family on fire

I love my Fire 6 family. Seriously!! I really can’t believe it only took one month and one project round to come to this place. It really feels like a family… a group of people I am forced to have relationships with, have genuine love for, bicker with, fight with, get in trouble with, and laugh my ass off with. When we got back to Denver and saw everyone else on campus, an overwhelming feeling of pride and relief hit me. I wouldn’t want to be on any other team. My team is the shit.

My team is ridiculous. There are some serious characters. Sometimes I want to kill people, and sometimes I can’t contain my laughter. Our team has really defined its personality over the month in Texas. People are very vocal. People speak right up to put someone in place. Every single person on the team loves to party. It’s beautiful. My team has this weird obsession with thrift stores. Don’t get me wrong, I love goodwill, but I’m not down to go thrifting four times a week.

I’m also feeling pretty accomplished at this point. My team of eleven people removed 33,000 salt cedar plants (from little weeds to tall trees). My arms and legs got jacked, but, I don’t feel like I made any kind of impact on the environment or the fight to eradicate Salt Cedar plants, but I feel like I worked my ass off at a job that had no end in sight. The techs we worked with everyday were very upfront and honest about their feelings toward the work we were all doing. They had been doing salt cedar removal for the past year, and they said it just keeps coming back. At some of the tracts we went to all you could see was salt cedar. It was impossible to feel like our work was meaningful. But I am so impressed that we got in the van everyday at 7:15, cut down hundreds of trees everyday, sweat through our shirts, got cut up on the brush, got ticks, and still managed to joke around during our breaks. I think we all learned a lot about pacing and exploring. It was amazing being out on these tracts. We were working next to the Rio Grande everyday. If we were so focused on the plants, we would have missed so much. Everyday was an adventure… Dealing with border patrol, finding abandoned clothing and living supplies, running into armadillos, and finding out things about each other.

After removing the layer of dust and bugs from my skin, I would sleep so well every night in my trailer (except for the night my bunk bed broke off the wall). The first week we did not do much at all. We came home from work and crashed. We got used to the exhaustion though. I’m really thankful that I have such a rowdy team. We went to a few hockey games, watched football at bars, shopped, ate Mexican too much, and most importantly, became regulars at Sofie’s Saloon. Ok think of the best hole in the wall bar with year round Christmas lights, giant backyard, bbq, shuffleboard table, juke box, indoor smoking, dirty, dirty, dirty, Texan bar… That’s Sofie’s Saloon. It was heaven on earth. We were regulars. My idea of bars are forever changed.

At the end of the four weeks in Texas, we cleaned out our trailers (it was a close call for me and Gina’s trailer), got in the vans, drove through Austin and Amarillo, arrived back at Campus in Denver, went to 4Gs (the Mexican bar across the street), and did a quick one day wrap up of our project. 24 hours after getting back to Denver I was on a plane to Boston. Right now I’m just enjoying my wide open schedule, and relaxing my muscles for the Winter. In January Fire 6 is headed to Arizona for 2 months to do trailer work and park maintenance at 4 state parks… Bring on the camping!

Innertubes and Immigration

Today we took a break from removing salt cedar (Tamarisk). The team was split and my group drove an hour west to a do tire and innertube removal on refuge land. There were tons of tires scattered on the land. There used to be a tire dump but when the flood came last year it displaced the tires all over the refuge land. We also did innertube removal. I was confused about this at first but quickly caught on. We walked along the banks of the Rio Grande picking up trashed innertubes that had been used to cross the river to come into the US. While we were walking the banks we ran into two border patrol agents. They came to check us out because they said they heard us. We stopped to talk to them for a minute. Asked the procedures. They said that when they catch people on US soil they bring them to the station and document them. Then they either have the UDA (undocumented aliens) voluntarily go back to Mexico (which usually happens if they are compliant and they do not have a record) or they are officially deported which means they can never legally come to the country.

After we passed the BPAs, two of the people in our group stumbled upon two young men coming upon the shore. When they saw our people they got back in the water. One of our guys got the BPAs that had just passed by. The boys who tried to cross made it back to Mexico. They were shirtless and had a black trash bag. There were tons of trash bags along the shore. When they made it back to their side I felt a sense of relief. Good for them. One of them dove in the water to swim. The actual water is no man’s land. People cannot be touched unless they are actually on the banks of the US side. That was really a crazy thing to see. The wildlife tech that we were with said he thinks that about 1000 people cross the river on the refuge land everyday. He thinks a majority make it successfully.

