Officially Official

 

I didn't get a chance to post last night, but here is what I wrote:

Well, I didn't die!!

Today started bright (well, not bright it was still dark outside) and early! We all met outside of our dorms to start PT. Since it was wet outside we had to jog over to the training building to do our stretching. Then the first thing we had to do was see how many sit ups we could do in 2 minutes. I did 35. Then we had to see how many push ups we could do in 2 minutes. I did 30. Then came the part I dreaded the most. The 1.5 mile run. I finished it and was not the last one! But I definitely felt like I was dying while I did it! I finished it in 20 minutes. Which, I know, is not normally a good time, but for someone that does not run, I'll take it!!

After our baseline test, we only had about 45 minutes to shower, get ready, eat breakfast and be in the vans ready to go. We rode down the rode to one of the FEMA office buildings. We were ushered inside, given a temporary security badge, and told to sit and wait. A few at a time we were brought into a room and issued our very own laptop, heavy duty laptop case, and a blackberry phone! We then were escorted to yet another room where we were again told to sit and wait. They then called us one by one to go into a room and get finger printed at one machine and asked for some of our personal information. Then we went to the next station where we were finger printed again and had to take a mug shot style picture. The guy then printed us out our official FEMA DHS ID badge. (*DHS- Department of Homeland Security) This was a very long process that felt like it took forever. And we were only half way through the process.

When we received our ID Badge, we had to take our laptops and blackberry's to another room and begin the setup process. We had to go through getting our laptops and phones secure and set up our government email address. Again, this sounds simple but, to give you an idea, we were at the FEMA offices from 8:15am till 2:30pm! That is how long it took to get all of this done! It was very long and boring and a whole lot of just sitting around! We did have a chance to meet some of the guys that work for FEMA and hear a little about what they do, which was pretty interesting!

The uniforms made me feel official. The government laptop and blackberry make me feel officially official!!

We got back to campus and only had about 30minutes of down time before we had to be at a meeting. The meeting was the first of 3 dedicated to learning more about leadership. After we were split into two groups which we will remain in for the rest of TLT. My group will go grocery shopping and cook together. We have come up with a list to take to the store. Our plan is to have something quick for breakfast, like yogurt and fruit, Sandwiches for lunch then we will break up into two or three and have a designated night for us to cook for the rest of the group. We are all about to go grocery shopping now at WinCo, which is like Costco. We have a budget of a little of $300 to spend for the entire group for one week! This should be fun!

Feeling Official

Not too much to report today! We started the day with more orientation stuff, mainly consisting of going over, in detail, what our schedule will be like for the next month of TLT (Team Leader Training). One thing I have learned is the Government loves their abbreviations. Almost everything is abbreviated so I will try to remember to specify! After that we had lunch and a about an hour and a half of free time! After unpacking last night I realized the one thing I forgot to bring is a towel! So, this morning after my shower, I had to dry off with a t-shirt!! I was extremely thankful for our hour and a half break because it gave time for me and my roommate, Amber, to walk across the street to the base exchange where I was able to buy a towel (tax free I might add)!!
There are a total of 26 TLs (Team Leaders) here going through TLT. After lunch we broke up into two groups. My group was the first to go get fitted for our uniform and boots! We received our red duffel bag that we will pack all of our stuff in when we go out on projects. We also received a small backpack that we will keep all of our documents and paperwork in to help us stay organized. Our uniform, while on campus, is black or khaki cargo pants and a green t-shirt or polo shirt along with a sweatshirt if its cold. Once we leave campus we will switch to the red FEMA t-shirt or polo shirt! We also received a hard hat (not sure yet why we will need that!), a safety vest that we have to wear during PT (Physical Training), a ball cap, a sock cap, a bandanna, and two jackets. We had to wear our uniforms for the rest of the day! Made us all feel official!!

After we received our uniforms, we had to go for medical screening. We had some forms to fill out and a drug test! Then we had to get a TB shot and a tetanus shot. If you know me at all, you will know that was my least favorite part of this so far! I hate needles!!
We then had a long meeting about expectations, uniform requirements, and safety procedures followed by dinner! After dinner we were done for the day so the rest of the night we are free to do whatever! There are a few people that did this last year, so they have been certified to drive the vans. One of  the girls volunteered to take a group to target! I rode a long because I wanted to get another blanket because it got a little chilly last night in my room!
Now there is a group of us sitting in the lounge area watching a movie! It is also the only place we can successfully connect to wifi!

 

I will probably be going to bed pretty soon because we have our baseline PT test at 6am tomorrow. This will consist of a 1.5 mile run, two minutes of push ups, two minutes of sit ups, a sit and reach test, and me praying that I don't die!! I'll let you know how that goes!!

Day 1

**Disclaimer: Sorry for all the misspelled words and typos, I had to type fast**

Well, I started the day by waking up at 3am. I got ready and finished getting the rest of my stuff together. We left the house around 4am to drive the hour and a half to the Charlotte airport. We arrived around 5:30 and, thankfully, it did not take long to check in. I said my dreaded goodbyes and was able to make it through secruity fairly easy!

