In the face of tragedy

I feel deeply honored to support our 140+ AmeriCorops NCCC members staffing numerous shelters in NJ, RI, CT and NY.

 Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast just days before all of the teams were scheduled to return to campus and draw their year of service to a close. They’ve cleared trails, worked in schools, cleaned up neighborhoods, planted trees and now they’re giving a final push to provide safety and shelter to those affected by the storm. On Friday/ Saturday Michael (another one of the support team leaders) and myself drove up to NJ to help support the teams there. It’s remarkable to see the impact that these individuals are having.

 I had the pleasure of working an overnight shift at a shelter at Monmouth University. One of our team leaders was assigned shelter manager and with the help of her team and three other teams, they’re literally running the show. At 8:00 pm we helped finish up with dinner before cleaning the dining hall. We then assisted the disabled and elderly to the washroom and to bed, inventoried all of the food/ supplies, and monitored the dorm. Many of the clients slept very little and instead spent the night wandering the halls or sitting in the dining area.

Breakfast preparation began around 5:00 am and while half of the group set up the dining area, the other half were responsible for helping those who needed assistance to get out of bed and to the bathroom. Despite the many unglamorous tasks, spirits were high and the members were completely committed to making life a little more bearable for the people who’ve already lost so much.

I met 94 year old Deloris around 7:00 am. She woke up on her cot among 250 other clients and was very anxious because she didn’t remember why she was there. It was difficult because I could offer her little but a helpful hand and reassurance that she was going to get out soon although honestly, I had no clue when that would be. She asked me the same questions repeatedly, not remembering that I just found her medicine or already took out clean socks. As she washed up, she got so upset because she thought she looked ugly. “Don’t get old” was her advice to me. Despite the terrible circumstance that she was in, her gratitude was immense. She thought she was an inconvenience, but really what in the world could be more important or gratifying than sharing a little humanity with someone who desperately needs it?

After leaving the Monmouth shelter we traveled to a Jersey City shelter where another team was working alongside a multitude of service members. As they took us on a tour of the shelter, the pride that they had in their work was obvious. Our last stop of the day was Princeton, NJ where 3 teams are working in the Red Cross Headquarters. After two year in NCCC, I am still awed by the power that teamwork and dedication can have on communities. Many thanks to the all those in the field, and those supporting them in the background for reminding me what truly matters. 

Snow melting outside the makeshift shelter

NCCC members sorting donations 

Maine in a nutshell

Help, I'm Maine in a nutshell!!!

Today I'm traveling backwards. It's an interesting phenomenon that can potentially be completed through a number of means, but the one that I'm currently using is a my all time favorite- the train. After three days with the family in Boston, I am heading back to Portland, Maine where I'll spend my last evening with the fine members of Moose 1. I've been filling in for the team's permanent team leader for the past few weeks in an ideal autumn setting. They live in a great house, endearingly referred to as "The Farm" as it sits on over 4 acres of fields and woods. The trees are currently at their heigh of brilliance. Together, we've worked to refurbish a historic home in Freeport and set up/ help run a community farm day in town. We've also spent a bit of time working on another historic home about 20 minutes north in Pejebscot.
 Maine has proven to be quite endearing, with the southern city of Portland climbing on my list of favorite US cities. The town manifests a laid-back yet eager atmosphere where classic architecture and trendy shops seem to fit well together. There's something about the old stone buildings, the nearby waterways, live music, farmers markets and local shops that make me crave more time to get to know the city more intimately. Unfortunately I do not have that opportunity now as I am flying back to Maryland tomorrow to finish off the year with NCCC.

