Service Learning

In high school my fellow students and I were expected to serve our community in one way or another for a measly 20 hours per school year.  I was recently laughing with one of my fellow AmeriCorps about the requirement of 20 hours, because now we do more than that in a few days!  True, we receive a stipend and healthcare and some food assistance, but many of us have commented that it feels like we won the lottery with these "jobs" because we used to carve time out of our already busy schedules to do activities like the kind we do on a daily basis now...mentor and tutor undeserved students, staff a fundraiser for a community organization, childcare for family service groups, or (like the service project I helped with this past Saturday) yard work for elderly patrons who wish to stay in their own homes as they age.  I decided I really did want to be part of this service project because it hit close to home.

 I have two grandparents who each live in their own homes and are fairly independent.  I wish I was closer to each of them so I could be the one who was helping them with whatever they needed around the house.  But, this time, we were helping Pam.  Through a great program called Paint the Town, older people who are living in their own homes but are not able to do all the upkeep included in home ownership are paired with groups, like AmeriCorps, who come and do the heavy lifting to get the upkeep things done.  This weekend, six AmeriCorps went out along with employees of a local bank and warehouse store.  Some of us painted, some did yard work, some got up on the roof and scraped off buckets and buckets and buckets of moss, and some, like Megan, became Queen of the Wood Garden.

Megan did a great job envisioning how to clean up where A LOT of wood had been stashed.  To say I was impressed with the way she figured out a way to sort, stack, and reorganize all the wood that was there would be an understatement!  She rocks!  While I was assisting in this process I found some really awesome looking spiders, and couple salamanders and one very large rat who's surfacing resulted in a very large, surprised scream from me and Megan.

Dividing the fruit up

Pam and the director of Paint the Town were incredibly hospitable to our group.  They let us take the leftovers of the snacks that were there.  Fresh fruit is even better when it's free! Through Megan's fearless inquiries 124 W 5th Street is also the proud new owners of a push mower!  We had been hoping we could get one so we could avoid having to borrow one from someone, as well as avoiding the gas that goes into most mowers and therefore the gross pollutants and emissions that go along with the gas mowers!  124 is all about reducing our carbon footprint and being good earth stewards!  Which is why Megan also finagled some awesome wood pieces that will enable us to build our first raised bed to grow some of our own food!

No service to the community would be complete without learning, too!  The tangible act I learned this time was how to tape windows and doors in prep for spray painting.  May seem small, but maybe it will come in handy later on down the road.  Non tangible learning:  I'm lucky to be living with an ingenious woman.  I am lucky to have ended up in an area where neighbors help neighbors (even if we don't know of each other before a community group asks for volunteers).  I can't imagine not being able to be part of this community and not being able to do a few small things that are hopefully helpful to someone.  I really do wonder sometimes how I got to have the best "job" I could ask for right now.

Universal Language

In the past week (last Thursday to today) I feel as if the Universe has been sending me signs.  I'm not sure what all of them mean, or what they are supposed to teach me or show me, but I would like the Universe to know that I am paying attention and am ready for what comes my way.

On Monday I finally saw where I would be working at the after school program, and on Tuesday I met the kids!  The after school program houses anywhere from 20-30 students per day, with an average of 26.  These are students from first through sixth grade with almost an even distribution of students per grade.  Within five minutes of the program starting on Tuesday, one little boy had blood pouring out of his mouth.  There were three more injuries bad enough to have injury reports conducted that day, including one of my supervisors who broke both bones in her wrist!  OUCH!

Through the whole week my car has had a very hot engine.  The temperature gauge reads as hot as it can go.  Yes, I am very aware driving a car in this condition can damage the engine.  I'm taking it in tomorrow to be looked at.  The thing is, I had almost the exact same problem five weeks ago and thought I had it fixed.  Such is life.

As I've been working at "my" elementary school I've been able to start to get to know some of the students including some of the ones that attend the after school program.  As I have been walking through the halls or the lunchroom I'm reminded of one of the benefits of being around elementary school students: all the hugs and "Hi, Miss Julia!" I have also been reminded of the attitudes and meltdowns and crises that are ever-present.  

On that note, today I got my first official "I don't care what you say, I'm going to do what I want!" and today was also the first day one of the kids swore in front of me...and a van full of other students.  What do I do in that situation? ...in the pouring rain, after all of them have been loaded in and the staff has finally figured out how to shut the van door and all the kids are looking to me to see what I'm going to do?  What did I do?  Give him my best "teacher look" and told him in a stern voice we were going to talk about it later.  

