AFI

If I am being honest, I was very hesitant about this field trip. I was ashamed that I was so nervous. I was afraid it would be an uncomfortable experience. I thought I would have to fight to find things to say and i never thought that they would be so talkative and open to conversation. But it was exciting when they all wanted us to sit next to them and talk to them. It opened my eyes to see that these aren't abnormal people. They all have goals and dreams for their lives. They have things that they love to do, for example one of the woman I was talking to loved to sew and just wished she could do it everyday. There was another woman that just wanted to be married to the man that she loved. For us to deem these people as abnormal is very ignorant of us.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed myself. It just broke my heart how much some of this building needed done. Or, how they are very low on funding yet they keep their organization going strong.
I think that after reading The Boys Next Door, it informed me of what my AFI experience may have been like. While I didn't experience anyone specifically like Arnold or Lucien, nervous ticks or random conversations. However, all the men in this story have dreams for their lives, like Arnold wanting to go to Russia.
One thing that really kind of sparked in me, was I really wish we could do something for them. I am hoping that perhaps SEU can do something for them. Whether, it is just a day of volunteering. (painting, ect.) Or, even have a week of chapel where to offering goes to them so they can continue doing this.