I'm waiting here in the Portland International Airport to take my flight to Oakland, and then back to San Diego. I thought it would be a good idea to write here in the terminal to capture everything that I'm feeling right now.
Saying "good-bye" is the hardest thing to do. It amazes to realize how this past year has completely transformed me, in such a way that even I am concious of how much I've changed. Sitting in the airport today, it hit me that for the first time, I feel like I'm living my life to the fullest. I know that years from now I will look back and thank myself for taking on new challenges, and that my life has taken me through so many different experiences.
I am not a religious person, but I believe that all things happen for a reason. Everything that you do, all the people that you meet, all these small events are connected. I've always believed that my daily responsibility is to interpret these different events for their meanings and how they apply to my life.
I'm thankful that my life has intersected with the lives of so many people that inspire me and motivate me to become the best person I can be. I met so many, many people here at the Portland ABCs who are so passionate about social issues and dedicating their lives to create change, in their own way. Hands down, the best part about the ABCs was the people. I've learned so much from my peers, and I wonder in 15 years from now, what people will be doing to change the world. I remember in one of our workshops with Jillian one of the Flash questions was "If you had a superpower, what would it be?" I think my answer would now be to have the ability to look into the future of each person in Green Geese group and participant in the ABCs, and to see how they are impacting others with their lives.
I feel that now I have a better sense where I was, where I am, and where I am going.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
ABCs Day Six: The Rebuilding Center, Opportunities Fair
I'm at a loss for words now because there are no words in the English language that can describe the incredible people I've met here at the Portland ABCs. That said, as sad as I am about about the ABCs drawing to a close, I feel empowered. I know that the relationships that I established will continue and sustain into the future, and I also know that I have a network of support all around the United States. I understand the idea that "with dreams come responsibilities."
I really liked going to the Rebuilding Center today and seeing how their work impacts the Portland Community. I felt strangely at home in the large warehouse full of lumber, windows, doors, drawers, chandeliers, and a boggling number of miscellaneous shelves. Our first task was to sort through and reorganize sections in the lumber area, which I did with Eddie, Jarod, and Matt. I felt content as I usually do when I'm busy and getting dirty while volunteering. Sam, the Americorps volunteer, showed us around the center and gave us a great overview about the projects going on in the center. The center shares a unique relationship with the surrounding neighborhood, and makes me wonder whether the same kind of salvaging center, if implemented in Los Angeles or some other city, would be as successful. We've learned all this week about how Portland is the model "green" city for the United States, and I wonder if the system works only in Portland because of the unique "ingredients" this city has, or if the same sort of center could be recreated and adapted to work successfully in another U.S. metropolis. Either way, working at the Rebuilding Center was another great way to finish off a week of strong direct service, and was another experience that enriched my entire week here about learning to act as a steward to the environment. The education component of this trip was OUTSTANDING in every way, from the articles, videos, speakers, and the direct connection to the service we were doing. It makes me want to cultivate the same in my AB program at UCSD.
Service was followed by a couple of workshops on Recruitment/Selections and also on Site Development. I'm excited to work with the AB national trips this year, one which will definitely focus on environmental issues, the other which will focus on the same or possibly different issue. Like I mentioned before, learning about the incredible national trips other universities have arranged really motivates me to become a site leader in the near future, perhaps after my first year as a coordinator.
Shortly afterwards we had the Opportunities Fair and Community Dinner. I got to speak with several nature conservancy groups based in Portland and I'm excited to share the materials with the national trip site leaders this year. I even spoke to the CCS representative, who was also at the meeting, and even found myself asking her about issue-specific work at international host sites. They have to constantly balance between providing authentic volunteer experiences while at the same time, ensuring the safety and security of all participants. I understand more and more about the challenges other universities face when setting up international volunteering trips, and wonder how we can provide more meaningful education opportunities for our AB participants next year.
