Update UPdate

I've been horrible for the last month.

My apologies.

I'm back.

Full force.

Here it goes.

The kids. Make my day.

Even the bad days. With my kids. I'm good.

Grown-ups are another story.

But it's cool.

My City Year.

Is my year.

You'd be amazed at what's happened so far?

We weren't in school last friday.

On Monday "Ms. ____ Where were you?! I needed you."

On Tuesday "Psst. Ms. ___ Come here!" "I saw!" (his A)

On Monday...filling out surveys about 2nd quarter goals "What is the best part about class?" "Ms. _____ I love her. She explains it all. She's why I made it through last quarter and did so well. I love her and city year"

Today "Can I stay with you for lunch?" "How come you don't come get me to do my work?" "Can I come do my homework with you during seminar/lunch?"

Like I said before.

I love my kids.

Red Coat Ceremony Day

Today was Red Coat Ceremony. I was skeptical at first but it was really cool. Each corps member went up with their team and said who/what they're dedicating their red City Year bombers too. It was really touching. I dedicated mine to my mom, my sisters, and the obstacles in life. BAM.

First Public PT Day - Daily Plaza

I can't even lie...this morning was a ton of fun!
I love being on PT Crew and CY Chi Rocked PT this morning!

CHECK US OUT!
http://www.youtube.com/user/cityyear#p/u

Friendship Makes the World Go 'Round

Last night I hung out with some co-workers outside of work for the first time. We celebrated a birthday by shopping, eating, and bowling downtown. I had a blast and I'm so happy to finally feel like I have some friends at my job.

The Haze Is Clearing

Upon reflection this was a decent week of training.

People wise, I feel a little secure in my school team, my unending affection for my IJ team will never cease, and I now find myself feeling pretty cool with a few individuals who have no team ties to me so that's wonderful news. In addition, I feel like the staff has warmed up as well so interactions aren't so awkward anymore so that's nice.

Session wise, as the week progressed the rotations and presentations got better and better. I can truly say I'm not such a big fan of powerpoint anymore and I will strongly consider other alternatives whenever I have to give presentations in the future. But I digress, I really enjoyed our math and reading sessions, although, honestly I did know about half of the information (sometimes more in-depth than the presenter) but I also learned a lot. Not only that, it allowed me to see what my team knew and was good at, as well as the flip side. I watch people, so even when I felt like material was repetitive to me, it was obvious when others had never heard/thought/understood things we were talking about, so I know to keep that in mind.

Other than that, I'm just happy because we finally visit schools next week. I just want to know my teacher and finally meet them. That's the big thing for me. It will be extra important when working with my kids, for my coordinator role, and for my sanity. It'll hopefully be a partnership and hopefully a break from the constant TEAM TEAM TEAM mentality which I think drains me.

-Counting Down

Lecture. Lecture. Lecture.

Lecture.
Powerpoint.
Qs & Ls.
Rotations.
Pair & Share.
Repetition.
Knowledge.
Commiseration.
Close-minded individuals.
Confrontation.
Learning.
Openness.
Collaboration.
Such is training so far.

BTA continues.

Branding

Branding.
It's important for any organization.

I love that the golden arches mean McDonald's.
I love that the Nike check means running shoes.

I know what the City Year logo means to me...but what does it mean to others?

Today was all about how to sell ourselves and City Year.
I have very mixed feelings about it.
I understand the importance of it, but I felt like they were trying to brainwash me and tell me what to say and I'm not cool with that. Luckily, I'm me, and I will still answer questions and conduct business in my own individual style regardless of how any organization tries to shape me. However, I did learn a lot of new and valuable information about the corps and its history today.

Welp.
Goodnight.

P.S. I just made FB groups for my IJ and school based teams. #yeahbuddy

Bridge Builders = Rocket Power

I'm already slipping on my posts...but I was sick. Although excues are never acceptable. Anyhoo thus far, City Year has been cool, we really haven't done anything though. Thus far, its been training, scavenger hunt, traing, camp. I have met some cool people and I found out I'll be working at Austin Business and Entrepreneurial Academy High School. I ADORE my IJ team and I'm so thankful to have them as a support system. Bridge Builders!

Opening Day

Today was opening day...finally! Waiting for everything to start has been truly irking me. I was pleasantly surprised to find out our opening service day would be spent beautifying a school. It was like Service First, if you're from WashU, so I knew what the deal was.  For my journey team, I'm in the bridge builder's groups. I'm not going to lie, I'm highly skeptical of a year of group work...luckily this group is really cool. I just. Hope I get along with my school team just as well. Anyhoo...I paintedg this mural today then finished painting a classroom and setting up the desks. I honestly don't feel like I did much compared to other service projects. However we definitely make the school look better and no matter how small I made a difference so I'd still count the day as a win. I am extra sore from walking everywhere and having a personal fitness session at the gym yesterday so that's enough reflection for today. -#imout

No Work Today & A Failed Attempt at Food Stamps

So...
In case you didn't know, if you decided to do an AmeriCorps program your stipend is very minimal. Everyone in CY has told me to get on food stamps. So like the pro-active person I am I did an application, printed it off and got on the bus to arrive at the financial services office 30 minutes before they opened so I could be in an out.

Little did I know, Obama just passed another stimulus and in Chicago you can get food stamps this week pretty much so long as you have a job and live in Chicago. So I arrived to find people who had been there since 5 am even though the office doesn't open until 8. The line stretched two buildings down, one block back, and two blocks wrapping around the back of the two buildings. It was ridiculous! I left and came back later to find a much shorter line, however, like the previous line this one was also about 5 people wide.

In the end I never got through, people were passing out, they started fighting at the front door. There were cops, ambulances, and fire trucks every where and around 3 news reporters had shown up. They ended up passing out papers to the next 400 people in line and everyone after them was given a ticket (including me) and asked to come back the next day. Unfortunately tomorrow is Opening Day so I'll be at work. So, I have to fill out the application online and wait a month-a month and a half to get my food stamps. Ugh. Oh well, I guess this will help with my diet.

Welp. I'm going to hit the sack. It's 11:33 and I have to catch the bus by 6:50 in order to make it to opening day on time and I do believe in purrcizion and promptness!

Until tomorrow!

Registration Day

Today. Today was unofficial day 1 also known as registration day.
From 9-12ish I filled out paperwork with a bunch of other people who didn't come to the first two registration days. It was monotonous and boring. Sadly I didn't really meet many people because everyone was bored and ready to leave once it ended. But it's cool. We were told that we needed to go get finger prints on our own at this place on the north side so when I got off the blue line there I meet a couple cy people so that was cool. So far I don't know how to feel...I want to know who's on my team, I want my supervisor, I want to know my school, I want a calendar. All this not knowing makes me feel very unprepared and nervous about the future. Welp, such is life. The good news is I'm here and it's almost the official start day...which by the way my official start day can't happen until Thursday instead of Wednesday for some reason. I have no idea. Apparently anyone who came to this registration day has to start a day later which is whatever.

Let the games begin.