Time After Time...

It's been a few weeks since our adventure has come to an end. I miss everyone so much and it makes me so happy to wake up each day thinking of the times we all shared and how committed we were each day as a team to just make the best of any situation and activity. This truly has been a life changing experience for me because it showed me that i am much more capable of so many things I never thought I was. I have never given myself time to just think and appreciate life and what it brings. This trip brought out the best of that and now that it's all over, I still carry on with myself with that same perspective. and I owe it all to the people who just stood by me all the way.

I also see this trip as our OWN season of the Real World. LOL. Reason why is because for two whole weeks I was going to be with people I didn't know much of besides the staff. We all come from different boroughs and backgrounds. The only difference was that there was no drama, or fighting! We all got along so well and we got to learn more about each other each day and it's a good feeling knowing that after this experience is over, you leave with SO MUCH MORE than when you originally walked in with. New friends, new experiences, etc.

Amy, Aimee, Yael, Dana, Gilbert, Mukiza, Maria, Jennifer, Nori, Axel, Oliver, Aurelio.
Thank you all for contributing yourself to this experience and making it worth while.
I love you guys all, very much. I hope the rest of your summer is as great, as the moments we spent it together.

Love always, Edwin Alejandro.
<3

I have been friends with Mukiza and Gilbert for 2 weeks now but I feel like I could've known them my whole life. Our bond was out of this world. Not only did you teach me about life but it is because of you that we got to know and love each other the way we do. They were always willing to listen , loved to learn, always willing to share and enjoyed every single thing that came at them. Everytime i think of them i envision their smies. We went through all of this together
Amy, Aimee, Yael, Nori, Edwin, Maria, Axel, Aurelio, Oliver & thanks to everyone who helped and everyone we met along the way.
None of us have been to most of the places we went to and I am so glad that as a group we got to experience this beautiful journey. Kuleba Exchange has changed my life and me. I Miss You Mukiza and Gilbert. I Love You Guys! You will always be in my pocket aka my heart LOL

Jenny

Learning.

Precious Memories.

Photos By Edwin Alejandro.

Washington D.C

He Finally Bloggs!

Many of you may know me as Axel but I am nicknamed "The Sniper" by Gilbert and Mukiza. The reason to me being called that is classified. =D I was aware of the Kuleba Exchange from last year with the group of students that went to Rwanda. This year Aimee spoke to me about the Kuleba Exchange and wanted to know if I would like to be part of it. Normally I will always do what ever she asks me to do but this time I wasn't that enthusiastic about being apart of this program. I denied the request with the intentions of not joining the group. Towards the end of the year she asked me again and for no particular reason I said yes. I am glad I did because I would have regretted not being apart of this amazing experience.

Our first day together with the group eating at Castillos set the tone for me. I was so excited that evening about meeting back up with the group to begin our journey together. Within a one nights period, I instantly figured out how kind, caring and comical Gilbert and Mukiza are. Two simple guys from Africa with more than just a story to tell but yet are so humble. I've learned so much from these two, not only educationally like learning about their culture and the ways people live in Africa but on a more personal level. Mukiza and Gilbert have taught me how to value all that I have. To acknowledge the importance of education and to take advantage of the opportunities I am offered. I always thought of myself as an open minded individual but they have helped me expand my mind beyond expectations on this trip.

I will leave this trip with so many wonderful memories not only with just Mukiza and Gilbert but with everyone in the group. Sharing rooms at the hotels or camping in one gigantic condo looking tent with everyone. Paddling for miles on the river having to be rescued... almost. Our long discussions just talking about life or fun stuff like reciting infamous lines from our official Kuleba Exchange movie, "Borat". There were so many highlights on this trip its just too much to get into details. I most definitely will leave this trip with 2 new brothers. We have created such a bond with each other it literally devastates me that its really almost over.

While going to get Mukiza new shoes today because he turned his old ones into talking puppets thanks to his daily 5 am workouts. We made a promise to each other that we will not say good bye. I told him it will never be good bye, just a "see you later". I am going to miss Gilbert and Mukiza tremendously... Me and Gilbert have some unfinished business to discuss. (I will row the boat Gilbert!) LOL and Mukiza has my Yankee hat that I have to get back from him one day... so I know I will be seeing them again. Hopefully sooner than later. Kuleba is by far one of the best things that ever happened to me. I didn't gain just a closer friendship with everyone that was part of this trip. I now have a new family.


UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN PARKINGLOT DANCE POSSE! KULEBA 2009!

New York City

When We arrived to New York City we had the chance to take Gilbert and Mukiza to see Time Square and The Lion King on Broadway. I thought it would be good for them to witness something that we loved watching as little kids. I hoped maybe they would understand what the actors were saying and singing. One character was singing and talking in a other language so i asked if they understood what she was saying and they did at least a little not all. But they enjoyed it and we went to eat at a friends house and just to hang out and watch a movie.
We also got the chance to see Transformers at the IMAX theater which was cool because they seemed to like it. I thought they had a lot of fun. I got them a blueberry slushy and loved it, with some popcorn. They also played some games while we wated to be sitted.
They ask what's the difference between Manhattan and Brooklyn(where they are staying) and How do i know to get around in the train. It was funny but a good question. I explained to them that the Train takes you anywhere you want to go if its under or outside. Sometimes the conductor lets you know, their are maps or the train is computerized to say what's next. Also that I have lived here for 19years and my mother has always taken me around and showed me how to get around and pay attention to my surrounds. Mukiza is the same he always pays attention to where we are going. He looks at the name of the stops and what is around him. My train rides with both guys are always a educational ride. Nothing but questions on how i know where we going and how I know what train goes there and how do you get back home. I love it when we travel around NYC because you will have a blast with these guys.

-Nori*

The Holocaust Memorial Museum

When we arrived to The Holocaust Museum it was a first for me and some others but I new what was inside was going to be hard to take in and maybe understand why it happened. The exhibit on the Holocaust had me speechless and with many questions. One that was on my mind as I walked by pictures and displays I continued thinking:
"How can this have occur ed and why didn't anyone come and help?"
The mini bios and story's they had to tell were shocking and the amount of deaths was outrages. Three floors of sadness and anger and nothing at the end seemed to get better. Mukiza and Gilbert could relate some points of the Holocaust to the Genocide and it must of been hard for them to witness another culture and ethnicity suffer so much.
When we arrived to the Sections where they had a exhibit on Rwanda and the Genocide it was shocking not only with what they had to show but with the amount of information that was being told. I felt like they could have expressed more and given a better view on what really happened during the Genocide. But I feel that just a couple messages will open the eyes of people to see what is going on around the world and what we can do for them.
At the end of the museum we sat down to reflect on what we saw and it all made us feel some sort of sadness. I think it opened my eyes more to see what they had to show us then reading it from a textbook. Sometimes pictures and displays bring a greater imagination to the topic.

- Nori*

Activity's

I loved all the activity's that were planned out for us during our stay in New Jersey. Mini Golfing, The Zoo, Making memory boxes, bowling, strawberry picking (I kept on calling it farming maybe because it looked like a farm)and camp fire. I thought that all these things we have done on our three day trip in New jersey brought all of us together. Mini Golfing I thought was funny, no one really didn't know how to golf so we went with the flow and just have fun. Everyone was non stop laughing and joking around, who was better then the other it was as if we new each other and their wasn't no weird feeling having both Gilbert and Mukiza around. I will remember when we cheated our way around the game and trying to hit the ball in the hole. At one point we just gave up and just started hitting it around and just had fun. Lunch we were all together talking and they happen to have a soccer game on the t.v. and Mukiza seemed to like it. I thought it was cool that Mukiza liked sports because it brought him closer to the boys when they had the chance to play.
The Zoo was great, the animals were all cute of course and the guys loved it. I think my favorite moment was when they wanted to get on a horse but because they were to big they couldn't ride.
Dana had this activity that we did before dinner to make our own personal box and design it for our memory's about the trip. I thought that was a great idea not only for me but for Mukiza and Gilbert because now when they go back home they can show everyone everything about there stay in the U.S. We all bonded while decorating it brought us together. Mukiza and Gilbert loved it, they sat at the table decorating and putting as much as possible. Mukiza drew his hometown and both placed all our names on the box. Once again those smiles bring smiles to your face.
Bowling was so much fun. We all were having the time of our lives. While we played Amy, Aimee and Yael took pictures sometimes sneaked in a bowl or to. There was eating dancing and laughter. A whole bowling ally to ourselves which had nothing but positive and loving feelings flying around.
We went strawberry picking one day where we all got on a hay ride which was cool and saw nothing but miles of berrys and veggies & fruits growing. We got the chance to pick our own berrys and take pictures and ride around the plant.
But one thing that I saw that brought us together was the campfire after dinner at Dana's eating smores and just enjoying each other company made the day a wonderful day.

