Oh the Places You'll Go...

It is no secret to anyone that aside from my desire to serve, one of my big reasons for joining AmeriCorps was my love for travel. Pictured above is my life, in a nutshell - Born in Russia, raised in Latvia, moved to New York at 11, began learning Italian shortly after I mastered English and was lucky enough to call Florence, Italy my home for about 6 months.  Most of the places I have visited in between (the blue) were family vacations (like our roadtrip from Latvia to England when I was 6), summers spent exploring Europe with Gabriella, the best travel companion anyone could ever ask for, and my "Quarter Life Crisis Cross-Country Roadtrip" from last summer, where we spent 45 days traveling from NY to CA and back.

Since this is a blog about AmeriCorps, I should really shout out this program for allowing me to expand my horizons by allowing me to live in Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma in a short period of just 10 months. And no, not in hotels or similar establishments which give you a false sense of integrating into local lifestyles - in wooden cabins in the Ozarks, trailer parks and summer cabins in Texas, and dormitories in Colorado and Oklahoma.

Growing up, after I decided that my dreams of being a ballerina and a dog trainer were not likely to turn into successful career paths, I decided it would be my goal to work at the United Nations. And so it was, for years, until it dawned on me that even in an organization with such an incredible mission there was government corruption, a hunger for power, and decisions that yielded maximum profit instead of maximum well being.

One afternoon, while indulging in a delicious triple portion of gelato on the steps of the Duomo (Florence, Italy), I did what I do best - multitasked between eating and people watching. Hundreds of tourists walked past - their noses in maps and iPads, missing the beauty that is around them; their ears occupied with headphones, passing on the sounds of nature to listen to their tour guide.

It dawned on me - what if there was a different kind of travel agency? One that allowed people to truly experience the place they are visiting? One where people could live, dine, and explore like the locals? Perhaps it's not the type of traveling that most people want, but it's one that I enjoy the most. Perhaps one day I will turn my travels into a career path and open my own travel agency... one day.

In all my travels, I have never owned a guide book, nor have I ever used the services of a tour guide. I like to explore, make my own schedule, and see where my adventures take me. Ask a local where the best place to eat is, because odds are, it won't be the fancy restaurant that got 5 stars in the "BEST GUIDE TO VENICE EVER" booklet - it will be the restaurant you stumble upon when you turn a corner to a small street, and one whose waiter will tell you all about an amazing masquerade that only the locals know about (yes Gabriella, I am talking about Pane & Vino!!)

Wander around aimlessly, absorbing the beauty that is around you. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of nature, the noise of a busy market, a conversation in a different language. I have found that often times, the best plan is not having one, and the best adventures result from spontaneity, open-mindedness and a little luck.

When asked why I can't just "settle down in one place" and sit still for a while, I have come up with only one answer - "Why would I want to?" It's such a beautiful world out there with so much adventure and excitement to offer, why would anyone want to miss out?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

Disaster Relief

Have you ever looked into the eyes of a person that has lost everything? A person that lost  his home, his most prized possessions, his beloved pet, his wedding album,his mother's ring who passed away last month? The tree he planted when his son was born has been uprooted. The mobile home he rented out, which brought him his only income, is wrapped around a tree. His barn was lifted by the tornado and landed on top of his home, crushing it.

I have, and it was by far one of the more difficult experiences in my life. What makes it harder is my complete inability to help out, to make things better, to make this nightmare disappear, to make insurance companies help these people rather than turning them away (one insurance company refused to cover tornado damage because they claim it was wind damage, which the person was not insured for...) Even with all the devastation, I have never seen people face devastation with such strength, such courage, and such a positive outlook on the future.

Shockingly, one of the first things that people ask is not about how we can help them, but how can they help us. "It's Saturday and you're working 13 hours, is there anything you need?" It's a humbling experience to say the least, and it makes me ashamed of all the times I complained about petty things. It really puts life in perspective, makes the things that are truly important shine through. These people had their homes destroyed, but all of them are so grateful that their loved ones are safe, because not everyone was as lucky. In this time of need, we have been welcomed with nothing but kindness and gratitude.

Before my arrival on disaster, I thought the biggest challenge was going to be the long hours. Today is our 12th day in a row of working 12-13 hours a day, but my physical exhaustion has been completely put on the back burner. The biggest challenge is the emotional difficulty I am having, because my empathy has once again proved to be my downfall. There have been many times when I teared up when hearing victim's stories, but the notion of remaining strong for them is slowly starting to seep in. I feel so incredibly blessed to be a part of this experience, and I ask that you keep the people of Oklahoma in your thoughts.

Casey and I assisting tornado victims in El Reno, OK.
The El Reno tornado was the largest recorded in history, 2.6 miles across.

Moore, OK Tornado: May 21, 2013

"On the afternoon of May 20, 2013, an EF5 tornado, with peak winds estimated at 210 miles per hour, struck Moore, Oklahoma, and adjacent areas, killing 23 people (and an additional person indirectly), and injuring 377 others. The tornado was part of a larger weather system that had produced several other tornadoes over the previous two days. The tornado touched down west of Newcastle at 2:56 p.m., staying on the ground for 39 minutes over a 17-mile path, crossing through a heavily populated section of Moore. The tornado was 1.3 miles wide at its peak. Despite the tornado following a roughly similar track to the even deadlier 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado, very few homes and neither of the stricken schools had purpose-built storm shelters," (Wikipedia).

None of the images of tornado damage are my own - for obvious reasons, we have been asked to keep the photos we take in the disaster zone to a zero.

May 21, 2013 Oklahoma Tornado Path

Having been born and raised in Russia and spending the last 12 years of my life in New York, I have never experienced a tornado. I saw one once while on vacation in Pensacola, FL., but it was small and touched down on water. Aside from watching dozens of videos and looking through hundreds of pictures of the devastation, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I expected it to be bad, but in reality it was much, much worse.

We left Denver early on Memorial Day, and made our way to Kansas where we spent the night. A very stormy, windy night, but I suppose that comes with traveling through "tornado alley." We made it to Oklahoma City the following day, where we had to study up on FEMA's disaster relief course. I do have to mention here that as far as housing on disaster relief goes we got EXTREMELY lucky - Oklahoma University agreed to house volunteers in their honors dorms, give us access to all of their facilities (HUGE gym included, score), and feed us.

Honors dorm at Oklahoma University

The following morning we began with 6:30 a.m. breakfast followed by a 7 a.m. brief. For the first few days I was assigned to work at a donations warehouse on the Shawnee Absentee Tribe land, coordinating volunteers, unloading 18 wheelers full of donations that came from as far as NY (it was amazing to meet the FDNY disaster response team who was also one of the first teams to respond to 9/11), and sorting through piles and piles of donations. Clothing, toiletries, canned goods, baby items, medical supplies, the list is endless. Seeing a community come together after a disaster, neighbor helping neighbor, asking for nothing but a smile in return was truly touching. People drove from different states and set up tents on warehouse property just to be able to help out. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this experience.

Donations warehouse, Shawnee Absentee Tribe land

FDNY and fellow New Yorkers in Oklahoma!

Lunch is served, courtesy of the American Red Cross

Last Round... For Now

For our last round in AmeriCorps, we were assigned a local split project: for the first four weeks, we would help the Sand Creek Regional Greenway in Denver with trail maintenance and outdoor shenanigans. For the remained of the round, we would be working at the Action Center assisting them in their mission of providing an immediate response to basic human needs and promoting pathways to self-sufficiency for the homeless.

I was really excited to spend the last two months of this program in Denver - unlimited access to hiking in the magnificent Rockies, yoga studios on every corner, farmers markets with deliciously fresh goodies, great music venues, breweries, weekend getaways to nearby National Parks (Utah Arches, I am coming for you!), endless places to explore, museums and book stores, half off Sushi at Red Ginger, and very importantly, public transportation.

Our first day at work involved a brief orientation followed by a tour of the Greenway, which spans 14 miles throughout Denver and the surrounding area. With a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, a truly beautiful place to work.

Sand Creek Regional Greenway in Denver, CO.

For the next three days we did some trash pick-up, caged and painted cottonwood trees so the beavers don't eat them, and posed for quite a few pictures:

Painting cottonwood trees so beavers don't snack on them

After a long day of trash pick-up

In the wise words of our Unit Leader, "The only constant in AmeriCorps is change."

