Snow!

I woke up to a few inches of snow this morning!  It is currently 4 pm and it is still snowing.

I was originally scheduled to be out in Denver at a school doing an outdoor service project.  Mother Nature cancelled for me.  

I've heard rumors we could get up to 2 feet.  Pretty crazy.  Today at our unit meeting our fearless leader, Vaughn, asked if anyone had ever not been in snow and a few people raised their hands.  I've also seen a number of people bundled up pretty well today even though the temperature isn't very low.  I guess my Minnesota blood is keeping me warm.  

My digs

This is where I live.  Back in the dorms.

Mail Call

Hey Mom.  Thanks for the package.  The Kit Kat bag is emptying faster than it should.  

If anyone else is interested in sending me some love, use this address:

Nathalie Besse

AmeriCorps NCCC

3001 S. Federal Blvd.

Walsh Hall, Room 136

Class 18, Sun Unit

Denver, CO 80236

Long enough address, huh?!?  Also, if you send something my way let me know.  Monday through Friday we can get mail at 7 pm.  We only know if we have mail if we stand in line and check so it's nice to know when I should go check.  Otherwise I usually skip checking.

Sunday Funday

So far Paul and I have used Sunday's as our escape from campus days.  We head downtown and relax, pick up things we need, and get some good coffee.  This past sunday we checked out the flag ship REI store.  I loved it!  If I had a million dollars I would definitely frequent here.

It was insane the amount of people who bike there to shop.  The were almost as many bikes as cars!  Pretty cool.

Campus View

There is a nice hill behind campus overlooking the mountains.  It's my favorite spot on campus.  Lots of reading takes place here.  It's also the view from the cafeteria.  I'm definitely spoiled with the view here.

Boulder, CO

Boulder is pretty great.  We hiked the flatirons and then checked out the town.  Had lunch at Illegal Pete's.  Pretty tasty Burrito.  Katelyn and I paired up to hike again.  Hiking may be my new favorite hobby.

Boulder is a pretty crazy place.  This shop had all sorts of hippie gear.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely amazing.  I took my turn driving the van the 2.5 hours from our dorm there and the drive was well worth it.  We laid on the rocks around Bear Lake and ate our PB and J sandwiches before we got serious about hiking.

It was nice and warm around Bear Lake, but once we started hiking up the elevation definitely cooled the temp down.  In the below photos you can see icicles under the tree and a snowy patch in the other photo.

 I've met some really great girls.  On the left is Katelyn from Michigan and center is Jenny from Wisconsin.

Dream lake.  We finally make it.  The steep hike was definitely worth this view.  Once we make it up we realized we were cutting it close to get back to the vans in time so we booked it.  Glad we were going down then, not up.

Van Driving

Today I passed the road portion of van driver training.  I now need to drive twice with a team leader, and then I will be a certified driver and can take the 15 passenger government van out on the town.  There are, of course, all sorts of restrictions but I will be able to drive that baby.

We loaded up the van and took turns driving around Denver and the surrounding areas.  We checked out the Columbine school shooting memorial, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and a lookout point in Golden, CO.

I ran down to the bottom of the amphitheater to take a photo looking back up.  I got down there took two photos and ran back up.  That's quite the hike at that elevation.  I then got back in the van and went to look at my photos only to realize my SD card was full and I had no pictures from the bottom.  Fail.  At least I got a little bit of a workout in.

Also, please check out your first view of my sweet uniform!

Downtown Denver

I am becoming a downtown Denver regular.  For $2.25 I hop on the bus right by campus, take that to the light rail station, hop on the light rail and ride it down to the 16th Street Mall stop.  All in all about a 30 minute journey.

I'd never used public transportation in Winona, and Caledonia obviously doesn't have any public transportation so i've gotten a fast introduction and a full dose of it already.  The only trick is being sure to have the $2.25 exactly, busses do not make change.

Last night a few friends and I headed to into the city to check out the night life and grab a couple drinks. We stopped by a couple of fun bars and ended the night getting some food from a street vendor before taking a  cab back to campus.

Today Paul (my friend from school who is also doing NCCC) and I are back to lower downtown (lodo).  I needed to pick up a couple things and we were both craving some good coffee.  We both worked at Mugby Junction in Winona, so we have definitely been spoiled with good coffee over the last few years.

