Well, well, well. Another two weeks have positively flown by, and I have lots to report. 

I am gaining more responsibility at work, and am starting to feel more like a legitimate staff member. I have a general sense of how everything works and I am able to manage my own work flow, instead of constantly following my colleagues around and peppering them with questions. I have begun workshop leader training, so that I can eventually be fully in charge of a workshop. There are a lot of unseen tasks that make a workshop possible, like organizing volunteers, considering additional needs or allergies in the class, making sure every moving part runs smoothly during the workshop, and updating records/procedures afterwards. It’s a balancing act that requires at least 10 mental tabs open at all times– it’s quite a challenge and great fun. Thankfully, they’re easing me into it so that I can learn each part without being overwhelmed. 

Another exciting work update is that I’m helping to develop the materials for Fighting Words’s pilot program for schools residencies. Normally, we only work with any given class once in a year. In the residency program, we will have six sessions with the same classes throughout the year. This gives us the opportunity to observe the students’ growth and development over the course of a whole school year. It’s lovely to hear feedback from teachers about how impactful our one-time workshops can be, but it’s even better to see the results for ourselves. Because the program is brand new and we’re kind of figuring it out as we go, I get to play a role in designing it! I have created materials for activities the children can do between workshops, which are intended to keep the characters fresh in their minds and encourage them to continue to engage with the stories we build together. I have created templates for character interviews, character passports, and tickets to any destination! I made sure to leave the instructions open-ended enough that they can take the assignment in any direction their creativity leads them.

My surroundings continue to fascinate me, and I have discovered more great places in Belfast and beyond. Some of my favorite discoveries this past couple of weeks were Hey Boba (their thai tea is SPECTACULAR), Sunflower Public House (with fiddlers jamming together and pizza so good it made me reevaluate my hatred for vegan cheese), the Botanic Gardens (my favorite plant was a tree with white flowers that looked like burrata), Mike’s Fancy Cheese Shop (I’m sensing a theme here), a vast array of charity shops (with good, bad, and ugly offerings in each), and the Belfast Central Library (I’m now a proud NI Libraries card-holder). 

Since I have Mondays off work, I try to take a day trip every Monday. Last week, I visited Cave Hill, which is colloquially known as the “sleeping giant”. Legend has it that the craggy facial profile created by the rock formations inspired Johnathan Swift to write Gulliver’s Travels. For the first hour or so of my hike, I was completely alone in the wilderness. The sun was out, the leaves sang their wind-rustled lullaby, and the clear air invigorated my body. Gazing at the tufts of golden-lit grass, the calm gray water of the loch below, the cotton-streaked sky above, I experienced the sublime. I was so overwhelmed by the natural beauty and its magnitude that my swirling thoughts were supplanted by electric currents of emotion. Now I get how Maria felt in The Sound of Music, because I truly wanted to sing and twirl (I restrained myself, with great effort). 

This past Monday, I went on a bus tour that traveled along the coast of Northern Ireland and ended at the Giant’s Causeway. The tour guide, Karl, was hilarious, patient, and very knowledgeable– all the things that you want a tour guide to be. We stopped at harbors, Game of Thrones filming locations, castles, restaurants, and distilleries. All throughout the day, Karl repeated the reassurance, “Don’t be worrying!” Don’t know where the toilets are at this stop? Don’t be worrying! Karl can point you in the right direction. Hungry? Don’t be worrying! Karl knows where to get the best ice cream in Northern Ireland. As someone who is quite prone to worrying, I loved his constant reminders. Karl put into words what I have been slowly learning over the last month: uncertainty is an inevitable component of adventure, but there’s no need to panic about it. The more that control has been seized from my hands, the happier I have been to relinquish it. I think “don’t be worrying” will be my motto while I’m here. I have tried so many new things with new people: book clubs, coffee dates, Oktoberfest, recipes, Boxercise, hair dye, GPS-less wandering, Gliders, baps, high church, small talk with strangers, Malaysian hot pot, Irish slang, the list goes on… As I’m sure you can imagine, not everything has gone perfectly, but don’t be worrying. I’m all the better for it!

Until next time,

Eleri x

Hello friends, family, and strangers!

Today, I write to you in the midst of (yet another) transition. No, I’m not moving back to the US prematurely or changing the trajectory of my project; I’m quite happy with where I’m at! However, I have exactly one month left of my volunteer experience at FM4 Paso Libre, and each passing day feels more bittersweet. As I begin this final stretch, I am turning my daily routine upside-down by switching from the morning to the afternoon/evening shift. I’ll miss all the amazing folks I have worked with for the past 2+ months, but I’m excited to reconnect with those I haven’t seen in a long while. The later shift comes with its own set of surprises, but it’s a welcome challenge.