Surprise night was hilarious, where all groups put together a skit, and the Breakaway staff created their own on-the-fly skit as rebuttal. I'm amazed at the talent and the mutual fun-loving that we all have here at the Portland ABCs!
Our group got together again for our last night of reflection. I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow! Like I mentioned before, words cannot do justice. But I'll finish off this blog today by sharing with you what Justin said tonight, which was thanking everyone for reaffirming faith in people. I echo the same thoughts too. I've been so inspired by the integrity and the passion of everyone at the ABCs that it has reaffirmed my faith in people, and also in myself. Our Green Geese Group will create a listserv to keep one another updated and reconnect. It's been such an honor to work with a group of people who I think will truly change the world with their gifts and compassion for humanity. I want to bring this energy to my campus and also into my life to establish my own, unique, large or small way in which I will make a difference.
I really liked going to the Rebuilding Center today and seeing how their work impacts the Portland Community. I felt strangely at home in the large warehouse full of lumber, windows, doors, drawers, chandeliers, and a boggling number of miscellaneous shelves. Our first task was to sort through and reorganize sections in the lumber area, which I did with Eddie, Jarod, and Matt. I felt content as I usually do when I'm busy and getting dirty while volunteering. Sam, the Americorps volunteer, showed us around the center and gave us a great overview about the projects going on in the center. The center shares a unique relationship with the surrounding neighborhood, and makes me wonder whether the same kind of salvaging center, if implemented in Los Angeles or some other city, would be as successful. We've learned all this week about how Portland is the model "green" city for the United States, and I wonder if the system works only in Portland because of the unique "ingredients" this city has, or if the same sort of center could be recreated and adapted to work successfully in another U.S. metropolis. Either way, working at the Rebuilding Center was another great way to finish off a week of strong direct service, and was another experience that enriched my entire week here about learning to act as a steward to the environment. The education component of this trip was OUTSTANDING in every way, from the articles, videos, speakers, and the direct connection to the service we were doing. It makes me want to cultivate the same in my AB program at UCSD.
Service was followed by a couple of workshops on Recruitment/Selections and also on Site Development. I'm excited to work with the AB national trips this year, one which will definitely focus on environmental issues, the other which will focus on the same or possibly different issue. Like I mentioned before, learning about the incredible national trips other universities have arranged really motivates me to become a site leader in the near future, perhaps after my first year as a coordinator.
Shortly afterwards we had the Opportunities Fair and Community Dinner. I got to speak with several nature conservancy groups based in Portland and I'm excited to share the materials with the national trip site leaders this year. I even spoke to the CCS representative, who was also at the meeting, and even found myself asking her about issue-specific work at international host sites. They have to constantly balance between providing authentic volunteer experiences while at the same time, ensuring the safety and security of all participants. I understand more and more about the challenges other universities face when setting up international volunteering trips, and wonder how we can provide more meaningful education opportunities for our AB participants next year.
Surprise night was hilarious, where all groups put together a skit, and the Breakaway staff created their own on-the-fly skit as rebuttal. I'm amazed at the talent and the mutual fun-loving that we all have here at the Portland ABCs!
Our group got together again for our last night of reflection. I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow! Like I mentioned before, words cannot do justice. But I'll finish off this blog today by sharing with you what Justin said tonight, which was thanking everyone for reaffirming faith in people. I echo the same thoughts too. I've been so inspired by the integrity and the passion of everyone at the ABCs that it has reaffirmed my faith in people, and also in myself. Our Green Geese Group will create a listserv to keep one another updated and reconnect. It's been such an honor to work with a group of people who I think will truly change the world with their gifts and compassion for humanity. I want to bring this energy to my campus and also into my life to establish my own, unique, large or small way in which I will make a difference.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
ABCs Day Five: Forest Park Conservancy
I can't believe my week is already drawing to a close! It's been an incredible experience so far bonding with the people in my "Green Geese" group and also getting to know the other die-hard ABers at this conference. Tomorrow will be our last full day at the Portland ABCs and the thought makes me sad, because the community that we've spent this entire week building will go on their separate ways. Regardless, I think I've learned so much both from the workshops and the people that I've met here in Portland.
