Wolverine

I take great pleasure in watching my injuries heal -- it makes me feel like Wolverine. (If only)



Since I got home, the four-stitch slice on my ankle has healed remarkably well, and quickly. I had the stitches removed Tuesday for $35, after which I realized I definitely could have cut them out myself. Still, it was fun to confuse the doctor with my roofing story. Soon it will be just a memory and an incredibly groovy scar. I can't wait to tell the story of my epic battle with roofing tin to curious passersby who happen to glance closely at my right ankle.


There it is, my arch-nemesis.

As my ankle heals, I can't help but worry that my experiences and lessons from this summer are fading with it. Which is why I decided I had to post once more to conclude my summer. I've now been home one week, and it feels alternately like a year and an hour. My friends at Meeting Ground have taught my so much. Leaving last Monday was the most difficult and most surreal experience. I kept finding reasons to walk around the farm one more time and say goodbye to one more person.

Now that I'm home, the most difficult challenge has been explaining my summer every time someone asks the polite, "How was your summer? What have you been doing?" There is no easy way to explain where I lived and who I met and worked with without doing someone or some aspect of Meeting Ground an injustice. So far its been easiest to mention "homelessness" and "mission work" and "best decision ever" and let the other person be impressed and pleased for me. But that doesn't really accomplish what I could in such opportunities. My goal should be to pass along something of what I learned about people and homelessness and love. If I come across more eloquent and successful ways of sharing my experience, I'm sure you will hear of it.

I want to thank everyone who read my blog this summer. If you hadn't made it clear you'd miss me, I wouldn't have thought to start a blog. Without this blog, I'm not sure I would be as able to remember the people I met and articulate the important lessons I learned about life, and about myself. I hope I have an occasion to continue blogging in the future. For now, don't take me off your bookmarks!

The End is Near

The summer is not long enough. The past few days I've finally become close with a kids on the farm I've previously been unable to get near. RJ has always been quiet around me, and I've never wanted to disturb him. He's the oldest of Harriet's seven kids (I think he's 16 or 17) and has a lot on his plate. He's a pretty quiet kid in general; I'd say he has a lot to think about. Today the work group played Bingo with all the kids, and RJ's younger brother, Peter, won an Uno deck. So Peter, RJ, Bonnie (a member of the work group) and I played. We were laughing and competing. This was the first time I was able to really sit around with both RJ and Peter. I am so grateful I could play with them. Later tonight, RJ asked if he could help out with the work groups. I only wish I had gotten to know him sooner. There's so much I want to talk to him about. Not least of all his goals. I can tell he is a smart kid, and has so much potential. I want him to know he can be more than any humiliation he may be feeling as a result of his situation. It can't be easy to be a high school student at a homeless shelter. He has more responsibility and more experience than I ever had in high school. All of Harriet's kids are beautiful and strong, and I know they each have incredibly busy minds, even little NairNair. Perhaps especially him. I wonder what its like to be the youngest of seven, and homeless to boot.

I've decided I want to write everyone here a card before I leave. I have so much I want to tell everyone, and so much that I don't know how to say. People keep asking me why I'm leaving, especially Patrick and Patricia. Its so hard to have to tell them my job is ending. I don't know how many times I've promised to visit.

Speaking of leaving, Hannah and her family left about two weeks ago. I'm so worried about her. Well, about all of them. When they were getting ready to leave, I wanted to just grab her, jump in my car and take her home with me. She needs so much more than her mother is able to give her. Hannah has a long, scary, and difficult history. She has two different futures, I think. There is so much strength and hope in her, but there is also too much room for depression and desperation. I'm afraid that without someone to lean on, someone who cares solely for her, she could fall into serious depression. As it is, she takes on too much responsibility in her family, caring for her baby brother and foregoing her own needs, especially her homework. With enough confidence and someone to work through her history with, Hannah could rock this world. I miss her smile. She has a beautiful, open, and truthful smile, and an incredibly vulnerable face. I can't remember how many times I made her hug me goodbye.

Old Bay

I've been meaning to post these pictures for a while now. Monday night (2 weeks ago), we ended up with a large quantity of Maryland blue crabs. So they boiled them with some Old Bay seasoning (apparently the only way to have true Maryland crabs), covered two tables with newspaper and everyone dug in. The following pictures remind me of the warmth and love of Thanksgiving with your family:

Sometimes the people on the farm all seem to be working against each other, and it can be incredibly disheartening to be a part of a community with so many splinters. When someone added some blue crabs and Old Bay seasoning that night, the whole farm seemed to come back together. Sisters and brothers were helping each other rip open the crabs and find the most succulent pieces. People sat next to each other who normally wanted little to do with the other, and everyone shared in the delicious mess of crabby goodness. I have never enjoyed crab so much in my life!

