LA MANCHA WORKSHOP - February 2005

Few Student Journal Entries

“I take with me a sense of pride and accomplishment that an only be achieved through truly selfless deeds for those less fortunate than we are (...)

I can’t get over it, everyone’s so quiet!  I almost felt the need to be loud and rambunctious (I wasn’t though) just to feel my own personal sense of chaos.  Besides that, the city also had a very broken down feel to it.  Like a shattered vase that’s been taped together (...)

I had the fortune to partake in the religious ceremony of the Orthodox Church we visited.  That was very interesting.  On the people’s faces I saw more of a sense of duty being fulfilled more than that of hopes and aspirations.  The way people walked in and out hurriedly and moved their hands in the motion of Father/Son and the Holy Spirit.” –Zach R.

“In America, we talk loudly and are accustomed to loud noises.  Romanians are quiet and talk less than we do.  It is weird for things to be quiet after so much noise in the U.S. (...)

Romania helped open my eyes to see how simply people live their lives.  I will remember how worshipped I was and how loved I was from the moment I walked in the door of the orphanage.” –Brian B.

Great help cutting wood                                                Tough on wood (Zack and Alex) and academic reports (Braden)

“I think an American should respect the nation in which they live.  I think what Americans should represent for their nation is honor, integrity, respect and the appreciation of the freedom that we were born to have.  Although we are given this amazing right of freedom, Americans tend to take it for granted…Americans see themselves as the superior race and when we go into another country we tend to want to do things the American way; the right way, instead of embracing other cultures and ways of the world (...)

At the orphanage, I feel that I left behind a lot of love and fun for the children, especially the four month old baby.  As a group, we left behind hard work and devotion.  We have given a lot of happiness (...)

I have taken a lot of love from the children and hundreds of photographs of the love, culture, and compassion the orphanage offers.   I have taken the knowledge and stories of each person that can help me appreciate my family, friends, and life.  I have taken good times and memories that will last forever.  I think, more than anything, I have taken appreciation for my life and have seen what I take for granted.” --Genna Z.

Everyone got a digital camera and daily photo assignments.      In front of the American House built by MBA students

At the end of the day, review and directions from Alex Bitz          during the La Mancha workshops since 1998.

Come to the March Parents Conference for the

Going Digital Exhibition.

“I leave behind all the little kids at the orphanage, Kosmin (faces, our nickname for one) and all the other little kids I played with.  It was fun playing with the kids even though it hurt sometimes.  I left behind a lot of hard work I did chopping wood.  I hope they use the wood to stay warm.  I left behind my memory in their eyes, they will always remember us.  I leave behind some spoiled thinking, because I saw how what they live with, and I saw how excited they were just to see a camera (...)

I take memories of the orphanage, the kids and everyone else there.  I take a good feeling from how I helped out and all the wood I chopped.  I take a story to tell my family and friends at MBA an at home.  I take a place that I can one day maybe come back to.  I take a better friendship with my peer group.  I take a lot of pictures, especially of Kosmin (...)

To be Romanian, you are part of a smaller country.  You feel more part of something than Americans.  There is camaraderie between you and your neighbor.  To be a Romanian, you have history.  Your country is a seasoned veteran, and the customs are deeply rooted in your soul.  To be a Romanian, your opportunity is not as great as in America, but your expectations usually are lower, so it’s normal.  To be a Romanian, you wear your colors with pride.  A Romanian must work hard for everything, and still might not get a lot.  A Romanian has struggled, and maybe seen communism, so he/she loves freedom.  A Romanian is very nice because he/she is not corrupted by evil.”  -- Alex B.

“Today at the orphanage, Pat and I were with the babies upstairs.  It’s sad to see kids that young here because they deserve a chance at a normal life, but all they’ll ever know is the orphanage (...)

I said goodbye to the baby that I played with all week.  It was hard to leave, because I don’t want the baby to have to grow up in an orphanage (...)

I take with me a sense of how a part of the world lives that I did not know before.  I take a memory of the baby that I held and loved while I was there.  I take with me thankfulness for all that I have (...)

I only wish I knew how to speak Romanian so I could have met the people.” –Colin R.

“I left behind a baby name Stellian with some hours of nurturing and affection.  I also left behind a three year old named Vasilica with a candy bar and a smile.  I also left behind some carried wood and a few laughs from my falling off of a sled (...)

I take with me a sense of gratefulness that I was adopted and not stuck in the position of these children in the orphanage.  I feel blessed.”  --Pat B.

Great day spending time with Romanian students                                 Colin, wonderful with the little ones at the Orphanage

from Ploiesti -Romania

Many thanks to the workshop facilitators: Alex Bitz, David Johnson , Kathy Boyer and our Romanian friend Andreea Ciobanu.