See Ya Later Tears

It's "see ya later," not "goodbye" that was said today.

I'm home now. Back in good old Michigan. AmeriCorps is OVER. Graduation was this morning, and I flew home in the evening.

Here are the range of emotions I felt today:

Excitement: I really had a hard time sleeping last night due to excitement about graduation the next day. I woke up at 5 am, like a good little AmeriCorps girl, and checked out of my room.

Accomplishment: Sitting at the graduation ceremony, hearing all the speakers talk about how we have all made this country a better place made me feel proud for possibly the first time in ten months.

Sadness: Saying goodbye was terrible. Tears were everywhere I turned (because they were mine, clearly). I gave Katherine a big hug and then I lost it. I hugged all my team members, and tried not to look too many in the eye. We all know that there is a distinct possibility that we may all never see each other again.

Freedom: Taking off my uniform at the airport had so many feelings attached to it. I felt free. For the first time in ten months I could make my own decisions, I could wear my own clothes, I could leave when I wanted to, I don't have to answer to ten other people! It had a liberating effect.

Pure joy: I have not stepped foot in Michigan in seven months. Christmas was the last time. This was definitely the longest I have ever been away from home. Landing at the airport, I was almost brought to tears. I have come home after months serving the country. It was just a wave of joy that came over me, and I am very happy to be home.

If I can get through ten months of AmeriCorps NCCC, I will be able to get through anything.

See ya later,

anne

To Infinity and Beyond!

I have officially 3 days until my departure from AmeriCorps NCCC. It's pretty difficult to fathom. I haven't realized that I won't have to wear a uniform to work anymore (well, a lame one at least), or that I won't have to make my bed everyday for fear of room inspections. And, worst of all, it hasn't hit me that I may never see any members of Blue 6 ever again. Of course we plan to have reunions and visit each other, but in reality, that often goes no farther than a plan.

Luckily, we are all attempting to soak in the last bits of each other while we still can. Last Wednesday we ended our 5 day road trip from New Orleans to Sacramento with a few stops on the way. We went and saw Billy the Kid's gravesite, visited the magnificent Grand Canyon (I do not know that guy in the picture, but I wanted to capture his stance), and threw in a little Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, and Big Tree State Park in the end. We definitely chose the more exciting route on the way back. Good move team.

Since we've been back, there have been several meetings with packing and cleaning squeezed in the middle. Yesterday, we had a "celebration of service" which consisted of picking up trash around an elementary school. I wouldn't exactly call that a celebration... But we had a delicious lunch and a pool party after, so it wasn't too painful. Oh and today was the Hard Corps 5k run that I participated in. I did relatively well despite the heat radiating from the concrete jungle we ran around, aka McClellan Air Base.

Now, all we have are a couple meetings, final room inspections, an awards banquet, and a graduation ceremony. At 2:30 on Wednesday, I'll be heading back to the mitten to continue on with my life. I wonder how that's going to turn out...

I plan to jot down my final thoughts the day I get home (hopefully I remember), so stay tuned.

<3 anne

So I'm Never Going to Attempt to Write a Blog Again...

I think I tried starting a diary several times when I was young, and failed. Then I tried a journal for vacations. Then I tried the futuristic "blog." And guess what, even with the fun gadgets technology has brought us, I still can't regularly write anything. You'd think I would learn this by now...

Anywho, St. Bernard Project is coming to an end. That also means AmeriCorps is coming to an end. Yes, July 28, 2010 is my date of graduation. "HOLY COW" you might say. "It's been ten months already?" you may also say. What's going on in my mind, however, is a little more complicated. I have started wishing my days away, which is bad, bad. I really am not digging this project. There's just something about it, which I can't pinpoint. And this week, I have been separated from my team member plumbers and it's just me, the plumbing assistant Doug, and a volunteer from central Florida. We ride around in a small red truck together. It's less than adorable. It also probably doesn't help that I got a taste of my real life this weekend when I visited my man for the holiday weekend and it was wonderful! I just am really looking forward to my real life!

Then on the other hand, I'm starting to realize I may never see any of my teammates again. I will be miles and miles away from them, and when is the next time I'm going to be in the Northeast United States? I mean really, who goes to New Hampshire for fun?? (JUST KIDDING all you New Hampshirians on my team) But, as I was discussing today with someone, my whole life will be full of meeting people, forming relationships, and then moving on. I just need to take what I've learned from all of these people and carry on.

Also, the fact that I still don't have a job or health insurance after July 28 is a bit worrisome. I'm sure it will all work out, but I'm trying to enjoy the comfort of AmeriCorps as long as I can. I don't have to pay rent, utilities, health insurance bills, or worry about finding a place to live or clothes to wear! But I guess it's what makes life exciting, right? RIGHT?? I'll keep telling myself that.

Alright well, next Friday, the 16th is our date of departure. Then we have a five-day road-trip back to Cali, and then a week of transition, and then I'm off to try out the real world once again!

I will write one more with my closing thoughts of the whole experience.

So, until next time,

anne