A closing Poem for round 1 written by Chase

I would like to close with a form of prose
reflecting on the weeks just past
from fun times to down times
moments shared with young minds
and a range of emotions and stories so vast
their words and their phrases
truly amazed us
some understood
and some rather perplexing
let me ask you
what's the first step to making a budget?
calculate your net worth or assets?
your income?
money you have or have not spent yet?
well ask a child from Oak Ridge
their answer is this
simply "go to Texas"
or how many pouches do 3 monkeys have?
you think none, they say one
third grade math is so fun
when reason and logic is suspended
a question posed to the man in green clothes
are you from Jewish?
that's hecka crazy
it's hella tight
what happened to normal adverbs, like really and quite?
don't axe me
it's a tough question to answer
but we know it comes from somewheres
oh how clever the means to attain attention
from students who seem to care less
just use quiet hands
1-2-3 combinations
or scream "class class" "yes yes"
now out of the rooms and into the open
Oak Ridge has a distinguishable culture
the recess it seems
is our only means
to mentor about sportsmanship and structure
but to no avail
cause the wall ball wall's hell
just ask Mr. Hunter (Yeechang voice)
teaching sight words and sound cards
adding numbers and money
led to the immediate subtraction of our hair
we divided our time
to give each kid a shot
at doing better than before
but multiply that
with the extra stuff placed in our lap
and you've got an algebraic equation of balance and strong rapport
we learned everyday about Oak Park ways
a culture so diverse
from food to dance moves
we soaked in the knowledge
in hopes to be well versed
paper corners spatted with tiny orange fingerprints
hot Cheetos, their cherished snack
the jerk
a dance move
combining crypt walking and skipping
while hopping forward and leaning back
some of our team had succumbed to the norms and the ways
while others of us were considered to be whack
and our day to day brought a story of its own
I'll run down each in top 10 fashion
coming in at number 10
was the Fun Run at 5 am
a voluntold experience not soon forgotten
number 9 is the ants
they march 1 by 1
over every inch of the school
in numbers that seem quite fascist
number 8 comes on Wednesday
enrichment time with different grades
a challenge in itself
but especially when raining
number 7, Friday food bags
a task of which we are capable
but often blamed for mishaps
number 6, extra mile tickets
given to students that went the distance
but are used too as a quiet tool
and a gambling chip on the playground
numero cinco, el ghetto store-o
it's its, noodles and el drinkos
at number 4 we have START
where kids do homework and march
and take the occasional dodge ball to the face
oh without number 3
I don't know where I'd be
Tuesdays, free pastries and coffee
number 2 kept us smiling
throughout each day
much thanks to Ari for the introduction
it's not very long
and falls right out of your mouth
notice my intentional phrasing
let me hear it team
"ding!"
drum roll please
actually i was being facetious
but without further ado
number 1
our team itself
by chance we were placed together
none of us too sure of the other
yet we never let our differences get in the way of the task set before us
each member playing a crucial part
in the whole that is Blue 5
I love you guys
and our days at Oak Ridge
strengthen this bond making even Hydrogen jealous
Hunter's jokes never failed us
Caitlin's videos always caught us
the 3 abs I do have I owe to Lauren
and the 3 complimentary rolls
to Kristin's Cosmic Brownies
the VST and me
we had our differences
but worked through it with flying colors
and Ari Shapiro
will always be our hero
Katie, I still don't know what you're saying
when you speak so fast
but that makes you a damn good CAPper
and Sly Park was a blast
Sarah is a swell POL
I mean, are you kidding me? we went to Yosemite
and Lindsay, my gangsta
we be stayin hood fa eva
so this is my team
and that was our project
and I'll tell you now Blue Unit
we're ready for whatever lies next
-Chase Jones

Personal Reflection

Working at Oakridge Elementary this round has definitely been challenging, especially for a first project, but ultimately a rewarding and worthwhile experience. Our team has definitely had a rocky start and often I felt out of place, I was afraid this project would be the end for me. Although our job may have seen simple compared to a physical and labor intensive project, there were many unseen challenges that faced the team.
Yes of course we were indoors most of the day, sitting and chatting with kids, but we were also responsible for the goal of improving the students standardized test scores by 40%. We also were at a first round project spending most of the day alone, without our team to back us up. In the classroom, each team member expressed different experiences, with students, teachers, relationships, time management, and especially diving head first into something we thought we were unprepared and untrained for, teaching kids from kindergarten to 5th grade? I asked myself, really?
At first, I sometimes felt that our presence would be insignificant compared to the teachers and volunteers who would be at the school for the entire year. The team eventually found its groove, moreover we became an integral part of the class, working with each student, personalizing how we spoke, relayed information and even looked at each individual student in our charge. The improvement now seemed apparent.
Our responsibilities didn’t rest in the classroom, however, we were tasked with providing a presence in the playground, acting with so many hats, one would think, how could you do it all? From playing with the kids in all grades, to supervising and acting accordingly as newly trained mandated reporters, to refereeing basketball, wall ball, and four square games to working with the afterschool START program acting as role models and tutors, I think we managed quite well as a team.
Furthermore, this experience has been very rewarding to see the niche that we’ve created and the influence on the lives of young minds. We’ve accomplished quite a bit and I’ve actually enjoyed our project so much that it’s sad to see it come to an end. I’ve also realized that there are often times conflict comes into play from when we’re children to when we are adults, however, from that we grow bonds, strengthen our resolve and become not just a team, but a family, and I’ve come to appreciate my teammates much more.
Although we were only there for about two months, I will always remember my time at Oakridge, and hopefully I am able to come back to visit and see those we’ve affected, because if there is only one thing I can say, I didn’t so much touch the lives of these kids, they’ve touched mine.
.

