We had an eventful first night in AR, to say the least.
We were warned that it would be windy and cold, and that it may rain; armed with two sleeping bags apiece, we weren't worried about it. We crammed into our tents and settled into sleep.
Until the wind blew the stakes from the ground and the tents started to collapse around us.
Our things soaked, our teeth chattering, we dragged the tents to the safety of the bathrooms and hung our sleeping bags out to dry. Thank goodness we had two campers for storage and cooking--we moved our bags around and slept there. The arrangement seems to be working.
This part of AR is so beautiful. I've taken my state for granted, having lived there for thirteen years. I've certainly been to this part of the state, but never stayed here, never realized what a difference in terrain a few hours' drive can make.
Between Denver and Queen Wilhelmina, I don't know if I'll ever be able to live somewhere without a mountain view. It never fails to take my breath away.
We have an orientation today and we get started tomorrow. I can't wait to really get down into the thick of it.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Dev Does NCCC: First Project!
They ordered us into big white vans and blindfolded us. They didn't let us speak the whole way there.
Then they led us out, holding hands, and had us walk for several minutes--still blindfolded. They took us, one by one, away from the groups we'd entered the vans with. No one knew where we were or what was happening.
Were we kidnapped? Nah. Our team leaders are just really, really mean. ;) Instead of just announcing who our teams and TLs (team leaders) were, they decided to make it fun for them and terrifying for us.
My team is Water 2, and I'm really excited--I was on a temporary team with this team leader (Hayley) before and I think we mesh well. I don't know my team members too well yet, but that will come with time. Especially since I'll spend the next six weeks camping with them in...
Queen Wilhelmina State Park in western Arkansas!
My little joke is that I joined Americorps to get out of AR, and they funneled me right back in... but honestly I'm excited about it. It's not in an area of the state I've spent much time in, and the Ozarks are truly beautiful.
We'll be building trail shelters and, I believe, an overlook, as well as educating visitors about the park and NCCC. This will be a totally new experience for me; I've never been camping, never done any real physical labor.
I won't have WiFi or cell service, so blogging will be seldom. I definitely feel mixed about that one: I'm used to being totally connected at all times, so it will be a shock, but I'm excited to kind of bring it back down to Earth and disconnect for awhile.
We leave on Sunday. I can't wait to get started!
Then they led us out, holding hands, and had us walk for several minutes--still blindfolded. They took us, one by one, away from the groups we'd entered the vans with. No one knew where we were or what was happening.
Were we kidnapped? Nah. Our team leaders are just really, really mean. ;) Instead of just announcing who our teams and TLs (team leaders) were, they decided to make it fun for them and terrifying for us.
My team is Water 2, and I'm really excited--I was on a temporary team with this team leader (Hayley) before and I think we mesh well. I don't know my team members too well yet, but that will come with time. Especially since I'll spend the next six weeks camping with them in...
Queen Wilhelmina State Park in western Arkansas!
My little joke is that I joined Americorps to get out of AR, and they funneled me right back in... but honestly I'm excited about it. It's not in an area of the state I've spent much time in, and the Ozarks are truly beautiful.
We'll be building trail shelters and, I believe, an overlook, as well as educating visitors about the park and NCCC. This will be a totally new experience for me; I've never been camping, never done any real physical labor.
I won't have WiFi or cell service, so blogging will be seldom. I definitely feel mixed about that one: I'm used to being totally connected at all times, so it will be a shock, but I'm excited to kind of bring it back down to Earth and disconnect for awhile.
We leave on Sunday. I can't wait to get started!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Dev Does Life Lessons: Humility
I was very humbled today in downtown Denver.
I went with a few friends so one could get his first tattoo. We decided to take the longer way back to the bus station and explore downtown a little bit. I always try to give a little cash to the homeless people I see on the streets, particularly now that my room and food are paid for so anything I earn is really "extra."
We came up to a person holding a sign. (They were bundled up and had a neutral voice and a unisex name, so I'll refer to them as "they" through this rather than risk assuming their gender and getting it wrong.) I handed them a dollar, the only small change I had, then asked if they needed anything else, if I could do anything else for them. I felt compelled somehow by this person, and wanted to help in any way that I could.
They replied, very sheepishly, "I'm kinda hungry." When I asked what they liked to eat in the area they responded that they liked the burritos from Taco Bell. I promised I'd be right back.
