University of Memphis Alternative Spring Break 2012--Joplin, MO: ASB 2012...Here We Come!!!

Friday, March 2, 2012

ASB 2012...Here We Come!!!

Fourteen University of Memphis students and staff are heading out to Joplin, Missouri for Alternative Spring Break! Follow us on our journey as we see a different part of country and work with tornado relief. Updates to follow...

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What did you get out of the ASB experience?

-I met nice people
-A joy that I was able to give back
-I came out of my shell. It opened me up.
-A new sense of responsibility; another level of responsibility
-The experience of traveling further west than I ever had before. It opened me up to a new part of the country.
-I have gotten comfortable wotht hnigs that I was uncomfortable with before the trip.
-A new sense of happiness
-I made new friends
-Learning that it's ok to speak your mind and be yourself
-A gained self-confidence
-I got to bond with people outside of my "circle."
-A renewed appreciation for life
-Reassurance that I really do love community service
-I have grown and expanded "my box."
-A sense of contribution
-I realization of how thankful I am
-I realized that everything is not always about me
-I helped me to open up and work with others.
-That we're not here to impress people, but to change lives
-A new aprreciation for my life. I have taken things for granted in the past
-Sometimes, I get discouraged by humanity, but this trip helped me to see the good in people again

Today I Learned...

-a lot about the history of the tornado
-more about everybody
-when there's a latch on the door, use it
-a lot about everyone and their personalities
-a lot about Joplin
-names
-how blessed we are
-when the tornado actually hit
-about a certain hairstyle
-about the true miraculousness of the high school graduation being moved, then the high school being destroyed
-about the Joplin damage, how bad it was, and that they're still rebuilding
-more about my coworker and friend
-more about myself and my faith
-I have more physical strength than I thought I had
-when you put your mind to something, it doesn't matter your physical capabilities
-about (the group) more, living with 10 females
-it is an EF5 tornado, not an F5
-team work makes a dream work
-people think that alternative spring breaks are cool (when we explain what we are doing to others)
-how well off we are
-how severe a tornado can be
-even though they went through this tornado, they continue to stay positive
-there are many friendly people in Joplin
-that tornados can do that type of damage
-about a miraculous event
-I'm reminded how introverted I am, and keep learning to put myself into the conversation, especially when I am the only (one of my culture)
-that people do want to know other people
-that a men's shirt buttons are on the right and a women's are on the left
-there's more to disaster relief than you realize
-the boxes we unpacked, were originally packed by prison mates
-what it means to do a "WalMart fold"
-that rental cars can be dropped off in other states
-that everything we are doing gives us experience
-that everything you do volunteer-wise is not going to be spectacular, but everything you do really does matter
-the things I do may seem like they are going unappreciated, but they're not
-people are still in need of small things like clothing
-that Joplin lost 3 middle schools, in addition to the high school
-that we wore hard hats in Duquesne only because they were regulated
-yard work can be fun
-yard work is not that bad
-about circadian rhythms; you're not supposed to nap
-every little bit counts
-I cannot stop laughing around (this group)
-to really pay attention
-to just do it and have fun
-go find your life and then share it
-sometimes you have to get through the small stuff, before you can get to the big stuff
-Joplin has a real mall
-how to use a chainsaw
-how to cut trees down
-how petty people are in the "real world" that they can't get along, when we can be friends with complete strangers
-that Mr. Phillips' neighbors are from Belgium
-why my eye shadow never stays on
-some people from the church made cross-shaped stained glass necklaces out of broken glass from the tornado damage
-Joplin sales tax is much better than Memphis
-about state income tax vs. sales tax
-that recently laid tile is about 16x more difficult to pull up than 5 year old tile
-if you don't do things right the first time, it may be wasted effort if it has to be redone later
-about dairy cows and that they are brown too
-how to plant a tree
-just because a cow is black, does not mean it's a bull
- that you don't have to water a tree after you plant it
-that a tree will take to the ground in 48 hours
-how to use a pick ax
-different names of trees
-what white flags in the yard mean
-cows' tongues are the texture of cat toungues
-that cows don't have top teeth and that their bottom teeth are similar to our bottom teeth
-that a cow is an adult at 2 years old

Today was my first...

-time in Missouri/Joplin
-time talking to this group on a personal level
-function with all females
-time through a tunnel
-time not being hungry when I went to dinner
-time not being selfish over spring break
-time cleaning the community in Joplin
-time seeing a flooded basement
-time seeing a live chicken
-time not skipping over stuff (in a clean up project) because it looked disgusting
-time taking a shower in a shower trailer
-time wearing a construction hat
-time seeing a llama
-time seeing a pile of 6 giant trees, pulled up by the roots
-time in a tent
-time working in a warehouse
-time eating boneless ribs
-time eating noodles with chili
-time doing so much yard work
-time using a leaf blower
-time using a power hedge trimmer
-time eating in a restaurant on the side of a cliff
-time using hedge clippers
-time realizing that I am blessed, and what I do matters, and I should stop complaining
-time using vaseline on my lips
-time chopping down trees
-time planting a tree
-time touching a cow
-time feeding a bull
-time eating at Braum's
-time using an iPad
-time blogging
-time using a pick ax

University of Memphis Alternative Spring Break 2012--Joplin, MO

Friday, March 2, 2012

ASB 2012...Here We Come!!!

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