Today was a good day all around. It started out pretty rough because we got lost getting to our work site and were in the van for 2 hours. I think we listened to almost every song on Lindsey’s ipod but at least we can entertain ourselves. Our work today (well for 12 of us) was to paint the interior of a house fun. I really like painting, especially fun colors. One room was painted almost the exact shade of blue that I painted my room in
Thursday, June 28, 2007
06.28 New Orleans Build Day 2
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
6.27 New Orleans Day 2
Today was our first work day in
For dinner tonight, Whitney's mom and friend provided us with turkey burgers, salad, corn, baked potatoes, watermelon and ice cream. It was amazing and for my dinner crew duties of the week I was grill master tonight. Forty burgers in about 20 minutes on a hardcore kitchen grill...not bad...I had to stand on a stool to reach over the burgers...
This evening I walked with some girls to the waterfront and then over to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. It was amazing and I absolutely love this city. It really has so much culture and charm I can't really explain it. I'm just so excited that we'll be here for another few days. Our taxi driver on the way home completely made my night. We told him about what we're doing with Bike and Build and he was so excited for us. He told us in his sweet Pakistani accent to remember that his love is with us all during our journey. I love meeting people like that.
I've updated pictures so check it out. Much love.
6.26 New Orleans, LA!!!
photo: some left over mardi gras awesomeness
Yay for internet in
There were a few thunderstorms while we were in
Monday, June 25, 2007
6.25 Biloxi, MS
Today we worked with Hands On at a variety of different job sites. My group went across the street to Our Lady Fatima Church to an 'English Camp' where about 20 Spanish speaking kids were learning English. Apparently in the local school system, you cannot fail a kid who is learning English as a second language. So these kids are being passed on to the next grades with almost no language skills. I volunteered to work with the preschoolers because of my passion for early childhood education...which maybe wasn't such a great idea. It was basically like babysitting for 8 crazy four year olds with no communication skills. Granted I could speak Spanish to them, but that obviously wasn't the point of the camp. It was a long and frustrating day...just picture Matthew and I standing in the middle of a classroom singing 'Head Shoulders Knees and Toes' while kids run wildly around us paying no attention. It reminded me oh so much why I do not want to be a classroom teacher. But at the same time, there are those moments that make it all worthwhile. When Juan Carlos who has basically zero language of any kind said 'Choo choo' when he saw a train on the video after we had played choo choo train earlier that day...when the kids were so proud to show us their slightly abstract caterpillars they created...when a random game actually gets all their attentions. It makes me remember that each kid really does have a sweet inner child...it's just masked by a raging, scared, confused brat on the outside sometimes. And it is in no way their fault.
Anyway, after a long day that exhausted me as much as a 60 mile bike ride (but thankfully I got a break from the heat), a trip to Walmart was just what I needed. How is it that I can spend $100 at Walmart? But I finally got a new duffel bag so that all my stuff will fit and I re-supplied food/toiletries etc. Not that you really cared about any of that.
After a fabulous dinner provided by Hands On, we heard a presentation by one of the AmeriCorps members about Biloxi and the devastation of Katrina. I realized that I do not know as much as I should about Katrina and the effects. I was in Ecuador when it happened and I just haven't been as informed as I should...and neither has most of the country probably. Biloxi was hit terribly by the storm but people just don't hear about it because of all the talk about New Orleans. Biloxi has always been a big casino area but since the hurricane it may turn into a mini-Las Vegas because people are selling their devastated land for over-market prices offered by the casinos. It's a controversial issue. The pictures we saw were just horrifying and the thought that people are still paying mortgages for houses that do not exist anymore is just awful.
It's amazing seeing all of the volunteers in the area. Yet it brings up the old long-term vs. short-term help issue for me again. I feel bad only coming here for one day when there are people here who came right after the hurricane and have been volunteering unpaid since then. The better way for anything to be fixed is by long-term commitment and consistency (esp with kids). It's not just about rebuilding houses, but about rebuilding communities and changing policies and ways of doing things. So I feel bad stopping for one day...but I know they wouldn't be able to do anything without the support of short-term volunteers. But it still makes me question my life choices. Yes I am choosing to do AmeriCorps next year. But I will be in my comfort zone. I will be in a fun, exciting city, living in a nice apartment in a nice area and working for a good company...with no actual direct service. This is what I want to do, what I'm good at and what I feel comfortable doing. But am I really helping anyone? Making a difference? Serving others? I guess so. But can things really change without everyone getting their hands dirty?
Sorry that was a long, personal rant but just a train of thought I wanted to remember.
