I'm Baaaaaaaaakkkk!

Konichiwa!  Long time no see, reader-sans!  Sorry for the long hiatus.  I've been almost literally drowning in stuff to do lately, between normal high school stuff and college visits and applications and whatnot, not to mention that we've had a few familial surprises along the way as well (>_<).  Gomenasai!  *bows*  Anyhow, I believe I owe you all an explanation of my project in a little bit more depth than what I gave you over a month ago, so here it is.
Essentially what I'm planning to do is make a set of three textured murals to hang on the wall of the playroom at the AIDB Regional Center.  To construct these murals, I intend to collect materials of various different textures and combine them to form images which I will attach to piece of plywood or particle board.  The images that I'm currently thinking about using are Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, Yurtle the Turtle (haha!), and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  These are stories that my brothers and I grew up reading, and I figure that they will probably be relatively recognizable.  Plus, I have to incorporate a turtle in there somehow.  I am Turtle-chan after all!  In case the characters aren't as recognizable as I had hoped, I'm also going to be donating a Brailed copy of each book to the Regional Center as well.
The intent of this project is to encourage blind and visually impaired children to learn at an early age that it is a good thing to reach out and explore their surroundings.  Many blind and visually impaired adults are very dependent on others to help live their lives for them and it is more beneficial to be independent.  Also, learning to discern different textures will aid the children in learning some basics for pre-Braille and that will facilitate learning Braille which will, in the long run, make them more independent and more marketable for jobs.
Now, I obviously haven't really had the time to really get anything going on the project yet, but I do intend to really begin work during the winter break from school.  I'll probably be fairly active on the blog while I'm working on it, so you reader-sans should know what's going on every step of the way!
Part of what I have to do is create either a second blog or a website about the problem I'm focusing on, so whenever I make that I'll be sure to give you all information about it.  I guess that's about all I have to say for now, so I'll take this to say thanks to anyone who has been reading this blog and to let any of my fellow Scouts out there know that I seriously do want to be able to be helpful to you, so please ask me for help if you have any kind of questions!  Turtle-chan out!
Don't forget to keep rockin' and rollin'! (^-^)
- Turtle-chan

Mission Impossible: Possible

Yo!  I'm back again and this time with good news: my project was accepted!  And on the first try, no less!  I'm pretty proud of that, I will admit.  The picture below is a screenshot of the e-mail I received today, but it doesn't look so hot right now, so I don't know how it'll look when I post it.  Basically, it just says that I'm approved as  long as I agree to their terms which are listed in the e-mail and I have to get it done by next September because I'm a senior this year.

Now, I don't really have enough time tonight to go into detail on my project and I kind of want to do a separate post on that anyway because it's a pretty tough project to adequately and concisely explain, but I'll give you reader-sans a basic idea of what it is.

I'm going to be creating three textured murals to be hung in a playroom at the AIDB (Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind) Regional Center.  The title of my project is "Reaching Out" and that is because the textured murals will, hopefully, encourage the blind and visually impaired children who go to the regional center to reach out and explore their environments.  As part of my requirements given by the council, I will be creating a second blog or website solely for discussing the issues my project deals with.  Whenever I start work on that, I'll make sure to let you guys know so you can check it out too!

Well, that's all I have time for right now.  I have to go and do a bit of homework, but I'll try to give a more in depth explanation of my project within the next several days.  Don't forget to keep on rockin' and rollin'! (>0<)

- Turtle-chan

Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Konichiwa, reader-sans! (^_^)  I, Turtle-chan, have returned from my date with the Spanish Inquisition, a.k.a. the Girl Scout council.  No, it wasn't bad enough to merit calling them the Spanish Inquisition, but I couldn't resist the opportunity for a Monty Python reference (if you aren't familiar with the skit I'm referring to, here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tym0MObFpTI )  Unfortunately, the council is not permitted to tell you whether or not you got approved while you're there; I'll be finding out via e-mail at some point tomorrow, if you're interested.   Anyway, I'll give you a quick breakdown of how things went for me.
So, I got there a little early and was asked to sit in a waiting area while we waited for the other council members to get there.  After that, they pulled me in and took a picture of me to use as my headshot for the archives.  Once that was over with, we all just sat down and they started firing questions.  Now, you are permitted to have your paperwork and stuff with you and I'd also recommend bringing a writing utensil to jot stuff down with.  I'll admit that it's a little hard to start off--and that's coming from someone who does really well with presentations--but it gets easier as you go.  They'll guide you through whatever they want to talk about and you just need to kind of make sure you identify any possible questions they might have based on what you've sent in before you go if you want to be really prepared.
After we talked it over and they asked their questions and made some suggestions, they sent me out of the room for about five to ten minutes while they talked it over between themselves.  After they were done, I was called back in for another couple of minutes and they just made sure that I understood what we'd talked about and that I knew to check my e-mail tomorrow for the results.
Personally, I feel pretty good about it.  I think I basically nailed it, so I guess we'll find out tomorrow.  There were really only three things they commented on for alteration or addition, which, from what I've heard and read, is pretty good.  I'll try to update you guys on my situation tomorrow and if I got accepted, I'll make sure to start explaining my project.  The project itself is quite simple, but the problem it's geared toward is kind of hard to understand.  With any luck, you'll see what I mean soon.  Oh, and I think I've fixed the site to where anyone and everyone can comment if they want to; you don't have to be a BlogSpot member anymore, so bring on the questions, comments, and concerns.  I'll do what I can to give you help and answers!
Anywho, see you on the flip side and  keep on rockin' and rollin'!
- Turtle-chan

