In-processing

The big day finally arrived!

I checked out of my hotel this morning at 9:00 AM and arrived on campus promptly at 9:30 (after making the much needed Starbucks detour). I was greeted with friendly smiles, and signs galore! Unfortunately since I arrived so early (those driving had to be here by 10AM, while those flying came in all day) there were very little corps members here. I basically traveled with Iman* from Chicago/California to all 10 stations as she was the only other person who was ready to start at station 1 with me. We met our campus counselor, got our AmeriCorps NCCC UNIFORM (complete with the new love of my apparel life, my NCCC HOODIE!), our steel-toe work boots ( expect many updates on the expectantly painful breaking in process), ourIDs, turned in our paperwork and made it to our unfortunately respective rooms (although really not unfortunate because I happen to adore my roommates!)

And of course, just when I started to unpack Veronica the VUE, it started to pour!

It was about this time that I began to see all the striking similarities of CTI (Corps member Training Institute) and Syracuse Welcome (first year orientation). Just like SW, it rained at basically all through move-in. Just like SW I was the first in my triple room and thus had my pick of the beds! Just like SW I bounced from new person to new person making awkward small talk. And just like SW, I had the standard floor meeting where my "RA" type told me all about the Dos and Don'ts of campus life.

This really is like going to college.

Only this time, instead of everyone staying up to mingle and talk the night away, we all left our floor meeting, did a impromptu mini fashion show of our uniforms, and hit the hay. Seriously. It's half past 9 and the building is silent! The early flights and time difference are catching up to us and we realize we've got a busy month a head of us!

Even though I myself am more than ready for bed, I made a promise to blog everyday.

And more importantly, I want to articulate the major similarity between CTI and SW

Just like SW, I feel this eagerness that I know is coming from the fact that great relationships are going to be made, great experiences are going to be had, and at the end of it all, I'm going to wonder how I ever was the person I am here in October, not because I need to change, but because it's impossible not to with an incredibly experience as this.

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Your's in LFS

*I am 98% convinced I have spelled her name wrong and will edit this once I learn the correct spelling!