Settling into The Main Center

Photo 1: Packed in the van. Photo 2: El Carambas Photo 3: Getting the groceries!

These are photos from the Road Trip to Eagle Butte, SD!

So this is our 3rd day in at the Main Youth Center at the Cheyenne River Reservation...and we quickly realized that we will not have much free time: we start at 9am and end with dinner by 9pm. It may be a long and tiring day, but we gain interesting experiences that we can learn from. From the morning until 4pm, we do activities around the Center before the children and teens come to the Youth Center. Then, starting at 4pm, we get to hang out with either the younger children or the teens. Some days we get a speaker or presenter come in to talk to us or the teens. For example, Wednesday we had a lawyer who represents the Lakota tribe talk to us about certain laws/treaties that we made in regards to Native Americans. Thursday, we had a representative from University of South Dakota come in to talk to some teens about possibly going to their university. After the dinner, we have reflections about our experiences during the day. Overall, it is really fun!! :D

Here's 25 Dollars for God's Love

Oh my gosh. Hey guys. It has been such a busy/awesome/crazy past couple of days. I honestly can't remember the last day I blogged. I think it was Monday night. I was going to update you on more of what we did on Monday but then Tuesday and today got super busy.

Anyways one major event on Monday was definitely working in the God's Love Kitchen. Can i just say God's Love is amazing. They really have made strong connections with their clients and their system of giving out meals is extremely impressive. The building itself is so nice, and the kitchen is well equipped. The staff are so friendly and always make sure that we are okay, well fed, and instructed. It's awesome that GLWD not only feeds patients with AIDS but also has expanded to help those that can't get out of their houses. They really strive to provide healthy meals and they don't question anyone who needs food. The only criteria is that you have to have some illness.

In the kitchen the cooks taught us how to chop onions, package meals, and label entrees. That's pretty much what we did on Monday. Unfortunately, as briefly mentioned on Monday's post, Lexie's finger got cut with a very sharp knife and so she and Holly went to the hospital. The good thing though was that GLWD was able to still keep Lexie involved with other tasks so that she was still able to be apart of the process =). Good news: Lexie's finger is okay and recovering!!!!! =)

Tuesday: what a day. We woke up at 615am and went to bed at midnight. Nonstop. We did meal deliveries on wheels yesterday. Everyone in the team (except Sarah and Adriana) was paired up with a local driver. They didn't have enough drivers for everyone so Sarah and Adriana cooked in the kitchen and learned to make seafood casserole!! yum. Anyways, everyone had a different experience with their driver. Speaking from my own experience, I loved my driver, my route, and the delivering food. It was challenging at first though because I was super tired and also my driver was new to the system, didn't know the route, and forgot his GPS charger. When the GPS died we spent a good hour trying to find a place to buy a charger. He was frustrated, I was tired, and we were wasting a lot of time. Fortunately we found a charger and got the route started. Everyone who received meals was very gracious. Some people invited me in, some people gave tips, and others were simply friendly. However, I did notice that some of the clients were a bit worn out or had difficulty smiling. Many seemed to have a tough "outer shell". For example, I delivered one meal and the lady was a bit rude and was like "you're late" but as soon she realized I was new and as soon as I smiled and apologized she seemed to have felt bad. Many incidents like this occurred. I also was expecting all the apartments and houses to be run down but actually a lot of the houses were very nice and spacious. It was cool that GLWD didn't refuse to help these people even though they might have had money.

My driver's attitude was a bit challenging. We were on a new route in Brooklyn and he was not familiar with the streets or clients. He was complaining a lot and I was having a hard time being sympathetic. But after he explained to me that on the previous Friday he had been robbed at gun point, and then on the next day he had gotten the GLWD van into an accident, and that today he forgot the GPS charger, I realized that maybe his complaints were valid. I was shocked that he was robbed at gunpoint and how well he was handling it. It was also interesting to learn about his background as a citizen from the DOminican Republic and as a freshly graduated highschooler working a job that forced him to wake up at 4am and sleep at 6pm, 7 days a week. A very different life from what I have.

