"I survived...does this mean I have street cred now?"
Well, I don't really post any journal entries on here, but I went to the New York Animal Care and Control shelter in brooklyn(my job for field work term ) and felt like I had to share my little adventure. It wasn't that exciting but I learned something about myself...
The shelter is on Linden Blvd, so I ended taking the train to New Lots. Now I am no where near rich or high class, but my parents had (probably on purpose) kept me away from certain neighborhoods and have never been anywhere close to what someone would call a ghetto or a suspicious area by myself. Not too familiar with certain parts of brooklyn and my parents failing to warn me before hand (probably on purpose), I had no idea that New Lots was completely different from my neighborhood.
Thus, I'm riding on train happy as can be, not knowing where I am going. It wasn't so bad at the beginning of the ride.The atmosphere felt a little tense and a few guys came in was a little suspect looking, but all in all I'm fine. However, My dad calls me on my cell in the middle of the ride and I answer call. While talking to him, l happen to turn around and look. EVERY eye in the car was staring at me. I figured maybe I answered to loud or something,and try to shake it off.
However, as I'm watching for my stop, I start to notice that some of the stations were pretty broken down and each station was worst than the one before it. The walls were rusting, there was way more graffiti than I was use to and the people that were waiting there (in particular the guys) look awfully rough. That's when it registered. I going to the "other brooklyn". Well, shit.
I get off the train and now I'm a little nervous.I was ready to get to the AC&C as quickly as possible. I'm telling myself that I'm being spoiled and stupid, but I start thinking the AC&C is going to look like Rikers island, with dogs and cats behind heavy bars and volunteers sporting warren uniforms with cattle prods. By the time I actually get to the AC&C, my mind was pretty much into "Hell No" mood.
It didn't take long for me to change my mind. The AC&C staff was really nice and all the animals I met were real sweethearts. Though They have little money, they try their best to care for all the animals that come in. I really glad that I'm going to have a chance to work there. It so much fun working there that the walk and ride back through the neighborhood wasn't as bad as when I arrived, even with the snow. However, I still need to figure out my volunteer times. It's easier to be brave in the light than in the dark...
Either way, it'll be a good experience for me. Maybe I'll get a pet name, a bad ass tattoo or something. :)
The shelter is on Linden Blvd, so I ended taking the train to New Lots. Now I am no where near rich or high class, but my parents had (probably on purpose) kept me away from certain neighborhoods and have never been anywhere close to what someone would call a ghetto or a suspicious area by myself. Not too familiar with certain parts of brooklyn and my parents failing to warn me before hand (probably on purpose), I had no idea that New Lots was completely different from my neighborhood.
Thus, I'm riding on train happy as can be, not knowing where I am going. It wasn't so bad at the beginning of the ride.The atmosphere felt a little tense and a few guys came in was a little suspect looking, but all in all I'm fine. However, My dad calls me on my cell in the middle of the ride and I answer call. While talking to him, l happen to turn around and look. EVERY eye in the car was staring at me. I figured maybe I answered to loud or something,and try to shake it off.
However, as I'm watching for my stop, I start to notice that some of the stations were pretty broken down and each station was worst than the one before it. The walls were rusting, there was way more graffiti than I was use to and the people that were waiting there (in particular the guys) look awfully rough. That's when it registered. I going to the "other brooklyn". Well, shit.
I get off the train and now I'm a little nervous.I was ready to get to the AC&C as quickly as possible. I'm telling myself that I'm being spoiled and stupid, but I start thinking the AC&C is going to look like Rikers island, with dogs and cats behind heavy bars and volunteers sporting warren uniforms with cattle prods. By the time I actually get to the AC&C, my mind was pretty much into "Hell No" mood.
It didn't take long for me to change my mind. The AC&C staff was really nice and all the animals I met were real sweethearts. Though They have little money, they try their best to care for all the animals that come in. I really glad that I'm going to have a chance to work there. It so much fun working there that the walk and ride back through the neighborhood wasn't as bad as when I arrived, even with the snow. However, I still need to figure out my volunteer times. It's easier to be brave in the light than in the dark...
Either way, it'll be a good experience for me. Maybe I'll get a pet name, a bad ass tattoo or something. :)