California Here We Come!

Location: Denver, CO


So I am currently sitting in my dorm room, praying my computer doesn't die on me before I finish this. The campus is almost completely dead. Everyone has left for home and it is eerily quiet in the halls. We got back on Thursday from our Spike projects, and were greeted to hundreds of hugs and small conversations. It was so weird but amazing to be reunited with everyone again, even if it was only for a day. I forgot about how much I love the energy and the dynamic of the corps as a whole. You become so used to those 9 other people that you are living with, that the amount of people can be overwhelming, but amazing at the same time. I got to see my roommate and the rest of my AmeriFamily. 


We all traded stories about our adventures in different cities, and we got to hear about what was accomplished over the past month.The stories were truly amazing. Some of them were incredibly heartbreaking, but it was a firm reminder of why we are here, taking 10 months out of our lives to "Get Things Done" for America. I am so thankful for the experience that I am having. Parts have been challenging, but I know it has just begun. I have already began to feel myself changing slightly, and I can't wait to see what will happen for the rest of our time here. 


It still amazes me on how attached I have become to my team. I thought Thanksgiving break was weird when Ren, Megan, and Alex were gone... it felt lonely. But now spending 2 weeks without them is going to be even more so. We were all saying goodbye last night, and it hit me how weird it is going to be not seeing these people 24/7 for the next 2 weeks, and then after graduation. We have become so close already, I cannot even imagine how hard of a goodbye it will be after 10 months of knowing these incredible people. 


The project ended wonderfully. I will really miss John and James and their crazy antics at the Shaw Nature Reserve. As menial as the work was, I have learned to cherish and appreciate the small beauties in the world. Like waking up every morning and going to work outside in a prairie or in the woods, learning to embrace nature (even when the temperature is below freezing). It was such a great experience and I would not have changed it for anything!


So big news. 2 things really. 1st- NEXT PROJECT I WILL BE IN PIKES PEAK, CO doing fire management training and work. We will spend 2 weeks in Pikes Peak working with the fire service doing our training, and then we will be going to Kansas for a month working there doing cuttings and hopefully prescribed burns! The last month will be spent back in Pikes Peak. This project is going to be very intense and very hard, but totally worth it. Pikes is above 8000 ft high, meaning we will be super humans by the time we get back. Especially since our sponsor is making us to PT every morning before work. And then we will have to hike 2 miles or so in to and out of our work space. It will be nice to work outside again, but I am hoping for the 3rd round (our shuffle round) I will be able to actually work with people and children. 


2nd piece- I get to be an Assistant Team Leader with Jeremy for the rest of our projects. This means we get to help Alex with paperwork/ get a taste of what it is going to be like as a Team Leader. I am very excited and honored to be able to do this position. The team got to vote on it, and they voted for me, something I didn't really expect. It will be a lot more work than we are used to, but I can't wait! :)


That is all for now! I need to finish getting ready/ packing so I can go sit in the Denver Airport for 7 hours! YAY! Ha. But returning to California tonight for the last time... Very mixed emotions about it. But I will make the most out of the 2 weeks that I am there. 


I love you all and I will update soon! Have a happy holiday! 


Kris