Hey! I’m beginning this blog one week before I fly up to Sacramento, CA to begin training for AmeriCorps NCCC! I’m pretty sure everyone I’ve spoken to over the last 6 months has heard me mention AmeriCorps, at least once, but now I’m finally leaving!

AmeriCorps NCCC is a 10 month volunteer-based program for 18-24 year olds. There are 5 campuses: Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; Vinto, IA; Perry Point, MD and Vicksburg, MS. I was assigned to the Sacramento, CA campus along with 300 other members. After the first 4-5 weeks of training I will be assigned to a team of 10-12 members and together we will complete 4 different projects in the Pacific region. Projects range from responding to natural disasters, mentoring students or working with Habit for Humanity. The Pacific region serves California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and American Samoa. After the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in American Samoa last week, it wouldn’t be too surprising if I had a project there! I bet you’re wondering where I’m going to be stationed or what kind of project I’m going to be working on after the training in Sacramento, but at the moment your guess is as good as mine. It is definitely a huge thrill not knowing where I’m going to be living a month from now!

It seems weird to be starting an adventure without even leaving California. Throughout college whenever I told people I was from Southern California, their immediate reaction was, “what made you choose Wisconsin?” I would usually shrug my shoulders and say “I just wanted to live somewhere different. “ I was, and still am after any opportunity I can get my hands on to experience something different and with that I’m sure that the adventure I’m about to embark on will be more spontaneous than anything I’ve experienced thus far!

My next update should be from Sacramento, but until then, feel free to ask me any questions you have about the program! Thanks for reading!