This fall, when I go back to school I will be taking part in a program known as Project Neighborhood. I will be living in Nizhoni, a house which will have four other students and a mentor couple. As part of the informational/introductory e-mail that I received today , there was a link to Dr. Wayne L. Gordon's "The Eight Components of Christian Community Development." His description of how Christians should engage community describes many of the things that The Boston Project is, many of the things that Project Neighborhood strives to be, some of the things that Fair Food is (Dignity of the Dollar), and really sums up many of the thoughts I have had this summer.
It is longer than one of my typical posts, but if you have a few minutes, I really recommend that you read through it.
http://www.ccda.org/philosophy
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
"Road Closed"
I wake up each morning never knowing quite what I'll end up doing for the day. Today I helped Tacia make bags in the morning. The volunteers from the Boston Project arrived at ten, and the only food that needed to be processed was four boxes of potatoes to bag. Knowing that the potato bagging would take less than ten minutes with so much help, I was wondering what I would have them do next. Just as they were finishing, Nancy gave me a ring on my cell, and told me to take the volunteers outside.
A uniform company inhabits the space next to us in our warehouse. They currently have a 30 foot dumpster in the parking lot that they have been in the process of filling this week. Whenever the uniform company's customers change uniforms, or go out of business, or change uniform providers, the uniform company is left with extra uniforms. The majority of these uniforms are long or short sleeve button down shirts with a name and company patch on them.
Nancy had me get some boxes, and have the volunteers begin sorting, folding and boxing the clothing. Some of it we have already given away around the neighborhood, and we have 30 big boxes left at the warehouse today. If we have time we will collect more of them tomorrow.
While we were working, one of the ladies at the uniform company told us that they have more uniforms inside the warehouse that they could give to us if we come back on Monday or Tuesday. That way we could save a step!
In other news, you may remember that the road in front of our warehouse had been torn up a few weeks after I got here. Two weeks ago they finally decided to repave half of the road. Then, last week they decided to tear up the half that they had paved the week before. Today they were working on the road again, and I believe theoretically they should do the whole thing this time. We'll see...
A uniform company inhabits the space next to us in our warehouse. They currently have a 30 foot dumpster in the parking lot that they have been in the process of filling this week. Whenever the uniform company's customers change uniforms, or go out of business, or change uniform providers, the uniform company is left with extra uniforms. The majority of these uniforms are long or short sleeve button down shirts with a name and company patch on them.
Nancy had me get some boxes, and have the volunteers begin sorting, folding and boxing the clothing. Some of it we have already given away around the neighborhood, and we have 30 big boxes left at the warehouse today. If we have time we will collect more of them tomorrow.
While we were working, one of the ladies at the uniform company told us that they have more uniforms inside the warehouse that they could give to us if we come back on Monday or Tuesday. That way we could save a step!
In other news, you may remember that the road in front of our warehouse had been torn up a few weeks after I got here. Two weeks ago they finally decided to repave half of the road. Then, last week they decided to tear up the half that they had paved the week before. Today they were working on the road again, and I believe theoretically they should do the whole thing this time. We'll see...
Monday, August 9, 2010
"I'm Stahving"
Sunday
Today I went on a crazy bicycle adventure. I had many stops along the way. This is just a record of my adventure, nothing too deep or thought-provoking.
I left around 10 in the morning, and my first stop was church. After failing to convince anyone to accompany to my next destination, I took off riding solo. From the church I headed for the South Boston WWII Memorial. I just tried to head east, knowing that I would have to hit the water. Eventually I found my way to the Harbor Walk and began riding North (http://bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/). I came to the memorial where I had been with my parents and distant cousins last week. The name Thomas J. Lyons, that of my great-grandfather, appears on the memorial. It is from him that I received the 't' in jth5 (my college username). From the memorial I ran along the Head Island Causeway to Fort Independence. I showed up just in time for the 1:00 tour. It's an amazing old pentagonal fort, and the eighth fort to be built in that location. It has sheer granite walls rising up 30 feet on all sides, and the walls are nearly six feet thick. They have 50,000 pound guns which were crewed by 14 men, and could hit a target three and a half miles away. After the tour I ran back around the causeway, ate my lunch (leftover salad and some corn tamales that Miss Susie made with the corn we gave her), and watched six or seven kite-boarders. The extreme sport of kite-boarding has always seemed like one that I would like to try. The riders strap on a board, attach a harness, hook their harness to a giant kite, then go out over the water to catch huge air. When the wind-dancing was over, I hopped back on my bike.
