The End of the Beginning

My first week of training is over - woo. (;-P) It's been an incredibly exhausting week, but I'm actually pretty grateful for how intense it's been. For one thing, it's really created an environment in which we could all sort of bond together in a short period of time. And it's also given us some sort of idea just how intense things can (and probably will) get this year.

We've spent a fair amount of time in the last few days doing various kinds of self -assessment, including the meyers-briggs (E/INFP), a leadership style catalog, and a conflict approach survey - and what's amazing to me (if not entirely surprising) how much we all have in common. Of course we all have our differences - I was the only person who tested as a "bargainer" in terms of conflict approach, but a huge number of us tested really high for collaboration skills. And in leadership styles, the vast majority of us scored really high as relators (people who feel a need to establish connections with others) and stimulators (people who get others motivated). It's funny to me when the staff are surprised by the similarities though - particularly in how action oriented we all are. I mean we are all here aren't we? Coach Potatoes don't really *do* AmeriCorps.

Joe did a presentation yesterday on CF's plan for expansion, and apparently they're intending to open up in another Texas city next year. The good news for me is that that means new jobs both in Austin and elsewhere within CF. It was really cool to hear about, and afterwards I had the chance to talk to Emily (Associate Director/VIP) and told her that I was very interested in learning about all the other aspects of CF and that I was potentially interested in staying on (just expressing vague interest, so don't anyone freak out) and she asked if I'd move to San Antonio. Haha, I told her I'd think about it - but I'm not sure. Austin really feels like my place. Who knows. Yet another thing it is WAY too early to be worried about.

ANYWAYS - THE IMPORTANT STUFF! Today was the day we were all officially given our school assignments for the year! I will be coaching a Junior class and I get my own class! I was a little worried about the dynamics I'd have with the other coaches at my school at first - but I quickly realized that everything will work out and now I'm super excited. I think we'll have a great team. John and Jessica are both Junior coaches too, but at different schools. This is great cause we can help each other out, but not be together every second of every day. And I liked both of my possible supervisors so it was a win-win, but I find it really easy to respect and communicate with my supervisor, Renato, and we already have a nice rapport going, so I'm excited about that.

This afternoon we all got to leave early to work with our school teams to do a scavenger hunt. Again the dork in me is loving it! Haha, it's really great to have some time with just my fellow school coaches.

Anyways, that's about it for now, but I'll write more soon!

*paz*