Today was by far one of the most exciting days of service we've had this week. We were assigned to work with members of the Forest Park Conservancy, which included Jeff and a few other Americorps volunteers. We fortunately arrived at our site without getting lost, which was the first time for our group! But even more, I think the most remarkable thing about our trip to the site was the fact that we only had to drive 20 minutes to become immediately immersed in the forest. I remember Matt mentioning later that he was so surprised to see that such a green, lush, and thriving wilderness could exist so close to a large city. This was the first time the entire week that our volunteer work took us so deeply into outdoors, completely "enveloping" us in it. The site made feel like I had stepped straight into the Jurassic Period into an ancient, pre-historical forest.
There are over 70 miles of trails that are maintained by the conservancy, and our group task was to create a turnpike for the Wild Cherry trail. Bethany and I made trips bringing large wooden slabs up and down the trail, and we did other work also. I learned how to use a palaski and to rip out large underground roots with my bare hands! It was work that truly made you feel connected to the environment, and trail regulars came and thanked us as they passed by. One man even stopped to talk to one of my group members and got thrilled about the Alternative Breaks national movement! He said, "I wish there were more people like you doing the work you're doing." The scenery, the people, and the cool chill of the Northwest morning kept our spirits up and for me, made it one of my favorite sites out of the entire week.
Service was followed by a vegetarian lunch (pasta salad and other amazing food) and workshops on Alcohol policy and Fundraising. I liked the reasoning outlined in the Alcohol policy and learning about the budget break downs for national trips. Learning about setting up and conducting a national trip has motivated me to lead one or participate in one within the upcoming years, perhaps after my year as a coordinator. Dinner was also great and was followed up with Social Night, where we went to a local park in Portland playing basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, and also completely crazy group games. I played Basketball and Frisbee for a while and then played Spud! and "Vegetable" afterwards. What I find to be truly amazing is how everyone in our group is so outgoing that people throw themselves into these games! Even "Vegetable"became pretty intense at the end with the competition, with Colleen, Sophie, and Jillian facing-off and making strange noises trying to scare each other.
I'm typing this now and feel sleep coming to me. More will come tomorrow!
Today was by far one of the most exciting days of service we've had this week. We were assigned to work with members of the Forest Park Conservancy, which included Jeff and a few other Americorps volunteers. We fortunately arrived at our site without getting lost, which was the first time for our group! But even more, I think the most remarkable thing about our trip to the site was the fact that we only had to drive 20 minutes to become immediately immersed in the forest. I remember Matt mentioning later that he was so surprised to see that such a green, lush, and thriving wilderness could exist so close to a large city. This was the first time the entire week that our volunteer work took us so deeply into outdoors, completely "enveloping" us in it. The site made feel like I had stepped straight into the Jurassic Period into an ancient, pre-historical forest.
There are over 70 miles of trails that are maintained by the conservancy, and our group task was to create a turnpike for the Wild Cherry trail. Bethany and I made trips bringing large wooden slabs up and down the trail, and we did other work also. I learned how to use a palaski and to rip out large underground roots with my bare hands! It was work that truly made you feel connected to the environment, and trail regulars came and thanked us as they passed by. One man even stopped to talk to one of my group members and got thrilled about the Alternative Breaks national movement! He said, "I wish there were more people like you doing the work you're doing." The scenery, the people, and the cool chill of the Northwest morning kept our spirits up and for me, made it one of my favorite sites out of the entire week.
Service was followed by a vegetarian lunch (pasta salad and other amazing food) and workshops on Alcohol policy and Fundraising. I liked the reasoning outlined in the Alcohol policy and learning about the budget break downs for national trips. Learning about setting up and conducting a national trip has motivated me to lead one or participate in one within the upcoming years, perhaps after my year as a coordinator. Dinner was also great and was followed up with Social Night, where we went to a local park in Portland playing basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, and also completely crazy group games. I played Basketball and Frisbee for a while and then played Spud! and "Vegetable" afterwards. What I find to be truly amazing is how everyone in our group is so outgoing that people throw themselves into these games! Even "Vegetable"became pretty intense at the end with the competition, with Colleen, Sophie, and Jillian facing-off and making strange noises trying to scare each other.
