Charise-ASD Staff   Journal: Day Two   other journals
	Slam, bang, bang, bang! We woke very early this morning to a crew putting a new roof on the very dormitory we were staying in! I guess it wasn’t too bad; we needed to take showers and get on the road to San Francisco today. We started by taking a walk to the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train into the city. We all had wonderful conversations on the train ride and got to know each other a little better. Once there, we figured out which way to Golden Gate Part, our first stop. We realized that we needed to take the MUNI bus to the other side of the city. This was an interesting ride as we were all standing, holding on and being swayed back and forth with every stop. Free hugs for everyone! We arrived at Golden Gate Park with baited anticipation. On the way in, Nancy gave the student a quick history lesson on the significance of the area during the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s. The students looked at her as if her head was spinning at times. Unfortunately, in a large city, you experience the good side and the bad side of life. We witnessed many homeless people sleeping in the park. This triggered a conversation about how people end up where they do in life. Yes, even in ‘prosperous’ America, there are homeless people. The first significant section of the park that we happened upon after stopping for lunch was the National AIDS Memorial Grove. What a moving place! There were scattered boulders that were engraved with poignant quotes about loving and caring for others. There was one section, a huge cement circle with built in cement benches all the way around. Beginning at the center and winding outward, were names of people engraved who have died of AIDS. As we walked the dirt path through the garden, we looked up to see a woman pushing a wheelchair to the end of a ramp that overlooked the grove. She stopped and secured the wheelchair, lifted the man and placed his arms around her neck. As she did, I heard him quietly say, “Do you still love me?” They proceeded to dance right there with no music. Needless to say, being ‘privy’ to such a private moment in their lives, we were instantly brought to tears! Even now, as I record this event for you, I am once again moved to tears! That image will, forever, be burned in my memory. Yet further into this enormous park, we arrived at the Japanese Tea Garden. While waiting for Anne to pay our admission, an adorable Deaf girl approached us and asked where we were from. Of course, we told her that we were from ASD and she was so excited to inform us that she was a previous student of Al and Kathy Darby! What a small world. This young girl from Saipan and these five students from the East Coast met at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park San Francisco, California at precisely the same moment!! Her mom, Kim (name sign the same as frog) was so excited and we all had a wonderful conversation! Wow, what a small world! We enjoyed the pristine gardens and structures. A very peaceful garden! The rest of San Francisco was windy while the garden was serene. We decided to go back from whence we came and walk down Haight Street to Ashbury. We soaked in the culture! It was as if we went back in time to the 1960’s and 1970’s again. I knew we hadn’t boarded a time machine, yet the scenery said otherwise. This was an enlightening day. The phrase that comes to mind as I look back on this day is “I am a blessed person!” I am fortunate to have the love of family and friends. I have a wonderful job and colleagues. Lastly, I had health enough to come on this trip and witness the joy on the faces of these five students!
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