- Ron Kunateerachadalai

CTI is OVER, Round 1 begins

CTI(corps training institute) has ended with an induction ceremony November 13th. We're well into our teams and most teams have left base. They've been deployed to places including the gulf, Seattle, Utah, Oregon, San Diego, and Compton. Its been a struggle trying to get into the swing of things. I've been assigned to Oakridge Elementary in Oak Park, only about 20 minutes from base so we're staying here. Its nice to have my own room, however, its hard getting up for those 5am PTs. They're more rigorous but I'm enjoying PT. I hope I can run soon, but my knee and ankle has been giving me trouble. The pilates and yoga is fun. I miss everyone in New York and everybody who's gone away on SPIKE. I hope you are all safe, send me post cards from wherever you are at! for my assignment I'm teaching 5th graders math, science, and english in preparation for their STAR tests, which is the California equivalent to the regents exams in new york. We've also been doing ISPs which are our independent service projects. I've planted a few trees for the state parks and have been working at RAFT, the resource area for teachers. I wish we had something similar to this in New York, maybe when I come back home I'll try to set up the program, which in simplest terms, gets supplies that are overstock or returns from places such as office max, HP, and other stores that reject their supplies. They stock these items and sell it at a heavy discount for teachers who have to pay a 20 dollar membership fee. Its essential here since the schools have suffered heavy losses, their funding is at a minimal where many schools cant afford a gym, art or music classes. My 5th graders will be tested in science proficiency but there is no science program to speak of so the teachers asked me to figure out something to teach them. This round is going to last till January 28th and I feel that i've already made some sort of impact on these kids, a lot of them now do their homework every night. The sad part is because of the stupid no child left behind laws, some of these kids with special needs who should be in a lower level are pushed forward. Some of them can barely read. most of them are below proficiency level which makes it difficult to try to prepare them. This school also has counselors who are constantly taking kids out of class when they are in the middle of lessons, when they come back they have five minutes with me to learn a days lesson. They're typical the ones who need help the most. I hope in the next 6 weeks I can make an impact on these kids lives, hopefully they'll have the will to study harder and will be able to keep up.

Its difficult to have time to post blogs here because there isnt much free time. I've also been unable to use my own laptop here so I've been relying on keeping handwritten notes. I've been debating a long time whether or not to go home, but I think I've finally decided to stay. I miss my friends and family and Polly back home but I've begun to feel like I'm where I should be. We just spent 4 days in Camp Mendocino doing some team building and community service work. I've been assigned my new team. I feel like we have the most potential to grow. I'll leave it at that for now.

So if you have any mail to send me send it to
Ron Kunateerachadalai, Class 16, Blue 5
3427 Laurel Street
McClellan Ca 95652

P.s thanks for the care package from home

its been good here in cali, i cant believe its only been a week today since i left new york i feel like i live a whole other life now. everything has changed, i've fallen in love with my penguin every day. I'm happy now. Its been rough to say the least. we've been in training every day waking up different times sometimes 4am but rarely as late as 7. I'm easily living on new york time falling asleep around 2100 here which is 0100 back home. I miss my bed, these are prison style beds that we've been given. I've also lost a few pounds, about 13 so far, looks like i'm coming home a different person. I've also gained a lot of respect for my family and how they've worked hard as a result of having to clean my room ready for inspection, fending and cooking for ourselves on a budget and dealing with messy roomates maximus the gladiator and thaddeus the great better known as max and tk, washing dishes after a long day for those on my POD(temporary teams) because they're disgusting. The uniforms are useful however they tend to get old fast it seems. yesterday my pod and i went downtown and walked to the light rail, we ended up walking through old sacramento. it was a great experience i love my pod for the most part they're some of the best people to spend time with. I've already been able to act as a peer counselor. Today after we had our muster (morning call) I was sent to the trainer coordinator and was thrown into teaching a CPR class because they were short an instructor. It was great besides my co-instructor being very short and patronizing. I was amazed at how low budget these other red cross chapters are, using one set of manikin faces for two people, reusing lungs and refusing to give out the books. It was good though, my schedule is messed up right now because i need to make up the required training session i missed. We were told today that our Permanent teams will be assigned as soon as the Team leaders who were sent to help in American Samoa are able to return. Once we do that we'll all change rooms to be near them, I think my roomates are great and hope to get ones as good as them however, one can only hope I guess. We failed room inspection twice so i hope i get a roomate who's clean. Saturday we were given our first project which entailed gardening and pruning an elementary school designed specifically for low income students, formerly a private school for rich kids. It was great, the campus is amazing but it was an exhausting day. We were assigned our first team project or SPIKE as its called. it's going to be a training and get to know event at camp mendacino, and we were told to inform everyone that when we do we'll be away from cellphone contact for approximately a week. I'll let you knowhen i find out when that will be. Tomorrow is another 5am PT. Its so exhausting and draining to be here, its definately a challenge living in a new life style but hopefully its worth it. I'll be strong for you penguin
ps. pictures to come soon

Leaving NYC

Tomorrow morning I will be leaving NYC, last full day home. I've packed and gotten ready to go. I'll miss you all, those who I've gotten to say goodbye to, and those who I was unable to see. I'll miss my Penguin very much. Love Gift. If any of you will need to contact me hopefully i'll be able to check email/facebook and my phone. If you need to send me anything, my new address for the year will be Saharat Ron Kunateerachadalai, Class 16, Team#*this will be assigned in the future* Americorps NCCC
3427 Laurel Street
McClellan, Ca 95652

Three weeks until i leave. Already bought a new camera, netbook, laptop, laundry stuff and such. Looks like its really happening. Gona post my goodbye speech i wrote while i was bored at work soon