This weekend, the ten members of Otter Six will begin their adventures back to their hometowns and families for two weeks. I will personally be heading back to New York to see my family and I couldn't be more excited.
The first round was definitely something I could've never expected. Between getting our destination changed three times, to moving hotels every other day, to eventually living in a vacant Sam's Club for 44 nights, it was something else. I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
I had a conversation with my Team Leader, Harmony, the other day and she mentioned to me that I am a completely different person now than when she met me. It's only been three months! How could I have changed so much?
It'll be interesting to see what my parents have to say this weekend about such matters.
For now, in the time between leaving Colorado for campus and our ventures home, Otter 6 been helping with reforestation in Baltimore County, Maryland. We have been removing dead trees and ivy and planting new trees. It has definitely differed from the work my team and I are used to, but it's quite rewarding. I look forward to someday seeing the trees I planted this afternoon grown into something magnificent.
For now, I'll settle for going back to my own roots.
--Jessica :)