Even after we had cleaned up the giant mess of crab bits afterward, my lips still stung with the seasoning, and I can clearly remember the warm, comfortable feeling of tearing apart and devouring delectable crabs among dear friends and family.

Home

Realized today that I belong here. Thought that was something of note. I finally feel comfortable on the farm. Maybe that's the wrong word. I feel at home here. I know where things are (or who to ask if I don't), I know everyone's name, and everyone knows me. I am friends with my Clairvaux Farm family. Fancy that! I don't think its possible to adequately express how excited I am about this.

Today has been a really good day for the farm. Cameron is staying! Alison (she manages the farm, lots of responsibility and stress and amazingness) had a long conversation with him, and they decided he could stay. This morning, he told me her was leaving, and I made it clear how much I would be thinking about him, and that I would really truly miss him. And this afternoon, he told me I'd have to deal with him being around for a while longer! Hurray! I realized then that Cameron and I are friends. We hugged, and I really felt love for this man who I only met one month ago.

Its funny to have friends who are so different from me, in so many ways. Normally, one "knows" someone in a different age group, and is "friends" with someone in the same age group. My new friends are so important.

The other day, Udo mentioned that next week is the midpoint of the summer. I can't believe it. Earlier, I was thinking about the day I leave. What will that be like? How can I ever say goodbye to my friends here?

Thick Skin

There have been far too many thoughts rattling around in my head for the past week or so. Haven't been able (or perhaps I've been too lazy?) to sit down and make them coherent. Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

I started this post about a week ago:

"Kara was evicted from the farm today. The staff write an eviction note and either hand it to the resident or leave it on their bed. I cannot imagine making the decision to evict someone from this place. Eviction must be the hardest part of working here."

I read the letter they put on her bed. What do you say in something like that? Obviously, these decisions have to be made, but we all know there aren't many places to go if you get evicted from Meeting Ground. This is the place you come when you're evicted from other places. Before the woods, this is the last stop.

We were talking about evictions one night, and Sam told me I should work on my thick skin. I know this is good advice, but I can't bring myself not to be concerned, depressed, disappointed, and disheartened when I hear about an eviction. Cameron was evicted last week as well. He's supposed to be off the farm by... well, I can't remember the deadline. Anyway, he only has a few days left. Kara's eviction was not this painful because I did not know her very well. She kept to herself for the most part, and was often out at NA meetings (or so she said. It turns out, she wasn't always at NA meetings when she said she was. This was one the many reasons for her eviction.) Anyway, Cameron was evicted because he was drunk on the farm. The staff have no choice but to evict someone caught drunk or high on the farm. I don't get the feeling that they give second chances for transgressions of this kind. I will really miss Cameron.

I overhead a conversation he was having the other night, talking about his future. He'll go back to living in the woods when he leaves the farm. He didn't seem too concerned about this, which is likely because he's spent a significant amount of time living in the woods in the past. Apparently, he's been able to save some money up since he's been here, so he won't go hungry. I hope he finds more permanent housing before too long. I don't like to think of anyone living in the woods.

I should mention that some of the fake names I put in the blog have complex reasons. For instance, Cameron. He reminds me of Farmer Maggot (of Tolkien fame) because he has a harsh, tough exterior (and small children like young Frodo Baggins are sometimes frightened of him) but he's really a kind, wise man. I have a lot of respect for Cameron. In the film version of The Fellowship of the Ring, Farmer Maggot is played by someone named Cameron (I looked it up on Wikipedia, because I didn't want anyone's fake name to be Maggot. That seems rude, despite my kind intentions.)

Speaking of the woods, Ronald was telling me today that he's leaving tomorrow to go back to the woods. Have no idea if he is actually leaving, and if he'll be coming back. I have learned that Ronald doesn't lie. He exaggerates, but he tells what he knows or remembers. Now, what Ronald knows or remembers may be far from reality, but he isn't lying. Apparently he also smashed his flat screen TV yesterday in some fit of passion. This is not something I have the capacity to explain. He was telling me about it this evening after dinner while I was petting Leo, one of the fat orange cats.