The group then got back together for a bit and decided to split up to do separate things.

A bunch of us went to NYU and chilled in Greenwich Village. It was amazing. It was like the DIAG but wayy cooler with a circular fountain thing in the middle and a huge arch. Everyone was so trendy!! Also, it was nice watching other people do homework while knowing that I would be done for the next 4 months ;)

AFter NYU, I went on a run to Central Park, while Sam, Lexie, Holly, and Ashley napped in the church. Sarah and Adriana went to Central Park a bit after to walk around. CP is amazing. Everything is in full bloom, tons of people walking their dogs, and TONS of runners. Also there was many playgrounds, bridges, rock sculptures, and bikers. It was like heaven for me.

After the run everyone got ready for a comedy show. The comedy show in itself could take up an entire blog. There were a lot of reactions to the show and many different emotions. I will probs write about that tomorrow.

Also, one thing. Nathaniel made a very racist joke in front of the Haitian desk man named Giovanni and it offended many people. We had a huge discussion today during dinner about how we should react to Nathanial racist joke and how we should go about dealing with it. I know my struggle with the situation was that after Nathaniel said the joke I got offended on the inside and now I am having a hard time being polite or friendly towards him. It's been hard for me to be near him even though I feel bad for him. I asked the group their feelings and it sparked a huge debate. I know that everyone thinks what he did was unacceptable but how to go about it was a topic that I wanted answered. Adriana's view point about handling the situation with love was something I really could relate to. I think that although Nathaniel was wrong, that we should understand not everyone has been taught what's right and wrong, and Lexie commented that even when we know, we still sometimes make mistakes. I think that we shouldn't judge Nathaniel but that we shouldn't necessarily keep quiet. I think that we need to be kind towards him because he may not understand his rudeness but that maybe there's a way we could speak up about what he said. Ashley made the point that yes we need to understand where he's coming from but that if we just say we understand and let his comments slide then nothing will change.

This conversation also related to the comedy show. Many jokes at the show were racist, crude, or dealt with making fun of identities in a very rude way. The question was and still is: if we agree that Nathaniel's comments were unacceptable and that we should speak up, then why weren't or aren't we bothered with the comedy show? This is a question that has been really hard for me to answer and got our whole group thinking. I know that I CAN"T stand humor about crude sexual things. It makes me feel very uncomfortable and devalues the beauty of being a certain sex and intimacy. However, why didn't I walkout of the show like Holley and Ashley. I think it's because, for me, I know that not everyone deals with oppression the same way I do. Some people joke about it. Are the jokes acceptable....I don't think so. However, it seems to me that the comedians realize their jokes are JOKES and not reflective of their actual beliefs. Some people disagree with me on this. And honestly, I'm not sure about what the comedians believe. However I do know that a lot of comedians deal with life's struggles by making fun of themselves and others. Their view: life's too short to be taken too seriously. Not my view, but a view to consider. I think it's important to realize not everyone deals with things the same way, not everyone has been brought up the same way, but understanding, love, and openness can help bridge gaps. I think that there needs to be communication and awareness of how jokes can hurt people. But I believe that being angry about it isn't going to change anyone or anything. I think there needs to be an effort to make others aware of their actions but through LOVE, UNDERSTANDING, and KINDNESS.

Phew. Me and Sarah went on a long run and talked about this today. It was great. I love my group and I am so thankful to be here and challenged.

Okay also fun events of the day:

Ashley, Me, Holly, Adriana, and Sarah made walking deliveries and met an amazingly beautiful lady client who was so gracious, talkative, and lovely.
Sam and Lexie went to time square to do deliveries and got to go to the MnM store and Hershey store afterwards
My walking group got to see J Lennon's apartment complex and Strawberry fields
Me, Holly, Adriana and Sarah talked for a LONG time in a cute european cafe about LIFE (roommates, the trip, etc.)
Lexie, Ashley, and Sam went to the Museum of Natural History and saw gems from Sri Lanka (woot woot I am from there)
We all went to times square and Me, Holly, Adriana, and Sarah saw MAMMA MIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All i can say is that we were dancing queens by the end of the show ;)
Lexi, Sam, and ASh went to the rockerfeller center and we all got put on the big screen in Times Square!
Finally we had nasty froyo at Tasti D Lite. Me and Sarah are going to complain on Yelp.
Sarah and Me went on a long run and had deep convos about social justice
Oh yea...Adrianna locked the key in the shower. Oops. But now she's trying to pick the lock with a bobby pin. Good times. Me and Sarah washed our hair in the sink as a result. Haha. So fun!

