Holiday Break Time

As the new resident grandfather on the Literacy AmeriCorps team, I believe I’m legally obligated to begin with a picture of our three week old (and first) granddaughter “celebrating” her first Christmas. Given my lack of blogging skills, you’ll probably see a lot more of her filling space here in the coming months .

My first few months as an AmeriCorps member have been everything I hoped they would be, and more. I’m working as a math and reading tutor in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program at Austin Academy, an education organization which provides GED and job readiness training for adults. Having come to AmeriCorps straight from the corporate world, the opportunity to help our students pursue the skills and diploma they need to get a job, open new doors, or go to college has truly been a privilege and is exactly what I was looking for at this point in my life. I’m proud to be associated with this great group of (mostly young) people at Literacy AmeriCorps who have made the commitment that they have. I can’t imagine anything I’d rather be doing right now.

Of course, the students in our program are what make it all worthwhile. The primary objective of our ABE class is to help our students improve their math and reading levels to the point that they’re prepared for the actual GED prep class, and ultimately to obtain their diplomas. We’ve had about ten students take that next step since September and, to my surprise, seeing each one “graduate” has been somewhat bittersweet for me. On one hand, of course, “moving to 2^nd Street” (the main Austin Academy site) is every student’s goal. At the same time, it’s so easy to become attached to them as they work toward that goal, while also dealing with all the other challenges in their lives, that we (almost) hate to see them leave.

A couple of our students, including Charlie (right), are military veterans and Austin Academy was thoughtful enough to hold a little celebration to recognize them on Veteran’s Day in November. I’m pretty sure Charlie was more excited about it than he looks in the picture. He’s just one of the amazing people that I’ve met so far. While I’m certainly enjoying the holiday break, I honestly can’t wait to get back to class in January and am really looking forward to the next seven months!

Love in Action

As this year comes to a close, I'm thinking back on how the last 3 months have changed my life. First of all, I uprooted from my hometown and country of Tampico, Mexico, to move to the vibrant, diverse, musical and wonderfully weird Austin. I underwent training for my year as a Literacy AmeriCorps member. I got to share that experience with 17 other members, who collectively have such interesting backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. I feel proud to be part of such a group. And then, it began. My year of service at Manos de Cristo.

Manos was founded in 1988, and the dental clinic opened its doors to the Austin community in 1990. It slowly grew into a place that also provided basic needs, such as food and clothing. The Education Program grew as well, and they now have levels of ESL, Citizenship, Computer Literacy and Spanish Literacy classes. With the support of individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations, Manos is able to help more than 15,000 people in Central Texas each year.

I quickly put my experience and training into practice, and started teaching a basic level ESL class to adults. I remember one of the first classes we had together, when at the end we talked about their individual goals for the class. Why were they there? I heard many familiar reasons: to get a better job. To help my kids. To be able to communicate better. No matter the age or country of origin, no matter the late work shifts or the sick child or the cold weather, they did their best to be there, class after class. Their commitment inspired me all the more to make our time together more valuable.

Besides my class and substituting, I had a lot to learn about helping coordinate a program of over 200 students, while taking calls, making referrals, and the occasional fill in handing out food or clothes to families in need. There are some stories that stick out in my mind. I took a call once from a mother running away from an abusive situation who needed school supplies for her children. They had run away so fast that they had left without any of their belongings, not even their shoes. We provided the supplies and the shoes, and when she left, she told me that she felt so blessed to have heard of Manos.

I think that the experience that has been the most significant to me is helping out with the Spanish Literacy classes. The program means a lot to me because I’ve had personal experience with it. It is a wonderful program. I have helped a young mother aspiring to get her GED in order to get a hairdresser’s license study and pass a high level math exam, and I have helped a 56 year old woman who never learned to read and write form her first letters and sound out her first words. The look on her face when she understood the meaning of a sentence she was reading was priceless. 

 I see so many goals, expectations, frustrations, problems, and dreams in the students; but most of all, I see hope. Hope that there is something better. There is still much to be done. But that's what we do – we get things done.

Happiest of holidays to all!

Winter in Texas

Having just moved back to the US after spending a year in Eastern Europe, a Texan winter doesn’t really feel like winter. There are many things that I miss about a chilly, snowy winter, but there are also a few upsides to the continued balmy weather in December. As fall has slowly left us behind and winter is creeping up, the pros and cons of a warmer winter have been floating through my mind, so I decided to put them on (electronic) paper. Maybe you’ll agree with me and maybe not; read on to decide for yourself!

PROS to a Texan winter:
It’s warm enough that I still get to ride my bike to work (almost) every day.
I can go for runs in the morning without needing to wear a coat, sweatshirt, hat and scarf.
I don’t have to worry about slipping on ice.
I don’t have to don every last article of clothing I own just to head out to the mailbox.
I can sit on my back porch and enjoy the afternoon without freezing.
It still looks like fall outside.
I don’t have to fear all the people who never learned to drive in the snow.

CONS to a Texan winter:
When it rains, it pours.
I can’t make a snowman without snow.
It really just doesn’t feel like winter.
Things look so pretty with a new covering of snow.
No snow = no possibility of a snow day.
No skiing, sledding or ice skating outside.
I love to bundle up with scarves, sweaters and boots, but they just aren’t necessary here.

