Lessons of Kentucky

October is drawing near and I have some lessons about Kentucky (or possibility CAP) to share... don't get offended, and it might only be my thinking involved

Lesson 1. I learned within the first two days that at least at CAP Orientation, food is something different and yet there is a lot of it. As they say, "they grow them big on the farm", but Kentucky is more coal than farm, but they feed them well. The kitchen staff was serving us food and they didn't understand my need to ask for little amounts. One woman would just slap a big huge portion on my plate without listening to my begging plea for less food.  I wasted a lot of food, but after that one woman left the portions got smaller and I got happier. Also I walked more and whoa it was good.

Lesson 2. Coal is controversial.. best avoid the topic. I would explain more, but really is there need? Some people see the coal as a needed evil.. it destroys nature, but proves good jobs and does not require college. Others see it as pure evil for killing people, making a circle of poverty, and killing our mountains. Others just view it like all other conflicts and walk away. My view is not being added, because I feel I don't know enough to make an education decision. But an awesome quote from an anti-coal person, "People are like, 'what are you a tree hugger?' well YEAH what are you a puppy kicker" (I don't know endorse or accept this statement)

Lesson 3. Random old rusty school buses seem like a fashion statement for interstate highways in East Kentucky. I soon realized after my road trips that I knew how close or far away from the volunteer house we were by the buses on the side of the road in fields. I know it is a sad thing, but it makes being here more real. I'm here to help these people and these abandoned buses help me remember that what I went through is nothing compared to these people's lives.

Lesson 4. If you get car sick at all the mountains in East Kentucky will let you know. I could drive all over the Midwest and be fine.. take me up a mountain by car in a mini-van... I couldn't focus for about 30 minutes after the car stopped. Lucky for me I head back  to Far East Kentucky in Sandy Valley for our volunteer retreat at the end of October. So my joy of car rides might dye after that.

Lesson 5. Phone Service, Internet Service is not like the rest of America... sorry dude, but I can't hear you now. Actually my phone can't pick you up either. but even better my phone uses up almost all of its battery in one day, because it was trying to find away to be able to hear you. Yup I had no service and it was bad, because I never knew my phone didn't approve of not having service. Maybe phone companies should be honest about not being able to cover the nation from sea to shiny sea. The same for internet... my house just realized how lucky we are about having not only great phone service, but having internet that works all over the house.

As of now I am ending my lesson time and tomorrow I will add in my information about orientation itself.