The Southern Chapter

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the South is awesome. Laid back, chill (that one's for you Dan), and extremely friendly. New Orleans is a great city. I would have to classify it as a small big city. It really isn't that huge, maybe 400,000 in population. According to wikipedia, it is a mere 350 square miles, compared to Detroit's 1, 295 square miles of urban area. Then again, Detroit is a monstrosity...

Back to Green Light. This past week we have been doing mostly light bulb installations around the area. People sign up with Green Light to have us come and change all their light bulbs, then we go around to their houses and change each one.

I will now present to you "Stories of CFL Installees," a small sampling of people I have met:

Sister Teresa, the smiling nun:
Blue 6 trekked across Lake Pontchartrain two days in a row to meet up with this wonderful woman in Covington, LA. Our first day, we had to meet the nun in a Domino's parking lot to discuss light bulb installations. Yeah, never thought I'd say a sentence like that. She then took us around to homes in her community that were in need of light bulb changes. Many of the homes were extremely low income. It was poverty many people would never know existed beyond the main street. Hopefully they now have a sense of how they, too, can help save the planet without having loads of moolah or being friends with Al Gore, while saving money on their electric bills.

Swamp Man:
We then ventured out later in the week to the swampy bayou, about an hour away from NOLA. There, was a home on stilts right next door to alligator country. An adult son and a father lived there with three adorable doggies. After we installed, and after the son picked flowers for us, he took us to his dock to try and stir up the gator that lived in the water near them. Unfortunately, there were no gator sightings that day, but he told us about his days as a swamp tour guide, and then some of the affects of Katrina. He went north during the storm, but when he came back, the big tugboat next door was on top of a roof of a house less than a mile down the road. Crazy.

The Great Swimmer:
Later that day, we came upon an older man's home whose son lived next door. While we were installing, he told us how when Katrina came, he stayed despite all the warnings. His house filled up with water up to his chest and he had to swim to his son's house (who was gone at the time) and he lived there on bottled water and canned goods for 15 days by himself. He then went around showing us all the water marks around the house and the water damage to much of his furniture. He's definitely a tough cookie.

Some people might think that people need to get over Katrina and stop expecting sympathy, but I don't think it's sympathy they want. I think they just want to tell their story, and most of them are amazing stories. We're happy to hear them.

That's all for "Stories of Installees." Until next time.

Anne

NOLA! NOLA! NOLA!

Picture: This was on a sidewalk in Baton Rouge, LA, where we stopped for lunch during our roadtrip.

Hey everyone!

My blogs are really becoming few and far between... Oops. Well, as many of you know, Friday, April 16, 2010, Blue 6 arrived in New Orleans, LA. The five-day road trip went by with very few wrong turns. It was pretty smooth sailing. I was able to drive everyday, so it made it much more enjoyable. I can now add New Mexico and Texas to my list of states having spent the night in! I have to admit, though I hear rumors about Texans being, let's say, extroverted, it's a beautiful state!

Our apartment is in Mid-City which is, you guessed it, in the middle of the city. It's recently renovated with wooden floors and granite kitchen countertops. The only thing missing is furniture... We have a table and a chair. We all sleep on army cots that double as couches! How convenient. It's two bathrooms, one shower. So far, it hasn't been much of a problem. We shall see.

Saturday, unfortunately, despite being told we would have the day off, we had training from 9 to 5. This was somewhat irritating because I invited Dan in town for the weekend and he ended up walking around by himself all day! I felt pretty bad, but we both knew it was out of our control. Luckily, he's a big boy and found ways to entertain himself. Not too hard when you're in an awesome city! So, that was Dan, now for the AmeriCorps Saturday. Our boss's name is Andreas, from Switzerland. He's this hip-looking middle-aged man with a curly grey fro who rides a scooter around. He came to the city in 1993 and founded GreenLight New Orleans in 2006, after Katrina. The office is this bright, old, purple house with turquoise shutters. The right side of the house is where Andreas lives, and the left side is the office. (Doesn't have much of a scooter commute now does he.) Now Bernie is the program manager who is 26, very energetic, and used to be a science teacher. He was our trainer all day. We learned that the basic goals of GreenLight is to reduce energy usage in the city while decreasing electricity bills for low-income houses and educating the public regarding climate change and saving the planet. We learned how to train volunteers for installing lightbulbs, as well as how to enter and search for information in the computer database. Happily, it was all pretty interesting and we were able to take a few breaks, so the day went by quickly.

Today, Dan and I had the whole day together, so I went and showed him my office and then had lunch at this sweet Mediterranean restaurant on the corner called Lebanon's Cafe. Then we walked around the Carrollton area (which is where the office is) and checked it out. There's a main street with some sweet stores and restaurants. It was nice to walk around a non-tourist-infested area! Then we had some gelato and drove back to my apartment and took the streetcar to City Park. It's a giant park in the city. Clever name, I know. The Louisiana Museum of Art is located there, and it has a free sculpture garden which was awesome. There was a giant safety pin by Claes Oldenburg. Awesome! And then we sat on the grass near a pond. There are few better ways to spend a Sunday!

