Wandering Through the Wharf

We woke up early today to fly to San Francisco, traveling with my family has always been an adventure. We are three very different people. My brother is the smart, sane constant one. While my mother, the worrywart has to know anything and everything. Then there’s me. The very loud, rarely politically correct and socially appropriate one. Don’t get me wrong, when it’s necessary I can tone down my personality and keep it G for the kids. It’s just that when I’m on vacation I like to throw caution to the wind. Which often gets me in trouble with the worrywart and the always-constant one. So far, this trip has been really great, and there hasn’t been too much chaos.

It could have something to do with being on the other side of the world, so when I get excited or distracted they don’t seem to mind as much. I’m not trying to push my luck, and I’m also toning it down for them, because the last thing I want to do is irritate anyone before they leave me in California. My mom is kind of going crazy though, because we don’t have a plan and she lives for plans. So far this seeing San Francisco without a set plan has been pretty cool. We happened to catch some of the Blue Angel Air show, we took pictures with Darth Vader and friends in Ghirardelli Square, and we wandered through pier 39 and saw a ton of Sea lions (not seals, I've been corrected). They’re adorable, funny and all around freaking cute. As a whole, I really enjoy this city. Although it still hasn’t trumped Boston, my all time favorite city, but it’s a lot of fun and I feel so fortunate that I had the opportunity to take this trip with my family.

The only thing that I can complain about is that San Francisco is a walking city and my pinkie toe is swollen to twice its normal size. I don’t mind the walking; I actually much prefer it because you get to see so much more. I injured my toe last month when I fell out the back door at my mom’s house trying to put the cat out. I really wish I had a better story then that. In the process of tripping outside onto the cool cement porch I ended up busting my knee open and requiring stitches, as well as spraining my toe. I guess I’ll just have to suck it up because PT is going to be a lot more physical than leisurely strolls through the bay area. Other than that everything has been smooth sailing so far.

Although, I’m tired and my stomach is turning because the garlic that is currently residing there. We ate at the Stinking Rose for dinner, it was delicious pretty expensive so if you’re on a tight budget not a recommended splurge. Note to any future San Francisco visitors, while their food is delicious, stay away from the Garlic Wine. It sounds better than it taste if you can imagine that. We called it a night early because all of us have been up since early this morning, and we’re also all east coasters, so the 3 hour time difference is kind of kicking in on us. So pleasant dreams wherever you are.

I found these rocks in one of the souvenir shops, my mom asked me what a cunning linguist was, I said me. Har Har Har just kidding.

And So It Begins

California awaits, it is 11:18pm the night before my flight to San Francisco and I am hanging out in a hotel near the Orlando Airport. It’s hard to believe that this is all really happening. I talked to Patrick today; he is my team leader for the first couple of weeks, until we are placed on our real teams. I told him that I was a fatty and that I was nervous about baseline, and he told me that I could walk the whole thing if I really wanted to. Actually, first he told me that I had to run the mile and a half in under 10 minutes. What a jokester. I’m of course not going to walk the whole thing. I really wish I were in shape enough to try out for the fuel reduction team. Walking three miles in under 45 minutes isn’t a problem. The problem is adding 45 pounds of weight to my body, and then walking that far. Patrick seemed really cool, and from the looks of it everyone seems to have similar desires despite coming from all walks of life. My nerves are starting to be replaced by excitement, but it has put me in this state of annoyance anytime someone brings up potential problems. It could be that, my mom hasn’t stopped asking me questions since last Wednesday, or it could be that every time I think abut these potential hazards on my journey the fear strikes me again.

I am very fortunate to keep having one good thing after another happen for me. It’s been kind of awesome, but I feel like it’s unfair to the people around me. It seems as though every time I hear good news, someone close to me gets horrible news. It’s weird how life works sometimes, but I’m trying to go with the flow. Especially since I will be expected to do that over the next year. We won’t know our first spike project site until about a week or two before we go. Of course they train us before each project but it’s still crazy that over the next year I will be traveling across the west coast and I can’t tell you where I will be. This is a thrilling sense of adventure but it makes it hard to plan, and I am a planner. I think over all this whole experience will be great for me.

The whole purpose of the NCCC is to help communities in need while training leaders. I like the way that the program works two fold. Not only do communities across the country benefit from our efforts but the Corps members benefit from an experience they couldn’t get anywhere else. There will be a lot of training and workshops that I will have to attend and I will also have to take part in presentations with my team after each project. It’s great practice for the work force.

I need to get some sleep seeing as my adventure starts early tomorrow morning. I’m hoping to be able to write often even if I won’t always be able to post right away.

