Katlyn Andrews
Feb 26, 2023
Learning and Living at The Big Red School House
Heading South
On February 17th we started the journey down to Athens, Texas so I could begin my training to become a Certified RV Technician. The drive was just like any other cross-country road trip when youre on a mission; not much to see and as few stops as possible. We stayed at a couple of family-owned parks that I would definitley go to again. At Crowder Point Family Campground there were beautiful views and deer that joined us for breakfast! I'm looking forward to going back so I can really take in the scenery.
We Made It!
After roughly 20 hours of driving we finally made it to the place I'll call home for the next five weeks. When we arrived it was like a nice little family reunion for Scott. He saw and introduced me to some of the instructors as well as a classmate from when he was here. They are all so kind and helpful and I am looking forward to being in their courses! Something that was suggested to me right off the bat was to network, make friends, and get involved as much as possible.
A different lesson that sunk in fairly quickly is that the weather is crazier here than in Florida. One minute it is hot and humid, the next you're surrounded by dust because of the high winds. Even when rain isn't in the forecast it can pop up at any given minute and will down pour... Ask me how I know! I thought that Scott was being dramatic when he told me that the raindrops are the size of a fist, but they are pretty darn close. Regardless of the crazy weather, there are beautiful sunsets almost every night which I try to enjoy every second of.
Time for School
Man was that weird... getting up and ready to learn is something I haven't had to do in a while! Upon arrival I was still a little nervous about the whole thing. I'm alone, in a state I haven't been to, and am learning about things that I'm not incredibly familiar with. After day one I left feeling much more confident. The instructors are welcoming, ready to answer questions when they come up, and check-in for understanding while they are teaching.
This week was just the fundamentals. We spent roughly a day learning about each system and getting hands-on learning experiences. I was the most nervous about understanding electrical systems because that controls nearly everything in the RV. Todd did a great job explaining things in a way that I could understand. He even adds in a few funny stories so the topics really click! On day three we dove into propane and water systems, which I was a little less anxious about. Sue Rasmussen, a TA at the school, owns and operates Royal Flush RV. She specializes in tank cleanings, but is a great resource for water system issues and has the knowledge to help others with maintaining the health of their tanks, whether they are a student or a client. I am definitley looking forward to future learning opportunities with her, as dealing with the tanks really doesn't gross me out. The last few days consisted of reveiwing air conditioning, refrigerators, water heaters, and furnaces. What seemed like just a few short hours of learning gave me a good understanding of how each system functions. I feel that with the information provided I could give a diagnosis for any of the main functions of the system. As it turns out, I did not have much to worry about. This week went well, I met plenty of great people, and I am looking forward to the next four weeks where I will learn much more!