Update

Alright, I'm back for just a moment.  I wanted to let you reader-sans know that, as of right now, the date for the interview is 25 August.  That's next Monday, and the time is 6:00.  I'll try to post that night after the interview if I can, but if I have too much homework, you guys may have to wait a day or two.
That's all for now.  Keep on rockin' and rollin'.


-Turtle-chan

The Council Strikes Back

It's me again...  So guess what happened this time?  Three out of the four necessary council members for the interview can't come to interview tonight. (>-<)  Two of them are sick and one of them is out of state.  Have I ever mentioned how bad my luck is with things like this?  If I'm ever crunched for time, without fail, something will go wrong to make it take longer.  Every.  Single.  Time. (-_-)
Anyway, I have no idea when I'll actually be interviewing now.  The tentative date is next Monday, but who knows what'll happen between now and then.  I'll let you guys know whenever I find out.
Well, Turtle-chan is out for today.  I'm too frustrated to say anything else.  Keep on rockin' and rollin' and stuff.


- Turtle-chan

Doomsday Prepping

Konichiwa!  I'm back again, reader-sans!  Yes, my date with the Girl Scout  council is looming ever closer (as in, tomorrow at 6:00 for anyone who needs a refresher), so I thought I'd do a little preparation beforehand.
What I've done, since it's been so long since I sent in my paperwork, is I looked over the copies I made of the paperwork and re-familiarized myself with it.  I also went back over my sketches, measurements, photographs of pertinent spaces, and written plans.  From what I have been able to glean from my research and interrogations of other girls who have had their interviews already, you want to make sure you know your plans backward, forward, and anywhere in between.  If the council questions you about any part of your project, you should be able to explain it easily.  I'll be able to comment more on that after my interview, and I'll probably post again tomorrow to let you guys know how an interview should go down.
Another piece of information that's important to know before going into an interview is this: the council wants you to be in full uniform.  That means your vest, a white shirt, and khaki pants or skirt.  I am planning on wearing a khaki skirt because I hate khaki so I'm having to borrow my mom's clothes for that part and the skirt was more forgiving on my smaller hips, but you don't have to wear a skirt if that's not your thing.  Also, I've been told that your vest does not have to be updated, so if you're like me who has just recently joined a new troop and is either too busy or too lazy to sew on the new patches, you don't have to worry about it!  As far as the rest of your appearance goes, I'd probably follow the same rules as goes for any other kind of interview.  Just make sure you look presentable and keep in mind any more modern fashion trends that may be offensive to older generations.  How you look plays a huge part in how well an interview goes.
Well, I think that's all I have to say for today, so I guess I'll be signing off for now.  Wish me luck!  And, as always, keep on rockin' and rollin'!


- Turtle-chan

Something Wicked This Way Comes!

Konichiwa, reader-sans!  It's been a while! Gomenasai!  I've been crazy busy lately, what with summer homework and college applications and scholarship applications and school starting...  Yeah, it's been hectic. (>-<)
Aaaaannnyywaaayyy, that's enough of my whining.  How about some good/bad/I-don't-even-know-what-to-think news!  *cues drumroll*  I have a date for my interview with the council.  Actually, I've had the date for like a month or so, but I've been busy and I wasn't sure if it was going to change or not (with my track record, it probably would have), so I hadn't told you reader-sans.  I got an e-mail today from the lady that I sent my paperwork to, and she confirmed it.  My date with death--or the potential death of my hopes and dreams in regards to my gold award--has been scheduled for 18 August 2014.  That would be this coming Monday.
Now, I'm not going to go into any detail about my project until after my interview in case I have to totally scrap the idea (please don't let that happen!!!!!), but I promise that Turtle-chan will reward the reader-sans' patience after the interview!  I'll make sure to post again as soon as possible after the interview and try to give you all a feel for what to expect during your interviews since I have been unable to find anything on what to expect and I can't stand going into something blindly (yes, I'm a Type A personality).
Well, I guess that's all for now!  I'll get back to you, reader-sans!  Don't forget to keep on rockin' and rollin'!


