Well, I'll start off with my picture links...I of course have PLENTY, since it's been generations since I've posted anything on here. So here it goes, bear with me, it's a possibility that it'll be a long one...so DEEP BREATH NOW! READY? SET. GO!
My Last Two Albums From Camden:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120430&l=438e3&id=501785225
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=130627&l=48d4b&id=501785225 ( and a little bit from transistion at The Point in Maryland)
NEW YORK CITY!:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120161&l=696b5&id=501785225
Hmmm, where to start? I finished off my second round in Camen, NJ. It was such an awesome round. Very relaxing, and very fun. However, I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more change in the city...I have a little place in my heart for Camden...I hope to go back someday and maybe help out more. That's all I really have to say about Jersey.
Oh, some news, my team recieved a new teammate after losing another. It was a major loss to see Jared go, he had a large part in motivating the team. But luckily we got to take Tisha under our wing. She's a ton of fun and it's been great to have her around. I'm bonding with her better than most on my team. It's been hard to be real close with my teammates, we just don't have a lot of commonalities, but Tisha has really changed that around for me. I'm excited to have her around.
We also got to take time off during the round to make a weekend trip to NYC! First time there, and I think I still have mixed feelings about it. First of all, it's too big to explore in a weekend. EVERYTIME YOU GET OUT OF THE SUBWAY, IT'S AS IF YOU'RE IN A WHOLE NEW CITY! Every part of the city looks completely different...it's astonishing. We had a relaxing weekend away, we stayed with a cousin of one of my teammates. And all decided we didn't want to do the REALLY touristy thing. We wanted a weekend to chill, so we just walked around aimlessly and some teammates met up with some friends. We had cookouts on mini-grills on the streets of New York City. Wild...no back yards makes it hard to have a cookout. Driving up to the city was like looking at a photograph. It's so large, it looks surreal. I just still haven't decided if I'd ever want to live in a large city, I think I'm meant to be a small town girl. I love my nature too much, speaking off, not impressed with central park...it's just another walk in the woods but with a sidewalk path. However, I understand how the residents of the city could really enjoy it. There's my analysis on New York City...Oh, and I ate a lot of great food there...(that's one thing different parts of our country has to offer, different but great food!)
So I sadly had to leave my team to join this program I've been waiting for called Summer of Service. I went through a week of supervisory training, and MAYBE learned a lot. Quite honestly, I'm still not sure what I was suppose to get out of it. I don't think anything can really "prepare" you to deal with the raging hormones and attitudes of 14-17 yr olds who have been through a massive natural disaster. These kids have experienced more than most people can even imagine, there really isn't even a way to emphasize with them. Nothing compares to a hurricane wiping out your entire city. Some of the kids on my team stayed in New Orleans during the storm and when the levees broke. One of them was stuck on their roof, and swam to a bridge to be saved. Another was stuck on a hotel roof for 5 days, waiting for the passing helicopters to finally pick him up...at age 11, later to be seperated from his parents and left to take care of his 7 yr old sister for a month, alone! Intense...I know. But these are just a little bit of light into two of these kids stories. And there are thousands of more kids with thousands of more stories. New Orleans can't be forgotten... These kids need help from anywhere they can get it. But furthermore, I've been leading these kids in service projects, which for some is their first time really working...and it's been an experience. I applaud every parent in the world. You've got to have a backbone to raise a kid. I've been with them a week, and WOW! That's all the words I have to describe the attitude on these kids. The complaints are neverending, and their energy is overwhelming. I have two co-crew leaders. And in the nicest way possible they are pretty uptight, so it's been challenging for me. I've never had to step up and be the energy and the fun in really any situation. I've always been scared of "punishing" someone and always been afraid to speak in public. But I have been put into a situation where I have to face my fears. I've done things from making a fool of myself in community meetings to introduce myself to sounding like my mother because the kids are making fun of a mentally handicapped kid on my team. These kids have brought me to an all time high but also know how to make my blood boil. It's been an emotional roller coaster ride this month and I've had to deal with all these new things coming at me, but I've decided to let God take control. I can honestly say everyday here has been a good one! Even though these kids can through curveballs into any situation and the staff running this program keep us on our toes with an everchanging schedule and duty from 2a.m. - 6 a.m., not to mention the 100 weeks I'm pulling, I've been keeping my optimism. I've stepped back and realized in order to keep my sanity, I need to just be laidback and flexible. This has freakishly been really easy for me, even with the challenges, being here for these kids has come so naturally, it scares me.
Last but not least, You are all on my minds and in my prayers. I may not have the time to keep in contact as much as I'd like. But I love each and everyone of you...I hope all is well & I'll be home soon! :) Can't wait...ONLY 4 MONTHS LEFT!