I'm typing this now and feel sleep coming to me. More will come tomorrow!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
ABCs Day Two: Pre-Trip Education, Strategic Planning
Hello Again. Once again I will try my best to type as fast as I possibly can because the internet is finicky here in the hostel and need to cover events from the past 1 and1/2 days! Here we go.
Today we began with breakfast at 7AM in the morning. Like I mentioned before, every single meal at our conference is vegetarian, and each one I've had so far is phenomenal. You have to be here to see how Amazing the food is, but anything from fresh and organic teas to fruit to homemade croutons, I've never eaten so well in my life. The next hour we started off the morning with Group Building activities. Jarod in my "Majestic Egyptian Green Geese" team had so many ideas from Zoom Zoom Urc Urc to this strange but fun "shooting eye" game, but each one was hilarious. We did all the activities in Couch Park, which is this gorgeous little park that is right across from the hostel---I'm repetitive and keep on using the word "gorgeous" here. We played blanket drop with Samantha (a great game, that I definitely want to implement in one of the Collaborative Retreats), an amazing game of flash with Jill, Human Knot with Crystal, and "blanket flipping" game with Kelly. These are great ideas and overall just the perfect way to start a day.
Afterwards, we trooped over to a local movie theater to watch our issue-based film, the 11th hour. What a great surprise! The movie theater, like many of the buildings in the district we're staying in, is a historical and restored movie theater with deep red curtains and historical interior. But even more phenomenal was the movie we watched. Earlier some of roommates and I were predicting what movie they would be showing to us, ruling out the possibility of them showing Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth because of its popularity. Almost no one among us had ever seen the 11th Hour before coming to the Portland ABCs. I was so moved that at certain points in the movie I cried, and I wonder if there any others who did also. But the strongest connection for me, and what I think the movie did a really great job at doing, was portraying the idea that humans are not owners of the Earth, but biological organisms that constantly need to be in balance with the environment. With the analogies the movie made, especially in the opening in the movie when they describe the Earth as "sick," as an organism with a festering crust, I saw it as the perfect analogy as person who studies biology. My words cannot do justice to how the movie impacted me. I think it would have perhaps been the idea of balance, harmony, the beautiful way in which nature finds it's own way to generate energy to sustain our planets vast ecosystems. It was phrased beautifully by the people who spoke, and like I said, words cannot do justice.
We had strategic planning after an amazing lunch at the movie theater, which was an informative section, but even more, made me make it a goal to determine how national and weekend-trip programs are conducted at other universities. This is something for me to accomplish this week. Reading time and dinner followed, and we gathered in "Secret Garden" to do issue-based Four Corners. We broke up into smaller groups and had in-depth discussions about the articles we read and our role as environmental stewards. I have to say that never before have I said so much, or contributed so much to discussions. Each and everyone workshop we had today, from the movie debriefing to the strategic planning tothe larger group discussions about the society's role in sustaining the environment, I always felt the need to contribute, and I did, passionately. I'm surprised at myself, for person who usually likes to stay quiet because I don't feel I have something of value to say. However, I just can't imagine a better group of people to open up to and share and bounce ideas. It's also made me realize that two years of taking nothing but math and science courses has not at all impeded my ability to contribute, to be passionate about an idea, and to express it. For me, rediscovering this part of my self that I had thought I had lost means the world to me. Talking about the issues today reminded me of the thrills and goosebumps I always had when taking English class and Comparative Government in high school. I've found them once again through the Portland ABCs.
