Goodbye SOS
Upon rejoining my regular Americorps team, Gold one, at Camp Hope, i have realized that I have been living in an alternate Ameri universe, while in Charleston. The last five weeks were probably my favorite five weeks of this whole Ameri experience. I have had some great times with my friends, but project wise, nothing has topped the experience I had with Summer of Service (SOS).
Our project for the third week was at Mepkin Abbey. It is a monastary in Moncks Corner, which is about 45 minutes north of Charleston. Two other SOS teams had worked there in the previous two weeks, so the sponsor, Vivian, who is the gardner there, knew what was coming her way. After a brief orientation to learn about the monastary, we got started helping her with small tasks around the grounds. We did some weeding, replanting, and cleaning up around the grounds. Monday we had the opportunity to sit in on the 10 minute church service, which the monks have daily at noon. Then we joined them for lunch. The catch with lunch was we sat in an adjacent room, and they do not talk at lunch. Luckily for David and I, three of our guys who are the loudest, were not with us for various reasons that day, so our group's behavior was great.
The last week, in general, was pretty intense. The CMIT's were getting antsy to go home and we were getting antsy to send them home! There was some tension between a few of us Crew Leaders and the staff because of a decision made to bring 2 guys back that had been sent home for behavior issues, with only 2 days left in the program. I won't get into that though, it's not really that important now, in refelcting over the whole 5 week experience. That snag still doesn't affect my opinion of how amazing the Charleston staff are, and how sad it is that they are loosing their jobs because the federal government is closing that campus in September.
Saturday morning was graduation, and it was cool to see how proud some of the parents were of their CMITS. The CMITS had to write a personal statement in their last week about things they learned or how they changed. Staff typed all of them up and put them together in a little packet for us. Some of them are funny to read, but it is cool to read how some of them felt, even though they didn't show it most of the time.
Mom and dad drove down for Saturday and Sunday, so after the CMITS left i spent saturday evening and Sunday with them. I had a good time showing them around Charleston.
It was sad to leave the other crew leaders on Tuesday. Half of us are still in the program, so we might cross paths again during our last few months. The others, Charleston corps members, went home, since they were done back in May with their 10 months. It is kinda strange to have spent the last 5 weeks with a group of people, and then all the sudden not see them. That's kinda how Americorps works though. You'd think I would be use to it by now. I really enjoyed being around people who wanted to do service and were excited to be there. That was one of my favorite parts about the whole SOS program. Here, with my regular team, and other teams that are living here, there are a few on each team that arn't here because they enjoy doing service. I only have 8 weeks left till graduation, so i'm not gonna let these certain people ruin it for me. I am excited about our last project, in Biloxi. We won't be working together as a team, we'll have different jobs (which i have no idea what they are right now??). This next week we will be with the whole Gold Unit, which means my roommate, Heather, from training will be there, and I am really excited to see her. It's been 2 whole months since we parted ways after break!
I left a lot out about the last couple weeks, there is no possible way to type everything I did. I can tell you all about it when i get home or if you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me an email/letter, or give me a call. I love talking about it, i just don't want you to be sitting here reading pages upon pages of me rambling on and on! =)
Those of you who have written me in the last month will be getting letters soon, now that i have time to think and breathe. Sorry for the delay in writing you back!
I can't believe it's already August. . . roughly 8 weeks left! Craziness!
I realized i havn't posted pictures in a while, so here are some ones to catch you up. There will be more later once others put pictures up, but here are some of mine! Enjoy!!!