Leo loves his belly rubbed, and Leo is the toughest of the cats on the farm, or so I gather. You can hear the cats yowling and screaming at night whilst they spar in their claw-y cat-y, badass way. Leo never has scratches; most of the other cats do. What a bully. Buddy is still my favorite though. He's the one I named "Kiitttteeenn" when we first met. I still prefer to call him that. His friend whose name I still don't know (they look the same, but her eyes are more yellow and she is much more skittish) has been warming up to me. We have fun running around the barn after each other when I've closed the barn up for the day. I've been calling her Sweetheart, Lovely, and Darling. I don't think she responds to any of those names. Oh well.

When I started this post a week ago, I had not yet found my groove with last week's group. Here are some initial thoughts:

"I pre-judged this group. They are really a great group of kids. I also neglected breakfast this morning in favor of extra sleep. Bad decision-making skills.

Anyway, the kids in this group are all super interested in hearing the stories of residents. This gains them my respect."

By the end of the week, I was a big fan of these fantastic kids from Hilton Head, South Carolina. (They drove 13 hours to get here! Hot dang!) There were 13 youth, from age 13 to 18, a married couple (Teresa and Donny) and their 7-year old, Cooper. Each of the youth had so much to give and they gave in giant bountiful buckets of love and energy. The kids on the farm became so attached to this group -- they really made time to get to know everyone here. They knew nearly everyone's name by the end of the week. On Thursday they threw a pizza party for the whole farm, complete with kickball, volleyball, and water balloons. I think this group, so far out of all the groups, really got the point of the trip the best. They really became part of the community of Meeting Ground with all their whole selves; they kept nothing back. In Chapel last week, the visiting Chaplain (can't remember his name) talked about keeping nothing from God. He explained that we have to give everything to God, even our sins, and only then... well I don't remember how he put it. Anyway, they weren't there for that Chapel service, but they embodied it so well, they may as well have been there. I was sad to see them go on Saturday (especially as they left at 6:00AM, and I got up to see them off. Ugh.)

This is Emily and Max. They may look happy, but they were rather nervous up in the roof. I was so proud they conquered their fears and supported each other on the roof to finish painting the trim on the gable of the family house.

I realized the other night that not only have each of the work groups given me something through their presence here, their energy and their work, but I have souvenirs! The first group gave me a pair of nice work gloves, the second a birthday card and a bracelet. Last week's group does this fabulous thing where they each get a necklace at the beginning of the week. They wear it all week, and on the last day give it to someone they met. Dylan gave me his on Friday. I was incredibly touched and have been wearing it since. Its neat, because there are 16 of these necklaces on different people around the farm.

Happy Birthday to Me!

When I drove up to Berkeley Heights, NJ Wednesday afternoon for my Grandma's service on Thursday I must have played the song "Teenage Dirtbag" at least 10 times. Yesterday I turned 20. I was really dreading it, mostly because the end of my teen years seemed really daunting. Being 20 seems really important and responsible. (Of course, not yet responsible enough to buy alcohol, but that's beside the point.)

I have a sneaking suspicion that Grandma contrived to time it just right so that I could be with my family on my birthday. It was really wonderful to see everyone on my dad's side of the family. It's been too long, Kelley family. The service was, as they say, very nice, and I'm really truly glad I went. If I hadn't gone, I don't think I would have ever said goodbye to Pink Grandma.

After the service, there was a lot of food, and this really beautiful cake. Someone was taking pictures, maybe they will send them to me. (wink wink, nudge nudge) Anyway, it was lovely to have my whole family sing to me on my birthday. My parents got me all the right books, too, and wrapped them very nicely, I must say. (I also appreciated the birthday serenade 10 minutes after I woke up, groggy and looking to have a shower. Thanks family!)

When I got up this morning, back at the farm, my birthday seemed surreal. But then I was surprised when some of the work group presented me with a lovely birthday poster, chocolate, and a bracelet! I made some of them hug me. It was very cute and awkward, but I was so touched! Of course, later at dinner, they produced an entire chocolate cake, complete with candles and my name spelled correctly! Here's a picture after we demolished the cake and I realized I didn't have a picture.

Throughout dinner and most of the day, I was also surprised with hugs and birthday wishes from residents and staff. The farm really is a large family. Harriet (remember, I've changed everyone's names) even gave me a hug, which I was not expecting. Jordan also wished me a happy day.

