Modesto.
This week was an interesting one. Our cast was split in half, and we experienced a “split city” week in UWP. I was nervous about this but excited nonetheless. Half our cast would be hosted in Sacramento, about 2 hours north of Modesto, and we would bus to them for a show at the end of the week, and vice versa. Three of my closest friends ended up in Sacramento, but I still had a few with me for this week. I was hosted with three girls again this week: two from the US and one from Bermuda. It was a random group for sure, but I was looking forward to our week in Cali. Our bus ride from Vegas to Modesto was 11 hours. Through green hills and the most incredible landscapes, 11 hours on the road. We were greeted in Modesto by the kindest host family - a mother and daughter, Lynn and Alison. I loved this little city.
This week, my community action was split up into a few different areas. I spent some time in schools, working on admissions, and pitching the Up With People program to high school students. We spent time at lunch interviewing, and classroom time conducting workshops and games. Another day this week was spent at Modesto Mission: a homeless shelter in Modesto. We were able to learn more about the shelter’s mission and goals for participants of the program. Modesto Mission’s program involves 18 months of devotion meetings, bible study, interview techniques, and lessons on how to get back on your feet. The mission was incredibly inspiring, and the people we met were extremely kind. We spent time serving food, organizing some closets full of hygiene supplies, and chatting with the people there.
This week I became an admissions intern! I was thrilled because this meant I could spend time working on admissions for four weeks in Mexico. This news really made my entire week. This week, our beneficiary is the Boys and Girls Club of Modesto. We performed at the Gallo Center for the Arts, one of the most beautiful show venues in the state. Some famous performers have come through this venue in previous years. We reunited with the other half of our cast for show day as well :)
To finish off the week, my roommates and I spent Sunday in San Francisco with our host family. We rode the trolley, saw the Golden Gate Bridge, went on a ferry boat tour, and ate clam chowder out of bread bowls on the pier. Seeing this incredible city for a second time was truly a gift. We connected with another cast member’s host family while in San Fran, and were able to spend time exploring with them as well. This week, I was reminded of how lucky I am to see so many different parts of my country. The west coast is so different than back home. I had the most amazing week with my roommates, Lynn & Alison. This week will definitely be one to remember!