The weekend I got chocolate wasted...

This weekend was full. FULL OF FUN. 

I finally went out with people on my City Year team! We went to get sushi, and also checked out the nightlife! Don't worry I was still home by 12:30. Remember my new sleeping schedule. It was really fun and we celebrated my friend Jade's birthday. 

Saturday we went to a really cool Irish style pub restaurant. They had really great biscuits and gravy, which I had really been craving. Later we went to our team bbq, where I was only there for about an hour, because next thing I knew I was on my way to San Jose!

My friend Stephani Joseph moved to San Jose (which is only about 2 hours from Sac) in December to pursue her Masters in nutrition/dietetics. She's awesome! We met fall of my freshman year when we both attended Longhorn Awakening 49 ( a retreat put on by the Catholic Center at UT). Anyways, now that we both live in Cali, it was time to meet up. And almost equally importantly it was time for the San Francisco Girardelli Chocolate Festival.  

We had so much fun and it was great to get together with an old friend! Saturday night I even got to meet some of her friends as we explored nightlife in San Jose! By the end of the day on Sunday we were so filled up on chocolate...and wine that we had to get some "real" food...

Phenomenal Teachers

Skip video to 0.31.

I felt for a moment like I was sitting in the classroom with Hilary Swank. We got our teacher placements this week. (which teachers we'll be with for the year), and I must say I got the cream of the crop! For first- third period I'm in an English class with the best teacher ever. And for fourth period I head to the STARS class. STARS is similar to AVID. It's like a high school readiness class, where the teacher I'm with is helping them stay afloat in all their classes, while throwing in other activities. Today in the STARS class this truly STAR teacher did an activity similar to the one above, only it was with seventh graders. She started by asking simple questions like "Step to the line if you like pizza....if you have any pets...if you have siblings." and moved on to deeper questions " if you know anyone who is in jail....if you've ever tried drugs...drank...seen a gun...know anyone in a gang, been asked to join a gang." Granted it wasn't near as intense as the scene above, but it was powerful. And it was surprising how honest the kids were being. We don't deal with racism as huge as it is in Freedom Writers, but it was neat for them to see how much in common they all had. It also let me know how important it is that we are here supporting these kids, and doing everything we know how to keep them in school and on the road to success. Thanks to phenomenal teachers like the two I'll be working with these are not lofty goals!

One Saturday Morning...

I started my Saturday morning with some garage-saleing to find stuff for my new casa. Then I found myself at this really awesome farmer's marker right now the street from where I live. It was so cool! They have everything from fresh produce, to flowers, to a live band. The best part is this happens every Saturday morning. 

Later, I went in search for Mexican food and a strawberry margarita comparable to my favorite Austin eateries like Chuy's and Trudy's. Some of my City Year friends joined me, and we ended up at Tres Hermanas. I had a really good crab enchilada, but my margarita was less than impressive. And it was super expensive. It was nice to have Mexican food, but it made me miss good 'ole Tex Mex. 

Texas Forever

Physical Training...yep, I said it

Today all of City Year Sacramento got together to practice Physical Training for our big opening day on Sept. 25th at the capitol steps, where we will recite our pledge, hear from speakers, and officially kick-off our service year in the community! 

City Year, why do we do PT?: "To practice service, discipline, purpose, and pride!"

Never thought I would be doing something that involved doing synchronized jumping jacks. hahaha But I am, and while PT is not my favorite thing, I think I sort of like it! :)  

I'll share with you our City Year pledge: 

I pledge to serve as a City Year corps member to the very best of my ability,

to honor the rules and expectations of City Year,

to respect my colleagues and the people and communities we serve,

to provide excellent service,

to lead by example and be a role model to children,

to celebrate the diversity of people, ideas, and cultures around me,

to serve with an open heart and an open mind,

to be quick to help and slow to judge,

to do my best to make a difference in the lives of others, and

to build a stronger community, nation, and world for all of us.

Peace.

Ice cream, soda, cherry on top, who's your boyfriend?  I forgot! Is it A..B..C..D...E...F..G

So and So's having a baby, her boyfriend's driving her crazy, will it be a girl, boy, twins, or alien, girl, boy, twins or alien? 