Moose 1 painting a historic farm building in Freeport, ME

Surprises in Maryland

ArtScape

 The anual ArtScape in Baltimore is the biggest free art festival in the United States. The streets and surrounding buildings of about five blocks were filled with art displays, theater groups, opera performers, organ/ piano music showcases,  DJs, bands, computer games, decorated cars, and so much more. Michael, Brooke, Tristan and myself drove into the city where we met up with another team leader, Toby, and one of my dearest friends, Kelly. We spent the day walking around the venues, enjoying loads free samples and drinking NattyBo (a staple beer of Baltimore). Live music sounded from a number of interesting stages. including a the back of a boat (parked on the street) and another with a rotating piano. Eventually our hunger got the better of us so enjoyed dinner at Iggies Pizza, a local staple in the Mount Vernon area.

“Do not try, only do.” 

I’ve started a homework assignment to watch more movies that are often referenced or are otherwise significant to popular culture. Griff provided me a pretty extensive list. Our house has an extensive VHS collection that’s been accumulating over years of NCCC inhabitants. One of the gems contained is a box set of the original Star Wars trilogy which I took on this past week. Despite it’s futuristic representations created with technology from the past, the story remains captivating enough that even I held my criticisms back. That’s something that only people who’ve watched movies with me can appreciate. 

 The nature of my current position has kept me in Perry Point most of the time. Day trips to visit teams in Baltimore MD, Camden NJ or Wilmington DE have allowed for some travel but it’s been a while since I’ve been truly on the road. I very much miss the constant adventure and trials of the unexpected. Luckily this weekend I got a good taste of such adventures.

An AmeriCorps NCCC alumn from the Denver campus recently contacted our office to see if anyone could come out to an event that took place this weekend. He’s a naturalist at the Asageague State Park near Ocean City, MD and was helping to organize a convention aiming to get youth of color more involved with the environment. Speakers included a veterinary, the founder of an organization called Outdoor Afro, a River Steward and a videographer who won an Academy Award for best short documentary a few years ago. The audience ranged in age from about 16 to 21 and were all involved in local work/ volunteer programs focussed on environmental stewardship and education. Mark, the NCCC alumn, arranged for us to stay at a camp site for 2 nights right next to the beach. 

 We drove down on Thursday evening and fell asleep under the stars to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. There’s no better lullaby. On Saturday morning Tristan, Brooke and myself all rose early to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic and then went for a morning swim. We even saw a pod of dolphins swim right past us. All the coffee in the world couldn’t have invigorated us as much as that spectacular morning. We followed Mark and a one of the park rangers to the conference center where we set up an information table and got to chat with some of the local environmental organizations. A woman there was talking about how she only knew of NCCC because she worked with a team for a day on a project in Massachusetts cleaning a river. I had a project cleaning a river in Massachusetts. After further investigation we discovered that she’d joined my team in Somerville for a day of service removing water chestnuts from the Mystic River. What a small freakin’ world. 

 After listening to the speakers we traveled to the Asateague State Park for an afternoon of water activities. Kayaks, paddle boards, crab and clam nets were all available for everyone to use. The most remarkable thing about the park is the wild ponies that inhabit the entire 37 mile long island, from Chinkateague up to Asatague. They walk around without taking much notice of the hundreds of visitors with campers, cameras, boats and bonfires. Thursday evening we cooked dinner over a bonfire and watched a thunderstorm roll past, only spurting a bit of rain on us. On Friday morning we were woken up by the sound of hooves galloping through the campground. We sat up just in time to see about eight ponies run right past our tents. They made their way to the beach and I followed suit a few minutes later. I was able to swim as the sun rose over the ocean and witness nearly ten dolphins playing in the waves while wild ponies walked the shore line. It was so refreshing to be sent somewhere for work that was truly spectacular. 

Divapalooza

“If we don’t offend you then you’re not paying attention.” That was the quote of the evening at the Divapalooza, an annual drag show benefiting Movable Feast, in Baltimore. 

Movable Feast is a nonprofit that makes meals for individuals who are stuck at home battling life threatening diseases including HIV, AIDS, breast cancer and other cancers. Many of them live in food deserts where they have limited access to quality food and are unable to afford nutritious choices. A poor diet results in a multitude of negative effects including lack of energy, a weakened immune system and vitamin deficiencies. By providing nutritious meals, Movable Feast gives people the freedom to focus on their healthy recovery. 

