In no particular order...

Hopefully soon I will be able to write more cohesive, less scattered update, but I am caffeinated and about to leave for Chicago, so here are some random facts from my first week with TFA :)

1) I left my phone in the Chicago airport and didn't realize it until we were landing in NC. Oops! So, I started the week feeling pretty scattered, but my dad came to rescue, and I have another one now. Hooray!

2) People aren't kidding when they talk about southern hospitality. The guy at the info desk at the airport gave me a calling card so I could use the desk's 'local calls only' phone when I didn't have my cell. When you ask a cop for directions, he will actually lead you there in his car. I've also learned that I like sweet tea as long as it isn't TOO sweet, which is good because it is everywhere down there.

3) Eastern NC is beautiful. Even in a week of rain, it is gorgeous, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to love living there.

4) We (about 80 other TFA '09 Corps members) spent the week learning more about the area and the job we are setting out to do, and getting to know each other. The people are wonderful, the area is beautiful, and the job is going to be really hard. One of the speakers at our welcome dinner Monday night said something like "If you aren't excited about what you're going to do, you should leave now. If you aren't nervous, you've misunderstood what you've gotten yourself into." Many of our students will be way behind their grade level, and, in many cases, we will be fighting prevailing apathy or the belief that these students can't and won't learn. But they absolutely can, and its our job to show them that.

5) My direct flight home yesterday was canceled, and they called me at 6am to tell me. And after two hours on hold with United, I finally got another flight routed through DC. Flying in, I could see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, etc on the left, and the Pentagon on the right, and can now say I've been to DC :) I was on standby for my flight out of there, but had a boarding pass within 15 minutes of arriving at the airport for which I was extremely thankful. In fact, I think I said something like "Oh my gosh, you are wonderful!!" when the girl working the counter handed me the pass.

6) I made some awesome airport friends yesterday too. When Chicago starts canceling flights, everyone is suddenly on the same long-layover, standby-hopeful, ticket-counter-waiting team. Two highlights: I met a sweet (and hilarious) old couple on their way to an Alaskan cruise. She told me we should just be thankful it was canceled because maybe there was something wrong with the plane. He told me, and I quote "This is all a bunch of horse!!" There was a little girl on the flight to DC who kept shouting joyfully, "We're going down!!!" as we landed, and when we pulled into the terminal, kept asking "Can we go again?!" Flying was her new favorite thing. Who needs amusement parks when you have planes?!

Ok, hope you feel updated on the crazy that life has turned right now. :) I'm off to start my five week training that is lovingly referred to as teacher boot camp (replace the camou with business professional and you're probably there.) I'm sure I'll have more stories soon!!