BORDER TOWN

On Thursday while we were working out in a Resaca (which is just surrounded by nature and nothing else) there were some low flying border patrol helicopters going by. Border patrol helicopters are pretty routine to see in the field (this particular Resaca is literally on the Rio Grande river which separates the US and Mexico). However, the helicopters were lingering and kept flying over the same area. It went on for about ten minutes. I was getting an uneasy feeling. Then one of them swooped down and in Spanish said, “where are you guys going.” That was a very weird feeling. Anytime we see border patrol cars flying by with their sirens on, I feel pretty sad. The Mexican border problem is incredibly in your face down in McAllen. Border patrol and people of Mexican descent are everywhere. I find myself frustrated and thinking about the politics a lot. The trailer park we live in is also very close to the Rio Grande, and we live in a barbed wire gated and locked compound, with border patrol vehicles often sitting right outside at night. Our sponsor organization (the National Wildlife Refuge) talks to us often to remind us of procedures for seeing suspicious people. If we see someone or something going on we are supposed to walk away and let a supervisor know, who will then contact border patrol and then we will have to leave. Our sponsors have told us a bunch of stories about coming across a thousand pounds of marijuana. Apparently the drug problem is of highest concern for border patrol, more than individuals coming to live in the US. At least I hope. I am really really appreciating my time living in South Texas. The weather is incredible, the Hispanic influence is amazing, but I am also really appreciative of living in a place that is so heavily influenced by the border problem. It’s important for my beliefs to have real life experience with my political views. Feel more knowledgeable.

So I live in a trailer park. Never thought living in a trailer would be so enjoyable! I have a roommate, Gina. She was one of my friends from orientation. So that’s cool to live with someone I’m already comfortable with and know that I’ll just become better friends with her. My trailer is huge and so homey! There are two bedrooms on either end of the trailer and a sizeable livingroom/kitchen in between. We have AC! And a bathroom and shower. It’s pretty luxurious. Which is really nice because it’s pretty hot down here and the work we do is pretty exhausting. We work with the National Wildlife Refuge to help get rid of an invasive plant species, Tamarisk, that has taken over since a major flood happened last year. Tamarisk is everywhere! We leave for work at 7:15 everyday, get to the worksite around 8 and then work until 3. It’s been hot! One day the heat index was at 105 degrees. We have to wear steel toes, long pants, and long sleeve shirts. It is some sweaty and physically demanding work! There are small Tamarisk plants that look like typical weeds literally everywhere, but then there is Tamarisk that get up to as big as a big tree. We cut it all down. Using loppers to cut the small ones, sawing the ones that aren’t giant, and working with the fire department to chain saw down the big trees. We worked all week at one region of Refuge land. Luckily we will not be staying at the same place for the rest of the time. The refuge has many regions in South Texas, so we will be doing the same work but in other places. The really cool part of the work is exploring. The piece of land we were working on last week was pretty big. Big enough to get very lost. It felt like I was in Jurassic Park. The ground was all separated as if hit by earthquakes. There is vegetation everywhere! While walking around we are constantly walking through bushes, often thorny ones. While exploring we found lots of clothing scattered. People maybe needing to take off wet clothes after crossing the Rio Grande. I’m constantly keeping my eyes open for snakes, scorpions, and white widows. Legit. I would definitely have a panic attack if I saw any of these. Especially a snake, which are pretty common down here. While exploring the Resaca we found a little puddle with dead Alligator fish in it. Apparently it was the result of the flood. Such a strange sight in a dry terrain.

Yesterday we went to the beach on South Padre Island. It was gorgeous. I can’t believe Thanksgiving in this week! Too warm for that! I’m really loving it down here. There’s only like three weeks left of work before heading back to Denver and then heading home for Christmas. This fall has really flown by.