 My team worked there on a few occasions last year and it was such an inspiring operation. In their state of the art kitchen, they create thousands of meals on a daily basis which are then delivered all over Baltimore, the surrounding suburbs and the eastern shore. My AmeriCorps NCCC team worked alongside other volunteers from the community and the kitchen staff to make and package meals.

  This year, the support team leaders got to help them in a different capacity. The Divapalooza drag show raised over $110,000 in just two performances and every penny went directly to Movable Feast. Seven Team Leaders and four Corps Members helped with almost everything short of actually wearing heals and glitter. We parked cars, registered people for the auction and manned the doors. Once the show started we made our way up the the choir loft where we sat, mouthes agape as the nine queens and 3 kings of drag had the whole church filled with laughter and awkward chuckles. When they started singing one of our Green Team songs (Tristan's personal favorite) we nearly lost it. Our biggest task was clean up/ break down of the hall which we started as soon as the audience stumbled out of the room. The cast and crew sang our praises as we scrubbed toilets and cleaned glitter from every crevice of the room. It was almost 2:00 am when we finished and made an exhausted ride to our hotel in the Inner Harbor. Six hours later we were checked out and on the road back to Perry Point. One of my favorite parts of the experience was the chance to serve with the other support team leaders. We all get caught up in our individual roles at the office and rarely do anything as a complete group. In a way though, we are our own team. It's nice to act like one occasionally.

Check 'em out!

http://www.mfeast.org/

Enter Spring

      I'm sitting in the lawn behind my humble little home at Perry Point VA. There are nearly ten rows of houses of which almost all are completely vacant. It seems like a ghost town and I often hasten my pace walking around in the evening. It could be the setting to a horror movie. In fact, it is a setting to a horror movie. But you wouldn't think that today. The sun has finally broken through after a week of windy, overcast and damp days. It's quiet but I can watch the boats making their way up and down the Susquehana river and the occasional dog-walker as he jogs along the waterside road.

           The past week has been a fury of commotion as almost all of the teams were here to transition between their first and second round projects. Most of my work got pushed aside as members scrambled in and out of the office trying to make copies, email documents, or just vent about whatever seemed to ail them. It was refreshing to have the activity to relieve the monotony of regular office life. 

 It's hard for me to explain my current position as a Support Team Leader (STL) to those who became familiar with the work I did last year as a Field Team Leader. In general I work with the NCCC staff to provide logistical support to the teams out in the field. The fourteen teems are divided into three units and each unit gets one STL. There are three other STL positions. One person works closely with media and community relations, one with the program department to develop projects, and another with operations. The six of us are the only members who reside on campus full time. The rest of the Corps moves in and out as their projects demand. With housing, food, and transportation provided, it's a pretty good gig. It allows for a lot more stability than life in the field. 

     Last week I took a trip out to Denver to meet up with Griff, one of the TLs from last year. It's a pretty fantastic city with a culture that is very active and environmentally conscience. It was refreshing to see those priorities being held by the majority. We spent the four days visiting some of his friends and relatives while also exploring the area. It's really nice to experience a new place with someone who's got a passion for and knowledge of it already.

   I've enjoyed some shorter trips recently too. Becky, Kelly, Robyn and myself all spent a weekend in Atlantic City. Although I'm generally turned off by the constant overstimulation of casinos it turned out to be a great reunion. It would be nearly impossible not to enjoy myself in the company of some of my closest friends. We spend the days on the boardwalk before dressing up and heading out for dinner, drinks and dancing; three Ds that always go well together.

  While people come and go from everyday life there are some relationships that are important to hold on to. It's the people who you can see after months apart and still carry on as if it hadn't been a day who have the ability to bring you back to yourself. They can remind you of a bigger picture when you get caught up in whatever current stressors consume your thoughts. I have gained a lot of appreciation for those people this month. 

