My First 59 Hours in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Well, as I write this little July post introduction, it is only the 53^rd hour of being here in Vicksburg, Mississippi. I figured it’d be best to put down my initial thoughts and reactions into this post before too much time passed. So here it goes:

From the first moment I saw that welcoming AmeriCorps “A” on the sleeve of the t-shirts of those picking me up from the airport, I felt an overwhelming sense of companionship. Yes, I understand that everyone is starting over and obviously going to be on their best and friendliest behavior…but it isn’t freshman year of college this time. So many of these people I get to work alongside of have already experienced college, living on their own, and even previous work in AmeriCorps programs. Most of my fellow Team Leaders are young, mature adults that are genuinely ready, willing, open, and excited to change people’s lives—just like me.

We have only had 12 hours of training so far out of the full-time 4-week training program we are about to embark on and already the stakes are high. There is no funny business with this program. We are here to serve our country, help local communities, grow young individuals into leaders, and positively represent the AmeriCorps program as the incredible entity that it is. As an AmeriCorps representative, a Team Leader, and a member of the second class of FEMA Corps our responsibilities are far-reaching, significant, and constantly changing. I know that for me, flexibility and adaptability will be my greatest challenges this upcoming year. No matter, I absolutely cannot wait to see what aspects of FEMA Corps test or uplift me, create doubts or instill hope in me.

I have heard this about a million times in the few hours I have been here: “This job is not going to be easy.” This sentence frightens me, it intimidates me, and it makes me feel outstandingly proud. I knew that daunting piece of information coming in and I came anyways. I hardly know (and still haven’t met) most of the people I will be working with, but because they took my same leap of faith into this program, I already know this: Each and every person who embarks on this journey is courageous, selfless, and inspirational and I am already so proud to call each and every one of them my teammate.

So, here is to FEMA Corps Class 20! May we all courageously and selflessly embark on this journey hand in hand and heart in heart. I look forward to changing lives with each and every one of you.

On Thursday afternoon, the Team Leaders of FEMA Corps Class 20 said the AmeriCorps Pledge together for the first time. I definitely took a video of it...but unfortunately the uploading process is not working in my favor. Nonetheless, I still thought it was important to include the pledge of the program I will be dedicating my life to this upcoming year. Here it is:

The AmeriCorps Pledge

I will get things done for America;

To make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.

I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.

Faced with apathy, I will take action.

Faced with adversity, I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps member and I will get things done!

Update on the right now:

Arrived in Vicksburg, Mississippi on Wednesday July 24, 2013

About to spend my first weekend in Vicksburg with my new teammates and friends...it's Friday night...see ya! :)

Pre-Job July

Well, here we have it—my last post about being and living in and around California (possibly ever). To put this into the simplest of terms, I’m starting to freak out. Not a negative “freak out” but the anxiety is finally starting to settle in. It’s officially crunch time for saying goodbye and I’ll miss you to old friends and packing my life into a singular duffle bag for 10 ½ months. Just yesterday I went through a normal day, step by step, to try to figure out all the things that I absolutely need to smoothly survive this year ahead of me—It is AMAZING how many things I use (and perhaps you use, too) on a daily basis: bed sheets, pillow, tooth brush, contacts, hair ties, socks, deodorant, undergarments, PANTS, etc. I don’t consider myself a materialistic person, but when I actually sat down to write out all the things I use on any given day, my hand started cramping up…it’s a really, really long list!

Well now that that little rant is over…I guess I’ll amuse you all with the incredible first (almost) three weeks of July I had :)

July’s Gluten Free Discoveries

Yes, I have discovered yet another gluten-free beer, hallelujah! This particular beer made me chuckle quite a bit. My complaint about gluten-free beer of late is about how all of them are in glass bottles, normally glass bottles are exciting and classy, but I’ve really just been craving beer from a can (pathetic, I know). A few days ago I went to Total Wine & More to search for pretty much anything new to quench my thirst and while I was there, I found this: Fox Tail Gluten Free Pale Ale by Joseph James Brewing Company. It was surprisingly delicious…and well, it was in a can :)

A couple months ago, my friend David came up with a great idea for gluten-free chicken fingers. Because he knows how much I love hot and regular Cheetos…he suggested crushing them up to replace the usual breadcrumbs that surround the chicken. Well, my mother and I decided to put his splendid idea into action for my going away party and they were DELICIOUS. Because I love spicy, we also threw some Frank’s Hot Sauce on them. I recommend trying it, especially if you're gluten-free :) Thank you again Dave for the great idea…sorry for making them without you, haha.

