It's so hard to have the patience to sit here and type an email! All I want to do is hang out and interact with the group of amazing people I have been extremely fortunate to spend the past week with. Our orientation in Seattle is over, and tomorrow we leave on our nine week voyage across the continent!

Before orientation, I was excited about biking across the country, but this week's activities have made the trip much more meaningful to me. Already we have visited an urban youth project called "Bike Works," which is a non-profit group that has set up a bike shop in a low-income area of Seattle with limited options for youth activities. This shop has several programs that allow the local youths to build and keep their own bikes in return for shop work time (24 hours = a bike). It was great to play games with the youths and speak with the owners. I wonder if our interaction with them had any meaning to the kids . . . personally I learned a lot from the program, because I saw that a dedicated team of people really can make a difference in the lives of many. It is interesting to note that one of the employees of the shop was funded by Americorps, funding for which will run out next year due to governmental cutbacks in the program. In visiting this small shop in Seattle, it was easy for me to see the direct impact these government cutbacks may have on the lives and futures of the kids in this community. Through the teaching and mentorship of the shop workers they have a greater opportunity to learn, grow, and be productive. Something to think about. I hope every community we encounter has as much to share.

Cherlyn Seruto