As we were finishing up work Thursday afternoon we got a call from our Team Leader about an urgent meeting when we get back. At the meeting, our expectations were confirmed: we were getting deployed to Oklahoma City on disaster relief following the May 21st tornadoes.

Mountains, Friends, and a Ukulele

Third transition week; can you believe how fast time flies? It seems like only yesterday I was settling into a cabin in Texas with my brand new team and trying to teach little kids how to chop up apples for cobbler without losing a finger. As a matter of fact, it seems like it was the day before that that I was trying to figure out how to start up my chainsaw in Arkansas... and the day BEFORE that Casey and I were plotting the capture of our trailer's mouse.

TIME FLIES IN THE AMERILIFE. Our days in this program are dwindling down, so what's a girl like me to do to hold on to what makes me happy for a little longer? Oh yeah, apply (and get accepted!!!) for another year. AS A TEAM LEADER!

Colorado sunsets still take my breath away

Anyway, upon our arrival in Denver we were greeted by a group of friends enjoying the sunshine on the lawn, playing the guitar, and hula-hooping. I LOVE COLORADO.

The crazy thing about AmeriCorps is that, after the initial month of training (CTI, Corps Member Training Institute), you only get another month to spend with people that you have gotten extremely close with. That month is spread out into four separate transition weeks, the next (and last) one being your transition into the real world. But even after not having seen these people for ten weeks at a time, even after not having spoken to them due to lack of cell reception or ever-changing circumstances, once reunited it seems like you were never apart to begin with. It's a truly beautiful thing that I have enjoyed throughout my life having family on a different continent, and it's truly amazing to make those connections again.

My transition week, in photos:

My very first AmeriFriend and my AmeriProm date. No, he does not have awful style: 
the theme was "White Trash Bash," I must have missed the memo...

Beach, mountains, great friends, wine and a ukulele... day spent at Bear Creek Lake

CONQUERED THE MANITOU SPRINGS INCLINE!!! 1 mile of stairs at an elevation of over 8,000 feet

SO incredibly proud of my team for finishing!

Started Memorial Day Weekend with a hike in Fort Collins, elevation 7,000 feet.

BOONDANGLE! I'm Back in Texas!

New team and new team leader on board, we departed for Granbury, Texas on April Fools Day... which, I would say, was great foreshadowing to a round where I spent most of my time laughing.

My third round in AmeriCorps was spent working at Camp Fire USA Camp El Tesoro in a small town about an hour West of the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Before I go into the details of six weeks where I found out that I am really awful at prank wars, that Southern hospitality goes way longer than a long way (and that being vegan in Texas is extremely difficult), that chainsaw fuel in your eyeballs is kind of painful, that morning CrossFit is the best way to start your day and that Linda is pretty much the most amazing individual on this planet, let me summarize our project mission:

"The team's main focus will be teaching various curriculums for the Outdoor Education Program which includes fossils, ornithology, tree ID, wildflowers, grasses, animal habitats tracks and signs, maps, compasses, and geocaching, as well as Dutch over math and archery. Our goal is to inspire a sense of wonder in the natural world and establish stewardship, following along the lines of "We only protect what we love, love what we understand, and understand what we're taught," while making sure that the objective of FUN is not lost amid the chaos. Between schools we'll have a host of maintenance inspired activities to put to rights."

Sun 3 Version 3!

After two days of travel, Sun 3 Version 3 arrived at our new home for the next 6 weeks - a camp cabin situated in the middle of Camp El Tesoro, a very beautiful and GREEN children's camp.

Our cabin

We spent the first week learning all the different curriculums while trying to stay warm - Texas surprised us with a chilly welcome that none of us were prepared for (all I packed were shorts and t-shirts, good thing the BDUs allow for layers). Learning, or rather having my memory refreshed, on earth science curriculums was a lot of fun, especially since we played a bunch of games while doing so - "Screaming Pirate" quickly became a favorite. Also, the TL and ATLs (Alex, Kat and myself) got trained to drive the Ranger.

Having taught before, I thought I knew what to expect and I felt pretty prepared before our first group arrived. However, the difference between teaching one class a day and spending a day setting up classrooms, teaching six one hour classes in a row, serving the kids dinner, cleaning up after dinner and then taking down the classrooms is... well, pretty much everything. The days were long, but as I had mentioned before, I got very lucky with my team and team leader - we all worked hard and kept the spirits up through endless jokes (and picking on me, typical).

