For some reason, the summer always starts to move faster on this side of July 4th. The Fair seems like its just a hop, skip, and a jump away.
In reality, it is. Next week Thursday we move the office down to the fairgrounds. After the Fair, I then only have a few weeks left until I move on to my next adventure. But more on that later....when I actually have a next adventure.
Here at the office, I've been keeping busy. At the JDC we did some knifty knitting. I got some more hats to take to the local hospital for newborns. Two of the youth there I had seen the last time I went there. The boy who was in such a bad mood last time, was quite chipper and talkative. He was also really helpful. He was helping one of the other boys who was having trouble with his knifty knitting. It was really great to see that kind of attitude from him. There is one girl there that I have seen the last three times I've gone. She said she will still be there next time I come...which is today. So I have been working hard on what I can do with them that I haven't done before. I think I've come up with a good idea. Instead of doing some sort of hands-on craft project with them. I'm going to teach them how to play one of my very favorite card games. The name of the game is Peanut. Its like a large multi-player game of Solitaire. Its a game that challenges concentration and speed. It gives up a chance to just talk while we play as well as giving them a game to teach their friends so they have something to do with their hands. I don't really know how well this game will be received, so I'm hoping it goes well. I'll have some back up games just in case.
Last week was the final week of my Community Connection program. Our last activity was a sort of test to see how much they had learned over the past few weeks. They were divided up into groups and given a simple story. Their task was to work as a group to put together a small play about the story. They were to act out the story as the story was read out loud. They did a very good job, I think. They definitely showed improved skills in teamwork, acting, and communication. I was very happy with the job they did. One of the groups had a really good lesson in team work. They knew the theory of working as a team, but the practice was a little lost on them. I think this shows me that we are done teaching them how to be a team, and we need to get them to act on being a team. Youth need more practice in working together and making some decisions on their own. These are important skills to have in the adult world.
One thing that the VISTA headquarters likes to do is present webinars on different topics to help VISTAs along the way. I listened in on one last week about resumes. I found it very informative and helpful. I will be making several changes to my resume as soon as I get a chance. This was perfect timing for me. Especially since I am only one month away from the end of my service term and am looking for the next big adventure. I knew job searching would be tough, but I never thought it would be this tough. I am, however, sticking with it. I am not giving up. I can't afford to give up.
Since I am only one month away from the end, I've started transitioning my things to the next VISTA. In the past the new VISTA and the old VISTA overlapped by few days, if any at all. This year the new VISTA is starting sooner. She will be starting the same we as the Fair. So that will be quite the experience for her. Really though, what better way is there to get an introduction into 4-H that spending a week at the Fair? The very thing that all 4-Hers work toward all year. We then will have two week of overlapping service. This will be nice because I can then train her in the way the office works and we can meet some connections in person and get some programs up and running right away.
As part of this transition, I am putting together a packet on how to run some of the social media sites that 4-H has. I hope she finds them useful.
Well, with the Fair coming up, I'll be quite busy!
Until Then!
