Transition

Hello blog, here's some stats:

Current location: Perry Point, MD for Transition
Next location: Savannah, GA
Project: bedding oyster shells (which help filter the water and create a better ecosystem...or something) with the University of Georgia's marine research dept.
time frame: 3 weeks

Things I'm looking forward to:

Seeing my mom for memorial day weekend (she's coming up to visit!!!!)
Going to Orlando on June 5, 6, and 7 and seeing all my pals :)
Working on an amazing environmental project and getting a sweet farmer's tan
Exploring Savannah
Seeing Jessie Lagala and Abbi

Transition is the time between projects where the whole Corps goes back to Perry Point to regroup, train, and get ready for the next project. This transition has been pretty amazing. I've absolutely loved hanging out with all my housemates and friends here that I haven't seen in quite some time. Even though it's only been a couple months, each day feels like a week from all the new things that happen. It's a strange thing, I mean think about it, how many brand new things happen to you on a normal day-to-day basis. Not too much. People have schedules and routines, but here it just feels like an overload of new info especially when you don't know what you're doing the next day. You could be going to DC to clear out a canal (and to get some awesome poison ivy on your leg!), you could be working in a building constructing bunk beds (and having your teammate lift you up and throw you on a mattress), or you could be having an intense PT session (I'll explain that in a bit).

There were some down sides, though, such as the young'n I was seeing. I had to end things with him; he wanted a relationship about the same time I realized I had no real feelings for him. I hate hurting people and it's been so long since I have that I almost forgot how awful it makes you feel. I even found out that before "breaking up" he had made me a mix tape! I'm such an asshole, I don't know how I let us get on different pages. I should've been way more responsible with his feelings, but I forgot that he was so young; he's never even been hurt by a girl before. Ugh.

About PT. So Sean, the Badger Unit Leaders, says to himself "it's been raining all day. What's the best way to get these AmeriCorps kids fit. I know, I'll have them roll around in the mud for an hour and get scabies."
Okay, maybe none of us got Scabies, but his PT session could easily have lead to mites that burrow below your skin and give you diseases. Basically he set up about 20+ exercises in a giant circle in this dirty field that geese often occupy. Each team started at an exercise and stayed there for 1-2 minutes (can't remember how long). Then Sean blew his whistle and we switched. The whole thing could almost be seen as an exercise in diversity - by the end everyone was one color: muddy brown. I mean, half these exercises consisted of us rolling or laying directly in mud puddles. AND though the weather was warm, the mud was freezing. Now I'm not trying to get all theological on you, but IF there is a G-d, and IF he/she/it/Oprah was watching, I imagine they were ROFLing all over the place at 160 people willingly covering themselves in a mix of goose poop and wet dirt.

We also had a PT assessment test which consists of running a mile, push ups, and sit ups. On my first test I ran the mile in 12:36 (or something close to that). That was pretty much my time in high school, too. Keep in mind I'm not a runner AT ALL! I tried being a runner in college for a week, but it didn't work out. Anyway, for the 2nd test I ran the mile in 11:46. That's and improvement, right? So for this test I was joking with my team like "here's to being the last to finish!" because I happen to be on a team with super athletic people. And one of my teammates, tall Eric, was like "you should shoot for under 11 minutes" and I was like "Is that a joke?" and he was all "you can do it motivation motivation blah blah blah" and I was all "yeah right, maybe when pigs learn technology skills and can make a person into man-bacon". Okay that's not exactly how the convo went, but you get the gist. ANYWAY we do the mile run and check it out, I ran it in 10:24! Maybe that doesn't seem like fast to some people, but it was super fast for me! Plus, that's more than a minute improvement from last time. I was so happy! I've also started running on my own and I surprisingly like it. Today me and Eileen ran 2 miles and walked 1, it was great.

Being the least fit person on your team has it's perks - such as no one expecting you to succeed at anything physical. So when I throw a football across our mini field or catch it from that same distance, everyone's all shocked and stuff. Plus, I love the way they push me to do better without even knowing it. And they're all very supportive people, so I get help when I need it. No one judges me on my fitness capabilities, which is really amazing. Though I do love getting into a good intellectual conversation where I can actually hold my own a bit and not feel quite as inferior ;)

Update on the Julie situation: she and I were finally started to click, and she was improving so much as a person and worker, and then suddenly she was removed from our team. She only has 1 kidney and because of that she can't be in super warm weather, and since we're going to Savannah then to DC, she had to be moved. Now she's going to another team who's already bonded during 1st round and I'm scared they'll ignore her or won't know how to handle her. I was so upset when I found out (though a good portion of my team was relieved) I just think this is a bad idea for her growth and it totally screws up everyone's team dynamics. But she knew this was a possibility going into the program. I'm over my frustration now, and yes it will be nice not having her negativity and overall obnoxiousness around 24/7, BUT I can't see how this will be good for her. WE'RE her team, WE'RE her family, ya know?

Anyway, this transition has also given me some time to catch up on the important things in life that I had to sacrifice upon entering AmeriCorps; such as General Hospital. I spent last night reading recaps and watching YouTube clips. Pathetic! Ah well, at least I know the level of my lameness (on a scale of 1 to David Hasselhoff, I've gotta be at the most a Sanjaya...that's right, I referenced American Idol. I can safely do that bc I DO NOT watch that ridiculous show, which should earn me back some of those lameness points I lost). We leave for Savannah tomorrow at 8am for a good 11-12 hour drive. I can't wait to work on this project and be in warm weather! Oh man, I'm gonna be living on an island and going to the beach every day! There's just so much to look forward to that I can't help but smile.

I miss you guys and I hope I'll be able to see all my Orlando friends in a few weeks!!!