Service Learning Reflections

After being involved with my Service Learning Site for three weeks now, I can definitely say I learned so many things. My SL site, which is named "Campus Kitchen Outreach", has been very helpful in giving me knowledge and opening my eyes to the outside world, about what life really is on the streets. On our service Learning, we meet at EVCC campus every Saturdays, around 10am, and we make packed lunches and then distribute them to people who are in need at the downtown Everett area.

Upon being exposed to the outside world, I experienced an epiphany about the realities that Americans face every single day. As an immigrant coming to America, I have always thought that because the United States is the most powerful and wealthiest nation in the world, there is no such thing as "Poverty" in this country, and each citizen is quite wealthy because of the country's abundance and resources. But as I was exposed to the streets of Everett, I saw many homeless people on the streets. It's much more worst in downtown Seattle. It made me see the huge barrier between the rich and the poor, seeing tall buildings, expensive cars, posh hotels and department stores, and on the other side, seeing homeless people with worn out shoes and grimy clothes and face.

I also learned that not all people who are homeless are thieves or criminals. And some even dresses themselves like the rest of us, and this quite surprised me. It goes to show that things are not always what they seem. Some of the homeless people I've met are actually very nice. They just need someone to talk to, someone to listen. I always thought that because I'm well-educated, I don't have anything to learn from them, but I was quite wrong. People on the streets have thought me one of the most valuable lessons in Life. It's about importance of Education. Most of the people I've encountered used to go school, but because of several reasons, they decided to drop out of school, and never bothered to return. If they were given a chance to go back, and change one thing in their past, it is to go back to school, and make it a top priority. They knew, that if only they gave Education importance, they will not be where they are right now.

Also, they thought me about appreciating what I have. Most of the time, I always complain about the things I don't have. I somehow became materialistic and superficial as I came here in America. But after seeing their current situation and comparing it to mine, I felt guilty about complaining, and I realized that I am very lucky for the life I have. I may not have fancy and expensive things, but at least I have a roof over my head, and shoes under my feet. And I am lucky enough to be educated.

My experience as a server to the community has been very enlightening. This experience has expanded my horizons, and it made me see the world in a different way. It saddens me to see people in those kind of situations, and to think that we live in the wealthiest country in the world. The things that I've seen upon this experience made me appreciate my life more, and how lucky I am to be alive.

Parallel Ideas ( SL & TCT )

On my recent experience in my service learning program, I've experienced an epiphany which I'll always keep in mind. About the reality of the life of people without a home, and basically have nothing.

On Greg Mortenson's book entitled " Three Cups of Tea," a book about an ordinary American mountaineer, who experienced an epiphany upon failing to climb the summit of K-2, and wound up being lost in the Karakoram Range in northwest Pakistan where he was able to find a small town named Korphe. He saw the impoverished conditions of the people on that village, yet, he was amazed by their resilience and contentment despite their condition. Happiness is present on that village.

On chapter three of Three Cups Tea, Mortenson says that "Everything about their [ people of Korphe ] life was a struggle, they reminded me of a way Christa had to fight for the simplest things. And also the way she had of just persevering, no matter what life threw at her." He was amazed at how the people of Korphe was able to withstand all the hardships life threw at them. Without even having the most basic needs of human beings, their village were able to survive for hundreds of years.This passage has somewhat a parallel idea to the experience I had on my service learning.

My SL site which is the Campus Kitchen Program, where we prepare packed lunches at campus and distribute it to those who are in need around the city. I encountered several people, full of interesting stories. And upon hearing their statements, I was amazed at how resilient and happy they are despite their condition. Both people from Korphe, and homeless people in Everett, have struggled most of their lives. Without having any basic needs at hand. Yet, they never complain, and they never nag.

Upon this experience, I learned that in life, people will always have more. That's inevitable. But I also learned that millions of people in the world do not have I have, and I should be happy with that. It also taught me that life will knock you down for so many times, and if people of Korphe and homeless people all over the world are able to withstand such adversity, so can I.