11/4/2018 0 Comments Day 5: Law and EthicsThe first community partner we visited for the day was Pellegrino Center for Bioethics. There we got to speak with Abigail Rian Evans, who is a senior scholar at the center. She discussed the different perspectives on euthanasia and the legal aspect of end of life components like DNR or POLST. One really valuable thing about this trip is that we get to view the Death With Dignity Law from so many different angles. From this angle, we got to see how applying ethics to these decisions can be extremely hard, especially when people have different backgrounds that influence what they define as ethical. Because of this, it was really interesting to see how Professor Evans was able to put aside her religious beliefs and put into perspective how a terminally ill patient would feel if the choice to have what they would consider a “good death” was taken away. The group with Professor Evans at the Pellegrino Center for Bioethics After visiting the Pellegrino Center, we ate lunch at Abunai Poke. Some of us have never really tried poke before, so being able to try new things was really fun. An absolutely mouth-watering spicy salmon poke bowl. Afterwards, we visited an elder law center, where we got a chance to talk to an elder law attorney. We discussed estate planning, guardianship, and life care planning. It was really interesting to hear the importance of capacity in terms of making decisions - it’s not just about your own death in relation to the Death With Dignity Law, but also about your estate affairs and living will. The gang at the Elder & Disability Law Center Afterwards, we went back to the house and cooked our first proper dinner, which was chicken alfredo and broccoli. Through making the food together, we got to make even closer bonds. Our delicious chicken alfredo.
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11/1/2018 0 Comments Day 6: Death with Dignity and EMSWe spent our last full day in Washington, D.C. with two community partners. We first met with D.C. Councilmember Cheh’s Director of Communications, Kelly Whittier. Kelly Whittier worked closely with Councilmember Cheh during the drafting and passing of D.C.’s controversial Death with Dignity Act, which legalized physician-assisted suicide by allowing physicians to prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients. As we sat around the long table in the conference room, we discussed how the bill was conceived, the legal process behind drafting the bill, and all of the obstacles that the council faced in trying to pass it. The gang at the John A. Wilson building after our discussion with Kelly Whittier Our next stop was with Captain Lacey who works for the D.C. fire and EMS department. Captain Lacey started off as an EMT when she was 22 years old and later went back to school to become a paramedic. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Captain Lacey was able to tell us about her experiences with death and dying. She explained to us the complications in field of dealing with DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate) and Comfort Care Orders (CCO). She also recounted some of her personal experiences. She told us a story of a woman who had approached her recently, shocked that Captain Lacey had not remembered her. It turns out that Captain Lacey had been part of the paramedic team that visited the woman after she had attempted to commit suicide years ago. Captain Lacey sat with the woman in the ambulance and talked through her situation, even going so far as to joining her in prayer. When the two met again the woman joyfully boasted that the conversation had been so transformative and uplifting that she was now married, had a stable job, and even a child. The conversation moved Captain Lacey (and us) to tears. Group picture with Captain Lacey in the bay of one of the fire and EMS units After meeting with our community partners, we decided to eat out for our last meal together. We had heard lots of good things about “The Federalist Pig,” D.C.’s supposed best barbecue restaurant, and decided to give it a try. With the group’s two native Texans serving as our judges, we ordered barbecue sandwiches, ribs, fries, and all kinds of other artery-clogging food. Everybody loved it and was stuck in a food-induced coma shortly after. The only exception was Josue, who inhaled two “Texas Floods” without losing composure. One of Josue’s “Texas Floods” shortly (very shortly) before being gobbled up Our last day together was bitter sweet. While we had a great time learning from our last two community partners and spending time with each other again, we were a bit sad that this would be our last day together. Our trip has been a lot of fun, and we would definitely do it all over again if we could.