Goodbye Madison

I’ve met a girl who has stolen my heart. Her name is Madison, and she is a 1-year-old Boxer. It was love on first walk. On Monday one of my friends suggested going to the Humane Society of Littleton. There was a huge room full of crated dogs eager to be walked and a room full of like 20 cats to be pet. Everyday the Humane Society has dog walking hours between 12-1 and 4-5. We just show up and ask to walk dogs. On my first walk on Monday I was given Madison. She is just so great! She is playful, so loving, and happy to be going for a walk. We ran and ran. I tried to give her as much exercise in a short period of time so that I could give other dogs a walk. Each dog that I walked I felt so conflicted whether to give them a long walk and a lot of attention, or to give them shorter walks so that I could give more dogs a walk. I’ve gone dog walking every day this week. I always request Madison first. She’s my girl. Don’t worry Scout and Peanut, you’re still my number 1’s. It’s crazy how much spending time with dogs does for my wellbeing. I’m getting service hours for going, but I’m positive that I would go even without service hours. I look forward to seeing the pups every single day.

I said goodbye to Madison today. It’s probably the last time I will see her. I am leaving for Texas on Saturday morning. It’s funny how big of a deal it feels to be leaving. We had induction today and we were officially inducted into the Corps. We wore our formal wear (AmeriTux). It was very “sentimental” (not actually, it was kinda strange and uncomfortable how significant it attempted to be). But I do feel the significance of leaving campus. Orientation is over. That feels like a big accomplishment. It was honestly pretty tough sometimes to be sitting in meetings after meetings being lectured on the most intuitive information, and watching your behavior and appearance, as to not be corrected by a team leader. I felt very watched. But were off to do some serious and meaningful work! I am sad, though, to leave some of the friends I have made this month. I never thought I would feel so comfortable and attached to people after only a month. But I do, and I like it.

Never thought I would be so excited to move to Texas, and to live in trailers! Were setting off in 2 days, and I am just so ready. My team leader, Pita, is just so great. She is so chill and understanding, but I have so much respect for at the same time. Alright, well I am in the middle of doing laundry, so I should probably finish it up. I have a big day of celebrating and final hoorahs to do today.

PEACE OUT DENVER!

FIRE 6!

That’s my team!!! We found out our permanent teams tonight. The anticipation was killer. We were supposed to find out on Friday, but because drug test results hadn’t all come back they kept postponing it. Finally today after a long day of diversity training they put us on a scavenger hunt to find our teams. I have such an amazing team leader named Pita. She was a team leader last year and is mad chill. She seems lenient on the ridiculous policies (like swearing in uniform). So, I’m pretty happy with the corps members on my team. Actually, mixed feelings. Like most of the people are really cool, and one of the girls (Gina) is someone that I’ve been friends with over the past 3 weeks. But honestly, there are a couple people who have already been annoying me. I hope it’ll be something that I can just laugh about. I need to learn to be more accepting/patient of people anyways. I just get so annoyed with obnoxious people. Ha.

MCALLEN, TEXAS. We’re heading there for our first round project (November 12-December 13). It’s the most southern point of Texas. It’s a border town. Our project is doing wildlife recovery work. We are responding to a flood that happened last year. Not totally sure on the details. But I think we are living in trailers with kitchens. Pretty sweet! I’m so freakin pumped! Bring on the country music!

YEEHAW

Difference of 14 Days

Hello Lovelies!

