Wichita Falls!

I dont know why ive been slacking so much with this, I am so sorry!  Been in Wichita Falls for 2 weeks now.  Update on my address!!!  Apparently the guy that owns this house has forwarded his mail to where he now lives in El Paso so I'm not getting mail here, but you can send me stuff to the United Way office we work at:
Annie Cavallaro
AmeriCorps NCCC
1105 Holliday
Wichita Falls, TX 76301

Anyway! Everythings going very well so far!  Our house is awesome! The marketing director of United Way moved to El Paso so before the new owners move in we are able to stay here, its only a 10 minute drive to the UW office, and literally a 2 minute drive to WalMart.  Right down the street about a 30 second walk is a sweet park that has a 12 foot high slide and swings, LOVE it!  So we've had our training and have been certified to do beginner, intermediate and advanced taxes!  I had my first day of real taxes this past week with 2 others, I only did 2 returns but it was a good start and I learned that theres not much to be scared of!  We don't start officially doing taxes until next Saturday and from there thats what well do everyday we work basically.  Right now we're doing a lot of community outreach stuff hanging door knockers and handing out flyers.  It has been a great way to see all of Wichita Falls and to especially see the conditions these low income families are living in and realizing they really can us our help even if it is to save them from paying someone else $200 to do their taxes. 
So Wichita Falls isn't all that impressive, but we're making the best of it! A week ago Thursday we went roller skating and I was a pro using my mad skills from Happy Wheels back in the day.  It was fun though because our whole team went.  Last week we had lunch at a BBQ place called Branding Iron (they call in brandin' iron)  and the food was DElicious!  I had ribs, because I figured I might as well go big or go home with my first offical BBQ in Texas!  We are hoping to go to a reallygood mexican place soon, i hear there are a lot of them around here!!  Last night we went to the batting cages and tonight we went to see a movie, i saw "No Strings Attached", it was pretty good! I love those quirky chick flicks once in a while!  The people we've met so far have been amazing, they are very grateful and welcoming to us.  The people we work with at United Way were awesome and got us free tickets to the Harlem Globe Trotters on Thursday night and that was a fun activity we all got to do together!  For our individual service hours we helped at a marathon where for 6 hours I stood in one spot and told runners where to go and had to wait for them to finish....so i just stood while these people ran, that doesnt make me feel lazy at all, it was boring but a very easy way to get some hours out of the way on a nice sunny day!
So, so far this project is going much better than I ever anticipated.  We get to have a lot more time together as a team which is good, but it can be hard to find alone time, but im figuring it out!  It's really crazy how much of a culture shock it is being here in Texas, but I'm loving everything I'm learning.  Hope all is well with everyone, that's really all that I have for now, but will try my hardest to update if anything exciting happens!  We do have internet at the house but we're stealing it and its spotty and I literally have to sit in one spot in my room and not move an inch or the internet's gone...so I'm able to blog, facebook, and if i have the patience catch up on my tv!  Love to all, here are some pictures so far!

My team at the batting cages

batting cages

Harlem Globe Trotters

Team big pile, I was quite comfy actually

Team at United Way our first day

On the way to Wichita Falls

Hello!  Apparently on the campus in Denver they decided to block only the blog website so I haven't been able to blog the past week.  But I was in Denver for what we call transition week where we debrief on the last project and brief on the new project.  The week went well, it was boring often but we got through it.  Didn't do much, went out to eat and downtown Thursday night and had a good night with everyone, other than that I got to hang out with some of the people on my unit which was really good to see them again!
Tonight we stopped in Amarillo, TX on our way to Wichita Falls.  It was a long day but we made it.  So tomorrow we will be in Wichita Falls in the afternoon and get settled into our house, I will post pictures when I get a chance!  But here is my address for the next two months if you want to send letters, cards, cookies etc. ;) I wouldn't mind it!

Annie Cavallaro
4803 Nursery St.
Wichita  Falls, TX 76302

So.  Until I find a Starbucks in Wichita Falls probably won't be posting for a bit.  We start work on Saturday and have 24 hours worth of training to do for taxes, I'll absolutely let you know how it goes!  Miss everyone already! Love! <3

Heading back to Denver

Well.  I'm sitting at the Logan airport awaiting my flight back to Denver.  I had to take a 3:15am bus, and being smart I figured I just wouldn't sleep last night...I hurt, I just want to be asleep.  I was kind of able to sleep on the bus so that was good, I am surely hoping to snooze a little on the plane.  If not, I get into Denver at 10:30am their time so I have allllll day to sleep!
I had a wonderful time being home.  Looking back on it it was nice to relax and have so much time to myself.  But I even more enjoyed seeing my friends and family.  If I didn't get to see you and you're reading this, sorry!  But everyone must be sure to keep in touch with me while I'm gone! Whether it's email, facebook, mail etc.  I love love love hearing from everyone.  I will love it even more now because I won't be coming home until August so I'm sure I'll get very homesick pretty soon.
So to recap I'll be in Denver this week and leave Saturday for Wichita Falls, TX to do taxes.  Ia m with the same team I was with for the Arkansas Children's Hospital so that'll be good to have something familiar keeping me going.  I still don't know my address yet but I'll post it here as soon as I know!  Also I don't know what my internet situation is like so I don't  know how much I'll be updating or not.  But I'm going to go...wish I could go to sleep right now but I'd rather not have my stuff get stolen.  Loved seeing everyone and it showed me how much love and support I have back home and I appreciate it very very much!