This picture is from Sunday night from our hotel room in Denver. It is Pike's Peak!
I am given a key and a map to the extensive property otherwise known as the YMCA of the Rockies. This is the largest and most unique YMCA in the world and spans 860 acres with over 5,000 beds split between lodges, cabins, etc and staff housing which comprises of dorms and residential halls. I am lucky to be separated from the college kids located in the dorms and I am placed in a residential hall that is older than my grandparents. My room is adequate and I shall post pictures and more descriptions of it later. Food is included but very little of it is gluten free. I am restricted to salads and fresh fruit, both of which are the staples of my diet anyways. I also came equipped with a popcorn popper, coffee pot, and GF Energy bars to make my stay more "homey".
I feel as though I have stepped into a time capsule and I am back in college. I am surrounded by hormonal, freedom loving 18-22 year olds and I envy there voracious appetite for meeting new people and the ability to be goofy and silly, as though they do not have a care in the world. I believe that I am in what they call "culture shock" seeing that I am not naturally fitting in with this crowd and feel so far removed from their little world. It is a harsh realization that I can no longer be classified as a member of the college crew nor am I truly an adult. This limbo is almost worse than the one I faced graduating high school. Hopefully, this too shall pass as I start work tomorrow and anticipate meeting people in that environment.
I am as entranced by my employers as I am the distinctive landscape that surrounds me. Christian based, and not for profit, this vacation center boasts a 93% return rate of its visitors and a location and up beat attitude that cannot be beat! Thank goodness I signed my contract already as I am falling in love with this place. Today was orientation and I eagerly awaited each new bit of information into this historical landmark, which is 5 years older than Rocky Mountain National Park. Each employee has such a contagious and magnificent attitude, one that Florida seems to be lacking. Their patience and overall good nature shakes me up as I am accustomed to the fast-paced, harsh environment of South Florida and Florida in general.
Well I think this is enough for one night. I am exhausted and my journey out into the cold dreary climate that has surrounded me since I arrived to shower in the community showers of my living area. I wish everyone a happy week!!
After a long yet fun drive, I finally arrived in Colorado on Sunday. Thankfully I had Ricky with me through the trek from Florida, through Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and finally CO!! After placing Rick upon the plane back to Florida on Monday, I embarked upon the end of my trek and the beginning of my new adventure, also known as my summer in the skies! I would be lying if I said my nerves weren't jumping, but thats normal, right? As I pulled into the parking lot, I could hardly contain myself. Disappointment washed over me as my much anticipated view of the mountains had been blocked by the looming and angry clouds that had encompassed the entire park. Oh well, I guess I have a whole summer to experience this.
I walk into the Resident Life office, where I am to procure my keys, and I am greeted by a multitude of friendly faces, all anticipating my arrival. I am to work in this office, you see, as a part time Resident Assistant and the other part spent as an Assistant to Human Resources. Although I do not know the extent of my job duties, I know that as a RA I can do many different facets of this job, planning events for the 500 full time seasonal employees that reside on property to handling discipline issues and crisis situations no different than my time as a RA at UCF. HR still is not sure exactly what my responsibilities will be as this is a new position created when I applied it seems.
The dreariness I drove through and lived in for the first few days. I did not see the mountains until Wed!!
I walk into the Resident Life office, where I am to procure my keys, and I am greeted by a multitude of friendly faces, all anticipating my arrival. I am to work in this office, you see, as a part time Resident Assistant and the other part spent as an Assistant to Human Resources. Although I do not know the extent of my job duties, I know that as a RA I can do many different facets of this job, planning events for the 500 full time seasonal employees that reside on property to handling discipline issues and crisis situations no different than my time as a RA at UCF. HR still is not sure exactly what my responsibilities will be as this is a new position created when I applied it seems.
The dreariness I drove through and lived in for the first few days. I did not see the mountains until Wed!!
I am given a key and a map to the extensive property otherwise known as the YMCA of the Rockies. This is the largest and most unique YMCA in the world and spans 860 acres with over 5,000 beds split between lodges, cabins, etc and staff housing which comprises of dorms and residential halls. I am lucky to be separated from the college kids located in the dorms and I am placed in a residential hall that is older than my grandparents. My room is adequate and I shall post pictures and more descriptions of it later. Food is included but very little of it is gluten free. I am restricted to salads and fresh fruit, both of which are the staples of my diet anyways. I also came equipped with a popcorn popper, coffee pot, and GF Energy bars to make my stay more "homey".
I feel as though I have stepped into a time capsule and I am back in college. I am surrounded by hormonal, freedom loving 18-22 year olds and I envy there voracious appetite for meeting new people and the ability to be goofy and silly, as though they do not have a care in the world. I believe that I am in what they call "culture shock" seeing that I am not naturally fitting in with this crowd and feel so far removed from their little world. It is a harsh realization that I can no longer be classified as a member of the college crew nor am I truly an adult. This limbo is almost worse than the one I faced graduating high school. Hopefully, this too shall pass as I start work tomorrow and anticipate meeting people in that environment.
I am as entranced by my employers as I am the distinctive landscape that surrounds me. Christian based, and not for profit, this vacation center boasts a 93% return rate of its visitors and a location and up beat attitude that cannot be beat! Thank goodness I signed my contract already as I am falling in love with this place. Today was orientation and I eagerly awaited each new bit of information into this historical landmark, which is 5 years older than Rocky Mountain National Park. Each employee has such a contagious and magnificent attitude, one that Florida seems to be lacking. Their patience and overall good nature shakes me up as I am accustomed to the fast-paced, harsh environment of South Florida and Florida in general.
Well I think this is enough for one night. I am exhausted and my journey out into the cold dreary climate that has surrounded me since I arrived to shower in the community showers of my living area. I wish everyone a happy week!!
2 comments:
Hi Kelly,
I can picture everything in your description of the Y. It makes me homesick for Colorado. I know what you mean about culture shock. Being from Colorado, I have never felt quite Floridian - always just a visitor even though I have raised my kids here and we've been here (gulp) 19 years. Last Christmas my best friend since 7th grade gave me a plague that reads "Home is where your story begins" and it has the word "Colorado" as a watermark behind it- for me it's so true! I'll check your blog when I have time to vacation vicariously through you - unless it gets too painful for me! Hey, if you go down through Lyons, Co get some chokecherry jelly - it's the best.
My grandma used to make it, too.
--julie from down the hall
You know I worked a summer camp when I first came to the USA. I was few years older than the college kid counselors...took a bit of adjusting but I still had a great summer!
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