Global Potential Blog

Monday afternoon, I had to take the bus to Boston, but even though my experience was going to be for a day, I couldn’t wait for two things, meet the other students in Boston and go to a different state…:). First of all, as I expect it, I fall in awe somewhat with Boston. It felt like hope, different view, out of my regular NY. It was quiet with less people in the street, but yet it made me wonder and compare everything that I like about NY. So after my first night on Monday, I only had a day to learn and absorb all I can in Boston, my first stop was Harvard University, with its simplicity, its diversity which was unexpected and so “nonfictional” to my view…Too much TV and story, I guess. Leaving Harvard, Sarah, Christian, Cashley and myself heads to Northeastern University to meet the others. After our tour, I found myself wondering about actually having the option to go to Boston for my MSW, should’ve been fun!!! But later that day we went for a walk, and trust me it was a walk, going from brownstone houses to 5th Avenue version of Boston, to a nice quiet park to the most beautiful Museum of Science. It was nice to see that we have people around us that are actually working on protecting our source of energy, and even ready to use our natural source to make it better. All of that in one day, was a like to take and it felt like it too. But there was one thing that was going to enlighten my day, make me see things more differently and give me more ambition.

Well here’s how it happens, mid afternoon, we head to the Grand Circle Gallery and we had to talk about  GP to three representatives of an organization based in Old Havana, Cuba. It always brings me back when I talk about my experience with GP, because I only realized my group’s achievement in Batey 8 when we came back in the state. I realized that we did more than we gave ourselves the credit for. But the moment was my pride, pride on what we do, what GP  stands for and it get us young people from NY, Boston and France to  see much more than what is on the news and hear much more than what they say on the radio. But also never believe that a small gesture can’t help make a difference. I realized that at the moment that I was reminiscing about a community meeting we had in 2008 in Batey 8, about racism and all, it was powerful for them because they were living it truly, and daily, but it was also powerful to us, because as a student I started to realize that there is so much more around us socially, economically, you name it… that needs our attention,even the smallest thing that we wouldn’t expect.

So 4 years later.. I’m right back here having the same feeling and urge to help, to come out of myself and speak my mind. Stand up for what is wrong around me, and  all of that came to me in a small room at the Grand Circle Gallery with three interns from Cuba, sharing their experiences and passion in helping others to appreciate arts more than they already do. Going to this trip for one day was like 45 days in the Batey on a full  package. I can’t wait to do it again next year, trust me it was just the beginning of one of the most awesomeness trip locally. This is where we expand our local outreach going from NY to Boston, and maybe the rest 48th states later on…:), who knows can’t help dreaming.

Til’ next time…:)

Since the day arrived in Boston, It was very interesting how the bus and the train were  different. I never have been  to Boston before. This was my first time this afternoon we went canoeing and it was very fun. I never did that before, I learned how to do that and how to set up a tent.   We also went to a farm and picked tomatoes.  It was really tiring, it was really hot, but it was great. We went to the museum of science in Boston and we saw the lightning show. The lightning created different sounds. At the end it played a theme song of stars wars. We also went to visit a college. The tour was unique and interesting. We were camping and told scary stories.  The past 4 days of this Cross Cultural Trip were amazing  just like in the Dominican Republic when I went with GP last summer 2011.

Boston is a really great city, all the people that lives here are so nice and kind. On Wednesday morning me, Ina and Bena were running late to meet with rest of our group because we were leaving to farm. So we got out of the train and we were looking for South Street on the map. From nowhere some lady came up to us and asked us if we needed help. We told that we are looking for South Street and she gave us a direction and everything, in that time I was like wow these people are so nice in here but in New York City people don’t help you unless you ask them.

That same day we went to Brockwood farm in Blue Hills with an organization called theMOVE. The first thing that we did was we have a little tour of the farm. After that we separated into two groups: one group weeded the plants and the other group picked tomatoes. I was assigned to weed the ground in the hot sunny weather. We worked an hour or so and then we went to lunch. But in that hour I got so hot and sweaty. I was shocked when they told me that farmers work for 6 to 7 hours a day in that kind of weather. I noticed that farming is a really tough job and you need to be really careful with your plants because if you don’t pay attention to them they might die or they won’t grow as good as you expect.

After lunch was over we exchanged our job. I was assigned to picking tomatoes. I loved to pick tomatoes because back in the days I used to pick tomatoes, grapes and corn in my aunt’s house in Uzbekistan, so it reminded me of those fun days that I spent with my cousins.

Farming was great but we had more fun camping with Dave Madan and Liz after farming. I mostly liked spending times with the GP group because they are cool and amazing people. In camping we had to cook our own food, we swam in the lake, we had to make our own tents and we made a fire. All of us were sitting in the circle  and sharing cool scary stories. I felt really special because Global Potential gave me a chance to see the beautiful nature and to be with these amazing people.

I wish more people all around the world get same experience that we got from this trip. I really thank Global Potential for giving me chance to explore the other culture of United States of America.

Today was amazing I had fun like crazy. For the first time in my life I went canoeing and I loved it. And all the activities that GP did were basically working out. I met the most exciting people like Dave and many more. Sadly I have to go back home. But this memory and feeling that I have can never be erased. For the first time I got an idea of the American camping even though I had gone camping before. It is always a new experience all the time with GP. It’s just wow amazing. Hopefully you guys do this camping again and longer next time.

Love GP (GP team)

Mack Attack