Off to New Orleans tomorrow and we'll be there until Monday morning. I don't know if I'll get any internet while I'm there so sit tight and call or text if you really need me :) Much love.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
6.24 Biloxi, MS
Greetings from Mississippi! We have some more exciting pictures from the state line but they are on other people's cameras. You can check out others people's blogs (see links to the right) for more entertaining stories/photos. Anyway, today we biked to Biloxi, MS. It was about 60 miles, a pretty uneventful ride. Team Tardy actually arrived fairly early and just a little proud. Although that just means that other people had some rough days with flats, etc.
So we're working with Hands On Gulf Coast and staying at their home base which is awesome. It's basically a huge room and the upper loft has tons of bunks and rooms sectioned off with sheets. There are a few AmeriCorps people working here, as with all the sites we've been in. It's been interesting talking to them and hearing their stories to find out a little bit what's in store for me next year. (I'm an AmeriCorps VISTA next year in San Francisco with Jumpstart).
For dinner tonight some of us went to this dedication ceremony in a park. The park has been redone since Katrina and is really nice and safe now. We were definitely out of place there but we helped out best we could. The meal was great...very southern with chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, and tea. Nice.
I'm psyched about this wireless internet so I updated pics etc. Check it out.
So I am really sore. I've just come to accept the fact that my quads will be sore for the next 2 months. And my butt is doing better on the seat. Well at least now the bones don't hurt so much, but now it's the chafing/sores that are a problem. Nice image, right? But no worries, our "butt butt'r" a.k.a. butt lube comes in very handy. Didn't think it existed, did you? Thank god it does.
Tomorrow I'm signed up to teach English to little kids. It could be awesome or awful; I'll let you know. :)
06.23 Build day in Mobile, AB
Today we helped out at a Habitat site in
After our affordable housing group meeting (where we give presentations to each other on the topics we’ve researched), some of us went out to dinner at the Bluegill on the water in
6.22 Mobile, AB
105 miles. That’s how far I biked today. My first century. I am EXHAUSTED. We woke up at
6.21 Milton, FL
Greetings from
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
6.20 DeFuniak Springs, FL
I am currently writing to you while 'camping' a.k.a. at a very nice RV park with a pool, showers, lake, and clubhouse. I paid $2.50 for a day of wireless internet...what is this world coming to, huh? Wireless internet at a campsite? I'm not gonna lie...I love it!
Today was a bit longer. We woke up at 5:30am and ate a fabulous breakfast of biscuits, gravy and grits from the church. One of the church members even gave us a 'breakfast theater' and performed a few songs for us. It was amazing. We headed out around 8am and had 65 miles ahead of us...our longest day yet. The rain held off thankfully...actually it's gorgeous out now. We stopped at Ponce de Leon springs (check out the pics) and arrived at the campsite around 2:30. Then we all dove into the pool like a bunch of 5 year olds and proceeded to play pool games. It was great. Now we're lounging in the club house playing games and going online. Not too shabby for camping. Gonna go upload some pics...enjoy it!
6.19 Marianna, FL
Wow, what a day. Last night we had our first ‘town meeting’ where we reflect on how things are going and make suggestions for changes, etc. We’ve decided to try to ask for more food donations from grocery stores so that we can cook ourselves healthier meals. People have been very generous in donating but mostly we get pizza, which is great but not 3 nights in a row and not when you have to cycle 60 miles the next day. So we’re gonna get on that. Our discussion went past
One of the most notable things so far has been the different smells we have passed through. When biking you are surprised how sensitive your nose is and believe me, I’ve encountered some interesting aromas. I’ve smelled garbage, manure, wet hay, roadkill, and thanfully occasionally just the outdoors. haha it’s definitely something you don’t get fully when driving and especially not flying.