Happy Holidays from E@W

These past few months working as a Literacy*AmeriCorps instructor for ENGLISH @ WORK have truly flown by. It has been such a wonderful experience to work alongside the passionate individuals on the staff at E@W. One of the real highlights however has been teaching Beginning and Intermediate ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at Maudie's Tex-Mex Restaurant here in Austin. I work with each class for about 3 hours a week teaching ESL and workplace literacy skills specific to their positions at Maudie's. It has been such a positive experience getting to know my students and seeing the progress they have made so far. For a holiday flyer, E@W took this picture outside the Maudie's home office. In the picture are a few of the students from the Intermediate class, myself, and Maile Broccoli-Hickey, the executive director and founder of E@W. From everyone at E@W and on behalf of Literacy*AmeriCorps- Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!

The Running Man

If you haven't seen the Running Man on North Lamar and Rundberg Lane, you are missing out.  Every day Broderick runs up and down the streets, exercising, shouting, rocking out to his music, and being super pumped about life.  When I first drove to the YMCA to supervise an ESL class, I saw him and asked myself, "Is he crazy?"  However, after watching him longer, a smile crept across my face and I found myself shouting in my car along with him.  I have come to look forward to seeing the Running Man whenever I head to the YMCA just because of the positive effect he has on my life.

One day in my morning ESL class, I asked my students to write out how to give someone directions to their homes.  A student mentioned that she caught the bus on North Lamar and I asked her if she had ever seen the Running Man.  She suddenly became so excited and told me all about how this man made her and her sister happy because he was always happy and always energetic.  She said that he brought a smile to her face and she enjoyed watching him when she waited for the bus.  I did more research on the Running Man and found this video.

I have only lived in North Austin since August, but it's apparent that the Running Man has made a huge impact on the community and has already made a huge impact on my life.  Just like one man said in the video, if I am in a foul mood, one look at the Running Man makes everything seem better.  I hope to one day stop by and just say "thank you" to Broderick for bringing a smile to my face.  If you ever need a pick me up, North Lamar and Rundberg is where you will find it.

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

One of my favorite moments so far as an AmeriCorps member was the annual Thanksgiving potluck dinner put on by my program the LifeWorks Education Center. The event is for students and tutors and is held in mid November. It was so great to get to interact with the students in a different, more informal setting, particularly the students that are in my classes. It was also cool to see them interact with each other and see the sense of community that exists among our students and tutors. I think this event and the heart behind it are so important because they create and nurture a sense of belonging and emphazie what each person has to offer.

There was so much delicious food, a lot of which was provided by students who are hardworking moms balancing family, work, AND learning a new language. Their dedication and joy blow me away every day. I know the students enjoyed getting to spend time with their classmates as well as with students they wouldn't otherwise get to meet or talk to because they are not at the center at the same time. It is also a cool event to be a part of because it might be the only time a student or tutor gets to enjoy fellowship with people. They get to see how much they all have in common as well as celebrating the diversity that exists within our community of staff, students, and volunteers.

Although I am a 3rd generation native Austinite, I have realized over the past few years (and continue to realize every day) how much more there is to this city and the people in it than I knew growing up. I love being in this place that I know and love, but also more than anything I want to get to know the parts of the city that are often overlooked, the richness and multiplicity that not everyone wants to or gets to enjoy. While this was technically a work event, for me, it just felt like a gathering of people; people who coexist in the same city every day but are rarely all together in one room. I am so blessed to get to spend time with people who are different than me and different than most of the people I have known throughout my life. Yes I am teaching them English, but they are teaching me so much about appreciating and engaging with my neighbor in a meaningful way. They are teaching me both how small we each are as well as simultaneously celebrating the fascinating expanse and depth of a single individual. I don't mean to wax too philosophical, there's just no denying the significance of what we are doing as AmeriCorps members, as well as what the AmeriCorps experience is doing for each of us.

Appreciating the Capitol

One of the things I enjoy about my Literacy AmeriCorps experience is the diversity that I am exposed to on a daily basis.  As an English as a Second Language (ESL) and Civics teacher, I have the pleasure of instructing students of all ages and backgrounds from countries like Cuba, Iraq, Burma, Nepal, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.  Sometimes I take my students out of the classroom and around Austin.  In the picture below, my class and two other ESL classes took a trip to the Austin Capitol.  It was such an amazing experience.  I had been to the Capitol several times before.  Before this particular visit, I dreaded when my friends came into town because we inevitably made the trip to, through, and around the Capitol.  But my visit with the ESL students was the best visit I ever had because each one of my students was extremely thankful for the ability to visit such an important and symbolic government building.  They expressed such admiration of and respect to the people who worked there.  (They even enjoyed watching the woman who had the honor of working on top of scaffolding to dust the tops of the pillars!) 

Several of my students told me that they are not allowed to enter buildings like this in their own country unless they work there or have special permission.  Standing in one of the assembly halls staring at paintings and pictures I had memorized all too many times before, one of my students threw her arms in the air and exclaimed, "THANK YOU, AMERICA!!"  It sounds sappy, but I got kind of teary-eyed hearing this and watching my students marvel at everything.  It made me want to re-experience everything with them.  It is moments like this that make me thank my lucky stars that I have a job that I love, a job that makes me appreciate what is around me, and a job that betters the human soul.