Tomorrow we have more training. It's Earth Day week (as well as Mom and Dad's anniversary!) so GreenLight is super busy.

So far, this place is awesome. Already I definitely feel more on my own rather than in AmeriCorps. It's a nice change.

I hope everyone is doing well!

<3 anne

Coming to an End *tear

So, you know how I said I was going to try and write more often? Well, I clearly lied. Therefore, I apologize to my faithful fans for sparse blog posts. I also apologize for being pretty bad at keeping in touch with everyone! The very little free time I get, I usually just want to spend it quietly, curled up in my bed with book in hand, escaping from people. I know, I know, no excuses. But I'm doing it anyway. So sue me.

Now, I said in the last blog that I have changed my attitude, and you know what? It's actually working. Maybe it's the fact that this project will be over next Thursday, or the fact that I get to see Dan (who I haven't seen in 3 months) next Friday, but I really think I'm feeling much better about AmeriCorps. I decided to search hard for the personal benefits I am receiving from the program. I'm feeling much more confident about my academic abilities as I tutor geometry, algebra 1, and now, a little algebra 2. Also, I know that as long as I put in effort, I think I excel in many areas. Or at least I think I can pull off most of the tasks given to me. (Now, if only I could get a full-time job...) Along with confidence, I think I'm becoming much more adaptable. I'm not as scared of change. I'm not afraid that "things aren't going to work out" in the future. I try not to think about it very much anymore. Because, you know what? Nothing ever goes as planned. As my teammate Andrew (aka Jersey) said to me, so poetically "Life is like surfing. The wave will toss you all around, and keep changing, but there's no way you can stop the wave, you just need to adjust your board and body position and roll with it." Nice, Andrew, nice.

I think I've really, really enjoyed this project. Much more than expected. (I've also learned, if you go into anything with terribly low expectations, it can only get better!) The kids really are great, and thoroughly entertaining. It feels really good to help them. I get very excited when they are able to do a math problem on their own (or, not to flatter myself, when they say that I teach it better than their teacher, and they want me to be their permanent teacher. Oh, how I love that!) Victory!

I'm going to miss all the kids and fellow tutors I met. Talking to someone everyday, five days a week, really gets you attached. This will probably be the most difficult project to end. But hey, I have two more left! So who knows. New Orleans is going to be AWESOME!

Hope all is well with everyone! And don't take it too personally if I have been bad at returning phone calls/emails. I still like you!! I've just never been this busy in my life. Crazy times these AmeriCorps.

<3 anne

Blog Slacker

Yes, as you can see, I have been slacking on my blog. Part of it is because not too many exciting things have been going on around here. Work doesn't change all that much. The other part is that I haven't wanted to use my daily hour of free time to blog. I have more important things to do. Like, for example, showering. So, I am writing in response to our half hour early departure from work.

As many of you know, last weekend (the last weekend in February), I was in Seattle visiting the fam. It was wonderful being able to hang out with people who know you best. My sister also used my incredible visual talent to help with the interior paint choices. I must say, her townhouse looks fabulous.

I also realized that I vomited negativity about AmeriCorps all over my family. I have also vomited negativity all over this blog. Just all over. What a mess.

Everything I had to say was depressing. "AmeriCorps sucks. I'm lost. I won't find a job. I don't know what to do with my life." As KE$HA says, Blah Blah Blah.

So, I've decided to change my attitude. Look for the positive things about AmeriCorps. Try and form a life plan. So far it goes like this: take the GRE (I'm in learning mode now thanks to tutoring), move to Florida, find a job, love Dan, and apply for architecture school. Yup. After all these years I'm going to do it. No stopping Anne.

And, the cherry on top... Our next project is in NEW ORLEANS!!!!!!!!!!! Warm, delicious, fun, NOLA. And guess who lives only 3 hours away? Yes, Dan the Man. I will be able to apply and interview for jobs while I'm down there. The news couldn't have come at a better time. We will be working with Project Greenlight, going around the city changing lightbulbs to earth-friendly ones. So, if you see me riding a bike around New Orleans with lightbulbs in my basket, feel free to say hi. I'm thoroughly looking forward to it all. It's going to be great! Except for the whole one shower for 11 people thing... Oh, but no negativity here!

It's amazing what a weekend with family can do to the mind. I feel great. Work is going well. Today a girl told me "Thanks a lot. I really understand this better!" Music to my ears.

I hope all is well. It's stir fry time. I will try to write again sooner!

<3 anne

Tutor, tutor, tutor

You know what's crazy?? There's only one week left in February! That's what's crazy. The project has been going well. I've been tutoring many more kids and getting a few regulars now. Oh, and I can now write an essay on Animal Farm (that should be underlined but there is no option for that on my blog. I'm embarrassed.), despite never having read it. I have to admit, it's very frustrating tutoring kids who have never read the book. Now I know how teachers feel! Maybe I should have read more books in high school..... I still have no idea what happened in the end of King Lear, or The Jungle (more underlining).

