Something Old, Something New

This past weekend one of my very best friends, Lani, and her husband, Aaron, came to visit me!  It took me almost the whole first day they were here to realize part of my California world was in my Washington world.  I was so happy to see them, and have an "excuse" to go exploring!

Shining sun & a yummy breakfast!

On Friday Lani, Aaron, Megan and I headed out to the west end of the peninsula.  I had seen signs a few weeks ago for Cape Flattery, the "most Northwestern point of the continental United States."  I'd also heard some great things about that area.  After making a delicious and filling breakfast of Chocolate Chip Pancakes we packed a picnic basket of snacks and piled into my car.

Surfer Beach, Beach Babes

We decided that on the way to Cape Flattery we would stop wherever looked interesting.  The first place we stopped at was an unmarked beach that had some amazing views and seemed to be a popular surf spot.  There were about 10 surfers in the short waves; usually I am envious of surfers being out on the water, but not that day!  The water seemed too cold, and some surfers even had wet suit head coverings!  Brrrrrrr!  After collecting some driftwood, rocks, shells, and pictures we climbed back into the car and continued west.

The Ascent

As we drove along Highway 112 we kept seeing places where one or two cars could fit, parked just off the side of the road.  I announced to the car that the next one we came to I was going to pull over so we could check out more of the coast line.  I couldn't have made this announcement at a better time because the next pull-out was an amazing little spot!  There were tide pools where we spotted some hermit crabs and there were also two sets of large rocks that were calling our names to go climb them.  Megan made it up first and coached me up behind her.  From the top of the rocks we had an uninterrupted view of the floating objects we pretended were otters, the strait across to Vancouver Island, and two container ships cruising by. After Megan was done pretending she was Ariel singing "Part of Your World" (the waves crashing on the rocks beckoned the song, really...) we climbed down, avoided the incoming tide that was surrounding the rocks we had used to climb up, and headed over the to "cave" Lani had found.  After a little bit more water-evading we were surrounded by boulders, but could see through some small openings to the waves.  Magical.

After a few hours of driving, laughing, chatting, and snacking we made it to Cape Flattery.  When we got to the parking lot for the trail we looked around for some clue as to how long the hike down and back was going to be.  None of the signs said anything.  Ever fearless and friendly Lani asked a guy in the parking lot who told us it was 3/4 of a mile down there, parts of the trail were really muddy, and it was a steep climb coming back up.  Well, we were already there, so why not make the last bit of the trek?  I am so glad we did!  First of all, the trail was a little bit muddy, but not the kind that tries to suck off your shoes or anything.  Second of all, at least half of the trail was boardwalk or had wooden stepping stones.  There were lookout points along the way that provided some amazing views.  The vegetation reminded me of a mix between the coastline in California near Monterey and the parts of Alaska that I saw.  There were caves the water crashed into.  I wondered what those caves will look like, or how big they'll be, in 100 or 1000 years from now.  The sun was already starting to set and if the clouds had parted a little more it would have created quite the show.  Aaron was nice enough to drive home.  After a taco and cake dinner we all hit the hay pretty early to get ready for another day of exploration.

Saturday Lani, Aaron, and I left in the opposite direction on the peninsula out to Port Townsend.  That day we just relaxed, ate a delicious lunch, window shopped, and had coffee at a cozy place that serves fair trade coffee and offers raw milk for their drinks.  After walking around a little bit more we went home and Lani and I got ready to go out and dance to Deadwood Revival, the bluegrass band I saw on Halloween.  Lani, Megan, some more AmeriCorps girls, and I danced and had a great time.  Sunday morning brought the departure of Lani and Aaron.  I so enjoyed their visit and getting to spend some time with these long time friends.


Today there was no school so I got to sleep in and relax a bit.  I went to the Tribal Center with Megan to sort out some of the materials we have and to try and figure out how to best utilize our time and tangible resources so the kids get the most out of both.  Tomorrow brings a time to test out our talk.  The wind and rain are blowing hard outside tonight, but I am cozy inside listening to the soundtrack of my house (Alexi Murdoch from the "Away We Go" soundtrack) and Megan's infectious laughter.  Yep, life is still really, really great.

I have been here no time at all.  I have been here forever.

