Home Away From Home

My name is Rowan and this upcoming summer will be my third year serving with AIA. I know the majority of people join AIA because a friend has recruited you after experiencing the trip themselves. But for me, it was my family that got me to join.

For me, AIA has become this home away from home that allows me to meet the incredible people that I’ve become grateful for. The relationships you build with the people you travel and live with as well as the people whose homes you’re repairing has made such a huge impact on my life.

Every year I look forward to this 10 day trip, one I can never seem to get enough of. The skills that I have learned from my first two years are ones that will continue to support me even after my years with AIA. I’ve learned to use tools I never would’ve thought I could handle and I’ve learned about experiences in others’ lives that are so different from mine.

Each year your experience is a little different, especially with the homeowners. But each year you have the chance and opportunity to help and support families in Central Appalachia who couldn’t be more happy to see us; the work we do on the family’s homes truly changes their lives for the better.

Additionally, before the trip, you’re assigned a group to travel and work with. You and the members of your group will practically become a family. Overall, every year the bonds made in our van are where I personally made memories to last a lifetime. Anywhere from screaming out lyrics of songs I had no idea what the words were to playing rounds and rounds of cards to getting bottles of water chucked towards me because AIA hydration is key, and I, in fact, was not and still I’m not great at it, but I can assure you it’s a work in progress.

Overall, our priorities are to serve the homeowners of Appalachia, which can be a daunting task with some hard work. The greatest outcomes of AIA come from this driven energy to serve people in any way, which is made easier when working with your group members who will guide and support you along the way. And by repairing these homes, we can improve the safety and quality of a family’s life; people who just need a little support and five days of our time.

So, finally, the AIA experience is very hard to explain. Any member who has been on the trip will say you have to go on it to understand that “AIA feeling.” Because, truthfully, the best way to understand it is to see for yourself, waking up on the first Monday of the work week and going to bed with a full heart on that last Friday after getting to know your homeowners and their stories.

-Written by Rowan Blumberg