We're currently enjoying our stay at ink! coffee.  A funky little shop.  We had a mission to book our flights home for winter break, and we have succeeded.  I'll be home Dec. 17 to Jan. 1.

I start van driver training tomorrow, wish me luck.  I'm not sure how well the 15 passenger government vans and I are going to get along.

Starbucks Sign

Cute Starbucks sign from Friday's Mall trip.

First Volunteer Project

Today was our first service project as AmeriCorps NCCC, Class 18.  We were at Washington Park in Denver, Colorado working with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado to restore a running trail.

My team's assignment was to spread crusher fines into the path and pack it down.  Three cheers for manual labor.  It was a nice change from sitting in training all day.

Today was also Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado's last project of the year so we were able to enjoy their end of the year celebration after our hard work.  A free taco bar and a local bluegrass band were the highlights of the celebration.

16th Street Mall

After Friday's training my temporary team leader drove my temporary team to the 16th Street Mall.  Below is a description of the Mall from Denver.org.

Built in 1982, the Mall is a tree-lined, pedestrian promenade of red-and-gray granite that runs through the center of Downtown and is lined with outdoor cafes, renovated historic office buildings, sparkling glass-walled skyscrapers, shops, restaurants and retail stores. Numerous fountains and plazas offer a variety of daily special events and entertainers. Free shuttle buses cruise the mile-long Mall seven days a week.

Denver

The view from the cafeteria.  Denver sunset.

Meetings

Just finished day 2 of Corps Training Institute (CTI).  Today I sat in meetings and waited in line for 9 hours.  All necessary information, yet not very interesting information.

The big highlight of the day was uniform issue.  I am now in possession of a mostly gray and khaki AmeriCorps NCCC uniform.  You will see my new possessions strewn about my dorm room bed in the photo below.  Pictures of me in my snazzy new uniform will come soon.  The men's pants are actually pretty comfortable.

Yes, I am now in charge of that beautiful hard hat you see.  Be jealous.

Ok, GO!

I made it.  I am in Denver, Colorado starting my AmeriCorps NCCC experience.  So far I have moved into my dorm room for the next ten months and met my temporary team.  The schedule for the next ten months is booked pretty solid.  I'll do my best to write again soon!

Getting Closer

My suitcase is at full capacity. Bedding, towels, winter gear and four pairs of shoes for the next ten months are all crammed in.

My backpacking bag, which will transport my clothing is another story.  It lies deflated on my bed waiting to be filled.  Deciding on clothing, I fear, is going to be the biggest obstacle.  In one months time I may be in south Texas, or I may be staying in Denver for the project round.  I need to prepare for either, yet not  overpack.  I suppose I better get back to packing.

Packing

I'm getting there.

AmeriCorps NCCC

Wednesday, October 12th at 10:10 am I depart the La Crosse Municipal Airport for a 10 month position with AmeriCorps NCCC. 

Here is a basic overview from my welcome packet:

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a residential national service program for men and women between the ages of 19 and 24.  Approximately 1,200 members serve nationwide annually.

For 10 months, members seve on teams to meet urgent community needs through projects that support the environment, infrustructure improvement, energy conservation, urban and rural development, and immediate and continuing disaster response, which is our priority project area.  AmeriCorps has responded to every national disaster since the program bagan in 1994.  Projects operate through partnerships with non-profit organizations, state and local agencies, and other community and faith-based groups.

I will be stationed at the Southwest Region Campus in Denver, Colorado.  During the first month and through transition weeks between projects I will be staying at Colorado Heights University. 

When I am out on projects, mail will be forwarded.  If you feel like sending me some love, here is my new address:

Nathalie Besse - Class 18
AmeriCorps NCCC
3001 S. Federal Blvd.
Walsh Hall, Room 136
Denver, CO 80236

Winona Loves

I am all moved back into my parent's house before the big move to Denver.  Of course I needed to get another visit to Winona before I left the state, so yesterday I headed back.

One of my favorite places in Winona is down by the levee.  I had some time to kill before my evening plans so I headed to the river.  It was beautiful out, so I pulled my knitting out of my bag and got to work. 

Now, it doesn't look like I've made that much progress on my scarf, but don't be fooled.  I was about this far and then got discouraged by all of the mistakes and took it apart and started again.  So really, I've been doing a lot more work than it looks like.