As I walk down the streets, drive up the mountains, ride across the peninsula, I have this intense feeling of wholeness.  Not sure if it's the work I'm doing, where I physically am, perhaps the people I am surrounding myself with...combination of all of the above.

Last week was one of the more difficult weeks I've had in a while.  Parts of my job are just flat out unpleasant and hard on my heart.  Yes, I was warned there would be times when one of my students would come up to me and tell me about things I would then have to report because I am a mandated reporter.  It just feels so much different than I thought it might.  The mornings were literally dark and the days of the sun shining on the snowy mountain tops were waning.  I was sick and doing my best to keep up with the various tasks last week demanded from me.  I felt the pinch of procrastination that only I could have prevented.

La Push

However, I am lucky because after long work weeks I get to be re-energized by some amazing weekends.  Halloween weekend some friends and I went out to see a local "bluegrass meets the Grateful Dead" band.  The next day a bunch of AmeriCorps headed out to La Push to help with a Halloween Carnival.  I was so pleasantly surprised to see the ocean when we rounded a bend!  Marie and I took a walk down the beach before we went in and frosted HUNDREDS of pumpkin-shaped cookies.  There is a river that literally flows into the ocean and I was stoked because I had never seen that before!  After the carnival was over I ran down to the beach, sat on a tree trunk and just lifted my face to the salty sea spray and the droplets tumbling from the clouds that had rolled in.

Tarboo Bay

This past weekend was another rejuvenating one.  A couple of us from Port Angeles rolled across to Port Townsend to meet up with other AmeriCorps to pull some terribly invasive English Ivy along Tarboo Creek.  Even though there were some frustrating moments (how do the roots just keep going?!?), my sides hurt from laughing so much throughout the day.  We had a great crew with lots of questionable commentary that somehow fit the day perfectly.  After calling it a day on pulling ivy we headed down the road and found some apple trees full of apples ready for us to pick.  Apparently a few from the group were industrious and have already made applesauce and other apple items from the bags and bags we acquired.  Maybe it's because working outside and in the dirt is still a relatively new and novel activity for me, but I was so "blissed out" Saturday.  When I got home I was caked in mud and had been poked and stung by blackberry bushes and other unidentified "pokey things."  My lungs were also filled with fresh air and my cheeks were still warming up from the wind that swept in the last few minutes while we were pulling out ivy.  At this point, I couldn't imagine a more relaxing Saturday afternoon.

Eight Day Weekend

Quick recap of how work has been:  crazy busy; calming of steep learning curve; relationship building with students and seeing improvements with them and their school work; feeling like I'm gaining trust and more support from the teachers I work with.

Now onto the other, slightly more fun things that have been going on lately.

Last Friday the North Olympic AmeriCorps Team traveled to Seattle to participate in the Washington State AmeriCorps Launch.  Left the house at 5:30 a.m.  Met up with most of the PA team at the Y at 5:45 a.m.  Slept in the back of the van on the way to the ferry.  Took one of the free buses to the Seattle Center and felt like a tour group.  We had our matching AmeriCorps sweatshirts on and were walking around, slightly directionally challenged, underneath the Space Needle.  The launch was fine, with some good rhythm exercises that were of course related back to how we can approach this next year (or so) of our lives.  Lunch at an upscale, but yummy, taqueria with Megan, Meaghan, and Suze.  Disaster preparedness training where the entire group got a case of the giggles.  A younger version of Ellen DeGeneres led the training so at least it was entertaining!  Got back later that night to have an English gentleman cook for me and Megan in our cheery, yellow kitchen.  I attempted to get to sleep early, but that didn't happen.  I ended up taking more of a nap that night rather than a full night's sleep to prepare me for the drive to Vancouver the next day.

Megan and I left our house, for the second day in a row, before 6:00 a.m.  Got to the Port Townsend ferry with plenty of time and in time to watch the sun rise over the San Juan Islands.  You know, just my everyday life!  The drive was easy until we got to Vancouver, which I find really difficult to drive in.  Maybe, just maybe, this time I got a better feel for at least part of the city.  Megan and I got to my friend Haig's apartment where she climbed into the couch for a nap and Haig and I went for a delicious and lovely brunch with Haig's parents.  Afterwards it was my turn to join in on the nap action.  Finally, Megan, Haig and I managed to rouse ourselves and take a walk around his neighborhood gathering ingredients for dinner.  Vegetable and shrimp risotto.  YUM!  Later in the evening we went to see the last show of The Parallels and basically had a grand old time early into the morning.

