LeaderworX
Heyyyy Livejournal!
Krystyna here.
The Montreal trip was fun. It was so nice to be able to hang out and enjoy the young summer in such a cool city. For once we experienced classy wining and dining, much unlike the typical pregaming drunkery that we're reduced to at school. Now that I'm back, I'd love to go to a club or bar but.. wait.. I can't do that. As one of the confrers here said, they can send us to war but we can't drink..? Not that I want to again, but it would make things simpler or something. We left the city on Saturday and drove until we got to NY state. Had some McDonalds/lunch there and then arrived later in Hartford. I rushed around on campus for a bit, gathered all my things, and was off to the train station with my other two roomies. We all took the same greyhound into NYC, and then split up at Port Authority. I waited around for the Clark bus, and then took it to Dunkin Donuts. Kyle picked me up before 10:00 PM, we had a latte to start the summer off right, and then went over my house where the hardwood tiled had been newly- but incompletely- placed on the living room floor.
The week I was at home I pretty much just hung out around the house and visited doctors/ made appointments. I started watching Heroes, as Kyle urged me to. I saw an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor, and went to the Eye Doctor as well- got new contacts and glasses. I got a haircut and donated 10 inches to Locks of Love. I helped Rosa wash her car/orca whale and watched La Fea Mas Bella sin entender nada. Or just poco. I had Rosa & Bryan, Kyle, Ben & Terri over one night, too. Out of lack of options/last minute planning we watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I enjoy seeing multiple times anyway. Then Friday night I went out to Applebees with Jen and Colleen and had so many laughs with them. I was really glad to have seen most of my closest home-friends during that short time period.
I was supposed to be in Princeton at St. Joseph's Seminary by 4:00 on Saturday to start my summer work program. I packed up and organized some things during the day, and then my mom and brother took me down with my stuff. I was a bit nervous and awkward that first day, but things have really been great since. There's about 15 guys and girls in the group, and everyone is just really open and friendly. We've been having a lot of laughs and good conversations. I'm one of the youngest people here. Many are, or have already graduated, as Theology majors at Catholic Univsersities. We'll be living and working together for the next 2 months and as of now I really can't forsee any conflict; I think all of us are having a great time just getting to know one another.
So the program I'm doing is called LeaderworX. St. Joseph's Seminary used to be a Vincentian Seminary but now it is used as a retreat center, residence for some of the older confreres, and the site of summer programs such as JustixeworX and ServiceworX. As a Vincentian seminary it follows the tradition of St. Vincent DePaul, and promotes solidarity with the poor through charity work. The two youth programs I mentioned are essentially Catholic Social Justice teaching immersion experiences meant for Junior High and High School students. The older, LeaderworX community is training to leasd these programs during the summer and help teach and counsel the kids when they come. We'll each be assigned to a group of kids, and to a certain worksite in Trenton where we'll be performing community service during the week. Then we'll have discussions, talks and activities back at the Seminary in order to link everything back to our Catholic faith and our responsibility, as religious people, to live and act in the world.
It's a bit daunting that I might be a model for young people who are still forming their personal and religious identities. It's scary that I'll have to share my life story with them and express my religious beliefs, when I'm not certain I understand them myself. I think it's great, though, that we might help put these young people on a track of a more meaningful faith life and a commitment to justice and service within the community. I think I'm going to learn so much this summer. I'll learn from/about the experiences of all these people I'm living with, I'll get a better understanding of certain Theological elements and Social Justice Teaching. I'll have to overcome certain challenges, and in the end it may help me better understand myself and define my plans for the future. It's funny, cause when I was looking on idealist.com for internships and I saw the LeaderworX office I can't say I was really excited about it. I just felt like it was almost expected of my that I'd go.. destiny, or something. And I'm sure that it'll will be a great, worthwhile experience.
The meals here are good; we get to talk to the Vincentians who are living in the complex. We've gone on two hikes and worked in the garden here. We'll also be visiting our work sites in Trenton, and this weekend we're going to Washington D.C. for the Bread for the World conference- an organization that's linked to The One Campaign, among other organizations. Apparently we'll be working the thing, but also we'll be lobbying for this Farm Bill that Congress will have to vote on soon. Each of us will have an appointment to meet with our Senators and district Representatives. I can't believe it! Who am I to be talking to THOSE guys and convincing them to vot eone way or another? On the other hand, they represent ME so they'd bettah listen. It's just kind of funny that we're all being trained for this, essentially, and that there's going to be an onslaught of people talking to these politicians about poverty considerations for this Farm Act thing. It's awesome that we'll be taking trips.. I've found out also that I'll have about 14 free days, but I'm not sure when they are yet. I'd definitely love to take a road trip/ see some of my college friends but I don't know how feasible that is for a one-day stint-- especially without a car.
I wish you all a great summer! Send me postcards and things if you go to interesting places and think of me.
Love,
Krystyna
... who, since her trip to the salon on Thursday morning, now looks like a mushroom.
