Alternative Spring Break 2010

Today's the day before the big ASB presentation to the FSC community. Many of the students are running around preparing for it by distributing table fliers, making programs, composing videos, etc.

Looking back on the trip, I realize how much of an successful and impactful trip it was. Although it's been almost a month since we were in Washington D.C., the excitement and the enthusiasm about the trip is still there in all 18 students that went on the trip.



While working with Habitat, I learned so many new things I never knew before. I learned how to use power tools, how to hang dry wall, how to build a foundation of a house, and how to properly paint a room and ceiling. It was definitely an experience to remember.

I think one thing that can't be said enough is how amazing the students were during the entire trip. I think it's great how we had such a diverse group who easily bonded with one another. They were the reason the trip was so successful. I am so proud of each and every one of them for putting their all into the volunteer work - it was tough work! All 18 of them are so inspiring and I hope they all go on the trip next year. I want to personally thank Rachel and Steve for being my pillars during the trip. I would not have been able to keep it together without your help and guidance; you guys are amazing friends.

Angel Seto
Club Coordinator
Student Involvement and Leadership Development

wash out this tired notion that the best is yet to come

Finally, the weather we were enjoying almost 3 weeks ago during spring has reached us here in Framingham! It's hard to believe that 17 FSC college students and myself were working for Habitat for Humanity that long ago. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were all waking up at 6 am for our 8:15am start at the Habitat for Humanity site. As each day makes us all a little bit farther from our experience in D.C. it makes us that much fonder of all our experiences that I know we all cherished so much. Whether it was the site-seeing, our hard work on the Habitat homes, or complaining of foot and back aches on our final days- I have faith that each and every one of us will never forget what an absolutely amazing experience FSC's Alternative Spring Break '10 was. What a feeling of accomplishment we all felt throughout the week! Some of my favorite parts of the trip were definitely the work we did (siding, drywall, painting), meeting some new roommates of mine and Angel's back at the hostel, the Smithsonian/seeing myself as a neanderthal, motivational mailboxes, and definitely all the laughs we shared with one another (it was most certainly a week full of laughs for sure).

Looking back on my time down in Washington D.C, I really can't help but smile. Upon my arrival back to Massachusetts, I was immediately asked by family and friends how the trip was. Like Kendra, I could never quite put my experience into words- I just felt that whatever I was going to say just wouldn't put the trip to justice. I remember specifically talking to my mother a few hours after my return and as she asked how everything was, I had come to the realization I really didn't have many words. But I did tell her something like this: My trip was completely unforgettable, it wasn't just the fact that I had made new friends and did great work and saw Washington D.C., it was the feelings I had. It was an amazing feeling that after long hard days, we all still had the motivation to make the best of our experience with one another and see the city. We were tired, stressed, and at points definitely had enough of each other but it most definitely clicked in each and everyone of our heads that we would never be able to experience this same opportunity again; at the same capacity, with the same people, these moments..ever again. And that's something I will NEVER forget.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, Angel- for encouraging me to go as a late addition, and most importantly the ASBers themselves! I wouldn't change you all for anything- thanks for such a great week.

Love you,

Rachel Keir
Class of 2011

You would think that after three weeks being back in a routine, the desire to be hammering, sawing, and painting would have faded a little. However, the further away from trip the time goes, the more I want to be right back in D.C. continuously working on those homes. The alternative spring break was one of the most amazing experience I have ever had. I would do anything if I could go on a much longer trip doing the same thing. The group of kids that came on the trip were also great! I am thrilled to have made friendships with people who I would never had the opportunity to have, had I not gone on this trip. Everyone got along so well, and had so much to offer to making the trip GREAT!!
Aside from a little dehydration mishap, the trip was the some of the best six days I can remember.
The Americore workers who were on the site were awesome! they are doing something great out there, and I hope to one day follow in their foot steps.

I hope to do this trip again next year!

yours truly
Carolyn Damphousse

I could never replace you, I could never forget what it's like

Welcome back into the hectic swing of things. I am left daydreaming that the books in my hand were replaced with a paint brush or tape measure, and the pen in my hand was one of those Home Depot pencils that always were so hard to sharpen. Every time some asks me how the trip I was find myself fumbling around for the right words to describe the experience. Being able to put into words the feeling I had walking on the Habitat Site that soon began to feel like a second home, is so complex. I feel happy and sad, and proud at what we had accomplished yet left with a thirst for so much more. Getting ready to leave for the trip I remember wondering how I would feel upon returning. I was not prepared for this. I left D.C. with 19 close friends, a lifetime of memories, and my heart feels light and full at the same time. I fell so in love with the new experience, and care so deeply about all the people that went.

Being a part of building a house is something that is so indescribable. It makes you appreciate the small details that go into the job. It made me think of lucky I was to have a roof over my head, to have a family that could support me. It broke my heart that not everyone had the same thing. For the first two days, I did some painting outside. I was in my element with the sun shining down and a paint brush in my hand. The third day I took on the job of dry walling. I had a headache within moments from all the measurements and angles. I stared at Lauren baffled, and we began to laugh. By the end of the day we were close to experts! We had both entered something so far out of a comfort level and been able to accomplish and conquer the task at hand. I feel like that was the most important part of the trip was being able to roll with the punches. Entering into a realm of something unfamiliar became the norm for the trip: attempting to be a tourist in a place I knew next to nothing about, traveling on the Metro, living in a room full of boys that kept me up all hours of the night with sleep talking of world peace and snoring like a donkey, and being constantly surrounded with 19 other people.

Thinking back on the trip I can't help but focus on the small things. The smile on everyone’s faces once we reached the work site, the uncontrollable laughs from exhaustion, a comforting hug or massage from a friend, and the desire I think we all have to do it all over again. In the face of it all not one of us said stop. There was an overall strength and craving of all involved to keep going, to work a little harder for a little bit longer. I loved how well everyone got along and how we all came to rely on each other for support weather it was a shoulder to nap on, or someone to listen to the aggravation of the day. We went from being awkward acquaintances to having honest and heartfelt friendships within the matter of days. One night on the way to the grocery store Steve, someone that without this trip I would have never had the pleasure of calling a friend, had said to me, "I feel like such a grown up. Leaving work and going to buy dinner for everyone." I smiled as I thought of how right he was. We had become a family caring for one another in every way possible.

This trip has had an intense impact on me, and changed me for the better. Despite the simple frustrations, the lack of sleep, the showers that were so cold it was close to painful, and the fact I was almost crushed by the doors on the Metro I would never change a thing. It all happened to help us learn and grow and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it. Thanks to all of our sponsors, your donations made it all possible. Thanks to Adam and Angel for taking care of us all and ensuring everything went according to plan (for the most part haha). Julie Giebler, thanks for being my left arm! Thank you so much to all my new friends! It wouldn’t have been the same without you!!!! You have all taught me so much, and I could never thank you enough!

<3 always Kendra

These are the things that matter now, so sing along.

This past week has definitely made it onto my list of amazing life experiences.

I could not be happier with the result of this year’s Alternative Spring Break. As one of the trip leaders it became a bit stressful prior to the trip, finishing up last minute details. However, my time spent in DC, within close quarters to 19 of the most unique and crazy individuals, seemed to end faster than I had expected. I suppose that’s how good thing’s in life go, they fly by.

Two trains to the site was all it took for us to start up the work day. Breaking into different groups (priming, painting, dry walling, and so on) didn't take too long due to the groups' eagerness to work. My first work day was with an absolutely fantastic AmeriCorps/Habitat worker named Dana, who showed us the ropes to patching, caulking and priming the outside of the house. Kendra, Sam, Kalina and myself were pros by the end of the first day--completing an entire side of the house!

