The Empire State Building view...
The double-decker tour bus...
Shopping through the generousity of dressbarn...
After nearly 18 months of planning, Bpeace’s 12 Afghan women entrepreneurs arrived in New York. Their 30-hour Kabul-Dubai-Atlanta-New York journey had its moments of acute drama. Immigration issues, lost luggage, and a trip to the emergency room between the airport and their New York City hotel. What an adventure for everyone! That was Friday.
Saturday dawned a stunning October New York City day and the start of a weekend of New York City fun, before the real work of the Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip (BART) would begin. A few hours of orientation was sandwiched in between morning bagels and lox and noontime New York City pizza. Well fed, but dragging their jet-lagged Afghan selves, it took the view from the top of the Empire State Building to shock the Associates into the realization they were really in New York.
It’s hard to know what Sunday’s highlight was. The double-decker tour bus around Manhattan on another amazingly brilliant October day, or the buzz of shopping with generous gift certificates from dressbarn. Over a casual Sunday-night dinner with about 20 Bpeace volunteers, the entrepreneur’s first impressions of the U.S. and New York City emerged:
“I thought that when the World Trade Buildings were gone, those where the only tall buildings in New York. I had no idea there were so many others. But the streets are narrow here, just like in Kabul.”
“The green part is so big and beautiful. (Central Park).”
After a walk down 34th Street and a crowded first floor of Macy’s with probably shoppers from 50 or 60 different ethnic groups scooping up Columbus Day sales, “I like that people in New York don’t look down at you, or seem to talk about you because you look different.” This theme of diversity cropped up again, “People in the U.S. don’t seem to have prejudice to each other. If that could be the same in Afghanistan, the fighting would stop.”
Saturday dawned a stunning October New York City day and the start of a weekend of New York City fun, before the real work of the Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip (BART) would begin. A few hours of orientation was sandwiched in between morning bagels and lox and noontime New York City pizza. Well fed, but dragging their jet-lagged Afghan selves, it took the view from the top of the Empire State Building to shock the Associates into the realization they were really in New York.
It’s hard to know what Sunday’s highlight was. The double-decker tour bus around Manhattan on another amazingly brilliant October day, or the buzz of shopping with generous gift certificates from dressbarn. Over a casual Sunday-night dinner with about 20 Bpeace volunteers, the entrepreneur’s first impressions of the U.S. and New York City emerged:
“I thought that when the World Trade Buildings were gone, those where the only tall buildings in New York. I had no idea there were so many others. But the streets are narrow here, just like in Kabul.”
“The green part is so big and beautiful. (Central Park).”
After a walk down 34th Street and a crowded first floor of Macy’s with probably shoppers from 50 or 60 different ethnic groups scooping up Columbus Day sales, “I like that people in New York don’t look down at you, or seem to talk about you because you look different.” This theme of diversity cropped up again, “People in the U.S. don’t seem to have prejudice to each other. If that could be the same in Afghanistan, the fighting would stop.”
7 comments:
How wonderful it is seeing the smiles on the faces of our Afghan sisters as they take in the sights of New York! I look forward with great anticipation hosting Fatima in Connecticut for her apprenticeship at DucDuc and seeing everyone at the grand finale on the 27th!
Bpeacers -- you are doing an EXTRAORDINARY job!
Wishing everyone GREAT success!!
With love to all,
Wendy
You all look happy and great. I miss you all. The program in Phoenix is going great too. I wish you had your programs with some days apart so I could attend both. Please keep updating the blog as many times as you can. It is great to see you at least on the blog.
Farah
Saturday night's dinner with the associates was amazing. I fell in love with all of them...and it was sweet to see them again on Sunday night at the Maloney's. Our program is remarkable! I am proud and honored to be working with Toni and all the members.
Ellen Lubin-Sherman
This is what makes it all go 'round! Appreciative for the association with such "fine folk" here and there.
Pam
Welcome to NYC to all the members of BART. have fun, and hope you all learn a lot from each other.
Can't wait to see all that you are able to accomplish in the short time you are here.
Trish
Some of our billions would be better spent on programs like this that stimulate economic growth and collaterally bring understanding and friendship amongst cultures.
We all know the adage, give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. Economic stability will defeat the exptremists quicker than bullets.
Way to go Bpeace! A big thank you and tip of the hat to all BART team members and volunteers. Up here in Boston things are going very well with our Afghan associate. Can't wait to see everyone at the finale.
Hugs to all,
Paula
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