Well as a lot of you know, I left sunny california 2 weeks ago for snowy maryland. My first 2 weeks here in americorps has been great. We havnt done a lot yet, we are still in CTI (corps member training institute) which we have two weeks left of. We have went on a few mini projects though. We went into reservoir hill, which is a really bad area in baltimore and preformed a community clean up. it was a big reality check for me. to see how bad it can be. kids were playing on streets and play grounds littered with drug needles and broken beer bottles everywhere. We got a real great reception from most of the residents. A lot offered us drinks or even to help us. We were able to cover the entire neighborhood and atleast for now make it a little safter for the children. On tuesday we are going to the eastern shores of maryland on a mini spike for two days. I'm not exactally sure what we will be doing. But this will be our first team project. There 14 teams of 12 people here, and after CTI is finished they will pretty much be our family. We go out on spikes for 4-8 weeks. 12 of us in a 12 passenger van that we also have to fit all our shit in. I have got a really great team though. my first day here i met this awesome girl named caitlin at the bar and became great friends with her and it turns out she is on my team. oh my room mates. well there is mike from texas, and kyle (the raz, which i will explain) from texas as well. There is Ben from boston, pat from florida and jim from cinncinati. We spend most nights down at the 'vous. The vous is this great little bar just a short walk from campus. The owner treats us great because most of his business comes from the ameri-kids. Me jim and mike have spent just about every night there which isnt easy when you have 6am or 8am wake ups.
God I can go on forever about my life here and it has only been 2 weeks, it feels like its been much longer. I would strongly encourage some of you that are in between the ages of 18 to 24 to give it some thought, its only been 2 weeks but I have already grown so much. The mix of people is awesome. You have college graduates, people out of highschool and everything in between. Being with these differnt people from all over the country has really opened my eyes.
Well people I really do not want to go on forever and ever because I could. I guess I will end this long ass ramble now. Sometime later I will tell the legend of the raz which will become your favorite story and the video will be an instant internet classic.
God I can go on forever about my life here and it has only been 2 weeks, it feels like its been much longer. I would strongly encourage some of you that are in between the ages of 18 to 24 to give it some thought, its only been 2 weeks but I have already grown so much. The mix of people is awesome. You have college graduates, people out of highschool and everything in between. Being with these differnt people from all over the country has really opened my eyes.
Well people I really do not want to go on forever and ever because I could. I guess I will end this long ass ramble now. Sometime later I will tell the legend of the raz which will become your favorite story and the video will be an instant internet classic.