Science lessons.

I don't have much time to write an epic post from my travels as of right now, but I wanted to check in. I have an interview (finally someone called me back!) to work at a rehabilitation center in about an hour and a half. I figured I would leave you with a sketch while I was oot and aboot.

What the hell is that?

Ever wonder why it is that some people are able to sneeze after looking at a bright light, or a glancing at the sun to help them get that sneeze out? I say some people because I am one of them. I also say some people because I had found out that that sensation does not happen to everyone. It's genetic.*

My memory might be a little hazy on this, but I remember looking up what made some people sneeze after looking at a bright light, and it has to do with an optical nerve rubbing up again a nerve that controls your nose. Your sneeze button, I'd like to call it. That particular sketch is of the trigeminal nerve nuclei, which is one of the main (or might be the main nerve). I was so inspired during work back when I was at Eastern I decided to draw it for the hell of it.

*Note that I am not a scientist, and I am recalling from memory...if you actually know why or how the whole process works then I would love to learn it all over again! If not, then well...that's what I remember reading. I'll probably look it up later when I have the time. Adios!

Revision. In a good way.

Heeeeey...it's been a while!

So sorry about that.

Well, this is probably the shortest Ameri-blog the world has ever seen. But, no fear. I shall continue steadfastly updating, even briefly, about the entire experience volunteering.
But first let me re-orient you, dear reader, on where I have been tossed and turned within the past year. I believe we started in Vinton, Iowa, for training/home base. Then it was to YMCA Camp Ohiyesa, in Holly, Michigan. This leaves us with:

West Branch, Iowa
Coralville Lake, Iowa
North Port, Florida*
Joplin, Missouri*
Madison, Wisconsin
Marquette, Michigan

*I did not originally intend to go there this year. But I am quite all right with that.

So that's a lot to update you on, and I will be thorough enough with everything myself and my Oak 3 team did, for now I am just reveling in the glory that is: constant connection to the internet. Which explains a huge reason as to why I never really bothered-to/had-the-time-for/really-wanted-to-but-couldn't update in my blog. Take your pick.

I also have lacked in any sort of update in artistic endeavors, and for that I can wholeheartedly claim that to laziness. I really should have worked on more when I wasn't working, but I did manage to sneak in a few pieces of the artistic me while serving the corps. I leave you  (not for a whole year! I'll come back fairly soon!) with a photo from a part of the mural our team painted at Camp Ohiyesa in the dining hall.

I also have an obsession with trees. I guess it comes in handy when you're asked to paint a mural full of them. 

This was actually a pretty proud moment for me, because it will forever be seen by kids every summer (unless they decide to tear down the building but I doubt that will happen anytime soon). This particular tree was a mock up of an oak tree on the grounds that is roughly about 500 (I shit you not) years old. It is also my favorite because besides sketching all of the trees, this one was to left to my own devices.

It's been approximately almost one week since I've been back. I miss everyone in the NCCC, but man, I am glad to be home. Also, today is Thanksgiving! Good times!

A realization the other day came to mind when I looked at my heading. Where are the sketches? I've been slacking hardcore about showing any kind of proof that I can even draw. My pants will eventually be on fire if I don't do something about it, and pants are expensive. So without further delay, we'll come to the first of the sketch turned artwork.

If the names Antoine de Saint-Exupery or The Little Prince sound familiar to you, then this will be a brief nostalgic moment. If not, then I suggest you to check it out even though it's a children's book. We're all kids at heart, right? Either way, it's aesthetically pleasing and a nice tribute. A little background story, I made this with the intention to give as a gift to a friend who loved the book...a year or so later I finally got around to it. (There's that slacker in me again)

Photo from the book that I referenced:

And my little re-creation: