Word on the street its 2012

2011 was great. It was filled with travel, new friendships, experience, struggle, growth, and success.


Let's see if 2012 can keep up. I'm not
Going to make a resolution list because I don't feel I need to change anything from 2011 I simply want to add onto all my adventures and dreams that I have already been lucky enough to have completed.


Here is a list of everything I want to accomplish in 2012.


-have a real job for a while. Not one that ends at a certain time or is weird to try and explain exactly what I do. One that lasts until I quit and that is an easy explanation. And I would like to enjoy going to work. Maybe not everyday but most days.


-I want to run another half-iron man and at least one half-marathon.


-I want to travel out of the country. Destination to be determined.


-I want to take a trip with some of my friends from college.


-I want to have a place to decorate.


-I want to smile everyday


-I want to feel stronger, and stay active.


-I want to establish a life in Denver while not serving in AmeriCorps. 


-I want to live somewhere where I have a porch to sit on. 


-I want to run almost everyday.


-I want to live with friends. 


I will be continually adding to this list throughout the year, and hopefully checking things off. Here is to 2012 filled with new memories, friendships, experiences and opportunities. 

Keep a SMILE on your face.

My goal will always be to keep a smile on my face. Life is much better that way. 

Class 18

I once again find myself in Denver, in my dorm room (a little more home looking this time), and with an incredible group of people. Its strange how so much can be the same, and yet can also feel so different. I'm trying not to compare this year to last year. To not compare people from this class to last. I'm trying to start over an experience I have already been through which is a strange feeling. I'm excited to get to be  a part of Class 18, and to see how this group of TL's forms together. I'm also trying to establish more of a real life for myself this year. Attempting to do things not always involving the "A", and slowly adjust to maybe not being with at least 10 other people all the time. This is not an easy task for me. I'm someone who thrives in community. Someone who easily gives all of themselves to a particular group or experience. This year, I want to balance that with also giving to myself. I hope to be able to take what I have learned from last year and be better this year. I hope to remember my adventures and people from last year but move forward with new ones for this year. Here is to another year representing AmeriCorps NCCC, and getting to be  a part of a incredible team of green shirts. Its only the beginning, but the places, and people we are going to effect will move us through this year faster than we think. 


"The best journeys ask the question's that in the beginning we didn't even think to ask" 

What happend when you return to civilization and are not prepared!

RECENT TRIP TO FLAGSTAFF: 

Hotel Room: $70.00

Shower Fee for being in Hotel Room: $20.00 


Sleeping in Van at Wal-Mart parking lot: FREE


Step Brothers Movie Viewing in Van while parked at Wal-Mart: $8.00


Police Called on You for having people visit your room by crazy hotel lady: $pain in the ass


Grocery Store Dinner for 10 people: $80.00


A much needed adult beverage: $6.00 
 
Learning how to successfully be homeless and have fun: PRICELESS 


Oh, and we also got to see the Grand Canyon!

 ITS VERY LARGE!

Building Trails and sleeping under the stars!

Sun One (and myself) have been in the Arizona area working for the Grand Canyon Trust for about 3 weeks now. The project we have been working on (and have recently completed) was constructing/renovating the Maze Trail. A trail in the Vermilion Cliffs that brought people to a site that petroglyphs could be viewed. The entire trail was about a mile in length. The section we were renovating was probably 170 feet. We created switch backs, and stone steps and erosion control walls. We used muscle and rock bars to move boulders from around the area and place them on the trail as needed. It was incredibly rewarding work because you were able to see the progress and progression each day. While completing this project the team had a base camp about 2 miles away at the state-line campground. We were happy to set up our "tent city" once again and hoped for less windy conditions that at 2 mile base camp the previous week. Chasing tents through the night is not as fun as it sounds! We didn't end up chasing tents, however we did end up searching for warmth. Towards the middle of the week we were faced with Sunshine, Sleet, Rain, Snow, and Hail. Sometimes all of those things in one day! The team continued to work to complete the trail despite the weather and would retreat to campfires and warm food each night. It was a struggle to stay dry and warm for multiple days of bad weather but our last day the sun came out SHINING and helped to perk of the team's spirits and dry our clothes. Below are some pictures of the trail we worked on and camp before and after the weather :) 

 We are all still smiling at the end of our 2nd week of work and looking forward to the next! We will be backpacking into the Paria canyon to remove an invasive species called Tamarisk. This project has been incredible so far and the Grand Canyon Trust have been amazing sponsors. What a great experience! Start looking forward to more updates from the next portion of our journey :) 

 

Walking towards Canyons..

My time in Oklahoma has come and gone. Never thought I would say this, but the last 2 months have been some of the most enjoyable within the past couple years. I'm reminded everyday how perfect this lifestyle is for me. It fulfills me each day, and the laughter overcomes the struggles each and everyday. I once again have been blessed with working with incredible people. People who I have been told to lead and who in turn have taught me so many things. I have grown through this experience. It has shown me my strengths and confirmed my weaknesses. I now get to move on to far bigger and not better but new things. I will be traveling to Arizona to camp and backpack in the Paria Canyon working for the Grand Canyon Trust. I can't tell you how happy I'm to once again return to a life of simplicity. My Tent, my backpack, my journal, and my hammock. This experience will be lived with a new team of people. I will get to once again build a team, a task that I'm incredibly happy to take on. Seeing a group of strangers come together as a whole is an amazing thing to witness and have a hand in creating. This whole AmeriCorps chapter has really opened my eyes to what makes me happy. I love creating and living in community. If I can find someway to continue to do that for an extended period of time I will be completely content.

Escapement to the mountains.

 I escaped for the weekend to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. It's those moments that I have to think about where I'm and what I'm doing. I never thought that I would be vacationing to Arkansas in my life, or that I would be where I'm at this moment. When I think about those recent happenings it makes me smile. I was able to explore a place that in other circumstances I would never have found myself. The weekend was spent with some other Team Leaders in the OK/AR Area hiking, hot tubing and talking about AmeriCorps and our teams. It was great to talk about different struggles and triumphs on our individual teams and to get alternative perspectives on situations. Lastly, it was kind of a confirmation for me how lucky I have been, and how great of an experience this whole thing has been. In a couple weeks I will know where I'll be going for 3rd round. It amazes me how fast time has gone by since I joined AmeriCorps and started projects with my team. The phrase "Time flies when your having fun" is really true. Perhaps that is why it seems the past 6 yrs of my life have passed in a blink. I have had incredible amounts of fun in those past 6 yrs. I'm hoping to spent 3rd round in a remote location doing something environmental. It is those kinds of projects that I feel most fully alive. It brings me to a place where I feel like I'm doing the most simplistic kind of good. It is in those locations that I can really focus on the impact that we are making and the relationships that are being created, mended, and impacted daily. 

“I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it.”

   -Roasalia de Castro

Laughter: It radiates through you

I have realized the past couple weeks that I'm extremely blessed. I'm so happy with my current position in life. Exploring, meeting new people and impacting those around me. I never want to be someone un-happy with where they are. Feeling alone though surrounded by others. I never want to go a day without smiling. Laughter is what carries me through life. It's the joy that pushes me to strive for things that I want. Its what makes me feel alive. I never want to get too old or "busy and important" to forget to laugh at myself. 


I laugh at myself several times a day and it is exhausting, but totally worth it.