It’s hard to believe it’s October. I know I keep talking about how strangely time passes here, but it’s true. Each day seems to pass by fairly slowly, but then the next thing I know, an entire month is gone.

Last week’s adventures included rescuing canoes from the lake and returning to high school. This week is my first experience with a volunteer group at camp. This particular group has been coming to CAP from Wisconsin for years. Last year they built a new volunteer house (fingers crossed the volunteers are actually moving in this weekend) and this year they’re building new counselor dorms at camp. It’s weird having so much activity up at camp – I’m used to it being really quiet – but everyone I’ve met is great. They’re extremely hard workers – the building is going up incredibly quickly – and they all have interesting stories to share. It’s also really cool to share with all of them about CAP. I felt so knowledgeable today when I overheard a group of women talking about where in Kentucky we actually were and I was able to point it out on a map. I was also able to confirm for them that it’s Appa-LATCH-an, not Appa-LAY-tion. Having a group also kind of enlightened me to the way the employees must feel about volunteers. The groups have so much energy and so much passion for what they’re doing and since they’re here for a week, they ‘re generally able to maintain that level of energy.

This week, I also discovered that my fear of scaffolding not only covers walking under it, but watching other people climb on it. Logically, I know it must be pretty safe and sturdier than a ladder, but I still think it looks like it could collapse at any minute. I have so much respect for the workers who were climbing all over the two story building, constructing scaffolding as they went.

Last weekend was my first trip home and it was so nice to go back. I got to eat all my favorite foods, visit my family, and hang out with a lot of my friends. It was also brought to my attention that my “you alls” are starting to sound an awful lot like “y’alls.” I’m kind of surprised my accent isn’t stronger. After spending a whole day in the schools, I swear I’m thinking with an accent. I’m pretty sure my “teacher voice” sounds a lot more Appalachian than my normal voice does.

Another great thing about going home was that I brought back some decoration-type things for my room. It’s amazing how much more homey my room feels now that I have my own curtains and bedspread. I thought I could do without those things, but when you’re staying somewhere for a year, it’s important that you make it feel like your own and not just a generic hotel room.

Other things I learned this week and last:

• Separation of church and state is basically nonexistent here.
• Playing video games is kind of like riding a bike… you always remember how.

“Though I am always myself, I believe I have been changed to the very marrow of my bones.” – Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Erin Cusick is a long-term volunteer in Educational and Recreational Programming. She lives in the Jackson Volunteer Community.