Happy Thanksgiving!!! Sorry I missed everyone this holiday but I think I got to talk to most of you.  My team and I had 4 and 1/2 days off for Thanksgiving, a much needed break from FEMA.  We had our team dinner on Wednesday night because some of my teammates weren't going to be around on Thursday.  It was a delicious meal but didn't come close to a home made meal.  On Thanksgiving Day I ran a 5 mile Turkey Trot.  I ran through downtown Austin with 12,000 other runners.  I had such a good time.  My time was 43.44, not bad considering I haven't run/trained much since I've been in Austin (It's hard to go for a run when working 10 hr days).  It was a little unusual not being home for Thanksgiving but talking to everyone made me feel less home sick.  I spent the rest of the weekend exploring Austin.  Yesterday I went to the Austin History Museum.  Let me tell you...Texans are passionate about their self identify as the Lone Star State.  Today I get to watch the Patriots game, and I am excited because I missed last weeks game.  I have been able to watch the BC games and they have been exciting.  I'm hoping for an ACC championship next week.  I will be going to Galveston this Friday for a day trip.  It will be interesting to see all the devastation.  I'll check in soon.  

Austin Update

Hello All!
Sorry it has been so long since I have updated my blog, I have been having issues with my internet at the hotel. Things are going well here in Austin, Tx. I spent the last three weeks working in the PPI department. I was calling applicants in the disaster area and inquiring about their housing situations. I have to say that the majority of the people I talked to were in good spirits and were very grateful for all the help FEMA has provided. There were a few people that disliked FEMA and felt obligated to share there feelings with me. I had the privilege of talking to one woman who strongly disliked Americorps (I enjoyed hanging up on her). I have met a lot of amazing people that work here. Most the people that I work with aren’t from Austin. They are deployed to the JFO for the disaster and remain there for months at a time. Most people here are extremely grateful for Americorps help. They all chip in weekly to provide snacks for us and occasionally cooked hot lunches for us. I sat next to a man named Jim and he is from North Carolina. He was a great help when I was trying to get accustomed to work. He had a lot of great advice about the area and he is writing up some BBQ tips for me.
Last week I was moved from the PPI department to the IA department. I am now working in the RRPP program (Rental repair Pilot Program). It is an experimental program that FEMA is experimenting with. I like it a lot better than PPI because I get to use more creativity because it is a new program. My supervisor is a young guy who got his masters from BU. Together we have come up with a lot of great ideas to make the program better. He has also given me a lot of great information about future FEMA employment. (I might apply for a FEMA job after Americorps).
There isn’t much life outside of work. My days off are spent recuperating from a long work week. I have gone out downtown a few times. Austin has so much live music I like it a lot. Saturday night I went to a Country Bar. In the middle of the bar was a huge dance floor and a lot of people were out dancing. I danced a few times but its a little harder dancing to country music. There are a lot of steps and spinning involved. I had a fun time and I hope to go back. I hope to see more of the city this week. I have a ½ day Wednesday and I am off until Monday the next week. I am running a Turkey Trot downtown on Thanksgiving; it should be interesting seeing that I haven’t been running.
I hope everyone is doing well, and I will be home in les than a month!

AUSTIN!!!!

Greetings from Austin!!!  My team and I arrived safely on Tuesday night.  We left Denver Monday morning and stayed the night in Amerillo, Tx.  All together the trip was 17 hours.  I enjoyed looking at new landscape, the flat plains and farmland is very different from the New England hills and pine trees.  

I am working with FEMA in the JFO (Joint Field Office).  Basically when a state declares a state of emergency FEMA creates a headquarters in the capital of that state.  After hurricane Ike Texas declared a state of emergency and FEMA set up shop in a vacant JCPenny building.  I will be working in the JFO for the next 6 weeks in the PPI (pre placement interview) department.  My job is to contact people in the disaster area and ask them about there housing situation and offer them FEMA aid.  It isn't the job I would of picked for myself but I do like knowing I am helping someone get a roof over their head.  Because Texas is still in a "disaster' state I will be working 60hr weeks.  (I work with people that work 7-7 7 days a week, they get a day off every two weeks)  I am hoping that the majority of my calls are to people that have already received some aid (the storm happened two months ago) and may or may not need more assistance.  

My team is staying in an extended stay hotel.  Bill is my roomie and we share a room with a king size bed, a pull out couch, 2 tv's and a mini kitchen.  I got the bed because I am older than Bill...gotta love seniority.  The team is optimistic about the work and we are all very excited to be in Austin.  Last night I had the chance to explore 6th street and see a couple live bands.  

I will try to keep you all updated what's going on even if it isn't exciting.  I hope all is well and I will check in soon!!!

Hey!

Today I officially became a member of Americorps NCCC class XV.  We had an induction ceremony and I was given a certificate.  I am getting a little more excited about Austin because it is a fun and young city.  I'll put up with the office work and hopefully join a Habitat build on weekends.  I am also going to try to volunteer on an ambulance corps once or twice a week (I had to get permission from the Unit Leader, and he was very supportive of my goals)  I just got back from downtown Denver, I went in to watch the BC game but didn't have much luck finding it.  Tomorrow I will finish packing and then we leave Monday morning.  Take care and GO PATS!!!!