So, there’s a Baby Grand in my Living Room

Back in my freshman year of High School, my parents decided to purchase the coolest piece of furniture in the entire world: a piano. For about 6 months after that big purchase, I took piano lessons…and quickly realized I don’t like practicing, shocking. Despite my rejection of and quitting of lessons, my ability to read music still greatly increased through my experience in high school and church choirs and my a cappella group, Take it SLO. Since my true passion is singing, over the years I've learned how to play simple chords behind my voice. In these few weeks of living at home, I have played and sang every single day and it has been incredible. I have to admit…this piano is probably going to be the most missed thing (beside my mommy) about home for me. Hopefully they’ll have a piano where I’m living for the next year…

Sometimes I Pretend I Exercise

Ah, sibling bonding. My brother and I ran the annual Lake Forest Firecracker 5k together on the morning of the 4^th of July. J I don’t actually run races very often…so our time (for me, personally) was really impressive…haha. 

Also during these past few weeks at home, I ran the most I ever have at one time…SEVEN MILES! Yay. Unfortunately I’ve hardly run since then, but let’s just pretend I didn’t tell you that J

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Due to the awesome planning of my dear friend, Mitch, a group of our High School friends got together to go to an Angels game. Despite the normal boredom I feel at baseball games…I had an incredible time, it’s amazing what a little bit of good company can do. One particular humorous moment was when Mitch went to put his beer on the ground when his nachos were on his lap…short story shorter: The chest of Mitch’s Angels jersey was covered in nacho cheese…and he proceeded to lick it off. Thanks for the entertainment, Mitch…and for putting this hang out together.

WOAH, I can cook!?

Don’t let this title deceive you…I’m only good at making gluten-free pizza. Twice this month (since I’m trying to blow through all my gluten-free baking goods) I made some boooomb pizza. I used Chebe Gluten FreePizza Dough Mix and Bob’s Red Mill mix. Personally I preferred the Chebe mix, it called to put cheese in the crust and it was a lot thinner (more my style), yum. The first pizza was topped with pesto, fresh mozzarella, spinach leaves, and tomato slices. The second pizza, topped with pesto, mozzarella, and pepperoni (not that exciting…but still delicious). And the last pizza (my favorite one) had red sauce mixed with Frank’s Hot Sauce, mozzarella, Cheetos chicken fingers, cilantro, and more hot sauce. I’m getting hungry again just thinking about them…

That Job Thing…

Finally, eight days before the start of my job with FEMA Corps, I received my travel plans. I literally screamed at the top of my lungs to my mother when I got them. I am SO excited. I leave out of John Wayne at 6:45am….joy. Thanks in advance to my baby brother for driving me to the airport J

The Simple Serendipities

Maybe it is because I am leaving soon…or because things don’t fit neatly into categories anymore…but this section is huge this post. I am so lucky, SO LUCKY for everything in my life. My goodness.

I think this sign is just the cutest :)

“Those with a bad sense of direction see more of the world”: This is an incredible quote I saw on my college friend’s blog the other day. Because I have a particularly horrible sense of direction, this quote really home. It also made me really excited for my adventure that I leave for SO SOON. I can’t wait to see the world…even if I’m only starting small scale with the U.S.

Summer Rain: Have you ever had such a moving conversation with someone that any time that topic (or event) comes up, you literally BEAM at the memory of speaking with that old friend? Well, this is how I feel about rain and my traveling friend. One morning I woke up with a text referring to rain…and then later that day when I was laying out by the pool…what does the sky open up and do? Yep, it rained. Middle of the summer rain—my favorite. Couldn’t help but smile J

What are people from other states called? Me and my friend Ryan had quite the laugh as we tried to figure out (read: make up) the names of people from other states. Like, I am from California—I am Californian. Our favorite made-up title was for people from Iowa—Iowinians. I'm certain that's incorrect, but it gave us a good laugh. I hope I never know the actual titles of people from other states…guessing is just way too fun.

Flowers: I got some pretty flowers in the mail the other day :)

Papyrus: My college roommate Julie is a Graphic Communications major at Cal Poly. One of her favorite (and most talked about classes) was her typography class, which for us laymen folk; it’s a class about fonts.  She tells me how much she hates Papyrus so frequently that I recognized the horrific font on my new gluten free beer. You’re welcome Julie for recognizing how hideous it is…but sorry for sending it to you…I know it probably pained you to see such a terrible design.