Beyond relatively trivial scheduling changes, there is another transition that I’m itching to see underway. In these final weeks, I’ll have the opportunity to work with some full-time employees in a department of my interest, getting a closer look at the inner-workings of the organization. I’ve narrowed my options down to: legal, publicity/social media, and social action. All three tug at different parts of my brain, but given that I have little time left to learn, it’s in my best interest to follow my gut and dive right in. I have yet to meet with all three department heads to see which is the best fit, so stay tuned for the big reveal in my next post!

Outside the shelter, I’m trying to let go of my laundry list of things to do in and around Guadalajara and simply enjoy the time I have, with less planning and more spontaneity. This past weekend, this new attitude resulted in a short but beautiful camping trip and a visit to a cat cafe after church. This week, I’m taking a day away from the shelter to enjoy the famous Fiestas de Octubre and (hopefully) see one of my favorite cumbia groups, Los Ángeles Azules, live! Next on the to-do list? Find a Halloween costume and make plans for Día de los Muertos. Although the state of Jalisco isn’t famous for their celebrations, I hope to at least get a taste of this iconic celebration. 

Then, though it’s not easy to admit, it’s time to consider my return to the United States. Most of all, I want to make sure that the experiences I’ve had in Guadalajara — and especially in the shelter — continue to enhance my perspectives and drive my work. I can’t say for sure that I’ll end up with a full-fledged career in the migrant and refugee space, but now that I’ve witnessed so many journeys up close, I’d like to commit to volunteering, donating, and continuously educating myself as the conversation on migration in the United States evolves. With elections drawing near, the rhetoric I’ve heard is beyond disappointing; it’s harmful and reprehensible. The stories I’ve seen and even been a part of are wildly different from those that are touted by politicians and spread through the media. I find myself itching to share what I’ve witnessed and inject some reality into the issue that is dominating headlines. As long as I continue to stay active and involved, what would typically be a tricky transition back might be made a bit smoother.

Until next time,

Aaron Benito

The weeks are going by faster and faster, and I’m reminded of how quickly these next eight months will come and go. I’ve settled into a rhythm here in Bournemouth, and I’ve found myself a bit stagnant: I haven’t been trying as many new things as I was two weeks ago, and I’m spending more time working or in my room. It’s not a bad thing, but I want to make sure I’m continuing to stretch myself and making the most of my time here.

Since I last wrote, two big things have happened: (1) I visited London, and (2) my charity ran our first workshop of the season, and I attended my first few meetings as the face of the charity. 

First, London. Just before I left Nashville I discovered that my friend and mix engineer, Sam Jenkins, would be touring with an act in London about a month after I was set to arrive. I thought this would be the perfect excuse to venture outside of Bournemouth for the first time and see a familiar face. One of my favorite musicians, Orla Gartland, was playing just outside of London a few days prior, so I thought I’d make a weekend out of it. I learned a few important lessons from this trip, as follows:

1. I don’t need to be a tourist in a city I’ve already been to, unless I’m with friends or there for an event. The time I spent walking around London by myself was quite lonely. I found myself revisiting the same places I’d been to a year, two years ago, but without the people that made it special then. Two out of three nights I stayed with my friend Mik, who I met through writing events with The Porch in Nashville, and the day that we spent walking through their old neighborhood in the East End was a highlight for me. It was good to see the city through a new perspective, one where I can make new memories instead of simply revisiting old ones.
2. My perception of a city is so closely tied to who I experience it with. I’ve known three Londons now, and each is so different from the last. I’ve always been keen on moving to London, but I see even more now that it would be very difficult without a friend by my side. 
3. Buy a portable charger. It’s funny how much my weekend was thrown off because my phone died several times after not charging through the night. 

An evening near Hyde Park

Getting to talk to Sam after his set was worth all the tassel and loneliness the rest of the weekend held. It’s so nice to have a friend, someone I don’t have to introduce myself to or trade get-to-know-you questions with. It filled my soul with a warmth I didn’t know I needed, and I was just so proud to see fellow Belmont grads playing at a big theater in London. They really mean it when they say From Here to Anywhere. 

The view from Mik and Lilly’s house. Autumn is fully here in England!!

Classic fish and chips dinner. It was overpriced, but I needed it.