Exactly two weeks ago I woke up in Limon, CO, went to breakfast at an IHOP, left the table, and threw up in the bathroom. I was nervous and dehydrated. This morning when I woke up I felt a pinch of anxiety, but I am happy and no longer fearful of what the next 9.5 months will bring. Sundays for me are historically anxiety provoking, but today was such a wonderful day. Could not have asked for a better day. I woke up at noon to people I can actually call friends being really loud in the room right across from me in attempt to wake me up. How nice is that? Waking up and instantly being around people that are genuinely making me happy. I have been laughing a TON. My roommate is great. The girl who lives directly from me is absolutely hilarious. I have 3 other people that I am calling my friends. I have been doing a lot of things with these people. Lying in bed this morning I was a little bit anxious because it was my first free day since last Sunday (yesterday I went to the YMCA to set up a Halloween party to get hours for my independent service project… we need 80 total hours). I felt pressure to make it a good day. When I got out of bed and over to my friend’s room a hike was suggested. Cool. I thought I wanted to be lazy today, but it’s really great to have people who like to DO things. I feel like I’ve been pretty active in the past two weeks (not just physically, but seeing movies, going downtown, running, and searching for live music venues). It was a gorgeoussss day! Like 70 degrees and sunny. I drove up to Boulder with 3 other girls to hike the flat iron #1 (I think). It was the same exact hike that I did with Ben almost 2 weeks ago. It was amazing the difference that 2 weeks of acclimating to the altitude has done. I stopped far less on the way up. I did not feel like I was going to collapse. I got so dirty (the dirt is really dusty on the path). It was awesome. My black Nikes are brown right now. I have a layer of dirt and sweat on me. I feel amazing!! After the hike we went to the Cheba Hut which is a sub place that Ben introduced me to in Boulder. As good as I remembered. Boulder is just such a freaking cool city. I could definitely see myself living there for a year sometime (can’t stay in one place too long). There are dogs, active people, and hipsters everywhere. Lovely! Two weeks ago I threw up from anxiety of not being comfortable in my program, not being inspired, and not finding people that I can relate to or have fun with. It’s gone. I’m not going to lie, orientation is boring, but I’m so content and optimistic for the year. For the first time since last fall I am feeling hints of inspiration. These two weeks have not been completely positive… My skin is freaking out. My skin is as dry as it would normally get in January… It’s only the middle of October… I’m scared. I’ve had to switch to head and shoulders. God. I actually carry chapstick around with me… and use it. I need to find a better face cleaning/moisturizing system. Ok that’s enough complaining. I’m going to shower and watch Practical Magic.

PEACE

10,000 feet!

Today on our agenda was “teambuilding”. Best. Teambuilding. Ever. Our unit (Fire) drove the vans up 2.5 hours to Rocky Mountain National Park. I seriously was not in America. It seemed like something from the Swiss Alps or a scene straight out of Lord of the Rings. We were set loose and given two hours to hike (in our uniforms of course) or do whatever on our own. I went for an incredible hike with some really cool people. (I’m making friends with some really great people. I’ve never been in a situation with so many people from all over the country. Pretty much all states are represented equally). Back to the hike…We had to stop like every 15 minutes to take pictures because the views were just out of this world. Not a cloud in the sky and a brisk 45-50 degrees. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the scenery here. There were a few ponds along our walk that were nestled in between giant snow capped mountains. The water was green and looked freezing. There was snow occasionally on our path, but lots on the sides of the mountains. Everything just seemed so fresh. There was a small waterfall that poured into a lake/pond that seemed to keep following us on our hike. Another aspect that made it so different from Northeast mountains (what I’m used to) is the trees. It felt a lot more open here. The trees were either green pine, yellow foliage, or bare of leaves. There weren’t a lot of tree colors like a Massachusetts fall. Solid yellow. Man those snowy mountains were overwhelming. In a beautiful way. They seemed like you could climb up to heaven on one. When we reached the final pond on our journey, we were at 10,000 feet. Woah.

Peace, love, and deep breaths.

"I will get things done for America"

“…To make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.


I will bring Americans together 
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, 
I will take action.
Faced with conflict, 
I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, 
I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment 
with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, 
and I will get things done.”

Don’t I sound patriotic? Hehe. This is the AmeriCorps NCCC pledge, and this is what the team leaders chanted on our first meeting of orientation.