The following day, after a night of fun out with the group, our priming group was back to work on the other sides of the house. For some reason, I found work more enjoyable when up high in the air. Whenever I had the chance I was either up on a ladder, high on the scaffolding, or making my way up on the roof! (All of which made people nervous due to my spastic tendencies.) Lunch time came around and we all sat around a picnic table, cute right? It was a great opportunity to rave about all of our hard work done on our projects. No matter how tired we all were by lunch time, we all couldn't wait to get back to work!

After two days of priming, I had to give up my dreams of a professional caulker for the life of drywalling. Six of us were in a group with one of the Habitat workers named Bart. Kendra, Lauren, Rachel, Emily, Beth and I spend many hours laboring on the top floor of one of the houses. Bart told us that the average for new volunteers was around 5-6 pieces of drywall, and we were able to finish 19 - in one day! (He also told me that I have experience dry-waller techniques.) The following day we were a group of 4 dry-wallers and we finished 22 pieces, leaving only a small bit of the floor left to be finished!

I could go a lot more into detail about our work days and sightseeing, but I doubt I'd be able to explain all of the them in words. Even a picture would have difficulty describing the funny, outrageous and memorable moments of the trip. Thanks to much of the group for their light-heartedness and ability to make anyone and everyone laugh, at even the most exhausting of times. A few certain people were able to turn the trip into a musical number at any given moment. (I can recall a few songs from Rent and Wicked, and even Aladdin...I'm also impressed by the fact that they got other train-goers to join in singing!)

The Amtrak, the Hostel, the intense and random "T" rides, in my opinion the small parts of the giant picture that the ASB group was able to make. Habitat for Humanity allowed myself, along with the rest of the group, to be a part of something greater than expected. We helped provide a better life for entire families, which in return provided us with better sense of living.

Thank you Habitat for making our early 5:30am mornings and 5 hours of sleep SO worth it. Thank you donors and to all of those who helped with fundraising efforts. Thank you Adam and Angel for putting up with all of our shenanigans. Thanks Kendra for being an amazing co-team leader and, of course, a thanks to the other 16 students who made this trip so wonderful, all of whom I will never forget.

:)

Julie Giebler
Class of 2011

Who needs Cancun when you can have fun in D.C.?