The Americorps Profile Questions, Answered

I had to answer these questions for the Americorps Member Profile, I figured it might help answer some of your questions. Also if you want to know more about what I will be doing click here. If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Leave them in comments or send them to sara@sarapens.com, I'm a compulsive email checker, although that should change soon.

How did you hear about the National Civilian Community Corps?

In my last semester of college I was undecided in what to do after graduation. I was taking a class in British Contemporary Theatre and researching Blasted by Sarah Kane. Certain scenes in her play mirrored images of the Bosnian Rape Camps that were happening at the time she penned it. I had found myself in a state of turmoil; I was angry that things like this could happen and I felt helpless that nothing could be done to help. Seeing my sincerity and my strong desire to make the world better, my instructor told me about different programs where I could fulfill my need to help others. After researching a variety of programs the National Civilian Community Corps was the most appealing, so I applied. I’m not sure if my time with Americorps will allow me to change the world, but I do think that this program will help me gain the skills I need to make an impact.

Why did you choose to do a term of National Service?

I applied for the program and the opportunity to help people in need and to get to travel while doing it. I honestly didn’t think about the fact that Americorps was a term of National Service. I am excited that I get to serve my country in some way, but I originally did it for the opportunity to help others, to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to the limit. I think that this program is by far one of the best government sponsored programs, not only does it help communities in need but it also builds leaders while doing it.

What were you doing before you decided to do NCCC?

I was in my last semester of college at Florida State University, when I started the researching and application process. I was also working full time at a Living History Museum, as a receptionist. I spent a couple hours a week volunteering for two local organizations in Tallahassee the Council on Culture and Arts and Big Bend Cares, Tallahassee’s AIDS service organization.

What do you plan to do after you have completed your term of service?

Unfortunately, I don’t know for certain. I am undecided between a few different career paths, including: pursuing a degree in nonprofit management so that I can start a traveling arts education program for under privileged schools, going back to college for a degree in child psychology, or embarking on a career as a high school theatre teacher who happens to write on the side. Fortunately, NCCC gives me ten months to develop skills so that I can either make up my mind or fall in love with something completely different.

California is calling.

I’m in Lake Wales hanging out, biding my time until I hop on a flight to San Francisco, Saturday. I am most fortunate to have a supportive family who is willing to rearrange their schedules to enjoy life with me before I embark on one of the most exciting, yet nerve racking adventures of my life. When my mom found out that I was accepted, after her initial excitement, she decided that she and my brother had to go out to California with me. They needed to scope it out to make sure I’d have a good time. AKA all of us especially my brother and her need something to celebrate right now. I’m excited to get to spend quality time with my family before starting my term of national service. The farthest west I’ve ever been was Las Vegas, and that trip was probably my least favorite. It’s just not my scene. I can’t wait to dip my feet into cool waters of the Pacific, and to be able to say that I’ve seen both coasts of the United States. My sense of adventure is strong, although fear still waivers in and out daily as I contemplate what my life will be like over the next year.

I’ve spent the last few days preparing filling out paperwork, I received my welcome packet yesterday and my mom opened my mail before I could get the chance. “I just had to know everything,” she said. I was disappointed that she would open the packet, but thinking about it, she has often lived vicariously through me. This is something if she had the chance to do she would have done in a heartbeat. So I guess it’s not a big deal, that she opened it. Although, I did make her tape back up my package so I could have the pleasure of opening it. It’s stupid but for me this is a present that life gave me. My mom is so proud of me right now. She made me drive her to work today so she could show off me and my NCCC booklet. I love how supportive she has been throughout the whole process, and I’m so thankful for that. My dad was kind of skeptical but my mom has been balls to wall about the whole thing.

She went with me to get things that I need: toiletries, thick socks, and to look for a dinnerware set, apparently we have to supply our own plates. She also helped me pick out a new camera the Olympus Stylus Tough. It’s shockproof and waterproof. My Cannon decided to break within the hour of me arriving to Lake Wales. It’s kind of cool though because the old one I received as a present right before I went off to London. She has just been a big help, and I don’t know what I would do if she wasn’t so supportive.

Sleep calls, as I have a lot to do tomorrow: go to my banks, pick up last minute items, spend time with friends before moving across the country, etc. We are now entering that phase of limited contact, get use to the less than frequent posting and more than frequent twitter updates: sarapens.

We are approaching lift off.

