There are a lot of great things about being a Jesuit Volunteer. But the one that stands out the most to me is the rich community I became apart our orientation in August. This weekend I traveled to New York City and visited the communities in Brooklyn and West Harlem. Friday morning I departed from Washington DC on the Megabus and around noon arrived in mid-town Manhattan. I'm familiar with the area from when I participated in an internship there during the summer of 2008.
My friend Delphine, a JV in Brooklyn, met me in Manhattan where we spent the afternoon. I took the opportunity to re-visit the staff I interned for at Fox News Channel. I interned for the business news program, "Your World w/ Neil Cavuto." I had such a positive experience interning for that staff I could not wait to return and visit with them. It was fun to return to the energy of a busy newsroom and see many of my mentors. I speak often of my experience in NY and of my internship and when we were leaving the News Corp building, Delphine said , "Now I know why you speak of this place so often." I loved my experience in television news, and after my year of serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps I plan on returning in either the capacity of either producing or reporting, or both.
Reconnecting with the Brookyln and Harlem JV's was a blast. Friday evening we went out to a fun bar in Williamsburg, Brookyln. We finished the evening eating some delicious gyros bought streetside. The next day we were tourists and walked through Central Park and Greenwich Village. In the pouring rain we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and made plans to meet up that evening with Jesuit Volunteers visiting the city from Newark. It was a whirlwind of a weekend and Sunday afternoon I returned to my community in Washington. Last night our community had two of our JV support people and Jesuit liason over for an incredible dinner prepared by our Italian cuisine queen Laura.
The start to a new week begins today - countdown to Halloween: 5 days!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friends, Ben's Chili, Family, Rally
Last week was busy at Ramos House (my JV community house). Our program coordinator from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps spent the week living in our community. It gives her the opportunity to observe our daily interaction, eat meals with us, participate in spirituality night, visit our placements, and give us feedback on our community life.
The week was also busy for me with many visitors from out of town. My friend Blake came into Washington DC to spend the week with me and my brother Brian. Thursday my older brother Tommy arrived from Portland. He lived here for five years when we was attending Georgetown, so he enjoyed the weekend seeing Brian and I and several of his college friends who still live in the area. Friday my friends Delphine and Nick arrived who are serving the year as JV's in Brooklyn and Harlem. That Friday afternoon I played the role of tour guide. In the evening we went up to Georgetown to celebrate Brian's birthday.
On Saturday the JV's and my friends from out of town were fortunate enough to get a special tour of the Capitol. It was an amazing site, and in the near future I hope to sit in a session in progress. After the tour we made our way to Ben's Chili Bowl. This restaurant is just a couple of miles away from our house and is famous for being the only restaurant on it's street to survive and stay open during the 1968 race riots following the assasination of Martin Luther King. The walls are covered by many famous people who have visited the restaurant, including Hillary Clinton, Bill Cosby, and President Obama. The founder of the restaurant, Ben Ali, died less than a week ago.
On Sunday my housemates and I attended the annual Equality March and Rally infront of the Capitol where over 100,000 people marched for equal marriage and military rights. That day Blake, Delphine, Nick, and Tommy left town. It was a perfect weekend and I'm very grateful for their visits to Washington. My Jesuit Community and I always enjoy having guests and love to cook, so if you're ever in Washington don't hesitate to call on us.
The week was also busy for me with many visitors from out of town. My friend Blake came into Washington DC to spend the week with me and my brother Brian. Thursday my older brother Tommy arrived from Portland. He lived here for five years when we was attending Georgetown, so he enjoyed the weekend seeing Brian and I and several of his college friends who still live in the area. Friday my friends Delphine and Nick arrived who are serving the year as JV's in Brooklyn and Harlem. That Friday afternoon I played the role of tour guide. In the evening we went up to Georgetown to celebrate Brian's birthday.
On Saturday the JV's and my friends from out of town were fortunate enough to get a special tour of the Capitol. It was an amazing site, and in the near future I hope to sit in a session in progress. After the tour we made our way to Ben's Chili Bowl. This restaurant is just a couple of miles away from our house and is famous for being the only restaurant on it's street to survive and stay open during the 1968 race riots following the assasination of Martin Luther King. The walls are covered by many famous people who have visited the restaurant, including Hillary Clinton, Bill Cosby, and President Obama. The founder of the restaurant, Ben Ali, died less than a week ago.
On Sunday my housemates and I attended the annual Equality March and Rally infront of the Capitol where over 100,000 people marched for equal marriage and military rights. That day Blake, Delphine, Nick, and Tommy left town. It was a perfect weekend and I'm very grateful for their visits to Washington. My Jesuit Community and I always enjoy having guests and love to cook, so if you're ever in Washington don't hesitate to call on us.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Continually Grateful
Last weekend the southern-half of the communities in JVC East gathered for our October weekend retreat. Communities from Raleigh, Washington DC, Baltimore, Camden, Newark, and Philadelphia met in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (about 45 minutes from Washington) to spend four days together getting reacquainted on the mission of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. It was time for our community to reflect and check on how the past several weeks have progressed. We also broke into our Apostolate groups where we had discussions with other JV's who are working in similar placements. The weekend was very relaxing and offered some much needed time to revisit my personal mission of why I am a Jesuit Volunteer.
This week our program coordinator from the JVC is spending the week with us to observe our placements and community life. My college and hometown friend Blake is visiting Washington this week on his fall break; also coming this weekend are my brother Tommy and two friends from New York. It's going to be an active week and I am continually grateful for my experience in Washington as a Jesuit Volunteer.
This week our program coordinator from the JVC is spending the week with us to observe our placements and community life. My college and hometown friend Blake is visiting Washington this week on his fall break; also coming this weekend are my brother Tommy and two friends from New York. It's going to be an active week and I am continually grateful for my experience in Washington as a Jesuit Volunteer.
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