Still in Montgomery
Today is day 39 of my time down in the South. This past weekend, I got a much-needed last minute trip home to St. Louis (those days in St. Louis still go towards the total on disaster). Friday afternoon, Jim and I (Jim is another Outreach Member, who just got to Montgomery last week after spending time in Jackson, MS and Baton Rouge, LA) found out that we would be getting the weekend off plus Monday off for Columbus Day (not a real holiday, but I'll take it). I started thinking about it, and decided it made sense for us to go home since we wouldn't be missing any work time, the Corps was already looking into getting us time off soon, and Emily, who had been down in Montgomery and was in St. Louis for a wedding, would have a way to get back to Montgomery. After making a few calls and waiting anxiously for the green light, Jim and I were in the van on our way back to St. Louis.
The time back in St. Louis was great. I didn't do anything that was incredibly fun, but just to be back and see some of the people I've grown close to in the last year and to meet some of the newbies was just what I needed. As is typical when your working a ton and then get some time off, I didn't really catch up on sleep, but at least I got to sleep in my own bed for a few nights. It also was a chance to enjoy the fall weather, although after getting used to being in 80 degree temperatures everyday, the seasonal temperatures were difficult to adjust to in a short time.
By Monday, it was time to make the trip back to Montgomery. Leaving was not easy at all. It felt like the first day of school after Christmas Break, minus the excitement of sharing what presents you got. The drive seemed to go pretty quickly, too quickly if you ask me. Walking into the apartment we live in was one of the more depressing moments I've been through in a while. I think that quick taste of being back in St. Louis made realize how much I missed being there.
The good news is that we seem to be approaching the light at the end of the tunnel. Jim, Emily and I have been working this week to try and close things up in Montgomery. The call center is nearly dormant and with so few donations and volunteers coming in, we have plenty of time to close out some of things we've been working on. I hate to speculate on when we'll be out of here, but unless we are given an expanded role, I can't imagine us being here much beyond next weekend (Oct. 21st.) There's a chance that when we leave, we may still be coming back for a couple of days in the coming weeks to transition the VISTAs who will be taking over the Volunteer and Donations Operation for the next year. If that's the case it would be a quick stint with a defined timeline of when we would be returning to St. Louis.
I'm still not ruling out that I won't be back down here again for a extended period at some point during my term. I'm not opposed to deploying to Mississippi in the coming months if that's where the Corps most needs me. I still have high expecations for my role as a recruiter for AmeriCorps St. Louis, but I signed on for a second year not just to recruit, but to continue my service to others. In the meantime, I'll keep on plugging away and not worrying about what the future holds.
The time back in St. Louis was great. I didn't do anything that was incredibly fun, but just to be back and see some of the people I've grown close to in the last year and to meet some of the newbies was just what I needed. As is typical when your working a ton and then get some time off, I didn't really catch up on sleep, but at least I got to sleep in my own bed for a few nights. It also was a chance to enjoy the fall weather, although after getting used to being in 80 degree temperatures everyday, the seasonal temperatures were difficult to adjust to in a short time.
By Monday, it was time to make the trip back to Montgomery. Leaving was not easy at all. It felt like the first day of school after Christmas Break, minus the excitement of sharing what presents you got. The drive seemed to go pretty quickly, too quickly if you ask me. Walking into the apartment we live in was one of the more depressing moments I've been through in a while. I think that quick taste of being back in St. Louis made realize how much I missed being there.
The good news is that we seem to be approaching the light at the end of the tunnel. Jim, Emily and I have been working this week to try and close things up in Montgomery. The call center is nearly dormant and with so few donations and volunteers coming in, we have plenty of time to close out some of things we've been working on. I hate to speculate on when we'll be out of here, but unless we are given an expanded role, I can't imagine us being here much beyond next weekend (Oct. 21st.) There's a chance that when we leave, we may still be coming back for a couple of days in the coming weeks to transition the VISTAs who will be taking over the Volunteer and Donations Operation for the next year. If that's the case it would be a quick stint with a defined timeline of when we would be returning to St. Louis.
I'm still not ruling out that I won't be back down here again for a extended period at some point during my term. I'm not opposed to deploying to Mississippi in the coming months if that's where the Corps most needs me. I still have high expecations for my role as a recruiter for AmeriCorps St. Louis, but I signed on for a second year not just to recruit, but to continue my service to others. In the meantime, I'll keep on plugging away and not worrying about what the future holds.
posted by Tim Weiss at 2:49 PM
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