2013-10-02
I left home one month from today. Flew to the coast, a caterpillar with butterflies in her stomach, anticipating who and what I would find there. As the plane shuttled me from Chicago to San Francisco memories of home flooded me in a wave of emotions. The crunch of the leaves beneath my feet as I walked, lunch box in hand,...
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2013-10-02
After months of preparation and orientation, we were heading to our communities for real. I was the first to be dropped off, and my family arrived with balloons and flowers for me and pineapple cake for our entire group. My host mom, Tania, was crying and I gave “besos” to my host dad Jamie, 14...
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2013-10-02
For the past several years of my adolescence, I have always seemed to possess bitterness towards the world around me, appalled at how people could be so judgmental of who I am. Growing up in a predominantly Asian community, where there is a lot of pressure to succeed academically, and even more pressure to attend...
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2013-10-02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I38QT5UF2cs&feature=c4-overview&list=UU_WCLsUiZh7Y5bPOj8ek9cA
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2013-10-02
During my first three weeks in Ecuador, I was living in a bubble. My host family in Quito was well off and provided the comforts of Internet, plumbing, and a warm shower. My daily schedule consisted of spending time with other Fellows, which involved speaking English and being with people who I knew and could connect with. Needless to...
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2013-10-02
When I hear “Mariama(my name), ar nyameng(come eat),” from my host mother, Djalamba, I am immediately tremendously grateful for the opportunity to actively engage with my family members and community, even if I’m not really very hungry. Last week I was in my host site of the rural city of Kedougou and I was told...
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2013-10-02
There was an unusual buzz in the room as I was making my all too familiar turkey and swiss sandwich, I heard that there was going to be a presentation that day over lunch. I sat down and began to eat my sandwich quickly as I knew I also had to go to church that...
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