To register, visit this link: ]]> http://joannareichertphotography.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/a-personal-snapshot/ Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:11:46 +0000 Joanna Reichert Photography http://joannareichertphotography.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/a-personal-snapshot/ http://cityyearbostonblog.com/2011/11/28/thankful-service-at-the-harbors-community-center-2/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:45:50 +0000 jfri88 http://cityyearbostonblog.com/2011/11/28/thankful-service-at-the-harbors-community-center-2/ Written by Jordan Frias, corps member serving on the National Grid Team at the Blackstone Elementary School

Thanksgiving came early this year for the City Year Boston corps (minus the delicious home cooked meal). On Friday, November 18, several hundred idealists and I celebrated the holiday by conducting service in various locations throughout the city, approximately 6 days before the actual holiday.

THE CLEVELAND COMMUNITY CENTER

I had the pleasure of painting one of the most colorful pieces - the wall of the center's main room.

My team, Project 9, and I were sent out to the Harbor Middle School in Dorchester to beautify the Cleveland Community Center attached to the school. The center was a spacious facility that had everything a kid could want in it – pool tables, a computer lab, vending machines, and smaller rooms for different activities they could partake in after school. They only thing that was missing was a bit of decoration on the very blank walls.

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BREAKING OUT THE PAINT

The lobby of the Harbor Middle School was vibrant with colorful panels that hung from a very large staircase, and our mission was to make the community center just as exciting and inviting.

We got busy dipping our brushes into black, white, and gray paint to fill in the stenciled outlines of pictures and quotes on the walls. President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Vince Lombardi were just a few of the influential figures who were represented on the walls next to some of their inspirational quotes.

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A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

At 3 PM, staff members and students from the Harbor entered the center to lend us a helping hand. The staff showed their appreciation by ordering us lunch, which we shared with the students who helped us out.

It was great to meet the students from the Harbor Pilot School who admired the work that we did and enjoyed having us in their community. We ended the day on the phrase, “Thankful service!” which we shouted in unison in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Early morning plight in Upper Matin-ao, Sierra Bullones, Bohol. It was during the BCYF koinonia. So cold every morning. Our mouth produces smoke talaga.

First day in Upper Matin-ao, Sierra Bullones, Bohol. I am freezing cold. The temperature is like Baguio's.

December 27, 2008 was the first of the all the first. I experienced a lot of first time on that date. A lot of repurcussions also happened. So let me list the FIRST things that happened on my whole life during that time:

1.) First time to ride on a cargo truck fully-loaded with CYF members.

2.) First time to be away from home for 4 days.

3.) First time to be in Sierra Bullones whom I have never dream of going.

4.) First time to socialize with the same status as mine. Peer!

5.) First time to sleep with other people who are completely strangers.

6.) First time to attend BCYF!

On our way to Sierra Bullones (see, we were riding on a a big truck!)

You read it right, we ride a huge Cargo Truck c/0 Rev. Polbos. It was raining but the rain didn’t stop us from reaching our destination. We passed a lot of towns before reaching Sierra Bullones. We passed Balilihan, Cortes, Catigbian, Sagbayan and Carmen. It was a very rocky and topsy turvy ride. We did a lot of stopover also like in Catigbian and Sagbayan. It was a 5-hour tedious ride. =( Matin-ao was still 10 kilometers away from the town proper. There were a lot of curves on the road and it was not that nice because if the curvy road reaches, all the people who were one of us also bends. Nyahahaha.

After the travel, atlast WE ARRIVED! It was past 12 when we arrived so it was time for lunch. We gathered our things to the church for we weren’t assigned yet on where are we going to stay and temporarily dwell for the whole fellowship. Our lunch was ok, it was a small fish they called “burot-burot” and pancit. I did not eat that much thou. It was so amazing because at the back of their church lies a wide lot for planting . There were a lot of running waters because the town just recovered from a heavy rain. I was so amazed. SUPER!