Sunday morning brought my tour of Vancouver to Megan, which really just consisted of me driving her to the west end to Stanley Park.  It was super pretty, decked out in its fall colors.  We opted for the "truck" border crossing in hopes of avoiding a two hour wait like the one I went through in July.  It worked!  After we crossed back into the USofA I got in contact with my friend Riley and made plans to meet up and have an adventure in Anacortes.  First order of business, find delicious food for lunch.  Riley led us to a new chowder house that did not disappoint.  He suggested we take our food up to a lookout on Mount Erie, which we did and the views were amazing.   The sky met the water, and at some points I really could not tell which was which.  We also saw two bald eagles really close up, maybe 50 feet away.  I am learning that in certain parts of the world bald eagles are actually viewed as somewhat pesky animals.  From the cold, windy view point we went to Riley's house and warmed and woke up with some delicious coffee.  Went to another park with more great views of the islands and water and some cool looking trees.  Riley escorted us off the island and lead us to Deception Pass where we parted ways for the time being.

Megan and I returned home to our lovely housemate, Marie, who we had wished was with us on our adventure!  We got to relive some of our favorite weekend memories while we told her about the loads of silly things we got ourselves into.  I was exhausted from the weekend but so happy to see some people during it who I have known for a while.  It's kinda crazy how there were some moments where my friends looked at me and just knew what I was thinking and feeling.  They know me fairly well and I had forgotten how comforting a feeling it was to not always have to explain when I was kidding or describe how I really felt about something because they just know.  I wear my heart on my sleeve, but sometimes I think it might take people a little bit to figure just how transparent I am when it comes to my emotions.  Even though I got very, very, very little sleep this weekend (which those who know me well know is essential for me 98.5% of the time) it was exactly what I needed.  Gorgeous people and gorgeous land and gorgeous experiences.  I have to pinch myself sometimes.  <3

True Colors Shine Through...

For about the past week the weather has been amazing here.  Yes, a little colder than I am used to in mid-October (I'd still be wearing sandals in Sacramento!), but it has been beautiful. I wasn't sure how many fall colors I would get the see in the "Evergreen State" but I have been very pleasantly surprised.  I have said so many times that I wished I had my camera with me, but for now I'll just have to describe some of the glory that is surrounding me.

These days the sun is rising as I am leaving the house for work.  Although getting up in the dark is not my favorite thing, walking out to see the sky painted purple with hints of pink and indigo with a few stars lingering is fast becoming one of my favorite things.  The deciduous trees that are here dot the hill and mountain sides with organic golden patterns.  I love seeing the autumnal, golden rays of morning sun glinting off the trees and piercing any lasting fog that's sleeping in the fields.  This morning as I turned down the road to get towards my school the golden leaves shimmered in the sunlight and I looked across the Strait and saw the purple, blue, green mountain tips on Vancouver Island pushing through the low laying clouds.  

Yesterday as my friend Benny and I were walking along the waterfront we decided to walk up a tower that's on the pier here in Port Angeles.  The day was incredibly clear and we could see the buildings of Victoria almost as clearly as you can see San Francisco from across the Bay on a clear day.  Sure, the buildings looked a tad smaller, but still, super clear. 

I love looking up to the mountains on these clear days.  I find myself daydreaming about what the mountain faces look like up close; how the mountain would feel under me if I could magically fly up and sit on one of the ridges for a minute.  The windows from the staff room at school give uninterrupted views of the mountains, so not only do I get fuel for my body on my lunch break, but for my soul and spirit as well.  Today was especially gorgeous.  I watched as the mountains turned from purple in the morning light to golden brown and almost red in the afternoon sunlight.  

Even if I did have a camera with me i know that any photo I take wouldn't be able to capture this beauty and do it justice. 

And A Hush Fell Over the Crowd!

I am still learning; I still struggle with parts of my job; I still am positive I made the right choice taking this position and moving here.

Just a fairly quick post about a few successful moments that help me feel like I'm doing more that keeping my head above water.  There is a little girl who I have been reading with (or who has been reading to me) the past few days.  Yesterday she told me that reading with me "is fun" and wanted to know if she could read with me everyday.  Even when I correct her pronunciation, or ask her to go back and read a whole paragraph again she smiles at me and agrees!  I am humbled when she looks up at me with a happy, quizzical look in her eye and asks "Did I say that word right?"

