3-17-12 (Saturday)
Saturday was interesting. We had "tool" training all day. Basically we went back to the two houses that we had worked on gutting the week before and worked on some rebuilding of those houses. Mostly it was prep work for making the houses livable again. Most of what my team and I were working on was pulling nails off the studs so that drywall could be hung. Also, we worked on supporting some of the studs with L-braces. After lunch we were able to hang some insulation and a 4x12 sheet of drywall. It was nice to be doing construction again.
3-18-12 (Sunday)
This morning a group of us went to an African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was interesting and the members of the church were very welcoming. The church was very glad to see us there as visitors. I really enjoyed the sermon. It was about Josiah and how he repented and turned toward God. The pastor kept making the point that there is nothing new under the sun and that God has a special plan for each one of our lives if only we will dig deep enough to find it.
3-19-12 (Monday)
We had classes in the morning, then headed out for a camping trip in the afternoon. We went to Holly Springs National Forest. Even though we got lost on the way to the park, we were still able to get a good campsite. It was next to the lake with a dock at the site. By the time that our supplies came--they were packed in a cargo van for the whole group, not just our team)--it was dark. It made for a very long day by the time we finally ate supper and set up our tents.
3-20-12 (Tuesday)
We worked most of the day digging up campsites that were rarely used. It involved smashing concrete and taking apart picnic tables. A fun day, but physically intense. As we went to make supper, we found out that the main part of supper somehow had never been packed to take camping. Therefore most of the team went shopping for supper, I was too tired to go shopping and stayed at the campsite. By the time they got back with food, it was pretty late. Again, a very long day. We decided to sleep on the dock instead of in the tents that night. It was nice to look up at the stars, but it was a bad night sleep wise.
3-21-12 (Wednesday)
Ropes course day--we were kinda robbed though, a rain storm came in well we were still at the course. I enjoyed doing all of the low elements, and pushed myself through my fear of heights and climbed a 30 foot wall and zip-lined to the bottom. It was really scary, but I had fun doing it and would do it again!
3-22-12 (Thursday)
We went to Jackson because the state congress wanted to give us an award. My team was not one of the teams chosen to be presented with the award. Instead, we went to the old Capitol building, which had been converted into a museum. I really enjoyed touring the museum. In the afternoon we had some more classes for specialty role training. Dave and I are what is called VST (vehicle, safety, tools), basically, we are in charge of the van, safety wherever we are, and taking care of the tools. Heidi and I are Peer Helpers, which is basically like a counselor only without all the training--we are there for the members of the team and if need be refer them to a team leader or the counselor. It was also one of my team-mates (Alex) birthday. His parents had arraigned to get him a cake for his birthday and Max (our team leader) let me in on the secret and picked it up from the office and hid it. It was a fun night.
3-23-12 (Friday)
In the morning we had our last PT as a Corps. Afterwards we worked on a presentation that we needed to present that day. Max also asked me (spur of the moment) to be his assistant team leader for this project. It wasn't really a shock that he asked me, it was more of the short notice and the added sense of responsibility that threw me for a loop for a little bit. The rest of the day was spent in meeting aver meeting. After the meetings, I fell asleep until supper time, then went straight to bed after supper.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Week 2
3-12-12 (Monday)
We had lecture all morning about the different dangers of mucking and gutting houses that have been affected by a disaster. Most of it was review for me. After lunch we were able to go to a couple of houses that were flooded last year and work on them. Not only were we doing the mucking out, but we also started working on the rebuilding by replacing some of the rotten studs.
3-13-13 (Tuesday)
All day was spent in lecture. Tuesday was a very big night for us--that is when we found who is on our permanent teams. We were told a charade to act out (a taxi cab driver) and to find all the other people that were acting out the same charade. Then we were sent on a scavenger hunt to find out who our team leader was and where he was hiding. It was fun and frustrating at the same time. I only knew a few of my new team members. After getting some help from one of the other team leaders (one of our clues was stolen), we finally figured out where our team leader was hiding. I was happy to find out that our team leader is Max. He is laid-back and likes to find humor in every situation. After a team meeting, some of the team went shopping for food for the next couple of days. I made the mistake of going with them--we were out shopping until 11 pm.
3-14-12 (Wednesday)
Wednesday started out bright and early with physical training in the morning. Afterwards we had a fun day doing Hands of Peace as a new team. Hands of Peace is a training tool to help teams build unity and community. I really enjoyed the day. We also came up with a working draft of our team charter (rules to live by as a team). In the afternoon I was told that I would be moving rooms earlier than the rest of the campus. So I packed up and was moved a few hours later. The nice part is that I already knew my new room-mate.
3-15-12 (Thursday)
Instead of being in class all day, we volunteered around the community. My team ended up working at the local Salvation Army. Most of us worked outside clearing some logs and brush that the Salvation Army volunteers had already cut down. I really enjoyed the opportunity to work outside all day.
3-16-12 (Friday)
Physical training in the morning was fun. We went around the gym as a team and did different things at different stations. It was challenging but fun. That night we also had room changes, but I didn't need to switch rooms again, which was nice to not have to do again.
I know that this is about a week out of date--but just so you guys know, in a couple of days we will be heading out on our first project. We will be working in Pikeville Tennessee at two state parks. At Fall Creek Falls State Park we will be maintaining trails, and at Cummins Falls State Park we will be clearing new trails in preparation for the park opening. I am super excited about working at both parks, they have waterfalls that rival Ithaca!
We had lecture all morning about the different dangers of mucking and gutting houses that have been affected by a disaster. Most of it was review for me. After lunch we were able to go to a couple of houses that were flooded last year and work on them. Not only were we doing the mucking out, but we also started working on the rebuilding by replacing some of the rotten studs.
3-13-13 (Tuesday)
All day was spent in lecture. Tuesday was a very big night for us--that is when we found who is on our permanent teams. We were told a charade to act out (a taxi cab driver) and to find all the other people that were acting out the same charade. Then we were sent on a scavenger hunt to find out who our team leader was and where he was hiding. It was fun and frustrating at the same time. I only knew a few of my new team members. After getting some help from one of the other team leaders (one of our clues was stolen), we finally figured out where our team leader was hiding. I was happy to find out that our team leader is Max. He is laid-back and likes to find humor in every situation. After a team meeting, some of the team went shopping for food for the next couple of days. I made the mistake of going with them--we were out shopping until 11 pm.
3-14-12 (Wednesday)
Wednesday started out bright and early with physical training in the morning. Afterwards we had a fun day doing Hands of Peace as a new team. Hands of Peace is a training tool to help teams build unity and community. I really enjoyed the day. We also came up with a working draft of our team charter (rules to live by as a team). In the afternoon I was told that I would be moving rooms earlier than the rest of the campus. So I packed up and was moved a few hours later. The nice part is that I already knew my new room-mate.
3-15-12 (Thursday)
Instead of being in class all day, we volunteered around the community. My team ended up working at the local Salvation Army. Most of us worked outside clearing some logs and brush that the Salvation Army volunteers had already cut down. I really enjoyed the opportunity to work outside all day.
3-16-12 (Friday)
Physical training in the morning was fun. We went around the gym as a team and did different things at different stations. It was challenging but fun. That night we also had room changes, but I didn't need to switch rooms again, which was nice to not have to do again.
I know that this is about a week out of date--but just so you guys know, in a couple of days we will be heading out on our first project. We will be working in Pikeville Tennessee at two state parks. At Fall Creek Falls State Park we will be maintaining trails, and at Cummins Falls State Park we will be clearing new trails in preparation for the park opening. I am super excited about working at both parks, they have waterfalls that rival Ithaca!
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