Speaking of Jordan, on Tuesday we had the traditional discussion with the work groups and a few residents. I asked Jordan, who works in the kitchen, and Mary, who only got here last week, to tell their stories to the group. They were so willing and gracious about it, especially considering my last-minute organization of the evening. I was so nervous about putting together this evening for the group, and it went better than I could have imagined. Jordan is a born public speaker. He actually mentioned that he wants to be a minister, eventually. He told such a powerful story about his life and his faith, and he told it with such candor and sincerity. Everyone here is so beautiful. After Jordan spoke (and then returned to the kitchen to bake cookies!), Mary told her family's story. They were evicted from their home the first week of June and had been living in a motel with their two adorable children (Pat and Patricia and 3 and 5, I believe). Yesterday, Joel, Mary's husband, got a job selling carpets, and the whole farm is excited for them. Both Joel and Mary have such strong faith and are so grateful to God that they are here, together, with their children. No other homeless shelter would have allowed the four of them to stay together as a family. I am so grateful to have met them, and I hope Joel's new job allows them to get their own place again soon.

Loaves and Fishes

Carl Mazza, the director/founder of Meeting Ground was kind enough to ask me to write an article for their bi-monthly newsletter, Loaves and Fishes. Here is what I sent him:

Comfort Zones

Since arriving here at Clairvaux Farm on Wednesday, June 3, the word “comfort” has maintained a constant presence in my thoughts. First, I was physically uncomfortable after my long car ride here from my home on Long Island. I received such warm welcomes from everyone I met my first few days I couldn’t help but feel comforted. The individual people here are all welcoming. It’s the experience of being here that sets me outside of my comfort zone. Everything about Meeting Ground is radical, and brilliant. The interactions between people here are all new and important. This organization brings people together who would not normally even have the opportunity to set eyes on one another. My primary responsibility here as the Summer Intern is to oversee and assist the work groups that come to learn and give. I think they learn most by their interactions with the residents and staff of Meeting Ground, people they would not otherwise speak with.

I was fortunate enough to be here for the Annual Meeting, a gathering of all those who contribute to Meeting Ground. As it was only my third full day at the farm, I was still unsure of my place in the community. Randy’s sermon during the service has been immensely helpful to me as I sort out my thoughts about Meeting Ground and living on the farm here. During his sermon, Randy used Genesis 12 to discuss the importance of leaving one’s comfort zone for God. Anyone who comes to Meeting Ground is leaving his or her comfort zone. The story of God’s call for Abraham to leave his comfortable, secure life for an undisclosed destination reassured me. I could have found summer employment closer to home, somewhere with air conditioning, somewhere that follows more traditional rules of operation. Sometimes, I wish I were somewhere else, somewhere easier, and more comfortable.

Instead, I am here. The first work group came last week, and with them came energy and lots of work. When she first arrived, one woman in the first group timidly asked me if I felt safe on the farm. I almost laughed at the thought. Of course I immediately assured her that I was perfectly comfortable here, and at that moment I really felt it to be true. When I let myself, I am perfectly at home at Meeting Ground. This organization and the people here are a home. I have found myself more than once referring to the farm as home, and I have only been here a few weeks. Similarly, I have a strong faith in God when I allow myself to. Most times, I am too busy thinking to let myself believe in God. There are times when I forget to be too logical and God slips in. These are the same times when Clairvaux Farm is my home.

In which I am learning to drive a truck

I have to say I really love the work groups. They bring so much energy to the farm, and to my job. Its so exciting to watch their transformation from the day they arrive to the last day. Right now I am sitting in Udo's office and out the window a group of them are playing catch in the driveway. I guess the kids who choose to come on these trips are bound to be really fantastic. The decision sort of precludes fantastic-ness.

I never got around to gushing about my first group. They hailed from East Liverpool, OH, and, as I mentioned, were all over 50. There were 8 of them, and they were all experienced carpenters and/or farmers. I didn't have too much to worry about with them. They were really lovely. By the end of the week I felt really close to many of them, which I did not expect. It was actually really nice to have such grand-parental figures around, especially right after I heard of my grandma's death. One couple gave me really comforting goodbye hugs when they left Friday, which was perfect.

One woman, Jan, was particularly open to the experience of the community of the farm. I was so impressed with her eagerness to meet people and changer her ideas and perceptions. When they first arrived, she asked me if I felt safe living at the farm. I almost laughed, but she had asked me with such concern and trepidation. I assured her that I was perfectly comfortable here, and I really felt it to be true. By the end of the week, Jan knew exactly what I meant.