Krystyna here.
The Montreal trip was fun. It was so nice to be able to hang out and enjoy the young summer in such a cool city. For once we experienced classy wining and dining, much unlike the typical pregaming drunkery that we're reduced to at school. Now that I'm back, I'd love to go to a club or bar but.. wait.. I can't do that. As one of the confrers here said, they can send us to war but we can't drink..? Not that I want to again, but it would make things simpler or something. We left the city on Saturday and drove until we got to NY state. Had some McDonalds/lunch there and then arrived later in Hartford. I rushed around on campus for a bit, gathered all my things, and was off to the train station with my other two roomies. We all took the same greyhound into NYC, and then split up at Port Authority. I waited around for the Clark bus, and then took it to Dunkin Donuts. Kyle picked me up before 10:00 PM, we had a latte to start the summer off right, and then went over my house where the hardwood tiled had been newly- but incompletely- placed on the living room floor.
The week I was at home I pretty much just hung out around the house and visited doctors/ made appointments. I started watching Heroes, as Kyle urged me to. I saw an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor, and went to the Eye Doctor as well- got new contacts and glasses. I got a haircut and donated 10 inches to Locks of Love. I helped Rosa wash her car/orca whale and watched La Fea Mas Bella sin entender nada. Or just poco. I had Rosa & Bryan, Kyle, Ben & Terri over one night, too. Out of lack of options/last minute planning we watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I enjoy seeing multiple times anyway. Then Friday night I went out to Applebees with Jen and Colleen and had so many laughs with them. I was really glad to have seen most of my closest home-friends during that short time period.
I was supposed to be in Princeton at St. Joseph's Seminary by 4:00 on Saturday to start my summer work program. I packed up and organized some things during the day, and then my mom and brother took me down with my stuff. I was a bit nervous and awkward that first day, but things have really been great since. There's about 15 guys and girls in the group, and everyone is just really open and friendly. We've been having a lot of laughs and good conversations. I'm one of the youngest people here. Many are, or have already graduated, as Theology majors at Catholic Univsersities. We'll be living and working together for the next 2 months and as of now I really can't forsee any conflict; I think all of us are having a great time just getting to know one another.
So the program I'm doing is called LeaderworX. St. Joseph's Seminary used to be a Vincentian Seminary but now it is used as a retreat center, residence for some of the older confreres, and the site of summer programs such as JustixeworX and ServiceworX. As a Vincentian seminary it follows the tradition of St. Vincent DePaul, and promotes solidarity with the poor through charity work. The two youth programs I mentioned are essentially Catholic Social Justice teaching immersion experiences meant for Junior High and High School students. The older, LeaderworX community is training to leasd these programs during the summer and help teach and counsel the kids when they come. We'll each be assigned to a group of kids, and to a certain worksite in Trenton where we'll be performing community service during the week. Then we'll have discussions, talks and activities back at the Seminary in order to link everything back to our Catholic faith and our responsibility, as religious people, to live and act in the world.
It's a bit daunting that I might be a model for young people who are still forming their personal and religious identities. It's scary that I'll have to share my life story with them and express my religious beliefs, when I'm not certain I understand them myself. I think it's great, though, that we might help put these young people on a track of a more meaningful faith life and a commitment to justice and service within the community. I think I'm going to learn so much this summer. I'll learn from/about the experiences of all these people I'm living with, I'll get a better understanding of certain Theological elements and Social Justice Teaching. I'll have to overcome certain challenges, and in the end it may help me better understand myself and define my plans for the future. It's funny, cause when I was looking on idealist.com for internships and I saw the LeaderworX office I can't say I was really excited about it. I just felt like it was almost expected of my that I'd go.. destiny, or something. And I'm sure that it'll will be a great, worthwhile experience.
The meals here are good; we get to talk to the Vincentians who are living in the complex. We've gone on two hikes and worked in the garden here. We'll also be visiting our work sites in Trenton, and this weekend we're going to Washington D.C. for the Bread for the World conference- an organization that's linked to The One Campaign, among other organizations. Apparently we'll be working the thing, but also we'll be lobbying for this Farm Bill that Congress will have to vote on soon. Each of us will have an appointment to meet with our Senators and district Representatives. I can't believe it! Who am I to be talking to THOSE guys and convincing them to vot eone way or another? On the other hand, they represent ME so they'd bettah listen. It's just kind of funny that we're all being trained for this, essentially, and that there's going to be an onslaught of people talking to these politicians about poverty considerations for this Farm Act thing. It's awesome that we'll be taking trips.. I've found out also that I'll have about 14 free days, but I'm not sure when they are yet. I'd definitely love to take a road trip/ see some of my college friends but I don't know how feasible that is for a one-day stint-- especially without a car.
I wish you all a great summer! Send me postcards and things if you go to interesting places and think of me.
Love,
Krystyna
... who, since her trip to the salon on Thursday morning, now looks like a mushroom.