10/31/2018 0 Comments Day 4: History and AlumsExactly six bread loaves into this breakout trip, we can say for sure that we are so deeply grateful to get to be a part of this experience. While we’re not even halfway through meeting community partners, we have already gotten to experience so much of a city that we’ve never really gotten to see. So much of today has been spent discovering DC and getting to be a part of some small portion of our nation’s history. We began our morning by visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It was a monumental experience to get to immerse ourselves in history that is not taught to the extent that much of the rest of our history is. We were struck not only by how much we didn’t know but by how much we knew and decontextualized. To encompass the whole experience of African Americans, the museum drew our attention to connections that had never truly settled in our minds before. It’s hard to imagine America today without the contributions of the brave men and women who fought for equality over hundreds of years especially when there was no change to win. After grappling with the fundamental paradoxes of freedom and oppression explored by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, several of us wanted to go visit the National Archives which is most famous for housing the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights. As we stared at a sum total of six pages that define so much of what comprises the American ethos, we were struck by the diverse array of people who surrounded us. It’s remarkable that people from all over felt drawn like we did to experience some small part of our cultural values made tangible in faded ink. We hope to go back to the national archives to explore even more and hopefully spend a lot more time getting to experience everything the National Archives has to offer. Next on our fast-forward tour of all the most famous DC landmarks, we swiftly moved on to see the White House. As the wind made it almost impossible to hear each other, we marveled at the beauty of our Capitol and our nation’s most famous government housing. The White House and the Washington Memorial With the sun setting on the Washington Monument and the White House, we began our walk to the metro to meet with several Princeton alumni over pizza. We’ve found in the few times we’ve gotten to meet alumni that the most fun part is the connection over shared experiences and the promise of shared experiences yet to come. Group picture at We the Pizza after dinner with the alums We loved getting to hear their thoughts on our Breakout trip, what excites them about their current lives, and what they loved and miss about Princeton. It has been an undeniable theme these past few days that what binds us together, our common history, our shared loves, our undeniable fate, draw us together more than the tensions that pull us apart. As we meet new people and explore topics and ideas so far from our everyday existence, the backdrop of DC, a world that looks to make clean black and white statements and easy dividing lines out of complicated issues becomes more and more salient. It is in this city that we’ve only just begun the process of immersing ourselves in the world of end-of-life care. The capitol building at night
10/30/2018 0 Comments Day 3: Joseph's House and Death CafeThe metro ride towards the National Mall was cut a few stops short due to an unexpected surprise. Our group leaders informed us of a change in the day’s plans. Instead of visiting some of the nation’s memorials, we were going to spend a few hours with one of our community members, Joseph’s House. Joseph’s House is more than just hospice care, it’s a home at the very edge of life and death for HIV patients and other members of the community who are transitioning into the last phase of their lives. Both the residents and staff at the house act by a simple motto: “small acts, same love.” This phrase is the embodiment of the house’s mission because the things they do for each other help them all grow and heal together. We had the chance to sit down and talk to the residents over lunch. The stories of David, Earl, and Mr. Ramsey were windows into the reality of end-of-life care, and it was amazing not only realizing certain injustices of the healthcare system but also learning to appreciate the peacefulness and beauty of life and death. A Joseph's House resident, David, rests on the couch before lunch. Our next stop was Potter’s House, a cafe-style bookshop founded in the 1960s as a place to celebrate the neighboring community and activism. There, we were able talk, relax, and work before attending a group discussion about death. Death cafes were designed by a British sociologist to replicate the memorial rituals of the dead and dying in other cultures. By allowing for a free form discussion generated from the personal stories of each participant about experiences with death, we as participants were able to tackle the seemingly complicated issue in a straightforward way. A conversation acknowledging our own morality left many of us with opened minds, new perspectives, and appreciation for life. By finally stepping back from the day’s experiences during our debrief, reflect upon our own mortality. Artwork in Potter's House.
10/30/2018 0 Comments Day 2: Being Tourists in D.C.Our noses were cold as we finally made it into the metro stop, just one mile from our apartment. As we prepared to get on the train, a horrified scream rang out, “Oh no! My Metrocard!” One of us (Kaylin) had forgotten her MetroCard and had to run back to get it. After that debacle, we were on our way. Next, we finally made it to the Capitol of our great nation. We reflected on upcoming midterm elections, had a lot of fun taking pictures, and also got excited for the conversations with lawmakers we’ll have later in the week! The gang at the capitol building. Our journey continued in the US botanical garden, where, as one of our groupmates said, “our relationships sprouted.” The flowers were beautiful, and it was the perfect place for lunch! Flowers at the botanical garden. Our final stop of the day (before dinner) was the Holocaust museum. A surprising connection to our Breakout trip theme (“Assisted Suicide and End of Life Care”), the Nazi regimes began using carbon monoxide gas to kill Jews having gained experience from the “euthanasia” program. It was interesting to reflect on how the conversations around euthanasia are heavily influenced by their historical contexts. It was powerful to be able to reflect on the events of the Holocaust and how it impacted those then and how its legacy continuously plays out in our present day. After spending about two hours at the museum, we had a delicious dinner at Reren in Chinatown. We all had different dishes and did a family style dinner, where we shared a lot of our meals. Today was yet another great bonding experience, and we can’t wait for the rest of our time on this trip!
10/29/2018 2 Comments Day 1: Busted Milk Gallons and LasagnaToday, we embarked on a long journey to Washington D.C. from Princeton. Although the weather was rainy and gloomy, the bus was a stark contrast with our laughter reverberating across the space. The majority of the scenery passing outside consisted of golden autumn trees, so we slept most of the 4 hour bus ride, but as we rolled into Silverspring, the reality of what we had actually gotten ourselves into finally struck us. DC’s busy rush of people without skyscrapers to dwarf them was bizarre. We strode nonetheless confidently through the streets, with Josue’s dubious directions to guide us. Our very first photo in DC! Taken right outside of Union Station. After settling into our spacious AirBnB, we explored Silver Springs and bought some groceries for the week. Funnily, our bag of milk exploded, and we dealt with the situation at hand with much positivity. Various strangers around helped us out, too, displaying the generosity and kindness of the residents of DC. The gang at the train station on the way back from the grocery store. The bags had not started ripping yet.
We decided to cook at our residence and bond over three lasagnas (!!!), a tasty reward after a long day of nomadic travel. The lasagnas ended up taking almost 2 hours to cook fully! During this time, we jumped and shouted clues to a game of charades, resulting in a heated competition between Josue’s and Carolyn’s teams. Of course, Carolyn’s team toasted Josue’s with mighty triumph. Today managed to be a fun, unpredictable, and rewarding day despite no formal activities being planned. Who knows what tomorrow will bring! Well, we’re off to enjoy some long-awaited pasta and watch a horror movie to wind down the night. See you all tomorrow! |
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