Time Delay.

I started Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) on October 7th, 2010. There was training and craziness and rules and I did not have time to write about it. Then I went to a magical land off the coast of LA called Santa Catalina Island, I was camping with no electricity and only occasional internet access.  It was amazing.  If you ever want to feel empowered, spend some time climbing mountains with slopes so steep you have to bury your machete (yes, my machete) into the soil and use it to pull yourself up to the top.  Jackhammering is another good option. Trust me, it works. Anyway, the moral of this tale would be that I had no time or ability to write about my life as a volunteer. 
Now I'm going to try again.
This round, round 2, my team and I are staying on campus in Sacramento to work in an elementary school that could use an infusion of idealistic, fresh-faced, 20-something's.  They have no idea what they signed up for.  We start in on the 5th, after a 2-day stint of prepartory meetings, presentations, and other "important" duties.  I'm nervous (terrified actually), I'm excited, mostly I'm ready to start working for something again.  Break was wonderful, but I'm ready to start helping.

I feel I could best sum up what I haven't written about by giving you a list of what I have learned in Americorps:

• You can never have too many flashlights, waterbottles, or pairs of socks.
• 15-passenger vans are terrifiying, particularly to drive.
• Dish soap can freeze
• Campfires cook faster than stoves
• British accents are not only fun, they can save your sanity
• Truly good people do exist
• When you hurt so much you think you can't move, you can.
• The smaller the cactus, the more it hurts.
• Bathing can be optional.
• Heights aren't that terrifying
• The sun means a lot in California.
• People can change
• And, my life seems pretty badass, even if I'm not.