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 2^nd 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.

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.

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.