Second, the workshop! I was nervous at the start of the session, but it went so well. The kids were hilarious (my favorite idea, which was shot down, was about a Spider Toilet, operated by Mr. Beast, whose biggest foe is a large roll of toilet paper), and they seemed very excited to write. One of the things I love most about The Story Works is that we empower both the students and our volunteers, so two of our volunteers from Bournemouth University led the session and many more illustrated the childrens’ work or served as writing mentors. It’s cool to see how their confidence grows from the start to the end of the session.

The next two days I went to a few meetings alone to speak for the charity. The first was with a big construction group who wanted to promote our charity on their hoardings, and the next was a school for teens and adults learning English as a second language. Neither felt like a typical business meeting—both parties were simply passionate about interacting with the local community and being a part of something good, and that was encouraging to witness. I didn’t feel like I lacked knowledge or experience despite only living here for a month; all those I spoke with were excited about the work I was doing and commended me for coming from America all by myself. I left the meetings feeling encouraged and more confident about my abilities as a charity manager. 

Apart from that, I ran an impromptu half marathon and released a new song (you can listen here)! 

Bournemouth Half Marathon! I ran for my boss, who wasn’t able to run it.

Until the next time,

Elisabeth

I am back in the DR, and tomorrow, we welcome a team of twenty students from Liberty University. Having spent about two weeks in Virginia this past month, I feel more connected to where they are coming from, and I hope I can welcome them well.

My three-week work trip to the States was noteworthy because I got to be face-to-face with New Hope’s audience and see how New Hope inspires others. Ironically, my journey began at home in Nashville, TN.

Nashville, TN

I traveled here because my boss was invited to the CAFO conference and suggested we travel together. Over the four days I was in town, I visited my family, drank great coffee, and attended a movie night my friend hosted! It felt really nice to drive my car around the city without GPS and see the hills I love. I even participated in the book launch party that Room In the Inn hosted to promote “Kingdom of the Poor: My Journey Home” by Charles Strobel, founder of the organization. Two of my friends work there, so I got to visit them and even participate the next day in their programming for a few hours. On my final day, my mom and I watched the sunrise at her house in the countryside and drank coffee before I left for Lynchburg, Virginia.

My mom feeding the donkeys at her house

Lynchburg, VA

Descending into Virginia took my breath away—it is such a beautiful state. When I arrived at our New Hope Girls Airbnb, I brewed some hot, decaf coffee and read the poetry book of my friend and fellow Lumos Scholar, Elisabeth Moss. Her book is called “Stretch Marks,” which is absolutely lovely. I read it until my two coworkers arrived later that evening.

The next five days, my two coworkers and I worked the New Hope Girls booth for Liberty University’s “Global Focus Week,” which focuses on hosting international organizations for business, classroom speakers, and speaker events. I got to speak to two classes: one for social work and another for (randomly enough) a Chinese language class. Admittedly, I questioned if our organization’s causes would align with the interests of students learning an Eastern language. I figured that perhaps a Spanish language class would have been a better fit. I’ll never assume how the message will impact an audience again because one of the girls in the classes was actually from the DR, and she approached me at the booth later; not only did she speak three languages and live a mere car ride away from our organization, but she seemed seriously interested in volunteering in-country. This sort of interaction became a recurring theme. In unlikely places and circumstances, interesting stories appeared.

One night, my coworker and I ventured to one of the girls’ dorms to speak to seventy girls about New Hope Girls. In my mind, I questioned how attentive they would be at 10 p.m. Again, I was wrong—the girls seemed to hang on my coworker’s moving story of the story that inspired New Hope Girl’s establishment. My coworker and I stayed until 1 am with the RAs as we spoke to four girls who expressed their interest in what we were doing in the DR and the possibilities for them to join in the work down there—it was pretty amazing. They were so energetic about their futures and were hopeful about the change happening in the DR.

Us at Liberty University! We met some fellow DR org friends here as well.

Hershey, PA

My coworker and I drove to the land of chocolate amid Hurricane Helene-induced storms. Despite the weather, over 7,000 women piled into The Giant Center for the E-Women conference. Tim Tebow, Jennie Allen, and Shelia Walsh headlined the event. Similar to our five days in Lynchburg, my job was to sell New Hope bags in the arena’s lobby. We did just that and more! At the end of our two-day venture, our team of five packed up our setup and purchased a Panera Bread dinner to be enjoyed in the comfort of our hotel room. We talked, laughed, and ate until sleep overcame us, which was admittedly pretty early in the evening.

