Moving East

Okay guys I wrote this at two different times, hopefully it makes sense.  I have very limited internet here.  Here are my thoughts:

Graduation:  I graduated from training! yay! Here is a link to a news story! They zoom in on my team and you can see me! I'm the blonde...in blue hehe :)
http://www.abc3340.com/story/19673155/fema-corp-graduates-first-class?clienttype=printable


FEMA Speak. FEMA uses lots of acronyms- to the point of where we can talk to each other without other people knowing what the heck we are saying. Here is an example: This week I learned that when I get deployed as an IA ASPS, I will mainly work at DRC's and sometimes JFO's.  I will be using NEMIS, and filling out Applicant Inquiries.  It's confusing, huh?

Where Am I Going!? For the past week, we have been waiting to hear where in the world we will be deployed to.  I can't speak for anyone else, but I have been singing the "Where are we going, I don't know, When we will we get there, I ain't certain, All I know is I am on my way" song from "Paint Your Wagon".  Well my friends, I am happy to say that I will be deployed to Atlanta, Georgia in less than two days!!! I am super stoked for this.  I have no idea where I will be staying, or even what I will be doing there. I just know I am going.  Almost half of FEMA Corps will be stationed in Baton Rouge Louisiana, and only three teams- my team and two teams on the Summit Unit- are going to Atlanta.

The Office

Where am I working? In an office- Region IV's Regional Office to be more specific, in Atlanta-  and it is somewhat similar to the show the office.  For the past few days we have been attending meetings,working on our assignments and meeting A LOT of people.  The people there are soooo friendly and excited to see what FEMA Corps is all about. They have been impressed of how much we are getting done.  We also might get CERT certified! (Community Emergency Response Team) which would be great!  What am I doing? I'm researching and preparing presentations for various preparedness topics.  

Housing

We are living in the woods! It's fun but there are a lot of challenges.  We are actually staying at camp/school for kids with emotional and behavioral problems, so we have to lock almost everything in the "sharps closet".  Running water is available 75 yards away from the cabin which makes going to the bathroom and doing the dishes a longer process.  We are also an hour and a half away from the Regional Office, so we have to get up at 5:30 a.m. in order to get ready for the day.  Let's just say I don't know how practical doing PT is these next two weeks, which is how long we are staying here.  I have no idea where we are going to be housed next.  There is a six flags here, and we are thinking about going.  But even more awesome is that the camp we are staying at offers west African drumming classes!!! So guess what we are doing on Saturday? West African drumming, which I am somewhat familiar with from Summer Music Institute.  There are other AmeriCorps members staying at the camp with us but they actually work there and they are not NCCC.

Bag of Rice. My team randomly won a bag of rice the other day in training...little did I know that I would be using that same bag of rice to try and save my cell phone from the damages it faced while in the washing machine...yes...I accidentally put my phone in the wash...which I have done before...however, this time, my phone is not waking up...sad day.  At least it was the not the government phone.  I have learned a new life skill from this experience: Don't just check your pockets- make SURE your cell phone is with you before you close the lid to the washer.

Assassins. During the last days of training in Alabama, my unit started a game called Assassins, where everyone is given a clothespin that has their name on it that they must wear at all times.  You are also given a target- someone to assassinate.  And of course someone also had your name as their target.  It started out really fun, but got too intense and we had to cancel the game after a few days.  I assassinated two people-quite skillfully if I may say so myself- and I was not assassinated even though I got attacked in my room by my assassin.

Stay tuned for more info on my time here in Atlanta- I'm not sure how long I will be here. I am planning to make a slideshow of CTI and trainings and whatnot.

Oh and today is my Birthday! And as a birthday gift, I'm not asking for much, just that you register for the largest Earthquake drill in the nation! It's called Shakeout! And you can register at shakeout.org.
On October 18th at 10:18 a.m.  everyone will drop, cover, and hold on for at least 60 seconds wherever you are.  Thanks everyone!