Day 1 of official work!

Hello, crazy blog world.

My journey began May 26th, and after 11 days of training and a couple days in my center, things couldn't get better! Last Sunday I found out my staff during a scavenger hunt in Jonesville, Virginia, and I couldn't be happier with who I'll be with for the next few weeks. We're all so wacky and weird in our own ways, but at the same time we know exactly when to put on the business pants and get stuff done.

We're staying at Russel Prater's Elementary School, and this is seriously the coolest school I've ever been in. There are Disney characters painted all over the walls, and the set-up is really open and inviting. There aren't actual classrooms, most rooms are just divided by bookshelves and chalkboards and such. I would have never thought that would work.. but according to our crazy center advisor Paul, it does. The 5 of us are sleeping in a head start room for kindergarten-ers, and divided it up into sleeping quarters and an office. Even though it's freakin cramped at times, it's pretty cool having a bunch of roommates and workmates so close all the time.

Today we explored the county and began working! Now that I'm used to getting up between 7-8:30am, waking up isn't so torturous anymore. Kyle and I started the day off by heading to the hardware store and introducing ourselves, and then headed over to the dump. Whoever told us that finding the dump was going to be easy was a jackass. We got completely lost up a switchback in the middle of nowhere, but it was AWESOME! Definitely one of the best times I've had getting lost-- nothing's better than driving through windy mountain roads to some good ol' Zac Brown Band! (shout-out to my fave Ethan David: the mountain with the dump on it is called Keene!) After this trip, I went on another journey up to the Breaks, which is the state park. This is seriously the coolest park I've ever been to, there are so many historical things that you can look at, not to mention the most breath-taking views you've ever seen. I don't know how you can look at the view and not believe in God, the view was way too gorgeous to doubt that there's something bigger than us out there.

I never thought driving around would make me so exhausted..but after some phone calls and sign-making after that second trip, I'm just about ready to pass out. Great success.

p.s. my address is:
Laura Kelly
Russell Prater Elementary
St. Route 83
Vansant, VA 24656