Day 4: Today was the best day so far! Our training was extremely thought provoking and interesting. We went through several long trainings about the south. It is amazing to me how quickly the day goes by when you spend it doing things you really enjoy or are engaged by.
First we spent the morning going over policies and procedures. Instead of sitting and listening to a lecture, we put together skits about different sections in the handbook. It was amusing to see people come out of their shells a little. Once that was over we spent the first part of the afternoon meeting with an environmental specialist and then the Vicksburg police department. It is refreshing to know that there are so many people concerned about my safety. After these logistical meetings we had an enlightening lectures and conversations that reminded me of why I do service.
We had a very interesting conversation with the Region Director, Gary Turner about several different things relating to life and the issues going on in this country. We talked for a long time about how technology has changed the way we communicate and the opinions we form about our surroundings. This conversation rose a lot of questions for me, as I began to think about the past and the “when I was young…” stories that I often hear from those around me. How did we come to be this way? What significance does the state of our country have on the work that I am doing? How do we make change? How do we keep up with an ever-changing world of technology and other advancements?
These are all just things that I’ve been thinking about.
After this intense conversation, we went upstairs and heard from a woman who studies Southern Food. Across the southern states there are several colleges and universities with whole departments dedicated to the study of southern culture and traditions. This was extremely fascinating to me, because the South is full of traditions unlike the rest of the country. This lecture was really interesting because she touched upon several different areas of the South that carry long-standing traditions: food, religion, politics, family, etc. It is amazing and mysterious to me that the South continues traditions in all these areas without change or evolution in comparison to the North and West. This woman gave me her card so that she could send me the title of some books that I may be interested in reading. I have been wondering of the studies that have been conducted surrounding religion and family values along with technology and advancement. These seem to be some of the most important and drastic differences between the North and South and I would love to understand, or attempt to understand why each region is the way that it is.
This is why today was so great, so many ideas and thoughts running through my head.
An unexamined life is not worth living-Socrates
Day 5: Such an exciting day! I passed my driving test and learned how to drive a 15-passenger van! Also, passed the drug test (phew!) and the pregnancy test (big sigh of relief ☺) FUNNY. Also, checked out the photos from JoMandas wedding! SO GREAT. Showed them to my Team Leader and he said that I have a VERY attractive family. Not much else to report from today, pretty easygoing day.
The Pack Test is tomorrow at 6AM so, everyone, wish me luck! I really hope that I pass it, as I would love to be part of the fire team. For those of you that don’t know, the requirements of the test are: walk 3 miles in under 45 minutes with a 45-pound vest on. It is going to be pretty exhausting and difficult, but I am excited for it. I am doing it with a few other friends and there are about 35 Corps members total attempting it. There are 2 fire teams with 10 people on each. At the meeting last night they told us that they are going to try to make the teams as evenly spread in terms of gender, so they may consider candidates who come close to finishing the test in reasonable time and who have a good letter of intent, which I sent in last night.
I guess we’ll just have to see….
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