This week we scheduled two groups, one from Stroudsburg, PA and another from Mechanicsburg, PA. They are both church youth groups, with ages ranging from 12 to 17 (not including the adults). I've become really attached to this group. They have so much enthusiasm and energy, which they have shared with everyone on the Farm. Because their combined size was so overwhelming (there are about 30 altogether), we housed the smaller group in the Chapel for the week. They have all been so flexible and good about the arrangements, as they all have to share the bathrooms in the Community Room, where the groups usually stay.

This is a picture I took Tuesday of a few of them on the playground where they were weeding and cleaning. Aren't they adorable? I just love them. :]

On Wednesday, I took a few of the guys from one group with me to pick up gigantic heating units that someone was donating to the farm. I first want to point out that I made sure to ask for strong volunteers, not specifying gender. When Udo asked for a couple of strong guys, the Wellesley woman in me groaned (and mumbled "I'm offended!"). Its interesting the number of times small things like that have delineated the boundary between boys and girls, and how much that bothers me. I try to be an example by noting the strength of the girls and asking for strong volunteers, or strong arms, instead of strong boys. But I find myself falling into the same gender-specific phrases. This irks me.

Anyway, my story was about me and a truck. So we drove to this really snazzy house in a gated community (the passcode for the gate, I still remember, is *1843). The heating units just had to be down a muddy, curved hill on the side of the house. Of course. So I had to back the truck down this muddy obstacle, not one, but THREE TIMES. Please note, this was only the third time I have ever driven a truck. Ack.

I totally succeeded.

Judging Libraries and other Fun Pastimes

Sorry its been a few days since my last post. A lot has happened. Next week I'll be driving up to New Jersey for my Grandma's memorial service. She died Tuesday night, peacefully. I want to say more in her memory, but I don't feel ready, nor do I think this is where I want to say it. Right now, I just want to play cribbage with my family and remember her. I love you Pink Grandma.

Am at the Elkton Central Branch of the Cecil County Public Library system. Its lovely here and there is good wireless. Also, I found some great DVDs. They have the later seasons of As Time Goes By and seasons 1 and 2 of Doctor Who! (They don't have the original Doctor Who, but I won't fault them for that.) I also found some books. I have a system whereby I like to 'judge' libraries. It is completely arbitrary, and doesn't really mean much about the library, except by my own standards. Also, its fun, and I get to feel indignant when the library doesn't meet my criteria. So I test how many and which novels by Tolkien, Dostoevsky, and Dickens (and which translations, for Dostoevsky) the library has. I got my Cecil County Library card at the Cecilton Branch, which is one room, and very small. Found a few books there and then drove about 30 minutes to this branch, which is larger and quite snazzy.

Let's see if I can remember what the Cecilton Library had...

Results:

The Cecilton Library had no Tolkien in the adult or YA sections. Its possible they may have The Hobbit in the children's section, but I didn't check. They only had Notes From Underground by Dostoevsky. An interesting pick, perhaps because it is so short it won't take up too much of their limited space? By Dickens, they had only A Christmas Carol. Now, I said this was one room, so I was only really miffed by the lack of Tolkien. I am hoping some lucky soul has it all checked out.

The Elkton Branch did much better, although there is room for improvement in the Dostoevsky category. They have numerous copies of The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, as well as The Book of Lost Tales 1 and 2 and a few other books of short stories. I am impressed. As for Dostoevsky, they only have Crime and Punishment and Notes from Underground. They do have my favorite translation of Crime and Punishment, though, so extra points for that. There were about two shelves of Dickens, so they pass with flying colors in that category as well.

That was fun.

The longer I am at the farm, the more I absorb about the people here and how they interact. I'm learning names pretty well, and I've been able to have actual conversations with a number of people. I'm really enjoying getting to know Hannah better. I have to say, I prejudged and Samantha rightly corrected me (by the way, the other lovely intern is named Samantha!). Hannah does like Hannah Montana, as well as High School Musical and is very pleased with her binder decals. This is a relief. I was disappointed to discover that she's not really a Jonas Brothers fan. Decided not to tell her I am Kevin Jonas, as that might make our friendship slightly strained. (Shoutout to my JoBros from Severance 127, Nick and Joe! I miss you, roomies).