Today at the after school program one of the students asked if we could just have five minutes of quiet time at the beginning of the homework period.  I responded to her request, and spontaneously announced that from now on the first five minutes of homework time would be done in silence and if the students needed help or had a question they were to raise their hands and one of the three staff would come as quickly as possible.  To my astonishment, all 15 of them zipped their lips and got right to homework.  A few instantaneously raised their hands for help and wiggled them in the air until we got a chance to go to them, but at least it's a start.  I am hoping it will work from here on out.  When the students left I felt calm and relaxed instead of trying to get my head to stop spinning like I have every other day thus far.

One of my FAVORITES of us!

For whatever reason during the past week I have had a wave of homesick-ness wash over me.  Besides really missing the #23 at Oscar's Very Mexican Food I miss the so many little things about home.  The everyday antics of my sister; how she and I would simultaneously go from watching the 3:30 Jeopardy! episode to doing homework to napping to cooking dinner to heading down the street to Rubicon; being silly and having the same sense of humor and laughing at the same things at the same time and having people think we were leaving them out of a joke!

In front of BnN's, a fav coffee shop

I miss living five blocks from one of my best friends.  Especially because I am convinced after he helped me learn/patiently tried to teach me how to play chess my brain grew and now I think it's turning back into mush! Aside from that though I have been remembering times where there were no questions asked, I was just allowed to say how I felt about life and I had a cheerleader by my side.  I didn't have to explain when I was kidding or feel embarrassed or unrealistic (not even a little bit!) when talking about my desire for a full, vibrant, amazing life that I want to create.

I miss having my family close by.  Driving down for Friday lunches with Dad;  meeting up for lunch with Mom.    Having the option to take a quick drive to see my cuzs and get into some sort of trouble with them.  ;)   I miss the California coast line.  I have to thank the universe for giving me such great kids to be working with, because without their little smudged, hopeful, red-cheeked, tear-streaked, grinning, shining, inquisitive faces I would not be ok with missing home like I do.  But I do work with them, so, it is ok.   

Helping Hands and Full Bellies

Today at church I lit a candle of joy for being part of the AmeriCorps family that has developed in the little more than a month we've all been here.  Let me tell a little bit of what's been going on and why I'm so thankful for this family:

My old car died.  Well, it needed way more work and parts than it was "worth."  I had a little red loaner car that I was zipping around town in while I waited to hear the final diagnosis of Lucy the Subaru.  Because there was a big sign on the car the said stated it was a loaner car many of my friends and colleagues would ask if I had heard anything about my car or if they could do anything to help.  This helped take a little of the stress out of the situation.

On Friday the AmeriCorps team had a day long all team meeting.  When we broke for lunch a bunch of us went to a nearby sandwich shop where there was a very scared, timid, skinny dog.  Michelle, an awesome woman on the AmeriCorps team, took the time to get the dog to come to her and with three other AmeriCorps members got the dog in the car, and took it to the Humane Society.  When they got there apparently the dog ran across the freeway.  My amazing roommate, Marie, chased after the dog and got it to come to her.  The dog eventually was brought to our house and cleaned up.  Marie graciously shared the house, the hose, and the dog shampoo she had in order to get Percy the Golden Retriever cleaned up.  He went to his new home that night with Michelle and, by all reports, is doing well in his new home.

Also on Friday I got a "new" car.  I was happy to have the car drama behind me...or so I thought.  That night I offered to give my friend a ride home since it was raining, and we also were going to pick up two other friends at a bar.  I was already in my PJs so I decided to wait in the car for the few minutes it took them to come out.  While waiting I turned off my engine, but not my lights or radio and then when I tried to start the car it wouldn't start.  Long story short, it ended up just being a dead battery (for the moment).  The friends that I was going to give a ride home instead helped me by pushing my car, in the rain, up a hill into a parking lot so it could be safe.  When I got home I was a little upset and I was greeted by my roommate, Megan, who assured me it would be ok and offered to go with me in the morning to help me in whatever way she could.  She waited while the tow truck came, jumped up and down with me when the car started after a jump, and then rode with me for an hour to recharge the battery.

