YEE HAW I'm goin to Texas

Most of you already know that I was accepted into Teach for America!! I was placed in the Rio Grande Valley to teach high school history. I was NOT expecting that, but I'm really excited about my placement. Above is a map of the Valley- it is a 4 county area that takes 2 1/2 hours to get from one side to the other. I talked to a TFA regional staff member this afternoon for about half an hour about the region and what it's like to be a corps member there. 

What I learned...

I have a 5 week training Institute in Houston from June 7- July 11. The week before Institute begins, I will be in the RGV for a one-week orientation. That week is a chance to get to know everyone else and the area. After Houston, most people find housing in the RGV. 

TFA will send a resume book to principals in the schools I could be placed in. This process goes from March-August. Schools will have to look at enrollment, returning teachers, etc. to determine how many openings they have. Then someone will hire me! 

The RGV is about 6 hours from Houston, and 3 from San Antonio. 

There will be about 100 other people accepted to the RGV region. There will be about the same amount of 2nd year teachers, so total about 200 TFA corps members in the region. 

The guy I talked to said he travels to Mexico fairly often. He also said that politically it is a fairly liberal area which surprised me! (Less conservative than other parts of Texas was my impression)

WHAT AN ADVENTURE THIS WILL BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited about this new stage in my life, and the opportunities it will bring. While I haven't accepted the offer yet, I'm planning to. Thank you all so much for your support, confidence in me and encouragement throughout this process. I love you all! 

Baby it's COLD outside!!!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! When I woke up this morning and was getting ready to go teach Spanish at Little Canada Elementary, my computer said it was -21 outside. WITHOUT windchill!! Brrr!!!

We were having a conversation at work the other day about the cold, and a woman I work with said that it's a proven fact that people in Minnesota are smarter than people in warmer climates. hahah I don't know about that... Minnesota is one of the most literate states, but I don't know about smarter. They thought you have to be really hardcore to stick out the cold. I'm not sure if that is smarts or foolishness? What do you guys think? 

New Orleans

On January 3rd, 9 women left in Big Blue (our huge van) for New Orleans to do some work and hopefully touch a few lives. It took us 2 days to drive down, due to bathroom breaks for 9 women and Big Blue getting thirsty for oil. We worked for 3 days. The first 2 days we worked on Brenda's house, which she hasn't lived in since Katrina struck. We painted the entire interior of the house. In addition, we heard Brenda's story and had some great conversations. 

On our 3rd day, we worked at a Lutheran church that volunteers have been restoring for many weeks. The church was submerged in water for 5 weeks after Katrina came through. There was an amazing story to that church- go to Emily's blog to read it (ceejandem.blogspot.com)- but basically there were 2 churches, one black and one white. The churches did not mingle, until after Katrina passed when the white church was left without a minister. The 2 churches began to intermix, and have integrated since the hurricane. It was a touching story. 

I met some wonderful people on this trip- both the women I traveled with and the people living and working in New Orleans. At Camp Restore, where we stayed, there were many retired couples working as long-term volunteers. They live in trailers behind the camp (an old school), and work for minimum wage. The men that we worked with were inspiring in their dedication to their projects. I also really enjoyed meeting Brenda- the homeowner we worked with- who had unwavering faith in God. Also, everyone we came across expressed their appreciation for our trip down to help. I truly felt that the people of New Orleans are grateful for all of the help they have received, and hopefully will continue to receive. 

It was a great trip, and I'm so glad that I went. Not to mention that it was AMAZING to escape from winter for a week and soak up some sunshine!! Enjoy the pictures I've posted below!

Mission Trip to New Orleans

The Lower 9th Ward- one of the hardest hit areas of the city

The Lutheran church we helped at one day- the water level from Katrina was up to the point where the left half meets the peaked roof

the four 20-somethings in our group

The sanctuary of the church with light shining in 

The house we worked on for 2 days. The homeowner, Brenda, is in the doorway

Play time in the French Quarter

The younger girls with the owner of the Market Cafe- a hall of famer for Manchester United (English soccer team)

On Bourbon Street

Me in front of Cafe du Monde- the beignet place! YUM! I bought that hat for 15 cents!!

Listening to jazz at the Maison Bourbon 

The other half of our group!

Work we did

We took some breaks too :) 

This is the room I painted

Team effort to paint the living room

Varnishing base boards at a church

Emily and I in the windows of the house we worked on

Hurricane Damage

Here are some houses representative of all the damage that remains over 3 years after Katrina came through. We saw entire neighborhoods abandoned- the residents never returned to their homes. I was told that the population of New Orleans went from over 450,000 people before Katrina to less than 200,000 people after. 

Above is a house that had been gutted 2 years prior... nothing has been done since