Anyway, there is too much that goes on at the farm for me to ever keep up. Ronald had a doctor's appointment last week and apparently has the lungs of a 160-year old. Or something like that. Its painful to listen to him cough and hack. There isn't much you can do for lungs that artificially aged.

I felt so useful the other day, because I was able to help Josephine transfer a document to her thumb drive. More importantly, our exchange allowed me to introduce myself again. We were able to have a conversation, and I offered my future computer services if ever she needs them. I think its just exciting when I get to interact with anyone at the farm. Tim, the night monitor (something like that) who lives in the Ryland House with his wife and adorable young daughter has also been very helpful. Turns out he is a baseball fan, so we bantered a little, as he is a Phillies fan, and I am not. To my chagrin, the Mets dropped the ball, quite literally, in the 9th inning last night in the Subway series. Took a little teasing for that one... However, the Red Sox beat the Phillies in the 12th inning, so I got to hit back at Tim for that one, as I enjoy supporting the Sox when the Mets let me down.

I mentioned my young friend Hannah earlier. We've been able to have a few more conversations lately, so I'm getting to know her better. I like her a lot. Last night when we were talking she mentioned she wants to go to college in Florida and be a doctor. How cool is that? I do not have the chutzpah to make it to med school, let alone through med school. I hope she gets there. She was also telling me about some serious high school social issues. Apparently, some girls are threatening to 'jump' her friend. Ack. Personally, I would be completely lost and overwhelmed if someone wanted to jump my friend. The frankness with which this pleasant young woman told me about the numerous other issues she has come across throughout high school was slightly disturbing. Thanks Southold High School, for being so tame and sheltered. I wish I could pick her up and take her away somewhere so she could study and graduate and go be a pre-med without having to worry about kids teasing her and getting revenge and protecting her dignity in front of other kids fighting to preserve their own self-image. High School is a tough world. Maybe that's why she likes High School Musical so much? j

Its 4:30, and I don't want to miss dinner. Off to go check out my books with my brand new library card! Maybe tomorrow I'll make it to the beach.

50+ with 'Skills'

I feel like I'm beginning to understand how things work around here now. Which is not to say I still don't have a lot of questions and blank spaces where names should be... I'm starting to feel comfortable though. I don't belong yet, but I think that will come.

The first work group arrived last night, after the Annual Meeting. Every year, I assume around the same time, the Board and staff of Meeting Ground have a meeting. They do business-y stuff like going over the Annual Report. But at Meeting Ground, that consists of more talk of spiritual changes than you would see at most organizations that put out Annual Reports and have Boards and Trustees and Directors of Operations. There's food all afternoon, and then the residents and staff put on a fantastic dinner. We had kebabs with fish, shrimp, beef, chicken, peppers, onions, tomatoes. Really a lovely color palate. I got to wear a name tag and be briefly introduced during Udo's turn at the microphone. Very exciting.

So the work group arrived in pieces. The first couple came around 7:30 and the rest didn't get here until around 9:30ish. Which was fine. They are all adults, many with lots of experience in construction and farming. Udo is overjoyed, because this means they can do complicated projects like installing windows and doors and siding. These are things I have no experience with.

I was grateful for my waitressing days last summer when the group arrived -- I like to think I am still rather talented at small talk and endearing myself to a group. We're getting along well; I've heard some good stories about farming and living in rural Ohio. This group actually comes from three different churches, and there are only eight of them! The one pastor ministers to two churches (can't imagine the time and responsibility involved there) and his wife is the pastor of the third church. They're hoping the collaboration of this trip will encourage future ecumenical projects and activities. (I just have to note here, briefly, that every time I hear the word 'ecumenical' I think of the end of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie when Jack uses it)

Anyway, so the projects today were re-digging some holes and installing two windows and a door on the dining hall. I elected to help the group with the digging. Wow that's hard work. We're digging holes to fill with cement for the foundation of a modular home that was donated to the farm. Hopefully by the end of the week we can have the inspection and fill in the foundation. Once the home is situated, Udo wants to replace the siding and give it a new roof -- jobs for other work groups later this summer.

