Chantal: Post Trip Reflections

I can’t believe it has already been a week since we left New York! The trip was amazing! Honestly I didn't expect it to impact me as much as it did. I really loved the different ways we volunteered throughout our stay in NYC. One day we volunteered at a soup kitchen, another day we did random acts of kindness, and the last day we made PB&J sandwiches and handed them out to the homeless people. I really like working one on one with the people in New York. We got to talk to them and interact with them. We were able to hear some of their stories too. I think working directly with the people of New York allowed me to see them as humans with different backgrounds. Before this trip it was easy to lump all homeless people together, but now I see them each as an important individual person.

In fact, the most important thing I learned was probably to see everyone as a person that deserves attention and the right to be treated as a human. I think the people I interacted with taught me this. I loved that this trip allowed us the opportunity to not only serve the homeless but to also serve ordinary people. We handed out flowers to random people and broke down the walls that many people in New York have up. It allowed for a moment of intimacy and human to human contact in this busy world.

I would definitely want my peers to know that the serving does not have to be a super big and difficult thing to do. It can be as simple as buying someone lunch or giving away a flower. I would also want my peers to know that we don’t only have to serve the homeless but we can also serve each other to make the world a better place. I would convince them of these points by showing them the videos and pictures we took. However, I think the best way to prove this to them is to bring them volunteering with me.

I think the influencers of this community include the mayor, major business owners and the ordinary people who live in the community. I would want them to know that little steps in the right direction can make a big difference. I would also want them to change their view of the homeless in society. I think we often think of them as a nuisance, but we should view them as people who have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand.

Overall I had an awesome time serving in NYC and I can’t wait to serve here in Philly!

~Chantal

Michele: giving flowers away

This is a quick video taken soon after I ran after the conductor to give him a flower. Looking back, I would not have traded this ASB experience for anything. I got to meet more of my peers, spent quality time with friends, met new people, and helped others all at the same time. I learned that I can give back to my community in many ways, whether it is a simple smile or handing out a flower. I was really sad to leave NY, but I can’t wait to go back.

http://youtu.be/Pp_vaCtPLQs

- Michele Chai

A Quick Summary

Here is a video of the specific acts of kindness Maya, Michele, Chantal, and Monika did during Day Two of service. The quality isn't the best, thanks to my iPhone but I hope you can still get an idea of what we were doing. Featured in the video is us holding doors outside of Trader Joes, delivering a warm pretzel and hotdog to a homeless woman, and giving a working officer a flower in the middle on NYC traffic! There were many laughs and adventures throughout that day as we had to put our prides aside and interact/converse with total strangers. A great learning experience!   -Maya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHf6PstiEPM&feature=youtu.be

Joelle's Reflection Video

Here's a video with some pictures from our trip to NYC. I really enjoyed my time on this trip and hope this trip keeps going for years to come!
Joelle Rush


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EASTP65g5Js&feature=youtu.be

Monika's Moments:Gaining a Different Experience

Hi Everyone,

After some time to think about my experiences in NYC I decided to do a video slide show for my reflection (link is below). I learned a lot about the community as well as myself on this trip. I would recommend this trip and service project to everyone because you can help people and learn about yourself along the way. It was worthwhile and I can't wait for the next opportunity.

http://youtu.be/29gm488Ebho

Because We're Happy

Attached is a Flipgram ( http://flipagram.com/f/SUBTSohLkK ) collage made up of some of the great people we interacted with during our "Day of Kindness." As a group we bought a bouquet of flowers and handed individual flowers out to some people throughout Time Square who looked like they could use a little attention. These people varied from street cart vendors, some who were homeless, random new yorkers, show performers, children, police officers, and so much more. Although all of these people were strangers to us, I felt like for an instant we made a difference. The overall experience gave me the opportunity to not only get lost in city, but a chance to impact someone else's life with a little bit of positivity.

Oh... and some more pictures because I couldn't help myself!  - Maya

SUENING: HUMAN TO HUMAN

            It’s a little unsettling to know that today was our last day of service. I've gained such a great amount of knowledge about New York, the citizens of New York, the homeless, my peers, and most importantly, myself. The hostel we stayed at was way beyond my expectations. It gave me a great first impression of what a hostel is. Because it was my first time in one I was unsure of whether or not I’d enjoy it. After this weekend, I definitely do plan on visiting more hostels in the future. The people here were lovely and I was enlightened by the stories they brought with them.

            Today’s service was the most touching because of the mere fact that we had to go out and find the homeless. At the soup kitchen, they would have to come and find us. We saw them in their raw state. We communicated with them one-on-one. We entered their territory. The barrier that often times delineated them as homeless and us as the rest of society vanished. Instead of this experience being human-to-homeless, it was human-to-human. At around 10am, our group gathered around the kitchen and packed homemade sandwiches. To "step up" our acts of kindness, words of wisdom were written on the outside of each bag. The quotes ranged form being as simple as smile, today is a new day to more in-depth ones like change your thoughts and change your world. I thought that idea made all the difference; it gave the receiver a sense of hope and something to smile about and be thankful for. Around the afternoon, we all hopped on the train and went on our own excursions to find those we thought we were in-need of these packed sandwiches.

            This one man, who was right in front of me at the crosswalk intersection, appeared ill and wore ragged clothing. However, something about him said that he wasn’t homeless and it became a challenge deciphering whether or not I should hand him the bag of lunch. My intuition said that he was, so after we had crossed the street and the crowded group of New Yorkers dispersed, I approached him and told him that this bag was for him and wished him a good rest of his day. He looked at me confused, but replied with a simple thank you and walked away. As he was walking ahead, he kept on looking back. I was unsure why, but we continued to walk in the same direction. He waited for us to catch up and said, “The reason I said thank you was because I’m not from here. I’m on my way to renew my passport. I’m from Kenya. I’m here for cancer treatment. That’s why I look like this.” The man pointed to his face and then to the rest of his body. He then lowered his shirt and showed us his scar. “I’m almost done with treatment, so thank you for this.” He walked away. I was happy that this man took the time to wait up and share this story with us. It made me realize that though he was not homeless, this little act of kindness may have served as his beacon of hope –whether it was for a better tomorrow, better health, or better society. A little act of kindness, either to the obviously needy or not-so-obvious, can change someone’s world. It can give people that little boost that they need to continue their day, to keep on going. This service taught me to stop thinking that only homeless need help; there are plenty of people who live their lives so marginally close to the homeless, but probably receive less attention because they just aren't quite homeless.

            I am personally more than grateful for this experience. It was life-changing, and I wouldn't change a single thing about it. A big thank you to everyone who made this experience possible.

MONDAY, 16 MARCH 2015 || SUENING, BARBARA 19