As for the math tutoring, my geometry and algebra 1 skills are much improved. It helps to take notes in my classes! I'm hoping this encourages me to take the GRE after AmeriCorps. At least I'm in a math thinking mode again. It's all coming back rather easily. Unfortunately, the other day, there were no Algebra 2 tutors available in the learning center and I had to help. Well, it was more like the kids helping me. I couldn't remember how to do logs for the life of me. These freshmen in high school made me feel like an idiot! I then felt bad that I let them down and proceeded to study logs out of the textbook for the next 45 minutes. Hopefully I'll never be stuck trying to help with Algebra 2 again! Other than that, it's going great! My three math classes can be a little overwhelming at times, but they aren't unbearable. I think I like tutoring. Whoa, did I just say that??!!

This weekend I did an ISP (individual service project) at the Aerospace Museum of California with about 25 other AmeriCorps people. We set up the area for a 600 person crab dinner fundraiser. We moved aside engines and airplanes and put up tables, chairs and the whole shabang. Not too bad. I now have 26 hours out of the 80 required... It's a long arduous process. I mean, I really love working Saturdays when I just worked a 54 hour week. It's a blast. That evening I went bowling with my teammates and bowled a 117 and a 94. That was my little boost of confidence for the week. Other than that, it's been very relaxing!

This coming weekend I'm heading to Seattle to visit the fam! Jane and Vic bought a townhouse and are moving in this weekend and my parents and I are coming to help pack and paint! I can't wait to see everyone and take a much-needed break!

Have a great last week of February!

<3 anne

Today, A Kid Called Me Teacher

A week has gone by, and so far, so good. My team has been split in half, one group at Woodland High School, and one group at Pioneer High School. I am at the better of the two, Pioneer. (No bias whatsoever.)

The first day, last Tuesday, was a little shaky. I felt like the awkward girl in the baggy uniform with no clue as to what I was doing. It's called First-Day-At-A-New-Job syndrome. As the week went on, I became much more comfortable in my surroundings and assimilated suprisingly well. The team that had this project before us made us think it was going to be a nightmare. "The kids are little jerks. There's a lot of trouble at the school. The hours are so terribly long." Well, I think the kids are quite nice, they just need some focus. There's some trouble at school (today several kids were arrested for a riot held two weeks ago), but I never feel unsafe. And yes, the hours are somewhat long, we leave campus at 7:15 am, have a 45 minute commute, work at school from 8 to 5 with minimum breaks, and then take another 45 minute commute home which gives us an eta of 6 pm. It was tough the first couple days, but with 8 hours of sleep a night, it's more than bearable.

During the week I tutor all subjects, but primarily math and essay-writing. I also am an in-class tutor for three classes: two Algebra 1 and a geometry class. I definitely pay attention during note-taking time so I can actually help the kids. The classes aren't too bad, except there are some control issues. More like, lack of control of the class by the teacher. Sometimes class can be a bit stressful, but I do my best to help kids. That's all I can do.

I have to admit, this tutoring gig is much more enjoyable than expected. I'm starting to get to know the kids and tutor some of them regularly. I'm also getting to know the book Animal Farm extremely well without ever having read it. All the sophomores are writing Animal Farm essays right now and I continually have to ask them to remind me what allegory, satire, and characterization mean. I figure, I'm better help than no help.

It's dinnertime, so my hungry tummy is wanting me to go. So long!

Happy Paczki Day!!

<3 anne

On the Eve of Woodland

It's that time again. The night before a new project. Last week was transition week. It was another one of those times I wanted to quit AmeriCorps. (For all those concerned, I've come to find that everyone in this program has quitting days as well, so this is fairly normal.) Fortunately, we're all hanging in there together. We had a bunch of meetings, and we were back on campus which means: community meetings, wearing proper uniforms, room checks, the kitchen only being open from 6-7:45 am and 5-8 pm. That's always fun when you forget to pack a lunch... I tried to make a point by just eating 2 granola bars all day, but it backfired on me when I got a 2 day stomach ache. Way to go Anne. I wake up early and pack my lunch now. Lesson learned.

Our briefing and debriefing went well. We also met with another team with whom we are switching projects, and I'm not going to lie, we're all a bit nervous. The biggest challenge is going to be dealing with punk high-schoolers. This is the age (9th and 10th grade) where kids know what no means, and they use it frequently. They know they don't have to technically follow the rules. It also does not help that the kids we will be tutoring have a high chance of dropping out. In addition, I don't remember a thing about freshman and sophomore high school academics. Geometry? King Lear? I never even finished reading it in class and wrote a paper anyways. We all need to do some brushing up.

Tomorrow morning we will be having a half day of orientation and then thrown into tutoring in the afternoon. Although I am apprehensive, I'm sure once we all get adjusted, it won't be bad at all. It's going to be possibly the most mentally challenging project so far (and possibly ever). I'm going to have to think, while trying to gain respect from the kids, and simultaneously re-learning algebra 2. Challenging, yes. Am I going to be just fine? I'm pretty confident. Bring it on.

<3 anne