With photo in hand,I am on my way to meet three young ladies for the first time on a crowded subway platform. On this particular morning, I am feeling extra cheerful,shoulders are relaxed and I have a bounce in my walk. I could contribute this upbeat mood to the warm sun rays that always give me a jolt, but today I feel extra joyful. As I made my way throughout the crowd, I spotted the trio, our eyes locked and as someone asked, "are you Paulette?" I quietly dropped their photo in my bag and we greeted and hugged like long lost friends. Thandeka, Thandiswa and their teacher Samantha and I made our way through the crowd on our way to begin the day's adventure.
The conversation was easy, no shyness but chatter and giggles like schoolgirls at the end of the school year. We each told a little about ourselves,talked about life in South Africa and the many places they had experienced since landing on the American soil. The had traveled to Washington D.C; back to New York City and were preparing for their ride to Boston.
Sure you are curious about the trio and want to know our connection. They are from the School of Hope, Cape Town, South Africa. The American based organization, Active Compassion Transforms,
founded by Erika Lee, dedicates a cross-cultural mentoring program for kids in need at the school. The mentors and mentees, using a secure online platform, delve into the daily challenges the students experience. They set goals and work hard to achieve them. This trip allows the mentees to meet their mentors and to shadow someone in a profession they are considering, in his or her workplace.
An introduction and tour of the workplace gave them an insight into our connection with the community. "We are all about healthy outcomes" I proudly stated. Thandiswa wants to start a similar program in her township{community} in CapeTown. She left with a handful of materials, many hopes and lots of courage. They shadowed the staff to learn more and we joined the families from the community in an exercise session, led by the very innovative Nutritionist, Monica, who always create excitement from simple moves. And sweat we did!
We walked the neighborhood so we could 'taste' the flavor and see first hand this seemingly happy-go-lucky place. The woman below the subway steps had set up shop. Her pot of corn mush was boiling with might as pedestrians formed a line to buy her tasty treat. Street food is part of the fabric that makes this place unique. The music was blasting from the open windows of the apartments sharing space with businesses and from cars with windows rolled way down. We moved to the beat because that's the magic of such melodious sounds. In no hurry we sashayed through the streets and made our way to the Langston Hughes Library. The library was not yet opened and I used the opportunity to introduce the trio to the prolific writer for whom this library was dedicated. I briefly told of his life in Harlem and the colorful characters he wrote about who came from his community.
We had worked up an appetite and on recommendation we stopped in the restaurant to see what's cooking. There were several like-minded people like us who were seated on the metal chairs under the umbrellas, in the square. Today I am finally getting the chance to try out this open air spot. The servers had not paid any attention to portion sizes and when we had eaten enough, we packed the rest for supper that night.
As the day lingered, we changed our venue and traveled to Manhattan for shoe shopping, provided by Choose To Care{choosetocaresite.org}, an organization that aims to donate a brand new pair of shoes for the child or young adult in need. They chose to their delight, trying to pick the pair that suited their needs.
It was time to bid farewell, group hugs and salutations of well-wishes, safe journey, were in order. They were on their last leg of the journey that would take them to Boston, where the Founder of ACT was awaiting their arrival and had plans for more festivities.{as witnessed on Facebook} I was happy for our experience together and their trip of a lifetime. The joy I felt at the beginning of our tour never left me. Now I know for sure that it stems from the happiness one gets when immense gratitude is felt. I am indeed grateful to meet the trio as I have dubbed them and all the other students before them. I am grateful for Erika Lee, the founder of this superb organization, who does not make a lot of noise but has certainly made a big difference in the lives of these young men and women.
This beautiful quote says it all:
"Give freely to the world, these gifts
of love and compassion. Do not concern
yourself with how much you receive in return,
just know in your heart it will be returned."
Steve Maraboli