The next day, my coworker and I checked out of the hotel and made a pit stop at Chocolate World. We purchased gifts for our DR housemates—super American hot chocolate flavors like s’more, York peppermint patty, and Reece’s—with the intention of hosting a movie/hot chocolate night with them. (Spoiler: they liked the gifts!)

Us in Hershey, PA!

Tim Tebow speaking to a crowd of 7,000 women!

Blacksburg, VA

In Blacksburg, my coworker and I rested for a few days (except for a Chamber of Commerce event New Hope Girls hosted in the local community and a brief lifestyle photoshoot for the new merchandise dropping on the org’s website). We stayed with some loyal New Hope Girls supporters and family friends of my boss’s family. They were the best! We had dinner with them nightly and watched movies, and my coworker and I even got our own rooms AND bathrooms. We got a personal tour of Virginia Tech from our host mom. That was one of my favorite experiences from the intermission at work, alongside my walks around their neighborhood observing the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Our little event setup. The creation of the balloon arch was a source of stress, I won’t lie.

Lynchburg, VA

All roads lead back to Lynchburg, this time for another two-day E-Women event. This time, I was rejoined with two past interns I lived with in the DR this past summer! This event was our best yet: our crew was great, our sales numbers record-breaking, and the audience was so receptive and kind about engaging with our cause and message. We capped off the experience with a nice dinner downtown with the whole crew before we all went our separate ways. I was happy to be in the States, but also glad to return to the DR!

The crowds can get pretty intense for us!

the 5 am flight out of Lynchburg to DR!

A lot can happen in two weeks.

Two weeks ago I had no friends outside of my host family and job, I wasn’t involved in any activities or organizations, and I hadn’t even started my official job. As I write this I have a few friends, I’m a part of several local organizations, and I’ve started my work full-force.

Let me start from the beginning: Scottish Dancing. One fateful Monday night I decided to attend a traditional dance at the Scottish Society, a club for those of Scottish heritage or those interested in Scottish culture that met just down my street. I was desperate to make friends and meet new people, so I decided to pop in with my house mate’s partner, Melissa, since I had nothing better to do. Were Melissa and I the only people under the age of sixty? Yes. But something really beautiful happened at the end of the night: one of the dancers, Nicola, invited me to her church, and it just so happened to be the church that I was planning on visiting that weekend. That following Sunday I met so many kind people and even made a few friends my age. Since then, I’ve started taking fiddle lessons (something I’ve always wanted to do!), joined a football (soccer) club and a running club, started playing at open jams (I would have never done this a year ago), attended my church’s youth group, and formed a full live band. 

This is the church where I take fiddle lessons! What a dream!

There’s something very humbling about starting back at square one. For years I haven’t had to go out of my way to make new friends, but the only way I’ll make any now is to intentionally put myself in social settings. I’m scanning the signs on every lamppost, checking the weekly events at cafes, searching for signs of compatibility in the strangers I pass on the street. It’s exciting to have a major life shake-up. Now is the time I can be all of the versions of myself I’ve always wanted to be but never had the time for, and I’m proud of how I’ve handled it thus far. 

Last week we went to the city library to hang up all the activity sheets I handed out to schools.

This past weekend was the Arts by the Sea Festival, the event I’d been promoting at primary schools during my first few weeks here. Lots of families stopped by to hear more about our charity and engage in some story-based activities. Several adults expressed interest in either helping promote our charity or attending workshops with us, and it dawned on me that I was the one who’d be making these decisions. Our founder, Dee, said that I could design an adult class if I wanted to, even though it’s something we’ve never done before. It’s new and exciting to have all this freedom, but I’ve also been met with the age-old imposter syndrome. I’ve never run a charity before, so I have no idea what I’m doing, but I know that I’m passionate about our charity’s cause and can figure things out. 

Me and our student volunteers at the Arts by the Sea Festival

Something I have struggled with is how to schedule my time and find a good work-life balance: I want to design a new songwriting course and an adult writing group, but that’s extra work on top of my pre-existing work. This job will be entirely what I make of it, so I want to push myself to work hard and try new things, but I also want to enjoy my time here without stressing too much. I’m currently working on finding that happy medium. 

All in all, I’m so grateful that I get to be here, and I’m excited to see how my life will continue to surprise me.

Bournemouth beach 

English majors will get this. Shout out to my ENG 200 class and Dr J. I miss y’all.

     Hello again! The last two weeks have zipped past, and I honestly can’t believe it’s already time to write another update. Life has been beautifully full and chaotic, so I’m going to update you categorically, instead of chronologically.  