I am doing orientation in Denver for a full month at Colorado Heights University. The purpose is to learn the policies and procedures, train for necessary skills (like CPR) and become a unified team. So far it has felt like a strange combination of freshman orientation and some type of military school. Like freshman year there are tons of people dropped on a campus and out to make groups of friends. It’s pretty awkward. We also live in a dorm, with terrible dorm showers…and a gross cafeteria. I have a really cool roommate though who is from St Louis, and we seem to be getting along really well. There is such a mixed group of people here. Which is totally great. There are definitely enough down to earth people around. I have already met some really great friends. Already have a little crew. Some really chill people! We usually have “class” 8-5, but after that we are done for the night and can leave or do whatever. There’s a Mexican restaurant right across from campus called “4 G’s”. It’s hilarious. It’s a place where people have been going to get there fun on. Its’ actually pretty ridiculous… It’s a brightly lit big restaurant where people go to drink. The beers are $1.50 and there are pool tables and a jukebox. Fortunately I made it to downtown Denver on Saturday night. It only takes like 15 minutes to get downtown. It’s amazing. It’s also so great to have a car here. On Sunday afternoon I just got in my car and found a café (similar to Panera) downtown to chill. I love Denver! Downtown is so chill and spacious and clean, yet definitely has a city feel to it. I’m legit living in the best of every world—city, open minded and active people, gorgeous mountain landscape, and 300+ days of sunshine a year. The only thing that’s missing is the ocean. Oh well. I have no idea why I haven’t lived here earlier. My campus is in town called Englewood (it’s still part of Denver). It’s not nearly as nice as downtown, but its still cool. The area I live in does not have any skyscrapers. It’s mostly taco places. There’s a huge Mexican influence in my neighborhood. The campus is pretty sweet. It feels like a tiny university. It’s pretty small, but there are really nice old brick buildings and a real nice quad. I really like it here.

So about the military feeling. There are just some very strict standards and policies. We have to be in uniform from 8-5 everyday, or whenever we are doing anything AmeriCorps related. Our shirts need to be tucked in, no cuffing anything, no hats besides our AmeriCorps one, only black white or grey socks, always have to wear the black belt they gave us, only black or grey headbands… basically nothing that isn’t AmeriCorps. We can get written up if our shirt isn’t tucked in. Crazy. When we are in uniform we have to act in a way that positively represents AmeriCoprs… basically no swearing or talking politics or drinking in uniform. We have had tons of meetings/classes about policies. It seems pretty repetitive. You cannot be in someone else’s room after 10pm on weekdays and after midnight on weekends. This is no sexual activity allowed on campus. But they say relationships are allowed. Hmm. I think I’m getting used to it all.

We had our first service project on Saturday. There is a community park near by that we built a trail for. Washington Park is a very large park with some ponds. There are lots of dog walkers, runners and bikers there. We restored a running trail. There were piles of gravel/dirt (I forget the name of the material) along the path. We broke up into teams and worked on a couple piles each. We used shovels to spread the dirt and then raked and compressed it down. It was tiring shoveling all of the dirt. But I had a really cool group of people with me. We were chatting the whole time so it flew by. It was great feeling sore afterwards. When I was working a woman pulled her car over and asked what organization we were. I felt an unexpected pride when I answered. It’s really cool to be a part of something with such a great reputation. It feels legit.

Today we did day 2 of driver training. We were in our 15 passenger van allllll day. Each person got a turn to practice driving. We went to some cool places along the way. We checked out the Columbine memorial. It was very eery. It was also the first overcast day we’ve had. Reading the plaques dedicated to each victim made me shiver. I recognized the area from the news and documentaries. The rest of the day was a lot more upbeat. We explored red rocks then drove up a mountain where Buffalo Bill is buried. Learned who Buffalo Bill is. Ha.

That’s a lot. Sorry guys. Right now I’m wicked pumped for a full day of driver training number 3 tomorrow. Not really. I hope everyone is doing really well. Please please please keep in touch!

