The Start of Something New

I have never written a blog or ever really thought I would write one. But I thought I would start this blog, so that all my friends and family could follow me on my next big life adventure, hence the title. My next life adventure is taking this year off from school and joining AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). I am going to be located in Denver, Colorado or the South Central Region. It covers the states of AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, MO, KS, and of course CO. The campus in Denver is located at Teikyo Loretto Heights University. Yes, it is a school that is run by a Japanese group, if you were wondering. They don't use all of the space so NCCC gets to use the what they don't.

For the next ten months I will be living with 8 to 10 other members age 18 to 24 doing various projects in the different states. The projects last six to eight weeks and could include responding to disaster, working with the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, working in schools, and working in state and national parks. I won't know who my team mates are or what projects I will be doing until I finish the first month of training. Along these same lines, I won't know where I will be living either, after the first month, which is part of why you are told you have to be flexible. Projects that are far enough away from base that you can't drive to them every day are called Spikes. On Spikes you live off campus in different types of housing. They say that we should be ready for any type of living situation, such as camping, living in cabins or hotels. Don't get me wrong I love to camp, but I am not sure how much I will love it after living that way for 6 weeks, but I'll let you know.

So I leave for AmeriCorps NCCC in six days, the 14th of this month! I am flying out at 7am. I have to ask why it has to be so early. I know other people who are leaving at more respectable times, like 12:30 and I ask why I couldn't be leaving at that time too. But alas I have no control over it. Lets just hope nothing goes wrong and I make my connecting fight on time with only a half hour in between the flights. I am really excited but also a bit nervous about starting something new. But I also know that I will have a blast and can't wait to get started!