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Published: October 19th 2007
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Golden Gate Bridge
Taken while on the Bay Cruise approaching the bridge. The hardest part about Wednesday was walking our luggage across the street from the hotel to the base; however Sandra and I are troopers and managed it all in one shot, I’m sure it would have been a great sight to see. We got there bright and early. Sandra was concerned because they didn’t have balloons, music, banners and a welcoming committee outside awaiting our arrival, but I informed her that we weren’t going to Disney and then she was ok. Arriving bright and early we were the 3rd and 4th people out of 450 to arrive. This means we sped through our “in-processing” procedure which included a quick little introduction, room assignments, uniforms and steel toe boots, pictures for ID badge, and turning in some paperwork. From 11am until dinner at 5:30pm we had free time. By 2pm the place was swamped and chaotic and it took people hours to go through the process.
There are 3 dormitory facilities here. 2 are permanent AmeriCorps buildings, owned by AmeriCorps and 1 is down the road that is rented by AmeriCorps therefore it is considered the “luxury dormitory.” Each dormitory is 3 stories high and has about 12 rooms per side
of each floor. Sandra and I lucked out and are in the same building, the temporary one with TV and DVD players in each room. Not only did we luck out with the same building but we are on the same floor as well only a couple rooms away from each other. The reason I say lucked out is because for my room assignment I was told to pick a key out of a bucket and that would be my room.
Yesterday, Thursday, was our first day of duty, meaning we had to report to our stations in uniform at 7:15am. The uniform policy is petty strict and we have to wear it at all time we are on duty and eating on campus. We can wear it when we are off duty but in compliance with AmeriCorps uniform policy. The uniform isn’t too bad, so I don’t mind it that much.
Right now they have assigned us into little, 12 person, temporary teams, or Pods, as they call them. After we take our physical fitness test and Pack Test they will assemble our teams that we will spend our 10 months with. Sandra and I are not
RiceARoni the San Francisco Treat
Sandra and I at the foothill of Golden Gate posing with our favorite San Francisco treat. on the same pod and chances are we will not make it to the same team but that is ok. Yesterday we mainly filled out numerous forms and signed our lives away many times. I want to an information meeting on he Fuel Reduction Teams (aka fire fighting) which was a little discouraging. As many of you know I wanted to fight forest fires while a member of AmeriCorps however, they informed us that in Fuel Reduction team it is highly unlikely that we will get to fight fires. Mainly, we would be moving and cutting brush to reduce fuel and prevent the fires. That just doesn’t seem as exciting to me. They also said that the Fuel Reduction teams have Physical Training 5 days a week opposed to all the other teams who only have it 3 days a week. I think that I will still take the Pack Test on Saturday and see if I pass and then decide from there. There will only be 4 teams of 11 people that will make the Fuel Reduction Teams. One reason why I would want to join is because I would become chainsaw certified and that is pretty cool. Probably
not very practical after AmeriCorps though.
While here we also have daily room inspections and well. Beds have to be made, clothes away, floors vacuumed, bathroom cleaned and trash emptied. I share a room with 1 roommate, Rachel, and we share a bathroom with another room with 2 other girls. The dorm facilities are nice, well ours is at least, I guess the only thing I have to compare it to is Semester at Sea and the room is definitely bigger than that, and we are allowed to open the windows this time.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday I have a pretty light schedule. I don’t have to report for duty until 7pm tonight and that is to get my physical done. Saturday the only time I have to report is from 9am-12pm for the Pack Test and Sunday I have to get my TB test read at 7:35am, other than that things have been pretty slow around here for me. I am trying to enjoy it while it lasts but at the same time it is quite boring sitting around not doing much.
I think a major consensus now that we are here is that we just
Pondering Life
I stopped to ponder the meaning of life as we were walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. want training to be over so that we can be in the filed, but I suppose that will come soon enough.
There only have 16 computers for 450 students and the internet is pretty slow, but I will do my best to keep you updated. I probably won’t update until after the weekend, unless something really exciting happens on my 3 days off. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.
I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Love, Nicki
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Pops
non-member comment
You're In The Army Now
At least that's how it sounds. Pretty exciting and like you said, enjoy the downtime now, cause it's sure to get hectic. I really like the pictures, but I'm just a little disappointed you don't have one of you in your uniform. Maybe next time. At least you didn't have to get your head shaved. But then again you probably wouldn't have cared. Take care sweetie. Run good tomorrow. Love ya much, Pops