Today we began with breakfast at 7AM in the morning. Like I mentioned before, every single meal at our conference is vegetarian, and each one I've had so far is phenomenal. You have to be here to see how Amazing the food is, but anything from fresh and organic teas to fruit to homemade croutons, I've never eaten so well in my life. The next hour we started off the morning with Group Building activities. Jarod in my "Majestic Egyptian Green Geese" team had so many ideas from Zoom Zoom Urc Urc to this strange but fun "shooting eye" game, but each one was hilarious. We did all the activities in Couch Park, which is this gorgeous little park that is right across from the hostel---I'm repetitive and keep on using the word "gorgeous" here. We played blanket drop with Samantha (a great game, that I definitely want to implement in one of the Collaborative Retreats), an amazing game of flash with Jill, Human Knot with Crystal, and "blanket flipping" game with Kelly. These are great ideas and overall just the perfect way to start a day.
Afterwards, we trooped over to a local movie theater to watch our issue-based film, the 11th hour. What a great surprise! The movie theater, like many of the buildings in the district we're staying in, is a historical and restored movie theater with deep red curtains and historical interior. But even more phenomenal was the movie we watched. Earlier some of roommates and I were predicting what movie they would be showing to us, ruling out the possibility of them showing Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth because of its popularity. Almost no one among us had ever seen the 11th Hour before coming to the Portland ABCs. I was so moved that at certain points in the movie I cried, and I wonder if there any others who did also. But the strongest connection for me, and what I think the movie did a really great job at doing, was portraying the idea that humans are not owners of the Earth, but biological organisms that constantly need to be in balance with the environment. With the analogies the movie made, especially in the opening in the movie when they describe the Earth as "sick," as an organism with a festering crust, I saw it as the perfect analogy as person who studies biology. My words cannot do justice to how the movie impacted me. I think it would have perhaps been the idea of balance, harmony, the beautiful way in which nature finds it's own way to generate energy to sustain our planets vast ecosystems. It was phrased beautifully by the people who spoke, and like I said, words cannot do justice.
We had strategic planning after an amazing lunch at the movie theater, which was an informative section, but even more, made me make it a goal to determine how national and weekend-trip programs are conducted at other universities. This is something for me to accomplish this week. Reading time and dinner followed, and we gathered in "Secret Garden" to do issue-based Four Corners. We broke up into smaller groups and had in-depth discussions about the articles we read and our role as environmental stewards. I have to say that never before have I said so much, or contributed so much to discussions. Each and everyone workshop we had today, from the movie debriefing to the strategic planning tothe larger group discussions about the society's role in sustaining the environment, I always felt the need to contribute, and I did, passionately. I'm surprised at myself, for person who usually likes to stay quiet because I don't feel I have something of value to say. However, I just can't imagine a better group of people to open up to and share and bounce ideas. It's also made me realize that two years of taking nothing but math and science courses has not at all impeded my ability to contribute, to be passionate about an idea, and to express it. For me, rediscovering this part of my self that I had thought I had lost means the world to me. Talking about the issues today reminded me of the thrills and goosebumps I always had when taking English class and Comparative Government in high school. I've found them once again through the Portland ABCs.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
ABCs Day One: Site Orientation
I'll to type this as quickly as I can so that my laptop doesn't run out of batteries! Today has basically been a whirlwind of traveling and orientations, but I'm having so much fun already and it's only Day One!
My day began this morning at 5: 45 am with a phone call telling me that my shuttle was running late. Had it not been for the phone call, I would have most likely overslept because I didn't set up my alarm correctly. Thankfully, I was all packed and ready go by the time the shuttle came. The 3-hour flight to Portland was short, smooth, and stress free. As we were approaching Portland you could see Mount Hood and the snow-capped mountain peaks that frame the city of Portland. From above, the city looks like any sprawling metropolis, but with green, green Evergreens all around the landscape.
