Switching up the projects

So our fourth round project is about to change, we've been working with Springfield Longterm Recovery the past week and are leaving tomorrow. The project had the premise of being very good and organized but the group is just not ready to have a team here, there is just not enough work scheduled for us to do. Instead we are leaving tomorrow and have no idea what we're doing. Potentially we're going to be going to Delaware to work at a state park building a boardwalk for a week then heading to Pennsylvania, or depending on how the meeting went with the JFO in Pennsylvania we may be going there right away. Basically we have no idea, flying by the seat of our pants. Oh well, I'll update when we find out. Here's some pictures.

The team hanging out

Matt lifting large logs

Monson, Massachusetts

Fourth round has begun in lovely Massachusetts, no really it's incredibly nice here. We're staying in Monson, MA at the Monson Developmental Center. It's pretty nice, beds, internet, and Moose 7. Our team is working in Springfield with Springfield Community Together which formed after the June tornadoes here in MA. Currently we're doing a lot of clerical work, creating a logo, creating a website, making a database, coming up with a new name, finding organization to request volunteers and resources from. It's actually really interesting and really enjoyable for once, it looks like it's going to be an excellent project. Starting on the 16th we start working at The Big-E, which is a local festival (carnival rides, food, animals, etc), and then October 1-5th we get to participate in the 25 in 5. Which is where we help rebuild 25 homes in 5 days, needless to say we're incredibly stoked about that. Overall it looks like this is going to be a really good project in a really good location.

Soon to be fourth round

I'm absolutely awful at staying updated lately. Currently we've pretty much finished our transition week, fall break started last night so I have a nice four day weekend to relax. Unfortunately my plans to go to Atlantic City completely fell through which needless to say sucks. Right now we're waiting to hear the for sure on what our fourth round project is going to be. We're supposed to head to Springfield, MA to work on long term disaster recovery, so warehousing, case management, debris removal, a 5 day blitz build, etc. Although since Irene passed through there is a chance we'll be switched to an immediate disaster recovery project, most like Vermont. We should hear by Tuesday, I'll update then. Here's a picture or two from capture the flag!

Me and Alexa

If you can't tell the Ravens were blue

Fourth Round Surprise.

We are headed to Springfield, Massachusetts for fourth round! Working with Rebuild Together doing longterm disaster recovery. It sounds like a great project so I'm pumped for it for our last round. Here are some pictures!

The team on the Science Barge

At karaoke

painting a mural

New WTC

Round 3 wrap up

Today started the last week of Round 3, which means our last week in New York. We head back to the Point on Friday and I have to say I'm quite ready to do so and equally ready to find out what are team will be doing during Round 4. Needless to say I'm not to sad to see this round end, there has beens some good work and some benefits to New York but much of what I enjoyed about being here had absolutely nothing to do with the project. Our housing for the first half at Mount St. Mary's was perfect, it was such a nice place to relax and for once having internet was just great. The work at the Armory was probably some of the best work we've done since first round, we really did a lot for the organization as a whole. The location of Hastings-on-Hudson has been perfect, we are walking distance from a nice downtown area that has food and bars and we are alos 25 minutes from NYC which was definitely the highlight here. Being able to go into the city was fantastic, especially since it was so inexpensive. I've always wanted to go and being in this location made it possible.

Now for the project  I really have little to say, I've been generally disappointed. I went in understanding this would be an environmental project but I never realized environmental had to so literally mean pulling weeds and invasive vine (that will come back in about 3 months). I'm really hoping that for once the projects department really listens to our team and how much we actually want to do a build project or even work with people, instead of spend our days digging up weeds. I'll update when I find out next round, pray we get a great project. I'll also have to wait to add pictures until I have better internet. Until then!

Oh New York

New York is well New York, this project so far in Yonkers hasn't been to bad. We've had a decent variety of work this first week, although it has included lots of weeding which let me tell you I will never do again after this program. We also got to touch up this really cool game/mural at a housing project in the city of Yonkers, lots of painting but really enjoyable. I also had a chance to go to the Science Barge which is a greenhouse that only uses sustainable energy on a barge off a dock in Yonkers. A few people on the team were able to participate in harvesting vegetables from the barge to give to a food shelter. The housing isn't horrible but I don't really think the nursing home is using us effectively at all, it also unfortunately seems that they don't really want us there. I'll try to do a longer update later, I'm going back to NYC tomorrow to see Ellis Island, WTC site, China Town, and more. And I'm staying the night thanks to Josh's mom who had hotel points and was able to get us a free hotel room, so I'm incredibly pumped to spend more time in the city. Until next time!

New York City

New York City Pictures, it was lovely. I'm going back Saturday. I adore it.

With Bumblebee at Ripley's Believe it or Not

Grand Central

Cheesy tourism

Bryant Park Library

Library

Times Square!

Times Square

The Naked Cowboy