Oh jeez...

So, this is a little ridiculous but I COMPLETELY forgot Bout keeping a blog about NCCC. So we start again:

I completed the month of Corps member Training Institute or CTI. Where we learn basic skills, like tool safety, rules, living with people, etc. it can be pretty hard to sit through meetings, though it seemed a lot easier this time around because I expected it to be boring. CTI is also a very good time to meet people who will potentially be on your team, make new friends, and knock some ISP (independent service projects) out of the way. ISP a required 80 hours ( in addition to our other work hours) that we need to work with other non profit organizations other than the one we are currently serving with. One of the most memorable ISP's I did last year was The Color Run in Denver, CO. So much fun. So towards the end of CTI we found out what our team were and what projects we were assigned to. The process of finding this was similar to that of hazing/Al Qaida. Don't ask. Once the blindfolds were off, I looked around and saw some familiar faces, none of which were my "close friends" in the corps. This is the beauty of AmeriCorps. The only constant is change. Our project is working at Milford State Park renovating cabins in Milford, KS. And that's where I am now, on Thanksgiving, remembering that I have a blog. I'll try to keep up, I promise. ;)

Under One Week!

Well, the days are counting down to leaving for Denver. And I'm so excited! I can't remember the feelings I had lat year before leaving, but I'm realizing now that I was probably a hell of a lot more scared than I am now. I feel prepared, and not anxious at all. Just excited. I can't wait to see my friends in Denver as well as my soon-to-be friends! :D

Football!!!!

I don't especially like football, but I do have to say that one of the pluses of being home for 2 months waiting for AmeriCorps is watching my little brother's football games. I was in Marching Band in high school, so I was at every game during high school. But I never really enjoyed it because from my perspective, people should be enjoying the band. But, the times are a changing and I am enjoying them now. 24 days until I head to Denver!
~Megan

I guess I'm a hippy tree hugger now...

I never thought I would be crying over the loss of trees. My grandmother is having the trees around her house (which have been there since the 1920's) cut down because they're dying, and also the roots will split the foundation of house. It still makes me sad though. I have sentimental feelings for these trees, plus, we're losing shade...

~Megan

First Post

Well, new year, new attempts at keeping record of the amazing year I'm about to have with AmeriCorps NCCC.

What is AmeriCorps NCCC you might ask? Well, the "NCCC" stands for National Civilian Community Corps. So, essentially it's a government funded program that provides 18-24 yr. olds with a chance to work with various government and non-profit organizations for 10 months on a team of 10-12 other people. We're from all over the country. This specific program is loosely based off of the CCC that Roosevelt set up during the Great Depression. Projects can vary from working on trails in a national park to helping kids learn how to read to cleaning up after a natural disaster. I've already done one year of this. I was and am going to be working in the Southwest Region which is based out of Denver, CO. This region covers Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma!

It's exactly a month until I leave for Denver on a plane with a ticket that I don't have to pay for myself. And I can't wait!

~Megan