Set Up 10 Days

This year ASP changed many things- one of which is that our set up was extended from 7 to 10 days.  Since I’ve been here I’ve discovered many things…

1.   The school’s internet restricts many of the websites we need, including gmail (keeping us from using our ASP e-mail)

2.   (… or really 1 continued) What a proxy server is.

3.   I don’t get cell service in the majority of Morgan County, including our center :(

4.   What a “Title 1” school is… Morgan Central Elementary is one of them!

5.   It’s a dry county, which isn’t all that unusual in the Appalachian region.  Whenever we cross the border to another county there is usually a store selling beer and/or liquor right over the line.

6.   We are pretty close to Winchester, the place where they make Ale 8 (a ginger ale sold only in Kentucky).  Can’t wait to go there on a Saturday or day off!

7.   We originally thought our only food options were Subway and a McDonald’s with the dining room closed, but since we have discovered many places to eat!  The Frosty Freeze has food and ice cream, which I’m sure our volunteers will be happy about.  We also found 2 pizza places, That Pizza Place and Little Caesars, and an interesting place called The Lemon Tree Restaurant

8.   There is actually a river called “Lickin’ River” in Morgan County

9.   We’re also home to Cave Run Lake

10.        Morgan County has one of the largest Mennonite populations in the country (we found them in Crockett, KY)

11.        Morehead is the closest city, the place where we’ll go when we need WalMart, Lowes, more food options, etc.

I have also learned a lot about the tornado damage in the area…

1.   A smaller tornado went through Index (where we are staying, right outside of West Liberty) a few days before the big one

2.   The big tornado that caused the destruction of West Liberty touched down for more than 90 miles

3.   It would have been an EF-5 tornado, but the mountains slowed it down to an EF-3

4.   It snowed the day after the tornado

5.   There was also hail surrounding the tornado, which caused additional damage to people’s homes and cars

6.   Still hearing different things about FEMA’s response to the tornado, for example, there is a house we will most likely work on that received some money from FEMA but doesn’t have the labor or skill to do the repairs. In this case we will have the family buy the supplies and materials with the FEMA money and we will provide the labor.  It turns out to be a win-win, since it creates more room in our budget for other projects, and they are getting the work done that they need.

7. The post office was in a portable trailer until TODAY when it reopened!  We set up our PO Box and the address (in case you want to send me anything...) is:

PO Box 576

West Liberty, KY

41472

Also, please like our center’s facebook page:

Facebook.com/aspmorganky

And check it for more updates on what I’m doing this summer!