I find myself eating full meals and completely clearing my plate here. Very refreshing. At Wellesley, especially towards the end of the semester, I was not eating enough. Really I was not hungry enough. Its a really nice change to be hungry at every meal. Such appreciation for physical labor!! :] (Maybe its a combination of a real appetite and better food, I don't know)

Turns out Ronald (the nice man who was conversing with the night outside my window Thursday night) is schizophrenic (I guessed, but didn't want to assume). He also has a ton of lung issues, as a result of smoking for years. I get the impression he has been here at least a few years. People around seem to know him, and Meeting Ground apparently gets donations specifically for Ronald. He also cannot read or write, which means he may be here for a good while longer. The job market for the illiterate is not too large. :[

Everyday I have the same realization through my interactions with the staff and the residents: I am so incredibly lucky. Who am I to have been born intelligent, to two loving, sane, intelligent, clean and sober parents, no chronic illnesses, the opportunities for quality education, a roof over my head, the list goes on... I feel like I won the genetic lottery.

And now I have this opportunity to level the playing field a little. Not much, but I can't think of anything more important than sharing my luck with the unlucky.

I'm feeling prolific

Actually, I'm just bored. There's not much left to do right now. Udo (my boss, if you remember) is off in Elkton doing important and necessary things. I've completed all my tasks for the morning. Sent out an email to the leaders of the all the work groups (once I'd fixed my internet...), reorganized the painting supplies in the barn, met a really sweet cat, ate breakfast and lunch... 

So while I was in the barn, reorganizing and being awesome, this little orange cat sauntered in, rather soaking. We made friends. It was awesome. I think little orange cat has an actual name, but for now, she answers to "kitttteennn" pretty well. I think it suits her. She also refuses to be photographed, but here are some attempts anyway:

These were the least blurry of all the pictures I took. Success? Anyway, she's very cute. (I think its a she...)

Looks like Udo's back. Maybe there's something productive for me to do now! 

As promised

Pictures!

I finally got my phone to send pictures to my email. Roundabout way to post pictures on a blog, but I think that makes the pictures that much more brilliant.

First, my humble abode:

This is the view when you first walk in the door. There are two windows on the left wall, that little door is a bathroom, and my bed and

two other dressers (they gave me three dressers?!) are to the right. Very exciting, I know.

So if you were to turn your head to the right, just a bit, you would see this next image:

Let's call this dresser #1. Most of my clothes are in this one. The rest are hanging up in the closet, which has a curtain instead of a door. You can see it in the first picture.

This picture was taken from my bed. So dresser #2 serves as my bedside table. There's nothing in the drawers. I have entirely too many drawers in this room. Maybe I'll just put one shirt in each drawer. Or collect things. Suggestions for collections to possibly fill my many drawers can be entered in the 'Comments' section. :] Maybe I'll hold a contest. Maybe I won't...

So dresser #3:

Anywho, next picture:

This is my bed. Obviously. I've discovered that the top part of that window doesn't actually close all the way... Slight issue. Recently its been rather rainy here. I hope you all have had nice weather than here in Maryland. Its raining right now, actually. My first night we had an excellent thunderstorm (you called it, Dad!). This was lovely, as I really enjoy falling asleep during thunderstorms. (This is not sarcasm, really!) Last night was also rainy, so Cletus the goat decided that the driest place was outside my window. Goat was probably right, there's this plastic awning/overhang thing. Ronald* also decided outside my window was a good place to smoke and converse with the night. At first this was fine. I felt a little creepy listening to his conversations while sitting on my large expanse of new carpet attempting to browse the internet. (Internet here = slow and intermittent) After awhile, though, my room smelled too much like smoke. Normally, cigarette smoke doesn't bother me. After long enough, though, my lungs were unhappy and my tongue tasted horrific. Didn't have the heart to ask him to move, though. Especially because, when I say he was conversing with the night, I actually mean Ronald was conversing with Ronald. It was amazing how long he sat there, alone, telling himself stories. He talked about everything from his childhood (apparently, his older sister was not very nice) to the Apocalypse. He began each story by asking himself if he remembered what so-and-so had said, or the time when such-and-such ridiculous thing happened. After a few hours, I felt like I had known Ronald for years.

So the following two pictures are my bathroom. Yes, bask in its glory. And also the final wall. That's my bed before I'd finished making it and unpacking. Fascinating, I know. Actually, you can see the excellent space bags that Leslye's lovely parents gave me during finals week. Forever in your debt, Mr. and Mrs. Penticoff, as space bags are so incredibly useful!