Some of the Fakesgiving food

Last night my roomies and I hosted a "Fakesgiving."  Tomorrow is Canadian Thanksgiving so we decided to celebrate a little early and have a potluck dinner.  Man, did my AmeriCoprs teammates deliver!  We had so much amazing food!  My fridge is stocked with leftovers right now!  Yum!!!  It was cool to have a large part of the team there, hanging out, laughing all together.  Some people even helped with cleaning up and doing the dishes!  Score!

Scout

Lastly, today while Benny, Suze, Marie and I were at the Crab Festival on this gorgeous, sunny day another dog found us.  This time it was a dog that looked like a Husky.  He has chunks of fur shaved off, and some sore looking spots on him.  He bravely endured a cold bath and ear treatment.  Now he is the newest member of 124 W 5th Street!  He is very chill and sweet.  He knows the commands "Sit" and "Shake," especially when there is a good smelling treat in your hand.  Also, he's really good about not trying to eat off your plate.  He is skinny and will be going on a visit to the vet for a check up and to see about the sores on his legs.  Hopefully he will just need some TLC :)  Marie once again saved the day, taking charge, figuring out how to get him home, and what he needed immediately.  She is amazing and has a huge heart and I am so fortunate to not only know her but live with her!

Takes My Breath Away

When I interviewed for the position I am in my now-supervisor told me several times, warned me even, about the various challenges of this specific job.  The population that I am serving has historically been challenged by drug and alcohol abuse in their community, as well as domestic abuse.  What's sad is that when my supervisor told me about this I thought, "What part of our society isn't plagued by these ills?"  After just being here a few weeks, and working in my position for two, I am starting to understand what a profound effect these challenges present to "my kids."

I use the term "my kids" because even in the short time that I have been working with them I feel a connection with them.  I hope everyday that I am not imagining it and that they are actually allowing me into their lives.  That thought is what motivates me to work hard and stay positive through the tests I believe the kids are putting me through.  Again, I was "warned" they would test and challenge me in order to make sure I can be counted on and trusted.  I have been learning some of my kids stories and backgrounds.  As I was warned, some of them have gone through things that no human, let alone kids, should have to go through.  With a heavy heart I know that unfair, horrible things happen to everyone, everywhere.  But now, for me, hearing these types of stories takes a different toll on me...because now these are MY kids.  The other day I had a hard time breathing regularly, breathing at all, and participating in a conversation because all I could think about was how these children, children, hadn't done anything in this life to deserve to have anything bad at all happen in their life.  My resolve to be the best I can be for them strengthened then and there.  I'm excited to be back with them tomorrow and start a new week!

And then yesterday my breath was taken from me again, but for a different reason.  Well, actually two different reasons.  One of my AmeriCorps teammates organized a hike in Olympic National Park.  Five of us crammed into my tiny loaner car and off we went, driving up into the clouds, emerging to a beautiful blue sky with amazing views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  When I said I'd go on the hike I didn't think to ask what the trail we'd be hiking was going to be like.  All I knew was that we'd head up towards Hurricane Ridge and from what I'd heard there was a pretty easy and short hike up there.  Well, at the trail head for the hike we did there was a sign with the words "Switchback Trail."

Basically I told my friends that I'd meet them at the top.  I made it up the various switchbacks with frequent pauses to catch my breath after climbing some inclines.  I think, though, that I would have paused anyway because the scenery was so beautiful!  As I continued to hike up I felt reinvigorated about deciding to move here.  Maybe it was being in direct sunshine having my blood pumping through me, but I definitely felt some really great energy pulsing through me.  When I finally did make it to the top I joined my friends on the top of a boulder where we had an even better view of the Strait, the Olympic range, Mount Baker, and mountain goats! I am not sure how I will keep my sense of awe and amazement about the beauty that surrounds me in my everyday life, but I hope to.  I can't imagine walking around and thinking "Oh yeah, there are those mountains again..."

Between getting to work with my kids for the rest of this year and being surrounded by this beauty I guess I'm going to have to get used to having less air in my lungs as it seems I'll be having my breath taken away at a moment's notice.  But after all, isn't life "not about the number of breaths you take, but the number of moments that take your breath away?"  :)

My roomie, Megan, and me on the boulder with the Straight in the background