-Nori*

Holocaust Museum-Washington D.C

We arrived at the Hyatt put our bags away and then we all walked to the Holocaust Museum. On our way we saw the capitol building... many of us thought it was the white house lol (including me). The day before we were told that we would be going to the holocaust museum i couldn't help but think how Mukiza and Gilbert would feel being there.
I felt like i was dragging myself trying to hold back my emotions as more images and stories of the holocaust lay ahead. I couldnt believe that the world let this happen for so long. I couldnt believe that hate could consume a person and swallow them whole. All i could think was, Hitler brainwashed them but how can so much people be brainwashed like that.. what about their free will and their humanity.. what happened to that. Although Aimee said something that struck, she said that many people didnt want to be part of Nazi Germany but felt like there was no other choice. They would be killed if they opposed but then again some stood strong for what they believed in and strongly disagreed with the Nazi's.

So i was following the exhibition arrows and then turn slightly right and i see somthing on the wall. It looked like a painting of dead bodies but i got closer and it was a painting of all the hair cut off from the holocaust victims. I took a glance down and saw shoes. Shoes I thought of how many people wore those shoes. There were so many. Layers and Layers of shoes piled on top of one another. Then i looked up and there was the quote. I read two lines of that quote over and over. I couldn't stop

"Because we are made of leather and fabric, and not of flesh and blood we survived the hellfire"

Something as small and simple as fabric and leather survived the holocaust but because the victims were made of flesh and blood as all humans are they were exterminated.

And it wasnt like Nazi Germany wanted to "just" murder the Jews, they wanted to deprive them of any sense of humanity they had left. When i stood in front of the shoes looking up towards the quote i felt like i couldnt move my legs, i read it over and over. It was a sad afternoon for me but Gilbert cheered us up, claiming he was in our pocket lol!!!! there is always a bright side =)




jenny Kuleba Exchange 2009

Kuleba exchange: multi-tasker's extrordinaire. Started off at the hotel. We all awoke, had great breakfast then we were off to the Zoo. I've never been to the zoo. I was extremely excited, the zoo was huge and such a maze of wonders. i kind of felt bad when i saw the animals confined in fences and gates. There was a leopard we were taking pictures of and while i zoomed in i kept thinking of how lonely that leopard must of felt all by him/her self. There was this one ostrich that was very friendly and it seemed like he loved humans. Every time someone passed by the ostrich was ready to play. Oh yeah kangaroos! kangaroos! I saw a kangaroo for the first time in personal and i was looking for their pouch everywhere. I guess they were keeping it hidden. Mukiza, Gilbert and i got really good shots of the black bears. They were so playful. We passed by a small field of different animals and we saw what looked like a huge black deer with horns half its size. Gilbert was amazed by the antlers and so was I. I never knew their antlers grew hair. That was pretty weird.

Lunch

Then the Farm. It was so beautiful and very peaceful. I felt like i was in a movie. We fed the goats and cows. One cow would bathe in the tub water and the other urinated in it. It was pretty gross but i guess its normal for them. We took great pictures on top of a hay stack about 4 stories tall. Then came a tractor with hay. We got on and rode around the farm until we reached the strawberry fields. It was kind of hard to find the strawberries, they were hidden under leaves. We picked our berries and had them for dessert later that night when we went BOWLING! That was theeee best. Gilbert and Axel were really good at bowling and this was their first time.

Kuleba Exchange 2009 jenny =)

Chicken and Cheese on an open fire.

