Round 1 - Ahead of Schedule and Rocking the rural towns!

Canvassing has been pretty interesting.

We've already given out 600 bags to around 20 different communities. We are ahead of schedule and doing great!

Packing Bags on Day 1!

I was really freaked out about the idea of canvassing. Having to walk up to strangers doors and give them a speech about the program and why we are handing out these bags for free. Having to try to hand out at least 10 bags a day, AT LEAST! Having to approach people out of the blue and talk to them. Not what I normally do. But it's been far easier than I thought it would be.

Getting ready to canvass!!!

I've already built up my confidence within these past two weeks. I've been stopped mid speech and told "not interested". I've been shooed away from their property. AND I've gone through my whole specheal and they tell me not interested and go away haha. I don't really push and I don't mind at all. I understand what it's like to have strangers coming to your doors. You think we are selling something and when we say Free Bag, you look at us with this sense of unease. I get it.

Most of the people we have come across have been extremely sweet and are thankful for the free light bulbs they get in the bags!

The second day of work, our sponsor took us around town to show us the highlights of Champaign and we enjoyed a group photo in front of the circular barns they had on the U of I campus.

The joyous awkward pictures of everyone!

 So we've enjoyed the college night life (mainly Chipotle) and enjoyed getting some nice games of Kickball and Soccer in, as well as using the gym at the hotel.

We had a pretty nice thunder and lightening storm today. It poured and hailed on the ride home which is always nerve wracking! But we made it home safely and are ready to enjoy the weekend off.

I miss the people that I bonded with over CTI. I cannot wait to get back to Vinton and enjoy the few nights we have together reuniting. It's amazing how close I've become to certain people. I miss them terribly being away from them and we are still within a days drive of one another. Imagine how it will be once the program is over :(

We'll I've had a interesting week and I'm looking forward to letting off some steam tonight. Be safe and be wise :)

Greetings from Champaign, Illinois!

So we have arrived in Champaign, Illinois! It's been about 75 the past two days, which is a huge difference from the weather back in Vinton. It's nice being in a real city again. Full blown college town here, which is really nice. I love college towns. Such a sense of pride that you don't often find other places.

We arrived a the hotel around 2 on Monday and met up with our sponsor. Our hotel is older but great. Jess, Hayden, and I are sharing a duel room. 1 room has 2 queen beds, a tv, and a bathroom, and the joining room has a pull out couch, a chair, and a small kitchen like set up. The other girls have the same set up in another room and the boys are all sharing a loft, which is practically a small apartment. It's really nice. Our sponsor went way out of their way to make our stay amazing. After we met with our Sponsor at the hotel, we unpacked the van and then went over to her house for dinner which was awesome. She has the most adorable home. My Grandma would be jealous :). We had a small orientation with her, which was more of a nice introduction. Then she got us tickets to see a famous pianist, Ian Hobson, at the University which was wonderful. Since we had such a tight schedule, we didn't get to go and get Chipotle before we had to meet with the sponsor, so John took us by there and we got yummmmmy Chipotle!!! It was amazing.

This morning we arrived at the sponsor site, the Regional Planning Committee Office, and got not only a tour and orientation of the program, but they also took us around the city, showing us the major interests and other things. They also provided us with Jimmy Johns for lunch!! So needless to say, we had a great day. We stuffed 600 pages full of flyer's, referral information, and eco-light bulbs, all for our Energy Conservation canvassing. We start tomorrow in a smaller town on the outskirts of town at 10 AM. We have PT at 7 AM and then relaxing till it's time to head out!

I miss Jason terribly. He's only been able to email me at random due to stormy weather and lack of internet. :(
I worry about him over there and there's nothing I can do except hope that every email I get is one from him.
July can't get here quick enough

Some pictures of the day!:

Just a neighborhood in Champaign, Illinois

This park has a nature trail that has multiple sculptures on the trail. 

Round Barns

Oak II!

Here's the team!

Sorority Houses in Illinois

Another Sorority house

Packing 600 bags!

Oak II Gets their work done!

That is all for now. More updates about Round 1 to come :)

CTI Mini Spike

So for our CTI Mini Spike, Oak II was assigned to Tilford Elementary School in Vinton from Feb. 29th to March 2nd,  to do some maintenance work around the school as well as work in some classrooms as a teachers aid. I worked with a 1st grade class each morning and did various tasks in the afternoons (cleaning lockers, working with the Principal [Laminating and discarding old textbooks], cutting brush from around the school grounds, a bit of mulching in the school garden, and on Friday I continued to work in the classroom with the 1st graders). It was a lot of fun. The kids were great. They were so excited to have us there. 

Front view of the school

We got to eat breakfast and lunch with the kids, which was great because I have never experienced an indoor school! So we all sat together with the kids and enjoyed their questions and comments :)

Cleaned kids lockers out! 

The boys worked cleaning out the shed. James (right) trying and succeeding at being creepy.

The Auditorium seats that some team members shampooed and vacuumed 

The large mulch pile and the garden on the right

Here are just some pictures from the project

Saquisa and I working hard on the first day

Friday was a long day

Jess Lester. My New York Twin!

Cheesy group Feet shot

Johns favorite picture EVER

Girls at work!

Finished our Mini Spike with a bang!