North Carolina ASB

This spring break, I went with a group of 15 other Michigan state university students to Bayboro, North Carolina to clean up after hurricane Irene. In the fall, I became one the alternative spring break chairs at Michigan State Hillel house meaning I would help plan a charitable spring break trip for Jewish college students. The plans ended up completely different as they started; we expanded the trip, through Destination Detroit, to people of all races and religions at Michigan State, Grand Valley, Central, Kalamazoo, Eastern, Western and Albion. As the trip neared I was anxious of how it would go because of the unfamiliarity I had with the new group of trip goers; however, although different from my expectations, the trip turned out to be life changing. We arrived to a town in North Carolina, population one thousand, where there were more churches than businesses and every food was fried. It was completely different than any of us were used to and at first we were a little apprehensive, especially when they told us the daily schedule. We had to be up at 6:30, to the work site at 8 and after a long day of work we could return to the church at 5 for showers and dinner. I think we were all nervous about having to work that hard with the only reward being the satisfaction of helping other in need. However, after the first day I think all of our mindsets had changed. The people in town told us about the hurricane while we worked and I think we were shocked to realize how horribly random it would be if that happened in Detroit and how blessed we were to not have to face coastal increments. It felt good to make a difference for those who do not have the luxury of doing it themselves. Not only did the work bring us satisfaction but it also brought us together. It went from riding in a car with two African Americans and Asian Americans I did not know or feel any connection to, to singing Mulan, laughing about college life, and painting the walls with new friends. As the trip progressed, we grew closer and sometimes discussed the marginalization we sometimes all feel as Jews, blacks and Asians; I think we all realized we have more in common than we think. We all had a great time together and have plans to reunite at one boys house for homemade Korean food, all attend a Black Caucus meeting with one of the presidents of the organization on our trip, and to all sit down for Shabbat dinner at the Hillel house. I am glad to say I made a new group of diverse friends roofing a family’s house in Bayboro than partying on a beach in Florida. I am honored to have been a part of making this trip happen and will carry the lessons it has taught me throughout my life. Alternative Spring Break 2013 was not easy, but nothing life changing ever is.

Charlotte Master
Alternative Spring Break Chair