Snowflakes and Mountaintops

Austria. It is here that I have developed a new and comprehensive appreciation for water in all of its forms. The pool is surrounded by ceiling high windows from which you can gaze upon the snow covered Alps. All 360 degrees of the view from our hotel is worthy of a postcard. The wellness room next to the pool is equally enjoyable. You could easily spend hours traveling between the steam room, sauna, aromatherapy room, jet showers, and what we endearingly named the napping room.

Upon our arrival, my family took an immediate liking to the hotel. Breakfast and dinner were provided downstairs in the dining hall. Exhaustion from travel left us rather incapacitated for the first day but we did venture into the nearby town of Zel am See for a little exercise and a mug of warm Glugwein. Christmas turned out to be something unique in my memory as it was only my little family to celebrate together. After dinner Mamma, Pappa, Erik and myself all exchanged small gifts before hearing the church bells next door calling us to mass. I found the service oddly familiar and comforting despite not understanding any part of the service (except for the Our Father prayer which I dutifully learned in German Class in High School).

The circus came to town the next day. By circus I mean the 21 other guests in our party. From Boston we were joined by the Faheys and McLaughlins. From Denmark: The last Danish viking, my great uncle Egon and Anna, the whole Erikson family, Jane, Rikke and their children. The call and response of the week led by Svend: "Who let the dog's out?" "...who? who? who? who? who." Even the little Danish children who knew about ten words in English were joyfully participating.

For over 7,000 years salt mining has been a major source of income for the Austrian government. In the 16th century, Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau profited so hugely from the mining of "white gold" that he was able to invest in magnificent architecture to develop the city of Saltzburg. We toured a salt mine located deep under the town of Hallein. We made our way into the mountain on a train and then descended even further on wooden slides. The caverns varied greatly; some narrow and damp, others huge and drafty. One large area was flooded and we all boarded a big boat in order to cross the room. We crossed an underground German border (no passport necessary) before eventually rising into the cold day above. It was a surprisingly enjoyable day.

There is not much that beets the thrill of plummeting down a mountain covered in snow. One of the highlights for many of us was a sledding trip down a local mountain. After being pulled up the steep roads (almost 3km) we reached big cabin where we enjoyed glugwein, beer, and various meat/cheese plates before picking up sleds and making out way down the mountain at dusk. The route was marked with lanterns and we were warned that "if there is no light, you have a problem". The old wooden sleds served us well as we steered with our feet for a ride that took nearly twenty minutes from top to bottom. That evening we celebrated my parents 25th wedding anniversary (3 months late) over dinner and drinks. Pat brought a bunch of decorations for the US and Erik and I showed a little video that we made for them. I consider myself very lucky to a product of such a beautiful and equally quirky relationship. They sing, tease, and laugh their way through life.

The next day we were all singing through life on the Sound of Music tour in Satlzburg, A big bus took us around the city and the guide pointed out some of the places from the movie that is so near my heart. Interestingly the movie is unknown to most locals. The city was mesmerizing though. Lichen covered trees lined the narrow streets making us all hold our breath as the bus came within inches of them on sharp turns. Old Barouch style buildings with fountains, statues and walking streets in abundance made me feel as if I could have easily been living a century or two in the past. The city seems to capture the essence of timelessness.

After six years I was able to rekindle my love for the snowboard. Pappa, Erik and I all hit the slopes at Zel am See on New Years Eve. My initial nerves were quickly pushed aside after realizing that could still make it down without having to plow the side of the mountain. One run in and I was carving down some of the steepest slopes I've ever been on. Two days of snow showers ensured we had a lot of cushion for the inevitable wipe outs. That evening we danced and drank our way into 2012.

Today I am in Munich, the capital of Bavaria in Germany. It is a beautiful city with a fascinating history. My family flew out this morning and I am waiting for my flight tomorrow. After landing, I'll have about 14 hours before I have to drive down to Perry Point to start year two of NCCC. This trip has been exactly what I've needed to be ready for another year of service.

Pictures are forthcoming and possibly a video or two. Happy New Year! Godt NytÅr! Prosit Neujahr!