Weekend
in Cincinnati, May 14-16 2004
Some of us, precisely the summer staff, went to Cincinnati where we planned
out the Peace Corner summer Program. Maurizio got ideas from us all and
together we put together the calendar for the various activities of the
summer program. One of the main thing was that we were put in charge of
organizing first and then running the activities we proposed.
In Cincinnati we stayed at the Comboni Mission center, the headquarter
for the Comboni Missionaries in North America. However, on the way to Cincinnati
something happened that is worth remembering. After driving for almost
three hours we stopped for dinner at a Ponderosa restaurant east of Indianapolis,
there a young woman mistook us for a Rap band and started asking all kinds
of questions regarding our music and concerts without leaving us any time
for explanations. So we decided to play along… We convinced her (It was
very easy…) that we were on our way to Cincinnati to play and sing at a
big concert. She was so impressed (!) that wanted our autographs on a t-shirt.
We gladly and happily obliged: Shawn provided the t-shirt that we all signed
and we left as celebrities with this young lady waiving at us.
We got to Cincinnati very late Friday night and all the people at the Comboni
Mission Center were already asleep but they had a big sign on the door
that read: “Welcome Peace Corner”. That left a big impression on all of
us!
Since the Comboni Mission Center has a gym inside its premises, we went
straight to play basketball…  after
5 hours riding in the van we needed some action…
During our staying there,
besides planning in details the summer program, we had the chance to play
a lot of basketball, reflect and plan together, visit Cincinnati and celebrate
Mass together on Sunday morning.
We also had the chance to attend a party Saturday night hosted by Joseph’s
aunt who lives there and who invited all of us to attend. We had a lot
of fun, dancing and comparing Cincinnati style with our Chicago style.
However, the real surprise was Maurizio. I won’t say what Maurizio did
but what he did was “Shocking” (positively shocking) to me because I have
never seen him like that… I’ll tell you the details next time!
---
Tyrell
THE MICHIGAN
EXPERIENCE…
JULY
23-25 2004
The First thing that struck me during our staying in Carleton, MI, was
the incredibly nice and wonderful people we met there. From grandma’ Z
where we slept to all the people who made our staying there unforgettable.
The family who hosted us the first afternoon in their home and all their
friends, the youth from Carleton and the other people from Carleton and
Monroe who helped us with food, fun, horses, canoes, cows (…) and a lot
of love and friendship!
When we got there, we immediately felt welcome because people were so nice.
We played basketball, swim, play volleyball, table soccer. We also rode
in a tractor, the local “sight seeing ” bus, for a tour of the countryside.
At the end of the day, after a delicious BBQ, we had a campfire where we
all told scary stories that we knew.
  
The second day, after breakfast at grandma Z we had the most incredible
of days. First we went to a Dairy Farm where, after some thinking and few
doubts we all had the chance to milk a cow. What an experience this was!!
(and unforgettable, especially for the smell… Tyrell and Reese are you
o.k.?). There we also learn how to feed a young calf, and how to feed ducks
and catfish. But the best was still to come: after a tour of the town,
we all had the experience of going horseback riding thanks to the hospitality,
availability and generosity of the many people there who own horses. It
did not take long for us to learn and by now many of us can almost (almost)
ride like real cowboys…
Back to grandma Z home we celebrate Mass with our friends and continue
to enjoy their hospitality and friendship not after an incredible chicken
wings & ribs dinner.
I can honestly say that in Michigan we had a great time and we met incredible
people. Also on behalf of all the other guys with me I want to thank all
of them for their hospitality and incredible welcome they prepared for
us.
It was fun, it was great, it was unforgettable like the people of Carleton
and surrounding areas.
All the people deserve a big hug and huge thanks for what they did for
us and how they made us feel really welcome. I will not forget them and
I really hope to see all of them very soon!
---
Shawn
|
basketball tournaments, BBQ in our parking lot, various field trips to
Indiana Dunes national park and to the University of St. Mary of the Lake,
Mundelein Seminary, enjoying the gym, the swimming pool and the gorgeous
grounds. We also spent several afternoons on Chicago lakefront and in La
Grange Park playing baseball, basketball, tennis and football. This years
also for the younger kids we organize arts & crafts afternoons. Many
beautiful art works are the result of this activity and they will be on
display during our fundraiser on October 21 at the Hot House in Chicago.
