Training and Baby Spike

Back Again.

At least now for a couple days, I will have some reliable internet access, but more on than situation later.

Last week was a pretty fun filled week. In all technicalities, last week was our first full week of training. Some of the training was interesting and useful (CPR/First Aid and Tool Training) and others were not so interesting. My team, Badger 7, has started to getting to know each other better. Last week was also a full week of PT, which has been an up-and-down experience, but I've made it a personal challenge of mine to overcome.

We also found out that we would be going on a Mini-Spike (Brenton, my Team Leader, made us all call it Baby Spike), which would consist of a 4 day long project, simulating the longer spikes (projects) that would consume most of time here in NCCC. After furiously prodding Brenton, we eventually learned that we would be going to Hockessin, DE, refurbishing a Girl Scout camp the next week. Much to our amazement, the facility where we were to stay was a brand new building with internet access, a full kitchen, and TV (!!). We were all pumped to get started doing some service and living in our new accommodations for Baby Spike.

On Saturday, I got to participate in my first ISP (Independent Service Projects) working at a high and middle school robotics competition in Westminster, MD. Each Corps Member has to complete 80 hours of their own planned projects, and many of us are getting a jump start on our ISP hours during our training. The robotics competition was very entertaining, as each team had a different concept for a robot that would complete the tasks in different ways. The one I most most liked was a big claw, and was soon dubbed the same by the arena announcer. Overall, it was a great way to spend a Saturday, though a long one, working 14 hours.

On Monday, we were thrilled to have a second Congressional visit, for which we again furiously swept and mopped. We also spent a day at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE, training, which was a good break from the norm.

Also this weekend we got our chance to select our specialty roles within our team. There are about five different roles, each dealing with different aspects. Some, such as Media Rep and CAP, deal with external affairs and recuiting, while others are more internal like Team Trainer and the Service Learning Initiator (SLI). The one that held the most appeal to me was the SLI, as its their job to investigate the why questions behind the service, and help the team reflect on their service. Luckily, I was chosen as one of the SLIs (sly) and I'm looking forward to our first spike and the opportunities I can help facilitate for my team.

So today we had our first day at our baby Spike, and we were all psyched to get working on the project at hand. Hopefully soon we find out were we will be going for our first real spike in the next couple of days, which we are all anxious to learn. Thanks again for reading.

Getting things done!