OK, I am really behind now on my blog posts. My computer is dead. My brother and I spent all day trying to fix it yesterday. I think the hard drive is shot. It might take me a couple of days to confirm that and then get the problem completely fixed or get another computer. Thanks to all who offered to lend me laptops. Maybe some company out there will be inspired to give and help me out with a new one! Feel free to send letters to your favorite laptop manufacturer!
Before I share with you Day 181’s recipient, I would like to update you on Kenneth B (Day 30). Kenneth has been selling the Street Sense newspaper at the north entrance to the Dupont Circle Metro for two years. Unfortunately I recently learned that Kenneth will have to miss about a month or two due to some medical problems. I see him all the time and he loves serving his customers. I went to visit him the last day before he took time off and he shared with me some financial concerns that he had due to the month or two that he will be out of work. If you would like to help Kenneth out (or any Street Sense vendor out for that matter) you can send a donation to him via Street Sense’s website. In the special instructions field, please indicate what percentage of your donation you would like to go directly to Kenneth and the great team over at Street Sense will make sure he receives it. Thanks for keeping Kenneth in your thoughts.
Ashley at Starbucks at the corner of Connecticut Ave. and R Street (photo: Reed)
So Day 181 was the Sunday before the Worldwide Day of Giving. As I passed the Starbucks near my house I saw a young lady sitting on their patio studying flash cards. I haven’t seen somebody using flash cards for years. Full of intrigue I stopped and introduced myself.
Ashley is a 22-year-old recent graduate of the George Washington University and is studying to take the GRE exam. Tonight she is focusing on her vocabulary by studying words like “dirge,” disabuse” and “dissemble.” I took a shot at about a half-dozen words and was embarrassed at how dreadful my vocabulary knowledge was.
Ashley is quite smart. Although she plans to leave for a Peace Corps assignment this fall, she wants to take the test now while her education from GWU is still fresh in her mind and then use that score to apply for graduate study upon her return from her stint overseas. I think the test results are valid for five years.
I asked her what interested her about the Peace Corps. “I love exploring. I want to serve my country and be a good diplomat of the United States.” Ashley was actually supposed to have already left for her tour however her plans got delayed several months after a less than perfect Lasik eye surgery. She explained that she very well may have to have additional procedures to correct the situation. “I think I am going to opt for “PRK” which is much more painful.” Sorry to hear that Ashley!
In the mean time she picked up a second job at a restaurant. I asked which one and would you believe it was the same place I had chose to hold the Worldwide Day of Giving celebration two days later! Small world.
When she is not working, this native of Rapid City, South Dakota likes reading, good food, good wine, coffee, dancing and exploring other places. She has traveled extensively and tells me a little about her trips to Syria, UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, Israel, Jordan, Turkey and Thailand. With all the travel it’s no surprise that she has picked up some Arabic and even some Spanish.
I asked her what she was going to do with the $10 and she said that she was going to give it to somebody on the Worldwide Day of Giving. And she did! Not only did she give her $10 to a young man named Aziz on June 15th, but she invited him to join her at the Get-Together we had in DC that evening. Aziz came and I got to meet him as well!
Update July 30, 2010: I finally was able to upload the video that I shot when I met Ashley.
Year of Giving 
You are having way too much fun now! Hope the computer issues get solved quickly.
Thank you so much Reed for the write-up! I feel so fortunate to have been one of the 365 people you have talked (will talk) to!
My initial reaction when I was approached was utter happiness and sheer excitement. Happiness because I believe that communication and interaction between humans will make us realize that we are all striving for basic needs and trying to do the best we can, and that the “other” really does not exist. Excitement because I love when people do things not according to norms and was very interested to meet Reed and hear about his own story.
I think the Year of Giving is a fantastic opportunity for us all to meet people we normally would never talk to. The $10 Reed gave to me was an afterthought (although for many people I know the experience would be quite different). What intrigued me was the concept of talking to people from all different walks of life and then publishing their stories on the internet for others to read. This inspired me, and so on the Worldwide Day of Giving I approached a stranger at Caribou Coffee and ended up having more than an hours worth of conversation with him. He was from Saudi Arabia, and even though I had lived in the Middle East for a year, I was still able to learn so much from him and obtain a fresh perspective.
I highly encourage us all to meet somebody new every day if we can, or every week or every month. It will foster a sense of humanity and unity and make us realize that we’re not alone in experiencing the turmoils — nor the joys — of life.
Ashley, I couldn’t have said better myself. You will go far! Thanks for making Day 181 truly sublime. Reed
Was Ashley camera shy?
haha, I wasn’t! I took pictures and made a video message….maybe Reed lost them 🙂
No, I need to add them, at the time I posted the blog I was unable to upload them. I will go back and take care of that this weekend! Reed
This is so moving and inspiring, I enjoyed reading it all and hearing her message(so true). From what I can see Ashley is doing what I dream of doing/going, keep up the good work and words!