My flight took off on time, 7:30am, and was about a 5 hour flight. Thankfully I had an aisle seat, unfortunately it was in front of a blulk head so my seat did not recline. It didn't really matter, I couldn't sleep anyways. So I just listen to music and read. I also bonded with the flight attendant because he saw my airplane tattoo on my wrist and I explained that I used to be a flight attendant. It was a smooth flight and landed on time in Pheonix. I was sitting in the back of the plane so I was one of the last ones off and had to rush to get to my connecting flight that had just started boarding when I walked up! So I didn't get to see much of the airport, but I did get a few good pictures from the window of the plane!

The plane ride from Pheonix to Sacramento wasn't quite as long, only about 3 hours. I had a window seat this time so I got to enjoy the view along the way! Smooth ride the whole way again! I spent the flight talking to the older lady seated next to me who was flying to Sacramento to see her new grandson be born the following day! She is orginally from here but has recently bought and is living on a farm in Texas with her husband. She said she still wasn't used to having all those animales around and is kind of scared of them. We talked for a while and she commented on my accent and the fact that I kept saying yes ma'am and no ma'am. She said people don't do that out here!

When I arrived on campus, me and a few other team leaders were ushered in a room where we recieved some paper work to sign and a welcom packet. We then took our pictures for our ID that we have to wear at all times. We took a tour of the campus and then everyone gathered in a big room with confrence style seating. All of the team leaders (26 of us) and all of the staff was there. We went around the room and introduced ourselfs, where again there was a comment made about my accent (I didn't think mine was that bad). All of the staff introduced themselfs and we got a little more info about the base and what Sacramento has to offer.

We got our room assignments and took our bags to our rooms to unpack. I have one roomate and we seem to get along very well! That is a relief!

After that, we had a dinner. It was a 3 course dinner consisting of appatizer, main course, and dessert. Each course we had to sit at a different table with different people. And at each table we had to introduce ourselves and tell something about ourselves. I feel like I have made the same speech a hundred times today!

Everyone here, including the staff, seem to be very down to earth and like minded! It was really fun to get to meet everyone and hear all the different stories of where people are from and who they are! I can't wait to see how the rest of the week goes and really settle in!

It's Time!!

Well, after months of planning, preparing, and anticipating, the time has finally come. In 12 short hours I will be on a plane bound for California!! I can't believe I will be in Sacramento this time tomorrow night. This past week has been hectic. Filled with last minute errands, getting things I had forgotten to get, goodbyes, and going away parties and dinners!

Yesterday I spent the day organizing my things and getting everything together that I planned on packing! Then my MaMa cooked me my favorite meal for dinner and we celebrated my PaPas 78th Birthday!! Then I spent the evening with two of my closest friends, which was the perfect end to my last normal night here! Oh, and a friend came over earlier in the day and helped my decorate my bag!

Today has been a day full of making sure I have everything I needed and figuring out how get everything in my bag! And there was more that isn't showed in this picture! Keep in mind I had to pack 11 months worth of clothing for all kinds of weather in that one bag! It was definitely a challenge!!

 

 

After several attempts of folding and rolling and packing and unpacking and packing again, I finally made it all fit! It does not look pretty and neat inside, but it is all in there and that's all that matters!!

I also have a backpack that I will be using as my carry on. It has all the important papers and electronics that I want to take in it. Also a couple books to keep my entertained if I can't sleep on the plane.

 



The morning will consist of getting up at 3am in order to leave the house by 4am and drive the hour and a half to Charlotte for my flight that leaves at 7:30am. I will have a five hour flight to Phoenix, change planes, then a three hour flight to Sacramento! I will arrive in Sacramento around 11:45am Pacific Time (which is 2:45pm our time). It is going to be a LONG day of travel!! Hopefully I can get some sleep on the plane!!

 

I want to say thank you to everyone that has reached out to me to offer words of encouragement, congratulations, thoughts, and prayers. It means the world to me that I have so many people around me that love and support me! I love all of you and will miss everyone very much!

One Week!!

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly things can change. How unexpected kindness from a stranger can change your entire mood. How a random Thursday can turn into one of your best nights that you will never forget. Or how a "Congratulations, You have been Accepted!" email can completely alter the direction in which you thought your life was headed.
One week from tomorrow I will be boarding a plane to the other side of the country to embark on this new chapter in my life. I am excited, anxious, optimistic, terrified, inspired, and so much more that I couldn't even begin to put into words.
This week is going to be one of the most hectic weeks of my life. I will be receiving my flight information along with my green duffle bag within the next couple days. After which, I will have to begin the packing process and go over checking lists to ensure I have everything I will need. And then figure out how in the world I am going to fit everything into one bag!  That will be a challenge! However, the most challenging thing I will have to do is all the "Goodbyes", or rather the "See you laters", because I hate goodbyes! I have a wonderful family and an amazing group of friends that I will miss more than anything! I am amazed and blessed with the amount of support and love I have surrounding me. It means the world to me! (Even the not so subtle hints of kidnapping me so I can't leave!) So, if I don't get to see or talk to you before I go, know that your support means the world to me and I thank you!!
Just a week to go and I think it's finally starting to sink in, and while the nerves are starting to creep in, I am still very excited because I know this is going to be one of the most rewarding things that I will ever get the opportunity to experience!