An Intense Intensive

January 17-27, 2010

A quick background on how the grad program works. The majority of my class work is done online. However, for twelve days of the semester, we come together with all of the other people in the program who aren’t GAs to go through an intensive. Every semester the location of the intensive is different. As this is my first one, the location was twofold: Atlanta and Chattanooga.

For the first half, we spent our time touring the greater Atlanta area visiting schools, nature centers, the Atlanta aquarium, and the Atlanta zoo getting a view of their outdoor education programs as much of our focus and discussion was focused on the No Child Left Inside topic.

It seemed every waking moment was spent with my fellow classmates as we all slept in the same house (although some chose to sleep outside), fixed meals together, crammed into two vehicles, and even climbed trees together.

The Chattanooga experience also included the nature center and schools. However, our services were required in a different way. We were asked as a class to write curriculum for helping children achieve a sense of place. This was the first step of a chain that the school administration was hoping would take place. If students were taught of the importance of taking care of what was around them, they would take that mindset home and thus begin to care about their neighborhood. By getting their parents involved. Through exploration and mapping, our team tried to get the kids to discover what is round them, make a connection with it, and then understand the importance of taking care of it.

Our project was not only to develop this in theory but also be the pilot to a group of students at a local Chattanooga school. Develop it one day, implement it the next. In my book, that is the definition of intense.

GA Introductions, Continued

January 8, 2010

With the arrival of the new semester came three new Graduate Assistants, all female. Two of the former GAs did not return this semester, so in essence we grew by one. The end of last year also brought graduation for Ann and Kelly, my roommates. The new band of GAs brought two new roommates as well. Here they are without further ado:

The first to arrive was Laura (pictured right). Laura arrived from Maryland. Like me she knew little of the world she entered. As I helped her unpack her car, I asked about a certain item as to what it was. She told me it was a humidifier. I then proceeded to welcome her to the land where we fight humidity on a daily basis. Needless to say, the humidifier made its way back to Maryland with her father. Laura continues to bring a fresh perspective and a zest for life here along with “dimples deep enough to park a car in.”

Next we have Christina (Pictured next to Laura). Christina almost magically appeared. I went to bed one night, and the next morning, she was here. Arriving by airplane from the state of Washington, she too arrived after a whirlwind hire. However, being friends with Jerrod, she was told a bit more of what to expect than Laura. Christina’s stamina always amazes me. She is constantly on the move; driven and determined who has mastered the art of making garlic bread out of hot dog buns.

To wrap up the introductions, we have Stephanie (Pictured Left). Out of the three, Stephanie has the most knowledge of Southern as she earned her undergrad from here. Stephanie also has the most unique position here. She is in charge of the Boy and Girls Club. A project I couldn’t imagine handling, Stephanie attacks the project with great determination and humility, as she finds herself in experiencing so many new situations.

Quilt This

January 2, 2010

With all of my first semester of Grad school homework turned in, the time finally opened up to work on a few projects I have been putting on the back burner. Something I have always wanted to do was make a quilt. It has been on my life list for a while (My mother can testify to my

unfinished attempts in the past) My sister made a quilt out of old jeans when I was in college. I still love that quilt. She always made it seem so easy and quick. With a few weeks at my disposal, how hard could it really be?

With my present situation being a little tight in the cash department, I had to use what I already had. I have been in Tennessee for over four months now. The time to go through my closet had arrived yet again. With several moves this past year, I have been lugging around a huge stack of my old t-shirts that I have been picking up here and there through my college years and the adventures beyond. I didn’t wear them anymore. What better way to put them to use than a T-shirt quilt.

For a project such as this, I have a hard time remembering what life was like before the Internet. If you want to know how to do anything, just look online. After hours of research, I was inspired and willing to attack this project. After a trip to the store for the backing and thread, the process began.

By the end of the project I was glad about many things. The biggest one being that my roommates were not there to witness the process. My project took over my entire living room and kitchen table with a little overflow making its way into my bedroom. Scraps were everywhere and stands of thread stuck to the carpet like a colorful web.

After three days, I had made it through countless ripping episodes, stuck myself with a pin numerous times, fought a few battles with a sewing machine, and watched every Jane Austen movie I own; my quilt was finished.

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