Teaching the kiddies about photosynthesis

Through the "Mug of Fate," our names were selected at random and we then picked which classes we wanted to teach. In my time at camp, I taught Dutch Oven Math, Geocaching and helped Kat out with the Tree ID nature hike. Fun fact of the day: I am awful at identifying trees and plants, and pretty much every tree looks like an oak to me... As we found out, however, Kat is awesome at identifying trees (and getting asked on dates by 5th graders!), and Pete is a natural when it comes to birding.

Learning the art of archery

BOONDANGLING!

All frustration aside, I really enjoyed teaching kids about the importance of outdoor education. I know I am not the first to point this out but have you seen the obesity rate trend in the United States, and I am pretty sure that it has something to do with the steady decrease in time kids spend playing outside, and the steady increase in time they spend on the couch playing video games. Now, don't get me wrong, I love me some Super Mario Smash Bros, but you get my point. Seeing how happy the kids were to go on a nature hike or run around trying to find Geocaches reminded me of my childhood - running around playing with my brother and his friends, when the biggest problem in the world was the sunset, which meant we had to go inside.

Outside of work, the round was filled with lots of laughter, delicious vegan cooking, country music, dancing, lots of working out and a prank war that Ruthie and I definitely lost. We also got to go kayaking and canoeing, and got a few days of sunshine and delicious margaritas. We took a trip to Dallas for a day after volunteering at a Habitat ReStore, visited Forst Worth for an ISP at Mayfest, and after helping out with cutting brush off a fence at a Safari they let us drive through it for free. Thank you Sun 3 V 3 for an awesome round!

Feeding an African Antelope

Did I mention that I got picked on this round, a lot?

Volunteering at Mayfest in Fort Worth

Time to Shuffle

My ten weeks in Arkansas have come to an end, but this beautiful state gifted mewith many new experiences: using a chainsaw, eating venison, attempting to fell a tree (and accidentally creating a hazard zone while doing so, oops!), overcoming my fear of snakes, swimming my very first half mile, an MRI (which, sadly, still did not help identify what exactly is wrong with my knee), building firelines for a prescribed forest burn, playing Magic (a very addicting card game), building trail stairs and bridges, perfecting delicious recipes (if you want good spaghetti carbonara, I am your girl!), splunking (exploring caves), and above all, living in a wooden cabin in the gorgeous Ozark woods with eight amazing individuals.

Beautiful park in Arkansas, right before we went splunking (caving)!

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL :)

It was now time for our second transition week, a week where all AmeriCorps members return to the gorgeous Colorado Height University to debrief, catch up with friends from other teams, watch some incredible sunsets up on the hill, frequent 4G's an average of... every evening, test their skills at the bowling alley, test their lungs at baselines in mile high elevation, and above all, RELAX.

Nature, however, decided to throw us a curve ball on our travels back to Texas. A huge snow storm which grounded all the vehicles right outside of Colorado due to poor road conditions. Thankfully the storm came and passed, but not before getting our van stuck in the snow (yes, I am blaming it ENTIRELY on the snow because I have already had enough people laugh at me for getting a 15 passenger van stuck in 2 feet of snow... Tip for future NCCC members: AmeriRumors spread fast!)


What can I say? Just because I am from Russia doesn't mean I know how to drive in snow!

At the Denver campus, the third round is something we refer to as "shuffle round," meaning all the corps members get shuffled from their original teams. It gives us the opportunity to pick a project based on our own personal preference rather than ranking them alongside our team. It also means that we will be taken out of the comfort zone of living and working with the people we have spent the last 4 months with and adjust to something new. This, of course, made me very nervous. This, of course, was very silly, because I got EXTREMELY lucky with my shuffle team!

Over transition week, we spent some of our days in meetings, some of our days catching some sun taking naps outside (my favorite!), and on Kat's (my AMAZING new teammate and girlfriend!) birthday we headed to Golden, CO, a beautiful town at the foothills of the Rockies to go on a hike and then check out the Coors Brewery. It was an amazing day full of friends, laughs, good FREE beer and a most delicious veggie burger (vegan for Lent once again)!