2 weeks down, already!

Hello all!

Another week has successfully gone by, I honestly can't believe how fast this entire year with Americorps is going. We just figured out yesterday that we are about 4 months from graduation. 4 months!! I'm not sure where the first 6 months went, but I can't believe everything's moving so fast. I guess that's what happens when you're constantly busy, changing things up, and having fun!

So this week was a little more structured, which is relieving. But it's still laidback enough that as long as you get certain things done, there's time to go just hang out with residents. The downer is that we worked approximately 12 hour days...so we pretty much put in 60 hours, and that's not counting whatever additional hours we work on the weekends. Don't get me wrong, the work is not difficult at all, but just being "on" all the time is exhausting. I think our team leader Steve is going to work to get those cut back down a little. We need 1700 total hours to graduate, but we're all way ahead of the game so there's no need to torture ourselves working so much!!

As I get more and more familiar with the staff and residents, I get more comfortable as well, and the days get easier. I get more used to the diagnoses and my patience has definitely improved. Sometimes, peole are just having a bad day, and they may snap at you, but it's nothing to take personal. I also really like when I get residents involved in whatever activity I'm running at the time. There's certain residents that are toughies and sort of have a bad attitude about things, but when you get them interested in something it's really rewarding. Getting people to participate who usually choose not to is great!

My team leader and team continue to be awesome. We're still doing Insanity, and it is still kicking my ass, but I like to think that I'm getting in better shape :) If nothing else, it's definitely making me sweat! We all went to watch the Hunger Games movie that came out on Friday too, so that was a fun time. I continue to have such a good feeling about this round, I just know it's going to be great!!

On another note, 12 more days until I get to visit home! woooohoo! can't wait to see everyone! :)

xoxo
abby