I walked into the shop intending to order a burrito or two. Again, something compelled me and instead I ordered the $10 box of bean burritos (ten come in the box) and one larger one. I figured this would feed the person for at least a day or two, possibly more.
When we got back, there was another homeless person beside the first. I handed the shocked pair the bags of burritos and the free cup of water that I'd gotten. I expected a "thank you," but got so much more than that:
They both thanked me profusely, then the first person said, "This will feed all of us."
That generosity astounded me. It's one thing for me--who grew up without much money but who has never truly gone without--to hand a homeless person a dollar or buy them a meal, then go about my day not really any worse for wear. But this person had nothing but what was in the small bag they sat beside them. No money to buy themselves food, made to swallow pride and ask for help (if you've never had to do it, believe me when I say it's not easy). And yet instead of saying, "This will feed me for awhile," they said, "this will feed all of us."
All of us.
I don't know how many people they were referring to, how they got there, what their stories are. But I do know that this was one of the most amazing displays of altruism that I've seen. To have next to nothing, but share what you do have among those whose need equals yours. It can be so tempting, when you don't have all you need or want (or even when you do), to hoard whatever you collect.
I asked the names of the pair, shook their hands. I can't explain what it felt like; I was shaken. I'm near tears just recounting the event. I could tell that the food, the contact meant a lot to them by their words and actions, but it couldn't have meant as much to them as it did to me. For under $15, I was truly truly touched by another human being. I'm resolving to do my best to be more like them--to remember to put the needs of others above my own. Mahatma Gandhi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
I resolved when I joined Americorps that if I could touch one person's life, the ten-month project would be more than worth it. I didn't realize that, especially so soon after arriving here, I'd be the one who was so strongly moved.
It was a lesson well learned.
I went with a few friends so one could get his first tattoo. We decided to take the longer way back to the bus station and explore downtown a little bit. I always try to give a little cash to the homeless people I see on the streets, particularly now that my room and food are paid for so anything I earn is really "extra."
We came up to a person holding a sign. (They were bundled up and had a neutral voice and a unisex name, so I'll refer to them as "they" through this rather than risk assuming their gender and getting it wrong.) I handed them a dollar, the only small change I had, then asked if they needed anything else, if I could do anything else for them. I felt compelled somehow by this person, and wanted to help in any way that I could.
They replied, very sheepishly, "I'm kinda hungry." When I asked what they liked to eat in the area they responded that they liked the burritos from Taco Bell. I promised I'd be right back.
I walked into the shop intending to order a burrito or two. Again, something compelled me and instead I ordered the $10 box of bean burritos (ten come in the box) and one larger one. I figured this would feed the person for at least a day or two, possibly more.
When we got back, there was another homeless person beside the first. I handed the shocked pair the bags of burritos and the free cup of water that I'd gotten. I expected a "thank you," but got so much more than that:
They both thanked me profusely, then the first person said, "This will feed all of us."
That generosity astounded me. It's one thing for me--who grew up without much money but who has never truly gone without--to hand a homeless person a dollar or buy them a meal, then go about my day not really any worse for wear. But this person had nothing but what was in the small bag they sat beside them. No money to buy themselves food, made to swallow pride and ask for help (if you've never had to do it, believe me when I say it's not easy). And yet instead of saying, "This will feed me for awhile," they said, "this will feed all of us."
All of us.
I don't know how many people they were referring to, how they got there, what their stories are. But I do know that this was one of the most amazing displays of altruism that I've seen. To have next to nothing, but share what you do have among those whose need equals yours. It can be so tempting, when you don't have all you need or want (or even when you do), to hoard whatever you collect.
I asked the names of the pair, shook their hands. I can't explain what it felt like; I was shaken. I'm near tears just recounting the event. I could tell that the food, the contact meant a lot to them by their words and actions, but it couldn't have meant as much to them as it did to me. For under $15, I was truly truly touched by another human being. I'm resolving to do my best to be more like them--to remember to put the needs of others above my own. Mahatma Gandhi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
I resolved when I joined Americorps that if I could touch one person's life, the ten-month project would be more than worth it. I didn't realize that, especially so soon after arriving here, I'd be the one who was so strongly moved.
It was a lesson well learned.
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