Peace and love,
lily

The Road to NCCC

First of all, I’m SAFE, SOUND, and SETTLED at Colorado Heights University. My journey out here was a road trip for the books. I started off from Belmont and drove down the beautifully windy roads of Pennsylvania filled with hills of reds, orange and yellows until I made it to Morgantown, WV. There I stayed with my friend Justin and explored his college town. The mining history was very apparent in the scenery. Morgantown also introduced me to the incredibly addicting show called “storage wars” on A&E. Check it out. I’m a better person for watching 5 consecutive hours of it. Ha. Bright and early the next day I headed over to Harrogate, TN. This day was again filled with wonderfully hilly roads. As I got farther and farther from New England, the more the gas prices dropped. Very happy about that! I reached Harrogate in the late afternoon and picked up my friend Ben (who would be traveling all the way with me). Stretched my legs in Harrogate and then set off for another 6-hour drive. Before we set out we gassed up and stopped at McDonalds to begin our Monopoly craze. Almost every time we stopped for gas or to use a bathroom, we found a McDonalds and got a diet coke or large fries (which we usually didn’t eat) to earn pieces for our game board. It quickly became quite and obsession. We stayed in Jackson, TN (an hour outside of Memphis) for the night. I can’t express how enjoyable our little motel rooms were every night after driving for the entire day. Cable TV and a shower were very simple pleasures. The next day we stopped in Memphis. We parked and walked down Beal Street. The blazing heat and rock or blues music coming from each bar filled me up. We kept walking until we hit the Mississippi. What an experience! We made our way through the brush and got to the shore. Took our shoes off, put our feet in, and sank… Mississippi mud! It was amazing. It was cool and gross and the same time. One of my favorite experiences of the trip. With dirty feet we left Memphis and drove through Arkansas and settled in Oklahoma City for the night. During the drives we switched between music and listening to the Hunger Games. We would always begin a drive with music to match our excited mood for driving. Hunger Games happened most other times… except during sunsets. Sunsets were for music. What sunsets we saw! The best ones of the trip were in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Kansas, were the flat farm planes allowed full visibility. Sitting at IHOP in Oklahoma City we were trying to decide what touristy activity we should do there. Casino. It was great haha. There were tons of Casinos in the area so it was a cultural experience right? Ha. Ben and I both went in with 40 dollars. That was our limit. It was my first casino experience so I watched at first. When I was feeling good about it I went to the black jack table. It was so fun! It was a social and learning experience. The other guys on the table were so nice to me. They gave me tips and some conversation. I played a bunch of hands. At one point I went down to 20 dollars. But when I made it back to 40 I stopped. I walked out +2 dollars! Ben didn’t do so well… But we got a free lunch and sodas, so it was definitely worth our afternoon. At the casino we made a game time decision to skip Santa Fe and head up to Kansas and over to Denver. Beautiful sunset again. Actually one of the best I’ve ever seen. That night we crossed over to Colorado. It was perfect. When we saw the sign we pulled over. There was a crazy giddy reaction inside me. I really felt what I was about to do. Live in this state. It was late and the air was very cold. We howled and a cow replied. Incredible. After staying in such a cozy and cheap hotel in Limon, CO, we went for Denver. We spent the afternoon walking around Denver. The main street in downtown is called 16th street mall. It’s like a huge Church Street in Burlington VT. For the next few days we stayed in Boulder (which is only 30 mins from Denver!). Man I love Boulder! It also has a Burlington feel to it. The mountains are epic. One day we drove into the Rockies to check out Roundup River Ranch (a Hole in the Wall Camp). Going through the mountains felt like I was in a different country. I’ve never seen anything like them. Some were brown with trees, some were covered in snow, and some were red rock. Yes, we drove through areas with snow. The camp was legit Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It rested on a flat area surrounded on every side by giant mountain. The landscape seemed very southwestern. There was even a train going through the mountains that Butch and his gang definitely would have robbed. The camp was simple but southwestern and beautiful. The camp director was an incredibly nice man who took us all around and really appreciated our thoughts. The people all over Boulder were great. A lot of thoughtful and down to earth people. A LOT of hipsters also haha. Boulder rests on the foothills of a mountain range called the Flat Irons (part of the Rockies). On my birthday we climbed one of the Flat Irons. The hike was supposed to be pretty easy. However, I was gasping for breath most of the time. This was the first time I really felt the effects of the altitude. It was like I could never get a good breath. It was a strange feeling because my muscles weren’t tired, but I had to stop very frequently to catch my breath. But anyways, the hike was beautiful. Tons of views of Boulder. Lots of friendly people on the path.

Me and Ben’s road trip sadly had to come to an end. He helped move me into my dorm at Colorado Heights University (about 15-20 minutes outside Denver) on the 12th. My nerves were going crazy. I was excited and nervous for my next ten months and very sad to be saying goodbye to a great friend. All very natural feelings I think. I think it was perfect that I got to this ten-month commitment on the road. The love of the road will really fuel me through my AmeriCorps experience as it will be spent in part in a 15-passenger van, on the road, headed to different communities in the southwest. I’m ready to team up with my fellow Corps member and serve communities of America. Lets Go.