Week 1

Well, as of Friday at approximately 4:30 pm, I had completed my very first week as a Trail Maintenance Intern.

11 weeks to go.

I had some definite initial fears during this past week and especially on the first day. Most of my fears lay with the fact that I am the only female among many men. This is something I must come to terms with in a field such as this. I want to do, ultimately, the dirtiest work. I know a lot of women who don't like their hands dirty and don't want to run the risk of bugs crawling on them or letting bees buzz by their ears.

For me, this past week has been a sort of epiphany. I have never felt myself more in love with the earth as I am now. I am having a hard time wanting to be indoors, therefore causing me to hardly leave the Cuyahoga Valley, even on my day off. The past two days I have gone back to hike because it seemed like I should check up on things.

I am working with a wide variety of guys of all sorts of ages. They are all very nice to me, and respect me completely. I can tell some aren't used to having a woman around on the job, so they are a little afraid to give me too much work. I want to take on as much as my arms will carry, lift, pull, etc.. I am here to work.

I worked, on average, a 9 hour shift every day and will be working only 3 days this week due to Memorial Day. I have every other Friday off on this schedule. Wednesday I will be receiving my First Aid/CPR training which should definitely come in handy.

I did a variety of things this past week from digging drains, mending bridges, weed-whacking the towpath, and laying down new mix for a bridle trail. I love waking up each morning and not knowing what the day is going to bring. It's both nerve-wrecking and exciting at the same time.

The number one greatest part is that I'm realizing that I am most assuredly where I belong. My passion is increasing with every passing day and I am learning so much--almost more than my brain can absorb.

There is literally no better feeling in the world for me, right now, than knowing that I am headed in the right direction.