We learned how to use Google Drive properly. We used collaborative editing with other students to edit shared documents & information. Collaborative editing is when multiple people edit a document at the same time. We used it to help one another edit/create an important project about peoples’ immigration status. Using what we learned and the data gathered by interviewing some anonymous immigrants, we were able to create a decent document about immigrants’ problems & concerns in our community. We learned how to make a graph and a spreadsheet in a computer based off of data. We also used the chat provided by the program. That was fun.

Over the summer we interviewed immigrants about the needs in the community through the phone and in person. The questions are mainly about being an immigrant in America. During the interviews, people felt frightened and/or intimidated because of their status in America and sometimes didn’t know the answer.  

At first the interviews were frightening because we didn’t know the people we were interviewing. Afterwards our confidence was boosted because of all the people we met and all the stories we heard. The stories made us feel sad. The interviewees described how scared and unsafe they felt. We hope that in the future people will feel happier and safer in their community.

On July 21st, Eva Maria, Sam, Marie, Amy, and Richard went to the Native American Museum and Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Sarah drove us to the Wiehle-Reston East Station. We wanted to go to the Smithsonian Station. We got on the Silver Line and switched to the Orange Line at Ballston Station. While we were on the train we learned to make an origami  crane.

When we got out off the metro we went outside and took a picture with the Washington Monument. It started to drizzle. Then we started looking for the Native American Museum. We found it and there was a non-existent line for entrance. It was a sad museum. The Trail of Tears was the saddest part in the museum because Andrew Jackson forced the Native Americans to move out of their homeland to Oklahoma. It felt familiar because of the recent forced to move from their home and family to their homeland.

After we visited the Native American Museum, we went walking to the Air and Space Museum.

While we were walking it was raining hard. When we got to the Air and Space Museum we got lucky  because there was no big line. We were looking for a place to eat, and unluckily we did not find Mcdonalds, but we found a place we could eat. When we were finishing our lunch, Sam took out some origami paper so we could do some origami. We did a camera, shirt, and pants. After we finished our lunch we went to see the first plane.

Did you know?: In 1902 the Wright Brothers made the first plane.

It was interesting and scary because what if the plane didn’t work and they crash? After we went visited the first plane we went to the gift shop. There was 2 floors with like one-billion things in there. Then it was time to leave.

We went down the escalator to the Smithsonian Station and got on the Orange Line and did some more origami. When we were trying to finish our origami we had to get off the Orange Line and got on the Silver Line. We got to Reston, and Sarah picked us up from the station and left back home.

In about 10 minutes, the train back to Wiehle-Reston is going to leave, and we can’t miss this train. It’s raining. My pants, shoes, and socks are soaked. My legs are tired from walking around museums. I look back and see Eva, Marie, Amy, and Richard trying to keep up with my pace. Eva’s pants look just like mine, and I’m assuming her shoes and socks are just as wet. Marie’s hood and jacket aren’t keeping the rain out anymore. Amy’s telling the others that her shoes have changed color due to the rain. Richard’s a bit cold and is using Marie’s pink umbrella. But somehow, none of the rain matters. We’re all smiling.

We easily make it onto the train and I have a few moments to reflect on the day and the summer so far. Earlier this morning, I was worried. Thoughts like, “What if we lose one of the kids? What if they get bored 5 minutes into the trip?”, had nagged at me on a loop. But in reality, I had nothing to worry about. I’ve spent most of the summer with them, and I know they are good and smart kids.

The train arrives at Ballston-MU and I’m no longer allowed to lose myself in my thought. We switch trains from the Orange to the Silver Line and I grab my origami paper from my jacket pocket. It’s time to teach the everyone how to make a origami flower. Still wet, still cold, but most importantly still smiling, I pass the paper around.

I’ll never forget the trip to the museum. Running through the rain, walking through the exhibits, and folding origami on the train.

Marie, Amy y Richard son los primeros Intern de Educando con Amor. Para mi fue un honor compartir este verano con ellos. Ir viendo como iban desarrollando su Liderazgo, Sensibilidad, empatía, entusiasmo, compromiso y amor a su comunidad donde han nacido,crecido y donde cada día realizan sus actividades.  Para ellos yo se que no fue fácil realizar la entrevistas personales y vía telefónica , salir a visitar los negocios de la zona, enfrentarse a personas que no conocían y que posiblemente los podían rechazar o no contestarles las entrevistas. Para cada uno de ellos era la primera vez que vivían esta experiencia y podía ver en ellos el temor, ya que cada una de las preguntas que teníamos en nuestros entrevistas eran temas  importantes para la comunidad inmigrante, sin embargo cada una de las Etapas eran superadas con Alegría , Entusiasmo y con un corazón abierto.

Agradezco a Sam que fue una parte muy importante en esta etapa del programa, con una manera sutil y amorosa ayudó a  los chicos que confiaran en lo que estaban expresando y escribiendo, estaba bien pero además que ellos podían expresar más acerca de su experiencia y así fue que cada uno escribió sobre lo que  vivieron este verano. Además del soporte en cuanto al manejo de los programas de Google doc. Vimos como iban ganando confianza en sí mismos y cómo se creó un ambiente de compañerismo, respeto y ayuda mutua. Agradezco a los padres de cada uno los Interm por la confianza y el apoyo en el programa, Al Padre Daniel por confiar en este proyecto como en todos los que hemos desarrollado en  Educando con Amor. A Sarah Ali por la Idea y realización del primer periódico de Educando con Amor.