     First, a work update! I am still loving my work at Fighting Words, and I learn lots every day. Last week, I attended a networking event that was arranged for arts organizations to connect with businesses and corporations to discuss possible partnerships. It was great to meet some other people doing arts work in Belfast and to learn how to summarize the work we do at FWNI in a succinct and engaging way. I also got to help out with my first Write Club meeting. Write Club is a space for young writers ages 12-18 to write together, share ideas, and get feedback from the club mentors and their peers. My role was to open the workshop with a writing prompt and to give feedback on the students’ work at the end of the writing time. The students shared all kinds of things: one shared a gripping chapter of a novel and another read a poem inspired by a short story she has been working on. I was in awe of their creativity and commitment to writing, as well as their support for each other. 

     I have continued to facilitate storymaking workshops, gaining new responsibilities and confidence in my roles. I started out by participating as a typist, transcribing the children’s ideas so they could see them on the screen. I also gave feedback to the students on their individual writing during the second part of the workshop. Most recently, I have begun to do character building, which is the portion of the workshop where we assist the children in brainstorming and choosing ideas for a main character and their greatest wish, greatest fear, and best friend. For each category, we develop three ideas, and for each idea, we ask questions to help them flesh it out. For example, if a child suggests that our main character could be a bear, I might ask what the bear’s name is, or whether this bear has any special powers. My aim as a character builder is to affirm the children’s ideas by helping them develop them further without imposing any suggestions or bias of my own. This is quite difficult, because I don’t want to “lead the witness”, but there are also times when the child feels stuck and needs a gentle nudge to resume their creative process. As I have practiced character building, I have begun to understand more instinctively when I should push a child to share more and when I should back off, how I can encourage them to pivot from an idea that is unoriginal or too dark without making them shut down, and what kinds of questions to ask to help an idea blossom. It’s nice to be able to mark my growth while also striving to keep improving. 

     Outside of work, I have been finding the balance between self-care/rest and exploring my new surroundings! Some notable Belfast experiences have been strolling through St. George’s Market with an old friend on a Saturday morning, trying a burrito from Boojum (Belfast’s less-good version of Chipotle), realizing just how terrifyingly much the Albert Clock leans, going on the ride at the Titanic Museum (thankfully it is not a reenactment of the sinking of the ship), poring over the gorgeous artwork in the Dockers and Dolls exhibit, and taking the History of Terror walking tour which featured personal stories from the history of The Troubles (coincidentally, there were four people from my hometown also on the tour!). As a person who is quite in love with following threads to discover origins, I am delighted to be in a city where each building and cobblestone holds centuries of stories and significance. 

     Aside from exploring Belfast, I also took a day trip to Derry. This was particularly exciting because I’m a huge fan of the show, Derry Girls. The day was a practice in spontaneity from the start– I had booked a bus tour of Northern Ireland, but I overslept and missed it. I refused to let the day go to waste, so I got ready as fast as I could and sprinted to the train station to catch the 10:30 am train to Derry. When reality diverges from my carefully laid plans, I try to find what opportunities my new path has opened up for me, instead of dwelling in disappointment about missing out on the original plan. There were so many things that made me believe I was meant to be in Derry that day; none of it was planned, yet I kept stumbling across things that meant a lot to me. I was feeling frantic on the train, but then I made friends with a girl my age who had just moved to Belfast, too. I have been looking for a nice copy of Jane Eyre (my favorite book) for a long time, and I found a beautiful copy in a charity shop for £3.50. I stopped to admire the wildflowers growing alongside a cathedral, and ended up having a lovely conversation with an 80-year-old nun named Rosemary. I decided to take a turn off the peace wall that I was walking along and stumbled across a cluster of murals. I’m a girl who loves a plan, but that day was a stark reminder of the joy that an openness to change can bring. 

     In the spirit of change and new beginnings, I box-dyed my hair last night! I’m officially ready for fall in Belfast, a place which is quickly becoming dearer to me. There have been so many moments where I have been filled with joy and belonging here, even in the newness: in an overpriced tiramisu latte on a sunny day, in the rich harmony and dissonance of the voices in my women’s choir, in the sweaty exhaustion of weekly boxing classes, in the rare, but spectacular tendrils of morning sun on my rumpled bedsheets, in the giggles and promise of future hangouts with new friends, in strawberry jam on crumpets and beans on toast, in windswept hair and seagull friends by the riverside, in the music and scents that are becoming inextricably linked to this time of my life. Each passing day brings change, and I embrace it!