- Turtle-chan

Hajime! (Beginning!)

Konichiwa, reader-sans!  Today is a beautiful day!  It's humid, the sun is covered by clouds, it was storming earlier, and it's really hot outside, but after eight grueling days of attempting to fill out the paperwork to set my Gold Award project in motion, Turtle-chan has just finished and mailed it all off!  (*cue fireworks*)  Now, in case you are curious, the paperwork is six pages long and extraordinarily convoluted at times.  I had to sort of sit there and stare at some of it in the hopes that I'd figure it out.  Needless to say, it's pretty tough to answer some of those questions.  The hardest part, though was dredging up the things I learned in elementary school in order to mail it off.  There is no e-mail for the paperwork, reader-sans.  Oh, no.  You get to use--wait for it-- snail mail!

Yep, snail mail.  As in, you have to get an envelope and stamps and go all the way to the post office and actually put it in a mailbox and everything!  Now, I can hear you guys groaning all the way from here, so I'm going to tell you to stop for a moment.  It's not that bad.  You guys hopefully know your own addresses and names and you can usually find the proper send address with a little help from Google or a phone book or what have you.  Then all you have to do is write it on the envelope, put the papers in, seal it up, and send it off.  Does it take a little more effort than e-mail?  Well, yeah.  But is it really so bad?  Nope!  Besides, it could be worse.  They could be asking us to fax it in.  I'm going to guess that most of you reader-sans have little to no idea what a fax even is.  For reference as well as a chuckle or two, I send you to this little comedic tidbit by the Youtuber Tobuscus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxDgQJBVJxg

Anyway, back to things that actually matter.  Now that I've sent off my paperwork, I have to wait at least three weeks for the council to review the paperwork.  Once they've done that, I'll be given the date of when I go to face the Spanish Inquisition--in other words, when I go to interview with the council in the hopes of gaining approval for my project. (By the way, if any council members read that and are feeling insulted, I promise it's merely in jest!)  After that, I wait another week for them to finish reviewing and I'll get word of whether I can proceed or if I have to repeat the entire process in order to fix things.  Now, I'm personally hoping I was OCD enough to get it done right the first time, but not having to redo it to fix things is virtually unheard of, so don't get upset if you get sent back.  I'm not going to tell you guys what my project is until I've gotten approval from the council, so as not to confuse you when I actually start working on things.

For anyone who wants or needs the paperwork to complete, here is the link: http://girlscoutsnca.org/wp-content/uploads/Girl_Scout_Gold_Award_Proposal.pdf

I think that's all I've got for now, so until next time, reader-sans!  Keep on rockin' and rollin'!

- Turtle-chan

"What is your quest?" I seek the Girl Scout Gold Award!

Hello, reader-sans, and welcome to my blog!  Allow me to quickly clarify about the title of my blog for any of you Boy Scout-sans out there who are getting upset with me right now: I have nothing against you guys.  As you may find out throughout the course of my blogging, I have a very special--and strange--sense of humor and the title fits it nicely. (^_^)  What I'm commenting on in the title is that the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is our equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award, goes largely unrecognized and is an insane amount of work.  I know the Eagle is too--trust me, I have several friends who are Eagles, my little brother is a Star Scout, and I've done work on several Eagle projects in the past--but I decided it was high time to give the girls their due!


Alright, now that that's out of the way, I guess you guys are wondering," Turtle-chan, why the heck are you even doing this?  Are you really that bored?"  The answer, my dear reader-sans, is no, I am not that bored!  This is just my way of killing two metaphorical birds with one proverbial stone.  I have been researching to get started on my Gold Award for over a year now with very little luck.  There is information out there, but it is put into such a confusing format that I've struggled to get anything done at all..  Also, I needed a way to get my project out there and raise awareness for it, so I thought a blog would be a fun way to do that!
Well then, now that I've said my piece, I'm just going to let you guys know that I'll be tracking every step of my quest to obtain the Girl Scout Gold Award and if there are any girls out there that want help with theirs, please let me know and I'll do whatever I can to assist you!


I'll catch you guys later and don't forget to keep on rockin' and rollin'!


P.S. Check out my profile if you're feeling confused about some of the honorifics and such.  It should make a little more sense then!


- Turtle-chan