It’s amazing how fast you can feel at home somewhere. If you’re met with a good group of people, even previously unknown places can start to feel comfortable. There’s no limit to the amount of these homes that I’ve found, and while none of them will ever replace my family home, it’s nice to know that I’ve found yet another.
I realized this soon after our DukeEngage crew returned to Detroit from a weekend in Manchester, MI. I’ve only lived here for four weeks, and I already feel like it is somewhere to “come back to.” While I know that the purpose of this program is to allow students to give their time and effort towards a civic engagement project, I didn’t originally place enough significance on experiencing all of this alongside the camaraderie of a new group of people. It not only makes it more enjoyable to discover such a new area with others, but it magnifies our impact here. Bouncing ideas off each other, exploring unknown areas, and simply working alongside someone in a similar position causes more pride in my work and creates a higher sense of belonging.
Our most recent adventure with Ben Heuser’s family led us to a whole new set of experiences, from playing with baby goats at Ben’s Aunt’s farm
I realized this soon after our DukeEngage crew returned to Detroit from a weekend in Manchester, MI. I’ve only lived here for four weeks, and I already feel like it is somewhere to “come back to.” While I know that the purpose of this program is to allow students to give their time and effort towards a civic engagement project, I didn’t originally place enough significance on experiencing all of this alongside the camaraderie of a new group of people. It not only makes it more enjoyable to discover such a new area with others, but it magnifies our impact here. Bouncing ideas off each other, exploring unknown areas, and simply working alongside someone in a similar position causes more pride in my work and creates a higher sense of belonging.
Our most recent adventure with Ben Heuser’s family led us to a whole new set of experiences, from playing with baby goats at Ben’s Aunt’s farm
Chris, Liza, and I with a crew of baby goats!
to seeing our third and fourth rounds of fireworks for the summer
 Pre-firework festivities at a local park in Manchester, MI. |  Fireworks over Pleasant Lake in Manchester, Mi. Photo courtesy of David Ling. |
to enjoying the sun on the local lake.
A group of us paddle boating and kayaking around Pleasant Lake.
It was definitely a trip to remember. And, in congruence with part of DukeEngage’s purpose, the 2000 person town offered yet another opportunity for us to experience a new culture. I know Ben’s entire family blew us all away. I can’t say enough how lucky we were to have the opportunity to stay with them. The weekend definitely exemplified how well our group has grown to function together.
K'Ville Midwest-our housing for the weekend.
Back in Detroit, on the work side, one of the most important things I’ve learned is to always be prepared. Whether it’s making lunch for the day or for the weekly Build meeting, everything always seems to take just a little longer than I anticipated (just ask my partner Liz, whose morning routine includes waiting for me to run down the lobby still getting dressed with a half-eaten banana in my hand). It helps to think ahead and put a little thought into what you need to do and, sometimes on deeper level, why you’re doing it. I’ve found that some extra consideration here and there can prevent unnecessary mistakes and, more importantly, incite new ideas.
Because Build is located a little over three miles away, Liz and I were given the opportunity to bike to work and back everyday. It gave us a good sense of the roads and the ability to extend our excursions to many other destinations around the city (check out her bike-dedicated blog for the summer for some sleek pics). However, it’s also made me realize how little of Detroit we’ve actually even yet to see. From the countless museums and restaurants to the outskirts of the city, there will always be more to experience. I hope that I’ll be able to widen my horizon even farther over these next couple of weeks.
As a whole, I look forward to the second half of our time here. It will be exciting to continue to explore, work on our projects, and eventually conclude with a final deliverable that we will be able to provide to our designated non-profits. No matter how small our impact really is, it’ll be a great feeling to be able to present an actual contribution to these incredible organizations. And who knows, maybe we’ll be able to come back in the future and get the chance to see just how far it’s all come.
Because Build is located a little over three miles away, Liz and I were given the opportunity to bike to work and back everyday. It gave us a good sense of the roads and the ability to extend our excursions to many other destinations around the city (check out her bike-dedicated blog for the summer for some sleek pics). However, it’s also made me realize how little of Detroit we’ve actually even yet to see. From the countless museums and restaurants to the outskirts of the city, there will always be more to experience. I hope that I’ll be able to widen my horizon even farther over these next couple of weeks.
As a whole, I look forward to the second half of our time here. It will be exciting to continue to explore, work on our projects, and eventually conclude with a final deliverable that we will be able to provide to our designated non-profits. No matter how small our impact really is, it’ll be a great feeling to be able to present an actual contribution to these incredible organizations. And who knows, maybe we’ll be able to come back in the future and get the chance to see just how far it’s all come.
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