Say goodbye to Camden

6am PT

So the round is almost over.  Thankfully.  To be completely honest I do not like this round very much.  It probably wasn't helpful that I loved firefighting and last round, and I had the awkward transition back onto my team this round, but really this project (and the sponsors) weren't my favorite.  Since the houses were almost complete we didn't actually have much to do, and since Camden Habitat doesn't get many volunteers I feel like the sponsors didn't know how to manage us and give us tasks at the worksite.  My team got to clean the houses about 50 different times, so if you ever need someone to come and wash your windows, or sweep our floors (with a tiny little hand broom in order to not scratch the hardwood floors), I'm your gal!

But, only 3 more days!  Then it's back to campus for transition, fall break and spike 4... the last spike of my corps member year... scary how fast this year has flown by.

The roof is gone... time to take down the 2nd floor wall on the left

The before picture

Taking apart the roof.  Philly in the back.  Boy is is hot up there!

Stripping off the mortor and wire mesh to expose the bricks.

Toothing the wall

our 2 levels of scaffolding that we used to pass down the bricks

chillin on the 2nd floor

How dirty we get after a good days work...

One thing that the team did get to work on that was fun was demolition.  Habitat just acquired a house that was really run down and used to be a hot spot for drugs etc.  We had the responsibility of helping to take apart the roof, piece by piece (cut apart using a saw), then taking down the wall, brick by brick so the entire house didn't fall.  We got the entire roof and 2nd floor down.  We all wanted to continue, but since the home dedications were nearing we had to switch tasks and concentrate on them versus finish the demolition.  When the roof was still on the house you could stand on it and see the skyline of Philly!

So one night since we were all so tired of being trapped in the house and having no where to go in Camden, we decided to book a hotel and go out for dinner and dancing in Philly.  It was crazy!  We ended up going to this cute little italian restaurant near our hotel called Lulu's and I got a seafood risotto.  It was delicious.  I love Italy and anything Italian!  I even found the cutest travel book called "In love in Italy" at Barnes and Nobel the other day and I had to get it.  It was the perfect size, perfect texture, had cute quotes both in Italian and translated in English... I love it! I definitely need to go back some day to Italy.  Anyway, back from that tangent, after dinner we all went to the gay club Woody's.  It was out of control, but after being cooped up in Camden it was just what we all needed I think.  Plus it was fun to get all dressed up.

Camden Habitat used to only build 1 house every 2 years.  This wasn't because there wasn't a need for them, or for lack of applicants, it was simply because of lack of volunteers and money.  This year was the first time that they finished and dedicated 3 houses.  We helped finish them, and three more are almost complete.  So at the home dedication everyone who worked at Habitat was going crazy with nerves and excitement!

I got to blow up helium balloon!

There were a bunch of cookies and coffee

We donned our formals and welcomed everyone

There was even a big sheet cake with the family's names

It was like a big block party.  We blocked off the entire street for about 2 hours and had a few people from habitat speak.  Then there was a ribbon cutting, and a surprise where the kids of the families receiving the homes read "there's no place like home" and blew bubbles (really cute) and a social hour with food.  The homes were open for people to walk around in and check out, and one of them was furnished using furniture from the Habitat ReStore to make it seem like it was lived in.  I thought it would be more fun, but since I didn't know anyone and wasn't apart of the building from the beginning I think I had my expectations a little high.

Now that the dedications are finished we are back to work like normal...  and that means putting up the chain link fence in the backyards of the 3 unfinished houses.  IT IS HORRIBLE! I have never gotten so many blisters on my hands in my life.  But if you ever need a fence put up I know a very able bodies crew of 9 who can help you out.  It was just very frustrating since we were told to put it up, then on multiple occasions had to take it down and put it up again, and again, and again because the sponsors realized something, or changed their minds etc.  I hate fences.

And finally the other night our sponsors got us free tickets to the Camden Riversharks minor league baseball game, where $5 of every ticket went to Habitat.

It was fun, but so late that we all ditched out early since we were all exhausted by about 9pm.  Yep, AmeriCorps turns you into grandparents in bed by 10...

So now our last day of work is at the Habitat ReStore on Tuesday, and a half day at the construction site on Wednesday, then back to campus for transition.

So goodbye Camden and hello Wells, Maine and Kennet Square Pennsylvania!