Sunday, October 16, 2011
Thursday, June 5, 2008
And then there were eight
We started with a group of 18, but that number has dwindled to eight. This last couple weeks has been great and I'm glad I am able to stay until tomorrow when the class ends. I've heard some crazy stories and met plenty of characters. I was in a comfort zone back in Wichita. Most of what I wrote was sports content for our school paper, The Sunflower. Having to interview people who have lost more than a game has been a humbling experience. In additon to writing feel-good rebuilding stories, I've been working on a story about controversy and small-town politics in Greensburg. This story has been difficult for me, but I've enjoyed reporting on something that hasn't been fully broached. Here shortly, I will start to work on a story about a farm family that lost everything but eachother. I'm looking forward to getting back.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
At last - insight
It has been more than a week since we started this project. Until today I was not able to completely process everything I have experienced.
At the beginning, as I learned more about this devastated but reviving community, I felt that every person I talked to showed optimism and belief in better future. After all, the reasons are many: houses are building, Greensburg is still in the media spotlight mainly for its green initiative, volunteers are still coming and residents are returning back.
However, this week more than ever I can't help but wonder what we are not reporting. Are there any issues that this community feels need to be answered, but nobody does?
I believe some of my peers working on this project are tackling these stories and I hope they will not go unnoticed.
At the beginning, as I learned more about this devastated but reviving community, I felt that every person I talked to showed optimism and belief in better future. After all, the reasons are many: houses are building, Greensburg is still in the media spotlight mainly for its green initiative, volunteers are still coming and residents are returning back.
However, this week more than ever I can't help but wonder what we are not reporting. Are there any issues that this community feels need to be answered, but nobody does?
I believe some of my peers working on this project are tackling these stories and I hope they will not go unnoticed.
Late nights
Coffee is a good pal of mine on nights like tonight, when I plan to get as much as possible accomplished on stories. When I get into writing mode, you better watch out!
A few people have already hit the ol' dusty trail, and I'm planning to do so tomorrow or Thursday, but it's not without some sadness.
I won't miss the living arrangements much. I miss my comfy bed and a kitchen full of food. But this experience has been eye-opening.
There's a lot to living in a bigger town that I take forgranted.
Like restaurants. And grocery stores. And Internet.
And yet, my complaints seem petty when compared with those of Greensburg residents. Some are still living in FEMA housing. Some are still trying to settle with insurance. Some have no real home to speak of.
There is still so much to do here in Greensburg, and devoted volunteers and officials are seeing that it is accomplished. I only hope that the media attention doesn't die down too soon. The town needs all the publicity it can get for a few years to keep the ball rolling.
A few people have already hit the ol' dusty trail, and I'm planning to do so tomorrow or Thursday, but it's not without some sadness.
I won't miss the living arrangements much. I miss my comfy bed and a kitchen full of food. But this experience has been eye-opening.
There's a lot to living in a bigger town that I take forgranted.
Like restaurants. And grocery stores. And Internet.
And yet, my complaints seem petty when compared with those of Greensburg residents. Some are still living in FEMA housing. Some are still trying to settle with insurance. Some have no real home to speak of.
There is still so much to do here in Greensburg, and devoted volunteers and officials are seeing that it is accomplished. I only hope that the media attention doesn't die down too soon. The town needs all the publicity it can get for a few years to keep the ball rolling.
Heading Home
Tonight is my last night in Haviland and Greensburg, and even though I am sad to see it end, I am relieved to be finished with my stories.
Kurt Hahn said, “There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.” Before coming out to Greensburg, I was hesitant and sort of excited about writing feature stories for this class. I wasn’t sure that I could keep up with the older undergrad students, as well as the graduate students. I was even more unsure of my ability to write four print stories and write and record my first ever audio story. Needless to say, everyone on this trip rallied behind each other and gave everyone the encouragement and inspiration they needed to finish videos at 2:30 in the morning, create the perfect lead to introduce their stories and to capture the perfect picture to assist their stories. I know I found out that I am capable of accomplishing more than I ever thought imaginable for myself. I have been made to see what I am capable of, as in terms of writing, and although I am still hesitant of my writing skills, I am even more unwilling to settle for less.
Kurt Hahn said, “There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.” Before coming out to Greensburg, I was hesitant and sort of excited about writing feature stories for this class. I wasn’t sure that I could keep up with the older undergrad students, as well as the graduate students. I was even more unsure of my ability to write four print stories and write and record my first ever audio story. Needless to say, everyone on this trip rallied behind each other and gave everyone the encouragement and inspiration they needed to finish videos at 2:30 in the morning, create the perfect lead to introduce their stories and to capture the perfect picture to assist their stories. I know I found out that I am capable of accomplishing more than I ever thought imaginable for myself. I have been made to see what I am capable of, as in terms of writing, and although I am still hesitant of my writing skills, I am even more unwilling to settle for less.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Laundry day
After a quick Greensburg trip earlier today to wrap up some unfinished work, an unfamiliar sight greeted me. After the interview hunt, I saw something I hadn't seen in a very long time: a clothesline. I don't think I've ever been more excited to see 16 pairs of pants. Ever.Hanging the wash out to dry seems simple enough, but this chore shows that it's business as usual for Greensburg residents. More than that, a laundry line is a sure sign of inhabitance, just one more indicator that life is getting back to normal.
Heading Back
It is 6:30 Monday morning and I am getting ready to head back to Haviland and Greensburg. I am looking forward to seeing the stories from last week and what the students have planned for this week. For me it will be a short week due to another commitment later in the week, my first juried art fair in Topeka for my photography.
It will be interesting to see how our new residence works out, we will be spending the week sleeping in classrooms at Barclay College. The Friends church had a larger than expected number of volunteers coming in this week and we moved to make room for them.
Doing photographs for some of the stories it has been great to be able to be there for some of the interviews and hear not just their stories from the last year but their thought and hopes for what Greensburg will become. I hope that they can turn their plans into reality, if they do it will be an even better town than before.
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