Ok, long time no talk again. But lots of exciting things have happened since we last spoke. Exciting thing #1: I got ENGAGED!!, Exciting thing #2: I GOT A JOB!!! Exciting thing #3: New Round, New Project, New Town, New Sponsors! Exciting thing #4: I went to the Grand Canyon!!
Engagement:
Well during the last week at West Generation I decided it was time to take a break and head back to NC for a bit (I decided this way before week but ya know). While in NC I spent loads of time with friends, family, and of course Dalen. We were planning to go backpacking (at which point Dalen was going to propose at sunrise/sunset) but the weather was just dreadful: cold, raining, gross. So we decided to post-pone the trip and instead to go up to Asheville and walk around the city and then maybe go for a day hike. After sloshing around in the city all day I had really hoped that Dalen had forgotten the whole part about the day hike, but he hadn’t. He wanted to go up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and since it was his birthday weekend I was at his will. We drove around on the parkway and as we drove I was becoming more and more certain he wouldn’t want to hike in this crap… until he did. As we hiked up to the top of Craggy Gardens the weather got worse and worse until the wind was blowing the rain sideways. Of course at the summit there was no spectacular view and only clouds. There was however an open air structure where we took shelter from the rain and where Dalen proposed. It wasn’t perfect but it was totally ‘us; and I of course said yes.
Job:
I recently accepted a job at Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte working in family services. It’s an AmeriCorps National position (I just can’t get enough of national service I guess). I will be working with families to help them apply for habitat homes in addition to networking with other agencies in Charlotte to help recruit new families. I am really excited about spending another 10 months of my life serving those in need.
New Round, New Project, New Sponsors:
I traveled from Denver to Nogales, AZ last week and began to work with University of Arizona Co-Op Extension. Basically they asked for us to come work here in Nogales and tons of organizations have reached out for help that they need. So far we have worked with The Boys and Girls Club, The Anza Trail Coalition, and the rest of the team has worked with Santa Cruz County. Each organization has different work for us to complete and it’s fun working with different people each week and doing different tasks. At the Boys and Girls Club we cleared trash and helped prepare an outdoor area that hadn’t been usable before to be ready for summer camp. This week we have been working with the Anza Trail Coalition to help them do work at a trailhead they are developing as well as painting for them. Overall our sponsors and the town of Nogales has been SO welcoming and amazing. We’re basically in Mexico so the food has been great too! The next few blog posts I’ll talk more about the work we’re doing (PROMISE!)
Grand Canyon:
So Viviana, Meaghan and I decided we should take advantage of the facts that: 1. It was a 3 day weekend, 2. We’re in Arizona and 3. That I am 25. So, we rented a car and drove to the Grand Canyon! It was a great trip after a little bout with a stomach flu that Viviana and I soldiered through on Friday night. Saturday we drove to Sedona and spent time gazing at the beauty that it beholds and then went to slide rock park which is an AWESOME swimming hole if you’re ever in Sedona. It was crowded but it was worth it. The park makes a natural water slide in the red rock and has lots of area for swimming, and cliff jumping! After drying off we continued our journey to Flagstaff where we were to camp on Saturday and Sunday nights. On Sunday we woke up bright and early to head out to the Grand Canyon. There really are no words for its massive beauty. We spent the day on the rim trail on the south rim just gazing at the beauty of it. After we had seen all we could possibly see in one day (we were there from about 10am-7pm, definitely our 25 dollars worth) we headed back to Flagstaff to tucker out. On Saturday we woke up early and decided to stop by Montuzuma Castle on our way back to Nogales. It was a really cool place with cliff dwellings. After all that we got back to Nogales in time to unpack and relax a bit before starting in back to work. All in all I would say it’s been a very good month since I’ve written.
Pictures to come when better WIFI is accessed!!
Hannah's AmeriLife 