Cleveland, Ohio - 6th day - 01/17/2011 (English)

The sun appeared and started shinning: a day that was already a blessed, outstanding day, because of its meaning. Today we would celebrate Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of  Dr. King's birthday, January 15.

I got up late today, and the first thing I did was to stare at the sky: It was blue. A kind of miracle here in Cleveland with these snowy days. I had breakfast and played with the sweatiest dog on earth, my family's dog Meggie.

This is me and Meggie on the Bailey's house floor *-*

I left the Bailey's house with my host mother. She took me with her to work.

The Bailey family house in the morning

As I said before, she works in a house which gives support to seniors. Yuri would come to pick me up in front of Westlake High School at 1:00p.m, so I had time to walk around with Mrs. Bailey.

As we entered her job, she gave me a tour The building was adorable and delicate. I noticed as I walked in that the people who worked there provided not only nursing, but also spread love with their gestures toward the seniors. Moreover, every single room was decorated. The first thing you see when you enter Sunrise Senior Living is a huge, lovely aviary with colorful birds.

Sunrise Senior Living entrance

Birds in the aviary

Inside of Sunrise Senior Living

After the visit, my host mother drove me to school. As we approached, I saw Yuri's van. Many Youth Ambassadors also would go to the place where we would work today with their families. Americans are in the habit of doing volunteer work on days like this one. In my opinion, it is so beautiful the importance Americans give to community service. Here in Cleveland, MLKD is celebrated with free museums, community concerts, and regional theater presentations. Many host families went to volunteer with us. We would help paint part of a structure which would be used as a gymnasium by children and adolescents in the future. The group that hosted us was The Cleveland City Year.

This non-profit organization is made up of volunteers between 17-24 years old. They work  in schools, helping students stay on track and get back on track to graduate by improving their course performance, attendance and behavior.  They teach students to be active citizens in their communities and make a difference. They also engage community members and corporate partners in physical service projects, including renovating schools, painting murals, planting gardens and creating play spaces. Each volunteer gives "A Year to Change the World".

This is what we would do today: we would help them paint a play space. This play space was inside of a church, the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland, which provides temporary housing to the homeless.

My group was a little late. Gina was already there in the building with the other Youth Ambassadors. The members of City Year thanked everyone for being there with them and we began to work. We were divided in groups. The place the Youth Ambassadors chose was huge, but since we were also a big group, we finished the service fast. We did it step by step: attaching adhesive tape with plastic on the floor, putting our belongings outside of the room, and painting the whole place.

This is the building where we took part in this volunteer work with City Year Cleveland

Laize and I listen to orientation from Cleveland City Year Volunteer

Tairik and I attaching adhesive tapes on the floor

The entire group painting the walls

At the end, we were interviewed by a TV channel. They asked us what we had done, and I talked about the importance of MLKD and how the activity we just did was meaningful for all of us. We came back to the same room where we met the City Year Members. They were still painting a wall with Martin Luther King`s face on it and messages. They offered us a snack.

Ana and I after painting the walls

Gina and I after volunteering. :D

Wall being painted by volunteers

It was another day and another fulfilled mission! It was amazing take part in this project with Cleveland City Year. I hope many youth and children can learn something good in the play space in which we worked. I talked to two girls that worked with us and I thanked them. We came back to Westlake High School, where our families would came to pick us up.

At night my mother, as usual, helped me to do my laundry. I didn't know which button I should press to make the washing machine work. I had dinner with my host family and went to bed. I was looking forward to the next day! I would pass the whole day with my host brother at Westlake High School.