When I've been spinning in the chaos of this week I have been trying to take snapshots in my mind to remember these first few days.  I've also been reminding myself that this is where I want to be.  This is where I choose to be.  Actively choose to be here everyday.  I choose to do my best and listen to the universe and learn as much as I can and do my best to smile often, which of course is the one phrase that is universally (Earthly?) understood.   

Emerald City, Take I

Yesterday I went with most of my AmeriCorps team across the sound to Seattle.  It had been a few years since I had been on a ferry and really enjoyed it!  Even if I was on a big-ish boat I was happy to be on the water.  I was also happy to enjoy the ride on the "sun" deck with a lot of the team and be excited as a group to see the Seattle skyline come into clearer view, as well as see Mount Rainier.

My roommates, Marie and Megan, and our friend Suze, and I took a hike and went to the REI.  Megan showed us an amazing thing...the bargain basement!  So, needless to say, REI is an even more dangerous place for me in Seattle.  As we journeyed to REI we passed the big "Public Market" sign, as well as the Space Needle.  I had a fun time walking around the city like I hadn't since I was there over four years ago with Kath.  Feeling the street under my feet, hearing the different languages swirl around me, the diversity in the population... it all helped with the little bit of homesickness I've had.  Next time I'll have to find a good Mexican food place!  Then I'll really know I could survive up here for a while :)

The official reason for the team going to Seattle was to go to the Red Sox, I mean Mariners, game.  As we were walking to the stadium we naturally found our way to a brewery.  After we fueled up with food and some delicious beer we finally got to the game and then took another hike up to our seats.  Who says nosebleeds are bad seats?  I think some of the most entertaining sports patrons sit there!  Ha!

I had a good time cheering for both teams and having a seat where I could look directly at the Space Needle!  The usher for our section was really excited that we were part of AmeriCorps.  It's funny, in the short time I've been here I've met a lot of people who are very supportive and excited about AmeriCorps being in this community.  From the stadium to the ferry terminal all 40 of us walked along together in what felt like an elementary school field trip.  "Does everyone know where their buddy is?"  It was fun though; I talked to a few more people I hadn't really had a chance to yet.  It's hard when there's such a big group of us to get to know everyone in some manner in a week and a half.  On the other hand I have had some really enjoyable times and talks with some new friends, including the ride home from the ferry.  When I got home I was smiling big after a ride with good conversation, good music, the moon playing peek-a-boo behind the clouds and the stars making a guest appearance.  Not sure if I followed a yellow brick road, and I'm not exactly in the Emerald City, but I feel like I'm meeting new friends who will teach me a lot about myself and life and who I'm sure I'll go on adventures with that will change my life forever.

Love Thy Neighbor

This afternoon, as I was home alone, there was a know on my back door.  I looked out and there was a somewhat scraggly looking older man standing on my stoop. Don't be alarmed, though!  My roommate Megan and I met him yesterday while he and his wife were picking pears from the pear tree that is in our backyard.  He was simply following through on his word that he'd come back today and bring a ladder for us to use to be able to pick more pears, as well as a jar of blackberry jam his wife made.  My pancakes won't know what hit them tomorrow morning!

His coming back today got me thinking about community, both the existing one I have moved into and will hopefully become part of, as well as the one my AmeriCorps teammates seem to want to create.  When I had the choice of accepting a position in Seattle or the position here one of the biggest factors in choosing PA was that I knew there would be a larger group that I hoped would want to create a sort of community.  For the past few years I have not counted on people to stay true to their word.  Well, that's not true.  The people I have been close to for many years I trust.  However, as I have met new acquaintances I have not ever expected them to act on what they say they might do.  Not sure when this started, but I guess I'd rather be pleasantly surprised by someone than let down.  Except now, in PA, it seems this outlook of mine will be changed.  Maybe it's the type of people that this AmeriCorps team is comprised of.  Maybe it's a different mindset the citizens of the Olympic Peninsula posses.  Either way, this week has been full of reminders that my past does not dictate my future, and while I can incorporate what I have learned I can not use my past experiences as a basis for what this new chapter of life will bring.

