My new life

So here I am week 3 into living in New Orleans.  Still haven't decided the route I am going to take for this year's blog, but I will figure it out.  Let's rewind to getting here almost 3 weeks ago...

I got here on Thursday the 11th.  Nice and easy travel day for me which was great.  Had a reunion of all reunions with Rachel and Margaret.  I still can't believe that the three of us are actually living in the same city kind of like we planned last year.  It may have taken longer for it to sink in for Margaret than it did for me since she did tackle me the second she got home and kept reminding me where I was...I didn't hate it, still don't.  I had nothing to do all weekend, but enjoy being in New Orleans during French Quarter Fest, meeting all of their awesome friends who kept reminding me that I LIVE here now, and trying to prepare for a week in Denver.  That brings me to Monday the 15th...

Marathon Monday for me has always been one of my favorite days with my family.  I remember growing up each year we packed the station wagon/green van/silver van full of coolers with subs from Burlington Cold Cut, cokes, water, the terrible radio so we could hear the start of the Marathon and sox updates. We would go with what seemed like a million people we knew and their kids clapping all day and screaming out whatever was on each runners shirts going by.  Standing at mile 17 each year, across from the oriental rug place, rollerblading behind buildings with Jill, Paul, ad Joey usually every year, trying to beat the runner across the street.  As we got older, I started to remember the people we all knew running by us, occasionally mom and dad jumping in to run with their friends, or even seeing Mom pass us running her first Marathon.  Now, making new traditions with my friends from home going into the Fenway area and enjoying the day with them.  These are the kinds of days I remember as Marathon Monday, until this one.  I got off the plane in Denver to read tweets about praying for Boston and getting texts from friends across the country asking me if my family was okay.  Immediately I checked the news, that is when I heard about the bombing.  Never in a million years would I think something like this could happen to this city on a day where the entire city is out on the streets enjoying an event that people all over the world tune in to.  This day was now filled with making sure my family was alright and that everyone I knew from home was safe.  Thankfully everyone is, but still being so far away, this feeling was uneasy for me.  Hearing stories about some of the people we know being minutes from the bombing, some people not finishing the marathon, and fear among the city made it hard to focus on what I was about to embark on.  That is how I felt the whole week following this event.  All I wanted was to be in Burlington with my family watching the news instead of a hotel room in Denver watching CNN with people who didn't really understand what was going on.  I spent a lot of time with Nick who I met who is from Boston and he actually went to Bridgewater himself.  We updated each other all week on what we were hearing and kind of stuck together to make sure we were okay.  Kind of the comfort we both needed.  This one day could never take away the memories from Marathon Monday growing up as a kid, but it has changed my view on my city for sure.  Watching Rene Rancourt give up his spot light we all know he loves to have the Garden sing the National Anthem was probably the highlight of the week for me.  I cried like a baby watching on my air mattress as the videos got quickly uploaded, and nobody will ever understand what this whole event means to our city besides people from Boston.  I am so proud of my upbringing, my accent, being rough and tough around the edges (not really) because of where I am from, but most of all I am proud to say the Marathon is one of the best family traditions we have.  Someday I will run the 26.2 miles and run by mile 17 with the memories we made and the same feelings I have now knowing those Monday's were some of the best ways to start April vacation ever.

With that being said, moving on to Pre Service Orientation in Denver.  This week was filled with learning about our roles as AmeriCorps VISTA's for the year.  I learned a lot about poverty in the United States and how as a VISTA we will be living at the poverty level of the city our organization is in.  No big deal, nothing I can't handle.  Basically we were separated into class rooms all day learning different things, I learned a lot, but most of all I made some new connections.  I met some aw3esome people in the 5 days 4 nights I spent in Denver.  We explored the city a bit, saw Coors Field right next to a sweet bar we found, drank a Coors Light in Denver, and enjoyed getting to know each other as like minded people about to start a year doing similar work.  Side note...the Rockies game was cancelled one day while we were there because of snow.  Never heard that one before, but God damn it was cold so I get it.  After this one week, I knew that choosing to come here and do another year of service was definitely the right choice.

When I got back to New Orleans I didn't do much all weekend.  Monday started my first day of work SINCE DECEMBER.  Did I miss working or what?  Monday and Tuesday were used to meet the people of the office I will be working in, getting to know my supervisor, and learning more about what I will be doing.  So...what I will be doing...this year for me is primarily recruiting volunteers.  I work closely with Johnny, he was a VISTA 2 years ago in my position and now is the front man of my position.  He brought me to the different facilities that Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans serves.  I met a whole bunch of people and honestly, I remember like 2 names.  But this year there are different events already set up that I have to recruit some volunteers for.  I was at my desk everyday this week doing research on different VOA's in America so I could see what our organization offers as a whole.  Pretty interesting stuff if I do say so myself.  There are already a few events I need to create volunteer recruitment material for, but that is next weeks work.  One major highlight from this week, amongst a lot of them, was Friday.  Not only was it Friday, but Johnny, Caitlin (my other supervisor who is actually from Marshfield, MA) went to the Hilton downtown to see where we will be hosting an event in early June.  The representative from the hotel took us to the room we are utilizing, toured our area, then treated us to lunch.  Again, food was my highlight.  We went to a seafood place, my mouth watered the second we got there.  She asked if I had tried oysters yet since I moved, and since I said no, she ordered a dozen.  I absolutely loved them.  She ordered those, Fleur de Lis shrimp which was unreal, and I got a catfish po boy.  I was pretty New Orleans all afternoon.  I thought I would never eat again after that. 

