The End of Training

Tomorrow is induction and we will become official AmeriCorps NCCC members! This has been one of the longest months ever. Waking up at 5am almost everyday makes the days last forever and I feel so much more productive. Last weekend I went with some friends to San Francisco which was a great time. It's really nice to leave the base in Sacramento and re-enter the "real world".

Training is now coming to an end. This morning we had a baseline physical training test so we could see if we've improved during the last month. I was really happy that I improved my 1.5 mile run by over 1 minute and I'm sick, so I'm especially proud of myself. This afternoon my team has a briefing in front of the staff to explain our expectations for our first project.

So after this weekend we will begin our first round projects! From now until our winter break beginning December 18th, I will be staying in Sacramento working for the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. At first I was disappointed to be staying in Sacramento while other teams are going to the gulf (all of Gold Unit will be there) or other states in the western region, but prior teams have said this project was their favorite. We will be assisting with many special holiday events for Thanksgiving and I think this is a meaningful time to be working with this organization. The SFBFS offers many other services in addition to providing food, such as donating clothing, tutoring youth and childcare. There should be a variety to the tasks we will be completing, but I won't know what I'm atually doing until we start the project next Monday. Also, 6 other teams will be staying on base working on various projects throughout Sacramento, so it will be nice to be able to hang out with them on nights and weekends.

Now comes the exciting part! For 3 weeks in January I will be living on Catalina Island!!! This will be an adventure for sure. We will be doing environmental work for the Catalina Island Conservancy. There is a 15 year waitlist to bring vehicles onto the island, so after we take the ferry from Long Beach onto the island, I'm not sure what kind of transportation will be available for us. We'll be having "luxury camping". This means there will be limited electicity and hot water. I don't think I'll have cell phone reception or internet access unless we go into Avalon which is a few miles away. Prior teams have said they had campfires everynight and the sponsors provided free kayaking and snorkeling for them! We will be living with a few other volunteers, but this will be a great experience for my team to learn to live together! I went to Catalina this summer and it's so bizarre to think that I'll be living there in January!


Everyone has a specialty role on our team. I am the peer helper which is the position I wanted. I get to act as a "team psychologist" and assist team members with any issues they are having. This will be an especially important role while in Catalina.

I'll try to update next week once I actually begin working!

Alex :)