Appalachia

Hello again!

Although I've only been back on campus for a couple of weeks, it feels like Spring Break was forever ago. The weather is finally starting to warm up here in Boston and the whole campus has been very energetic lately!

A few weeks ago, I spent spring break in Sewee, SC with thirteen other BC students through the Appalachia Volunteers program. Even though very few of us knew each other beforehand, we bonded quickly and had an amazing week! Initially, I was dreading the eighteen hour bus ride that brought us to our destination, but it passed by much faster than I expected and we all chatted/slept/watched movies the whole way there.

From the first moments we arrived at our site, I was struck by the kindness with which all of the community members treated our group. During our first afternoon, they introduced us to the unique problems that face their area and informed us of the tasks that we would do over the course of the week. Our projects included painting several houses, clearing out a cemetery, and reorganizing an elementary school classroom.

It was clear that the leaders of the organization hoped that our experience would help us understand the realities of life in the poverty-stricken region while also allowing us to see the benefits of living in their culture. All of the BC students on the trip were inspired by the people's motivation to improve the quality of life for all people in their community and the kindness with which they treated each other.

After working each day, the trip leaders prepared a reflection for the group, urging us to consider our past life experiences, the difficult things we witnessed on the trip, and the ways in which we hope to carry this experience with us in the future. Returning back to BC, all of us were refreshed and changed by our week in SC. Although I am no longer in the Appalachian region, I have carried the lessons I learned over the week back to campus and will definitely go on an Appalachia trip again next year!

If you have any questions about Appalachia or other programs offered here at BC, email me at eatonaa@bc.edu!

~Annelise