor. Speaking of neighbors...I live in a house... very exciting!
About 1/3 of residences in Perry Point are houses and the other are barracks style six to a room dorms. I lucked out. I live with one other girl in my room, Jamie the girl from the airport, and 4 other girls Sara, Megan, Tracy, and Beatriz in 3 other rooms. Typically I will be living on $4.50 a day, but for the first 3 weeks, we get to live on $5 a day. We pooled our money as a house and ended up with about $210 for the week. Sara and Beatriz went shopping tonight, and did veeeerrryyy well. We spent $209.99 at the store...only off by 1 penny!
I also received my uniform today. 3 regualr tee shirts, 3 long sleeve tee shirts, 3 pairs of pants that are too big, 1 base ball cap, 1 fisherman cap, 1 pair coveralls, 1 fleece vest, 1 hoddie sweatshirt, and 1 winter parka...steel toed boots yet to come.
The past 2 days have been filled with processing and paperwork. Today we were divided into PODS which are going to be our temporary groups for the week. I will not know who is in my long term group for awhile. I'm not sure what I will be doing with this POD, but they are all friendly people, like everyone else here who I have met.
Perry Point is an operating VA on the bank of the Chesapeake Bay. It has its own zip code, since it is Federal land. The town by us is called Perryville. The whole campus and town seem to have some very interesting history, and I want to see if I can do research on them... my house has to be at least 80 years old.
We will most likely have a snow day tommorow...since it is supposed to snow 12 - 16 inches tonight.
I'll have more to report later.
In Peace.
It has been a very busy past 2 days! I departed from Detroit at 7 am on Monday morning and arrived in Baltimore a little bit before 9am. However, I didnt leave the airport for another 3 1/2 hours. Because of the crazy snow in Maryland, all the vans here in Perry Point were snowed in and roads were blocked so our welcome party was some what late. Although it was annoying at the time, it turned out to be ok because I was waiting with about 30 other people at the airport and was able to meet new people and make new friends right away...and have some serious bonding time. One of the girls ended up being my room mate and one of the guys ended up being my next door neighbor. Speaking of neighbors...I live in a house... very exciting!
About 1/3 of residences in Perry Point are houses and the other are barracks style six to a room dorms. I lucked out. I live with one other girl in my room, Jamie the girl from the airport, and 4 other girls Sara, Megan, Tracy, and Beatriz in 3 other rooms. Typically I will be living on $4.50 a day, but for the first 3 weeks, we get to live on $5 a day. We pooled our money as a house and ended up with about $210 for the week. Sara and Beatriz went shopping tonight, and did veeeerrryyy well. We spent $209.99 at the store...only off by 1 penny!
I also received my uniform today. 3 regualr tee shirts, 3 long sleeve tee shirts, 3 pairs of pants that are too big, 1 base ball cap, 1 fisherman cap, 1 pair coveralls, 1 fleece vest, 1 hoddie sweatshirt, and 1 winter parka...steel toed boots yet to come.
The past 2 days have been filled with processing and paperwork. Today we were divided into PODS which are going to be our temporary groups for the week. I will not know who is in my long term group for awhile. I'm not sure what I will be doing with this POD, but they are all friendly people, like everyone else here who I have met.
Perry Point is an operating VA on the bank of the Chesapeake Bay. It has its own zip code, since it is Federal land. The town by us is called Perryville. The whole campus and town seem to have some very interesting history, and I want to see if I can do research on them... my house has to be at least 80 years old.
We will most likely have a snow day tommorow...since it is supposed to snow 12 - 16 inches tonight.
I'll have more to report later.
In Peace.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Beginnings Part 1
The day after Christmas of 2009 I found out I had been accepted to AmeriCorps. I had applied to this program, April 1, the day before my 22 birthday. I had been waitlisted in June. I move to Maryland February 8. For something that has been a long time coming, everything has had to move pretty fast. In one month, my plans have changed dramatically. Graduate School applications have been deffered and put on hold. I have left three jobs. And it is all ok. As my good friend Katelyn says, "Everything happens for a reason." I am excited for these reasons, even though I do not know what they are yet.
I will be stationed in Maryland, but I will be on "spikes" the majority of the time I am in the program. Blog vocab #1 a "spike" is when I will be off the base on a project somewhere. For instance, I could be in in New York tutoring for 4 weeks or Georgia doing Habitat for Humanity like work for 5 weeks. When in Perry Point, Maryland I will be on a base and live in a resident hall setting. When I'm on a spike, I could be in a church basement, a hostel, or camping out in a tent. It is a government run program. I will receive a modest living stipend as well as room and board and food.
For more information on my program. AmeriCorps NCCC you can go to www.americorps.gov
And if your reading... Thanks!
I will be stationed in Maryland, but I will be on "spikes" the majority of the time I am in the program. Blog vocab #1 a "spike" is when I will be off the base on a project somewhere. For instance, I could be in in New York tutoring for 4 weeks or Georgia doing Habitat for Humanity like work for 5 weeks. When in Perry Point, Maryland I will be on a base and live in a resident hall setting. When I'm on a spike, I could be in a church basement, a hostel, or camping out in a tent. It is a government run program. I will receive a modest living stipend as well as room and board and food.
For more information on my program. AmeriCorps NCCC you can go to www.americorps.gov
And if your reading... Thanks!
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