Until next time,

Eleri xx

Hey all! I hope you’re hanging in there and enjoying the changing of the seasons. Though I typically enjoy summery weather, I have to admit that this time of year fills me with a deep nostalgia for the U.S. Midwest. Football season is underway, the leaves are changing color, sweaters are coming out of storage, and the smell of pumpkin and spice wafts through the air. While I’d love to hit a corn maze and drink apple cider with my family and childhood friends, Guadalajara is also going through its own beautiful changes (though the temperature seems to be stubbornly unmoving). There are some signs of early preparation for Día de Los Muertos celebrations, the occasional breeze provides temporary respite from the heat, and this Tuesday, all of Mexico will be watching as Claudia Sheinbaum, becomes their first female president.

In this season marked with both uncertainty and excitement, I have been feeling burnt out, to put it frankly. Things are moving along nicely at the shelter, and I am looking forward to taking on new responsibilities as I start to get involved in a more administrative aspect. I’m also loving my social life, trying to balance rest with my desire to leverage the limited time I have left here. Despite all that, I have been feeling a bit off-balance. When I get home from my shift, I typically feel more tired than I expect, and it’s hard for me to keep my energy flowing. I sometimes feel overwhelmed as I go to bed and consider what tomorrow will bring; often, my hyperactive mind simply does not let me rest.

While it’s tempting to blame myself for what I’m feeling, the other day I remembered that I’m achieving much more than I had anticipated. When I imagined this work, I pictured myself stripping and making beds, cleaning rooms, and washing dishes. Of course, there is value in that work (and physical labor is still in the equation), but I had never imagined that I’d be making real connections with immigrants and refugees, tending directly to their needs and offering dignifying support day-by-day. I’m performing intake interviews and connecting folks from vulnerable populations with potentially life-altering resources. Not to mention, I’m doing all of this and navigating the city in Spanish every minute of the day. 

I don’t write all this just to brag or boost my ego, but rather to appreciate such a special opportunity and also contextualize my emotions. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to adapt to a new culture, navigate in a new language, or take on unexpected tasks and challenges. However, I’m quick to forget just how much growth can happen in a few months. So, though there are times when I feel overwhelmed and just stuck, I am proud of the confidence I’ve built up and all that I’ve accomplished so far. Here’s to (a bit less than) two more months of listening, learning, and loving the little things!

Un abrazo, 

Aaron

Pulled a near-all-nighter to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. No regrets!

Finally used a vacation day to spend a long weekend on the beach. The rumors are true — Mexico has the best beaches!

     One week ago, I landed in the George Best Belfast City Airport. I was sweaty, deliriously sleep deprived, and eager to begin my life here. Expecting the nightmarish winds and torrential rain of lore, I was pleasantly surprised when a light breeze greeted me and gentle sun rays warmed my face. Once I arrived at my new home, I sat and enjoyed the beautiful view from my window for a while– to the right, I could see the beautiful buildings in city center, and to the left, I could see the rolling green hills that surround Belfast. I was filled with awe and joy that this is my life now, and I vowed not to become numb to the magic of this place.

     My first few days were full of mundane tasks to get my room and kitchen set up, but I was far from bored. As I walked to buy hangers and towels from Primark, I drank in the vibrant colors of Belfast; there’s a mural around every corner, cheery flower pots hang under store awnings, and bright lights adorn every alley. This city brims with creativity and community, and I now get to participate in it.

     On Sunday, I decided to visit a church near my flat. It was built in 1816, and I imagined generations of churchgoers sitting in my place while I studied the intricate stained glass windows and let the ethereal choral notes wash over me. After church, I stayed for tea and a chat, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. Two old Irishmen, Billy and Frances, invited me to lunch with them at a nearby cafe. We enjoyed fish and chips together, then visited the Ulster Museum. They spent the whole day regaling me with tales of Belfast past, which gave me a picture of what this city has been and how it has changed. I was struck by the kindness of these strangers who were so welcoming and enthusiastic about sharing their city with me. It was a good reminder that the opportunity for spontaneous adventure is always around the corner, if only I am willing to say yes to it. 