Everything that I have heard about Portland before coming and seeing it for myself is true: it's gorgeous. I only got brief glimpses as our MAX train zoomed downtown through the Saturday Market, Pioneer Square, and Portland Chinatown. Everything has a historical and urban feel that reminds me of San Francisco, but is still unique and unlike another US city I've visited. I got lost briefly when I got off the train but from my brief stint I learned that everywhere you turn there are parks, trees, and buildings with historical architecture; our hostel is event registered as a historical site in Portland. I have the huge sense how of how much Portland is in tune with the environment and places value and energy into preserving its historical neighborhoods. The Northwest Portland International Hostel is one of the most widely traversed hostels in the U.S, each year serving 25,000 visitors and has been ranked 5th in the world on a survey completed by travellers, alternative break groups and the like. The hostel owners informed us today about the history of hostel, and once again, you can hear in their voices about how much value they put into creating community partners. I love it already.
My day began this morning at 5: 45 am with a phone call telling me that my shuttle was running late. Had it not been for the phone call, I would have most likely overslept because I didn't set up my alarm correctly. Thankfully, I was all packed and ready go by the time the shuttle came. The 3-hour flight to Portland was short, smooth, and stress free. As we were approaching Portland you could see Mount Hood and the snow-capped mountain peaks that frame the city of Portland. From above, the city looks like any sprawling metropolis, but with green, green Evergreens all around the landscape.
Everything that I have heard about Portland before coming and seeing it for myself is true: it's gorgeous. I only got brief glimpses as our MAX train zoomed downtown through the Saturday Market, Pioneer Square, and Portland Chinatown. Everything has a historical and urban feel that reminds me of San Francisco, but is still unique and unlike another US city I've visited. I got lost briefly when I got off the train but from my brief stint I learned that everywhere you turn there are parks, trees, and buildings with historical architecture; our hostel is event registered as a historical site in Portland. I have the huge sense how of how much Portland is in tune with the environment and places value and energy into preserving its historical neighborhoods. The Northwest Portland International Hostel is one of the most widely traversed hostels in the U.S, each year serving 25,000 visitors and has been ranked 5th in the world on a survey completed by travellers, alternative break groups and the like. The hostel owners informed us today about the history of hostel, and once again, you can hear in their voices about how much value they put into creating community partners. I love it already.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Pre-Trip Education
I'm a couple more days away from Portland and I'm stoked! In my goal to use this blog as an education tool to describe Alternative Break programs, I'll chronicle my experience every step of the way. I haven't had the opportunity to play the role of "journalist" in a while and have forgotten how fun it is to assume to this role. So I'll be your faithful Portland ABCs reporter for the next ten days "keeping it real" as best I can.
There are three ABCs conferences this summer that UC San Diego students will be attending. My friend Jack Korpob chronicled his experience in Biloxi, Mississippi through the following blog: http://abcs2008biloxims.blogspot.com/. Please check it out to learn more about Rebuilding Democracy and what it means to participate in Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. I'm also excited for Ashley Nall, who will be attending the Cincinnati, Ohio ABCs the week after I do. Her trip will focus on Urban Poverty and Renewal.
What's so great about the ABCs is that they are in themselves set up like a true Alternative Break trip. There is a pre-trip education component where students investigate relevant social issues prior to volunteering at the site. I mentioned earlier that the theme being dealt with at Portland will be Environmental Stewardship. Here are a few of the articles, video, and podcasts I've been receiving as part of our pre-trip education materials:
"I was lucky to have the right heroes. Tell me who your heroes are and I'll tell you how you'll turn out to be."
There are three ABCs conferences this summer that UC San Diego students will be attending. My friend Jack Korpob chronicled his experience in Biloxi, Mississippi through the following blog: http://abcs2008biloxims.blogspot.com/. Please check it out to learn more about Rebuilding Democracy and what it means to participate in Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. I'm also excited for Ashley Nall, who will be attending the Cincinnati, Ohio ABCs the week after I do. Her trip will focus on Urban Poverty and Renewal.
