Green 6 Revisited

Since who my teammates are is such an important factor of my life, I want to remember how I thought of them during each different project. Here they are:

I will be calling them all by their city or general region...

Nashville girl went home for good yesterday. She was reclusive, but fun when she came out of her shell. She had a great personality with some southern charm that you couldn't help but smile at. Although primarily taciturn, she spoke with animation when she felt it necessary. There was a general feeling around the team this week that something was wrong with her and we needed to figure out what it was. She announced on her going away dinner that she was bipolar and really struggled with Americorps rigidity. She only got along with a couple people, but I'm very sad to see her go. We had a relationship in which I acted like an idiot and she tried to suppress a grin, ignored my actions or shook her head at them. It was wholly impersonal but I liked it. I think she did too. It feels like we didn't try hard enough to get her in the fold, although that's just not true. Her sarcasm and wit will be sorely missed.

Central Virginia boy is my best friend here. College graduate. We have strong similarities and strong differences. Nothing's in the middle. On one hand, he is a very religious protestant, doesn't drink, no sex til marriage, and a stout republican. On the other, he's a football fanatic, loves to pal around, and is extremely easygoing. Our relationship is mostly playful, but I know I can depend on him for anything. I hope he feels the same about me. He's really the only "guy" outlet I've got on the team, and losing him would really hurt. He is currently in the final 20 for a very prestigious clinical psychology internship at the university of virginia that starts in April, so if he gets that he'd leave the program. It seems pretty assured that he'll get it. Frustrates me. I didn't think there would be a high rate of turnover in this program.

Vermont boy is a character. 19 years old. He's pretty normal, played sports in high school, has a girlfriend back home. But he's immature to a point that I really don't know what to say to him. Now that I think about it, I've never had a legitimate conversation with him except when we run together. He just doesn't think that critically about things. I'm not sure why he came here, I assume I'll find that out eventually. We get along fine, there's just not that much to work with.

Boston girl is easily my favorite of the girls. College graduate. She's quiet, but in a way in which you can tell she's processing your words. She's thoughtful, kinda socially awkward in a really cute way (she's also 5' tall which is probably what makes it cute), and drinks way too much coffee per day. She's very artsy, likes to color and has a slideshow of emo internet pictures as her screen saver. She's always great to have around because she adds constant positivity to any outing.

Orlando girl is sassy and dramatic. She's unpredictable and lashes out when not in a good mood. She starts or is fully involved in, any imbroglios amongst the team. The other night at the local bar she attacked one of the local firefighter trainees, scratching his arm (granted she was provoked, but still). There's some serious rage within her that is scary, but mostly harmless. She's one of those boyfriend girls, the ones that you cannot talk to without them mentioning him. He is serving in the Air Force and is in Monterrey, about 2.5 hours from Sac. She leaves some weekends to see him. Her attitude gets in the way sometimes, but on the majority she's alright. Everyone on the team has seen her volatility, and we stay clear when she's not happy.

Springfield, Illinois girl is an odd one. College Graduate. She's very garrulous, having befriended many of the teachers at Larchmont, attending their poker nights and other get togethers. She's odd because she is obsessive with working out, and she signed up at the local gym for spin classes and whatever else she does there. I think she used to box when she was younger. She's the daughter of a priest, but a rebel one. I'm positive she has serious demons inside of her, and although it's fairly apparent what they are (questioning her religion), I'd like her to outright say them some day. She has this forceful manner of getting her way. It's as if at some point in her life she told herself "fuck what other people say", like she had so many influences she couldnt' keep track of them, rebelled against them, and resorted to trusting only herself. But it all seems like a facade. She's very likable, but her need to control a conversation with brute force is a huge turn off. Not my favorite person on the team, but we get along fine. She loves sports, as do I. She's a team player. I'm struggling to explain her, hopefully the next time I try it will be a little more clear.

Cincinnati girl was mostly a mystery to me until recently. She's 18 and goes out a lot with friends. She smokes cigarettes (about 10 a day) but keeps saying she wants to quit. I think she has a little bit of an alcohol issue, she thinks she drinks too much (and she probaly does for her age.) She's so friendly, always laughing and smiling. Her weakness comes from a lack of motivation and organization, which makes her untrustworthy. Good-hearted but lazy. Weren't we all at 18?

Denver via Long Beach girl is the most naive, socially and emotionally immature person on team. She is also 18. There's this airy nature about her, you have to ask her a question at least twice before she realizes you're talking to her. Sheltered her whole life, she can't cook or clean (she had maids to do that growing up.) Incredibly book smart, she is so unaware of her surroundings that it's impossible to know if she understands any implicit meanings involving the subject at hand. You can't hint at anythign with her. It has to be blunt and to the point, at which point she'll give you a blank stare and ask you to repeat it. She loves to sing broadway tunes or any radio song, which pisses about 50% of the team off. She doesn't pick up on any social cues, like body language or intonation. It's almost comical, but is really getting under some peoples skins. happy, smiling, bouncy.