Fortunately, after lunch we went to the house that we are going to stay. It was small but it was enough for all of us. It was owned by a widow. She lived there alone and she gave us guidelines like be careful on her house because it is so old and she wasn’t planning to repair it since she is not getting any younger. Me together with my cousins Sheenan and Alyssa took the isolated room where there was mirror and it was really isolated. Then Lalang also joined with us. Me and my cousins made a motto before attending the fellowship. It was “One for all, all for one!”So after settling our stuff, we went for a stroll to view the place. What a clairvoyant I am! I was seeing what I saw on my vision that after settling our things, me with my cousins and Ate Lalang will go and discover the place.! Expected event I guess. So on the picture above, that was me. We were strolling the place with my jacket on. It was so cold in there. There were a lot of crops planted on the area and a lot of running water. It was so cool to see. When the sunset comes, we decided to go back to the house. We planned to sleep for awhile and take a rest.

This is me after strolling the place. It was freezing cold but I was able to made a freakish pose.

After how many minutes, my close friend Lito arrived. It was unexpected for we all thought that he can’t come because of their alumni reunion thingy but he was able to make it! We jumped because the funny Kuya Lito is there to save the boring the day! Nyahaha. The only person lacking was Kuya Jomz. =( So during the night was the getting to know all the youth. We were requested to go to the stage and say our names and from where we are. Hahaha. I love the stage. It was always my forte! So after that, we decided to sleep.zzzzzzzzZz. Good night!

December 28, 2009

Church day na! There was a mass and the preach was given by Rev. Gasco. He was so funny. The whole time I was laughing listening to his preach. He really knows how to bring the crowd. We were clapping and laughing while he was delivering. I love his style. =) Hahaha. Then after the mass, Kuya Jomz arrived! Hahaha..The duo is complete once again.

During the afternoon schedule, the ball games arrived. I volunteered to be the one who will tally the scores. It was fun! I meet new friends! The only thing that annoyed me so much was that every youth that was there always call me ate. I directly asked their age and they were 16 and duh! I told them that  I am 14 still! They were all shocked.I asked myself

” Do I really look mature?”

Hahaha.. Well the opinions of the people vary.

So after the ball games, the MT. OLIVES practiced for the choiral. It was spearheaded by the lovely Ate Lucil. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend. I got a slight fever. huhuhuhu. Atleast I made new, friends like Kuya Seth, Aaron, Bon Marie, Cheryl, Kuya Biboy, Kuya NARUto and Kuya Brian. After the musical, we slept.zzz.

BTW, Mommy mecmec arrived! It was fun to be in company with her. Love her so much.

My mommy (the one from the right)

NOTE:

Lesson that I got for today was pertinent to world crisis and corruption. It was given by an activist of Bayan Muna.

December 29, 2008

3rd day! Super happy! We made new friends! Daddy Jerome and John Reeve a.k.a. wafz! We made friends with other CYF from Dimiao. It was so much fun! We played Snake and ladder, checkers, and chess! Super fun! I prefer to be with them than the others and that was also the opinion of Alyssa and Sheenan!

That was me with Cousin Sheenan while hanging out with CYF Dimiao friends

It was so much fun but during the night was the terrifying night! I was one of the contestants for extemporaneous speaking. huhuhuhuhu. After the literary contest, we sleep already.zzz

btw, Pastor Juvy arrived from Loon!

December 30, 2008

4th day. Nothing really much happened. Hahaha.

Ball games championship.. WET!

Rain or shine they played. On the 4th day also was the election of officers for our Circuit.. I was elected as President. huhuhuhu.  I am so young. =( But I can’t refuse. Its a call for service from God and maybe God really trusted me for handling the cyf Getsemani circuit and to lead the improvements of the said group.

During the night was the end of the bcyf 2008 koinonia.

Me, Sheenan and Alyssa were asked to be the ushers — PROXY actually.

Then it was the awarding session.

I got the 3rd place for extempo. Over-all MT. Olives received only FEW awards but atleast we had fun!

Sleep.zzz

December 31, 2008

We woke up early morning for the departure.

We ride again on the cargo truck.

GENUINE PROOF:

(THANKS TO KUYA ONDOY FOR THE PIC)

Take a look at it.

The most painful ride of all. I got a fever after it. So crowded but it was fun.=)

See how crowded and unsafe our ride but for God it was all ok. God suffers more than this.=) Its time to pay.

It was a painful ride going home. Very many were injured because of the stops and the lacking of grip. I myself cut my nail.huhuhuhu. So painful. We passed another route also because Balilihan experienced flood. It was also raining that time.=(

ATLEAST we arrived safely.Thank God.

Thats all!

Adios!

Chicflick,

Shannen