okay...I need to go to bed. We are waking up at 615am tomorrow....AHHH. SO EARLY.

XOXO
Dayani and GLWD

PS: not checking grammar, spelling, or anything. Sorry if none of this is readable. I am tired haha.

Images coming soon =)

Twende Bluluu!

We woke up gradually, without setting any alarms, since we didn't have a specific time to leave or arrive in NOLA (except for check-out, I suppose). We ended up leaving around 10:45ish, and drove from Memphis to New Orleans, with a quick Subway/gas stop in between. Some of us were really shocked to see how flooded some areas were, especially around the Mississippi River. As we got into New Orleans (finally!), we drove over a bridge/raised highway that was really cool and swampy. The drive, as we'd hoped in our last post, was pretty uneventful.

After getting over the cool bridge, we saw a lot of palm trees and got kind of excited because we knew we were getting close! We managed to avoid getting lost, despite having three sets of very different directions, ultimately trusting the TomTom. Seconds after we arrived at the church we're staying at, before all of us even got out of the van, we saw a trolly come down the middle of the road and decided we had no choice but to take it wherever it goes at some point during our trip.

Pastor John gave us the grand tour, along with some pretty interesting details about the church (like the division of various religious sects in NOLA before the Civil War, finally rejoining right before WWII). The church is gorgeous, and both the kitchen and bunkroom are huge! Also, we are all really excited that there are enough showers for all of the girls to take showers at the same time, which will save us plenty of time getting ready.

Pastor John told us more about the trolly, and directed us to the nearest Winn Dixie and Starbucks for groceries and WIFI to post this blog. We expect to be back each night (or every other night-ish) to add to the blog.

And Keegan just asked some strangers about the origins of "Who Dat," receiving some pretty interesting backstory (I'll let you look it up yourself, if you're interested!).

Also, we learned from Pastor John, a Swahili professor at Tulane University - he accepted the position after Hurricane Katrina claimed the life of the previous Swahili professor - how to say "Go Blue" in Swahili!

Twende Bluluu!

Love and Jambalaya,

The PNOLA Team

"The snake is really cold, so he ain't biting anything right now."

Day #5 was definitely warmer, which we all appreciated. In the morning, we hung out at the theater and cleaned up a little bit, then worked with a few schools groups for the rest of the day. Some of us went and played putt-putt and others were at the theater helping with various activities. Ashley & Devon spent the rest of the day in the pool with the kids, and got a bit sunburnt in the process! Liliya, Kelly, Meg, and Nicole helped one of the staff members clear brush that had gathered since the burn ban had been placed on Texas. After that, we all went and gathered river rocks for the younger kids to paint tomorrow, and we were taken on another nature-y tour to Centennial Creek, which is right along PKRC property. It was really pretty (pictured above).

The rest of the day will be spent doing a little laundry and cleaning out the cabins for the overnight retreat that will be happening on Friday. Tomorrow we're going to spend the day with the little kids (4-6 year olds) and then we will be heading to Austin, TX for a Cinco de Mayo dinner!

^^ Kelly and Liliya with the cold snake!