What's so great about the ABCs is that they are in themselves set up like a true Alternative Break trip. There is a pre-trip education component where students investigate relevant social issues prior to volunteering at the site. I mentioned earlier that the theme being dealt with at Portland will be Environmental Stewardship. Here are a few of the articles, video, and podcasts I've been receiving as part of our pre-trip education materials:
- www.storyofstuff.com This is a well-made video that is actually pretty popular and widespread. Several of my friends have seen it before, and even I've heard of a biology professor who played the video in class. I like how it's informative but doesn't take on a fatalistic tone that I've seen in other environmental sustainability videos.
- NPR Debate on "Global Warming is Not a Crisis" WOW. Before this debate I had never known any of the arguments and evidence for the opposition; the final vote is surprising! NPR brings together a panel of environmental experts, one of them a Scripps professor. More meaningful if you read more about Richard Lindzen.
- "What's Wrong with What we Eat" Talk By Mark Brittman. An interesting talk about the history behind modern day eating habits.
- Warren Buffet's Seven Secrets for living a Simple Life. So this is definitely not part of the pre-trip education materials I received, but it's a great article that I learned about from a friend. I'll end this blog with some of the passages I liked the most.
"I was lucky to have the right heroes. Tell me who your heroes are and I'll tell you how you'll turn out to be."
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Introductions
Hello friends! Here is my brand new blog, dedicated to recording my experience at the Alternative Break Citizenship Schools in Portland, Oregon. The conference dates are Saturday, July 19-Friday, July 25th and our service projects will be focused on Environmental Stewardship--hence the color scheme of this blog!
The ABCs cannot have come at a better time. I was looking through pictures from my first Alternative Break trip this year in Ayacucho, Peru, and found myself really missing the experience I had there. Ayacucho was gorgeous, unlike any other place I've ever been to. From the people we met, to the volunteer sites we worked at, to the city life and the vistas and the CCS house, those were 7 of the most unforgettable days in my life. It's easy to underestimate the impact that one week can have on you. My trip to Peru played a huge role in helping me reeaffirm faith in myself. It made me realize that volunteering is something I will always enjoy and want to incorporate into my life, regardless of which career path I pursue.
On that note, I'm so excited for Portland and have been looking forward to it all summer! My friend and fellow Peruvian, Adam McKinney, will also be attending since Portland is his hometown. I've heard so many things from people about how beautiful the city of Portland is, so it's great to be able to experience it firsthand! Today I spent time finalizing my travel plans, including printing my itinerary, booking the shuttle to airport, and picking up working gloves and eating utensils--in lieu of environmental stewardship, we were all asked to be bring our own plates, cups, and water bottles to the conference. After working and and preparing for grad school exams all summer, I think the Portland ABCs is exactly what I need to help recharge and and remember why I love Alternative Breaks so much!
The ABCs cannot have come at a better time. I was looking through pictures from my first Alternative Break trip this year in Ayacucho, Peru, and found myself really missing the experience I had there. Ayacucho was gorgeous, unlike any other place I've ever been to. From the people we met, to the volunteer sites we worked at, to the city life and the vistas and the CCS house, those were 7 of the most unforgettable days in my life. It's easy to underestimate the impact that one week can have on you. My trip to Peru played a huge role in helping me reeaffirm faith in myself. It made me realize that volunteering is something I will always enjoy and want to incorporate into my life, regardless of which career path I pursue.
On that note, I'm so excited for Portland and have been looking forward to it all summer! My friend and fellow Peruvian, Adam McKinney, will also be attending since Portland is his hometown. I've heard so many things from people about how beautiful the city of Portland is, so it's great to be able to experience it firsthand! Today I spent time finalizing my travel plans, including printing my itinerary, booking the shuttle to airport, and picking up working gloves and eating utensils--in lieu of environmental stewardship, we were all asked to be bring our own plates, cups, and water bottles to the conference. After working and and preparing for grad school exams all summer, I think the Portland ABCs is exactly what I need to help recharge and and remember why I love Alternative Breaks so much!
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