     Monday was my first day of work at Fighting Words. They very kindly let me come into work late because they knew that I was still fighting the jet lag demons (I have now finally adjusted). My supervisor, Aoife, spent the first whole day introducing me to Belfast and Fighting Words. She took me through a practice storymaking workshop, walked me around the area to show me a nearby coffee shop and park, and gave me an overview of all the work we will be doing. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I got to participate in virtual and in-person storymaking workshops. During the two hour workshops, we take the children through the process of writing an original story. We start off by making a list of story “ingredients”, then brainstorm ideas for the main character, the main character’s greatest wish and greatest fear, and a best friend or villain. The children have brilliantly creative ideas, like an immortal piece of toast named Bob or a mischievous hamster named Chubby. Next, we write Chapter 1 of the story as a group, with the children taking turns crafting the story line by line and ending the chapter on a cliffhanger. Finally, we give them half an hour to write their own Chapter Twos. Their imaginations overflow, and chatter rises in the room as they excitedly share their ideas with their classmates and mentors. We guide them when they get stuck, asking open ended questions to help them develop their characters, dialogue, and plot points. At the end of the workshop, a few children read their Chapter Twos to the class, and they often have pictures to share as well. I cannot even put into words what a fulfilling experience these workshops are. Seeing kids who have previously dreaded reading and writing light up with the realization that they have the ability to tell stories of their own is such a special moment to be present for. Yesterday, one child even asked if she could keep writing chapters of the book and bring them back to show us. Even though most classes only do one workshop per year, I know that the workshops’ impact is deep and lasting for many of the students. 

     At the end of week one here, I could not be more content. I have met kind people, enjoyed meals with roommates and new friends, explored new parts of the city on foot and on transit, learned lots in my new workplace, and already begun to feel at home here.

Back soon with more updates!

Eleri xx

I’m at the Miami International Airport on my way to Nashville, coincidentally for work. For the next two weeks, my job is to help share the story behind the bags and sell them at conferences along the eastern coast. I am very excited about this portion of my job! Since I spend most of my time in the DR office doing editorial work, this excursion into how New Hope shares its cause around the States will provide excellent context for me to better understand its voice and effect on the public. 

the STI airport. I already miss it!

 New Hope Girls has ties with a US-based conference series called Extraordinary Women (E-Women for short). The height of these conferences occurs every September and March. I will begin this circuit in Nashville, then spend one week in Lynchburg, Virginia, for a separate conference at Liberty University. Next, my coworker and I will drive to Pennsylvania, then back to Virginia for an E-Women weekend at Liberty—that’s three weeks in total. This conference has come at a good time; I have hit a few milestones regarding my goals for the organization and my role in it.

Firstly, the writing retreat with my boss was successful: we completed the first round of rewrites for the first ten chapters! We celebrated with a quick stop to the beach and a dinner out of the house. It was a good time to take a breather, be proud of what we have accomplished, and to prepare for the work ahead. Getting these first ten done means that we can start inviting in beta readers after copyedits (my job), which will only refine the work and make it more affective for readers to enjoy. I cannot wait to get the ARC copies in February!

A quick stop to the beach between writing/editing chapters of the book!

Secondly, while in the States, I will have completed one-third of my time commitment here in the Dominican Republic. During that time, I have grown to understand the rarity of my experience here. Much had to happen for my desired position to open up, for the finances to be provided for, and for my interests and passions to grow enough for me to chase this. I imagine a series of strategically placed dominoes that had to fall in order for this opportunity to reach me—and I hope I’m just another piece in the lineup that reaches someone else.  I could trace the line as far back as high school, but I think the catalyst that really accelerated my interest in moving here to the DR began in the fall of 2022.

I have wanted to study English at Belmont since I was 13 when we dropped my older sister off at Wright Hall for her freshman year. However, by my senior year of high school, I had committed to a university in Chicago. Covid happened (and a few other things), and I ended up renting an apartment down the street from Belmont. Before my lease was up, I enrolled at Belmont. By the fall of 2022, I was enrolled in Dr. Amy Hodges-Hamilton’s wonderful “Writing in the Community” course that teaches students how to write for social change and how to use writing as a therapy model. The main project students complete is a oral hisotry project with a member of the community in connection to a local non-profit. I was partnered with the English-language learners at The Branch of Nashville. As I was meeting with my community partner (who is an immigrant from a Latin country), the founder of New Hope Girls—my now boss!— came to speak to our class. What if I didn’t go to class that day? What if I had been sick? My life would be so different right now.

This is worth mentioning because my young life split into a vast ‘what-if?’ when I moved to Nashville instead of Chicago, and when the opportunity to come to the DR came up. For instance, if factors outside my control had remained within the safe of predictability, I would have been a film student in Chicago and I certainly would have been a different person. This is all speculation, but I probably never would have gone to church again, I would have burned out from film school (really, not my thing…what was I thinking?), and 100% I never would have made it to the DR.