Elevators: As if I already didn’t have an irrational fear of possibly getting trapped in a small box…the elevator I experienced recently made me hate controlled falling boxes on a whole NEW level. I swear I rode on the fastest elevator ever the other day. It flew up and down twenty-five floors in a flash. I decided that my body feels really sick when it accelerates and decelerates too quickly in its vertical plane. Thank you speed-of-light-elevator for forcing me to find that out…


Update on the right now:

My dad gets into town tomorrow...so we have a fun family outing planned for tomorrow evening.

I've been packing a whole lot. The OCD in me is panicking that I am going to forget something very important...

Countdown to Mississippi: 6 days!

June Goodbyes

Well, if the title of this post doesn't say it, I don't know what does. June was full of goodbyes. Goodbyes to my educational career, to friends, to part-time jobs, and to ways of life. Some were happy, some sad, some bittersweet, and some simply necessary to continue growing into who I'm meant to be. Saying goodbye has me reacting in ways all over the emotional spectrum. Luckily, soon I will be indulging in my month of hello's. I can't wait to start my next adventure...because leaving behind this one is pretty darn sad.

My A Cappella Obsession

Take it SLO Senior Gift :)

June 2, 2013 was my very last show with Take it SLO. It was stressful and beautiful and sad. Big huge shout out and thank you to everyone in Take it SLO—past, present, and future—this group gave me the best home anyone could ask for. I am grateful for the opportunity and experience every single day. Another huge thanks to That’s the Key for asking us to perform in their Spring Show and performing in ours as well. It is so incredible to hear the sounds of your group progress in such beautiful ways.

Also, look at this awesome thing the continuing members of Take it SLO made me! (seen to the right)

A Series of Lasts and Beautiful Goodbyes

The Final Party at 380

I lived with the most incredible group of humans this year. As a final last-hoorah (before we had to clean our entire house with a toothbrush), we celebrated our moving-on the only way we knew how—with tons of beer, games, laughter, and friends. Shout out to all of my lovely ladies from Coastal Peaks that made an appearance…it’s been a wonderful few months working with all of you, let’s not let the fun end now that we’re all leaving SLO.

Best Friend Time

Julie Holland Logue has been my best friend and my roommate for the best years of my college career. To celebrate our friendship, I accompanied her to her sorority formal (the only Greek event I have EVER been to). While everyone else was on the dance floor getting their “grooves” on…we were busy at the over-priced bar with the heating lamps. We planned and planned to take pictures in the fun lil photo booth…but it was too hard to tear us away from the heating lamps. Don’t worry though, we still found a way to capture our evening with Julie’s iPhone. Thank goodness.

On Julie's last night in SLO, some jerk spider crawled across Julie’s temporary floor bed so I offered for her to sleep in my bed with me. Neither of us slept well…but it was kind of a cute way to end the era of being roommates. I love you Julie :)

My Last (and first) Pint Night

Since I found out I had Celiac disease just three months before my 21^st…I was never really ever able to capitalize on all the drink deals that go on in my lovely college town of San Luis Obispo. A popular deal of choice is Pint Night. You get ONE dollar beer, which is awesome…if you can actually drink it. I decided to suck it up on my last Tuesday of my Undergraduate career and go to Pint Night with my friends. I had SO MUCH FUN. I definitely was missing out. I saw so many people from my freshman year dorm and from other random activities, people I wouldn't have seen or said goodbye to otherwise. My smiling muscles were horribly sore from all the laughter that went on that night :)

Reminiscent Hikes

I went on the absolute best hike up Bishop's Peak with my friend Scott during finals week. We climbed all the way up to the top, obviously, and then continued to walk along the precarious boulders. We reminisced about our favorite shared college stories and there were a LOT. I loved looking back on those memories with someone else…it really started making the whole “graduation” thing feel real…the sadness started setting in a little.

Sometimes I Pretend I Exercise

I have been using RunKeeper for the past 2ish years to help keep track of my running goals. On January 1, 2013, the App encouraged me to “make a goal” for myself. New Year’s Resolution driven me decided that a goal of running 400 miles by December 31^st would be a good idea. Realistically, it’s totally doable. It’s only a little over a mile everyday…right? Well, as of the beginning of June (5 months into my goal), I was only at about 19% of 400 miles. For some strange reason, I thought the amount of miles to get up to 25% (or 100 miles) was about 12. Since 12 miles isn’t TOO many, I told myself that I wanted to get up to 100 miles by the time I moved out of San Luis Obispo on June 17^th. Well, guesstimating how many miles are between 19 and 25% of 400 without putting much thought into the actual numbers definitely came to bite me in the booty. It’s actually 24 miles. Don’t worry though, the combination of my stupidity and my stubbornness still allowed me to reach my goal. I completed those last 22 miles easily by the time I left my college home. It was a great way to end my time in SLO feeling accomplished.

