Because I have always lived in a bubble, first from the comforts of my home to the academic bubble of Ann Arbor, I have never experience the dangers of the world until I experience the possible dangers of living in a city like Detroit. On Monday, I was super excited to see the fireworks in downtown Detroit, but I was not prepared to see people panicked and frantically running across the streets because of a shooting during the fireworks show. The idea of people shooting during happy times never crossed my mind, and it sounded absolutely ridiculous to me. I was so naive to believe that no one would want to ruin the fun atmosphere and hurt anyone; I was so protected by all the bubbles I lived in.
As I saw children got separated from their parents and people looking scared, I finally understood that I am living in a dangerous world where someone can hurt people. I was so confused at first, but then fear kicked into me–my heart was beating fast. I have finally understood why I need to be careful and be more aware of my surroundings while I live in Detroit. It is because situations that I read and listened to on the news do actually exist and they can happen anywhere, anytime. Detroit is a wonderful place, but it is also a dangerous city where anything can happen. Detroit has open my eyes and popped my bubble.
Even though the adrenaline of the situation scared me, I was still happy that I was able to enjoy some of the beautiful fireworks. It was a good show, and I wish I could see more of it.
Besides my experiences with living in Detroit, I am definitely enjoying my work at Chiwara. Through the work I do for Chiwara, I feel closer to nature. I feel proud every time I harvest and every time I noticed that the plants are getting taller and more healthy. I love looking at them spreading throughout the krater garden at work, and I cannot wait until I harvested more fruits and seeds.