(Thank God that is not what happened!).

Instead, I have secured my dream job within a fantastic organization. Every day, I know my work contributes to the liberation of young girls from the darkest places. New Hope Girls advocates for and acts upon their mission to eradicate sex trafficking from the Dominican Republic. That is worth fighting for! That is worth the journey, time commitment—all of it. I’m thankful to be a part of it, and I anticipate these next few weeks in the States, bearing witness to how the work done in the DR affects, encourages, and emboldens Americans to action.

Santiago 🙂

Helping out with a fabric pick-up to make more beautiful bags! They are made by mothers in the local neighborhood! New Hope provides dignifying wages, hours, and free daycare!

Well folks, I made it! I’ve spent nearly a week in England, and it has both been a whirlwind and has stretched by slowly. Let me update you:

The journey there was quite breezy. The last time I traveled internationally by myself, I felt a huge weight once I stepped into the security line and said goodbye to my parents, but this time I felt a lot more relaxed. It’s good to know that this process is getting easier for me. 

Leaving my family at IND

Once I arrived, my host dad, George, picked me up from the bus station and drove me to the house I’ll be staying at for the next nine months. It’s a sweet two-story home on a very traditionally English street: each house is practically indistinguishable sans its door, which tends to be colored brightly to contrast the uniformity found elsewhere. The inside is full of brightly colored walls, pastel sofas, and a diverse collection of abstract art. I quickly met Ed and Sally, the other two who share the home. Sally is a social work professor at Bournemouth University, George is a gardener, and Ed, their son, is a musician. Upon meeting Ed, he showed me his studio, played me a few of his tracks (it’s just like I haven’t left Nashville), and even offered up one of his guitars for me to use during my stay. I felt very welcomed.

My room

Ed’s studio

My first walk into town was less of a welcoming experience: the nearest “high street” (a street lined with shops) was full of boarded up buildings, vape shops, convenient stores, and plenty of places to buy kebabs that did not mirror the image of an idyllic English street I had conjured. I walked past the gloomy shops in my Victorian-looking long skirt and black turtleneck feeling like the most posh person in existence as others stared at me down. I felt like an outsider. 

It’s been hard not to compare Bournemouth to other UK cities I’ve visited or lived in. London, Manchester, and even Belfast cannot compare to here–Bournemouth is a town, not a city, (I learned that a city is classified so by the presence of a cathedral, which Bournemouth does not have) and it won’t have all of the components and activities that a bustling city has. Truth be told, I’ve never lived in a place that doesn’t have an arts theater or a string of local coffee shops within a ten minute drive, so living in a quieter area will be an adjustment. The past week has given me a greater appreciation for the vibrant arts community in Nashville—there’s simply nothing else like it, and I hope to never take that for granted.

Bournemouth Pier from afar

I didn’t have long to settle in before starting the first part of my job: going into primary schools to deliver a twenty minute assembly (presentation) about the Arts by the Sea Festival, a free arts festival sponsored by the government that my organization is helping out with. I was meant to go by myself, but the co-founder of the charity, Tom, offered to accompany me, which had me brimming with tears of relief. The kids were very interactive and enthused, and both my Thursday and Friday presentations went better than expected. Even though workshops have not begun, I already feel privileged to share this festival with children in low-income areas. Like many places in the UK, the arts are underfunded here, and children don’t often get to experience the arts for free. My life would be radically different without arts education, so I’m very grateful to play a small role in expanding that. 

Me before speaking to an assembly of 500 primary school kids

After the assemblies Tom drove me around, and we chatted about the cities we’d lived in and the jobs we’d worked.

“It’s my first time having to really make friends as an adult,” I told him. “I’m curious to see how I’ll do it.”

“Yeah… if you find out, let me know,” he replied. “With all my friends starting families and moving, it’s hard to stay in touch.”

His response was slightly deflating, but honest. This is going to be hard, and I will have to make a very active effort to go out and meet people. I called my parents last night to express my disappointment that I’d found work in Bournemouth instead of somewhere exciting like London or Manchester, but they reminded me that I need to trust and commit myself fully to this project. I must have the courage to seek out the beauty that’s here and to find my place. If I see an area of lack, I have the power, in whatever small ways I’m given, to address it. This place—and all places—are what you make of it, and I’m trying not to see Bournemouth as a place that’s lacking.

A lovely sunset to close out my week