1. In the first narrative I read, I found great meaning through Deborah's description of her experience of South Africa; more specifically, Joubert Park. I chose this portion of the first narrative because I believe it put the epigraph given to justice in the best way. What I took from what Archbishop Desmond Tutu said was that there is not one person that is alone in the world. We are surrounded by people regardless of where we are, and they shape who we are whether we like it or not. What Deborah mentioned was that aside from the preconceived notions that she received from other people about South Africa and Joubert Park, she was able to make an opinion of the two locations for herself. This opinion was based off of what she saw through other people and how they reacted compared to what others had told her before she experienced it herself. "It's overwhelming because of it's complexity. It's overwhelming because in every story I heard, in every place I visited, in every person I met, there seemed to be just as much to celebrate as to grieve" (WOWO, 76). I also was intrigued by the Zimbabwe story of Kufunda. As a learning center, it was utilized for the good of the people as they interact with other people. I read stories of learning experiences, built relationships, as well help to come to a realization of fears in order to build personal well-being. "I heard someone once say, "Don't tell people what to do, but show them where you want to go." That is what I've learned in this place" (WOWO, 104). This learning center helped the individuals in the narrative understand the meaning of learning and growing in regards to hardship and relationships with other people.
2. In reference to Canal Alliance, I can connect this epigraph to the mural that was recently painted on the front wall facing the street. It displays images of success, sunshine, and happiness. When I was given a tour of the facility, I was shown this mural. I noticed the pride that the director had when he spoke of the mural that the students had worked together to create. I link this to the epigraph because it relates to "I am human because I belong". I feel that the uneducated may confuse this with the concept of, "I belong, therefore I am human". I see a lot of motivation in the middle school students that I tutor. Not all of them share the same enthusiasm about school, however I know that these students would not have as much motivation if they did not see that there are other students that are struggling with some of the same problems that they are. This sense of belonging really helps the students' drive to not only keep attending Canal Alliance, but more importantly to admit that they need help and ask for it. I believe that sense of belonging is illustrated in the mural that the students worked together to make.
3. In the narrative about Joubert Park, I saw the challenge in the sense of the danger and the unsureness that comes with the territory of being a pass through type of area. I notice the gift in which there are equally as much great things about the area as there are bad. For every negative feedback Deborah heard about the park, there was a positive thing she saw. In Zimbabwe, the challenge I saw was the participants realizing their fears and addressing their hardships. It is hard for any human being, whether they are living in the 1st or 3rd world, to come to terms with their greatest fears, even if they may be in their current reality. In regards to gifts, I saw more positive than negative. Because the participants have to come to terms with their fears and hardships, they grow closer to one another, making it easier to deal with and better to build a relationship off of. In the Canal Community, through both experience through service learning as well as the interview I conducted I was able to tell the different challenges and gifts. I believe the gifts in the Canal are hidden behind the challenges. For example, these individuals need help finding jobs because most of them are undocumented and cannot afford to live unemployed. This is a great hardship to have to ask for someone else's help to find you a job. However, because these services are offered, the individual with these troubles can now see a new light at the end of the tunnel when they have job opportunities and options. I believe gifts are hidden like this in many different aspects of the Canal community such as health care, community, education, and financial security. I remember that Guiedi Bertran of WIC stated that these were the troubles in the Canal that are unfortunately being looked over. "Other than that probably healthcare and that’s a national concern. And for a lot of us even who are employed. Health security has been a concern. Housing I would say is a big one" (Bertran, 6).
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