Today in Atlanta, we visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. historical site and memorial. It was a very educational, intriguing, and once-of-a-lifetime experience.
The day started off like any other: with a ride on the metro, a walk around the district, and the longing for coffee at eight in the morning. When we got to the site, though, we were greeted by a friendly park ranger/tour guide and TJ, the Rose Man. They explained to us what needed to be done in the rose garden and we got to work!
My first job was putting little black pieces on the end of a foot-long piece of tubing (I think it was for the irrigation system). It may sound simple, but this was no easy task. The pieces were stubborn and my hands grew sore after just a few minutes of aggressively twisting. Our group was delighted when it was time to switch to a less demanding job!
Next, we dug holes where roses needed to be planted. I enjoyed digging, but it took no time at all with all of us working. TJ said, “This is a real-life example of ‘many hands make light work.’ ” I couldn’t agree more, TJ! In a manner of hours, there was no more work to be done. I had a chance to read the various poems engraved in stones around the garden. It was inspiring to see how, globally, youth were responding to Dr. King’s work and the meaning of world peace.
After that, our group walked around the museum and learned more about MLK’s life. I learned so much about his childhood, his parents and siblings, and his wife, Coretta Scott King. It was amazing to see how their philosophies made a profound impact on the world. After lunch, we were treated to a tour around the neighborhood. We saw Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King’s resting place, Dr. King’s childhood home, and the church he co-pastored. I am grateful for the chance to have gained this insight into MLK’s life.
After our tour, we hopped on a street car to the Centennial Olympic Park. My tourist side was delighted by playing in the fountains, shopping in the World of Coke’s gift shop, and exploring inside the CNN building. Various gardens and statues caught our attention. We even found ourselves wandering inside the stadium where the Atlanta Hawks play (not that I have ever had an interest for the NBA)! It was a fun afternoon of exploring.
By the time our group had showered and feasted on chili and quesadillas, we were ready for more adventure. We took the vans to China-town. It was so neat to see all the different cultures residing together in one part of town, not just Chinese but Hispanic, Korean, and a little bit of French. The Chinese grocery store was intriguing, but the milk bubble tea was an experience I’ll never forget!
Today was a day of history, of service, of gratitude, and of laughter. I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve gained in just a few short days. I came to Georgia to do volunteer work, but I’m learning so much more. I’m learning that urban development is an incredibly complex issue and that gardening is really fun. I’m learning that Springfield and Atlanta have more in common than one might think. Mostly, I’m learning how to be a leader in the community and I’m ready to share that when I get home!