Texas part 1: The journey

   Alright, so you're probably wondering why I haven't been posting much in terms of my Americorps experiences, well the answer is,  not a lot was really going on. Yeah we went to a few service projects and I embarked on a few adventures that are definitely not appropriate for a blog promoting government community service (one involved a tight rope, trampolines, and one man's ability to conceive) which will make fascinating blog posts when I'm writing my own blog.
 
This was the closest image I could find
This  all ended one eventful Saturday when my permanent team and I embarked on a four day journey to Braozoria county Texas to help repair the damage done by hurricane Harvey. The journey started with me standing surrounded by other freezing people in the middle of the NCCC Denver Camous basketball court while our unit leaders and staff rambled on about how Spike (the term which was used for these journeys)  would be an exciting experience which would transform us from a weak bickering mess which spewed forth insults and dick jokes into a strong coordinated team that spewed forth insults and dick jokes.

Average team after first Spike

Honestly I probably looked rather silly that day due to carrying way too many personal objects brought because of an insane amount of overthinking a relatively simple situation. To illustrate imagine a gangly wavy/curly haired 18 year old lugging around a pillow, duffel bag and stranger 
things backpack while violently shifting his legs in a basketball court.
   After the awkward leave the long trip commenced through Colorado, New Mexico and finally Texas. New Mexico was ok, we didn't really stop much but we briefly glimpsed an inactive volcano and crappy roadside dinosaurs while there. In Texas which at first looked exactly like how I thought we stayed at an idyllic summer camp for two days and watched as the much better behaved and organized California Conservation Corps kicked our collective behinds on all fronts. After leaving possibly due to shame we arrived at where I am currently staying and abandoned middle school with ni running water, torn up ceilings, and the stench of mildew everywhere with quite possibly several ghosts. But in the end that's ok because this level of discomfort, disarray and fear means I'm doing something and in the end isn't that what I came for? 
    Without those things I probably wouldn't be able to grow into a much tougher, stronger and more skilled person who definitely could handle things like those eyeless amphibian versions of snakes and  customs forms.

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