I followed the Harbor Walk as much as possible, which meant that I rode in and out quite a bit along the water's edge. The sea breeze certainly made for pleasant riding.
I stopped by The Seafarer's Mission, one of the sites that My team from Calvin College helped out at when we were here in the Spring. The Mission was closed, as was most of the harbor, but it was nice to revisit the spot again.
I revisited The Barking Crab, a restaurant that we ate at in the spring.
I found where the city of Boston stores their extra recycling bins.
Upon hearing music, I turned aside to hear what it was. The Sons of Italy Drum and Bugle Corps were out in full force, putting on a parade through the streets. I followed along with them for about a block before heading off.
I ran across a kind of street preformer that I have heard described before, but never seen in person. I saw what at first glance seemed to be an entirely bronze statue statue. However, the cloak blowing in the wind quickly dissolved that illusion. With no wind the main clue to the statue's live nature would have been the slowly filling vase of money sitting before the black pedestal upon which she stood. I turned aside and watched the woman for a while to see if she would move under any conditions. Several parents walked by with children, and I thought she might interact with them, but alas she remained in character, as stationary as a guard at Buckingham Palace. I was about to leave when a gentleman put some money in the vase. To this she curtseyed, blew a kiss from her bronze hand, and assumed a slighly different pose.
I saw the underside of the beautiful Leonard Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (which we drive across every time we go to the market) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_l_iB-toQBZY/RuGegln1OEI/AAAAAAAAAOg/I75bHwOPJL4/s512/SA704671.JPG).
I saw functioning boat locks in person for the first time.
I revisited the USS Constitution where I had been last week with my parents. This time I visited the museum, rather than touring the boat. The display that I thought was most interesting was an interactive one. There is a yard (round horizontal wooden beam which supports a sail) that one can shimmy out on, with a footrope beneath it to stand upon. The whole thing is suspended such that it can swing a little (though it hangs only just off the ground as to not be too dangerous). Upon reaching the far end, one can draw up the sail and tie it off. I enjoyed getting to feel a little bit what it was like to be a sailor in those days.
I saw an official Bocce court for the first time. I guess people who come to the public courts to play must be serious about their Boccee, because in the one round that I watched, the fellow who threw the palino was able to get two of his balls to come to rest touching it.
I heard a legit Boston accent.
I saw seals at the aquarium.
I came across a drinking fountain that arced the water three times as far as it should.
I asked for directions from a lady who only spoke Spanish.
I had an Italian sub for dinner from a shop in Somerville.
I returned home around 9:15.
Approximate Route: (note, my odometer needs a new battery, but with all the ins and outs I made along the harbor walk, I probably went closer to 50 or 60 miles)
http://tinyurl.com/jimsbostontrek
Today I went on a crazy bicycle adventure. I had many stops along the way. This is just a record of my adventure, nothing too deep or thought-provoking.
I left around 10 in the morning, and my first stop was church. After failing to convince anyone to accompany to my next destination, I took off riding solo. From the church I headed for the South Boston WWII Memorial. I just tried to head east, knowing that I would have to hit the water. Eventually I found my way to the Harbor Walk and began riding North (http://bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/). I came to the memorial where I had been with my parents and distant cousins last week. The name Thomas J. Lyons, that of my great-grandfather, appears on the memorial. It is from him that I received the 't' in jth5 (my college username). From the memorial I ran along the Head Island Causeway to Fort Independence. I showed up just in time for the 1:00 tour. It's an amazing old pentagonal fort, and the eighth fort to be built in that location. It has sheer granite walls rising up 30 feet on all sides, and the walls are nearly six feet thick. They have 50,000 pound guns which were crewed by 14 men, and could hit a target three and a half miles away. After the tour I ran back around the causeway, ate my lunch (leftover salad and some corn tamales that Miss Susie made with the corn we gave her), and watched six or seven kite-boarders. The extreme sport of kite-boarding has always seemed like one that I would like to try. The riders strap on a board, attach a harness, hook their harness to a giant kite, then go out over the water to catch huge air. When the wind-dancing was over, I hopped back on my bike.
