Happy happy joy joy!

Sooooo I can't believe that I've been at training for a week now. In this time, I've learned so much more about foundations, new truss systems, and even down to the details of gutters and weatherization. I'm soo excited to go on Initial Home Visits (IHV's) with my first years tomorrow, which pretty much entails me taking them to a mock IHV where they'll have to draw the layout of the home and make notes of what specific areas of the home need the most help. So.. this obviously means I've been assigned my staff!! We had a huuuge scavenger hunt-type picnic on Sunday night and all of the Center Directors put us through a series of games and funny events that eventually led us all to each other.. which included much running, and much sweating.

So, my staff consists Becca Ford, the Center Director, which is really funny because she was my Prayer Partner last year and we're already really close! She also lives in Stratford CT which is another funny coincidence considering the small amount of people from the North.. I'm really impressed with her because she skipped her returner year (which is what I'm doing, she went right from her first year to the CD), and shes REALLY smart! I'm super excited to get to be partners in crime. Speaking of partners in crime, I have two first years named Kelly Mack and John Brennan. I love them to death. John is hilariously awkward and Kelly is the cutest klutz I've ever met, I forsee some seriously awesome times in the months ahead.

Which brings me to my next point.... I'll be in Logan-Chapmanville, West Virginia all summer!!! I'm really, really excited. We're staying in a school with A/C, but it will certainly be interesting because we're sharing the building with a bunch of other summer camps and groups, so apparently we'll be sharing the cafeteria every morning for breakfast. Hey, whatever, the more company the merrier! I'm especially pumped for Logan because it's in a little town (so I've been told), which could be a really cool contrast from my somewhat secluded location last year in Buchanan County. Funny story, ASP isn't in Buchanan County again this summer because of the whole bat scenario last summer... =[! BUT, 4 out of 5 of my staffers from last summer are here on the Porch so we're going to take a day off together and go hang out with our families from last year! It'll be so great to reunite with them, not to mention mooch some of their amaaaazzzingg home cooked meals.

That's all for now........ time for sleep cause I have to be up at 6:30! Hopefully I can sleep soon, though it might be a challenge as I listen to another staffer cut down trees in her bed. And by cut down trees I mean snore. Loudly. Dad, I now know what it feels like to sleep in the same room as Mom.


ps... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!! Get better soon so you can rock that mustachio ya sicko!

APPALACHIAN SUMMER: TAKE 2

Whatsup Appalachia! I really wish I could put into words how amazing it feels to be back in the mountains. No matter how many times I've driven past the same overlooks and parks, all of the views still take my breath away! I got here yesterday, and today was SIM day-- Simulation Day. The rest of the returners and center directors and I were at different stations acting out possible scenarios for the first-years to run into, so when they got to our site they acted as if they were real staffers and tried to get us under control. It was tons of fun, and I got to bond with a bunch of staffers who I'd never really gotten to talk to before. Now we're back at the center and I just took my first Appalachian shower... though I probably won't take many more. I'm going to try to break my record of lasting 8 days before taking a shower... hahaha heck yeaaaa! This very well might be one of the only places I'll encounter where personal hygiene is overrated.

Anyhooo, the next few days are filled with lots of sessions about construction, Christian leadership, how to talk to volunteers and group leaders, and then on Sunday we'll figure out our staffs!!! I'm soooo excited. Last summer will be pretty hard to top, but I foresee an amaaazing summer ahead of me!