Blog Glitch

We are gearing up for our February Camp and much of the planning is under my control. I am working on creating/refining some community building activities where the students basically construct a paper society – with all the important establishments and people. I am also in charge of organizing service projects for three communities – showing appreciation for U.S. veterans and working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals to come up with fun and educational activities. Stress. We are running low on time and need to get things concrete.

We just got back from our Advanced Training Retreat at Camp Berea in the White Mountains. Had a good time – lots of bonding and insightful comments….but had to miss 4 days of school for it. Remember back to when you were in middle school. Remember when you were sick for 4 days the amount of work that you had to make up and how many social interactions you missed out on? Well it’s the same for us, just in a different context. We need to stay up-to-date on our students academic and social interactions – and its always difficult when we are mandated to take days off.

Some of out Young Hereo on a Saturday

Best Anti-Drug Slogan ever - "Don't Do Pot/Weed Eat Spinach!!"

New Man in Town/Entry of the Month

So there is a staph infection (MRSA) going around town and in school. A few of the kids I work with probably have it, so I am ultra paranoid. Washing my hands all the time - Purell application is essential. If you have any interest in losing your appetite for a week, Google MRSA and look at some of the images.....not cool.... <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } 

We are gearing up for our February Camp and much of the planning is under my control. I am working on creating/refining some community building activities where the students basically construct a paper society – with all the important establishments and people. I am also in charge of organizing service projects for three communities – showing appreciation for U.S. veterans and working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals to come up with fun and educational activities. Stress. We are running low on time and need to get things concrete.

We just got back from our Advanced Training Retreat at Camp Berea in the White Mountains. Had a good time – lots of bonding and insightful comments….but had to miss 4 days of school for it. Remember back to when you were in middle school. Remember when you were sick for 4 days the amount of work that you had to make up and how many social interactions you missed out on? Well it’s the same for us, just in a different context. We need to stay up-to-date on our students academic and social interactions – and its always difficult when we are mandated to take days off.

Some of our Young Heroes and an Anti Drug Poster

Round and Round

I'm feeling ill and not looking forward to getting sick, but am looking forward to snowshoeing with my mentor this weekend.

Next week, we go back to Camp Berea for our Advance Training Retreat. Should prove to be a healthy mix of insightful workshops/community/team building exercises and overbearing sessions on City Year culture. Definately hopeful about the talent show - have been working on my diabolo (chinese yo-yo) skills - and doing physical training in the snow every morning at sunrise!!!

Back Home...Back East

Home Comfort and Joy
It was soooo nice to be back home. To spend time with all the people I have been thinking about for the last few months is just what I needed. Making an effort to stay connected with everyone while I am out here is essential. If you are reading this, you are probably one of those amazing people.....so if I start falling behind with you, give me a call sometime - you are always present in my mind.

First week back was strange. Being separated once again from all my loved ones is the hardest part of it all - this week and City Year in New Hampshire. Finally getting back in school and working with the eighth grade students helped alleviate the pain. I took on a team leadership position with the Manchester Young Heroes and went to their overnight training academy on Friday and Saturday. The kids in Manchester are a refreshing change from my students. We ran some service related workshops, played a lot of dodgeball, ghost stories (the YWMA we stayed at is haunted), boardgames, and I even taught a few kids how to devil stick. Didn't sleep much - but thats what sundays are for right?

Long time....eh....

Holy hells......mid november already? How did this come to be? If your wondering--here is a short list of what I have been up to lately.

-New York to kick it with Zandy, Jessie, Nikki, and Abby for Halloween
-discovered the hot chocolate at Dunkin Donuts - - - like melted dark chocolate in a cup
-Fall Festival (relay race fun day for our school) to kick off our nov food drive - - tons of fun!!
-a new phone and new number -- 603-233-8047 -- call me - I lost most of my numbers!!
-Novembeard - me and other corp members are going them beard out till the end of this month
-helping 8th graders and a high school senior (struggling to graduate) get focused
-Obama election madness!!! - can't even explain the excitement at our office on the 4th
-stressing about what to do next year (should i stay or should i go?)
-running ridiculously successful after school programs

Upcoming--------------->

-a get to spend some time with my mentor this friday!!
-doing dishes and cleaning apartment
-get Veteran's day off!
-hopefully our furnace will get fixed
-excited to see family and friends in December!!

!sloof rof si gnipeelS

It was AmeriCorps' statewide opening day today. We went up to Concord to join all the other AmeriCorp programs in the area (Vista, SCA, etc) for workshops and a swearing in. Tomorrow back to Seabrook Middle school. We are organizing a month long food drive with the student leadership club. This group of eight graders is surprisingly organized and focused.

Each year Timberland (where our HQ is) does a huge conversion of all their office space for the families of employees to come walkthrough. Each department does a different theam (Harry Potter, space, mazes, etc) This year we got an empty block of cubes due to a layoff, so we are setting up our Candyland area probably all night on Tues and Wednesday. Thursday is the actual party and I hope i'll have my Plumpy custome done by then.




~Cheers!

Failed

So I lost my brand new phone in a cab in Boston on Friday night. I just got the damn thing a week ago and have already failed. Will hopefully be getting a new one with the same number soon. Me and Kirby, Clay, and Will went down to Boston to hang with City Year Boston corp members. Got a little rowdy and had a close call on a street corner with some thugs. Might have tussled. It was great to get away from Hampton Beach (and all the NY corp members for a night). Made some good connections in Boston....will definately be going down there more. Cute girls outside of my of J Street is always a plus. Good to bond with Kirb, Clay, and Will too.

Out....gotta plan afterschool programs for next month.