Back in my day we just stuck to the good old 

"Cinderella dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss her fella, made a mistake, kissed a snake, how many doctors will it take...1..2...3...4...ect"

Today I had a blast monitoring recess. I felt like a little kid again! I even got to jump rope, by the way I'm marring someone who's name starts with an E, I'll go on to have an alien baby, and it took 4 doctors to fix me after I mistook a snake for my fella. :) 

My days are crazy long, but they have been full! Full of laughter, full of running around, and full of Rosa Parks students. Even in three days, I already feel like I've gotten to know so many kids! It's awesome! The day doesn't really get hard until three. By the time the after school program rolls around, we are already so tired and so are the kids. But I think once we really get rolling with everything it'll all be good. 

Also today I had coffee with the Capernaum director for Sacramento! Which was 100% awesome! We were able to swamp stories and talk about how much we love people with special needs! You know how when you're telling someone new about your story and what you're doing it often re-energizes you and gets you even more excited about life? Well, that's what Colleen did for me today! 

Cheers to God, who keeps impressing me with how much good He is throwing in my life, even though I deserve none of it. 

Hi, My name is Sammie, and you know what I got? 

I got a school that's Hotter than Hot!

Batman and Superman, ugh huh ugh huh

Can't do it like Rosa Parks k-8 Can! 

Rosa Parks Pride, readyto #MakeBetterHappen

I love the first day of school. I always have and today and yesterday have been no exception. We've been floating around all over the school wherever we're needed, which has been everywhere lol. One of my favorite things I've gotten to do is monitor breakfast and lunch, it's the best way to start conversations with kids, even if I'm driving them crazy with my twenty question interview while they're trying to stuff down their french toast. I love it. I love it when I ask them questions and they don't respond. I love it when cute second graders need help finding their classrooms. I love when they remember my name. I really love it when I remember theirs. I love when they high five me, hug me, and chat with me! I love it all! These kids are great and it's been awesome getting to know them! It's also so hard learning all the names. I have a new found respect for teachers and people working in big schools, you cannot remember it all, but they all expect you to! Also at lunch  I was able to talk and interact with the special needs class, which made me soooooo happy! I can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings! 

love to all. 

Labor Day weekend

Hello friends!

The whirlwind continues...

So Friday I got settled in and was finally able to unpack my car! Saturday I woke up early to hit up garage sales, which ultimately failed because my GPS kept messing up, and I cannot navigate without it. lol But I seriously cannot at all I didn't let this keep me from being productive though. I was able to get my oil changed and make stops at goodwill and Ikea! Later I met up with friends to explore oldtown Sac and watch a jazz band play at a restaurant on a hotel boat! Pretty cool! It was neat being in old town too, because for labor day weekend during the day it's all decked out in oldies, and gold rush scenes are recreated!

Oldtown Sac

Sunday was crazy busy, despite staying up late the night before, I knew I had to hit the garage sales early if I was going to get anything good. I came away with a desk, night stand, chair, and a couple of cool and completely unnecessary nick knaks. Then I went to Home Depot to get some paint, and set off the paint all of my new stuff! This was great but I learned that painting with a roller or brush is a lot more work than painting with spray paint. I also forgot to eat lunch until about three which was a major mistake. Sunday was great though, I got a lot accomplished! Even more importantly I think I found my new church! City Year is the first time I'm on a team that doesn't stem from Christianity, so not having that faith component would make this year hard. I knew I needed to find a church home and I new I had found it the moment I walked into the Sac State Newman center. I was immediately greeted at the door and was asked if I could EM ( assist with distributing communion) I hadn't EMed in so long and was happy to be able to do it again! And even though it's a really small group, you'd never guess it by their choir! They were amazing! I wanted to cry I was so happy. The priest was wonderful! All the music was perfect and the people reminded me a lot of my UCC friends! I even hung around afterwards for an ice cream social! Wonderful! Trust in Christ and he will not lead you astray. 

the desk I painted and some cool bookends 

Today was nice. After such a crazy week, I spent time relaxing, grocery shopping, getting prepared for tomorrow, our first day of school. Today was also national free day of yoga day. So, I made sure to hit that up! While I was there, I met some girls that were talking in ASL, and it was really cool to be able to communicate! And as I was leaving the studio after a day of rain, the water had cleared up and a beautiful rainbow guided me to by car! Can't wait to start getting to know kids tomorrow!