I followed the Harbor Walk as much as possible, which meant that I rode in and out quite a bit along the water's edge. The sea breeze certainly made for pleasant riding.
I stopped by The Seafarer's Mission, one of the sites that My team from Calvin College helped out at when we were here in the Spring. The Mission was closed, as was most of the harbor, but it was nice to revisit the spot again.
I revisited The Barking Crab, a restaurant that we ate at in the spring.
I found where the city of Boston stores their extra recycling bins.
Upon hearing music, I turned aside to hear what it was. The Sons of Italy Drum and Bugle Corps were out in full force, putting on a parade through the streets. I followed along with them for about a block before heading off.
I ran across a kind of street preformer that I have heard described before, but never seen in person. I saw what at first glance seemed to be an entirely bronze statue statue. However, the cloak blowing in the wind quickly dissolved that illusion. With no wind the main clue to the statue's live nature would have been the slowly filling vase of money sitting before the black pedestal upon which she stood. I turned aside and watched the woman for a while to see if she would move under any conditions. Several parents walked by with children, and I thought she might interact with them, but alas she remained in character, as stationary as a guard at Buckingham Palace. I was about to leave when a gentleman put some money in the vase. To this she curtseyed, blew a kiss from her bronze hand, and assumed a slighly different pose.
I saw the underside of the beautiful Leonard Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (which we drive across every time we go to the market) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_l_iB-toQBZY/RuGegln1OEI/AAAAAAAAAOg/I75bHwOPJL4/s512/SA704671.JPG).
I saw functioning boat locks in person for the first time.
I revisited the USS Constitution where I had been last week with my parents. This time I visited the museum, rather than touring the boat. The display that I thought was most interesting was an interactive one. There is a yard (round horizontal wooden beam which supports a sail) that one can shimmy out on, with a footrope beneath it to stand upon. The whole thing is suspended such that it can swing a little (though it hangs only just off the ground as to not be too dangerous). Upon reaching the far end, one can draw up the sail and tie it off. I enjoyed getting to feel a little bit what it was like to be a sailor in those days.
I saw an official Bocce court for the first time. I guess people who come to the public courts to play must be serious about their Boccee, because in the one round that I watched, the fellow who threw the palino was able to get two of his balls to come to rest touching it.
I heard a legit Boston accent.
I saw seals at the aquarium.
I came across a drinking fountain that arced the water three times as far as it should.
I asked for directions from a lady who only spoke Spanish.
I had an Italian sub for dinner from a shop in Somerville.
I returned home around 9:15.
Approximate Route: (note, my odometer needs a new battery, but with all the ins and outs I made along the harbor walk, I probably went closer to 50 or 60 miles)
http://tinyurl.com/jimsbostontrek
"Crocodile Dundee"
Some Thursday?
I went to the market today, but left early with Uncle George When the other guys got back from the market Derrick told me that some of the guys had been asking after Crocodile Dundee.
Ways I have been referred to here, in approximate order of frequency (most of the generic terms are from Nancy, as she is much more likely to use generic terms than people's names):
Jimmy
Jim
boy
kid
man
brother
amigo
Crocodile Dundee
caballero
n-----
honey
dear
Ohio
Indiana Jones
Jim Jones
James
Mister Feather in his Cap
primo
John Wayne
I went to the market today, but left early with Uncle George When the other guys got back from the market Derrick told me that some of the guys had been asking after Crocodile Dundee.
Ways I have been referred to here, in approximate order of frequency (most of the generic terms are from Nancy, as she is much more likely to use generic terms than people's names):
Jimmy
Jim
boy
kid
man
brother
amigo
Crocodile Dundee
caballero
n-----
honey
dear
Ohio
Indiana Jones
Jim Jones
James
Mister Feather in his Cap
primo
John Wayne
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