As a mini graduation gift to myself and congratulations on accomplishing my goal, I bought myself a brand new pair of running shoes, inserts, and socks from Road Runner Sports. They rock. It's also cute because they are the sister shoes (aka the girl version) of my Dad's running shoes. Dawww :)

That Graduation Thing

On June 15, 2013, a lot of awesome things happened. First, my mother went to the pre-graduation bars with me ("to the left, to the left"). Second, I graduated…I guess that’s pretty awesome (seen on the right). Third, I got to spend a wonderful afternoon with my family for the first time in a very long time. And fourth, I bought and wore my Cal Poly alumni sweatshirt :)

My Weekend in Buffalo, New York

Talk about father-daughter bonding-- This has to be the best weekend I have ever had with my Dad.

My Dad, cousin, Uncle, and I went to Sky-High Adventure Park in Ellicotville, NY on Friday. It’s a high ropes course and it is terrifying. Since I knew I was going to be scared going in, I was ready to joke my way through my fears. My dad, however, wasn't as aware of his fears...so I made sure I was making jokes enough for the both of us. Its amazing how you can come out of a terrifying experience so close with someone. I’m glad we were shaking in our boots together.

Since I’m a California girl, I do not see my East Coast relatives hardly ever. Its been four years since the last time I visited Buffalo. Because my visit was so short, my dad put together a nice family picnic so I could see everyone in one fell swoop. I played tennis, lacrosse, and catch with my cousins, chatted with my aunts, uncles, and grandparents…and took the win on one of the rounds of the water balloon toss. Shout out to my cousin Joey for being a kick-butt partner: Dream Team!!

I haven’t been to Niagara Falls since before I began having memories…so it’s been a while. Because of this, my dad and I decided to take a little day trip. Since my dad grew up in Buffalo, he would experience Niagara Falls on the regular...but it was usually from the Canadian side. Because of this, we chose to indulge in the American side. We took an elevator down to the base of the Bridal Veil Falls where we got SOAKED. This was the coolest experience EVER. It was a glorified, natural water park down there. The power of the water was majestic enough to plaster a smile on my face the entire rest of the day.  And here are some pictures of the Falls from the Canadian side too…it was too beautiful not to trek over there :)

My Last Weekend in SLO

After my trip to Buffalo with my dad, I needed one last (not stressful graduation) weekend in San Luis Obispo. It worked out perfectly—I needed to get my last paycheck from Coastal Peaks, it was one of my close friends’ birthdays, AND it was a friend’s last weekend in SLO. Every day was full of excitement. Friday, we started off with raspberry mojitos, margaritas, and hanging out in the backyard. We listened to Natural Incense perform at Frog n Peach and we played card games until last call. Saturday, we took the San Luis Obispo wineries by storm—Baileyana, Saucelito, Claireborne and Churchill, Sextant, and Talley Vineyards. Thank you to Cullen for driving us :) And lastly, we had a nice “family” barbecue on Sunday night with all the roommates and friends. We told stories and we laughed and we all fell into even deeper friendship love. This was the absolute best weekend I could have asked for. Thank you (you all know who you are) for showing me the best last couple weeks in San Luis Obispo I could have ever imagined. It’s been entirely too much fun :)

The Simple Serendipities

Ah, the little things in life. This section never gets old :)

Bottom Buns: As my father and I flew across the United States, we ate at a lot of airport restaurants. We both chuckled at how low quality the aesthetics was at every place we ate….especially when my dad was given a burger with two bottom buns.

Contacts: I finally got contacts! After wearing my glasses every day for over a year straight, I finally rid myself of the rims! So exciting!

Bingo Night: My mom and I went to the local neighborhood bar, Our Place, to get out of our hot, broken- AC home for Happy Hour. Next thing we knew it, we made a dozen new friends and were sucked into playing Bingo for a few hours. Our one hour trip turned into a four hour one. Whoops :)

Silly Notebooks: In the end of March, I met up with my traveling friend David in Europe. He asked me to get him a very specific thing—a black, hardcover moleskin notebook with no lines. Because I’m a pain in the butt, I got him exactly that…but there was a little bit of a print to it. My friend was grateful and frustrated at how closely I followed his directions and still managed to get him something he didn't exactly want. I nearly lost it when I left my Dad’s my last day in Buffalo: he has the exact same notebook that I sarcastically bought David. I couldn't contain my laughter.

Update on the right now:

Countdown to Mississippi: 18 days!! 

I just spent 4^th of July with some of my favorite lady friends ever

I’m going to a Red Sox vs. Angels game tomorrow with some high school friends :)