As the year winds down

Well I'm officially almost done with my AmeriCorps year, crazy huh? I have to say as our last project working with Habitat for Humanity here in Wilmington, DE has been absolutely wonderful. The amount of things that we get to learn and work on is incredible, and the opportunity to lead volunteers has been such a great experience. I mean where else would I learn how to put up walls or what shaft liner and sheething are. I have absolutely no complaints about this project whatsoever, it has so far been a wonderful experience. The individuals we get to work with are fantastic and really it's just a great project. I really wish AmeriCorps would include more projects like this, it is not very often that you are able to learn so many new skills as well as work with other volunteers in a leadership position.

Anyway all we have left is a week and a half here at Habitat and I have to say I wish we had been here longer. The exciting thing is I'll be home in 25 days! Although I still do not have a job so I'm just stressing a bit over that. Oh well, here's some pictures!

The purple stuff is shaft liner

Phase 1

Phase 2

The team!

DJ and I with Vance Worley from the Phillies

Sheething

Habitat is amazing

So I have to say I love our project, absolutely every single bit of it. Our site supervisors and sponsor is fantastic, the work we're doing is great, the housing while a tad cramped really isn't bad. Overall I have to say I'm just really enjoying what we're doing. So far I've learned how to install breaker clips, worked on some house framing, put up tyvec and siding, and done some demo. It's just going really well. Next week we're switching up groups so it looks like I'll have a chance to work on second story house framing which I'm pretty pumped about. That's really all, anyway here's some pictures.

Caulking in Camden

Putting walls together

The team after we put together two walls

Installing breaker clips

Pulling walls out

The start of the new houses

Installing siding

We finally have a project

Our team finally has a legitimate project for fourth round, after almost 4 weeks. We started out in Massachusetts on a project that did not have enough work for us, we then got pulled back to the Point being told we would be going to Harrisburgh, PA to work with FEMA and then that fell through. Then after our team leader found us an incredible sponsor through Habitat Camden we were then told we weren't allowed to continue there due to procedural issues. So finally after an entire month our team will be heading to Wilmington, Delaware to work with Newcastle County Habitat for Humanity.

I am excited, we do get to finally have a solid project with Habitat which I know I personally and the rest of my team have wanted since day 1. The unfortunate aspect of all of this is what it took to get us here and the fact that we had found a wonderful Habitat to work for in Camden. It's been incredibly stressful and tiring having to drive an hour and a half to and from work everyday and just very disappointing knowing that we put all this work in with Habitat Camden and are not able to stay with them. I am truly hoping this project is very well planned out and goes well for our team because that never seems to happen. So I'm hoping we finish strong and have a good end to the year. 47 days. Here's some pictures.

Me painting

The team and Habitat workers at the site

The team outside Habitat Camden