Journal Entry: Day 6

So much today! No painting, woke up around 9:00, which is weird for a service trip. We ate breakfast and we played cards. I walked between 45th and 60th Street on 4th and 5th avenue in Brooklyn passing out fliers for our Pastorela celebration. I was surprised at how well the fliers were received when accompanied with "Merry Christmas!"

Carla of Adelante Allaiance spoke to us today about immigration issues. She is such a vibrant, engaging, and inspiring person. She has worked so hard for the people she cares about. We later discussed how US has Mexico and other countries in an economic pinch, which can be cited as a reason for immigration to the US, where the economy is better and there is more opportunity for jobs. Carla said my Spanish could improve greatly by spending a month or so abroad in a Spanish speaking country.

All of us then volunteered at the library in Brooklyn, and I played video games with the kids. I felt comfortably in that environment, I think due to my past volunteer experiences and summer camp job. I;m glad to know there is community trust and I was not viewed as an intruder. The library is seen by the kids as a safe place. I noticed the same thing in the church basement at Convivio; there is an overwhelming sense of community trust, which seems essential for those living in Brooklyn. The community is a safety net to fall back on, and a support system to move forward. Later in the library, we spoke to two Chinese women who were getting English lessons: another reminder of the diversity in NYC.

Later that night, a few of us talked with Gerardo. We discussed technology and its inevitable integration into our lives. Also, we talked about how technology affects social interactions. I like to play devil's advocate in these conversations, which some people liked, and others were just annoyed by. We also spoke about ideas coming from beyond ourselves, our brains acting like antennas, as Gerardo puts it. We discussed premonitions in dreams, and creating your own reality. Gerardo also said he took a class where he learned that, if you want to accomplish a goal, you need to:
1. Desire the goal
2. Imagine yourself achieving the goal
3. Feel that you have achieved the goal and are living it

Gerardo also told us that some philosophies view the world as a school, or a fair. We can only be in awe and wonder of what we're witnessing. Carla and Gerardo seem to both have this attitude: delighted to talk to and learn from anyone, and thrilled about what lies ahead. They don't let weights of the world drag them down.

Gerardo also told us how everything we see was at some point someone's idea. Everything started as an idea, so if we have an idea, we can make it a reality.

Later, another student and I finished painting a banner for Pastorela. We talked about student attitudes on the trip. Our conclusion was that some of us were being immature. I think many people only rise to the level of expectations. Our trip leaders from UC did not set the bar very high, and students took advantage of that. Unfortunately, this prevents them from getting as much as they can out of the experience. They are hesitant to engage in the experience, and without a push from our UC trip leaders, they are more than happy to stay comfortable and reserved.

This is all a good reminder to stay engaged (which I admit is difficult and I don't always do a good job of) not only on this trip but afterwards also.

Video Games at the Library