Camp Hope- the first 3 weeks before SOS
http://uncg.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2083890&l=14791&id=25000446
SOS- Charleston
http://uncg.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2084325&l=bc6c8&id=25000446
http://uncg.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087635&l=deb39&id=25000446
Our project for the third week was at Mepkin Abbey. It is a monastary in Moncks Corner, which is about 45 minutes north of Charleston. Two other SOS teams had worked there in the previous two weeks, so the sponsor, Vivian, who is the gardner there, knew what was coming her way. After a brief orientation to learn about the monastary, we got started helping her with small tasks around the grounds. We did some weeding, replanting, and cleaning up around the grounds. Monday we had the opportunity to sit in on the 10 minute church service, which the monks have daily at noon. Then we joined them for lunch. The catch with lunch was we sat in an adjacent room, and they do not talk at lunch. Luckily for David and I, three of our guys who are the loudest, were not with us for various reasons that day, so our group's behavior was great.
The last week, in general, was pretty intense. The CMIT's were getting antsy to go home and we were getting antsy to send them home! There was some tension between a few of us Crew Leaders and the staff because of a decision made to bring 2 guys back that had been sent home for behavior issues, with only 2 days left in the program. I won't get into that though, it's not really that important now, in refelcting over the whole 5 week experience. That snag still doesn't affect my opinion of how amazing the Charleston staff are, and how sad it is that they are loosing their jobs because the federal government is closing that campus in September.
Saturday morning was graduation, and it was cool to see how proud some of the parents were of their CMITS. The CMITS had to write a personal statement in their last week about things they learned or how they changed. Staff typed all of them up and put them together in a little packet for us. Some of them are funny to read, but it is cool to read how some of them felt, even though they didn't show it most of the time.
Mom and dad drove down for Saturday and Sunday, so after the CMITS left i spent saturday evening and Sunday with them. I had a good time showing them around Charleston.
It was sad to leave the other crew leaders on Tuesday. Half of us are still in the program, so we might cross paths again during our last few months. The others, Charleston corps members, went home, since they were done back in May with their 10 months. It is kinda strange to have spent the last 5 weeks with a group of people, and then all the sudden not see them. That's kinda how Americorps works though. You'd think I would be use to it by now. I really enjoyed being around people who wanted to do service and were excited to be there. That was one of my favorite parts about the whole SOS program. Here, with my regular team, and other teams that are living here, there are a few on each team that arn't here because they enjoy doing service. I only have 8 weeks left till graduation, so i'm not gonna let these certain people ruin it for me. I am excited about our last project, in Biloxi. We won't be working together as a team, we'll have different jobs (which i have no idea what they are right now??). This next week we will be with the whole Gold Unit, which means my roommate, Heather, from training will be there, and I am really excited to see her. It's been 2 whole months since we parted ways after break!
I left a lot out about the last couple weeks, there is no possible way to type everything I did. I can tell you all about it when i get home or if you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me an email/letter, or give me a call. I love talking about it, i just don't want you to be sitting here reading pages upon pages of me rambling on and on! =)
Those of you who have written me in the last month will be getting letters soon, now that i have time to think and breathe. Sorry for the delay in writing you back!
I can't believe it's already August. . . roughly 8 weeks left! Craziness!
I realized i havn't posted pictures in a while, so here are some ones to catch you up. There will be more later once others put pictures up, but here are some of mine! Enjoy!!!
Camp Hope- the first 3 weeks before SOS
http://uncg.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2083890&l=14791&id=25000446
SOS- Charleston
http://uncg.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2084325&l=bc6c8&id=25000446
http://uncg.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087635&l=deb39&id=25000446
posted by Sarah @ 12:06 PM
2 Comments:
At 3:19 PM ,
Anonymous said...
DAIGLE!!! I saw that no one has commented on your blog for awhile, so I will! I'm glad you've had so much fun these past weeks! I hope you enjoy your Biloxi time just as much... you should visit the Eleuteriuses! School starts 2 weeks from today for me. But I'm not excited or anything...
Love you! julie
At 9:56 PM ,
Anonymous said...
wow! i am really impressed that julie remembered how to spell their names! i hope you enjoy biloxi, too- being in a semifamiliar place :) i am really glad you enjoyed your last 5 weeks and hope the next 8 are just as fun!
-katie
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