So I mentioned earlier the large expanse of floor in my room. Last night I got to relive my favorite math, Algebra. Hannah is a junior in high school here in Elkton/Earleville. Her mom brought her over to see if I could help her with her math homework. She was working on negative exponents. I invited her to take a seat, on my large floor. (I only have one chair, no tables, and three dressers, so I was not being rude and cheating her out of real seating!) We worked through her homework, and I felt really helpful. Mostly she probably thinks I am a huge dork, but also we had fun. Hannah is very thin, and apparently falls asleep in math class. I can't blame her, I am guilty of the same. She seems shy at first, and I don't think she has realized her full potential yet, either in academics or as a young woman. I wonder what high school is like for kids at Clairvaux. Her math binder was Hannah Montana-themed, which I can't convince myself was her first choice for binder decor. I hope I get to spend more time with Hannah this summer.

*I have decided to change the names of the residents, to protect their privacy. (edited 6/19)

Arrival

Hit the snooze button a few times this morning (surprise surprise!), but I shipped out around 8:30. Armed with a map, directions from the Meeting Ground website, directions from both parents, and a GPS (Thanks for letting me borrow it this summer, Mom and Dad) I pulled into Clairvaux Farm around 1:30. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. :]

So after a little wandering and poking around, I found the office. Lots of people shook my hand and I don't think I remember anyone's name. So it goes.

The other summer intern (she works in the office/with the residents, whereas I work primarily with the work groups) gave me a tour of the farm and showed me my room. I have my own bathroom! Including said bathroom, this might be about the same size as beloved sophomore triple, Severance 127. Pictures to come, pending some technological obstacles. (I inconveniently forgot the cable for my camera. Am trying to take pictures with the snazzy new phone -- having difficulties sending pictures from phone to internet. What I'm trying to say is: pictures to come.)

She (the other intern, whose name I will learn eventually) is a rising senior at Nazareth (?) College in Rochester, I think. Anyway, she's worked here before. She seems to have a very strong character -- confident and self-aware, which appears to be helpful when working with the residents. (The people who live here, by the way, I have learned, are known as residents.) She knows how to make herself heard and understood, without being overbearing. Of course, this is just the impression I have so far. Her room is next door to mine. I think I'll be stopping by for advice pretty often. She also seems the sort of person to be forthcoming with advice.

After my tour with so-far-nameless summer intern (people keep mentioning her name to me, so far I can't remember it), I finally met Udo Sommerhoff. He's my boss. Important person to meet on your first day, I think. Udo is very interesting. He has a German accent, which I think is fantastic, and is rather long-winded (which I'm not sure he is aware of). We sat in his office for awhile going over important guidelines and paperwork and such. I hope I remember most of what we discussed. Udo is a very clean, organized man. He has been overseeing the work groups for 6 years now, I gather, and when he's not doing that, he is the general maintenance type guy around Meeting Ground. He lives in Elkton, which is the nearest town, about 17 miles from here. More thoughts about Udo to come.

Precious* just walked by my window singing. She has been here for years. I remember meeting her the two times I've been here before. I'm pretty sure she was walking to dinner, which means its that time for me as well. More thoughts later!

*I have decided to change the names of the residents, just as a precaution. (edited 6/19)

Preliminarily

Still at Wellesley, coming up with creative ways to procrastinate my studies. I should be reading about international trade and immigration. Instead, I decided I would really like to document my experience this summer.

On 3 June 2009 I will wake up mad early, jump in Bill the Pony (my fabulous forest green minivan), and drive to Maryland. Specifically, Elkton, Maryland, where there is this place called Meeting Ground. You should actually click that link -- its probably one of the best places on earth. Well, I guess I'll be discovering the intricacies and truthiness of that statement soon enough.

Anywho, I leave June 3, which is soon, but not soon enough. Also, perhaps too soon. I am both incredibly excited and super-freakin' out. You are reading the blog of Meeting Ground's official "Volunteer Coordinator" for the summer of 2009. Be impressed. Maybe kiss my feet. At least avert your eyes from my awesome.

Basically, I will be advising and supervising (and all other forms of -vising) the groups of volunteers that come for a week at a time. I tell people what to do, and how to do it, and guide them in other meaningful and fun ways. Also, I'll be living in the community of Meeting Ground, participating in the daily life of the farm. (Clairvaux Farm is the main site of the organization, and where I will be living.) I'll have my own room. Other than that, I have no idea what the amenities are like. Eating and cooking and cleaning with residents, I assume. Laundry? Air conditioning? Hot water? Internet access? These are things I do not know.

Lots of new experiences. Lots of responsibilities. All fabulous and scary things. Word.

Kiersten out.