Tonight we are staying in
Shout out to Connie and Charley Polizzano because they sponsored me for this day in
Sweet dreams and thanks for all the love!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Quincy, FL
6/17 Montecello, FL
So I’m not gonna lie…today was rough. At least for me. haha. We rode about 60 miles today, which is the same as the past 2 days, but today was HOT. It was upwards of 100 degrees with humidity to match. And there was no shade in sight on 90West. But our periodic rest stops definitely helped. We stopped at Suwanee River State Park and apparently Florida State Parks are the Real Florida. Other rest stops were less exciting but a nice break from the sun. The first group arrived at the high school around 1:45pm and my group arrived around 3:30pm. Cutting it a little close to the 4:00pm deadline but we did it! We’re staying at Montecello High School, “Home of the Fighting Tigers” in the old gym. No AC and sketchy showers but a place to sleep! Despite some anticipated rough times, the jokes and bonding make it all better. This town, Montecello is pronounced like ‘sello’ not ‘cello’ – and we all got a kick out of that for some reason. Shout out to all the fathers – Happy Father’s Day! Another shout out to Mark from Pizza Hut for the donated pizzas we ate for dinner; thank you so much! Although, Laura didn’t need to eat any pizza because she won a bet by eating 3 foot long subs from Subway. I believe she won 2 massages a day for a week. Rock on. Hope friends/family are doing well – keep those care packages coming! Actually we haven’t gotten any yet because we haven’t reached a mail drop yet but we have high expectations :)
Much love,
Caitlin
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Live Oaks, FL
Right now I am sitting in a beautiful, air conditioned library just 5 minutes from the church we are staying at in Live Oak, FL. We rode 54 miles today in 89 degrees. I won’t say it wasn’t difficult or that my butt wasn’t ready to fall off, but the days pass surprisingly fast. We stopped for lunch in
Our ride today was literally on all the same road, 90West. 54 miles on one road is not so fun…we had to stop many times, not only for our butts but also for some enjoyment. At one point we had an extended sing-a-long but we soon ran out of breath, haha. We really are out in the boonies here…it was excitement to see buildings. But the town we’re staying in now seems pretty hoppin. We’ll see how it goes. The library closes in 15 minutes so I’m going to try to update my pictures; check it out! Oh, is anyone reading this? Make some comments or send me some emails and update me on your lives! much love :)
Days 3 & 4
I just finished our first ride day - a 60 mile ride…the longest that I’ve ever ridden on a bicycle. It wasn’t too bad. Yes my butt killed at one point but I've learned that rest stops are key. I think everyone else downplayed their training because I got passed by just about everyone within the first 10 minutes. But Matthew, Meghan and I formed the caboose and it was fabulous. Actually I was literally the caboose because I was good for watching for cars coming from behind and Matthew was in front because he had the directions. Meghan was the ‘penultimum’ or however you say it. I burned 2600 calories which is pretty ridiculous…we’re supposed to consume upwards of 6000 calories a day – probably not going to be an issue. So today we went from
Yesterday we built with Jacksonville Habitat. We worked on a few different homes because we are such a big group, but my group worked on a roof. When we got there at 8am there was only the frame of a house and when we left at 4pm, there was a wooden roof (no shingles yet…we’re not that good). I am convinced that I will get injured only off of my bicycle because yesterday I smashed my thumb with a hammer…the same thumb that was sore from putting new tires on my bike. It feels a lot better now and didn’t impede my bike riding at all, obviously. But so it goes. Anyway, we worked with Paul, who volunteered with Habitat for 12 years and then has been working full time for them for the past 4. He’s put his sweat and tears into all 160 houses that the Jacksonville Habitat has built…pretty awesome.
Off to snack and chat until dinner...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Shakedown Ride
So here's a photo of me and Alf at the Atlantic Ocean...I swear the bike didn't fall right after this photo was taken...This was on our 'shakedown' ride, our 12 mile practice ride. It was beautiful out, thankfully, because it's thunderstorming now. Check out a few more pics with the link to the right.
Remember how I got a flat tire spontaneously yesterday? Well today I found out that I had a hole in my tire as well (not just the tube)...so I had to buy new tires and install them which was a second work-out and I can barely feel my thumbs right now as I'm typing.
We're off now to showers and then a pool party/bbq at the Testa's house :) Tomorrow we build!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Arrived in Jacksonville!
So I am officially safe and sound in Jacksonville, FL! I arrived around noon today (been up since 4:30am...but I better get used to that) and since then it's been a crazy string of airport van rides, meeting people, putting my bike back together, icebreakers, pizza, bike safety, and Bike & Build policies. Some highlights from the day:
*My bike spontaneously got a flat tire while it was sitting alone by itself in a corner....so I got my first flat tire changing lesson.
*I got my first war wound...from the staples on my bike box.
*When we got picked up from the airport, a can of paint spilled out of our trailer and so needless to say we've left our mark on Jacksonville...
It's the imperfections that makes this so much fun :)
Love you all...pray for my butt...
Monday, June 4, 2007
Mail Drops
Note: Make sure "Please hold for pick up on {DATE}" is marked on the package
Jun 21st
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
Jul 12th
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
Jul 19th
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
Jul 26th Ship
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
91 Highway 491 S
Aug 2nd Orderville UT
Attn: Caitlin Graboski
General Delivery
Orderville, UT 84758
Aug 9th
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski
Aug 16th
General Delivery
C/O Bike and Build- Caitlin Graboski