This weekend was veeeeeeeeery relaxing.  Friday night I made some pizza for the three of us.  We ate, sat on the couch hysterically laughing and eating Ben and Jerry's, and were in bed by 11.  Perfect Friday night.  Saturday Rachel and I got up early to go to the beach with one of her friends she works with.  The beach was quite a drive, but it was an adventure to say the least.  We packed basically a 7 course meal for the beach, laid out all day, went in the WARM water (Gulf of Mexico), I stepped on a fish and since I am afraid of fish it was traumatizing, and obviously since it is me I got FRIED.  I am currently the color of a Maine Lobster.  I will be tan in a few days so it is fine, but lesson learned, the sun is stronger here.  I should have known.  Last night we did a bit of the same, laid around and went to bed EARLY.  Today is another relaxing day for me doing a whole lot of nothing but catching up on shows and house hunting still.  Someday soon I will have an update saying I have an apartment finally...can't wait for that day!  This week is going to be extremely busy for me so I am glad I got to use today to do nothing. 

One last thing I forgot to mention...since I don't have a car here and where I'm living is pretty far away from work, I have a nice hour commute in the morning and night after work on the bus and street car.  You thought your life was weird, try to ride the New Orleans public transportation.  I laugh at my life every morning at each stop.  I stick out like a sore thumb and wouldn't have it any other way.  This ride gives me the opportunity to really watch the culture of NOLA come alive, to put it in the most PC way possible.  There are some characters in this city, let me tell you.  However, on the first day of work on my first  day on the bus, mom you'll be proud, I did it all panic stricken all by MYSELF.  Brave little toaster.  Now, I am giving directions to people who need help and I am an old pro navigating bus 88 from the Lower 9th ward to Canal Street.  I tweet out bus diaries daily, look out for those.

Anyway, again, I am glad everyone in my family and my friends are safe.  I know a lot of you were in Boston or near Boston that day or were somehow affected by the "man hunt" in Watertown.  I love now more than ever telling people I am from Massachusetts because, as Big Papi said, it is our ******* city! I hope all is well with everyone at home! I miss everyone! Until next time..

Successfully avoiding packing...

I guess I can start blogging again!

Tomorrow I leave for another AmeriCorps adventure, because why the hell not.  This year is different from last year.  I am going to be an AmeriCorps VISTA instead of being in NCCC.  The difference being I am not traveling around the country, I am staying in one city working with one non-profit for a whole year.  I am moving to New Orleans to work for Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans.  Yes, like I said many blogs ago, I AM actually moving to the city I wanted to!  I am very, very excited. 

Since last term ended, my life again has changed.  I came home in December to a tough transition back into life here.  I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.  Frankly, I still don't know what I want to do.  The one silver lining to coming home for me was I got to get back into an activity I loved and that is coaching.  In November, the head coach of the high school varsity team in Burlington asked me if I wanted to join the staff when I came home.  Thankfully enough, they allowed me to come into the season two weeks late.  From day one at the rink I knew the team was something special.  I got to coach the girls into the first state tournament birth in school history, I got to help 20 teenage girls become 1 team, and I got to develop relationships with athletes that will forever be in my life.  In three short months, I learned many things about myself from these girls everyday.  They taught me the true definition of perseverance.  Some of them have been on the team for 5 years, 5 unsuccessful years.  They did not give up on their team and made it as far as a team could go.  That taught me, without them knowing, that anything is possible if you just stick to it.  I am going to take that lesson with me and remind myself that everyday while I am gone.  I owe a lot of my happiness in my life to the girls because of how easy they made my transition from the Amerilife to real life for a short period of time.  These girls have changed my life forever.

In addition to coaching, I lived the unemployed life.  Let me tell you, that was not fun.  I found odds and ends to do thanks to dirty windows and an office moving.  I interviewed for a few jobs, but this one is definitely the one I want.  I am feeling a bit different this time around about leaving.  My excitement comes from knowing I am going to a city I loved AND two of my best friends live there.  They are two of the reasons why I am really thankful AmeriCorps happened in my life.  I am going to be staying at their place for a bit while I find a place of my own and we are going to have one HELL of a reunion tomorrow.  I honestly can't wait.  I am also excited to be starting a new adventure in the "job" slash volunteering world.  I am going to be a volunteer recruiter for the non-profit.  I will be working with almost each employee in the non-profit.  I will know more after my first two days of orientation with them, and I will for sure fill y'all in on my life when I know more.  I move tomorrow and will be spending the weekend in NOLA, but then Monday I have VISTA training through AmeriCorps.  I will be traveling to Denver for 3 nights 4 days of training.  Warmer weather, to snow for 4 days, then back to warm.  Kind of New England like for me.  I am excited about that too.

This week for me has been full of seeing people to say bye, looking at everything I need to pack because yes I haven't started yet, and trying to not think about how I am again taking a year to be making minimal money.  But honestly, I wouldn't have my life any other way than it is right now.  I have some of the most supportive people around me daily and I am really lucky that I am going to be living the life I want again for another year.  I am happy and ready to start a new journey in New Orleans.  The way I look at it, everyone I know now has an unreal place to come visit.  I hope the city is ready for me!

Again, I am excited to start a new adventure and I am so thankful for the people who have come into my life in the  last year and for the people who have always been there with the utmost support.  I think Winnie the Pooh sums up perfectly how I feel right now...“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." In my case something is somethingS. 

Until next time blog readers...