In the past 6 days, I’ve probably only had 25 hours of sleep and so at 11:15 on a Saturday night, it’s actually considered late and I’m exhausted! (I can’t stand it! :) In the comfort of my own room, I’m in a completely different setting from what the past few days were like down in D.C. with the ASB GANG!!! I find myself wishing I was back down south, and if given the chance, I would definitely hop back on the train in no time! The trip was awesome; I’ve learned so many new and interesting skills, made some awesome friendships and got to help out individuals who I will probably never get the chance to meet, but are so deserving!
The trip itself was incredible! Rather than heading off to Cancun for spring break, a group of 18 kids including myself and 2 chaperones left on the Amtrak for the nation's capital to build a house with Habitat for Humanity. Eight hours later, after all the laughter, sightseeing, coloring and trips to the car of the train with food (we tried to keep those visits to a minimum on the first Amtrak ride…), we entered D.C.’s rush hour clutching to our bags, attempting to stick together and spent the night playing Uno and eating pizza in the “hostile.” Tuesday finally came and we made it to the site!!! I worked with Emily and Joey with the ICP Styrofoam blocks to set the house’s foundation and that night we all went to the Capital City brewery for some much needed chow then booked it down to the actual capital to snap some pics of the big dome. Wednesday was pretty similar and luckily we made it to the site on time after leaving our home away from home at the crack of dawn again…such a challenge!! I switched things up on this day and worked along the side and the roof of the house on the scaffold, but not for too long! That night was great, we went to the city and it was beautiful, the Memorials were awesome, especially with an expert tour guide like Joey!!!! I learned so much, like how the Lincoln Memorial was built by Egyptian slaves; and who knew, the White House had to be demolished in 1492 when Christopher Columbus came!!:) Thursday night was spent going around the shops in Georgetown; it was so pretty and reminded me of Northampton, MA, back towards home. During the day however, I spent time learning to drywall with Kendra, Julie, Beth, Emily and Rachel! This was definitely the trickiest task handed out; it’s super tedious and requires tremendous attention to detail! All week, even before we got to Habitat, I really wanted to paint, and Friday I finally got the chance to with Angel, Stephen and Joey! We spent most of the day singing our lungs out to whatever songs popped into our heads, massaging each other (only on breaks I swear!) and dabbling in some paint. Leaving the site was a little emotional, we had done all we could and put so much effort into the 6 houses, and yet they still weren’t finished. The process of building a house, now that I’ve been given this opportunity, has definitely been put into perspective; it is not something to be taken for granted. I remember being on site and contemplating the effort that was put into my own house, from setting the foundation to painting the ceilings! On a lighter note, after getting up from one last group picture at the site, the group and I left the HFH sign on the fence and rode the metro down to the national mall again, where we split up. While some went to the Museum of Natural History, I hit up the Museum of Art, ironically, after a long day of painting. After leaving the museums, we then went to the Hard Rock Café in D.C. to celebrate Angel’s birthday and there we learned it was possible for a group of 3 to scarf down an entire plate of nachos in less than 2 minutes!!:)
The trip was awesome. I think it was most successful because of the ease at which everyone got along! We shared so many hilarious and memorable moments that can only happen while living with the same 20 people 6 days straight. Whether it was watching someone fall asleep at the work site, writing down our secrets within the pages of a “Post Secret” novel in Urban Outfitters, receiving a new pair of shades off the street.... or just crying-laughing your eyes out at the organized/disorganized chaos and countless jokes, the Alternative Spring Break is something that none of us will forget and I’m so happy to be part of this group! It was wonderful! I can't wait for Spring Break 2011!! Thank you sponsors!!!!
-Lauren

A Fun-Filled Week of Work and Play!

The night before leaving for South Station was when I began to appreciate where I was going for the next 6 days. My spring break would be spent working eight hour days to help build affordable homes for people in need. I got excited.

Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity was very eye-opening and offered an amazing experience that will never be forgotten. I met such wonderful people who truly love what they are doing. While on the work site I gained several skills in painting that I am certain my dad will be very proud of me for :). I got to work with Randy and the “Ace Team” painting walls (and people), listening to music, and just having fun. Working at the Habitat site has provided me with so many lasting memories, not only with building a home but with my fellow volunteers. During our lunch breaks we would have so many laughs that sometimes tears would start to roll down my cheeks. The Jiffy John was also another interesting portion of what we encountered while working, by doing the “eeny meeny miny moe” on what stall would be the cleanest and sturdiest.

Learning how heartfelt the motivation is behind Habitat for Humanity makes me want to come back every March to give a helping hand. After each work day I really felt like I had accomplished something, allowing me to feel a sense of satisfaction.

After our long days of hard work, we would shower and jump on the hectic metro for a night out in the city. Washington D.C. is absolutely beautiful. Watching the sunset and seeing the monuments glow under the clear night sky was just breathe taking. I was in awe.

Although we all go to the same school, many of us had never spoken or even met before. This trip allowed us to bond as the “ASBers” and honestly created many new friendships. We now share several inside jokes that only the twenty of us will get to laugh out loud about. Listening to Stephen yell Adam (“Ahhum”), following a fascinating tour guided by Joey, or pretending it is Angel’s birthday at the Hard Rock, will always bring a smile to each of our faces.

I am so thankful that I was a part of this heartfelt experience. There is no other place I would’ve rather been this past week. At 10:32pm my eyes feel heavy and my body is frail, yet I have the odd desire to wake up at 5:30am and do it all over again :)

-Sarah