That's right, Camping! The staff and the students drove to the Pocono's the 4th to go camping. Honestly, It was exactly how I'd pictured it in my head. Smores, stories, camp fire, bugs, river, flashlights, you name it. What I enjoyed most was DEFINITELY kajaking. It was so much fun, though 8 miles seems shorter on boats than walking it was a complete exercise but worth it and very fun. Gilbert and Mukiza had Canoes. I think they were a bit worried about the Kajak's until Gilbert got on a Kajak after. Mukiza on the other hand still didn't get on a kajak. They are very athletic and have such great physiques that they made it seem easy to everybody else. Oliver was afraid of bears which was funny, because I would've loved to see one. Most students slept in a huge 8 person tent and the Teachers on their own. Overall It was definitely an experience I would never forget. It made me appreciate things at home because It came to me how some people, even Rwandans live like this EVERY DAY. So, I left that campsite with an open mind to the wild and to many new experiences I will keep with me forever.

We Drove back to Brooklyn to my mother Amy's house, where We had a FABULOUS dinner at a diner and met Jackson! Jackson is Amy's dog, he's unbelievably precious and caring. Jackson is now and officially always part of Kuleba! :)

I'm back home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. And getting ready for tonight where we all go out for a movie and to eat. Looking forward to that and more.

I LOVE AMERICA

OH my God i was think that it's not true I am going to USA but now I have funny time than ever to whole my life this is time I know that some people live they have lovely
in their heart freedom and faithful .

it 's amazing to me I think I am the one orphan who get this life experience because I meet with friends I had and met with new ones we have enjoy time than ever in my life I am very excited for this trip I like behavior of NY people and how their like to know different thing languages,culture ,story and more ,if I am going to miss them I hope that one day we will be together because I make a wish to God .

I love water ,beach to the sea, park,life in the van ,cool Washington,Brooklyn ,games,song and different foods I like every thing but I was surprised to sow a cop with dreads on head and woman driving bus.until now I remember how OLIVER and EXCEL their know sing rwanda songs means TORA TORA and other.

even I wached lot of movies but last one cold LION KING was like I don't know how I can explain but it was very very nice to me I like that.thank you Kuleba for this experience I hope it will help me in my future to live in different community and respect others, helping each other must be human being to others my God I wish all country to be like America .

MY NAME IS GILBERT VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.

My Name Is Borat.. Very Nice To Meet You!

Finally, after so long of the now famous "Nice To Meet Youuu" as part of the Kuleba Exchange, we saw Borat. Gilbert LOVES it. Mukiza not so much, though I did hear and see him chuckle a bit between scenes. He told me "Edwin, Men crazy like this, we pray". I laughed, and agreed. We ate delicious pizza at Yael's friends house down in SoHo. and for dessert, Ice cream. Gilbert became a bit sleepy after today. I must not also forget to mention how FABULOUS The Lion King is on Broadway. The boys loved it, along with my peers. I sat with my now new nephew Liam, so adorable. I'm glad we all share these moments together because we get to reflect on many things at the end of the day. Sadly, what keeps coming to mind is how am I going to see bye to these guys? They REALLY blew me away by their attitudes, perspectives, and their whole persona all around. But, It's not over yet, Tomorrow we are going CAMPING! Looking forward to this and see how Kuleba Exchange 2009 can handle the wilderness. I will now close this with.. MY NAME EH EDWEEN, VERY NACEE TO MEATT CHU. <3

- Edwin Alejandro.

Prejudice and Intolerance.

In my opinion to what causes intolerance and prejudice is by the way one is raised. Many people were raised differently than others and that is what you learn from growing up like your parents, or your environment community. Growing up I had friends from many cultures and backgrounds. I had a friend named Rashawn and his mother wasn't pleased about her song hanging out with a latino. My mother was fine with it of course, she loved all my friends. His mother felt different and it always made me feel uncomfortable. The way I Prevented the whole thing was by ignoring it. I don't think just because of our skin color we cannot be friends. Of course growing up and meeting new people opened my mind to many things and learned to just deal with intolerance. There's always going to be people who are prejudice or intolerant, I think you just need to learn how to deal with it and move on by not being bothered or apart of it.

- Edwin Alejandro.