"Intentional Community" has been a buzz phrase for me this year.  To me, intentional community is something that everyone involved takes time to build the space they're in into somewhere they feel safe, included, welcomed, and appreciated.  It has occurred to me in the past few days though that a large part of it is also the INTENT that I (and everyone involved) bring to the community.  I have frequently been asking myself what type of world to I want to live in?  So the real question would be, "What are my intentions for my community?" in whatever community I'm in at the moment; my AmeriCorps team, my neighborhood, my global community.

My roommate, Megan, said something the other night that reminded me that people learn best and change their behavior most easily when they are guided by example rather than yelled at and told they are flat out wrong.  My neighbors' generosity and my teammates' welcoming and inclusive attitudes are definitely behaviors I intend to mimic and hopefully integrate into my daily life so that I may be able to participate in building community around myself, as well as being able to become folded into the community here.

Tree Hugging Already

Today was more training, but half the day was on a challenge course, or ropes course.  All 38 of us headed into the woods of Peninsula College and quickly became ready to work as a team, helping each other out, being spotters for each other and encouraging all of our team through some of the more challenging parts of the "Mohawk Walk."  We swung around trees, and had to hug them to stabilize ourselves; for me this was nothing new...

In the very beginning of the challenge course the challenge director talked to us about being spotters for our team on the "wobbly log."  We put our arms up for the walker to hold, kept on eye on them, and even when they had passed us we kept an eye on them just in case they fell backwards.  As could easily be predicted we then discussed how this was applicable to our lives, and specifically our AmeriCorps positions.  We talked about how it will be important for us to have "spotters" in our lives and to make sure those people know they WILL be called on throughout the year when each of us have challenges and mis-steps and those times where we just need to be held up by someone.

Thankfully, I know I have several people I can use as my spotters, possibly all at the same time.  My family is amazing, as are my friends.  When I have an issue I know that if I pick up the phone I can, without fail, reach someone who will listen and support and send love and energy my way.  From what I've seen from my new teammates I will also be able to look to them for encouragement and help and support.  Even when I thought I didn't do very well at points through the day I found smiles and help and, literally, outstretched hands ready to help.

My thoughts at the end of the day were about how I hope I can be a spotter for people, and can give that support to others just as they give it to me.  This includes my new teammates, but also, and just as important, my family and friends that are no longer a short walk or car ride away.  Because, we all "get by with a little help from our friends..."

Walkin' Along, Singin' My Song

A week ago I had not even left for Port Angeles, WA (or PA). My car and my parents' van were about to burst from being packed with so many of my belongings; I was about to burst from being excited, nervous, and READY to be on my journey to the next chapter of my life. I had so many questions about what my new life would be like, what my new house mates would be like, what my new job would be like, and what new elements of myself might emerge. I will say this about the trip up: California gave me a beautiful send-off sunset, and PA welcomed me with blue, cloudless skies and amazing views from my backyard of the mountains of Olympic National Park.

Overview of my house: It's cute, two stories, has a bright yellow kitchen, and a living room so big my roomies and I have decided to effectively make it into two different living spaces. There is a pretty big backyard that has a loaded pear tree, mint plants, and a rosemary plant in it, as well as a fun little small swing on another unidentified tree. A few rosebushes, a lilac, hydrangea, and other flowering plants are planted around the sides of the house.

My roomies: Marie and Megan. Both are wonderful! I feel like each of them will bring out different sides of me and I am excited about that, as I'm hoping it will keep me balanced in my time here. Between the three of us we have managed to make this new house feel like a home. Also, we currently have Chad staying with us so he doesn't have to commute from Port Townsend everyday for two weeks while our group does our first trainings. I think Marie's dog, Chase, appreciates another male in the house :)

My AmeriCorps team: Once again, I have been reminded not to assume what a group will be like. I had assumed it would be 30 of us who are recent college graduates from all over who wanted to make a difference in our country, but who were also facing a daunting task of finding a "real" job in the "real world." There are many of us who fit the above description; but there are also retirees and high school graduates, and many more "locals" than I thought there might be.

Yesterday was the mind numbing first day of training. Paperwork up the wazoo. Gray and misty morning walk there. Today though, I got to know more of my teammates and got a better idea of how powerful AmeriCorps members can be in this community. Walking home the sun was shining, the mountains were visible, and so was the Straight of Juan de Fuca. I know I will have many challenges this year, but for today I am thrilled to be here and am excited for when I'll finally be able to start my assignment at my site. With the sun shining on my face and the salty sea breeze coming past I couldn't ask for much more right now.

on my walk home today!