~Devon & the PKRC team

The Main: Getting to Eagle Butte, South Dakota :)

We left Ann Arbor Monday morning packed into one mini-van with 7 people and all our luggage and donations. Very quickly, we became very "close" to one another. We drove through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and then finally stopped in Rochester, MN for the night. Driving from Wisconsin to Minnesota over the Mississippi River, we saw beautiful scenery!! Gorgeous! In Rochester, MN, our group member, Abby, found out from a friend about a Mexican restaurant that was supposedly good and cheap. To our pleasant surprise, El Carambas was amazingly good and the people were very friendly--even letting us use their sombreros for pictures!!
The next morning, we started our journey with a stop at the coffee store, which we found out was only drive-through. However, the cashier let us get out of our car and order our drinks. It was a funny site! Then, we set off to South Dakota. While in South Dakota and in a larger city, we decided to buy groceries because their are no large grocery stores in Eagle Butte. After purchasing groceries for 7 people for almost 2 weeks, we had to cram all the groceries into the car, which was already packed--on TOP of US!! It was one of the most packed cars that I have ever seen!! (pictures will follow :)) People in the way back, who could not move, got good at jumping over seats to get out to stretch their legs. After 4 hours of this compactness, we were excited to have arrived to Eagle Butte, SD! The long-term volunteers were very friendly and helpful. Being exhausted from the trip, all of us fell asleep quickly! We were excited for the next day! :D

"Do y'all know where you're goin'?" ... "No..."

PKRC has made it to Texas! We just got internet up and running, so apologies for not updating y'all sooner.

Day #2-- We only ran into a little bit of Twister-style rain and a traffic jam during the rest of the drive, but lunch at Cici's Pizza made up for it a little bit. Once we arrived, two of the PKRC staff members took us out to Texas Roadhouse, which was amazing. Pictured below is us there with our awesome waitress.

Day #3-- After having a tour of the facilities (which include everything from a pool to a putt-putt golf course to an actual Cinemax movie theater with light-up ceiling), we hung out with a few of the school groups, had lunch with them, and then we headed to a blood drive to benefit a friend of PKRC. Then, after a quick trip to Walmart for groceries and a nap, a late night game of Taboo led to watching Tangled in the movie theater (complete with popcorn-- be jealous). Pictured below is us by the theater entrance.

Day #4-- We spent the day hanging out with PKRC's nature guide and a few awesome camp attendees. We took a walk all throughout the woods, and we found a real arrowhead! The picture below is us at the river. We got to learn about a lot of really cool plants and flowers and animals that are native to the area. We also fed and petted Wilbur the pig and Otto the cow, and learned how to drive golf carts (ridiculously fun).

Hopefully I can update more tomorrow!

~ Devon and the PKRC team

True Life: We Hate Roundabouts

After months of planning and quite a bit of chaos, the PNOLA group has finally left Ann Arbor! We left Ann Arbor this morning around 8:40, a little later than intended, but it wasn't a catastrophe (especially because we had so much food that cheered people up!). Janine drove first, followed by Chelsea, and Yanet. The drive was long (and began with some really confusing roundabouts), but pretty eventful - for example, less than an hour after departing, we were in conversations about the meaning of life and understanding of religion. We spent a while jammin' to Janine's iPod, and most of the group got in a good nap at some point. Keegan really liked taking pictures; maybe he should be the site historian! Either way, I know that we are going to end up with some awesome photos!

We stopped a couple of times for bathroom/snack breaks, but never for more than ten minutes or so. That certainly helped us make great time, AND have time for a hilarious round of peg-game or two at Cracker Barrel in Jackson, Tennessee.

After we left Cracker Barrel, we met one of Tennessee's finest when he pulled us over for "going too slow in the left lane, which is for people doing 70 or above," he said. For the record, the speed limit was 70 mph, and we were doing, you guessed it, 70 mph. We think he was picking on us out-of-staters, especially because he asked everything about our trip but our favorite snacks. On top of that, he was generally rude.

All-in-all, we learned a lot about eac

h other on the trip already, and we haven't reached our final destination yet! We still have another 6 or so hours to go tomorrow, but we don't have a specific time to leave yet because we aren't expected until late anyway. Tomorrow, hopefully, will be fairly uneventful, with just the rest of the trip, a grocery trip, and "checking in" at the church we're staying at.

Also, Keegan is looking forward to getting asked "Who Dat?" so we're kind of considering paying someone to ask him...

Love and Jambalaya,

The PNOLA Team