The days are closing in around me and I’m less than a week away from my first day in NCCC. I can’t wait; I’m nervous and excited, but I don’t mind the mixed feelings. It would be weird if I were completely comfortable with what I’m about to do. Honestly, I’m not. I have my reservations: am I going to make it through training? How much of an issue will it be that I’m not very fast or strong? Will my weaknesses be too big an interference for this program? Is it going to be too stressful for me to handle? Will I ever be ready for this?

Ultimately, I know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and that if this wasn’t where I was supposed to be right now, I wouldn’t have been allowed in. I am of the mindset that if something is meant to be it will happen, and if it isn’t it’s just not going to work out no matter how hard you try. Don’t be confused, I don’t think life is easy, you have to work for certain opportunities. I did not get handed this opportunity on a silver platter and I’m proud of the work and effort I put into getting here. I also think you shouldn’t give up when the going gets tough, but I do believe if I wasn’t supposed to be in this program, I wouldn’t have been accepted. I’ve never prayed so hard or for so long about a decision in my life before this one. I truly believe that I have God behind me for this next year.

Before I even applied to Americorps, I had researched NCCC pretty thoroughly and I knew that this program would put me out of my comfort zone. That’s what I wanted, a challenge. I want my life to be unpredictable, I want to be forced into flexibility and I want to gain skills I can’t gain anywhere else. I’m so excited for this opportunity, the chance impact the lives of others, and to really help communities in need. I know that I have a tough road ahead but with all that I have been through in my life, and in my own head, this is something that I will ultimately be successful at.

Apparently, This is NOT a Joke

I called Americorps again on Friday, and the guy on the phone remembered me from my phone call on Thursday. He kind of laughed when I asked to talk to the NCCC office to confirm that I am in fact going to Sacramento. The lady from the NCCC office seemed kind of aggravated, like she should probably be dealing with someone with a more serious issue. However, my issue is serious. I’m about to give up a job offer, albeit a job I don’t want, to move across the country, okay so I’ve been wanting to get out of my dad’s house since I got there, to participate in a program which I applied to 6 months ago. I just want to make sure it’s real; that this isn’t some kind of cruel joke. Apparently, it’s not a joke and Fed Ex is going to be delivering my packet to my mom’s house by Wednesday. This is amazing. I’m waiting for the complete shock to wash over me, to be free of it, but it seems that it’s not going away any time soon. I will probably be in this state of disbelief until I get to Sacramento and they give me my uniform.

I’m anxious, excited and nervous about all the possibilities that lie ahead of me. I’ve packed up my clothes and the basic necessities from my dad’s house and I am leaving for Lake Wales, in the morning to go spend time with my mom. My mom is one of the most important people in my life. I’m excited that I actually get to spend time with her, even though the drama from our family never seems to stop, it will be good to be able to spend time with just her. We have gone through a lot this past year, and its great that good news has once again entered our lives. This next week, I will be spending time getting my affairs in order as well as hopefully, spending time with some friends.

My mom, my brother and I will be leaving for San Francisco on Saturday for a family vacation. We haven’t had one of those in a while, so it will be great to just get to hang out together and enjoy the sites. I’m excited about the grand adventure ahead, and hopefully regaining my ability to focus, as it seems to be lost on me at the moment. Here’s to adventure.

Sometimes, Life Hands You Deliciously Sweet Lemonade

I am in a state of shock, and awe. I’m anxious, excited and nervous about the possibilities that are going to arise out of the next year of my life. For the first time since I’ve arrived in Podunk, I feel alive. I received an email last night saying that I had been accepted to a program that I applied to in March. I didn’t think that they would actually accept me, so I had moved on. I started applying for jobs and tried to settle in Podunk, but it looks as though my life in Podunk isn’t going to be in Podunk anymore. I’m going to be in California, in 13 days. Less than that, even.

I’ve been accepted into the Americorps NCCC program’s Pacific Campus in Sacramento. I will be spending the next month of my life training for the 9 months of service that follow. I will be building houses, tutoring children, clearing trails, feeding the hungry and so much more. Not only that but I will be traveling throughout the West Coast to different communities to help with projects. It is the opportunity of a lifetime and even though I’m going to be up to my ears in debt after I get out, I’m going to grab this thing by the horns and embrace it. Of course I’m going to have to record my adventures and I plan to do so here. So I will be deleting a few of these entries to make this blog friendly for everyone.

I’m still waiting on my welcome packet and I have a lot of to do before I can even set foot on the plane. I have to find all of my paperwork. Get my bills in order and pack for 4 seasons. After I start my service, I won’t be able to update as frequently, but I want to document as much of my journey as I can. This is my chance to give back to the world, and I look forward to every second. Wish me luck as I embark on this grand adventure.