December 18, 2010
We head to the Parthenon and get a very nice tour and information on Greek mythology. Pictures snapping, gifts being bought, we head to McDonalds for breakfast. After several pictures and conversations we head to the airport. We land from Atlanta to Florida at 10.40pm, we scramble off the plane to await our baggage from section 2. Everyone mixed and fluttered with different emotions of sadness and homesickness slowly trot across the luggage zone. As a ice breaker and my first timer status we began to play Ninja in the middle of the public airport, as we build the moral and spirit we lose both Anam and Kristie to rides from the airport. We load the Shark Shuttles and reach NSU everyone saying there goodbyes we depart.
December 17, 2010
We finally finish the Alpha Chapter of our sub-section Team "BLACKOPS" finishes on there house. Fresh paint of Cafe Latte on the entire house was completed with a double coat. With time to spare we say goodbyes to the owner for this is our last working day, he brings a dozen roses for all the workers on team Alpha which happens to be all women leaving me to be the only male. We exchange information and emotions run a little high as we say our final goodbyes. We later head to our first experience of Jack in the Box fast food and back to the hotel to await debriefing. Debriefing starts at 3pm and we go around sharing different experiences and completions and just personal stories that can relate. Me personally not being a big fan of debriefing felt a need to share accomplishments and thoughts on certain issues. After an immense amount of bounding, sharing, and emotions we break to clean up and meet up at 7pm and later bus at 8pm for Nashville's largest tourist attraction and hotel The Gaylord Opry Hotel" were we enjoyed dinner and scenery that range from lights, doors, cuisine, gondolas etc. Ana a resident of Nashville invites us to a bonfire at here house were we make smores, share stories, relax and close our night.
December 16, 2010
Finally we Start painting after priming the house and the color is amazing we get to work and the singing began from all sorts of directions from Lauren in the far left room to Norma and Nakita in the left lower room and the Anam, Caitlin and Jamie in the others. We work diligently with the goal of completion in mind. We enjoy lunch, work some more with only a couple of rooms left and head back for debrief[were I remain silent]. Our free night is tonight and we rush to shower and meet up and make plans. So it is decided downtown Nashville it is, we bundle into Cole's last ride van and head for a night in town. We reach and face yet another challenge "THE PARKING" a 12 seater van and a narrow spot is easier said then done after utilizing our own leadership styles and since of direction we give Cole best directions to park {best 15min ever} we head out to town were we meet the first half at the WildHorse Salon. We order food and my first fried pickle experience thanks to Bill is given and must say not bad. After demolishing Fernando's ribs{two thumbs and toes up} and my Angus burger we all go mingle and Bryne takes charge in teaching everyone how to dance since she has been doing it it for over 10 years now. After pictures, food, dances, conversation, and the occasional detour we close our night.
December 15, 2010
Lets do it Second and real day of working, I finally get to sleep from Stevens extremely passionate noise making when he snores[after discussion]. we wake up at 6.45am for breakfast, quick debrief and head out to the church to meet up with our site leaders. Ours being Dennis and Bill we reach the church were they provided all the necessities for lunch to be packed as we did for the first time. We head to our site and the priming continues on the entire house, joking around we named Dennis "D-rod" and Bill "B-dizzle" which they both would not acknowledge anyone else without them using that name. Upon meeting the home owner for a second time we come to realize that he is apart of the Greek world and that he is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and we began to joke and tease each other. Were finish priming with only a few touch up needing to be done. we enjoy lunch, work some more and head back for another debrief session{I say nothing}. Later that night after diner, we hang out in the club/breakfast room of the hotel and conversations spark, games of spoon, spades and everyone's favorite mafia begins. We play late into the night, enjoying each others company and of course Danny, Amir, Bryne and others karaoke talents.
December 14, 2010
Do i really want to do this again, I get up meet back up to in front of the UC thanks to Bill again we eat donuts as we wait for the shuttle. We reach the airport and the check in process starts again. And again the same 3 people are in the no fly zone. After getting situated we boared the first plane to Atlanta and after landing our connect flight to Nashville has already started boarding and rush to the next terminal. Not being familiar with Atlanta airport we make it half way to the terminal and realize we the subway system was put in place for our terminal purposes, we reach load and off we go. Upon landing we get our vans and head to the church for greetings, introductions, and debriefing. Then we were off to our site which we meet the home owner for the first time and put in 4hours of priming in and bonding with our site coordinator and teammates. Then we enjoyed food at the hard rock hotel and finally SLEEP!
December 13, 2010
whoot whoot so excited for the trip stayed up all night playing call of duty. I get to the Shark fountain and everyone is excited, pumped up, mingling and eating donuts. We load the shuttles and head over the airport. Jokes craking, people meeting, and luggage carrying. As I make it pass TSA and into our terminal someone hells "Flights Cancel" and I pay them no attention, thought they were joking then we check with the airline and coordinators and due to heavy snow all flights were canceled. As people cheer from getting pass TSA there attitude drastically changes for the worse when we get debriefed on the cancellation situation. We all wait hours for our bags to unload to be later loaded back on the shuttle and back home.. MAN THIS SUCKS!
